On the calendar today …
- MEETING: California Water Plan Policy Advisory Committee will meet from 9am to 12pm. You can join the meeting here: https://kearnswest.zooman.us/j/82764868627
- VIRTUAL EVENT: Fresno State Water Showcase: research, studies, education, activities, and more beginning at 9am. Join Fresno State Faculty and the California Water Institute at the inaugural virtual Fresno State Water Showcase! The event will feature virtual water-related research, studies, education, activities, and more in a 5-minute lightning talks style with time for questions and answers. The event will conclude with an in-person networking lunch at 12 pm in the Jordan Agricultural Research Center (JARC) lobby. Click here to register.
- LUNCH-MAR from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. This month’s topic is methods for characterizing, monitoring, and quantifying managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Craig Ulrich, from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, will discuss his innovative research efforts to quantify aquifer changes in response to recharge or withdrawal. Click here to register.
- VIRTUAL EVENT: 2022 Watershed Improvement Program Summit: Strategies for Wildfire Recovery from 1pm to 4pm. The 2022 Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) Summit will focus on wildfire recovery strategies. With input from community leaders, land and water managers, scientists, and elected and government officials, the Summit will highlight why recovery is critical for Sierra Nevada communities and landscapes—and all of California—after record-breaking fire seasons. Join us on March 2 for a deep-dive into the strategies we can use to restore our forests, rebuild our communities, and protect vital resources and values. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Skimpy state snowpack points to another long dry summer
“California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its third snow survey of the season and the outlook is not good for the state’s water users. The survey recorded 35 inches of snow at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada mountains below Lake Tahoe. That’s about 68% of average for this time of year. Statewide, snowpack is 63% of average. The measurements come after the driest January and February in California’s recorded history. “With only one month left in California’s wet season and no major storms in the forecast, Californians should plan for a third year of drought conditions,” said Karla Nemeth, director of DWR, in a press release. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Skimpy state snowpack points to another long dry summer
Paltry Sierra snowpack spells prolonged drought in California
“A regular Sierra snowpack survey Tuesday proved what most Californians already knew: The first two months of 2022 were the driest January and February in a century. The survey at Phillips Station south of Lake Tahoe did not bode well for local and statewide drought conditions. Though large storms at the end of 2021 offered a glimmer of hope for a robust snowpack to replenish the state’s dwindling reservoirs and water supply, a two-month dearth of precipitation kept Phillips Station and California as a whole on track for another year of drought. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Paltry Sierra snowpack spells prolonged drought in California
Water officials warn low Sierra snowpack level is ‘one step short of catastrophe’
“Bad news on the drought front Tuesday as state water officials measured the snowpack up in the Sierra with ominous results for continued drought conditions in 2022. It’s been a strange year. “We are in a world of hurt here, a real-world of hurt,” Gary Kremen, chairperson of the Santa Clara Valley Water District said. “And I know we feel there are so many crises going on: COVID, the unhoused, Ukraine. This is a real crisis but people aren’t going to realize it until their taps run dry.” There was the now-infamous October storm followed by a historically dry January and February. When the California Department of Water Resources measured the snowpack now at the start of March, the number was bleak. Only 63% of normal water content. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: Water officials warn low Sierra snowpack level is ‘one step short of catastrophe’
SEE ALSO:
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- California drought continues after state has its driest January and February on record, from the LA Times
- ‘Moving toward extremes’: California drought outlook is bleak after dry start to 2022, from the Sacramento Bee
- Phillips Station snow pack measured at 68% of average; Mt. Rose at 86%, from South Tahoe Now
Multiple records fall as dry streak continues and drought concerns grow in California
“February 2022 ties 2020 as the driest on record for Downtown Sacramento. No measurable rain was recorded for the month, which traditionally is the second wettest of the year. This follows one of the driest January’s on record. 2022 only recorded 0.05” of rain in Downtown Sacramento. Both contributed to the on-going record dry streak which stands at 52 days as of Tuesday. The streak could possibly stretch to Thursday before measurable rain is once again recorded. These would be the first raindrops in the bucket since Jan. 8 of this year. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Multiple records fall as dry streak continues and drought concerns grow in California
Valley water agencies ask for more water now and in the future
