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Incoming storms …
‘Incredible totals:’ Up to 8 feet of snow expected in Sierra
“Christmas is just days away and the present that drought-stricken California will receive is a week of heavy mountain snowfall and widespread rain. Successive waves of precipitation moving into Northern California from Tuesday — the first day of winter — through Sunday afternoon because of La Nina in the Pacific Ocean will coat parts of the Sierra Nevada with 1 to 5 feet of snow and possibly up to 8 feet at some higher elevations, the National Weather Service said. … ” Continue reading at KTVU here: ‘Incredible totals:’ Up to 8 feet of snow expected in Sierra
CW3E: Latest update on active weather pattern over California
A quick look at the complex forecast of AR activity and subsequent storms that are forecast to bring substantial snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and upwards of 5 inches of liquid precipitation to the California Coast.
SEE ALSO: CW3E S2S Outlook: 22 December 2021
Christmas week storms will bring showers to Bay Area skies, dump snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains
“Christmas will be a soggy one this year as another round of wet weather approached the Bay Area, kicking off a week of rain, according to the National Weather Service. “It’s a rare setup in the Pacific where it’s sending low pressure, one of the bigger drivers of rain, coming down from British Columbia and meeting up with us,” said NWS forecaster Brayden Murdock. A cold front attached to the low-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean and off the coast of the Oregon-California border will rotate and push moisture towards Northern California, resulting in a steady band of rain that will bring showers with sporadic breaks over the region for several days. Another low-pressure system will move down Friday night into Saturday and deliver another helping of rain. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Christmas week storms will bring showers to Bay Area skies, dump snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains
Rain this week could put S.F. in the top 10 wettest water years on record, officials say
“The anticipated rainfall in the Bay Area this week could put San Francisco in the top 10 wettest water years on record, according to the National Weather Service. San Francisco has seen 12.5 inches of rain since the start of the water year, which begins Oct. 1 and lasts through Sept. 30, 2022. That total currently ranks this season’s water year as the 15th wettest for San Francisco, the weather service said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Rain this week could put S.F. in the top 10 wettest water years on record, officials say
Will coming storms break California’s epic drought?
“Water watchers were anticipating a possible “drought busting” series of storms over the Christmas holidays after a strong assist from mid-December storms. The Dec. 14 storm brought about one to two inches of rain to a lot of the San Joaquin Valley floor, said David Spector, forecaster at the National Weather Service’s Hanford station. It also dumped about two to four feet of snow at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada mountains which will help with water supply when that snow melts and runs off in the spring, he added. The rain helped boost some reservoir levels too. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: Will coming storms break California’s epic drought?
In other California water news today …
With another dry year looming, California moves to set new urban water use standards
” … In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency and urged a voluntary 15% reduction in water use for California cities. So far, most areas are falling short of the target, and mandatory cutbacks are likely for next year. In November, amid the deepening drought, the DWR and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) issued joint recommendations to the California State Legislature for new indoor residential water use standards, along with a study supporting the recommendations (hereafter the Indoor Residential Water Use Study, or IRWUS). ... ” Read more from the Pacific Institute here: With another dry year looming, California moves to set new urban water use standards
Conservationists work with Central Valley rice farmers to preserve bird habitat
“Drought-relief funding is being used to create critical, appropriate places for birds to shelter in the Central Valley, which is part of the Pacific Flyway. More than 100 million birds of 400 different species use the flyway every year, a span that stretches from the Arctic to South America. In the Central Valley region, human use has taken over 95% of the natural habitat that geese and ducks could use. The seasonal habitat is key to support the birds, but the flooding of rice fields to help preserve the habitat could run afoul of drought measures, especially at a time when up to 70% of the habitat was disappearing because of the dryness this past year. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Conservationists work with Central Valley rice farmers to preserve bird habitat
Coalition releases plan to protect bird habitat
“A public-private partnership has released a 10-year plan to restore and protect bird habitat in the Central Valley that also provides significant benefits to local communities, including flood protection, increased access to recreation, and replenishment of groundwater. The Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) is a coalition of 19 public and private organizations that coordinates efforts to conserve Central Valley birds and their habitats for current and future generations. … ” Read more from the Riverbank News here: Coalition releases plan to protect bird habitat
To the water wise: On-farm recharge a solution for nut growers
