On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Feeding the Future – Solutions in Our Soil from 11am to 12pm. To wrap up our Feeding the Future webinar series, we’re getting down to the foundation of our food system – the soil. It’s no secret that healthy soils are vital to healthy food, but we’re digging deeper to explore the climate and drought solutions living beneath our feet. Join us on Friday, June 4th as our panel of experts uncover the importance of soil health practices and the promising water and carbon benefits of stewarding our California soils. Presented by Sustainable Conservation. Click here to register.
In California drought news today …
State takes action on water exports from the Delta
“Construction of a temporary salinity barrier on the False River is underway after an emergency request by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) was approved by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The barrier, necessitated by worsening drought conditions, is intended to help preserve water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by reducing saltwater intrusion. The declaration of a drought emergency made by Gov. Gavin Newsom on May 10 suspended the requirement that a project of this nature complete a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) assessment. ... ” Read more from The Press here: State takes action on water exports from the Delta
ICYMI: Construction begins on emergency drought barrier in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
“In response to worsening drought conditions in California, today the Department of Water Resources (DWR) began construction on a temporary emergency drought barrier on the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The barrier will help slow the movement of saltwater into the central Delta and prevent contamination of water supplies for Delta agriculture and municipal supplies for millions of Californians. “California is experiencing a second consecutive dry year and snowpack runoff into our state reservoirs has been far less than anticipated, so we are taking emergency actions to protect the state’s water supply and environment now,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “DWR along with partner agencies is looking at all options to bolster the state’s drought response and mitigate drought impacts.” … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook here: Construction begins on emergency drought barrier in Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Drought status update: Drought Impacts Increase Across California-Nevada and Concern for Wildfire Potential Grows.
“After 2 water years of dry conditions, both California and Nevada are now 100% in moderate-to-exceptional drought (D1-D4). Snowpack since April 1 has rapidly decreased earlier than normal to near zero, with run-off going into parched soils. Reservoir levels are low throughout the region. Drought leads to concern for wildfire season. California has seen more fires and acres burned than this time last year. Drought impacts (e.g., pasture conditions, ecosystem health, water supply, recreation, fire potential) have intensified and expanded given back-to-back dry years. Drought preparedness is key. … ” Read more from the NIDIS here: status update: Drought impacts increase across California-Nevada and concern for wildfire potential grows
Record heat worsens California’s already punishing drought
“Summer has begun with a sizzle in California and the rest of the West. Large swaths of the state are baking under a heat wave, including areas in the Central Valley where the National Weather Service is warning there’s “little to no relief” from the brutal temperatures on Thursday. That will only reinforce the dire drought gripping the region. Record-high temperatures have been seen across the state in recent days. Temperatures reached into the 100s from Modesto to Redding to start the week. It hit 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius) in downtown Sacramento, one of the numerous records to fall this week. The heat is even more intense in Southern California. Barstow hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius), setting, you guessed it, yet another record. … ” Read more from Gizmodo here: Record heat worsens California’s already punishing drought
Statement by Friant Water Authority Chief Executive Officer Jason Phillips on potential drought operations
“Recent actions by the State Water Resources Control Board, Bureau of Reclamation, and California Department of Water Resources to adjust operations for the historic low water available in the Central Valley – including approval of the Temporary Urgency Change Permit, the Shasta Temperature Management Plan, and the Drought Operations Plan – are all critical in establishing an updated operations plan for 2021 to best meet multiple beneficial uses in the Central Valley and throughout California. Although the Friant Water Authority team is still evaluating certain details, the actions and decisions this week appear to be consistent with the recent operations plans and assumptions that we have discussed with Federal and State partners and other water agencies, which will preserve the current limited Class 1 allocation and prevent the potentially disastrous action of releasing water from Friant Dam this summer to meet the Exchange Contract requirements. … ”
No cut to Friant water users – so far
