On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The State Water Board will meet beginning at 9am. The Board will discuss upcoming actions to update and implement the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
- VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: San Francisco Estuary Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program from 10am to 12pm. You are invited to learn what the emerging Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program is all about at the WRMP Virtual Open House. Learn more about this ambitious program linking science to management to foster wetland resilience. The Open House will cover progress made over the past several years, plans for the future, and ways to get engaged. Register in advance here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
- WEBINAR: Upcoming DPR Regulations and the Impact on Operations from 10am to 1pm. California and Nevada face growing water shortages and the interest in advanced water treatment and reuse have never been higher. Join the California Water and Environment Associaton’s series of webinars to learn about the Advanced Water Treatment Operator® (AWTO) certification program, upcoming water reuse regulations and more. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Environmental Justice Brown Bag Seminar: Climate Justice from 12pm to 1pm. This last seminar in the series will touch on themes of environmental justice relevant to issues in California and the Delta. Scholars and public service experts will speak on the importance of environmental justice as it pertains to state water management, climate resilience, indigenous stewardship, and management of the Delta. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Science and Technology Advances that Benefit FIRO from 12pm to 1:30pm. This webinar will include opening remarks on progress to date, update on Atmospheric River forecasting tools, new developments in Atmospheric River Reconnaissance, and recent accomplishments from NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Wetland Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP)-From Management to Mapping with a Geospatial Lens from 2pm to 3:30pm. Learn more about how geospatial insight is being used to guide coordinated habitat restoration monitoring and management at various scales in the San Francisco Estuary and beyond. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Delta Conveyance Stakeholder Engagement Committee from 3pm to 6pm. Agenda items include DWR CEQA Status Update, Updated intake conceptual design, overall review of conceptual design, ongoing DCA outreach efforts, and proposed SEC sunset process. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Toward a Disaster Resilient California: Remote Sensing Technologies for Water Resilience from 3pm to 4pm. Join the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) for a panel of experts including Forrest Melton (NASA Ames), Peter Nico (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), and JT Reager (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), who will discuss remote sensing technologies and their use in monitoring groundwater and addressing drought resilience. Click here to register.
- GRA SoCAL BRANCH: 20 Years of CSUF Research from the Mojave to the Ocean from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Over the past two decades, Dr. W. Richard Laton has guided over 100 California State University, Fullerton students in research projects required for graduation. The students have been seeking both graduate and undergraduate degrees in the departments of Geology and Environmental Studies. Dr. Laton’s students have worked their way from the outskirts of the Mojave Desert to the Pacific Ocean and from Mexico to Bakersfield.We will explore this range of student work that has expanded our database and knowledge of the geology, ecology, hydrology and hydrogeology of California. Click here to register.
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In California water news today …
Significant pattern change underway; wetter & cooler conditions likely through at least mid-December
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “It has been a pretty interesting autumn, weather-wise, across much of North America. Record precipitation and severe flooding were observed in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia; meanwhile, record warmth and dryness occurred across much of the interior West and Great Plains. In California, autumn 2021 proved to be a major departure from recent years, as a record-breaking atmospheric river event in October doused much of the northern half of state with extremely heavy rainfall that accounted for more than the entire average precipitation for the entire autumn season in just 2 days. Aside from that October event, though, precipitation has been very low statewide and temperatures have generally been well above average (except for some Central Valley folks stuck under a persistent layer of tule fog most days). … The good news is that there is a high likelihood of a major pattern change that will bring widespread rain (and mountain snow) to California over the next 10-14 days. … ” Read the full post at Weather West here: Significant pattern change underway; wetter & cooler conditions likely through at least mid-December
Rain possible next week in some parts of drought-stricken California, including SoCal
“Parts of drought-stricken California may get some rain next week, forecasters said Friday. A weak weather system passing through Monday and early Tuesday will bring chances of rain to the northern end of the Central Valley and over the mountains, the Sacramento National Weather Service office said. After a return of high pressure, another system is expected to move in on Thursday, bringing a better chance of precipitation to that region, the office said. … ” Read more from KTLA here: Rain possible next week in some parts of drought-stricken California, including SoCal
Judge reviews biological opinions in water dispute
“A federal judge is reviewing a proposed order requesting approval of an interim operations plan for 2022 that would affect Central Valley Project and State Water Project agricultural water users. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Drozd in Fresno is reviewing legal filings submitted last month by the Biden administration in consultation with the Newsom administration. The proposed order involves an interim operations plan that governs how to protect fish and wildlife in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta during coordinated operations of the Central Valley and state water projects. For different reasons, agricultural water users and environmental groups also opposed the current plan, with the court for the Eastern District of California in a legal referee role and no final resolution reached yet. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Judge reviews biological opinions in water dispute
Who should pay to fix California’s sunken canals?
