Governor Newsom extends drought emergency …
As California drought worsens, Newsom urges residents to cut water use
“As a heat wave exacerbates California’s drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom asked residents Thursday to voluntarily cut their water use by 15% and extended an emergency drought declaration to nearly every Bay Area county. Those measures were the latest in a series of modest steps Newsom has taken to encourage Californians to conserve and to make it easier for state regulators to curtail use for farmers and water agencies. Newsom said urgent action is needed because conditions in the state “continue to devolve,” with sparse rainfall and higher-than-normal temperatures — and a heat dome forecast to scorch the West Coast this weekend. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: As California drought worsens, Newsom urges residents to cut water use
Newsom asks all Californians to voluntarily reduce water usage by 15% amid drought
“Gov. Gavin Newsom is asking Californians to voluntarily cut back on water consumption by 15% compared with last year as drought conditions worsen and temperatures continue to rise across the western United States. The governor on Thursday also expanded his regional drought state of emergency to apply to 50 California counties, or roughly 42% of the state’s population. “We’re hopeful that people will take that mindset they brought into the last drought and extend that forward with a 15% voluntary reduction, not only on residences but industrial commercial operations and agricultural operations,” Newsom said at a news conference in San Luis Obispo County. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Newsom asks all Californians to voluntarily reduce water usage by 15% amid drought
Gavin Newsom calls on Californians to cut water use by 15%, expands drought emergency
“Gov. Gavin Newsom expanded his drought emergency declaration Thursday and called on Californians to reduce water consumption by 15%. In a pair of emergency orders issued during an appearance at parched Lopez Lake near San Luis Obispo, the governor added nine more counties to the list of those covered by his emergency declaration from two months ago. That makes the drought official in 50 of the state’s 58 counties — essentially, everywhere except San Francisco and urban Southern California. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Gavin Newsom calls on Californians to cut water use by 15%, expands drought emergency
What Gavin Newsom’s California water conservation executive order means for you
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Thursday encouraging all Californians to reduce water use by 15% as 50 of the state’s 58 counties are now a drought-related state of emergency. Newsom stated that the order is purely voluntary (for now at least), and called for smaller measures such as taking shorter showers or watering lawns less frequently. “I’m not here as the nanny state, I’m not trying to be oppressive,” he said at a public appearance signing the order. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: What Gavin Newsom’s California water conservation executive order means for you
Press release: As drought conditions intensify, Governor Newsom issues Executive Order, calling on Californians to take simple actions to conserve water
“Amid intensifying drought and record-breaking temperatures across the Western United States, Governor Gavin Newsom today added nine counties to the regional drought state of emergency and called on Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent with simple measures to protect water reserves if drought conditions continue and to help maintain critical flows for fish and wildlife wherever possible. “The realities of climate change are nowhere more apparent than in the increasingly frequent and severe drought challenges we face in the West and their devastating impacts on our communities, businesses and ecosystems,” said Governor Newsom. “The entire state is in a drought today, and to meet this urgent challenge we must all pull together and do our part to reduce water use as California continues to build a more climate resilient water system to safeguard the future of our state. We’re proud of the tremendous strides made to use water more efficiently and reduce water waste, but we can all find opportunities this summer to keep more water in reserve as this drought could stretch into next year and beyond.” … ” Continue reading and view/download Executive Order here: As drought conditions intensify, Governor Newsom issues Executive Order, calling on Californians to take simple actions to conserve water
Reactions to Newsom’s drought executive order …
From the Association of California Water Agencies:
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Dave Eggerton issued the following statement: “ACWA applauds the Governor’s leadership on the state’s drought response. The voluntary approach to reducing water use emphasizes the need for Californians to do their part to use water wisely but also provides local water managers with appropriate di scretion based on local water supply conditions. Water shortage and drought impacts vary widely among California’s communities. ACWA’s public water agency members are making significant investments in water infrastructure that are critical to ensuring a reliable water supply for California’s communities, economy and the environment during droughts. State and federal drought funding assistance for water infrastructure is critical to that work. Water use efficiency is one of many important tools to prepare for and adapt to longer and more intense droughts caused by climate change.” Full statement here.