“On-farm recharge (OFR) and the lowered soil oxygen levels that result from the practice do not negatively affect the health and yield of pecans, according to research conducted by a California-based environmental engineering firm. Bachand & Associates, in collaboration with a grower with Pacific Gold Agriculture, applied 40 feet of water to the grower’s 5.4-acre pecan plot in McFarland, CA, during a 46-day period in 2020 (early May to mid-June). This was the second of two consecutive summers of the pilot study. Although oxygen levels expectedly dropped to low levels during both years, no negative impacts were reported. The research also identified best practices specific to OFR and siting that can shorten the duration of low oxygen. ... ” Read more from Growing Produce here: To the water wise: On-farm recharge a solution for nut growers
Video: Less water means fewer jobs in California farming communities
“The megadrought ravaging farming communities in Central California has forced many farmers to let their fields go dry. That means they have to lay off workers, many of whom flee the community in search of work elsewhere. That is turning some of those towns in virtual ghost towns. Evelyn Taft has more.” Watch video from CBS News at Yahoo News here: Video: Less water means fewer jobs in California farming communities
‘Unprecedented’ water allocation for State Water Project
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) began the month with a disappointing initial water allocation for the State Water Project (SWP). Due to a fairly slow start to the 2022 water year and the current condition of water storage, expectations were for a conservative allocation. DWR has announced a zero percent allocation for SWP contractors. “What the Department of Water Resources announced in December was unprecedented. They said that there would be zero water allocated. What was interesting in their announcement is they prioritized how they were planning on delivering water,” said Adam Borchard, Director of Government and Public Policy for the California Fresh Fruit Association. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: ‘Unprecedented’ water allocation for State Water Project
Sites Reservoir clears a critical funding hurdle
“The atmospheric river storm that brought some rain and snow to the parched state may serve as a reminder that California is still waiting to build planned infrastructure for storing water in wet years for use in dry years. The California Water Commission last week took a key step forward on funding four water storage projects. They now are eligible to receive funds from $2.7 billion earmarked for public benefits of new projects authorized through the Water Storage Investment Program. The funds are a portion of the $7.1 billion authorized through Proposition 1, a water bond passed by voters in 2014. While commission members did not formally award any funds, they voted to advance four projects as feasible for construction and eligible to receive bond money. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Sites Reservoir clears a critical funding hurdle
Radioactive contamination is creeping into drinking water around the U.S.
“When Jeni Knack moved to Simi Valley, California, in 2018, she had no idea that her family’s new home was within 5 miles of a former nuclear and rocket testing laboratory, perched atop a plateau and rife with contamination. Radioactive cesium-137, strontium-90, plutonium-239 and tritium, along with a mix of other toxic chemicals and heavy metals, are known to have been released at the industrial site through various spills, leaks, the use of open-air burn pits and a partial nuclear meltdown. Once Knack learned about the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and the unusual number of childhood cancer cases in the surrounding community, she couldn’t ignore it. … ” Read more from Ensia here: Radioactive contamination is creeping into drinking water around the U.S.
Putting Israeli water technology to use worldwide
“Water is the world’s most precious resource. No person or nation can survive without it. These facts are ringing ever more true as global fresh water resources are diminishing and demand continues to grow. The adoption of advanced water technologies will be vital in the world’s quest to meet this historic challenge. Israel’s history with water is long and distinguished. As a nation that is comprised of 60 percent desert, water technology has been at the forefront of Israel’s innovation sector. … Due to similar climates, Israeli water technology has performed well in California. A recent report released by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, titled “Silicon Valley to Silicon Wadi,” discussed how Southern California is utilizing an Israeli designed and operated desalination plant in Carlsbad. … ” Read more from the Silicon Valley Business Journal here: Putting Israeli water technology to use worldwide
Years later, restored wetlands remain a shadow of their old selves
“A study of restored wetlands on the Danish island of Funen reveals that plant species richness remains extremely poor many years after wetlands restoration. It is widely assumed that restored wetlands will increase local biodiversity and come to resemble natural wetlands over time. However, more must be done to catalyze recovery according to the University of Copenhagen researcher behind the study.” Read more at the University of Copenhagen here: Years later, restored wetlands remain a shadow of their old selves
Agriculture faces host of new state laws in California
