In California water news this weekend …
Disappearing Lake Oroville forces 130 houseboats to be pulled from the water
“Dozens of houseboats are being pulled out of Lake Oroville this week due to falling water levels. The California Department of Parks and Recreation at Lake Oroville has been working on the low water plan with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Aaron Wright, the Public Safety Chief for the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area said 130 houseboats were flagged for removal because they are moored in shallow water and could be damaged as the water levels go down and underwater islands emerge. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Disappearing Lake Oroville forces 130 houseboats to be pulled from the water
Facing a drought, California’s farmers make hard choices
“In wetter times, these feathery beds of asparagus would produce generations of tender green spears, reaching for the vast San Joaquin Valley sky. On Monday they were disked into the dry dirt, their long lives cut short by unreliable and expensive water. “It’s a really sad day,” said Fresno County’s Joe Del Bosque, who has destroyed 100 acres of organic asparagus so he can divert precious water to more valuable melons. “The water is so uncertain this year. We didn’t think we’d have enough to carry it through.” With no guarantee of irrigation water this summer, Del Bosque and other California farmers are making tough choices, sacrificing one crop to save another. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Facing a drought, California’s farmers make hard choices
Drought intensifies and expands in the American West
“The scale of the drought hitting the American West is beginning to crystallize as Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona experienced their driest year in terms of precipitation on record, according to the National Center for Environmental Information. In Utah and California, it was the second-driest winter on record. For Wyoming, it was the third-driest ever. For Colorado, only three winters were ever drier in the 127-year history of record-keeping at the center. “This is extreme,” said Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Drought intensifies and expands in the American West
One congressman says ‘we are a special kind of stupid’ when it comes to drought
“Some GOP members of Congress say it is federal and state policies that are the main culprit behind the unprecedented drought gripping the West, not just the weather. And while Utah’s Republican Gov. Spencer Cox agrees with them that more water infrastructure will help Utah and other states be better prepared, he is taking steps to now ensure Utahns conserve what precious water the state has. A webinar convened Wednesday by the GOP members of the House Committee on Natural Resources detailed the extreme water shortages that many say is a worst-in-a-lifetime event idling farms in regions that stretch from Oregon into Utah and New Mexico. … ” Read more from Deseret News here: One congressman says ‘we are a special kind of stupid’ when it comes to drought
As the West faces a drought emergency, some ranchers are restoring grasslands to build water reserves
“It’s calving season and all across the West ranchers are watching the sizes of their herds grow. It’s also the beginning of a new season on most ranches, but in the midst of a historic, persistent drought, a growing herd brings difficult questions. As average temperatures climb and the water that flows through many of the major rivers and creeks across the west is slowing, the availability of forage—grass, legumes, and other edible pasture plants—has become less predictable. As a result, many ranchers face complex calculations: Do they sell off some of their cattle and cut a profit, but risk flooding the market and getting a low price? Or do they hold onto their herd and buy extra hay and forage, rent additional pasture, or risk overgrazing—and further drying out—the land? ... ” Read more from Civil Eats here: As the West faces a drought emergency, some ranchers are restoring grasslands to build water reserves
Group urges continued access to Liberty Island Ecological Reserve
“A fisherman who has been working the Shag Slough for years pulled his line out of the water Tuesday, made his way up the levee slope and across a gated, concrete bridge to get to the other side of the slough. Maybe the bite would be better over there. A small group of people had set up a little camp along the opposite shoreline, and a number of anglers were parked along the levee road. All that access – some illegal by the letter of the law – would go away under the proposed $118.6 million Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Management Project. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Group urges continued access to Liberty Island Ecological Reserve
Big salmon in small amounts at Lake Oroville? Here’s why
“Anglers casting lines with hopes of catching a salmon or other fish have ran into changes on both Lake Oroville and the Feather River in Butte County in the spring 2021 season. Fishing guide Rob Reimers, owner of Rustic Rob’s Guide Service, leads fishing trips on both Lake Oroville and the Feather River, as well as other nearby waterways such as Bullard’s Bar, Collin’s Lake and Lake Berryessa. … On Lake Oroville, Reimers has seen reduced amounts of salmon as well, however the fish he and his clients are finding have been large in size. ... ” Continue reading at the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Big salmon in small amounts at Lake Oroville? Here’s why
