On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Peer Review Committee meets from 9am to 3pm. Agenda items include discussion of FY 2021 proposal scoring, peer review committee vacancies, and agenda items for next meeting. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: The Planning & Conservation League’s Environmental Assembly Meeting begins today at 10am. Panel discussions on Updating water laws in the face of droughts/climate change, and Getting to cabron neutral: What is the cost? Click here to register.
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Proposition 1 – Round 2 IRWM Implementation – Central California from 10am to 12pm. DWR is hosting a virtual public workshops regarding the Draft Grant Solicitation materials for Proposition 1 – Round 2 IRWM Implementation Grant Program. The draft Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) were released on December 10, 2021 and will be open for public comment until Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: From Engagement to Empowerment – Perfecting Water Conservation and Customer Experience with Digital Platforms from 12pm to 1:30pm. Hear from data experts at Moulton Niguel Water District and Smart Energy Water talk about the new digital, intelligent technologies that transform the utility-customer relationship. How do we build the ecosystem that empowers each player to do its part and help create a water-secure future? How do we leverage the data tide to course-correct the customer experience strategy? Join the session and find answers, gain insights from your peers, and take home actionable next steps for your digital journey. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Yolo Flyway Nights: Motus Wildlife Tracking System Network for the West from 7pm to 9pm. Building on the success of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System Network in the east, we promoted the expansion of this technology to meet pressing information needs for western birds and other wildlife to inform conservation actions within the next decade. This presentation will talk about the Partners in Flight Western Working Group’s Motus initiative, our progress to date, and ways that people can help build the Motus network in the west. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Kings Co. town denies massive Sandridge water pipeline will move wastewater
“The legal battle between Kings County’s largest farming and water giant and a local water district surrounding the construction of a massive, underground water pipeline has taken another twist. The battle between Tulare Lake Canal Company and Sandridge Partners, led by John Vidovich, began last week when the water agency sued Sandridge to halt construction on its pipeline project over its encroachment – and eventual trenching under – its eponymous canal. … In the filing, Sandridge claimed the project was aimed at installing piping to move water for agricultural and commercial uses. The company also said it was installing a “sleeve” for use by the community of Stratford to “remove sewage from the City and transport it to land owned by [Sandridge Partners and Roller Land Company].” That admission was news to the unincorporated community. ... ” Read the full article at the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Kings Co. town denies massive Sandridge water pipeline will move wastewater
Amid snow and ice declines, what happens to Sierra lakes in the winter?
“How small mountain lakes spend their winters is largely unknown to scientists, despite winter representing nearly half the year in such environments. A study by the University of California, Davis, helps demystify what happens above and below the ice. The study, published in a special issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, is the first to look at ice cover and under-ice conditions in small Sierra Nevada lakes, which number in the thousands. Such baseline knowledge is critical for understanding how high-elevation lakes respond to climate change and to the loss of ice and snow. Despite heavy snowfall this winter, climate projections estimate the Sierra snowpack could drastically shrink or even disappear by 2100. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Amid snow and ice declines, what happens to Sierra lakes in the winter?
