On the calendar today …
- FREE WEBINAR: How Today’s Drought Conditions Affect Southern California from 10am to 11am. Drought has returned to California and dry conditions are expected to continue. Southern California water agencies are prepared to combat recurring dry conditions and drought cycles due to the investments they’ve made in critical water infrastructure projects. From innovative storage programs and new projects to diversifying water supplies and ensuring long-term reliability, hear from Southern California water leaders on their priorities, programs, and projects to help maintain reliability and resiliency. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: U.S. EPA’s Tools for Managing CyanoHABs in Drinking and Recreational Waters from 10am to 11:30am. The EPA Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, is hosting a webinar to increase awareness of the available EPA tools and resources for managing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) in drinking and recreational waters. Click here to join the meeting
In California water news today …
‘Adapt or we’ll break’: Newsha Ajami lays out the West’s risky future in the Megadrought era
“The West’s megadrought has produced no shortage of terrible stories. Drought conditions have enveloped 90% of the region, leading to record low water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., as well as countless other smaller water systems throughout the region. The impacts have extended beyond manmade bodies of water, though. Rivers and other lakes in the region have run hot and dry, endangering wildlife. And forests have been charred by wildfires, running the risk of befouling lakes and streams. All of these are indicators that the West’s water supplies and burgeoning population are on a collision course. In order to get a little insight into how we got here and what lies ahead, I reached out to Newsha Ajami, the director of Urban Water Policy at Stanford University’s Water in the West program and a research associate at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. … ” Read more from Gizmodo here: ‘Adapt or We’ll Break’: A Water Expert Lays Out the West’s Risky Future in the Megadrought Era
Is desalination the answer to California’s drought? Here’s what experts say
“As more communities impose water use restrictions because of the drought, the California Coastal Commission is likely to vote on a controversial proposal later this year that could ease water worries for millions of Orange County residents. After decades of debate, Poseidon Water just needs approval from the commission to begin the construction of a desalination facility in Huntington Beach that would produce 50 million gallons of drinking water per day. Poseidon Water already runs a desalination facility in Carlsbad which is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The facility was built in 2015 and provides about 12% of the water used in San Diego County. … ” Read more from KABC here: Is desalination the answer to California’s drought? Here’s what experts say
Water shortages and drought are California’s most important environmental threat, new poll shows
“After the two driest consecutive years in much of California in nearly half a century, reservoir levels are dropping. Lawns are brown. Water restrictions are increasing. And Californians are getting worried. Asked to name the environmental issue they are most concerned about, more California residents cited water shortages and drought than any other, according to a new poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, a non-partisan research organization in San Francisco. Overall, 25% of California adults named water shortages and drought as the most important environmental issue currently facing the state. Not far behind, 17% named wildfires, followed by 13% who cited climate change and 6% who named air pollution. A year ago, just 10% named water and drought as the state’s top environmental challenge. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Water shortages and drought are California’s most important environmental threat, new poll shows
SEE ALSO: Californians growing more anxious about water supply, drought and wildfires, from the Courthouse News Service
A long view of Sierra snow
“In Spanish, Sierra Nevada means “snowy mountain range.” While the term “snowy” has generally been true for most of U.S. history, those mountains have seen less snow accumulation in recent years. This decline plays a role in water management and response to drought in California and other western states. Each spring and summer, meltwater runoff from Sierra Nevada snowpack helps replenish rivers and reservoirs, while also recharging the groundwater. In fact, snowpack accounts for about 30 percent of California’s water supply in a typical year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. About three-fourths of the state’s precipitation in an average year falls as snow and rain in Northern and Central California—mostly the Sierra Nevada. The time-lapse series of images above shows springtime snow-covered area on the Sierra Nevada from 2006 to 2021. … ” Read more from NASA here: A long view of Sierra snow
The drought might be bad, but California river rafting is the best in decades
“During another terrible drought year, it may come as a shock to hear that rafting prospects are spectacular for the rest of summer on Northern California’s top rafting rivers, the Tuolumne and American. In fact, those two rivers have attracted an unusually high number of rafters with a thirst for cool, clean water on hot days. “This is the best season ever, even better than ’86,” said Marty McDonnell, long-time owner of Sierra Mac River Trips in Tuolumne County. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: The drought might be bad, but California river rafting is the best in decades
