In California water news this weekend …
Newsom takes action to ban fracking by Jan. 2024, phase out oil extraction by 2045
Dan Bacher writes, “In a move forecasted in a Politico report yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom today took action to ban new fracking permits by January 2024 and to phase out oil extraction in California by 2045. The Governor directed the Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management (CalGEM) Division to “initiate regulatory action to end the issuance of new permits for hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) by January 2024.” In addition, Governor Newsom requested that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) “analyze pathways to phase out oil extraction across the state by no later than 2045,” according to a press release from the Governor’s Office. “The climate crisis is real, and we continue to see the signs every day,” said Governor Newsom. “As we move to swiftly decarbonize our transportation sector and create a healthier future for our children, I’ve made it clear I don’t see a role for fracking in that future and, similarly, believe that California needs to move beyond oil.” ... ” Read more at the Daily Kos here: Newsom takes action to ban fracking by Jan. 2024, phase out oil extraction by 2045
Valley dems, business leader blast Newsom’s fracking ban
“Two Democratic lawmakers and a business group leader from the Valley blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision Friday to ban hydraulic fracking by 2024. “The Governor’s actions could not come at a worse time for the Central Valley, which is already reeling from a drought that – together with this decision – may cause a national food crisis,” said state Sen. Melissa Hurtado of Sanger. “Energy makes up 19 percent of the American food supply chain. Make no doubt the cost of food will increase and severely impact the health of vulnerable communities who are already struggling. We cannot repeat the food crisis of 1974. The potential consequences of a food crisis extend beyond the Central Valley and California. We can all do better and be part of the solution.” … ” Read more from GV Wire here: Valley dems, business leader blast Newsom’s fracking ban
LEGISLATORS REACT …
Senator Melissa Hurtado said, “The Governor’s actions could not come at a worse time for the Central Valley, which is already reeling from a drought that – together with this decision – may cause a national food crisis. Energy makes up 19 percent of the American food supply chain. Make no doubt the cost of food will increase and severely impact the health of vulnerable communities who are already struggling. We cannot repeat the food crisis of 1974. The potential consequences of a food crisis extend beyond the Central Valley and California. We can all do better and be part of the solution.”
Congressman Kevin McCarthy said: “Today’s announcement by Governor Newsom to ban fracking and phase-out all oil and gas production in California is a transparent attempt to appeal to extremist environmental groups, and I vehemently oppose this action. Unfortunately, nearly 366,000 good-paying jobs supported by the oil and gas industry in our state, 71% of which come from right here in Kern County, are now at risk of being jeopardized. This move will also drive-up gas prices at the pump and lead California away from energy independence, ultimately making our state more vulnerable to and reliant on foreign competitors to meet our energy needs. Rather than putting the good of all Californians first, Newsom is irresponsibly making California a more expensive place to live and raise a family.”
READ MORE:
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- Newsom orders halt to new fracking in California starting in 2024 – and wants to end all drilling by 2045, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Newsom Says He Will Halt New Fracking Permits, Oil Extraction on His Own, from KQED
Regulators wrestle with terms for Huntington Beach desalination plant
“Ensuring that a desalination plant proposed for Huntington Beach adequately compensates for killing millions of small marine organisms poses the latest hurdle for Poseidon Water’s controversial project. The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board spent most of its 12-hour hearing Friday, April 23, taking testimony and wrestling with how to incorporate mitigation guarantees into the permit that Poseidon is seeking from the agency. No resolution was reached, with the meeting to be continued on Thursday, April 29. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News here: Regulators wrestle with terms for Huntington Beach desalination plant
Poseidon water plant permit discussion continued to next week
“Both proponents and opponents of the controversial Poseidon Water desalination plant in Huntington Beach made their voices heard Friday in an all-day virtual meeting that continued well into the night. In the end, however, a decision by the Santa Ana Regional Water Board on whether to permit Poseidon’s $1.4-billion project will have to wait until at least next week. Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday, with a third meeting on May 13, as necessary. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Poseidon water plant permit discussion continued to next week
Can managed aquifer recharge mitigate drought impacts on California’s irrigated agriculture? The role for institutions and policies
“MAR is a set of practices and institutions that allows the recharge of water of various types and qualities (surface water, recycled wastewater, and even groundwater from different locations) into a given aquifer. Therefore, it can reduce subsidence (pumping-induced land sinking) damages, prevent saline water intrusion, protect wetland habitat, provide flood protection, and more. In this work, we examine the role of MAR in the Kings Groundwater Basin. Using several climate-change scenarios, we evaluate how MAR applicability is impacted by possible institutional arrangements and regulatory policy interventions. … ” Read the full article here: Can managed aquifer recharge mitigate drought impacts on California’s irrigated agriculture?
