In California water news today …
California has topped last season’s rainfall. Will trend continue in 2022?
“California begins the new year in much better shape for escaping its drought thanks to a massive October atmospheric river and wet December that delivered more rain and snow so far than the state saw in all of its last paltry precipitation season. But this season’s hardly over, and California needs the skies to keep delivering. According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, 33.9 trillion gallons of water have fallen on California in the current “water year,” the period running from Oct. 1 through the following September. That’s more than the 33.6 trillion gallons that fell during all of the previous water year. To put it in perspective, the weather service added that the entire volume of Lake Tahoe is 40 trillion gallons. “This means that the state has received more precip than last year,” the weather service said in a New Year’s Day tweet. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California has topped last season’s rainfall. Will trend continue in 2022?
Precipitation since Oct. 1 tops previous full ‘water year’ in California
“More precipitation has fallen on California during its current “water year” than in the full prior 12-month span, the National Weather Service says. The downpours and mountain storms of recent weeks have helped boost the state’s precipitation volume to 33.9 trillion gallons thus far for the water year that began Oct. 1, compared to the previous water year’s 33.6 trillion gallons, the service said Sunday. Lake Tahoe by comparison contains roughly 40 trillion gallons. The water year refers to 12 months of precipitation that falls starting Oct. 1, through Sept. 30. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Precipitation since Oct. 1 tops previous full ‘water year’ in California
California’s Sierra Nevada sees record snowfall. It needs even more
“There aren’t a lot of people who would feel overcome by joy at having 17 feet of snow dumped on top of them. But there are some, and one of those people is Andrew Schwartz. He’s the station manager for the University of California Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, which measures snowfall from its perch up in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of Sacramento. Seventeen feet is what Schwartz has measured in just the last month, a record. And so we called him up to ask what this means for the severe drought California has been experiencing. … ” Continue reading or listen from NPR here: California’s Sierra Nevada sees record snowfall. It needs even more
Snow on tap for northern Sierra, light showers possible over Bay Area in next few days
“A fresh, modest coat of snow is expected to fall over the Sierra Nevada to start the week, while the Bay Area could see some light showers amid mostly overcast skies in the coming days. The storm system moving over Northern California is expected to complicate travel along some roadways, particularly Interstate 5 and a few mountain passes along the northern Sierra. Even so, snow totals should be nowhere near as high as from a series of late December storms that buried the mountains in record-setting fashion. Six to 8 inches of snow is expected to fall over Donner Pass from late Sunday through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Totals should be less to the south, with only an inch or two expected over Echo Pass. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Snow on tap for northern Sierra, light showers possible over Bay Area in next few days
SEE ALSO: Weather service predicts more snowfall ahead in the Sierra Nevada, plus Valley rain, from the Sacramento Bee
Water-scarce economies and scarcity values: Can water futures trading combat water scarcity?
“Water futures trading can be an important tool for water-scarce economies. This paper argues that it can help reduce the scarcity value of water (defined here as the value that can be generated if the limit on water availability is relaxed by one unit), even without a physical market. ‘Scarcity value’ measures the degree of deprivation and creates the basis for disputes. The paper argues that water futures trading reduces the scarcity value by helping compensate water stakeholders, associated especially with the farm community, for losses incurred due to scarcity. It defines “scarcity value” and “loss functions” in water-scarce economies through a mathematical framework; studies the case of water futures trading in California; and shows how such trading can be useful in the Indian context.” Read the full paper from the Observer Research Foundation here: Water-scarce economies and scarcity values: Can water futures trading combat water scarcity?
