On the calendar today …
- EVENT: Women in Water- Championing Women’s Engagement in the Water Workforce from 11am to 12pm. According to the US census bureau in 2018 women made up only 5.8% of operators in the water and wastewater industry, and less than 25% of women are in utility work overall. Join our panel of dynamic women as they share their experiences with advocacy and mentorship, and the benefits that women bring to our industry. Hear more about their passionate insights and tips for increasing engagement, championing, and how to elevate women’s leadership in the workplace through internal/external programs and groups. Most importantly this discussion is for everyone. People of any gender or position can do small things to make a big impact. Click here to register.
- VIRTUAL FORUM: Delta Heritage Forum from 2pm to 7:30pm. The Delta Heritage Forum is a free event focused on the preparation of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan, efforts to preserve and tell Delta stories, and opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.Invitees include cultural and historical organizations; federal, State, and local officials; business and civic organizations; those interested in Delta heritage; and the general public. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Another atmospheric river enters the San Francisco Bay Area forecast
“The rain just keeps on coming. The second weak storm of the week is set to sweep the San Francisco Bay Area Wednesday; on Thursday night into Friday, another system may bring light showers to the North Bay. A break from the rain is expected through the weekend, but the dry conditions won’t last long. Long-term weather models show a weak atmospheric river diving into the region, bringing soaking rain Monday into Tuesday. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Another atmospheric river enters the San Francisco Bay Area forecast
Flows to increase; water districts cry foul
“The Newsom administration has informed regional water districts that it will move forward with a plan to increase flows from San Joaquin River tributaries in an action that may create more water uncertainty for farmers. A notice from the California Natural Resources Agency and state Environmental Protection Agency represents a departure from the state’s earlier willingness to consider voluntary agreements with water districts, which includes aspects other than just flow increases. That departure means that the regulatory regime, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2018, will now move forward. This first phase of the state’s Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan requires districts along the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers to leave 30% to 50% of “unimpaired flows” in the San Joaquin River tributaries in an effort to help fish. ... ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Flows to increase; water districts cry foul
Newsom administration breaks off water talks
“Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has signaled its desire to go ahead with rigid fish flow increases despite the deepening drought and hydrology changes in precipitating patterns the state’s own experts are anticipating. The state last week abruptly broke off negotiations with agencies representing water users on the Stanislaus, Merced, and Tuolumne watersheds regarding its desire to implement new fish flows that will essentially reduce water available for urban and farm uses. The agencies, including South San Joaquin and Oakdale irrigation districts, have conducted research and can cite other instances on the Pacific Coast where addressing non-native fish predators and river restoration added into the mix is significantly more effective than further increasing fish flows during critical migratory periods in the spring. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Newsom administration breaks off water talks
Disparities in California’s tap water quality persist, new data shows
“People living in underserved communities, especially those with higher Black or Latino populations, likely run a greater collective risk of chronic illness from contaminated drinking water than people in other communities, a newly updated national tap-water database shows. Compiled by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the database reveals wide disparities in water quality across systems. Offering a search of tap water systems by zip code, it uses federal and state drinking water data taken between 2014 and 2019 across all 50 states and nearly 50,000 local utilities. ... ” Read more from Capital and Main here: Disparities in California’s tap water quality persist, new data shows
State sends first payments as part of $1 billion pandemic–related water debt relief program
“As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to help Californians recover from the pandemic, the State Water Resources Control Board last week sent out the first round of checks to community water systems to cover debt accrued when customers could not pay their water bills due to COVID–19–related financial hardships. The checks mark the first batch of payments under the $1 billion California Water and Wastewater Arrearages Payment Program, which provides financial relief to cover payment shortfalls, or arrearages, accrued during the pandemic by customers of water systems that provide drinking water. The State Water Board will distribute funds through Jan. 31, 2022, prioritizing small water systems first. Water systems must apply for funding before Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. to participate. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: State sends first payments as part of $1 billion pandemic–related water debt relief program
