On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The Central Valley Flood Protection Board meets at 9am. Agenda items include a legislative update, the 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan udpate, the Lookout Slough project, and the Yolo Bypass “Big Notch’ project. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: The Delta Independent Science Board meets from 9:30am to 11:30am. Agenda items include a presentation on 21st Century Science For 21st Century Environmental Decision Making: The Challenges and Opportunities of Near–Term Iterative Ecological Forecasting by Dr. Michael Dietze (Boston University) and the Delta Lead Scientist Report. Click here for the agenda.
- FREE WEBINAR: California Water Boot Camp Day 3 from 10am to 12pm. Private Wells, Groundwater Recharge, CV-SALTS / Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP), and The San Joaquin Water Collaborative Action Program. Register through World Ag Expo’s website: https://bit.ly/WAEregister
In California water news today …
Drought spurs worry, opportunities for water solutions in California
“In “East of Eden,” author John Steinbeck’s magnum opus about life in California’s Salinas Valley, a character says the following: “During the dry years, the people forgot about the rich years, and when the wet years returned, they lost all memory of the dry years.” The quote was brought up Thursday by Gary Kremen, a Santa Clara Valley Water District board member, during a panel discussion about water issues in the Golden State hosted by California state Senator Josh Becker. Given the recent trends in the state, the discussion was surprisingly upbeat. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Drought spurs worry, opportunities for water solutions in California
Will climate change alter water rights?
“The specter of climate change isn’t just impacting weather, it could also change California water rights, according to experts who spoke at this year’s annual Water Summit put on by the Water Association of Kern County. The May 25 virtual event included a host of experts who caught attendees up on the latest information about groundwater, broken canals and how much farmland may have to be taken out of production in the San Joaquin Valley. The topic that generated the most heat involved a report issued earlier this year by the California State Water Resources Control board about how climate change predictions may be included in new water rights applications. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Will climate change alter water rights?
San Joaquin Valley wells already going dry as drought settles in
“Dry wells are starting to crop up throughout California’s San Joaquin Valley as the 2021 drought digs in. And as the parched state barrels toward summer, the risk of more wells going dry is increasing. For some, that possibility is already a scary reality. Misty Vasquez was at work in December, when her husband called to tell her there was no water pressure at the house. The family had relied on the same private well at its rural Tulare County home for more than 60 years with no issues. Vasquez checked for broken lines or leaks and finally turned on the faucet at the side of the well’s tank. What should have been a rush of water came out as a mere trickle. “I just started crying because I knew what that meant,” said Vasquez. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Valley wells already going dry as drought settles in
How to fix America: Replenish overdrafted aquifers in the San Joaquin Valley
“To grow the almonds, citrus, cotton and myriad other crops that make the San Joaquin Valley one of the most productive regions in the world, farmers have long relied on groundwater. But decades of excessive pumping — including during droughts, when aquifers went without replenishment — have literally caused the valley to sink, threatening future supplies and infrastructure. Like a bank account in overdraft, groundwater supplies are overdue for a top-up. And with climate change further squeezing resources, some land will have to be taken out of production. As part of his $100 billion “California Comeback” plan, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a direct response to these complex issues: $500 million for “multi-benefit land repurposing” that provides “flexible, long-term support to water users.” Ann Hayden, senior director of the water program at the Environmental Defense Fund, said that would mean incentivizing farmers to transition their land to uses that allow for more groundwater recharge and provide other benefits like wildlife habitat, recreation space, or room for solar installations. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg City Lab here: Replenish overdrafted aquifers
As California’s drought worsens, the Biden administration cuts water supplies and farmers struggle to compensate
“The impacts of California’s deepening drought hit home for Central Valley farmers earlier this week, when federal officials announced they didn’t have enough water to supply many of their agricultural customers. Urban users south of San Francisco in Santa Clara County saw their normal water deliveries cut in half. … Now, the bureau has cut allocations for farmers both south and north of the delta to zero. The latest cuts come as the state grapples with the driest year in more than four decades for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Basin, the hub of the state’s water supply. “The drought is turning out to be even more severe than people were anticipating a month or two ago because this spring was really dry,” said Ellen Hanak, vice president and director of the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: As California’s drought worsens, the Biden administration cuts water supplies and farmers struggle to compensate
