In California water news this weekend …
Scientists: triple-digit temperatures accelerating evaporation of critical water resources
“This heatwave is bad news for an already bad drought in California. Scientists say triple-digit temperatures that last days on end are evaporating water from critical resources. Dr. Jay Lund with the UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering department said this year is one of the warmest droughts on record. “It wants to evaporate off of the soils, off of mountains, off of the reservoirs, off of the hill slopes as the snow is melting,” Lund said. ... ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Scientists: triple-digit temperatures accelerating evaporation of critical water resources
‘Unrecognizable.’ Lake Mead, a lifeline for water in Los Angeles and the West, tips toward crisis
“Lake Mead, a lifeline for 25 million people and millions of acres of farmland in California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico, made history when it was engineered 85 years ago, capturing trillions of gallons of river water and ushering in the growth of the modern West. But after years of an unrelenting drought that has quickly accelerated amid record temperatures and lower snowpack melt, the lake is set to mark another, more dire turning point. Next month, the federal government expects to declare its first-ever shortage on the lake, triggering cuts to water delivered to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico on Jan. 1. If the lake, currently at 1,068 feet, drops 28 more feet by next year, the spigot of water to California will start to tighten in 2023. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: ‘Unrecognizable.’ Lake Mead, a lifeline for water in Los Angeles and the West, tips toward crisis
SEE ALSO: Aerial photos capture the devastation of the California drought that’s shriveling vegetation and drying up reservoirs, from Business Insider
Is California ready for brown lawns and shorter showers? Drought spurs water savings plea
“In the face of rapidly worsening drought conditions this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom urged all Californians to voluntarily cut their water usage by 15% — but what exactly does that mean for the average California household? The governor made his plea Thursday as he extended a regional state of drought emergency to 50 counties, comprising about 42% of the state’s population. For many, the talk of water reductions reminded them of the shriveled lawns, attenuated showers and water-bucket toilet flushing of the last devastating drought. It also prompted some to wonder just how much more water Californians can conserve, since they continue to use substantially less water than they did before the 2012-2016 drought. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Is California ready for brown lawns and shorter showers? Drought spurs water savings plea
One way to save California salmon threatened by drought: Truck them to the mountains and back
“In California, it’s not unusual for wildlife officials to truck salmon between their native river habitat and the Pacific Ocean. That’s especially true during droughts, when the Sacramento River runs too low and too warm for the young fish to survive. But a long-stalled plan to save Sacramento winter-run chinook salmon, a critically endangered species, proposes trucking them twice in their lifetimes. Spawning adults would get a lift from the too-hot Sacramento River over Shasta Dam and be driven up Interstate 5 to a cold mountain habitat in the McCloud River. Later, their offspring would catch a ride back to the Sacramento and head to the ocean to start the cycle again. A scientist from the National Marine Fisheries Service said the rescue project, which almost got off the ground in 2019 before being called off by the U.S. Forest Service under the Trump administration, is vital to the species’ survival in light of the extreme droughts the state is expected to face regularly with climate change. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: One way to save California salmon threatened by drought: Truck them to the mountains and back
Record drought to shrink California’s hydroelectric generation by 19%
“As a result of harsh drought conditions in California in 2021, the U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the state’s hydroelectric generation to be lower in 2021 than it has been in recent years.In the first four months of 2021, hydroelectric generation in California was 37% less than in the same four months in 2020 and 71% less than during those months in 2019. According to its Short-Term Energy Outlook, hydroelectric generation in California this year will be 19% less than last year, decreasing from 16.8 million MWh in 2020 to 13.6 million MWh in 2021. … ” Read more from Power Engineering International here: Record drought to shrink California’s hydroelectric generation by 19%
Newsom’s oil regulators deny new fracking permits, but industry is pushing back
“California denied 21 oil drilling permits this week in the latest move toward ending fracking in a state that makes millions from the petroleum industry but is seeing widespread drought and more dangerous fire seasons linked to climate change. State Oil and Gas Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk sent letters Thursday to Aera Energy denying permits to drill using hydraulic fracturing in two Kern County oil fields to protect “public health and safety and environmental quality, including [the] reduction and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.” Aera Energy, a joint venture of Shell and ExxonMobil, called the permit denials “disappointing though not surprising.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Newsom’s oil regulators deny new fracking permits, but industry is pushing back
Democrats are in control at California’s Capitol. Why is the state budget still not done?