“On pace to be the driest January-February on record, signaling a third straight year of drought, local water authorities are begging the state to release more water for farmers this summer or at least begin building capacity to withstand future droughts. On Feb. 23, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced its initial 2022 water supply allocations for Central Valley Project contractors, including the water agencies which operate the Friant-Kern Canal to the east and Delta-Mendota Canal to the west. … The initial allocation would only provide Friant Division contractors, those who receive surface water from the Friant-Kern Canal, with 15% of its Class 1 allocation, or about 120,000 acre feet of water, and 0% for Class 2 contractors. Friant Water Authority, which operates the Friant-Kern Canal, said it understood Bureau of Reclamation’s desire to err on the side of caution but said their contractors should receive a higher allocation based on the current snowpack and reservoir conditions. … ” Read the full story at the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Valley water agencies ask for more water now and in the future
EXPLAINER: California farmers hit again with water cuts
“Farmers in central California will be getting little to no water again from a key water system amid a persisting drought, but exactly how they’re affected will vary. The Bureau of Reclamation said last week it will not be able to provide some farmers with water from the Central Valley Project, a vast system of dams, reservoirs and canals it oversees in the state. That means farmers in the agricultural region that produces much of the country’s fruits, nuts and vegetables will again need to find other water sources — or leave land idle as many have done in recent years. … ” Read more from the US News & World Report here: EXPLAINER: California farmers hit again with water cuts
Ranchers hope for a wet ‘Miracle March’
“After two dry months, the next few weeks will be crunch time for California ranchers, as many look to the skies for rain to get pastures growing and keep their livestock fed. Generous storms late last year got range conditions off to “a fantastic start,” said Solano County rancher Jeff Dittmer. There’s been enough feed on the ground that his cattle are still in “pretty decent shape,” he said. Even now, pastures remain green, but the lack of rain has stopped grasses from growing, so he has started to feed some hay. This time of year, the grass should be growing much faster than the cattle can eat it, he noted. “We’re starting to run out of time,” Dittmer said. “If we don’t get some decent rain here in the next month or so, it’s going to look awful grim come this summer.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Ranchers hope for a wet ‘Miracle March’
Low numbers of Chinook salmon returned to Sacramento, Klamath rivers last fall
“Relatively low numbers of fall-run Chinook salmon returned to spawn in the Sacramento and Klamath rivers in 2021, according to the “Review of 2021 Ocean Salmon Fisheries” compiled by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC). The release of the report comes prior to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s annual Salmon Information Meeting that will be held via Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Low numbers of Chinook salmon returned to Sacramento, Klamath rivers last fall
Adventures in Bay-Delta data: Change is afoot in the Delta
“We all know climate change is going to be rough. We expect increases in temperature, changes in rainfall (where, when, and how much), and local extinctions or migration of plants and wildlife as the climate shifts. Climate change can sound abstract and is often spoken of as a phenomenon of the future, despite the changes we are already seeing in our surroundings. These changes affect the San Francisco Estuary and will eventually make it necessary to adjust the way we manage our water in California if we want to lessen the impact on those ecosystems. To better understand the impacts of climate change and to better inform management strategies, a group of Interagency Ecological Program (IEP) scientists wanted to find out how much is known about climate change in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Suisun Bay and Suisun Marsh and how management actions can lessen these effects. To do this, they gathered scientists with broad expertise – from zooplankton to aquatic vegetation – and created the Climate Change Project Work Team. … ” Continue reading from the IEP here: Change is afoot in the Delta
EcoFarm 2022 and a Talk with Mark Arax
” … Mark Arax’s accomplishments as a journalist and an author can be benevolently overwhelming themselves. Across a decorated career as a longtime L.A. Times reporter and contributor to the likes of The Atlantic, he reveals an uncanny balance between bulldog investigative reporter and poetic storyteller—and between nose-to-the-soil citizen scientist and big-picture philosopher. He’s also deeply connected to his native San Joaquin Valley, which he appropriately calls the world’s biggest agricultural experiment, and where he tends a modest organic stone fruit orchard in his backyard. This connection makes his artful book on the valley’s water crisis, The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California, that much more personal and powerful. At EcoFarm, he’ll present the March 15 keynote “Water, Land and Power in the Central Valley: Towards an Ecologically Sound and Just Agriculture.” … ” Read an interview with Mark Arax at Edible Monterey here (scroll down): EcoFarm 2022 and a Talk with Mark Arax
Drought means no U.S. water for many irrigators
