On the calendar today …
- FREE WEBINAR: Groundwater Replenishment System Virtual Tour from 10am to 11am. Join us for a tour of Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification system for potable reuse. Featuring General Manager Mike Markus leading a video tour of the GWRS facility followed by a live Q & A session. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: Restoring Critical Riparian Zones Using Bioengineering from 5pm to 6:30pm. This Zoom Session will be a presentation by Evan Engber, the principal of BioEngineering Associates. He will show how he has transformed eroding banks into flourishing, living riparian zones and talk about exciting work coming up in partnership with ERRP. We’ll be working together in Tenmile Creek using the State Water Resources Control Board 319h non-point source pollution abatement grant funds. Presented by the Eel River Recovery Project. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Data confirms salmon slaughter on California’s main river
“State officials confirmed dire predictions of catastrophic fish kills due to sizzling water temperatures in California’s largest river, announcing Thursday that just 2% of winter-run Chinook juvenile salmon likely survived the summer. The alarming percentage of juvenile salmon killed on the Sacramento River surpasses the scope of die-offs recorded in the state’s recent drought years and has officials sounding the alarm about the potential permanent collapse of the endangered species. “The current drought situation is likely to produce very bad returns of fish 3-4 years from now and if we keep having these incredibly bad years, we will not dig out of our population decline,” said Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We’ve got to accept that reality.” ... ” Read more from Courthouse News Service here: Data confirms salmon slaughter on California’s main river
‘It’s bleak’: State officials discuss future of Dungeness crab, salmon fisheries
“North Coast state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), chair of the state Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, led the 48th annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum on Thursday. The nearly six-hour discussion focused on California fisheries’ most pertinent challenges, ranging from drought impacts, threatened salmon species, and the upcoming Dungeness crab fishing season. “For 48 years, each of California’s fisheries specific committees, organizations, associations councils, and most importantly, our fishermen and women have attended this forum to provide the Legislature and the people of California an annual report on their needs, their goals, yearly activities and accomplishments,” McGuire said. “There is no doubt that since last year’s fisheries forum, our state’s fisheries have been through a lot, and that is an understatement. … It’s bleak.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: ‘It’s bleak’: State officials discuss future of Dungeness crab, salmon fisheries
Family farms struggling as California drought worsens: ‘We haven’t faced anything like this’
“Amid this year’s severe drought, Hmong farmer June Moua had to leave a portion of her 10-acre plot of land in eastern Fresno County dry and fallow. Large sections of the rows of crops she did plant, including bunches of water-intensive greens, have wilted and shriveled into crunchy bits of brown foliage. Her kale and bok choy are casualties of the central San Joaquin Valley’s dwindling water supply. Declining groundwater levels have made it harder for her to pump water from her well into her fields. “These greens take a lot of water,” Moua, 43, said, as she examined the end of a dry row where bits of kale were scattered across the soil. “Every other day you have to water to keep going, otherwise it won’t work. They’re just going to die.” … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Family farms struggling as California drought worsens: ‘We haven’t faced anything like this’
New river forecast model integrates artificial intelligence to support better water management in the West
“Water supply forecasts are important for any crop year. But for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and water managers in the West facing extreme and debilitating drought conditions, those forecasts have never been more critical to their operations and livelihoods. Since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, NRCS has helped America’s producers plan for their operations through the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecast program. The program runs a massive network of mountain climate and snow monitoring sites across the western U.S. called SNOTEL. This is coupled with other data and computer models to predict the amount of river runoff in the upcoming spring and summer. These water supply forecasts are used by America’s producers to plan their operations for the year, by helping guide choices like crop selection, water rights rentals, and whether to leave land fallow. … ” Read more from the NRCS here: New river forecast model integrates artificial intelligence to support better water management in the West
Atmospheric river storm to douse the Bay Area with ‘much-needed rainfall’ next week