The wild idea to end droughts by triggering artificial rain
” … Cloud seeding might seem completely outlandish on a first glance, but it’s far from science fiction—and its star is only on the rise. China previously used cloud seeding during the 2008 Beijing Olympics to reduce smog. Manipulating the weather like Storm from X-Men actually has some utility in remediating some of today’s climate problems. … “Rain does get pollution out of the air. There’s no question,” Friedrich said. “But I think it’s easier to solve the air pollution problem than to try to solve it after the fact with cloud seeding.” In fact, cloud seeding’s most impactful applications are less about pollution and more about drought. The American West is facing a historic drought, so many Western states like Arizona, California, Colorado, and Wyoming have embraced cloud seeding as a way to hopefully keep crops alive and maintain water supplies. … ” Read more from the Daily Beast here: The wild idea to end droughts by triggering artificial rain
Watch: KCRA 3 Special Report: The floods of ‘97
“After years of concern about California running dry — with reservoirs reaching historic lows — it can be hard to remember what it’s like when the water is too high. On New Year’s day in 1997, the rain just wouldn’t stop, leading to devastating flooding in the days to follow. Twenty-five years later, KCRA 3 is looking back at what happened, why the damage was so dramatic, what has changed since the years since — and whether it could happen again.” Watch video from KCRA here: KCRA 3 Special Report: The floods of ‘97
‘Pretty scary’: Ex-DWR chief discusses changes made after Northern California’s 1997 floods
“The 1997 New Year’s flood devastated several parts of California, leaving entire homes — and neighborhoods — underwater. The effort to fight and control the flood of 1997 came from many state and local agencies, but the Department of Water Resources was at the center of most of the decisions being made. George Qualley was the division chief for flood management at the time. “That was pretty scary. We could see it coming. You know it’s going to be bad but you don’t know how bad,” Qualley said. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: ‘Pretty scary’: Ex-DWR chief discusses changes made after Northern California’s 1997 floods
Companies want to grow seaweed in California to fight climate change. They’re held back by environmental regulations
“It absorbs carbon. It reduces emissions on dairy farms. It can be used as food, fuel and fertilizer. It requires nothing but seawater and sunlight to grow. Seaweed has become a symbol of hope in mitigating climate change, and at least a half dozen companies are actively trying to farm it in California. They aim to be part of what’s called the blue economy, a movement to use the ocean’s resources in a sustainable, if not regenerative, way. But getting a permit to set up a seaweed farm in state waters involves navigating a permitting process that can take many years and cost many thousands of dollars. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Companies want to grow seaweed in California to fight climate change. They’re held back by environmental regulations
2022 promises continued climate extremes, but also a glimmer of hope for Californians
“It’s a brand new year, and perhaps you have hopeful resolutions in mind—losing weight, getting politically active, leaving your house more often. But when you look over your shoulder, the demon that was 2021 is lurking behind you. In its eyes is the pandemic that kept you in your house for way too long, on its breath are the flames that nearly burned down your favorite part of the Sierra, the sweltering heat from last summer, and the wildfire smoke choking out the space in your lungs. We can’t promise 2022 will be that much better, but we can let you in on a little secret: There’s a lot of work happening and billions of dollars available to help Californians withstand the worst of climate change. Rachel Ehlers, principal fiscal and policy analyst for the Legislative Analyst’s Office, says billions are set aside in the state budget over three years for adapting to climate change, including money for drought, wildfire, and environmental justice. 2022 promises continued climate extremes, but also a glimmer of hope for Californians. … ” Read more from KQED here: 2022 promises continued climate extremes, but also a glimmer of hope for Californians
Could Colorado’s type of extreme winter wildfires happen in California? ‘Absolutely,’ Cal Fire official says
“The recent cold-weather wildfire in Colorado was a shocker, but it “could absolutely ” happen in fire-prone California as well, with the advent of late-season wildfires already offering a warning, a Cal Fire official said Sunday. Where California’s wildfires used to blaze most intensely in September and October, they’ve crept later into the fall in recent years with some – like the December 2017 Thomas Fire – even sparking in the winter months, said Cal Fire Assistant Deputy Director Daniel Berlant. While Western states are well accustomed to wildfires, the wind-driven blaze that erupted last week into the most destructive in Colorado history caught the state and country by surprise. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Could Colorado’s type of extreme winter wildfires happen in California? ‘Absolutely,’ Cal Fire official says