“Zero. That’s how much water is being allocated to Central Valley Project irrigation contractors north and south of the delta this year. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s announcement last week marked the second year in a row that thousands of California farmers and ranchers were told they will get no federal surface-water deliveries. The economic fallout may well be significant. A new report from the University of California, Merced, said agriculture in the state lost 8,750 jobs, forfeited $1.1 billion in earnings and fallowed 395,000 acres of farmland in 2021. That was as severe drought barred federal deliveries and curtailed water allotments. Elizabeth Jonasson of Fresno-based Westlands Water District said it’s important to recognize that fallowing land has “a very real human impact, especially here in the valley. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Drought means no U.S. water for many irrigators
In commentary today …
Editorial: California is failing to prepare for droughts
The Mercury News and East Bay Times Editorial Board writes, “Climate change isn’t a problem for the future. It’s here, and California isn’t remotely prepared to deal with the consequences. The state’s latest snowpack report makes that clear. The Sierra Nevada snowpack provides nearly one-third of California’s water supply. On Tuesday it was at 63% of its historical average for that date. That’s despite the heavy storms in October and December. The months of January and February were the driest in the state’s recorded history, meaning Californians are facing a third consecutive year of severe drought. A study published Feb. 14 notes that the past two decades ranks as the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years in the American West. … ” Continue reading at the Mercury News here: Editorial: California is failing to prepare for droughts
Seed funding needed for major water recycling project in Southern California
Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District, writes, “The Colorado is the second largest river that California depends on, second only to the Sacramento. Its enormous challenges tend to fall into the policy shadows in the Capitol’s water discussions. But climate change is rapidly reducing flows in this important river and that requires bold action. Policymakers in Sacramento have a rare and golden opportunity to be part of a historic collaborative effort toward a broader solution. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is merging forces with urban water districts representing Southern Nevada and Central Arizona to advance one of the nation’s largest recycling projects, located in the city of Carson. Seed funding from Sacramento could help accelerate efforts to build this local supply project that would produce enough high-quality water for 500,000 families for a year, far bigger than any Southland recycling or desalination project that’s been built to date. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Seed funding needed for major water recycling project in Southern California
Vote to reduce plastics and clean up our environment
Assemblymember Cristina Garcia writes, “I still remember the poster on the wall at Bell Gardens Intermediate School back in 1987: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The order of those words mattered, our teachers told us: first, reduce everything we can, then reuse what we can’t reduce, and finally we recycle what’s left. But that’s not how things played out, especially with plastics. Since those fifth-grade days, plastic production and plastic pollution has grown exponentially. Today we are producing about 300 million tons of plastic waste every year: equal to the weight of the entire human population. … ” Read more at Cal Matters here: Vote to reduce plastics and clean up our environment
Editorial: End drilling in California waters to protect the coast and climate
The Los Angeles Times editorial board writes, “When an undersea pipeline off the Orange County coast spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil last fall and fouled beaches and wetlands, it was only the latest illustration of the serious and ongoing danger of aging oil infrastructure along California’s shoreline. State lawmakers should begin reducing the risks to the coastal environment and the climate by ending drilling in California waters. They have the opportunity to do so by supporting legislation by state Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), drafted in response to the October oil spill off Huntington Beach. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Editorial: End drilling in California waters to protect the coast and climate
Editorial: Climate catastrophe is already here. What will it take for the world to act?
The Los Angeles Times editorial board writes, “A new United Nations report blares dire warnings of the escalating effects of climate change: Our planet is no longer on the brink of catastrophe; the catastrophe is well underway. How we respond now will determine how horrific things get for nature and humanity. In a sweeping assessment released Monday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, scientists from across the globe found that climate change is causing “dangerous and widespread disruption” to billions of people and the natural world. These effects are coming faster and harder than expected, outpacing our efforts and ability to adapt. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Editorial: Climate catastrophe is already here. What will it take for the world to act?