Congressman Jared Huffman introduces water infrastructure bill to improve drought preparedness and water supply reliability
“[Thursday], Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) reintroduced his FUTURE Western Water Infrastructure and Drought Resiliency Act (FUTURE Act), an ambitious water infrastructure proposal that is the culmination of months of public vetting and legislative development. This bill would develop more resilient water infrastructure, expand the use of modern water management tools and technologies, and assist underserved areas in meeting their drinking water needs. “As the country starts to rebuild from the pandemic, we are facing another year of devastating droughts in the West. We cannot keep lurching from one crisis to the next, and it’s become abundantly clear that we must build resilient systems that work for everyone,” said Rep. Huffman. “Thanks to impressive public input, we have shaped a bill that will help us work together to improve drought preparedness and water supply reliability in a changing climate. Federal water policy does not need to be a zero-sum game. This legislation builds on the best ideas from everyone to secure a better water future and a healthier, more resilient, more sustainable economy for everyone.” ... ” Continue reading at Congressman Jared Huffman’s website here: Congressman Jared Huffman introduces water infrastructure bill to improve drought preparedness and water supply reliability
Governor’s California Comeback Plan includes Sierra Nevada wildfire resilience
“It is the middle of May, and Californians across the state are starting to feel the effects of a water year that has left much of the state in drought. In the Sierra Nevada, dry-too-soon landscapes dominated by overgrown forests are raising concerns about a rewind of the historically destructive 2020 fire season. The good news, such as it is, is that state leaders are increasingly allocating resources to match the challenges megafires, like those we saw last year, create for California and the Sierra Nevada. Last week, Governor Newsom reaffirmed support for a down-payment on Sierra Nevada wildfire resilience with a $708-million 2021-2022 budget proposal. It includes an additional $50 million for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to fund forest health and fuel reduction projects in the region. If enacted, we expect that funding from this budget would start becoming available for projects in early 2022. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Governor’s California Comeback Plan includes Sierra Nevada wildfire resilience
How one California community protected itself from forest fires
“California’s in a drought emergency that could mean another year of devastating wildfires. To try to help prevent them, Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed massive spending on prescribed burns. That is setting small fires on purpose. Danielle Venton of member station KQED reports on how that saved one community last year. In the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains sits Rock Haven. It’s a small private holding in a forest of cedar, fir and pine trees. And for years, it was a ticking fire time bomb as throughout the West, natural fire had been suppressed for a century. … ” Read/listen at NPR here: How one California community protected itself from forest fires
Using prescribed fire to improve habitat and save wildlife
“Much like a doctor uses medication to treat an ailment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service often prescribes fire to increase the overall health of the land and to protect communities from catastrophic wildfire. For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, prescribed fire is the planned application of low to moderate intensity burns onto the landscape by fire and fuel specialists to meet land management objectives. “Prescribed fire is a tool that national wildlife refuges use throughout the country and, in particular, California and Nevada, to reduce fuel loads and refresh habitats by cleaning up older or dead vegetation/buildup,” said Jennifer Hinckley, regional fire management coordinator for the Service. “This tool can lower the intensity or even prevent wildfires on the land by reducing the fuel [vegetation] available for consumption by wildfires. Lower intensity fires are safer and easier for firefighters to control.” … ” Read more from the US FWS here: Using prescribed fire to improve habitat and save wildlife
Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
“At its May 20, 2021 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $23.5 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 35 approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife — including some endangered species — while others will provide public access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community. ... ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
In people news this weekend …
Metropolitan Water District’s Jeff Kightlinger reflects on building big things, essential partnerships and his hopes for the Delta
“When you oversee the largest supplier of treated water in the United States, you tend to think big. Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for the last 15 years, has focused on diversifying his agency’s water supply and building security through investment. That means looking beyond MWD’s borders to ensure the reliable delivery of water to two-thirds of California’s population. Kightlinger, 61, planned to retire at the end of 2020 but stayed on into 2021 to guide Metropolitan through the COVID-19 pandemic. … In an interview with Western Water, Kightlinger shed light on how his agency is poised to handle drought and why he believes practicality and necessity will pave the way for the completion of a Delta alternative conveyance facility for the State Water Project. … ” Read more from Western Water here: Metropolitan Water District’s Jeff Kightlinger reflects on building big things, essential partnerships and his hopes for the Delta
Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District names Kristin Sicke as new General Manager
“Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce that Kristin Sicke has been selected to become the new general manager of the irrigation district. The District’s primary mission is to provide surface water for agricultural purposes in western Yolo County, and is integral to monitoring and maintaining sustainable groundwater supplies within the county. Kristin Sicke has served as assistant general manager for the District for the past six years and was the preferred candidate after a rigorous selection process. Upon assuming the general manager position, Ms. Sicke will be responsible for the full management of all operational and maintenance activities of the District, along with all administrative and regulatory compliance functions. Kristin will take over for Tim O’Halloran, who has led the agency for the past eighteen years. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District names Kristin Sicke as new General Manager
‘Powerful work’: The Sierra Fund poised to continue holistic legacy of former CEO Izzy Martin
“As Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin retires after 19 years as CEO of The Sierra Fund, the foothills celebrate the legacy and lament the loss of one of their greatest advocates. The fund is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the ecosystem and building community resiliency in the Sierra Nevada. In a year marred for many by financial strain, the nonprofit is in a strong and stable position to transition to new leadership, Martin explained, which is part of the reason she’s leaving. Martin said her career and mission have evolved with society’s understanding and appreciation for environmental issues since she began her vocation as an advocate on the very first Earth Day celebration in the San Francisco Bay area in 1970. … ” Read more from The Union here: ‘Powerful work’: The Sierra Fund poised to continue holistic legacy of former CEO Izzy Martin
Gary Griggs: Legendary oceanography professor has made sea changes in students’ lives
“The celebrated UC Santa Cruz oceanography professor Gary Griggs made a vow this spring, and he plans to stick with it. “I am going to be the last guy standing at UC Santa Cruz,” he declared with equal parts bluster and self-deprecating humor. Griggs, 77, distinguished professor of Earth and planetary sciences, is well aware of the fact that most faculty members who have taught for more than half a century, as he has, have the word “emeritus” or “emerita” hanging off the end of their titles. At this point, only one other active faculty member, a professor in the English Department, has been on campus longer than he has. … ” Continue reading at UC Santa Cruz here: Gary Griggs: Legendary oceanography professor has made sea changes in students’ lives
The legacy of Gordon Chan
“The pathway to Agate Beach, at the west end of Bolinas, is one of those trails where you hear the ocean before you really see it. A few hundred feet down there’s a bend, and then through a notch in the hill you get a sudden view of the deep blue over the rocks, and the bluffs of the marine terrace that stretches north along the coast up to Point Reyes. Right there at the curve, beneath a gnarled and wind-shifted cypress tree, there’s a bench to sit and gaze at the ocean and at its feet a plaque, affixed to a rock. The text on the plaque reads, “In memory of Dr. Gordon L. Chan, 1930-1996 who, to preserve the tidepool resources of this area, was instrumental in the creation of the Duxbury Marine Reserve.” It is a lovely memorial, and yet, once you learn a little about the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Gordon Chan, a curious one. … ” Continue reading at Bay Nature here: The legacy of Gordon Chan
Podcasts …
ECONEWS REPORT: Salmon’s struggle in the Shasta
“The Shasta River should be chock full of salmon. (It was, after all, the largest salmon producing tributary to the Klamath prior to Euro-American colonization.) The sweet waters of the Shasta have the perfect combination of elements to help grow big, fat fish: low velocity and a prime gravel bed, key nutrients, and cold, clean water. But the river is a shadow of its former self. Agricultural development has lapped up and polluted its waters and salmon struggle to survive. Yet, hope remains. If the river is restored and fish are given enough cold, clean water again they will come back. Friends of the Shasta River, the scrappy defenders of this river, join Gang Green to talk about the incomparable Shasta River and ongoing threats to the river, including a free pass to a California billionaire to continue to despoil the river.” Click here to listen to the EcoNews report at the Lost Coast Outpost.
WATER TALK PODCAST: Watering Urban Green Spaces
“A conversation with Janet Hartin (University of California Cooperative Extension Area Environmental Horticultural Advisor and Director for San Bernadino & Los Angeles Counties) and Dr. Amir Haghverdi (Assistant Cooperative Extension Professor of Water Management at University of California, Riverside) about watering turf grass, trees, and other urban vegetation as well as drought strategies.”