From the Metropolitan Water District:
Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, issues the following statement: “Southern California must be part of the statewide movement to address the significant water supply challenges created by drought and climate change. We are one when it comes to water, and our state’s river ecosystems and snowpack-reliant supplies are under greater and greater stress. The governor’s call for the public to voluntarily cutback water use by 15 percent demonstrates the seriousness of this growing drought yet preserves the flexibility local managers need. Southern Californians have done a great job maintaining lower water use since the last drought, yet this drought demands that we all re-examine and renew our water-saving habits and do everything we can to use this precious resource as wisely as possible.”From Restore the Delta:
Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, issued the following statement: “Governor Newsom’s response to the drought is too little too late. Restore the Delta and our coalition partners began warning state agencies and the Newsom Administration at the end of 2020 to plan for these drought conditions. “Senior management at DWR and the California Natural Resources Agency have given the Governor bad advice. They let too much of the water out of the system for industrial agriculture users — who only contribute 2 to 3% of the state’s GDP. Our water resources and public trust resources like salmon fisheries have been squandered for almonds and other unsustainable crops. “The decimation of salmon in the Sacramento River and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms in the Delta, which are the result of drought conditions from climate change and decades of mismanagement, are an assault on Delta environmental justice communities and Northern California tribes.”
From the San Diego County Water Authority:
Sandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, issued the following statement: “While the San Diego region is thankfully drought-safe this summer due to sound planning and decades-long ratepayer investments in new water supplies and storage and adoption of water conservation as a way of life, we must also be part of the statewide movement now underway to address water supply challenges created by drought and climate change in other parts of California. “The Water Authority strongly supports the governor’s call for the public to voluntarily cutback water use by 15% in order to allow local, regional and state water agencies to plan and take the steps necessary under these changed conditions to maximize the availability of limited water supplies going forward, through the investment of state funding and implementation of other provisions of the Governor’s Proclamation of a State Emergency and Executive Order N-10-21 calling for water conservation. The Water Authority will be working closely with our member agencies and with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California over the next several days, weeks and months, to design and implement strategies to maximize water supply development in collaboration with Governor Newsom and state agencies, in order to protect California.”
From the State Water Contractors:
“Droughts present an existential threat to California’s climate resiliency, food security, ecosystem health and our economy – all of which depend on the consistent and reliable movement of water through the SWP,” said Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors. “Conservation measures such as the call for a 15% voluntary reduction in water use are important tools for managing our state’s limited water supply during droughts, but conservation will only take us so far. If we do not commit to repairing and maintaining the SWP’s outdated infrastructure through smart investments like SB 559, we risk diminishing the SWP’s ability to help California respond to future droughts.”
In other California water news …
California DFW: ‘nearly all’ Sacramento River winter chinook salmon juveniles could perish this year
Dan Bacher writes, “On July 6, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife published an update on the status of federally and state protected winter-run Chinook salmon that warns “it is possible that nearly all in-river juveniles will not survive this season” as the cold water pool in Lake Shasta is depleted earlier than modeled because of increased downstream water deliveries during the hot weather. The winter-run Chinook salmon is listed as “endangered” under both the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The once abundant sub-species of salmon declined from a high of 117,000 in 1969 to 200 fish in 1991. Previous reports from the CDFW documented a large mass of winter run Chinook in stressed condition below Keswick Dam, including adult fish dying before spawning in the relatively warm water conditions. … ” Read more at the Daily Kos here: California DFW: ‘nearly all’ Sacramento River winter chinook salmon juveniles could perish this year
Final plan for water releases into Sacramento River could kill up to 88% of endangered salmon run
“The California water board has approved a plan for water releases into the Sacramento River that could kill off an entire run of endangered chinook salmon and put at risk another population that is part of the commercial salmon fishery. The State Water Resources Control Board has informed the federal Bureau of Reclamation it would accept its final plan for managing water flows from Shasta Lake into the Sacramento River, which is both the main source of water for Central Valley farms and the spawning habitat for chinook salmon. Because the bureau’s plan involves releasing water to irrigation districts earlier in the season, the river will be lower and warmer during salmon spawning season and could result in killing as many as 88% of endangered winter-run chinook eggs and young fish, according to the plan’s scientific models. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Final plan for water releases into Sacramento River could kill up to 88% of endangered salmon run
READ THE REPORT: The report on salmon is available on this spreadsheet on the discussion tab.
