First snow survey of the season …
California snow season ‘off to a great start,’ but drought far from over
“California just had its snowiest December in more than half a century. It’s still in a drought. “We’re off to a great start,” said Sean de Guzman, the California Department of Water Resources’s manager of snow surveys. But, he added, “even though rain and snow are currently above average, this drought is far from over.” The state’s first snow survey, conducted at Phillips Station in the central Sierra Nevada mountain range, measured 78.5 inches of snow, double the historic average for this date at that location. Often called California’s “frozen reservoir,” the Sierra snowpack supplies nearly a third of the state’s drinking water throughout the year. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: California snow season ‘off to a great start,’ but drought far from over
Water content of California snowpack far above normal levels
“California’s mountain snow holds 160% of the water it normally does this time of year, state water officials announced Thursday, marking a strong start to the drought-stricken state’s traditionally wet winter season. Still, it’s too early to determine whether California will see enough rain and snow in the months to come to put a dent in the drought. The state is “definitely not out of the woods quite yet,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of the snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the California Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Water content of California snowpack far above normal levels
Plentiful early-season Sierra snowpack signals ‘remarkable turnaround’ amid historic drought
“A series of record-setting blizzards in recent weeks that buried roads, snarled holiday traffic and even temporarily shut down ski resorts has combined to offer California a window of hope after two years of historic and punishing drought. Plunging a pole into the snow-covered landscape along U.S. 50 near Echo Summit, officials with the California Department of Water Resources on Thursday measured 78.5 inches of snow and about 20 inches of water within that snow — a total that’s 202% of average for this time of year. … “Obviously we are off to a great start,” said Sean de Guzman, of the California Department of Water Resources. “Let’s just keep it coming.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Plentiful early-season Sierra snowpack signals ‘remarkable turnaround’ amid historic drought
Yes, we love the rain and snow, but California needs much more
“Most Californians have been experiencing a very wet holiday season. December storms have brought significant rain and record-breaking snow, sending water into our parched state reservoirs and adding to our Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is running well above average for this time in the season. The winter storms are providing our drought-stricken state with a glimmer of hope, but more storms packing a similar one-two punch of rain and snow will be needed through the winter season before we can be in a place where drought conditions are no longer of concern. … ” Read more from DWR News here: Yes, we love the rain and snow, but California needs much more
SEE ALSO:
- THIS JUST IN … Early Winter Storms Provide Much-Needed Sierra Snowpack: Statewide 160% of normal, press release from the Department of Water Resources
- California ends year with heavy snow, but officials say the drought is far from over, from the LA Times
- California’s snow survey shows a remarkable amount has fallen. Why the drought persists, from the Sacramento Bee
In other California water news today …
Delta pumps throttled back despite rains, cutting California water deliveries to protect fish
“Joe Del Bosque, like other San Joaquin Valley farmers, had been watching with rising hope the massive amounts of rain and snow that’s fallen in California this winter. Del Bosque is dependent on water pumped south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to irrigate his crops on the Valley’s west side in Fresno and Merced counties. These last two years of drought-driven pumping restrictions have forced him to leave fields barren and reduce water available to his valuable almond trees — cutting into his bottom line. He’d hoped the federal government would crank up its pumps and start sending water his way now that the Delta is flush with storm runoff in what’s so far been a remarkably wet fall and winter in much of Northern California. Instead, to protect Delta smelt — a nearly extinct fish that’s come to symbolize California’s never-ending fight over water — regulators throttled back the pumps that supply drinking water to 25 million people from Silicon Valley to Orange County and millions of acres of farmland like Del Bosque’s. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Delta pumps throttled back despite rains, cutting California water deliveries to protect fish
Map shows almost all of California out of ‘exceptional drought’ after week’s storms
“A new map from the federal U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday shows the drastic effects of the past week’s storms on the severity of drought across California. Almost the entire state is out of “exceptional drought” levels, though much of the central part of the state remains in “extreme drought.” The heavy storms during the past week contributed to a record snowfall for December, with the Central Sierra snow lab observing 193.7 inches of snow. The previous record was set in 1970 with 179 inches of snow during the month. Conditions throughout the state could continue to improve in the following weeks, especially with above-normal precipitation predicted for Northern California next week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Map shows almost all of California out of ‘exceptional drought’ after week’s storms
Getting answers: what to expect for California’s drought after record snow, rain