WATER LOOP PODCAST: Progress at the Speed of Trust with Dan Keppen and Taylor Hawes
“Historically the relationship between the agriculture sector and conservation community could be described as unproductive, tense, and even adversarial. But a significant shift toward cooperation during the last 20 years was driven by mutual concerns such as drought, urbanization, and sustainability. Forging personal connections and building trust made it possible, as discussed in this episode with Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, and Taylor Hawes, Colorado River Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. Dan and Taylor talk about a variety of collaborative projects between agriculture and conservation throughout the Colorado River Basin, the role of the Farm Bill in water management, and the pressure that lies ahead from increasing water scarcity.”
LET’S TALK ABOUT WATER PODCAST: Valuing Water
Valuing water is about much more than price. In this bonus episode (a condensed version of our Let’s Talk About Water virtual forum on World Water Day), Jay talks with three individuals each with a unique perspective on valuing water.
JIVE TALKING WITH DAVID ZETLAND: Chris Perry on how to realistically achieve sustainable irrigation
“Chris Perry originally qualified as an engineer before he studied economics (PhD, University of Stirling, 1976). He worked for World Bank for more than twenty years, allmost entirely on irrigation and water resources topics, spending ten of those years in India. After the World Bank, he was at the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka for five years, from whence he “retired” but he’s still busy, having been an Editor of the Journal of Agricultural Water Management for five years, and continuing to work on other research and projects.” Links here.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: The Value of Information
Steve Baker writes, “Montana citizens depend on groundwater and many times question if this resource is being threatened because of drought or overuse. It was the Montana legislature that recognized groundwater information as key to dealing with these kinds of conditions. 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
In commentary this weekend …
Editorial: The new normal — more dry years than wet years
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes, “We are living in an era of extremes. While that may read like the start of an editorial about national politics, today’s topic is water. Open an almanac or turn to the weather page and you can find average annual rainfall figures. As for that “average” year — well, good luck finding one. Here on the North Coast, we seem to whipsaw between wet years and dry years. “We have floods and we have droughts, Supervisor David Rabbitt told the editorial board, “and there’s usually not much in between.” … ” Read more from the Press Democrat here: Editorial: The new normal — more dry years than wet years
Community Voices: Failing water infrastructure disproportionately hurts disadvantaged communities
Ian LeMay, president of the California Fresh Fruit Association, writes, “The infrastructure Californians rely on to move water throughout the state is aging, deteriorating and in desperate need of repair. The cost of doing nothing will be borne by all water users — cities, towns, businesses, farms and the environment. However, the negative impacts from further neglect will land disproportionately on already disadvantaged communities. In California, nearly one million people lack access to clean drinking water, and more than 350,000 of them are in the San Joaquin Valley. Most of these people live in low-income rural areas and they are predominantly people of color. The water systems serving these areas, if they exist at all, are very small. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Community Voices: Failing water infrastructure disproportionately hurts disadvantaged communities
In regional water news this weekend …
Dead in the water: Serious fish kill consumes the Klamath River
“As it enters the Yurok Reservation, the Lower Klamath River is as picturesque as it gets. Clear water rushes over gentle rapids, framed by verdant hills and a cerulean sky. An untrained eye would never notice the devastation beneath the surface — save for the tiny fish floating lifeless in the water. Over the past several weeks, an outbreak of the parasite Ceratonova shasta has ripped through young salmon throughout the lower reaches of the Klamath watershed. Driven by high temperatures and low flows out of Iron Gate Dam, the disease is resulting in what the Yurok Tribe is calling a “catastrophic” fish kill. ... ” Continue reading at the Herald & News here: Dead in the water: Serious fish kill consumes the Klamath River
‘Our juvenile fish are dying in real time’; Yurok Tribal Chairman describes Klamath River’s dire outlook at Town Hall
“About a week after the Yurok Tribe announced drought conditions were contributing to a catastrophic juvenile fish kill, its chairman called for a change in water management in the Klamath basin. Participating in a town hall meeting hosted by State Sen. Mike McGuire focusing on California’s response to the drought, Chairman Joseph L. James painted a dim picture for the Klamath basin’s coho and chinook runs. “Our juvenile fish are dying in real time,” he said Thursday. “We are traditional river people. The Klamath River’s our life and identity, it’s our culture of who we are. Right now it’s all hands on deck for us. The fish kill will impact our tribal citizens and our community for years to come.” … ” Continue reading at the Lost Coast Outpost here: ‘Our juvenile fish are dying in real time’; Yurok Tribal Chairman describes Klamath River’s dire outlook at Town Hall
Juvenile fish kill, massive disease outbreak puts Klamath salmon on path to extinction