Snow shuts off in West as drought recovery hopes dim
“Winter whiplash has hit California and the West. Doused in epic snow and rain in December, the region has just experienced one of the driest Januaries on record in many locations, and there are no storms in sight for at least the first half of February. The weeks-long dry spell, in the midst of what should be the wettest two months of the year, is dashing hopes of meaningful drought recovery this winter. Water-year surpluses are sliding into deficits, and fire danger is on the rise in California. The reversal may soon emerge in drought maps. “As the West moves into the second half of its winter wet season, a return to stormy weather will be needed to sustain the drought improvement that occurred during October and December,” said last week’s U.S. Drought Monitor report. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Snow shuts off in West as drought recovery hopes dim
SEE ALSO: 17 feet of snow sparked hope for quelling California’s drought. Then precipitation ‘flatlined’ in January, from CNN
Organizer give up on water initiative; look to 2024
“Those who support a policy in which the state would have to spend two percent of its budget to meet its water needs will have to wait until 2024. On Tuesday, the More Water Now Campaign which has been backing The Water Infrastructure Funding Act of 2022 to be placed on the November ballot announced it’s ending its effort to qualify the initiative for the November election. The campaign stated it hasn’t been able to raise enough funds for the effort to require the 1 million signatures to qualify for the November ballot. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Organizer give up on water initiative; look to 2024
Republican Senators Nielsen and Borgeas introduce bill to fund critical water infrastructure projects
“Senators Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) and Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) today announced they have introduced Senate Bill 890 to ensure millions of acre-feet of water is stored during wet years instead of being flushed out to sea. “In 2014, California voters approved funding to build large, aboveground water storage,” said Senator Nielsen. “Because of bureaucratic red tape and a lack of sufficient funds due to increasing costs, we haven’t even turned a shovel on Sites Reservoir. That’s unconscionable. We have the money to fully fund that reservoir and now’s the time to do it.” … ” Read more from the OC Breeze here: Republican Senators Nielsen and Borgeas introduce bill to fund critical water infrastructure projects
State kicks back local Valley groundwater plans, may intervene
“Local water agencies will spend the next six months reworking plans to stop groundwater levels from dropping after the state determined they were incomplete. On Jan. 28, the Department of Water Resources released determinations on eight Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) in the Valley saying they contained deficiencies which precluded the state from approving the plans. The GSPs are plans to bring groundwater subbasins into balance by 2040 under the state’s groundbreaking Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. The plans were submitted in 2020 by Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) comprised of community, municipal and agricultural water agencies who must implement and enforce the plans or risk having the state step in and take away local control. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: State kicks back local Valley groundwater plans, may intervene
Story Map: The Great Central Valley is key to 30 by 30 success
“In California, the Natural Resources Agency is charged with developing a unified approach to conserving biodiversity and promoting climate resilience. The two primary efforts are the Pathways to 30×30 strategy and the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. These complementary efforts aim to use nature-based solutions to address climate change and promote biodiversity, while advancing equitable access to parks and nature’s multiple benefits, through the conservation of California’s lands and waters. The Central Valley will play a key role in the successful implementation of both strategies. … ” View Story Map by Audubon California, Point Blue Conservation Science, and the Nature Conservancy here: The Great Central Valley is key to 30 by 30 success
SEE ALSO: Road to 30 Postcards: Storied from America’s Land and Waters
Building capacity for a resilient Sierra Nevada
“Over the last few years, the Sierra Nevada region has witnessed severe wildfire, drought, tree mortality, and extreme weather, which threaten our communities, economies, and ecosystems. In response, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) advances wildfire- and forest-resilience strategies that restore landscapes and reduce risk to communities. But in a vast, predominantly rural region, staff and organizational capacity remain a barrier to implement these strategies at an increased pace and scale. We need all hands on deck, and we need those hands to be equipped with the right tools and knowledge. The SNC’s WIP Capacity Program works to ensure that partner organizations across the Sierra Nevada have the skills, experience, and staff needed to develop, plan, and implement high-impact, forest-restoration and fire-resilience projects. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Building capacity for a resilient Sierra Nevada
In commentary today …
Comparative stats of ag and water use strikes a nerve
Kathleen Arambula-Reyna, a professor of political science for Madera Community College, writes, “We hear ad nauseum that agriculture accounts for 80% of water usage in California yet only contributes 2% to the state’s economy. It’s a comparative statistic used to bring attention to this apparent lack of equity and efficiency. The incredibly disproportionate figures are frequently used to generate outrage, in hopes to bring change in California’s long embattled water policy. Using this comparison as a measure of the worth for agriculture in California, particularly for a Central Valley resident, strikes a nerve. It’s a one-dimensional, inequitable and short-sighted lens by which to view the complex issue of water in our state. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Comparative stats of ag and water use strikes a nerve
Today’s featured articles …
DELTA COUNCIL: Consistency determination for the Lookout Slough Project appealed – again
The Department of Water Resources filed its Certification of Consistency for the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project on December 30, 2021, finding that the project is consistent with the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan. On January 31st, appeals were filed by Liberty Island Access and Solano County Water Agency.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, the Department of Water Resources first filed its Certification of Consistency for the Lookout Slough project previously in spring of 2021; the certification was subsequently appealed by Liberty Island Access, Solano County Water Agency, Reclamation District 2060 & Reclamation District 2068, and the Central Delta Water Agency. Portions of the appeal, largely those regarding public access and recreational opportunities, were upheld and the project was remanded to the Department of Water Resources for reconsideration in July of 2021. So, the Department of Water Resources has regrouped and submitted a new Certification of Consistency.
