On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The Central Valley Flood Protection Board will meet beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a Declaring Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Paving a Path Forward for the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Bear River Setback Levee Project, and an update on American River Watershed Common Features projects. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: “The Great Drought of 2020-2021 – Is it over, and what are the challenges if it isn’t?” from 3pm to 4pm. This talk will review the drought so far, whether the record–setting rains of late October ended the drought, and look at prospects if the drought continues with one or more additional dry years. Some discussion will be made on California’s preparation for droughts, areas of insufficient preparation, and the impossibility of ending all drought impacts in this semi–arid state, especially with a warming and more variable climate.Speaker is Jay Lund. Join Zoom Meeting:https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/93722796133?pwd=a2FsKzBTUGVtOEovSTNVanRSNjZMdz09 Meeting ID: 937 2279 6133; Passcode: 92837
- FREE WEBINAR: Eel River Fall Chinook Status & Urgent Need to Restore the Lower Eel River from 5pm to 6:30pm. Fish Biologist and ERRP Managing Director will be joined by Wiyot Tribe Natural Resource Director Adam Canter to talk about Eel River Fall Chinook Status & Urgent Need to Restore the Lower Eel River. Presented by the Eel River Recovery Project. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Four valley groundwater plans fail to meet state standards – for now
“Four groundwater plans in the Central Valley — including those for Westlands Water District, Chowchilla Water District and the Merced and Eastern San Joaquin subbasins — don’t show how they will protect water quality, keep drinking water wells from going dry or stop already sinking land from sinking further, according to the Department of Water Resources. In short, those plans earned “D’s” in DWR’s first round of assessments of Central Valley groundwater plans. DWR expects to issue assessments on the remaining groundwater plans, about 36 that cover the valley from Madera to Kern counties, within the first two weeks of December. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: Four valley groundwater plans fail to meet state standards – for now
Four San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans deemed inadequate
“The state’s water agency today lambasted groundwater plans drafted by some of California’s largest and most powerful agricultural water suppliers in the San Joaquin Valley, indicating that they fail to protect drinking water supplies from over-pumping. The four large groundwater basins at stake underlie stretches of San Joaquin, Merced, Madera and Fresno counties that are home to nearly 800,000 people and more than a million acres of irrigated agriculture. The letters sent by the state Department of Water Resources to the local districts that manage the basins have a common theme: a failure to address how pumping, largely for growers, will harm the drinking water supplies of local communities. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Four San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans deemed inadequate
DWR releases second round of assessments of Groundwater Sustainability Plans
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its second round of assessments of groundwater sustainability plans developed by local agencies to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The first round of assessments was announced in June. DWR has assessed and approved plans for the Oxnard Subbasin and the Pleasant Valley Basin in Ventura County, and the North and South Yuba subbasins in Yuba County. These four plans were approved with recommended corrective actions the groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) will need to address in their next updated plan due by January 2025. The GSAs for these basins will continue implementing their plans to achieve SGMA’s goal of groundwater sustainability within 20 years. … ” Read more from DWR via Maven’s Notebook here: DWR Releases Second Round of Assessments of Groundwater Sustainability Plans
Column: Learning to love ag land retirement
Columnist John Lindt writes, “Between global warming, the California drought and the reality of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), Central Valley farmers are already taking land out of production. As we all know, the extreme drought has resulted in wells going dry and farmland in our area sinking. This has required expenditure of multi-millions of dollars to rebuild existing concrete canals both on the Westside and Eastside to deliver the Sierra water supply we all count on. We are not talking about new water or additional dam storage but existing infrastructure that has supplied farms and communities for decades. ... ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Column: Learning to love ag land retirement
This obscure laboratory on Donner Summit holds answers to California’s water future. But hardly anyone knows it exists.
