On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board will meet from 10am. Agenda items include updates and discussion of the monitoring enterprise review, water supply reliability review, Science Action Agenda 2022-2026, and future reviews. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
On the calendar tomorrow …
- EVENT: Bay Trail-Group Ride in Mountain View beginning at 10am. Dave Halsing, Restoration Project Executive Project Manager, will share information about wetlands restoration at a group bike ride along the Bay Trail in Mountain View. Mountain View Council Member Pat Showalter and environmental advocate Lenny Siegel will also participate in the event, which will include information about environmental issues at Moffett Field. Go here for more information and to register.
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In California water news today …
Storm to bring month’s worth of rain to California, yards of snow
“A long-duration storm has the potential to unload a month’s worth of rain in a few days and deliver blockbuster snow to the mountains of the West Coast from this weekend to next week, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Heavy rain and snow will be beneficial for drought relief, but it can lead to major problems for travel and pose risks to lives and property. The storm with eyes for the United States’ West Coast was spinning across the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia on Thursday. Winds from the jet stream will steer the storm southeastward along the Pacific coast of North America into next week. The storm may even stall for a time or slow down significantly as it nears California, which could enhance precipitation further. Rain totals could climb as high as several inches in central and northern parts of California as the slow-moving storm may deposit yards of snow in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Storm to bring month’s worth of rain to California, yards of snow
Storms to pour precipitation into drought-plagued California and Mountain West
“A series of moisture-rich storms is set to bring significant precipitation to the West in a gradual step toward easing historic drought conditions. Heavy rain could nourish parched soils, and feet of snowfall will substantially boost a paltry mountain snowpack. Over the next week, three storms should bring substantial precipitation to California and then head east into the Rockies. The first storm is arriving Thursday while the most intense of the three is anticipated between late Saturday and early next week. The third storm in the series is slated for late next week, but may be more modest. … ” Continue reading from the Washington Post here: Storms to pour precipitation into drought-plagued California and Mountain West
SEE ALSO:
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- Winter storm will pound Northern California with snow and rain. Here’s what you can expect, from the Sacramento Bee
- California citrus growers welcome rain and anticipated cold weather, from Fresh Fruit Portal
State warns more valley groundwater agencies their plans aren’t up to snuff
“Six subbasins covering nearly all of the central and southern San Joaquin Valley do not have adequate plans to address falling groundwater levels, according to letters sent Thursday by the Department of Water Resources to groundwater agencies within those subbasins. Subbasins with plans not likely to pass muster include the Delta-Mendota, Kaweah, Kern County, Kings, Tulare Lake and Tule. Though DWR suggested the plans would not be approved, it did not say why — exactly. The letters, all nearly identically worded, suggest plan managers should review previous letters sent to other groundwater sustainability agencies last month that did detail deficiencies in those plans. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: State warns more valley groundwater agencies their plans aren’t up to snuff
SEE ALSO: DWR to remaining San Joaquin subbasins: Your groundwater sustainability plans contain deficiencies that will need to be addressed, news alert from Maven’s Notebook
Merced Irrigation District general manager asks every resident in Eastern Merced County to contact Governor Newsom
“Merced Irrigation District General Manager John Sweigard today urged every resident of eastern Merced County to contact Governor Newsom and the State Water Resources Control Board. “They are coming for your water, and they are coming for it now. It is that simple. It is incumbent on every resident in the community to help protect your water supply. Once your water is gone, it will never come back” Sweigard said. Under the state’s Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan, every resident in Atwater, Merced, Livingston and the surrounding areas will lose: Drinking water quality and their historic water supply; Hundreds of household-supporting jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in the local economy; Recreation at Lakes McClure and McSwain, including camping, fishing, boating, and more; and Local environmental benefits including water flowing through local streams, such as Bear Creek, year-round. … ” Continue reading at the Merced Irrigation District here: Merced Irrigation District general manager asks every resident in Easter Merced County to contact Governor Newsom
