DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: With fish on the brink of extinction, tribes say government must act; OID and SSJID revive water sale to West Side farmers; Two Central Coast water organizations fight over new restrictions; The American West is drying out. Things will get ugly; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

With fish on the brink of extinction, tribes say government must act

“At the pristine headwaters of the Wood River, the water is so clear the turquoise rocks along the bottom glow through. On a spring morning, Klamath tribal biologist Alex Gonyaw scooped the clear, cold water into a glass beaker and held it up in the sunlight.  Nearby, a family of square-headed ducks called hooded Mergansers swam. Gonyaw said the tribes have tested the water at that spot and found that it exceeds the quality standards of the water that flows out of his own kitchen tap.  … Less than a mile downstream, the Wood River flows through a cattle ranch. Here, the willows and red alders lining the banks at the headwaters are gone. That’s because the rancher hasn’t installed fences to keep cows from eating the vegetation along the streams, trampling the banks and wading right into the river.  “As soon as you start getting close to the ranch, the water quality completely changes,” Klamath Tribal Council Member Willa Powless said.  It’s not an isolated example. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: With fish on the brink of extinction, tribes say government must act

A Bundy-linked group is rallying farmers in drought-stricken Oregon. Things are getting weird.

“Far-right agitators and militia groups have been gravitating to southern Oregon over the past few weeks, threatening an armed staredown with the federal government over water supplies that are seriously depleted because of a massive drought. In what could amount to the first modern climate-driven standoff in the US, some farmers in the Klamath basin are angry that the Bureau of Reclamation has shut off water to an irrigation canal that feeds 200,000 acres of farmland in southern Oregon to preserve the spawning grounds of endangered suckerfish sacred to local Native tribes.  Organizers affiliated with People’s Rights, a network created by the far-right activist Ammon Bundy, have purchased land next to the irrigation project and created a “water crisis info center” in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where they’ve been threatening to bust open the canal gates to let water flow, setting the stage for a fight over endangered species and Native America rights. ... ”  Read more from Mother Jones here: A Bundy-linked group is rallying farmers in drought-stricken Oregon. Things are getting weird.

Klamath: As fields dry, group associated with Ammon Bundy is slowly building up steam

“The effects of this season’s irrigation canal shut-off can already be seen across the 200,000 acres that depend on the Klamath Water Project’s A canal.  Center pivot irrigators are shut off, halting the movement of water and fields are beginning to brown. Some farmers are busy caring for the few acres they are able to irrigate with groundwater while others are immersed in phone calls and paperwork in an attempt to secure federal grants and funding to cover their expenses during a season with no crops. ... ”  Read more from Channel 10 here:  As fields dry, group associated with Ammon Bundy is slowly building up steam

OID and SSJID revive water sale to West Side farmers after rechecking conditions

“Drought-stressed farmers on the West Side will get water after all from the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.  They had decided in April to cancel a sale of up to 100,000 acre-feet to users as far south as Kern County. Worse than expected conditions in the Stanislaus River watershed prompted that move.  Managers took another look at how the water year is playing out and announced Wednesday that the sale is back on. And the price will be higher – $400 per acre-foot, versus $250 in the original deal. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here: OID and SSJID revive water sale to West Side farmers after rechecking conditions

Irrigation districts agree to send water from New Melones south to drought-stricken farmers

“As much as 100,000 acre-feet of water — enough to meet the annual demand of more than 40,000 Tuolumne County residents for at least five years — that’s currently stored in New Melones Reservoir could soon be sent south to aid drought-stricken farmers under an agreement between the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts.  On Wednesday, the districts announced their respective boards had approved the proposal that would benefit agricultural contractors on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley who’ve been cut off from their typical annual water supplies through the federal Central Valley Project due to the drought conditions. … ”  Read more from the Union Democrat here: Irrigation districts agree to send water from New Melones south to drought-stricken farmers

Bureau water releases out of New Melones worry SSJID

“New Melones water is being sacrificed to meet Delta outflow requirements in a bid to conserve water behind Shasta Dam and Folsom Dam.  The move — not allowed in the operating agreement that South San Joaquin Irrigation District and Oakdale Irrigation District entered into with the Bureau of Reclamation— has both districts concerned.  New Melones has never been tapped to address Delta flows. That has been a function of both Shasta and Folsom reservoirs. All three dams are part of the Central Valley Project that the Bureau operates. … ”  Continue reading at the Manteca Bulletin here: Bureau water releases out of New Melones worry SSJID