“Though questions remain about whether San Joaquin Valley towns and farms that rely on water from Millerton Lake could be cut to zero, as they were in the last drought, water managers are moving ahead as if that won’t happen. In 2014 and 2015, the federal Bureau of Reclamation wasn’t able to get enough water out of Shasta Lake through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to satisfy obligations is has to agricultural water districts known as the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors. Instead, the Bureau pulled water from Millerton Lake for the Exchange Contractors and cut other users from Fresno all the way to Arvin to zero in those years. History appeared on the verge of repeating in the 2021 drought when the State Water Resources Control Board alerted the Bureau that it needed to keep more water in Shasta for winter-run Chinook salmon. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: No cut to Friant water users – so far
Lake Oroville’s water woes could turn into power problem
“It’s another sign of how extreme this summer’s drought is shaping up to be. California is now forecasting Lake Oroville could hit a record low level, not seen in nearly half a century. And if it does, the California Department of Water Resources will plan to shut down the reservoir’s Edward Hyatt hydroelectric power plant because of its low water supply. Lake Oroville is a picture of California’s looming drought problem. Houseboats were sunken down, surrounded by Lake Oroville’s steep banks. Kim Gunter owns a houseboat on the reservoir and has watched the water level lower each day. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Lake Oroville’s water woes could turn into power problem
San Joaquin River flows halted to protect salmon
“Flows into the San Joaquin River under a program to bring back native salmon will be stopped now through early September to try and protect fish already upstream. The flow reduction being instituted by the San Joaquin Restoration Program is in reaction to rapidly dwindling runoff coming out of the Sierra Nevada mountains this year. The Restoration Program was created under a 2009 settlement agreement between environmental groups, the Bureau of Reclamation and Friant Water Contractors to restore the river and bring back threatened spring-run Chinook salmon. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: San Joaquin River flows halted to protect salmon
Aerial photo shows major California reservoir 60% dried up
“With the drought across California growing worse every week and most of the state in extreme or exceptional drought — not to mention a prolonged heat wave that has been affecting much of the region — some of the state’s most critical reservoirs are drying out. Lake Oroville, the second-largest reservoir in the state, is at just 38% of its total capacity. While this number is above the all-time low of 24.9% in September 1977, the lake is noticeably depleted, as AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell saw firsthand when he made a visit there this week. During a live appearance Wadell made on the AccuWeather TV Network, the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature was a sweltering 106 degrees at Lake Oroville, which is in Northern California, about 80 miles north of Sacramento. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Aerial photo shows major California reservoir 60% dried up
Worst drought in decades escalates threats across U.S. West
“Almost three-fourths of the western U.S. is gripped by drought so severe that it’s off the charts of anything recorded in the 20-year history of the U.S. Drought Monitor. Mountains across the West have seen little precipitation, robbing reservoirs of dearly needed snowmelt and rain, said Brad Rippey, a meteorologist and Drought Monitor author with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The parched conditions mean the wildfire threat is high and farmers are struggling to irrigate crops. Meanwhile, dropping water levels in Lake Oroville, one of California’s largest reservoirs, forced authorities to remove more than 100 houseboats, according to the Weather Channel. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg Green here: Worst drought in decades escalates threats across U.S. West
Water issues and lower supply could strengthen 2021-2022 almond pricing
“While California’s water situation is affecting many growers, including almond producers. Currently, the industry has an oversupply of almonds. “Our production was a lot higher than last year’s production. California produced more almonds because of several factors including that it was a good year for water and growing conditions. That all helped produce a good crop,” says Heriberto Hernandez of Del Mar Packing LLC in Patterson, CA. Approximately 80 percent of the world’s almond production comes from California with Australia and Spain as other growing regions. … ” Read more from Fresh Plaza here: Water issues and lower supply could strengthen 2021-2022 almond pricing
In other California water news today …
Latest water war over Kings River involves claim by water district in Kern County
“A water war is under way in Sacramento right now that could have far-reaching impacts on families in the Central Valley. “We totally believe this is a water grab,” says Ryan Jacobsen, Board President for the Fresno Irrigation District. Hearings got under way Wednesday, as Semitropic Water Storage District in Kern County makes its administrative appeal to the State Water Resources Control Board for water rights to the Kings River. It filed its first petition in 2017, asking for access to 1.6 million acre feet of floodwater from the Kings River. … ” Read more from KMPH here: Latest water war over Kings River involves claim by water district in Kern County
Water Wrights: Kings River Hearing
