In California drought news today …
U.S. Agriculture Secretary promising federal relief for CA farmers impacted by drought
“Just days after state regulators announced water cutbacks for thousands of Central Valley farmers, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack promised federal relief to help combat California’s drought disaster. At least $41 million will be available to four states severely impacted by the drought, including the Golden State. “We’re also using COVID relief dollars and the American Rescue Plan dollars to provide additional assistance under our pandemic assistance and build back better effort,” he said. … ” Read more from KFSN here: U.S. Agriculture Secretary promising federal relief for CA farmers impacted by drought
Water for farms is top issue as Biden’s ag secretary visits Valley
“Water was the top issue, but not the only one, discussed as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited the Central Valley on Thursday. Vilsack spent his morning at the TerraNova Ranch in the Fresno County town of Helm near Five Points. He was joined by Secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross along with Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford. “It’s fairly clear that when you have rising temperatures, you’ve got early snowmelt, you’ve got low rainfall and you’ve got wildfires. It is a toxic mix for California agriculture and for that matter, for all of American agriculture because of the role that California plays,” Vilsack said. … ” Read more from GV Wire here: Water for farms is top issue as Biden’s ag secretary visits Valley
President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary touched down in Fresno. Here’s what he saw
“U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack stressed innovation and collaboration Thursday as he visited a Fresno County farm dealing with California’s drought. He toured the Terranova Ranch accompanied by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, whose districts divide the grower of vegetables and nuts along Highway 145 in Helm. Vilsack’s visit comes the same week the State Water Resources Control Board imposed an “emergency curtailment” order covering the rivers of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed — essentially the entire Central Valley. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary touched down in Fresno. Here’s what he saw
Power plant at Oroville Dam reservoir shut down for first time due to lack of water
“Drought-stricken California on Thursday shut down one of its largest hydroelectric plants because there’s not enough water to power it. The six-turbine Edward Hyatt Power Plant was taken offline after the water level in the Oroville Dam reservoir that feeds it sank to an historic low of less than 642 feet above mean sea level. The reservoir in the Sierra Nevada foothills north of Sacramento was less than a quarter full. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Power plant at Oroville Dam reservoir shut down for first time due to lack of water
SEE ALSO: Hyatt Powerplant shuts down for first time due to low water level at Lake Oroville, from the Oroville Mercury-Register
Drought, water supply are top environmental concerns in California
“As the state copes with yet another severe drought and a challenging fire season, a new PPIC survey on Californians and the Environment finds that Californians are increasingly concerned about drought and water supply. More than ever before, they also recognize that climate change is worsening drought and wildfires in the state, and they broadly support the state taking action on climate change. Drought, wildfire, and climate change round out the top three environmental issues that most concern Californians. When asked about the most important environmental issue facing the state, one in four Californians named water supply and drought. 63% say water supply is a big problem in their part of the state, and majorities feel it is a big problem regardless of their political affiliation or region. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: Drought, water supply are top environmental concerns in California
Congressman LaMalfa: Newsom Administration wasted water
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after Hyatt Power Plant at Lake Oroville official stopped making power today. Hyatt can make up to 900 megawatts and typically produces 450 megawatts of power, enough to power 800,000 homes. Because of low water levels, only 10 megawatts had been produced in recently. Today the power plant went offline as the lake’s water level sank to one of the lowest levels on record. “Lake Oroville was at full capacity two years ago, as well as in 2017. This dam was designed to provide water and power through five years of drought. Governor Newsom’s administration mismanaged and wasted so much water that Oroville ran out of water in just a year and half. … ” Continue reading this press release from Congressman LaMalfa here: Congressman LaMalfa: Newsom Administration wasted water
State and federal representatives decry CA water, power, and wildfire mismanagement