Click here to read this article.
WEBINAR: How do you run a Groundwater Sustainability Agency ?– A Review of Choices made by Critically Overdrafted Subbasins
On February 1st, 2022 Maven’s Notebook, the Groundwater Exchange, and the Local Government Commission hosted a webinar entitled: How do you run a Groundwater Sustainability Agency ?– A Review of Choices made by Critically Overdrafted Subbasins.
Laura Ramos and Sarge Green from Fresno State discussed the key findings and recommendations of the newly released SGMA Governance Strategies Summary Report. If you missed the webinar, check out the recording to learn about the methodology and resources shared, along with the question and answer session.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Commentary: Deficiencies of the “Interim Operations Plan” for the Klamath Project
Klamath Water Users Association writes, ” This paper outlines technical deficiencies of the “Interim Operations Plan” for the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) operation of the Klamath Project. … The 2020 biological assessment, as modified, constitutes the Interim Operations Plan (IOP). Implementation of the IOP in 2020 and 2021 demonstrated that the assumed hydrologic outcomes of the IOP are routinely unachievable, with required river flows conflicting with required lake levels and as a result, anticipated irrigation supplies proving elusory. All indications so far are that 2022 will play out similarly, with the lake levels and river flows that diverge from the assumed hydrologic outcomes of the IOP, and irrigation supplies likely to be cut as a result. The IOP has proven effectively impossible to carry out. To simply extend it would be poor policy. … ” Read more from the Klamath Water Users Association here: Commentary: Deficiencies of the “Interim Operations Plan” for the Klamath Project
Parched January could lead to river closures
“North Coast river levels have fallen from their December glory after an extremely dry January. And February, at least through the first couple weeks, isn’t looking much better. This extended dry period could lead to fishing closures on several North Coast rivers. Back in December, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to extend low-flow closures through April 30 from the previous closure date of Jan. 31. Rivers that are regulated by low flow closures include the Eel, Mad, Mattole, Redwood Creek, Smith and Van Duzen rivers. Of these, the South Fork Eel, Mattole, Redwood Creek, and the Van Duzen could close in the next week or so. … ” Read more from the North Coast Journal here: Parched January could lead to river closures
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe Fund seeking applications for 2022 projects
“The Tahoe Fund is currently seeking to collaborate with organizations to develop Signature and Premier Projects with fundraising goals of $5,000-$1,000,000 that align with the following program areas: Forest Health: The goal is to fund innovative solutions that will increase the pace and scale of forest restoration in the Tahoe Basin. Lake Clarity/Water Quality/Lake Health: The goal is to complement and support key stakeholders’ efforts to improve lake clarity, water quality, and lake health. They are particularly interested in projects with a focus on aquatic invasive species, near shore water quality, and Upper Truckee watershed restoration. ... ” Continue reading from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Tahoe Fund seeking applications for 2022 projects
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
The California water rights system is ready for 2022
“With the water year so far having both the wettest and driest months we have seen in recent time, water resources managers in the Sacramento Valley are working hard in the face of this uncertainty to prepare for this year. The Sacramento Valley depends upon an orderly water rights priority system in California to serve multiple benefits in the region and we appreciate the State Water Board’s efforts to implement this system through emergency regulations it adopted on August 20, 2021. Importantly, these regulations are already in place for 2022 and the State Water Board updates the curtailment notices every week based on current hydrology and the unavailability of natural flows throughout the Bay-Delta watershed, including the Sacramento Valley. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: The California water rights system is ready for 2022