Dire drought warning: California says ‘nearly all’ salmon could die in Sacramento River
“The drought is making the Sacramento River so hot that “nearly all” of an endangered salmon species’ juveniles could be cooked to death this fall, California officials warned this week. In a brief update on the perilous state of the river issued this week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife made a dire prediction about the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon and its struggles against consistently hot weather in the Sacramento Valley. “This persistent heat dome over the West Coast will likely result in earlier loss of ability to provide cool water and subsequently it is possible that nearly all in-river juveniles will not survive this season,” the department said. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Dire drought warning: California says ‘nearly all’ salmon could die in Sacramento River
Commentary: The (not surprising) failure of the Shasta temperature plan
Doug Obegi, Director of NRDC’s California River Restoration Water Division, writes, “NRDC and our partners today petitioned the State Water Resources Control Board to reconsider and set aside its June 10, 2021 approval of the Bureau of Reclamation’s Temperature Management Plan for Shasta Dam last month. Since March, we have been warning that the State Water Board needed to take action to prevent a disaster for salmon below Shasta Dam, to no avail. This week, staff from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has joined that chorus, warning that Shasta Dam is likely to run out of cold water earlier than expected under the Shasta Temperature Management Plan (which is required under the Trump BiOps and the SWRCB’s Water Rights Order 90-5) and as a result the Bureau of Reclamation may kill nearly all of the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon that spawn in the river this year … ” Continue reading at the NRDC here: The (not surprising) failure of the Shasta temperature plan
Is your neighbor wasting water? Snitching on them may ease California drought, study says
“With hot and dry conditions ravaging California, water departments across the state are asking people to anonymously report their neighbors for washing their cars too much, soaking their lawns or failing to fix leaks, among other drought-related offenses. Turns out, it may work. A new study suggests that reporting water wasters in your neighborhood leads to a noticeable increase in conservation. The study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that in a state the size of California — with 39 million people — one additional complaint of water wasting per 1,000 people served by the utility resulted in about 32 billion gallons of water saved, which could serve a city the size of San Francisco for over 16 months. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Is your neighbor wasting water? Snitching on them may ease California drought, study says
Reservoirs are drying up as consequences of the Western drought worsen
“Reservoir levels are dropping throughout the West, as drought tightens its grip on the region and intense summer heat further stresses both water supply and the surrounding landscape. Many reservoirs are at or approaching historic low levels due to lackluster rainy seasons combined with increasing temperatures due to climate change. The drought crisis is perhaps most apparent in the Colorado River basin, which saw one of its driest years on record, following two decades of less-than-adequate flows. The nation’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead near Las Vegas, is at its lowest level since the lake filled after the construction of the Hoover dam in the 1930s; it currently sits at 1,069 feet above sea level, or 35 percent of its total capacity. It supplies water to Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Reservoirs are drying up as consequences of the Western drought worsen
California just had its driest rain year since 1895
“California just had its driest rain year on record, and that’s why the state drought has worsened so quickly. The statewide average precipitation from July 2020 through June 2021 was 49 percent of average, the lowest on record for any July-June rainfall year in California, according to data compiled by Jan Null, a consultant meteorologist and founder of Golden Gate Weather Services. That shattered a state record that stood for 97 years. ... ” Read more from The Weather Channel here: California just had its driest rain year since 1895
Fact sheet: Better forecasting of atmospheric rivers mitigates impact of 2021 drought
“Pioneering work by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has made it possible to forecast atmospheric rivers (ARs) with more precision and longer lead times. These forecast improvements have already begun to pay off by giving California more time to prepare for and mitigate impacts of droughts, floods, and other hazards. ARs produce up to 50% of the annual precipitation over the western US and cause over 90% of insured flood losses in California. ƒPredicting strong ARs is important for managing water levels to prevent floods. ƒPredicting the absence of ARs is equally important to prepare for droughts. Over the last two years, there has only been one strong AR over California, leading the State into its current drought. ... ” Read/download fact sheet from the Center for Western Water and Wather Extremes here: Better forecasting of atmospheric rivers mitigates impact of 2021 drought
Bill aims to help turn recycled wastewater into high-quality drinking water