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama), and Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) joined forces today at Lake Oroville to demand urgent action to address the gross mismanagement of the state’s water, power, and wildlands. The lawmakers spoke to the media above the Hyatt Power Plant, which will soon stop generating electricity for the first time in history due to low water levels at Lake Oroville. California has squandered its ample resources,” said LaMalfa. “By failing to observe the most obvious thing, that we didn’t get much rain or snow this year, the State and the Governor continued to direct his bureaucracy to expend a limited water supply throughout the winter and spring and did nothing to save critical water for this fall. Now salmon lack the water they need, the state is taking farmers water mid growing season, starving the water needed by food crops before they reach harvest. Even household wells are going dry across the state. By failing to act, failing to invest and failing to lead, Governor Newsom has left our state short of electric power, short of water, burning up our lands, and in a lot of trouble.” ... ” Continue reading this press release from Congressman Doug LaMalfa here: State and federal representatives decry CA water, power, and wildfire mismanagement
Experts say new normal of drought in west requires new approach to water conservation and food production
“California is in the midst of another drought, and experts say the strategy should be more than hoping for an ample supply of rainfall. There are consequences to having a growing population inhabit the dry, arid conditions of the West, something that even non-experts have recognized. Compounded by the effects of climate change and the specter of more intense dry years soon to come, government officials and residents of the West are exploring how to reframe water conservation efforts toward a more holistic approach. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Experts say new normal of drought in west requires new approach to water conservation and food production
SEE ALSO: Drought will force western U.S. to rethink water use, experts say, from Newsweek
Officials plan for California water crisis
“As drought conditions continue to intensify across California and a majority of the western part of the United States, experts explain what the state is doing in response and what ripple effects to expect down the road. “It reduces the size of their crops, it reduces the size of their herds, if they’re a rancher, for many domestic users it reduces the amount of water they can use to irrigate their lawns,” explained Robert Cervantes, Enforcement Program Manager for Division of Water Rights. Drought conditions in the west now extend to California residents as central California counties face water restrictions in the coming weeks, farmers could see crop sizes dwindle resulting in less produce for Californians. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs here: Officials plan for California water crisis
How the California megadrought is affecting food prices
“The West is currently facing its worst megadrought in at least 1,200 years. This has caused multiple states to impose water restrictions, and it doesn’t look like things are going to get better any time soon. Lake Mead’s water supply, which provides water to Arizona, Nevada, and part of Mexico, is currently at its lowest level since the Hoover Dam was completed in 1936. Other reservoirs from Lake Powell to many in California have followed suit. All of this is causing major problems for farmers in California, Arizona, and beyond. ... ” Read more from Gizmodo here: How the California megadrought is affecting food prices
California’s drought takes a toll on the state’s clothing manufacturers
“Manufacturing jobs in California have migrated overseas for years. But now many industries face a new challenge: They depend on access to cheap, plentiful water, and California’s future looks increasingly dry. Nearly 85% of California is experiencing either extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the highest level on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale. And fabric-making relies heavily on water, Zahedi said. “We are no strangers to drought [and] the situation with water, especially being here in California,” Zahedi said. “It is so water-intensive and it does translate into a higher cost of manufacturing.” … ” Read more from Marketplace here: California’s drought takes a toll on the state’s clothing manufacturers
In other California water news today …
Environmental, tribal and fishing groups slam ‘voluntary agreements’ on Sacramento River flows
“On August 3, Restore the Delta and 20 other environmental, tribal and fishing groups signed on to an environmental water coalition letter to all 120 state legislators opposing Governor Gavin Newsom’s requests for $466 million in funding to the state budget for “voluntary agreements” (or VAs) concerning Sacramento River flows and water quality objectives. Other organizations signing the letter include Save California Salmon, Sierra Club California, Natural Resources Defense Council, Clean Water Action, Fly Fishers International, Defenders of Wildlife, San Francisco Baykeeper … The letter was sent at a time when fires are raging across the state and thousands of endangered salmon are dying in the Sacramento River system during a record drought greatly exacerbated by federal, state and corporate water mismanagement. ... ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: Environmental, Tribal and Fishing Groups slam ‘Voluntary Agreements’ on Sacramento River flows
Kern ag interests raise concerns about State Water Board’s proposed work toward racial equity