Don Wright writes, “You hear a lot about the San Joaquin River and its tributaries, the Sacramento River and even the Kern River as all of these streams provide water to ag and urban users. For those of us in the San Joaquin Valley one of the rivers we don’t hear so much about is the Kings River. The Kings River usually keeps a lower profile these days because it’s neither a contributor to the federal Central Valley Project or the State Water Project. It’s major reservoir is Pine Flat Lake, behind Pine Flat Dam located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County and can store one million acre feet of water. Twice that of Millerton Lake on the San Joaquin River. It was the primary source of water for the old Tulare Lake. Semitropic Water Storage District filed a complaint with the State Water Resources Control Board that flood flows on the Kings River were not being used to their fullest potential and the district wanted the Fully Appropriated Status changed. ... ” Continue reading this hearing summary at Water Wrights here: Water Wrights: Kings River Hearing
RELATED NOTEBOOK CONTENT: RULING: State Water Board issues ruling on Kings River FAS Hearing–Ruling on Motions to Exclude Evidence from Phase 1A Hearing
ICYMI: DWR Releases first assessments of initial Groundwater Sustainability Plans
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its first assessments of groundwater sustainability plans developed by local agencies to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). DWR has completed its assessment and approved plans for the Santa Cruz Mid-County Basin in Santa Cruz County and 180/400 Foot Aquifer Subbasin in Monterey County. The groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) for these critically over-drafted basins will continue implementing their plans to achieve SGMA’s goal of groundwater sustainability within 20 years. DWR has notified GSAs for the Cuyama Valley Basin and Paso Robles Subbasin that their plans lack specific details and are not yet approved. DWR is requesting a consultation meeting with the GSAs to discuss actions necessary to improve the plans. DWR is committed to working with local agencies and providing technical and financial support to help them bring their basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook here: DWR Releases first assessments of initial Groundwater Sustainability Plans
Radio segment: Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
“David Orth is with New Current and Land, based in Fresno. He describes the grower impact of SGMA’s Groundwater Dependent Eco-Systems.” Read more from Cal Ag Today here: Radio segment: Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Hurtado to California Water Commission: Keep water funds meant for the Valley in the Valley
“Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) issued the following statement regarding a bi-partisan letter she sent that urges the California Water Commission to prioritize water storage projects in the Central Valley when assessing how to reallocate funds from Proposition 1: “California is facing a water crisis and a potential food crisis, one that could have been avoided had the California Water Commission invested in water infrastructure,” said Senator Hurtado. “The California Water Commission needs to do the right thing now and ensure voter approved funds are allocated to the disadvantaged farmworker communities who would have been served by Temperance Flat. Water is a human right, and every individual deserves access to clean, reliable water. We can no longer maintain the status quo on water—we must improve and safeguard California’s water systems and invest in additional water storage.” … ” Read more from Senator Hurtado’s website here: Hurtado to California Water Commission: Keep water funds meant for the Valley in the Valley
Senate approves Sen. Dodd’s Water Project Bill to improve 60-year-old water delivery system
“Facing a statewide drought that is rapidly draining reservoirs and agricultural supplies, the bipartisan California Senate approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to improve the state’s outdated central water delivery system. “The new project delivery methods proposed in SB 626 will improve DWR’s existing design-bid-build method and can help mitigate the effects of aging infrastructure and complex projects associated with climate change and habitat restoration,” Jennifer Pierre, general manager of State Water Contractors, said in a support letter signed by regional water agency managers. … ” Read more from the Woodland Daily Democrat here: Senate approves Sen. Dodd’s Water Project Bill to improve 60-year-old water delivery system
Dodd hopes water bill helps those drowning in debt
“State Sen. Bill Dodd is on a roll. A bipartisan roll at that. After Dodd-authored bills funding technology advancements in firefighting and restaurant and bar relief waltzed through the Senate unopposed, the Napa-based legislator secured Senate Bill 222 — Water Access and Equity Bill — by a 31-5 vote with the goal of alleviating the financial hardships of low-income families unable to pay crushing water bills. “A bipartisan vote in this day and age is something really important,” Dodd said by phone Thursday. “Both parties see this as a big problem.” … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald here: Dodd hopes water bill helps those drowning in debt
CRS Report: Central Valley Project: Issues and Legislation