“California’s fiscal year started more than a week ago, but lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom still don’t have a budget deal. They’ve enacted placeholder legislation to keep the government running while they hash out the final details, but the delay leaves Californians waiting for details on how money for critical areas including wildfires and infrastructure will be spent. It’s a different situation than the budget stalemates of past decades, when state government had to cut deals with banks to ensure state workers were paid even as budget negotiations dragged into the fall. But it’s still causing frustration for many closely watching or involved with the process, including Assemblyman Vince Fong of Bakersfield. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Democrats are in control at California’s Capitol. Why is the state budget still not done?
How bad is this fire season in California really going to be?
“It’s not quite noon, but it’s already getting hot as Alan Huston pushes his way through thickets of dry, prickly brush on a parched hillside overlooking the town of Los Gatos. “If a fire broke out here, all this stuff is going to burn,” said Huston, a researcher in San Jose State University’s Fire Weather Research Lab. “There are some healthier-looking big trees over there. But a lot of this?” his voice trailed off as he waved his hand over the water-starved landscape dotted with multimillion-dollar homes. “Not looking good.” It’s a refrain being heard increasingly this summer from Silicon Valley to the Sierra, Southern California to Shasta County. California is on edge. Two consecutive record-dry winters, followed by early heat waves that have sent temperatures in some places soaring above 110 degrees, have left vegetation dangerously dry and primed to burn heading into the hottest summer months. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: How bad is this fire season in California really going to be?
New approaches to fighting California wildfires as the acres destroyed increases
“Berkeley city officials announced what they call historic and dramatic increases in spending and local and regional approaches to fire safety. … The city said Thursday that it is using $12 million, which was approved by voters, to adopt a whole array of efforts and programs that will ripple well beyond its borders. “Hiring new firefighters who will focus on wildfire safety planning, fuel mitigation, inspection programs, and public education, developing a wildfire fuel reduction plan, and developing a new outdoor warning system to warn our community when people need to evacuate,” said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. … ” Read more from KTVU here: New approaches to fighting California wildfires as the acres destroyed increases
What’s needed to manage wildfires
“This weekend, much of the Western United States is under excessive heat warnings or advisories again. That heat, plus the extreme drought that’s been afflicting the region, could make for a disastrous wildfire season this year in states like California. Last fire season in California was already the worst in the state’s modern history, with nearly 10,000 fires burning over 4 million acres, killing 33 people and destroying thousands of properties. Forest management in California, as in most states, is a responsibility shared by state and federal authorities. We wondered if they’re doing enough to adapt to what seems to be a growing threat from wildfires year after year. To help us answer that question, we called Scott Stephens. He’s a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in wildfires and forest management. … ” Listen to radio show or read transcript from NPR here: What’s needed to manage wildfires
The West is caught in a vicious climate change feedback loop
“After a deadly, climate change-fueled heat wave smothered the Pacific Northwest at the end of June, historic heat threatens records once again, particularly in the drought-stricken Southwest region. More than 30 million people are under heat warnings and advisories. The National Weather Service says the risk level for this heat wave is “very high” — dangerous for not just those with underlying health issues, but the entire population, especially those who work outdoors. The overnights, which in some places will only drop to the mid-80s, will bring little relief. … ” Read more from CNN here: The West is caught in a vicious climate change feedback loop
It’s not the San Andreas, but fault system that produced 6.0 quake poses big dangers
“The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that rattled parts of Northern California on Thursday caused no injuries and little damage. But it is a reminder that the Sierra Nevada area at the epicenter of the quake is capable of a destructive temblor and is seismically active. The earthquake, centered on the California-Nevada border, was felt as far west as San Francisco and as far south as Visalia, Calif., in the San Joaquin Valley. The epicenter was about 167 miles northeast of San Francisco, 125 miles northeast of Fresno, 110 miles east of Sacramento and 70 miles southeast of Reno. While much of California’s earthquake risk has been historically focused on the San Andreas fault and places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, quakes are capable of causing significant destruction in the state’s Sierra Nevada, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Nevada. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: It’s not the San Andreas, but fault system that produced 6.0 quake poses big dangers