Some modest April showers this weekend, but overall trajectory toward worsening drought continues
Daniel Swain writes, “I wish I could be writing that there was a late-season pattern reversal since my last post, with widespread drought-mitigating rains. Unfortunately, the reality has been nearly the opposite of that–the precipitation spigot has remained largely closed since the last blog update, and conditions have been quite warm at times (especially across inland areas). One exception has been along the immediate coast, where *below average* (!) ocean temperatures have allowed a strong marine layer to persist. But these cool coastal temperatures have not helped mitigate the extraordinary rate of snowpack loss in the Sierra Nevada, which has apparently reached a record fast pace at many observing sites in recent weeks. CA’s DWR reports that snow water equivalent is now down to only 28% of average on a statewide basis–and there is essentially no meaningful snowpack remaining in the southern Sierra. All of this, combined with continued extremely low precipitation in recent weeks, has led to further worsening of already severe drought conditions, particularly across portions of NorCal. … ” Read more from Weather West here: Some modest April showers this weekend, but overall trajectory toward worsening drought continues
San Diego County Water Authority offers help to regions in need during drought
“The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors yesterday authorized staff to explore opportunities to help other water districts weather an emerging drought across California. Three decades of investments in supply reliability, along with a continued emphasis on water-use efficiency, mean the San Diego region has sufficient water supplies for multiple dry years. Those investments include high-priority conserved water from the Imperial Valley, seawater desalination, and access to the Semitropic Original Water Bank in Kern County, where the Water Authority has stored about 16,000 acre-feet of water. Yesterday’s Board authorization allows Water Authority staff to assess selling, leasing, or swapping its Semitropic water with agencies that need it. Increasingly severe impacts of drought are already being felt in Central and Northern California. Any agreement recommended by staff would be brought to the Board for approval. ... ” Read more from the San Diego County Water Authority here: San Diego County Water Authority offers help to regions in need during drought
As climate changes, researchers look to floods to save California from drought
“California Governor Gavin Newsom declared drought in two counties Wednesday and predicted others would soon join. He bemoaned the prospect of another period of drought only a few years removed from a five-year drought that strained the state’s water resources. A study published this week in Science Advances revealed one solution to the drought-like conditions and their increased frequency due to a changing climate is a counterintuitive one — floodwaters. The research attempts to create a framework for understanding and identifying floodwaters and their capacity to help recharge groundwater aquifers that are drawn upon more heavily during periods of surface water scarcity. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: As climate changes, researchers look to floods to save California from drought
DWR awards $26 million in grants to support critically overdrafted groundwater basins
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today awarded $26 million in grant funding for capital project investments to improve water supply security, water quality and the reliability of domestic wells – advancing access to safe, affordable drinking water. This funding provides important assistance for successful local implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which establishes a framework for managing the state’s groundwater resources and will help California be better prepared for longer, more severe droughts. “California’s current drought conditions following a second consecutive dry year speak to the importance of managing our groundwater for long-term reliability,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Today’s funding awards further the state’s support for local leaders as they manage their groundwater supplies, particularly supporting communities at risk of drought impacts.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources here: DWR awards $26 million in grants to support critically overdrafted groundwater basins
Wildlife Conservation Board funds Stream Flow Enhancement Projects
“The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved approximately $33.5 million in grants to help enhance flows in streams throughout California. A total of 30 stream flow enhancement projects were approved for funding at its April 22 meeting. The approved projects will provide or lead to a direct and measurable enhancement of the amount, timing and/or quality of water in streams for anadromous fish or special status, threatened, endangered or at-risk species, or to provide resilience to climate change. Funding for these projects comes from the Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1). … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: Wildlife Conservation Board funds Stream Flow Enhancement Projects
