DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: State gives thumbs down to most San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans; No rain for NorCal for next 14 days; Turlock ID, Modesto ID apply for more water rights during wet years; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

State gives thumbs down to most San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans

“Groundwater plans for eight “critically overdrafted” subbasins in the San Joaquin Valley were deemed incomplete by the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) on Friday.  Plans covering the Kern, Eastern San Joaquin, Merced, Chowchilla, Kings, Kaweah, Tulare Lake and Tule subbasins were all officially labeled as “incomplete” by DWR. On January 21, DWR also deemed four other groundwater plans incomplete, including Westlands Water District’s in western Fresno County.  In Kern County – where groundwater is being overdrafted by more than 324,000 acre feet a year, on average – DWR staff hit on the need for better coordination among the groundwater sustainability agencies. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: State gives thumbs down to most San Joaquin Valley groundwater plans

East Tule GSA receives incomplete rating from state

“As expected the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency received an incomplete rating from the State Department of Water Resources when it came to the agencies plan to meet the requirements of the Sustainability Groundwater Management Act.  Agencies from across the state have had to submit plans on how they will meet the requirements of the act, which requires the reduced use of groundwater. The ETGSA essentially covers Southeastern Tulare County.  On Friday the State Department of Water Resources submitted a letter to Tule River Watermaster David De Groot, who’s serving as point of contact for six groundwater sustainable plans for the San Joaquin Valley’s Tule Subbasin, which includes the ETGSA. De Groot didn’t return a phone call requesting a response on Friday. … ”  Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: East Tule GSA receives incomplete rating from state

Long-term forecast shows no rain in Northern California for at least 14 days

“There’s no rain in sight for Northern California.  UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain posted to Twitter on Thursday that the Global Ensemble Forecast System, a weather model that generates long-term weather predictions based on 21 separate forecasts, is showing what he says is the the single driest precipitation forecast he has personally ever seen during peak California wet season. “This suggests that virtually every individual GFS ensemble member is completely dry in NorCal for next 16 days,” wrote Swain on Thursday, noting that each of the separate forecasts shows dry conditions. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here: Long-term forecast shows no rain in Northern California for at least 14 days

Column: Stop asking when California’s drought will be over. Dry winters are the new normal

Columnist Marek Warszawski writes, “A month ago, when California received a record-breaking bounty of December rain and snow, headlines up and down the state asked different versions of the same hopeful question: Is the drought finally over? Now that we’ve reached the end of the driest recorded January in Fresno history — barely a trace of rain — and no meaningful precipitation in the February forecast, time to throw that entire premise out the window.  Because obviously, the drought isn’t over. ... ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Column: Stop asking when California’s drought will be over. Dry winters are the new normal

Environmental and Tribal coalition files comments on Sites Reservoir after deadly year for salmon

Dan Bacher writes, “A coalition of environmental and tribal groups, including Friends of the River, California Native Plant Society, AquAlliance and Save California Salmon, today submitted comments to the Sites Project Authority regarding the proposed Sites Reservoir, located in Colusa County on the west side of the Sacramento Valley.  The comments come after the California Water Commission voted unanimously on December 15, 2021 to move the $3 billion water storage project forward, despite more than 50,000 signatures of opposition gathered through a Save California Salmon petition. … According to the coalition’s comments, “the proposed Sites Reservoir Project would harm major California waterways, destroy critical habitat for sensitive species, and undermine California’s climate change efforts. The environmental groups urge Sites Reservoir proponents to gather more data to more accurately reflect the project’s impact.” … ”  Read more from the Daily Kos here: Environmental and Tribal coalition files comments on Sites Reservoir after deadly year for salmon

‘Save Our Water’ initiative encourages younger generation to spread the word

“With all the rain California received in December, the state is in a better place fighting the drought.  Water levels are higher, which means there is more rainwater being saved in the state’s reservoirs.  This in turn means there is more water to go around as the state distributes from this supply to local water districts, which here in Kern County helps our agriculture community.  However, officials said it does not mean we can let our guard down. … ”  Read more from Channel 23 here: ‘Save Our Water’ initiative encourages younger generation to spread the word