“A far-reaching proposal to prioritize racial equity at the State Water Resources Control Board has drawn skeptical responses from two influential organizations representing Kern County farmers and agricultural water districts. In letters to the water board late last month, the Kern County Farm Bureau and the Kern Groundwater Authority expressed concern that the draft resolution could disrupt local water rights and impair progress toward sustainability. Both organizations also volunteered to take part in a stakeholder advisory panel, if such a group is formed, to help guide the measure’s implementation. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Kern ag interests raise concerns about State Water Board’s proposed work toward racial equity
Harder secures federal funding for Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir
“The Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir project will likely move forward with federal funding thanks to advocacy from Rep. Josh Harder, who recently announced he helped secure a historic $65 million in recommended funding levels for Central Valley water storage. Harder urged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to recommend that the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act include $15 million for Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir and $50 million for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion. The two water storage projects are being planned as California experiences a second-straight year of drought and represent one of the Valley’s largest investments in storage in a generation. … ” Read more from Westside Connect here: Harder secures federal funding for Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir
Reclamation announces 60-day comment period for Central Valley Project Delta and Friant draft contracts
“The Bureau of Reclamation announced today ongoing congressionally mandated contract conversions pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. Today’s release includes draft repayment contracts from the Central Valley Project Delta and Friant contractors for a 60-day public comment period. These represent eight of over 80 repayment contract conversions requested by federal CVP contractors. The contractors include: Coelho Family Trust, Department of Veteran Affairs, Laguna Water District, City of Tracy, International Water District, City of Lindsay, County of Madera, and City of Orange Cove. Section 4011 of the WIIN Act directs Reclamation to convert water service contracts to repayment contracts upon a contractor’s request and authorizes prepayment of outstanding CVP construction costs. Under Section 4011, full repayment is due within three years of the contract conversion. ... ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation announces 60-day comment period for Central Valley Project Delta and Friant draft contracts
Thieves are stealing California’s water — watch how it happens
“Known for its starry skies, Joshua Trees and 100-plus-degree heat, California’s vast desert has recently become a hotbed of something else: thieves stealing California’s water. So who’s on the receiving end of all this theft? Local investigators say it’s often illegal pot farms. And with the parched state in a withering drought, water managers are doubling as amateur detectives. For months, they watched as demand for water spiked. They hired security firms and sent drones to see where the water was going. It wasn’t long before the local water czars caught on to a phenomenon happening across parched California: bandits are tapping into fire hydrants and rivers, filling stations and wells stealing millions of gallons of water. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Thieves are stealing California’s water — watch how it happens
Delta: Bradford Island fire: officials to flood island to douse blaze
“Bradford Island will be flooded to put out a brush fire that started early Monday morning on what is a reclaimed peat wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The fire was reported at about 1:30 a.m. on the 2,100-acre island, according to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and prompted some evacuations. As of 5 a.m. the fire had burned 212 acres and two structures, but no injuries were reported. … ” Read more from the Patch here: Delta: Bradford Island fire: officials to flood island to douse blaze
Northern California child diagnosed with rare brain infection; cause likely swimming in warm, fresh water
“A Tehama County child younger than 10 years old has been diagnosed with an extremely rare and devastating infection in the brain known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM. Testing performed by the California Department of Public Health and specialty laboratories were positive for evidence of Naegleria fowleri, the amoeba responsible for PAM, according to a press release issued Wednesday evening by Tehama County Health Services Agency Public Health. The most likely source of infection for this child was swimming in a freshwater lake in Tehama County. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: child diagnosed with rare brain infection; cause likely swimming in warm, fresh water
Record spring salmon run on Sacramento River tributary turns into disaster as most fish die before spawning