$65m in fed bill for more water storage
“Not a drop of new “moon shoot” water storage has been created in California for more than 40 years. It’s a point that isn’t lost on Congressman Josh Harder. Nor is the fact water issues facing the heart of the Northern San Joaquin Valley are interconnected with communities often hundreds of miles away from the 10th District that he represents in Congress. It is why the Turlock Democrat has pursued do-able water projects — including those outside of his district that would reduce efforts to try and commandeer water from the Stanislaus and Tuolumne watersheds to address fish flow, urban, and irrigation needs elsewhere — since taking office in 2019. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: $65m in fed bill for more water storage
State Water Resources Control Board’s draft emergency regulations likely to lead to curtailment for Delta watershed water users
“California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) is currently experiencing one of the driest years in recorded history. The US Drought Monitor recently classified large portions of the Delta Watershed as being in a state of “Exceptional Drought,” while the remaining portions are in a state of “Extreme Drought.” The California Nevada River Forecast Center also provides information that the to-date flows in nearly all streams in the watershed are between 20 and 40 percent of the annual average. As a result, the water supplies for many users in the region are in jeopardy. Governor Newsom’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency on May 10, 2021, directed the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to consider adopting emergency regulations to curtail water diversions in the Delta Watershed when it deems water to be “unavailable.” ... ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: State Water Resources Control Board’s draft emergency regulations likely to lead to curtailment for Delta watershed water users
Endangered California salmon could disappear due to Trump era water policy, says senator
“A California senator has blasted a Trump-era water policy, citing the destructive impact it is having on a species of endangered salmon in the state due to droughts and high water temperatures. Mike McGuire, a Democrat and chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (JCFA), held a hearing on Tuesday to highlight the issue and call for change. It comes after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said earlier in July that persistent hot weather could result in hotter water and that this, in turn, could mean an almost complete loss of Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River. … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Endangered California salmon could disappear due to Trump era water policy, says senator
The true tale of how Irvine Ranch Water District set a standard for recycled water
“Throughout the nation and around the world, purple pipes pulse with water that has gone down drains and been treated for reuse in landscaping, agriculture and commerce. Irvine Ranch Water District was the mastermind behind that color: leading the charge in the early 1980s to certify a standard for pipes carrying recycled water, to distinguish them from drinking water systems. But how did it happen? It’s a colorful story of IRWD leadership, creativity and humor — centered around an engineer who sees much of the world in neutral tones. ... ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: The true tale of how Irvine Ranch Water District set a standard for recycled water
DWR completes installation of emergency salinity drought barrier
“After three weeks of round-the-clock work, the emergency drought salinity barrier (EDSB) was completed in late June. The barrier will help prevent saltwater contamination of water supplies used by millions of Californians who rely on Delta-based federal and state water projects for at least some of their water supplies. “Keeping saltwater from intruding into the central Delta is essential as a large portion of the state’s fresh water for urban and agricultural use goes through this part of the Delta,” said Ted Craddock, Deputy Director for the State Water Project. The emergency barrier will also help conserve critical water supplies in upstream reservoirs for later use by avoiding the need to send large volumes of water into the Delta to repel salinity this summer. ... ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR completes installation of emergency salinity drought barrier
Plastic ‘pool’ toy pollution in the wild
“A new trend of pool toys containing glitter and microbeads is complicating the already pervasive environmental problem of microplastic pollution. University of California, Davis, scientists studying plastics pollution encourage beach-goers to take care to leave natural waterways as clean or cleaner than they found them this summer by reducing their use of all forms of plastic at the beach and leaving pool toys full of microbeads and glitter at home. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Plastic ‘pool’ toy pollution in the wild
Republican recall candidate Kevin Faulconer visits Fresno, offers plan for Valley water
“Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer made a stop in Fresno on Wednesday to plead his case on why he’s a key candidate in the potential recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Faulconer’s talking points during the visit consisted almost entirely of the state’s water woes as he stood outside the Department of Water Resources office in central Fresno, where he was accompanied by Fresno County Supervisor Buddy Mendes. “This governor has failed our agricultural community by not providing the water resources that our farmers need, that the Central Valley needs,” Faulconer said. “This campaign is going to be all about changes to actually provide the infrastructure, the resources and the political will to help our farmers and our agricultural community.” … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Republican recall candidate Kevin Faulconer visits Fresno, offers plan for Valley water
SEE ALSO: Faulconer calls for end to “insanity” in Calif. water crisis, seeks boosted storage and supply, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
Prepare to pay more at the grocery store as extreme weather hits one of America’s most-used crops
“California’s extreme drought could end up hitting your wallet in a number of ways. The state’s tomato crop, which supplies 90% of the canned tomatoes used in America is at risk—and that could impact everything from ketchup and marinara sauce to salsa and Bloody Marys, along with anything you make at home that uses tomato sauce, paste, or stewed and crushed tomatoes. That will also impact prices at restaurants around the country, which rely on the canned products. … ” Read more from Fortune here: Prepare to pay more at the grocery store as extreme weather hits one of America’s most-used crops
‘Liquidation of cows.’ How the drought creates chaos on California ranches, dairy farms
“Jennifer Beretta has been working as a dairy farmer since she was 6 and knows some of her family’s 700 cows by name. One of her favorites, a Jersey named Harmony, has won top prizes at the Sonoma County Fair. “I raised them from when they were babies,” said Beretta, 33. “I watched them grow up to be milk cows. You get attached to them. They have personalities.” But business is business, and right now business is bad. California’s devastating drought has dried up most of the Beretta Family Dairy’s pastures, driven up the cost of feed and made milking cows unprofitable. The Beretta family has sold off more than 40 of its cows this year, and could sell more before too long. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: ‘Liquidation of cows.’ How the drought creates chaos on California ranches, dairy farms
How to make water: Saving, reusing can extend resources
“Low precipitation and heat continue to dry out the West. With nine of the 11 Western states recording average water year-to-date precipitations from 50%-to-80% of normal and record-breaking high temperatures, drought is literally a hot topic. When water is limited, the first thing to consider is how to better conserve the water that you have. Then, investigate alternative water sources. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: How to make water: Saving, reusing can extend resources
Regulatory pressure on California production has a global impact
“Regulatory pressures on California agriculture can have a global impact on consumers. North American Regional Head of RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness for RaboBank, Roland Fumasi explained that the agriculture industry ultimately exists to meet the global demand for food. Restrictive policies enacted that put added pressure on agricultural production can potentially have a negative impact on billions of consumers that rely on California ag products. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Regulatory pressure on California production has a global impact
New AI institute expands UC Merced’s smart, sustainable agriculture effort
“With a new $20 million federal grant, UC Merced becomes part of a multi-institutional research collaborative to develop artificial intelligence — or AI — solutions to tackle some of agriculture’s biggest challenges related to water management, climate change and integration of new technology into farming. The new institute is one of 11 launched this year by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and among two funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The newly announced AgAID Institute is shorthand for the collaborative USDA-NIFA Institute for Agricultural AI for Transforming Workforce and Decision Support. The AgAID Institute features four core institutions: UC Merced; Washington State University (WSU), the lead campus; Oregon State University; and the University of Virginia. The AgAID Institute bolsters UC Merced’s already strong focus on ag-tech solutions for sustainable food systems in California and beyond. … ” Read more from UC Merced here: New AI institute expands UC Merced’s smart, sustainable agriculture effort
Will drought and climate change feed more extremism in the West?
“It’s sometimes thought that worsening wildfires, droughts and farming conditions — products of climate change — will lead to more conflicts and extremism, including in the West. Imagine a repeat of lawless mobs confronting and terrorizing federal land managers, as occurred at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016, and could happen again amid the Klamath Basin water crisis, as The Times’ Anita Chabria has reported from the California-Oregon border. Former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell doesn’t succumb to that gloomy theory. She sees opportunities for Westerners to overcome political differences and find common ground on their shared love for the land. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: Will drought and climate change feed more extremism in the West?