In commentary this weekend …
California drought calls for mandatory water cuts
The Mercury News and East Bay Times editorial board writes, “Gov. Gavin Newsom is doing too little too late to deal with California’s drought. The state and the Bay Area just experienced the driest rainy season ever, Golden Gate Weather Services reported last week. California received only 11.46 inches of rain, a 126-year low that is less than half of the normal 23.61 inches. The Bay Area’s rainfall was even worse. The region had only 9.88 inches of rain this season, compared to its normal of 25.28 inches. Reservoirs are shrinking, fire danger is rising, and water supplies are tenuous. The situation calls for the governor to issue a mandatory cut of water use. ... ” Read more from the Mercury News here: California drought calls for mandatory water cuts
To beat climate change in California, rural farming needs to move North
Jeremiah Ramirez, a North Valley native and CalPERS. writes, “Water is life, the saying goes, but snow is prosperity. California’s annual agricultural output is approximately $50 billion, or just 2% of the state’s GDP. Yet the state’s agricultural industry uses 80% of its annual water supply. Our agricultural brethren have fed a lot of people with crops grown with that water. But this whole venture presumes water supply stability courtesy of the Cascade-Sierra snowpack. But for how much longer? … Managed retreat also needs to be on the table for the San Joaquin Valley, where the water situation ceased being sustainable some time ago. ... ” Read the full commentary at the San Francisco Chronicle here: To beat climate change in California, rural farming needs to move North
In people news this weekend …
Amy Merrill: The Collaborative Steward
“The rhythmic patter of hooves skimming the earth below was a sound Amy never tired of when she was young. Whether in the hot sweat-inducing summer or the bone-chill frost of winter in upstate New York, the sound was ever-present, because Amy was always riding. With 100 acres and the surrounding landscape of woods, creeks, and farm fields to explore, every grasshopper, hawk and blade of grass were familiar to the adventurous child who rode by each day. Even so, it was the summers spent in the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada that locked in Amy’s love of nature for life. Days at a small all-girls ‘off the grid’ camp were full of canoeing, portaging, swimming, and playing in the northern woods. “We immersed ourselves in the wilderness and had a grand time just being ourselves. All females there, no one felt compelled to fit all those stereotypes of what we should or should not be. Being able to spend so much time in such a wild and beautiful place was an awesome experience that Amy wishes everyone could have. … ” Continue reading at the Northern California Water Association here: Amy Merrill: The Collaborative Steward
Honoring a water warrior:: How Harry Williams fought for Paiute water rights in Owens Valley
“Late at night beneath a star-studded sky, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada and the White Mountains, circles of mourners sang and stamped their feet in the dust. The cry dance honored Harry Williams, Nüümü (Bishop Paiute) elder and internationally recognized expert in the ancestral water systems of Payahuunadü — Owens Valley. In his lifetime, Williams was responsible for recovering knowledge of his tribe’s traditional irrigation networks and water practices, strengthening the Paiute’s claims for water rights in Owens Valley. His work as an activist for the health of his people and their homelands left a lasting impact on his community and on water management in the region. Harry Williams was born in 1956, exactly one hundred years after a U.S. government surveyor named A.W. Von Schmidt peppered his maps with clusters of marks indicating “fields of fine grass,” with “first rate soils.” At the time, Von Schmidt was unaware that he was recording ancient irrigation networks built by the Paiute tribes to cultivate massive, wild-tended botanical fields throughout the valley. … ” Read more from KCET here: Honoring a water warrior:: How Harry Williams fought for Paiute water rights in Owens Valley
Podcasts …
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Outcome Based Water Management
Steven Baker writes, “Managing the health of a watershed has historically been attempted by predicting the results of possible watershed behavior with computer models. The strategy was; if a good result was calculated, the approach would be tried in the field. This has produced mixed results. Are there better approaches to managing a watershed? Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
WATER TALK PODCAST: Drought and disease in the Sierra
A conversation with Dr. Joan Dudney (UC Davis) about drought, disease, and pest interactions on forest communities in California’s Sierra Nevada.