Essay: California’s forever fire
Elizabeth Weil writes, “Early in my two-writer marriage, my husband and I joked that we should add a silent third spouse who worked in venture capital or practiced corporate law. But really, we already had a bonus partner: California. The state was dramatic and a handful. But she was gorgeous, and she brought into our lives, through the natural world, all the treasure and magic we’d need. The beaches. The mountains. The clean waves at Malibu. The seal pups at Año Nuevo State Park. This was not just our relationship to California; this was everyone here. The implicit bargain was that California would protect and deliver to her residents the earth’s own splendor. In return, we’d spend a stupid amount of money on housing and tolerate a few hazards. … In hindsight, it’s clear that this romance between California and her citizens was fundamentally unstable, built on a lousy foundation and crumbling for years. … ” Continue reading at Pro Publica here: Essay: California’s forever fire
Price hike marks new era for Calif. cap and trade
“When California lawmakers passed a 10-year extension of the state’s cap-and-trade program in 2017, it was celebrated as a crowning climate achievement. Four short years later, the program has become a political albatross. Environmental justice groups argue the program has failed to stem pollution in communities of color. It has also been dogged by critics who say its carbon offsets fail to deliver promised emission reductions. And the person charged with implementing the program, Mary Nichols, who until recently served as California’s top environmental regulator, was passed over by President Biden to lead EPA. But all the political heat overshadows a simple fact: Carbon prices in California’s cap-and-trade system have never been particularly expensive. Until now. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Price hike marks new era for Calif. cap and trade
The California Legislature is back: What to expect in 2022
“Another coronavirus variant spreading like wildfire, and another huge state budget surplus: In some ways, 2022 is off to a similar start as 2021. That could carry over to the state Legislature’s new session that starts today. In addition to the pandemic and surplus, California is dealing with some of the same big issues it has long grappled with — including housing and climate change. “Our challenges continue to be the challenges that we have started and built momentum to work towards,” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat, told CalMatters. The difference? Looking at key issues more through a lens of equity, she said. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: The California Legislature is back: What to expect in 2022
In commentary today …
The importance of California’s agricultural water supplies
Chris Scheuring, senior counsel for water policy at the California Farm Bureau, writes, “Wendell Berry famously said that eating is an agricultural act. That makes all of us into farmers, and nowhere is that more true than in water terms. For farming is irreducibly the process of mixing dirt, water and sunshine to bring forth from the ground what we need to eat. And no matter who you are, it’s true: somebody, somewhere, must devote a lot of water to the process of feeding you. Some have been sidestepping this fact in the ongoing policy evolutions over the way we must capture, store and move water in California. Yet even the most ardent urban environmentalist finds herself at the local grocery store or the farmers’ market – filling her basket with California-grown nuts, fruits and vegetables. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: The importance of California’s agricultural water supplies
Why the delay on critical water storage projects?
Tom Campbell, professor of economics and a professor of law at Chapman University, writes, ” … We passed Proposition 1, authorizing $7.12 billion in bonds, of which $2.7 was explicitly reserved for water storage projects. Not a single project has since been built, or even approved. That will change in 2022. It’s the year set by the California Water Commission to hold final award hearings on the projects that have been allowed to progress over the last seven years. The delay has been due to an insistence that full environmental impact studies be provided, that no project be approved unless there was a 75% funding match from local sources, and that there be tangible public benefits, which the California Department of Water Resources defined as those benefiting “ecosystems, flood control protection, emergency response capabilities, and the overall effectiveness of our water infrastructure across the state.” The final catch-all should include more water for farming and urban use; but it’s indicative of the state government’s sense of priorities that neither was mentioned explicitly. … ” Read more from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune here: Why the delay on critical water storage projects?
