In California water news this weekend …
Klamath dam removal on track to begin early 2023
“Experts are “very confident” the decades-long goal of Klamath dam removal is slated to become a reality in 2023. Removal of PacifiCorp’s four dams along the Klamath River will open 420 miles of salmon-spawning habitat as well as improve water quality and reduce critical temperature conditions that cause and increase disease in fish. During a news briefing Friday, Mark Bransom, chief executive officer of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, or KRRC, said, “We are on the cusp of realizing a number of additional important and significant steps that will ultimately lead, we believe, to dam removal.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Klamath dam removal on track to begin early 2023
Proposed ballot initiative seeks new water investments
“A proposed California ballot initiative, which could appear before voters in November 2022, seeks greater state investment to increase the annual supply of water in California by 5 million acre-feet. The Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022 is now being circulated for signatures. It proposes to allocate 2% of the state’s general fund—currently equal to about $3.5 billion per year—for projects that increase California’s water supply. The measure has just fewer than 180 days to gather the necessary number of signatures from California voters to qualify for the ballot. If passed by voters, the initiative would permit as much as half of those funds to be used to finance large water-supply projects immediately. ... ” Read more from the California Farm Bureau Federation here: Proposed ballot initiative seeks new water investments
Map shows drought conditions in California before and after storms
“The new version of the federal U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday shows some improvement in drought conditions across California after two atmospheric river events delivered much-needed soakings of rain. The map classifies the level of dry conditions on a color-coded scale from “abnormally dry” (yellow) to “exceptional drought” (maroon). Exceptional drought conditions covered 45.66% of the state on Oct. 19, three days before the first big storm brought historic amounts of rain. In the new Nov. 11 map, 37.62% of the state was under the most severe drought conditions. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Map shows drought conditions in California before and after storms
Environmental documents released for proposed Sites Reservoir project
“Environmental documents for the Sites Reservoir Project in western Colusa County have been released, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday. Among the objectives of the $3.5 billion, 1.5 million-acre-foot reservoir and infrastructure is to provide water for Delta environmental concerns, including protection of the Delta smelt, project documents state. A public comment period is open through Jan. 11. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Environmental documents released for proposed Sites Reservoir project
Farming town near Bakersfield turns to pesticide-tainted water as well runs dry
“The San Joaquin Valley farm town of Teviston near Bakersfield has two wells. One went dry and the other is contaminated. The one functioning well failed just at the start of summer, depriving the hot and dusty hamlet of running water for weeks. With temperatures routinely soaring above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, farm workers bathed with buckets after laboring in the nearby vineyards and almond orchards. Even as officials restored a modicum of pressure with trucked-in water, and after the well was repaired, the hardships have endured. Teviston’s 400 to 700 people — figures fluctuate with the agricultural season — have received bottled drinking water since the well failed in June. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: Farming town near Bakersfield turns to pesticide-tainted water as well runs dry
Amid drought conditions, DWR provides support to communities throughout the Central Valley
“California and much of the Western United States is in the midst of an unprecedented drought intensified by climate change. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is taking immediate action to support California’s small and rural communities now, while also preparing for the potential of a third dry year. DWR has awarded approximately $65 million in Small Community Drought Relief funding in more than 16 counties across the state since the program’s inception earlier this summer. … ” Read more from DWR News here: Amid drought conditions, DWR provides support to communities throughout the Central Valley
California scores well on Surfrider Foundation report card
“A new national report by the Surfrider Foundation found that California continues to lead the nation when it comes to coastal policies that account for imminent climate change impacts. The study graded the performance of 30 U.S. coastal and Great Lake states. The report included Puerto Rico. Overall, 11 states earned a grade of “A” or “B” which demonstrates they are doing a good or better job of protecting their coastline. That is up from eight in last year’s report. … ” Read more from KPBS here: California scores well on Surfrider Foundation report card
