DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Four charts show why recent rains won’t end drought; Potter Valley license lapse sets stage for plans to dam removal; Thousands still without power in Nevada County; Ridgecrest reacts to water district adjudication mass mailing ; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

California’s recent rains won’t end our stubborn drought. These charts show why

“California just received more precipitation in the last three months of 2021 than it got in the previous year. The mountains are heaped with historic amounts of heavy snow. But the rain had no sooner given way to sun than state regulators issued new rules forbidding water-wasting practices such as hosing down sidewalks and driveways. What’s going on?  The short version is that, although 33.9 trillion gallons of water have fallen on the state since Oct. 1, that’s not enough to wash away our tenacious drought. Here are some graphics to help to tell the story. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: California’s recent rains won’t end our stubborn drought. These charts show why

Potter Valley hydropower project license lapse sets stage for plans to remove Eel River dam

“The future of a little-known dam on the Eel River in Lake County may be shaped this year as the license expires on a broken-down PG&E hydropower project that plays a critical role in providing water to 600,000 Sonoma and Marin county residents.  Demolition of Scott Dam, a 138-foot concrete structure built a century ago to impound Lake Pillsbury, is an “absolute requirement” for a coalition that includes Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt counties interested in picking up the license, said Rep. Jared Huffman, the North Coast congressman.  But the coalition — known as the Two-Basin Partnership — has fallen short on fundraising and planning for the complex and costly process of taking over the project owned and operated by Pacific Gas & Electric since 1930.  … ”  Continue reading from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Potter Valley hydropower project license lapse sets stage for plans to remove Eel River dam

Return to top

In commentary this weekend …

California must stop burying its head in winter snow

The San Jose Mercury News editorial board writes, “When it comes to water conservation, California is burying its head in the winter snow.  Future generations will not look kindly at our leaders’ complete failure to strategically address the state’s water shortages, which will only get worse with climate change.  Two years of some of the worst drought conditions in state history haven’t slowed Big Ag’s demands for more water. Meanwhile, urban users aren’t coming close to meeting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to voluntarily cut their water use by 15% from 2020 levels.  On Tuesday, the state reported that the statewide reduction was just 6.8% in November, compared with November 2020. Bay Area residents hit Newsom’s target, cutting water use 20.2%. But Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego county residents increased water use by 0.8%. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California must stop burying its head in winter snow

Many Californians fear having their water shut off in the new year. That’s unacceptable

Uriel Saldivar, a senior policy associate at Community Water Center, and Nydia Medina, an AGUA Coalition member, write, “For many people, the new year means a fresh start. But for the million-plus California households with overdue water bills, Jan. 1 had a much less pleasant significance: the end of emergency water shutoff protections. Even though the pandemic is still raging, a state water shutoff ban ended on Dec. 31. Unfortunately, the billion dollars in this year’s budget meant to wipe out water debt won’t reach many families who need it. A lot of utilities are opting out of the voluntary debt relief program, leaving customers in a lurch. That means the amount of help available for families struggling financially will be determined by their address rather than their need. That’s unacceptable in a state that recognizes a human right to water and has spent money to help families keep the water on despite COVID-related hardships. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Many Californians fear having their water shut off in the new year. That’s unacceptable

Here is a plan to create more water for California

Edward Ring, lead proponent of the Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022, writes, “Former Congressman Tom Campbell’s recent commentary “Why the delay on critical water storage projects,” published on these pages on January 3, criticized the California Water Commission’s ongoing failure to build the water storage projects that were approved by voters in 2014. There is an answer to the concerns raised by Campbell: The Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022, a constitutional initiative proposed for the November 2022 state ballot.  This initiative, currently being circulated for signatures, requires two percent of the state’s general fund be used to construct new water supply projects, and it doesn’t sunset until new projects add five million acre feet per year to the state’s water supply. Two million acre feet per year can come from waste water recycling, another 1 million from conservation programs, and the rest from runoff capture into off-stream reservoirs and aquifers. And to ensure projects are environmentally responsible, it still gives the California Water Commission the final authority over what projects to fund. … ”  Read more from the Daily News here: Here is a plan to create more water for California

Idiocy of Sacramento politicians, climate change fanaticism & watering Bermuda grass in the winter

Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “We are idiots. Or at least the politicians in Sacramento that relentlessly sound the climate change alarm are.  This is because of a scene depicting an exercise in futility with overtures of self-destruction that played out Monday just a block off Powers Avenue in Manteca.  A man was dutifully hand watering an area of grass in his front yard that was yellow.  Forget the fact it had just rained a few day prior. Ignore the morning frost that points to air heavily laden with moisture. Overlook the top three or so inches of soil that lawns draw water from are moist. And set aside the reality that Bermuda — and similar grasses — often turn yellow in the cold of winter when non-native California grasses that constitute many lawns are a lush green.  That scene undoubtedly was repeated thousands if not tens of thousands of times across California on Monday. … ”  Continue reading at the Manteca Bulletin here: Idiocy of Sacramento politicians, climate change fanaticism & watering Bermuda grass in the winter

Return to top

In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Crescent City: Harbor asking permission to dredge swiftly

“Members of the Crescent City Harbor Commission may attend a North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board in February in an effort to advocate for swift dredging of the harbor. On Jan. 4, harbor commissioners also reviewed a draft letter that would be sent ahead of time. According to that letter, harbor commissioners are seeking two outcomes: quick approval to use divers to dredge silt away from Fashion Blacksmith’s synchrolift so the boat-repair business can move boats in and out of the harbor, plus a longer-term solution that calls for further dredging and relocation of previously dredged silt that’s been sitting in the harbor’s dredge ponds since 2013. … ”  Read more from the Daily Triplicate here: Harbor asking permission to dredge swiftly

Toxic coal train bill passes Senate Transportation Committee

“Senator Mike McGuire’s legislation to stop one of the largest environmental threats the North Coast has seen in decades — a proposal from a secret, clandestine operation that wants to ship millions of tons of coal through Northern California — passed with bipartisan support in the Senate Transportation Committee today.  “The proposed toxic coal train is an environmental disaster in the making. The midwest coal would travel through the Sierras, across the Golden State through the heart of our thriving communities, ancient redwoods, and directly along the banks of the Eel and Russian rivers which are the main drinking water source for nearly 1 million residents. It is crucial we stop this dangerous proposal – it transcends politics, and I am grateful for the bipartisan support today.” … ”  Read more at Senator Mike McGuire’s website here: Toxic coal train bill passes Senate Transportation Committee

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

December snow storms buried Nevada County. A week into the new year thousands still don’t have power

“As director of the Nevada County Food Bank Nicole McNeely is no stranger to calamity. She has managed her organization through wildfire evacuations, planned power outages and the pandemic, during which the number of families in need of assistance jumped from about 400 to 2,500.  But none of that quite prepared her for the freak snowstorm on Dec. 26, which toppled thousands of trees and left her family of five — a long with thousands of neighbors in rural areas around Nevada City and Grass Valley — without running water, heat or power. The storm was part of a record month of snow for the greater Tahoe area, with parts of the Sierras recording more than 200 inches in December. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: December snow storms buried Nevada County. A week into the new year thousands still don’t have power

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Placer County and North American Subbasin Groundwater Update

“At the January 6 meeting of the Placer County Water Agency (“PCWA”), the Board of Directors adopted the North American Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (“Plan”), agreeing to implement provisions of the Plan in coordination with neighboring Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (“GSA”).  The North American Subbasin is comprised of five GSAs and encompasses about 342,000 acres across Sutter, Placer, and Sacramento Counties; PCWA is a member of the West Placer GSA. … ”  Read more from Rocklin and Roseville Today here: Placer County and North American Subbasin Groundwater Update

BAY AREA

Sunny skies — and no more drought relief — on tap for next week in Bay Area

“After a rainy December, the Bay Area can expect mild, seasonable weather and sunny skies for the next week, according to the National Weather Service.  Temperatures will remain consistently mild throughout the week, said Sean Miller, a meteorologist for NWS, with lows generally in the 40s and highs in the upper 50s.  “There should be some pretty nice days,” he said.  The pleasant weather comes after a drizzle over the Bay Area on Friday, which only added up to a few hundredths of an inch, Miller said. The light rain did lead to overnight fog development, particularly in the North Bay, where a fog advisory was in place through 10 a.m. on Saturday. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Sunny skies — and no more drought relief — on tap for next week in Bay Area