More answers needed on mercury in Cache Creek
Charles Salocks, who has Ph.D. in environmental toxicology from UC Davis and extensive experience evaluating human health risk assessments for hazardous waste sites, writes, “Teichert Construction is applying for a Yolo County permit to mine gravel on more than 250 acres of land in lower Cache Creek west of Woodland, which is now being used for agriculture. This proposal is problematic because the Cache Creek watershed naturally contains substantial deposits of mercury ore. It includes a US EPA Superfund site, Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine, located at the east end of Clear Lake. According to the Environmental Impact Report, at the end of 30 years the mined property will be reclaimed: approximately two-thirds of the land area will be converted back to agricultural use and one-third will become a permanent water impoundment (or “pond”) and turned over to the County. The property will not be restored to its original state, at least not in the foreseeable future. … ” Read more from the Davis Enterprise here: More answers needed on mercury in Cache Creek
Protect the public’s interest with Kern River water allocation decision
Karrigan Bork, acting professor of law and an associate director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis, writes, “There’s a water fight brewing on the Kern River. The State Water Resources Control Board’s handling of the conflict will be telling for the future of California’s streams and rivers. If the water board takes seriously its duty to protect the public interest, this conflict could lead to better water management statewide. The Kern River starts on the slopes of Mount Whitney and (sometimes) flows through Bakersfield. It once supported a vast ecosystem of wetlands and lakes, teeming with wildlife and offering an escape from the heat of the San Joaquin Valley. As with several California rivers, every drop of water in the Kern River has been diverted since the mid-to-late 1800s, destroying the wetlands and draining the river. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Protect the public’s interest with Kern River water allocation decision
Today’s featured article …
MONTHLY RESERVOIR REPORT for January 1, 2022
By Robert Shibatani
As we welcome in the New Year, our reservoir status has taken on a whole new appearance as this past month has generated record amounts of rain and snow. During the month of December alone, precipitation totals have been impressive across the State. At all precipitation measurement stations for major federal reservoirs, accumulated seasonal WY totals far exceed 100% of average for this date. … “
Click here to continue reading the monthly reservoir report.
In people news …
Assemblyman Frazier wraps up his political career
“Jim Frazier decided to keep a low profile in his final days as the District 11 representative in the California Assembly. He had dinner with supporters Wednesday night and spent time during the final days cleaning out his office. “I have nine years accumulated,” Frazier said. “It’s sad, but I keep reflecting on the fact that we went in with the intention of getting things done and I think I’ve accomplished everything I wanted to.” Frazier announced Dec. 1 his intention to leave office. Even with a new election ahead in 2022, he was ready to step down. He said it was the salary that spurned his interest to walk away. … ” Continue reading from the Daily Republic here: Assemblyman Frazier wraps up his political career
Rich Marovich passes the streamkeeper baton
“Twenty-one years ago, the position of streamkeeper with the Solano County Water Agency was created by the Putah Creek Accord, an agreement ending 10 years of creek flow litigation with the mission of cleaning up Putah Creek. Rich Marovich, who has held that position since its inception, announced his retirement effective January. Born and raised in Palo Alto, Marovich grew up exploring. He recalls as a six-year-old collecting California Black Toadlets in a five-gallon bucket from the area’s cement lined creeks and releasing them into the family’s garden where they were able to gorge on insects. Over the course of a couple weeks, he said they grew to be fat, healthy toads. ... ” Read more from the Winters Express here: Marovich passes the streamkeeper baton
Podcasts …
CAPITOL WEEKLY PODCAST: Water, Water Everywhere, but What About the Drought?
California has experienced a historic amount of rain this season, capping the Sierra with snow and stocking many Northern California reservoirs. Meanwhile, Colorado is plagued with devastating wildfires, burning through an unseasonably warm Winter. Are we seeing the effects of Climate Change in real time? Is California – finally – exiting the drought? And, should we be building more water storage to hold on to all this rain? Professor Jay Lund, of the Center for Watershed Sciences, our first guest of 2022, answers these questions and many more.