Two Central Coast water organizations fight over new restrictions

“The Central Coast Water Authority, along with a number of its customers — namely eight nearby California cities and water districts — filed a lawsuit Friday claiming the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District overstepped its authority by passing a new resolution that imposes an undue burden on their water rights.  The lawsuit, filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court, accuses the district of meddling in its affairs by improperly imposing restrictions on its right to transfer and exchange water with other entities. These restrictions include a prohibition on “unbalanced” exchanges, sales price approval and requirements to develop additional water supplies as a condition of transferring water out of the county. ... ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Two Central Coast water organizations fight over new restrictions

Cooking food in a Sacramento shipping channel?

“The learned doctors attending the bedside of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta agree on one thing: the patient is not doing well. What ails it, many students of the case suggest, is dehydration: the perennial artificial drought induced by withdrawals of water for human use, whether pulled from feeder rivers or extracted from the Delta itself. The obvious prescription — that society moderate its demands — is politically very hard to fill.  Recently, though, attention has turned to what might be called a comorbidity: malnutrition.  Delta waters simply don’t generate enough basic food, in the form of phytoplankton, to sustain the food chains extending to salmon, sturgeon, and smelt. Compared with the problem of thirst, this hunger might actually be a little easier to assuage — if we look for answers in the right, and sometimes unexpected, places. … ”  Continue reading from Estuary News here: Cooking food in a Sacramento shipping channel?

Congressman David Valadao introduces emergency drought relief legislation

“As the heat continues to scorch the Central Valley, Kern Congressman David Valadao has introduced legislation he says will provide emergency drought relief to the Valley.  “The situation that we’ve got in the Valley is dire and people are in really bad shape,” Valadao said, speaking bluntly about the California drought with Kern considered in the worst possible “exceptional drought” category.  “Some of the reservoirs — they’re at record-low numbers,” Valadao said as he explained the basis behind the legislation that he argues will create more water storage infrastructure, and will help to bring and to keep more water in the Valley. Dubbed the “NEED Water Act,” part of the bill seeks to cut what Valadao calls the red tape surrounding the movement of water between certain areas. … ”  Read more from KGET here: Rep. David Valadao introduces emergency drought relief legislation

The record temperatures enveloping the West are not your average heat wave

“It might be tempting to shrug at the scorching weather across large swaths of the West. This just in: It gets hot in the summer.  But this record-setting heat wave’s remarkable power, size and unusually early appearance is giving meteorologists and climate experts yet more cause for concern about the routinization of extreme weather in an era of climate change.  These sprawling, persistent high-pressure zones popularly called “heat domes” are relatively common in later summer months. This current system is different.  “It’s not only unusual for June, but it is pretty extreme even in absolute terms,” says Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. “It would be a pretty extreme event for August,” Swain says, when these typically occur. ... ”  Read more from NPR here: The record temperatures enveloping the West are not your average heat wave

The American West is drying out. Things will get ugly

“The incredible pictures of a depleted Lake Mead, on the California-Nevada border, illustrate the effects of drought brought on by climate change.  Later this year, the US government will almost certainly declare the first-ever water shortage along the Colorado River. Maps show more than a quarter of the US is in “exceptional drought,” underscoring the scope of a decades-long dry-out.  Stories are popping up across the West of possible rationing, coming restrictions and looming standoffs between farmers and the government over the most precious natural resource.  … Continue reading at CNN here: The American West is drying out. Things will get ugly

Here are some things to know about the extreme drought in the Western U.S.

“Almost half of the U.S. has been in a drought since the start of 2021.  Compounding factors, including low rainfall and snowpack, climate change and persisting droughts from previous years, have escalated into extreme dryness.  The prolonged dryness means low water levels are endangering fish species in Oregon and Colorado, 30% of California’s population is in a drought emergency, and the nation’s two biggest reservoirs on the Colorado River — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — are two-thirds empty.  “What we see in our major reservoirs on the Colorado River really give us a good indication of water and drought in the West, and whether we’re in a good or a tough spot,” said John Berggren, a water policy analyst at Western Resource Advocates, a nonprofit organization. “And right now, we’re definitely in the latter category.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Here are some things to know about the extreme drought in the Western U.S.