“Record breaking snow and rainfall since October has drought and forestry experts optimistic about what’s to come, but a wet start to the water season does not guarantee California’s statewide drought will end. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab recorded 212″ of snow in December, which totaled 258% of the average snowpack through Dec. 29 and 70% of the average annual snowfall. How those numbers and above average totals impact the drought will take more time. “I think in this case we’re not there yet, we won’t really know how wet this year’s gonna be until, March,” said Jay Lund, Co-Director at the Center for Watershed Sciences and Professor at UC Davis. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Getting answers: what to expect for California’s drought after record snow, rain
Fresno water-testing lab says PG&E cost company about $500,000 by dragging its feet
“A Fresno-based water laboratory has hemorrhaged money in the past month according to lab officials who say it’s because of power loss PG&E hasn’t done enough to fix. Headquartered in downtown Fresno, BSK Associates performs water quality testing for about a third of the municipalities in the state, according to Mike Brechmann, the company’s senior laboratory solutions administrator. The lab checks drinking water for nitrates, TCP, potentially harmful microbiology or anything else that cities are required to clean out of the water ingested by citizens. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Fresno water-testing lab says PG&E cost company about $500,000 by dragging its feet
Drought brings added salinity issues for alfalfa
“Alfalfa growers in the western U.S. are very aware of how important it is to have adequate irrigation water to produce a crop. In the distant past, irrigation water appeared to be unlimited and could be sourced from major rivers and/or pumped from underground aquifers. However, over time, the demand for water for agriculture and cities has become greater than the supply. … With the potential reality of climate change and the possibility of more long-term droughts in the future, farmers are implementing water conservation practices and utilizing new technologies to efficiently apply the water they do have. Regions that historically used flood irrigation are moving to sprinklers and, in some cases, drip lines. These methods significantly reduce the water used to grow alfalfa during the growing season but tend to enhance soil salinity. ... ” Red more from Hay & Forage Grower here: Drought brings added salinity issues for alfalfa
In commentary today …
Are radioactive wildfires next on California’s apocalyptic climate-change guest list?
Ethan Fang, a senior at Castro Valley High School with an interest in data science and computational medicine, writes, “After what we experienced in 2021, there’s no doubt that California’s wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity as climate change alters the ecosystem. The state’s forests are burning at an alarming rate, creating environmental catastrophes and endangering lives. As wildfire rages through the wildland-urban interface, it consumes almost anything and everything in its path, including houses and automobiles. Microplastics and metals take to the sky, in addition to soot and other harmful materials that can enter our lungs and do lasting damage. … And there’s yet another possible hazard that has been largely unaccounted for in the smoke released from wildfires — radiation. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle here: Are radioactive wildfires next on California’s apocalyptic climate-change guest list?
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
New funding for watershed health and forest restoration around Shasta and Trinity Lakes
“$25 million in grant money will soon be available for areas of Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou County. The money will fund wildfire recovery and forest health through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, a state-run agency that focuses on forest and watershed conservation. It’s adding nearly 2 million acres of land to its service area including important watersheds, like Shasta and Trinity Lakes. “The reason this expansion happened, where the boundary was drawn, is because it is the source water for the state water project and the Central Valley Project,” says Andy Fristensky with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, referring to the lakes. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: New funding for watershed health and forest restoration around Shasta and Trinity Lakes
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Snow plows work to clear roads following biggest storm since 1970
“The streets and highways of the Lake Tahoe Basin have been bested by the biggest storm of the year. Residents and tourists alike are wondering when their streets will be plowed, and officials around the basin are doing their best to clear the roads in a timely manner. Lake Tahoe saw blankets of snow over Christmas that carried heavily into the week, with a record breaking total of 193.7 inches of snow falling as of Monday, Dec. 27. The amount of snow has caused a series of traffic incidents and road closures unheard of in the basin, including the closures of Hwys 80, 50, 267 and SR 28 for over three days, putting snow plowers into overdrive. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Snow plows work to clear roads following biggest storm since 1970
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Rising Folsom Lake raises optimism for year to come; Could the drought end in 2022?
“It was late summer that Folsom Lake dipped to a level well below its lowest during the drought of 2014 and it appeared 2022 might take us further into a concerning drought. Fast forward to this week and the talk of the town is Folsom Lake’s rapid rising as atmospheric rivers and record-breaking snowfall are closing out the year. While wet roads and clogged street drains continue to hamper travel and outdoor life here in the valley, it’s a much different story in the Sierra As of Monday afternoon, officials reported that more than 193 inches of snow has fallen just in December, shattering the month’s 50-year-old record of 179 inches back in 1970 and it’s not stopping just yet. … ” Read more from Gold Country Media here: Rising Folsom Lake raises optimism for year to come; Could the drought end in 2022?
