In California water news this weekend …
California snow drought ends in dramatic fashion, while other states still deal with shortage
“Thanks to multiple atmospheric river events, average snowpack in California has gone from 18% to 98% in just two weeks. “Increases in snowpack of this size are not common, but also not unprecedented,” Julie Kalansky, deputy director of operations for the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E), explained. Kalansky pointed out previous studies have shown a jump on this scale can happen about twice every three years, but usually over the course of an entire winter, not just the month of December. While they don’t have the exact rankings for each month of the year, “most of the storm events in the study we referenced for the above calculation were in the second half of December and later into the season,” Kalansky added. … ” Continue reading at CNN here: California snow drought ends in dramatic fashion, while other states still deal with shortage
Atmospheric river could snarl travel in the West as Christmas approaches
“An atmospheric river, or a plume of tropical moisture in the atmosphere, is expected to build into the western coast of the United States this week, bringing inordinate amounts of rain and snow to the drought-weary West, impacting travel as Christmas grows near. … On Wednesday evening, a major storm is likely to begin across the West, producing rain and snow from Oregon to Los Angeles. “A sharp dip in the jet stream later this week will set the stage for a building atmospheric river into the West,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde. … ” Continue reading at AccuWeather here: Atmospheric river could snarl travel in the West as Christmas approaches
SEE ALSO: More rain on the way for Sacramento Valley and snow in the mountains, forecasters say, from the Sacramento Bee
4 to 8.5 feet of snow jump-start Lake Tahoe’s winter season just before the holidays
“Just last week, the mountains of the Sierra Nevada were bare and brown. Leaves were long gone. We were in a holding pattern, just waiting and waiting for water to fall from the sky. A surprise storm in October blessedly drenched the Sierra Nevada, but after that, almost six weeks passed with hardly any precipitation. Today, the scenery looks entirely different. The Sierra Nevada mountains are painted white. Roads are like tunnels between tall snowbanks. Tree boughs are heavy with snow. And the mountains are donning a white coat, winter’s finest. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: 4 to 8.5 feet of snow jump-start Lake Tahoe’s winter season just before the holidays
Californians have a lot of ideas for how to get more water. Most of them are really bad
“When it comes to water, Californians have a lot of big ideas for how to get more of it. One of the latest is in Marin County, where water managers are looking to build an eight-mile pipeline atop the towering Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The line would allow water to be moved across San Francisco Bay from other parts of the state, to prop up sagging local supplies. But for every grand plan pushing forward like this one, a dozen others – often more ambitious and sometimes outright wacky – get only eye rolls and a quick thumbs-down. Many of these questionable ideas have been surfacing over the past two years as California has spiraled into one its worst droughts in modern times. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Californians have a lot of ideas for how to get more water. Most of them are really bad
As water officials repair damage from subsidence, they demand prevention from groundwater agencies
“State water officials have asked local groundwater agencies to better prevent land subsidence. Simultaneously, the state is also working to fix the damage caused by sinking land. Subsidence is caused by the over-pumping of groundwater. It occurs in many parts of California but is especially pronounced in the San Joaquin Valley during drought years. When snowpack is below average and allocations of water stored in reservoirs are low, significant water users like the agricultural industry turn to underground aquifers for their water supply. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, portions of the Valley sank 20 to 30 feet in the 40 years after researchers began observing subsidence in the 1920s, and a NASA analysis of satellite imagery during the last drought found that some areas of the Valley sank as many as 22 inches during a period of just 16 months. ... ” Read more from KVPR here: As water officials repair damage from subsidence, they demand prevention from groundwater agencies
DWR offers $350 million in financial assistance for groundwater sustainability projects
“As the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to support local actions to protect groundwater resources over the long term, today it released the Final Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program. More than $350 million in grants will be available for planning and implementation projects to help regional groundwater agencies comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). During an average year, groundwater contributes approximately 38 percent towards the state’s total water supply. During dry years, with conditions similar to those experienced currently, groundwater contributes up to 46 percent of the statewide annual supply and serves as a critical buffer against the impacts of drought and climate change. ... ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR offers $350 million in financial assistance for groundwater sustainability projects
State and feds release first captively produced Delta smelt into wild for the first time