President of California Farm Bureau speaks on water allocation cuts
“Federal regulators with the Bureau of Reclamation have issued new numbers on the Central Valley Water Project, cutting agricultural water allocations to zero. The president of the California Farm Bureau, who is a citrus and olive farmer in Butte County, says this cut in allocations will have a negative impact on farmers in the Northstate and we could possibly lose thousands of acres of crop production. Allocations were cut back to 5% and two months ago that was put on hold. Now as of Wednesday that 5% has officially been cut down to zero. The bureau of reclamation says the water year in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river basin is the driest since 1977. ... ” Read more from KRCR TV here: President of California Farm Bureau speaks on water allocation cuts
Letter: Conservation groups send letter to Secretary of the Interior, supporting Winnemem Wintu in opposing Shasta Dam raise
“Dear Secretary Haaland: We are writing on behalf of the above environmental, environmental justice, fishing and other interests to support the requests of the Winnemem Wintu Tribe regarding Shasta Dam. … In that letter, the Tribe requests that Interior take the following actions: Permanently stop the federal proposal to raise Shasta Dam, a proposal that threatens to inundate additional tribal sacred sites; Withdraw the flawed 2019Bay-Delta biological opinions and replace them with biological opinions that include science-based protections for listed species; and fully implement the 1941 Central Valley Project Indian Lands Acquisition Act, which requires federal agencies to compensate the Tribe for the impacts of the original construction of Shasta Dam. … “
California Assembly approves bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from water faucets and fixtures
“Today a bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from water faucets and fixtures passed the California Assembly. If it becomes law, it will create the nation’s most legally stringent lead leaching limit for faucets. Assembly Bill 100, by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), passed the state’s lower house by a vote of 45 – 0. The bill would limit lead leaching to no more than 1 microgram, making California the first state to enact a performance standard to ensure faucets and fixtures are practically lead-free. Legislators are working with the plumbing industry to also require consumer-friendly labeling of faucets that meet the new standard. ... ” Continue reading at the Environmental Working Group here: California Assembly approves bill to sharply reduce lead leaching from water faucets and fixtures
To get better control over California’s wildfires, lawmakers push 11 bills aimed at reducing threats
“A group of California lawmakers on Thursday touted 11 bills they’re advancing to get better control of the worsening wildfires that have razed towns and neighborhoods across the state in recent years. The legislative package moving through the state Senate covers four areas: wildfire prevention, workforce training, home insurance and funding. Those areas are outlined in a policy blueprint from a subset of Senate Democrats who have been working on wildfire issues for the past two years. The bills are progressing to the Senate floor as California grapples with a deepening drought and an increase in fire activity compared to the same period last year, with the most dangerous months still to come. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: To get better control over California’s wildfires, lawmakers push 11 bills aimed at reducing threats
Video: Preparing for the next wildfire season
“After enduring historic blazes in 2020, Californians are braced for another difficult wildfire season. For Ricardo Lara, California’s insurance commissioner, “it’s been an interesting two years.” But Lara and the panel of experts convened by PPIC last week are cautiously optimistic that the state has begun to address wildfire threat with a combination of long- and short-term strategies. Lara noted that wildfire risk is now a statewide problem, and in many communities the cost of fire insurance is a big concern. “What you’re seeing is communities where you can no longer afford your insurance—you are paying more for insurance than for your actual mortgage.” This creates what Lara called a domino effect, as homes in high-risk areas drop in value, lowering property tax revenue for communities. “It’s happening in roughly 10% of the state,” Lara noted, “but it’s going to take the entire state to come together to help these communities out. . . . and prevent this from happening everywhere else in California.” … ” Read more from the PPIC here: Video: Preparing for the next wildfire season
Record wildfire threats mean California must pick when and where to fight, utilities, analysts, CalFire agree
