On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The State Water Board will meet beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a Public Workshop on the Draft FY–2021–22 Fund Expenditure Plan for the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: The California Water Commission will meet beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include updates on the Kern Fan Groundwater Storage Project and the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion, a presentation on the Groundwater Accounting and Budget Platform, the State Water Project Flexible Resources Study, and a panel discussion on groundwater trading. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Advancing Ecosystem Restoration with Smarter Permitting from 10am to 11am. California’s ecosystems are vital to the state’s water supply, agriculture, wildlife, and economy. Yet many of these ecosystems are in dire health, and climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss threaten to to further disrupt them. Large-scale ecosystem restoration is urgently needed; embracing smarter permitting can help. Join the PPIC Water Policy Center and state and local experts for a panel discussion about how to accelerate the scale and pace of restoration work through smarter permitting. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Delta Conservancy Prop 1 Applicant Workshop from 10am to 12pm. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy is hosting two workshops (July 20 and August 18) for applicants to Cycle 5 of our Ecosystem Restoration and Water Quality (Proposition 1) Grant Program. We highly encourage applicants to attend this workshop and learn more about the program, application process, and timeline. Concept proposals for Cycle 5 of this grant program must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on August 31, 2021. For more information about the grant program and solicitation: http://deltaconservancy.ca.gov/proposition-1-resources/ Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: Tapping into Federal Funding: Leveraging WaterSMART Grants for Innovative Water Infrastructure Investments from 12pm to 1pm. This event will explore how local leaders can leverage the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grants for proven water conservation and efficiency infrastructure investments, build long-term resilience to drought, and prioritize environmental benefits that increase the reliability of water resources. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Revising the Definition of “Waters of the United States” from 12pm to 2pm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) are hosting virtual public meetings on the agencies’ effort to revise the definition of “waters of the United States.” Click here to register.
- CA WATER DATA CONSORTIUM: DATA FOR LUNCH from 12pm to 1:30pm. As California and much of the West descend further into drought, real-time high quality data is essential to understanding current and future conditions. Flume is a device that straps around residential water meters, that collects water use every 5 seconds and shares high definition water data with people and the communities they live in. During this presentation Flume will share how they collect and analyze residential water demand data, end-use disaggregation, and more. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Protect Your Public Works Project from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. Attorney Hal Block, who practices exclusively in construction law, will join us in August to provide his informed insight on legal issues related to public works construction projects. Drawing on his extensive legal experience, Mr Block will illustrate how to avoid legal troubles through real-life examples of project/claim litigations. Plan to attend August 18. It promises to be extremely informative, and may help you avoid costly future disputes. Click here to register.
In California drought news today …
Southern California water officials declare supply alert amid worsening drought
“Southern California’s powerful water agency on Tuesday issued a supply alert, calling on the region to conserve vital resources and prepare for continued drought — a move that brings the state’s largest population center closer to the tough water restrictions imposed on communities elsewhere. The move comes one day after U.S. officials declared the first-ever water shortage on the Colorado River, which is a key source of water for the region. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California supplies water to some 19 million people across six counties and is one of the largest water distributors in the nation. The decision by its board Tuesday marks the first time in seven years that the agency has issued an official supply alert — the third of four escalating phases in its water supply framework. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Southern California water officials declare supply alert amid worsening drought
‘Water supply alert’ issued for Southern California in response to drought
“While local reservoirs have enough imported water for Southern Californians to weather the drought into next year, the severity of water shortages throughout the West on Tuesday prompted the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to declare a “water supply alert.” The move triggers a call for a voluntary 15% reduction in water use. That reduction could help forestall further water savings moves, including restricting supplies to the 26 local water agencies served by Metropolitan and issuing fines for excessive use. “Although we can hope for a wetter year next year, we must be ready because it’s going to be dry probably again and its going to be hot again,” said Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil at a Tuesday press conference. “The reality is we don’t know how long this will last so we have to prepare. Every drop we save today is a drop we can use tomorrow.” … ” Read more from the OC Register here: ‘Water supply alert’ issued for Southern California in response to drought