“The Bay Area is preparing for the second atmospheric river storm to soak the region this rainy season and alleviate the dire drought conditions in Northern California. There will be a slight chance of rain on Friday night into Saturday morning, with less than 0.10 of an inch forecasted in the North Bay, according to the National Weather Service. Fog is also impacting parts of the Bay Area on Friday morning, reducing visibility in the East Bay and North Bay valleys and possibly affecting morning commute. An atmospheric river, a moisture-rich narrow storm, is expected to arrive late Sunday and bring widespread rain to the Bay Area on Monday night through Tuesday with lingering showers on Wednesday. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Atmospheric river storm to douse the Bay Area with ‘much-needed rainfall’ next week
California gets more rain as drought recedes
“Rain fell across parts of Northern California on Thursday, and more was possible into the weekend, but forecasts were backing off chances of an atmospheric river event next week, the National Weather Service said. Snow levels were expected to remain high but possibly lower to mountain pass levels when another system moves through on Friday and Saturday, forecasters said. Early forecasts had suggested a potentially impactful atmospheric river arriving in Northern California possibly as early as late Sunday, but modeling has since predicted most of the moisture will shift north into the Pacific Northwest. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: California gets more rain as drought recedes
Drought pushes producers to adapt to a drier future
“Despite recent rains, the 2020–21 drought has been unusually severe. Low precipitation, coupled with high evaporation has affected irrigated crops and livestock pastures. Yet Western farmers and ranchers are adept at adapting. Despite record-setting drought conditions and hundreds of thousands of acres left unplanted, California farms and ranches, as a whole, may generate normal revenue in 2021, according to the authors of a new special issue of ARE Update focusing on the drought. ... ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Drought pushes producers to adapt to a drier future
State water board ends local voluntary agreement
“Local water districts recently received an letter from the State informing them that they are walking away from the Tuolumne River Voluntary Agreement process and instead moving forward with implementation of the Phase 1 Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan which calls for 40 percent unimpaired flow in the Tuolumne River. “The Districts have negotiated in good faith for years and, by walking away, the State has rejected the collaborative process we’ve built,” said Turlock Irrigation District communications division manager Constance Anderson. Voluntary agreements allow local water districts and the state to develop plans to help manage waterflow together. The Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan will not include that collaboration. … ” Read more from Westside Connect here: State water board ends local voluntary agreement
Judge rejects a Trump-era water contract in a win for tribes in California
“On Oct. 27, in a victory for tribes in Northern California, Fresno County Superior Court Judge D. Tyler Tharpe rejected a Trump-era water contract between the federal Bureau of Reclamation and Westlands Water District, the public entity in charge of distributing water to farms in California’s San Joaquin Valley. David Bernhardt, a former Westland Water District lobbyist who was serving as secretary of the Interior at the time, oversaw the drafting of the agreement, which critics say clearly favored agricultural interests. … ” Read more from High Country News here: Judge rejects a Trump-era water contract in a win for tribes in California
Rep. Valadao requests oversight hearing over halt on water operations plan impacting Central Valley
“Rep. David Valadao last week requested a formal oversight hearing on what he called the Biden Administration’s “anti-science water grab.” In 2020, the Trump Administration issued an updated set of biological opinions that frame the operations plan for water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. That water goes to farms and cities to the south through the federal and state water projects. … ” Read more from KGET here: Rep. Valadao requests oversight hearing over halt on water operations plan impacting Central Valley
River’s End review: Inside the battle for California’s water
“Home to more than 39 million people, California is the most populous US state. It is also among the driest. Together, these factors make demand for water a long-standing challenge. River’s End, a new documentary by Jacob Morrison, dives deep into the water crisis and asks difficult questions about who gets the water and why. At the centre of the film is the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta, an estuary in the north of the state. Connecting the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, the delta is a key source of fresh water and the battleground for the latest California water war. … ” Read more from New Scientist here: River’s End review: Inside the battle for California’s water
Managed retreat: Unpopular, expensive and not going away
“California looked poised to launch a groundbreaking program to help coastal cities buy out beachfront properties threatened by climate change. It didn’t last. A large majority of the Democratic-controlled Legislature voted to pass a bill allowing cities to borrow state money to buy homes and rent them out to repay the loan. Then, when the houses become too dangerous to inhabit, the cities would tear them down. A state agency overseeing beaches called it “the first actual tangible action California has contemplated doing on managed retreat.” Then the measure ran into a guillotine. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who’s seen as a climate leader, vetoed the vanguard legislation last month. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Managed retreat: Unpopular, expensive and not going away