Water-sipping showers are the next luxury buy in a parched world

“Imagine taking a long, hot shower without wasting water and energy.  That’s the guilt-free promise of a recirculating shower, which continuously filters, sterilizes and reuses water that would otherwise go down the bathroom drain. The technology reduces water consumption up to 90% and energy use by 80% compared to a conventional shower, according to manufacturers of the devices.  “We are addressing two of the problems the world is facing, climate change and water shortages, without sacrificing the shower experience,” said Troels Grene, chief executive officer of Flow Loop, a Danish company that has developed a recirculating shower called the Eco Loop. … ”  Continue reading at Bloomberg here: Water-sipping showers are the next luxury buy in a parched world

‘The baton has been passed’: Newsom, local leaders could make or break infrastructure bill

“President Biden and Congress may have passed the law pouring more than $1 trillion into the nation’s infrastructure — but it’s what state governments like California do next that really matters.  State coffers are poised to get nearly $14 billion over the next five years through automatic funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act alone, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget, not including potentially billions more through grant programs still being crafted. But what the Newsom administration does next with the money remains to be determined, and could make or break the efficacy of the bill. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: ‘The baton has been passed’: Newsom, local leaders could make or break infrastructure bill

LAO Report: The 2022-23 Budget: Wildfire Response Proposals

“In this brief, we provide our initial assessment and recommendations in response to the major wildfire response-related proposals in the Governor’s budget, based on the information available at the time the brief was prepared.  Governor’s Budget Includes Several Major Wildfire Response-Related Proposals.  The Governor’s budget provides a total of more than $920 million (mostly from the General Fund) for various wildfire response-related proposals across multiple departments. We note that, in addition to these proposals, the Governor is proposing a wildfire and forest resilience package, along with several other smaller wildfire-related proposals. … ”  Read more from the LAO here: LAO Report: The 2022-23 Budget: Wildfire Response Proposals

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Commissioners say Klamath Basin communities still need water for dry wells, canal upkeep

“Commissioners in three counties in Oregon and California are trying to get water released from Upper Klamath Lake six weeks earlier than usual to refill water delivery canals in the basin’s network of canals, dikes and infrastructure known as the Klamath Project.  That would help refill about 300 domestic wells that are still dry in Klamath County after last summer’s drought. It would also slowly saturate the dry, cracked water canals that run through the City of Klamath Falls to prevent flooding if water is released too quickly this spring.  “Really what the plan would do is A: Provide the groundwater recharge that is critical to my community, and B: Do so in a way that does not put my community in danger,” says Derek DeGroot, vice chair of the Klamath County commissioners. … ”  Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: Commissioners say Klamath Basin communities still need water for dry wells, canal upkeep

Federal investment spurs push for private land restoration

“With $162 million headed to the Klamath Basin in the next five years for ecosystem restoration projects, money may no longer be the limiting factor in the push to make life easier for endangered species in the watershed. “This is as exciting of a time to be involved in restoration in this basin as there has been definitely since 2013,” said Adam Johnson, acting field supervisor for the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office. “We are really in a hopeful and great place as far as ecosystem restoration goes.” But the real hurdle, according to many people in the local restoration community, will be finding projects to spend all this money on. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here: Federal investment spurs push for private land restoration

When the dike broke

“On an afternoon in early June 2006, Upper Klamath Lake began to reclaim itself. An especially wet year had swelled its tributaries, and by late April the lake hit full pool above 4,143 feet in elevation. There was nowhere for the water to go but out. PacifiCorp crews observed cracks in a dike that separated Caledonia Marsh, a 2,000-acre cluster of wetlands-turned-farms on the western shore of the lake near Running Y Ranch, from the lake itself. Overwhelmed by the pressure of the lake, a chunk of the dike began to sink. By that evening, the farmland lay under four feet of water. The flooding was a serious nuisance: It closed adjacent Highway 140 and flooded several holes of the Running Y golf course. A farmer leasing 1,600 acres of the land lost a crop and some equipment. But as time wore on, it may have also provided a glimpse into the future restoration of Upper Klamath Lake. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here: When the dike broke

InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council will be new owners of 523 acres on the Mendocino coast via Save the Redwoods League partnership