SEE ALSO:
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- Metropolitan declares water supply alert in response to severe drought, press release from the Metropolitan Water District
- LADWP urges customers to redouble water-saving efforts, as MWD elevates its water supply condition to alert status, press release from the LADWP
Newsom says mandatory statewide water restrictions for California may be on the way
“Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that he may put mandatory water restrictions in place in as soon as six weeks from now as the state’s historic drought continues to worsen. The declaration came as the governor and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan inspected recovery efforts at Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains one year after a massive wildfire burned through the park’s ancient redwoods. Asked if he was going to require cities to meet mandatory water conservation targets, as former Gov. Jerry Brown did statewide during the last drought from 2012 to 2016, Newsom noted that he already called for 15% voluntary conservation, but that could change soon. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Newsom says mandatory statewide water restrictions for California may be on the way
SEE ALSO: Newsom: Statewide water restrictions possible, from Cal Matters
As their wells dry up, California’s small farms seek emergency relief
“At the base of the Smith Mountain in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Rebecca and Tory Torosian own a small farm known for its citrus and stone fruit. In the summer, they usually irrigate primarily with runoff from the Kings River, by way of a canal. But this year, as California contends with a historic drought, the irrigation district did not run any water, cutting them off. In turn, the Torosians decided to stop irrigating their citrus trees—five acres of oranges, mandarins, and grapefruit they’ve cultivated for years. And without irrigation, the trees won’t make it through the long, hot dry season. “By the end of the summer, they’ll be bone-dry. They’ll be a fire hazard,” said Tory Torosian, of the orchard. “It makes me sick that we’re having to abandon [the trees].” … As the drought deepens, a number of small-scale farmers in California have found themselves in a similar position: scraping the barrel. … ” Read more from Civil Eats here: As their wells dry up, California’s small farms seek emergency relief
California has been unable to address water problems in a number of towns. Here’s why
“A lot has happened over the past five years, but not much has changed in the tiny farmworker town of Okieville. Wells went dry en masse in Tulare County, including in Okieville, during the last drought in 2012-2016. Since then, the state has funded a new well for the town. But the water troubles never ended. The well pump malfunctions frequently and can take days to fix, said Mayra Marquez, an Okieville resident. “It’s very hectic,” Marquez said. “We’re out of water often.” With the region again in the grip of drought, she’s worried. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: California has been unable to address water problems in a number of towns. Here’s why
Heat, drought cutting into tomato harvest
“Mother Nature may have cranked up the thermostat, but Sutter County farmer Dave Richter said he still expects his processing tomatoes to reach the cannery in good shape. When the temperature reaches 103 or 104 degrees—as it has on multiple occasions this year—the plant will shut down until it can recover, he explained. “That just delays everything,” he said. “That’s why I think we’re running late.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Heat, drought cutting into tomato harvest
How California’s drought could lead to a sushi shortage in the US
“Sushi lovers should anticipate a higher tab on their next trip to the sushi counter or omakase spot, as severe weather conditions brought on by climate change have wreaked havoc on the industry’s supply chain. According to Bloomberg, the most recent wave of critical water shortages in California has had a major impact on two key sushi-related industries, driving the price of the average roll up. … ” Read more from Mashable here: How California’s drought could lead to a sushi shortage in the US
State Water Board issues emergency regulations for curtailments in Delta watershed
“The State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board”) issued emergency regulations on August 3, 2021, authorizing Board staff to curtail diversions and require informational reporting from water users in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed (“Delta Emergency Regulations”). The regulations, which are expected to be finalized by the Office of Administrative Law in the coming days, set parameters for information gathering and determination of supply and demand in the watershed as well as the issuance of curtailment orders upon determination of water unavailability. The regulations also contain significant monetary and injunctive penalties for non-compliance. … ” Read more from Downey Brand here: State Water Board issues emergency regulations for curtailments in Delta watershed
In other California water news today …
California enacted a groundwater law 7 years ago. But wells are still drying up — and it’s spreading
