A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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This week’s featured articles …
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: The potential of deep carbon capture and storage in the Delta and Central Valley
As California works towards reducing greenhouse gases to address climate change, carbon capture and storage have been presented as options for achieving that goal. Of particular note, the Delta has recently been identified as a potential site for carbon storage, and programs are being considered by local landowners who may participate in these future carbon storage projects.
At the November meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, George Peridas, Ph.D., Director of Carbon Management Partnerships at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, briefed the Council on the potential for carbon capture and storage in the Delta and the Central Valley. Delta landowner Tom Zuckerman provided the landowner perspective.
Click here to read this article.
BAY DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: Applying the winter-run life cycle model to pressing hydromanagement questions in the Central Valley
Successful management of California’s freshwater resources requires balancing consumptive and non-consumptive water use with fish species that depend critically on the same resources. Numerous water management decisions are being evaluated currently, many with the goal of protecting endangered species such as winter-run Chinook salmon. Scientists at UC Santa Cruz, NOAA Fisheries, USGS, and QEDA Consulting have developed a winter-run life cycle model to support such decision-making in the Central Valley.
At the 2021 Bay-Delta Science Conference, Dr. Noble Hendrix, Biometrician at QEDA Consulting, gave a presentation on how the winter-run life cycle model has been used to aid decision making for managing winter-run salmon. Ann-Marie Osterback at UCSC, and Eric Danner and Evan Sawyer at NOAA are colleagues in this work and presentation.
Click here to read this 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.
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In California water news this week …
Parched California warns water-wasters to stop or face $500 fines
“Californians will again see water-wasting rules despite a record-breaking month of snow and rain as drought regulators on Tuesday barred residents from washing cars without a shutoff nozzle, watering lawns after rainfall or hosing down driveways and sidewalks. Borrowing emergency rules implemented during the state’s previous historic drought, the State Water Resources Control Board said banning the wasteful practices is necessary to safeguard drinking water supplies. Though a historic amount of snow fell in parts of Northern California last month, many reservoirs remain lower than average and nearly 90% of the state is experiencing severe drought. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Parched California warns water-wasters to stop or face $500 fines
Drought’s grim death toll: California says endangered salmon perished in Sacramento River
“Amid a brutal heat wave and a worsening drought, California’s wildlife agency made a dire prediction in July: “Nearly all” of an endangered salmon species’ juvenile population was likely to be cooked to death on the Sacramento River in 2021. It turned out to be true. Only an estimated 2.6% of the winter-run Chinook salmon juvenile population survived the hot, dry summer, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said. The fate of the winter-run salmon has profound implications for California’s chronically overtaxed water supplies, even as recent rain and snowpack levels suggest the drought might be easing. Environmental restrictions aimed at propping up the fish populations could deprive cities and farmers of water deliveries this year. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Drought’s grim death toll: California says endangered salmon perished in Sacramento River
SEE ALSO: Already-Endangered Young Salmon In Sacramento River Latest Victim Of Drought, from CBS 13
Anderson Dam: Cost to rebuild key Bay Area dam nearly doubles to $1.2 billion
“In the latest setback for a project that has been fraught with delays and cost overruns for more than a decade, the price tag to rebuild Anderson Dam — Santa Clara County’s largest — to improve earthquake safety is nearly doubling, from $648 million to $1.2 billion. The news comes one year after the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the government agency that owns the dam near Morgan Hill, announced that another of its large construction plans, a proposal to build a huge new reservoir near Pacheco Pass, also had doubled in price, from $1.3 billion to $2.5 billion. “It’s terrible news,” said Tony Estremera, chairman of the district, on Thursday of the Anderson cost increases. “It’s just gotten worse and worse.” … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Anderson Dam: Cost to rebuild key Bay Area dam nearly doubles to $1.2 billion
Hyatt Powerplant at Oroville back online, but more rain and snow needed to keep it that way