SF CHRONICLE PODCAST: Is a Drought Recovery Near?
A series of storms at the end of 2021 pounded the state, turning California’s dry landscape into a watery and sometimes snow-covered spectacle. Will this deluge be enough to counter a year of historic drought and wildfire? Chronicle reporter Kurtis Alexander joins host Cecilia Lei to give updates on the Sierra snowpack, water reservoir levels and what water restrictions may look like in the months ahead.
RIPPLE EFFECT PODCAST: Resilience through groundwater banking
This week we are revisiting an earlier episode that is still highly relevant to today’s water discussion. We are looking back on the discussion of episode 48: Resilience Through Groundwater Banking. James Bodnar, Water Transfers and Exchanges Program Manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, breaks down Metro’s innovative use of groundwater banking to provide urban resiliency in times of drought. A great discussion about the need for collaborative and creative efforts between agricultural and urban communities. This is a template to explore and copy across the West.
In regional water news and commentary today …
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Counting birds
“With spotting scopes and binoculars, about 25 “community scientists” scoured the hills, waters and grasslands around Oroville looking for birds. Since 1964, volunteers have conducted the Christmas Bird Count in Oroville — compiling data on how many bird species are in the area each year. Altacal Audubon Society Executive Director Mary Muchowski and Altacal Vice President Ken Sobon walked around the Thermalito Forebay on their first stop Sunday morning. “So far we’ve seen 54 different species,” Muchowski said as she checked her bird count list about an hour and a half after starting. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Counting birds
Sacramento wants to move a group of homeless residents to a new riverfront camp. Some worry it will flood.
“Twana James has lived along the Sacramento River for six years. She’s the unofficial mayor of Bannon Island, where she helps gather food and care for a close-knit community of about 60 homeless people and their 70 dogs in an encampment near Discovery Park. Many residents are older and have medical problems. By the end of January, they could all be told to move. Sacramento officials hope to relocate the community to an adjacent riverfront property, owned by the Sierra Health Foundation. City contractors would provide security and help connect residents with longer-term housing, mental health and addiction services. But residents on “the island,” as they call the encampment, are worried about change. They say the small patch of land might not be big enough — and could flood. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Sacramento wants to move a group of homeless residents to a new riverfront camp. Some worry it will flood.
Groundwater stability another dividend paid to Solano by Berryessa
“The value of the secure water supply delivered to Solano County from Lake Berryessa has long been lauded by county leaders. Many consider the decision to build Monticello Dam and to develop the Solano Water Project as the most important action in the county’s history. That value continues to rise as various agencies certify the Solano Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. “Solano County is exceptionally more fortunate than other areas of the state, and a lot of that good fortune starts with Lake Berryessa and the Solano Project,” said Cary Keaton, the general manager of the Solano Irrigation District. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Groundwater stability another dividend paid to Solano by Berryessa
NAPA/SONOMA
Mendocino County water agencies ask PG&E to increase flows from Potter Valley Project
“Several local water agencies have sent letters to the Pacific Gas and Electric corporation this month to request that the reduced flows through the Potter Valley Project be restored to their usual levels. “The project power plant has not been operating since summer of 2021 due to an unsafe condition at the transformer bank. As a result, PG&E is not diverting any flow for power generation (and) is instead diverting only the 45 cubic feet per second needed to comply with minimum flow requirements for the East Branch Russian River, and to meet its contractual obligation with the Potter Valley Irrigation District,” states a letter sent on behalf of the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission and the Sonoma County Water agency earlier this month. … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Mendocino County water agencies ask PG&E to increase flows from Potter Valley Project
Sewer line repaired after leak near Guerneville