“In an extreme drought year where nearly all juvenile Sacramento River winter run Chinook salmon are expected to die before spawning due to alleged water mismanagement by the state and federal governments, the return of a record run of adult spring run Chinook salmon on Butte Creek this year was welcome news. But it didn’t stay that way. A record run of over 18,000 spring Chinook has returned to Butte Creek, a Sacramento River tributary, the second largest since 20,000 fish ascended the creek in 1998, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, or CDFW. Allen Harthorn, Executive Director of Friends of Butte Creek, estimates the size of this year’s run to be even larger, around 25,000 fish. Yet this has all changed recently. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Record spring salmon run on Sacramento River tributary turns into disaster as most fish die before spawning
California’s big summer wildfires keep sending up dangerous fire-triggered thunderstorms
“The photo of the Dixie Fire captured by Cal Fire’s Santa Clara unit last month is composed like a Renaissance religious painting. Rocks frame the subject — in this case, a towering smoke plume — pine trees point to the sky, while small human figures stand in awe. But the cloud is a product of an earthly inferno, not heaven sent. The pyrocumulus cloud rose above the Dixie Fire on the afternoon of July 19, nearly growing into pyrocumulonimbus — a wildfire-driven thunderhead. Meteorologists call these massive smoke columns “pyroCbs” for short (pronounced “pie-roh-cee-bee”). … ” Read more from KQED here: California’s big summer wildfires keep sending up dangerous fire-triggered thunderstorms
In commentary today …
Editorial: California drought calls for mandatory water cuts
The San Jose Mercury News 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 San Jose Mercury News here: Editorial: California drought calls for mandatory water cuts
California could have water to avoid droughts, but lacks the political will
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron from Escondido writes, “Droughts are a fact of life in California and shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Yet somehow we don’t seem capable of preparing for them. We are now in the second year of severe drought, and much of California’s agriculture, especially in the Central Valley, is facing devastation. The state Water Resources Control Board just voted on an “emergency curtailment” order that will prevent thousands of the state’s farmers from using major rivers and streams to irrigate their farms. Cutbacks on this scale are unprecedented and will affect our food supply. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: California could have water to avoid droughts, but lacks the political will
In regional water news and commentary today …
Klamath: Protest tent next to A Canal headgates comes down
“The red-and-white tent set up by two local farmers as a “water crisis information center” was taken down Wednesday. Grant Knoll and Dan Nielsen, who farm approximately 200 combined acres in the Klamath Project, purchased a plot of land next to the Bureau of Reclamation’s A Canal headgates for $30,000 this spring in response to the project’s lowest water allocation in its 107-year history. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath: Protest tent next to A Canal headgates comes down
Grass Valley resident defends home from river fire with water stored on property
“Firefighters battling the River Fire were thankful the winds calmed down Thursday allowing them to get a handle on the blaze. Instead, we were seeing the damage the fire left behind with flames still lingering in the rubble. House after house was destroyed in a Grass Valley neighborhood off Meyer Road. “It was a cross between Apocalypse Now and The Wizard of Oz,” said homeowner Eric Gibbs. “There was propane tanks blowing up left and right.” Gibbs was one of the only neighbors who stayed behind to protect his home—fighting flames on his own with 2,000 gallons of water stored on his property. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Grass Valley resident defends home from river fire with water stored on property
Auburn: Water Audit California victory for fishes at Hemphill Dam
“Legal action by Water Audit California has prompted Nevada Irrigation District to adopt a fish passage improvement plan for Hemphill Dam in Auburn Ravine. This habitat improvement project is timely. Low flows and high water temperatures have made 2021 a dismal year for salmon and steelhead in California. Hemphill Dam is blocking access to prime spawning habitat, and its removal will benefit migratory fishes, especially in hot, dry years like this one. “The Hemphill Dam passage improvements will greatly improve Auburn Ravine for spawning and rearing by native fishes. It is a good example of improvements needed to benefit native fish populations at hundreds of locations across the state,” said Peter Moyle, a UC Distinguished Professor Emeritus and advisor to Water Audit. … ”
Mendocino: “It’s dire and it’s only getting worse”: California tourist town running out of water amid drought
“The historic California town of Mendocino is running out of water and the reservoir it depends on is drying up amid a devastating drought in the state. “It’s dire and it’s only getting worse,” said Ryan Rhoades, the town’s groundwater manager. Rhoades said he’s considering bringing in water by train. In the meantime, the local high school has offered some of its reserves, which is only one truckload of water per day. “That’s the problem,” he said. … ” Read more from CBS News here: “It’s dire and it’s only getting worse”: California tourist town running out of water amid drought
Lake Mendocino reaches second-lowest level in history