Commentary: for better water system security, we need more carrots, not sticks
Charlie Moskowitz, vice president of policy and government affairs at Security Scorecard, writes, ” … Cybersecurity experts have been sounding alarms about the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure, from financial systems to public utilities, for years. Unlike the financial sector, the water sector is a kaleidoscope of public and private operators ranging from massive behemoths to what could only be described as “mom and pop” operators working on a shoestring budget with only a handful of employees. While the largest utilities may have the expertise and funding needed to maintain strong cybersecurity controls, 90 percent of water utilities across the country service less than 5,000 people. … ” Read the full commentary at Water Finance & Management here: Commentary: for better water system security, we need more carrots, not sticks
Today’s featured article …
CA WATER COMMISSION: Update on SGMA Implementation
At the February meeting of the California Water Commission, Tim Godwin, Supervising Engineering Geologist at California Department of Water Resources, provided an update on SGMA implementation, including an overview of the groundwater sustainability plans that DWR has reviewed to date and the approach and timeline for reviewing the plans submitted in January 2022.
Click here to read this article.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
FERC endorses massive Klamath dam removal decades in the making
“Following decades of dispute and review, more than 400 miles of the Klamath River could soon return to a free-flowing state as the nation’s largest dam removal project takes a step forward. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Friday released its draft environmental impact statement on the removal of four hydroelectric dams — rising a combined total of 411 feet high — known as the Lower Klamath Project. “After taking mitigation into account, the project would have some significant adverse effects, but would provide many significant benefits including the protection and restoration of anadromous fisheries that are of vital importance to the Tribes,” FERC wrote. … ” Read more from E&E News here: FERC endorses massive Klamath dam removal decades in the making
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
This Tahoe neighborhood destroyed the largest wetland in the Sierra. Now it’s being besieged by bears.
““Use bear-resistant garbage cans.” It’s the first piece of advice on a list of things residents should do to keep Tahoe bears wild. Bear boxes are a common installation in front of homes throughout the Tahoe Basin because they are effective. They prevent bears from accessing human food and garbage — the gateway drug, so to speak, before a bear’s quest to find food leads it farther into human turf, into garages and houses. But in the Tahoe Keys — the neighborhood that’s been in the national news because Hank the Tank and other resident bears have been so active, breaking into at least 28 homes since the fall — bear boxes were prohibited by the property owners association until last year. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: This Tahoe neighborhood destroyed the largest wetland in the Sierra. Now it’s being besieged by bears.
Final piece of Cave Rock water work to happen this year
“Work on the third and most expensive part of the Cave Rock Water System is scheduled to begin this construction season at Lake Tahoe. Under a construction manager at risk contract, the replacement will cost the county $7.269 million to serve Lakeridge, Hidden Woods and the U.S. Highway 50 frontage, bringing the total work on the water system to $20.2 million. Most of the $21.1 million work is funded through a state drinking water revolving loan of $16.25 million with another $4.1 million coming from capital reserves. The U.S. Forest Service ponied up $500,000 for the work while $250,000 from the revolving fund’s principal forgiveness rounded out the funding. … ” Continue reading at the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Final piece of Cave Rock water work to happen this year
Third District rejects CEQA challenges to El Dorado Irrigation District ditch piping project, holds EIR’s project description and analysis of potential hydrology, biological resources, and wildfire impacts were adequate
“In an opinion filed January 28, and later certified for publication on February 16, 2022, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed a judgment denying a petition for writ of mandate that challenged on CEQA grounds the El Dorado Irrigation District’s (“EID”) decision to undertake its Upper Main Ditch piping project. Save the El Dorado Canal v. El Dorado Irrigation District, et al. (2022) ___ Cal.App.5th ___. The challenged water conveyance project would replace about three miles of EID’s open and unlined earthen ditch system with a buried water transmission pipeline in order to conserve water and improve water quality. Petitioner alleged the EIR’s project description was inadequate because it omitted the material fact that the ditch section to be abandoned as a water conveyance also served as the watershed’s only drainage system, and that the EIR insufficiently analyzed the abandonment’s impacts on hydrology, biological resources, and wildfires. … ” Continue reading at Miller Starr Regalia here: Third District rejects CEQA challenges to El Dorado Irrigation District ditch piping project, holds EIR’s project description and analysis of potential hydrology, biological resources, and wildfire impacts were adequate
Commentary: Rise Gold’s well fantasies