“A construction crew has repaired a sewer line that broke and spewed wastewater into the Vacation Beach neighborhood near Guerneville beginning Tuesday, according to a Sonoma Water official. The crew replaced a 6-foot section of pipe near the west end of Orchard Avenue, said Barry Dugan, a Sonoma Water spokesman. The street is on the south side of the Russian River, about 2 miles west of downtown Guerneville. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Sewer line repaired after leak near Guerneville
Fast start to Napa’s rain season puts normal year within reach
“Napa County will learn over the next three months whether this will be a drought-busting, special rain season or one more in the normal range. At least it won’t be a repeat of the last two rain years that were among the driest on record. A fast start to the current, still-young rainy season that began Oct. 1 has already assured that outcome. Napa State Hospital received only 12.19 inches of rain in 2019-20 and 10.24 inches in 2020-21. Those two rain seasons combined didn’t even reach the one-season average of about 25 inches. But 17.8 inches have already fallen in rain year 2021-22. The typically rainy months of January, February and March are still to come. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Fast start to Napa’s rain season puts normal year within reach
BAY AREA
Most of S.F. Bay Area out of ‘exceptional drought’ after winter storms
“A barrage of winter storms pulled much of California, including parts of the Bay Area, out of the most severe drought conditions, providing hope that the state and region will get a respite from a historically dry period. New maps released this week by the U.S. Drought Monitor show nearly all of California emerging from “exceptional drought” — signaling widespread water shortages, an acute risk of wildfires and a severe risks to native plants and animals. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Most of S.F. Bay Area out of ‘exceptional drought’ after winter storms
Is the wet weather streak enough to combat the drought?
“Just weeks after dire warnings of a dry winter and dwindling snowpack prompted state and local officials to rein in water supplies for the coming year, the Bay Area has been soaked to the bone. A series of winter storms brought a deluge of rain and snow to Northern California, culminating in above-average precipitation for the month of December, with more rain and cold weather in the forecast for the Bay Area next week. December’s drenching capped off one of the driest water years on record, but Californians are not yet out of the woods in overcoming drought conditions or dampening wildfire threats, experts say. “It’s been a wet, cool December, but not close to record-breaking,” said Jan Null, longtime Bay Area meteorologist and founder of Golden Gate Weather Services. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Examiner here: Is the wet weather streak enough to combat the drought?
Many Stinson Beach homes could be flooded amid rising seas within a decade. Would building dunes save them?
“Steps from the white sands of Stinson Beach, Gary Bisson went from one house to the next on a blustery blue-sky December day, setting out the garbage and recycling bins at vacation properties. A self-described survivor of the Summer of Love, Bisson found refuge here 50 years ago and never left. At times during those decades, the ocean had all but devoured the beach during big El Niño storms. Bisson recalls in 1982 watching seals bob along Calle del Arroyo, the only egress for oceanfront neighborhoods, when a 100-year storm swept about a half-dozen beachfront homes into the sea and flooded the streets. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Many Stinson Beach homes could be flooded amid rising seas within a decade. Would building dunes save them?
Marin sees ‘king tides’ during rain break
“Chilly temperatures and high tides rolled into Marin County for the new year, bringing the potential for coastal flooding through Monday, the National Weather Service said. The so-called “king tides” began peaking Saturday morning, reaching about 7.13 feet, the weather service said. The large swells are caused by a gravitational tug of the moon and sun and can mean trouble for low-lying areas, especially in southern Marin. “There are flooding concerns in areas people aren’t used to all the time,” said Eleanor Dhuyvetter, a federal forecaster. “We could see some of the boats at docks and harbors being disturbed, too.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Marin sees ‘king tides’ during rain break
CENTRAL COAST
Central Coast drought level improves, lake levels increase
“All of California remains in some level of drought but conditions improved dramatically in the two most severe drought categories. Our recent rain is making a dent in the drought in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Lake Nacimiento is up 34 feet since a series of early winter storms hit our area. … ” Read more from KSBY here: Central Coast drought level improves, lake levels increase
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto area flooded exactly 25 years ago. Could current winter be anything like it?