“A 523-acre parcel of coastal conifer forest will now be permanently under the guardianship of the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, which represents 10 different tribal governments, and the place will be renamed Tc’ih-Léh-Dûñ, which means “fish run place” in the Sinkyone language.  The parcel was first purchased by Save the Redwoods League in July 2020 with funding from a PG&E mitigation program, and is located east of the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park and north of the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness, which is also owned by the Sinkyone Council. The property includes over a mile of Anderson Creek, which is a tributary of the South Fork of the Eel River, and is home to a number of protected species. ... ”  Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council will be new owners of 523 acres on the Mendocino coast via Save the Redwoods League partnership

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Butte County: Dry weather continues as rain eludes forecasts

“This past month has proven to be the second driest January on record for Butte County and there’s no rain in sight.  While last year brought a surprising amount of rain in October and December, 2022 is off to a difficult start for Northern California in terms of drought conditions.  Scott Rowe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office, said a Butte County weather monitoring station in Oroville showed little in the way of precipitation. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Butte County: Dry weather continues as rain eludes forecasts

Groundwater plan approved to help reduce climate change risks to NorCal’s water supply

“The south Sacramento Valley is at risk of seeing a groundwater deficit within the next 50 years. That’s according to predictive models run by the Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA).  The main culprit for the deficit is climate change. Rising global temperatures are altering large-scale weather patterns to the point where the rainy season in Northern California is becoming less consistent. Meanwhile, the region’s demand for water is increasing.  That’s exactly why the SGA and four other groundwater sustainability agencies in parts of Sutter, Placer and Sacramento counties developed a long-term plan to maintain the region’s groundwater supply for generations to come. … ”  Read more from KCRA here: Groundwater plan approved to help reduce climate change risks to NorCal’s water supply

NAPA/SONOMA

Napa County hasn’t shaken drought yet with dry January

“Napa County hopes for a big-time rain year to emphatically smash the deep, two-year drought have somewhat withered amid a mostly sunny, warm, dry January. More than 18 inches of rain fell at Napa State Hospital from the beginning of the rain year on Oct. 1 into early January. That huge head start made a drought-buster look at least possible.  Three bone-dry weeks later, reaching even the normal rainfall season total of 25 inches at Napa State Hospital looks questionable. Given the chances for big storms typically peter out after March, the next two months will tell the story. … ”  Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa County hasn’t shaken drought yet with dry January

BAY AREA

Extreme Bay Area weather pattern brings driest January on record

“Talk about a sharp turn in our weather pattern across the Bay Area. We went from record rain in October and December to now the driest January on record in San Jose. We’ve only seen a few sprinkles this month which now beats the old record of .01” in 2015. In fact, most Bay Area cities will rank in the top 10 driest January’s on record. This trend of extreme rain is caused by our changing climate and it’s known as “precipitation whiplash” . … ”  Read more from NBC Bay Area here:  Extreme Bay Area weather pattern brings driest January on record

Marin planners envision Tomales Bay sea-level barriers

“Marin County is proposing to test two sea-level rise defense projects on Tomales Bay to prevent the flooding of a vital evacuation route for more than 1,000 residents and wildlife habitats.  The two sites include Martinelli Park — best known by residents, visitors and photographers as the site of the S.S. Point Reyes shipwreck — near Inverness as well as the Audubon Canyon Ranch Cypress Grove wildlife preserve near Marshall. Given the sensitive habitat and popularity with the public along the 13-mile bay, the county plans to create natural barriers known as living shorelines as opposed to building seawalls. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin planners envision Tomales Bay sea-level barriers

How did a 184-foot shipwreck wind up grounded in the Carquinez Strait?

“There are always at least a few ships anchored out in San Francisco Bay, a reminder that shipping is and always has been a major part of this area’s economy. Today, those ships are full of consumer goods, wine and produce, but back in the day, San Francisco held a special place in the West Coast lumber trade. Our outgoing ships were full of wood.  Bay Curious listener Cameron Tobey loves learning about our area’s maritime history. He went to the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, works for a shipping company and comes from a long line of seafaring people. So, when the Martinez Historical Society posted on their Facebook page that a low tide would reveal the skeleton of a shipwreck off the coast of Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park, it’s no surprise that Cameron was eager to get a closer look.  “It just seems like a really random place for a ship to end up,” Cameron said. “What led to it ending up being shipwrecked out here?” … ”  Read more from KQED here:  How did a 184-foot shipwreck wind up grounded in the Carquinez Strait?