Photo gallery: Take a look at some of the lakes in California that have been swallowed up by the ‘megadrought’

“California is facing its worst drought in over four years.  Over 37 million people have already been impacted by the “megadrought” and nearly 95% of the state has been classified as experiencing “Severe Drought,” which puts the land in significant danger of wildfires, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).   Last year, California land was consumed by over 8,200 wildfires — a number double the state’s previous record. This year, scorching weather has dried out reservoirs and made the state even more susceptible to breakout wildfires than the record 2020 season. NIDIS analysts call the outlook for the land “grim.” … ”  Read more from Insider here: Take a look at some of the lakes in California that have been swallowed up by the ‘megadrought’

Reduced humidity increases wildfire threat in Southwest United States

“When it comes to wildfires and climate change, it’s not just the heat, it’s the humidity.  A paper published today in Nature Climate Change found that, since 1950, humidity across the Southwest United States dropped an average of 22% on the hottest summer days. In California and Nevada, the effect was even more pronounced, with a decrease of 33%.  For an already arid region, that loss of moisture makes wildfire conditions even worse, according to UCLA climate scientist Karen McKinnon, lead author of the paper.  “In some cases we can’t dry out much more,” McKinnon said.  Relying on information from three separate databases, the study examined humidity changes at locations across noncoastal California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. In some places, such as the Central Valley area near Fresno, humidity decreased by as much as two-thirds. ... ”  Continue reading at the UCLA Newsroom here:  Reduced humidity increases wildfire threat in Southwest United States

Fire-proofing forests is not possible

George Wuerthner, ecologist and author, writes, “In 1992 James Carville, then-candidate Bill Clinton‘s advisor, famously coined the phrase “The economy, stupid.” The focus on the economy ultimately propelled Clinton into the White House.  Today, we face a similar issue with wildfires. Across the political spectrum, we have Democrats and Republicans calling for more logging and thinning and prescribed fire as the panacea for the growing acreage of wildfire across the West. Even former President Trump got into the act by suggesting that raking pine needles could curb fires.  But a more informed political moniker should be “The climate, stupid.” ... ”  Read more from The Hill here: Fire-proofing forests is not possible

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In commentary this weekend …

Perspective: One reporter’s view on fish, farms, and the fight over the Delta’s water.

Estuary News reporter Alistair Bland writes, “As drought parches California, obliterates its snowpack, and reduces rivers to trickles, a familiar feud over water has resurfaced. Farmers want more of it to irrigate their crops, while fishermen and environmentalists want more left in rivers to protect the state’s Chinook salmon.  Mainstream news outlets often portray the struggle as one between two groups ravaged by environmental whims and climate change. However, this interpretation weaves a false equivalence through the narrative. Whereas the state’s Chinook and coho salmon runs have withered to about a tenth of their historic magnitude, California’s agriculture industry has seen steady and soaring growth since its inception 150 years ago. … The deterioration of the Central Valley’s aquatic ecosystems as the agriculture sector thrives represents the failure of a particular tenet of state policy known as the coequal goals. … ”  Read the full commentary at Estuary News here: Perspective: One reporter’s view on fish, farms, and the fight over the Delta’s water.

California can learn much from Israel on how to conserve water, manage drought better

Ron E. Hassner, the Helen Diller Family chair in Israel Studies and the co-director of the Helen Diller Institute for Israel Studies at U.C. Berkeley, writes, “When Donald Trump referred to the COVID pandemic as a “plague,” he was implying that it was an act of God that couldn’t be blamed on the government.  We are now told that the acute water shortage in California is the result of a “drought” that has, once again, lead to water restrictions. This biblical term obscures the responsibility that our local governments bear for this crisis. Countries facing far harsher climates and much scarcer water supply, like Israel, have adopted straightforward policies to avoid such crises. We should learn from their example.  Having grown up in Israel, I smile wryly whenever I drive across the Sacramento River and think of California’s alleged “water shortage.” Israel’s only river, the Jordan River, is a small stream that flows at a rate of 565 cubic foot per second. … ”  Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee here: California can learn much from Israel on how to conserve water, manage drought better

In regional water news this weekend …

Klamath salmon now listed on California Endangered Species List

“On June 16, after hours of debate and public testimony, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to approve the petition from the Karuk Tribe to list the Klamath-Trinity River Spring Chinook as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act.  The Karuk Tribe and the Salmon River Restoration Council (SRRC) jointly filed a petition to list Spring Chinook with the Commission in August 2018. The petition is based on the discovery of the genetic sequence that defines Spring Chinook as distinct from the more abundant Fall Chinook.  That data was published in 2017 by UC Davis Professor Michael Miller and colleagues. … ”  Read more from Cal Trout here: Klamath salmon now listed on California Endangered Species List

