On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Managed Aquifer Recharge: Where will we get the water? from 12pm to 1:30pm. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is an important tool in sustainably managing groundwater supplies. As many in California grapple with how to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), there are questions on how MAR can help and where the water will come from. In this GRACast, we will hear from three speakers on where they are getting water for MAR, including flood water (Flood-MAR), surface water in the lower Central Valley, and highly treated recycled water. Click here to register.
In California drought news today …
Could California handle another year of drought? State officials weigh in on current situation
“In a multi-agency meeting on the state of California’s drought conditions, state officials painted a broader picture on water allocation, lack of available water and what the Golden State is facing in the months and years to come. Officials expect record low water levels across the state, especially for Oroville and San Luis Reservoir. Jeanine Jones with the California Department of Water Resources said the state is at 58% of average reservoir storage as a whole for this time of year. As of Monday, Aug. 9, Lake Oroville came in at 34% of average and Folsom Lake came in at 35% of average. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Could California handle another year of drought? State officials weigh in on current situation
Delta water cutbacks weigh on farmers
“Organic farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood walks through rows of his aromatic stone fruit orchard, showing off sweet nectarines that thrive in the microclimate and rich soils in his corner of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Weighing on his mind is the drought and the possibility that the water he needs to keep his trees alive will soon be curtailed by the state. “A curtailment would be disastrous for me and for all farmers in California, but particularly for small, family farmers like myself. We tend to be operating on a shoelace and don’t have a lot of capital,” Courchesne said. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Delta water cutbacks weigh on farmers
Concerns linger in Merced County over state decision to cut river water to local farmers
“The impacts of a recent decision by the California State Water Resources Control Board could ripple into serious consequences felt by Merced County water users next year, Merced Irrigation District (MID) officials say. The state board on Aug. 3 unanimously voted to issue “emergency curtailment” orders for the rivers of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed — severing Central Valley farmers from their main irrigation supply as the drought worsens. Thousands of Valley farmers would be among the first to feel the impacts of being cut off from California’s main rivers and streams, including the more than 2,000 local growers within Merced Irrigation District. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Concerns linger in Merced County over state decision to cut river water to local farmers
Turlock Irrigation District’s farmers will still get water despite curtailment
“Hughson, Calif. farmer Donny Hicks was relieved to hear that he will receive the balance of his district water allotment to irrigate his post-harvest almond orchard. Hicks saved nearly two-thirds of his district allocation for his post-season irrigation and aquifer recharge efforts. Hicks was not alone. Farmers up and down California with surface water allocations, including those in Turlock Irrigation District (TID), became rightly concerned when the California State Water Board ordered water rights dating back to 1880 curtailed in the wake of abnormally low rain and water conditions. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Turlock Irrigation District’s farmers will still get water despite curtailment
State board’s curtailment order could have long-reaching effects
“The real test of the state’s recently passed ban on the use of water from most of the state’s rivers won’t be later this summer when the ban will likely to go into effect, it will be the upcoming water year. And possibly longer term. This irrigation season is nearly over. But growers and water managers are looking to how this order could play out if the new water year, which starts Oct. 1, is dry again. In fact, some observers believe the emergency curtailment order approved unanimously by the State Water Resources Control Board at its Aug. 3 meeting is just the start of possibly much greater state control over water use in California. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: State board’s curtailment order could have long-reaching effects
Assemblymember Gray blasts state Water Board
“State Assemblyman Adam C. Gray (D-Merced) expressed his outrage in a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board on Thursday over the board’s recent decision to label water used to grow food as a “wasteful and unreasonable use,” and its developing plans to halt flows to farmers throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed. “The Board’s history of failing to balance the necessary sacrifices required during times of severe drought against the real-life impacts of those sacrifices is well documented,” wrote Gray in the letter to Board Chairman Joaquin Esquivel. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Assemblymember Gray blasts State Water Board
