On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC MEETING: Draft Water Use Efficiency CII Performance Measure Recommendations Workshop from 9am to 12pm. DWR is holding a public workshop to inform and solicit feedback on the remaining Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) Performance Measure Recommendations, as described in the Water Conservation Legislation, to be provided by DWR to the State Water Resources Control Board. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Wetland Responses to Restoration and Management from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Focusing on the Suisun Marsh and the north Delta, Dr. Durand will discuss a few different types of wetlands and management strategies, including restoration, managed and abandoned sites, and evaluate the responses of food webs and fishes. Dr. John Durand is a research scientist at UC Davis, studying estuarine food webs and fishes. He helps to run a long-term monitoring project, the Suisun Marsh Fish Study, which has been operational for over forty years, and other studies throughout the Delta. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Season snowfall totals have dropped since 1970 in the Sierra, but average precipitation has gone up
“Snow season in Northern California has always been characterized by starts and stops, but this season may have brought a little extra whiplash with a big storm in October, a dry November, record snowfall in December to end 2021 only to be followed by a near-record dry January. This region has seen similar extremes before, but because of climate change and resulting rising global temperatures, weather patterns are shifting to make these dramatic “dry to wet back to dry” periods more common. Tracers of this trend are showing up in climate data for the Sierra and the Western U.S. as a whole. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Season snowfall totals have dropped since 1970 in the Sierra, but average precipitation has gone up
Australian and Californian water laws – can we learn from one another?
“In most jurisdictions, water rights are the backbone of the framework that regulates the use and development of water resources. The role of water rights is especially important in areas of water scarcity. Australia and California are already experiencing the economic and ecological impacts of increased aridity and drought, with 90 per cent of California experiencing ‘extreme drought’ in 2021 and Australia having the distinction of the driest inhabited continent and the most variable rainfall. In this article, we describe the legal systems of Australia and California, and the impact their different approaches might have on litigation in the future. … ” Continue reading at Holding Redlich here: Australian and Californian water laws – can we learn from one another?
California needs to remove vineyards to become sustainable, report warns
“Silicon Valley Bank’s State of the US Wine Industry 2022 Report, which was published last week, has warned that although the light harvests in both 2020 and 2021 had brought the supply of grapes from California back into a “temporary balance”, there are too many vineyards to support sustainable farming levels in several regions. The report points to the low prices of grapes and bulk wine from California, which is hovering around the lowest levels for the last five years, suggesting that demand is low, given the two lower than average yields in 2020 and 2021. “Consumer demand is flat at best by volume,” the report states – “and the industry is not predicting any growth in consumption.” … ” Read more from Drinks Business here: California needs to remove vineyards to become sustainable, report warns
After snowy December, California suddenly turns dry, magnifying drought concern
“California is approximately halfway through what may be the most closely watched wet season in state history. A rainy October and snowy December brought some relief from the extensive, multiyear drought, but a vanishingly dry January portends continuing water challenges. Parts of central California have seen a record lack of precipitation so far this month. What happens in the weeks ahead will have huge implications for the summer dry season. Almost all of the precipitation that nourishes soil and fills reservoirs in the western United States falls from November through March. The amount that it rains and snows in these five crucial months has a substantial influence on a region home to tens of millions of people and billions of dollars of agricultural production. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: After snowy December, California suddenly turns dry, magnifying drought concern
What California’s drought could teach other states in the West
“The golden hills of California have turned green in recent weeks after a series of storms delivered much-needed rain and snow to a state suffering from two years of drought. But state officials and water policy experts are still urging caution even in these wet conditions, pushing for water-saving measures as the drought is expected to continue throughout much of the West. “Even with those rains and with that massive snowpack, the larger issues of drought in California are not resolved,” said Char Miller, a professor of environmental analysis at Pomona College in Claremont, California. “No one talks about water when it’s raining. We need to have the conversation now.” … ” Read more from Newsbreak here: What California’s drought could teach other states in the West
Radio show: Salmon swim in some Bay Area tributaries for first time in almost 20 years
“Endangered and rare forms of salmon are being spotted in surprising places around the Bay Area — some of which they haven’t visited in almost two decades. Chinook salmon were even seen in Oakland’s Lake Merritt last month; now coho salmon are swimming in the tiny tributaries of the San Geronimo Valley. The reason for this year’s sightings can be traced back to the heavy rains over the last several months, which timed well for these breeds’ spawning periods. But in the bigger picture, land development, climate change, overfishing and drought have all played a role in why we haven’t seen these fish in so long — and are part of the conversation on how we can work to keep them around in the future. We’ll answer your questions about the salmon currently swimming in the Bay Area.” Listen to the Forum radio show at KQED here: Radio show: Salmon swim in some Bay Area tributaries for first time in almost 20 years
