In California water news today …
The nearly 17 feet of snow in California’s Sierra Nevada is crushing records. It’s still not enough
“After months of extreme drought that triggered water shortages and stoked wildfires, heavy snow is falling in the Sierra Nevada — enough to break decades-old records. As of Tuesday, more than 202 inches of snow — nearly 17 feet — had fallen so far this month at the University of California, Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, at Donner Pass east of Sacramento. Scientists at the lab said this month is now the snowiest December on record for the location and the third snowiest month overall. The top month was January 2017 when 238 inches fell, and it’s not likely enough snow will fall in the next three days to challenge that record. Records here go back to 1970. … ” Read more from CNN here: The nearly 17 feet of snow in California’s Sierra Nevada is crushing records. It’s still not enough
SEE ALSO: California’s epic snowstorms are great news, from Gizmodo
Here’s how much December’s rain added to Northern California reservoirs
“As a rainy December comes to close, nearly all Northern California reservoirs were still drier than historic averages for this time of year, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources. But the precipitation still gave several reservoirs a boost from the beginning of the month. Of seven major reservoirs in Northern California, three currently have more water than they did a year ago: Lake Mendocino, up 7%; Lake Oroville, up 2%; and Hetch Hetchy, up 15%. That’s an improvement from mid-December, when only Hetch Hetchy held more water than a year ago. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Here’s how much December’s rain added to Northern California reservoirs
Vivid satellite imagery captures a reversal of fortune for drought-plagued parts of the West
“At least for now, California and other parts of the western United States have gone from famine to feast. We’re talking about precipitation, of course. Since before Christmas, large portions of the Golden State have gotten hosed by atmospheric rivers of moisture and a series of potent storms. This has brought copious snowfall to the Sierra Nevada range all the way east to Colorado. In California, statewide snowpack has gone from just 18 percent of normal on December 1 to a whopping 159 percent for December 28. … ” Read more from Discover Magazine here: Vivid satellite imagery captures a reversal of fortune for drought-plagued parts of the West
Zero Delta smelt found in fall CDFW survey as captively-produced smelt released
“For the fourth year in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has caught zero Delta smelt in its Fall Midwater Trawl Survey on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta smelt, once the most abundant fish in the entire estuary, numbered in the millions before state and federal projects started exporting large quantities of Delta water to San Joaquin Valley agribusiness and Southern California water agencies. Found only in the Delta, the fish is considered an “indicator” species because it shows the health of the Delta ecosystem. The 2021 sampling season began Sept. 1 and was completed on Dec. 16. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Zero Delta smelt found in fall CDFW survey as captively-produced smelt released
Saving birds with economics
“The Pacific Flyway is one of the major bird migratory routes in the world. The wetland habitats in California are crucial to millions of birds and hundreds of bird species during the annual migration process. But more and more wetlands in California have been converted into farms. Throw increasing droughts into the equation, and it’s an increasingly life-or-death situation for many birds. Eric Hallstein is an economist who works at The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental organization. The traditional way to conserve wetland is to purchase and restore the land, which can be very expensive. ... ” Continue reading from NPR here: Saving birds with economics
Four California frog populations proposed for Endangered Species Act protection
“In response to a Center for Biological Diversity petition and lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed Endangered Species Act protection for four populations of foothill yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada and central and Southern California. This stream-dwelling frog species has disappeared from more than 50% of its historic habitat in the state. “At last these little lemon-legged frogs, who are such an integral part of our natural stream ecosystems, have gotten the protection they need to survive,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center. “Protecting these precious creatures will also help safeguard the coastal and Sierra foothill rivers and creeks we all rely on for clean drinking water and recreation.” … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity here: Four California frog populations proposed for Endangered Species Act protection
Multiple rice grower events to begin 2022
“The California Rice Commission (CRC) and UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) will be hosting a series of rice grower events in January. The industry meetings are designed to help growers stay informed about the most pressing issues in rice production systems. CRC will be hosting its annual grower meetings in Colusa and Yuba City. The morning meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on January 20 at the Colusa Casino Resort Table 45 Room in Colusa. The afternoon meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Hillcrest at the Plaza Room, in Yuba City. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Multiple rice grower events to begin 2022
Feds release $61.8M in drought relief to CVP
“The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) has announced they will be allocating $61.8 million to the Central Valley Project (CVP) to address ongoing drought needs in California. “Most of the West, and specifically California’s Central Valley, the Klamath Basin in Oregon and California and the Colorado River Basin, were impacted by this past dry hydrologic year. Recent forecasts show minimal relief for water year 2022,” said reclamation commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “This funding will help protect those communities and ecosystems in the short term as we leverage our resources in the bipartisan infrastructure law to build long-term water resilience in the backdrop of climate change across the entire West.” … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Feds release $61.8M in drought relief to CVP