” … Various state and federal proposals are currently under consideration and have generated controversy for their potential to affect CVP operations and allocations. In late2018, the State of California finalized revisions to its Bay–Delta Water Quality Control Plan that would require that more flows from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers reach the Bay–Delta for water quality and fish and wildlife enhancement(i.e., reduced water supplies for other users).“Voluntary agreements” that might replace some or all of these requirements are currently being negotiated but have yet to be finalized. Concurrently, the Trump Administration attempted to increase CVP water supplies for users and made changes to long–term operations of the CVPina 2019 biological opinion created under the Endangered Species Act (ESA;87 Stat. 884. 16 U.S.C. §§1531–1544). … In the 117th Congress, legislators may consider bills and conduct oversight on efforts to increase CVP water exports compared to current baselines. Some in Congress have also weighed in on disagreements between state and federal project operators and the status of coordinated operations of the CVP and SWP. Congress is also considering whether to approve funding for new water storage projects and may consider legislation to extend or amend CVP authorities. … ” Read the full report from the Congressional Research Service here: CRS Report: Central Valley Project: Issues and Legislation
In wildfire news …
These maps show ‘all of the pieces are in place’ for serious fire season in Northern California
“Northern California’s impending wildfire season is looking more and more grim by the day. The outlook for fire potential is above normal for much of the region through the summer, and by fall, virtually all of Northern California will be under serious threat, according to the most recent report and maps from the interagency Northern California Geographic Coordination Center. The extremely paltry rainy season has resulted in more than half of the region receiving below 50% of average rainfall, leading to widespread drought conditions, with most of the state now in extreme or exceptional drought. ... ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: These maps show ‘all of the pieces are in place’ for serious fire season in Northern California
Plans funded for forest restoration projects and new trails crossing Sierra Crest
“At our June 3 Governing Board meeting, the Board authorized three planning grants totaling $541,581 and approved the SNC’s 2021–22 action plan. Two forest health grants will complete permitting for 10,100 acres of forest health projects in Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. A third grant will fund permitting for 40 miles of new mountain trails in Butte County and project design for another trail crossing the Sierra Crest into Plumas County. The largest forest health authorization, for $200,000 to the Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA), will allow them to conduct environmental analysis on 10,000 acres of forest restoration work. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Plans funded for forest restoration projects and new trails crossing Sierra Crest
Debunking the biggest myth about wildfires
“Ecologist Chad Hanson calls his new book Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate, but it could just as well be titled Why We Should Love Dead Trees. Hanson, director of the John Muir Project, uses the book to explain why wildfires are beneficial to forest ecosystems and why keeping fire-burned trees on the landscape creates a biodiversity-rich landscape that rivals old-growth forests. Smokescreen, steeped in scientific details and personal stories, is written for the average reader — one who’s likely been primed by media and policymakers to regard wildfires as “devastating” and “catastrophic.” … ” Read more from The Revelator here: Debunking the biggest myth about wildfires
‘Mind-blowing’: tenth of world’s giant sequoias may have been destroyed by a single fire
“A huge fire in California last year may have destroyed up to a tenth of the world’s mature giant sequoia population, according to a draft report produced by scientists working for the National Park Service. From August to December 2020, the Castle fire tore through Sequoia national park, burning through thousands of the ancient redwoods, the world’s largest tree. By the time the blaze was contained, it had consumed 175,000 acres of parkland. NPS scientists now estimate that between 7,500 and 10,000 mature giant sequoias went up in flames. “I cannot overemphasize how mind-blowing this is for all of us. These trees have lived for thousands of years. They’ve survived dozens of wildfires already,” said Christy Brigham, the chief of resources management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. … ” Read more from the Guardian here: ‘Mind-blowing’: tenth of world’s giant sequoias may have been destroyed by a single fire
In commentary today …
Editorial: Adel Hagekhalil would be one good step forward for the MWD. Better transparency would be another
The LA Times editorial board writes, “Adel Hagekhalil is an inspired choice to be the next general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the agency that delivers the water ultimately used by half of the state’s population. He’s an engineer, a consensus builder and a champion of the movement to integrate management of different types of water — drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, environmental water — in order to reduce costs and use precious resources more efficiently. He may be exactly what the MWD needs at this point in its history, as it struggles to redefine itself as a supplier of liquid assets not just from distant mountains and rivers, but from recycled urban wastewater. But here’s the problem: Is Hagekhalil (currently head of the L.A. city Bureau of Street Services) actually the MWD board’s choice? … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Editorial: Adel Hagekhalil would be one good step forward for the MWD. Better transparency would be another
SoCal commentary: Will partisan politics squelch the strongest water advocate?
