On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The Central Valley Regional Water Board meets beginning at 9am. Agenda items include an information update on the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Winery Process Water; and Tribal and Subsistence Fishing Beneficial Uses Definitions to the Water Quality. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- CEQA SCOPING MEETING: Electric Utility Operations and Maintenance Activities Related to Wildfire Mitigation and Other Similar Activities (General Order) beginning at 10am. State Water Resources Control Board staff will hold a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) scoping meeting to receive public input on the content and scope of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that will be prepared to assess the potential environmental effects of a proposed project, Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements and Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification for Electric Utility Operations and Maintenance Activities Related to Wildfire Mitigation and Other Similar Activities (General Order). The scoping meeting will include a brief presentation about the proposed General Order followed by the opportunity for public comment. Click here for the workshop notice.
In California water news today …
Newsom’s water leaders tout new drought actions
“The Department of Water Resources held a media briefing yesterday to herald the launch of a new data mapping tool called California Water Watch, dubbed California’s drought monitor. The website provides real-time information not only on precipitation, but also heat waves impacting evaporation, groundwater levels, stream flows into reservoirs, soil moisture content and the dryness of vegetation—factors that played an outsized role in water loss last year. Along with the website, a new data portal for land subsidence shows how sinking continued in 2021, though at a slower pace than during the 2012-16 drought. Satellite monitoring recorded about a foot of subsidence in some areas of the San Joaquin Valley, with a few inches less in the Sacramento Valley. … ” Continue reading at Agri-Pulse here: Newsom’s water leaders tout new drought actions
State revamping water management system to keep up with climate change
“The state is recreating is entire water management system in an attempt to catch up with water unreliability brought about by warming climate changes. “We went from historic rain in October, to warm and dry temperatures in November, more historic storms in December and then, absolutely dry conditions in January and February,” said Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth. The California Department of Water Resources now sees precipitation coming in fits and starts with atmospheric river deluges. No longer can we rely on it coming steadily over the rainy season. … ” Read more from KTVU here: State revamping water management system to keep up with climate change
CHECK OUT THE NEW WEBSITE HERE: https://cww.water.ca.gov/
SEE ALSO:
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- New technologies improve how the Department of Water Resources tracks NorCal’s water supply, from KCRA Channel 3
- California Water Board unveils new ‘Water Watch’ site to track statewide water information, from Your Central Valley
Senator Hurtado introduces legislation to reimagine water management in the 21st century, dissolve State Water Board
“Today, Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) introduced SB 1219— State Water Resiliency and Modernization Act — to reimagine water management in the 21st century— that works to create a sustainable water system prioritizing preservation and sustainability for all of California by building a Blue Ribbon Commission, and dissolving the current Water Board. “Water impacts every facet of our life,” said Senator Hurtado. “Californians are feeling the rise in prices for essentials like water, food and energy. As prices drastically increase due to inflation, we must look to ways to reduce costs. We in the Central Valley have been at the forefront of these concerns for a while. We feel the impacts and suffer the consequences long before many across California do. We need to focus on better water management, and true accountability. And modernizing our water system will do just that. … ” Read more from Senator Hurtado’s office here: Senator Hurtado introduces legislation to reimagine water management in the 21st century
As drought conditions worsen, California braces for ‘worst-case scenario’
“Some of California’s agricultural areas are bracing for water cuts later this year after the chair of the state’s Water Resources Control Board said escalating drought conditions will require the state to prepare for the “worst-case scenario.” “We have to assume that we don’t get another drop, that we don’t receive any more real precipitation” this year, said Joaquin Esquivel at a board meeting on Tuesday. The agency should start working with affected communities now, he said, to model and prepare for how much worse conditions could become by midsummer. … ” Read more from Successful Farming here: As drought conditions worsen, California braces for ‘worst-case scenario’
Drought Status Update: California-Nevada and Pacific Northwest special edition drought early warning update
“A high pressure ridge near the western U.S. coast has largely diverted precipitation away from the states of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho over the past 6 weeks and impeded drought recovery. In southern Oregon, reservoir levels are already extremely low, and in California, the volume of water stored in the snowpack and reservoirs combined has plateaued. These five western states are on the precipice of drought intensification and development if below-normal precipitation continues, as is being suggested by subseasonal forecasts and historical odds. ... ” Read more from NIDIS here: Drought Status Update: California-Nevada and Pacific Northwest special edition drought early warning update