‘Zero Day’ for California water? Not yet, but unprecedented water restrictions send a sharp warning
“On Dec. 1, 2021, California triggered headlines heard around the world when officials announced how much water suppliers would be getting from the State Water Project. “California water districts to get 0% of requested supplies in an unprecedented decision,” one headline proclaimed. “No state water for California farms,” read another. The headlines suggested a comparison with the “Zero Day” announcement in Cape Town, South Africa, during a drought in 2018. That was the projected date when water would no longer be available at household taps without significant conservation. Cape Town avoided a water shutoff, barely. While California’s announcement represents uncharted territory and is meant to promote water conservation in what is already a dry water year, there is more to the story. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: ‘Zero Day’ for California water? Not yet, but unprecedented water restrictions send a sharp warning
Here’s where California really uses its water
“For Californians still clinging to the myth that we’re not in the midst of a severe drought, a brutal reality awaits. With a dry winter projected for much of the state, California officials are considering fines of up to $500 a day for overwatering yards, hosing down driveways and other water-wasting actions. The state’s water board could impose the penalties as soon as next month, when they come up for a vote. You may be wondering: What about mandating shorter showers? Fewer toilet flushes? Using the dishwasher only when it’s full? There’s actually good reason those measures aren’t atop the water-saving list. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Here’s where California really uses its water
Legal brief: Center for Biological Diversity, Restore the Delta, and the Planning and Conservation League file brief in case to set aside their conversion CVP water export contracts to permanent contracts with no environmental compliance
” … Reclamation makes these claims of no discretion, no NEPA, and no ESA even though the purpose of the WIIN Act sections it relies upon was simply to facilitate accelerated repayments for funding federally-owned storage projects. Reclamation makes these claims even though one section of the WIIN Act states its implementation shall not alter, except as expressly provided, any obligations under the reclamation law, which includes the CVPIA. … It is one thing for the Contractors to make such claims. Parties benefitted by government decisions, no matter how bad the decisions might be for the public interest and a public trust resource, understandably want those benefits. It is a different thing for Reclamation to thoughtlessly—and unlawfully—commit a vital public resource to one group of interests in perpetuity. Reclamation has failed as a steward, as a trustee, to think first and only act later before signing away the public trust resource of 3 million acre-feet of water per year forever. … ”
What will the ski industry look like in 50 years? Study paints bleak forecast for Western snowpacks
“If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, Utah’s billion-dollar ski industry is in trouble. The negative impact climate change could have on winter has been discussed at length, but an October study paints maybe the most bleak forecast to date: In 35 to 60 years, mountain regions in the American West could see little to no snow. Published in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, the paper compiles findings from a number of other studies and climate models that portray different warming scenarios to forecast when snowpacks around the West could start to decline. The paper also details past winters to provide an overview of current snowpack trends. ... ” Read more from Deseret News here: What will the ski industry look like in 50 years? Study paints bleak forecast for Western snowpacks
FDA announces proposed changes to agricultural water requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act
“On December 2, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a proposed rule aimed at enhancing the safety of agricultural water used on covered produce (other than sprouts). The proposed rule is the agency’s latest step in implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011 by President Obama. In recent years, there have been a series of very public outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, some of which were linked to contamination in pre-harvest agricultural water. In response, the FDA’s proposed rule makes several key changes to how growers evaluate agricultural water. … ” Read more from Downey Brand here: FDA announces proposed changes to agricultural water requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act
Sierra Nevada Conservancy launches $25 million grant round, funds giant sequoia restoration project
“The Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Governing Board approved new funding guidelines at its December meeting that will make up to $25 million in local-assistance grants available. The grants are part of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) and will support projects that address immediate wildfire recovery and forest-resilience priorities. The 2022 wildfire recovery and forest resilience grants will receive as much as half of the $50 million allocated to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) in the 2021 state budget. These projects will create resilient forest landscapes, reduce wildfire risk, and help communities and natural landscapes recover from recent wildfires. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Sierra Nevada Conservancy launches $25 million grant round, funds giant sequoia restoration project