Sara Roos writes, ” … Southern California is governed by a cooperative central water authority, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD or “Met”). Created by the State legislature nearly 100 years ago, in 1928, today it serves nearly 19 million people through 26 member public agencies in Los Angeles (LA), Orange (OC), Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego (SD) and Ventura Counties. Its mission is to provide “. . .adequate and reliable supplies of high-quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible way.” 38 appointed board members vote in a system weighted by assessed property values, which favors larger cities and water districts (e.g., LA, SD, OC, &c). The board’s long-standing general manager since 2006, Jeff Kightlinger, joined the agency over 25 years ago not as a hydrologist or water-planner, but as a lawyer specializing in water issues. … ” Read the full commentary at LA Citywatch here: SoCal commentary: Will partisan politics squelch the strongest water advocate?
In regional water news and commentary today …
Klamath battle lines blur as protests escalate
“Tensions surrounding a Western water shortage are on the verge of exploding, with some activists threatening to seize control of federal water infrastructure and anti-government rabble-rouser Ammon Bundy waiting in the wings. But several farmers and irrigators in the Klamath River Basin in southern Oregon and Northern California have a message for Bundy and others: Stay away. And some are questioning the leaders’ anti-government bona fides since public records show they have directly benefited from government programs. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Klamath battle lines blur as protests escalate
RELATED: PHOTOS: Protesters threaten standoff at Klamath Basin head gates, from the Siskiyou Daily News
In the Klamath River Basin, the drought punishes everyone
“This May, while collecting live fish for their annual aquatic pathogen assessment on the Klamath River in Northern California, Yurok Tribe biologists made a shocking discovery: over 70 percent of the young, ocean-bound Chinook salmon captured in their traps were dead. Almost all of the fish tested upstream were infected with Ceratonova shasta, a parasite that relies on both fish and annelid worms as hosts. Barry McCovey, senior fisheries biologist for the Yurok Tribe, expects most of the infected fish to die. “When something like this happens, it’s devastating in the moment because we’re seeing all these baby salmon die,” McCovey says. “But what’s even worse is we know we will feel it again in three years when these fish don’t return to the river to feed our people.” ... ” Read more from Sierra Magazine here: In the Klamath River Basin, the drought punishes everyone
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. Last week, nearly every single juvenile salmon trapped by researchers and fisheries staff was infected with C. shasta, and a majority of them were dead. “This feels like failure,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. “It feels like some real, deep failure.” ... ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Fish kill consumes the Klamath River
Folsom residents asked to conserve water to combat ravages of drought on Folsom Lake
“The Folsom city council is asking its residents to save water. Folsom Lake is the main water source for the city, and it’s reaching historically low levels. As a result, the city is asking its residents to cut their usage by 10 percent to try to preserve what’s left. The city council hopes to minimize the impact of water usage during the fall and winter months. Normally bustling boat docks at Folsom Lake are resting on dry land, their buoys warning phantom boats to slow down. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Folsom residents asked to conserve water to combat ravages of drought on Folsom Lake
Napa County sued over care of Napa River
“Water Audit California is suing to make Napa County increase oversight of groundwater pumping for vineyards, wineries, and other uses, claiming that the pumping affects the Napa River. The lawsuit said the county has a “public trust” duty to care for the river. The idea is that too much groundwater pumping from wells can keep groundwater from seeping into the river during dry months, to the detriment of fish and other aquatic life. …Water Audit California asked Napa County Superior Court to stop the county from issuing or renewing well-drilling permits until the county accounts for cumulative groundwater extraction impacts on the river and establishes practices to protect the river. … ” Read more from Napa Valley Register here: Napa County sued over care of Napa River
Marin commentary: Allowing county residents to build wells is making drought worse
Niccolo Caldararo, former member of the Fairfax Town Council, writes, “By ignoring the construction of wells, Marin authorities are showing they aren’t willing to stay on top of all factors that could make the drought worse. County officials need to address this issue now, starting with a moratorium on wells. We need a groundwater ordinance, a countywide study of groundwater quality and drawdown, a groundwater management plan and a groundwater replenishment district and a conservation district. Authorities should require existing wells to be licensed and charge a fee for use to pay for water table recharge testing, procedures and related studies. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin commentary: Allowing county residents to build wells is making drought worse
Along San Francisco’s Mission Creek, sea level rise unsettles the waters