Dry start to 2022 intensifies drought in US West
“After one of the wettest Decembers in recent memory, January and February have been among the driest ever. And it appears unlikely to change any time soon. “January precipitation was a bust. February is looking the same,” the National Integrated Drought Information System said in a status update Thursday. “Drought intensification is likely, and impacts may be severe for some areas.” A high pressure ridge near the West Coast has largely diverted precipitation away from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington state and Idaho over the past six weeks, according to the agency. As a result, reservoir levels are already extremely low in southern Oregon, and in California the volume of water stored in the snowpack and reservoirs combined has plateaued. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Dry start to 2022 intensifies drought in US West
SEE ALSO:
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- Expecting the Western Drought to End Soon? Not Likely, Forecasters Say, from the New York Times
- California records driest January in 38 years, from Bloomberg
Natives who can rough it
“Name a native fish. One that spends lots of time in the Delta. One that’s not a salmon, smelt, or sturgeon. One whose population isn’t plummeting, and in fact seems to be doing just fine. By now the list of possibilities has been shortened severely — though not exhausted. A number of native fish still ply Delta waters in stable numbers, but precisely because there are no restoration projects, monitoring programs, or conservation efforts designed to save them — or perhaps because they’re not game fish, or particularly large, or traditionally “charismatic” — theirs are not household names. To the extent that they are recognized by the general public at all, some are even referred to, somewhat derisively, as “rough” fish: essentially, not a desirable catch. But they are winners in their own way, living reminders of a pre-development Delta, still playing an active role in this highly modified ecosystem. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Natives who can rough it
Sturdy sturgeon
“A 90-year-old Australian lungfish at San Francisco’s Academy of Sciences has received a lot of press lately, but there is a wild fish species living in the San Francisco Bay that has the potential to live that long or longer — or so we think. While one white sturgeon caught in the Columbia River Basin was estimated to be 104 years old, the life expectancy of white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, which includes the Central Valley population endemic to the San Francisco Bay, is hard to pin down. “There are old ones out there, but it’s really hard to give a number because we just don’t have it,” says John Kelly, statewide sturgeon coordinator for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Sturdy sturgeon
Let’s not forget Suisun Marsh
Peter Moyle writes, “I started sampling the fishes of Suisun Marsh in 1979 because one of my UC Davis graduate students was looking for a place to study tule perch, a live-bearing native fish. We found not only a lot of tule perch in the marsh, but also an abundance of other native fishes. Clearly, this was a good place to study species for which we had little information at that time. Two things helped with our new project. First, sampling boats could be launched less than an hour’s drive from campus. Second, the California Department of Water Resources needed a study to examine effects of new tidal gates on fish. The gates are designed to retain fresher water in the marsh to benefit waterfowl, for hunting. They also keep marsh channels brackish, favoring estuarine fishes such as striped bass and splittail. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Let’s not forget Suisun Marsh
$12 million awarded for environmental enhancement and mitigation projects
“The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in coordination with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) today announced more than $12 million in funding for 18 projects under CNRA’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) grant program. EEM provides grants to local, state and federal governmental agencies as well as nonprofit organizations for projects that mitigate environmental impacts produced by new or modified state transportation facilities. “Local leaders and groups are implementing nature-based solutions across California to offset environmental impacts from transportation projects,” said Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “These projects help green our communities, provide residents new open spaces to enjoy, preserve our world-renowned biodiversity and build our state’s resilience to climate change. I’m eager to see these important projects get completed to deliver these community and environmental benefits.” ... ” Continue reading this press release from the California Natural Resources Agency here: $12 million awarded for environmental enhancement and mitigation projects
In commentary today …
New water policy should include more storage, infrastructure
Ronald J. Silva, a real estate agent from Fresno, writes, “I agree with the suggestion that new approaches to water supply are necessary. However, we need to avoid “solutions” that cut allocations to an industry that feeds the nation and supports the livelihood of communities and the economy of the Central Valley. As a side note, California farmers have decreased their water usage by double digits since 1980 and continue to get more efficient. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: New water policy should include more storage, infrastructure
The Environmental Protection Agency must implement the law regarding ship ballast water discharges