“During the height of the state’s last drought, thousands of Californians in the Central Valley ran out of water as their wells went dry. So much water was pumped from underground, mostly by growers, that the earth collapsed, sinking up to two feet per year in parts of the San Joaquin Valley. Alarmed, the California Legislature in 2014 enacted a package of new laws that aimed to stop the over-pumping. But seven years later, little has changed for Californians relying on drinking water wells: Depletion of their groundwater continues. Pumping is largely unrestricted, and there are few, if any, protections in place. Now, after two dry years, reports of dry wells are worsening and spreading in many new areas, leaving more families like O’Brien’s with no drinking water. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: California enacted a groundwater law 7 years ago. But wells are still drying up — and it’s spreading
The California water question: The fraught politics of California water
“As historic drought grips California, the Biden administration is struggling to navigate the difficult politics of who gets access to the state’s dwindling water supplies. President Trump used the state’s long-running water wars as a political cudgel and tasked his Interior Department with loosening endangered species protections long fought by the state’s powerful agricultural industry. But the Biden administration has so far pushed off any action on the contentious issue, saying it is focused on immediate drought relief and won’t begin to address the protections for Delta smelt and certain salmon species until the end of next month. … ” Read more from Politico here: The California water question: The fraught politics of California water
California water and wastewater arrearage payment program details: Arrearage funding program survey is now open
“The California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Program), passed as part of Assembly Bill 148, is being developed and implemented by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board). This Program will provide funding for “community water systems” that have experienced revenue shortfalls and arrearages on water and wastewater bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program will prioritize issuing funding to community water systems first, and will extend funding to wastewater providers if the Program still has funding available after providing relief to community water systems. … ” Continue reading at Best Best & Krieger here: California water and wastewater arrearage payment program details: Arrearage funding program survey is now open
Water projects in West benefit from infrastructure bill
“With vast swaths of the West experiencing exceptional or extreme drought conditions and more than 90 active wildfires, a national coalition led by the California Farm Bureau has helped secure Senate approval for major federal investments in critical water projects. California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson applauded the Senate’s passage of legislation to fund $550 million in infrastructure spending over the next five years. As drought conditions continue to worsen throughout the West, he said, “now is the time to invest and make timely improvements in our nation’s water management portfolio.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Water projects in West benefit from infrastructure bill
California builds a ‘Noah’s Ark’ to protect wildlife from extinction by fire and heat
“It was just before sunrise in July when the botanists Naomi Fraga and Maria Jesus threw on backpacks and crunched their way across a brittle alkaline flat in the hottest corner of the Mojave Desert. Their mission: to rescue a tiny plant teetering on the brink of extinction. A decade ago, the Amargosa River Basin east of Death Valley National Park was a vast muddy wetlands studded with millions of Amargosa niterwort, a fleshy herb that grows only here and that scientists call Nitrophila mohavensis. Today, the species has dwindled to fewer than 150,000, and most of the plants that still sprout from this salt-white playa have stopped producing viable seeds — stressed victims of decreasing rainfall, rising temperatures and the loss of groundwater due to pumping. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California builds a ‘Noah’s Ark’ to protect wildlife from extinction by fire and heat
‘Learn to live with fire’: a Californian firefighter’s plea
“Will Harling has lived with fire his entire life – his first memory is a forest fire encroaching on his family’s cabin in the remote community of Forks on Salmon, in California, where a population of 150 is spread over hundreds of miles of wilderness. “Every year we wait for that fire that’s going to burn everything down,” he said, pointing out that his patch of Northern California – home to the world’s tallest living trees – has the highest rate of fires caused by people in the state. That fire could soon arrive. Raging less than 120 miles (193.12 km) away from his home, California’s second-largest wildfire on record, known as the Dixie fire, is displacing thousands of northern California residents. This year’s highly incendiary wildfire season, which experts say is symptomatic of climate change, has made the work of experienced firefighters like Harling existential. … ” Read more from Thomas Reuter Foundation News here: ‘Learn to live with fire’: a Californian firefighter’s plea
In wake of historic wildfires, redundant water supplies increasingly important for municipalities, other water users, across the west
“Like many cities across the West, Glenwood Springs, Colorado (Glenwood) has been forced to restrict residential water use this summer. But rather than drought, or lack of supply, the restrictions in Glenwood stem from challenges with water treatment caused by wildfire. Last year, the Grizzly Creek Fire burned more than 30,000 acres of forest lands around Glenwood Springs and the two creeks that provide its principal source of municipal supply. Now, rainfall events within the burn area are causing mudslides and flushing large amounts of sediment into Glenwood’s water treatment works. Given the amount of sediment, Glenwood can treat only so much water for residential use. Unfortunately, Glenwood’s water quality problem is becoming more and more common across the West. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: In wake of historic wildfires, redundant water supplies increasingly important for municipalities, other water users, across the west