“Each section of this narrow channel must be tailored differently to meet an uncertain future. Do nothing, and the combination of heavy storms with less than a foot of sea level rise could send Mission Creek spilling over its banks in a half-dozen places, putting nearby housing in peril and closing the two bridges that cross the channel. Whatever the response, we won’t know for decades if the city’s efforts can keep pace with the impact of global climatic forces that no local government can control. Though Mission Creek is unique, the larger dilemma is one that affects all nine Bay Area counties. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: Along San Francisco’s Mission Creek, sea level rise unsettles the waters
Palo Altans may face water-bill surcharges and rationing in a drought
“Palo Altans might be facing water-bill surcharges or water rationing in response to drought conditions, under a plan the City Council will review on Monday (June 7). Under the proposal, the city could choose to limit the watering of lawns or landscaping to three days a week from April through October during a drought, cutting that down to two days a week if conditions worsen. In an extreme water emergency, the city could prohibit outdoor water use altogether except when it’s needed for health or safety. In early stages of a drought, the city could tell restaurants to only serve water to customers if they request it. Hotels might be instructed to give guests the option of skipping daily washing of towels and sheets. ... ” Read more from the Palo Alto Daily Post here: Palo Altans may face water-bill surcharges and rationing in a drought
High and fast water flows on San Joaquin River this weekend. Here’s where and why
“PG&E is warning of high, fast-moving currents in the San Joaquin River on Sunday, following a release of water from Kerckhoff Dam. The release will affect nine miles of the river between the dam and Millerton Lake, starting at 5 a.m. and lasting throughout the day. At its peak the water, which normally flows at 40 cubic feet per second, will be at 1,500 cubic feet per second. The utility company is asking people to not access the river at the San Joaquin River Gorge during the release and to use caution when in the area. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: High and fast water flows on San Joaquin River this weekend. Here’s where and why
Malibu’s premier sushi restaurant features stormwater sustainability
“Overlooking one of California’s most famous beaches, Nobu has become a model for contemporary restaurant design, service, and cuisine that lives up to its demanding relationship with the sea. Although Nobu is now an operating success, the developers of Malibu California’s marquee restaurant had some unique challenges to address. … On California’s coast, the densely populated county of Los Angeles produces many hazards that enter our storm drains every day. But the Nobu property is no different and pointedly positioned to help address these hazards and act as stewards of the very resource that provides Nobu with quality fish every day. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions here: Malibu’s premier sushi restaurant features stormwater sustainability
Raymond Basin designed for water conservation and flood control
Emerson Little writes, “Driving down Raymond Avenue, over the Riverside freeway, and continuing until it became East Street in Anaheim, I noticed a large fenced in area which reminded me of a dried-up lakebed, with a brown wooden sign that closely resembled the one near the Fullerton and Brea Dams. Looking closer, I realized that this was a sign for the Raymond Basin, a flood basin owned by the Orange County Flood Control District (OCFCD), and designed for water conservation and flood control. Mild winters and long hot summers are what Southern Californians are now used to. Seldom is there any measurable rainfall from May through September. Since Southern California has received less rain than usual for this time of year, I thought it would be interesting to do further research into the Raymond Basin and the OCFCD. … ” Read more from the Fullerton Observer here: Raymond Basin designed for water conservation and flood control
Innovative wetlands park in South LA
“Along Avalon and San Pedro boulevard, between 54th and 55th street, lies a little jewel called South Los Angeles Wetlandpark. Located in a historic and beautiful area called South Park, between the historic Central avenue and USC, this entire neighborhood is a mix of residential areas, beautiful old mansions, some patches of warehouses and factories. The 10 acres of South Wetlandpark created in 2013 could be summed up this way: small but smart. Indeed, South LA Wetland Park doesn’t enjoy its neighbor’s prestigious and glorious past, the South Park recreation area created in 1899. Nonetheless, South LA park is a perfect example, not only of beautification but also of smart public investment. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club here: Innovative wetlands park in South LA
Illegal drone scares terns, which abandon 3,000 eggs on Bolsa Chica nesting island
“At the beginning of June each year, the biggest nesting island in Huntington Beach’s Bolsa Chica wetlands is white with elegant terns overseeing their eggs as they begin to hatch in ground nests. Until this year. On May 13, two drones were flown illegally over the nesting area, with one crashing on the island. Fearing attack from a predator, the several thousand birds abandoned their nests, leaving behind some 3,000 eggs. There will be no hatchlings this year on the sand-covered island, which is now littered with the egg shells. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Illegal drone scares terns, which abandon 3,000 eggs on Bolsa Chica nesting island