“California’s San Joaquin Valley is one of the richest agricultural regions in the world, but growers there have a problem: Unfettered groundwater pumping has caused the land to sink and the regional canal system to break. If the agencies in charge of the canals don’t fix them, water deliveries to thousands of farms and some cities across the valley’s $25 billion agricultural economy will continue to be affected, impacting everyone from farm owners to low-wage farmworkers. But repairs are complicated and expensive. The Friant Kern Canal — the waterway that is furthest along in repairs — will eventually cost nearly $1 billion to fix. The 152-mile-long canal pulls water from the distant San Joaquin River through monocropped acres of vines, trees and vegetables. It is an essential artery for agribusiness, and so growers and their irrigation districts — and the politicians who represent them — want the expenses to be partially covered with taxpayer money. But there’s an issue with the sales pitch. … ” Read more from High Country News here: Who should pay to fix California’s sunken canals?
Water use drops 13% as California preps mandatory cutbacks
“Revisiting valuable habits learned during the previous drought, California cities and businesses slashed water use over 13% in October compared to a year ago. Though still shy of Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for a 15% cut in urban water use, the state’s drought regulator said the latest figure indicates Californians are returning to their stingy ways at the tap. “These numbers are very heartening and it’s good to see that Californians are responding,” said Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Water use drops 13% as California preps mandatory cutbacks
As drought worsens, officials say mandatory water cuts likely coming for urban Californians
“With the drought showing no signs of abating, California officials announced Wednesday they plan to deliver almost no water from the State Water Project to begin next year — and suggested that mandatory cutbacks in urban usage could come if conditions stay dry. Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources, said the various cities and farm-irrigation districts that belong to the State Water Project — the elaborate state-run network of reservoirs and canals — are getting “essentially a zero allocation” to start 2022. While conditions could improve if the winter turns wet, it marks the first time that the project has announced a zero allocation initially for the upcoming year. The project delivered a 5% allocation in 2021. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: As drought worsens, officials say mandatory water cuts likely coming for urban Californians
SEE ALSO: Californians Cut Water Use 13% in October; Still Behind Goal, from US News and World Report
California considers $500 fines for water wasters as drought worsens, conservation lags
“As California descends deeper into drought, officials are growing increasingly troubled by dwindling water supplies and the public’s lackluster response to calls for conservation, with residents in recent months falling short of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for a voluntary 15% reduction in usage. Now, as the West tips toward crisis, state water regulators are considering adopting emergency regulations that will prohibit certain actions in an attempt to curtail water waste and help conserve supplies. If approved, the proposal could usher in a wave of water regulations that hearken back to previous droughts while underscoring the seriousness of the current one. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California considers $500 fines for water wasters as drought worsens, conservation lags
Snowpack is off to a poor start in the West, bad news amid widespread drought
“December marks the start of meteorological winter — when temperatures plunge, heavy coats are in fashion and kids begin picking their teams for snowball fights. But the snow season usually starts in October in the Rocky Mountains. By the end of November, snow depth on the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and eastward to the interior Rockies typically ranges from 2 inches at lower elevations to over 20 inches on the highest elevations. So what have we seen this year? Unfortunately, not much. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Snowpack is off to a poor start in the West, bad news amid widespread drought
Listen: What would the Sierra Nevada look like with no snowpack?
