On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The Delta Protection Commission will meet beginning at 1pm. Agenda items include Report on Delta Stewardship Council activities by Chair Don Nottoli and consideration of Commission position on S.B. 821 (Delta Independent Science Board). Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California drought news today …
State Water Board will make the call on refilling Don Pedro reservoir
“A state board approved a drought regulation Tuesday that puts irrigation districts in Stanislaus County in the precarious position of trusting a state agency they have battled with in the recent past. Faced with a worsening drought emergency, the State Water Resources Control Board will move ahead with curtailment orders to stop some diversions from rivers and deal with severe water shortages. “It takes over local management of our (water storage) systems and asks local managers to trust the state water board to run their systems,” said attorney Valerie Kincaid, representing the San Joaquin Tributaries Authority, which includes the Modesto, Turlock and Oakdale irrigation districts. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: State Water Board will make the call on refilling Don Pedro reservoir
Lawmakers react to State Water Board Emergency Restrictions
“This year’s drought is on the verge of going from bad to worse for thousands of farmers in the Central Valley. Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board approved emergency curtailment regulations. The move impacts 5,700 of the 6,600 water rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) says Tuesday’s decision by the board is the wrong approach. … ” Read more from KFSN here: Lawmakers react to State Water Board Emergency Restrictions
Northstate Farmer and State Department of Water Resources speak up on water cut backs
“As California continues to experience severe drought conditions, cutbacks on water usage to conserve water are also becoming more common. In Wednesday’s meeting, a number of experts spoke, including the California Department of Water Resources State Climatologist Mike Anderson, and Resource Manager Jeanine Jones. During the meeting, we were briefed on the current drought conditions, which are extreme to severe in much of the state. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Northstate Farmer and State Department of Water Resources speak up on water cut backs
Hurtado says state water curtailing hurts agriculture, local communities
“The State Water Board this week approved emergency curtailment for the Delta Watershed, but state Senator Melissa Hurtado says the measures will hurt valley residents. In a press release sent out Wednesday, Hurtado said the measures will seriously impact agriculture and access to clean water for those living in the Delta Watershed, which is fed by the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers and serves 40% of California’s land area. … Hurtado’s release claimed the move would cut water supplies to Central Valley farmers, affecting the food chain and job availability in the area. The curtailment of water could force farms to fallow land, the release said. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Hurtado says state water curtailing hurts agriculture, local communities
SEE ALSO: Hurtado releases statement regarding Water Board’s decision on water curtailment
‘This should have been discussed six months ago’
“Some water and agriculture industry representatives are criticizing California and U.S. regulators for what they say is poor planning for this summer’s extreme drought as about 5,000 of the state’s senior water right holders are about to be told to stop diverting. The State Water Resources Control Board on Aug. 3 voted unanimously to impose curtailments throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed after issuing similar orders in June to about 4,300 junior rights holders in the Delta. The California Farm Water Coalition, which represents farmers, notes that the decision comes two years after most reservoirs in the state were largely full, and the group blasts state and federal water agencies for not capturing more water during wet years for use when conditions are dry. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: ‘This should have been discussed six months ago’
Commentary: The importance of implementing the water rights priority system in a dry year
David Guy, President of the Northern California Water Association, writes, “We support an orderly water rights priority system in California and appreciate the State Water Board’s recent efforts to implement this system through emergency regulations adopted yesterday. These regulations are based on the unavailability of natural flows throughout the Bay-Delta watershed, including the Sacramento Valley. The emergency order for the Sacramento Valley appears to curtail all State Water Board permits and licenses (post-1914 water rights); pre-1914 water rights with a priority date of 1883 or later; and some riparian rights on a correlative basis on the Bear River, the Upper American River, and Putah Creek. Importantly, the curtailments do not apply to water rights or contracts to water that is already in storage. Groundwater can also be pumped as an alternative supply. … ” Continue reading at the NCWA blog here: The importance of implementing the water rights priority system in a dry year