NAPA/SONOMA
Fish Friendly Farming Certification Program hits Silver Level benchmark in sustainability
“Upon recent review by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform, the Fish Friendly Farming Certification Program has officially enrolled a majority of the vineyards in Napa County and achieved a “Silver Level” certification. The SAI Platform — a global third-party organization — reviews how farms handle concerns like supply-chain issues, working conditions, animal welfare, legal compliance, community-building and climate resilience using its Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) benchmark. After assessing the Fish Friendly Farming (FFF) Certification Program’s impact in Northern California, SAI Platform deemed the 200,000 acres of FFF-enrolled land in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties on-par with their principles. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Fish Friendly Farming Certification Program hits Silver Level benchmark in sustainability
Petaluma’s Past: California’s disastrous ‘megaflood’
“Global warming is upon us now and the weather has been a big topic over the last few years, but the worst winter storms in all of California’s history hit 161 years ago, as an incredible 6 feet of rain fell in just 43 days. The historic floods of the winter of 1861-62 were unprecedented. They were described by The Petaluma Argus as “devastating and ruinous,“ pointing out that it was then “impossible to approximate the number of lives lost.” Speaking of that, the American Civil War had begun in 1861. Abraham Lincoln had been president for only a few months, California had been a state for just 11 years and Petaluma had been franchised for only three years at the time. ... ” Read more from the Petaluma Argus-Courier here: Petaluma’s Past: California’s disastrous ‘megaflood’
BAY AREA
Marin utility approves studies on water pipeline, supply
“After facing the threat of depleting its reservoirs last year, the Marin Municipal Water District has allocated nearly $1.4 million for two studies to look into new sources of water. One study will assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposed 8-mile emergency pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge that would be able to pump in purchased Sacramento Valley water. The study is estimated to cost $998,000 and will take 12 to 14 months to complete. The second study will review the costs and benefits of a variety of new water sources the district could pursue. Some of the options include desalination, raising dams, the pipeline, groundwater banking and expanding the recycled water system. This $400,000 study will include at least three public workshops and is expected to be completed in late June or early July. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin utility approves studies on water pipeline, supply
Editorial: San Rafael pump project is good housekeeping
The Marin Independent Journal writes, “Granted, it is not the most glamorous civic project. Of course, when there is the threat of flooding, having a well-functioning stormwater pump station ready to run looks pretty attractive. In a civic housekeeping move, San Rafael city staff is proposing the city earmark a slice of its federal pandemic-relief grant for the long-planned $3.2 million rebuild of its aging pump station off Shoreline Parkway, behind the Target and Home Depot stores. In short, the city is spending one-time money on a one-time need. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Editorial: San Rafael pump project is good housekeeping
This S.F. Bay Area city just had its driest January on record
“Last month was among the driest Januaries on record, according to data collected in cities across the Bay Area, with one South Bay city recording an almost immeasurably small amount of precipitation. The uniquely dry start to 2022 is expected to continue, according to National Weather Service meteorologists, with little chance of rain expected until mid-February. NWS Meteorologist Sarah McCorkle said January’s rainfall figures were a troubling inverse of the region’s wet start to its water year, which begins Oct. 1 and lasts through Sept. 30. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: This S.F. Bay Area city just had its driest January on record
Sea otters in San Francisco?