Northern California summer steelhead listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act

“On Wednesday, June 16, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to list summer steelhead in four North Coast watersheds — the Eel, Mad, and Mattole Rivers, and Redwood Creek — as Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act. The decision comes in response to Friends of the Eel River’s 2018 petition. The Commission also listed Klamath spring Chinook salmon (as E?) under CESA in the same meeting, in response to a petition from the Salmon River Restoration Council and the Karuk tribe.  Steelhead are the anadromous, or sea-going, form of the fish popularly known as rainbow trout. … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here:  Northern California summer steelhead listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act

Lake Almanor: Thinking like a beaver to aid Yellow Creek

“Last fall, the Maidu Summit Consortium, a nonprofit composed of nine Mountain Maidu tribal member groups, installed 73 BDAs—beaver dam analogs—in Yellow Creek, a tributary to the North Fork Feather River and a state-listed heritage trout stream. Swift Water Design and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designed the structures, and Mountain Maidu tribal youth worked with Swift Water to build them. The idea behind the structures, which mimic beaver dams, is to slow erosion, catch sediment, and build up the river bottom to reverse the incised channel—without importing soil and other materials or emitting carbon from heavy, diesel-powered equipment.  “Before this project, PG&E had done some pond and plug projects to restore the meadow,” says Trina Cunningham, executive director of the Consortium. “We wanted to try to restore habitat more naturally in a less invasive way.” ... ”  Read more from Estuary News here: Lake Almanor: Thinking like a beaver to aid Yellow Creek

Lake Pillsbury Alliance working to keep water – Part 1

“Aligning with the U.S. Forest Service’s early philosophy of “bringing the people to the forest,” in 1915 the U.S. Congress established the Cabin in the Woods program to facilitate family recreation in the National Forests, a cost-effective way for average citizens to afford seasonal getaways near lakes, mountains and streams.  Individuals could purchase a lot—a long-term Forest Service lease—issued for 20 years at a time, upon which they could build a cabin.  Of the nearly 14,000 cabins in the program throughout the 114 National Forests in the U.S., there are 71 of them in a tract in the Mendocino National Forest at Lake Pillsbury. … ”  Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Lake Pillsbury Alliance working to keep water – Part 1

River along north Sacramento showing above average amounts of E. coli

“Several locations along the American River north of Sacramento are showing above-average levels of E. coli, according to the Central Valley Water Board.  KCRA 3 spoke with health officials in Sacramento County on Friday about the concerning levels of E. coli.  Q: Are you advising people not to swim or recreate in Discovery Park or any locations along north Sacramento that are showing concerning levels of E. coli?  County Health Official: Every natural water body can be a conduit for pollution, trash, bacteria, algae and microorganisms. Sacramento County and the Sacramento Area Sewer District have collaborated with the California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Valley Water Board) to fund the State Water Board’s E. coli water sampling at nine sites on the American River to determine the primary sources of E. coli. … ”  Read more from KCRA here: River along north Sacramento showing above average amounts of E. coli

In Russian River’s fabled vineyards, the harvest of a drought

“Rich with promise and potential, the grapes that create the Russian River Valley’s famed wines are ripening in the intense midday heat.  But soon they’ll face the fight of their lives, deprived of water as the state diverts scarce supplies from agriculture to the region’s thirsty cities and subdivisions.  “Whatever water we have on the ground is all we’re going to get,” said Mendocino County supervisor and plant scientist Glenn McGourty, whose district spans the rural upper reaches of the river’s watershed, where the dance of cool nights and hot days, combined with alluvial soil, produces unique growing conditions.  “We hope and pray that we can make it to harvest without our fruit becoming raisins and the leaves falling off the vines,” he said. … ”  Read more from the Mercury News here: In Russian River’s fabled vineyards, the harvest of a drought

Russian river inflatable dam replacement to close boating in area through summer

“The Russian River’s inflatable rubber dam near Forestville is being replaced for the first time since 1995, with construction starting Monday and continuing until mid-October. As a result, boating access will be closed around the area throughout the summer.  Public signage will be posted around the river to alert boaters about the closure. The next public access point will be downstream at Steelhead Beach Regional Park. … ”  Read more from CBS San Franciso here: Russian river inflatable dam replacement to close boating in area through summer