“Farmers and ranchers will find themselves subject to new laws in 2022 that will raise wages, redefine animals’ living arrangements and allow ranchers better access to livestock in evacuation zones. Effective Jan. 1, California’s minimum wage rises to $15 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees at any time in a pay period. Those employing 25 or fewer people at all times in a pay period will see the minimum wage rise to $14 per hour in 2022 and to $15 in 2023. Employers of 26 or more people will also owe overtime pay to agricultural employees after working eight hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek. Those employees will be owed time and a half for work after eight and up to 12 hours in a day, and double time after 12 hours. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Agriculture faces host of new state laws in California
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Resilience of the Yurok Tribe in the Klamath River Basin
“Along the Klamath River, which runs through Oregon and Northern California, is a 44-mile stretch the Yurok Tribe calls home. They’ve claimed the title “great fishermen” of the region for more than 10,000 years. However, in 2017 the USDA declared the Yurok Nation a food desert because of its extremely limited access to food. The nearest grocery store is located 24 miles away from the reservation. Additionally, the Yurok tribe’s access to their indigenous Pacific Salmon has been depleted as a result of environmental and climate change. This state of emergency was dramatically exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to increased housing, health, and economic problems for the community. In 2012, the USDA implemented a project to help the Yurok Tribe develop new methods of ensuring food security and food sovereignty. Today, tribe members are finding their own methods of adapting to changes in their environment while also continuing to embrace their traditional consumption practices. ... ” Read more from the NYC Food Policy Center here: Resilience of the Yurok Tribe in the Klamath River Basin
Lake County Board of Supervisors makes no move to split Water Resources, Public Works
“The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday decided to take no action on a proposal from the County Administrative Office to consider once again splitting the Water Resources Department off from the Department of Public Works. County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said she agendized the discussion because the county is anticipating a “considerable amount of infrastructure funding” in the next year or two thanks to the federal infrastructure bill. She said the discussion was brought forward to enable the board to consider whether it would make sense to have the two departments separate in order to allow Public Works to focus on projects. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Board of Supervisors makes no move to split Water Resources, Public Works
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Good fire project protects Caples watershed from Caldor Fire
“The Caldor Fire was fueled by red-flag conditions and historically dry vegetation, and it became the second fire ever to burn over the crest of the Sierra Nevada. As the fire raged eastward toward South Lake Tahoe and Kirkwood Ski Resort, the Caples Creek watershed lay directly in its path. But unlike areas nearby, the upper Caples Creek watershed was undamaged by the fire. Two years before the Caldor Fire, forest fuels in the Caples Creek watershed were reduced through a mix of prescribed fire and managed wildfire. The Caples Creek Watershed Ecological Restoration Project (Caples Project), inspired by the El Dorado Irrigation District, funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and completed by the Eldorado National Forest, played a key role in protecting the Caples Creek watershed and surrounding communities during the Caldor Fire. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Good fire project protects Caples watershed from Caldor Fire
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Reclamation and Orland Unit Water Users Association complete East Park Dam inspections and repairs
“The Bureau of Reclamation’s 111-year-old East Park Dam recently received inspections and modernization of the dam gates. The reservoir and surrounding parklands closed last August to allow for the dam inspections when the reservoir level was at its lowest since 1977 due to drought conditions making these structures accessible. East Park Dam and Reservoir are located in Colusa County, about 33 miles southwest of the town of Orland. The dam is owned by Reclamation and operated and maintained by the Orland Unit Water Users Association. Colusa County manages the reservoir and 1,600 acres of adjacent parklands. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation and Orland Unit Water Users Association complete East Park Dam inspections and repairs
Corning changes tax lien policy for delinquent water, sewer bills
“The city has changed how it will put tax liens on properties for delinquent water or sewer bills. If a bill is unpaid and less than $200, the city will not put a lien on the property as a consequence. The City Council met Dec. 14 to discuss putting tax liens on 118 properties for delinquent water or sewer accounts. As of Nov. 30, the combined total owed from all the properties was $138,665.47. Due to the pandemic, the city cannot shut off water services. … ” Continue reading at the Red Bluff Daily News here: Corning changes tax lien policy for delinquent water, sewer bills
Four Sac River Levee District repair projects completed
“The Sacramento River West Side Levee District (SRWSLD) announced last week that repairs were completed at four levee sites damaged in a storm that occurred in early 2017. According to a release issued by SRWSLD, the repairs were completed and fully funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) under its Public Law 84-99 (PL 84-99) program. “The strong partnership between the Corps and our state and local partners has allowed us to deliver these critical levee repairs and ensure our local communities continue to be protected from flood events,” said USACE PL 84-99 Project Manager Margaret Engesser. … ” Read more from Yahoo News here: Four Sac River Levee District repair projects completed