Berkeley Lab project aims to understand fire’s impact on ecosystem
“Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or Berkeley Lab, are currently conducting research that aims to understand fire’s impact on mountain ecosystems. The project is led by Berkeley Lab researchers Erica Siirila-Woodburn and Michelle Newcomer, in collaboration with Jasquelin Peña, associate professor at UC Davis and faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab, among others. According to a Berkeley Lab press release, researchers are focusing on the Cosumnes River watershed, which stretches from the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the Central Valley and provides water for a wide range of California’s communities. … ” Read more from The Daily Californian here: Berkeley Lab project aims to understand fire’s impact on ecosystem
In commentary today …
A vote on water storage may be near
The OC Register editorial board writes, “A proposed ballot measure would force the state to dedicate 2% of the general fund to building more water storage for California’s urban areas and farms. The Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022 would require the transfer of the funds into a trust account every year until the projects funded by the account have created an additional 5 million acre-feet of additional water supply that can be reliably delivered to Californians every year thereafter. … The money is restricted to projects that add water supply for urban areas and agriculture. It could be spent on groundwater cleanup and storage, storm water capture and storage, water recycling, surface reservoirs, desalination, and water conveyance projects such as canals and pipes. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: A vote on water storage may be near
Reevaluate water distribution before resorting to desalination
Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat, a campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “There’s no question that California needs to better manage our water supply for people and the environment. However, drastic technological “solutions” like desalination, which is energy intensive and harmful to marine wildlife and our climate, are not the answer. California is fortunate to have natural water supplies, but it has mismanaged this public good. A majority of our state’s water is diverted to big agriculture, and much of that water goes to growing water-intensive crops, like almonds, for export. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Reevaluate water distribution before resorting to desalination
Today’s featured article …
SCIENCE NEWS: Using process-based restoration to restore Doty Creek; Survivor salmon provide a lifeline for CA chinook; Fish eyes: The hidden diet journal; and more …
Click here to read science news.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Ecological restoration of Cochran Creek
“Near the city of Eureka in Humboldt County, a large restoration project is nearly complete to restore the estuarine reach of the Cochran Creek watershed. The tidal marshes of the Cochran Creek estuary once provided important brackish water habitat for coho, Chinook, cutthroat, and steelhead, and supported a broad array of birds and other wildlife. However, beginning in the early 1900s, almost all of these tidal marsh lands surrounding Humboldt Bay, including Cochran Creek, were diked off and converted to ranch lands. As a result of these activities, the Cochran Creek estuary became disconnected from the spawning grounds in the upper watershed, and no longer provided quality fish habitat or a connection to Humboldt Bay. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Ecological restoration of Cochran Creek
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada County: Recent rain tests Hallwood Restoration Project
“The storm that swept through Nevada County between the 23rd and 25th of October dropped between seven and twelve inches of much needed precipitation. This rainfall has led to, among other things, increased flows in the Yuba River. We sat down with one of our SYRCL scientists, Tyler Goodearly, to learn more about how this rain event interacted with the Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project, a restoration effort that SYRCL has been working on and committed to for the past five years. Q: What did scientists learn from this big rain event? A: One of the restoration goals was to restore a natural process called fine sediment recruitment. This rain event proved we were successful in restoring that process. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League here: Nevada County: Recent rain tests Hallwood Restoration Project
Historic storm helps kokanee salmon spawn in Taylor Creek
“The record-breaking storm in late October has helped salmon spawn in Taylor Creek, an event that was threatened due to severe drought conditions. People flock to Taylor Creek each October to watch kokanee salmon fight their way upstream. Several people on Tuesday were taking in the sites of the red-colored fish from a bridge on California State Route 89. According to Forest Service Aquatic Biologist Sarah Muskopf, kokanee typically spawn anytime between September and February when there are increased stream flows and cooler temperatures. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Historic storm helps kokanee salmon spawn in Taylor Creek
