On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC MEETING: California Environmental Flows Workgroup from 10am to 12pm. Agenda items include drought updates, updates on published Frontier papers (analysis of flow effects on bioassessment indicators, application of CEFF to groundwater dependent ecosystems, and San Joan e-floes case study), and update on CDFW CEFF trainings. Click here to join the meeting
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Proposition 1 – Round 2 IRWM Implementation – Southern California from 1pm to 3pm. DWR will be hosting three 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. This is an extended public comment period, due to the ongoing pandemic situation and in response to stakeholders’ requests. The presentation made during first workshop will be recorded and played back during the subsequent workshops, and program staff will be on hand in each workshop for questions and answers following the presentation. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Charts show where California reservoir levels stand after weeks of dry weather
“A dry January with little rainfall across much of Northern California actually didn’t hurt the state’s water storage levels, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources. In fact, thanks to a little snowmelt, water levels were up for all reservoirs from December to January. Lake Mendocino, which has a capacity of 122,400 acre feet, saw the biggest boost from 17% of storage capacity in December to 35% in January. One acre foot is the equivalent of one acre of land covered in one foot of water. Trinity Lake, with a capacity of 2,447,650 acre feet, had the smallest increase from 29% in December to 30% in January. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Charts show where California reservoir levels stand after weeks of dry weather
Aerial technology being used to gather snowpack data
“Two months are left in California’s “wet season,” where the snowpack and the water it contains are closely monitored. The amount is critical in dealing with the state’s drought. About 30% of the water California uses comes from snowmelt. That is why measuring it accurately is important. The old familiar snow survey where a pole goes into the ground and gets weighed for water content is one piece of the puzzle. The Department of Water Resources also relies on about 125 electronic sensors that measure the snowpack. But now, a much newer technology is increasingly coming into play. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Aerial technology being used to gather snowpack data
Arrowhead water: BlueTriton hearing continues with testimony from members of the public
“After seven years of researching Nestle’s — and now successor company BlueTriton’s — water rights in San Bernardino National Forest, Redlands resident Amanda Frye made her case last Monday. Her research included trips to the National Archives in Perris and the San Bernardino County Hall of Records, countless hours of online archival research, and years of hiking in Strawberry Canyon. “The evidence reflects that BlueTriton has neither valid water rights nor authorized diversion permits in the Strawberry Creek headwaters… BlueTriton and their predecessors’ unauthorized diversions in the Strawberry Creek headwaters have negatively impacted Strawberry Creek, the Forest and the people of California,” Frye said on Monday. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Arrowhead water: BlueTriton hearing continues with testimony from members of the public
Listen: Oroville Dam Spillway crisis: 5 years later
“Today marks five years since the Oroville Dam Spillway crisis. The Butte County Sheriff shares the lessons learned. A citizen’s advisory commissioner discusses the push to rebuild trust and oversight. And dam safety engineers explain what went wrong.” Guests: Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea; Genoa Northern, commissioner on the Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission; John France, civil engineering consultant; and Mark Ogden, with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials. Listen at Capital Public Radio here: Listen: Oroville Dam Spillway crisis: 5 years later
People living in Oroville remember the spillway failure on its five-year anniversary
“People living in Oroville remember the spillway failure on its five-year anniversary as many say it was chaos. 188,000 people were evacuated and one Oroville man tells Action News Now he was separated from his family during it. “My first thoughts and most of my thoughts the entire time were on my children because I wasn’t in the same location as they were. I didn’t know for almost 24 hours how they were because I ended up going to Paradise and they were in Berry Creek,” said Oroville resident Joseph Gilbert. … ” Read more from Action News Now here: People living in Oroville remember the spillway failure on its five-year anniversary
Press release: As West continues to confront devastating drought,, Attorney General Bonta urges EPA to expand Clean Water Act protections for nation’s waterways
“California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading a multistate coalition along with New York Attorney General Letitia James, urged the Biden Administration to repeal a Trump-era rule drastically curtailing protections under the Clean Water Act. Under the 2020 rule, more than half of all wetlands and at least 18% of all streams across the United States were left without federal protections. Western states like California were even harder hit, with 35% of all streams deprived of federal protections as a result of the 2020 rule. In the comments, the coalition supports the Biden Administration’s proposed regulation to restore the 1980s definition of “waters of the United States” and urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to take swift action to develop a more expansive definition that is consistent with science and the law, addresses the impacts of climate change, and serves environmental justice communities. … ” Continue reading this press release from AG Rob Bonta here: Press release: As West continues to confront devastating drought,, Attorney General Bonta urges EPA to expand Clean Water Act protections for nation’s waterways
What is an ‘atmospheric river’? These rivers of wator vapor can extend thousands of miles.