Scientists say clearing forests worsens wildfire damage
” … Wildfires have an important role in ecosystem processes, but the hotter, drier weather resulting from climate change creates conditions that make them more likely. Human incursion into forested areas, and their behavior once there, also creates fire risks. Humans are responsible for starting 84 percent of all U.S. wildfires, and 97 percent of those that threaten homes. Researchers from UC Irvine found that fires caused by humans spread twice as fast in California forests as those caused by lightning. From this perspective, people might seem the most obvious target for fire prevention efforts. In addition to causing accidental (and sometimes intentional) ignitions, human activity is accelerating warming. However, the prevention strategies advocated by government entities tend to focus on removing trees and “snags” – dead trees that are still standing but continue to play an important role in ecosystems. … ” Read more from Governing here: Scientists say clearing forests worsens wildfire damage
The climate change link to more and bigger wildfires
“Across the country people have been experiencing hazy skies from big wildfires in Western states. More than 3 million acres have already burned, and fire experts say this is just the beginning. A historic drought and heatwave have primed forests to burn big this year, just like they did last year. A conservative estimate from the U.S. Forest Service said by 2015, fire season had gotten about two-and-a-half months longer than it was in the 1970s. Scientists say that number is growing even larger. At the same time, wildfires are burning more acres than ever before. The nine largest wildfire seasons since reliable records begin have occurred since 2005. Nick Mott, editor of the Montana Public Radio podcast, Fireline, sat down with NPR to talk about the role climate change is playing in the west’s worsening fire seasons.” Listen to radio segment (7:00) from NPR here: The climate change link to more and bigger wildfires
In regional water news and commentary today …
‘Trying to survive’: Wells dry up amid Oregon water woes
“Judy and Jim Shanks know the exact date their home’s well went dry — June 24. Since then, their life has been an endless cycle of imposing on relatives for showers and laundry, hauling water to feed a small herd of cattle and desperately waiting for a local well-drilling company to make it to their name on a monthslong wait list. The couple’s well is among potentially hundreds that have dried up in recent weeks in an area near the Oregon-California border suffering through a historic drought, leaving homes with no running water just a few months after the federal government shut off irrigation to hundreds of the region’s farmers for the first time ever. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: ‘Trying to survive’: Wells dry up amid Oregon water woes
Siskiyou Co. Supervisors asks for rehearing on Klamath dam removal
“Four hydroelectric dams in the Klamath River, are under new ownership. However, Siskiyou County is against the decision to remove the dams. The lower Klamath Project is now owned by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. Siskiyou County says it’s asking for a rehearing on dam removal. … ” Read more from KOBI 5 here: Siskiyou Co. Supervisors asks for rehearing on Klamath dam removal
NorCal: The importance of personal relations in a dry year
David Guy writes, “As we work through a dry year, there is inevitably focus on water and the lack thereof in certain areas; yet, it is the dry years that serve as a vivid reminder about the importance of people and working together. In the Sacramento Valley, we have a wonderful culture of hard work and resilience built around families and personal relations, with an eye toward making the Sacramento Valley a special place. It is working farm families, with help from neighbors and friends, who produce the food and shape both the economy and communities in the region. It is these same families who are the leaders in the various actions underway this year in the Sacramento Valley to Manage for Fish and Wildlife During a Dry Year in the Sacramento Valley in a challenging year. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: The importance of personal relations in a dry year
New Regional San upgrade virtually eliminates ammonia in Sacramento region’s wastewater
“The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) has completed a significant upgrade to its wastewater treatment facility that serves the Sacramento region. The new Biological Nutrient Removal project (BNR) is now operational, virtually eliminating ammonia from the region’s treated wastewater. “At Regional San, we take seriously our mission to protect public health and the environment,” said Prabhakar Somavarapu, General Manager at Regional San. “This project benefits the ecosystem and millions of Californians who rely on the Sacramento River as a water source—a clear demonstration of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.” … ” Read more from Regional San here: New Regional San upgrade virtually eliminates ammonia in Sacramento region’s wastewater
California drought: shrinking Lake Mendocino forces water cuts to Sonoma County Russian River region