Wildlife are main source of bacterial contamination in lower American River new study shows
“As thousands of cubic feet of water rush down California’s American River every second, a problem murks the clear waters of the stream, which cuts through the city of Sacramento. Fecal contamination in the popular river, used recreationally by thousands each year, has been studied for years but a new study released Tuesday sheds more light on the cause of the contamination. According to the State’s Water Board, humans are not the main cause of fecal contamination in at least 3 miles of the 30-mile-long river. … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: Wildlife are main source of bacterial contamination in lower American River new study shows
Watch: Levi’s Stadium, DWR partner for water conservation efforts
“A new partnership between the Department of Water Resources and the home of the San Francisco 49ers will help conservation efforts at one of California’s largest venues. Jim Mercurio, the general manager of Levi’s Stadium, joined Melanie to discuss the initiative.” Watch video from Fox 40 here: Watch: Levi’s Stadium, DWR partner for water conservation efforts
EPA grants $81M loan to Sacramento County Water Agency
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an $81 million loan to the Sacramento County Water Agency in northern California to modernize the county’s water infrastructure and help make the water supply more climate-resilient. “The Sacramento County Water Agency’s project is critical to fighting drought and reducing climate change impacts,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “The EPA is committed to helping communities pursue smarter water management strategies, and we are proud to help finance this project to benefit local residents for generations to come. This represents the future of water in the West.” … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: EPA grants $81M loan to Sacramento County Water Agency
NAPA/SONOMA
City of Napa hydrant flushing to run through April
“Napa residents may have seen what looks like water sloshing out the back of city of Napa trucks and pouring into storm drains this month. But that’s nothing out of the ordinary: The city is carrying out its annual hydrant flushing program, a form of water system maintenance meant to clean the pipes of various debris, set to run from December through April 2022. Hydrants in Alta Heights, Browns Valley, parts of downtown Napa, and the Hillcrest and Silverado Highlands will be flushed this winter. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: City of Napa hydrant flushing to run through April
BAY AREA
Mountain View’s salt pond restoration project set to begin next year
“A massive undertaking to restore wetlands along Mountain View’s coastline will finally begin construction in 2022, with plans to shore up levees and build out new trails to accommodate the return of the coastal marshlands. City officials are working with state and regional agencies to support a decadeslong effort to convert more than 15,000 acres of salt ponds back to native habitat. The restoration project is the largest of its kind on the West Coast, and seeks to erase a legacy of industrial salt production by the global conglomerate Cargill. … ” Read more from the Mountain View Voice here: Mountain View’s salt pond restoration project set to begin next year
Santa Clara County shields Coyote Valley from development
“Climate advocates and conservationists are praising Santa Clara County lawmakers for creating protections for one of the last green open spaces in the South Bay. The Board of Supervisors voted last week to drastically limit development in Coyote Valley, preserving it for open space and agriculture and helping the region achieve climate change goals. “I commit to working with our environmental partners to fairly compensate landlords for their land, then protecting that land with a permanent conservation easement, and selling that land to farmers with few resources,” Supervisor Cindy Chavez said in a statement. ... ” Read more from San Jose Spotlight here: Santa Clara County shields Coyote Valley from development
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Westlands GM gets contract extension despite grower objections
“During a contentious Westlands Water District meeting on Tuesday where growers spoke out against district leadership, board members voted 8-1 to extend General Manager Tom Birmingham’s contract another three years. As has been the district’s recent practice, the contract extension came a year before Birmingham’s contract expires. Westlands growers criticized Birmingham, expressed frustration at the priorities of the district and denounced the early contract extension. “I did not move from a dictatorship into a democracy…to be quiet and not say what is right,” said Farid Assemi, whose family moved to Fresno County from Iran. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Westlands GM gets contract extension despite grower objections
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Soaking rain could challenge records in LA, San Diego on Christmas Eve
“A potent storm that took aim at the Northwest earlier in the week will drop down into California on Wednesday, setting the region up to receive drought-relieving rain and snow — and the rainfall could set records on Christmas Eve. Increasing amounts of moisture will move onshore on Wednesday, and snow is anticipated to develop across the Sierra Nevada mountain range. This will be the beginning of an extended stretch of wet weather for the Southwest, according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Soaking rain could challenge records in LA, San Diego on Christmas Eve
Residents near Bobcat Fire burn scar brace for yet another storm with potential debris and mud flows
