On the calendar today …
- JOINT LEG HEARING: What’s up down below? An update on Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation at 9am. Joint Hearing, Assembly Committees on Water, Parks, And Wildlife And Local Government Click here for more information and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: The State Water Resources Control Board at 9am. Agenda items include an update on current drought and hydrologic conditions, and consideration of a proposed Order taking action on Petitions for Reconsideration of the Executive Director’s: June 1, 2021 Order Approving Temporary Urgency Petition to Modify Specified Delta Flow and Water Quality Requirements included in Decision 1641, and the Executive Director’s June 10, 2021 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan Approval Pursuant to Order 90-5. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Fisheries Restoration Grant Program: PSN Public Comment Meeting from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Agenda includes an overview of the FRGP, overview of 2022 PSN and Guidelines; and how to apply. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
A vision for more sustainable farmlands
“From above, California’s San Joaquin Valley spills out of the Sierra Nevada in a checkerboard of earth-toned farmland. It’s some of the most valuable land in the world; every year, the agribusiness industry here produces billions of dollars’ worth of milk, vegetables and nuts. But the scale, and the industrial intensity, of agriculture require an enormous amount of groundwater to be pulled out of aquifers deep belowground — more than the industry can afford to pump, according to hydrologic modeling. According to projections from the Public Policy Institute of California, between 535,000 and 750,000 acres — around 15% of the valley’s irrigated farmland — will need to be taken out of irrigated production in order to meet the requirements of the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. … ” Continue reading at High Country News here: A vision for more sustainable farmlands
Atmospheric river reconnaissance flights lays groundwork for improved forecasts
“Atmospheric Rivers are a fact of life in California and the West Coast. They carry large enough amounts of water to end a drought, but at the same time cause significant destruction to life and property. A relatively new partnership between the Scripps Institution for Oceanography, NOAA, and the Air Force is using the Hurricane Hunters to fly into the storms with aims to improve forecasts and our understanding of Atmospheric River events. “The main motivation behind having these flights is to improve forecasts of west coast precipitation on a timescale of zero to three days, so a short term improvement, but what’s really exciting is when we collect all this information and then feed those data directly into operation numerical weather prediction models, we also have those data to look back and understand more about the phenomena of atmospheric rivers themselves. … ” Read more from Action News Now here: Atmospheric river reconnaissance flights lays groundwork for improved forecasts
Cal OES revisits the Oroville Dam Spillway incident and its impacts five years later
“Winters in northern California are normally wet, but not as saturated as they were in 2017. January and February of that year were among the wettest months on record for the entire 110-year history of Feather River hydrology. As the days and weeks passed during those months, rain poured, raising levels in California’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs to capacity – some going above. Over the next week and a half, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) would come to understand intimately the impacts this wet weather would have on our nation’s tallest dam. … ” Read more from Cal OES here: Cal OES revisits the Oroville Dam Spillway incident and its impacts five years later
California faces its worst year on record for drought conditions
“If California doesn’t get substantially more rain, this year could be the worst ever for the state’s drought conditions. Alvar Escriva-Bou, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, said we likely won’t see any rain in February, but next month could bring better results. “In 1991, we were in drought and we had a March Miracle, meaning it was a really rainy March,” he said. But even if that happens again next month, Escriva-Bou said he’s not confident it will take the out of drought. … ” Read more from the LAist here: California faces its worst year on record for drought conditions
California slips into its worst mega-drought in 1,200 years — it’s partly our fault
“The repeated droughts that have ravaged California and other Western states this century have cemented the past 22 years as the driest in the West in at least 1,200 years, a new study shows. What the researchers are now calling a mega-drought, the period from 2000 to the present is unusual not only because of low levels of precipitation but skyrocketing temperatures in the face of climate change, a primary reason for the new, bleak distinction, according to the study. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle here: California slips into its worst mega-drought in 1,200 years — it’s partly our fault
Current drought is worst in 1,200 years in California and the American West, new study shows
“The drought that has parched California and the American West for much of the past two decades ranks as the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years, according to a new study published Monday. Measuring historical moisture patterns by looking at thousands of tree rings, scientists concluded that the West is in a “megadrought,” the likes of which have not been seen in the region since at least 800 A.D., when Vikings sailed the North Atlantic and Mayans built temples in Mexico and Central America. Climate change, which is leading to increasing temperatures, is making the current dry period more severe than it otherwise would have been, the researchers concluded. ... ” Continue reading from the San Jose Mercury News here: Current drought is worst in 1,200 years in California and the American West, new study shows
SEE ALSO:
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- Western ‘megadrought’ is the worst in 1,200 years, from E&E News
- Southwest drought is most extreme in 1200 years, study finds, from the Washington Post
- California Faces Its Worst Year On Record For Drought Conditions, from the LAist
Pervasive Western drought exposes PFAS contamination in groundwater sources
“The ongoing water scarcity throughout much of the Western U.S. has revealed many larger trends affecting drinking water and wastewater treatment. It has disclosed tensions between neighboring states, the pervasive impacts of climate change, and the potential for local regulations to reverse consumption trends. And now, it has also exposed the presence of a notorious contaminant in critical national sources. “Drought is exposing new layers of risk posed by PFAS contamination in drinking water nationwide, a public health hazard expected to cost billions of dollars and take years to solve, state and federal officials say,” according to Bloomberg Law. … ” Read more from Water Online here: Pervasive Western drought exposes PFAS contamination in groundwater sources
Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy
“Solar panels can be placed on your roof, on a plot of land, or basically anywhere else where they are anchored to something solid. That said, there are only so many solid spaces available to install them. To beat climate change, our electricity mix is going to need a lot more renewable energy systems to take over fossil fuels. Many in the solar industry are looking for a new home for solar panels—possibly even floating on water. Floating solar farms have been around for over a decade, but water-bound panels became much more prominent in the last few years. The basic idea is to attach solar panels to plastic floats which then drift on a body of water. These floating solar arrays are typically placed on man-made bodies of water—a town’s water reservoir, an irrigation reservoir, a water treatment facility—as to avoid interfering with plant and animal species that live in natural bodies of water. For instance, the United States’ largest floating solar farm sits on a wastewater pond in California and has a nearly five megawatt capacity. … ” Continue reading at Popular Science here: Floating solar panels could be the next big thing in clean energy
Scientists turn to rice fields to save California’s dwindling salmon population
“An effort is underway to save California’s salmon through a new pilot project designed to protect the endangered species. The idea is to take advantage of the many local rice fields around the region because in those fields are nutrients that can turn an upstream battle to save the fish into an innovative flow to help them grow. The state’s salmon population has been on the decline. They used to have annual returns of 100,000 to 200,000 spawning adults. Now, a good year would be 10,000. … ” Read more from Good Day Sacramento here: Scientists turn to rice fields to save California’s dwindling salmon population
Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan introduces bill to prevent wildfires by increasing coordination between local fire districts and utility companies
“Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer Kahan (D-Orinda) has introduced legislation that will increase accountability and transparency when a private utility company conducts high-risk fire mitigation work – ensuring that local fire districts are aware and prepared when utility companies conduct “hot work” or controlled burns within their jurisdiction. When fire districts know in advance that there is risky work being conducted in their area, they can be prepared by having fire personnel and equipment poised and ready. Without this critical notification from utilities, districts can be caught off guard and lose precious moments to stop the flames should a fire break out. “Our fire districts do so much to protect us from fires. It’s essential we give them all the tools they need, especially during fire season,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “Utility work must happen in collaboration with fire chiefs to ensure our communities are safe from accidental blazes.” …
In commentary today …
Too extreme? Why UC researchers propose idea of cutting down 80% of Sierra trees
Tad Weber, opinion editor fro the Fresno Bee, writes, “The Sierra Nevada is beloved for its endless miles of dense pine forests. Now imagine that for every swath of 10 trees, only the two biggest trees are left standing. The rest are cut down, the result of some extreme logging. That is the point of a new study by a group of University of California researchers. Rather than manage the state’s forests to limit wildfires, they say the real issue is to make trees more capable of withstanding the host of challenges they face: drought, pests, climate change, and yes, wildfire. To accomplish that, the researchers contend a whole lot of chopping needs to be done. Cutting down 80 percent of the forest seems like a radical idea. But the scientists turn the proposition around and say that, in reality, the way things are now is what is out of whack. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Too extreme? Why UC researchers propose idea of cutting down 80% of Sierra trees
Today’s featured article …
BLOG ROUND-UP: Voluntary agreements undermining climate/water planning in the Delta; A hydrologist meets with an artist. No, not in a bar; Oaks as threatened catchment keystones; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
With just days left for public comment, enviro groups seek more detail, assurances in Nordic Aquafarms’ EIR
“The public has until Friday to review and comment on the county’s draft environmental impact report (DEIR) on the big land-based fish farm that Nordic Aquafarms plans to build on the Samoa Peninsula. The report is about 1,800 pages long, so if you’re planning to read the whole thing and haven’t yet started, best of luck! Fortunately, local leaders of nonprofit environmental organizations have been poring over the voluminous document since it dropped on December 20, and in interviews they say they appreciate how open the Norway-based company has been to feedback and project revisions — including the decision to conduct a full environmental impact report — but they have a number of serious concerns, including the project’s massive energy demands, the effects of effluent discharged offshore, impacts to wildlife from water intakes in Humboldt Bay and more. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: With just days left for public comment, enviro groups seek more detail, assurances in Nordic Aquafarms’ EIR