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Learning from scientists about our historic floodplains in the Sacramento Valley
David Guy, president of the Northern California Water Association, writes, “Many of the leading scientists in California gathered in mid-October for a symposium to explore floodplains and to build a joint understanding around the state of floodplain science in the context of the salmonid life-cycle. As a life-long student of the Sacramento Valley and an active participant in efforts to improve fish and wildlife and water management in the region, I vividly recall seeing the early presentations by Ted Sommer, Dale Hall and others, as well as reading Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. This work inspired me and it has sparked a new generation of leaders in the Sacramento Valley to learn more about the region and opportunities to improve fish and wildlife by reactivating our floodplains through innovative water management. The symposium motivated further thinking around our floodplains and it revealed tremendous promise to scale-up these efforts throughout the region. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association blog here: Learning from scientists about our historic floodplains in the Sacramento Valley
BAY AREA
Marin supervisors extend San Rafael quarry authorization
“The San Rafael Rock Quarry will be allowed to continue its mining operations through 2044. The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the plan Tuesday. The action extends the reclamation plan for another 20 years. The Dutra Group, the operator of the quarry, has a vested right to continue its operations without regard to the depth of the mine pit or the duration of the mining. State law, however, requires all surface mines in California to operate in compliance with an approved reclamation plan. The quarry’s plan was scheduled to terminate on Dec. 31, 2024. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin supervisors extend San Rafael quarry authorization
‘The redwoods are rejoicing’: Why this location got the most rain in the Bay Area during the atmospheric river
“When the atmospheric river blasted through the Bay Area last weekend, it shattered plenty of rainfall records, but one spot in particular was a standout: Mount Tamalpais. The highest peak in Marin County towered above all others, logging 16.6 inches of precipitation in 48 hours as of about 7:30 a.m. the Monday after the storm struck, according to the National Weather Service. The only other spot that even came close in the Bay Area was Venado, near Healdsburg in Sonoma County, with 14.3 inches. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: ‘The redwoods are rejoicing’: Why this location got the most rain in the Bay Area during the atmospheric river
Toxins long buried may surface as groundwater rises
“Water rising beneath the ground, pushed up by intruding salt water as sea levels rise, now impacts thousands of toxic waste sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. A six-month investigation by NBC Bay Area found that the threat from rising groundwater isn’t decades in the future but, in some cases, may be imminent. In many hot spots from the North Bay to the South Bay, UC Berkeley scientists told the Investigative Unit they’ve recorded groundwater already at or near the surface. Aside from the threat of floods, that water may bring with it a host of toxins from sites the Investigative Unit documented years ago as part of the legacy of Silicon Valley: toxic chemicals, liquids, solids and gases long buried underground. Experts tell NBC Bay Area those toxic chemicals could now seep into homes and businesses during a storm, a high-water event, or as groundwater rises. … .” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Toxins long buried may surface as groundwater risesFirst phase of wetland restoration project in Oakley nears completion
“A years-long effort by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to restore about 1,200 acres of tidal marsh to a natural state accomplished a major milestone when levees surrounding the property were breached last month. With the levee breach, tides will once again allow nutrient-rich water to flow in and out of newly restored wetlands. The ability of marshes to create food for the bottom of the food chain and the ability of the tides to carry those nutrients into the main river channels are expected to result in an improved ecosystem over time. ... ” Read more from The Press here: First phase of wetland restoration project in Oakley nears completion
Open Space Authority acquires Coyote Valley farmland
“The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority announced Nov. 1 that it has purchased 60 acres of farmland in the Coyote Valley as part of its mission to protect the region’s agricultural spaces. The acreage is located near the intersection of Laguna Avenue and Santa Teresa Boulevard in the Mid-Coyote Valley area. WP Investments LLC bought the land for more than $3 million with help from the California Department of Conservation and other groups, according to a news release Monday. … ” Read more from the Gilroy Dispatch here: Open Space Authority acquires Coyote Valley farmland
CENTRAL COAST
Seaside looks to develop Seaside East, even though there is no water to do so.