“Sierra Nevada snowpack, a vital water source for California, could vanish within the next 25 years, according to a new study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. While scientists have tracked and warned about diminishing levels of snow covering the Sierra Nevada for years, the new research provided a more specific timeline about when California could reach a no-snow reality and what that means from a scientific perspective. The study’s authors, however, want their study to not just alarm people, but also push them to change behaviors and policies to slow down or reverse the loss of snow in the Sierras. We’ll talk about how climate change is reducing the Sierra snowpack and what that means for the state.” Listen at KQED here: What would the Sierra Nevada look like with no snowpack?
SEE ALSO: Study: Big Sierra snow droughts ahead in the next 30 years, from Channel 10
Officials sign California-Denmark water collaboration agreement
“On Nov. 30 the city of Oceanside, Calif. and Denmark officials celebrated the signing of the California-Denmark agreement for water sector collaboration on Water Technology Day 2021. The memorandum of understanding is between the Danish Water Technology Alliance and the San Diego Regional Water Tech Alliance. The Danish Water Technology Alliance (WTA-DK) builds bridges between the North American and Danish water sector, with the aim of sharing information and fostering collaboration. The event was held at Oceanside’s San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility in the Pure Water Oceanside center, to highlight the project and educate the delegation. … ” Read more from Water World here: Officials sign California-Denmark water collaboration agreement
Water agencies, farmers to get nothing from state
“Water agencies serving millions of residents and nearly a million acres of farmland will not receive any surface water from the state next year amidst “unprecedented drought conditions,” state officials announced last week. On Dec. 1, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its initial State Water Project (SWP) allocation of 0% for 2022 along with several steps to manage the state’s water supply in anticipation of a third dry year with reservoirs at or near historic lows. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Water agencies, farmers to get nothing from state
Reclamation launches new prize competition to improve snowpack water forecasts
“The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a new prize competition for improved snowpack water forecast techniques throughout the West. Developing better techniques to determine the amount of water stored as snowpack provides water managers more accurate information to make better water management decisions. This competition is divided into two tracks. In track one, participants develop a model and calibrate it using historical information. The effectiveness and accuracy of the test model will be evaluated during the winter and spring using real-time snowpack measurements. For track two, models in the first track are eligible to submit a report that discusses their solution and approaches to solving the problem in track one. … ” Continue reading at the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation launches new prize competition to improve snowpack water forecasts
Arizona and California LGMA programs meet and exceed FDA’s proposed water rule
“On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the release of a proposed revision to Subpart E (Agricultural Water) of the Produce Safety Rule (PSR). The LGMA Food Safety Programs in Arizona and California BB #:210653 have conducted an initial review of FDA’s proposal and have determined that the LGMA requirements appear to meet and exceed what is in the proposed new rule. The LGMA programs have always required growers to assess and test their water because it can be a potential carrier of pathogens. … ” Read more from the Produce Blue Book here: Arizona and California LGMA programs meet and exceed FDA’s proposed water rule
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s service area is growing
“For 17-plus years, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy has been successfully supporting efforts to improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada region. Starting next year, the state agency will add nearly two million more acres to its service area, including vital Northern California forests and water sources, such as Shasta Lake. Starting January 1, 2022, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s boundary will expand into parts of Siskiyou and Trinity counties, while also including more of Shasta County. Currently, the service area includes 25 million acres in 22 counties. After the new year, it will include all or part of 24 counties and increase its area to nearly 27 million acres. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: The Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s service area is growing
After long delay, California lawmakers hold wildfire oversight hearing