California could start ranking extreme heat waves
“Hurricanes, tornadoes and even atmospheric river storms are ranked, based on their intensity, to help people prepare. Now, legislation that’s expected to be proposed in Sacramento would add heat waves to that list of dangerous-weather rankings. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Friday that he will sponsor a proposal by two Southern California legislators to develop a scale for heat waves with categories based on heat intensity and health impacts. The Legislature is not currently in session. The extreme heat rankings would provide early warnings to communities, allowing them to prepare for hazardous — and potentially deadly — heat waves. While the National Weather Service issues extreme heat warnings, these proposed intensity-based rankings would be the first in the nation, Lara said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California could start ranking extreme heat waves
Listen: For agriculture, a changing climate brings challenges—but also opportunities
“In many ways, climate change has already hit home here in the San Joaquin Valley—especially for the agricultural industry, which produces as much as a third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts and brings in billions of dollars each year to the local economy. Already, climate change is bringing higher temperatures, more variable precipitation and more extreme weather events like drought. But even though these changes herald significant problems for ag, they also present opportunities to adapt. For example, some crops can be switched out for more drought-tolerant varieties, and for others, the practice of deficit irrigation can deliver less water with few adverse impacts. In this interview, KVPR’s Kerry Klein spoke about those challenges and opportunities with Tapan Pathak, a professor and climate adaptation specialist with UC Merced and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.” Listen at KVPR here: Listen: For agriculture, a changing climate brings challenges—but also opportunities
Study shows that climate change is the main driver of increasing fire weather in the Western U.S.
“Although wildfire is part of the natural ecosystem cycle over the western U.S., its intensity and frequency has been increasing at an alarming rate in recent decades. A new study shows that climate change is the main driver of this increase in fire weather in the western United States. And even though wetter and cooler conditions could offer brief respites, more intense and frequent wildfires and aridification in the western states will continue with rising temperatures. … The leading cause of the rapid increase of wildfires over the western U.S. is the rapid increase of surface air vapor pressure deficit, or VPD, a measure of how thirsty the atmosphere is. When VPD is higher, the air is hot and dry and draws more moisture from soil and plants, which not only increases biofuel flammability, but also reduces river flows and reservoir levels. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: Study shows that climate change is the main driver of increasing fire weather in the Western U.S.
In commentary this weekend …
Don’t let a few ‘monster’ storms fool you, S.F.’s water supply is unsustainable
“Faced with a worsening drought and the ever-present threat of more wildfires, the Bay Area needed a miracle. And last month, it got one. An unexpected and almost unprecedented October deluge gave the Hetch Hetchy reservoir, the primary water supply for San Francisco and most of the Bay Area, a more than 21-foot bump in its water level. That’s an 11% boost; and the prospect of breaking the drought this rainy season suddenly no longer sounds impossible. But don’t let a “monster” weather event or two fool you; our situation remains dire. And our water supply problems are far bigger than the current drought cycle we remain trapped in. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle here: Don’t let a few ‘monster’ storms fool you, S.F.’s water supply is unsustainable
In people news this weekend …
San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Recognizes President Melody Henriques-McDonald for her 30 years on the Board
“The San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Board of Directors, staff, and community supporters gathered today to celebrate the many contributions of Board President Melody Henriques-McDonald, now in her 30th year of leadership on the Board. In 1991, the year she was first appointed to serve, California was in its fifth year of drought: the worst since the Dust Bowl. The governor had called on all communities to cut their water use by half. Then, a “Miracle March” dropped 240 inches of snow in the Sierra Mountains. Thirty years later, it was Gov. Gavin Newsom, not Pete Wilson, who in 2021 made the call to conserve. All over California, districts and the state work to find solutions to their water systems – but in the San Bernardino Valley, significant progress has long been made to dramatically improve the local water storage and reliability. And many credited Henriques-McDonald with helping to build the collaboration necessary to achieve those goals. … ” Read more from Cision here: San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Recognizes President Melody Henriques-McDonald for her 30 years on the Board