“Residents in the Russian River region of northern Sonoma County are already facing mandatory water rationing. But now, the situation has become so dire that some agricultural users are being cut off completely. Healdsburg was ordered by the state to reduce water usage by 40 percent and the city stepped up, cutting by 54 percent over last year. But those who live there know this is just the beginning. “People have been talking for a long time that it’s going to come to a point where we don’t have enough water for our city, and it’s gotten to that point,” said resident Mike Mead. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: California drought: shrinking Lake Mendocino forces water cuts to Sonoma County Russian River region
Bay Area: The lost shores of Yosemite Slough
“Once upon a time, a rich wetland flourished, nurtured by the tidal waters of San Francisco Bay. Sunrise crowned the glistening shoreline of a pristine channel of water that came to be known as Yosemite Slough. The word Yosemite originates from the native Miwok word for grizzly bear. Yosemite Slough was a marshland, a nesting area for migrating birds along the Pacific Flyway and a sanctuary for endangered mammals. The hills that cradle Yosemite Slough formed 200 million years ago from Franciscan bedrock. Birds, butterflies, reptiles and mammals flourished in the fertile sediment of the shoreline, including harbor seals and sea lions. … ” Read more from San Francisco Bay View here: Bay Area: The lost shores of Yosemite Slough
Monterey County officials get earful about private desal projects
“Advocates for public water systems on Tuesday jumped quickly on a request by a Monterey County supervisor to consider amending a law that currently allows only public ownership and operation of desalination facilities. The request came in the form of a board referral, an instrument allowing members of the Board of Supervisors to make requests to the county’s chief administrative officer for work by staff or additional information on a specific topic. Supervisor John Phillips’ referral was shared with elected officials as an informational item only in the chief administrator’s regular meeting report. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey County officials get earful about private desal projects
Report: Valley could see 6-9 degree temperature increase by 2100
“Climate change projections show the Central Valley will see more hot, dry years like 2021, but also some dangerously wet years as well. This year has already seen high temperatures, drought and high fire risk for Central Valley residents, and Jordi Vasquez, environmental scientist for the California Department of Water Resources, said climate models show the Central Valley heating up 6 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. While that shift in average temperature may seem slight, Vasquez said it will likely create big changes. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Report: Valley could see 6-9 degree temperature increase by 2100
Antelope Valley: Littlerock Dam capacity to increase
“The Palmdale Water District is moving closer to increasing its water storage capacity by removing more than a million cubic yards of sediment from the reservoir behind the Littlerock Dam. On Monday, the Board of Directors unanimously, and without discussion, approved a $1.6 million contract with Aspen Environmental Group for work involved with the design, permitting and construction of the project over the next five years. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Littlerock Dam capacity to increase
Pasadena: Grease traced to a strip mall flows occasionally on Rosemead street
“Longtime Rosemead resident Katrina Padilla has grown tired of what she calls a greasy substance that flows down Earle Avenue, her street. She said it first happened around 2010, again in July 2018 and earlier this month. Padilla and Rosemead Assistant City Manager Ben Kim agree the restaurant-heavy Empire Commercial Center on Valley Boulevard is responsible for the most recent incident, but they disagree on how it happened. … ” Read more from the Pasadena Star News here: Pasadena: Grease traced to a strip mall flows occasionally on Rosemead street
Long troubled Salton Sea may finally be getting what it most needs: action — and money
“State work to improve wildlife habitat and tamp down dust at California’s ailing Salton Sea is finally moving forward. Now the sea may be on the verge of getting the vital ingredient needed to supercharge those restoration efforts – money. The shrinking desert lake has long been a trouble spot beset by rising salinity and unhealthy, lung-irritating dust blowing from its increasingly exposed bed. It shadows discussions of how to address the Colorado River’s two-decade-long drought because of its connection to the system. The lake is a festering health hazard to nearby residents, many of them impoverished, who struggle with elevated asthma risk as dust rises from the sea’s receding shoreline. And in a state where most of the historic wetlands are gone, the sea is seen as an important stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. … ” Read more from Western Water here: Long troubled Salton Sea may finally be getting what it most needs: action — and money
Along the Colorado River …