“Five months after being taken offline due to historically low water levels on Lake Oroville, the Hyatt Powerplant is now up and running again. On Aug. 5, 2021, the water level in Oroville dropped to 642 feet, sinking the old record of 645 feet from back in 1977. This was the first time the powerplant had to be shut down since its construction in 1967. Since then, the water level has come up about 80 feet, allowing the Department of Water Resources to start operating through the powerplant again. “Not only are we able to make our normal releases, but then we also have the power generation, which is a positive byproduct of us making these releases,” said Mark Hafer, the Oroville Field Division Manager for DWR. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Hyatt Powerplant at Oroville back online, but more rain and snow needed to keep it that way
Capturing the flood in California’s ancient underground waterways
“Tens of thousands of years ago, California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains wore upon their shoulders the ancestors of today’s rivers. The waterways flowed down from the highlands to meander across the plateau of the Central Valley in languorous braided ribbons. Spurred by sea levels about 400 feet lower than today and climate and glacial processes, the rivers cut valleys 100 feet deep and a mile wide through sediment on the valley floor, as runoff from glacial melt scoured the land, pushing downstream loosened gravel, sand, and silt. Later in the glacial cycle, as sea levels rose and the streams flattened out, they lost momentum. Gravel and sediment dropped out of the water column, backfilling the cut canyons with this coarse material. These events repeated themselves over the last million or so years, as glaciers crept down from the north, then retreated. … ” Read more from Bay Nature here: Capturing the flood in California’s ancient underground waterways
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?
California-Nevada drought status update
“December storms brought more than 200% of normal precipitation to a large area of California and Nevada. In the Sierra Nevada, much of this fell as snow. Recent storms improved the drought status by 1–2 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, throughout much of the region. Combined snow plus reservoir levels are near normal or above in the Southern Sierra for this time of year, but still below normal in the Northern Sierra. Extended range forecasts for January indicate the next two weeks will have below-normal precipitation. January and February precipitation is critical in determining if the December storms are the beginning to the end of the drought (i.e., stormy pattern returns by late January) or will help mitigate the impacts of the ongoing drought, but not end it (i.e., extended dry pattern continues in February). … ” Read more from NIDIS here: California-Nevada drought status update
California’s water systems are failing communities
“California saw a brief relief from arid conditions in December and into the new year as heavy rainstorms hit the coast and snow buried much of the Sierra. But the majority of the state is still gripped by drought. According to the US Drought Monitor, over 80 percent of the state is experiencing severe drought, and that is hitting communities hard across the state, contributing to severe wildfires, limiting agricultural output, and leaving many people in dire need of drinking water. This past summer, local drought emergencies were declared across the state, including in Santa Clara County, south of the San Francisco Bay, which declared an emergency in July. There, some residents have seen their water bills skyrocket. Others have seen their taps run dry. … ” Read more from Earth Island Journal here: California’s water systems are failing communities
Sen. Dodd introduces remote water monitoring bill
“With global warming triggering longer and more frequent droughts, making California’s water supply more precious than ever, Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, announced today he has introduced legislation authorizing the remote sensing of water diversions, creating more accurate measurement of available resources and encouraging the most efficient use of water possible. “Climate change means Californians must continue to remain vigilant about our water use,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill takes a big step in that direction by helping us more accurately track where this vital resource is going and empowering us to chart a more sustainable water future. It’s a commonsense measure that will help ensure we have water for generations to come.” … ” Read more from Senator Dodd’s website here: Sen. Dodd introduces remote water monitoring bill
N
ew climate report outlines challenges and opportunities facing the San Joaquin Valley
“A new report released today about how climate change is affecting California’s San Joaquin Valley says the nation’s leading agricultural region is facing the most challenging environmental and socioeconomic conditions in the state including water insecurity and some of the worst air quality in the United States. The San Joaquin Valley Region Report is one of 12 assessments produced by leading climate experts as part of California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment to support climate action by providing an overview of climate-related risks and adaptation strategies. Jose Pablo Ortiz-Partida, the Western States climate and water scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists and one of the lead authors of the report, says increasing heat, drought and air pollution are worsening the quality of life and economic conditions of millions of San Joaquin Valley residents, particularly those living in disadvantaged communities. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists here: New climate report outlines challenges and opportunities facing the San Joaquin Valley