“Historic drought has reduced Lake Mendocino to its second-lowest level since it was built, leaving reservoir storage in startling condition with months of likely warm, dry weather still ahead. The lake on Thursday held just more than 24,000 acre feet of water — a result of critically low rainfall totals that, combined, make 2019-21 the driest two years on record, the National Weather Service said. Storage in the reservoir, completed in 1958 with a flood storage capacity of 122,400 acre feet, has dipped below 25,000 acre feet only three times before and below 24,000 acre feet only once — by half, according to Sonoma Water. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Lake Mendocino reaches second-lowest level in history
Marin utility weighs permanent landscape watering restrictions
“Lush green lawns and other thirsty plants might become a thing of the past for new housing developments in much of Marin County. The Marin Municipal Water District is proposing to permanently prohibit new developments in its southern and central Marin service area from installing landscaping that would require potable water supplies. Landscaping using recycled water irrigation would be permitted under the proposal. For those unable to access recycled water, the district could allow for the use of low-water plants. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin utility weighs permanent landscape watering restrictions
State agencies face lawsuit over approval of Richmond housing development
“A coalition of community and environmental groups is taking the state to court over its agencies’ approval of the cleanup plan for a mixed-used project with 4,000 homes atop a contaminated waterfront site in Richmond. The lawsuit filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court argues that the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Environmental Protection Agency violated California law by approving a purchase agreement for the developer without an adequate environmental review. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: State agencies face lawsuit over approval of Richmond housing development
Satellite allows scientists to track San Francisco Bay’s rising sea levels in stunning detail
“For broad stretches of the Bay Area, sea level rise is the climate threat on our own doorstep. Interactive maps reveal a shoreline increasingly vulnerable to flooding and anticipating even fractions of an inch can be critical for planning. “And that can get us to a well thought out, much more comfortable dealing or adaptation with climate change, rather than having these events hit us, and then scrambling to figure out what to do afterwards,” said Letitia Grenier, Ph.D., of the San Francisco Estuary Institute. … ” Read more from KGO here: Satellite allows scientists to track San Francisco Bay’s rising sea levels in stunning detail
Bay Area: Three wealthy water districts consume the lion’s share of local water
“The biggest sip of the straw from the Bay Area’s water supply comes from people living in just three water districts: They consume nearly three to four times the amount of water as residents in 23 other municipalities and districts, according to data from the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency, whose member agencies receive most of their potable water from the Hetch Hetchy system. Residential use per capita is highest in the wealthiest communities while residents in the least financially advantaged communities consumed the least, according to the 2019-2020 annual survey, the latest to be published. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online here: Three wealthy water districts consume the lion’s share of local water
Northeast Fresno homeowners allowed to sue city over ‘tainted’ water in homes
“A court ruling has granted class action certification to a group of northeast Fresno homeowners. They are suing the city over what they say is “tainted” water in their homes. Action News first reported on the problem five years ago and hundreds of homes in the area were tested for lead. In 2016, five plaintiffs filed a lawsuit claiming the discolored drinking water also destroyed their galvanized plumbing. … ” Read more from KFSN here: Northeast Fresno homeowners allowed to sue city over ‘tainted’ water in homes
Porterville City Council approves authority to oversee casino water treatment projects
“The Porterville City Council approved the formation of a joint Tribe-city authority to oversee water treatment projects that are being done as part of the relocation of Eagle Mountain Casino. The council approved the formation of the Porterville Area Development Authority at its meeting on Tuesday. Along with overseeing about $25 million in financing for the casino’s two major water treatment projects, the organization will also have the authority to potentially finance future transportation needs for the West Porterville area around the casino. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Porterville City Council approves authority to oversee casino water treatment projects
Fullerton: PFAS extraction plant makes history
“The Orange County Water District and the city of Fullerton have begun operation of OC’s first wellhead filtration treatment plant to remove the contaminants Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) from local well water. The Kimberly Well 1A PFAS Treatment Plant is designed to treat 3,000 gallons of well water per minute, which is equivalent to 1.6 billion gallons per year. OCWD is currently designing PFAS treatment plants for two more Fullerton wells and the other City wells are being monitored for PFAS concentrations and may have treatment plants constructed in the future. ... ” Read more from the Fullerton Observer here: Fullerton: PFAS extraction plant makes history