Curtis Bent’s new book ‘Hangman’s Bridge’ is an insightful piece that brings forward the importance of the Delta and San Joaquin Valley
“Through a variety of activities ranging from pulling weeds in Delta asparagus and sugar beet fields to playing hang tag during a two-a-day summer football practices on Delta bridges, Curtis shares vivid experiences with the reader that the Delta and the San Joaquin Valley offer. All is not simply fun and games in Curtis’ rite of passage as he becomes aware of the profound impact that water holds on his family and the environment of the state of California. Through personal experiences, Curtis shares basic facts with the reader, such as the following: it takes five gallons of water for a walnut to reach market; a levee is reinforced with junked cars for eight miles to save the agricultural fields; or there is only one river in the U.S that has not been dammed, the Yellowstone. Through the supportive, enlivened narrative of his family, friends, and acquaintances, Curtis weaves a compelling story that includes his establishing a school for challenged youth. … ” Continue reading at the Digital Journal here: Curtis Bent’s new book ‘Hangman’s Bridge’ is an insightful piece that brings forward the importance of the Delta and San Joaquin Valley
Reclamation invests $1.6 million in nine technologies that focus on improving water desalination and treatment
“The Bureau of Reclamation chose nine recipients to receive $1.6 million in Desalination and Water Purification Research Program funding. This financial assistance will allow project sponsors to collaborate with Reclamation to design, construct, install and test their process. “Desalination can provide communities in the Western United States a new source of usable water,” said Chief Engineer David Raff. “Reclamation is seeking to make desalination more affordable, so it can be made available for use within more communities.” This two-stage pitch-to-pilot funding opportunity concluded this fall; applicants pitched their innovative and industry disruptive technology to desalination experts. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation invests $1.6 million in nine technologies that focus on improving water desalination and treatment
Ski resorts aim for more efficient snowmaking amid drought
“The sight can be jarring during extreme drought: snowmaking guns lined up on a mountainside, blasting precious crystal flakes on a ski run while the rest of the land goes thirsty. Snowpack in the U.S. West has decreased by about 20% in the last century, making man-made snow more vital each year to opening ski resorts and fueling ski town economies as they head into an uncertain future. As the effects of drought and climate change increasingly hit home, the ski industry has invested millions of dollars in more efficient snowmaking systems amid questions about whether the practice is a wise use of energy and water. … ” Read more from Yahoo News here: Ski resorts aim for more efficient snowmaking amid drought
2021 Wildlife Conservation Board Year In Review
“Our 2021 Year in Review (PDF) has been posted that highlights nearly $163 million in grants for 160 projects. The report also highlights some key projects and shows how we met and exceeded our Strategic Plan objectives. While 2021 again brought all of us challenges that seemed overwhelming at times, WCB continued to affect incredible conservation on the ground in coordination with our stakeholders and partners. We appreciate all your contributions and look forward to continued successes as we collectively meet conservation goals in 2022.” Read the review here: 2021 Wildlife Conservation Board Year In Review
‘Surreal’ California wildfire: Why expecting the unexpected is a crisis management best practice
“Although most crisis situations cannot be foreseen, some crises turn out to be even more of a surprise than others. The Colorado Fire that is now raging on California’s Central Coast is a good example. The Golden State’s latest emergency should serve as a reminder to all business leaders why expecting the unexpected is a crisis management best practice. The more you prepare for any crisis, the more likely it is you will be able to respond do it effectively, efficiently and strategically. As the New York Times reported today, “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. … ” Continue reading at Forbes here: ‘Surreal’ California wildfire: Why expecting the unexpected is a crisis management best practice
2021: Another historic Sierra Nevada fire season
“More than 1.5 million acres burned in the Sierra Nevada in 2021, a new record. It broke the previous record set in 2020. Roughly 2,800 structures were damaged or destroyed in the Sierra Nevada, including most of the towns of Greenville and Grizzly Flats. In the southern Sierra Nevada, the Windy and KNP Complex fires took down structures, threatened communities, and killed thousands of giant sequoias. More than 3,500 giant sequoias in 27 different groves are feared lost. Combined with last year’s destructive wildfires, an estimated 20 percent of these ancient, iconic trees are believed to have died. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: 2021: Another historic Sierra Nevada fire season
Maps can help save us from climate-fueled wildfires
” … In just two years, wildfires have destroyed nearly 4 million acres of California forest. Entire towns have burned. Modern mapping tools are beginning to help fire crews both tamp down these combustible events made more unwieldy by climate change and guide practices to improve forest health. CAL FIRE deployed new mapping strategies this year from Esri partner Technosylva, with both a predictive capability (to see where fires are sparking and might spread) and a tactical application (to track in real-time where trucks, dozers, field crews, helicopters, and other assets are at any moment on a shared map). … ” Read more from ESRI here: Maps can help save us from climate-fueled wildfires
Can $600 million in federal funds help CA heal from wildfires?