“Often in the winter, you’ll hear that “atmospheric rivers” are causing big weather problems along the West Coast. But what are they? Made visible by clouds, these ribbons of water vapor extend thousands of miles from the tropics to the western U.S. At 250 to 375 miles wide, they provide the fuel for massive rain and snowstorms that can cause flooding along the West Coast. In general, atmospheric rivers pick up water vapor from the warm, moist air of tropical regions and then drop the water over land in cooler regions as rain or snow. … ” Read more from USA Today here: What is an ‘atmospheric river’? These rivers of wator vapor can extend thousands of miles.
Divided by poverty and prosperity, millions of Americans continue fight for clean water
“While most households don’t think twice about flushing their toilets or turning on the faucet, thousands wake up every day without these modern conveniences. The hidden divide drains communities of far more than the precious resource. “You know, we’ve been like this for so long you get used to it. I have my gallon back there on the stove, next to it. I use it right there, for cooking,” said Maria Olivera of Tooleville, California. Located in the Central Valley, the unincorporated town is made up of two streets. … ” Continue reading from Detroit Channel 20 here: Divided by poverty and prosperity, millions of Americans continue fight for clean water
In commentary today …
Dan Walters: Erratic weather requires new water policy approach
“What happened — or didn’t — weatherwise during the last two months starkly reminds us of the erratic nature of California’s vital water supply. After months of severe drought, the state saw record-shattering storms in December, creating a hefty mountain snowpack while replenishing seriously depleted reservoirs. But January, historically a month of heavy precipitation, was bone-dry. With climate change, California’s wet periods have become briefer, albeit sometimes more intense, and the dry periods have become longer, making the state’s elaborate water storage and conveyance systems less able to cope with precipitation patterns. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: Erratic weather requires new water policy approach
Urban waters deserve our care and protection
“My name is Jonathan Hardman, I’m a 16-year-old from Berkeley, California. Fishing and the outdoors have been the most central part of my life since the very beginning. My grandfather taught me to love and appreciate the natural world when I was just a toddler. From fishing in lakes in upstate New York to creeks and ponds in southern Maine, he taught me how to fish for sunfish and smallmouth bass, as well as the importance of proper fish handling, sustainable harvesting, and catch and release practices. This early exposure to fishing allowed me to teach myself to fish on the west coast, starting in the San Francisco Bay. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Urban waters deserve our care and protection
Today’s featured articles …
RISING VOICES: Water, power and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy
BLOG ROUND-UP: On the Public Record responds to water rights report; A better solution for drought resilience; Catchment restoration for biodiversity, climate change resilience; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration
Mary Burke, CalTrout North Coast Program Coordinator, writes, “I am standing amongst coastal redwoods and the lower end of a productive spawning tributary in Humboldt County, just north of the town of Orick, off of Highway 101. Behind a chain link fence, lie 20 acres of a former mill site and more acres of productive grazing pasture. Standing here, I feel the expansiveness and important connectivity that exist here for the fish, water, and people. I am excited to share this story with you: the beginning of a vital transformation. … ” Continue reading at Cal Trout here: Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
‘This is an emergency’: Calaveras Big Trees staff, advocates raise alarm about fire threat to iconic giant sequoias
“Three wildfires in 2020 and 2021 killed or mortally burned 13% to 19% of the world’s giant sequoias, which grow naturally only on the west slope of the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada range, and now the nonprofit Calaveras Big Trees Association is warning that the Mother Lode’s share of the largest trees on earth are facing catastrophic wildfire threats. Fire dangers in Calaveras Big Trees State Park due to overgrowth, beetle infestation, and drought-weakened stands of trees have combined to create conditions similar to most of the Stanislaus National Forest. ... ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: ‘This is an emergency’: Calaveras Big Trees staff, advocates raise alarm about fire threat to iconic giant sequoias
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens
“Monday marked a month since the last drop of rain fell in Redding, and with the prospects of any precipitation falling in February diminishing, water shortages this year are becoming more of a reality. “We are bracing for the worst-case scenario,” said Tony Thomasy, water department superintendent for the city of Shasta Lake. For the first time in its history, Bella Vista Water District is preparing for zero water allocations for its municipality and industrial users, which cover residential customers, said David Coxey, the agency’s general manager. The district’s agriculture users have received zero allocation in past drought years. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens
Tuscan Water District wins approval
“A controversial water district in northwestern Butte County has been approved to go to a vote of landowners within its boundaries. The Tuscan Water District encompasses the Sacramento Valley floor from the Tehama and Glenn county lines, south and east to the Western Canal District and into Butte Valley. California Water Service’s Chico Division and the M&T Ranch are not included. The 102,327-acre district was approved by an unanimous vote of the Butte Local Agency Formation Commission at its meeting last week. LAFCo is the entity that determines boundaries between government agencies, including creation or dissolution of special districts. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Tuscan Water District wins approval
Groundwater ‘bank’ can store twice as much water as Folsom Lake
“Feb. 7 marks 31 days in a row without measurable rainfall in Sacramento and the surrounding region. Remarkably, rainfall totals since Oct. 1, the start of the water year, are still above average for all major reporting sites. But just barely. Northern California lucked out with a major storm at the end of October and a very active storm pattern in December. But in a long-standing drought, luck alone won’t cut it. That’s why water managers have spent the last two decades building up a new concept for storing water as a way to build drought and climate change resiliency for the region. It’s called the Sacramento Regional Water Bank, and it is already being used to benefit residents. ... ” Continue reading from KCRA Channel 3 here: Groundwater ‘bank’ can store twice as much water as Folsom Lake
Weather whiplash’ brings challenges to the American River this winter
“Winter is historically a time of relative ease for American River salmon and steelhead. The punishing dry months of summer and fall are in the past, and winter storms have returned to cool down water temperatures and provide adequate flow for feeding and spawning. That hasn’t necessarily been the case this winter, which now presents our native fish with a number of new challenges. In the 2022 water year so far, the river has been hit with a double-whammy of big storms first in October, then in December. January was especially dry, and there is no precipitation in the near-term forecast for February. Meanwhile, in the river, adult steelhead and fall-run Chinook salmon are setting up nests (known as redds), as the spawning and incubation season begins. … ” Read more from the Water Forum here: Weather whiplash’ brings challenges to the American River this winter
Hydropower turbine proposal would cut power costs for three NorCal cities
“Three cities in Northern California may see a change in their energy bill if a proposal to buy power from a renewable energy company is approved. “The prices have moved up here over the years,” said Grace Henderson. Henderson has lived in Manteca for 25 years and says the place has only gotten pricier. “Inflation is an issue right now, so all the prices are higher when you go to the gas station and the grocery store so that’s a major issue,” she said. Though, one local agency is looking to relieve the financial frustration. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Hydropower turbine proposal would cut power costs for three NorCal cities
BAY AREA
Dry conditions in North Bay fuel fears of early fire season
“The rain we’re hoping for in February is nowhere in sight and fire danger is growing as many parts of California are seeing fuel moisture levels dip to summer levels. Fire season hasn’t officially started yet in Santa Rosa, but as long as these dry conditions continue, the North Bay could see the earliest start to fire season yet. Those enjoying the mild weather in downtown Santa Rosa are definitely concerned with the lack of rain. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Dry conditions in North Bay fuel fears of early fire season
People are fishing in Lake Merritt. Is that ok?
“In December, Oaklanders witnessed an extraordinary natural phenomenon: Chinook salmon swimming in Lake Merritt. These resilient fish traveled hundreds of miles from the Pacific Ocean up East Bay rivers and streams in an attempt to spawn. Some of them ended up in Oakland’s tidal lagoon, making it as far upstream as Glen Echo Creek. The salmon sightings attracted more than just curiosity from naturalists and residents. Some people started fishing in the lake in hopes of catching a Chinook. But the increased angling raises some questions: Is it even legal to fish in Lake Merritt? (The answer is murky.) And is it healthy—for people who may be eating the fish, and for the lake itself? … ” Read more from Oaklandside here: People are fishing in Lake Merritt. Is that ok?