“The Yurok Tribe said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Wednesday it would not release water to prevent a catastrophic juvenile fish kill on the Klamath River. The tribe said Thursday even though historic drought is the primary cause of the lack of water, previous BOR water allocation decision led to the widespread fish kill. The Yurok said it could have been prevented with a flow increase. “Right now, the Klamath River is full of dead and dying fish on the Yurok Reservation,” Frankie Myers, the Yurok Tribe’s Vice Chairman, said. “This disease will kill most of the baby salmon in the Klamath, which will impact fish runs for many years to come. For salmon people, a juvenile fish kill is an absolute worst-case scenario.” … ” Read more from KRCR TV here: Juvenile fish kill, massive disease outbreak puts Klamath salmon on path to extinction
Senator McGuire holds virtual drought town hall
“With Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Marin and parts of Mendocino County classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor as exceptional, the worst of five categories for intensifying drought, State Senator Mike McGuire held a Drought Town Hall on May 20, 2021, covering current drought conditions, expectations in the coming months, measures to curtail water use and resources available from the state to respond to this historic crisis. Presenters included Grant Davis, General Manager of Sonoma Water; Joseph James, Chairman of the Yurok Tribe; Ben Horenstein, General Manager Marin Municipal Water District, and Carmel Angelo, CEO Mendocino County. … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Senator McGuire holds virtual drought town hall
Ukiah: Environment: Controlling water in the region – Part 2
“On May 10, Lake Mendocino had 36,897-acre feet of water—42.6 per cent of its target water supply of 86,571-acre feet; the Sonoma County Water Agency has been releasing the minimum 25 cubic-feet-per-second required to meet state compliance regulations, not presently using it for their customers; and stakeholders have been discussing the necessity of leaving 20,000-acre feet of water in the lake through October. So, the question is how much can be released over the next five months while maintaining the required flow and still leaving 20,000-acre feet. … ” Continue reading at the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Environment: Controlling water in the region – Part 2
Georgetown Divide Public Utility District: Water supply sufficient
“The Georgetown Divide Public Utility District’s 2020 Urban Water Management and Water Shortage Contingency Plan finds the district will have enough water to meet 20-year demand projections. “This plan is required every five years. This is our iteration of it and it’s kind of an evolving document every five years,” said Water Resources Manager Adam Brown. … ” Read more at the Mountain Democrat here: Georgetown Divide Public Utility District: Water supply sufficient
Editorial: Wastewater woes of Ione reaching epic levels of ineptitude
The Amador Ledger-Dispatch Publisher Jack Mitchell writes, ” … the biggest issue with the violations and concerns regarding the City of Ione’s Wastewater and Tertiary Wastewater Treatment plants is that most of the issues could be resolved if not for the fact that the California Department of Corrections is dumping industrial waste into the Preston Reservoir requiring the City of Ione to cease accepting secondary disinfected effluent from ARSA and the city of Sutter Creek. Mule Creek State Prison has multiple industrial activities, a meat packing plant, a coffee roasting plant, they at one time had a wood shop, a laundry facility, and a number of other prison industries that create industrial waste. The interesting thing – not a single treatment plant – not the city of Ione’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Ione Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Plant, or even the California Department of Correction’s treatment facility on site – have the capability to treat the industrial waste. … ” Read the full commentary at the Amador Ledger Dispatch here: Editorial: Wastewater woes of Ione reaching epic levels of ineptitude
‘I was looking at the bones of great beasts’: Astounding discovery made in Calif. valley
“It started with a petrified tree, half-buried in the mud of the Mokelumne River watershed in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The site intrigued Greg Francek, a ranger for East Bay Municipal Utility District, as he was walking the valley last summer. He inspected further, and what he discovered led to one of the most significant fossil discoveries in California history. “I looked around the area further and I found a second tree,” Francek said in an EBMUD statement released this week, documenting the discovery. “And then a third and so on. After finding dozens of trees I realized that what I was looking at was the remains of a petrified forest.” … ” Read more from SF Gate here: ‘I was looking at the bones of great beasts’: Astounding discovery made in Calif. valley
Elk Grove: Groundwater subbasin workshop to be held May 25
“The Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority on May 25 will host an online meeting for rural residential well owners within the South American Subbasin, which is a high-priority subbasin within the larger Sacramento Valley Groundwater Basin. They will address a groundwater sustainability plan that is being drafted. The South American Subbasin (SASb) is located from the American River to the north, the foothills to the east, the Cosumnes River to the south, and the Sacramento River to the west. Working in this subbasin are five Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA): Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority, Northern Delta GSA, Omochumne-Hartnell Water District, Sacramento County, and the Sloughhouse Resource Conservation District. Featured in this hour and a half-long meeting, which will be presented through the Zoom application, will be an overview of the Sustainability Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen here: Elk Grove: Groundwater subbasin workshop to be held May 25
Elk Grove Commentary: Too many unanswered questions about well water fee