“At the top of Donner Summit, an old cabin rests in a thicket of tall trees. The structure is three stories tall, including the basement. Still, in the heaviest of winters, the snow drifts are deep enough to bury the front door, so the only way into the building is through a window on the top floor. The cabin is the home of an obscure laboratory, called the Central Sierra Snow Lab, that holds records of snowfall on Donner Summit dating back to 1878. That makes the laboratory’s measurements one of the longest sets of data on snowfall in the world … ” Continue reading at SF Gate here: This obscure laboratory on Donner Summit holds answers to California’s water future. But hardly anyone knows it exists.
Water year off to strong start for Northern California
“The Water Year is off to a strong start across Northern California. The National Weather Service says nearly 16-inches of rain has been recorded at the Shasta Dam since October 1st. Normal for this time of year is about six-and-a-half inches. … ” Read more from KFBK here: Water year off to strong start for Northern California
California drought: 100% of the state remains in ‘Moderate Drought’
“As of Nov. 18, 80.3% of the state of California was in extreme drought and 37.6% was in exceptional drought. The percent of California in extreme drought and exceptional drought did not change since the prior week, according to drought.gov — a multi-agency partnership between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Integrated Drought Information System to report on drought levels. ... ” Read more from KSBY here: California drought: 100% of the state remains in ‘Moderate Drought’
The drought is going to stick around for a third year in California, federal scientists project
“California is likely to emerge from the winter with little relief from drought, federal climate experts said Thursday, setting the stage for a third year of dry weather and continuing water shortages. The monthly climate report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration projects that drought conditions will persist in almost all of California through February. With the next three months historically the state’s wettest, the opportunity for drought recovery is essentially lost. Many parts of California, including the Bay Area, are already having to ration water supplies while farmers statewide have been forced to irrigate less and contend with smaller harvests of grapes, rice, cotton and other crops. Another dry year would only exacerbate the hardship. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: The drought is going to stick around for a third year in California, federal scientists project
Third project meets continuing eligibility requirements, moves forward in Water Storage Investment Program
“The Chino Basin Conjunctive Use Environmental Water Storage/Exchange Program met the statutory deadline to ensure progress and remain eligible for Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) funding. Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, requires all WSIP applicants to complete their feasibility studies, release a draft version of their environmental documents for public review, provide the DWR director documentation of commitments for at least 75 percent of the non–program funding, and have the California Water Commission find their project feasible no later than January 1, 2022. At the November 17 meeting, the Commission found that the Chino Basin Program was feasible. … ” Read more from the California Water Commission here: Third project meets continuing eligibility requirements, moves forward in Water Storage Investment Program
CBS13 Investigates: What’s in your water?
“There’s been a lot of talk about drinking water over the past month. First, there was green tap water in Roseville that turned out to be safe, then a scathing grand jury report found a Sacramento water district didn’t notify residents of contaminated drinking water. Most of us don’t give our tap water a second thought until we see headlines like these. They now have some wondering — how do you really know what’s in your drinking water? … ” Read more from CBS 13 here: CBS13 Investigates: What’s in your water?