Andrew Cohen writes, “The San Francisco Bay-Delta ecosystem is the most invaded estuary in the world — with ship ballast water the dominant vector for introducing new invasions. Regulating ballast water discharges is the most effective action available to address the problem of invasive species in our estuary. So it is striking that the draft Estuary Blueprint, the San Francisco Estuary Partnership’s five-year plan to protect the estuary, says nothing about ballast water and contains no actions to manage ballast discharges. To correct this, the Sierra Club SF Bay Chapter and other organizations have co-written a letter to the Partnership — a collaboration of local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, and academia and business leaders working to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary — recommending the inclusion of seven specific actions to address this threat. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Bay chapter of the Sierra Club here: The Environmental Protection Agency must implement the law regarding ship ballast water discharges
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Listen: Klamath dams top the list of ‘Dams Out’ targeted for removal in California
“The West is famous for its free-flowing rivers. But it is also known as a place where many dams have been built to hold back the waters of many streams, and the trend now is more toward removal than construction. California Trout is out with its 2022 “Dams Out” report, listing the top five dams targeted for removal. Two things to know: three of the five are in our part of California, and several of the top five are actually multiple dams. In the case of the top of the list–the Klamath River dams–there are actually four dams, and one of them is in Oregon. The Scott Dam on the Eel River made the list, as did the array of dams on Battle Creek near Red Bluff. CalTrout Executive Director Curtis Knight lays out the list and the reasons for wanting the dams out, in a JX interview.” Listen at Jefferson Public Radio here: Listen: Klamath dams top the list of ‘Dams Out’ targeted for removal in California
Rainy March forecast to ease drought conditions in Humboldt County after dry start to 2022
“After experiencing the 12th driest January on record and an unseasonably dry February, Eureka is forecast to receive above normal rainfall in March, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center announced today. Hydrologist Kathleen Zontos with Eureka’s National Weather Service Office told the Outpost that the 30-day March forecast shows a 50 to 60 percent chance of above-normal rainfall for the North Coast. “The average rainfall for the month of March in Eureka is 5.75 inches,” Zontos said. “The climate Prediction Center March forecast is essentially saying there’s a chance we could observe more than 5.75 inches.” … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Rainy March forecast to ease drought conditions in Humboldt County after dry start to 2022
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
More Tahoe snow on the horizon
“Winter is not over yet! The Tahoe Basin could see more snow next week. The recent snow system between Mon-Wed, after six weeks of drought, brought anywhere from 2” at South Lake Tahoe lake level homes, to 9” at the upper elevation resorts. Looking forward, we expect mostly sunny skies through Saturday with lighter winds and warming temperatures. Sunday afternoon, winds will pick up prior to sunset due to a weak system blowing in Sunday night followed by another Monday night into Tuesday morning. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: More Tahoe snow on the horizon
Snowless mountains at China’s Winter Olympics are Lake Tahoe’s inevitable future
“At the start of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Robert J. O’Neill — conservative Twitter personality and guy who claims to have shot and killed Osama bin Laden — posted an image of a big air ski slope right next to some cooling towers, with a backdrop of brown mountains and the landscape of the Shijingshan District in Beijing. The image was tweeted with the caption, “I wish this was a joke. Here’s your Olympics,” supposedly illustrating China’s sloppy hosting efforts. … But O’Neill’s bewilderment is misplaced for a number of reasons. Chief among them: The artificial snowscape in Beijing is likely to be replicated not just on the international Olympic stage but also at the local level here in the United States — including, someday, even at Lake Tahoe, which hosted the 1960 Winter Games. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Snowless mountains at China’s Winter Olympics are Lake Tahoe’s inevitable future
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
McCloud River salmon may return
“The McCloud River and the Upper Sacramento River (above Shasta Dam) are two of my favorite California trout streams. They, along with the Pit River, run south and west from Mount Shasta alongside the railroad, through beautiful wooded canyons and empty into Shasta Lake. … last week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will receive $1.5 million in funding for the Juvenile Salmonid Collection System Pilot Project in the McCloud Arm of Shasta reservoir. This project is the first test of a collection system that would be an integral part of reintroducing endangered winter-run Chinook salmon and other runs of salmon to their historical habitat. ... ” Read the full article at the Sonoma Index Tribune here: McCloud River salmon may return
BAY AREA
Bay Area, most of CA remain in severe drought as record dry spell continues
“For the fifth consecutive week, Bay Area and California saw no improvement in drought with the majority of the state remaining in the severe range. ABC7 News Meteorologist Mike Nicco says the usual parade of atmospheric rivers has been shut down by a ridge of high pressure sending these storms well into Canada. The resulting dry faucet setting records for lengths of days without rain. … ” Read more from Channel 7 here: Bay Area, most of CA remain in severe drought as record dry spell continues
Salmon returned to California creeks. Now drought has too.