In commentary today …
State agency identifies racial inequalities to help Valley towns lacking clean water
Lourin Hubbard, operations manager for the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board, write, “It’s very important to lead with your values. That’s exactly what is happening at the California Water Quality Control Board regarding racial equity and environmental justice. I am an operations manager and racial equity work group contributor at the board, but the following is my opinion on the racial equity and environmental justice efforts being made by the agency. Water is life, and here in the Central Valley, water access is as big an issue here as almost anywhere else on Earth. In California we have a “human right to water” approach that was built into our system when the Legislature passed the Human Right to Water Act. … ” Continue reading at the Fresno Bee here: State agency identifies racial inequalities to help Valley towns lacking clean water
California in dire need of drought reform
Redgie Collins and Analise Rivero with Cal Trout write, “The California legislature returned from summer recess on Monday with a lot of work left to do on water policy and emergency drought funding. This comes at a time when we have drier conditions than even at the height of our last drought and a wildfire season that is poised to be among the worst on record. Scientists say that climate change, in the form of warming temperatures and shifts in precipitation, is making the situation worse. According to a substantial report released last week by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the impacts of climate change are already severe and widespread. Researchers are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: California in dire need of drought reform
It’s too bad Josh Harder isn’t in Sacramento instead of Congress
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Not only does the Turlock-native Congressman refrain from partisan politics for the most part, although those who don’t understand why a Democrat would vote for Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker as opposed to Kevin McCarthy will argue that point, but Harder knows a drought when he sees one. The second term 10th District congressman in late July noted that California is in dire straits. Harder pointed out the reservoirs we rely on are at a lower point now than they were at the depth of the last drought that ended in 2019. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal here: It’s too bad Josh Harder isn’t in Sacramento instead of Congress
It’s time to fulfill the promise: Build Sites Reservoir
Jeffrey Sutton, general manager of the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority, writes, “California is in a dire situation. Most of our state’s major reservoirs are precariously close to being effectively empty. We are less than two months away from the new water year when we start to replenish water supplies. Drought is to be expected in California. But are we as prepared as we could be? Were we ready for this year? We would be unquestionably better off if we had more storage capacity to save more water in advance of droughts. The proposed Sites Reservoir project would fill that role. Sites Reservoir is a proposed multi-benefit, off-stream water storage facility, located north of Sacramento in rural Colusa and Glenn counties. Sites will serve to capture and store stormwater and flood flows in the Sacramento River, after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met, for release primarily in drier years. This is not a big on-stream dam project of past generations. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: It’s time to fulfill the promise: Build Sites Reservoir
In regional water news and commentary today …
California Water Board adopts minimum flow requirements for Scott, Shasta rivers
“Relief may be soon be arriving to salmon imperiled by exceptionally low flows in the Scott and Shasta rivers this summer. The California State Water Resources Control Board adopted regulations Tuesday to limit irrigation diversions and groundwater pumping in both watersheds, which produce a significant proportion of the Klamath Basin’s salmon populations. The Scott River contains an evolutionary significant unit of Southern Oregon Northern California Coast Coho Salmon, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The sub-basins also produce as much as 20% of the Klamath’s fall Chinook runs. Both species are culturally important food sources to the Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa Valley and Quartz Valley tribes and provide an economic resource for ocean fishermen on the Northern California coast. … ” Read more from Herald & News here: California Water Board adopts minimum flow requirements for Scott, Shasta rivers
SEE ALSO: State Water Board approves emergency curtailment regulation for Scott and Shasta Rivers, press release from the State Water Board
Humboldt County: A nailed-up squirrel, illegal pesticides, trigger-happy subjects and water theft galore — the Marijuana Enforcement Team had a pretty astounding week, according to sheriff’s office report