“Vice President Kamala Harris recently unveiled a $600 million plan to help California recover from wildfire. She says the aid is part of a $1 billion commitment from the federal government to help communities nationwide restore forests and repair damaged infrastructure. Within hours of the announcement last week in San Bernardino, the Colorado Fire broke out in Big Sur, shutting down parts of Highway 1 and forcing hundreds of evacuations in Monterey County, despite recent rain. As of noon today, it’s burned 1,000 acres and is 35% contained. … ” Read more from KCRW here: Can $600 million in federal funds help CA heal from wildfires?
In commentary today …
Climate change is killing California’s Chinook salmon. But there is a way to save them
Charlton (Chuck) H. Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Barry Thom, regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, write, “On returning home from the ocean, winter-run Chinook salmon pass under the Golden Gate Bridge before migrating up the Sacramento River to dig nests below Shasta Dam. Their last act before they die is to lay the eggs that hatch into the next generation and help the critically endangered species hang on. This year, most of those eggs succumbed to high water temperatures. The drought affecting California left Lake Shasta without enough water to cool the river below the dam and allow the eggs to survive the summer. River temperatures reached levels lethal to the eggs. … That’s why we need to move quickly to return the native California salmon to their original mountain home above Shasta Dam for the first time in almost 80 years. … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee here: Climate change is killing California’s Chinook salmon. But there is a way to save them
Today’s featured articles …
CA WATER COMMISSION: Update on the Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project (Big Notch)
Project set to start construction in May: DWR will seek Resolutions of Necessity
At the January meeting of the California Water Commission, the agenda included an informational briefing on the Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project, also known as the Big Notch. The project will create critical floodplain habitat for juvenile salmon and improve the migration corridor for adult anadromous fish between the Sacramento River, the floodplains of the Yolo Bypass, and the Delta.
Click here to read this article.