Young farmers lose hope as drought closes in: ‘It’s like a sad country song’
“They are land rich and resource poor. Most have hundreds of acres of fertile soil, some thousands, but little money in the bank and – most importantly – no water. Now the young farmers of the Klamath Basin, an agricultural community on the border of Oregon and California, fear they might be the last generation of their kind. “It sounds like a sad country song, but that’s the current situation we’re in,” said Bryce Balin, 28, who manages his family’s 2,200-acre farm. An all-organic enterprise, Balin raises grass-fed cattle, livestock feed, winter hay and potatoes, all set against a panorama of dry, alpine hills. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: Young farmers lose hope as drought closes in: ‘It’s like a sad country song’
Drought conditions making it tough for California cattle ranchers to keep herds
“Drought conditions are beginning to take a toll on some California cattle ranchers. The lack of rain and annual wildfires are forcing some to sell off their herds. Casey Stone and his family operate a ranch in the hills of Yolo County. … ” Read more from ABC 30 here: Drought conditions making it tough for California cattle ranchers to keep herds
San Joaquin Valley sinks in droughts
“Corcoran is the proverbial canary in the mine when it comes to the invisible damage the current drought is likely to inflect. Between May of 2015 and September 2016 areas near the South San Joaquin Valley community dropped upwards of 25 inches in the last drought due to land sinking with the removal of water from underground aquifers. The subsidence was the end result of jacked up groundwater pumping due to the Bureau of Reclamation cutting off water deliveries as growers scrambled to protect hundreds of millions of dollars invested in cropland and orchards. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: San Joaquin Valley sinks in droughts
Officials set to limit water pumped from the Delta
“Water rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could soon be forced to shut off their pumps as the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved emergency measures to curtail diversions in the watershed. The board voted unanimously to approve the measures during a hearing held Tuesday, Aug. 3. The action comes as drought conditions throughout the state continue to worsen. It is intended to preserve stored water, protect drinking water supplies, prevent salinity intrusion, and minimize impacts to fisheries and the environment. ... ” Read more from The Press here: Officials set to limit water pumped from the Delta
‘Unprecedented’ emergency curtailments adopted by State Water Board
“The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has passed emergency curtailments for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. Approximately 5,700 water rights holders are expected to be impacted by the order, according to the SWRCB. Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, Mike Wade expressed disappointment that better preparation was not made to prevent this type of action. “The State Boards’ action I think is a reflection of certainly how bad the water year is. But more so, how badly we’ve prepared for droughts like this,” said Wade. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: ‘Unprecedented’ emergency curtailments adopted by State Water Board
‘Running out of options’: California resorts to water cutoffs as drought worsens
“California water regulators took unprecedented action this week, passing an emergency regulation that will bar thousands of Californians from diverting stream and river water as the drought worsens. The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the “emergency curtailment” order for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. The watershed encompasses a wide swath of the state, from the Oregon border in northeastern California down into the Central Valley. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: ‘Running out of options’: California resorts to water cutoffs as drought worsens
Are California’s cannabis growers stealing water during a drought?
“Legal cannabis grow farms represent just about 20 to 25 percent of total weed farms in California, according to Ted Grantham, assistant professor at University of California Berkeley and co-director of the school’s cannabis research program. This means a significant amount of plantings are unregulated—the black market continues to thrive four years into the legal cannabis system. Using aerial photography, Grantham and his fellow Berkeley researchers were able to quantify the extent of that black market. While California only has 8,000 permitted cannabis farms, scientists mapped 15,000 in Humboldt County alone. ... ” Read more from Wine Industry Advisor here: Are California’s cannabis growers stealing water during a drought?