In commentary today …
Astronomical cost of Pacheco Dam is not worth paltry returns
Ross Middlemiss, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “At first the headline sounds promising. A Silicon Valley water district wants to build what would be the largest Bay Area reservoir in 20 years. Amid a dire drought, that might sound enticing. But let’s consider the other headlines associated with this Santa Clara Valley Water District proposal. The Pacheco Reservoir Expansion is more than $1 billion over the initial estimated costs. This major infrastructure project is proposed on unstable land and will bring no new water supply. Ratepayers will get stuck with the bill. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Astronomical cost of Pacheco Dam is not worth paltry returns
Nothing says ‘water crisis’ like a sinking canal
Author Charles Pierce writes, “I never intended for Thirst: The Next Generation to become a daily feature, but the Western United States is turning to dust, and I’m seeing in my mind’s eye an endless wasteland studded with the sun-bleached skulls of millions of cows, and that’s just the way things are. Today’s installment involves canals in California. There is a canal that pulls water from the San Joaquin River for the purposes of irrigating a huge amount of agricultural land. And the canal is collapsing, and it looks like it will cost a mere $1 billion to fix it. ... ” Read more from Esquire here: Nothing says ‘water crisis’ like a sinking canal
Cache Creek at a crossroads
Juliette Beck, a Davis resident and climate activist, writes, “This morning beginning at 8:30AM the Yolo County Planning Commission is holding a public hearing on a proposed gravel mining project along lower Cache Creek, located three miles west of the City of Woodland. Teichert, an $880 million year mega-construction company, is seeking a 30-year permit to expand its aggregate mining operations to include the 319-acre Shifler property adjacent to the Cache Creek Nature Preserve. Opposition to the project is growing by the day. Many people are pointing out that the project was conceived in a different era and is based on a flawed logic that doesn’t fit with today’s realities of climate chaos, mass extinction, deep racial disparities, and growing socio-economic divides particularly in light of the ongoing pandemic. ... ” Continue reading from Vanguard of Davis here: Cache Creek at a crossroads
Today’s featured article …
ACWA CONFERENCE: Chair Joaquin Esquivel on drought, partnerships, affordable water, wildfires, and more …
At the recent ACWA Fall Conference, held in-person in Southern California, State Water Resources Control Board’s Joaquin Esquivel sat down with Cindy Tuck, Deputy, Executive Director of Government Relations, for a wide-ranging one-on-one conversation, followed by an audience Q&A. Here are excerpts of what Chair Esquivel had to say.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Conservation group bids to save redwoods on Northern California’s Lost Coast
“The rugged Lost Coast is about to become less forbidding. A conservation group on Thursday said it planned to purchase a scenic five-mile stretch of the Northern California coastline from a lumber company to protect it from logging and eventually open it up to the public. The Save the Redwoods League said it agreed to pay nearly $37 million for the DeVilbiss Ranch if it can raise the money by the end of the year. “This is a piece of California that inspires,” said Sam Hodder, the league’s president and chief executive. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Conservation group bids to save redwoods on Northern California’s Lost Coast
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Solano County: Now that rains are falling, again, flood control moves up county’s priority list
“Solano County is no stranger to flooding. In fact, as the Board of Supervisors was informed Tuesday, about 25% of the county is in flood plains, and other areas during high water events have been prone to flooding as well. “Most of us have experienced flooding,” said Matt Tuggle, the engineering manager for the county Public Works Division. Vacaville sustained what was reported to be as much as $40 million in property damage from a 2006 flood event. The city developed a plan for several holding ponds after that event, but only one of those projects has been completed. Supervisor John Vasquez suggested that when the rain stops, the urgency to deal with flooding also dries up. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Solano County: Now that rains are falling, again, flood control moves up county’s priority list
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa County’s groundwater protection plan draws mixed reviews