Climate change will dramatically increase flood risks facing Stockton and communities along San Joaquin River
“California’s historic atmospheric river event in October reminds us that climate change is already affecting the world we live in—including increasing the risk of damaging floods. A new analysis by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) predicts dramatic increases in the flood risk facing California communities as a result of our warming climate. California’s historic 1997 flood that centered in the town of Vernalis along the San Joaquin River was the second largest in a century. It affected nearly 300 square miles, set rainfall records for a wide swath of California’s Central Valley, resulted in nine deaths, and caused $2 billion in damage. The new DWR analysis anticipates far larger and more damaging floods in the future. Responding to this risk will require large public investments in the most effective flood management strategies. ... ”
FDA seeks to simplify farm water use regulations
“Growing food safely has always been a priority on farms and ranches across California, as required by federal standards and inspired by customer demands for high-quality farm products. Now the U.S. Food & Drug Administration says it is proposing new rules to safeguard the food supply while also simplifying regulations and testing that govern agricultural water use. The FDA has proposed a revision to Subpart E of the Food Safety Modernization Act. It establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The produce safety rule is one of seven major rules that aims to ensure the safety of the food supply. FSMA has been an ongoing process since it became law in 2011. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: FDA seeks to simplify farm water use regulations
Cherished California natural landmark destroyed by storm
“The historic December storms that drenched California and dropped record-setting snow on the Sierra also destroyed a centuries-old landmark — an iconic stone arch on a secluded beach that has been cherished for generations. The arch, perched on a beach bluff at Spooner’s Cove near Montaña de Oro State Park in San Luis Obispo County, was first reported missing on Christmas Eve after days of rain and heavy surf. This led to many on social media sharing family photos in front of the landmark and mourning its loss. “I have many fond memories wading across the water and hanging out under there watching the waves crash on the rocks,” Instagram user Shane Yee wrote. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Cherished California natural landmark destroyed by storm
In commentary this week …
Despite heavy snow, we must seek a new water path
Justin Fredrickson, California Farm Bureau’s water and environmental policy analyst, writes, “California is facing an indisputable fact: We need, in a big way, to get busy finding water alternatives to the long-indispensable Sierra Nevada snowpack. Yes, we’ve been blessed by recent exceptional snowfall, perhaps a snowy feast after an extended water famine. But year to year, California’s frozen reservoir—the mountain snow whose melt feeds farming and quenches the thirst of Californians—is dwindling and increasingly unreliable as the climate changes. As a result, we now must move water— coming increasingly as rain or early snowmelt—underground. What I am talking about is no modest undertaking: Rather, it is a massive and fundamental transformation of the whole of our landscape comparable to other massive transformations of our California landscape of the past. ... ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Despite heavy snow, we must seek a new water path
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
Preparation will mitigate water crisis, not restricting water rights
Sean White, director of water & sewer for the city of Ukiah, writes, “December brought significant snowpack to the Sierra, breaking records set in the 1970s. But areas like Mendocino and Sonoma are still showing severe drought conditions, and our state’s reservoirs have a long way to go to recover from last year’s historic lows. Recent rains unfortunately do not mean rest for California water policymakers, local governments and regional water agencies. With increasingly severe weather conditions year after year, we anticipate that California will be facing significant water deficits on a recurring basis. Knowing this now, water planners and state leaders can be smarter about how we prepare and how we respond, with the goal of avoiding the extreme steps taken by the state last year to restrict water use. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Preparation will mitigate water crisis, not restricting water rights
Big Ag’s priority is profit, not feeding the world
Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat, campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “Portraying our current agricultural economy as driven by subsistence needs rather than the desire to maximize profit is a gross mischaracterization of a multibillion-dollar industry. Approximately 133 billion pounds of food is wasted every year in the U.S. We produce far more food than we consume and while we do export crops to other nations, those are often luxury items produced for their high sale value, not to solve world hunger. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Big Ag’s priority is profit, not feeding the world