Dan Bacher writes, “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday announced the experimental release of captively produced Delta smelt into the wild for the first time. The goal of the project is to “evaluate release strategies as part of broad efforts to secure and stabilize Delta smelt wild populations,” according to the service. … Here is the press release; I will write an in-depth article about it later: This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), along with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, experimentally released captively produced Delta smelt into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This experimental project will help inform future supplementation of the species in the wild. … ” Read more at the Daily Kos here: State and feds release first captively produced Delta smelt into wild for the first time
The warning shot the US is ignoring: Climate change impacts on California’s Central Valley
“While different places in the United States experience different climate impacts (e.g., more extreme precipitation in eastern states, stronger hurricanes in the Gulf, and dryer and hotter conditions across southwestern states), the Central Valley is expected to experience quite a few: hotter temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and extreme precipitation events. Because of this, and because of the Valley’s history of environmental and socioeconomic inequities and injustices, we are devoting a blog series to the region. This series explores how worsening climate impacts are changing the landscape, affecting people and ecosystems, impacting the state’s agricultural economy, and affecting food supplies for California and beyond. We will also examine solutions that may be within reach for Central Valley residents. … ” Read more from Clean Technica here: The warning shot the US is ignoring: Climate change impacts on California’s Central Valley
Senate Republicans call for full funding of water projects amidst massive state budget surplus
“As rainwater is being flushed out to the sea, Senate Republicans delivered a letter to Governor Newsom calling for the full funding of state water projects. Spearheaded by the Vice Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff), and the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), all Senate Republicans signed the letter calling to build water storage now. An excerpt from the letter reads: “Approval of this funding would ensure an additional 1.5 million acre-feet of water is stored during wet years…. With both drought and uncertain economic years ahead, it is crucial we invest in our water infrastructure while we still have the opportunity.” … ” Read the full letter here: Senate Republicans call for full funding of water projects amidst massive state budget surplus
Environmentalists sound alarm over proposed water initiative
“A proposed ballot measure that would dedicate $100 billion to bolster California’s water supply is drawing a sharp rebuke, not only for the amount of spending but also for the dramatic sidesteps it would allow in the environmental review process. For example, the proposal would make the controversial plan for a Huntington Beach desalination plant eligible for a huge taxpayer subsidy — even though the private, for-profit Poseidon Water company currently intends to pay for the $1.4 billion in construction costs. If the Coastal Commission rejects the pending permit application for the Poseidon project, a single gubernatorial appointee — the Secretary for Natural Resources — could override any decision and grant the permit, according to the ballot proposal. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Environmentalists sound alarm over proposed water initiative
Tribal representatives voice opposition to sites reservoir, lack of consultation
Dan Bacher writes, “The California Water Commission on December 15 voted to approve the Commission staff’s findings to maintain Sites Reservoir’s Project’s eligibility for $800 million of project subsidies from Proposition 1, despite a multitude of comments by California Tribal representatives and environmental advocates opposing the project because of the devastating impact that they say it would have fish, water, the environment. If built, the Sites Reservoir would be situated on the west side of the Sacramento Valley, approximately 10 miles west of Maxwell, Calif., in Glenn and Colusa Counties. The Commission also voted to move forward with funding for Del Puerto Reservoir and the expansion of Pacheco Reservoir, despite robust opposition from conservation and environmental justice groups. ... ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: Tribal representatives voice opposition to sites reservoir, lack of consultation
Press release: California’s rivers suffer major setback at important Water Commission meeting
“On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the California Water Commission (Commission) voted to move forward three water surface water storage projects that will harm our state’s environment, cost taxpayers billions of dollars and have a devasting effect on the salmon population. The three projects include, Sites Reservoir, Pacheco Dam and Del Puerto Canyon Dam. The votes mean that these projects are considered environmentally and financially feasible and continue to remain eligible for Proposition 1 funding, which is around $2.7 billion. This was a disappointing result for Friends of the River (FOR), a Sacramento-based nonprofit that has been engaged in tracking and opposing Proposition 1 funding for surface water storage projects since 2014. “After having to deal with essentially the same destructive projects for decades, I found the Commission’s ‘rubber stamp’ approach during the meeting particularly concerning,” noted Ron Stork, FOR’s Senior Policy Advocate. “The Commission was given the authority under Proposition 1 to do a rigorous technical review of consequential water projects, and especially in the case of Del Puerto Canyon Dam, it was clear they were not willing to do so.”