What will California’s dry spring do to wildfire season? Here’s what researchers say
“California is bracing for what’s likely to be another destructive wildfire season in light of record-dry conditions. A number of hot spots are in the Sierra Nevada, where rural communities are still reeling from unprecedented wildfires last year in both size and severity. “We should get ready for a very tough fire season,” said Adam Kochanski, who leads the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center’s fire modeling group at San Jose State University. That work included tracking the Creek Fire that ignited in eastern Fresno County – California’s single largest blaze – in real-time with a blend of technologies. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: What will California’s dry spring do to wildfire season? Here’s what researchers say
In commentary this weekend …
Dan Walters: As drought hits California, long-term issues loom
Dan Walters writes, “By the time this column is published, Northern California may be receiving some much-needed rain, and possibly some snow. However, late-season precipitation does not change the reality that California is in one of its periodic droughts after two dry years. Major Northern California reservoirs are only about half-full due to scanty runoff from mountain snowpacks, farmers are getting tiny percentages of their normal water allotments, and local water agencies are beginning to impose restrictions on household use. We’ve seen many droughts, but this one seems somehow different, perhaps because it’s occurring just as Californians are trying to recover, personally and economically, from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, some aspects will be different, particularly for farmers who generally consume three quarters of the water distributed for human use in California. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: As drought hits California, long-term issues loom
Editorial: The drought isn’t coming, California. It’s already here
The San Francisco Chronicle writes, “Longtime Bay Area residents are all too familiar with ground-parching droughts, those years when our hills are late turning green and early turning brown. Now it looks like we’ve entered another dry patch barely four years after emerging from the last one — an ominous sign that our meteorological cycles of boom and bust are picking up speed. This shouldn’t surprise anyone who has paid attention to the scarce rainfall of the past two winters; precipitation throughout the region this year is well under half the annual average. It’s so obvious, in fact, that state and local governments are starting to respond. ... ” Continue reading at the SF Chronicle here: Editorial: The drought isn’t coming, California. It’s already here
Editorial: Newsom’s drought plan lacks vision and bold action
The LA Daily News editorial board writes, “It’s déjà vu all over again. Four years ago this month, California’s historically severe six-year drought ended. A lot has happened since then – e.g., COVID-19 lockdowns and a presidential election – so policymakers have had other things on their minds. But California and the West are unusually dry again, with nearly the entire state facing severe drought conditions or worse. … We’re left asking this important question: What has the state done to prepare for this new drought in the years since the cessation of the last drought? ... ” Read more from the LA Daily News here: Editorial: Newsom’s drought plan lacks vision and bold action
Editorial: California drought declaration is a difficult dance
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “Gov. Gavin Newsom made headlines last week when he declared a drought emergency for our severely dry state — but only in two of California’s 58 counties, Mendocino and Sonoma. Some farmers in the Central Valley and others with water interests had hoped for a statewide edict. Instead, Newsom said conditions vary so widely a one-size-fits-all approach makes no sense now. In an interview Thursday with The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel, Environmental Protection Secretary Jared Blumenfeld, Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth, Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, and Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham offered a strong defense of Newsom’s decision and his water policies in general. And they said the administration will continue to monitor conditions and reevaluate the tricky balancing act between conservation recommendations and requirements. San Diego should be thankful, for now. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Editorial: California drought declaration is a difficult dance
Climate change makes the case for infrastructure investment now rather than later