Marin: Salmon reach old spawning grounds in heavy rains for first time in years

“The heavy rains of December and January have brought endangered coho salmon up into the small tributaries of the San Geronimo Valley for the first time in years, as did the early rains of October, which brought Chinook salmon in Woodacre Creek for the first time ever documented.  Ayano Hayes, the watershed biologist for the Salmon Protection And Watershed Network (SPAWN), a program of Turtle Island Restoration Network (www.seaturtles.org) has found coho salmon this year in Montezuma Creek, Larsen Creek, Arroyo Creek and Woodacre Creek so far this year.  According to SPAWN’s records, no coho have been seen in Montezuma Creek since the winter of 2004, and none in Larsen Creek since winter 2006, where Hayes saw both coho salmon and steelhead trout this week. … ”  Read more from the Turtle Island Restoration Network here: Marin: Salmon reach old spawning grounds in heavy rains for first time in years

California Court oks controversial Newark housing plan along its climate-vulnerable wetlands

“A California district court has sided with the city of Newark and developer The Sobrato Organization in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups who challenged a plan to build hundreds of two-story tract homes along fragile wetlands in Alameda County.  Environmentalists said the dwellings would be built in a federal flood zone and could succumb to rising seas in coming decades, arguing that the project’s environmental review was inadequate.  California’s 1st District Court of Appeal disagreed and ruled that the city and developers could move forward with permitting plans for Sanctuary West: 469 single-family, market-rate homes on four elevated peninsulas close to Newark’s shoreline. … ”  Read more from KQED here: California Court oks controversial Newark housing plan along its climate-vulnerable wetlands

Photos from the king tides show what permanent sea level rise could look like in San Francisco Bay Area by 2050

“Water inundated low-lying areas around San Francisco Bay last weekend, as the Northern California region saw some of the highest tides of the year.  Experts say the king tides help us understand what the impacts of future sea level rise will be, and the photos above and below taken in Mill Valley and Sausalito show roadways and bike paths entirely underwater and water encroaching on buildings. “When you see a flooded street or park, you can easily picture what it will be like when the water is at least that high every single day rather than just during these few days in the winter,” Annie Frankel, manager of the California King Tides Project at the California Coastal Commission, wrote in an email. “It’s a much more visceral experience to see your favorite beach or your route to work under water than it is to look at a graph of projected sea level rise.” … ”  Continue reading at SF Gate here: Photos from the king tides show what permanent sea level rise could look like in San Francisco Bay Area by 2050

New state water restrictions bring fines

“Despite recent heavy rains across the state, all of California remains in the grip of drought. In response the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) approved new water restrictions that come with penalties for violators. … For residents of Brentwood, the state’s actions won’t require any changes in water-use due to the city’s existing water regulations. ... ”  Read more from The Press here: New state water restrictions bring fines

CENTRAL COAST

Santa Cruz on cusp of relaxing water restrictions

“Santa Cruz water officials are optimistic about the city’s water reserves for the upcoming dry season.  A series of atmospheric river events in December brought significant rainfall to the region. Since the first atmospheric river in October, Santa Cruz has received 11.3 inches of rain in town and 32.5 inches at the Loch Lomond Reservoir, according to Water Department Deputy Director Chris Coburn.  The increased rainfall this wet season compared to the last could lead to city officials easing water restrictions during the summer months.  “Certainly, our position has improved greatly. We’re not there yet, but were feeling much better and hopeful that with normal rainfall next couple months well be able to lift restrictions and ideally see Loch Lomond fill before the end of the rainy season,” Coburn said. “It’s been a terrific December. Just really what I asked for, for Christmas.” … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz on cusp of relaxing water restrictions

Storm door locked to Central California, but conditions could change quickly

John Lindsey writes, “The plentiful rain and snow of December decreased the drought severity throughout California. This week’s U.S. Drought Monitor showed the entire Central Coast to be in moderate drought after being classified as severe last week.  Unfortunately, the Eastern Pacific High off the California coastline has locked the storm door shut to Central California. It has forced the upper-level winds and the storms they bring into Northern California, Oregon, and Washington in a classic La Niña pattern.  In fact, much like November when our area was parched, western Washington has once again reported record amounts of rain and snow that have caused floods, landslides and avalanches over the last week as a series of tempests slammed into the Pacific Northwest. … ”  Read more from the Lompoc Record here: Storm door locked to Central California, but conditions could change quickly

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Turlock: Water treatment plant on track to be running by next summer