Sierra Nevada snow flights are booking fast
“Demand for snow runoff forecasting is surging in the San Joaquin Valley, particularly after the past bone-dry year. Snow monitoring flights are already being tentatively scheduled by valley water districts ahead of winter. “Everybody’s anxious for the water year,” said Michael Anderson, state climatologist for California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR). “What is it going to bring?” One of the newer and more effective ways of monitoring is by flying imaging technology over watersheds to see and analyze snowpack. Airborne Snow Observatories (ASO) is the company behind this method. Forecasting can help water managers better prepare and know how to best deliver water. It can also help with flood risk planning. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Sierra Nevada snow flights are booking fast
How much Northern California reservoirs shot up a week after the big storm
“Northern California’s reservoir levels continued to rise in the week after an atmospheric river slammed the state with torrential rain and high winds. The soaking was welcome in a drought-plagued state with a diminishing water supply. And while one storm didn’t come close to ending ending the drought, some reservoirs in Northern California, especially those that fell right in the path of the storm, saw significant gains. One of the most impressive was Hetch Hetchy, which provides drinking water to 2.6 million people in San Francisco and other Bay Area communities. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: How much Northern California reservoirs shot up a week after the big storm
California increases salmon spawning to make up for drought
“In an effort to blunt the devastating toll California’s extended drought has taken on the state’s chinook salmon population, state and federal fish hatcheries in Northern California are spawning millions of additional salmon smolts in order to increase their odds of survival. The state’s prolonged drought has left many of its dams and rivers unable to supply the cold water currents wild salmon require for their eggs to survive. So, hatcheries are trying to make up for nature’s dry spell with human intervention. Just below the parched Oroville Dam east of Sacramento, the state-run Feather River Hatchery is spawning an additional 1.75 million juvenile fall run chinook salmon this year. The increase in spawning will result in a total of 7.75 million salmon released by the hatchery this year. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: California increases salmon spawning to make up for drought
Nature’s power to restore: Using process-based restoration to restore Doty Creek
“For millions of years, nature has been designing and building river and wetland habitats, which are some of the most diverse and productive systems on Earth. These habitats, also known as fluvial systems, benefit society by providing important habitat for wildlife, supplying drinking water and irrigation for crops, delivering electricity through hydropower and more. However, they are imperiled due to human alterations resulting in habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. Overtime, there’s been a growing interest in “Process-based restoration,” whereby the practitioner addresses underlying causes of degradation so the stream can rebuild and restore the wildlife habitat on its own. … ” Read more from US FWS here: Nature’s power to restore: Doty Creek restoration using process-based restoration
Rep. Calvert and fellow California Republicans request water state of emergency
“A letter sent to President Biden and Governor Newsom last week requested a water state of emergency be declared on a state and federal level. The letter was signed by Corona Congressman Ken Calvert and nine other republican representatives, including Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes. “It’s basically common sense, when we have a drought like we’ve been having and when you get a significant storm which we had, we need to pump it. So, when it’s there, you got water coming down the Delta; any environmental damage is virtually non-existent,” said Calvert. … ” Read more from KVCR here: Rep. Calvert and fellow California Republicans request water state of emergency
Apple TV’s new ‘River’s End’ doc might make you appreciate where your water comes from
“In recent years, rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns have created water scarcity in many places. In 2020 and 2021, for example, California has experienced record-breaking droughts and dry spells that have emptied river beds and forced people to make some hard choices about water usage. River’s End is a documentary that explores the root causes of California’s water problems and the influence of the agricultural industry in relation to them. … ” Read more from Green Matters here: Apple TV’s new ‘River’s End’ doc might make you appreciate where your water comes from
Blasting the ‘zombie’ out of water-saving tech
“A team of scientists, including experts from the University of Adelaide, suggest that reliance on modern irrigation technologies as a water-use efficiency strategy is a ‘zombie idea’ — one that persists no matter how much evidence is thrown against it. In a paper in Environmental Research Letters, the international research team reviewed more than 200 supporting research articles and found technology adoption as a water-saving method for improving irrigation efficiency is ineffective, and can actually worsen water scarcity. … ” Read more from Science Daily here: Blasting the ‘zombie’ out of water-saving tech