Steve Lamar, president of ACWA, and Pamela Tobin, vice president of ACWA, write, “It is neither a surprise that drought conditions in California are returning, nor a mystery how we can adapt for a future of dryer dry periods and wetter wet periods. After all, climate change is now a major factor in water management, and resilience has become the water community’s one-word call to action. Today, that call to action speaks louder than ever. The latest snow survey results confirm a second consecutive dry winter, and the Department of Water Resources recently lowered its initial State Water Project allocation for the 2021 water year from 10% to 5% of requested supplies, while the Bureau of Reclamation has suspended deliveries altogether. This sobering development makes it abundantly clear that action must be taken now at the state and federal levels to invest in improving our aging water infrastructure. This is the only way we can realize a more reliable, resilient water supply for Californians, the food supply and the environment as climate change extremes grow more severe. … ” Continue reading at ACWA’s Voices on Water here: Climate change makes the case for infrastructure investment now rather than later
Commentary: Increasing drought brings challenges, opportunities
Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, writes, ” … The severe drought punishing much of the West only emphasizes the need to plan now for future droughts and provide the funding needed to not only fix, but also “build back better” the national system responsible for delivering water to homes, businesses, farms and the environment. Unfortunately, the $2 trillion infrastructure plan recently announced by President Joe Biden does not contemplate the complete suite of projects needed to tackle the drought and put citizens of the rural West to work. Now is the time to urge Congress to make that happen. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Commentary: Increasing drought brings challenges, opportunities
Podcasts …
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Food, water and our habitat
Steve Baker writes, “Balancing the Delta ecosystem and our food supply in the farmlands of California is a yearly concern that becomes most complicated when there is not enough water around. History has made this even more difficult. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
ECONEWS REPORT: Sea level rise: Is California doomed?
“Rising seas are a greater threat to California than earthquakes or even wildfires – and Humboldt Bay is ground zero. Much of the land, communities and infrastructure around the bay is currently protected by low sea walls likely to be breached in the next 50 years. How will Humboldt adapt? A suite of bills before the California legislature could shape Humboldt’s approach and provide hope for the county’s future. Jennifer Savage, California Policy Manager at the Surfrider Foundation, joins Gang Green to discuss what is before the legislature and how California — and Humboldt — should respond to this threat.” Listen to the podcast at Lost Coast Outpost here: ECONEWS REPORT: Sea level rise: Is California doomed?
INGRAINED PODCAST: Leading with Compassion
“Taro Arai has an electric personality. As Chief Dreaming Officer for Mikuni, with nine popular restaurants and sushi bars in Northern California, his enthusiasm and generosity are well known throughout the region. But it wasn’t an easy road to success. After arriving from Japan, the Arai family opened their first Mikuni restaurant in 1987. Reverend and Mrs. Arai prepared food in the kitchen, while Taro and siblings Noamichi and Keiko worked as greeter, busser and server. After a lot of hard work and perseverance, Mikuni continued to grow and prosper. Their success has left an indelible imprint on Northern California.“
In regional news this weekend …
As drought threatens Klamath’s future, scholars tout tribes’ TEK strategies
“Humboldt State University’s Native American Studies Department and Save California Salmon recently launched a spring webinar series, “Traditional Ecological Knowledge,” a look at how tribes’ traditional fisheries and fire management practices could address environmental crises. As California prepares for yet another year of drought, Dr. Cutcha Risling Baldy, department chair of Native American Studies at HSU, said local tribes are concerned about the health of rivers. “In California, they’re declaring droughts, they are making decisions about how water is going to be used and they’re not necessarily thinking about the fisheries and salmon in those decisions,” Risling Baldy said during Friday’s webinar. “The Yurok Tribe has come out pretty clearly and said they’re anticipating severe drought this year. The Tribe is very concerned, not just about the health of the river, but the potential for fish kills again this year again because of the state of the water.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: As drought threatens Klamath’s future, scholars tout tribes’ TEK strategies
Klamath Water Users Association seeks further legal clarification on Klamath Project operations