Sacramento Water Distribution Infrastructure slated for upgrades
“Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an $81 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Sacramento County Water Agency in northern California. The financed project will modernize water infrastructure to support a more reliable and climate-resilient water supply. “By upgrading this aging distribution system and installing water meters that are fundamental to conservation, EPA is showing how the agency partners with local water providers to meet community needs,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. … ” Read more from Rocklin & Roseville Today here: Sacramento Water Distribution Infrastructure slated for upgrades
BAY AREA
Call for water conservation continues despite December’s record rain
“December’s record rain has also charged up Bay Area’s reservoirs, but it is still not enough for water managers to cancel their call for residents to conserve. “Our reservoirs are looking very good,” said Andrea Pook with the East Bay Municipal Utility District, or EBMUD. A year ago reservoir levels in the district were less than a quarter of capacity. On Thursday, reservoir levels reached 63% – up nearly 10% since last week. Still, water officials said now is not the time relax and lift restrictions. … ” Continue reading at NBC Bay Area here: Call for water conservation continues despite December’s record rain
Rainfall brings hope but Tri-Valley remains in ‘extreme drought’ conditions
“While major storms to start the season are making a difference against the drought, some parts of the Bay Area continue to be under “extreme drought” conditions. The majority of the Bay Area is now considered to be in “severe drought,” which is a step up from extreme, according to the latest federal drought monitor. “So we went from exceptional, to extreme, to severe. Severe still sounds like a concerning place, but in light of where we were, it’s a huge improvement,” said KPIX 5 meteorologist Darren Peck. ... ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Rainfall brings hope but Tri-Valley remains in ‘extreme drought’ conditions
King tides to surge over S.F. seawalls this weekend. Here’s what to expect
“A string of king tides more than 7 feet high is expected to splash over San Francisco seawalls this weekend, enough to potentially flood some low-lying areas. The first of the uniquely high tides was expected to arrive shortly before 9:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, according to the National Weather Service. The waters could reach up to 7.1 feet. The highest king tides were anticipated on Sunday, at 7.2 feet, starting shortly after 10 a.m. Monday’s tides will recede slightly, back down to 7.1 feet. … ” Continue reading from the San Francisco Chronicle here: King tides to surge over S.F. seawalls this weekend. Here’s what to expect
CENTRAL COAST
Big Basin Water customers endure with unreliable drinking water
“As Boulder Creek residents rebuilt their lives in the aftermath of the CZU Lighting Complex fire, inconsistent access to clean drinking water continued to plague progress in 2021. Big Basin Water Co. customers endured multiple water outages, accompanied by weeks-long boil water orders amidst reconstructing their lives, homes and businesses. The company itself has continued to struggle in recovering from substantial fire damage. The purveyor lost the majority of its infrastructure in the fire, including its water filter plant. Big Basin’s office – along with its paper records – burned in the fire. The Sentinel documented that customers were without clean water for months after the CZU fire. Boil water orders persisted for some until January of 2021. But the problems didn’t stop there. … ” Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Big Basin Water customers endure with unreliable drinking water
Monterey: Barring buyout vote flip, local water district prepares for court. It’s the latest chapter in an effort to take over Cal Am
“The reasons why a key commission rejected the local water district’s voter-approved mandate to buy water utility California American Water on Dec. 6 ranged from social equity to free-market politics. However, one major question hung over the vote: If all of Cal Am’s private property holdings turn into tax-exempt public assets, how will that impact public agencies reliant on those property taxes for funding? George Riley, a board member on the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District – the agency responsible for leading the buyout of Cal Am’s water system – has been meeting with commissioners on the Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County since the commissioners voted 5-2 against activating the district’s power to become a water utility, a crucial step before the buyout. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Barring buyout vote flip, local water district prepares for court. It’s the latest chapter in an effort to take over Cal Am
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Kings County Farm Bureau: Excited about the prospect of a good water year
Dusty Ference, Executive Director of the Kings County Farm Bureau, writes, “We’ve been blessed with a series of storms bringing rain and snow to the Valley this past week, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time. As I look out the window at the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains covered with snow and colossal white clouds in the most beautiful blue sky, I can’t help but be excited for what is on the horizon in 2022. That is not to say that starting a new year will magically solve our problems because the date has changed. The excitement stems from the prospect of a good water year. I’m eager that the industry will have sufficient surface water to irrigate this summer with limited use of pumps, that new projects are ready to capture flood releases for later use and recharge groundwater. 2022 will undoubtedly present challenges, many of them like we’ve not seen before. … ” Continue reading at the Hanford Sentinel here: Kings County Farm Bureau: Excited about the prospect of a good water year