One of the state’s biggest reservoirs hit a record low this week
“Lake Oroville, one of California’s biggest reservoirs, reached its lowest-ever point this week, breaking a record set decades ago in the latest troubling sign of the punishing drought conditions afflicting the state. The lake reached a “new historic low elevation” of 642.73 feet of water, which is down from 645 feet in September 1977, said John Yarbrough, assistant deputy director of the California State Water Project, in a statement. The new record low comes two months after officials at Lake Oroville warned that elevation was dropping steadily and would reach a record-low by the fall. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: One of the state’s biggest reservoirs hit a record low this week
In other California water news today …
Congressman David G. Valadao and House Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman host water roundtable with Central Valley water stakeholders
“[Yesterday], Congressman David G. Valadao and House Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman hosted a water roundtable in Five Points, California, with local water stakeholders. This provided an opportunity for them to convey their experiences with the drought directly to Rep. Valadao and Rep. Westerman. “The worsening drought in western states is growing more and more troubling by the day,” said Congressman Valadao. “It is incredibly important that our leaders in Washington pay attention and help alleviate the situation when and where they can, which is why I’m thankful that Ranking Member Westerman came out to the Central Valley today to learn more about the crisis in our backyard. ... ” Read more from Congressman David Valadao’s website here: Congressman David G. Valadao and House Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman host water roundtable with Central Valley water stakeholders
Friant-Kern Canal repair process continues with repayment contract
“Another hurdle has been cleared in the pending and much needed repairs of a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal. Known as the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Project, repairs will be done on the 33-mile stretch of the canal form between Lindsay and Strathmore to North Kern County. When the federal government provided $206 million in funding for the project last year that meant the project would finally become a reality. The Friant Water Authority which oversees the canal has been working on financing and putting the plan into place for the canal’s repairs ever since that federal funding has been allocated. FWA began the process of selecting a contractor for the project this summer. It’s hoped phase 1 of the repairs will be completed in 2024. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Friant-Kern Canal repair process continues with repayment contract
‘Witnessing the Collapse’: Officials warn of cascading crises facing Pacific salmon
“A deeply troubled group of high-ranking state officials, tribal leaders, environmentalists and fishermen met July 27 to discuss the triple whammy that is threatening some species of Pacific salmon with extinction — a combination of record-breaking heat, drought and disastrous federal water policies — particularly those of the Trump administration, which drained mountain reservoirs of cold water, sending it to the Central Valley. The lengthy online hearing, appropriately entitled “California’s Salmon Fisheries in Crisis: Historic Drought, Low Flows and Dead Fish,” was sponsored by the state Senate Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture chaired by North Coast state Sen. Mike McGuire. The hearing featured a dozen or so speakers who testified about unprecedented conditions facing the state’s rivers and, by turn, salmon. … ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: ‘Witnessing the Collapse’: Officials warn of cascading crises facing Pacific salmon
Climate change forces California winemakers to reconsider what grapes grow where
“For decades, California winemakers have long thought of the Winkler Index as gospel. Developed in the 1940s by two professors at the University of California at Davis (U.C. Davis), the Index uses regional climate conditions to determine the best places to grow a wide range of wine grapes. With increasing pressures from heat and drought bearing down on the state, however, the Index may currently be horribly out of date. On July 22, U.C. Davis announced it would update the Index for the first time in more than 75 years. This new reality has profound implications for what we grow, make and drink in the future. … ” Read more from Wine Enthusiast here: Climate change forces California winemakers to reconsider what grapes grow where
Commentary: Mother Nature is not stupid; that’s why long fescue grass isn’t native to California
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “The largest crop grown in the United States is not corn. Farmers grew corn on just a paltry 14,281 square miles in 2019. It pales in comparison to the largest crop estimated at 63,000 square miles — lawns. Experts indicate lawns in the United States collectively would almost cover the state of Texas. Lawns are a crop that humans cannot eat. Except for lawns that are in parks, sports field, and golf courses the only real purpose they serve are for eye candy. Yes, they generate oxygen and can serve as effective dust control. But that was the function of grasses native to North America that rely on significantly less water. Today yards, landscaping strips, and such are covered with grass that was brought to this country from Europe as well as Bermuda grass from Africa. … ” Continue reading at the Manteca Bulletin here: Mother Nature is not stupid; that’s why long fescue grass isn’t native to California
Feinstein: California water, energy priorities well-represented in funding bill
“Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, applauded the inclusion of California water priorities in the Energy and Water funding bill for fiscal year 2022, which was advanced out of committee today. “The energy and water funding bill advanced by the Appropriations Committee today will help improve and modernize the infrastructure needs of California and the nation, and I was pleased to work with Ranking Member Kennedy to finalize this bipartisan legislation,” Feinstein said. “The bill makes significant investments in our water infrastructure that will allow the Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation to complete water storage, dam safety, water recycling and desalination projects across the country. … ” Read more from Senator Feinstein’s office here: Feinstein: California Water, Energy Priorities Well-Represented in Funding Bill
SEE ALSO: Senate committee unveils $53.6B Energy-Water spending bill, from E&E News
The purposeful tension within the doctrine of beneficial use
“In the western United States, water law developed around two main principles: (l) the goal of full beneficial use of water, and (2) the need to afford vested water right holders certainty as to their rights. At the time western water codes developed, these goals were seemingly in harmony—rewarding those who needed the water and invested in infrastructure for water use with rights that were enforceable against subsequent appropriators. Over the decades, as water needs and demands were reshaped by changing land use priorities, economics, and technology, these principles began to conflict with each other. Water right holders who had initially beneficially used water, and thus were afforded certainty regarding their future water use through water rights, no longer consistently used the water to which they were entitled. Thus, state water regimes were adjusted to enforce beneficial use requirements through abandonment and forfeiture laws that strive to return to the available “pool” the water rights of those that failed to timely make the investments needed to make or maintain their water use. The obligation to show continuing beneficial use of water to avoid relinquishment and abandonment of water rights slowly undermined the certainty of vested water right holders in their water rights and water infrastructure investments. … ” Read more from the National Law Review here: The purposeful tension within the doctrine of beneficial use
Fleet of trains deployed with unique firefighting capability
““These are the heroes of the Union Pacific.” A specialized group of firefighters has been deployed in an effort to save communities and infrastructure from being consumed by wildfires across the western United States. However, the firefighters cannot travel to just any fire that sparks to life. They need to follow the road ahead of them, or in this case, the rails ahead of them. ... ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Fleet of trains deployed with unique firefighting capability
USDA chief calls for overhaul of forest management in western states
“The man who oversees the federal government’s wildland firefighting forces stood in the burn scar of the largest forest fire in California’s recorded history Wednesday and acknowledged the federal government needs to do more. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stood flanked by California Governor Gavin Newsom and hills made bare by the 1 million-acre August Complex fire in 2020, and said the federal government needs to do a better job of forest management — a rare admission in an era where climate change receives the brunt of the blame for the spate of wildfires. “We have tried to do this job on the cheap,” Vilsack said. “We have tried to get by with a little forest management here, a little fire suppression here, but the reality is this has caught up to us.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: USDA chief calls for overhaul of forest management in western states
Forest Service changes ‘let it burn’ policy following criticism from western politicians
“Facing criticism over its practice of monitoring some fires rather than quickly snuffing them out, the U.S. Forest Service has told its firefighters to halt the policy this year to better prioritize resources and help prevent small blazes from growing into uncontrollable conflagrations. The change came days after California and western states politicians, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, publicly challenged the “let it burn” approach in the wake of the Tamarack fire, as The Times detailed in a story Sunday. It also comes as fierce winds are expected to collide with bone-dry conditions at the massive Dixie fire in Northern California, already California’s eighth-largest in recorded history at more than 270,000 acres, leaving firefighters bracing for further spread during a red flag warning that goes through Thursday. Currently, the blaze is 35% contained with nearly 5,000 personnel working to stop its advance. … ” Read more from the Los Angeles Times here: Forest Service changes ‘let it burn’ policy following criticism from western politicians
In regional water news and commentary today …
Yurok Tribe in Northern California grows solutions in soil of crises
“A drought, a virus and a landslide – these concurrent crises have worsened the food insecurity of Northern California’s Yurok Tribe and spurred some members to explore their own solutions. Their reservation, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the redwoods of the Klamath Mountains, was declared a rural food desert by the USDA in 2017. The situation worsened when the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with severe drought and a crumbling highway, slammed the reservation and nearby Indigienous communities. Sammy Gensaw, 26, grew up paddling redwood canoes on the Klamath River and driving the winding mountain roads of California’s North Coast. Since he was 10, Gensaw has been advocating for his people – and the food provided by the river and its valley – at government meetings and with nonprofit groups. ... ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Yurok Tribe in Northern California grows solutions in soil of crises
Redding Council approves selling some of its water to Shasta Lake