Water Audit California sues St. Helena over water management

“Water Audit California sued the City of St. Helena this week over its management of water.  The watchdog group says the city is violating its “public trust” responsibilities relating to the Napa River and its aquatic habitat. It cites the city’s policies on groundwater pumping, well permitting, and water consumption by vineyards and wineries. The claims are similar to ones Water Audit made against Napa County in a separate lawsuit filed earlier this month. Both lawsuits claim that local water policies need to account for the hydrological relationship between groundwater extraction and surface flows in streams like the Napa River. … ”  Read more from the Napa Register here: Water Audit California sues St. Helena over water management

Drought: Marin district details water pipeline, desalination plans

“The Marin Municipal Water District has taken the first steps toward building an emergency water pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge for the first time in nearly 50 years to avoid potentially running out of water next summer.  The district said Friday that it has hired a consulting firm, Woodard & Curran, to find potential water rights holders in the Central Valley willing to sell their allotments. This water could be pumped across the bridge via the pipeline and into Marin’s water system should the drought stretch into winter.  “That team is out at the moment searching for a source of water,” Paul Sellier, the district’s operations director, told the board at a meeting on Friday. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Drought: Marin district details water pipeline, desalination plans

Editorial: Strong conservation best response to historic drought

The Marin Independent Journal editorial board writes, “It’s been nearly 50 years since Marin residents and businesses have faced a drought like the one confronting us today.  At its worst, Marin Municipal Water District’s customers faced strict rationing when household water use was cut to the level of 49 gallons per person, per household — 57% less than the amount that was normally used.  Families were showering with buckets, garbage cans were used to capture rinse water from washing machines and people were carefully hand-watering their gardens in the dark to protect against losing water to evaporation.  Those also were the days before low-flow showerheads, washing machines and dishwashers and water-wise irrigation systems now in use in many more local households. … ”  Read more from the Mercury News here: Editorial: Strong conservation best response to historic drought

San Francisco Bay fish still not good eating

“After decades of efforts to clean up San Francisco Bay, its fish still carry a toxic load that makes them unfit for human consumption. A new Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) report on its 2019 sport fish survey contains some positive news: an overall decline in polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), hopeful trends in polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin, and continued low selenium levels. But no downward trend was found for mercury. Then there are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which the RMP only began monitoring in 2009 and for which no human consumption advisory levels have been established in California. These chemicals, used in stainproofing, waterproofing, and many other applications, are a new cause for concern. … ”  Read more from Estuary News here: San Francisco Bay fish still not good eating

Water system maintenance causes concerns among some San Mateo County residents

“Routine maintenance repairs on a portion of water system pipes along Cordilleras Creek left some San Mateo County residents concerned water was being wasted as the state enters a drought.  “We’re in the middle of a drought and there’s threats of water rates going up. To me it’s a little maybe not so thoughtful to let this water go,” Redwood City resident Rudy Tureillo said.  The Cordilleras Creek, one of two creeks running through Redwood City, also cuts through Redwood High School where Tureillo works as a custodian. Typically the creek is “bone dry,” Tureillo said, but starting Wednesday, June 9, staff at the school noticed it was flowing strong. … ”  Read more from the San Mateo Daily Journal here: Water system maintenance causes concerns among some San Mateo County residents

Zone 7 commits $2 million for PFAS water treatment facility

“Zone 7 directors have approved spending $2 million to design a facility to treat potential human health threats in Cope Lake’s water should chemicals accumulate above legally acceptable levels.  Those chemicals are called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs and PFOAs), which are found in consumer products, such as cookware, food packaging and stain repellents. They make their way into drinking water sources. The National Cancer Institute continues to study their health impacts.  In an effort to protect the water quality of Cope Lake’s three nearby wells, directors during a May 5 meeting voted unanimously in favor of committing to spend $2 million now for designing the facility. … ”  Read more from the Livermore Independent here:  Zone 7 commits $2 million for PFAS water treatment facility

‘Level Two’ water shortage declared in Morgan Hill

“A South Bay city with a reputation for conserving water has declared a Level Two water shortage.  That means a host of new restrictions in Morgan Hill, most of which will impact on the watering of lawns and landscaping.  The sign out front of the Morgan Hill Community Center is flashing the news that the city council has declared a Level Two water supply shortage.  The days appear numbered for lush green grass. … ”  Read more from KRON here: ‘Level Two’ water shortage declared in Morgan Hill