“Napa County’s proposed plan to ensure groundwater beneath world-famous wine country never gets pumped dry is drawing both praise and criticism. The state-required plan aims to avoid such things as plummeting well levels, sinking land, and the drying up of waterways fed by groundwater. It lists conditions that could trigger such preventive actions as well as pumping restrictions. At about 1,000 pages with 4,000 pages of appendices, the draft Napa Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan went before county supervisors on Tuesday. They sat as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa County’s groundwater protection plan draws mixed reviews
City of Napa’s Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District still moving forward
“The City of Napa is in the middle of establishing a new way to raise funds for infrastructure projects by capturing property taxes from the city’s future growth. The Napa Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District would place 50% of the city’s property tax increment — within a specific boundary — into the district, which will specifically be used on infrastructure projects. The district plan, which is on course to be approved next year, would be set to last for 50 years. That funding adds up to $155 million in nominal dollars over the 50 years — an estimate not adjusted for inflation — and $65 million in present value dollars, adjusted for inflation, according to a city estimate. … ” Read more from the Napa Valley Register here: City of Napa’s Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District still moving forward
No clear answer on whether St. Helena can store water from October storm
“It’s still unclear whether St. Helena will be able to keep the water it collected in Bell Canyon Reservoir during the storm of late October. The permit for Bell Canyon specifies a diversion season starting “about” Nov. 15, which is three weeks after the storm dumped 10 inches of rain into the watershed. The permit had been widely interpreted to mean that water collected before Nov. 15 had to be bypassed into Bell Creek instead of being diverted into the reservoir. The city asked the California Regional Water Quality Control Board on Nov. 5 to grant a Temporary Urgency Change allowing the city to keep the rainfall for municipal use in light of the drought and St. Helena’s Phase II water emergency, which has placed city water customers under mandatory rationing. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: No clear answer on whether St. Helena can store water from October storm
BAY AREA
Marin water deal approved by Yuba utility
“A Yuba County utility has agreed to sell billions of gallons of water for distribution to Marin County through a pipeline over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The decision by the Yuba Water Agency marks a significant step in the Marin Municipal Water District’s proposed plan to augment its reservoir supplies if the drought continues. Under the plan, the Yuba River water would travel more than 100 miles with the aid of the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa Water District before being pumped over the bridge into Marin. While the district has not yet committed to building the estimated $100 million, 8-mile long pipeline or purchasing any water, Ben Horenstein, the district general manager, said securing the agreement is notable. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin water deal approved by Yuba utility
More details emerge on atmospheric river headed for SF Bay Area
“Forecasters are focusing in on the details of an atmospheric river expected to arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, bringing much-needed rain to a drought-plagued region. “We’re still looking at a weak to low-end moderate event, anticipated to move through mainly Sunday into Monday, with lingering showers into Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The storm is forecast to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to urban areas, including San Francisco and Oakland, and up to 6 inches to coastal mountains. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: More details emerge on atmospheric river headed for SF Bay Area
Blast of cold air grips Bay Area ahead of big storm
“A mass of cold, dry air has settled into the San Francisco Bay Area and the coldest temperatures of the week are expected to grip the region Friday night into Saturday, the National Weather Service said. The chilly conditions come ahead of a big storm, a so-called atmospheric river, forecast to push across the area Saturday night, across Sunday and into Monday. Rainfall totals are expected to range from 1 inch to 3.5 inches across urban areas and up to 6 inches in the coastal mountains, the weather service said. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Blast of cold air grips Bay Area ahead of big storm
Alameda County Water District to consider mandatory restrictions
“The Alameda County Water District on Thursday will consider declaring a drought emergency and issuing mandatory water use restrictions. The district, which serves 84,000 customers in Fremont, Newark and Union City, says in 2022, demand for water is expected to exceed the water supply levels by 15%. A proposed ordinance would declare a water shortage emergency and get customers to reduce their water use by 15% through mandatory reductions. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Alameda County Water District to consider mandatory restrictions
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey One Water leads Northern California in turning wastewater into drinking water