Meet the Nevada climatologist who helps write the U.S. Drought Monitor
Daniel Rothberg writes, ” … Since 2012, David Simeral, an associate research scientist at the institute, has played a role in helping draw the drought map each week. Simeral is one of nine national U.S. Drought Monitor authors, and he is the only one based in the West, where arid conditions are a defining feature throughout much of the region. Earlier this week, I met with Simeral in his office at the Desert Research Institute’s Reno campus to talk about how he creates the map and what data is used for it. Simeral is part of the Western Regional Climate Center, which is housed at the institute. … ” Continue reading at the Nevada Independent here: Meet the Nevada climatologist who helps write the U.S. Drought Monitor
FWS pick Martha Williams saddles up for a challenge
“Martha Williams played polo at the University of Virginia. It’s a distinctive sport that, much like the oversight of wildlife and public lands, demands both finesse and the spine to stay in the saddle. The Maryland native then ventured more than 2,000 miles west to attend law school in Montana, and she’s been moving back and forth in state and federal policy circles ever since. Now, at age 54, Williams is back East again, where her experience managing tricky challenges atop the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks helped launch her nomination to head the Fish and Wildlife Service. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold her confirmation hearing Wednesday, undoubtedly examining Williams’ track record in the state. … ” Read more from E&E News here: FWS pick Martha Williams saddles up for a challenge
Podcasts …
WHAT MATTERS PODCAST: Adel Hagekhalil
Adel Hagekhalil is the general manager of Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the largest water wholesaler in the United States serving more than 19 million Californians. Tune in to hear how he is thinking differently about water, the lessons he learned when things went wrong, and for fun, how his cooking style and leadership style match up. A national water and infrastructure leader, Hagekhalil joined MWD as its 14th general manager in July 2021. It is an important time as the water agency confronts challenges to water supply reliability brought by climate change impacts and drought conditions.
WATERLOOP PODCAST: Resilience is more than a buzzword
Resilience is one of the words frequently heard in discussions about water resources. But what does it actually mean? It’s important to have a common understanding of resilience, particularly as climate change accelerates water challenges and resilience becomes a critical goal, according to the Pacific Institute’s Jason Morrison, President, and Heather Cooley, Director of Research. In this episode they discuss the organization’s new definition of resilience as the ability of water systems to function so that nature and people, including those on the frontlines and disproportionately impacted, thrive under shocks, stresses, and change. Jason and Heather also talk about dimensions of resilience, the difference from sustainability and security, and ways that communities should take action.
WEST COAST WATER JUSTICE PODCAST: Fishermen facts behind Klamath Dam removal
We talk with Glen Spain, the North West Regional Director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA). Glen shares his experience over the last 40 years working with the Klamath Basin. We hear about how the community has come together to address critical concerns from farmers, landowners and cities, and how they’ve found a compromise in order to move forward. He shares data collected over half a century that overwhelmingly indicates that dam removal is the best option.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Living the Amish Life
How do Amish communities living in rural areas manage their water needs in today’s world? Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
RIPPLE EFFECT PODCAST: Corporate water stewardship
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher at the Pacific Institute, talks us through her organization’s work to implement the UN’s CEO Water Mandate. Great discussion on the state of corporate water stewardship and next phases in a changing world.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Counting every drop: Klamath Basin water year tracker
“The November 9 U.S. Drought Monitor map continues to place the entire Klamath Basin in some form of drought. The outlook has improved slightly in the Lower Basin since the end of September, but extreme and exceptional drought haven’t budged at its headwaters. The overall area of the Klamath Basin experiencing exceptional drought has dropped by 3.89 percent since the previous week’s drought assessment. The area under extreme drought has fallen by 8.91 percent. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Counting every drop: Klamath Basin water year tracker
WEIRD SCIENCE: The sky hoop will tell us about Ukiah Valley Basin’s groundwater aquifer