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Water agency considers water needs for the Idaho-Maryland Mine: Community urges NID to put safeguards in place to protect against mine impacts
“At the urging of community members, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) today considered whether to approve a request to verify the Water Supply Assessment (WSA) for the potential re-opening of the long closed Idaho-Maryland Mine. RISE Gold Corp., a company headquartered in Canada, has proposed re-opening the mine. The water supply analysis is required for large-scale projects with significant environmental impacts as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). After vigorous discussion and lengthy, detailed public comments, NID considered crafting an extensively conditioned resolution approving the legally-required assessment of the controversial Rise Gold mine in Grass Valley, California. The ID-MD Mine’s proposed groundwater use has the potential to drain wells on adjacent properties. … ”
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
American River advocates demand Sacramento remove homeless camps. But the county’s authority is limited
“An environmental group has demanded the city and county of Sacramento remove 750 unhoused people camping out at the American River Parkway by the end of the year, citing multiple hazards tied to the homeless encampments that dot the 23-mile natural corridor. “The Parkway is in crisis,” the American River Parkway Foundation wrote in January. “The environmental and public safety impacts of the growing number of incidents of illegal camping threaten the Parkway’s beauty and sustainability and are a hazard to communities, schools, and businesses that border the Parkway.” … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: American River advocates demand Sacramento remove homeless camps. But the county’s authority is limited
NAPA/SONOMA
State groundwater management may require metered wells, additional fees
“The lengthy, multifaceted work of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency reached a benchmark in December 2021 when its board approved a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and sent it off to the state for review and potential approval. The plan, including references and appendices, came in at a hefty 1,285 pages, though attentive readers can get the gist in the 28-page executive summary. … Probably the most notable part of the plan is the section dealing with potential groundwater user fees and permits — necessary steps to assure the plan is viable and effective. … ” Read more from the Kenwood Press here: State groundwater management may require metered wells, additional fees
Winter steelhead runs are a perfect reason to get outside in Sonoma
“Celebrating the return of spawning steelhead trout to the Russian River and its tributary creeks is a wintertime rite of passage in Sonoma. And despite all that has changed in our world and theirs recently, the steelhead still run. While the annual festival remains on hold, those of us who could benefit from a reminder of their mighty resilience (that’s everyone, truly) can still seek out the chance to see spawning wild steelhead this February, near the peak of the run. Watch for them in Santa Rosa Creek, especially below Spring Lake near Summerfield Road; in Sonoma Creek, up as far as Sugarloaf Ridge State Park; and in Copeland Creek, near Sonoma State University. ... ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette here: Winter steelhead runs are a perfect reason to get outside in Sonoma
BAY AREA
Morgan Hill neighbors blame wild pig problems on local construction project
“Some residents in a Morgan Jill neighborhood are blaming an area dam construction project on the influx wild pigs running amok, tearing up lawns and eating gardens where they live. Wild pigs have long been a problem in the Morgan Hill foothills, but neighbors in the Jackson Oaks subdivision say lately the problems have only gotten worse. … Some neighbors claim when the Valley Water District drained Anderson Reservoir to rebuild the dam, it removed a seven-mile-long water barrier between the neighborhoods and a vast open space, giving wildlife an easy avenue to their property. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Morgan Hill neighbors blame wild pig problems on local construction project
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Farmland values stabilize or improve with water access, crop outlooks
“Property values in some of Kern’s best-irrigated farmland found their footing last year and even rose in some instances after a bumpy couple of years, according to a new study that has prompted different interpretations about what may lie ahead for local ag real estate and certain crops in particular. The fourth-quarter report by Bakersfield brokerage, consulting and appraisal firm Alliance Ag Services Inc. showed open farmland in Kern River water districts held steady on the low end and gained on the high end in 2021. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Farmland values stabilize or improve with water access, crop outlooks
Tehachapi: Water district customers request more water than current state allocation
“Continued dry weather may reduce the current Table A allocation for the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District and other State Water Project contractors. But even if the 15 percent allocation announced by the state Department of Water Resources on Jan. 20 stands, the volume of water requested by the district’s M&I (municipal and industrial) and agricultural customers is more than the amount of water the district might be able to import. A 15 percent Table A allocation would amount to 2,895 acre feet — only about 30 percent of the the five-year average of SWP water delivered to the district (9,473 acre feet). Of this, more than 55 percent has gone to agriculture and 28 percent to recharge. ... ” Read more from the Tehachapi News here: Water district customers request more water than current state allocation
