On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water will meet at 9am. Bills to be heard include a bill to establish the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Fund, a bill to extend sea level rise planning efforts to 2028, and other bills. Click here for agenda and audio link.
- WORKSHOP: CV-SALTS Preliminary Management Zone Proposals and Early Action Plans from 1pm to 4pm. Central Valley Water Board staff will hold a virtual public workshop to discuss Priority 1 Nitrate Control Program Preliminary Management Zone Proposals (PMZPs) and Early Action Plans (EAPs), which were submitted to the Board on March 8, 2021. To review PMZPs and EAPs, click here. Click here to watch on YouTube. To comment, see registration information in full meeting notice.
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Central Coast Regional Workshop on Expanding Nature-Based Solutions and Advancing 30×30 from 4pm to 6pm. Join the California Natural Resources Agency and our partners for a Central Coast regional workshop to provide input on meeting the State’s commitment to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 and accelerate nature-based solutions to address climate change. The April 27th Central Coast regional workshop encompasses Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties. All meetings are open to the public, regardless of you or your organization’s geographic location. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
‘Historic’ drought forces water restrictions in NorCal, but restrictions could soon extend statewide
” … California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for the Russian River watershed in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Marin County borders Sonoma. Newsom chose to make the declaration in those two counties only, rather than statewide, as some officials and farmers in the agricultural-rich Central Valley had hoped. But Newsom said a broader drought declaration could come as conditions change. “If you’re in a different part of the state, you probably need to know that this will one day happen to you,” Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said of the drought declaration. ... ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: ‘Historic’ drought forces water restrictions in norcal, but restrictions could soon extend statewide
California Farm Water Coalition details how water cuts are affecting ag
“The California Farm Water Coalition (CFWC) has detailed how limited water supplies are affecting agricultural production. Dry conditions in California have resulted in a decline in acreage of several crops due to significantly reduced water availability. Approximately two million acres of irrigated farmland has had a reduction of 95 percent of its water supply for the year. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: California Farm Water Coalition details how water cuts are affecting ag
Low water allocations remind growers of 2015
“2015 is not a year most farmers remember fondly. The severe drought affected California agriculture in profound ways, and alarmingly 2021 is looking very similar. Mike Wade is the executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition, which is a non-profit educational organization to help inform the public about agricultural water use. Wade… “We’ve got quite a situation in California this year, similar to what we saw in 2015. … ” Continue reading at Cal Ag Today here: Low water allocations remind growers of 2015
Fresno County joins coalition seeking California Emergency Drought Declaration
“Fresno County is once again in a water crisis. In late March, the California Department of Water Resources announced the 2021 State Water Project (SWP) allocation to Fresno County farmers would be only 5% of requested water supplies, half of what DWR had announced would be available in December. The reduction will have a serious impact on Fresno County farmers and agriculture throughout the Central Valley. ... ” Read more from Roseville and Rocklin Today here: Fresno County joins coalition seeking California Emergency Drought Declaration
Commentary: Why is the governor refusing to acknowledge the obvious?
Assemblyman Vince Fong writes, “Californians recognize drought when it occurs. With just four short years since the worst drought in California history, water challenges always remain top of mind. At this moment, 94 percent of California is experiencing “moderate” to “exceptional” drought conditions. The last two winters have been disappointingly dry, leaving California’s major reservoirs reduced and accelerating the pace of the 2021 drought to emergency levels. The governor’s administration recently announced that it expects to deliver a mere 5 percent of requested supplies from the State Water Project, a percentage so low it mirrors the same dire conditions that prompted then-Governor Brown to declare a drought emergency in 2014. Despite nearly identical precursory conditions, bipartisan pressure from Central Valley lawmakers, and public outcries from farmers and water agencies, Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to follow suit. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Why is the governor refusing to acknowledge the obvious?