Grass Valley resident Ralph Silberstein writes, “The Idaho-Maryland Mine speculative draft environmental impact report that has been released for public comment is a massive document based upon, well … clairvoyance? One might think so because the baseline, or “current conditions” of the Centennial site as described in the report is some future condition of the site after a required toxic mine waste cleanup project has been completed. However, no actual document describing the cleanup was included in the draft. It turns out that the needed document, the Remedial Action Plan from the Department of Toxic Substances Control is not yet even finalized. ... ” Continue reading from The Union here: Commentary: Rise Gold’s well fantasies
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New watering schedule in effect for city of Sacramento residents
“March 1 means it’s officially time the watering schedule changes for the city of Sacramento. Now, lawns can be watered twice a week instead of just once a week. Many homeowners followed the city’s advice and turned off their sprinklers over winter. But as the days get longer, lawns will need extra water. With the new watering schedule in Sacramento, people who live at odd-numbered addresses can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. People who live at even-numbered addresses can water on Wednesdays and Sundays. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: New watering schedule in effect for city of Sacramento residents
NAPA/SONOMA
Controversial Walt Ranch development vote delayed in Napa following protests
“A decision on a long-debated Napa Valley vineyard development, Walt Ranch, has been delayed once again so that Napa officials can reconsider hearings without the vote of a supervisor who has a financial stake in a neighboring property. The proposed vineyard, Walt Ranch, has been a controversial topic in Napa for 17 years. The property’s owners, Dallas billionaires Craig and Kathryn Hall, have sought permission from the county to plant grapevines on the undeveloped parcel in Napa’s rural Atlas Peak area. Environmentalists have long opposed the plan and argued that the property should remain a natural forest, saying a vineyard there would deplete groundwater supply, disturb animal habitats and require the removal of thousands of oak trees. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Controversial Walt Ranch development vote delayed in Napa following protests
BAY AREA
San Francisco’s lack of rain this year just smashed a 170-year-old record
“A persistent lack of rain in the Bay Area led two cities to break their respective records for the driest first two months of the year, though weather forecasters remained cautiously optimistic Tuesday that rain would return to the region this week. San Francisco and San Jose saw little to no rain in January and February, said Matt Mehle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service — months where the region ordinarily receives a majority of rainfall during the winter season. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: San Francisco’s lack of rain this year just smashed a 170-year-old record
Column: Marin MWD staff report makes case for repealing desalination hurdle
Columnist Dick Spotswood writes, “Marin Municipal Water District directors have a chance to do more than talk about developing new water sources. All have voiced interest in pursuing “all of the above” new water options that have long been on the table. That includes desalination. I’m agnostic on which new water sources are best. The one approach that should be rejected is relying exclusively on conservation. We are now close to the point where MMWD’s 191,000 customers in central and southern Marin have done all they reasonably can do to reduce water usage. At last week’s MMWD Finance Committee meeting, board members heard a staff report that would expand their ability to pursue the “all of the above” options they supposedly support. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Column: Marin MWD staff report makes case for repealing desalination hurdle
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Snow pack for Kern River watershed at 39% of normal
“Local water watcher Scott Williams put out his monthly Kern River watershed report Tuesday and the outlook is skimpy without more storms before May. Williams compiles stats from a number of publicly available sources, including state electronic snow sensors, called “pillows,” stashed in the upper reaches of the watershed and compares them to historic trends. He crunches the numbers and issues a report from Nov. 1 to June 1 for fellow water watchers to follow all the ups and downs. And that has been the case for this water year – very up and down. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Snow pack for Kern River watershed at 39% of normal
EASTERN SIERRA
Groups fight proposed mining exploration near Death Valley
“Local environmental groups are voicing their concerns about a proposed mining exploration project about two miles west of California’s Death Valley. The company Mojave Precious Metals wants to drill more than 100 holes to look for gold at Conglomerate Mesa, and to revive some roads in what is now considered a roadless landscape. Kayla Browne, desert-lands organizer for the group Friends of the Inyo, said the area is important to migrating mule deer and is prime habitat for the Townsend’s western big-eared bat and the Inyo rock daisy. “This particular daisy is only found in the southern Inyo Mountains,” she said, “and specifically Conglomerate Mesa and Cerro Gordo.” ... ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Groups fight proposed mining exploration near Death Valley
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles set to receive first measurable in weeks