ECONEWS REPORT: Clam Beach pollution mystery solved?
“Clam Beach landed on Heal the Bay’s list of California’s most polluted beaches yet again this year, getting an ‘F’ for water quality on the 2021 Beach Report Card. Today our guest is Dr. Jeremy Corrigan, who has worked for years to answer the burning question: why does Clam Beach have such high levels of fecal indicator bacteria? Dr. J is the Lab Manager at the Humboldt County Dept. of Public Health, and recently published a paper based on genetic analysis of the most likely sources. His findings point to birds as the main influence at Clam Beach, while cattle appear to be the biggest source of bacteria pollution in the Strawberry Creek watershed. Tune in to find out what this means for surfers and other beachgoers.” Listen to podcast at the Lost Coast Outpost here: ECONEWS REPORT: Clam Beach pollution mystery solved?
In regional water news this weekend …
Experts try to measure economic damage to Klamath Basin
“It only took a few swift kicks for Justin Grant to prove the obvious. “Even a few inches down, there’s no moisture,” said Grant, his boot dusty from stirring up the parched earth of one of the Klamath County fields he farms. Like other Klamath Project irrigators, Grant received no water this year from Upper Klamath Lake. In a better year, he would use water diverted from the lake to hydrate his crops through hot summer days. Without it, he has only been able to reach about 40 percent of his approximately 300 acres with well water. But that water is much more expensive and difficult to work with. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Experts try to measure economic damage to Klamath Basin
Climate change is inflaming a long-simmering conflict over water in the Klamath River Basin
“Except for a brief stint in the military, Paul Crawford has spent his entire life farming in southern Oregon. First, as a boy, chasing his dad through hayfields and now, growing alfalfa on his own farm with his wife and two kids, who want to grow up to be farmers. “I wouldn’t trade a day of farming with my wife and my kids for anything. It’s an amazing life,” Crawford said. “It just may end if we don’t figure something out on this water issue.” The American West is drying out as the region faces an unprecedented drought. Few places are as devastated as the Klamath Basin, where Crawford’s farm sits. … ” Read more from Clean Technica here: Climate change is inflaming a long-simmering conflict over water in the Klamath River Basin
Salmon trucking: Iron Gate Hatchery won’t release fish into Klamath River
“This summer, for the first time in its 55-year history, Iron Gate Fish Hatchery will not release young salmon into the Klamath River. Hatchery management cited the river’s exceptionally poor water quality and heightened fish disease risk as reasons for keeping hatchery smolts in captivity until conditions improve in the fall. Over the past two weeks, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has trucked more than a million smolts to two other hatcheries in the Klamath watershed, where they will continue to be looked after through the remainder of the summer. Once the Klamath River cools and the threat of salmon disease wanes, CDFW will return them to Iron Gate and release them. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Salmon trucking: Iron Gate Hatchery won’t release fish into Klamath River
Two projects for the Eel River gain momentum
“The Eel River in northwestern California—along with its numerous forks and tributaries—forms the third largest watershed entirely within the state. The river’s main stem and three main forks flow a combined 398 miles from sources in the coast ranges of Mendocino and Lake counties, north to a delta where it meets the Pacific Ocean 15 miles south of Eureka. Along the way, it passes through some of the most rugged, wild, and biologically rich areas of northern California, including large portions of redwood country. The Eel was designated as a “Wild and Scenic River” in 1981. Among the most remote and wildest sections of the river is the 82-mile stretch of the main stem from Potter Valley in eastern Mendocino County to Alderpoint in southeastern Humboldt County. Yet despite its ecological richness, very little of the land on either side of the river here has been protected, as 90 percent of this land remains in private hands, and very little of it is currently accessible to the public. … ” Read more from Bay Nature here: Two projects for the Eel River gain momentum