“As a strong winter storm heads toward the southland, people who live near the Bobcat Fire burn scar are keeping a close eye on how the incoming weather is developing. So far, no warnings have been issued ahead of the rainfall, but county and city crews are gearing up to respond. With the damage to Canyon Park after last week’s rain, residents in the area, as well as residents in other neighborhoods, who escaped major debris flows are hoping for the same this time around. … ” Read more from CBS LA here: Residents near Bobcat Fire burn scar brace for yet another storm with potential debris and mud flows
Santa Clarita: Jan. 3: Final public hearing and vote on Groundwater Sustainability Plan
“A virtual public hearing is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, on the final Groundwater Sustainability Plan to protect the Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin, a vital resource for Santa Clarita Valley’s residents, farms and the environment. The remote Zoom meeting begins at 2:30 p.m., at which the Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SCV-GSA) Board of Directors will consider the GSP and vote on its adoption. … ” Read more from SCV News here: Jan. 3: Final Public Hearing and Vote on Groundwater Sustainability Plan
Letters to the Editor: How to make home greywater systems take off like rooftop solar
“Residing in Southern California, we live in a semi-arid environment. Unless we want to dry up and blow away, we definitely need to capture and use the precious rain we get here, as your editorial noted. But we also need to prioritize and encourage the use of residential greywater. Water usage in the Southland is based on a wasteful single-use model. Bath, shower and laundry water is used only once and then sent into the sewage system. This water could be safely diverted for use on outdoor landscaping with an in-home greywater system. Using greywater has numerous benefits, including saving water, lowering bills, diverting water into aquifers and creating cooler micro-climates. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Letters to the Editor: How to make home greywater systems take off like rooftop solar
SAN DIEGO
Acres residents in Ramona seek $1.32M grant to get access to clean water
“Residents of Ramona’s Acres community are working with local officials and a nonprofit on an application for a $1.32 million grant that would give them better access to clean water. The funds would pay for new water main pipelines for the community, which has contaminated well water and inadequate pipes. Toby Roy, a specialist with the nonprofit Rural Community Assistance Corporation, provided an update on the application process at the Dec. 14 Ramona Municipal Water District meeting. ... ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Acres residents in Ramona seek $1.32M grant to get access to clean water
San Diego’s first winter storms to deliver days of rain for Christmas
“We may not be getting a White Christmas this year, San Diego, but it will certainly be wet. Back-to-back storm systems — one fueled by an atmospheric river — will bring rain, gusty winds, chilly temperatures and potentially some light mountain snow to San Diego County this week. While California comrades to our north saw stormy weather starting as early as Tuesday, the first storm system is expected to reach San Diego County on Thursday. The second system, a much less powerful one, will move in on Christmas Day. … ” Read more from NBC San Diego here: San Diego’s first winter storms to deliver days of rain for Christmas
Along the Colorado River …
Water worries in West force sports teams to get creative
“The Arizona Diamondbacks ripped out the grass at Chase Field ahead of the 2019 season, replacing it with synthetic grass. It was a business decision, but it also ended up being a water-conservation measure. The Phoenix-based major league baseball team thought it would save 2 million gallons a year. In the first season, the savings were closer to 4.5 million gallons, which is roughly the annual water usage of 49 households in the Phoenix area, according to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the Pioneer here: Water worries in West force sports teams to get creative
At the Colorado River conference, ‘It’s really no longer a drill’
“Last week, at Caesars Palace, a luxurious hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, nearly a thousand water managers, scientists, and government officials convened at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference to discuss the future of the imperiled watershed. The tone was one of urgency: The Colorado River, which spans seven states, 30 tribal nations and two countries, is carrying much less water than it used to. At the same time, a lot more people are vying for what’s left. The crisis has been exacerbated by climate change, which continues to shrink the snowpack and reduce rainfall. … ” Read more from High Country News here: At the Colorado River conference, ‘It’s really no longer a drill’
Water officials set to wring more savings from stressed Colorado River
“Last week water officials from Nevada and two other Colorado River states said they would reduce their draws from the ailing waterway. Now they need to make that happen. Water leaders in Nevada, Arizona, and California signed an agreement to voluntarily reduce their take from the Colorado River to help stave off mandatory cuts in the upcoming years. The signing took place at the Colorado River Water Users Association annual meeting in Las Vegas, where policy is set to manage the dwindling river that serves 40 million people. … ” Read more from KNPR here: Water officials set to wring more savings from stressed Colorado River
Commentary: The lower basin inked a plan to save Lake Mead in just 4 months. But we’re not done