‘We’re in uncharted territory’: Lake Oroville levels reach historic low, impacting recreation
“In a year already plagued by pandemic and wildfires, Californians are also entangled with the crippling effect of drought. “Every year, there seems to be a disaster and issues,” lamented California State Parks Public Safety Chief Aaron Wright, who responded to help Oroville through the Camp Fire and many other crises. In 2017, hundreds of thousands of lives were threatened when massive flooding damaged the Oroville Dam. Today, changing weather conditions have created a stark contrast from years ago: Hot temperatures and low rainfall have left miles of dusty, cracked shorelines exposed. “It’s just sad, it’s hard for the communities,” Wright said. “The park visitors keep getting impacted.” … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: ‘We’re in uncharted territory’: Lake Oroville levels reach historic low, impacting recreation
Consumers could see prices rise as Western droughts worsen
“As Curtis Thomas stepped out of his truck and planted his boots on the dried yellow grass in California, he was reminded of how hard his job of raising cattle is. Thomas, who has been in the business for more than a decade, said he’s always forced to adapt to the constantly changing weather situations. “If you don’t have water, you don’t have anything,” Thomas said as he opened a gate to let the cows roam free on his land. “I think this is the worst so far, it’s gotten progressively worse.” … ” Read more from Fox News here: Consumers could see prices rise as Western droughts worsen
Other California water news …
Reversal of Trump-era action spells higher power, water costs
“What seemed a victory for water users and power customers in California has been overturned. President Joe Biden rescinded an environmental opinion issued in the last days of the Trump Administration — an action that could have a slew of negative consequences for environmental groups and ag companies as a three-decade-old law threatens the financial viability of public utilities in Northern California. Passed in 1992, The Central Valley Project Improvement Act brought together ag and power companies, outlining a series of programs needed to be implemented in order to protect ecosystems impacted by their water usage. … ” Read more from The Business Journal here: Reversal of Trump-era action spells higher power, water costs
Column: Glimmer of hope for Stanislaus-area water storage in federal infrastructure deal
Modesto Bee columnist Garth Stapley writes, “Whenever politicians are asked about the California water wars that threaten our well-being in Modesto and Stanislaus County, eventually the talk gets around to something like, “Well, you know what we really need is more water storage.” As in dams, mostly, and also off-stream reservoirs holding water captured in wet years for use in dry ones. They say something similar when reporters ask about drought, and sometimes about wildfires and climate change. I’m tempted to roll my eyes, because everyone has always said the same thing for the three decades-plus I’ve been in journalism in this Central Valley. But nothing ever changes. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Column: Glimmer of hope for Stanislaus-area water storage in federal infrastructure deal
How wildfire restored a Yosemite watershed
“For nearly half a century, lightning-sparked blazes in Yosemite’s Illilouette Creek Basin have rippled across the landscape — closely monitored, but largely unchecked. Their flames might explode into plumes of heat that burn whole hillsides at once, or sit smoldering in the underbrush for months. The result is approximately 60 square miles of forest that look remarkably different from other parts of the Sierra Nevada: Instead of dense, wall-to-wall tree cover — the outcome of more than a century of fire suppression — the landscape is broken up by patches of grassland, shrubland and wet meadows filled with wildflowers more abundant than in other parts of the forest. These gaps in the canopy are often punctuated by the blackened husks of burned trunks or the fresh green of young pines. “It really is a glimpse into what the Sierra Nevada was like 200 years ago,” said Scott Stephens, a professor of environmental science, policy and management at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-director of Berkeley Forests. … ” Read more from UC Berkeley here: How wildfire restored a Yosemite watershed
California just recorded its hottest July ever. Charts show it’s part of a trend
“California just closed the books on its hottest July on record, a whopping 5.3 degrees above normal. It was the latest in a rash of record-setting months over the past year, as the state saw its hottest July, June, October, September and August in history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA data shows that the average monthly temperature in July was 80 degrees, 5.3 degrees above normal, or the average temperature from 1901 to 2000. June’s average temperature was 75 degrees, 6.8 degrees above normal. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California just recorded its hottest July ever. Charts show it’s part of a trend
In regional water news and commentary today …
Klamath Basin stakeholders collaborate to save fish and waterfowl