“Among the humming machines and maze-like pipes of the water purification plant just north of Marina, Mike McCullough fills a cup with water from a row of faucets. “I’ll drink it first,” he said, before tipping the cup back. The water is remarkable because it looks — and tastes — completely ordinary. But the water’s journey to McCullough’s plastic cup involved a series of tanks, screens, and filters that transformed it from raw sewage to drinking water. “Nobody can really tell the difference,” said McCullough, who is the director of external affairs for Monterey One Water, the utility that manages all parts of the wastewater treatment process. … ” Read more from KAZU here: Monterey One Water leads Northern California in turning wastewater into drinking water
Commentary: A Troubling Vote LAFCO’s denial of public water makes little sense
Melodie Chrislock, director of Public Water Now writes, “On Dec. 6, in a brazen display of special interest politics and complete disregard for the will of the voters in passing Measure J, five LAFCO commissioners blocked the Cal Am buyout. Why does LAFCO have any say in this? LAFCO stands for Local Agency Formation Commission. One of its jobs is to oversee changes in the services public agencies provide. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District was ready to make Cal Am an offer. But it needed LAFCO to approve the change in service and activate their latent power to sell water retail. In a 5-2 vote, LAFCO refused. … ” Read more from Voices of Monterey here: Commentary: A Troubling Vote LAFCO’s denial of public water makes little sense
Mini-storm drops barely more than trace of rain on northern Santa Barbara County
“A mini-storm that snuck through Northern Santa Barbara County early Thursday morning dropped barely more than a trace of rain in most areas, although a few locations reported nearly a quarter of an inch. But the light rain had virtually no effect on the county’s reservoirs. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, storage dropped to 91,698 acre-feet in Cachuma Lake, or 47.4% of its 193 acre-feet of capacity, and 182 acre-feet, or 3.9% of capacity, at Gibraltar Reservoir, which feeds Cachuma Lake. … ” Read more from the Lompoc Record here: Mini-storm drops barely more than trace of rain on northern Santa Barbara County
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Citrus Orchards impacted by fog, rain and severe cold weather
“Most of the state’s 250,000 acres of citrus crops are in the Central Valley, and although the rain is desperately needed, it may force growers to make some difficult decisions. With the current drought conditions in the Central Valley, every rainy day is appreciated. “No one is going to argue that the rain is very, very welcomed,” said Tricia Stever Blattler, Executive Director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau. However, this time of year, the combination of fog and rain can pose extra challenges when it comes to productive harvest days. … ” Read more from Channel 30 here: Citrus Orchards impacted by fog, rain and severe cold weather
Kern County: Thursday morning rain prelude to ‘robust storm system’ coming next week
“Kern County received about one-tenth of an inch of rain Thursday morning, about half of what was expected for the day, but it’s only a prelude for what’s to come next week, according to weather officials. The rainfall is expected to subside as the day goes on, according to Andy Bollendacher in the Hanford office of the National Weather Service, with a light snow at elevations of about 5,000 feet and higher. “When things are all said and done by this evening, you might see (the total) go up to about .2 of an inch, but I would say that the majority of the rain that’s going to fall has already fallen,” he added. And while the weekend is expected to be dry, next week is going to be a different story, he added. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Thursday morning rain prelude to ‘robust storm system’ coming next week
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Groundwater Authority removes Water District from position as chair
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) approved a resolution to remove the Indian Wells Valley Water District from the position of board chair at the IWVGA board meeting on Wednesday morning. Though the Water District will not act as IWVGA chair in the new year, it will retain its spot as a voting board member. Section 5 of the resolution states that allowing the Water District to act as chair could be “creating a risk the Chairperson could not preside over all portions of the [IWVGA’s] meetings and could not freely communicate with staff regarding litigation topics.” … ” Read more from the Daily Independent here: Groundwater Authority removes Water District from position as chair
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
No State Water Project water supplies allocated for 2022, SCV Water to rely on alternative sources