SoCal water tech company sees sales increase during drought
“Ryan Kim knows water is the most precious resource on the planet. It is critical to our survival. “I have come to appreciate water like never before,” he said. “You have more people needing the water and at the same time, the infrastructure that carries our water is decaying, falling apart.” According to the Environmental Protection Agency, one trillion gallons of water is wasted through leaky pipes and municipal plumbing systems every year in North America. It is why Kim founded Phyn, a water-saving tech company, in 2016. “All the water that’s being used in the house is going through this device,” Kim said, showing off the device. ... ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: SoCal water tech company sees sales increase during drought
California Public Utilities Commission issues order approving settlement reached in California American Water’s general rate case
“The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a final decision in California American Water’s General Rate Case at its meeting on November 18, 2021. The final decision adopts the comprehensive settlement California American Water reached with the CPUC’s Public Advocates Office, as well as two additional settlements reached with intervenors. Under the CPUC’s final decision, which is retroactive to January 1, 2021, California American Water will be authorized additional annualized water and wastewater revenues of $17.9 million for test year 2021, $7.7 million for escalation year 2022 and $7.7 million for attrition year 2023. … ” Read more from Yahoo News here: California Public Utilities Commission issues order approving settlement reached in California American Water’s general rate case
In commentary today …
Pull the plug on proposed California water ballot measure
The Mercury News editorial board writes, “Say this for Central Valley Republicans and Big Ag backers: When it comes to proposing water projects that benefit Central Valley farmers at the expense of urban users and the state’s fragile environment, they are as persistent as an annoying, leaky faucet. … The latest scheme comes in the form of a proposed 2022 ballot measure that would require 2% of California’s general fund — about $4 billion a year — be set aside to fast-track water projects with limited environmental review. Locking in funding for a single issue for what likely would be decades is seldom a good idea because it ties the Legislature’s hands in lean years and doesn’t account for changing needs in the future. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Pull the plug on proposed California water ballot measure
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
‘No matter what, you keep these dances going’ | The Hoopa tribe’s struggle for water
“Every two years just before the salmon run in the fall, ceremony leader Merv George, Jr. gathers members of the Hoopa tribe to perform what’s called the “White Deer Skin Dance.” The ceremony involves a 10-day canoe ride down the Trinity River in Northern California. The White Deer Skin dance is essential to Hoopa culture, and its origin is told through a story that starts with a trickster. The trickster, named Coyote, wanted to steal a woodpecker blanket from the Kahani, which are the tribe’s spirits. “He knew the Kahani were going to want their blanket back and they were going to be chasing him. So, he built a big bow up on Bald Mountain and shot himself to get away,” George said. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: ‘No matter what, you keep these dances going’ | The Hoopa tribe’s struggle for water
Trail association, forest service plan 46-mile expansion near Mount Shasta
“The Mount Shasta Trail Association and the US Forest Service are in the process of adding 46 miles to the popular Gateway Trail system on National Forest Service land adjacent to Mount Shasta. Funding for the expansion came from a Prop 68 grant for building new trails. The existing trail network includes 11 miles of non-motorized, multi-use trails for hiking, trail running, biking and equestrian use. Current efforts include adding routes extending higher up the slopes of Mt. Shasta. These will include a connection to the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, the Nordic Center and the south end of the city. … ” Read more from the Mount Shasta Herald here: Trail association, forest service plan 46-mile expansion near Mount Shasta
Financier Dean Witter’s Northern California ranch along Eel River to become public park
“A ranch in remote Northern California once owned by the late financier Dean Witter has been sold to a nature conservancy that plans to convert into a park, providing public access to a wild and scenic stretch of the Eel River for the first time. The nonprofit Wildlands Conservancy announced Wednesday it closed escrow on the nearly 30,000-acre, $25 million property and will rename it Eel River Canyon Preserve, after the 196-mile river that runs from the Mendocino National Forest to the Humboldt County coast. The property features a 10-bedroom lodge and a stretch of mountains and valleys that is home to two herds of Roosevelt elk. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Financier Dean Witter’s Northern California ranch along Eel River to become public park
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Levee completed for Hamilton City
“Reclamation District 2140’s set-back levee outside of Hamilton City is completed, lessening flood concerns for the small Glenn County town. The levee project officially reached completion Tuesday, though there is still some construction on the edge of the land surrounding the Sacramento River where trees and other flora are projected to be planted. According to an announcement from the district, the set-back levee spans 6.8 miles of the Sacramento River east of Hamilton City and has been in the making for some time. The levee is part of a larger-scope plan called the Hamilton City Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Levee completed for Hamilton City
‘It’s itching and burning’: Sacramento flood victims complain of skin burns after cleaning up
“Flood victims in North Sacramento just can’t get a break. Jill Perlman has been cleaning up ever since a historic rainstorm left Life Storage off Pell Drive sitting in floodwater. Now multiple people, including Perlman, are complaining of burns on their skin and trouble breathing. “I reached out to my doctor and said I need something and they prescribed an inhaler for me just to keep everything clear,” said Perlman. … ” Read more from CBS 13 here: ‘It’s itching and burning’: Sacramento flood victims complain of skin burns after cleaning up
Stantec: Sacramento’s McKinley Park reopens to the public with above-ground amenities and below-ground stormwater storage