BLOG ROUND-UP: Will State Water Contractors support disclosure of forecast SWP operations?; Why no nature-based solutions for inland CA waters?; Why federal appropriations are a water thing; and more …
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
California redwood forest returned to native tribal group
“The descendants of Native American tribes on the Northern California coast are reclaiming a bit of their heritage that includes ancient redwoods that have stood since their ancestors walked the land. Save the Redwoods League planned to announce Tuesday that it is transferring more than 500 acres (202 hectares) on the Lost Coast to the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. The group of 10 tribes that have inhabited the area for thousands of years will be responsible for protecting the land dubbed Tc’ih-Léh-Dûñ, or “Fish Run Place,” in the Sinkyone language. Priscilla Hunter, chairwoman of the Sinkyone Council, said it’s fitting they will be caretakers of the land where her people were removed or forced to flee before the forest was largely stripped for timber. … ” Read more from AP News here: California redwood forest returned to native tribal group
SEE ALSO: ‘An important victory’: Native American tribes reclaim a redwood forest in Northern California, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Far-fetched dreams of Benbow Dam dashed; GSD seeks solutions to prepare for future droughts
“On December 25th, in a letter to the editor, former resident Ed Voice, admonished the community and the media for not keeping a more watchful eye on the Garberville Sanitary District (GSD). Of concern, according to Voice, is the request of GSD Board Chairperson, Doug Bryan, to the GSD staff to research the possibility of reinstalling the Benbow Dam on the South Fork of the Eel River. According to Voice, the district should be focused on reducing the 17 million gallons of water loss the district reported in 2020. The letter to the editor sparked both hope and fear that the dam could or would be reinstalled within the community. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Far-fetched dreams of Benbow Dam dashed; GSD seeks solutions to prepare for future droughts
BAY AREA
One of California’s richest cities could have its first big housing project in decades. Some locals are pushing back
” … For the first time in 33 years a developer is proposing to build a multifamily complex in Belvedere, which was deemed California’s richest city in 2020. The 42-unit, mixed-income Mallard Pointe development would replace the 22-apartment rental complex that currently exists on the 2.8-acre site. The development, owned by an affiliate of Thompson Dorfman Partners LLC, would include 19 homes fronting onto the lagoon as well as a 23-unit apartment building on the land side of the property. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: One of California’s richest cities could have its first big housing project in decades. Some locals are pushing back
Rising sea levels could submerge major Northern California highway, Caltrans report says
“California Highway 37, a narrow sliver of highway that serves as a major connector between Interstate 80 and Highway 101, could “become permanently submerged as sea levels rise if modifications are not made,” according to a report from Caltrans, the state transportation agency. Highway 37 is a popular route used by Sacramento drivers heading to the Napa and Sonoma wine country, as well as coastal retreats such as Dillon Beach, Bodega Bay and Point Reyes. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Rising sea levels could submerge major Northern California highway, Caltrans report says
San Rafael to spend pandemic aid on flood project
“San Rafael will use pandemic relief money to finance a $3.2 million rebuild of a pump station that helps prevent flooding in the city and on Interstate 580. Funds are short to replace the aging San Quentin pump station, which is situated off Shoreline Parkway behind Target and Home Depot, according to the city’s public works department. There is about $500,000 available from the city’s stormwater fee fund. Applications for a $2.4 million federal grant and a $1.5 million state grant to support the project were denied. The city is set to receive $16 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to be paid in two installments. Once a contractor is considered for the project, city staff will return to the council for approval to use the relief funding. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: San Rafael to spend pandemic aid on flood project
CENTRAL COAST
The fight to save Elkhorn Slough’s Olympia oysters
“In the past three years, thousands of Olympia oysters have been raised in a laboratory and planted in Elkhorn Slough in an ambitious effort to fend off local extinction. And the iconic creatures seem happy, hale and hearty in their new home. But they’re not making enough babies. The scientists working with the Olympia oysters, affectionately dubbed “Olys” — the West Coast’s only native species of oysters — are puzzled, particularly because the shellfish being placed in the muddy slough have a good survival rate compared with other oyster restoration sites. … ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: The fight to save Elkhorn Slough’s Olympia oysters
Pajaro Valley Water adopts AMP2022 for upcoming College Lake Project
“The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Board of Directors unanimously adopted the Adaptive Management Plan 2022 (AMP) and achieved a milestone in its commitment to manage College Lake under future College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project conditions. The adoption of the AMP satisfies two mitigation measures included in the Environmental Impact Report for the Project, and satisfies one of the terms and conditions included in the water right permit for the project, which the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) approved on December 7, 2021. In its adoption of the AMP, the Board expressed gratitude for the 13 members of the Ad Hoc Adaptive Management Plan Committee who, over the course of 2021, spent significant time reviewing studies and early drafts of the AMP, and providing input that added to and shaped the final document. … ” Continue reading at PV Water here: Pajaro Valley Water adopts AMP2022 for upcoming College Lake Project
Santa Barbara City Council to hear water supply report
“The Santa Barbara City Council will hear the 2021 water supply management report from the public works director as well as an update from the police department during its meeting today at 2 p.m. After the 2021 update, the public works director is set to move forward with contracts to assess the recycled water market for $67,300 and groundwater flow and storage for $59,730. The council will also hear a recommendation to authorize the library director to accept a $60,000 grant from the California State Library in federal Library Services and Technology Act funds. Additionally, the Council will be asked to authorize a $86,684 grant to the library director from Santa Barbara City College to fund an adult education program. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara News-Press here: Santa Barbara City Council to hear water supply report
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Manhattan Beach tries to re-create beach dunes to protect against erosion
“Southern California’s beaches were once dotted with dunes, a safe haven where birds nestled into plants and wildlife thrived. But in recent decades, homes were built, crowds flocked to beaches and the natural landscapes were replaced with groomed sand that made space for beach towels and easy strolls. But a restoration project that kicked off Friday in Manhattan Beach is one of several at local beaches that aim to revive robust habitat and set a path for the future as seas threaten to wash away one of Southern California’s most important recreational spaces. “At its heart, these pilot projects are demonstrations to see if this is a feasible means to combat climate change and increase coastal resiliency,” said Chris Enyart, a program manager with The Bay Foundation, a nonprofit that is spearheading several similar projects across the Santa Monica Bay watershed. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: Manhattan Beach tries to re-create beach dunes to protect against erosion
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Letters to the editor: Why encourage people to conserve water, then build thousands of new homes?