Tehama County Supervisors to discuss groundwater
“Groundwater, a subject of growing concern, will be discussed Tuesday during the Tehama County Board of Supervisors meeting. Clay Parker, the groundwater commissioner and Red Bluff councilman, will be delivering a report to the board with an update on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan and the Domestic and Agricultural Well Ad Hoc Committee. “Tehama County is experiencing changes in groundwater availability,” the related agenda report said. “An 11-member commission representing special districts, cities and the county has been formed to investigate the issue and develop recommendations.” … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Tehama County Supervisors to discuss groundwater
Tahoe’s natural filters: Preserving, restoring wetlands essential to lake clarity
“Every spring, the snow begins to melt and make its way down the mountains, across marshes and meadows, and through the 63 tributaries flowing into Lake Tahoe. The water flowing down Tahoe’s 501-square-foot watershed — of which the lake itself takes up about 38% — helps raise the fluctuating lake level. But the route that the water takes before eventually ending up in the lake is crucial to maintaining Tahoe’s famed clarity. Why, you might ask? It’s all about those SEZs. Stream environment zones are a Tahoe-specific term, meaning “an area that owes its biological and physical characteristics to the presence of surface or groundwater,” according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Meadows, marshes, streams, streambanks, and beaches are all examples of SEZs that play a critical role in water quality by acting as Tahoe’s natural filtration system, sifting out nutrients and fine sediment, and attenuating floods during high flows. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Tahoe’s natural filters: Preserving, restoring wetlands essential to lake clarity
Dangerous heat, fire smoke pose harsh test for California vineyards
“The heat wave that recently hit the Pacific Northwest subjected the region’s vineyards to record-breaking temperatures nine months after the fields that produce world-class wine were blanketed by wildfire smoke. But when temperatures began climbing close to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius) in late June, the grapes in Oregon and Washington state were still young, as small as BB’s, many still shaded by leaf canopies that had not been trimmed back yet. The good news for grape growers, wineries and wine lovers is the historic heat wave came during a narrow window when the fruit suffered little, if any, damage. Earlier or later in the growing season, it could have been disastrous. … ” Read more from KTLA here: Dangerous heat, fire smoke pose harsh test for California vineyards
Dodd secures $7.6 Million for Napa County fire, water projects
“State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he has secured a $7.6 million budget allocation for Napa County to be used for investments in wildfire safety and prevention as well as drinking water infrastructure improvements at Lake Berryessa. “With a drought on and wildfire season ramping up, it is critical that Napa County get the resources it needs to keep our community healthy and safe,” Dodd said. “Fixing our aging water delivery system is an important step. And reducing combustible fuels and creating fire breaks is a necessity. With this money, Napa County can make substantial progress in both areas.” … ” Read more from the Napa County Register here: Dodd secures $7.6 Million for Napa County fire, water projects
San Jose: South Bay teens create award-winning way to fight drought
“Aarushi Wadhwa, a student at Campbell’s Westmont High School, has discovered a unique way to conserve water and combat drought. Her team’s project, Aqua-Pods, took the top prize in the environment category in this year’s Ashoka Changemaker Challenge. Begun about 40 years ago, the Ashoka Foundation has supported social entrepreneurs as they bring ideas to address world problems. In recent years, T-Mobile and its foundation have partnered with Ashoka to support innovation among youth. … In essence, Aqua-Pods soak up excess water and, infused with nutrients, release it periodically to water plants. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: San Jose: South Bay teens create award-winning way to fight drought
San Joaquin Valley: In California’s interior, there’s no escape from the desperate heat: ‘Why are we even here?’