“Sacramento’s McKinley Park recently reopened with multiple new amenities-including a 6-million-gallon underground water vault to catch stormwater and help ease flooding in the community. McKinley Park and much of East Sacramento historically experiences flooding during heavy rainfall events. Due to the area’s combined sewer system, big storms would often cause the combined storm and wastewater to overflow into the streets, and onto personal properties. Global design firm Stantec worked with the City of Sacramento Department of Utilities to design a solution to alleviate flooding, while preserving the aesthetic and recreational value of this popular and historic city park. … ” Read more from Marketplace here: Stantec: Sacramento’s McKinley Park reopens to the public with above-ground amenities and below-ground stormwater storage
Solano County asks State to allocate $1.25 million to improve flood protection for Rio Vista
“The Board of Directors for the Little Egbert Joint Powers Agency (LEJPA) applauded action by the Solano County Board of Supervisors to request $1.25 in state funding to improve flood protection for the City of Rio Vista. The county’s action was based on a joint request made by LEJPA and Rio Vista, which are partnering to reduce flood risk to the city. If approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the funding will be utilized to conduct investigations to improve Mellin Levee and adjacent levee facilities north of Rio Vista. “This funding will help accelerate an important element of enhancing flood protection for the Rio Vista community, as identified in the 2020 Flood Control Feasibility Study,” said Rio Vista Mayor Ronald Kott. “We appreciate the county’s action and our working partnership with LEJPA to explore effective, cost efficient and sustainable solutions to the flood system deficiencies identified near the Mellin Levee.” … ”
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa River flood control project phase moves toward anticipated 2024 groundbreaking
“After a lengthy delay, the Napa River flood control project is moving forward with an infusion of $48.3 million in federal funds. But the next phase of the project will still require a few more years to break ground. The project, a partnership between the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will eventually result in the installation of flood walls north and south of Lincoln Avenue in the city of Napa. After that, another phase of flood control will take place along Riverside Drive, south of Downtown Napa. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa River flood control project phase moves toward anticipated 2024 groundbreaking
BAY AREA
North Marin Water District to stockpile Russian River supplies
“To ensure its only reservoir for the Novato area doesn’t go dry if the drought persists, the North Marin Water District plans to spend potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars to stockpile imported Russian River water this winter. The district, which serves 60,000 Novato area residents, has employed the same strategy in past droughts, including last winter when it pumped in $405,000 worth of Russian River water into its Stafford Lake reservoir in anticipation of a dry year. The district’s prediction proved true: The winter of 2020-2021 was the district’s driest on record. Stafford Lake would have gone dry this summer had the district not added the extra supplies. ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: North Marin Water District to stockpile Russian River supplies
Marin Municipal Water District weighs developer mandates
“Developers in central and southern Marin County could be required to pay tens of thousands of dollars in new fees or add water-saving upgrades to their projects under a proposal to reduce demand on water supplies. After facing the potential of running out of water during the drought, the Marin Municipal Water District board is considering requiring future projects in its jurisdiction to have a net-zero demand on reservoirs. While recent rains have eased concerns about the district’s water supply, board members say the drought has shown the need for new approaches for conservation, including for developments. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin Municipal Water District weighs developer mandates
San Jose water officials set tough new drought restrictions for customers
“As federal scientists predict California is likely to see little relief from the drought this winter, one South Bay water company is handing down it’s toughest drought restrictions in years. San Jose Water officials recently got the green light from the California Public Utilities Commission to impose drought surcharges to customers who use more water than they’re supposed to. “You’ve got to conserve, or we’ll have to charge you these surcharges,” said San Jose Water spokesperson Liann Walborsky. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: San Jose water officials set tough new drought restrictions for customers
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz mountain community struggles with unreliable, unsafe water service
“In Boulder Creek, a small community nestled deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, frustration over an unreliable water supply is growing. … For the past year, nearly 500 residents in Boulder Creek under the privately-owned Big Basin Water Company have dealt with repeated water outages because of an aging and deteriorating water system. The residents said they also deal with delays in being notified they must boil their water when service resumes, according to the Parks and Apostol. Sometimes, they say, they don’t get a “no boil advisory” notification for more than 24 hours. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Santa Cruz mountain community struggles with unreliable, unsafe water service
The city of Seaside issues a moratorium on new housing, disguised as a moratorium on new water hookups
“Ostensibly, Seaside has a water problem: The Seaside Basin, which is part of the water supply that serves the greater Monterey Peninsula via California American Water (which has the rights to pump a certain amount of water every year from the aquifer), has long been overdrafted. The water rights for users of the basin, including pumping limits, were adjudicated in court in 2006. … And while the basin has been overdrafted for decades, the city put no restriction on new water connections within its system until Nov. 4, when the City Council voted 4-1 to approve a moratorium that would preclude subdividing a property and adding a new water meter. ... ” Read more from Monterey County Weekly here: The city of Seaside issues a moratorium on new housing, disguised as a moratorium on new water hookups
State appeals court overturns the Coastal Commission’s approval of Rancho Los Robles development.