Calif. to offer additional $200M for drought relief
“The Calif. Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the release of the program guidelines and proposal solicitation package to distribute $200 million in funding available through the Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program. Designed to help communities facing the loss or contamination of their water supplies due to drought, the Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program aims to address immediate drought impacts on human health and safety, protect fish and wildlife resources and provide other public benefits, such as ecosystem improvements. At least $50 million of the available funding will be set aside to support underrepresented communities and Native American Tribes. … ” Read more from Water World here: Calif. to offer additional $200M for drought relief
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacates EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 401 certification rule
“On October 21, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (“District Court” or “Court”) vacated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) 2020 Clean Water Act (“CWA”) Section 401 “Certification Rule” (“the 2020 Rule”). In re Clean Water Act Rulemaking, No. 20-cv-4636, et al. (Oct. 21, 2021). The effect of the Court’s ruling is to reinstate EPA’s previous Certification Rule, which had been in effect since 1971 (“the 1971 Rule”). The 2020 Rule was promulgated by the Trump Administration to assist in expediting and streamlining the federal government’s permitting process for projects that require a CWA Section 401 water quality certification. The Biden Administration sought remand without vacatur of the 2020 Rule. … ” Read more from the National Law Review here: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacates EPA’s Clean Water Act Section 401 certification rule
Removing dangerous fire fuels is hard, expensive work. Here’s how one California tribe is making it happen.
“Sherry Treppa thinks back on the Mendocino Complex fire in 2018 as a devastating call to action for her community. The chairperson of the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake tribe describes how the flames “came right down on the reservation boundaries and nearly wiped out the whole town, and a lot of our tribal members’ homes.” The fire, the third-largest in California history, was kept at bay by firefighters. But one house burned, and Treppa remembers evacuating tribal members, a defensive action that she said isn’t something the tribe can afford for every future threat. Stronger action to weaken the impact of future fires, she said, must happen now. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Removing dangerous fire fuels is hard, expensive work. Here’s how one California tribe is making it happen.
During an historic drought, higher temperatures helped a beetle kill more California pine trees
“A new study shows climate change can have cascading effects on forests. Using computer modeling, researchers from North Carolina State University, the Los Alamos National Laboratory and other institutions found increased temperatures during an historic drought in California contributed to the death of large numbers of giant pine trees by speeding up the life cycle of a tree-killing beetle. Published in the journal Global Change Biology, the study found a nearly 30 percent increase in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) tree death during California’s 2012–2015 drought due to attacks from the western bark beetle. Researchers said the findings highlight how climate change can compound threats forests face, and raise questions about their ability to act as reservoirs for greenhouse gases. … ” Read more from PhysOrg here: During an historic drought, higher temperatures helped a beetle kill more California pine trees
In commentary today …
Restore the California promise by securing our water future
Jamie Johansson, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, writes, “California’s water history flows across my farm in the North State community of Oroville. A canal carved in the early 1990s passes beneath my olive groves. It was an extension of original conveyance systems inspired by gold seekers, who fashioned one of California’s earliest water delivery systems in the 1890s on the Feather River, near my home. Those systems were later built upon as the lure of gold gave way to the great agricultural promise of California. That promise—and the availability of water—lured a local farming pioneer from Illinois to Northern California. Freda Ehmann became the acclaimed “Mother of the California Ripe Olive Industry” and continues to inspire my farm’s mission to carry on her traditions in producing California olives. Now, as president of the California Farm Bureau, I am fighting to uphold and restore the promise of sustainable water delivery in my state. After two years of severe drought, our farmers and ranchers are suffering. They’re fallowing crops and thinning herds because of extreme water shortages. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Restore the California promise by securing our water future
Zombie reservoirs: Dead storage is California’s next water emergency