California-Nevada drought status update
“California and Nevada are entering the climatological wettest three months of the year 100% in drought. An exceptional atmospheric river (AR 5) in October helped relieve some of the drought, but a dry November still has much of the region missing 0.5–1.25 years of precipitation. Snowpack and soil moisture have improved in areas receiving recent rain and snow. Although a wet pattern is favored for the remainder of December and drought conditions are forecasted to improve in parts of central and northern California, more precipitation is needed and drought remains region-wide. Both the governors of California and Nevada made drought announcements in December bringing attention to the importance of drought preparedness. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: California-Nevada drought status update
Rain is good news, but one farmer says more can be done to preserve water
“The rainy weather is good news for the agriculture industry in the Central Valley, but farmers remain carefully optimistic about the recent storms. “This rain does help fill the soil profile with moisture, which is very much needed,” said Joe del Bosque, a farmer in Firebaugh. “We hope to get more, and hopefully get the moisture down to three or four feet, which is where the roots of these almonds are right now.” The rain helps more than the trees. ... ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: Rain is good news, but one farmer says more can be done to preserve water
Feinstein, Padilla to interior: Prioritize California drought projects when disbursing bipartisan infrastructure bill funds
“Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) today called on the Interior Department to prioritize $8.3 billion in Western water infrastructure funding for California projects that will promote preparedness and resiliency to climate-driven droughts. “The single-benefit and narrowly-supported approaches of the past won’t get us through the current and future droughts,” the senators wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Haaland. “Instead, we must reckon with our ‘new normal’ and work together to advance a more diversified water strategy that meets multiple needs. Therefore, as you work to implement the western water infrastructure funding in the IIJA, we respectfully urge you to expedite program implementation; support projects that provide multiple benefits; restore imperiled ecosystems; ensure clean, safe and affordable drinking water for communities; and improve climate-resiliency.” … ” Continue reading at Senator Feinstein’s office here: Feinstein, Padilla to Interior: Prioritize California Drought Projects when Disbursing Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Funds
As climate-driven drought slams farms in U.S. West, water solutions loom
“Drought in the U.S. West has been deepening for two decades, with no end in sight. Unfortunately for farmers, water use policies established in the early 20th century (a time of more plentiful rainfall), have left regulators struggling with their hands tied as they confront climate change challenges — especially intensifying drought. However, there is hope, as officials, communities and farmers strive to find innovative ways to save and more fairly share water. In Kansas and California, for example, new legislation has been passed to stave off dangerous groundwater declines threatening these states’ vital agricultural economies. Experts say that while an overhaul of the water allocation system in the West is needed, along with a coherent national water policy, extreme measures could be disruptive. But there are opportunities to realize incremental solutions now. Key among them is bridging a gap between federal water programs and farmers. … ” Read more from Mongabay here: As climate-driven drought slams farms in U.S. West, water solutions loom
Climate change is making nights warmer—and crops may never be the same
“The world is getting hotter than ever before, with temperatures across the globe reaching new extremes in recent decades. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in 2021, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah all recorded the warmest summers on record, while 16 other states recorded one of the top-five warmest summers on record. Along with daytime heat, overnight temperatures are also breaking records, sparking concern about human health and ecosystem impacts. The night minimum temperature of the contiguous U.S. has increased by 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit over the 1901-2000 state-wide night temperature mean. It isn’t just people who are impacted by these climate anomalies; plant species are also under threat, including major food crops such as rice, wheat, barley, and corn. ... ” Read more from Civil Eats here: Climate change is making nights warmer—and crops may never be the same
‘Fuel for the next fire.’ Why California can’t unload the trees that worsen its wildfires
“Niel Fischer’s company sits on an enormous stack of kindling — a staggering backlog of dead and dying trees that could catch fire again. Collins Pine Co. was left with 30,000 acres of blackened pines and firs after the Dixie Fire ripped through the company’s private forest in Plumas County this past summer. There’s no way Collins’ lumber mill can process the trees quickly, and the same goes for neighboring lumber companies struggling with their own stock of burned, dried-out and combustible timber. “Dead on the stump — I mean dead — we’re estimating 10 to 15 years of supply,” said Fischer, the resource manager at Collins. “They are at a high risk of burning again … at a higher intensity level than would a green forest.” California’s wildfire crisis is being fed by a host of problems, notably climate change and drought. The dilemma at Collins illustrates another contributing factor: a shortage of places for the state to process wood. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: ‘Fuel for the next fire.’ Why California can’t unload the trees that worsen its wildfires