Stunning DDT dump site off L.A. coast much bigger than scientists expected
“When the research vessel Sally Ride set sail for Santa Catalina Island to map an underwater graveyard of DDT waste barrels, its crew had high hopes of documenting for the first time just how many corroded containers littered the seafloor off the coast of Los Angeles. But as the scientists on deck began interpreting sonar images gathered by two deep-sea robots, they were quickly overwhelmed. It was like trying to count stars in the Milky Way. The dumpsite, it turned out, was much, much bigger than expected. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Stunning DDT dump site off L.A. coast much bigger than scientists expected
Marine scientists find up to 25,000 barrels at DDT dump site off L.A. coast
“Marine scientists say they have found what they believe to be as many as 25,000 barrels that possibly contain DDT dumped off the Southern California coast near Catalina Island, where a massive underwater toxic waste site dating back to World War II has long been suspected. The 27,345 “barrel-like” images were captured by researchers at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. They mapped more than 36,000 acres of seafloor between Santa Catalina Island and the Los Angeles coast in a region previously found to contain high levels of the toxic chemical in sediments and in the ecosystem. ... ” Read more from KTLA here: Marine scientists find up to 25,000 barrels at DDT dump site off L.A. coast
Senator Dianne Feinstein: Underwater Mapping of DDT Dump Site Confirms Worst Fears
Statement from Senator Feinstein: ““The expedition’s findings confirm fears that a large number of barrels containing DDT-laced industrial waste were dumped off the coast of California and are now impacting marine life and potentially public health. “This expedition looked at just one of more than 10 total dump sites. Within the 36,000 acres examined, more than 25,000 barrels were identified, with tens of thousands of additional debris objects that could be more barrels. This is a massive and potentially very dangerous problem. “Simply put, this is one of the biggest environmental threats on the West Coast. It’s also one of the most challenging because these barrels are 3,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and there aren’t many records of who did the dumping, where exactly it occurred or how many barrels were dumped. … ” Continue reading Senator Feinstein’s statement here:Underwater Mapping of DDT Dump Site Confirms Worst Fears
Ridgecrest: Searles Valley Minerals seeks temporary restraining order to protect employees, community in face of exorbitant new groundwater replenishment fee
“Searles Valley Minerals Inc. (Searles), an economic bedrock of the Trona and Ridgecrest communities, filed litigation for an emergency order today in Orange County Superior Court to save local jobs and stop an excessive groundwater fee imposed by the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (Authority). The Authority has demanded payment of this fee and threatened to shut off water supplies, despite the fact that they have no plan as to how the fee will be used. The water supply shutoff would not only impact Searles, but also cut supplies to the disadvantaged Trona communities that rely on Searles as their sole source of domestic water. ... ”
SGMA assistance bill moving through legislative process
“Assembly Bill 350 seeks to help farmers and ranchers navigate the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The SGMA assistance bill would provide funding for technical support for producers to help with compliance. Introduced by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua, the bill is being sponsored by American Farmland Trust (AFT). The legislation was passed out of the Assembly Agriculture Committee with a unanimous vote and is being heard in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee beginning April 26. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: SGMA assistance bill moving through legislative process
How a Central California winery uses worms in wine production
“Worms are helping a Valley winery on its path to becoming more green. Olympic-sized swimming pools at O’Neill Winery are actually beds filled with worms helping the company become greener. “Our technology at BioFiltro, what it is is the star of the show is the worm. Ultimately, the worms are known as an ecosystem or environmental engineers,” said Mai Ann Healy, BioFiltro spokesperson. BioFiltro, an international company, was able to go through Fresno State’s Valley Ventures program that focuses on water, engineering and technology businesses. The worms are known for converting waste or organic matter. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: How a Central California winery uses worms in wine production
Fire season already? 85% of CA is in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, latest numbers show
“The rain system that came through Southern California and other parts of the state this past weekend has moved through — and didn’t leave much on the ground. Experts say a majority of California is dealing with drought conditions, and they continue to worsen. If you blinked on Sunday, it’s very possible you missed the rain, drizzle, or whatever you’d like to call it. Bad news — as places like Santa Rosa in the Bay Area were expecting half an inch of rain. ... ” Read more from ABC 7 here: Fire season already? 85% of CA is in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought, latest numbers show