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Forget about praying for rain. Instead pray for divine intervention to get the knuckleheads that run the State Water Project and Central Valley Project to loosen their death grips on their bureaucratic bible better known as their operations plan for north of the Delta reservoirs. Unless you are on in denial it is clear by now we have a problem with water that goes beyond the drought we now find ourselves in. We clearly can’t build our way out of it by building more dams. Besides the fact the 100-year War took less time than an environmental impact report for an on-river storage facility would take in today’s political climate that’s perfect for litigating and not problem solving, more on-river reservoirs aren’t going to do humans much good. As for the fish, build enough of them and they might just survive the next couple of 50- to 100-year megadroughts. ... ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Zombie reservoirs: Dead storage is California’s next water emergency
Considerations for designing groundwater markets
Economist Richard McCann with M. Cubed writes, “The California Water Commission staff asked a group of informed stakeholders and experts about “how to shape well-managed groundwater trading programs with appropriate safeguards for communities, ecosystems, and farms.” I submitted the following essay in response to a set of questions. In general, setting up functioning and fair markets is a more complex process than many proponents envision. Due to the special characteristics of water that make location particularly important, water markets are likely to be even more complex, and this will require more thinking to address in a way that doesn’t stifle the power of markets. … ” Read more from Economics Outside the Cube here: Considerations for designing groundwater markets
Today’s featured article …
STATE WATER BOARD: Update on the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
Within the Central Valley, over seven million acres is in irrigated agriculture, and depending on the conditions, water discharged from the site may carry nutrients, pesticides, and pathogens off-site and into water bodies or aquifers. The Central Valley Water Board’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) addresses these discharges that can harm aquatic life and make the water unusable for drinking water or agricultural uses. The goal of the ILRP is to protect surface water and groundwater and reduce the impacts of irrigated agricultural discharges to surface water and groundwater.
At the October 5 meeting of the State Water Resources Control Board, Sue McConnell, manager of the Central Valley Water board’s Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program, updated the board members on the Eastern San Joaquin program, covering program milestones, the status of on-farm drinking water well monitoring efforts, completion of the San Joaquin surface water monitoring framework and external review, development of additional groundwater protection measures, and anonymous field level reporting.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Mendocino County: Low flying helicopter bringing giant science hoop to scan our groundwater next week and people will definitely notice
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is planning to survey the underground aquifer structures with the use of a low-flying helicopter starting late next week, according to a press release issued by Mendocino County this afternoon. The aircraft will be “towing” an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) rig described as a “large hoop with science equipment” around Ukiah as well as parts of neighboring counties. Pilots will be making multiple passes over some areas and may very well be visible to residents. ... ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Low flying helicopter bringing giant science hoop to scan our groundwater next week and people will definitely notice
DTSC starts first phase of environmental remediation of homes burnt in Hopkins Fire
“The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) began Phase 1 of their cleanup operation today at the site of September’s 257-acre Hopkins Fire, where a cluster of homes burned on the banks of the Russian River near Lake Mendocino in Calpella. This part of the project involves removing household materials like batteries and propane cylinders that are essentially hazardous materials once the fire goes out. “Phase 1 includes safely identifying and removing household hazardous waste (HHW) and bulk asbestos from damaged properties that could pose a risk to people, animals, and the environment,” DTSC spokesperson Barbara Zu said by email this morning. ... ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: DTSC starts first phase of environmental remediation of homes burnt in Hopkins Fire
Lady of the Lake: Streaming stream and river data in real-time
“Dear Lady of the Lake, The storm season is upon us and I am very glad we are seeing some rain. However, I am concerned about flooding. Where do I find out about local stream and river information? Is there a stream gage in my area and where do I find that data? Hello Steve, Great questions! Yes, this is the time of year that learning how to get real-time stream and river data is very important. There are many reasons that one would want to get that information, and you touched on the most important one: to best plan for and predict a potential flooding event. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Lady of the Lake: Streaming stream and river data in real-time
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
How is every drop of the Truckee River managed? Some say the share may not be fair