“The city of Seaside hosted a week-long, three-event charrette from Oct. 24-29 that asked the community one primary question: What kind of development would they like to see on Seaside East, a 625-acre parcel east of Gen. Jim Moore Boulevard that the city inherited from the former Fort Ord? The event ignored another question: Where is the water to serve the development? The exercise, which was delayed a year by the pandemic, was conducted by urban planning firm DPZ, which former city manager Craig Malin enthusiastically recruited for the process, saying the firm had written the book on eliminating urban sprawl. … ” Read more from the Monterey County Weekly here: Seaside looks to develop Seaside East, even though there is no water to do so.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Woodward on water: You can thank him & others for helping California prosper today
“Walter Woodward was a no nonsense kind of guy. He’s not the type who would think of spending $10,000 or so on a Jacuzzi built for two with a 42-inch plasma TV screen. It wouldn’t exactly be a judicial use of money, since the dam that carries his name was built 115 years ago for $600,000. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Woodward on water: You can thank him & others for helping California prosper today
Jackson Ranch wants to help Kettleman City
“The statewide drought has put small communities in a bind when it comes to water. Kettleman City may easily be the poster child. Benzine and arsenic in the water wells in this I-5 town led to state and federal help to build an $11 million water treatment plant in 2020 so the town could finally get clean water from the California Aqueduct that runs right through town. But now with the drought of 2021, the state says they can offer only a measly 96AF of water this coming year to run through this state-of-the-art plant. There is only a 5% allocation for water users on the westside of the Valley. That is not enough to supply the residents and businesses of Kettleman City this coming year — and in fact they are 214AF short, says Kettleman City Community Service District Engineer Brian Skaggs. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Jackson Ranch wants to help Kettleman City
Bakersfield: River march
“A march to bring awareness to the Kern River will take place November 13 in the dry river bed through Bakersfield. Local nonprofit Bring Back the Kern is organizing the protest march ahead of a hearing on the Kern River by the state Water Resources Control Board. That hearing will be held online Dec. 9. It is the first of what may be several phases to determine if there is any water available from a 2007 forfeiture of some water rights. Though the state hearing will be very narrowly focused on whether that forfeiture created any “loose” water, Bring Back the Kern is hoping the Water Board will take notice of public efforts to get water back into the river. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: River march
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Clarita: Nov. 23: Public Hearing on Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan
“The public is encouraged to attend a Tuesday, Nov. 23 meeting where the Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board of Directors will discuss a draft plan for long-term management of the local groundwater basin and address public comment. The Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) was presented to the Board in October, with a follow up discussion scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 23, where additional details will be provided for monitoring, evaluating, and responding to potential changes to groundwater dependent ecosystems that could result from groundwater pumping. Public comment provided to date will be reviewed and new public comment be considered. … ” Read more from SCV News here: Nov. 23: Public Hearing on Draft Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Residents attend ‘Santa Clarita River Lake’ presentation
“During a presentation in the Main Theater in Newhall on Wednesday, Santa Clarita residents heard one community member’s idea on how to combat the California drought through a major feat of civil engineering at the heart of the city. Standing before roughly 20 people on the Main Street stage, Santa Clarita resident John Pramik shared his proposal for what he is calling the “Santa Clarita River Lake” project — a rainwater collection system that would form an ecologically friendly, 90-surface-acre body of water in the Santa Clara Riverbed. … ” Read more from The Signal here: Residents attend ‘Santa Clarita River Lake’ presentation
The new, equitable era of the Los Angeles River
“Since the dawn of civilization, rivers have played an integral role in the building and preservation of villages, cities, and empires. Rivers are a key feature and asset to nearly every major metropolis across the United States — like New York, Chicago, San Antonio, and Boston, to name a few — as symbols of sustenance and innovation. Los Angeles, a center of innovation in many ways, does have a river, but in the context of the great rivers of the United States, it leaves a lot to be desired. Throughout the years, the Los Angeles River — which spans 51 miles from Canoga Park all the way to Long Beach — has gone through wavering periods of drought brought on by the growing threat of climate change. But more importantly, it has been a site of plain neglect by the cities that border the river, which holds a lot of potential for neighborhoods closest to it. … ” Read more from the Asian Journal here: The new, equitable era of the Los Angeles River
Commentary: Spare a good thought for OC Water
Tri Ta, mayor of Westminster and OCWD director, writes, “Last month, the water industry celebrated “Imagine a Day Without Water,” a national education campaign held on October 21 that encouraged us to reflect upon how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of continued investment. No water to drink, bathe, or manufacture products is a challenging concept to imagine. It allows us to fully appreciate the water resources, infrastructure, and dedicated professionals who play a role in delivering drinking water to us all. In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am even more thankful for the many water programs we have in place that ensure clean, safe water flows from your taps. ... ” Read more from Event News Enterprise here: Spare a good thought for OC Water