California is primed for a severe fire season, but just how bad is anybody’s guess
“At this point, it seems like almost a given that California will see another historic fire season. A meager rainy season is in the rearview mirror. Snowpack is depleted. Vegetation and soils are parched. “All the indications are that we are heading into another really bad fire year,” said Safeeq Khan, assistant cooperative extension specialist of water and watershed sciences at the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California is primed for a severe fire season, but just how bad is anybody’s guess
In regional water news and commentary today …
Competing fish needs spark Klamath legal dispute
“The competing needs of different protected fish species are pitting the Klamath Tribes against the federal government in a court battle with legal implications for Oregon irrigators. The Klamath Tribes are seeking an injunction to scale back how much water the federal government can release from Upper Klamath Lake to the detriment of endangered sucker species that inhabit it. The tribes claim the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has reduced the lake’s water level below the minimum needed for Lost River and shortnose suckers, contrary to the Endangered Species Act’s requirements for operating the Klamath Irrigation project. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Competing fish needs spark Klamath legal dispute
Editorial: Change in water rights feels wrong to some
The Bend Bulletin writes, “Oregon’s water law is — on one level — about who was first. So when there is not enough water for everyone to get their water right, people who have more senior water rights get first dibs. They can make a “call” to receive water. Users with junior water rights get shut off until senior water rights are satisfied, as the issue was summed up for legislators. … ” Continue reading at the Herald & News here: Editorial: Change in water rights feels wrong to some
Lewiston Dam release to drastically increase water flow on the Trinity River this week
“The largest water release of the season is scheduled to happen at the Lewiston Dam on Wednesday, bringing a surge of cold, treacherous water to the Trinity River. The release is a response to the “Critically Dry” Water Year forecasted for the Trinity River by the California Department of Water Resources based on recorded natural flow volume at the Lewiston Dam, the Trinity River Restoration Program reports. These “restoration flows” are done to prevent the further decline of the river’s salmon and steelhead populations. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Lewiston Dam release to drastically increase water flow on the Trinity River this week
Federal agencies announce final schedule for Clear Creek spring pulse flows
“The Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA Fisheries, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced their plan today for pulse flow releases from Whiskeytown Dam into Clear Creek in May. Pulse flows are rapid increases and decreases in dam-released flows occurring over a short time. The release of water aims to advance recovery of threatened Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon by attracting adult salmon to move upstream to take advantage of cooler summer water temperatures and improved habitat. Flow releases for the pulse will begin on May 7 and reach a peak of 900 cubic feet per second May 8 to 11. Flow rates will reduce to 200 cfs by May 16. Clear Creek flows will further reduce to a 150 cfs summer base flow by June 1. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Federal agencies announce final schedule for Clear Creek spring pulse flows
Folsom Reservoir: Sierra foothill wildflower super bloom of lupine brings ominous warning for low lake levels
“A dry Folsom Lake now has waves of bright, purple wildflowers swaying in the breeze. But the beauty comes with a gloomier sign. The super bloom of lupine that blankets the Beeks Bight nature area in Granite Bay, north of Sacramento, is a reminder of how low lake levels have gotten in California. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: Folsom Reservoir: Sierra foothill wildflower super bloom of lupine brings ominous warning for low lake levels
Major Bay Area water district on brink of declaring stage 1 drought
“After two exceptionally dry California winters, the East Bay Municipal Utility District is on the brink of declaring a stage 1 drought and asking customers to establish a district-wide voluntary water use reduction of 10 percent. The utility district’s board of directors is meeting Tuesday night and district staff members will present the 2021 Water Supply Availability and Deficiency Report and make the recommendation. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Major Bay Area water district on brink of declaring stage 1 drought
Mayor nominates City Attorney Herrera to lead San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