“In 2020, California had over 9,900 wildfires, which burned a record 4.25 million acres and killed 33 people, according to the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). It is time for California to rethink its approach to wildfires, stakeholders said. Both wildfires and utility-owned power lines run throughout California’s federally-, state- and privately-held forest lands. Regulated utilities have caused less than 10% of California’s wildfires, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), but a California constitutional provision makes utilities financially liable if their equipment is involved in, without causing, a fire’s ignition. … ” Read more from Utility Dive here: Record wildfire threats mean California must pick when and where to fight, utilities, analysts, CalFire agree
Column: Blackouts and megadroughts – decarbonization without a good plan just makes them worse
James Conca, Forbes contributor, writes, “The western United States, from Washington down and around to New Mexico, is facing the largest risks of blackouts in history. California was bad enough last year. … It’s even worse as California and other states shut nuclear plants, replacing them with gas. Or hopes and dreams. Shuttering coal plants has meant most of these states have to import electricity from their neighbors, a temporary move that only makes matters worse because the amount available to export dwindles as those neighbors have less and less to give. Presently, no western region generates enough electricity to meet high periods of demand, and all rely on imports to avoid blackouts. … ” Read more from Forbes Magazine here: Column: Blackouts and megadroughts – decarbonization without a good plan just makes them worse
In commentary today …
Congress needs to fund water infrastructure
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “Re “Balance pain of drought on farmers and fishermen equitably”: Every single Californian is feeling the pain of another drought. And we seriously have no idea what a “modest reduction” from 0% of a normal farm water allocation even means. The real point is that there are things we can do to keep us from constantly ending up in this same position. … ” Read more at Cal Matters here: Congress needs to fund water infrastructure
In regional water news and commentary today …
Group linked to Ammon Bundy backs stand against feds over Klamath water rights
“A group of Klamath Project irrigators has taken a stance against the Federal Bureau of Reclamation’s decision to shut down the A canal, the primary source of irrigation to the Klamath Water Project which includes some 130,000 acres of farmlands. The Bureau, which has managed the project since 1906, announced the decision May 12, noting that it was prompted by extreme drought conditions that lowered water levels needed to maintain the environment for threatened and endangered species. The US Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires the Bureau to consider endangered and threatened species when managing resources. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Group linked to Ammon Bundy backs stand against feds over Klamath water rights
Ongoing fish kill on the Klamath River is an ‘absolute worst-case scenario’
“The video shows clear river water washing over rocks as sunlight dances in the shallows. Small slivers of white that look like leaves float on the surface. But they aren’t leaves; they’re the bodies of juvenile salmon, most of them no longer than a finger, dead from a warm-water disease exacerbated by drought on the Klamath River. The caption to the video, filmed by Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Joe Myers, is stark: “This is what climate change looks like when we don’t act.” Fish have been dying on the Klamath since around May 4, according to the Yurok Tribal Fisheries Department. … ” Read more from High Country News here: Ongoing fish kill on the Klamath River is an ‘absolute worst-case scenario’
A ‘way of life at risk’: A Yurok Tribal member’s congressional testimony
“On May 25, North Coast Rep. Jared Huffman chaired a virtual bipartisan hearing on the status of drought conditions in an area that extends from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Northwest. Huffman is no stranger to environmental issues, being a member of several congressional committees and subcommittees that supervise federal water projects, fisheries management, coastal zone and oceans policy, and wildlife and endangered species. … One of the expert witnesses was Amy Cordalis, counsel for the drought-ravaged Yurok Tribe. Wearing a traditional Yurok woven cap, she described the effects of watching a river starting to disintegrate in front of her eyes. ... ” Continue reading at the North Coast Journal here: A ‘way of life at risk’: A Yurok Tribal member’s congressional testimony
Siskiyou County’s crackdown on water trade causes trickle-down consequences for local businesses
“Water issues and illegal marijuana farms have continued to be a growing issue throughout Siskiyou County. During recent years, different water arrangements have been made throughout the community and between farmers. “We used to go to town and you could just purchase water through the fire department,” said Russell Mathis, a land owner inside the Shasta Vista subdivision, “When it got too crowded, when people started using it too much, they stopped that and then we just purchase water from the local farmers.” Recent ordinances from Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors were put in place to crack down on water-sharing agreements that were happening and to prevent illegal grow sites from accessing water from neighboring wells. … ” Read more from Channel 12 here: Siskiyou County’s crackdown on water trade causes trickle-down consequences for local businesses