“In an unprecedented decision sparked by the state’s extreme drought conditions, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), including SCV Water, announced a zero percent initial allocation from the State Water Project for the upcoming year. While SCV Water reports to have alternative supplies that cover health and safety needs, this initial allocation means the water agency and many other state water project contractors should not expect to receive any state water unless significant precipitation occurs, allowing DWR to revisit this decision. … ” Read more from SCV News here: No State Water Project water supplies allocated for 2022, SCV Water to rely on alternative sources
Culver City: Water district looks to save every drop possible
“The West Basin Municipal Water District announced its latest drought outreach campaign, calling on its 17 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County to be SUPER-CALIFRUGALISTIC with our water. The campaign call to “Save Water, Save California” highlights how local actions can make a far-reaching impact. The SUPER-CALI-FRUGALISTIC drought campaign challenges West Basin local communities to be frugal – in other words, prudent– with their water use in order for all communities to thrive. … ” Read more from the Culver City Observer here: Culver City: Water district looks to save every drop possible
San Bernardino: Despite drought, Valley District’s underground aquifers are 80% full
“San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District will not receive a drop from the State Water Project this year, but the leaders aren’t overly concerned. The district was formed nearly 70 years ago during a 20-year drought to obtain a supplemental water supply to help the region overcome droughts, like the one California is currently facing, said a press release. The region invested in the State Water Project (SWP) that captures snowmelt in Northern California and delivers it over 700 miles into the Valley District service area which stretches from parts of Fontana in the west to Yucaipa in the east. … ” Read more from the Highland Community News here: Despite drought, Valley District’s underground aquifers are 80% full
With critical infrastructure at risk due to sea level rising, San Clemente approves coastal resiliency plan
“With rising sea levels potentially wreaking havoc on California coastlines in the decades ahead, San Clemente officials this week approved a Coastal Resiliency Plan to address shoreline erosion, coastal flooding and other consequences of potential rising sea levels. The plan is part of the city’s Local Coastal Program, which is partly funded by the California Coastal Commission and is required for all California coastal cities and counties. It is meant as a planning document to guide the city toward fortifying itself against a potential rise in sea levels expected as the effects of climate change worsen. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: With critical infrastructure at risk due to sea level rising, San Clemente approves coastal resiliency plan
SAN DIEGO
Another weak storm spritzes San Diego, but heavy rain could hit region Monday
“A weak storm passed through San Diego County Thursday, bringing little relief from the drought. But a powerful new system could drop an inch of rain early next week from the mountains to the sea. The National Weather Service says that a storm out of the North Pacific will draw tropical moisture from near Hawaii, fueling a system that will angle through the county starting late Monday. The system could linger into Wednesday. The storm will take the form of an atmospheric river that also could bring snow to the highest peaks in Southern California two weeks before Christmas. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Another weak storm spritzes San Diego, but heavy rain could hit region Monday
Environmental leaders from Denmark visit Oceanside’s water recycling plant
“Denmark Minister for the Environment Lea Wermelin and several water technology experts from Denmark toured Oceanside’s water purification project, called Pure Water Oceanside, which is slated to be finished next year and will produce a local source of high-quality drinking water. The project is billed as the first fully operational indirect potable reuse project in San Diego County, and is expected to provide 3 to 5 million gallons per day — about a third of Oceanside’s water supply. The tour on Nov. 30 was held at the city of Oceanside’s San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility at 3950 N. River Road, where the water recycling process begins. Pure Water Oceanside uses ultra filtration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation/ultraviolet light to purify recycled water. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Environmental leaders from Denmark visit Oceanside’s water recycling plant
City releases red dye into Mission Bay to study water circulation
“Nontoxic fluorescent red dye released by the City into Mission Bay on Dec. 3 to study water circulation will help design future water quality improvements and ecological restoration projects at the bay. The dye made of rhodamine is safe for use in drinking and saltwater and was expected to be visible for about a week. It will naturally be absorbed into the bay and is not expected to leave any residue on beaches or have any other long-term effects or affect recreational use of the bay. … ” Read more from San Diego News here: City releases red dye into Mission Bay to study water circulation
Over 300 ‘reef balls’ to provide artificial habitat along South Bay shore