“If you were in the Ukiah Valley yesterday, you may have noticed a helicopter towing a giant hoop in the sky. That hoop is equipped with technology that will fill an important data gap as agencies across the state try to figure out how to better manage their groundwater aquifers. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) flew the helicopter over the area with Nordic company Skytem’s geophysical survey equipment attached to the giant hoop on Thursday, Nov. 11. The signals that equipment sends to and receives from the Earth provide invaluable data about the structure of the groundwater basin and aquifer, but not how much water is inside them, said Katherine Dlubac, who is on DWR’s airborne electromagnetic survey team. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: WEIRD SCIENCE: The sky hoop will tell us about Ukiah Valley Basin’s groundwater aquifer
SEE ALSO: Overflights surveying North Bay groundwater basins this weekend and early next week, from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
El Dorado Irrigation District OKs $225 million in capital improvements
“The capital improvement plan for the next five years was approved by the El Dorado Irrigation District Board of Directors on a 4-1 vote Nov. 8. Among the highlights of what Director George Osborne referred to as the district’s “strategic plan,” were $14 million to replace Flume 45, $2 million for design evaluation of Flume 46, a half-mile-long wooden flume that would be replaced by 2026. Flume 48 is pegged at $7 million and may be bypassed by a new tunnel. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: El Dorado Irrigation District OKs $225 million in capital improvements
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento: Power station reborn as science and curiosity museum
“A decades-long plan to turn an abandoned power station along the Sacramento River into a museum comes to fruition this weekend as the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity opens with exhibits and attractions like the UC Davis Multiverse Theater, a planetarium, and the UC Davis Health-sponsored Health Headlines and Innovation gallery. UC Davis entered into a 15-year, $2.5 million deal for the right to name the digital dome theater, while UC Davis Health entered into a 15-year, $3 million deal to name two health galleries. … ” Continue reading from UC Davis here: Power station reborn as science and curiosity museum
NAPA/SONOMA
Drought uncovers long-ago family homestead site hidden beneath Lake Mendocino
“Andy Mattern knew exactly what he was looking for as he scanned the receding edges of Lake Mendocino. Finally, he spotted the tops of a handful of wooden stakes protruding from the mud and bird droppings along the shoreline. Cut from virgin redwood almost a century earlier, those stakes had been driven into the ground by his grandfather, Lorenzo Fracchia, to support his grapevines. That was early in the 20th century, when there was no lake. Coyote Valley was home to a vibrant young settlement of immigrants from northern Italy, struggling farmers and families, the Fracchias among them. And now it was as if the drought-ravaged lake’s receding waters had opened a window to the past for Lorenzo Fracchia’s descendants. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Drought uncovers long-ago family homestead site hidden beneath Lake Mendocino
BAY AREA
Los Vaqueros Reservoir JPA inaugural meeting
“The eight agencies making up the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) met for the first time on Wednesday, November 10, and selected a Chair and Vice-Chair for a one-year term. This important milestone initiates the key decision making about governance related to implementing the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project (Project). Los Vaqueros Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir that was built and expanded by Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), with a current capacity of 160,000 acre-feet. Now, agencies representing urban, agricultural and wildlife refuge interests are partnering to further expand the capacity to 275,000 acre-feet and add new conveyance facilities providing environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality and recreational benefits. Those partnering agencies are working together through the newly formed JPA. ... ”
Early rainfall helping, but drought remains an issue in East Bay
“A lot has been made of Marin’s dramatic rainfall totals and reservoirs that are full or near capacity thanks to early storms, but for the East Bay, the rain season is just getting started. “If we have an above-average rain year, we might be able to get through this drought in one year,” says Oliver Symonds of the Contra Costa Water District. “But it may take several Winters to really recover from this drought.” For Contra Costa Water, excitement over the October and early November rain is a bit more restrained, as the district’s water comes from the Central Valley Project, the Delta, and farther north. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Early rainfall helping, but drought remains an issue in East Bay
Opinion: What San Jose residents can do to face extreme drought