Letter: North Coast Stream Flow Coalition objects to proposed Montague water transfer
“The Montague Water Conservation District (MWCD) wants to use the Shasta River channel as a conduit to send poor quality remnant water currently pooled in Dwinnell Reservoir to the City of Montague (City) for drinking water. The City has been advised for years by several organizations and salmon advocates that they should seek water elsewhere because delivering Dwinnell water via the river channel would harm the Shasta River, including ESA and California ESA listed Coho salmon. There are private wells in the Shasta Valley that have been selling water and which would, we believe, sell water to the City. It appears the proposed project was chosen over other feasible sources of water purely because the cost would be less. Therefore, the proposed project is unnecessary. Lower cost for drinking water is not a good reason to harm Shasta River and its Public Trust Resources. … ”
Lake County Supervisors updated on Middle Creek restoration project challenges
“The Board of Supervisors this week received an update on the project to improve Clear Lake’s health through restoring wetlands, an effort that is at a critical moment due to the requirements of state grant funding. On Tuesday, Deputy Water Resources Director Marina Deligiannis and Peter Windrem of the Middle Creek Restoration Coalition gave the board a progress report on the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. The goals for the project include removing failing levees built between 1918 and 1933 and returning 1,650 acres of farmland between the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and Upper Lake to Clear Lake to improve the watershed and water quality. ... ” Read more from Lake County News here: Lake County Supervisors updated on Middle Creek restoration project challenges
Sacramento: The back story: A landmark’s ups and downs
“Cynthia Larsen is a litigation attorney who’s been with the Orrick law firm since 1986. Its offices at 400 Capitol Mall overlook the Tower Bridge, whose 738-foot span across the Sacramento River connects Sacramento to West Sacramento. Larsen says when the bridge’s color changed from a tired ocher to its vibrant gold in 2002, “I loved it. It went from being something I took for granted to something I enjoyed looking at every day. So enchanting.” Bruce Monighan, urban design manager for the City of Sacramento, remembers his first sight of the Tower Bridge when he’d visit here from the Bay Area in the summer as a kid (he’s now in his early 70s). “After hours of traveling and countless times of asking ‘Are we there yet?’ we’d spot the Tower Bridge sticking up … in the flat landscape. ... ” Read more from Comstock’s Magazine here: Sacramento: The back story: A landmark’s ups and downs
State orders halt to hundreds of Russian River diversions in Sonoma, Mendocino counties as drought imperils supplies
“State regulators have begun notifying more than 900 water rightS holders in Sonoma and Mendocino counties that they must stop drawing from the upper Russian River, where drought-shriveled flows are unable to sustain those diversions for irrigation and household use, according to the state. The crackdown affects grape growers and other farm producers, as well as rural residents and several communities along the upper river — from Healdburg north to Ukiah — where groundwater and other rights are likely to be used more heavily in the coming months to keep crops alive and taps flowing. Those who don’t comply could face fines of up to $1,000 a day. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: State orders halt to hundreds of Russian River diversions in Sonoma, Mendocino counties as drought imperils supplies
Feinstein, Padilla introduce bill to restore San Francisco Bay
“Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) today introduced the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, a bill to create a permanent program within the Environmental Protection Agency dedicated to restoring the San Francisco Bay ecosystem, the largest estuary on the West Coast. The bill would authorize $50 million per year for five years to establish a San Francisco Bay Program, similar to other EPA programs at the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes and Puget Sound. It would also help leverage state and local funds, including those generated by Measure AA, a ballot measure approved by Bay area voters in 2016 that will raise $500 million over 20 years to fund bay enhancement and habitat restoration projects. Representative Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. ... ” Read more from Senator Feinstein’s website here: Feinstein, Padilla Introduce Bill to Restore San Francisco Bay
Climate in Crisis: Bay Area drought worsens