“Well-above-normal temperatures and very dry conditions have been the dominant form of weather for residents of California and much of the Southwest through the start of 2022. However, AccuWeather forecasters expect big changes in the forecast to occur by the weekend. March began much like January and February in the Southwest as no rain fell and record highs were even broken in several locations on Tuesday. This includes Southern California cities such as Anaheim and Palm Springs which hit a toasty 90 and 93 degrees respectively. More of the same can be expected on Wednesday, but forecasters are predicting a significant flip in the weather pattern for late in the week. “Something those across the Southwest have not seen often is on its way this week: rain,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Jessica Storm. ... ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Los Angeles set to receive first measurable in weeks
SAN DIEGO
Water contamination issue resolved at school: Carlsbad Unified
“The Carlsbad Unified School District says repairs have been completed to purge contaminated drinking water at Hope Elementary School, which may have been present in the school’s water system for several months. In a statement issued Monday, the district said that shortly after the school reopened in the fall, there were “sporadic reports” of water discoloration. In November, more complaints were lodged regarding the color, taste and smell of the water, though testing did not indicate the water was unsafe, the district said. … ” Read more from the Patch here: Water contamination issue resolved at school: Carlsbad Unified
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Powell likely to drop below critical level in next two weeks
“In the next week or two, the water level at Lake Powell is likely to dip below a key target elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level — a benchmark water managers have long tried to avoid — according to Nick Williams, power manager for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Upper Colorado River Basin. “I think we’re right at 2 feet above that target elevation,” Williams said. “At the rate we’re dropping we could be there in a week or two.” … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Lake Powell likely to drop below critical level in next two weeks
Are performing-enhancing clouds the key to solving Colorado’s drought crisis?
“By 2050, projections indicate there will be an 18 percent gap between how much water farmers in the North Platte River Basin need and what its namesake tributary provides. So the Jackson County Water Conservancy District, whose borders sit within the northern Colorado basin, turned to something that sounds like science fiction: changing the weather. By seeding storm clouds with silver iodide, professionals can wring more snow from them. And two years after joining a Wyoming-run program designed to do just that, the district recorded a snowpack with a billion more gallons of water than its annual average, says district president Jim Baller. … ” Read more from 5280 here: Are performing-enhancing clouds the key to solving Colorado’s drought crisis?
In national water news today …
A historic chance to protect America’s free-flowing rivers
“Each year thousands of tourists who visit Central Oregon trudge up a steep half-mile path to see Tumalo Creek emerge from the pine forest and plunge 97 feet over lava rock into a narrow canyon. Tumalo Falls is the highlight for visitors who hike along the 20-mile creek. But for residents in nearby Bend, the creek is also a prized source of drinking water and a haven for wildlife. Years-long efforts to protect the ecological integrity and scenic values of Tumalo Creek could be solidified with a bill now in Congress. The River Democracy Act would designate not just Tumalo but 4,711 miles of rivers throughout the state as part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. “This legislation will be good news for anyone who likes clean drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, and public lands recreation,” says Erik Fernandez, wilderness program manager at Oregon Wild. “It will protect some of the most scenic rivers we have in Oregon.” ... ” Read more at The Revelator here: A historic chance to protect America’s free-flowing rivers
IPCC Climate Report: Six key findings for water
“The United Nations climate panel issued a blunt and urgent warning to the world on Monday. In summarizing its report on the consequences of climate change, the scientific body described a society running out of time to prevent unbearable damage to the planet’s lands and waters — and to the people and creatures that depend on them. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, co-chair of the IPCC working group that produced the report. “Climate change is a threat to human well-being and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a livable future.” Burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, raising livestock, making cement, and using synthetic fertilizers are among the actions that have increased the amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere to the point that the planet’s basic functions are coming undone. ... ” Continue reading at the Circle of Blue here: IPCC Climate Report: Six Key Findings for Water
Interactive map: How has local sea level in the United States changed over time?
“Global sea level has risen between 6 and 8 inches (15-20 cm) over the last 100 years. About one third of the increase is due to the thermal expansion of ocean water as it has gotten warmer, and about two-thirds is due to meltwater flowing back to the ocean as glaciers and ice sheets on land melt. Global sea level rise is about what’s happening to the ocean as a whole. At a local scale, the change can be more or less than the global average due to currents, natural climate variability, and things happening on land—like seismic activity, erosion, and subsidence. In some places, for example, coastal land is sinking due to groundwater pumping that causes the ground to slump. … ” Read more from Climate.gov here: Interactive map: How has local sea level in the United States changed over time?
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Director Nemeth~ DWR Workshop~ Water Funding~ Cyberattack Protection~ Ag Lands~ Forest Stewardship~ CWEMF Meeting~~