Greywater recycling system activated in San Francisco condominiums

“The architecture by award-winning firm Studio Gang, coupled with being located one block away from the Embarcadero with breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay, made MIRA SF one of the most desirable residential high rises in the city. It did not take long for MIRA SF to become occupied.  Aside from its appeal, MIRA SF, a 392-residence luxury condominium, has one of only two Greywater Recycling Systems permitted to operate by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). The G20R Aquacell system is capable of recycling up to 5,000 gallons per day of grey and rainwater, to be reused for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.  The Aquacell G20R Greywater & Rainwater Recycling System at MIRA SF is on the shortlist of permitted Greywater Recycling Systems in the city of San Francisco. … ”  Read more from Stormwater Solutions here: Greywater recycling system activated in San Francisco condominiums

Discount rain barrels promise big water savings — if we get more storms

“Emotions ran high at the big rain barrel sale that took place under sunny skies in San Carlos on Saturday, where hope was in greater supply than raindrops.  Hundreds of San Mateo County residents swung by a bayside parking lot to pick up nearly 400 of the 50-gallon barrels made of recycled plastic that they had reserved online at the discounted price of $30 apiece — including a $50 rebate — from the City/County Association of Government and its FlowstoBay.org clean water program. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Discount rain barrels promise big water savings — if we get more storms

Millbrae set to use Burlingame water during tank replacement

“Millbrae will get its water from a Burlingame reservoir while Millbrae replaces its own aging tanks, an agreement that will allow for uninterrupted water service without cost increases. The city is replacing two steel reservoirs designed to hold 1 million and 0.5 million gallons located just west of Interstate 280 with a single concrete tank with a 1.5-million-gallon capacity. The tanks were recommended for replacement in 2015 and the city broke ground on construction of the new tank early this year. “This is so we have water pressure and so we are protected in the event of an earthquake or fire,” Councilmember Ann Schneider said. … ”  Read more from the Daily Journal here: Millbrae set to use Burlingame water during tank replacement

Palo Alto: Council members propose selling some of the city’s water rights

“Palo Alto City Council is considering selling 1 million gallons of its daily water allocation, but environmental advocate Peter Drekmeier fears the water rights will be sold to Brisbane so a developer can build offices — worsening the region’s issues with too many jobs and not enough housing.  The idea of selling some of Palo Alto’s water rights to another city was presented in a memo by Councilwoman Alison Cormack and Mayor Pat Burt.  Council will discuss the idea, and whether to have a city planner spend three weeks exploring it, on Monday, Jan. 31. ... ”  Read more from the Daily Post here: Palo Alto: Council members propose selling some of the city’s water rights

CENTRAL COAST

Column: Recording one of the driest Januarys on record

Columnist John Lindsey writes, “At the end of last month, the plentiful rain and snow of December decreased the drought severity throughout California.  In fact, the U.S. Drought Monitor dropped the entire Central Coast to a moderate drought from a severe drought. The Drought Monitor map is updated weekly and is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Unfortunately, the Eastern Pacific High off the California coastline has locked the storm door to Central California for January. It has forced the upper-level winds and the storms they bring into the Pacific Northwest in a classic La Niña pattern. … ”  Read more from the Santa Ynez Valley News here: Column: Recording one of the driest Januarys on record

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Turlock Irrigation District, Modesto Irrigation District apply for more water rights during wet years

“For the first time since 1951, Turlock Irrigation District and Modesto Irrigation District filed a water rights application to divert water during years of ample rainfall — a much-needed adjustment as the region experiences increasingly variable wet weather.  Moments after MID directors approved their end of the application Tuesday morning, the TID Board did the same. The water rights application filed with the State Water Resources Control Board asks that unappropriated flood waters from the Tuolumne River be captured by the districts so that they can be put to beneficial use for customers, communities and the environment.  “Today, we are faced with challenges that we haven’t seen before. Climate change has significantly impacted precipitation and runoff, as you’ve seen in [TID hydrologist Olivia Cramer’s] reports over the years,” TID Assistant General Manager of Water Resources Tou Her told the board Tuesday. … ”  Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Turlock Irrigation District, Modesto Irrigation District apply for more water rights during wet years