“A few weekends ago, crowds flocked to San Francisco Bay Area creeks to get a rare look at native salmon. Record storms in October and December had swelled local waterways, and large numbers of the anadromous fish had swum up from the ocean to their spawning grounds. Endangered Coho salmon were showing up in dozens of places, including Montezuma and Larsen Creeks, small tributaries of San Geronimo Creek, where they hadn’t been seen in nearly 20 years. Several stray Chinooks even made an appearance in Oakland’s urban lagoon, Lake Merritt. The proliferation of salmon was hailed as a hopeful sign of recovery for the long-embattled species and an encouraging signal that the decades-long drought might be loosening. … ” Read more from Sierra Magazine here: Salmon returned to California creeks. Now drought has too.
Salmon spawning habitat in San Geronimo Valley under threat
“The future of coho salmon in California could be decided in March by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. They will be voting on a proposed Stream Conservation Area (SCA) Ordinance, which focuses on saving critical salmonid habitat in the San Geronimo Valley. Coho salmon populations have plummeted to 95 percent of their historic population numbers, driven by the loss of critical spawning habitat. The tiny nine-square-mile San Geronimo Valley makes up ten percent of the spawning habitat for central coast coho, making this one of the most vital coho habitats in all of California. Yet even in the Valley, the actual number of fish is tragically low — averaging only 250 adults returning to spawn each year. The fate of coho salmon in California is directly intertwined with the preservation of this riparian habitat. ... ” Continue reading from the Sierra Club here: Salmon spawning habitat in San Geronimo Valley under threat
Dodd introduces pair of bills to fund Highway 37 work
“Sen. Bill Dodd introduced legislation Tuesday to ease congestion along Highway 37 and protect it from sea-level rise, authorizing a toll to pay for improvements and by tapping roughly $2 billion in federal infrastructure funding. “Congestion and seasonal flooding are already unbearable for commuters and it will only get worse, with the highway projected to be underwater in 20 years,” Dodd, D-Napa said in a press release. “This legislation creates a dedicated funding stream and leverages federal dollars, which is the only way we can afford these critical improvements that will keep this artery working, while reducing daily commute times.” … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Dodd introduces pair of bills to fund Highway 37 work
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
UCLA: Southern California high-risk fire days could double by 2100 — and there’s not a lot we can do about it
“The number of annual high-risk fire days in Southern California could double by 2100 thanks to steady temperature increases brought on by climate change, according to a UCLA study released Thursday. The study, published in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment, found that in terms of actual acreage burned in the state each year, there has been a sharp upturn, primarily due to large fires in Northern California. Southern California, however, has not seen a significant jump in burn area over the past 45 years. But the data analyzed in the study paint a picture of increasing fire danger in the coming decades in conjunction with gradually increasing temperatures. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: UCLA: Southern California high-risk fire days could double by 2100 — and there’s not a lot we can do about it
SoCalgas jumpstarts “green” hydrogen plan despite massive water use
” Today SoCalGas applied to the California Public Utilities Commission for a memo account to track expenses for the “Angeles Link Project,” an initiative building out “green” hydrogen to power the Los Angeles Basin. “Green” hydrogen utilizes electrolysis to break water molecules apart. However, environmental advocates have identified the key flaws of any hydrogen development, including the possible perpetuation of fossil fuel infrastructure and the enormous amount of water required for such a process. ... ” Continue reading at Food & Water Watch here: SoCalgas jumpstarts “green” hydrogen plan despite massive water use
Documentary about sea level rise and coastal erosion takes look at Balboa Island, Crystal Cove
“When Mike Moodian was a teenager growing up in south Orange County in the early 1990s, Capistrano Beach was the place to be. “It was where young people go to hang out and it was always considered one of those romantic beaches, where you’d take your first girlfriend to have your first kiss somewhere down in the sands,” Moodian, now 45, said in an interview this week. Now Capistrano Beach — located by Dana Point, bordering Doheny State Beach and San Clemente — is a shell of what it once was. Rising sea levels and storms have eroded the sands, and the beach looks like a wasteland in a scene from a “Mad Max” film compared to its heyday, Moodian said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Documentary about sea level rise and coastal erosion takes look at Balboa Island, Crystal Cove
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Can the Salton Sea geothermal field prevent the coming lithium shortage?