“Declining Sierra snowfall and continuing drought conditions have some people looking at recycling wastewater as a stable source of supplies in the future. Many Bay Area districts are already tapping into lower-quality recycled water for outdoor use. Santa Clara Valley Water District Board Vice-Chair Gary Kremen says it’s about 5% of their supply. “Most of our recycled water today is used for outdoor irrigation and some slight amount is used for cooling towers,” said Kremen. Now, there’s a new House Bill 4099, co-sponsored by Congressman Jared Huffman of San Rafael. It proposes allocating $750 million dollars for federal grants to fund recycled water projects, such as turning wastewater into high-quality drinking water. ... ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Bill aims to help turn recycled wastewater into high-quality drinking water
Study shows growing cannabis uses less water than previously thought
“A study from the University of California Berkeley Cannabis Research Center has determined that licensed cannabis cultivation operations use less water than previously thought. Researchers from the center began studying water use by cannabis growers in 2017, following the legalization of recreational marijuana in California the previous year. Data for the study was collected from water use reports from growers licensed to cultivate cannabis and from anonymous farmer surveys. The research determined that cannabis farmers are irrigating their crops with water from several sources including streams, wells, captured rainwater, springs, and municipal water systems. Researchers found that most regulated cannabis operations use water from groundwater wells. ... ” Read more from High Times here: Study shows growing cannabis uses less water than previously thought
Partnerships sought for restoring wetland ecosystems
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking partners for wetland ecosystem restoration on agricultural land. A total of $17 million is being invested through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). Proposals for WREP projects are due by August 15. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prioritizing conservation proposals from historically underserved producers. “Our goal is to support agricultural producers in their efforts to conserve natural resources on their land,” NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said in a news release. “Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnerships help partners and producers work together to protect wetland ecosystems on working lands.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Partnerships sought for restoring wetland ecosystems
Conservation programs and carbon markets
Governor, lawmakers add $500 million to wildfire prevention budget, following CapRadio, NPR California Newsroom investigation
“Governor Gavin Newsom is set to approve an extra $500 million for wildfire prevention — a last-minute change that would more than double what’s in the current budget deal. The change comes after CapRadio and NPR’s California Newsroom revealed Newsom’s administration had nixed a similar amount from this year’s budget. The investigation also found the state’s wildfire prevention work dropped sharply in 2020, and the governor had pushed back an ambitious fuel reduction goal set by his predecessor. The state Department of Finance disclosed the extra money in a letter to lawmakers last week, a day after CapRadio and NPR’s California’s Newsroom published their exposé. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Governor, lawmakers add $500 million to wildfire prevention budget, following CapRadio, NPR California Newsroom investigation
California wildfires on track to exceed record-breaking 2020 season
“California appears to be on pace to have another disastrous wildfire season after breaking records in 2020. The Associated Press reports the state has tallied 4,599 fires that have burned through 114.8 square miles of land between Jan. 1 and July 4 of 2021. At least 91 structures so far have been damaged or destroyed by wildfires. Over the same period of time in 2020, the drought-ridden state experienced 3,847 fires that tore through 48.6 square miles of dry vegetation. Last year saw a total of 9,917 wildfires that burned a record 6,653 square miles, damaged 10,488 structures and left 33 people dead. The 2020 wildfire season was the largest recorded in California’s modern history. … ” Read more from The Hill here: California wildfires on track to exceed record-breaking 2020 season
Another California heat wave will bake forests already primed to burn
“May Gray, June Gloom, No-Sky July … whatever you call it, the marine layer and California’s coastal summer weather patterns are insulating the Bay Area from yet another punishing summer heat wave descending on the Central Valley. While inland areas will broil this weekend, the forecast for cities around the bay is warm, but not uncomfortable. Meteorologists are still sizing up the projections, and say the heat isn’t likely to break all-time records like the heatwave that cooked the Pacific Northwest last month. Carbon pollution is trapping heat and warming the planet, causing more frequent and severe heat waves, even as companies and governments continue to emit planet warming gases with little abatement. … ” Read more from KQED here: Another California heat wave will bake forests already primed to burn
In commentary today …
More housing and more drought calls for more thought
Rick Johnson, retired 40-year veteran of the San Francisco water department, writes, “Although 41 of California’s 58 counties are in drought conditions, legislators are debating bills, such as Senate Bill 9 and Senate Bill 10, that address the construction of housing to meet the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation. Between 2023 and 2031, the state mandate for the nine-county Bay Area is 441,000 units, representing an expected population increase of 1,102,500. The allocation for Los Angeles County is 1,327,000 housing units to accommodate an expected population increase of 3,317,500. The state’s propensity to accept the RHNA numbers ignores our drought conditions. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: More housing and more drought calls for more thought
The problems of prescribed fire
