On the calendar today …
FREE WEBINAR: California-Nevada Winter Status Update from 11am to 12pm. The California-Nevada Winter Status Update is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña). Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Sierra snow levels still above average, more storms predicted first week of February
“The National Weather Service in Sacramento tweeted Sunday that, despite California having a mostly dry January, snow depth and snow water content “is looking good and still running above average for this time of year.” Currently, the Northern Sierra is at about 113 percent of what is considered the normal amount of snow for this time of year. Central Sierra snow is at about 109 percent. Overall, the state has about 111 percent of its average snowpack right now, thanks to the record-breaking storms that came toward the end of 2021. And while no rain is being predicted for the coming week, the NWS in San Diego tweeted Sunday “And more rain and mountain snow may arrive to California during the first week of February!” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Sierra snow levels still above average, more storms predicted first week of February
The Gold Rush returns to California
“On the outskirts of the northern California town of Grass Valley, a massive concrete silo looms over the weeds and crumbling pavement. Nearby, unseen, a mine shaft drops 3,400 feet into the earth. These are the remains of Grass Valley’s Idaho-Maryland Mine, a relic from the town’s gold mining past. Numerous mines like this one once fueled Grass Valley’s economy, and today, Gold Rush artifacts are part of the town’s character: A stamp mill, once used to break up gold-bearing rock, now guards an intersection on Main Street, and old ore carts and other rusty remnants can be spotted in parking lots and storefronts around town. Gold still exists in the veins of the abandoned mine, and Rise Gold, the mining corporation that purchased the mine in 2017, has reason to believe that reopening it makes financial sense. … ” Read more from Undark Magazine here: The Gold Rush returns to California
Who governs California’s drinking water systems?
“A key feature of California’s drinking water system is the large number of individual water systems. There are approximately 3,000 Community Water Systems (CWSs) in the state, meaning systems that serve a residential population year-round (the remaining 5,000 of the state’s 8,000 Public Water Systems are non-community systems serve places like schools, daycare, hospitals, campgrounds, or businesses that serve at least 25 people but have transient or non-residential populations. Additionally there are an unknown number of unregulated water systems in the state that do not meet the 25 person or 15 connection size threshold for regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This extreme decentralization and fragmentation of governance results from local land use decisions, politics and a preference for local control by the state and locals. … ” Continue reading at the California Water Blog here: Who governs California’s drinking water systems?
Heavy rains weren’t enough to stop winter fires in California
“A fire in January? Californians have, tragically, seen that before. But a fire in January after months of record-breaking rain? That’s far more unsettling. A blaze that erupted on the Central Coast over the weekend seemed to stun even those intimately familiar with California’s ongoing drought and its increasingly year-round fire season. The National Weather Service’s Bay Area office called the fast-moving fire near Big Sur “surreal,” given the recent storms. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Heavy rains weren’t enough to stop winter fires in California
SEE ALSO: Fire crews increase containment of Colorado Fire along Big Sur coast to 35%, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Are ills of the Arctic hitting California? Hundreds of migratory seabirds wash ashore
“Sara Bogard halted her dog as the two began descending the cliff down to Manchester Beach, along the Mendocino coast. Below, scores of dead and dying birds littered the beach as far as she could see. “The smell hit me first,” said Bogard, describing the musty, basement-like odor of northern fulmars scattered along the beach that mid-December morning. The smell, she recalled, was “kind of like a grandmother’s closet.” What beached these offshore birds is still not known. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Are ills of the Arctic hitting California? Hundreds of migratory seabirds wash ashore
Water efficiency grant deadline extended
“The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI) extended the application period for a new competitive grant program, the Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program (WETA), for an additional two weeks. The new submission deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 3. … ” Continue reading from the Western Farm Press here: Water efficiency grant deadline extended
State Water Project water allocation increased after December storms
“Last week the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced it will be increasing allocations for the State Water Project. In a press release, DWR Director Karla Nemeth said that December storms have allowed the Department to convey and store water in the San Luis Reservoir. Those storms and additional water have enabled a modest increase in deliveries. The State Water Project (SWP) allocation has been increased to 15 percent of requested supplies for 2022. ... ” Read more from Ag Net West here: State Water Project water allocation increased after December storms
In commentary today …
California’s wildfire warning and the action we need to take