“Ever since the 1930s, when an improbable remnant colony of sea otters was discovered off the rugged Big Sur coast after more than a century of intensive fur hunting, Californians have worked to bring the animals back from the edge of extinction. Their numbers have grown from around 50 individuals to a little under 3,000, where the population has hovered for some years, remaining threatened under the Endangered Species Protection Act. While the otters no longer face imminent extinction, a growing movement to bring them back to northern California waters could spell revitalization not just for these furry mammals but for entire communities of life—our own included, as Californians collectively look toward coastal ecosystems for climate solutions. … ” Read more from Bay Nature here: Sea otters in San Francisco?
Regional capture project aims to clean, reuse & recharge storm water
“The city of South San Francisco is constructing a regional storm water capture project that is the first of its kind in northern California. The project captures storm water runoff from Colma Creek, processes and cleans it, reuses it for irrigation and to recharge groundwater, and then returns the water to its path to the San Francisco Bay. The system will clean water for trash, sediment, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), the latter two of which can cause adverse health effects. The project was generated in response to regional planning requiring a reduction in mercury and PCBs in storm water runoff flowing to the Bay. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) made it feasible through a $15.5 million Cooperative Implementation Agreement. ... ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions here: Regional capture project aims to clean, reuse & recharge storm water
CENTRAL COAST
A flutter of magical hope on the Central Coast, as monarch butterflies return
“There was the distinctive noise of something falling. Plop. Plop. Plop. It was the sound of pairs of monarch butterflies hitting the ground. Mating season, which sometimes involves the male monarch hurtling the female from canopy to earth, had come early. In a small eucalyptus grove at the end of a housing tract, it was raining butterflies. One pair landed next to a black Labrador stretched out in dappled sun. The dog wiggled to her feet. “Careful, Shilo! Don’t step on the butterflies,” called her owner, Nate Everitt, who lives nearby and volunteers in the Coastal Access Monarch Butterfly Preserve in Los Osos. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: A flutter of magical hope on the Central Coast, as monarch butterflies return
Report: 32 million pounds of toxic pesticides sprayed on Ventura County fields from 2015 to 2020
““Ventura County, Calif.,” began a feature story in The Washington Post in August 2015, “is the absolute most desirable place to live in America.” The article was grounded in county-level rankings from an official government index that combined “six measures of climate, topography, and water area that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer.” But the Post’s laudatory story didn’t consider another important measure: pesticide exposures. Today, from Oxnard to Ojai, people in Ventura County live, work and go to school next to farm fields sprayed with some of the most toxic pesticides used in agriculture. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group here: Report: 32 million pounds of toxic pesticides sprayed on Ventura County fields from 2015 to 2020
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto area got zero rain in January. Are we still in an above-average winter?
“January brought zero rain to the Modesto area, after a two-month stretch with abundant storms. This whipsaw of a winter still has about two months left, so California has a chance of easing its two-year drought. The downtown gauge of the Modesto Irrigation District last got rain Dec. 29, when it recorded 0.09 inches. The season total had reached nearly 9 inches by that point. An average storm season brings 12.14 inches, mainly from November through March. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Modesto area got zero rain in January. Are we still in an above-average winter?