“Klamath Water Users Association filed a motion on Monday to reopen federal court proceedings concerning the Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Project operations. The litigation will not affect the current water year, but it could clarify legal issues surrounding the use of stored water in Upper Klamath Lake and the Bureau’s authority under the Endangered Species Act. In 2019, the Yurok Tribe sued the Bureau of Reclamation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco over the agency’s planned operations for the Klamath Project. They argued that the biological opinion the operations were based on contained faulty data and that the Bureau would violate the ESA were it to carry out the plans. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath Water Users Association seeks further legal clarification on Klamath Project operations
Water fight continues, Klamath Tribes files lawsuit against Bureau of Reclamation
“The Klamath Tribes have filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the Klamath Project. The tribes are asking for the bureau to release less water down the Klamath River for flows in California. The Klamath Water Users Association says the amount being released right now is close to a billion gallons per day. The tribes want it cut back to about half that amount. The reason, to keep more water at a greater depth in Upper Klamath Lake. ... ” Read more from KOBI 5 here: Water fight continues, Klamath Tribes files lawsuit against Bureau of Reclamation
Klamath Basin Tribes, conservationists and commercial fishermen call on Biden Administration for extreme drought economic disaster relief
“On Friday, April 16, a coalition of three Klamath Basin Tribes joined with groups that represent conservationists and commercial fishermen to urge the Biden administration to grant significant financial relief to all Klamath Basin communities in response to what is predicted to be the driest year on record for the region. In this joint letter to President Biden, the groups urgently called for federal help to blunt the immediate disastrous economic consequences from impacts of the drought for farmers and ranchers as well as commercial and subsistence fishermen and Tribes. The letter requested investment in short-term measures to assist native species, including fish and birds, as well as longer-term infrastructure improvements designed to prevent similar disasters in future low-water years. In all, the groups have requested more than $250 million in funding to address immediate economic losses and for helping to restore water balance to, and improve ecological conditions in, the drought-prone Klamath Basin. … ” Read more from the Klamath Falls News here: Klamath Basin Tribes, conservationists and commercial fishermen call on Biden Administration for extreme drought economic disaster relief
Humboldt County receives grant to develop water management plan to finally deliver the Trinity River flow we’re due
“The [California] Wildlife Conservation Board [on Thursday] approved a grant award of $574,980 to Humboldt County to develop a water management plan for Humboldt County’s 1959 contract for water releases from Trinity Reservoir. Completion of the water management plan is necessary to make Humboldt County’s contract water available to support fishery resources and other beneficial uses in the Trinity River and lower Klamath River. “Commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries are a vital part of Humboldt County’s economy and cultural identity,” said Steve Madrone, Humboldt County Fifth District Supervisor. ... ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Humboldt County receives grant to develop water management plan to finally deliver the Trinity River flow we’re due
Sacramento: Local agriculture industry adapts to drought conditions with dry farming
“Out of California’s 58 counties, 85% are now under a severe drought forecast, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. For extreme drought counties like Sacramento and Solano, farmer Lindsey Liebig said the effects are already being seen. “When the drought affected us was during our winter crops, so things like hay, irrigated pastures, those types of areas,” Liebig said. “So we’re really seeing the most hard-hit areas right now in our animal industry. We’ll actually, probably, be moving some cattle either out of the state or to different areas in the state.” … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Local agriculture industry adapts to drought conditions with dry farming
‘There’s just no water to waste:’ Sonoma and Mendocino counties brace for renewed restrictions as drought deepens
“It has taken until the end of the second straight historically dry winter, but California and its vast network of urban and agricultural water suppliers, including those on the parched North Coast, are now ramping up to confront the drought that is tightening its grip on the state. Sonoma County supervisors are set on Tuesday to proclaim a drought emergency , becoming the first local government to take formal action on a burgeoning water crisis that Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted Wednesday. From the receding shoreline of Lake Mendocino, he made Sonoma and Mendocino counties first on what is certain to be a growing list of California locales where drought has become formally entrenched. ... ” Read more from the Press Democrat here: ‘There’s just no water to waste:’ Sonoma and Mendocino counties brace for renewed restrictions as drought deepens