“In Cantua, a small town deep within California’s farming heartland, the heat had always been a part of life. “We can do nothing against it,” said Julia Mendoza, who’s lived in this town for 27 years. But lately, she says, the searing temperatures are almost unlivable. By midday on Thursday, the first day of a protracted, extreme heatwave in California’s Central Valley, the country roads were sizzling with heat. … Researchers have been warning of such extreme heatwaves for decades, he said, but the barrage of heat surges that California and the western US have been alarming, he said. Temperature records are being broken earlier than expected or predicted. The vicious cycle of the climate crisis has merged with a vicious cycle of inequity in the region. Racial disparities in access to shade and air conditioning are increasingly becoming dangerous, even deadly. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: San Joaquin Valley: In California’s interior, there’s no escape from the desperate heat: ‘Why are we even here?’
Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency approves proposed groundwater extraction fee
“The Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board made quick work of approving the agencies proposed extraction fee of $9.08 per acre foot during its meeting on Friday. A public hearing was held on the matter at Friday’s meeting but no comments directly related to the fee were presented during the brief hearing. The board then approved the fee. The fee will be charged during the 2021-2022 fiscal year through June 30, 2022. Property owners within the ETGSA’s territory which essentially includes Southeastern Tulare County who pump groundwater will be subject to the fee. Those who have less than two acres of property will be exempt from the fee. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency approves proposed groundwater extraction fee
Drought declaration could bring Santa Barbara County state funds for water projects
“Santa Barbara County is preparing to declare its own drought emergency after Gov. Gavin Newsom added the county and eight others, including San Luis Obispo County, to his previously issued regional drought emergency declaration. Tom Fayram, deputy director of water resources for the County Public Works Department, said the county intends to declare a drought emergency but didn’t say when that would take place. … ” Read more from the Lompoc Record here: Drought declaration could bring Santa Barbara County state funds for water projects
Santa Barbara commentary: A good fight
Carolee Krieger, president and executive director of the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN), writes, “The people of Santa Barbara need to know the real story behind the recent lawsuit filed against them by the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA). This agency, made up of appointed members of the various water agencies of the county who manage the State Water Project (SWP), has sued the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors because the board voted to allow them to buy water when needed, but not sell water to any entity outside the county. Why would Santa Barbara sell any water at this time of drought when the water it has ordered from the State Water Project has very seldom been delivered at the full contracted amount. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara commentary: A good fight
SoCal’s largest water reservoir filled to 80% capacity despite drought
“Southern California’s largest reservoir is filled to more than 80% of its total capacity, despite the fact the state as a whole is in the second year of a severe drought. And Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet is proving to be a key asset in making up for the shortfall in water from other sources after another year of below-normal precipitation. “The lake has a purpose that helps us in emergencies like earthquakes, but primarily in droughts like this,” said Brent Yamasaki, Metropolitan Water District’s head of operations. “It actually holds more water when it’s full than Lake Havasu.” … ” Read more from KABC here: SoCal’s largest water reservoir filled to 80% capacity despite drought
Another auto giant inks deal for Salton Sea lithium
“French-Italian automaker Stellantis is the second major company to enter into an agreement to acquire lithium for its electric vehicle fleet from Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen project still under development, according to a report from Reuters on Friday, July 9. Billed as the fourth-largest automobile manufacturer in the world, Stellantis announced deals with Controlled Thermal Resources and a second lithium project out of Germany during an announcement on its “comprehensive electrification strategy” at a media event in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the company’s headquarters, on Thursday, July 8. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Another auto giant inks deal for Salton Sea lithium
Editorial: San Diegans don’t face the water woes seen in much of the state. But conserve anyways.
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call for all Californians to reduce their water use by 15 percent amid a severe drought across most of the state won’t be met with the same urgency in San Diego County as elsewhere because of a decades-old effort to diversify water supplies here and because of a new court order. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously declined a legal challenge by Imperial Valley farmers that had the potential to threaten the San Diego County Water Authority’s access to Colorado River supplies. This is why San Diego County is being asked to conserve but is not one of 50 counties in the state subject to Newsom’s stricter drought decrees. But Newsom should still be heeded here because the climate emergency portends decades of hot, dry conditions throughout the Southwest. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Opinion: San Diegans don’t face the water woes seen in much of the state. But conserve anyways.