“In a decisive rebuke of the California Coastal Commission, the state’s Sixth District Court of Appeal issued a ruling Nov. 15 that orders the agency’s 2017 approval of the Rancho Los Robles project—which would have transformed over 33 acres in Las Lomas into 54 housing units—be vacated because the commission didn’t complete a full environmental review before approval. Additionally, the court ordered the developer, Heritage Western Communities, Ltd., to pay the legal costs of appellants Friends, Artists and Neighbors of Elkhorn Slough (FANS) and LandWatch. … ” Read more from the Monterey County Weekly here: State appeals court overturns the Coastal Commission’s approval of Rancho Los Robles development.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCV Water Agency implements water conservation plan
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency implemented stage one of its Water Shortage Contingency plan and Water Conservation and Water Supply Shortage Ordinance to reduce water waste as drought conditions take a toll on California. According to the agency, California has entered its third year of drought and water reservoirs remain at critically low levels. These conditions prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to proclaim a statewide drought state of emergency and called on Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15%. … ” Read more from The Signal here: SCV Water Agency implements water conservation plan
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
GeoFlight takes to the air to help identify geothermal and mineral resources at the Salton Sea
“The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) and the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have recently launched the GeoFlight: Salton Trough initiative. Together, GTO and USGS are collecting data on hidden geothermal systems in California’s agriculturally rich Imperial Valley; the centerpiece of this valley is the geothermally active Salton Sea. Using specially equipped, low-flying aircraft, researchers with the USGS Earth Mapping Resource Initiative will survey the Salton Trough area. Their tools actively capture airborne magnetic and radiometric data that help identify unique surface and near-surface characteristics to create more accurate geologic maps for the area. Understanding these characteristics is essential to geothermal exploration and development. Ultimately this will help deploy renewable energy in a thoughtful, responsible, and economic manner. … ” Read more from the USGS here: GeoFlight takes to the air to help identify geothermal and mineral resources at the Salton Sea
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County supervisors support more public access to lakes, reservoirs
“The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to direct the Department of Parks and Recreation to work with outside agencies to keep regional lakes and reservoirs indefinitely open for recreational activities. Supervisor Joel Anderson, who made the proposal, said keeping such resources open “is vital to the health and wellness of those who live in the Back Country.” … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: San Diego County supervisors support more public access to lakes, reservoirs
Along the Colorado River …
‘The young fish just did not survive this year’: Officials release early findings of Lake Powell survey
“Teams of biologists and volunteer anglers recently concluded the annual survey of fish in Lake Powell, and their early findings reflect an extremely poor water year. Richard Hepworth, aquatics manager with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Southern Region office, said the two-week survey is conducted each year at the end of October and the beginning of November – allowing time for spawned fish populations to stabilize after spawning. “The one thing that stood out to me the most was the lack of young-of-the-year fish,” Hepworth said. … ” Read more from the St. George Spectrum here: ‘The young fish just did not survive this year’: Officials release early findings of Lake Powell survey
Report shows most Grand Canyon groundwater meets federal uranium standards
“The U.S. Geological Survey has released a first-of-its-kind study of uranium levels found in Grand Canyon National Park’s groundwater. It’s part of a long-term effort to try to determine the potential impacts of uranium mining in the area. USGS released its findings after surveying water samples from from 180 springs and 26 wells between September 1981 and October 2020. Nearly 95% of the locations had concentrations of uranium below the federal maximum drinking water standard. The report doesn’t draw any conclusions but establishes a baseline to show possible changing water chemistry. … ” Read more from KNAU here: Report shows most Grand Canyon groundwater meets federal uranium standards