Along the Colorado River …
Bipartisan poll finds spiking concern over water supply and climate change in Colorado and Western states
“A bipartisan poll has found spiking concern over environmental issues among residents across the Intermountain West, particularly worries about water resources and climate change. The 12th annual “Conservation in the West Poll” from Colorado College’s State of the Rockies Project surveyed 3,400 registered voters across eight Western states, including Colorado. The results, collected in January, also suggest broad and growing support for policies promoting environmental stewardship and those increasing protections for and access to public lands. CPR operates KRCC, which is owned by Colorado College. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Bipartisan poll finds spiking concern over water supply and climate change in Colorado and Western states
Legal brief: Navajo Nation water rights
The Ninth Circuit revived the Navajo Nation’s breach of trust claim alleging the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs failed to consider its “as-yet-undetermined water rights in managing the Colorado River.” Read the opinion via Courthouse News Service here: Water rights
Legal Corner: A guide to valuing water rights in Colorado
“With population growth, increased environmental concerns, and a greater demand for water for residential, commercial and industrial projects, understanding water rights ownership and regulation is important for anyone evaluating water rights. While water laws vary from state to state, it is important to understand the complexities of water right ownership and regulation. This article focuses on Colorado water ownership and regulation given Colorado’s unique water rights system. In Colorado, water rights are a freely transferrable real property right that can be bought and sold separately from land. Both the legal and physical availability of a water right determine the value of that right. Having a strategy to address common issues related to buying and selling water rights results in maximizing the value of the water right. ... ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Legal Corner: A Guide to Valuing Water Rights in Colorado
In national water news today …
Billions flow to water systems from federal pandemic relief funds
” … The American Rescue Plan Act — the relief bill that President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021 — set aside $350 billion to assist states, tribes, territories, and local governments in responding to financial challenges wrought by the pandemic. Water infrastructure improvements like the ones that Iberia Parish Sewerage District No. 1 will make are one of four broad spending categories authorized by the act. Since ARPA became law nearly a year ago, government agencies have been determining how to divide their share of the pie. Many are putting — or are planning to put — significant resources into their water systems, a cash infusion meant to revitalize aging pipes and treatment facilities. According to a database compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, states, territories, and Washington, D.C. have already dedicated at least $10.1 billion in ARPA funds to water systems. ... ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: Billions flow to water systems from federal pandemic relief funds
Addressing the unintended consequences of industrial water reduction
“Water reduction has been a central strategy for most industrial companies’ water stewardship goals and commitments. Companies increasingly view water as a key part of their environment, sustainability and governance (ESG) goals, with more than 200 multinational companies signing on to the CEO Water Mandate, a UN Global Compact initiative that mobilizes business leaders on water, sanitation and the Sustainable Development Goals. All major food and beverage companies recognize the importance of water in their operations and have taken steps to reduce their water use ratio (water used per product produced). Water reduction makes good business sense by reducing operational risks and costs and benefiting the local communities. … ” Read more from Water Technology here: Addressing the unintended consequences of industrial water reduction
Equilibrium/Sustainability — Microplastics make pollutants more toxic
“Microplastics can increase the toxicity of organic pollutants in their surrounding environment tenfold, a new study from Tel Aviv University has found. These tiny particles, which range from microscopic to a few millimeters in size, are found nearly everywhere, such as wells, soil, food products and glaciers in the North Pole, according to the scientists, who published their study in the journal Chemosphere. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Equilibrium/Sustainability — Microplastics make pollutants more toxic
Future reliance on fossil fuels could put unprecedented stress on food systems
“Farmers and ranchers are no strangers to drought. Over the past few years, parched ground has been found everywhere from California and Texas to Iowa and South Dakota. On Monday, the New York Times reported that the megadrought in the American Southwest has become so severe it’s now the driest two decades the region has experienced in at least 1,200 years. And, according to a recent zzz analysis of federal crop insurance payments, drought-related insurance costs have jumped by more than 400 percent since 1995. With human activities, such as the use of fossil fuels, contributing to a warming planet, extreme climate events are becoming more prevalent, too. When burned for energy, coal, crude oil and natural gas emit large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere, driving up global temperatures. … ” Read more from Modern Farmer here: Future reliance on fossil fuels could put unprecedented stress on food systems
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20220217Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project Appeal
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Estuary News~ DPC Report~ Arts & Crafts~ DSC Meeting~ Delta Governance ~~