Local water year has been a ‘roller coaster’ so far, with January second driest on record

“Has Bakersfield’s rainfall pattern been making you feel a little queasy?   “It’s been a roller coaster,” said Modesto Vasquez, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Hanford. The San Joaquin Valley’s so-called rainy season begins each year on Oct. 1. And this current season has certainly had its ups and downs. “You had a good start to the season in October,” Vasquez said. ... ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Local water year has been a ‘roller coaster’ so far, with January second driest on record

Editorial: December storms did not wash away drought

The Bakersfield Californian editorial board writes, “The heat of a wind-driven wildfire last weekend along the California coast, between Monterey and Big Sur, melted away dreams that the state’s persistent drought had ended. Threatening 200 homes and forcing the evacuation of more than 500 residents, the unusual winter-time wildfire should serve as a wake-up that record-breaking December storms were not enough to break California’s extreme drought and dry forest conditions. The storms brought snow to the mountains, partially filled reservoirs and nurtured the parched earth. But January — a traditionally “wet month” — has been dry. Predicting February and March will not be much better, meteorologists concede that it’s likely California will experience a third consecutive and extreme drought year. ... ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Editorial: December storms did not wash away drought

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Questions about lack of diversity and racial bias roil major California water supplier

“Less than a year after battling over the hiring of a new general manager, the board of California’s largest urban water agency remains deeply divided as members challenge each other over questions of diversity and racial bias.  A vote to appoint committee leaders for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California revealed stark divisions among board members this week, with some calling for more diversity among the appointees and others questioning whether Chairwoman Gloria Gray faced undue opposition over her picks because she is the agency’s first Black leader. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Questions about lack of diversity and racial bias roil major California water supplier

Eastern Municipal Water District receives $4.5M funding authorization for desalination program

“Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this month was awarded nearly $4.5 million by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to further expand EMWD’s groundwater desalination infrastructure.  EMWD has long been one of the most successful agencies in the nation at working with state and federal funding partners to secure external funding opportunities, helping to reduce the cost of infrastructure construction that would otherwise be paid for by customers.  The latest funding provides $4,496,000 for the completion of a study for future well sites and brine pipeline access improvements. … ”  Read more from ACWA Water News here: Eastern Municipal Water District receives $4.5M funding authorization for desalination program

Banning will strive diligently to educate water wasters

“In response to an emergency regulation adopted earlier this month by the State Water Resources Control Board that prohibits certain wasteful water use practices statewide and encourages citizens to more closely monitor their water usage and support conservation habits, Banning plans to be more diligent in its outreach to unsuspecting residents who may be wasting that resource.  “Our intent is not to fine water wasters, but educate them,” Public Works Director Art Vela told Banning’s city council at their Jan. 25 meeting. “Lots of waste is unintentional, that users are unaware of, and we just need to notify them,” he said, noting “Prohibitions are practices we should be implementing on a daily basis.” … ”  Read more from the Record Gazette here: Banning will strive diligently to educate water wasters

Newport Beach City Council continues investigation of alternatives to dredging disposal

“Discussion on the confined aquatic dredged disposal (CAD) site in Newport Harbor returned to the Newport Beach City Council dais again Tuesday, months after council members passed the plan.  The city first looked into the construction of such a disposal site in 2019 after mercury-tainted sediment was discovered near the turning basin.  The City Council voted in May for the construction of the disposal site — essentially, just a deep hole — in lower Newport Harbor to hold non-ocean quality sediment materials generated by an upcoming dredging project of the federal channels. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Newport Beach City Council continues investigation of alternatives to dredging disposal