“During the week of August 9-12, 2021, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) conducted multiple investigations into illegal cannabis cultivation in watersheds determined to be critical spawning streams for spring chinook salmon, fall chinook salmon, coho salmon, trout and steelhead. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board, Humboldt County Code Enforcement, Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services Environmental Health – Hazmat Unit and the California National Guard assisted in the service of the warrants. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Humboldt County: A nailed-up squirrel, illegal pesticides, trigger-happy subjects and water theft galore — the Marijuana Enforcement Team had a pretty astounding week, according to sheriff’s office report
Who owns the water from Lake Tahoe & Truckee River? Part I
Mark McLaughlin writes, “Millions of people visit the Tahoe Sierra each year to enjoy and recreate on Lake Tahoe, Donner and Independence lakes, as well as the satellite reservoir system of Boca, Prosser and Stampede. All these storage basins are in California, but since the Truckee River system is part of Great Basin hydrology, none of the streamflow reaches the Pacific Ocean. … I frequently get queries, especially during a drought, regarding our regional water management. It seems that few people realize that these reservoirs, including Lake Tahoe, are regulated primarily for Nevada interests. Many are also unaware that a significant portion of this desert-bound water is dedicated to Fallon, Nev., one of the driest parts of the driest state. … ” Continue reading at Tahoe Weekly here: Who owns the water from Lake Tahoe & Truckee River? Part I
SEE ALSO: Who owns the water from Lake Tahoe & Truckee River? Part II, from Tahoe Weekly
Lake Tahoe: State of the Lake, Climate changing impacts lake health
“The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) released its annual “Tahoe: State of the Lake Report” on Aug. 12, highlighting a number of factors impacting the health of Lake Tahoe including weather and climate change, lake clarity, wildfire and changes in nearshore conditions, among others. The report summarizes data collected during 2020 in the context of the long-term record of research at Lake Tahoe. UC Davis researchers have been continuously monitoring the lake since 1968. … ” Continue reading at Tahoe Weekly here: Lake Tahoe: State of the Lake, Climate changing impacts lake health
Thousands of endangered coho salmon moved from Lake Sonoma hatchery amid rising water temperatures
“As Lake Sonoma plummeted to record low levels this summer, the water has warmed enough to threaten the coho salmon raised in the state hatchery at the base of its 319-foot dam northwest of Healdsburg. With signs of disease appearing in the juvenile coho, an endangered species in the Russian River, federal biologists took an unprecedented step in the local watershed: trucking about 2,000 fish nearly 50 miles south to a student-operated hatchery at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma. “They’re welcome here,” Dan Hubacker, a science teacher and director of the school’s 38-year-old United Anglers program, said after the final load of 92 fish arrived Tuesday afternoon. “We’re here to help.” … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Thousands of endangered coho salmon moved from Lake Sonoma hatchery amid rising water temperatures
How can one Sonoma County winery save over 46 million gallons of water a year?
“Emeritus Vineyards, including the Hallberg Ranch estate in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, takes the long view when planting and nurturing their vines, opting for a dry-farming approach. It’s all about encouraging the vines to adapt to our dry, California climate, without irrigating. Dry farming has a very long history. In the Mediterranean region, crops such as olives and grapes have been dry farmed for thousands of years. Even today, vast swaths of Spain, Greece, France, and Italy dry farm these crops, and in some regions of Europe it is illegal to irrigate wine grapes during the growing season, with the belief that the water will dilute the quality of the grapes. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette here: How can one Sonoma County winery save over 46 million gallons of water a year?
Marin’s water supply approaches critical low
“In Marin County, the water district is considering imposing mandatory cutbacks as water supplies approach critically low levels. Marin’s reservoirs are already just 40 percent full as the state’s historic drought worsens. If they reach 38 percent, severe restrictions will kick in — but not until December 1, according to the county’s longstanding emergency plan. Currently, residents may water their lawns once a week. The tighter restrictions would ban lawn-watering altogether. … ” Read more from KALW here: Marin’s water supply approaches critical low
Marin County plans pipeline across San Francisco Bay
“The Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) is moving forward with a plan to pipe water across the San Francisco Bay to make up for harsh drought conditions in its region. The proposed five to six-mile-long pipeline would run across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, carrying between 10 million to 15 million gallons of water a day, which the district says would help refill its reservoirs that supply about 75% of the district’s water. The district is planning to purchase water from Central Valley for $10 million to $18 million and have it wheeled in through the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which neighbors MMWD to the east. … ” Read more from Engineering News-Record here: Marin County plans pipeline across San Francisco Bay
EPA Administrator announces nearly $200 million in loans to fix Bay Area’s aging water pipes, treatment plants