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “The takeaway from the “500-plus plan,” the recently inked effort to save Lake Mead, can be summed up in just three words: We’re. Not. Done. That doesn’t make the deal any less consequential. Arizona, California, Nevada and the federal government have agreed to voluntarily conserve at least 500,000 acre-feet of water, over and above mandatory cuts, for the next two years. In 2022, that’s roughly twice as much water as we would otherwise be leaving in the lake. They’ve committed $200 million to fund the plan – most of which will pay people not to use water they were already using. And they did so in roughly four months. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Commentary: The lower basin inked a plan to save Lake Mead in just 4 months. But we’re not done
Desert shrubs cranked up water use efficiency to survive a megadrought
“Shrubs in the desert Southwest have increased their water use efficiency at some of the highest rates ever observed to cope with a decades-long megadrought. That’s the finding of a new study from University of Utah researchers, who found that although the shrubs’ efficiency increases are unprecedented and heroic, they may not be enough to adapt to the long-term drying trend in the West. “The Southwest is in a really dry period,” says Steven Kannenberg, postdoctoral research associate in the U’s School of Biological Sciences, “and this is further evidence of how much the ‘megadrought’ has impacted plant functioning and how anomalous this period is.” ... ” Read more from Science Daily here: Desert shrubs cranked up water use efficiency to survive a megadrought
Wet meadows in high desert restored by low-tech volunteers
“On a warm August morning, a group of volunteers gathers in the high desert about 20 miles outside Gunnison, Colorado. Armed with willow branches and stones, they’re ready to help restore a critical wildlife habitat. Volunteers are here to restore a wet meadow, a type of shallow marsh that can form in an arid sagebrush landscape. “I always joke around that I should’ve majored in basket weaving instead of wildlife management because that’s definitely a skill we’re going to be using today,” said Nathan Seward, a conservation biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. ... ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Wet meadows in high desert restored by low-tech volunteers
In national water news today …
Fitch: Challenges ahead for utilities, but not enough to weaken ratings
“U.S. water and sewer utilities will see some weakening in their financial profiles over the next several months, effectively reversing a trend of steadily declining leverage in recent years as utilities limited the rate of debt growth and posted robust operating margins. Part of the reason for the change is the wide-reaching ripple effect of the global coronavirus pandemic. As a result, Fitch Ratings expects a reduction in cash reserves and a gradual rise in sector leverage through fiscal 2023 due to robust capital expenditure growth in fiscal 2021 and over the medium term. In Fitch’s base case scenarios, leverage is expected to rise by more than 20 percent across the rated portfolio from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2023. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Fitch: Challenges Ahead for Utilities, But Not Enough to Weaken Ratings
No mountain high enough: Study finds plastic in ‘clean’ air
“From Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, microplastics are everywhere – even high in the Earth’s troposphere where wind speeds allow them to travel vast distances, a study showed Tuesday. Microplastics are tiny fragments — measuring less than 5 millimeters — that come from packaging, clothing, vehicles and other sources and have been detected on land, in water and in the air. Scientists from the French national research institute CNRS sampled air 2,877 meters above sea level at the Pic du Midi Observatory in the French Pyrenees, a so-called “clean station” because of the limited influence exerted on it by the local climate and environment. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: No mountain high enough: Study finds plastic in ‘clean’ air
In photos: 13 extreme weather events that shocked the world in 2021
“In 2021 we witnessed further examples of the impact of climate change. Scientists noticed that animals were shapeshifting in response to rising temperatures, while a decade-long study revealed the Amazon rainforest now emits more carbon than it absorbs. We’ve also seen more and more extreme meteorological events occurring around the globe. There were wildfires in America, typhoons in Asia, and super storms in our own backyard. These incredible images document just a handful of the weather phenomena that displaced humans and ruined lives in the last 12 months. They make for sombre viewing. ... ” Read more from BBC’s Science Focus here: In photos: 13 extreme weather events that shocked the world in 2021
From floods and wildfires to inaction and urgency: These are the top climate and weather stories of 2021
“The climate crisis took a catastrophic toll across the globe in 2021. From the Arctic to Louisiana and to China’s Henan province, signs that climate change is already altering our weather were everywhere. In the United States, historic flooding trapped and killed residents in submerged basements. In Canada, an entire town was erased by a wildfire fueled by extreme heat. Rain fell at the summit of Greenland for the first time. As climate disasters mounted, the world aligned around combating the crisis: Scientists published a landmark report that concluded humans are unequivocally to blame; US President Joe Biden reentered the Paris Agreement in the early days of his administration; world leaders met at the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, to negotiate solutions. ... ” Read more from CNN here: From floods and wildfires to inaction and urgency: These are the top climate and weather stories of 2021
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
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CDFW GRANTS: Proposition 1 Consultation Request Now Open