In commentary this weekend …
Costly regulations stress farms trying to stay afloat
Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, writes, “It’s no secret that the bottom line for farms and ranches is getting thinner. These past two years have brought increased financial challenges related to COVID-19 workplace requirements and disruption in the marketplace. Production costs will continue to increase for labor, supplies and services, while farm revenues will remain flat or continue declining. Farmers know what it takes to grow and sell a crop and are price-takers generally. Few people outside farming understand the risks involved, including weather and pests. Yet consumers are quick to criticize the price of food by placing blame on the farmer, and public perception seems to be that food production doesn’t require any profit. That’s a big threat to our farms and ranches. If operations are unable to maintain financial stability, there will be changes in farm ownership and land use. That will alter food production, destabilizing many farm and ranch operations. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Costly regulations stress farms trying to stay afloat
Why closing Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is a mistake California can’t afford to make
Joe Mathews with Zocalo Public Square writes, “California can keep claiming to be an international leader in energy. Or California can close its last operating nuclear power plant. But it can’t do both. Under a 2018 agreement, Diablo Canyon, on the San Luis Obispo County coast, is scheduled to close when its operating licenses expire in 2025. Whether it actually shuts down is emerging as a major test of Californians’ stated commitments to transform ourselves in the face of a scary future. Do we have the courage imagination to take smart risks in response to climate change? Right now, our fears are winning — and framing the debate about Diablo Canyon. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Why closing Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is a mistake California can’t afford to make
What we should do with all that rainwater
The Los Angeles Times editorial board writes, “More rain is expected in Southern California later this week, although not a downpour of the magnitude that dropped up to five inches on parts of the region on Tuesday and broke the 1888 record for the wettest Dec. 14 in downtown Los Angeles. A day earlier, the same storm hit Northern California and dropped up to 10 feet of snow in some of the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. That’s the typical winter storm pattern for California: The north gets a majority of the precipitation and usually gets it the day before we do in the south because of the state’s geography. The storms move not just southward but eastward, and Southern California lies significantly east of the northern part of the state (it’s counterintuitive, but Los Angeles is east of Lake Tahoe). … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: What we should do with all that rainwater
In people news this weekend …
The new face of the Met
“On October 17, 1972, the Edmonston Pumping Plant south of Bakersfield began lifting water drawn from the Delta up and over the Tehachapi Mountains toward southern California cities. That moment created a statewide water network stretching from the Trinity Alps to the Mexican border. It also made the Southland’s great umbrella water agency, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, an intimate partner and massive player in northern California water affairs. Since that day, many in the north have seen “the Met” as a kind of colonial power, both far away and threateningly present. It pays a large share of the cost of the State Water Project. It owns lands in the Delta. It underwrites research. It often seems to determine the course of government policy. Few outside its sprawling boundaries (and maybe not so many inside them) really know much about it. On June 9, the district’s 38-member board selected a new General Manager not of the traditional mold: Adel Hagekhalil. … ” Continue reading at Estuary News here: The new face of the Met
Losing Justice Hobbs, western water expert and valued mentor
Nell Green Nylen writes, “When former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory J. Hobbs passed away recently, just weeks shy of his 77th birthday, he left a gaping hole in the hearts of many. Not just family and close friends. But people across the Colorado legal community, the broader Western water community, and a far-flung network that includes Berkeley Law staff, faculty, and alumni. Justice Hobbs’ connections with Berkeley Law run deep. He got his JD here in 1971. He and his wife Bobbie had their first child while he was in law school. In 2006, Berkeley Law Professor Joe Sax—widely recognized as one of the founders of the field of Environmental Law—introduced Justice Hobbs as, “beyond dispute, one of the most knowledgeable and most accomplished experts on water law anywhere in the United States.” … ” Read more from the Legal Planet here: Losing Justice Hobbs, western water expert and valued mentor
APPOINTMENTS
Stephanie Harlan, 73, of Capitola, has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board …
… where she served from 2018 to 2019. Harlan was a Member of the Capitola City Council from 2010 to 2018, from 1994 to 2006 and 1984 to 1992. She was a Registered Nurse at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital from 1996 to 2015, at Watsonville Community Hospital from 1984 to 1996 and at Santa Cruz Community Hospital from 1983 to 1984. She is a member of the Santa Cruz County League of Women Voters and Friends of the Capitola Library. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Harlan is a Democrat.