“Three massive loans from the federal government totaling nearly $200 million were announced Tuesday to help fix up aging clay pipes in the East Bay and to fund a new water treatment facility in Redwood City, a sum which Environmental Protection Agency Administrators Michael Regan said could increase if Congress passes the hotly debated trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. At an event hosted by Silicon Valley Clean Water Tuesday at the agency’s new wastewater treatment plant currently under construction in Redwood Shores, Regan announced two Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans totaling $143 million to SVCW and $25 million to the Oro Loma Sanitary District supporting projects expected to create more than 2,500 jobs. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: EPA Administrator announces nearly $200 million in loans to fix Bay Area’s aging water pipes, treatment plants
SEE ALSO: EPA Administrator Regan announces $168 million in water investments in Bay Area, highlights benefits of bipartisan infrastructure deal, press release from the EPA
SFChronicle launches Drought Tracker as latest in suite of reader tools
“The San Francisco Chronicle is launching the Bay Area Drought Tracker, an online tool to help readers stay updated on water shortages and restrictions in communities affected by the dry conditions plaguing the West. It’s the latest in a suite of tools developed in The Chronicle newsroom to make communities safer and readers’ lives easier. “The Drought Tracker will be the best resource for Bay Area residents looking to understand how the drought has impacted their water resources,” said Chronicle Data Editor Dan Kopf, who helped lead the project. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: SFChronicle launches Drought Tracker as latest in suite of reader tools
Monterey Peninsula water officials balk at agreement with Cal Am
“An agreement that would turn on the taps for recycled water for Monterey Peninsula residents hit a speed bump Monday when water officials balked at a clause that would require the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District to support any California American Water Co. project, including desalination, should the recycled water fail to meet a promised amount. For Cal Am to purchase water from Monterey One Water’s Pure Water Monterey Expansion project, a water purchase agreement, or WPA, would need to be signed by Cal Am, Monterey One Water and the water district. The purchase agreement would provide for enough water, officials say, to allow Cal Am to meet a legal obligation to stop the over-pumping of the Carmel River aquifer by the end of this year. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey Peninsula water officials balk at agreement with Cal Am
San Joaquin Valley community provides water resources to well owners during drought
“A group of organizations in the San Joaquin Valley are providing drinking water resources to those impacted by the drought. The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Water Workgroup have created a plan and a list of resources for private well owners and small communities who have lost or are worried about losing access to drinking water due to shrinking groundwater levels. Residents of the San Joaquin Valley who have been affected by the impacts of the drought have immediate resources available to help maintain their access to drinking water. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: San Joaquin Valley community provides water resources to well owners during drought
Public is in the ring in fight over Kern River
“It was clear during the first hearing on the Kern River Tuesday that the public has a seat at the table as never before. Tuesday’s hearing was mostly procedural — setting out which issues would be sorted first and how. Permeating the discussion at nearly every turn, however, was the public trust doctrine, which gives the public a right to natural resources, such as a river with actual water in it. The state holds that right in trust for the public and must consider it along with all the other rights claimed on the river, something attorney Adam Keats repeatedly reminded the State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearing Officer of at Tuesday’s hearing. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: Public is in the ring in fight over Kern River
Proposed groundwater bank sparks legal challenge
“A battle of groundwater banks is underway in Kern County with accusations that one is poised to mine the local aquifer and sell water outside the area. The two main combatants are the massive Kern Water Bank, which covers 32-square miles straddling Interstate 5 west of Bakersfield, and the Buena Vista Water Storage District, which covers 50,000 acres between I5 and the California Aqueduct stretching from Tupman north to Lerdo Highway. The two entities are locked in a larger legal fight over Kern River water, which also features in this latest scuffle. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Proposed groundwater bank sparks legal challenge
Here are the rules Pasadena has set to limit lawn watering, conserve water
“California’s drought is drastic enough to spark new water conservation measures in Pasadena, where residents are being asked to limit how often they water their lawn during the week. To encourage water conservation in light of the state’s ongoing drought, Pasadena is implementing a new watering schedule effective immediately. Under the water shortage plan, residents are restricted to outdoor watering to two days per week from April to October and one day per week from November to March. Even-numbered street addresses are limited to watering only on Mondays and Thursdays, while odd-numbered street addresses are limited to watering only on Tuesdays and Fridays. … ” Read more from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune here: Here are the rules Pasadena has set to limit lawn watering, conserve water