One project finished, two to go in efforts to restore salmon habitat on Merced River
“Officials from the Merced Irrigation District announced this week that a salmon habitat restoration project is done, one of three projects meant to help the salmon runs along the Merced River. The Merced River Instream and Off Channel Habitat Restoration Project brought the total amount of restored river to one and and three quarters of a mile, up from the previous restored river habitat of one and a quarter miles. The project also restored more than seven acres of riparian and upland habitat along the Merced River, enhanced 1.7 acres of salmon spawning habitat, 3.9 acres of seasonally inundated juvenile rearing habitat and 13 acres of the Merced River channel, according to a press release from the Merced Irrigation District. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: One project finished, two to go in efforts to restore salmon habitat on Merced River
Invasive species endangers boaters in San Joaquin River
“An invasive plant species is taking over the Central Valley’s waterways, posing a danger to people recreating in rivers. The species in question is a weed called water hyacinth. The California Division of Boating and Waterways says it’s native to the Amazon Basin in South America. It has bright green petal-like leaves and showy purple flowers that make it a popular ornament in fish tanks and isolated ponds. But from there, it’s expanded, and accidental releases have brought it to nearly every corner of the globe. … ” Read more from Fox 26 here: Invasive species endangers boaters in San Joaquin River
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Documenting Los Angeles’s unlikely urban fishermen
“It’s hard to imagine there was ever a time when the Los Angeles River was wild and free flowing, flanked by thick reed forests and full of steelhead trout — instead of clad in concrete and sandwiched between swollen expressways and freight-train tracks. … Following a catastrophic flood in 1938 that destroyed thousands of homes and killed almost 100 people, the Army Corps of Engineers decided that the best solution was to channelize 278 miles of the river and its tributaries — including the 51-mile stretch from Canoga Park to Long Beach — with concrete embankments. … But tucked in a little corner of Los Angeles, underneath the intersection of two highways, lies a neighborhood known as Frogtown — along with a small and lush section of the Los Angeles River. … ” Read the full article at the New York Times here: Documenting Los Angeles’s unlikely urban fishermen
Fight over controversial Huntington Beach desal project enters final lap in March
“A 20-year fight over the Poseidon Water company’s contested Huntington Beach desalination proposal will enter its last lap on March 17, the day the California Coastal Commission is set to hear it in what could be the project’s final regulatory hurdle. Official word on the hearing date came to Voice of OC in a concise Tuesday night email from commission spokesperson Noaki Schwartz: “Hearing will be March 17.” Proponents argue Poseidon’s $1 billion project would provide a drought-proof source of local water as the effects of climate change worsen, while also creating construction and operating jobs. … ” Read more from the Voice of the OC here: Fight over controversial Huntington Beach desal project enters final lap in March
Pomona water contamination verdict upheld
“The city of Pomona, California won its 10-year lawsuit against the U.S. subsidiary of a Chilean fertilizer manufacturer for contaminating the city’s drinking water in a ruling on Sept. 7. On Jan. 27, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner denied the request for a new trial brought by the defendant, a U.S. subsidiary of Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile, also known as SQM North America Inc, reported The Daily Bulletin. The defendant sold Chilean fertilizer used in the area’s citrus orchards, which contained the toxic chemical perchlorate. The jury found fertilizer shipped from the Atacama Desert of Chile in the 1930s and 1940s and mixed into the soil of Pomona’s fertile ground. … ” Read more from Water Quality Products here: Pomona water contamination verdict upheld
Irvine Ranch Water District builds resilience by going local
“The “go local” movement is in vogue. Just look at a grocery store. Crafty signs often tout fruits and vegetables as “locally grown” – a nod to the importance and sustainability of local products. In Irvine, the “go local” movement extends beyond food – it’s the foundation of a resilient and sustainable water supply, as well. “Local sources of water are important elements for ensuring a safe and reliable supply of water to our customers,” says Irvine Ranch Water District General Manager Paul Cook. “We have a long history of investing in new and drought-proof sources of water. Combining these investments with our customers doing a great job using water wisely, IRWD is able to fully meet the water needs of our community.” ... ” Read more from the Irvine Standard here: Irvine Ranch Water District builds resilience by going local
Los Angeles’ long, troubled history with urban oil drilling is nearing an end after years of health concerns
“Los Angeles had oil wells pumping in its neighborhoods when Hollywood was in its infancy, and thousands of active wells still dot the city. These wells can emit toxic chemicals such as benzene and other irritants into the air, often just feet from homes, schools and parks. But now, after nearly a decade of community organizing and studies demonstrating the adverse health impacts on people living nearby, Los Angeles’ long history with urban drilling is nearing an end. In a unanimous vote on Jan. 26, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council took the first step toward phasing out all oil and gas extraction in the city by declaring oil extraction a nonconforming land use. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: Los Angeles’ long, troubled history with urban oil drilling is nearing an end after years of health concerns