Hyperion plant operating ‘sufficiently,’ officials say, but work continues
“Three weeks after flooding crippled the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant and sent 17 million gallons of sewage into the ocean, officials this week said the plant has been repaired enough to operate sufficiently, though sanitation employees also are working feverishly to fully fix the 144-acre complex before the traditional start of the rainy season. That work is the first of multiple efforts Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment has undertaken simultaneously in the aftermath of what officials called a “nearly catastrophic” disaster. … ” Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: Hyperion plant operating ‘sufficiently,’ officials say, but work continues
Water Replenishment District Board President John Allen: Adapting to a new normal
John Allen writes, “With wildfires raging across the Pacific Northwest, historic flooding in Germany, and our state’s dire drought conditions it is clear that our climate and environment have been drastically changed. With Governor Newsom’s recent drought declaration came a call to action for Californians to reduce their water consumption by 15%. As drought conditions worsen across California, it is clear that we are all in this together. Fortunately, WRD has proactively worked on addressing the drought even before it became the new normal. … ” Read more from HMG Media here: Water Replenishment District Board President John Allen: Adapting to a new normal
Along the Colorado River …
Assessing western drought conditions – a snapshot of how Arizona’s farmers and ranchers are coping with drought
“Even for a desert state, the last three years have been dry in Arizona. As of June 11, fourteen of Arizona’s fifteen counties were in D4 (exceptional) drought designation. The same drought that rages across the entire American West is threatening the livelihoods of Arizona’s farmers and ranchers, no matter the commodity they grow. The impacts have been devastating to the state’s $23.3 billion agricultural industry, in ways that may change the face of farming and ranching in Arizona for generations to come. … ” Read more from the Farm Bureau here: Assessing western drought conditions – a snapshot of how Arizona’s farmers and ranchers are coping with drought
Recreation at risk as Lake Powell dips to historic low
“A thick, white band of newly exposed rock face stretches high above boaters’ heads at Lake Powell, creating a sharp contrast against the famous red desert terrain as their vessels weave through tight canyons that were once underwater. It’s a stark reminder of how far the water level has fallen at the massive reservoir on the Utah-Arizona border. Just last year, it was more than 50 feet (15 meters) higher. Now, the level at the popular destination for houseboat vacations is at a historic low amid a climate change-fueled megadrought engulfing the U.S. West. ... ” Read more from the AP here: Recreation at risk as Lake Powell dips to historic low
Could Colorado cities save enough water to stop building dams?
“When Joe Storinsky straightens up from kneeling in the dirt in Aurora Highlands and taps a spot on his iPad, the very first owners of 3940 Eaton Park St. will join the fight against Colorado’s megadrought before they’ve ever moved in. The digital smart meter he’s just installed underground is now live. … Conservation groups applaud water savings efforts like Aurora’s. What they want is far, far more of the same. They point to reports required by the state water conservation board showing many large agencies on the Front Range cutting back spending and personnel dedicated to water conservation since 2013, at the same time those water departments press to build massive dam complexes for new water they say they desperately need. Large water agencies like Denver Water and Aurora Water say they do have ongoing conservation efforts they take seriously, but that fast population growth on the Front Range overwhelms potential savings and they need new water storage. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Could Colorado cities save enough water to stop building dams?
In national water news today …
Disasters everywhere. Did scientists see them coming?
“When a record-breaking heat wave popped up in weather models at the end of June, scientists could scarcely believe it. The forecasts were apocalyptic: temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenhit across the typically temperate Pacific Northwest. In some places, they skyrocketed as much as 45 F above average. “An unfathomable temperature anomaly,” meteorologist Tyler Hamilton called it on Twitter. Climate scientist Daniel Swain noted that the temperatures were so extreme “I think folks are having difficulty putting them into context.” … “Many folks, including myself, were actually skeptical when the models said it was going to be as bad as it was going to be,” said Swain, a scientist at UCLA in an interview with E&E News. “And then it happened, and it was shocking.” ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Disasters everywhere. Did scientists see them coming?
Water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20210805Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ DSP Seminar~ NHA Planning~ Waterway Cleanup~~