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
Column: Republicans have next to no power in California. But they do sometimes have good ideas
Columnist George Skelton writes, “Republicans have no power in the state Capitol. But they sometimes have good ideas. Democrats even steal them. … When Republicans propose spending large amounts to increase California’s water supply during a drought, the natural public reaction ordinarily would be “duh.” But the GOP is proposing a major switch from the traditional “user pay” concept to “everyone pays.” Major water projects have always been financed by the people who use the water — farmers, homeowners, industrialists — through monthly bills. The one exception is for so-called public benefits, such as fish protection and recreation. Everybody pays for that. Now, Republicans are proposing that the state general fund pony up with money collected from all taxpayers from Crescent City to Calexico. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: Column: Republicans have next to no power in California. But they do sometimes have good ideas
In regional water news this week …
PROJECT KLAMATH: Saving a watershed in the climate change era
“The western United States, where water once ebbed and flowed through arid sagebrush, ancient wetlands and wooded forests, has been carved, plugged and drained beyond recognition. … But all the shaping and damming has turned a free-flowing landscape into a system of bottlenecks. Water managers can no longer leave hard decisions up to nature: They must now choose which users of a watershed (including the very species that evolved with it) are entitled to water when there’s not enough to go around and figure out how to get rid of excess water when there’s too much. But they cannot control how much water they have to work with, or when they’ll have it. The head of the Link River in Klamath Falls is one of the more extreme examples of the western water bottleneck in action: Here, water is pulled three ways. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: PROJECT KLAMATH: Saving a watershed in the climate change era
Thousands in the Sierra still without power after storms mangled equipment
“Tens of thousands of people in the Sierra were still without power Tuesday, more than a week after heavy snow smothered the mountains, knocking down power lines, poles and transformers. The record snowfall — the most in December in 50 years — was wet and heavy in many places, causing Pacific Gas and Electric Co. equipment to fail and leaving many residents without electricity to power their lights, furnaces and refrigerators. In Nevada County alone, the damage was overwhelming: 307 power poles snapped or toppled, 580 places where the conductor or the line needs repairs, 171 broken crossarms and 70 transformers knocked out of service, according to Megan McFarland, a spokesperson for the utility company. … ” Read more from MSN here: Thousands in the Sierra still without power after storms mangled equipment
Managing for fish and wildlife during a dry year in the Sacramento valley – what did we learn in 2021?
“As 2021 was shaping into the most challenging water year in recent history—with the driest and hottest conditions anyone could remember–water resources managers in the Sacramento Valley developed a “roadmap” in May, outlining plans to maximize habitat for fish in wildlife with the minimal water resources that were available. At that time, water managers in every part of the Valley knew they were going to see substantial reductions in their water supplies and they were developing and implementing drought plans to manage the limited supplies available. Now, we have an opportunity to look back at this challenging year and evaluate the actions that were taken to determine the value they provided to fish and wildlife in the region and what we can learn for future dry years. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Managing for fish and wildlife during a dry year in the Sacramento valley – what did we learn in 2021?
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
Diesel spill in Suisun ‘Backwaters’ cleaned up; Coast Guard looks into enforcement action
“The Coast Guard contractor hired to clean up the diesel spill caused by a houseboat that sank in the Backwaters area of Suisun City has completed the work. “All the hazardous substances and pollution was removed and, in addition to that, the vessel was no longer taking in water and (the U.S. Ecology crew was) able to plug some of the holes at the waterline to keep it afloat,” Coast Guard Ensign Benjamin Wathen said Monday in a phone interview. The work was completed Friday, Wathen said. What remaining diesel fuel that may have escaped the immediate spill area, the Coast Guard reported, should have fully dissipated by Monday or Tuesday. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Diesel spill in Suisun ‘Backwaters’ cleaned up; Coast Guard looks into enforcement action
LAFCO finalizes denial of Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s Cal Am takeover