Andy Gere, president and COO of San Jose Water Company, writes, “We’ve all seen the headlines: California is facing an extreme drought. But what does that really mean for San Jose residents, and what can we do about it? There are no easy answers, but as president of San Jose Water, I have a duty to our customers to put the best plan of action in place to preserve our way of life here in the Valley. There are still a lot of unknowns in terms of the weather patterns this winter and next. What I can assure you of is that SJW will never let our customers go without safe, reliable water — no matter what. That commitment will take a concerted team effort from everyone in our community in order to navigate this time of water scarcity. I’ll lay out briefly what we’re facing, what SJW customers can do to conserve water during this extreme drought, and how SJW can help. By making these small but meaningful adjustments in our daily lives, we can navigate this difficult time together safely. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Opinion: What San Jose residents can do to face extreme drought
CENTRAL COAST
140-year-old cattle ranch turns to wine to survive drought
“For decades, ranchers have had to adapt to the perpetual state of drought in California. It’s an accepted part of agriculture. While ranchers have methods to adapt in leaner years, many of them said this year’s drought has been different. For 140 years, Daniel Stinton’s family has owned and farmed 18,000 acres of land in San Luis Obispo on two farms called Avenales Ranch and Canyon Ranch. “My great-great grandfather purchased the properties in 1875,” Stinton said. Walking through the family’s pasture, as the cows watched with curiosity but keeping their distance, one thing was noticeably absent at the Avenales Ranch — green grass. Currently, the ranch is miles of dry amber grass and dust, as far as the eye can see. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: 140-year-old cattle ranch turns to wine to survive drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
March for the Kern River
“About 30 hardy souls marched the length of the dry Kern River bed — nine miles — from near Manor Street in east Bakersfield all the way to Stockdale Highway Saturday morning to protest the lack of water in the river. At the start of the hike, the group filled bottles and jugs with water from the river, which ends shortly after Manor Street as it’s divvied up by a hydra of irrigation canals. Another 40 or so hikers joined the long-haulers at the Calloway bridge in the afternoon and together they hiked the final mile to Riverwalk Park. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: March for the Kern River
Along the Colorado River …
The impact of Colorado River water shortages on Nevada
“In August 2021, the Colorado River captured the attention of the nation. In a first-of-its-kind decision, the federal government declared a water shortage on the river, which provides 90% of Southern Nevada’s water supply. Mandatory water delivery cuts, known as “Tier 1” reductions, followed for the states of Nevada and Arizona, as well as for the country of Mexico. Paired with expectations of a drier climate, these cuts have catalyzed a conversation about how the region’s water policies – and assumptions about future water availability – must be adapted. … ” Read more from Nevada Today here: The impact of Colorado River water shortages on Nevada
Utah’s water year is off to a banner start, with more storms to come. But will it keep it up?
“A casual observer might look at the 2,543% of median snowpack being logged in Utah’s Duchesne basin and become incredibly giddy — especially after suffering through the 2021 drought. Not so fast. Even a little bit of moisture above what is normal this time of year (and normal is dry) will severely skew the numbers and provide an extremely misleading picture of where the snowpack stands thus far. Utah’s water year started just a few weeks ago, so any type of moisture is bumping up the measurement to an obscene amount. … ” Read more from Deseret News here: Utah’s water year is off to a banner start, with more storms to come. But will it keep it up?
Though hated by House Republicans, infrastructure bill wins kudos from Utah water community
“Along the face of Utah’s Loafer Mountain, a deep trench is being cut from the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon to Santaquin to lay a 60-inch pipe that will deliver Colorado River Basin water to south Utah County residents. Utah’s Sen. Mitt Romney toured the construction area Friday to look at what Congress’s recently passed infrastructure bill is helping fund. “Two-thirds of the growth in Utah over the last decade was people being born and raised here. We grow in part because people who are born here want to live here,” the Republican senator said at a news conference on a quiet country lane running alongside verdant agricultural fields that will someday be sprawling subdivisions. “And so part of our job as elected officials is to make this a place where people can live and establish their families and get jobs.” And that means investing in costly water projects, like the Central Utah Project (CUP) completion, he said. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Though hated by House Republicans, infrastructure bill wins kudos from Utah water community
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Cal OES 2021 California Hazard Mitigation Grant Prograam
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT: Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program Stakeholder Workshops