“Today, Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced an agreement to deliver 10,000 acre-feet of water to mitigate severe drought conditions at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Tulelake, Calif. The agreement comes after the hydraulic analysis by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to recommend the diversion of water to save the only standing unit of wetland habitat in either Lower Klamath or Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges this year. ... ” Read more from Ducks Unlimited here: Klamath Basin stakeholders collaborate to save fish and waterfowl
Humboldt County supervisors told drought now ‘harmful’ to humans, environment
“The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors received an update on local drought conditions from the drought task force Tuesday and authorized the group to expand its membership to local tribes, community services districts and state agencies “as needed.” The task force, which meets weekly, was created to explore and develop both short- and long-term actions to address local impacts from drought. Ryan Derby, the county’s emergency services manager, said local conditions have only worsened since the task force’s last update to the board on July 21. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt County supervisors told drought now ‘harmful’ to humans, environment
Fort Bragg moves into Stage 3 drought restrictions
“It was back to masks at the Fort Bragg City Council meeting this week, as the County’s masking order returned to indoor spaces. There was some talk before the meeting started about a possible return to hosting the meeting only via web conference, as it was in the height of last year’s pandemic; but no official plans have been made and the city will continue to meet in a hybrid format until further notice. On the city’s docket Monday evening were numerous issues, perhaps the most pressing of which was the decision to move the city into a Stage 3 drought emergency, which passed unanimously and on City Manager Tabatha Miller’s strong recommendation. … ” Read more from the Fort Bragg Advocate-News here: Fort Bragg moves into Stage 3 drought restrictions
City of Roseville drawing on water it stored in underground aquifers during years of plenty
“The City of Roseville is going underground to tap into drinking water as its primary source dries up during the drought. They have a plan to supply water to more than 50,000 homes. For years, Roseville relied almost exclusively on surface water from Folsom Lake for drinking water. But that can be tricky and near impossible, considering previous and current droughts — plus studies showing the impacts of climate change. So, one way the city has been able to reduce its dependency on surface water during these dry years is using what’s called Aquifer Storage and Recovery technology, or ASR. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: City of Roseville drawing on water it stored in underground aquifers during years of plenty
Northern California kelp forest shows signs of recovery after sea urchin removal
“On the fishing dock in Noyo Harbor, two days’ haul of purple sea urchin barely filled a large plastic crate. Hand-collected by commercial divers, the spiky invertebrates were destined for science, not sushi. On a table nearby, a crew from the conservation organization Reef Check cut through their shells to their gooey insides, collecting data for a state-funded project aiming to rescue California’s North Coast kelp forest by systematically removing the voracious purple urchin from the sea floor. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Northern California kelp forest shows signs of recovery after sea urchin removal
Sonoma County: Water usage down as residents respond to drought
“One month into county-wide emergency water conservation measures, Sonoma water users appear to be responding appropriately to the drought by reducing their water usage. For Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD) customers, those new limitations were formalized at the July 6 board meeting, though residents and the water district had been conscious of conservation concerns in the weeks prior after Sonoma Water initiated a Temporary Urgency Change Order on June 14. That order required that customers meet a 20% reduction over 2020 water use. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index here: Sonoma County: Water usage down as residents respond to drought
More Russian River diversions halted as supplies in upper basin grow increasingly scarce
“State regulators expanded their drought-era halt of Russian River diversions Tuesday, ordering more than 300 additional grape growers, ranchers and other landowners to cease taking water from the basin as authorities seek to conserve rapidly diminishing reservoir supplies and meager stream flows. The curtailments, which take effect Wednesday, cover a range of Sonoma County water right holders in southern portion of the watershed, known as the lower river, though many are located in the Dry Creek Valley and other tributary areas around the middle reaches. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: More Russian River diversions halted as supplies in upper basin grow increasingly scarce
Wine Country vineyard struggles to stay afloat after well runs dry