“California lawmakers held an oversight hearing Tuesday to discuss catastrophic wildfires and how the state plans to spend this year’s record-setting investment to prevent them. Lawmakers originally called for the hearing over the summer, after CapRadio published a series of investigative stories that found Gov. Gavin Newsom significantly overstated his administration’s accomplishments on wildfire prevention. But Assembly member Richard Bloom (D–Santa Monica), who chairs the budget subcommittee that scheduled the hearing, pushed it back as Cal Fire battled another devastating fire season. The hearing shed some light onto how the state plans to spend the $1.5 billion allocated this year for forest management and wildfire prevention. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: After long delay, California lawmakers hold wildfire oversight hearing
‘Fire season never really ends in California’: Cal Fire is preparing for winter, but fire dangers persist
“At the tail end of one of California’s most destructive wildfire seasons, Cal Fire units across Northern California are winding down some of their operations as they prepare for winter. But even with the worst fires conditions now behind us, fire officials are urging people to stay prepared and avoid complacency through the winter months. By Dec. 13, nine of Northern California’s 12 Cal Fire units — including the San Mateo-Santa Cruz and Sonoma-Lake-Napa units — will have effectively declared the end of the 2021 fire season, a couple of weeks earlier than they did in 2020. That means the units can lift residential burn restrictions as they transition to fire prevention strategies that they hope will make next summer less intense. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: ‘Fire season never really ends in California’: Cal Fire is preparing for winter, but fire dangers persist
In commentary today …
Commentary: Central Valley has huge potential to store carbon underground & help slow climate change
Vanessa Suarez of Tulare, a senior policy advisor with Carbon180, writes, “The holidays are in full swing, and as we reflect on 2021, we must acknowledge overwhelming climate impacts experienced by California communities. This year was an inflection point, with many Californians concerned about climate change. The good news is the new year brings new possibilities, including a little known but rapidly emerging climate opportunity for the Central Valley. Underneath the Central Valley are rock structures well-suited for storing large amounts of carbon dioxide for a long time (close to California’s 2017 electricity emissions per year for 1,000 years). Storing carbon in deep underground rock formations is a climate tool known as geologic carbon storage. The Central Valley has one of the country’s largest geologic carbon storage potentials, presenting a major climate opportunity. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Central Valley has huge potential to store carbon underground & help slow climate change
Column: Desalination plant company not shy about asking for government handouts
Columnist Steve Lopez writes, “We all know we’re in the midst of a terrible drought in California. And we all know we’ve got an 1,100-mile coastline. Is desalination the answer to our problems? No. It comes after water conservation and recycling, and is just one tool among many that might prevent the state from going dry. But not all desalination plants are created equally, nor do all of them maximize environmental protection. And there may be no more controversial project than the one proposed for Huntington Beach. If we know anything by now about Poseidon Water, whose parent is a Canadian company that controls $650 billion in assets globally, it’s that these people are not shy about asking for public financial incentives to build desalination plants in California. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Column: Desalination plant company not shy about asking for government handouts
Today’s featured article …
DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Climate Change
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) hosted four informational webinars between July and September 2021 to provide background information related to the preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project. This post covers the third webinar in the series that focused on the climate change analysis for the project.
The Delta Conveyance Project is a proposal by the Department of Water Resources to create an additional point of diversion in the northern Delta along the Sacramento River and a tunnel to convey water under the Delta to the export facilities in the South Delta. The controversial project has been sought for decades and has gone through several iterations: most recently, the California Water Fix and, before that, the Bay Delta Conservation Project. The Delta Conveyance Project is listed as one of the current priorities in the Newsom Administration’s Water Resilience Portfolio.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Listen: Ongoing Klamath Basin water conflict fueled by climate change and racism
“Fish have a sacred role for the Klamath Tribes in the Klamath Basin, which spans part of Southern Oregon and Northern California. An 1864 treaty gives tribes the “exclusive right of taking fish in the streams and lakes,” but drought and poor water quality are killing the fish and causing a fight over resources between indigenous tribes and white farmers who were promised certain water allocations of their own. A new Fault Lines documentary by Al Jazeera called “When the Water Stopped,” delves into the different sides of the conflict that is fueled by climate change, decades of federal land mismanagement and racism. According to activist and Klamath tribal member Joey Gentry, “our water crisis still exists today because of racism against the tribe, and racism against the tribe exists, in part, today because of our water crisis.” We’ll talk with Gentry and environmental reporter Emma Marris about the ongoing conflict and what it will take to resolve it.” Listen at KQED here: Listen: Ongoing Klamath Basin water conflict fueled by climate change and racism