“The Redding City Council approved the 2021 Water Transfer Agreement with the city of Shasta Lake. The approval, given at the council’s meeting on Tuesday night, paves the way for the sale of up to 120 acre-feet of Redding’s water to Shasta Lake at a cost of $328 per acre-foot. … ” Read more from the Record-Searchlight here: Redding Council approves selling some of its water to Shasta Lake
Arcata: Wetlands and Creeks Committee takes part in Gateway ‘road show’
“The City of Arcata Wetlands and Creeks Committee held its regular meeting by Zoom on Tuesday, July 20. The committee received a presentation by Community Development staff on the development of the Gateway Area Plan (Gateway Plan). The members then participated in an exercise to prioritize (and customize) their top three to five choices from a list of potential wetlands and creeks-related implementation measures for the Gateway Plan. This presentation and exercise is part of the Community Development’s own “Committee Roadshow” that has been agendized for six specific city committees during the past few weeks. Each committee received a list of implementation measures tailored to its expertise and purview. … ” Read more from the Mad River Union here: Arcata: Wetlands and Creeks Committee takes part in Gateway ‘road show’
Humboldt County: ‘We are very fortunate with our water supply’: Ruth Reservoir at 87% capacity
“As wells and reservoirs dry up across California amid worsening drought conditions, Ruth Reservoir, which provides water for most of Humboldt County’s population centers, is at 87% capacity — exactly where it should be. John Friedenbach, general manager of the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, said Ruth Reservoir has remained resilient through the drought. “We’re one of the very few reservoirs throughout the state that did actually fill to capacity this rainy season,” he said. “This year, we are a little bit lower in lake elevation than last year at 87% as of Aug. 3, but we are still above the 10-year average. We’re not experiencing the effects of the drought in terms of lake level, we’re still doing normal operations in terms of releases from the lake. I would add that in the 60-year history of Ruth Lake, it has filled every year except once.” ... ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt County: ‘We are very fortunate with our water supply’: Ruth Reservoir at 87% capacity
Lake Tahoe is filled with trash. I went diving with the crew whose mission is to clean it up
Gregory Thomas writes, “The first pull of the day was a Corona bottle, its label scraped off by the coarse sand just off the shore of South Lake Tahoe. How long it had been there was anyone’s guess. A freediver in the floating cleanup crew unearthed it from the sand — only about 12 feet deep here — and surfaced to dump it in a green floating trash raft named Darlene. It was Day 15 of the first-ever effort to systematically scoop up submerged litter and junk that has accumulated on the bottom along Lake Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline. … ” Read more from San Francisco Chronicle here: Lake Tahoe is filled with trash. I went diving with the crew whose mission is to clean it up
New regional 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. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions here: New regional upgrade virtually eliminates ammonia in Sacramento region’s wastewater
Point Reyes elk: Judge denies request for emergency food, water
“A federal judge has denied a request by environmental groups to require the Biden administration to immediately provide food and water for the largest herd of tule elk in the Point Reyes National Seashore. The groups, represented by Harvard Law School’s Animal Law and Policy Clinic, allege the National Park Service failed to provide adequate resources at the Tomales Point Tule Elk Preserve, which lost 152 elk between the winters of 2019-2020 and 2020-21. The herd is now below 300 animals. Park officials say the 2,200-acre preserve’s carrying capacity, or the number of elk it can support based on available resources, is about 350 elk. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Point Reyes elk: Judge denies request for emergency food, water
Environmentalists suing over proposed Richmond housing development at contaminated waterfront site
“A coalition of environmental activist groups announced Wednesday that they filed a lawsuit against two state agencies over the environmental impact analysis of a proposed housing project at a contaminated waterfront area in Richmond. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, argues that the California Environmental Protection Agency and one of its sub-agencies, the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control, approved the proposed development while skirting the state’s environmental review process required under the California Environmental Quality Act. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Environmentalists suing over proposed Richmond housing development at contaminated waterfront site
San Jose’s water system threatened by climate change, Valley Water director says
“As the dry and warm season continues, Santa Clara County residents are being asked to lead water conservation efforts. In San Jose, two consecutive winters with little rainfall is recorded to be the driest year in over 125 years, marking it one of the worst droughts in the county’s history. “Unfortunately I think it’s going to get worse with just the way with how winter is going to be, it could be really dire,” said Gary Kremen, director of Santa Clara Valley Water. … ” Read more from Channel 4 here: San Jose’s water system threatened by climate change, Valley Water director says
Cotati farm rescuing livestock abandoned due to water shortages
“The drought is affecting every part of Bay Area life in ways residents never could have imagined. But in rural Sonoma County, it’s having a devastating impact on the region’s farm animals. The water shortage is leaving the animals’ owners with a heart-breaking choice. … The land is parched and wells are beginning to run dry. It’s not easy for Erica Gregory, but it is the reason she founded Flat Broke Farm Animal Rescue 16 years ago. ... ” Read m0re from CBS Bay Area here: Cotati farm rescuing livestock abandoned due to water shortages