“As the drought deepens, industries that rely on water are facing a desperate situation and that includes the wine regions of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys where one producer has literally run dry. Chris Loxton, of Loxton Cellars, spends so much time in his Glen Ellen vineyard that he can spot the slightest changes in his grapevines and the news isn’t good. “At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, with the sun over my shoulder I can see the back of leaf – the leaf is turning away from the afternoon sun to minimize water loss,” he said. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area here: Wine Country vineyard struggles to stay afloat after well runs dry
Voters played role in Marin Municipal Water District shortage
Opinion columnist Dick Spotswood writes, “The welcome arch across Modesto’s main street proclaims, “Water, wealth, contentment, health.” In essence, water, the first word, directly leads to the following benefits. The same formula applies to Marin. Now it’s the scarcity of water that endangers our county’s ability to enjoy the benefits of wealth, contentment and health. The entire American West is enduring a drought of epic proportions. The globe’s climate will only get warmer in the next 50 years. Marin is late preparing for that eventuality. Doing so isn’t impossible but it comes with a hefty price tag and can’t happen overnight. Semi-arid San Diego County has already accomplished what Marin needs to do. They have a sufficient water supply that will last until 2045. Marin may run dry next year. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Voters played role in Marin Municipal Water District shortage
Santa Cruz on brink of Stage 2 water shortage
“Water overuse penalties is up for consideration by the Santa Cruz Water Department. Drought continues to wreak havoc on Santa Cruz’s water supply. According to the city in a press release, Loch Lomond, the city’s only drinking water reservoir, is now at slightly more than 60% capacity. Santa Cruz has been in a Stage 1 Water Shortage Warning since May 1. The Stage 1 Warning allocates each Santa Cruz household a water budget of approximately 42 gallons per person per day, compared to statewide average use of 80-100 gallons. Already one of the lowest water-using cities in the U.S., approximately one-third of single-family and one-fifth of multi-family customers exceeded their water budgets in the month of July, according to the city. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz on brink of Stage 2 water shortage
Manteca per capita water use more than in last drought
“The last full year of the previous drought in 2017 Manteca had a per capita water use of 183 gallons in July. Last month the July per capita water use of water was 207 gallons as San Joaquin County deals with extreme drought conditions two years into an extended dry spell. While that represents a 13 percent increase in per capita water use in July-to-July comparisons it is down from 2013 use levels prior to the start of the last drought. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca per capita water use more than in last drought
Bakersfield: Local group files papers in fight over Kern River
“A new player has entered the legal fray over the Kern River — the public. Actually, it’s a consortium of Bakersfield and other nonprofit, public interest groups that hope to sway the state Water Resources Control Board to, ultimately, re-water the mostly dry Kern River through town. The Flowing Kern Coalition made its debut Tuesday when it filed a notice of intent to appear at an upcoming proceeding on the Kern River. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Local group files papers in fight over Kern River
Santa Barbara County to use eminent domain to advance Randall Road debris basin
“The big dig on Randall Road may be a swan song for Tom Fayram, who has been a linchpin at County Public Works for going on 35 years; he has plans to retire in December. Fayram begged to defer all the credit for the new debris basin to the community, especially Curtis Skene, for working to gain consensus for the giant swale in the heart of Montecito, while Skene has insisted that Fayram’s decades of experience and his reputation is what opened doors to the successful Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Office of Emergency Services grant process. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara County to use eminent domain to advance Randall Road debris basin
Carpinteria: Construction begins on damaged floodwall at wastewater plant
“As early as Aug. 16, the Carpinteria Sanitary District will begin construction on permanent repairs to the concrete embankment and floodwall on the eastern perimeter of its wastewater treatment facility, located at 5351 6th St. This critical infrastructure was damaged by the massive debris flow event in Carpinteria Creek on Jan. 9, 2018, which followed the Thomas Fires. Interim work to stabilize the embankment was completed in late 2018 while the district pursued permits to perform the permanent repair. A number of approvals needed to be secured to move forward, including approvals from the California Coastal Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. … ” Read more from the Coastal View here: Carpinteria: Construction begins on damaged floodwall at wastewater plant
LA City Council asks for report on cause of Hyperion sewage backup within 90 days
“Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment will provide a more detailed report to the City Council within 90 days on what caused a debris backup at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant last month — ultimately causing the facility to flood and 17 million gallons of untreated sewage to spill into the ocean — and what steps officials can take to prevent future crises. The City Council unanimously directed sanitation officials to prepare that report during its Tuesday, Aug. 10, meeting, during which the elected officials also heard a presentation from the agency about what happened after an inordinate amount of debris caused the plant to flood. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: LA City Council asks for report on cause of Hyperion sewage backup within 90 days
Santa Monica: Continued problems after massive beach sewage spill now hitting water supply amid drought
“Problems at a Los Angeles sewage treatment plant that caused a massive sewage spill into Santa Monica Bay last month have severely reduced the region’s water recycling ability, forcing officials to divert millions of gallons of clean drinking water at a time of worsening drought conditions. Even as California Gov. Gavin Newsom urges a voluntary 15% reduction in water usage, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant‘s inability to fully treat sewage has forced local officials to divert clean drinking water to uses normally served by recycled Hyperion water. Among those uses is an effort to protect coastal aquifers from seawater contamination, as well as the irrigation of parks, cemeteries and golf courses across southwest Los Angeles County. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Santa Monica: Continued problems after massive beach sewage spill now hitting water supply amid drought
Along the Colorado River …
Feds project unsustainable pumping of Colorado River
“One curve appears to be flattening now, but the news is still not good out of Lake Mead as the giant reservoir continues to disappear. Bureau of Reclamation officials are expected to announce restrictions on water deliveries from the lake during a press conference next week. In mid-May the reservoir fell below its threshold for Tier 1 restrictions. This means reduced deliveries to Arizona and Nevada users next year while California can continue pumping as usual. … ” Continue reading at the Western Farm Press here: Feds project unsustainable pumping of Colorado River
In national water news today …
Historic infrastructure bill clears full Senate
“In a strong bipartisan vote Tuesday of 69-30, the Senate advanced the bipartisan infrastructure bill and sent it back to the House. The INVEST in America Act spends roughly $1 trillion including $110 billion for roads and bridges, $65 billion to expand broadband access, and $17 billion for ports and inland waterways. In the days leading up to the vote the American Farm Bureau Federation as well as members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group urged lawmakers to support the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which would increase infrastructure spending by $550 billion over five years. ... ” Continue reading from the Western Farm Press here: Historic infrastructure bill clears full Senate
SEE ALSO: Summary of Energy, Environment, and Tribal Provisions Included in Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck
Could the infrastructure bill make wildfires worse?
“The West is burning, and Congress is responding with a fire hose of money. The bipartisan infrastructure deal that advanced yesterday through the Senate would spend billions of dollars on wildfire policy, with much of it earmarked for cutting trees and planting new ones. Some experts warn that approach could backfire. “The infrastructure package, as written, is wrongheaded on so many levels. It’s a climate change nightmare,” said Chad Hanson, a forest ecologist and co-founder of the John Muir Project. The legislation has inflamed a long-running debate about how fire should coexist with forests — and humans. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Could the infrastructure bill make wildfires worse?
Wildfires highlight what’s ‘gone wrong’ in pollution mitigation
“Choking wildfires have been inundating swaths of the U.S. with smoke pollution this month as blazes tear through the West Coast, a health crisis created by gaps in national air law and forest management challenges, experts say. Denver, Colo. experienced some of the worst soot-filled air pollution among all major cities in the world as fires continued to rage in California, according to IQAir pollution index readings last weekend. Blazes like the massive Bootleg Fire in Oregon are also sending plumes of traveling smoke to faraway states like Minnesota, which have had to warn residents about the elevated levels of particulate matter carried in the smoke. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Wildfires highlight what’s ‘gone wrong’ in pollution mitigation
Today’s featured article …
CA WATER COMMISSION: Dr. Newsha Ajami: Enhancing Regional Water Sustainability through Virtual Water Trading
Click here to read this article.
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 Permission: WA2021088 – DWR Delta Conveyance Borings
WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Changing Climate~ 30×30~ Expenditure Plan~ Smarter Permitting~ Data Series~ FIRO Workshop ~~