Imperial Valley: Power play aims to protect water
“The Imperial Irrigation District will create a commission to discuss the future of power in the Coachella Valley in an effort to counter state legislation that would force more members from the Coachella Valley onto the IID board. The district Board of Directors approved a resolution to create a Coachella Valley Energy Commission with three “yes” votes, one “no” vote and one abstention during the board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 1. The commission, made up of IID directors and representatives from communities in the Coachella Valley, will deliberate on issues related to energy in IID’s service area in the Coachella Valley as well as develop a long-term plan for electrical service in that area. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Power play aims to protect water
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Along the Colorado River …
That sinking feeling: Experts discuss subsidence, a geological phenomenon that causes the ground to sink and crack
“Disturbing news came out of Mexico City over the past few weeks. In some places the megalopolis is sinking as much as a foot and a half annually. Some areas could sink as far as 65 feet in the next 150 years. It is the fastest sinking city in the world. And the same geological phenomenon is happening in metro Phoenix, according to researchers at Arizona State University and the state government. In extreme cases, cars and a horse have been swallowed by the cracks it creates. It’s called subsidence, and it’s caused by groundwater pumping. The science behind it is simple to explain, said Grace Carlson, an Arizona State University postgraduate researcher who earned her master’s degree in geoscience at ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration. … ” Read more from Arizona State University here: That sinking feeling: Experts discuss subsidence, a geological phenomenon that causes the ground to sink and crack
Scientists say dire climate change scenarios should be taken into account in Colorado River Basin water management
“Climate change threatens the availability of water in the Colorado River basin and water managers need to take steps now to prepare, the director of the Water Resources Program at the University of New Mexico John Fleck and Brad Udall, the senior water and climate research scientist at the Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University, argue in a recent editorial. The two scientists published the editorial in last Friday’s edition of the research journal Science. “We share the concern that the decision makers are not doing what we think needs to be done to fully incorporate the risks of climate change in the decisions that have to be made over the next few years on the Colorado River,” Fleck said in an interview with NM Political Report. … ” Read more from the New Mexico Politcal Report here: Scientists say dire climate change scenarios should be taken into account in Colorado River Basin water management
Survey results: How Washington County residents feel about the Lake Powell Pipeline
“Drive in any direction through Washington County, Utah and you’ll soon see yellow bulldozers piling up mounds of red dirt and black lava rock to make way for yet another housing development. According to the recent U.S. census, Utah was the fastest-growing state in the nation between 2010 and 2020, increasing its population at a blisteringly fast rate of 18.4%. And in its southwest corner, Washington County, with its stunning vistas, National Park access, recreation opportunities and warm, sunny climate led the state in that trend, attracting nearly 50,000 new residents over the last decade, a 36% increase over its 2010 population. Those 50,000 new people are just the beginning of a growth pattern projected by the Gardner Institute to flood Washington County with 321,000 additional residents over the next 45 years, to reach a local population of 509,000 by 2065. That number of people — 80% of the current population of Las Vegas — will require a lot of water in this desert landscape, more than is locally available at our current rate of use. ... ” Read more from the Spectrum here: Survey results: How Washington County residents feel about the Lake Powell Pipeline
Gov. Cox asks Utahns to join him in prayers for rain this weekend
“After exercising his power as an elected official to help his state through its drought, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox is now exercising his faith. Cox is inviting Utahn to join him in praying for rain, especially on June 4 through June 6 as the state enters summer with a serious lack of water. “I’ve already asked all Utahns to conserve water by avoiding long showers, fixing leaky faucets, and planting water-wise landscapes. But I fear those efforts alone won’t be enough to protect us,” he said. ... ” Read more from Channel 14 here: Gov. Cox asks Utahns to join him in prayers for rain this weekend
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-20210603Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA WATERMASTER: All Delta water licensees have filed 2020 annual water use reports; Supplemental Statements due July 1
ANNOUNCEMENT: State Water Board’s “SAFER Summer Series” to engage communities in developing drinking water solutions
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ BDSC Recordings~ Invasive Species~ Agenda Feedback~ Science Workshop ~~