Redlands: Water agency invests $1.8 million in storm water capture
“The San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District is investing $1.8 million to increase storm water capture and recharge in the Yucaipa Basin. The project — called the Wilson III Basin — is primarily a flood control project to reduce flood risk in Yucaipa but will also help the area capture more of its own storm water for storage underground, increasing water supply reliability and enhancing the sustainability of the groundwater resources in the Yucaipa Basin. Valley District will contribute $1.8 million toward construction of the project through a partnership with the city of Yucaipa. ... ” Read more from Community News here: Water agency invests $1.8 million in storm water capture
Along the Colorado River …
Las Vegas curtails Colorado River use for new golf courses
“Amid region-wide drought, the Las Vegas Valley Water District on Tuesday passed a new regulation to prohibit new golf courses from using water from the over-tapped Colorado River. The rule change will apply to courses in the city of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, but not Henderson or North Las Vegas. New golf courses will still be able to use groundwater, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. “Restricting the use of municipal water resources for new non-essential, water-intensive uses such as golf courses will help to minimize additional stress on current water supplies and aid the District in maintaining reliable service to its customers,” the district said. … ” Read more from the AP here: Las Vegas curtails Colorado River use for new golf courses
No, closing Arizona’s golf courses would not alleviate the coming water shortage
“Arizona’s largest renewable water supply is losing water fast. The Colorado River, where Arizona gets more than one-third of its total water supply from through canals, lost 30% of its water last year. The drop was more drastic than many experts expected. Meanwhile, Arizona’s golf courses continue to have perfectly green grass. Numerous 12 News viewers have taken to comment sections in our water shortage stories advocating for the closure of golf courses to save water and alleviate the impending crisis. It makes sense. Having green grass in the middle of the desert is a luxury few can afford, especially on the scale golf courses operate. But, would cutting off water to all of that grass even make a dent in the oncoming water shortage? … ” Read more from Channel 12 here: No, closing Arizona’s golf courses would not alleviate the coming water shortage
Arizona’s relationship with water changed forever
Lynda Person, steering committee member of the Sustainable Water Network, writes, “The ugly “bathtub ring” currently visible at Lake Mead is a stark visual example that all is not well with our water supply and water policy. The hardworking Colorado River, which supplies Lake Mead, has been overallocated for decades and now growth, drought, and climate change are lowering water levels even further. Other Arizona rivers and creeks are facing a similar fate as the Colorado. Flowing rivers are in decline, water levels are decreasing and, in some places, drying up completely. For too long Arizona’s flowing rivers have been viewed as a resource to tame, exploit, and fuel growth. … ” Read more from Arizona Capital Times here: Arizona’s relationship with water changed forever
Colorado official: Plan needed for recovery of Blue Mesa water released to aid Powell
“A state water official said Thursday that the lessons learned from releasing water from Blue Mesa Reservoir and two other reservoirs to bolster supplies in Lake Powell will be considered when Colorado works with the federal Bureau of Reclamation regarding possible further such releases next year. “It’s important to note that those releases had significant impacts on the local economy,” Becky Mitchell, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, said during the annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum, presented in a virtual format this year by Colorado Mesa University’s Hutchins Water Center. … ” Read more from The Daily Sentinel here: Colorado official: Plan needed for recovery of Blue Mesa water released to aid Powell
In national water news today …
Biden admin revives talks on endangered species and pesticides
“A federal interagency task force on pesticides and endangered species has resumed its work after a long delay, pledging smoother consultations among EPA, the Interior Department and the Department of Agriculture. In a news release, EPA said the group met Oct. 15 and agreed on general priorities including working more closely with outside groups and using pilot programs to reduce pesticides’ effects on endangered species. At issue are the consultations among various agencies — also including the Council on Environmental Quality and NOAA — on the use of pesticides that might pose a threat to vulnerable wildlife and plants. The interagency working group was created through the 2018 farm bill but fizzled in practice. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Biden admin revives talks on endangered species and pesticides
Dem leaders aim for House votes amid final budget disputes
“With nearly no votes to spare, Democratic leaders tried resolving lingering concerns of moderate lawmakers Friday in hopes of finally pushing President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar domestic agenda t hrough the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other leaders met privately with a handful of centrists who say they want an official cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office before voting on a 10-year, $1.85 trillion social and environment bill. Democrats can lose no more than three votes in the narrowly divided House to pass the legislation. … ” Read more from the AP here: Dem leaders aim for House votes amid final budget disputes
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20211104Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Wetlands Tour~ BirdReturns Deadline~ Conveyance Workshop~ ISB Vacancies~ Assessment Feedback~~
NOTICE: SPK-2021-00278, Public Notice of (Permit Application), Black Rascal Creek Flood Control, Merced County, CA