“Mayor London Breed on Monday said she has nominated City Attorney Dennis Herrera to lead the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission as general manager. Next, the five-member commission that oversees the commission is expected to interview Herrera, and if he is selected, will forward a recommendation to the mayor, who would then formally appoint him. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Mayor nominates City Attorney Herrera to lead San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Understanding the Tri-Valley’s water supply
Olivia Sanwong, president of the Zone 7 Water Agency Board of Directors, writes, “May is Water Awareness Month. As we face the most significant spring drought since 2013, we want to share key information about the state of water in the Tri-Valley and how Zone 7 is working collaboratively with local partners to secure reliable sources of water for our future. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly here: Understanding the Tri-Valley’s water supply
Monterey: Researchers, robots dive into what makes some bay algal blooms toxic
” … 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. State officials, academics and regional groups monitor domoic acid. Seafood is tested for it before it makes its way to consumer’s plates. But little is known about the molecular and environmental factors that trigger toxin-laced algal blooms, which have become increasingly common, and severe in recent years. Ryan, and collaborators are investigating just that. … ” Read the full story at the East Bay Times here: Researchers, robots dive into what makes some bay algal blooms toxic
Santa Cruz County to host septic and water permit townhall for fire survivors
“CZU Lightning Complex fire survivors who are rebuilding their homes, are invited to join the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery and Resilience on Saturday for a townhall on the septic and water permitting process. “People can expect to hear about the regulations that apply in different circumstances to rebuilding…they’ll hear the things they need to know to successfully put together a rebuilding project that takes into account the septic and water requirements. Which can drive in some cases what they’re rebuilding,” said Santa Cruz County Assistant Planning Director Paia Levine. “This is the kind of information they need early on the process so it can be in the mix as they go forward and design.” … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz County to host septic and water permit townhall for fire survivors
Santa Clarita Groundwater Sustainability Agency seeking committee applicants
“The SCV-GSA is reportedly looking for three qualified candidates to join its Stakeholder Advisory Committee, a committee that helps to advise the SCV-GSA board. “The Committee provides the SCV-GSA with insight and expertise on various social, cultural and economic issues impacting groundwater management in the Santa Clarita Valley,” stated officials with the agency. “The Committee advises the SCV-GSA board on decisions and policy such as sustainable management criteria and implementation.” The job openings on the committee are reportedly for both a small and a medium groundwater pumper and a community-at-large member. ... ” Read more from SCV News here: Santa Clarita Groundwater Sustainability Agency seeking committee applicants
California authorities say Nestlé is illegally gulping up public water
“On Friday, California’s State Water Resources Control Board issued a draft Cease and Desist order against Nestlé, demanding that the beverage behemoth stop pumping millions of gallons of water from the San Bernardino National Forest, which it then peddles as bottled water under its Arrowhead brand. The order—which still requires official approval by the water board—is the culmination of a years-long battle between the company and environmentalists who say Nestlé has been siphoning water away from Strawberry Creek for next to nothing under a permit that expired in 1988. The thirsty mega-corp reportedly didn’t even bother with environmental impact studies during California’s last drought. ... ” Read more from LA Magazine here: California authorities say Nestlé is illegally gulping up public water
Along the Colorado River …
Cutbacks in water for central AZ farmers expected
“Arizona may be facing its first official declaration of water shortage next year, a move that would trigger water cutbacks of 512,000 acre-feet — almost 20% of Arizona’s Colorado River entitlement — affecting mainly agricultural users. The 24-Month Study on the Colorado River system, released this month by the Bureau of Reclamation, projects that in June water levels in Lake Mead will fall below 1,075 feet for the first time, which would put the state in a Tier 1 shortage. A Tier 1 shortage, which is highly likely for 2022 and 2023, would mean a reduction of about 30% of the Central Arizona Project’s delivery supply, but the shortage wouldn’t be declared until officials see the August 24-Month Study, which they use to make water allocation decisions. … ” Read more from the Arizona Capitol Times here: Cutbacks in water for central AZ farmers expected
New Arizona law gives more money for water projects
“Gov. Doug Ducey on April 21 signed a bill that provides larger grants for developing water projects in rural areas, but questions linger on whether there will be any money for them. House Bill 2388, sponsored by Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford, expands the amount of a single grant from the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund from $100,000 to $250,000. The recipient water provider must be located in a county with a population of fewer than 1.5 million people. … ” Read more from the Arizona Capitol Times here: New Arizona law gives more money for water projects