George Murphey writes, “As a planning commissioner, I know one of the most important things that a governmental agency can do is to ensure public engagement. The Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority (SCWA) has failed; showing a lack of process. A public hearing notice was recently received by residents with private domestic wells. This notice (Public Hearing On Proposed Property-Related Fees, June 22) has many well owners scratching their heads, wondering what this hearing is all about. This notice was the first communication wells owners have received from this agency. The notice appears to be a “cart before the horse, take it or leave it” proposition. … ” Continue reading at the Elk Grove Citizen here: Elk Grove Commentary: Too many unanswered questions about well water fee
Bay Area: Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are in good shape
“The Sierra snowpack is vanishing quickly. Compared to the historical snowpack for this time of year, the May survey shows that we are only 2 to 5 percent of normal. In Yosemite National Park, the Hetch Hetchy reservoir relies on the annual snowmelt to stay full. The reservoir provides water to a large portion of the Bay Area through a 160 mile delivery system. About 2.8 million residents in the Bay Area depend on water from the Hetch Hetchy. This includes San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. ... ” Read more from KTVU here: Amid a worsening drought, water supplies at one important reservoir are in good shape
Valley Water delegation participates in successful virtual advocacy visits with federal leaders
“The seven members of the Board of Directors led a Valley Water delegation in a series of successful virtual meetings with federal leaders on April 19-21 to advocate for Santa Clara County’s priorities. The Valley Water group focused on federal funding, water supply and flood protection projects in Santa Clara County with members of the Presidential Administration and Congress. Among the priorities discussed were the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project and the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project. Valley Water leaders and staff have met quarterly with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and federal regulatory officials involved in the Anderson Project to ensure the project moves forward as safely and quickly as possible. The virtual D.C. visits provided another opportunity to update those officials on the project’s progress. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water delegation participates in successful virtual advocacy visits with federal leaders
Despite California drought, Monterey County growers have enough water to get through season
“Despite the statewide drought, agricultural experts say growers in the Salinas Valley and Monterey County won’t need to make big changes this year, thanks to sufficient supply from the aquifers and reservoirs. “I think it’s important to know one year of drought is not likely to get farmers to do anything differently,” said Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Henry Gonzales. While other parts of the state are more vulnerable to drought, the Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs hold more than enough water to keep growers planting and harvesting. … ” Read more from the Salinas Californian here: Despite California drought, Monterey County growers have enough water to get through season
Montecito Groundwater Basin Sustainability Agency seeks well owners for monitoring project
“The Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency is actively seeking well owners for a grant-funded well metering program that is voluntary and free to participants. Residences, commercial institutions, agricultural operations and the community at large depend on groundwater, said Nick Kunstek, a groundwater specialist for the Montecito GSA. “Public wells supplying the Montecito Water District and many private wells draw from the Montecito Groundwater Basin,” Kunstek said via email. “The water derived from these wells is vital to the health, well-being and vibrancy of our community, particularly during periods of drought.” … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Montecito Groundwater Basin Sustainability Agency seeks well owners for monitoring project
Newport Beach to look at dredging project in bay
“Newport Beach may soon take a step closer to constructing a confined aquatic dredged disposal site — basically, a deep, underwater hole — for dredged material considered too toxic to be released into the ocean, depending on council action this Tuesday. Discussion on constructing a confined aquatic dredged disposal site to remove the mercury-tainted sediment dates to 2019. Newport Harbor is one of the largest recreational harbors in the country and natural processes of storm water and erosion flowing into the harbor cause the movement and accumulation of sediment, according to a staff report prepared for Tuesday’s meeting. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Newport Beach to look at dredging project in bay
East County’s water purification project costs soar
“The East County Advanced Water Purification Program (AWP), which will provide about a third of the region’s future water needs, is still in the planning stages and final costs are still being refined. But this week, according to a report by the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) governing the AWP, the project’s total budget was revealed to be $790.9 million. That is a huge increase over the previous estimate of $642 million made less than a year ago, and the $528 million estimate in 2019. Alan Carlisle, chief executive officer for Padre Dam Water District, one of the four agencies belonging to AWP along with the Helix Water District, the city of El Cajon, and San Diego County, said that figure is misleading and nowhere near what the actual cost will be. ... ” Read more from the East County Times here: East County’s water purification project costs soar
Along the Colorado River …
Editorial: Can the Mississippi River save Arizona?