“A project three decades in the making is nearly complete and is scheduled to deliver a reliable source of drinking water to Turlock residents by next year.  The Regional Surface Water Supply Project was formed in 2011 as the Cities of Turlock and Ceres, in cooperation with Turlock Irrigation District, to start the process of building a plant to deliver treated Tuolumne River water to residents. The City of Turlock has been working for 30 years to secure this alternate drinking source, as its current drinking water supply is 100% groundwater — and dwindling. … ”  Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Turlock: Water treatment plant on track to be running by next summer

Tulare County looking at SGMA impact on property values

“There’s the definite possibility the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act could have a negative impact on farmers’ property values.  So the question is can farmers affected by the SGMA receive relief when it comes to the amount of property taxes they pay. The answer is maybe.  The Tulare County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder’s Office has addressed this issue, stating farmers affected by the SGMA could possibly receive relief when it comes to the property taxes they pay.  The SGMA has placed a requirement in which the pumping of groundwater must be reduced. So the SGMA is obviously impacting the use of agricultural land and in turn is influencing property values.  But as the county assessor has stated: “Quantifying the effects of these changes is an ongoing challenge.” … ”  Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Tulare County looking at SGMA impact on property values

EASTERN SIERRA

Ridgecrest: City, public react to water district adjudication mass mailing

“Adjudication mailers sent by a law firm representing the Indian Wells Valley Water District seemed to lead to more questions than answers during a lengthy discussion at the Ridgecrest City Council meeting Wednesday night.  The district filed the comprehensive adjudication last year in the hopes of forcing a legal determination of final water rights for all pumpers in the IWV Groundwater basin, including the Navy. The move came as one of several legal actions prompted by local reaction to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. SGMA requires eventually balancing the local basin – currently in critical overdraft.  Over 20,000 letters dated Dec. 16, 2021 were reportedly mailed in late December or early January. ... ”  Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Ridgecrest: City, public react to water district adjudication mass mailing

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Pepsico Beverages North America announces $1.5 million partnership with Water Replenishment District of Southern California to help protect the state’s most used basins

“PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) announced today a $1.5 million grant to the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD), the largest groundwater agency in the state of California, to help manage and protect local groundwater resources to more than four million residents.  “Partnering with the Water Replenishment District of Southern California will not only help enable long-term, sustainable water security for local communities who depend on an accessible and reliable supply of clean, safe water,” said Johannes Evenblij, President of West Division at PepsiCo Beverages North America, “but it will also be critical in the advancement our pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) Net Water Positive ambition to reduce absolute water use and replenish back into the local watershed more than 100% of the water we use. As a food and beverage company, we’re acutely aware of the critical role water plays in the southern California ecosystem, and our community.” … ”  Continue reading from Street Insider here: Pepsico Beverages North America announces $1.5 million partnership with Water Replenishment District of Southern California to help protect the state’s most used basins

What caused a record sewage spill in Long Beach, and will it happen again?

“Last week’s major sewage spill into the Dominguez Channel shows how problems with sewer lines and infrastructure that aren’t even in the city can still greatly impact Long Beach residents. That spill happened when a 60-year-old pipe that was already on a county repair list broke open, letting nearly 9 million gallons of sewage flow into the channel, which led to the closure of the city’s entire coastline to swimmers for nearly a week. It was the largest spill for the L.A. County Sanitation District, which has been keeping spill records since 1981. There are many sewage infrastructure issues facing Long Beach residents, but we can break down what we know. … ”  Continue reading from the Long Beach Post here: What caused a record sewage spill in Long Beach, and will it happen again?

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Renewable: Lithium promises revival for dying California inland sea

“Hollywood’s jet set once crowded the shores of the Salton Sea, a then-idyllic southern California playground for the wealthy. Today, it is desolate and depressed — the evaporating water leaving behind dead shellfish, dust and chemicals that irritate the airways.  But also lithium.  The increasingly valuable metal, whose supply is concentrated in a few global pockets, is vital for the rechargeable batteries expected to cleanly power the cars and homes of our polluted planet’s future.  “This is definitely the largest known (reserve) here in North America,” says Jim Turner, chief operating officer of Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR), pointing to the desert horizon of the so-called “Lithium Valley.” … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Renewable: Lithium promises revival for dying California inland sea