Along the Colorado River …
La Niña: Could Arizona be in for another dry winter, leading to even worse drought conditions
“Could Arizona be in for another dry winter, leading to even worse drought conditions? It is certainly a possibility with the threat of another La Niña on the horizon. La Niña refers to cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central Pacific Ocean, near the equator. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) issued a La Niña Watch on Thursday for the potential re-emergence of La Niña conditions by the fall. … ” Read more from Channel 15 here: La Niña: Could Arizona be in for another dry winter, leading to even worse drought conditions
Biden admin halts major Ariz. project Trump OK’d
“Development of a sprawling, politically charged Arizona housing development has been stopped, with the Fish and Wildlife Service’s newly revealed rescinding of a Trump administration decision. The agency’s about-face caused the Army Corps of Engineers to suspend its dredge-and-fill permit for the 28,000-home The Villages at Vigneto project, according to court documents. “The Trump administration told its donors that laws were irrelevant, business could do what it wanted and friends in high places could make anything happen,” Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said in a statement last night. “We see today that the rule of law still applies in this country and I hope to see more of this going forward.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Biden admin halts major Ariz. project Trump OK’d
In national water news this weekend …
Bill aims to spend billions to fix nation’s aging dams
“Lawmakers in Congress on Friday introduced a bill that would pump tens of billions of dollars into fixing and upgrading the country’s dams. The Twenty-First Century Dams Act, introduced by Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, proposes to spend nearly $26 billion to make the repairs that would enhance safety and increase the power generation capacity of the country’s 90,000 dams. It also calls for removing any dams that have outlived their usefulness. “We have the opportunity to build stronger, more resilient water infrastructure and hydropower systems in the United States, and the Twenty-First Century Dams Act advances an innovative plan to rehabilitate, retrofit, or remove U.S. dams to bolster clean energy production while taking steps to conserve our waterways for generations to come,” Kuster said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Bill aims to spend billions to fix nation’s aging dams
Feinstein supports funding authorization levels for water programs in draft infrastructure bill
“Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced her support for the water infrastructure funding authorization levels included in the draft infrastructure funding bill released by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. These funds would be wrapped into the larger $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill whose framework was agreed upon by President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators last month. Senator Feinstein for years has worked to secure funding to modernize California’s water infrastructure. She worked with Senate leadership this year to include funding for water in an infrastructure bill, and since the bipartisan infrastructure framework was announced in June she has worked closely with Western senators to further increase funding for water storage, recycling and ecosystem restoration programs and ensure California can effectively compete for the funds. “Climate scientists predict that climate change will cause droughts to be longer and more severe. They also say overall precipitation in the West will remain steady, but it will be concentrated in fewer, larger storms. That means we must do more to store and otherwise stretch the use of water in wet years so we have more to use in dry years,” Feinstein said. … ” Continue reading this press release from Senator Feinstein here: Feinstein supports funding authorization levels for water programs in draft infrastructure bill
Comparison of continental hydrological models helps improve water management
“While Earth’s freshwater resources are finite, the challenge of effectively and sustainably managing them as we head into a warmer future with a growing human population means keeping tabs on a seemingly endless network of above- and below-ground waterways. For the United States, two enormous models have been developed that capture hydrological processes — from forecasting floods to predicting groundwater levels — for the entire continent. Now, a project led by Princeton University researchers has undertaken the Herculean task of checking those two models against each other to ensure that scientists and policymakers are working from consistent, accurate data when it comes to managing the nation’s water budget. ... ” Read more from Princeton University here: Comparison of continental hydrological models helps improve water management
Catch up on last week’s news in the Weekly Digest …
WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for July 4-9: A media analysis of the Delta smelt controversy; Reconciling the regulatory overlap of groundwater programs; plus all the top water news of the week
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NEPA DOCS: California Aqueduct San Luis Canal Geotechnical Investigations Project CGB-EA-2021-038
NOTICE: Updates to the Household Water Supply Shortages Reporting Website