Hyperion offers ‘sincere regret’ to El Segundo residents for odor after sewage spill
“Representatives of Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, the largest such facility in the country, offered some explanations and plenty of apologies for the aftermath of last month’s 17-million-gallon sewage spill during the Tuesday, Aug. 17 El Segundo City Council meeting. Four officials from LA Sanitation & Environment, including Barbara Romero, its new director and general manager, offered some hope to residents plagued by stench from the plant’s cleanup efforts. The plant, they said, has “turned the corner” and, after three weeks of not being able to process solids, damaged pumps have started working again. … ” Read more from the Daily News here: Hyperion offers ‘sincere regret’ to El Segundo residents for odor after sewage spill
Santa Fe Irrigation District’s strategic plan centers on reliable water supply
“The Santa Fe Irrigation District board will consider the adoption of its new 10-year strategic plan on Aug. 19, laying the framework for the future and setting somewhat of a new intention for the water district that will turn 100 years old in 2023. According to SFID Manager Al Lau, the plan for the future places a high level of focus on water resiliency, conservation and better engagement with its customers. “Our mission is to meet the water supply needs of all customers— safely, sustainably, reliably and cost-effectively,” Lau said. ... ” Read more from the Rancho Santa Fe Review here: Santa Fe Irrigation District’s strategic plan centers on reliable water supply
Imperial Irrigation District keeps monitoring conditions following water shortage
“U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials declared the first-ever water shortage on the Colorado River on Monday, Aug. 17, and the Imperial Irrigation District weighed in on Tuesday, Aug. 17. That declaration has triggered cuts in water supplies to some Arizona farmers and areas of Nevada for 2022. … California is spared from immediate cuts because it has more senior water rights than Arizona and Nevada. Mexico will see a reduction of roughly 5 percent, or 80,000 acre-feet. The Imperial Irrigation District has addressed the cuts, though the district won’t yet be affected by the recently announced shortage reduction. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Imperial Irrigation District keeps monitoring conditions following water shortage
Along the Colorado River …
Desalination has guided water exchanges for Israel and Jordan. Could it play a role in the Colorado River Basin’s future?
“Shattering the stillness of a frigid January moonlit sky, the sunrise’s amber aura glimmers over the Tinajas Altas mountain range — giving way to a sandscape of semi-succulent shrubs. The sun’s increasingly insistent rays animate an otherwise desolate desert corridor that links the city of Yuma, Arizona, to the San Luis Port of Entry along the U.S.–Mexico border. White school buses shuttle Mexican agricultural workers to Arizonan farm acreage, home to America’s heartland of winter leafy greens. Just a few miles west is the Colorado River, the region’s historic lifeblood — a lifeblood that is so under threat that the Bureau of Reclamation declared its first-ever federal shortage for the basin on Monday. ... ” Read more from Ensia here: Desalination has guided water exchanges for Israel and Jordan. Could it play a role in the Colorado River Basin’s future?
Shrinking reservoirs trigger deeper water cuts for Lower Colorado River
“The implications of the drying American Southwest and the limits to the region’s water supply are steadily becoming more apparent. The federal government acknowledged the changing conditions on Monday, declaring a Tier 1 shortage for the lower Colorado River basin. The shortage declaration will force Arizona and Nevada, as well as Mexico to further reduce their withdrawals from the river in 2022. California, the other lower basin state, is not affected. The declaration also sets the stage for more drastic measures in the near future since Lake Mead is projected to fall another 30 feet over the next two years. “We are seeing the effects of climate change in the Colorado River basin through extended drought, extreme temperatures, expansive wildfires, and in some places flooding and landslides. And now is the time to take action to respond to them,” said Tanya Trujillo, Department of the Interior assistant secretary for water and science. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: Shrinking reservoirs trigger deeper water cuts for Lower Colorado River
‘A fantasy of water’: Old footage shows Lake Mead at its height
“Bathtub rings lay exposed like ribs of the emaciated Lake Mead, a small snapshot of how climate change and a persisting drought have taken their toll on the Colorado River. With water levels continuing to drop at the Hoover Dam, the federal government declared the first water shortage at Lake Mead on Monday, Aug. 16. Stephen Wilcox, remembers a time when water levels weren’t only plentiful, but overflowing. … ” Read more from Yahoo News here: ‘A fantasy of water’: Old footage shows Lake Mead at its height
First-ever Colorado River water shortage declared. Conservationists: ‘Lake Powell Pipeline makes no sense’
“Following the first-ever water shortage declaration for the Colorado River on Monday, conservation groups are warning that the approaching cuts in water use won’t be enough, and they continue to call for an immediate moratorium on the Lake Powell Pipeline and other large-scale water projects and advocate for plans that do more to address climate change. “St. George is not going to get their pipeline,” Robin Silver, a co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity, said during an online press conference held by a collective of conservation groups responding to Monday’s announced water shortage. … ” Read more from the St. George Spectrum here: First-ever Colorado River water shortage declared. Conservationists: ‘Lake Powell Pipeline makes no sense’