In national water news today …
Department of Energy releases new tool to aid pumped storage hydropower project development
“The Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) recently launched the Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) Valuation Tool, a web-based platform that takes users through the valuation process presented in the Pumped Storage Hydropower Valuation Guidebook. … the development and deployment of new PSH projects is a large undertaking with high capital costs and can seem daunting without the ability to calculate the value of PSH plants and their associated services. To help more developers accurately calculate the full value potential of a PSH project, a team from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory created the PSH Valuation Tool to guide users through the 15-step valuation process. … ” Read more from the Department of Energy here: Department of Energy releases new tool to aid pumped storage hydropower project development
Biden administration acts to restore clean-water safeguards
“The Biden administration took action Thursday to restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, undoing a Trump-era rule that was considered one of that administration’s hallmark environmental rollbacks. At issue is a regulation sometimes referred to as “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, that defines the types of waterways qualifying for federal protection under the Clean Water Act. The regulation has long been a point of contention among environmental groups, farmers, homebuilders, lawmakers and the courts. The announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army reinstates a rule in place before 2015 while the Biden administration arrives at its own, which is expected to be next year. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Biden administration acts to restore clean-water safeguards
SEE ALSO:
- Biden administration takes step toward reversing Trump water regulations rollback, from The Hill
- Biden administration repeals Trump’s water rule, from the Western Farm Press
Infrastructure bill unleashes funding to address risky dams
“States will soon be flooded with federal money to address a pent-up need to repair, improve or remove thousands of aging dams across the U.S., including some that could inundate towns or neighborhoods if they fail. The roughly $3 billion for dam-related projects pales in comparison to the tens of billions of dollars going to roads, rails and high-speed internet in the $1 trillion infrastructure plan signed Monday by President Joe Biden. But it’s a lot more than dam projects had been getting. The money could give “a good kick-start to some of these upgrades that need to be done to make the dams as safe as possible,” said David Griffin, manager of Georgia’s Safe Dams Program and president-elect of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. … ” Read more from the AP here: Infrastructure bill unleashes funding to address risky dams
Half the U.S. would qualify for flood program aimed at poor
“Households with income as high as $150,000 a year could get priority for federal flood-mitigation aid under the infrastructure law that President Biden signed Monday. The law contains unprecedented funding for flood-mitigation projects, but it makes only a halfhearted effort to steer the money to disadvantaged communities that the Biden administration has prioritized for climate protection. … “It helps, but not that much,” said Carlos Martín, a scholar at the Brookings Institution and expert on disaster assistance. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Half the U.S. would qualify for flood program aimed at poor
U.S. to back global treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution
“The United States will support a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced yesterday at U.N. Environment Programme headquarters. Blinken made the announcement while in Nairobi, Kenya, during the Biden administration’s first trip to the African continent. Negotiations for the global agreement to combat ocean plastic pollution will be launched at the U.N. Environment Assembly in February 2022. “Our goal is to create a tool that we can use to protect our oceans and all the life that they sustain from growing global harms of plastic pollution,” Blinken said. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: U.S. to back global treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
YOUR INPUT WANTED: Available for Public Review: Draft 2022-2026 Science Action Agenda
NOTICE: Applications close Dec. 6, 2021 for drinking water debt relief program