“This week’s drought monitor update increased the coverage of exceptional drought (D4-highest severity rating) in the Bay Area for all of Napa and Contra Costa counties. Exceptional drought levels also expanded across much of interior Northern California, including the Sacramento Valley. According to Dan McEvoy, applied climatologist with the Desert Research Institute and Western Region Climate Center, it is very likely the state shifts completely into exceptional drought before the next rain season arrives. “I do think we will see pretty much the entire state likely to be in D4 (exceptional drought) as we head into the middle of summer,” McEvoy said. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Climate in Crisis: Bay Area drought worsens
Brentwood combats drought by offering free recycled water to residents
“Started during the last water shortage, an innovative program in Brentwood offering recycled water to residents is once again growing in popularity amid a new drought. The city located in eastern Contra Costa County has its own water system. It takes water largely from the Delta, and Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Anything that goes down a drain has to get treated and sent back into the delta, or get recycled. As the drought descends, that second option is becoming increasingly popular. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Brentwood combats drought by offering free recycled water to residents
Tri-Valley water agencies encourage conservation amid drought emergency
“The Tri-Valley’s water providers have launched a joint initiative to urge residents throughout the entire region to reduce water consumption by 10%. The valley’s water wholesaler Zone 7 Water Agency, along with California Water Service (Cal Water), the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, and Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), are making the request after Gov. Gavin Newsom included Alameda County in his emergency drought declaration earlier this month. “The Tri-Valley has multiple sources of water supply storage, including its local groundwater supplies. This allows us to withstand the occasional dry winter,” said Zone 7 general manager Valerie Pryor in a statement. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly here: Tri-Valley water agencies encourage conservation amid drought emergency
Valley Water completes flood protection project for Mountain View, Los Altos
“For decades, homes and businesses along a 10-mile stretch of Permanente Creek in Los Altos and Mountain View have flooded during major storms. Permanente Creek experienced significant flooding on at least 11 occasions, most recently in 1998. Flooding results in millions of dollars in damage to homes, businesses and schools. This spring, Valley Water completed a project that will provide flood protection to those homes and businesses, potentially saving residents thousands of dollars on flood insurance each year. In May, our agency reached the final milestone of the Permanente Creek Flood Protection Project with the completion of two stormwater capture basins in Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve. The detention basins will capture and gradually release stormwater during a significant storm. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water completes flood protection project for Mountain View, Los Altos
Westlands Water District prohibits outdoor municipal and industrial landscape watering
“Westlands Water District announced Thursday that District municipal and industrial outdoor landscape watering is prohibited until further notice. According to Westlands Water District, the prohibition of landscape watering in District municipal and industrial landscape areas is a response to the water supply cut from the United States Bureau of Reclamation. … ” Read more from Fox News here: Westlands Water District prohibits outdoor municipal and industrial landscape watering
Fresno: Consumer-focused investment bank discusses concerns of farmers amid California drought (Video)
“It’s been two weeks since Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in 41 of the state’s 58 counties, devoting $5.1 billion to mitigate that problem through his latest budget proposal. One consumer-focused investment bank firm has taken a special interest in what farmers are facing within a 100-mile radius of Fresno, advocating for major changes at the state level to address water concerns. Nancy Ervin of the Harrison Co. joined Sonseeahray to discuss the issue and what they’re trying to accomplish.” Watch video from Fox News here: Consumer-focused investment bank discusses concerns of farmers amid California drought (Video)
San Joaquin Valley growers air concerns over climate change
“Valley farmers dealing with a dwindling irrigation supply had plenty to say about adapting to climate change during a public session online. Growers were able to air their concerns. Climate experts also weighed in on what the future holds. Farmers hoped the winds of change would bring them a more stable water supply in the future. The uncertainty over how much surface water can be delivered from reservoirs through canals has led many Valley farmers to eliminate some crop plantings this year. … Congressman Jim Costa, (D) Fresno, hosted an online meeting to hear from growers and climate experts on how the ag community was adapting to long-term change in our average weather patterns. … ” Read more from KFSN here: San Joaquin Valley growers air concerns over climate change
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continues its commitment to the preservation and restoration of the Owens Valley