SAN DIEGO

Carlsbad desal plant: Pivoting operations for a pandemic

“The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant (“CDP”), which recently celebrated its five-year anniversary, produces 50 million gallons of fresh water per day. It now accounts for one-third of all water generated in San Diego county.  When the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020, the facility needed to completely overhaul its workflow in a matter of weeks. CDP not only managed to cut its staffing, implement remote monitoring, and keep its operators fully sheltered onsite — it also did so without any drops in productivity. … ”  Read more from Water World here: Pivoting operations for a pandemic

Grants awarded to restore safe drinking water for Lake Morena residents—but process may take until 2024

“For more than two years, Lake Morena Village area water users have been drinking bottled water because of formidable nitrate levels in the region’s wells, the main source of water for drinking in the rural San Diego county burg.  In September 2019, the county issued a do-not-drink order for about 125 customers of the Lake Morena Views Mutual Water Company, one of the two main water suppliers in the area.  The state recently approved grant funds to eliminate the contamination, but the process moves slowly – meaning frustrated residents may be without potable tap water for another two to three years.  “I am wondering what the effects will be on all of us in time to come. How can it take over two years to fix the issue?” asks Claudia Millerbragg, a Lake Morena Village residents in rural Campo. She says shareholders are not given enough information, adding,  “Because we are in an underserved community no one really seems to care. Can you imagine this happening in La Jolla?” … ”  Read more from the East County Times here: Grants awarded to restore safe drinking water for Lake Morena residents—but process may take until 2024

Return to top

Along the Colorado River …

Reclamation modifies monthly water releases from Lake Powell to protect reservoir’s critical elevations

“The Bureau of Reclamation began monthly operational adjustments at Glen Canyon Dam on Jan. 1, taking initial steps to protect the reservoir’s target elevation of 3,525 feet. As of Jan. 5, Lake Powell’s water surface elevation measured 3,536 feet, just 11 feet above the target elevation. Without the changes to monthly water releases, the reservoir’s elevation was projected to steadily decline below the target elevation through the winter months. The adjusted releases are designed to help protect critical elevations at Lake Powell until spring runoff materializes.  The monthly volume of water released from Glen Canyon Dam is being adjusted to hold back 350 thousand acre-feet (kaf) of water in Lake Powell from January to April when inflow to the reservoir is low. The same amount of water (350 kaf) will then be released to Lake Mead between June and September after the spring runoff occurs. The annual volume of water released from Glen Canyon Dam is unchanged by these operational adjustments. … ”

Feds tighten Colorado River flow at Glen Canyon Dam as ever-shrinking Lake Powell nears critical level

“As Lake Powell’s water level continues to decline, federal water managers will implement another round of emergency measures to keep the Utah largest’s reservoir from reaching a point where Glen Canyon Dam can no longer generate electricity.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday that, over the next four months, it plans to hold back 350,000 acre-feet of water that would normally flow through Grand Canyon into Lake Mead, which is also struggling with a receding shoreline in the face of a stubborn drought.  Failure to act would result in Lake Powell reaching a critical elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level as early as next month, according to Wayne Pullan, the bureau’s Upper Colorado Basin regional director. … ”  Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Feds tighten Colorado River flow at Glen Canyon Dam as ever-shrinking Lake Powell nears critical level

Colorado River forecast improves with early snow, but the outlook could still change

“Early winter rain and snow across the interior West have improved the outlook for springtime flows on the Colorado and other rivers that supply the Southwest.  The Colorado River Basin Forecast Center on Friday released a forecast projecting that the river and its tributaries would pour about 99% of normal flow into Lake Powell by April, though that’s based on a new and not-so-improved normal afflicted by climate change.  The center, an agency of the National Weather Service, last summer updated the watershed’s long-term baseline to reflect the last 30 years of flows, which were deeply reduced by drought. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Colorado River forecast improves with early snow, but the outlook could still change

Phoenix among those voluntarily losing Colorado River water

“The city of Phoenix this week outlined how it will voluntarily contribute water to a regional plan to shore up the country’s largest reservoir that delivers Colorado River water to three states and Mexico.  The river cannot provide seven Western states the water they were promised a century ago because of less snow, warmer temperatures and water lost to evaporation. Water managers repeatedly have had to pivot to develop plans to sustain it for the long-term.  Phoenix, the nation’s fifth-largest city, is among entities in the river’s lower basin that are part of the “500+ Plan” meant to delay further mandatory shortages. All pieces of the plan haven’t been finalized, but farmers and Native American tribes are expected to play a big role. … ”  Read more from the AP here: Phoenix among those voluntarily losing Colorado River water