SAN DIEGO

Commentary: Water may cost more now, but 30 years ago San Diego almost ran out

Gary Croucher, chair of the San Diego County Water Authority board of directors, writes, “There’s been a lot of talk lately about the cost of water — and that makes sense given the economic realities faced by many residents, farmers, and businesses. But it also seems that newer generations of San Diegans do not know that there was a time when we didn’t have water when and where we needed it.  Thankfully, that’s not a problem in San Diego County today even though elsewhere drought-stricken communities face the potential of only having enough water to meet basic health and safety needs. Due to investments that we’ve collectively made in seawater desalination, conserved water, reliable infrastructure, and increased storage capacity, the San Diego region has transformed its water supplies from highly insecure to some of the most reliable in the nation. ... ”  Read more from the Times of San Diego here: Water may cost more now, but 30 years ago San Diego almost ran out

Imperial Beach shoreline reopened the public

“The water contact closure for the Imperial Beach shoreline was lifted Saturday, county water authorities said.  The shoreline was closed on Jan. 22 when sewage runoff in the Tijuana River entered the Tijuana Estuary and contaminated ocean water. … ”  Read more from Fox 5 here: Imperial Beach shoreline reopened the public

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Along the Colorado River …

New plan lays out ways to protect Lake Powell from drought

“The framework for how Upper Colorado River Basin states will respond to low water levels at Lake Powell is now out for public review.  It’s called the Drought Response Operations Plan, which is part of the larger Drought Contingency Plan signed in 2019. These policies were put in place because of the troubling hydrology in the region.  The four Upper Basin states, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico, are working with federal agencies to keep Lake Powell above critical levels. The drought response plan is triggered when Lake Powell’s elevation hits 3,525 feet. Just 35 feet below that is the lowest water level that still allows the Glen Canyon Dam to generate hydropower. … ”  Read more from KUER here: New plan lays out ways to protect Lake Powell from drought

Commentary: Why don’t Arizona cities require residents to conserve water? It’s simple, really

Columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Why don’t cities mandate conservation measures if Arizona needs to save water?  This is a question I get frequently, and there’s a simple answer: Because we’re not at that stage yet.  That doesn’t mean saving water is unimportant. Cities can and should be doing more to help residents use less.  But there are reasons why Arizona cities aren’t yet forcing residents and businesses to save – and we can see them playing out in California. ... ”  Read more from Arizona Central here: Commentary: Why don’t Arizona cities require residents to conserve water? It’s simple, really

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In national water news this weekend …

Inside Stephen Breyer’s Clean Water Act legacy

“Halfway through a November 2019 argument in a blockbuster Clean Water Act case, Justice Stephen Breyer had an idea.  For nearly 30 minutes, the Supreme Court had been grappling with a complicated question: Does pollution that flows through groundwater on its way to navigable waters require a federal permit?  A lower court had said that it does — at least in the case of wastewater that had moved from a sewage facility in Maui County, Hawaii, traveled a short distance through porous lava rock and spewed into the Pacific Ocean.  The case, County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, had then advanced to the Supreme Court, where some legal observers expected the five-member conservative majority to substantially limit the reach of the Clean Water Act.  But in the midst of the argument, Breyer, a member of the court’s liberal wing, conceived of a test that eventually proved palatable to some of his Republican-appointed colleagues. … ”  Read more from E&E News here: Inside Stephen Breyer’s Clean Water Act legacy

The US is losing some of its biggest freshwater reserves

“Less than 3 percent of Earth is covered in freshwater. And while that percentage has remained pretty constant, population growth has not. Only 1 percent of freshwater is accessible to the 7.7 billion people and counting.   As concerns over water scarcity grow, research published in Nature recently documents how freshwater availability has changed over the years, helping water specialists and managers pinpoint how this essential resource’s flows have been changing. Xander Huggins, a PhD candidate at the University of Victoria and Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan, and his fellow researchers decided to explore what exactly these changes would mean for life here on Earth. … ”  Read more from Popular Science here: The US is losing some of its biggest freshwater reserves

Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

NOTICE: Certificate of Consistency filed for Yolo Bypass East Levee Project

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW Now Accepting Applications for the 2022 Proposition 1 Solicitation

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Public Comment Period Opens for Riverine Stewardship Grant Program

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Delta Science Fellows Program

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