Ashley Conrad-Saydah, partnerships lead at Vibrant Planet, a public-benefit corporation, and Hugh Safford, chief scientist at Vibrant Planet, writes, “When weather patterns and conditions develop that fuel extreme fire behavior, the National Weather Service issues what it calls a “Red Flag Warning.” In response, firefighters rapidly shift resources, beef up staffing and alert nearby communities. It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment to prepare for the worst – one we’ve become increasingly familiar with, even in winter months. Coming off yet another record wildfire year and what he’s called a “climate damn emergency,” Gov. Gavin Newsom this month issued the equivalent of a Red Flag Warning for California in 2022, proposing another $1.2 billion in forest health and fire protection initiatives. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: California’s wildfire warning and the action we need to take
How to stop Tahoe from turning into the Disneyland of wildfire country
Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos, a writer who lives in North Lake Tahoe, writes, “Mark Twain described Lake Tahoe as “a noble sheet of blue water lifted six thousand three hundred feet above the level of the seas.” This beautiful lake and its surrounding Sierra Nevada draw worldwide admirers. But over tourism, unfettered commercial growth into wildfire country and environmental carelessness are rapidly destroying the very qualities that make it special. Talk to most Tahoe Basin residents and they’ll tell you the legions of out-of-towners the past several years share much in common with kudzu, the vine that smothers most everything in its path. Not every visitor bears blame, but when tourists arrive by the tens of thousands, our small mountain communities feel besieged. … ” Continue reading at the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: How to stop Tahoe from turning into the Disneyland of wildfire country
In regional water news and commentary today …
Eureka sees record-setting temperature for time of year
“On Saturday, Eureka set a temperature record hitting 71 degrees. The previous heat record for Jan. 22 was set in 1968. The rest of the week will likely remain warm and dry, continuing the month’s trend, until Friday when there is a chance of rain. A normal January to date sees 4.88 inches of rain, but this month, there has only been 1.85 inches of precipitation, contributing to the state’s ongoing drought. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Eureka sees record-setting temperature for time of year
Crews continue cleanup of hazardous materials in Sacramento River and nearby creeks
“State officials expect to continue cleaning up a toxic fuel spill for the next two to three days, after about 4,000-gallons of the hazardous material flowed into the Sacramento River and tributaries on Friday, killing fish and coming in contact with other wildlife. A fuel a tanker truck flipped over on Pine Street, just north of Cypress Avenue in downtown Redding, spilling a toxic mixture of petroleum-based fuels, state and local officials said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: Crews continue cleanup of hazardous materials in Sacramento River and nearby creeks
SEE ALSO: Crews continue to clean up fuel spill in Sacramento River off Park Marina Drive, from KRCR
Solano supervisors to consider actions to stem sea rise
“A recent Caltrans report warns that nearly all of Highway 37 could be underwater by 2040 due in large part to rising sea levels. Solano County supervisors will hear a presentation Tuesday on the subject and consider a resolution in support of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s “Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay.” … “The Bay Area is one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places in the country. The risks of sea level rise, and resources necessary to address them, are unequal across the Bay Area. This is why all nine actions in the Joint Platform emphasize achieving equitable outcomes for the region. We also know our region’s wetlands are essential to our well-being – and also first at risk,” the executive summary of Bay Adapt states. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Solano supervisors to consider actions to stem sea rise
Bottlenose dolphins seen off Sonoma Coast part of closely watched northward push
“Stunning images of bottlenose dolphins leaping and surfing in heavy waves triggered by an underwater volcano earlier this month proved a surprise to some casual observers off the Sonoma Coast. “What? We have dolphins now?” was one question posed as photos of the pod cavorting at Salmon Creek Beach near Bodega Bay made the rounds. Yes, is the answer, but only over the past decade, as part of a closely watched shift in the range of near-shore dolphins long common to the warmer waters off Southern California and the border region of Mexico. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Bottlenose dolphins seen off Sonoma Coast part of closely watched northward push
SF meteorologist Drew Tuma never gets bored with Bay Area weather
“Each morning, Drew Tuma’s alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. “Do not hit snooze,” he said. “Everyone who’s worked this shift is just like, ‘Do not hit snooze. That’s the death of you.’” He gets up, showers, grabs a quick cup of coffee and is into work by 4 a.m. Then, it’s meetings, and by 5 a.m. he’s live on ABC7 telling Bay Area residents about the weather. At the beginning of this year, Tuma became KGO’s weekday weather anchor after Mike Nicco moved to the midday shift after 15 years. The early start can’t be an easy change for anyone, but the meteorologist with a million-watt smile is characteristically rosy about it. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: SF meteorologist Drew Tuma never gets bored with Bay Area weather
Tehachapi: Judge issues another extension in suit against city