Rising sea level threatens Stinson Beach neighborhoods
“Coastal communities are still grappling with rising sea levels caused by global warming. The U.S. Geological Survey predicts that by 2100 the ocean could rise as much as seven feet, putting some 600,000 homes at risk of flooding. Many of them are in Marin County. Sea level rise is threatening homes and infrastructure near Stinson Beach. The State Coastal Commission has ultimate permit authority there and wants to stop the building of sea walls and let nature take its course. Residents and the county are pushing back. “We assume there will be a fire, we assume there will be an earthquake and we plan for that. But, really, how much is the ocean going to go up?” asked Mike Matthews, president of the association that represents Stinson Beach homeowners. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area here: Rising sea level threatens Stinson Beach neighborhoods
Point Reyes: Coastal Commission cosigns federal plan to kill native elk
“On Earth Day, the California Coastal Commission conditionally approved a general management plan for a 28,700-acre federally owned park in the San Francisco Bay Area — a plan vehemently opposed by conservationists because it calls for killing native tule elk in an area where thousands of acres of federal land are leased to small dairy and cattle beef farmers. The commission’s 5-4 conditional approval of the National Park Service plan following a 12-hour meeting Thursday paves the way for the federal agency to “reduce conflicts” between tule elk and the existing cattle ranches on Point Reyes National Seashore, 30 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. Under the plan, park managers will maintain a population of 120 adult elk for one of the three Point Reyes herds. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Coastal Commission cosigns federal plan to kill native elk
Tanker crew member who ordered oily bilge water dumped outside Golden Gate convicted
“A federal jury has convicted a supervising tanker crew member of ordering the illegal dumping of oily bilge water into Bay Area waters in 2019. Gilbert Fajardo Dela Cruz, 38, was first engineer of the Zao Galaxy, a 16,000-ton oil tanker that docked at the Richmond port in February 2019 after a voyage from the Philippines. The ship’s operator, Unix Line PTE of Singapore, pleaded guilty to a pollution charge in the case last year and was fined $1.65 million. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Tanker crew member who ordered oily bilge water dumped outside Golden Gate convicted
State bill would allow Valley Water to select “best value” contractor for project to strengthen Anderson Dam
“Valley Water’s top priority is to strengthen Anderson Dam, which holds back Santa Clara County’s largest reservoir, so it can safely withstand a strong earthquake. Valley Water has made great progress in the past year, including lowering the water level in Anderson Reservoir. We will soon begin constructing a larger outlet tunnel next to the dam, which will allow us to better manage water levels in the reservoir. We anticipate construction on the tunnel to last two to three years. Once the tunnel is complete, Valley Water will replace the existing dam to meet modern-day seismic standards. Valley Water is planning to begin the process of selecting a contractor for the dam retrofit in 2023. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: State bill would allow Valley Water to select “best value” contractor for project to strengthen Anderson Dam
Santa Cruz: Researchers, robots dive into what makes some bay algal blooms toxic
“Microscopic marine plants — or phytoplankton — are crucial to sea creatures, as well as life on Earth. Because of their photosynthesizing abilities, phytoplankton expire oxygen, which accounts for roughly 50% to 80% of our home planet’s total budget of the element. “They’re essential, and yet some species of phytoplankton can cause harm,” explained John Ryan, a biological oceanographer with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. A naturally occurring chemical phytoplankton cultivates — domoic acid — is a neurotoxin. When ingested by marine creatures, and other vertebrate species, the toxin can cause food-poisoning like symptoms, seizures, and in severe cases, death. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Researchers, robots dive into what makes some bay algal blooms toxic
City of Santa Cruz petitions to expand rights to San Lorenzo River water
“The Santa Cruz City Water Department (SCWD) is seeking to expand its rights to store, distribute and use the water it diverts from the San Lorenzo River. SCWD currently has exclusive rights to the river’s water, whereas the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) has a complementary set of water rights for several tributaries that flow into the river. The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), which oversees water rights issues in the state, announced on Feb. 10, that it had received SCWD’s five petitions. SLVWD has submitted a protest objecting to portions of these proposals. ... ” Read more from the Press Banner here: City of Santa Cruz petitions to expand rights to San Lorenzo River water