“In a recent Saturday edition (Jan. 15), there was an ad for “5 new home communities across the valley.” I viewed their website and determined that this would mean approximately 200 new homes. In the past I have read articles stating that tens of thousands of new homes will be built in the Coachella Valley. Considering that we are in a never-ending extreme drought situation, how are they to provide water for these new residents? … ” Continue reading at the Desert Sun here: Letters to the editor: Why encourage people to conserve water, then build thousands of new homes?
Rocky Mountain snow pack good for the Valley, pandemic not so good
“The water and electrical divisions of the Imperial Irrigation District presented positive and negative reports respectively to the IID Board at the Tuesday, Jan. 18, regular meeting. IID Water Manager Tina Shields gave a hydrology report about the recent, “nice little snowpack” brought by the recent storm. She said the Bureau of Reclamation had been having operational discussions of moving waters to Lake Powell to keep its water levels from falling below the minimum level necessary for the lake’s Glen Canyon Dam turbines to generate hydroelectricity. The snowpack will keep the water level high enough for the turbines to intake water for producing electricity. According to Shields, the IID and other Colorado River water users have bought themselves time for Lake Powell. For the lower Lake Mead, there was little impact as it mostly depends on water from Lake Powell releases. … ” Read more from the Desert Review here: Rocky Mountain snow pack good for the Valley, pandemic not so good
SAN DIEGO
Cliff top trains could race into tunnels to avoid rising seas
“More than 50 trains a day curve along the coast here, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean as they race from one beach city to another. But climate change is putting their tracks in peril. Beachfront bluffs in San Diego County are crumbling as waves from the rising ocean chew away at the base of cliffs. A regional planning group called the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is pushing to move the tracks to safer ground within a decade. That’s far faster than an earlier plan to do it by 2050 (Climatewire, Dec. 20, 2019). Flooding on the tracks has forced local authorities to stop or slow trains repeatedly (Climatewire, Dec. 2, 2019). SANDAG plans to install new sea walls to keep train passengers safe over the short term. But rising seas will eventually will make moving the tracks inevitable, said Hasan Ikhrata, SANDAG executive director. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Cliff top trains could race into tunnels to avoid rising seas
Camp Pendleton installs water guzzler for animal conservation
“As the world becomes more industrialized and the Californian countryside becomes increasingly crowded, habitats for many local animals are at greater risk from natural disasters and urbanization. To combat this threat, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton has developed several programs to safeguard the multitude of endangered species that call the base home. One such initiative is Camp Pendleton’s wildlife Water Guzzler Program. A water guzzler consists of a tub and bucket that collects water during the wet season and has a ramp for smaller animals to access it when natural water levels get low. Service members and civilians worked together to install Pendleton’s newest water guzzler near the X-Ray Impact Area, Jan. 15. … ” Read more from the Marines here: Camp Pendleton installs water guzzler for animal conservation
The U.S. Can’t control the Tijuana sewage faucet
“The United States and Mexico disagree on the source of a weeks-long sewage spill at the border, but an investigation into the cause demonstrated what those working on the border already know — the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego is in desperate need of repair. As of Friday, U.S. officials at the International Boundary and Water Commission — a binational agency that works on border water treaties — believed the millions of gallons of raw sewage that escaped the border wastewater system earlier this month came from a crack in a big concrete pipe in Mexico called the International Collector, which carries sewage from Tijuana wastewater mains to the U.S. treatment plant. (That pipeline is old and by now has surpassed its useful life, according to a 2019 report by the North American Development Bank.) … ” Continue reading at the Voice of San Diego here: The U.S. Can’t control the Tijuana sewage faucet
Along the Colorado River …
A shrinking river inspires growing collaboration