40 million Americans depend on two reservoirs that just hit record lows
“More than 40 million people rely on the water reserves held by Lake Powell and Lake Mead, two of the US’s largest reservoirs that both sit along the Colorado River. But as the American West continues to endure staggering drought, water levels in both of these bodies have reached historic lows. Lake Powell, which stretches along Utah and Arizona, dropped to 3,554 feet this week—the lowest depth since its initial filling in the 1960s. Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir by water capacity, is also at its lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s. It’s currently at a depth of 1,067 feet, holding just one third of its potential capacity. … ” Read more from Popular Science here: 40 million Americans depend on two reservoirs that just hit record lows
Podcast: Our biggest reservoir will save us! Wait, no
“In Episode 4 of Drought Week, we focus on Lake Mead, created by the Hoover Dam and fed by the Colorado River. It’s the nation’s biggest reservoir, providing water to 25 million people in California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico. Lake Mead is projected to shrink this year to levels that would trigger the first-ever official shortage declaration in the region. That means Nevada, Arizona and Mexico would have to make do with less water. If the trend continues another year, California gets partially cut off too. … ” Listen to the podcast at the LA Times here: Podcast: Our biggest reservoir will save us! Wait, no
Does St. George really need Lake Powell water?
“Utah’s arid and scenic southwest corner is one of the nation’s growth hot spots, bursting with new residential subdivisions with more on the way. While Utah water officials are pushing a controversial $1.8 billion water pipeline to support this growth, various groups say there are better ways for meeting Washington County’s needs at a fraction of the price and without the environmental impacts and potential conflicts that come with moving Colorado River water 140 miles overland to St. George. Western Resource Advocates, or WRA, on Wednesday released an alternative to the Lake Powell pipeline, called “Local Waters Alternative 2.0,” to fill what the group sees as glaring holes in the federal review of the project sponsored by the Washington County Water Conservancy District and backed by Utah taxpayer money. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Does St. George really need Lake Powell water?
Audio: Lake Powell hitting record low signals bleak water future for Arizona
“The Phoenix area got pounded by monsoon rains this week, but the region is still in a mega-drought and facing a troubled water future. Over the weekend, there was some bad news on that front. We might think of Lake Powell as a great place to spend vacation time, but it’s also the nation’s second-largest reservoir, and it just reached a new historic low — dropping to 3,555 feet. It’s been dwindling for some time, but this latest drop has some broad implications for Arizona’s water future. To plumb the waters of this situation, The Show spoke with Luke Runyon of Colorado’s KUNC, who covers the Colorado River.” Listen to radio spot (5:16) from KJZZ here: Audio: Lake Powell hitting record low signals bleak water future for Arizona
A major drought is gripping the west. Still, there’s reason to be hopeful the water situation will improve
“Concerning news about Utah’s extreme drought keeps coming. On Wednesday, Utah’s Department of Natural Resources said the drought continues to have “a stranglehold on the state,” despite wild weather swings that dumped rain in some areas. Washington Post Columnist David Von Drehle recently wrote an opinion piece about the drought gripping the West. He spoke with KUER’s Pamela McCall about the situation. … ” Read more from KUER here: A major drought is gripping the west. Still, there’s reason to be hopeful the water situation will improve
In national water news today …
Senate starts infrastructure deal debate as details emerge
“The Senate voted last night to begin debate on the bipartisan infrastructure agreement announced yesterday, moving a top priority of President Biden’s along to an uncertain future. Senators voted 67-32 to end debate on the motion to proceed to the bill, which was still being written last night. All 50 Democrats supported the motion, along with 17 Republicans. But other Republicans decried the rush to the vote, noting that there’s still no legislative text. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) complained about being presented a detailed outline of the plan by a small group of negotiators like it’s a fait accompli. “Until this bill is actually written and we have a chance to review it, including all the details, the costs, the pay-fors, and the impact it will have on our states, I will not support it,” he said on the floor before the vote. “And I imagine the majority of my Republican colleagues feel the same way.” ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Senate starts infrastructure deal debate as details emerge
Questions emerge on reconciliation as infrastructure moves ahead