“The Modesto area last got catastrophic flooding around New Year’s Day of 1997. A series of warm storms melted much of the already deep snowpack in the Tuolumne River watershed. Snow abounds once again 25 winters later, but water managers do not see the same danger. They said Don Pedro Reservoir has plenty of unused space for runoff from above, and their tools for monitoring the flows have advanced. The assurances came from the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, which share the huge impoundment in the Sierra Nevada foothills. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Modesto area flooded exactly 25 years ago. Could current winter be anything like it?
Central Valley wetlands have almost all disappeared
“The Central Valley is known for oil and agriculture, but it’s also a desired destination for more than 100 million birds. That is because the wetlands that were here decades ago have made this area part of their migration pattern. Because of city growth, and climate change wetlands have almost all disappeared, but could there be a solution now that several state organizations are working to protect these bird habitats. … ” Read more from Channel 23 here: Central Valley wetlands have almost all disappeared
Cummings Basin enters 2022 with new water rules
“Water users in the Cummings Valley Groundwater Basin must begin to comply with new rules and regulations established by the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District beginning this month. Acting as the court-appointed Watermaster for the basin — which is generally the Cummings Valley floor — the board of directors for the district put the new rules and regulations in place at its Dec. 20 meeting. That action came nearly a year after Superior Court Judge Stephen Schuett approved a proposal by the district to reduce the natural safe yield of the Cummings Basin by more than 25 percent — essentially restricting pumping of groundwater to a level that the district believes can be supported. ... ” Read more from the Tehachapi News here: Cummings Basin enters 2022 with new water rules
EASTERN SIERRA
Mammoth Mountain boasting biggest early season snow since 2010
“Mammoth Mountain is boasting the biggest early season snow dump since 2010. Photos on the internet show cars weaving down a Sierra Nevada mountain road surrounded by massive cliffs of snow. We’re blessed, despite having to shovel all that stuff off our vehicles. But, the real beneficiaries, in addition to Mammoth Mountain, are the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the ranch lessees, assuming nature’s water tap doesn’t shut down for the balance of this water year. The water year runs from October through April 1. According to LADWP’s precipitation conditions, as of December 28, the water content sits at 10.9-inches, 122-percent of normal to date and, here’s the biggie, 48-percent of normal for April 1, 2022. … ” Read more from Sierra Wave here: Mammoth Mountain boasting biggest early season snow since 2010
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California’s very dry year ends with some chaos, some relief in heavy rain and snow
“A year characterized by drought, wildfire and water restrictions in California ended not with more dryness but with a deluge. Back-to-back storms dumped about 7 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles in December, more than tripling the month’s normal rainfall of 2.03 inches and placing it in the 10 wettest Decembers on record, the National Weather Service said. The L.A. River, reduced to a near trickle during a bone-dry November, surged to nearly 10 feet in some areas Thursday, while a flash flood in Malibu hamstrung at least 50 campers who had to be rescued from raging muddy waters. Inside downtown L.A.’s Union Station, a crew of workers used squeegees to push water toward several pumps after a central passageway flooded with several inches of water. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: California’s very dry year ends with some chaos, some relief in heavy rain and snow
Several cities break rainfall records after SoCal storm
“Several cities across the region broke rainfall records Thursday as slow-moving, steady downpour rained down on Southern California for days. Other areas also saw as much as 9 inches of rain. … Downtown LA broke a daily rainfall amount record set in 1936, with 2.57 inches of rain. The record was 1.85 inches set 85 years ago. … ” Read more from NBC LA here: Several cities break rainfall records after SoCal storm
Beaches in Long Beach, L.A. and Orange counties closed after sewage spill of up to 4 million gallons