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
After the Caldor Fire: Along Highway 50, a devastated mountain range waits to recover
“As we head towards winter, the Caldor Fire that dominated the late summer has now gone into a dormant recovery phase, and all is relatively quiet. For those who have yet to see it, the drive up Highway 50 looks more brownish and more barren. Huge swaths of bulldozed landscape crisscross the hillsides. Lone chimneys rise up from the devastated ground, leaving travelers with a stark reminder about the vulnerability of our wild lands. Taking advantage of the cool fall weather, Cal Fire workers have conducted back-burn operations at low intensities. Along Highway 50, loggers are recovering usable timber that needed to be cut down in the fire’s aftermath. And El Dorado County initiated a state-funded program to remove hazardous waste, man-made materials and dead or dying trees. But if you thought that fire season was over, think again. Caldor’s after-fire consequences will affect the Sierra throughout the winter and for years into the future. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: After the Caldor Fire: Along Highway 50, a devastated mountain range waits to recover
NAPA/SONOMA
Mark West Quarry faces hefty fine for polluting salmon habitat
“A Sonoma County mining company faces a $4.5 million fine for allegedly allowing over 10 million gallons of tainted water to flow into a creek, damaging the habitat of endangered salmon. In a September press release, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board announced that, at a Dec. 2 meeting, the agency’s board would consider approving a $4.5 million fine against the BoDean Company, Inc. for numerous alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at the company’s Mark West Quarry several years ago. The North Coast water board is one of nine similar boards around the state charged with enforcing a variety of environmental laws. … ” Read more from the Bohemian here: Mark West Quarry faces hefty fine for polluting salmon habitat
BAY AREA
Yuba Water approves agreement to transfer water to Bay Area agencies in 2022
“Yuba Water Agency’s board of directors today voted to authorize a water transfer agreement with Contra Costa Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District, to sell at least 10,000 acre-feet of water, and potentially more, if the conditions allow, during the spring and summer of 2022. “This is a great opportunity for us to provide water to other communities in need during the drought, and bring in additional revenue for Yuba County water projects,” said Yuba Water Agency General Manager Willie Whittlesey. “This agreement does not change the way we operate or how much water we release at all. It’s just a change in where a relatively small portion of the water we are already releasing goes. We would be releasing this water for fishery benefits in the lower Yuba River, anyway, and this agreement will allow us to bring home even more benefits for Yuba County.” … ” Read more from Yuba Water here: Yuba Water approves agreement to transfer water to Bay Area agencies in 2022
Column: Group behind water pipeline lawsuit should exhibit transparency
Dick Spotswood writes, “It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone filed a lawsuit to stop the Marin Municipal Water District’s proposed water pipelines across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. This is another example that in America — alone in the developed world — when anyone is displeased with decisions made by elected officials they instantly go to court. The result is inevitable whether or not the disgruntled claimants ultimately lose their case. Taxpayers and water users will pay more to fund the litigation and endure cost increases resulting when projects are interminably delayed. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Column: Group behind water pipeline lawsuit should exhibit transparency
Bay Area weather: Trio of rain storms in the forecast in one week. ‘It’s safe to say the storm door is reopening’
“As of Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., 24-hour precipitation totals included: 0.04 inches in downtown San Francisco, 0.06 inches at the Oakland international airport, 0.04 inches in San Jose, 0.04 inches in Mount Tamalpais and 0.11 inches at Ben Lomond. Another weak weather system moving into the area on Wednesday night into Thursday morning could be more of the same, expected to drop some precipitation over the central coast, including the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Monterey area. The majority of the Bay Area is forecast to get less than a tenth of an inch of rain before things clear out by Thursday afternoon. But a third storm early next week is shaping up to be more promising. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Bay Area weather: Trio of rain storms in the forecast in one week. ‘It’s safe to say the storm door is reopening’