Ecologist and author George Wuerthner writes, “There has been a growing chorus of political leaders and often firefighting agency personnel who suggest that greater use of prescribed fire could preclude the establishment of large blazes or at least slow advances. Advocates also assert it could reduce overall smoke and improve forest health. The rationale for prescribed burning is justified by the assumption that past burning by tribal people precluded large blazes and maintained healthy forest ecosystems. I will not go into details here about why tribal burning was unlikely to affect large landscapes nor substantially reduce fires under extreme fire weather conditions but suffice to say the influence of pre-Anglo ignitions was primarily localized and did not preclude large blazes. … ” Read more from The Hill here: The problems of prescribed fire
In regional water news and commentary today …
1.1 million ‘juvenile’ Chinook Salmon relocated due to drought, poor conditions in Klamath River
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife are relocating millions of young Chinook Salmon fish, due to the ongoing drought and poor conditions in the Klamath River. “The conditions in the Klamath River aren’t very good for these baby fish,” Dr. Mark Clifford, Hatchery specialist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told NBC5. “We would normally release these fish in the spring.” Clifford says officials are feeding and caring for the fish at its Iron Gate, Fall Creek and Trinity River hatchery facilities until conditions improve. “We probably won’t release the fish until October or November,” Clifford said. “It’s really challenging to raise fish during a drought.” … ” Read more from KOBI here: 1.1 million ‘juvenile’ Chinook Salmon relocated due to drought, poor conditions in Klamath River
Karuk Tribe calls for water regulations to protect coho salmon
“The Scott River is home to one of the last remaining wild populations of coho salmon in California. Juvenile salmon hatch and are reared in the Scott, before swimming into the Klamath River and out to the ocean. But according to the Karuk Tribe and the nonprofit Environmental Law Foundation, extreme drought and commercial water use are drying up the river. They’re asking the California Water Resources Control Board to set a minimum flow for the Scott. Doing that would involve regulating hundreds of nearby agricultural wells. “The majority of agricultural water use is groundwater and much of that groundwater is directly tied to the river, so that when pumping goes up, the river goes down,” says Nat Kane, executive director of the ELF. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: Karuk Tribe calls for water regulations to protect coho salmon
North Complex Watershed Working Group’s post-fire water quality monitoring project to conclude
“Widespread testing of surface waters throughout the burn scar left by last summer’s North Complex Fire in Butte and Plumas counties has been completed. Sampling results over the last few months have revealed that while contaminant levels were elevated in some instances, they were lower than anticipated and did not adversely impact drinking water treatment facilities or the quality of drinking water they deliver to their communities. The public is reminded to always treat surface waters before drinking or cooking when recreating outdoors, and homeowners with wells along Berry Creek and Fall River should review their well construction details and consider testing their well water. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: North Complex Watershed Working Group’s post-fire water quality monitoring project to conclude
Algae: the good & the bad in the Yuba
The South Yuba River Citizens League writes, “We have fielded a lot of questions in the past few weeks about water flows and water temperatures in the South Yuba. In particular, people are asking questions like: How do flows compare to years prior? Are temperatures higher than normal? According to our water quality monitoring data, which goes back to 2000, water temperatures at many of our favorite river crossings—Lang’s, Edwards, Purdon, Highway 49, and Bridgeport—are about average for this time of year. Our highest June recorded water temperature at these crossings was 26.43 degrees Celsius back on June 8th of 2013. At these temperatures, we do see algae growing in the Yuba. Below we talk about different kinds of algae and how to identify whether or not they are harmful. … ” Read more from SYRCL here: Algae: the good & the bad in the Yuba
Lake Tahoe’s famously clear water is murky – here’s what’s causing it
“Lake Tahoe’s water continues to show some of the murkiest levels on record, according to a new report from UC Davis. Readings from 2020 put the average depth of Tahoe’s water clarity at 62.9 feet, on par with 2019’s average of 62.7 feet but down a substantial 8 feet from the year before. The 2019 and 2020 data show the lake near its lowest level of clarity since UC Davis researchers began keeping records 53 years ago. The worst year was 2017, when lake clarity measured 59.7 feet. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Lake Tahoe’s famously clear water is murky – here’s what’s causing it
Sacramento Suburban Water District discusses best ways to conserve water
“People are being encouraged to increase their conservation efforts as severe drought conditions continue to unfold. Sacramento city leaders are asking residents to cut their water use by 10%. The request is part of the county’s water shortage contingency plan, which is divided into six stages with water conservation activities increasing with each stage based on the severity of the water storage. ... ” Read more from Channel 40 here: Sacramento Suburban Water District discusses best ways to conserve water
How the drought is affecting Northern California business