Valley Water, City of San José partner to support recreation along Coyote Creek
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people have enjoyed the many creekside trails all around Santa Clara County. Valley Water is committed to providing the community with an enhanced quality of life through our watershed and stream stewardship efforts. Our environmental work protects and restores habitat for fish and wildlife. Valley Water also partners with local governments to provide open space and recreational opportunities at many of its reservoirs and along creeks in the county. In December 2021, the Valley Water Board of Directors voted to partner with the City of San José to provide funding for a law enforcement presence on a newly opened recreational trail along Coyote Creek. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water, City of San José partner to support recreation along Coyote Creek
CENTRAL COAST
Dry, hot spell set to hit Santa Cruz County
“As grasses turn green again and wildflowers begin to peak out, hopes of February rains hitting Santa Cruz County are shriveling up, while concerns mount that dry conditions are further exacerbating drought and fueling wildfire risk. The Central Coast started out the wet season with strong October and December rains that plants are still holding onto, said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Mehle, but higher-than-average temperatures could quickly change that. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Dry, hot spell set to hit Santa Cruz County
Warming trend arrives on Monterey Peninsula with no rain in sight
“After a week of chamber of commerce weather welcomed people from around the world to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the forecast calls for more dry conditions this week as temperatures increase. “We are looking at above-normal temperatures for most of the week,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Mehle. “The forecasted highs are going to be in the mid-to-upper-70s for most of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas (for Tuesday). The southern part of the county is going to be a lot warmer.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Warming trend arrives on Monterey Peninsula with no rain in sight
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Yosemite snowpack and waterfall conditions. Weather swung from big storms to extreme dry
“Despite a six-week dry spell in Yosemite National Park, snowpack conditions there are currently close to average for this time of the year. That’s thanks to some heavy storms last year that helped make up for the deficit. Feb. 1 snow surveys at the popular park in California revealed snow water content to be 96% of average in the Tuolumne River drainage and 92% of average in the Merced River drainage. The headwaters of those rivers are almost entirely protected within Yosemite. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Yosemite snowpack and waterfall conditions. Weather swung from big storms to extreme dry
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Planned Calif. desalination plant faces final permit
“Poseidon Water has announced its application for a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the construction of the proposed Huntington Beach Desalination Facility will soon be considered. The facility is in the final phase of its permitting process and the CDP is the last major discretionary permit needed to build the long-awaited seawater desalination plant. The permit will be considered by California Coastal Commission staff during its upcoming March hearing. … ” Read more from Water World here: Planned Calif. desalination plant faces final permit
SAN DIEGO
Water Authority inks new union labor requirement
“The San Diego region’s drinking water wholesaler recently passed a rule guaranteeing most of its infrastructure projects are built under union-friendly labor deals, as long as a majority of the board agrees. That seems likely since a majority of the San Diego County Water Authority’s board voted in favor of the change at its January meeting. That also means almost every waterworks contract the Water Authority touches will undergo negotiations with labor unions, which some contractors and board members fear will add time and costs even as water rates continue to skyrocket. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Water Authority inks new union labor requirement
Along the Colorado River …
The Colorado River Basin’s water forecast looked good in January. Now everything has changed.
“The past 30 days have at least temporarily erased hopes of above-average spring runoff in the Colorado River Basin, according to the February report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center. “Very little precipitation during the last three weeks of January, especially across southern Utah and southwest Colorado,” Cody Moser, a hydrologist with the NOAA forecast center, said Monday during a web briefing to review the agency’s latest monthly water-supply report. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: The Colorado River Basin’s water forecast looked good in January. Now everything has changed.
Nevada, Utah set to battle over the West’s most precious resource
“A battle is brewing on the border of the nation’s two driest states over the West’s most precious resource. Utah water officials have long eyed pumping groundwater into the burgeoning community of Cedar City, but a coalition of ranchers, environmentalists, tribes and rural politicians is pushing back, arguing the project will have wide-reaching consequences, including some in eastern Nevada. “I think this ranks as one of the most irresponsible water projects in recent history,” said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Nevada, Utah set to battle over the West’s most precious resource
What should desert farmers grow?