Opposition surfaces to ballot measure: “More Water Now”
“Sixteen environmental justice, tribal, fishing, and conservation groups announced their opposition to the ballot measure initiative titled the “Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022” — or, as its promoters call it, the More Water Now initiative. The initiative is circulating for signatures and could potentially be on the November 2022 ballot. Those groups announcing their opposition include: Sierra Club California, California Indian Environmental Alliance, Society of Native Nations, Idle No More, Restore the Delta, Azul, Golden State Salmon Association, Sunrise Movement OC, California Coastal Protection Network, Health the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, Los Angeles Waterkeeper, Orange County Coastkeeper, The River Project, Heal the Bay, and Social Eco Education. Among the most harmful parts of the initiative, the groups say, is a provision that would amend the State Constitution to siphon money from the state General Fund to be allocated to provide minimum funding to environmentally destructive water projects. ... ” Read more from the Oakdale Leader here: Opposition surfaces to ballot measure: “More Water Now”
New threat to California forests: climate-supercharged beetles
“There’s new thinking on why extraordinary numbers of trees have died in the Sierra Nevada over the past decade, leaving vast swaths of evergreen forest a dingy orange and brown. Some scientists believe that on top of drought conditions putting stress on the trees, which allowed bark beetles to move in and chew up the forest, the beetles were reproducing faster because of the warming climate. A recent study published in the journal Global Change Biology suggests that 30% more ponderosa pines died in the Sierra during last decade’s drought as result of the hastened rate of beetle development. According to the paper, the western pine beetle matured more quickly amid higher temperatures, shortening the time it took to produce offspring and spawn new generations – a population boom that amounted to unprecedented carnage in the trees. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: New threat to California forests: climate-supercharged beetles
A new state department targets California’s infrastructure
“This summer, California created a department dedicated to stopping its strained electric grid from causing more catastrophic wildfires, and come the new year the fledgling bureaucracy will add a questionably mapped labyrinth of underground cables and pipes to its list of concerns. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety (OEIS) became a stand-alone department under the the Natural Resources Agency July 1 of this year. Before that, it functioned within the Public Utilities Commission as the Wildfire Safety Division, an oversight branch created by statute in 2019. Caroline Thomas Jacobs has been director of OEIS since its inception. She’s staffing up and solidifying procedures even as she continues to the work of the former PUC division. ... ” Continue reading from Capitol Weekly here: A new state department targets California’s infrastructure
In commentary today …
The power of water
Dennis Wyatt writes, “Water made California. The statement is often made about what is arguably the largest and most complex water transfer systems ever created by mankind — the California State Water Project — and its kissing cousin the federal Central Valley Project. California literally moves the precious liquid from the headwaters of the Sacramento River in the Mount Shasta City Park to the faucets of San Diego some 723 miles away. Along the way the water passes through no less than four distinct water basins. Its journey is aided by the 444-mile California Aqueduct. … ” Read more from the Escalon Times here: The power of water
In regional water news and commentary today …
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Plans underway for restocking East Park Reservoir
“The Bureau of Reclamation’s 111-year-old East Park Dam recently received inspections and modernization of the dam gates. The reservoir and surrounding park lands 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 in Colusa County, about 33 miles southwest 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 park lands. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Plans underway for restocking East Park Reservoir
Agencies help create bird habitat
“At one point there were over 400,000 hectares of seasonal wetlands in the Sacramento Valley, but by the beginning of the 20th century, most of that land had been replaced by farmland. With only about 5-10 percent of the original wetlands remaining, rice fields now act as a substitute for wildfire habitat. Over 100 million birds of 400 different species fly through the Central Valley as an important part of the Pacific Flyway, a route birds use to migrate from the Arctic to South America. Since about 95 percent of their natural habitat has been transformed by farming, rice growers play an important role in supporting migratory bird populations. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Agencies help create bird habitat
The government is releasing water from Folsom Lake during California’s drought. Here’s why
“Despite recent storms, Folsom Lake isn’t even two thirds full, and California remains mired in a multi-year drought that’s left its biggest reservoirs even emptier. Nonetheless, starting early Tuesday the federal managers of Folsom Dam began letting out a substantial amount of water into the American River through Sacramento, prompting warnings from local authorities to be mindful of rapidly rising, swift-moving water. The dam’s operators say there’s a good reason they’re keeping space in the lake instead of letting it fill with water for the hot and dry months to come. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: The government is releasing water from Folsom Lake during California’s drought. Here’s why
Homeless along American River may be impacted as water released from Folsom Dam
“Folsom Lake is just 58% full, but the federal government is now releasing water from the dam. Homeless people along the American River worry the rising water levels could leave them displaced. “We’ll probably just go on the other side like we did before,” one person said. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Homeless along American River may be impacted as water released from Folsom Dam