Podcasts …
INGRAINED PODCAST: Time for Wildlife Refuges to Soar
“Winter is approaching, and that will soon translate into the arrival of millions of birds to the rice fields and wildlife refuges in the Sacramento Valley. For many, including Suzy Crabtree, it’s a magical time. Suzy has visited Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Butte County thousands of times over the years, to photograph the amazing array of ducks, geese, shorebirds, raptors and other animals there. “There’s so many things to see there,” she remarked. “We find it to be a place of refuge and solace. The drive down through the rice fields and the orchards is just the beginning of bringing us peace.” Pictures and resources here.
DIGGING INTO LAND USE LAW: Southern California Steelhead Trout: Potential Endangered Species Listing Opening Up a Big Can of Worms
Notwithstanding its protected status as a listed species under the federal Endangered Species Act, the Southern California steelhead population is proposed for listing under the California Endangered Species Act. During a time of unprecedented drought and storm activity resulting from climate change, this move to list the species in California is likely to have major impacts on the provision of water and recycled water supply, flood control and storm water treatment and management. In the latest episode of Digging Into Land Use Law, Nossaman Environment & Land Use partner Mary Lynn Coffee and Water partner Lori Anne Dolqueist discuss the California Endangered Species Act listing process, the potential effects of a listing on public health and safety activities and regulatory tools available to streamline approvals for such activities if a listing is adopted.
THE WATER TABLE: Planting the Rain: An Urgent Conversation with Rainwater Harvesting Guru Brad Lancaster
Brad Lancaster’s ideas are practical, radical, and urgently needed. In this episode Brad describes how he began harvesting street runoff at his home in the Sonoran Desert, where he now harvests 100,000 gallons per year on just 1/8th of an acre. Brad’s rainwater harvesting methods grew into a citywide movement toward regenerative hydration practices in his hometown of Tucson. His easy-to-implement strategies for water resilience are economical and readily adoptable. With California in hydrological deficit—and as climate change exacerbates the scarcity wrought by overallocation—this conversation with Brad contains both essential inspiration and practical tools you can apply at your home, not only survive the ongoing drought and reduce your water cost, but to enhance the quality and abundance of your life. A link to the original interview and transcript with Brad Lancaster: http://www.watertoolkit.org/?page_id=2670
VOICES OF THE VALLEY PODCAST: How to become an Agtech impact rainmaker
“As Israel has long been known as an innovator in water usage, the country’s technologists have helped farmers achieve 30% more yield while using 60% less water. How? Ethy Levy, fund manager at Kinneret Impact Ventures, reveals that collaboration is the key. Listen as she shares tips on adopting innovation, creating the right infrastructure for innovation inside an organization and successfully connecting to up-and-coming startups. Ethy will also dive into Israel’s new tech innovations, discuss water solutions for a global marketplace and provide insight into the right tools needed for commercializing innovations.
RIPPLE EFFECT PODCAST: Pumped hydro-electric storage
Matthew Shapiro, of rPlus Energies, talks us through pumped energy storage projects, their role in the renewable energy portfolio, and key considerations for getting a project completed. Great discussion about a timely activity!
WATERLOOP PODCAST: State of the Beach, 2021 edition
Healthy and resilient coastlines depend on action by states to properly manage development and prepare for climate change. While the Surfrider Foundation’s 2021 State of the Beach report found only two-thirds of states performing at poor to adequate levels, nine states did improve their scores from last year. The highest scoring states had strong policies for coastal building setbacks, restrictions on coastal armoring, limits on development in harm’s way, and progressive sea level rise policies, as discussed in this episode with Stefanie Sekich-Quinn, Coastal Preservation Manager at the Surfrider Foundation. Stefanie also explains why Gulf Coast and Great Lakes states have low grades, the role of the federal government in state actions, and how advocates can use the report to drive change.“
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: A Very Merry Holiday Season to Everyone
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the basic needs for life were very similar as they are today; food, water, shelter, the feeling of our value in this world and a vision of things to come. Whether your celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or the coming of the Winter Solstice, you may find yourself reliving the history of these events. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Podcasts here Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, stevebaker@operationunite.co
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Massive wetland restoration project in the works for Upper Klamath Lake