“Kern County Superior Court Judge Kenneth C. Twisselman II on Jan. 20 issued another order extending the time for the administrative record to be certified in a case challenging the city of Tehachapi’s approval of the Sage Ranch development and other projects. The Sept. 16 lawsuit was filed by Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District. The foundation of the lawsuit is an allegation that the city failed to meet requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. The case will be decided based upon the administrative record, according to Tom Neisler, general manager of the water district. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News here: Judge issues another extension in suit against city
Report says Pasadena’s groundwater water needs to be “stabilized”; City seeks assurance of continued MWD supply
“Pasadena Water and Power will be reporting about the City’s Water Supply and Projected Water Use for the years 2025 through 2040 when they appear Tuesday at a meeting of the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee. A preliminary PWP report showed the presentation on Tuesday will focus on residential demand and regulatory drivers for water efficiency in new and existing residential projects. The report, from PWP Interim General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger, said the City continues to draw 30 to 40 percent of its water supply out of local groundwater from the Raymond Basin. The remainder of the water requirement is imported from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). … ” Read more from Pasadena Now here: Report says Pasadena’s groundwater water needs to be “stabilized”; City seeks assurance of continued MWD supply
Commentary: It’s time to reestablish the Pasadena Water Department
Tim Brick, who served on the Pasadena Utility Advisory Commission from 1979 to 1993 and represented Pasadena on the board of Directors of the Metropolitan Water District from 1985 to 2012, writes, “Pasadena needs to stop neglecting water. Since 1967 when the Pasadena Water Department (PWD) was swallowed up in a new consolidated Pasadena Water & Power Department (PWP), the water side has suffered. The results of that neglect are crippling, as is now apparent, and must be corrected for the sake of future generations. … ” Read the full commentary at Pasadena Now here: Commentary: It’s time to reestablish the Pasadena Water Department
Along the Colorado River …
Forecast projects 30-plus-foot drop in 2 years at Lake Mead
“Lake Mead’s water level is projected to drop more than 30 feet in the next two years, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority is urging people to continue conserving water. The Bureau of Reclamation released a 24-month forecast Jan. 12, which projects Lake Mead to drop to 1,035.09 feet of water. “Lake Mead is currently at 1067.16 feet,” wrote Michael Bernardo, deputy chief for the Boulder Canyon Operations Office, in an email. “The January 2021 most probable 24-month study … projects Lake Mead ending 2023 at 1,035.09 feet, a decline of 32.07 feet.” … ” Read more from the Boulder City Review here: Forecast projects 30-plus-foot drop in 2 years at Lake Mead
Low runoff continues to stress Colorado River Basin, Lake Powell facilities
“Continued declines in runoff into the Colorado River are forcing federal officials to alter releases from Glen Canyon Dam and leading to a year-long closure of the Dangling Rope Marina at Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. In a bid to keep the hydroelectric generating plant in the dam operational, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has adjusted the monthly releases from Lake Powell to hold back 350,000 acre-feet of water each month from January to April when inflows to the reservoir are low. The same amount of water will be sent downstream to Lake Mead between June and September after spring runoff, the agency said. … ” Read more from National Parks Traveler here: Low runoff continues to stress Colorado River Basin, Lake Powell facilities
In national water news today …
Supreme Court to review which wetlands get federal water protections
“The Supreme Court will review the question of which wetlands get protections under the Clean Water Act, a case with implications for water pollution and business operations. The court on Monday agreed to take up the question of what legal test should be used to determine whether certain wetlands are protected under the federal law. At issue is the case of Michael and Chantell Sackett, who, in 2007, started to build a home on a vacant lot that they own. The Sacketts had obtained local permits for the construction, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined at the time that the activity was a violation of the Clean Water Act because the lot contains wetlands that qualify for protections. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Supreme Court to review which wetlands get federal water protections
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In California water news this weekend …
Groundwater plans for Westlands Water District, three other areas, deemed “incomplete”- Westlands Water District responds to incomplete determination for Westside Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan
- Shasta Lake’s historic train tunnel is underwater once again
- Scientist says DWR is taking huge risks by increasing State Water Project allocations
- Study: Thousands of Californians may lack access to safe drinking water
- The tsunami that battered Santa Cruz highlights the threat facing California’s coast
- College scholarships offered for water industry education
- Fishing, swimming not advised where fuel reached Sacramento River, health officials say
- Valley Water extends comment period for Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project Draft Environmental Impact Report
- Column: North County sand war underscores San Diego’s long struggle to save beaches
- And more …
Click here to read the weekend edition.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Delta Conservancy Announces Delta Drought Response Pilot Program
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Agricultural water conservation & efficiency projects
NOTICE OF HEARING pertaining to imidacloprid product residue detections in groundwater