SAN DIEGO
East County Advanced Water Purification Program uses virtual reality video for outreach
“The joint powers agency creating the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Program is using a new virtual reality video to inform local citizens about the project as it moves toward construction. The program that has been in the planning stages since 2014 will take sewage from a large swath of East County that’s now being pumped to Point Loma’s sewage treatment plant, and run it through an extensive, four-phase purification process in Santee before it’s pumped to Lake Jennings, where it will be distributed as drinking water. ... ” Read more from the East County Times here: East County Advanced Water Purification Program uses virtual reality video for outreach
Along the Colorado River …
Recycling Los Angeles’ water: We help them, they help us
“A few hundred miles away from Las Vegas, what’s happening at a prototype wastewater purification plant in Southern California may increase our water supply here. “We are designing the project to ultimately connect to what will likely be two of our water drinking facilities,” says Deven Upadhyay, the Chief Operating Officer and Assistant General Manager at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, that region’s equivalent to our Southern Nevada Water Authority. The Metropolitan Water District is the wholesale water provider to 26 California member agencies that service 19 million people. … ” Read more from Channel 3 here: Recycling Los Angeles’ water: We help them, they help us
White Mountains may thrive as other rural areas decline for lack of water
“Here’s another item in the ‘count your blessings’ category. Obviously, we love living in the White Mountains — with a ski resort, dramatic monsoons, snowmelt, lakes and trout streams. But did you know all that runoff is propping up the value of your house? If the White Mountains had the same problems with groundwater as almost all the other rural areas of the state — it would knock an estimated 12% off your home’s value, according to an unsettling new study. The study by the non-profit organization “Business for Water Stewardship” shows a grim future for rural Arizona real estate in most areas — where water tables are dropping rapidly due to the drought and over pumping by industry — especially agriculture. ... ” Read more from the White Mountain Independent here: White Mountains may thrive as other rural areas decline for lack of water
In national water news today …
Corporate officers could face hot water for conservation claims
“There is a growing trend toward investments driven by non-financial factors, notably environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns. That, in turn, is leading to increased activism i by shareholders. As a result, corporations are announcing certain pledges to address shareholders’ environmental concerns, such as water conservation and improving water quality. The CEOs of 3M and Pepsi made such statements in August 2021, which were followed by similar pledges from Facebook (now Meta Platforms Inc.) and Google. Companies such as Microsoft and IKEA have made like statements in years past as well. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Corporate officers could face hot water for conservation claims
How climate change is threatening the future of the Winter Olympics
“American athletes headed for Beijing might not be formally educated in climatology or conversant in all the relevant political arguments. Their concerns might not compare to widespread heat waves, droughts and flooding. But they have a ground-level view of climate trends and can see firsthand the impact of global warming. A recent Canadian study predicted that, by the end of the century, nine of the past 21 Winter Olympic cities might not be cold enough to reliably host downhill races, biathlons or halfpipe competitions. The list includes Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) and Vancouver. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: How climate change is threatening the future of the Winter Olympics
Beijing Olympic preparations could worsen severe water scarcity
“A region of the world that is feeling the worst of water scarcity will soon have the international spotlight squarely upon it, and it’s preparing by stretching its water even further. “Weeks before the world’s best skiers and snowboarders descend on Zhangjiakou, a main site of the Beijing Winter Olympics, a dozen machines furiously churned out snow to cover the mountains they will race down,” BNN Bloomberg reported. “Experts worry that the push to transform Zhangjiakou will worsen the region’s severe water scarcity, which ranks among the worst in the country.” ... ” Read more from Water Online here: Beijing Olympic preparations could worsen severe water scarcity
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW Offers More Than $750,000 in Grants to Enhance or Restore Habitat
NOTICE: CEQA Scoping Meeting & Opportunity for Public Comment – Proposed Electric Utility O&M
VELES WEEKLY REPORT: California needs to prepare for the worst. The drought may not break
NOTICE: Appeals Filed for Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING: Science Advisory Panel on Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs) in Aquatic Ecosystems