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Downtown L.A. breaks 85-year-old rainfall record as winter storm lingers over Southern California
“A slow-moving winter storm hovering over Los Angeles made a mess of conditions Thursday — dropping record rainfall in many spots, prompting the closure of multiple major roads and highways, spurring evacuations near wildfire burn scars and forcing water rescues, officials said. At least 50 people had to be rescued from the Leo Carrillo Campground in Malibu after significant rainfall sent a torrent of muddy water through the area, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Geovanni Sanchez. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Downtown L.A. breaks 85-year-old rainfall record as winter storm lingers over Southern California
San Bernardino: Winter storm brings record-breaking rainfall, recharge
“Record-breaking rainfall on Dec. 14 brought a rush of water into the Santa Ana River Wash, flowing at a rate of 350 cubic feet per second through the Plunge Creek Conservation Project, San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District reported on Dec. 21. More than 350 million gallons of water (1,295 acre feet) was recharged from that storm — enough to serve 9,100 people for an entire year. The high flows also resulted in significant restoration at Plunge Creek as the water covered overgrown, weedy areas with sand — a natural process critical to the health and survival of native and endangered species. … ” Read more from the Highland Community News here: San Bernardino: Winter storm brings record-breaking rainfall, recharge
King tides will show ocean’s extremes; not too much damage is expected
“Late winter king tides are expected Sunday, Jan. 2, and Monday Jan. 3, extreme tidal swings should offer two glimpses at nature: What a rising sea level could look like and the underwater world exposed for exploration. Take a stroll along the along the Southern California coastline early in the morning and you may find your favorite stretch underwater with the very high tides, or king tides, caused when there is alignment of the gravitational pull between sun, moon and Earth. Go out to the same stretch later in the day, and a magnificent world of sea creatures will be unveiled as the ocean recedes during a negative tide. “It’s a moment to pause and take a breath and see what cool things nature has to offer right here in our own backyard,” said Nathan Taxel, resource specialist with OC Parks who will guide an upcoming king tide tour of the Upper Newport Bay. … ” Continue reading at the Long Beach Press Telegram here: King tides will show ocean’s extremes; not too much damage is expected
Along the Colorado River …
SNOTEL: A Network For Monitoring Snow
“While many of us think of snow men, snow forts, and Currier & Ives prints as our yards turn white in December and January, for Mike Strobel, Director of the National Water and Climate Center at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, snow isn’t just something to enjoy during the winter months, it’s something to think about all year round. It’s also the foundation of the last fourteen and a half years of his career with the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program and using SNOTEL, the Snowpack Telemetry data-gathering network. Strobel’s career began 40 years ago as an Ohio State undergraduate fascinated with climate science. Since then, he has worked on teams to collect ice and snow samples all over the globe, from 18,600 feet in Peru to deep in the ice in Antarctica. He’s also a veteran of snow and ice data collection in Alaska and Greenland, studying hydrology and glaciers. All along the way, he has become part of the Snow Survey’s lengthy history. … ” Read more from Fondriest here: SNOTEL: A Network For Monitoring Snow
Water cutbacks coming to Arizona
“The “bathtub ring” at Lake Mead has become a familiar sight. This year, the water level in the lake reached the lowest it has been since the Hoover Dam, which created the lake, was built in the 1930s. Those low levels have been decades in the making. “Back in around 2000, Lake Mead was pretty close to being full, but over the last 20 years-plus now we’ve just not had good hydrologic conditions. It will take years to recover from that, years of good conditions and unfortunately the climate models and projections don’t predict us getting cooler and they don’t predict us, let’s say, getting wetter,” said Dr. Sharon Megdal, University of Arizona professor and former board member for the Central Arizona Project. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media here: Water cutbacks coming to Arizona
Listen: Here’s what the new Lake Mead water agreement means for Arizona
“Earlier this month, a number of state and federal water agencies, including the Arizona Department of Water Resources and Central Arizona Project, agreed to a plan to add half a million acre-feet of water to Lake Mead in each of the next two years. Called the 500+ Plan, it’ll compensate water users for not using their allotments. Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, joined The Show to talk about with the deal means for Arizona.” Listen to the show from KJZZ here: Listen: Here’s what the new Lake Mead water agreement means for Arizona