SEE ALSO: The biggest storm in weeks is headed to the S.F. Bay Area. Here’s when the rain will arrive, from the SF Chronicle
Dublin council approves 573-home ‘East Ranch’ project on 165 acres
“City leaders unanimously approved Tuesday a major development that calls for 573 homes to be built on 165 acres of land near Dublin’s eastern edge, adding onto a broader sprawling residential area of thousands of homes built out over the past two decades. The approval from the Dublin City Council came over the objections of about 20 residents who opposed the project, after roughly four hours of discussion on the subject. At times the meeting became contentious, with back and forth exchanges between some of the council and residents in the council chamber. Some residents said they are concerned because the last full environmental impact report for the land was done nearly 30 years ago, while others said adding so many homes in the area would contribute to more traffic congestion and crowd schools, and possibly put a strain on water use. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Dublin council approves 573-home ‘East Ranch’ project on 165 acres
CENTRAL COAST
Camarillo doubles potable water supply with new desalination plant
“The city of Camarillo, Calif. has announced the start-up and commissioning of its North Pleasant Valley (NPV) Groundwater Desalter Plant, moving the city closer to a more self-reliant potable water future. For nearly two decades, groundwater quality in the northern portion of the Pleasant Valley Groundwater Basin in Ventura County continuously declined, due primarily to the infiltration of poor-quality surface water. These challenges compelled the city to reduce groundwater pumping and increase the blending of imported water with Wells A and B, two of Camarillo’s largest wells. ... ” Read more from Water World here: Camarillo doubles potable water supply with new desalination plant
Town hall set to update community on efforts to remove abandoned oil facilities on South Coast
“It’s one of the biggest aftereffects of a 2015 oil pipeline break on the Santa Barbara County coast. The rupture which caused a 140,000 gallon oil spill on the Gaviota Coast prompted one of the oil companies which relied on the pipeline to file for bankruptcy. Now, the state is stuck with the task of plugging the wells on offshore oil platform Holly, as well as eventually removing it as well as an abandoned onshore oil facility. “The reason the state ended up with Platform Holly is that Venoco, the former leasee, quit-claimed its leases,” said Sherri Pemberton, with the State Lands Commission. The Commission now has the task of dealing with the facilities. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Town hall set to update community on efforts to remove abandoned oil facilities on South Coast
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Clarita Valley Water set to receive 0% of state water allocations
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, along with 28 other water contractors throughout the state, are set to receive an initial allocation 0% of their water entitlement from the State Water Project, or SWP, marking the seriousness of the current California drought, according to officials. The decision is “unprecedented,” officials said in a prepared statement, and while it may not have an immediate effect on residents, the water used by local SCV Water customers will now be pulled from alternate sources and reserves. … ” Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water set to receive 0% of state water allocations
Along the Colorado River …
Where’s the snow? Rockies winter starts with a whimper
“Denver’s winter has started with a whimper, and the parched mountains to the west aren’t faring much better. The Mile High City has already shattered its 87-year-old record for the latest measurable snowfall set on Nov. 21, 1934, and it’s a little more than a week away from breaking an 1887 record of 235 consecutive days without snow. The scenario is playing out across much of the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Montana and in the broader Western United States, which is experiencing a megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. It’s only the second time since 1976 that Salt Lake City has gone snowless through November, and amid the unseasonably warm weather in Montana, a late-season wildfire fueled by strong winds ripped through a tiny central Montana farming town this week. … ” Continue reading at the AP here: Where’s the snow? Rockies winter starts with a whimper
Water cuts could devastate Arizona ag
“Fallowed fields of alfalfa — alliterative, and sad as fears are about to become reality in Central Arizona farms now that Tier 1 cuts in water supplies are scheduled to take effect. “Dry fields, less livestock, diminished dairy, it will be a ripple impact. A lot is still unknown, but this will not be an easy fix,” says Stefanie Smallhouse, who oversees the Arizona Farm Bureau. The water cuts are expected to take out 30-to-40 percent of crop acreage in the Pinal County ag corridor that produces about half of Arizona’s agricultural sales. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Water cuts could devastate Arizona ag