“More than 300 new “reef balls” will be placed along the water in the South Bay in an effort to create new marine habitats for native animals and address rising sea levels. The Port of San Diego is installing the artificial habitats as part of the South Bay Native Oyster Living Shoreline Project next to the Chula Vista Wildlife Refuge, it was announced Thursday. The project, in partnership with the California State Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, is the latest of several port projects intended to protect the shoreline from impacts related to sea level rise and to increase the biodiversity of San Diego Bay by creating new marine habitats. ... ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Over 300 ‘reef balls’ to provide artificial habitat along South Bay shore
Along the Colorado River …
The West sizzled in a November heat wave and snow drought
“Even as one of Denver’s longest snow droughts on record—232 days—was forecast to end on Friday, nerves in the Mile High City were frayed after a summer of climate extremes, and a heat wave that has stretched into late autumn. Just a few days before the forecast snow, an intense wildfire had flared up deep in a Rocky Mountain canyon along I-70, Colorado’s main east-west interstate, and in the afternoon, a sudden dust storm blasted the region and chilled the air by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, temporarily breaking the month-long heat wave the West was mired in. The regional heat wave and drought also fueled an early December wildfire in Denton, Montana, that destroyed dozens of homes and businesses. ... ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: The West sizzled in a November heat wave and snow drought
Has winter blown off course? ASU professors discuss how a lack of snow is impacting drought, water supply and tourism in the West
“Blizzards in Hawaii. No snow in the Colorado Rockies. Crickets in Ketchum, Idaho. What in the world is going on in the West? Some say that climate change has affected this year’s winter in the Western region of the country, while others are wondering what the lack of snowpack might mean for regional water supply, which is already in a precarious state. ASU News enlisted the state’s climatologist and a tourism expert to discuss this year’s cause and effects of snow, or lack thereof, and the impacts to our water supply and economy. ... ” Read more from Arizona State University here: Has winter blown off course? ASU professors discuss how a lack of snow is impacting drought, water supply and tourism in the West
Utah has a water dilemma
“Sitting inside a shepherd’s trailer hitched to his white pickup truck, Robert Child recounts a lifetime spent running sheep in the pastures of northern Utah. Wind gently rocks the compact trailer as Child, who is 75, describes the grazing rotations for his 2,000-head flock. Winters in Wendover, near the Nevada border. Summers in the high country above Logan. On a mid-October day he is here at the mouth of austere Whites Valley, where about five families harvest dryland grain, and where Child has leased grazing land for two decades. “I don’t know any different,” Child says about his occupation, his blue eyes gleaming playfully. “It’s a sickness.” It’s a sickness that might not last in this remote farm and ranch outpost. … ” Read more from High Country News here: Utah has a water dilemma
Farmers use technology to squeeze every drop out of the Colorado River
“A drone flew over a scorching corn field in northeast Colorado one recent morning, taking pictures with an infrared camera to help researchers decide how much water to give the crops the next day. After a short, meandering flight over the field, the drone landed and the researchers took out a handful of memory cards. Back at their computers, they analyzed the images for signs that the maize was stressed by a lack of water. This U.S. Department of Agriculture station outside Greeley and other locations in the Southwest experiments with drones, specialized cameras, and other technology to get the most out of every drop of water in the Colorado River – a vital but besieged waterway that serves an estimated 40 million people. ... ” Read more from The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette here: Farmers use technology to squeeze every drop out of the Colorado River
Many tribal homes don’t have clean water, and the road to getting it is lined with hurdles
“The road leading out of Albuquerque, New Mexico turns from city to desert in the blink of an eye. One minute, office parks give way to houses and apartments. The next, those homes give way to scrubby desert bushes and dusty, beige plains that melt into low mountains on the horizon. It’s not long before you pass the exit for the Navajo community of To’hajiilee. Here, only 30 minutes outside of an American city with half a million people, you’ll find a town where kitchen faucets run black with sediment and orange with rust, and where nearly 2,000 residents rely on truckloads of water for drinking. … ” Read more from KUNC here: Many tribal homes don’t have clean water, and the road to getting it is lined with hurdles
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20211209Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Temporary Water Right Permit Application to Appropriate Water from the Cosumnes River
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Boat Parades~ Sidewalk Sale~ Tree Lighting~ Holiday Market~ DSC Meeting~~