“The big storm that dumped rain and snow on northern Nevada did not relieve us from our severe drought. All that rain in Reno and Sparks quickly filled the Truckee River but most of it is just surface runoff. Every drop of that water in the Truckee is already spoken for, no matter how high or low the water levels. It all starts upstream at Lake Tahoe. The water level has been hovering at or below the natural rim for weeks. The recent storm increased the level by about a half foot and over the rim. Without more rain or snow, the levels will drop again. That means water will not be able to spill over the rim and into the Truckee River. That was the case just a couple of weeks ago. ... ” Read more from Fox 11 here: How is every drop of the Truckee River managed? Some say the share may not be fair
‘Vibrancy everywhere.’ Yosemite fall colors come with rushing waterfalls this autumn
“Fall colors are on full display in Yosemite National Park, making early November a great time for an autumn trip to the popular park in California. “You need to go, like now,” photographer Glenn Lee Robinson said. He described the fall colors – predominately yellows and oranges from maples and black oaks, and some reds from dogwoods – as at 98% peak condition when he was in the park Monday. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: ‘Vibrancy everywhere.’ Yosemite fall colors come with rushing waterfalls this autumn
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Reclamation and California Department of Fish and Wildlife celebrate completion of new Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project and return of fall-run Chinook salmon
“The Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Fish and Wildlife today celebrated the completion of the new Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project with a ribbon-cutting event. The completed project, over a decade in the making, creates a more reliable and safer system for collecting adult fall-run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead trout at the Nimbus Hatchery. “We are very pleased to complete this important project to benefit fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead populations,” said Reclamation Regional Director Ernest Conant. “We appreciate our long-standing partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to help with the design and construction as well as with Nimbus Hatchery operations.” … ” Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation and California Department of Fish and Wildlife celebrate completion of new Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project and return of fall-run Chinook salmon
New improvements unveiled at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, including underwater viewing window
“Nature will find a way to survive, but this time it’s getting a helping hand. Experts at Fish and Wildlife are taking new measures to make up for the effects of the drought. Behind gates, across from the American river from Fair Oaks, millions of fish are in various stages of development. The Nimbus Hatchery was created in the 1950s to make up for the spawning habitat that was lost when the Nimbus and Folsom dams were built. “This hatchery supports about 14% of this area’s fall-run chinook. And that is our last best biggest commercial fishery in the ocean,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham said. ... ” Read more from Fox 40 here: New improvements unveiled at Nimbus Fish Hatchery, including underwater viewing window
SEE ALSO: Nimbus Fish Hatchery to Increase Production of Chinook Salmon by 500,000 Fish, Further Experiment with New Release Sites. from the Department of Fish & Wildlife
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma catching up on water reduction goals
“When the City of Sonoma required water customers to reduce their use, residents got off to a slow start, with just a 3.8% savings in July. But now, the city is catching up, with a 17.4% savings recorded from July to September, not to mention the wettest October in the last three years. “Even with the recent series of storms, the region is well behind normal rainfall totals and reservoirs remain at historically low levels: The drought is not over.” That’s the message from Sonoma Water, the California Water Boards and the agencies that provide water to the Sonoma Valley. Which means despite the torrential rainfall over the past weeks, water users should resist the impulse to celebrate with a long hot shower or an overdue car wash. The water-use reduction mandates, imposed at the beginning of the summer, are in effect for months, June through at least October, for the Valley of the Moon Water District, or to the end of the year for the City of Sonoma. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: Sonoma catching up on water reduction goals
Investigation finds alleged water hauling during drought
“A private investigation firm retained by a resident of Sonoma County who belongs to SOSN, a coalition of neighborhood residents advocating common sense cultivation of commercial marijuana in Sonoma County, found that during this unprecedented drought, cannabis farmers are allegedly trucking vast quantities of municipal water to their cultivation sites. California is facing the driest year in the last century, and County officials have told residents to reduce their water use by 20% this summer and avoid growing vegetables, avoiding washing vehicles, and taking fewer showers. Based on its observations, the PI firm’s report alleges that cannabis growers have taken advantage of these sacrifices by sourcing city water reserved for residents and instead irrigating their own crops. ... ” Continue reading from The Patch here: Investigation finds alleged water hauling during drought
Supply chain issues, bottle shortage and drought create ‘perfect storm’ of problems for wineries