“LADWP is adapting annual operations to meet the low runoff in the Owens Valley, forecasted at a mere 55% of normal. As a result, groundwater pumping will only be 34-41% of what is allocated under the long-term agreement (Water Agreement) with Inyo County. All groundwater, coupled with the severely limited runoff, will go to local water systems, fisheries, ranch lease operations, recreation, and environmental enhancement and mitigation projects in Inyo County including dust control, river restoration, and wildlife protection. “Each year, Californians look to the mountains and the melting snow to gauge what’s in store for our finite, natural resource – the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power does the same,” said Adam Perez, LA Aqueduct Manager, LADWP. “Drier dries, wetter wets, hotter temperatures and year-round fire seasons are all indicative of a climate reality that makes year-to-year water conditions highly unpredictable. LADWP must in turn adapt our operations to prepare for drier times, balancing water supply needs with the needs of the evolving environment.” … ” Read more from the LA DWP here: The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power continues its commitment to the preservation and restoration of the Owens Valley
Column: Joe Mathews on the fight over groundwater rights in the California desert
“Can California regulate groundwater without destroying its own communities? … SGMA was designed to protect the most overdrawn groundwater basins by requiring plans to balance the amounts of water being pumped from, and recharged into, aquifers by 2040. Achieving this groundwater sustainability should reshape our landscapes, with agricultural land retired, and local ecosystems restored. SGMA tried to cushion these disruptions by giving local agencies new power to form a new species of local government — Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, or groundwater authorities. The idea was that local boards would be more inclined to listen to all stakeholders and to develop groundwater sustainability plans that would minimize local pain. But the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority — covering 11,000 square miles in the western Mojave — has disdained conciliation and approved a politically incendiary groundwater plan that could spread water conflict beyond the desert. … ” Read more from KCRW here: Joe Mathews on the fight over groundwater rights in the California desert
San Bernardino: Sterling water recycling plant reaches construction peak
“East Valley Water District (EVWD) celebrated on Monday, May 24, the topping off of the final building for its Sterling Natural Resource Center, a $150 million wastewater recycling plant that will provide the district a new water source of up to 10 million gallons per day when completed. A topping off ceremony is a traditional celebration of the installation of the top and final beam of framed structure, signifying the beginning of the last stretch of completing construction. … ” Read more from Highland Community News here: San Bernardino: Sterling water recycling plant reaches construction peak
Dana Point: South Coast Water District continues push for self-reliant water sources, desalination
“How long could you last if water supply was cut off in the event of an emergency? Our region is nearly entirely reliant on water that is imported from hundreds of miles away. In the event of a catastrophe that would prevent water delivery from outside sources, experts recommend that there be at least 60 days’ worth of water supply. As of now, South Coast Water District could provide roughly 11 days’ worth. “Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) developed the criteria that its agencies should plan for a 100% interruption of MET supplies for up to 60 days with a concurrent power grid outage for a minimum of 7 days,” the 2018 Orange County Reliability Study states and adds, “These criteria essentially mean that the retail agencies are on their own for up to two months following a major earthquake in OC.” … ” Continue reading at the Dana Point Times here: A Day Without Water; SCWD Continues Push for Self-Reliant Water Sources, Desalination
San Diego County Water Authority Board approves 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
“The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today approved the Water Authority’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan for timely submission to the state. The plan highlights how regional investments in a “water portfolio approach” to supply management and a sustained emphasis on water-use efficiency mean that San Diego County will continue to have reliable water supplies through the 2045 planning horizon – even during multiple dry years. The Board approved the final plan following a public hearing on March 25 and a 60-day public comment period which ended May 6. The final 2020 UWMP will be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources by the July 1, 2021, deadline. ... ” Continue reading this press release from the San Diego County Water Authority here: San Diego County Water Authority Board approves 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
Investments protect San Diego region from drought