NAPA/SONOMA
Swelling Sierra Nevada snowpack offers no reprieve for Sonoma County drought
“The Mount Rose ski area, at 8,900 feet in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe, had 116 inches of snow Tuesday, with almost 3 feet freshly fallen since the day before Christmas. The UC Berkeley Central California Snow Lab at Donner Summit on Tuesday morning reported more than 8 inches of snow in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total for December to 202 inches, the third snowiest month on record since 1970. The California snowpack, which provides a third of the state’s water supply, was at 159% of normal for Tuesday’s date, the Department of Water Resources reported. But if you think the heavy white blanket over the 400-mile mountain range will help ease the North Bay’s drought — think again. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Swelling Sierra Nevada snowpack offers no reprieve for Sonoma County drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State officially awards grant for new Ducor water tank
“The State Department of Water Resources officially allocated a grant of more than $1.6 million for a a new water tank for the Ducor Community Services District. The department announced on Thursday the first phase of awards to 20 projects across the state to be funded through the Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant Program. A total of $53 million was awarded in the first round of grants. The grants are being provided to communities to help them deal with the impacts of drought conditions. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: State officially awards grant for new Ducor water tank
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Flood watches issued as soaking storm aims for Southern California
“Nearly 80% of California, including Los Angeles County, is currently dealing with extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a figure which is down from 83% at the start of November. … Regardless of drought classification, much more rainfall is needed in the state in order to help eat away at the drought, and AccuWeather forecasters say that more precipitation is on the way. “A potent storm is bringing more rain to the Southwest this week, impacting major cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jessica Storm. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Flood watches issued as soaking storm aims for Southern California
Santa Clarita Valley residents asked to limit water usage
“Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency will shut down the Castaic Lake water supply for annual maintenance on Jan. 3 and the shutdown is scheduled to conclude on Jan. 12, water officials said in a prepared statement, asking customers to limit their water use during the maintenance period. SCV Water will rely solely on the local groundwater sources and treated imported water stored at reservoirs. The agency will store more than 121 million gallons of water at its storage facilities in preparation for the water shutdown. … ” Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley residents asked to limit water usage
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
EPA issues emergency orders to mobile home parks in Thermal area over arsenic
“Warning of potentially high arsenic levels in drinking water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued three emergency orders to privately owned and operated mobile home parks on the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe’s Reservation near Thermal, authorities announced Tuesday. The orders require the owners of Mora Mobile Home Park, Valladares Mobile Home Park and Toledo Mobile Home Park to comply with federal drinking water requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act. In particular, the orders have to do with the arsenic levels in the drinking water provided to residents. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: EPA issues emergency orders to mobile home parks in Thermal area over arsenic
SAN DIEGO
San Diego recognized for monitoring wastewater for coronavirus
“Two state agencies have formally recognized the city of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department for helping to monitor wastewater in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the state Water Quality Control Board and the California Water Monitoring Council issued resolutions in appreciation of San Diego for participating along with four other utilities in the Center for Disease Control’s National Wastewater Surveillance System program. San Diego Public Utilities Department Director Shauna Lorance said monitoring wastewater can provide key information in understanding and preventing the spread of COVID-19. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: San Diego recognized for monitoring wastewater for coronavirus
How Pacific oysters are saving the San Diego Bay
“On Dec. 9, the Port of San Diego sent out a press release announcing the release of more than 300 “reef balls’ into the San Diego Bay to help protect South Bay from rising sea levels. The Port of San Diego, in partnership with the California State Coastal Conservancy and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, has begun the launch of the South Bay Native Oyster Living Shoreline Project adjacent to the Chula Vista Wildlife Refuge by installing “reef balls.” The project has been years in the making and is the latest of several Port projects to protect the shoreline from impacts related to rising sea levels and increase San Diego Bay’s biodiversity by creating new marine habitats. … ” Read more from The Log here: How Pacific oysters are saving the San Diego Bay
In national water news today …
‘Buckle up’ for PFAS regulation, litigation in 2022, lawyers say
“Industries are advised to brace for more federal moves next year to reduce and control “forever chemicals,” including plans by the EPA to propose water and waste regulations for two per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The Environmental Protection Agency also will be gathering data on other types of PFAS in 2022 that could shape future regulations. Meanwhile, states are expected to take steps to eliminate uses of PFAS and the volume of them that goes up smokestacks, into water, and onto land, attorneys say. ... ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: ‘Buckle up’ for PFAS regulation, litigation in 2022, lawyers say
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
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