“When Michael Kaiser, vice president of government affairs at WineAmerica, asked members what they were worried about this wine season, he repeatedly heard one answer: concerns about a glass bottle shortage. Amid fires and drought, pandemic-era supply chain woes are taking aim at one of California’s most beloved exports: wine. Shortages have left many winemakers with too much wine and not enough bottles. “If you don’t have the bottles that you need, how are you going to get the product out of barrels and to customers?” Kaiser said, adding the shortages come at a time when many winemakers have just harvested this season’s grapes. … ” Read more from USA Today here: Supply chain issues, bottle shortage and drought create ‘perfect storm’ of problems for wineries
Napa County hopes wildfire awareness survives rains
“Various Napa County locations have been drenched with 7 inches to 17-plus inches of rain since Oct. 1, but county Fire Chief Jason Martin doesn’t want residents to grow complacent about fires. Martin said that he’s not expecting any massive wildfires in the wake of the storms. But there are still dried fuels that could burn in smaller fires. “The threat has been reduced, but I want to remind everyone we still have to remain vigilant, we still have to do the defensible space…the winter months are the season we prepare for the summer season,” he said. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa County hopes wildfire awareness survives rains
BAY AREA
‘Weaker’ Wednesday storm to bring more drizzle to the Bay Area
“The Bay Area could see another light rain shower and drizzle on Wednesday night into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. “This is just a quick-passing fall system. It’s going to bring some wet conditions for the Bay Area,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Mehle. Santa Rosa and Mount Tamalpais could get 0.50 inches of rain on Wednesday, San Francisco could get 0.10 inches of rain, the South Bay could receive less than 0.05 inches and the Berkeley Hills could see 0.25 inches of rain. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: ‘Weaker’ Wednesday storm to bring more drizzle to the Bay Area
Tide to Table Profiles: Hog Island Oyster Co.
“In California’s Tomales Bay, Hog Island Oyster Co. uses marine biology to sustainably farm shellfish. It’s a zero-input crop that is helping to restore the water quality of the bay. The company founders are both marine biologists who focus on growing oysters in a manner that enhances the health of the ecosystem. Existing infrastructure is used when possible—many buildings from the 1860s and 1870s have been restored and incorporated into the farm. “The health of the bay is looking much better, thanks to the oysters. They require no feed, fertilizer, or inputs, and use little fresh water, which in California is a big deal. We can conserve resources by producing more food that’s low on the food chain,” explains founding partner and CEO John Finger. … ” Read more from NOAA here: Tide to Table Profiles: Hog Island Oyster Co.
Thousands of San Jose residents behind on water bills
“The number of San Jose homes and businesses with overdue water bills spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many could see their taps run dry when the state ban on water shutoffs ends in December. At least 1,160 customers have unpaid bills totaling a combined $1.1 million with the San Jose Municipal Water System as of June, according to a city audit published earlier this week. ... ” Read more from KTVU here: Thousands of San Jose residents behind on water bills
Half Moon Bay: CCWD reviews alternative water sources
“As the statewide drought continues, the Coastside County Water District is exploring how to maximize its local sources and not be solely reliant on imported water. Last week the district received a presentation from hydrogeologist Robert Shultz, of Geo Blue Consulting, who referenced studies of local watersheds dating back decades and made recommendations to the board. As a result, the district is expected to pursue a pilot well and streamflow surveys for the Lower Pilarcitos Groundwater project, consider replacing wells in Upper Pilarcitos Canyon and improve production at the Denniston Creek well fields. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review here: Half Moon Bay: CCWD reviews alternative water sources
CENTRAL COAST
SLO County water supplier sues 3 companies over cancer-linked chemicals found in wells
“The Atascadero Mutual Water Company is suing three prominent companies after chemicals linked to cancer and other health conditions were found in wells that supply drinking water to the city. The water utility’s product liability lawsuit, filed Oct. 15 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, aims to recover damages from 3M Co., DuPont and Chemours Co., which use the chemicals. Known as “forever chemicals,” perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in manufacturing and have appeared in products such as Teflon cookware, firefighting foam, cosmetics and water- and stain-resistant products since the 1940s, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: SLO County water supplier sues 3 companies over cancer-linked chemicals found in wells
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
New water year off to a good start, but two dry years behind and La Niña ahead are not helping
“Water and weather professionals in Bakersfield and beyond tend to be cautious about making predictions regarding any new water year. And this year is no different. The 2021-22 water year began last month, on Oct. 1, and anything can happen, water watchers say. However, this year we may be walking up to the plate with one strike, maybe two. And here’s why. ... ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: New water year off to a good start, but two dry years behind and La Niña ahead are not helping