“Democratic leaders took care to emphasize their commitment to climate legislation as bipartisan infrastructure legislation took a big step forward in the Senate yesterday. Still, some cracks started to appear in their plans for a separate, climate-focused $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. The massive spending package will be the vehicle for a host of policies to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but Democrats will need support from virtually every member of their caucus on both sides of Capitol Hill. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), one of the Senate’s key swing votes, said yesterday she would support efforts to move forward on a budget resolution but has reservations about the $3.5 trillion topline. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Questions emerge on reconciliation as infrastructure moves ahead
SEE ALSO:
-
- Western water provisions included in infrastructure bill, from the Western Farm Press
- FACT SHEET: Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. from the White House
Biden rallies public-private sector to thwart infrastructure hacks
“Confronting the rise of attacks on major American infrastructure and industry, the White House released an executive order Wednesday in which President Joe Biden will ask companies to layer on more cybersecurity protections. The order follows up on a series of cybersecurity directives prompted this year when the nation suffered a series of fuel shortages after Russian-tied cybercriminals launched a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline. To get the critical infrastructure back to servicing nearly half of the Eastern Seaboard, Colonial Pipeline CEO Joseph Blount ultimately shelled out $4.4 million in ransom. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Biden rallies public-private sector to thwart infrastructure hacks
Can retrofitting dams for hydro provide a green energy boost?
“In 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finished construction of the Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River in Marion County, Iowa. One of thousands of U.S. dams built that decade, its purpose was to moderate seasonal flooding, allowing the Corps to release the million-and-a-half acre feet of snowmelt it impounded each spring at will. And for more than 50 years, aside from providing locals with a reservoir in which to fish and go boating, that’s all it did. That changed last fall when engineers let water rush into two penstocks freshly punched through the concrete structure of the dam. Flowing into a powerhouse below, the water spun two hydroelectric turbines before pouring back into the river, generating enough electricity to power more than 18,000 homes in Iowa, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. … ” Read more from Yale e360 here: Can retrofitting dams for hydro provide a green energy boost?
Drought and water mismanagement spark deadly protests in Iran
“Drought and mismanagement of water resources are fueling anger at Iran’s government, sparking protests in which at least eight people have been killed. Iran’s water resources have been depleted by a lack of rain, the building of hydro-electric dams and farming of water-intensive products like rice, wheat and sugar cane. Farmers hit by water shortages are fleeing their villages to live in precarious settlements on the outskirts of cities. Protests against these water shortages began two weeks ago in the south-western province of Khuzestan, inflamed by a heatwave with temperatures of up to 50C. Unrest has spread to other cities including the capital Tehran. ... ” Read more from Climate Home News here: Drought and water mismanagement spark deadly protests in Iran
Today’s featured article …
BAY-DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: Loss, and Potential Recovery of Primary Production from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Landscape transformation in the Delta has far-reaching implications, including the loss of primary production that forms the basis for the food web. A recent study quantified the loss of primary production in the Delta and how much would be restored if all the restoration targets for the Delta were met. The study, On the Human Appropriation of Primary Production, presents a simple approach for estimating the loss of ecosystem functions from measured habitat losses that can guide conservation plans by establishing historical baselines, projecting functional outcomes of different restoration scenarios, and establishing performance metrics to gauge success.
At the 2021 Bay-Delta Science Conference, Dr. James Cloern, one of twelve scientists from seven different institutions who collaborated on the study, presented the findings.
Click here to read this article.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
VELES WEEKLY WATER REPORT: NQH2O price unchanged. More companies citing water security as a financial risk in regulatory filings.
COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED: Water Year 2021 Whiskeytown Lake Drought Action (Alternatives to boost Shasta storage)
NEPA DOCS: Transfer of Central Valley Project Water from Stockton East Water District to San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority
NOTICE of Petition for Temporary Transfer/Exchange per various Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation License and Permits
NOTICE of Water Right Petitions in Siskiyou County