Wells are failing in southeastern Madera County. What to know about the water situation

“On Sunday evening, a well motor failed in a Madera Ranchos community water system that serves around 1,000 homes.  Last week, another well pump stopped working in Parksdale, southeast of Madera.  Neither community has lost water service. Both are experiencing low pressure.  Madera County Public Works runs both water systems.  From Madera Acres to the Bonadelle Ranchos, private wells are running dry at an alarming rate. Self-Help Enterprises, an organization that supports communities with water challenges, has been tracking the problem.  They have now delivered water tanks to more than 200 households in the county.  “It’s a hot spot,” said Tami McVay of Self-Help Enterprises. “During the last drought, Tulare County was overwhelmed. But now, Madera County is getting hit the worst this time.” … ”  Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Wells are failing in southeastern Madera County. What to know about the water situation

Drought planning leaves Don Pedro with 27% of full capacity

“As the drought throughout the state continues to worsen, the Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors received information on Tuesday regarding exactly how much water is available in Don Pedro Reservoir.  TID hydrologist Olivia Cramer showed the Board during their meeting this week that while Don Pedro may appear to have substantially more stored water than a majority of reservoirs in California, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the numbers.  According to data published by the California Department of Water Resources, Don Pedro currently sits at 64% of its 2,030,000-acre-foot capacity, or 1,305,688-acre feet. This is 84% of the reservoir’s historical average for the date and puts Don Pedro above every other reservoir in California except for Lake Perris, which is much smaller. … ”  Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Drought planning leaves Don Pedro with 27% of full capacity

Malibu: The case for keeping Legacy Park pond full of water year-round

““If you build it, they will come,” turned out to be true when the pond at Malibu’s Legacy Park opened in 2010.  Built as a detention pond for cleaned stormwater runoff from the surrounding 330 acres, it became more and more of an attraction for water birds every year. And as the newly planted trees around the pond grew larger, and the water reeds and other plantings matured, the area became a true wildlife refuge in the middle of the city—at least during the rainy season.  Although the pond area teems with life when there is water in it, it looks like a deserted wasteland when it dries up in drought years like this one. All through spring there were dozens of mallard ducks and coots cruising the water, not to mention Canada geese, wading snowy egrets and great blue herons, and shoreline birds like red-winged blackbirds and killdeers. ... ”  Read more from the Malibu Times here: The case for keeping Legacy Park pond full of water year-round

Column: Trash, needles and fire. He’s watching homelessness destroy the Ballona Wetlands

Columnist Erika D. Smith writes, “We had been walking for only a few minutes when Scott Culbertson stopped in front of a field of twisted, blackened bark.  “I haven’t been here since the fire,” the executive director of the Friends of Ballona Wetlands told me, scowling at the destruction from behind dark sunglasses.  Three months ago, this spot in the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Playa del Rey had been a stand of native willow trees and other vegetation where endangered songbirds would nest. Then, one sunny afternoon, a brush fire broke out and scorched five acres before firefighters could put it out.  I know because I watched from my apartment as the smoke billowed across Lincoln Boulevard and helicopters crisscrossed the air dropping water. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Column: Trash, needles and fire. He’s watching homelessness destroy the Ballona Wetlands

LADWP board leads on equity

“As the one-year anniversary of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Executive Directive to City Departments to take concrete actions to promote racial equity in City government approaches, LADWP is proud to report that it has made significant progress on multiple initiatives to advance racial equity, following through on the Mayor’s Directive, Executive Directive 27 issued on Juneteenth 2020.  Mayor Garcetti’s directive to City departments followed unprecedented worldwide calls for social justice and an end to institutional racism following the brutal murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin. Executive Directive 27 led to LADWP taking a comprehensive review of racial equity and launching several key initiatives. … ”  Read more from the LA DWP here: LADWP board leads on equity