Tucson Water seeking permit to discharge water with PFAS compounds into Santa Cruz River
“Tucson Water plans to start discharging water containing low levels of PFAS compounds from its south-side water treatment plant into the Santa Cruz River in early October — if it gets a state permit for the discharge by then. The utility is building a pipeline to take the water from that treatment plant near Interstate 10 and Irvington Road to the river near Irvington. It also has submitted a permit application for the discharge to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. It will post a public notice advertising the permit application before deciding on it, ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star here: Tucson Water seeking permit to discharge water with PFAS compounds into Santa Cruz River
Despite recording-breaking rain, southern Arizona still in drought
“The past several weeks have felt downright tropical in Tucson. Monsoon 2021 is already our third wettest on record, with weeks still to go for more rainfall. With all the moisture falling over southern Arizona these past few months, we’ve surely rocketed out of drought conditions, right? Not quite. While conditions have significantly improved since June, the U.S. Drought Monitor still considers most of southern Arizona to be in “moderate” or “severe” drought conditions as of Aug. 10. Virtually all of the state is still experiencing some level of drought. … ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Despite recording-breaking rain, southern Arizona still in drought
Federal agreement could bring water system to Navajo and Hopi
“Water settlements with the federal government in New Mexico and Utah are bringing more drinking water to the Navajo Reservation in those states, but a similar settlement in Arizona has not been reached yet. Rex Kontz, deputy general manager with Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), said an agreement with the federal government in Arizona could mean an estimated $1 billion water system that would bring water from Lake Powell to Cameron, Tuba City, western Navajo and Moenkopi on the Hopi Reservation. … ” Read more from the Navajo H0pi Observer here: Federal agreement could bring water system to Navajo and Hopi
In national water news today …
Microplastics: State of the science and future perspective
“Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most pressing and observable modern issues, possessing the potential to significantly impact human health, aquatic species health, and, undoubtedly, environmental health. This pollution is categorized by the size in which plastics occur due, in part, to varied fate and transport in soil, water, and even atmospheric compartments. Beyond the very visible nuisance of macro-and mesoplastics, researchers and regulators are now turning their attention to less visible microplastics, which, according to the California Water Resources Control Board (WRCB), includes nanoplastics. Despite being only 5 mm to 1 nm in size, these sometimes nonvisible polymeric particles are present everywhere. … ” Read more from Water Finance and Management here: Microplastics: State of the science and future perspective
The power of water data
Chris Wayne writes, “On my office wall is the map that made me a geographer. In one of my many “what am I going to do with my life” moments in 1994, I stared at that same map, posted on my U.S. Forest Service bunkhouse wall. It is a 1993 National Geographic map with the simple title, “WATER.” I saw maps; I’m good at that. I saw water … interested. I’m going to be a hydrologist! Clichéd as the expression may be, it is true: Water is life. The primordial ocean that first bred life still surrounds us today. Without the world ocean to absorb carbon, our planet could well resemble Venus: a lifeless rock with a toxic carbon dioxide atmosphere. The applications of geospatial technologies to water management at all scales are as vast as the ocean itself and as dynamic as a river’s flow. In this article, I will point you to some excellent resources for exploring those applications. … ” Read more from Directions Magazine here: The power of water data
Today’s featured articles …
CA WATER COMMISSION: Advancing Well-Designed Water Trading Programs in California
In March of this year, the Secretaries of the Natural Resources Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Food and Ag tasked the California Water Commission with initiating a thorough and inclusive public dialogue to frame state considerations around shaping well-managed groundwater trading programs.
At the June meeting of the California Water Commission, the commissioners heard from a panel of speakers who discussed why groundwater sustainability agencies (or GSAs) might consider markets, what groundwater trading entails, its opportunities and limitations, and how it is connected to water accounting, allocations, and sustainable groundwater management.
The third presenter was Christina Babbitt, the senior manager of the Environmental Defense Fund’s California Groundwater Program. Her presentation focused on advancing well-designed water trading programs in California and included an example of EDF’s work with partners to develop a groundwater trading platform.
Click here to read this article.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WATER BOARD’S COLLEGE OF WATER INFORMATICS: Stream protection trends, effective visual communication, indigenous racism, and more …
WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Drought Relief~ Drought Survey~ Klamath Watershed~ Advocacy Podcast~ Potable Reuse~ Sierra Meadows~ Water Conference~~