South Bay water parks still a popular choice for fun amid another state drought
“California is in the early stages of its latest drought, one that could worsen as another dry year continues across much of the Golden State. With calls from Gov. Gavin Newsom and regional agencies like Santa Clara Valley Water District for 15% water use cutbacks, residents are looking for ways to conserve at home and work. Despite the need for broad conservation, however, water parks in the South Bay remain open, full of visitors seeking a refreshing cool down from the region’s frequent summer heat waves. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: South Bay water parks still a popular choice for fun amid another state drought
Monterey Peninsula well failed, allowing saltier water to mix with drinking water
“Monterey Peninsula water officials are breathing a sigh of relief after a monitoring well in the Seaside Basin picked up increased salt levels, prompting concerns that an underground reservoir of potable water was being infiltrated by seawater. But it turned out the salts were from a failed well casing that allowed saltier shallow water from the Dune Sands to enter into the well and cross-contaminate the deeper body of water called the Paso Robles Aquifer that is tapped for drinking water. That aquifer can be thought of as a layer of water within the Seaside Basin. ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey Peninsula well failed, allowing saltier water to mix with drinking water
Turlock Irrigation District reports fourth-driest year in 90-year span
“With less than a month left in the precipitation year and little rainfall to show for it, Turlock Irrigation District and customers are experiencing the fourth-driest year on record. According to TID hydrologist Olivia Cramer, the Tuolumne River Watershed has received just 18.23 inches of precipitation since Sept. 1, or just about half of the historical average. The TID precipitation year, which is different from the water year, runs from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 and will come to an end next month. The water year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. … ” Read more from the Turlock Irrigation District here: Turlock Irrigation District reports fourth-driest year in 90-year span
Kern farmers see water restrictions amid growing drought
“The California drought continues to worsen as the state sees record-breaking heat and less precipitation. The California State Water Board voted Tuesday to issue emergency regulations for irrigation, banning farmers from using river and stream water diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Farmers must now find other resources for water flow. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now here: Kern farmers see water restrictions amid growing drought
Seismic work underway on Castaic Dam’s tower access bridge
“The California Department of Water Resources begins construction on Castaic Dam’s tower access bridge in Los Angeles County to reduce seismic risks during a major earthquake. “Ensuring that the State Water Project facilities remain resilient during earthquakes or extreme weather events like droughts and floods is vital to the 27 million Californians who depend on State Water Project water,” said DWR’s State Water Project Deputy Director Ted Craddock. “During this phase, we will strengthen the dam’s intake tower access bridge and its piers to allow for continued safe operations during a major earthquake.” … ” Read more from DWR News here: Seismic work underway on Castaic Dam’s tower access bridge
Santa Clarita: Water board votes against remote participation at in-person meetings
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board of directors decided Tuesday to return to its pre-pandemic in-person format for its board and committee meetings. The agency will no longer livestream board meetings on Zoom starting with the first meeting in October. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order suspending public meeting laws – which allowed public boards to meet remotely – expires at the end of September. Starting in October, members of the public who want to share an oral comment with directors will need to attend meetings in person to provide their comment, while the option to send the board a comment in advance of its meeting remains available. ... ” Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita: Water board votes against remote participation at in-person meetings
Valley Center Municipal Water District responds to social media posts
Gary Arant, We couldn’t help but notice a recent social media exchange regarding Valley Center Municipal Water District’s rates, fees, charges and operational policies. The comments covered a wide range of topics and were very speculative on why and how things are actually done at the District. We thought some input might help those concerned to understand more about how the District does business. So here goes … Read more from the Valley Roadrunner here: Valley Center Municipal Water District responds to social media posts
Video: As California declares water crisis, San Diego County declares water surplus until 2045
“With all of the extreme heat and lack of rain here in California, some have said that we’re currently in the state’s worst drought in modern history. The drought is so bad that the state of California has now cut off water supplies to farmers in the Central Valley. So how is the water supply here in San Diego? KUSI’s Dan Plante joined viewers live from Miramar Lake with the local situation.” Watch video from KUSI here: As California declares water crisis, San Diego County declares water surplus until 2045
Water Authority’s confidential consultant contracts surprised board