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Antelope Valley editorial: Cut back on water usage now, to help supply later
The Antelope Valley Press editorial board writes, “We got some rain early last week and though it was only here for a day, it brought some much-needed precipitation to our desert area. Unfortunately, we’d need a lot more of that to make a difference when it comes to the drought conditions we continue to endure. Based on current projections for the next 25 years, Antelope Valley water suppliers, who depend on State Water Project water flowing through the California Aqueduct, will have enough to meet demand. Of course, that’s provided they continue to enhance storage and other capabilities to ensure adequate supplies during those inevitable drought years — which seem to be happening more often. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Antelope Valley editorial: Cut back on water usage now, to help supply later
Water mains are leaking around Los Angeles County
“Two different water mains in Los Angeles County broke within 24 hours of each other, sending water pouring into the streets in Universal City and in Venice and closing some road lanes to traffic. The first break, in Universal City, occurred Monday afternoon. A cast iron water main, 87 years old and installed in 1934, failed due to a “split,” the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said. … ” Read more from NBC 4 here: Water mains are leaking around Los Angeles County
Lawsuit seeks Endangered Species Act protection for rare California fish
“The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to protect two populations of imperiled speckled dace under the Endangered Species Act. The Service failed to make required decisions on protection for the Santa Ana speckled dace, in Southern California, and the Long Valley speckled dace in Mono County, which is nearing extinction in the wild. “Endangered Species Act protection is a badly needed lifeline for our native speckled dace,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center. “Fire, drought and reckless water policies have taken a toll on so many of the fish in Southern California’s streams. Only a handful of Long Valley speckled dace live in their native springs and streams anymore. They need emergency action and a coordinated reintroduction to survive.” ... ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity here: Lawsuit seeks Endangered Species Act protection for rare California fish
Newport Beach gets shot of sand with dredging project
“Stretches of beach in West Newport are about to get wider. Annual maintenance of the Santa Ana River outlet kicked off this week. The county project pulls sand from the waterway to help with flood control, then makes use of it to replenish the shoreline between the rock jetties and near the Balboa Pier – areas that have suffered erosion in recent years and are prone to flooding when big surf and high tides hit. The maintenance project, done in collaboration with the city of Newport Beach, happens every October and requires large equipment to remove excess sand that has naturally accumulated in the flood channel’s outlet, Shannon Widor, spokesman for OC Public Works, said. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Newport Beach gets shot of sand with dredging project
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Nine-thousand trees for Salton Sea wildlife marsh habitat
“Nine-thousand trees, mostly willows, are being planted in the 1,000 acre Managed Marsh wildlife habitat in northern Imperial County. The planting is part of the final construction phase of the Managed Marsh, located off Highway 111 between the city of Calipatria and Niland. Funded by the Quantification Settlement Agreement Joint Powers Authority (QSA JPA), the habitat, located close to the Salton Sea, is a key environmental mitigation project to serve the needs of wildlife that depend on area surface drains in the Imperial Valley. With the planting of the 9,000 trees now underway, the Managed Marsh will be completed by early 2022. ... ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Nine-thousand trees for Salton Sea wildlife marsh habitat
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County Water Authority kicks off 2023 Water Facilities Master Plan update
“The San Diego County Water Authority has begun crafting its 2023 Water Facilities Master Plan Update and will advertise for professional service support in early November following an update last week to the Board of Directors. The plan, updated every 10 years, will lay out strategies to optimize Water Authority facilities to serve the region under a range of future conditions through the 2045 planning horizon. The draft version of the master plan is anticipated to be completed by winter 2023, followed by Board adoption of the final plan in early 2024. The development of the master plan builds on the region’s recently approved 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, which updated water demand projections to 2045. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Water Authority Kicks Off 2023 Water Facilities Master Plan Update
Along the Colorado River …
New golf courses can’t use Colorado River water, Las Vegas board says