“Over the past three decades, the Water Authority and the region’s water ratepayers have invested in a diversified “portfolio approach” to water security that protects the region’s economy and quality of life from droughts and other water supply shortages. The strategy includes increasing locally controlled water supplies, such as the Carlsbad Desalination Plant which uses reverse osmosis filters (shown at left) to turn saltwater into drinking water, expanding water storage capacity, and improving water-use efficiency. The result is enhanced water supply reliability that provides a safety net for San Diego County. The Water Authority’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan highlights how the region’s strategy to supply management and a sustained emphasis on water-use efficiency mean the region will continue to have sufficient water supplies through the 2045 planning horizon even during multiple dry years. … ” Continue reading this press release from the San Diego County Water Authority here: Investments protect San Diego region from drought
Along the Colorado River …
First-ever Colorado River water shortage is now almost certain, new projections show
“Thousands of people will celebrate Memorial Day this weekend on the water of Lake Mead, just 24 miles east of Las Vegas on the border of Arizona and Nevada. What they may not realize is that the oasis they’re enjoying in the desert is entering uncharted territory, with significant ramifications for millions across the Southwest in the years to come. On Tuesday, the water level in Lake Mead — the largest US reservoir, and fed by the Colorado River — fell below the elevation of 1,075 feet. It has hit that mark only a handful of times since the Hoover Dam was finished in the 1930s, but it always recovered shortly after. It may not this time, at least not any time soon. ... ” Read more from CNN here: First-ever Colorado River water shortage is now almost certain, new projections show
Hoover Dam, symbol of the modern West, faces a new test with an epic water shortage
” … Eighty-six years after its completion in 1935, the infrastructure at Hoover Dam continues doing what it was designed to do: holding water and sending it coursing through intake tunnels, spinning turbines and generating electricity. But the rules for managing the river and dividing up its water — which were laid down nearly a century ago starting with the 1922 Colorado River Compact and which have repeatedly been tweaked — are now facing the greatest strains since the dam was built. The effects of years of severe drought and temperatures pushed higher by climate change are strikingly visible along Lake Mead’s retreating shorelines near Las Vegas, where the growing “bathtub ring” of whitish minerals coats the rocky desert slopes. Since 2000, the water level in the reservoir, which is the largest in the country, has dropped about 140 feet. Lake Mead is now just 37% full, headed for a first-ever official shortage and sinking toward its lowest levels since it was filled. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Hoover Dam, symbol of the modern West, faces a new test with an epic water shortage
As Lake Mead drops below shortage mark, shifting shorelines keep marinas in motion
“People who fish for striped bass and catfish in Lake Mead are seeing their favorite stretches of shoreline transform around them. The reservoir near Las Vegas has been dropping week after week, reshaping the moist, sandy ground where anglers cast their lines into the lapping water. “Every week, it’s further and further,” said Stephen D’Agostino, who was fishing with a friend on the shore. He motioned to a pile of rocks about 40 feet from the water and said that was where the lake had been two months ago. “It’s concerning. It really is,” D’Agostino said. “What’s the future of this lake if this is going to happen repeatedly every year?” … ” Read more from the Arizona Sun here: As Lake Mead drops below shortage mark, shifting shorelines keep marinas in motion
Chandler-Intel pact preserves city’s water resources as drought lingers
“Chandler has entered into an agreement with Intel for construction of a reclaimed-water interconnect facility, critical because it saves and reuses the desert’s most-precious commodity. “It’s a win for Chandler, it’s a win for Intel and it’s a win for us,” said Chandler City Councilmember Matt Orlando. “We won’t waste water and it’s a great way of reutilizing our natural resource.” City officials say the partnership with Intel is designed to optimize use of the city’s water resource. … ” Read more from Wrangler News here: Chandler-Intel pact preserves city’s water resources as drought lingers
Column: ‘One day closer to the next rainstorm.’ Drought hits Utah farmers more than city dwellers
Columnist Robert Gehrke writes, “T.J. Atkin’s family has been running cattle on the Arizona Strip north of the Grand Canyon for 85 years — but they’ve never experienced anything like this year. Normally there are about 200 ponds on the desert range where the cattle graze, filled in the late summer and early fall by monsoon rains. But in 2019, the monsoons didn’t come. And then they didn’t come again last year. Today, Atkin told me, ever single one of those ponds is dry. He has shipped about 400 cattle to northern Nevada where there is water from the spring runoff and is hauling water to about 200 more from St. George and Colorado City, but it’s not cheap.“We’ve never done that in this history of doing this, ever. It’s not profitable,” Atkin said. “Everything I’m trying to do right now is hold on for one more monsoon. … If we miss a third one, I’m done.” … ” Continue reading at the Salt Lake Tribune here: ‘One day closer to the next rainstorm.’ Drought hits Utah farmers more than city dwellers