Jim Headley, editor, writes, “Sometimes the elevator just doesn’t go to the top floor. He’s not the brightest bulb in the box. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. We have all heard these expressions, but last week Arizona state Sen. Tim Dunn (R-District 13 in Yuma and northwest Maricopa County) publicly unveiled one of the most stupid ideas I’ve ever heard. Dunn and a handful of other senators are, “urging the United States Congress to fund a technological and feasibility study for the development of a diversion dam and pipeline to harvest floodwater from the Mississippi River to replenish the Colorado River and prevent flood damage along the Mississippi River.” … ” Continue reading at the White Mountain Independent here: Editorial: Can the Mississippi River save Arizona?
Salt River Project water-banking facility back online after year pause to assist with drought
“After more than a year of being offline, one of Arizona’s largest water-banking facilities is back in operation this month, officials announced Wednesday. The Granite Reef Underground Storage Project stores water for use during prolonged drought periods or when a shortage is declared on the Colorado River system, which officials expect to happen in 2022. The stored water, nearly half of which is stored on behalf of the Arizona Water Banking Authority, would then be available to be pumped out of the ground and delivered to residents. … ” Read more from KTAR News here: Salt River Project water-banking facility back online after year pause to assist with drought
Melting snow usually means water for the west. But this year, it might not be enough
“There’s still snow in Colorado’s mountains near the headwaters of the South Platte River, and Brian Domonkos has strapped on a pair of cross-country skis to come measure it. He’s the Colorado Snow Survey supervisor, and knowing how much snowpack is left from the winter to runoff into streams, rivers and reservoirs this summer is crucial, especially in a year when much of the West is in extreme drought. As it melts, the snowpack here will become the primary source of water for millions of people in Colorado and across the West. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Melting snow usually means water for the west. But this year, it might not be enough
In national news this weekend …
Colonial hack reveals major threats to water sector
“When hackers penetrated a small water utility in North Carolina three years ago that debilitated its IT systems, operators there refused to “bow” to hackers and fork over ransom money to make the assault stop. That 2018 cyberattack was part of what experts say is a fast-growing and evolving threat in the water sector and a glaring example of the type of attack — ransomware — that earlier this month shut down the East Coast’s largest fuel supplier, the Colonial pipeline. The 2018 attack began in the city of Jacksonville, N.C., on Oct. 8, 2018, when operators at the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority, or ONWASA, began experiencing “persistent virus attacks,” CEO Jeff Hudson said in a statement. Hackers barraged the water utility with the “Emotet” malware, a tool that typically spreads through malicious emails and gives hackers a back door into victims’ networks for launching additional attacks. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Colonial hack reveals major threats to water sector
Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …
WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for May 16-21: The decade of water resilience: Developing solutions for our water future, plus all the top water news stories of the week
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: BlueTriton Brands, Inc. (successor by name change to Nestlé Waters) requests hearing on CDO for unauthorized diversions of water in San Bernardino County
PUBLICATION: California Water: Inland Empire 2021
WATER INNOVATIONS: Safe, Strong, and Secure: How to prepare for cyberattacks and natural disasters
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force Announces Forest Health Grants and Smoke Spotter App