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating a major restoration project on the shore of Upper Klamath Lake that could benefit species both above and below the water’s surface. If carried out, it would be the largest wetland restoration effort ever attempted for Upper Klamath Lake. According to a draft environmental assessment released this summer, the USFWS hopes to breach levees that currently separate the Barnes and Agency Lake units of Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge from the western shore of Agency Lake, the northern arm of Upper Klamath Lake. Doing so would reconnect and restore more than 14,000 acres of historic fringe wetlands back to the lake. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Massive wetland restoration project in the works for Upper Klamath Lake
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Public input sought on largest green forest project in Stanislaus National Forest history
“The largest green forest management project in the 124-year history of the Stanislaus National Forest, intended to reduce fuels and further improve forest health in the overgrown Middle Fork and South Fork Stanislaus watersheds, has taken two years of planning so far. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comments on the project’s draft environmental impact statement, and people have until 9 p.m. Jan. 24 to submit their views. … ” Read more from the Union-Democrat here: Public input sought on largest green forest project in Stanislaus National Forest history
NAPA/SONOMA
Soggy Sonoma County to get a break from rain, but don’t put away the umbrellas yet
“Sonoma County will get a brief respite from several days of rain that left thousands without power Wednesday, but don’t put away the umbrellas yet. Another atmospheric river is expected Monday, but forecasters say it won’t be as heavy as the ones that preceded it. Wednesday’s storm, which subsided early Thursday, brought significant rain to the west county, along with high winds in some places. A tree was blamed for a power failure that affected thousands of Pacific Gas and Electric customers in west Sonoma County Wednesday evening, the company reported. ... ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: Soggy Sonoma County to get a break from rain, but don’t put away the umbrellas yet
Napa City Council to consider water management plan
“With California’s drought still looming, the Napa City Council will consider passing the city’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan on Tuesday, a state-required, 255-page document that evaluates the city’s water supply and demand through 2045. California requires water suppliers that provide water to more than 3,000 customers — such as the city of Napa — to create the plan and update it every five years, which effectively means that future predictions are constantly being projected and updated based on changing conditions, said to Joy Eldredge, the city’s deputy utilities director. The document looks at a range of water-related projections related to water demand, conservation, supply, drought contingencies and use of recycled water. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa City Council to consider water management plan
BAY AREA
Wet Christmas week ahead after a chilly weekend
“A cool, dry weekend will turn into a wet Christmas week, bringing more rain to the Bay Area and snow to the Sierra, and hampering holiday travel, according to the National Weather Service. … Then comes the rain, which is expected to creep into the North Bay during the day Monday and spread east and south across the rest of the Bay Area overnight. By Tuesday, everywhere in the Bay Area should see rain, which could last through Christmas, she said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Wet Christmas week ahead after a chilly weekend
Storms restore Marin reservoirs to above-average levels
“In a stunning turnaround, Marin County water supplies that were once at risk of going dry next year have refilled to above-average levels following a series of unusually early downpours. Marin water officials are reevaluating some drought restrictions and penalties that were adopted earlier this year, especially with more rain in the forecast this week. The Marin Municipal Water District has recorded about 34 inches of rain since July, which is about 240% of normal by this time of year and about 14 inches more than it received in the entire winter of 2020-2021. The bulk of the rain came from three storms in late October, early November and this month. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Storms restore Marin reservoirs to above-average levels
Pacheco Reservoir to expand after state commission nod
“A local reservoir expansion project is getting a big boost from a state agency. The California Water Commission ruled that the Pacheco Reservoir project is feasible and qualifies for nearly half a billion dollars in Prop 1 funding. It’s located in Santa Clara County, north of Highway 152 and east of Casa de Fruta. ... ” Read more from KSBY here: Pacheco Reservoir to expand after state commission nod
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey: The atmospheric river wasn’t as intense as expected; more possible rain on the way.
“The atmospheric river that traveled through the region from Monday through early Tuesday morning didn’t pack the same punch as the storm Monterey County saw in October, but it did stall long enough over the Santa Lucia Mountains to dump up to 13 inches of rain on Mining Ridge in Big Sur, according to the National Weather Service. After dallying, the storm veered southeast away from the county and the San Francisco Bay Area. Flooding was light with some water and mud collecting along River Road outside of Salinas, with no debris flows or mudslides reported as of Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 14. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: The atmospheric river wasn’t as intense as expected; more possible rain on the way.