“Drought can gradually parch the coffers of companies, while for others it’s an economic boon. For some, it’s driving innovation. One hair salon is using biodegradable towels, water well drillers are turning away potential clients, drought-resistant plants are all the rage, and watersports proprietors are figuring out how to survive with less water to play in. In spite of this resiliency, things could get worse before they get better because the rainy season is still months away. ... ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: How the drought is affecting Northern California business
Petaluma lags in meeting water-conservation goal
“Sonoma County residents have been cutting back on their water use for weeks to help with the drought, but one city seems to be struggling to keep up. Petaluma said it needed to cut water use by 25%, and residents largely complied. The city, however, still has work to do. “I checked my system, I opened up my water meter to see if I have any leaks and try to address them,” explained a Petaluma resident who said his name was Reggie as he stood outside his home. Reggie has done everything he can to save water, mainly by cutting back in his yard and gardens. And he says most of his neighbors have done the same. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Petaluma lags in meeting water-conservation goal
Newsom declares drought emergency for Marin County
“Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for Marin County on Thursday, opening the door for potential resources and special allowances for local agencies to respond to the historic dry conditions. “I think it’s important the state has now recognized the very dire situation that the county finds itself in like so much of the rest of the state,” said Cynthia Koehler, board president of the Marin Municipal Water District. “I think it sends an even more clear message than we had before, and we’re really looking forward to partnering with Gov. Newsom and his administration.” ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Newsom declares drought emergency for Marin County
Residents demand action to clear trash in East Bay reservoir
“Community members in Alameda County are outraged by the huge amount of trash blown into the Bethany Reservoir in Alameda County. They believed it was coming from a nearby landfill and were demanding action. “To me, it looked like a third-world country, to be honest,” said Brody Light of Mountain House. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Residents demand action to clear trash in East Bay reservoir
East Bay water district may have missed opportunity to buy 50,000-acre ranch
“A very rare “window of opportunity” for the Alameda County Water District to purchase more than 50,000 acres of privately held land in the hills east of the Bay Area to preserve water quality for millions of people appears to have closed, officials said this week. Leaders of the district — which provides water to about 350,000 people in Fremont, Newark, and Union City — have for nearly two years been weighing making an offer to buy the N3 Cattle Co. ranch, much of which lies in watersheds that feed into critical creeks, reservoirs and lakes depended on for water supplies. Officials have said if the district purchased the huge swath of land, it would help ensure water quality for generations to come in the Bay Area by preventing potential development on the land, which lies upstream of Lake Del Valle, Calaveras Reservoir, and parts of the greater Alameda Creek watershed. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury Times here: East Bay water district may have missed opportunity to buy 50,000-acre ranch
Water customers in East Bay district urged to cut usage 10% as drought worsens
“The Contra Costa Water District is asking customers to reduce their water use by 10% amid worsening drought conditions in California. The district’s Board of Directors on Wednesday voted unanimously to declare a Stage 1 water shortage level, which includes calling for 10% voluntary conservation. “Our customers are efficient water users and wise investors in water storage. Asking customers to voluntarily conserve about 10% is appropriate in a year this dry,” Lisa M. Borba, the board’s president, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Water customers in East Bay district urged to cut usage 10% as drought worsens
San Lorenzo Valley Water District outlines future plans
“Slowly but surely, the San Lorenzo Valley community is rebuilding itself after the CZU Lightning Complex fire. Its water district is no exception. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District lost all of its water intake infrastructure at the Lyon Water Treatment Plant in Boulder Creek, built in 1994 with the purpose of treating surface water coming from many streams on the Empire Grade mountain. About 50% of the water stored at the plant was lost as well. All of the 1,600 acres of the watershed were affected by the wildfire. “It is an impact, so we are bringing water up from Ben Lomond when normally the water would be produced here,” District Manager Rick Rogers said Wednesday when he took local media members on an official tour of the area that still shows signs of scorched earth. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: San Lorenzo Valley Water District outlines future plans
Fresno: Another dangerous heat wave impacts drought-stricken farmers
“The agricultural community prepares for another heatwave in what has already been a difficult year of drought. The heatwave this week coupled with drought could disrupt production, according to one farmworker advocate. Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno, says farmers typically change workplace practices to brave the heat. Cunha has been working on farm workers’ and immigrants’ rights for decades. “You coordinate with another worker so you have a buddy system in various places,” Cunha said. “You shorten the day; you start at 6:00 a.m., you get off at 1:00. ... ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: Another dangerous heat wave impacts drought-stricken farmers
Delinquent Palmdale Water District customers urged to pay, water shutoff moratorium ending