Arizona Legislature appears ready to act on water this session

“Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona lawmakers appear finally ready to act on a more permanent solution to the fact that it’s hotter and dryer — and there just isn’t enough water to sustain the state’s growth.  And that could involve not only the state spending far more money than it has before but some creative solutions, ranging from piping and treating salt water from the Sea of Cortez to what is commonly known as “toilet to tap.”  The consensus comes as prior efforts to stabilize Arizona’s water supply have come up short.  By a lot. … ”  Continue reading from Fronteras here: Arizona Legislature appears ready to act on water this session

Return to top

In national news this weekend …

Trends in U.S. irrigated agriculture: Increasing resilience under water supply scarcity

“Growing urban populations and economic development intensify competition for the nation’s water resources. With surface water supplies largely allocated in most river basins of the Western United States and some river basins in the Eastern United States, emerging water demands from non-agricultural sectors must be met in many cases through a reallocation of water initially allocated to agriculture.  Meanwhile, changing climate regimes — through increased evaporative losses, seasonal shifts in precipitation patterns, reduced snowpack and snowmelt runoff, and higher frequency and severity of droughts — have reduced water supplies during the crop growing season. At the same time, groundwater pumping in excess of natural recharge has substantially diminished aquifer resources critical to agriculture in regions where, and when, surface water is less abundant. Increasing competition for water, coupled with increasingly constrained water supply trends, have important implications for the viability and resiliency of the irrigated agricultural sector. How the sector adapts to these trends will shape the future of irrigated agriculture and the value it creates for the greater agricultural economy. … ”  Continue reading at the Fence Post here: Trends in U.S. irrigated agriculture: Increasing resilience under water supply scarcity

The windfall in US infrastructure spending won’t be coming from the government alone

“The recently-passed US infrastructure bill is poised to give $1.2 trillion to cities and states. Business and municipal leaders hope to funnel some of those dollars into a relatively new model for building America’s infrastructure: the public-private partnership (P3).  In these partnerships, public agencies and private investors share responsibility for financing, building, and maintaining infrastructure projects. P3s have been used to build US infrastructure including highways, water treatment systems, courthouses, and arenas. They were behind New York City’s Hudson Yards and the renovation of St. Louis’ Gateway Arch. … ”  Read more from Quartz here: The windfall in US infrastructure spending won’t be coming from the government alone

This mesmerizing map lets you follow the path of a drop of water anywhere in the world

“If a drop of rain falls in Chengdu, China, it will flow nearly 2,000 miles away to the East China Sea. In Cochabamba, Bolivia, rain flows through multiple rivers to the Amazon in Brazil, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean more than 3,000 miles away. Rain falling in Custer, South Dakota, travels 2,600-plus miles to the Gulf of Mexico.  A mesmerizing new map called River Runner lets you choose a spot anywhere in the world and take a bird’s-eye-view path through the local watershed, down streams and rivers that wind through mountains and fields. It’s a global version of a tool released last year that initially focused on American watersheds. … ”  Continue reading at Fast Company here:  This mesmerizing map lets you follow the path of a drop of water anywhere in the world

And lastly …

These goldfish learned to drive with the help of scientists

“These goldfish learned to drive. Yes, you read that correctly. In a recent study, scientists have successfully trained six goldfish to drive a “fish operated vehicle” (FOV). The study, conducted by researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, aimed to determine the ability of the goldfish to navigate in different environments.  Since goldfish naturally navigate in water, the scientists wanted to see if they could replicate the same ability on land and other environments. To achieve this, they created a small goldfish tank with wheels on it. The vehicle tank used a camera and remote sensing system that allowed the whole apparatus to move based on the direction the goldfish swam. ... ”  Read more from Inhabitat here: These goldfish learned to drive with the help of scientists

Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

SGMO News: Submitting your GSP to DWR; InSAR Subsidence Dataset Update releasing soon; 2021 Year End Review of DWR Sustainable Groundwater Management Activities; and more …

NOTICE: Updates to State Water Board’s water loss webpage

NOTICE: Drought Conservation Emergency Regulation – January 2022

Return to top