“This is climate change barging through the front door”: Water scarcity is forcing changes in how the Colorado River is shared
“On a 120-degree day, as waves of hot air shimmer above deeply cracked earth, it is difficult to imagine that a hundred years ago this land was part of a vast 2 million acre expanse of blue waters and verdant trees that formed the delta of the Colorado River. Once robust enough for steamships to cross, the delta supported a thriving ecosystem with thousands of migratory birds and wetland species. Now, a bleached skeleton of a crab is one of the few signs of life remaining. The delta’s disappearance was the first indication that modern management of the river was pushing the system past its capacity. Starting in the 1930s, construction of major dams and diversions redirected water from the river to reservoirs, farms, and cities from Denver to Los Angeles. By 1960, water stopped regularly flowing to the delta, and over time, 90% of its 2 million acre expanse withered. “The river is so altered and contained now, I call it a big canal,” said Nora McDowell, who served as chair of the Fort Mojave Tribe for 25 years and actively leads efforts to protect the Colorado River. … ” Read more from Buzz Feed News here: “This is climate change barging through the front door”: Water scarcity is forcing changes in how the Colorado River is shared
In national water news today …
Water Witchers: Why innovation in water is tough as hell
“The future of water already exists. Satellites that can detect underground leaks, solar panels to pull water out of air in deserts, wastewater treatment plants in the bottom of high rise buildings that can churn out fertilizer… and hundreds (if not thousands!) of others. Truly world changing innovations. Innovations that can secure the future of water for people all over the world. But very few of these technologies will ever scale in a meaningful way… and some may never see the light of day beyond a few small pilot projects or bench top studies. Why is that? In a world where we can summon tacos on demand but 1 in 4 people don’t have access to safe drinking water, why won’t these world changing technologies go on to massive commercial and societal success? … ” Read more from Water Online here: Water Witchers: Why innovation in water is tough as hell
Why water stewardship in the food sector is failing — and how to change it
“In many ways, 2021 was the year that investors and companies stepped up to address climate change, with historic commitments making the front page of newspapers on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for water. Missing from these stories were concrete action plans to address water pollution and scarcity. And just like with the climate crisis, we are running out of time to address this issue — a new report released this year by the IPCC suggests that the frequency and intensity of droughts exacerbated by climate change are poised to ratchet up over the next decades. This summer gave a preview of the toll more frequent droughts will take, with farmers in the American West fallowing fields, ploughing under fruit and nut trees and selling off cattle because of high feed prices and lack of water. In fact, no sector has a bigger role in deciding how we will manage through the existing water crisis than the food and agriculture sector. … ” Read more from Green Biz here: Why water stewardship in the food sector is failing — and how to change it
A water-treatment report card: How are we doing?
“Faced by ever-changing challenges of water scarcity, source-water quality, regulated discharges, aging infrastructure, economics, and social equality, water- and wastewater-treatment professionals are constantly forced to re-evaluate their efforts and optimize their approaches. Comparing their own performance to that of associates in similar situations is an important way to keep pace. Here is a new report to help them do just that. The 2021 City Water Optimisation Index report (Figure 1) — developed by Economist Impact and sponsored by DuPont Water Solutions — delves into the water- and wastewater-treatment approaches of 51 cities around the world, including four in the U.S. Each city received separate scores to measure how they are addressing key issues of reliability, accessibility, and sustainability — plus a composite score across all activities. … ” Read more from Water Online here: A water-treatment report card: How are we doing?
Maui water case nets lawyers $1 million after Supreme Court trip
“The Earthjustice attorneys that successfully challenged Maui County, Hawaii’s failure to get a water pollution permit all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court should be paid about $1 million in fees and costs, a federal magistrate judge recommended. The attorneys can recover fees and costs incurred during the Clean Water Act case’s trip before the high court and before the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii on remand, Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield said in a report and recommendation before the lower court. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court after ruling polluters must get a permit for indirect water contamination that’s the “functional equivalent” of a direct discharge. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Maui water case nets lawyers $1 million after Supreme Court trip
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-20211230Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Certification of Consistency Filed for Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Science Museum~ Flood Website~ Invasive Species~ DPAC Meeting ~~