California Water Service commits $200,000 to advance wildlife preservation, conservation education through Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
“As part of its commitments to both furthering environmental stewardship and supporting education in socio-economically challenged areas it serves, California Water Service (Cal Water) has pledged $200,000 to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (Foundation). The donation, announced at the Foundation’s holiday reception last night, will help the Foundation further its overall mission, including exploring future opportunities for youth education outreach programs across the region to deepen knowledge about conservation and how to protect marine wildlife and the ecosystem. … ” Read more from Yahoo News here: California Water Service commits $200,000 to advance wildlife preservation, conservation education through Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
San Luis Obispo: More storms on the way, and SLO County could get up to 6 inches of rain
“After a few days of clear and sunny weather, a stormy weather pattern will develop on Tuesday night and continue through next Sunday. Another cold morning is expected in the inland areas on Sunday with temperatures dropping to the high-20s. However, gentle southerly winds and areas of low marine clouds in the coastal regions will produce warmer overnight temperatures on Sunday into Monday. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: San Luis Obispo: More storms on the way, and SLO County could get up to 6 inches of rain
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Graupel fell overnight in Visalia. What is ‘corn snow’?
“Valley rain and mountain snow are returning to Central California just days after an atmospheric river drenched the region. The Visalia area received one-tenth of an inch of rain Thursday morning while the foothills saw about half an inch. Near-freezing temperatures will follow the storm Friday and Saturday night, and another storm may return to the region next week, forecasters with the National Weather Service Hanford office said. . Graupel, or “corn snow,” fell in parts of Visalia overnight Wednesday. The soft hail is caused by supercooled droplets of water that freeze on falling snowflakes… ” Continue reading at the Visalia Times-Delta here: Graupel fell overnight in Visalia. What is ‘corn snow’?
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Water District board elects David Saint-Amand as 2022 board president
“The Indian Wells Valley Water District board of directors elected director David Saint-Amand to lead as Water District board president for 2022 at their board meeting on Monday. The vote passed by 4-0, with Saint-Amand abstaining from the vote. The board also elected director Mallory Boyd as vice president by a vote of 4-0, with Boyd abstaining. The Water District board of directors holds a president and vice president election at the end of every year. For 2021, the board president was Chuck Griffin and vice president was David Saint-Amand. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Ridgecrest: Water District board elects David Saint-Amand as 2022 board president
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California labor secretary tours Rialto water treatment facility
“On Dec. 16 California Labor Secretary Natalie Palugyai took a tour of the Roemer Filtration Facility in Rialto. Secretary Palugyai’s main focus for the visit was to learn more about the I.E. Works program, which recently received over a million dollars in state grant money. Gracie Torres is the Western Municipal Water District Vice President and shared more about the program. “I.E. works overall want to bring more water and wastewater jobs to the Inland Empire from underserved communities. We want to have more women, people of color, basically reimagine water,” said Torres. … ” Read more from KVCR here: California labor secretary tours Rialto water treatment facility
State officials hand off $8 million to preserve Banning Ranch as public park
“The purchase of Banning Ranch remains within reach as conservationists received a ceremonial check representing $8 million Thursday from state officials to help purchase the 384-acre oil field. The $8 million comes out of the state budget, which legislators secured in June to be put toward the purchase of the property. Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) handed off the check to officials from the Banning Ranch Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, accompanied by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and Costa Mesa Councilwoman Arlis Reynolds. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: State officials hand off $8 million to preserve Banning Ranch as public park
Along the Colorado River …
Sense of urgency palpable as Colorado River conference closes
“Scientists and state, federal and tribal officials expressed the need for swift action in the face of a mounting water shortage as a major conference about the Colorado River wrapped up in Las Vegas Thursday. The river, which supplies power and water to 40 million people living in towns, farms and reservations across the West, is at a tipping point. Its two largest reservoirs – Lake Powell and Lake Mead – are at their lowest levels on record, and the unseasonably warm and dry winter hints at the crisis only deepening. If severe drought conditions persist, one the region’s largest sources of hydropower, the Glen Canyon Dam in Lake Powell, could stop producing power as early as next summer, according to recent federal projections. … ” Read more from KUNC here: Sense of urgency palpable as Colorado River conference closes
Worry and alarm center focus of annual Colorado River conference
“Low water levels of the Colorado River have led to shrinking reservoirs and new concerns about the future of water in the West. Back in August, the federal government declared a water shortage on the Colorado River, which led to the first-ever shortage declaration for Lake Mead in Southern Nevada. This week, officials from the West met at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association Conference in Las Vegas. Nate Hegyi is a reporter with the Mountain West News Bureau who covered the conference, and he joined KUNR’s Noah Glick to talk about the event. … ” Read more from KUNR here: Worry and alarm center focus of annual Colorado River conference