“New golf courses that come to Las Vegas won’t be able to use Colorado River water for irrigation, a municipal water board decided on Tuesday. The rule change, approved unanimously by the Las Vegas Valley Water District board, will affect only new courses coming to the city of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County. Existing courses will be able to continue using municipal water from the river. … Under the rules approved on Tuesday, new golf courses could use groundwater rights if they have them, but may not use Colorado River water delivered by the Las Vegas Valley Water District, spokesman Bronson Mack said. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: New golf courses can’t use Colorado River water, Las Vegas board says
With less water on the Western Slope and in the Colorado River, Colorado wants new rules on how to measure and track what’s there
“Colorado water managers are making more people track and report how much water they’re using, as decades of drought have diminished supplies on the Western Slope. For the first time, the state is also pushing for new rules that spell out how some rights-holders should measure their water use as each drop of Colorado River water becomes more valuable. Kevin Rein, director of the Colorado Division of Water Resources, presented the rules to a full house at Jackson County’s event center in Walden. The center, usually used for rodeos and 4-H agricultural clubs, was filled with farmers and ranchers concerned about their water. The state’s proposed rule would dictate how the farmers and ranchers in northwest Colorado would need to measure the amount of water they use. That includes types of measurement devices, how they’re installed and verified, and how users would record and report their usage to the state. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: With less water on the Western Slope and in the Colorado River, Colorado wants new rules on how to measure and track what’s there
As the 2021 water year closes, a look forward, and back, at Colorado River implementation of the DCP and the drought operations response agreement
“At the close of the 2021 Water Year in October, the Colorado River basin remains in significant drought, despite summer monsoons and early fall precipitation across the West. This summer, the Upper Basin States to the Colorado River Compact – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – implemented the first ever coordinated release of 181,000 acre-feet (AF) of water from three reservoirs on the Colorado River to increase storage supplies at Lake Powell. While 181,000 AF represents a relatively small amount of water relative to Lake Powell’s existing storage supplies or the Upper Basin’s delivery obligations under the Compact, the release signaled the beginning of a new stage of critical planning around Compact compliance. As those water releases come to a close by December 2021, all stakeholders are closely watching Reclamation’s Colorado River forecasts and activities in the Colorado River basin to prepare for Water Year 2022. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: As the 2021 water year closes, a look forward, and back, at Colorado River implementation of the DCP and the drought operations response agreement
In national water news today …
GAO finds little impact from Trump order directing deregulation
“Former President Trump‘s executive order requiring agencies to strike two regulations for every new one they promulgated “did not substantially change” agency processes, while the government “may have overstated” the impact of the two-for-one policy, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found. The Monday report from the GAO undercut one of Trump’s reigning regulatory orders, signed early in his presidency to demonstrate his commitment to cutting red tape. But the report, commissioned by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nalder (D-N.Y.) and House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), found Trump’s two-for-one order did little to cut regulatory roadblocks. … ” Read more from The Hill here: GAO finds little impact from Trump order directing deregulation
Bezos pledges $2B to landscape restoration, food systems
“Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has pledged $2 billion to restore landscapes and transform food systems. The pledge was originally announced on Monday by Bezos’s climate initiative, the Bezos Earth Fund. The billionaire also announced the pledge in an address to the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasglow, Scotland, on Tuesday. Bezos said “we must all stand together” to protect the world. “We must conserve what we still have. We must restore what we’ve lost,” Bezos said. “And we must grow what we need to live without degrading the planet for future generations to come.” … ” Read more from The Hill here: Bezos pledges $2B to landscape restoration, food systems
Biden climate plan to save forests pivots on swamps, wetland
“Protecting peatlands—carbon-dense swamps and forested wetlands found worldwide—are crucial to President Joe Biden’s forest conservation plan announced Tuesday at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow. Peatlands are among the “critical ecosystems” the White House plan says are essential to turning down the heat on climate change—a move hailed by U.N.-affiliated organizations promoting peatland protection at the 26th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The U.S. announcement is significant because peatlands have been “used and abused” for centuries, said Stuart Brooks, peatland chair for the International Union for Conservation of Nature and head of policy for the National Trust of Scotland, speaking at COP26. … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: Biden climate plan to save forests pivots on swamps, wetland