“On a spring day that would have seemed abnormally hot anywhere else, I went rumbling down dirt roads south of Phoenix in search of an answer to a question that had been dogging me. The West is mired in a water crisis that’s difficult to fully comprehend. More than 40 million people in seven states and two countries depend on the Colorado River, and its waters are depleting at a terrifying rate. Since the 1900s, flows have decreased by 20 percent, a drop largely associated with climate change. Experts say the situation will only get worse. For decades, leaders have sought a way to equitably share what’s left of the shrinking supply, but there has always been one stubborn sticking point: Farmers consume three-quarters of the region’s precious water, often to grow thirsty, inedible crops like cotton and hay. Many of them have been here for a century or more, and they aren’t about to leave. So, why can’t they grow something that sucks less water? … ” Continue reading from the Food & Environment Network here: What should desert farmers grow?
How businesses are investing in Colorado’s water future
“Miners and ranchers may have put Colorado’s economy on the map, but industries such as aerospace, finance and outdoor recreation are diversifying the economic portfolio of the business-friendly state. From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, it’s clear that companies of all shapes and sizes want to operate, expand and invest in the Centennial State. The high quality of life is no secret, and it remains a top reason why Colorado has had one of the fastest growing populations over the past decade. However, with growth comes added stress on its infrastructure. And one area where this is most apparent is the state’s blue infrastructure: water. … ” Read more from Green Biz here: How businesses are investing in Colorado’s water future
State officials gear up for “difficult conversations” on the Colorado River
“Fifteen years ago, deeply worried that a continued drought on the Colorado River would cause a crisis sooner rather than later, the seven U.S. states that share the river’s flows made a historic agreement to jointly manage reservoirs and share shortages that might arise. The agreement, known in shorthand as the 2007 interim guidelines, is set to be renegotiated beginning this year, ahead of its expiration in 2026. Another critical set of agreements, known as the 2019 drought contingency plans, are also being re-examined this year as the crisis on the river deepens. “We’re about to engage in some very difficult discussions,” said Rebecca Mitchell, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the state’s representative on the Upper Colorado River Commission. … ” Read more from the Journal-Advocate here: State officials gear up for “difficult conversations” on the Colorado River
In national water news today …
Researchers develop new approach to discover pervasive ‘forever’ chemicals known as PFAS
“PFAS, a family of thousands of human-made chemicals, are everywhere, and some of them are known to be harmful for our bodies and the environment. Even more frightening is how little we know about these pervasive pollutants found in everything from food packaging and cleaning products to firefighting foams. A team of researchers including Colorado State University’s Jens Blotevogel is using one of the most powerful chemical analysis tools in the world to unravel the complexities of PFAS. They are working to characterize and catalog the thousands upon thousands of chemical compounds in the PFAS family, so future studies can find solutions to health and environmental impacts. … ” Read more from Water Online here: Researchers develop new approach to discover pervasive ‘forever’ chemicals known as PFAS
U.S. saw its coolest, driest January in 8 years
“The contiguous U.S. kicked off 2022 with its coolest January since 2014. However, the month still ranked nearly a degree warmer than average across the nation. January 2022 was also the driest January in eight years and among the top-15 driest Januarys on record. Here are more highlights from NOAA’s latest monthly U.S. climate report … ” Continue reading from NOAA here: U.S. saw its coolest, driest January in 8 years
It’s not just climate: are we ignoring other causes of disasters?
“One balmy summer evening in mid-July last year, the tiny river Kyll flowing out of the Eifel Mountains in Germany turned from its normal placid flow into a raging torrent that engulfed several riverside towns in its path. By the morning, more than 220 people had died here and along several other German and Belgian mountain rivers. It was the worst flood disaster in Western Europe in several decades. Politicians rushed to blame climate change for the intense rains that flooded the rivers that night. The world had to be “faster in the battle against climate change,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she toured devastated communities. Climate scientists later concluded that a warmer atmosphere had made such downpours up to nine times more likely. But there was another factor behind the floods that few politicians or media have mentioned, then or since. … ” Read more from Yale e360 here: It’s not just climate: are we ignoring other causes of disasters?
(Near) Real-time Snow Water Equivalent Report …
20220201_RT_SWE_ReportAlso on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Public Comment Period Opens for Groundwater Sustainability Plans
NOTICE: of a proposal to accept funds from the California Department of Water Resources, Division of Operations and Maintenance
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Draft 2022 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Solicitation Released for Public Review