With drought looming, Santa Barbara County strikes compromise on state water
“With the specter of another of intense drought looming, the county supervisors unanimously voted in favor of a compromise deal that now enables the Central Coast Water Agency (CCWA) — which is responsible for bringing state water into the county — to buy supplemental water supplies on the open market throughout the state. Had this compromise — over new rules easing restrictions on the purchase of out-of-county water — not been approved, the water authority would have been severely hamstrung in its ability to compete for water on the open market. During the last drought, for example, CCWA bought 33,000 acre-feet from private and public water companies, without which Santa Barbara County water customers would have been eating proverbial “dirt sandwiches.” … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: With drought looming, Santa Barbara County strikes compromise on state water
City officials: Santa Barbara is drought ready
“As of Thursday, Santa Barbara County is officially in a state of moderate to severe drought and half the state is in extreme drought conditions, but city officials say Santa Barbara’s water supply is in good shape compared to the last seven-year dry spell. Water conservation efforts in the community are to thank for that, considering it has been a decade since Lake Cachuma spilled, and it typically spills every three years. The South Coast’s main reservoir is currently at 60.7% capacity, which is a decrease of more than 26,000 acre-feet from last year, according to the county Public Works Department. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: City officials: Santa Barbara is drought ready
Commentary: Cat Canyon’s aquifer should not be exempt
Tara Messing, Katie Davis, and Ken Hough write, “Today, Governor Newsom directed the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) to initiate a regulatory action to ban new permits for fracking by 2024 and asked the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to analyze pathways to phase out oil extraction across the state by 2045. Meanwhile, the state is simultaneously poised to make a decision on oil companies’ requested Cat Canyon Aquifer Exemption, which could open the door for a massive expansion of dangerous steam injection operations in the Cat Canyon Oil Field in Santa Barbara County. This exemption from federal drinking water protections would allow oil and gas operators to inject steam and millions of gallons of toxic wastewater into aquifers beneath Cat Canyon. Injections of oil field fluids threaten to contaminate drinking water relied on by over 150,000 County residents. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Commentary: Cat Canyon’s aquifer should not be exempt
Santa Clarita Valley Water in ‘good position’ with drought conditions approaching
“As California experiences exceptionally dry conditions for a third consecutive year, Santa Clarita Valley Water said the SCV is prepared for a potential drought. “(SCV Water) and this community on the whole has done a really exceptional job of preparing itself for droughts,” said SCV Water’s Director of Water Resources Dirk Marks. “We have several groundwater banking programs, which we are accessing this year.” SCV data show that SCV residents have done their part to conserve water. ... ” Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water in ‘good position’ with drought conditions approaching
Beaumont participates in fee increase to protect species habitats
“Developer fees related to preserving endangered species and providing the conservation of nearly half of a million acres is going up among 18 members of the Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority (RCA), a joint powers authority that oversees the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSCHP). At its April 20 city council meeting, Beaumont approved a resolution to impose a fee increase for MSCHP per an updated study completed by the RCA. The increase from Beaumont and the other participating agencies will be the first since the plan’s inception in 2004. … ” Read more from the Record Gazette here: Beaumont participates in fee increase to protect species habitats
Nestlé doesn’t have valid rights to water it’s been bottling, California officials say
“California water officials on Friday issued a draft order telling Nestlé to “cease and desist” taking much of the millions of gallons of water it pipes out of the San Bernardino National Forest to sell as Arrowhead brand bottled water. The order, which must be approved by the California Water Resources Control Board, caps years of regulatory probes and a public outcry over the company’s water pipeline in the San Bernardino Mountains, where opponents argue that siphoning away water harms spring-fed Strawberry Creek and the wildlife that depends on it. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Nestlé doesn’t have valid rights to water it’s been bottling, California officials say
Nestle told to cease unauthorized diversions in San Bernardino National Forest