Native trout resiliency in Southern California

“The Coldwater Canyon trout in the Santa Ana mountains of Riverside County are one of two remaining native rainbow trout of steelhead lineage that far south in coastal Southern California. They were burned over in the intense Holy Fire in 2018, but thankfully survived. The fish were emergency translocated to another location before the winter rains wiped them out with extreme mud flows. With two fortunate years of cleansing rainfall, the native trout returned back to their waters earlier this year and are reproducing in this inaccessible stream, located on private property. We’d like to give acknowledgements to Riverside-Corona RCD, CDFW Region 6, and the US Forest Service as the leads on monitoring, rescuing, and returning the native trout to Coldwater Canyon. … ”  Read more from Cal Trout here: Native trout resiliency in Southern California

Along the Colorado River …

Lake Mead’s decline points to scary water future in West

“The Hoover Dam is seeing record-low water levels, a significant and scary development with major implications for water and climate in the entire American Southwest.  Amid drought conditions, Lake Mead’s level last week reached an all-time low of 1,071.56 feet above sea level, leaving it just 37 percent full.  The body of water’s level has been declining since 2000, and has fallen about 140 feet over the past two decades. It comes amid a drought in the Southwest that is the worst in two decades, according to a New York Times analysis. … ”  Read more from The Hill here: Lake Mead’s decline points to scary water future in West

If Lake Powell’s water levels keep falling, a multi-state reservoir release may be needed

“Lake Powell’s water level is the lowest it’s been in decades, and the latest 24-month projections from the Arizona and Utah reservoir show that it’s likely to drop even further — below a critical threshold of 3,525 feet by next year.  A 20-year megadrought and a hotter climate has contributed to shrinking water supplies in the Colorado River. If Lake Powell’s levels continue to dwindle, it could set off litigation between the seven states and the 40 million people that all rely on the Colorado River. “This is really new territory for us,” said Amy Ostdiek, deputy section chief of the federal, interstate and water information section of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. … ”  Read more from Colorado Public Radio here:  If Lake Powell’s water levels keep falling, a multi-state reservoir release may be needed

In national water news this weekend …

Animated Map: U.S. droughts over the last 20 years

“The Western U.S. is experiencing one of the worst recorded droughts in the last 20 years.  Temperatures from California to the Dakotas are currently hovering around 9-12°F above average—but how bad is the situation compared to past years?  This animated map by reddit user /NothingAbnormalHere provides a historical look at droughts in the U.S. since 1999, using data and graphics from the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). ... ”  Read more and view map at Visual Capitalist here: Animated Map: U.S. droughts over the last 20 years

Biden administration releases unified agenda, outlining regulatory priorities

“On June 11, the Biden administration released its first Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, an outline of agency priorities released every fall and spring. The unified agendas set nonbinding goals for regulatory actions, providing insight into the administration’s priorities for the upcoming year. The goals outlined in the Unified Agenda may never come to fruition.  The Unified Agenda released on June 11 establishes a number of timelines to roll back Trump environmental rules, set new regulations on climate, clean water and energy efficiency, and prepare the regulatory side of the federal government to implement President Biden’s proposed American Rescue, Jobs, and Families Plan that has not passed through Congress. Some of the most notable proposed changes related to energy and the environment are listed below. … ”  Read more from Brownstein & Hyatt here: Biden administration releases unified agenda, outlining regulatory priorities 

In search of a desert oasis: Innovative projects imagine a promising future for the Aral Sea and central Asian drylands

“Some say all hope is lost for the Aral Sea. Once the fourth-largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea has almost disappeared, and it seems nothing can be done to revive its desiccated seabed, restore its natural habitats, and stop the toxic dust storms from decimating communities and livelihoods across the region.  Yet if you ask innovators—from 28 countries across five continents—who submitted 158 proposals to the Global Disruptive Tech Challenge 2021: Restoring Landscapes in the Aral Sea Region, all hope is not lost. This five-month long competition was launched in November 2020 by the World Bank as part of the Resilient Landscapes in Central Asia (RESILAND CA+) Project in partnership with the Global Landscapes Forum, the Kazakhstan-German University, and Plug & Play—a business incubator in Silicon Valley, California. The competition was financed by the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP). … ”  Read more from the World Bank here: In search of a desert oasis: Innovative projects imagine a promising future for the Aral Sea and central Asian drylands

Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …

WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for June 13 – 18: SoCal salinity management, Near-term ecological forecasting, and all the top CA water news stories of the week

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

ESTUARY NEWS: Thinking like a beaver; Scanning for ancient channels; Cooking fish food in a ship channel? and more …

GRA HYDROVISIONS: Toxic terra, Knowing your aquifer, PFAS, well development programs, and more …

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