EASTERN SIERRA
Groundwater Authority celebrates victory lap after plan approval, begins steps towards future
“At the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board meeting on Feb. 9, the IWVGA took a brief victory lap to celebrate that the California Department of Water Resources had approved the IWVGA’s groundwater sustainability plan. The IWVGA board then set their sights on the future goal of reconciling the list of corrective actions DWR recommended for the GSP. IWVGA general manager Carol Thomas-Keefer led a presentation to summarize the 51-page DWR approval letter, which is available in full on the IWVGA website at iwvga.org/gsp-chapters. “It seems like we should have some balloons, confetti, and some fanfare for this item,” Thomas-Keefer said as she began her presentation in the sparsely populated and socially distanced Ridgecrest City Hall Council Chambers. Only two of the five board members were physically present as the others participated online. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Groundwater Authority celebrates victory lap after plan approval, begins steps towards future
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Dramatic temperature drop expected Tuesday in Southern California with rain, snow
“Southern California residents can expect a dramatic drop in temperatures Tuesday, Feb. 15, as a fast-moving winter storm will drop scattered showers throughout the region along with snow to surrounding mountains, National Weather Service meteorologists said. Many places that saw highs in the 80s the previous week will only see thermometers reach the upper 50s or low 60s on Tuesday, said Mark Moede, meteorologist with the NWS San Diego office. Showers are expected throughout parts of the Inland Empire and Orange County, however, not much measurable rainfall was anticipated, Moede said. “We could maybe see a quarter-inch to a third-of-an-inch (of rainfall) in the foothills,” Moede said. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Dramatic temperature drop expected Tuesday in Southern California with rain, snow
Metropolitan welcomes spring wildflowers at Diamond Valley Lake
“The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is opening its seasonal Wildflower Trail at Diamond Valley Lake Wednesday (Feb. 16), offering visitors spectacular views of the district’s 4.5 mile-long lake and spring wildflowers. The Wildflower Trail will be open Wednesdays through Sundays at the lake in Hemet in southwestern Riverside County. Though a “super bloom” like that seen in past years is not anticipated, early season rains, like the storms that swept through the area in December, typically usher in larger blooms of wildflowers. Among the flowers found at Diamond Valley Lake are California poppies, deep blue arroyo lupines, purple Canterbury bells, yellow rancher’s fiddleneck, white popcorn flowers, and pink red maids. … ” Read more from Business Wire here: Metropolitan welcomes spring wildflowers at Diamond Valley Lake
SAN DIEGO
Will this week’s rain in San Diego impact the drought?
“California is thirsty for any precipitation and San Diego may get some relief on Tuesday. A few tenths of an inch are expected to fall in San Diego, just days after parts of the county hit a record high temperature of 91 degrees. Now, we’re looksing at a 30 degree drop in the forecast from Saturday to Tuesday. “This is definitely a roller coaster weather pattern,” said Alex Tardy, National Weather Service Meteorologist, San Diego. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Will this week’s rain in San Diego impact the drought?
‘Think Blue San Diego’ launches to highlight importance of stormwater system
“To raise public awareness about how a modern stormwater system helps ensure clean water and clean beaches for future generations, the City of San Diego is relaunching the new and improved Think Blue San Diego – the public education and outreach arm of the Stormwater Department – with a series of events and a call to action for all San Diegans to “Think Blue.” Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Think Blue is urging San Diegans to show love for clean water and clean beaches this Valentine’s Day weekend by taking at least 30 minutes to remove trash and debris in your neighborhood. … ” Read more from San Diego News here: ‘Think Blue San Diego’ launches to highlight importance of stormwater system
In national water news today …
States’ water permitting push sparks mine concerns
“States are increasingly considering taking over the federal government’s job of overseeing wetlands and water permitting under the Clean Water Act as they seek to expedite mining projects, worrying environmentalists who say the maneuver will leave them with fewer ways to intervene against developments they oppose. Under the Clean Water Act, states or tribes can seek to take over permitting and administering the Section 404 program for dredging and filling federally protected waters. Before approving such a request, EPA must determine if a state has a sufficient program to implement and enforce federal 404 permitting. To date, Florida, Michigan and New Jersey are the only states with the power to oversee permitting activities, but more are considering lining up to apply. … ” Read more from E&E News here: States’ water permitting push sparks mine concerns
Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce coastal resilience legislation
“A group of bipartisan lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bill that aims to protect against coastal and river flooding as climate change makes sea levels rise. The bill, from Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), as well as Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), comes as resilience and adaptation is emerging as an area of bipartisan cooperation on climate change, an otherwise highly partisan issue. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce coastal resilience legislation
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Petition for Temporary Transfer per Yuba County Water Agency Permit 15026