“With the California water shutoff moratorium expiring in three months, Palmdale Water District (PWD) is encouraging more than 1,500 of its account holders to pay their delinquent bills that have totaled slightly over $900,000. Since the start of the moratorium in April 2020 due to the COVID -19 pandemic, PWD has not turned off water to any customers regardless of the amount owed on the accounts. That protection will end on Sept. 30. Customers with high balances are encouraged to take advantage of PWD’s payment plan before shutoffs begin. “We understand this past year has been very difficult financially for many people,” said Board Director Don Wilson, who is Chair of the PWD Finance Committee. “But it is critically important that customers pay their bills to avoid shutoffs and for the District to continue providing the high-quality water to 126,000 people.” … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Delinquent Palmdale Water District customers urged to pay, water shutoff moratorium ending
Mystery at sea: Source of oil spill off San Clemente Island remains unidentified
“With the source of an oil spill off San Clemente Island reported by the captain of a whale watching boat yet to be identified, local environmental groups are pushing for further investigative efforts from authorities and voicing their concerns on the widespread repercussions of oil spills. On June 19, Domenic Biagini, the captain of Gone Whale Watching, reported a large oil slick approximately 14 miles off San Clemente Island while conducting a whale watching tour with about a half-dozen passengers aboard. In drone footage that he shared on Instagram, Biagini captured a pod of dolphins swimming through the rainbow-colored sheen. Three days later, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted an overflight of the area and did not report sighting of the slick. … ” Read more from the San Clemente Times here: Mystery at Sea: Source of Oil Spill off San Clemente Island Remains Unidentified
$5,000 reward offered for information on drone crash in Bolsa Chica bird reserve
“The Animal Legal Defense Fund announced Thursday a reward of $5,000 for information on the person or people who operated a drone that crashed-landed in May into nesting grounds at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. About 3,000 elegant terns — notable for their orange bills and black crests — fled the reserve after the crash in mid-May. They left behind 1,500 to 2,000 unsavable eggs, the largest abandonment that scientists who work there could remember. The operators of drones that fly over state wildlife preserves and disturb habitats can face charges for nest destruction and harassment of wildlife, according to Officer Nick Molsberry of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: $5,000 reward offered for information on drone crash in Bolsa Chica bird reserve
Along the Colorado River …
Reclamation releases additional 5-year projections to support drought response planning efforts in the Colorado River Basin
“As one element of the ongoing implementation of 
the 2019 Drought Contingency Plans for the Colorado River Basin, the Bureau of Reclamation today released additional 5-year projections on the Colorado River System based on June 2021 conditions. Five-year projections are typically modeled in January, April and August of each year. The additional June projections will inform the ongoing drought operations planning efforts at key Reclamation reservoirs in the Upper Colorado River Basin. These efforts are ongoing among Reclamation and the Colorado River Basin states under the Upper Basin Drought Response Operations Agreement. “The June 5-year projections for the Colorado River System reaffirm this is a serious situation,” said Wayne Pullan, Upper Colorado Basin Regional Director. “We are actively engaged with the Colorado River Basin states and other partners to respond to changing conditions to avoid critical elevations at Lake Powell.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation releases additional 5-year projections to support drought response planning efforts in the Colorado River Basin
‘A pretty bleak year’: Water demands strain Colorado River
“Extreme heat and prolonged drought have put an enormous strain on the Colorado River. As a result, the life blood of the Southwest is maxed out. The 40 million people that rely on its waters are now facing pending water shortages and cutbacks. KUNC’s Luke Runyon traveled along the 1,400 miles of the Colorado. He joined The Show to talk about what he discovered. What is the biggest factor affecting the Colorado’s water supply? How much is climate change playing into all this? The story of the Colorado River is always one of supply and demand. The river provides a certain amount of water each year, and then it gets doled out to cities and farms and industry across the seven U.S. states and two Mexican states that rely on it. Over the last century we’ve built up lots of demands in the West — and for awhile the river was able to meet all those demands. But starting in the year 2000, we’ve seen this shift in water supply. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: ‘A pretty bleak year’: Water demands strain Colorado River
Special Report: Rio Colorado is fading away with minimal life in Mexico
“The Colorado River, which divides state lines between California and Arizona, is a main water source for many residents, but that also includes Mexico, our neighbors to the south and the hundreds of species that depend on this water. The river used to run all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. “One of the values that our society wants to have defended at this time is our nature and the river and all that it supports,” said Jennifer Pitt, Colorado River Program director. “There are 380 bird species using the Colorado River Delta, and they’re some of the same birds that end up in Alaska, in Minnesota and the hunting grounds, so protecting these resources is important.” … ” Read more from KYMA here: Special Report: Rio Colorado is fading away with minimal life in Mexico