“Kathryn Sorensen and Bill Hasencamp are two experts on the lower Colorado River basin. As water users face steadily declining water levels in Lake Mead, we asked Sorenson, director of research at Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, and Hasencamp, who manages Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District, to tell us about the long-term outlook for the river and the millions of people who depend on it. Q: Where are we with shortages on the Colorado River? The first-ever shortage was announced in late summer of 2021, but California is not currently taking shortages. Could that change? Bill Hasencamp: The lower basin water users have worked collectively to avoid a shortage declaration for a long time. If not for our efforts, we would have been in shortage probably seven years ago. … ” Read more from the PPIC blog here: A shrinking river inspires growing collaboration
In national water news today …
Justices resolve to define what makes a wetland
“An Idaho couple persuaded the Supreme Court on Monday to wade into an argument nearly 20 years in the making over what constitutes wetlands that qualify as “navigable waters of the United States” subject to federal pollution rules. The dispute began in 2004 when Chantell and Michael Sackett bought a soggy residential lot just 300 feet away from, but not outright connected to, Priest Lake, one of Idaho’s largest and most tourist-trafficked waters. While the Sacketts had planned to build a home there, a lengthy regulatory battle has kept those blueprints in knots. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Justices resolve to define what makes a wetland
Graves and Rouzer Call for Biden Administration to halt WOTUS rulemaking while Supreme Court considers case
“Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member David Rouzer (R-NC) released the following joint statement regarding the Supreme Court of the United States’ announcement that it will consider a case focused on the scope of the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS): “We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to hear this case involving the scope of ‘waters of the United States’ and the opportunity it presents to provide certainty to the communities and stakeholders who have to live and work under this rule. Given this significant development, the Biden administration should immediately cease its efforts to issue a new WOTUS definition rule that will greatly broaden the federal government’s jurisdiction over privately owned land and add layers of red tape for farmers, builders, small businesses, local governments, and many Americans.”Graves and Rouzer also recently wrote to the heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to request an extension of at least 90 days to the current public comment period for the administration’s rulemaking.
SEE ALSO:
- SCOTUS to hear WOTUS case, from Farm Progress
- High Court Drops ‘Earthquake’ on Federal Water Protections, from Bloomberg Law
- Supreme Court tees up wetlands fight that could cuff EPA, from E&E News
Harris touts removal and replacement of lead pipes funded by infrastructure law
“Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday visited Wisconsin to tout how the bipartisan infrastructure law passed last year is enabling authorities to improve drinking water by removing lead pipes, saying such action is a “moral imperative.” Speaking at a nonprofit in Milwaukee, Harris highlighted the $15 billion from the infrastructure measure that will fund the removal and replacement of all lead pipes nationwide within a decade. The Environmental Protection Agency has already announced the release of $3 billion that will allow states to begin the work, Harris said. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Harris touts removal and replacement of lead pipes funded by infrastructure law
EPA seeks to avoid ‘recipe for fraud’ on infrastructure spending
“The EPA is creating a new program to make sure the $50 billion it got in the bipartisan infrastructure package isn’t frittered away or misused, according to the official responsible for overseeing how it’s spent. The new program from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer is an “agency-wide program integrity framework” that addresses risk management, internal controls, and payment integrity, Zealan Hoover, senior adviser to Administrator Michael Regan, told Bloomberg Law. The effort could help allay concerns from the EPA’s internal watchdog about the agency’s ability to manage the unprecedented sums it got in the bipartisan infrastructure package. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: EPA seeks to avoid ‘recipe for fraud’ on infrastructure spending
Precipitation watch …
Dr. Michael Anderson, California’s State Climatologist, releases forecast updates during the wet season providing a brief overview of the most recent storm impacts, upcoming precipitation forecasts, and outlooks for the coming month.
20220125_WeekAheadForecast