“The San Diego County Water Authority is building a team of consultants but won’t explain the work they’re doing, even to its own board of directors. The Water Authority spent $167,000 on two consultant contracts since July 2019 without disclosing them to the board, which is composed of representatives from the region’s 24 water agencies. It also won’t say what a third contract that was approved by the board, worth more than $330,000, was for. Board members’ dissatisfaction with the secrecy of the contracts – some which were entered into under a rule that allows the general manager to execute contracts below $150,000 without board approval – boiled over in a board meeting. ...” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Water Authority’s confidential consultant contracts surprised board
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: Staying the course on water conservation remains vital to Las Vegas’ future
John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, writes, “With Lake Mead’s bathtub ring as the backdrop, ongoing drought conditions in the Colorado River basin have captured the nation’s attention, particularly as the federal government is expected to declare the first-ever shortage on the river. As a result, one question I am asked frequently is whether our community has enough water to sustain our economy into the future. And, the answer really comes down to one thing: A commitment to water conservation. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Sun here: Staying the course on water conservation remains vital to Las Vegas’ future
Water restrictions are making a difference, some Utah officials say
“Many cities and towns throughout Utah have lawn watering restrictions in place due to the state’s severe drought that prompted Governor Spencer Cox to declare a state of emergency and issue executive orders. These restrictions, sometimes accompanied with fines and enforcement, are making a difference in saving water, water officials tell ABC4.com. Robert Whiteley, Public Works Director of Syracuse City, says he has seen several improvements since the city adopted water restrictions and began enforcement on June 1. … ” Read more from Channel 4 here: Water restrictions are making a difference, some Utah officials say
Tribes cheer withdrawal of 2 Little Colorado hydropower projects but fear a 3rd
“A developer has withdrawn two of the three proposals to build a series of hydroelectric dams in the Little Colorado River watershed, projects that had drawn opposition from several tribes and environmentalists. Phoenix-based Pumped Hydro Storage LLC relinquished preliminary permits for the Salt Trail Canyon and Little Colorado River proposals on July 26. The company told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that “the study requirements and eventual environmentalist opposition makes investing resources in this project a very high risk.” … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Tribes cheer withdrawal of 2 Little Colorado hydropower projects but fear a 3rd
From wildfires to water supply: The threats of western drought, and the climate change connection
“The western region of the United States is drying out. Nearly 60 percent of the region is under extreme drought conditions, and one-quarter of the landmass is experiencing exceptional drought conditions, according to July data posted by the U.S. Drought Monitor. The impact of large-scale drought is massive, from increased wildfire activity to zapping the precious supply of water to the region. … ” Read more from Channel 7 here: From wildfires to water supply: The threats of western drought, and the climate change connection
In national water news today …
What can civil engineers do to prevent another Flint water crisis elsewhere?
“Perhaps the scariest aspect of the Flint water crisis is the notion that it was merely the tip of the iceberg when it came to the problem of lead pipes and drinking water in the United States. So, in the aftermath of the crisis – now more than a half-decade ago – civil engineers have been busy working on that proverbial iceberg, taking lessons learned from Flint to ensure water quality in communities across the country. Civil Engineering Source asked several ASCE members to share their perspectives about how civil engineers can work to prevent “another Flint.” … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: What can civil engineers do to prevent another Flint water crisis elsewhere?
Ural engineers improve desalination performance by 280%
“Ural Federal University (UrFU) engineers have developed a new desalination technology. It will significantly reduce the cost of desalination and quadruple the volume of production. The results of the research are published in the journal Case Studies in Thermal Engineering. Today one of the most popular and simple ways of desalination is the distillation of water with the help of solar energy. UrFU scientists, together with colleagues from Iraq, have developed a hybrid technology to increase the efficiency of evaporation inside a solar distiller by means of a rotating hollow cylinder and a solar collector. ... ” Read more from Water World here: Ural engineers improve desalination performance by 280%
Bipartisan deal attracts energy, environment amendments
“Senators kicked off amendment votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill last night, but a COVID-19 case is threatening to upend the Senate schedule. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday after experiencing mild flu-like symptoms, could scramble the calculus for how the bill proceeds. Graham, who is fully vaccinated, was at a gathering with several other senators on Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-W.Va.) houseboat in Washington over the weekend. Graham is one of the members of the bipartisan group that negotiated the infrastructure package. Despite that news, Manchin, who tested negative, told reporters that he does not foresee the Senate slowing down on the bill. More illnesses, however, could affect the Democrats’ two-track infrastructure plans. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Bipartisan deal attracts energy, environment amendments
Today’s featured article …
BAY DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: Space Jam: A spatially explicit history of estuary fish species
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
VELES WEEKLY REPORT: NQH2O up $49.95 or 5.93% to $892.33 Index at new all time high. Exceptional drought conditions increased by 13.07%