“Following numerous complaints and a multi-year investigation into unauthorized spring water diversions in the San Bernardino National Forest by Nestle Waters North America, the State Water Resources Control Board today issued a revised Report of Investigation and a draft Cease and Desist Order directing the company to stop its unlawful activities. Nestle has 20 days to respond to the draft order and request a hearing or the State Water Board may issue a final order. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: Nestle told to cease unauthorized diversions in San Bernardino National Forest
Along the Colorado River …
The fight for water around the Colorado River basin
“The Colorado River cuts through the Grand Canyon, providing water for about 40 million people and 5 and a half million acres of farmland. To some, the water is as valuable as oil. In 1922, the seven U.S. states through which the river flows signed onto The Colorado River Compact, a water-sharing agreement that divvies up the river’s annual flow. The water must be shared equally between Upper Basin states: Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico; and the Lower Basin: California, Arizona and Nevada. There’s been infighting ever since. ... ” Read more from Channel 16 here: The fight for water around the Colorado River basin
In national news this weekend …
‘The continents are drying out:’ New research shows troubling water trends
“New research by a team led by University of Saskatchewan (USask) hydrologist Jay Famiglietti shows water is leaving the continents at an increasing rate, which is fuelling sea level rise. “The continents are drying out,” said Famiglietti. “We’re talking about water security being at risk, we’re talking about food security being at risk.” Famiglietti, the former senior water scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, is now the director of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan and a Canada 150 Research Chair in Hydrology and Remote Sensing. … ” Read more from Water Canada here: ‘The continents are drying out:’ New research shows troubling water trends
Pope Francis, in Earth Day messages, warns ‘we are at the edge’ on climate change
“In twin Earth Day messages, Pope Francis warned a gathering of world leaders and the global community at large that “we are at the edge” with climate change, and the time to take action is now. The pope made appearances minutes apart April 22 during two virtual events marking Earth Day: the international leaders summit on climate organized by U.S. President Joe Biden, and the Earth Day Live livestream organized by the Earth Day Network. In both, Francis urged presidents and prime ministers to act courageously in addressing climate change, and to learn from the coronavirus pandemic the need to create “a just, equitable, environmentally safe planet.” … ” Read more from the National Catholic Reporter here: Pope Francis, in Earth Day messages, warns ‘we are at the edge’ on climate change
NASA and the new urgency of climate change
” … When Biden won the election in November, many in the space industry expected — and some, perhaps, feared — NASA would shift direction, emphasizing climate change over human spaceflight. The Democratic Party’s platform had only a brief mention of space, but it included “strengthening” Earth observation programs “to better understand how climate change is impacting our home planet.” Three months into the new administration, it’s increasingly clear those changes aren’t nearly as radical as some might have thought. There are, in statements by NASA and the White House, signs of increased emphasis on climate change research, and increased funding, but not necessarily at the expense of other science or human spaceflight programs. And, despite its expertise in Earth science research, NASA has had to struggle to gain a role in broader discussions about climate change policies. … ” Read more from Space News here: NASA and the new urgency of climate change
Our losing phosphate wager
And lastly …
Barrelhouse Brewing and Genesis Systems team up to make ‘beer from air’
“BarrelHouse Brewing Co. [in Paso Robles] is teaming up with Genesis Systems to create what they say may be the purest sourced beer in the world. In a first of its kind fusion of brewing and mass atmospheric water technology for sustained beverage production, BarrelHouse Brewing Company and Genesis Systems LLC have announced a memorandum of agreement in which Genesis Systems will provide one of its patented AquaGENTM water generation systems to BarrelHouse Brewing for the purpose of sourcing clean, environmentally friendly water for the brewing processes. … Using Genesis’ patented technology, which uses a fluid-based process to extract pure water vapor from the air, BarrelHouse is positioning to supply itself with affordable, reliable, self-sourced freshwater. ...” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: Barrelhouse Brewing and Genesis Systems team up to make ‘beer from air’
Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …
WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for April 18-23: Water wars! What are they good for?, plus all the top water news of the week
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Donell Reservoir, Middle Fork Stanislaus River. Photo by Bodey Marcoccia