“Beaches in Long Beach and elsewhere in Los Angeles and Orange counties were closed Friday after as much as 4 million gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the Dominguez Channel, officials said. According to the city of Long Beach, the spill of 2 million to 4 million gallons of waste was caused by the failure of a 48-inch sewer main in Carson on Thursday. The channel runs into Los Angeles Harbor. The closed beaches include Cabrillo, Point Fermin, White Point, Rancho Palos Verdes and Royal Palms. They will remain closed until bacteria testing shows the water to be at safe levels. All swimming beaches in Long Beach are also closed, city officials said, and Seal Beach’s Main Beach is also off-limits. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Beaches in Long Beach, L.A. and Orange counties closed after sewage spill of up to 4 million gallons
SEE ALSO: New Year’s Day Ocean Plunge off After LA-Area Sewage Spill, from US News & World Report
Harmful bacteria from rivers flowing into OC surf zones
“Bacteria flowing through local watersheds, such as the Santa Ana River from Big Bear Lake to Newport Beach, or the San Juan Creek from Cleveland National Forest to Doheny State Beach, is an increasing hazard to public health, especially for surf zones just offshore. Harmful bacteria, like shigella and enterococcus, have been reported to affect beachgoers for years, causing staph infections and other major illnesses, according to Pam Conti, Coastal Defender with the Surfrider Foundation and Pegasus School Environmental Sustainability Director. What should you know before entering the water? … ” Read more from the Voice of the OC here: Harmful bacteria from rivers flowing into OC surf zones
Orange County’s coastal waters plagued by trash, sewage
“The recent oil spill off the coast revealed just a part of the more significant pollution crisis that Orange County beaches face. Although Southern California’s beaches are the healthiest they’ve been in the past two decades, the oil spill has renewed attention to the fact that ocean pollution is still a threat. The Gulf of California stretches over 900 miles, supporting diverse marine life, including many sharks, whales, fish, and squid. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, ocean pollution such as beach litter, marine debris, oil spill and sewage spills can have an extremely negative impact on the marine ecosystem and humans living in the coastal areas, such as Orange County. … ” Read more from the Voice of the OC here: Orange County’s coastal waters plagued by trash, sewage
Along the Colorado River …
Major extra cuts to be made in Arizona deliveries of Colorado River water next year
“The Central Arizona Project’s governing board took the first steps Thursday toward approving Arizona’s share of a plan to save a half-million acre-feet a year of Colorado River water in order to prop up ailing Lake Mead. The plan, adopted unanimously by the board, calls for Arizona users of the river water — mostly those on CAP supplies — to shoulder more than 40% of that total, or 223,000 acre-feet in 2022. The cuts are all supposed to be voluntary and temporary, and to be compensated by either state or federal money, totalling $100 million a year for the entire conservation program. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Major extra cuts to be made in Arizona deliveries of Colorado River water next year
In Pinal County, Colorado River shortage is forcing growers to plant fewer acres
“More than two decades of dry winters and drying Colorado River reservoirs will finally produce a long-feared landscape of drier farms in central Arizona starting this month. Desert farmers, especially the 900 or more in Pinal County, start the new year with massively reduced allocations from the canal that delivers water hundreds of miles from the river. Their irrigation districts are using state money to drill new wells to replace some of the losses with groundwater, another resource that’s at a premium in the fast-growing region. But it won’t be enough to offset the reductions, and so the growers who produce the region’s cotton, alfalfa and other crops are paring back their plantings across thousands of acres. … ” Continue reading from Arizona Central here: In Pinal County, Colorado River shortage is forcing growers to plant fewer acres
And lastly …
This city has the most expensive water in the world
“Water has become a precious commodity worldwide. In many places, drought has dried up the water supply. And in places where water is plentiful, it can sometimes be surprisingly expensive. The city with the most expensive water in the world is Oslo, Norway. … ” Spoiler alert: San Diego and San Francisco are in the top 5. Read more at Wall Street 24/7 here: This city has the most expensive water in the world
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: State Water Board launches new project to improve collection and management of water rights data
NOTICE of Temporary Water Right Permit Application T033263 to Appropriate Water from the Scott River in Siskiyou County