Writers on the range: Pumping up fear along the Colorado River
George Sibley writes, “Some Colorado River tribulations today remind me of a folk story: A young man went to visit his fiancée and found the family trembling and weeping. They pointed to the ceiling, where an ax was embedded in a rafter. “That could fall,” the father quavered. “It could kill someone.” Puzzled, the young man climbed onto a chair and pulled the ax out of the rafter. Everyone fell all over themselves thanking him. But he quickly broke off the engagement, concerned that such inanity might be inheritable. This resembles ongoing dithering over the 1922 Colorado River Compact, a 99-year-old agreement among the seven states through which the Colorado River meanders, on how the consumptive use of the river’s water should be divided to give each state a fair share. ... ” Read more from the Steamboat Pilot & Today here: Writers on the range: Pumping up fear along the Colorado River
In national water news today …
A better way to understand drought
“Scientists have few categories at their disposal to describe droughts, which are more complex than mere shortages of precipitation or surface water. For example, some local shortages can be invisible, as when water is transferred into a dry area from a distant source. Other shortages are chronic, with communities continuously requiring more water than is available, even in wet years. Some water shortages occur when water quality becomes so degraded that even though there may be plenty of water available, little of it is usable. With such variation in conditions, scientists need better language to conceptualize droughts. ... ” Read more from EOS here: A better way to understand drought
Species or ecosystems: How best to restore the natural world?
“The Serengeti plain of East Africa is one of the world’s great wild lands — teeming with lions, leopards and migrating wildebeest. But is it ecologically intact, a rare fragment of the earth unaltered by the hand of humanity? Or is it, as many researchers argue, a human-created landscape, nurtured by generations of Maasai cattle herders? And should we care? In the Anthropocene, should conservation be about protecting iconic species, ecological intactness, nature’s resilience, or human custody of landscapes —whether in the Serengeti or other famed wild landscapes such as the rainforests of the Congo basin or the vast tundras of Siberia and Canada? … ” Species or ecosystems: How best to restore the natural world?
Biden’s climate plan won’t limit meat consumption
“President Joe Biden does not have any plans to limit meat consumption as part of his broader climate plan, according to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. While speaking before the North American Agricultural Journalists annual meeting on Monday morning, Vilsack quickly downplayed the rumors. “There is no effort designed to limit people’s intake of beef coming out of President Biden’s White House and USDA,” Vilsack says. ... ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Biden’s climate plan won’t limit meat consumption
In commentary today …
Biden offers California a clear, clean water strategy
The Mercury News and East Bay Times editorial board writes, “California’s continuing failure to adopt a comprehensive water strategy is exacerbating its looming drought crisis. For nearly two decades, the state has put its focus on dam projects and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta tunnel fiasco. The primary aim is creating new ways of diverting additional water to Central Valley farmers at the expense of the fragile, over-tapped Delta, which supplies about one-third of the Bay Area’s fresh water supply. There’s a better approach. President Biden’s infrastructure plan calls for $50 billion to ease the West’s drought crisis by heavily investing in water efficiency and recycling programs.. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Biden offers California a clear, clean water strategy
Today’s featured articles …
STATE WATER BOARD: Update on the Oil and Gas Monitoring Program
A look at how the state is (or is not) regulating fracking and aquifer exemptions
One of the most controversial areas of current environmental policy is the debate over hydraulic fracturing (or fracking). The process involves the injection of pressurized fluid deep underground to break apart the subsurface layers to enhance oil and gas recovery. Hydraulic fracturing has occurred in California and nationwide for decades; however, recent advancements in horizontal drilling technologies and “well stimulation” techniques have been instrumental in triggering an oil and gas boom, making the U.S. the world’s largest producer of oil and gas reserves. California produces more oil than all but three other states (Texas, North Dakota and Alaska), and Kern County is responsible for more than 70 percent of the state’s oil production.
Click here to read this article.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
BLOG ROUND-UP: Water and drought deceit: More dubious policies; The Bay-Delta salmon crisis that didn’t have to be; DWP originally designed for a six year drought; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