Expanded partnership between Metropolitan, Quechan Tribe will conserve Colorado River water, help protect Lake Mead
“A new seasonal land fallowing program between Metropolitan Water District and the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation will conserve Colorado River water, making it available to Southern California cities so they can leave more water in Lake Mead, while supporting the Tribe’s agricultural economy. During a signing ceremony Wednesday, Metropolitan Water District and the Quechan Tribe formalized an agreement for a two-year seasonal fallowing pilot that will pay interested farmers to not grow crops on a portion of their lands between April and July in 2022 and 2023, and make the conserved Colorado River water available for urban needs and help California boost declining water levels in Lake Mead. The agreement will also help meet water conservation targets identified in the 500-plus plan, an effort by Lower Basin water users to add 500,000 acre-feet or more of water to the reservoir over each of the next two years to reduce the risk of Lake Mead reaching critically low elevations. … ” Read more from Business Wire here: Expanded partnership between Metropolitan, Quechan Tribe will conserve Colorado River water, help protect Lake Mead
Proposal would make grass illegal in new housing developments
“It could soon be illegal to install grass in new developments in the Las Vegas Valley. The Southern Nevada Water Authority board of directors is scheduled to consider a resolution Monday that would pave the way for prohibiting the installation of turf in all new developments, except at schools and in parks and cemeteries. If the board approves the resolution, the agency will work with municipalities to update local codes. It’s a proposal that comes as water officials in Southern Nevada seek new routes to conservation. Two decades of drought have parched the Colorado River leading to the first federally declared water shortage for Lake Mead. ... ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Proposal would make grass illegal in new housing developments
Utah leaders and Colorado River officials meet about future of the river basin
“Utah leaders joined water managers and officials from throughout the Colorado River Basin in Las Vegas this week to discuss the river’s worsening hydrology. This year’s event comes as the major storage reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, drop to historic lows and climate change is hurting snowpack levels. Candice Hasenyager, the director of the Utah Division of Water Resources, said state leaders are working on better conservation approaches — something she said all basin states need to work on. “That’s one message I heard loud and clear through a variety of discussion points is yes, the hydrology is horrible, and we need to work together collaboratively to get through it,” she said. ... ” Read more from KUER here: Utah leaders and Colorado River officials meet about future of the river basin
Phoenix pours $280 million into pipeline to prepare for less water from parched Colorado River
“On Jan. 1, for the first time, Arizona’s supply of the Colorado River water will be cut by 18%. Farmers will bear the brunt at first, and if the drought continues, the cuts will go much deeper and eventually hit cities like Phoenix. That’s one reason behind why the city just broke ground on a $280-million initiative to address the issue. Known as the Drought Pipeline Project, five-and-a-half-foot pipes will soon be buried underground in the city. The pipes are made of steel, which gives them strength, city engineer Clayton Freed says. “This pipe will be able to carry about 75 million gallons of water a day,” he says. ... ” Read more from WBUR here: Phoenix pours $280 million into pipeline to prepare for less water from parched Colorado River
In national water news this weekend …
States say they lack ‘road map’ to spend feds’ lead pipe funds
“Many states say they haven’t yet made specific plans to distribute any of the new infrastructure law’s $15 billion in federal lead pipe replacement funding because there are too many unanswered questions about where and how to spend the money. The timeline for lead pipe replacement is unclear even as the White House on Thursday announced a long-term plan to remove all the country’s nearly 10 million lead pipes over the next decade or so. Getting lead-pipe replacement funding to local water systems is going to be time-consuming because the Environmental Protection Agency and local governments have yet to locate all the pipes and learn the necessary federal requirements for distributing the money to communities. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: States say they lack ‘road map’ to spend feds’ lead pipe funds
The EPA begins rolling out billions to clean up Superfund sites
“One billion dollars from the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Biden last month will go toward clearing out the Superfund backlog in 23 states and Puerto Rico, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Superfund sites are places where hazardous waste is dumped, including manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites. When no company is held liable for the cleanup or the company can’t afford it, the government funds the cleanup process. Thousands of Superfund sites exist across the country, and this investment will help clean up 49 of them that have previously been unfunded, the EPA said Friday. ... ” Read more from KALW here: The EPA begins rolling out billions to clean up Superfund sites
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-20211217Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: SGM Grant Program’s 2021 SGMA Implementation Funding Documents
CA VOLUNTARY DROUGHT INITIATIVE: Your Help is Needed to Save California’s Native Salmon and Steelhead
NOTICE of Consideration of Adoption of California’s 2020-2022 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List, Proposed Final Documents, Responses to Comments