Oro Valley well positioned to weather CAP cutbacks
“Water resource professionals have been planning for a hotter and dryer future for decades. In the face of growing demands and ongoing drought, the 2007 Colorado River Lower Basin shortage guidelines laid the operational foundation for a changing river. The implementation of the 2019 Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan (LBDCP) built upon these previous guidelines and requires the lower basin states to take larger reductions in Colorado River water deliveries and sooner compared to the original guidelines approved by the Bureau of Reclamation in 2007. As discussed last week, the potential declaration of a Tier 2 shortage further reduces the demand on the Colorado River by 1,288,000 acre-feet per year. … ” Read more from Tucson Local Media here: Oro Valley well positioned to weather CAP cutbacks
Arizona: Real “No Brainer”: Drought Interagency Coordinating Group recommends continued declaration
“The advisory group that makes recommendations to Arizona’s governor about whether to continue a drought-emergency declaration opted in November to advise Gov. Ducey to stay the course and keep the declaration in place. In the history of decision-making in Arizona, it may not have been the absolute easiest choice of all time. The Arizona Cardinals football team drafting quarterback Kyler Murray in 2019 probably still holds that spot. But it was close. “Long-term, we’re not seeing anything on the horizon that would make us think we’re moving out of drier conditions,” said Tom Buschatzke, co-chair of the Drought Interagency Coordinating Group at its November 10 meeting. … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources here: Real “No Brainer”: Drought Interagency Coordinating Group recommends continued declaration
New water leasing bill is years in the making for Colorado River Indian Tribes
“Lake Mead is at historically low levels, and Arizona will take mandatory cuts to its Colorado River water supply starting in January. But one tribe that lives along the river’s banks along the Arizona-California border says it has enough supply to lease to other cities. Like other Arizona tribes, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, a tribe made up of some 4,500 Mojave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo members, has senior water rights that won’t be subject to cuts next year. But Chairwoman Amelia Flores says there’s a key difference between her tribe and others. “We have real water, there’s a difference, with other tribes, they have paper water,” she said. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: New water leasing bill is years in the making for Colorado River Indian Tribes
In national water news today …
Utilities tap water ‘microgrid’ tech for new supply
“As drought continues to strangle the American West, some small water providers are exploring new technologies to boost their supplies. The technologies range in size and scope. One involves towing buoys off the coast of California that desalinate water and pipe it ashore. Another can recycle nearly all the water within an apartment building on site. They are like electric microgrids for water. And experts say they provide a glimpse into a possible future that is drastically different from the past, when boosting water supply required large utilities — and often the federal government — to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure projects. “The important thing is modularity,” said Newsha Ajami, director of urban water policy at the Stanford University Woods Institute for the Environment. “We are sort of getting into this era of moving away from building more centralized infrastructure-heavy systems to more modular and distributed solutions.” ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Utilities tap water ‘microgrid’ tech for new supply
Climate change crisis: Golf courses on borrowed time as Earth’s weather patterns become wilder
“The 30 or so golf courses in the Salt Lake County of Utah drink up around nine million gallons of water a day to stay pristine green — that’s more than 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Managing the turf on golf courses also means using carbon-intensive fertilizers, plenty of mowing and, in many cases, clearing forests or trees that were soaking up carbon-dioxide to make way for long tracts of fairway. In other words, golf is a dirty sport that’s wrecking the planet. But it doesn’t have to be. … ” Read more from CNN here: Climate change crisis: Golf courses on borrowed time as Earth’s weather patterns become wilder
U.S. had its 3rd-warmest autumn on record, 7th-warmest November
“November 2021 was quite warm and dry across the U.S., wrapping up a very warm autumn — and year so far — for the nation. November also brought the official close of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which was the third most-active on record according to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Here are more highlights from NOAA’s latest monthly U.S. climate report ... ” Read more from NOAA here: U.S. had its 3rd-warmest autumn on record, 7th-warmest November
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT: San Jacinto Groundwater Sustainability Plan
- WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Monitoring Monday~ BATS~ OpenET~ Commission Meeting~ Action Agenda~ Posters Wanted ~~