Managing Colorado River risk
“In the 1920s, E. C. LaRue, a hydrologist at the United States Geological Survey, did an analysis of the Colorado River Basin that revealed the river could not reliably meet future water demands. No one heeded his warning. One hundred years later, water flow through the Colorado River is down by 20% and the basin’s Lake Powell and Lake Mead—the nation’s two largest reservoirs—are projected to be only 29% full by 2023. This river system, upon which 40 million North Americans in the United States and Mexico depend, is in trouble. But there is an opportunity to manage this crisis. Water allocation agreements from 2007 and 2019, designed to deal with a shrinking river, will be renegotiated over the next 4 years. Will decision-makers and politicians follow the science? ... ” Read the article at Science Magazine here: Managing Colorado River risk
Divided Colorado: Drought vanishes for the eastern half, worsens for the Western Slope
“The weekly drought monitor released Thursday showed even better news for the eastern half of Colorado while the Western Slope has become even drier. As of this week, nearly every area in the state east of the Continental Divide has seen drought that has existed for at least a year in most cases be eliminated. The only small exception is a sliver of southern Las Animas County in Southern Colorado where moderate drought persists in the Trinidad area. Including that area, about 46% of the state is currently experiencing at least moderate drought which is down 6% since a week ago. … ” Read more from CBS Denver here: Divided Colorado: Drought vanishes for the eastern half, worsens for the Western Slope
In national water news today …
Biden EPA sends early signal of aggressive pollution enforcement
“Recent moves to intervene in air pollution fights show the Biden administration is willing to take bold steps to crack down on polluters on the edge of marginalized communities, attorneys and scholars say. The EPA this month shuttered the oil-spewing Limetree Bay refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands, using an emergency shutdown order under the Clean Air Act that’s only been invoked a handful of times. Days before EPA’s decision on Limetree, Administrator Michael Regan wrote to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot with a concern about the placement of a metal shredding facility on the city’s Southeast Side. Though the letter wasn’t a direct enforcement action, it prompted the city to delay the controversial permits. “That’s a good sign that the administration is aware of powerful enforcement tools in its arsenal, and it is prepared to use them,” Natural Resources Defense Council attorney John Walke told Bloomberg Law. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Biden EPA sends early signal of aggressive pollution enforcement
U.S. EPA to revise Trump water rule in boost to states’ climate fight
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday said it will revise a rule issued by the former Trump administration nearly a year ago that limited state powers to use the federal clean water permitting process to block energy infrastructure projects amid concerns about climate change. EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Thursday said the agency will revise the 2020 Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 Certification Rule issued by his predecessor Andrew Wheeler in June 2020 after deciding that it eroded state and Tribal authority to protect their water resources. ... ” Read more from Reuters News here: U.S. EPA to revise Trump water rule in boost to states’ climate fight
Satellites show how earth’s water cycle is ramping up as climate warms
“The rate at which plants and the land surface release moisture into the air has increased on a global scale between 2003 and 2019. These processes are collectively known as evapotranspiration, and a new NASA study has calculated its increase by using observations from gravity satellites. By gauging the mass change of water between the oceans and the continents, the researchers determined that evapotranspiration’s rate of increase is up to two times higher than previous estimates. This is important because evapotranspiration represents a critical branch of the global water cycle – a cycle that creates the conditions for life on land. While it is known that a warming climate should increase the rate of evapotranspiration, accurate global measurements have, until now, been elusive. … ” Continue reading from JPL here: Satellites show how earth’s water cycle is ramping up as climate warms
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20210527Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
SOURCE MAGAZINE: Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations; Q&A with Joaquin Esquivel; TCP contamination; and more …
YOUR FEEDBACK WANTED: 2022-2026 Science Action Agenda (SAA) Draft Management Needs
NOTICE: Draft Environmental Assessment for Friant Division Groundwater Pump-in Program, Contract Years 2020-2022
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ DPC Audio~ Delta Smelt~ Apprenticeship Program~ CFCC Funding~ CVFPB Meeting ~~