‘We live in a desert. We have to act like it’: Las Vegas faces reality of drought
“Investigator Perry Kaye jammed the brakes of his government-issued vehicle to survey the offense. “Uh oh this doesn’t look too good. Let’s take a peek,” he said, exiting the car to handle what has become one of the most existential violations in drought-stricken Las Vegas – a faulty sprinkler. Kaye is one of nearly 50 water waste investigators deployed by the local water authority to crack down on even the smallest misuse of a liquid perilously scarce in the US west, desiccated by two decades of drought. The situation in Las Vegas, which went a record 240 consecutive days without rain last year, is increasingly severe. Lake Mead, the vast reservoir that supplies Las Vegas with 90% of its water, has now plummeted to a historic low, meaning Nevada faces the first ever mandatory reduction in its water supply next year. This looming cutback is forcing restrictions upon the city that has somehow managed to thrive as a gaudy oasis in the baking Mojave desert. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: ‘We live in a desert. We have to act like it’: Las Vegas faces reality of drought
Plan for development near San Pedro River hits obstacle as government suspends permit
“The federal government has suspended a permit for a proposal to build thousands of new homes near Arizona’s San Pedro River, creating a new obstacle for a controversial project that conservation activists argue would imperil the river. Environmental groups sued in 2019 to challenge the government’s decision to grant a permit under a provision of the Clean Water Act that regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into streams, washes and wetlands. They argued the government should have analyzed the potential harm to the river as part of its analysis. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Plan for development near San Pedro River hits obstacle as government suspends permit
Trout habitat will be lost in western Colorado drought
“McPhee reservoir in southwest Colorado is the states second largest reservoir by volume. There was 17% less snowpack above there reservoir during the 2020-21 winter compared to average, and the snow melt that ultimately made it into the reservoir was 73% below average. “The soil moisture was so extremely low that it essentially just soaked up most of that runoff,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) aquatic biologist Jim White. ... ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Trout habitat will be lost in western Colorado drought
In national water news today …
America’s infrastructure challenge: lead water pipes explained
“Lead pipes pose one of the biggest drinking water quality threats in the U.S., and in the wake of the Flint, Mich., water crisis stemming from lead contamination, they have become a call to arms for the Biden administration. Replacing lead service lines nationwide is among President Joe Biden’s biggest infrastructure goals, and it’s a key part of the infrastructure bill now moving through Congress. The Environmental Protection Agency has conducted rulemakings for lead pipe replacement in both the Biden and Trump administrations. Here’s a look at the context for the national discussion about lead pipes and what’s at stake. … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: America’s infrastructure challenge: lead water pipes explained
Impact of supply chain disruptions on the water sector
“A key mitigation strategy: keep as much inventory on hand as is possible. “You have to look at your standard suppliers, vendors and manufacturers,” said Blake Talmitt, president of Winisupply. “You have to be versatile enough and willing to buy from people you haven’t bought from before and try new products. It comes down to that. There’s not much of an option. You can either have something to sell or have nothing.” Talkmitt is president of Winsupply in Lubbock, Texas, a locally owned and operated water well wholesale supply company that sells to and supports licensed water well contractors with line shaft/submersible turbines, residential, booster, solar powered pumps and accessories. … ” Read more from Water Quality Products here: Impact of supply chain disruptions on the water sector
June 2021 was the hottest June on record for U.S.
“Exceptional heat waves from coast to coast helped push June 2021 to the No. 1 spot on the list of hottest Junes on record for the U.S. The first six months of 2021 also brought eight billion-dollar weather disasters, ranging from destructive severe weather to a historic deep freeze, according to experts from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Below are more highlights from NOAA’s U.S. monthly climate report for June ... ” Read more from NOAA here: June 2021 was the hottest June on record for U.S.
National water and climate report …
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-20210708Today’s featured article …
SCIENCE NEWS: Reconsidering IEP sampling programs; Temperature management for salmon; The role of sex and genes in steelhead migration; Survivor: Salmon edition; and more …
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Pre-hearing Conference and Public Hearing: Blue Triton Brands (successor to by name change to Nestlé)
TRANSFER NOTICE: State Water Board denies City of Sacramento’s petition to transfer water
ANNOUNCEMENT: Delta Conveyance Project Community Benefits Program Workshops: Follow-up Items and Next Steps
NOTICE: State Water Board issues flyer to encourage voluntary water conservation in Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds
NOTICE: Now Accepting SAFER Advisory Group Applications!/ ¡Ahora Aceptando Aplicaciones de Grupo Asesor del Programa SAFER!
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ ISB Meeting~ DPC Meeting~ DSC Meeting~ Art Grants~ Park Fundraiser ~~