“The Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to finalize its denial of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s planned takeover of California American Water. The 5-2 LAFCO vote followed its initial vote Dec. 6 to dismiss the water district’s application for the buyout, an acquisition mandated by a 2018 ballot measure. General Manager Dave Stoldt of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District said he wasn’t surprised by the vote. “We didn’t expect any difference but I think it was very important to enter what we had to say into the record,” he told The Herald Wednesday afternoon. … ” Continue reading at the Monterey Herald here: LAFCO finalizes denial of Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s Cal Am takeover
Higher rates for LADWP’s biggest water users are now in effect
“Water-hogging customers in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power service area will see higher bills this year. Effective Jan. 1, LADWP began charging its heaviest water users as much as $3.60 more for every 748 gallons they take from their taps. Water bills for customers who use lower amounts will stay roughly the same as last year. The Board of Water and Power Commissioners approved the rate changes last September to reflect increasing water supply costs from high-use customers, the agency said. Despite December’s rainstorms, LA continues to face exceptionally dry conditions in the new year. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Higher rates for LADWP’s biggest water users are now in effect
As OC digs deeper for drinking water, worries about contamination arise
“According to attorney and water policy expert Felicia Marcus, who is also the William C. Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University, regional officials hope to purify this groundwater and are also actively pursuing collaborations with local water districts in order to obtain clean drinking water for its residents. South Orange County, though, is not affected by this dilemma as at least 90% of its water is imported. As a result of water scarcity, according to Marcus, city water districts have begun digging even deeper below the surface, creating major pollutant concerns. Digging deeper for water sources makes it easier for contaminants to taint the water at levels higher than what is legally acceptable. … ” Read more from the Voice of the OC here: As OC digs deeper for drinking water, worries about contamination arise
A Zanjero’s Life: Controlling the waters of California, one irrigation gate at a time
“Before his commute to work every morning, Sergio Lopez packs the essentials: Cell phone, check. Calculator, check. Laptop, check. Long-iron irrigation-gate bar, check. Lopez is a zanjero, or irrigation-ditch minder, in the Imperial Valley, an agricultural expanse that lies between the Salton Sea and the Mexican border. The Spanish word for “ditch” is zanja. Since the days of old Alta California, zanjeros have directed irrigation water where it’s needed, released exactly the right amount for crops to grow, and stopped the flow when the earth has had enough. California leads the nation in farm cash receipts—the Imperial Valley alone produced more than $2 billion in crops in 2019. Every farm in the valley needs water delivered by the Imperial Irrigation District. Lopez is their deliveryman. ... ” Read more from Alta here: A Zanjero’s Life: Controlling the waters of California, one irrigation gate at a time
These four metrics are used to track drought, and they paint a bleak picture for the Southwest
“Drought has tightened its grip on the Western U.S., as dry conditions tick on into their second decade and strain a river that supplies 40 million people. Experts agree that things are bad and getting worse. But how exactly do you measure a drought, and how can you tell which direction it’s going? Brad Udall is an expert on the subject, studying water and climate at Colorado State University’s Colorado Water Center. His latest forecasts for the 246,00-square-mile Colorado River Basin haven’t been uplifting. “You cannot look at these and not be concerned,” he said. “The climate models tell us this is going to get worse. There’s every reason to believe it’s going to get worse. It’s gotten worse since 2000. The spooky thing is that it seems to be getting worse at a faster rate.” … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: These four metrics are used to track drought, and they paint a bleak picture for the Southwest
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
Weekly features …
BLOG ROUND-UP: God sent the rain, but we need an angel to build the infrastructure to manage it; Zooplankton: Not just for [fish] breakfast anymore!; The elusive imperative of adaptive management in the Delta; and more …
Click here to read the blog round up.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE: Public Comment Opens for GSP Alternative Periodic Evaluations
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ ISB Meeting~ Water Commission~ DPC Meeting~ Conservancy Meeting~ Conservation Target~ December Storms ~~
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW’s Draft 2022 Proposition 1 Solicitation Released for Public Review
VELES WEEKLY REPORT: Its a good start!! Drought conditions have eased in CA by a lot, but 100% of CA still in moderate drought
ANNOUNCEMENTS Regarding Public Feedback on Pathways to 30×30
WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Update 2023~ CWC Meeting~ UPWARD California~ Groundwater Recharge~ Water Loss~ Performance
NOTICE: Posting of Supplementary Hydrological Modeling Information Related to 2022 Temporary Urgency Change Petition to Modify D-1641
WORKSHOP NOTICE: Regulatory Program Workshop – Compensatory Mitigation and the Mitigation Rule
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
