On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Northern California Water Association from 9am to 12pm. Join the Northern California Water Association for their 30th annual meeting, “The Evolving Landscape in the Sacramento River Basin: Ridgetop to River Mouth Water Management.” Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
On the weekend calendar …
- EVENT: Snowy Plover Mud Stomp on Saturday from 8:45 to 1pm (South Bay). Volunteers will join SFBBO staff at pond E14 in Eden Landing Ecological Reserve, which supports a large proportion of the total Snowy Plover breeding within the San Francisco Bay estuary each year. To help improve the breeding success of this threatened species, we will remove predator perches and thin overgrown vegetation that reduce the quality of Snowy Plover breeding habitat. We will also enhance the habitat by spreading oyster shells and stomping on the pond bottom to increase pond texture and habitat complexity, both of which help Snowy Plovers to blend in to evade predators. The depressions left by footprints have the added bonus of providing a nest “scrape” for Snowy Plovers to lay their eggs in. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Planting for pollinators at the marsh on Sunday from 9am to 12pm (South Bay). Come out to the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge for a few hours to restore part of the Bay at this Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful/San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory volunteer work party. While you are removing invasive vegetation, planting new plants, or laying down mulch, you’ll get to enjoy the fresh air of the Bay, see lots of birds, and learn from restoration experts about why this work is so important. Community service hours available. Register here.
In California water news today …
Extreme drought expands in California after a dismal winter dry spell
“Extreme drought expanded in southeastern and Northern California this week due in part to a dry spell that followed a series of storms in December. Extreme drought, the second-most severe category in the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor report, now covers about 12 percent of the state. That’s up for 6 percent last week, according to the report released Thursday. Nearly 87 percent of California is in severe drought, up from 69 percent last week. … ” Read more from NBC LA here: Extreme drought expands in California after a dismal winter dry spell
SEE ALSO: California rain map: Below-normal winter rainfall signals continued drought, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Rain returns to the north state
“After little to no moisture for two winter months, the north state is once again seeing rainfall, with a chance of snow higher into the mountains. Residents got their first batch of rain Thursday, which is expected to continue through today, and possibly Saturday for the foothill areas surrounding Chico and Oroville. According to the forecast issued by the National Weather Service, the north state is likely to see not only showers but thunderstorms as well both in the foothills and the valley today. While the rainfall might be welcome, it will remain minimal at only a quarter of an inch to a half an inch maximum. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Rain returns to the north state
Climate change identified as contributor to Oroville Dam spillway incident
“A one-two punch of precipitation resulted in damage to Oroville Dam’s main and emergency spillways pushing the second largest dam in California into a crisis in February 2017. Researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and colleagues say in a new study that they have identified the fingerprint of climate change in the events that triggered the incident. Issues with the dam’s spillways led to the evacuation of 188,000 people who lived in the floodplain of the Feather River some 70 miles north of Sacramento, Calif. Though officials narrowly averted a sudden release of water from behind the emergency spillway holding back the top-most portion of California’s second largest reservoir, the incident demonstrates how difficult it is to balance water supply needs served by full dams with public safety that requires retaining sufficient empty space to capture floodwater. … ” Read more from Scripps Institute of Oceanography here: Climate change identified as contributor to Oroville Dam spillway incident
Fong zeroes in on Newsom zeroing out water storage spending
“With California’s snowpack levels again missing targets for average depth, lawmakers in Sacramento are once again in search of options to strengthen the state’s long-term water resiliency. While doom-and-gloom rain down from the state’s top water agencies, the hunt for viable solutions for long-term fixes has grown into frustration for Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong. Fong, the vice chair of the California State Assembly’s Budget Committee, excoriated Newsom administration officials for failing to include any funding for above-ground water storage in the 2022-2023 budget. “Despite [Newsom] administration officials’ push for conservation, conservation alone cannot solve the state’s scarce water supply,” Fong said in a statement following a Wednesday budget subcommittee hearing. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Fong zeroes in on Newsom zeroing out water storage spending
California river and floodplain project restores natural processes
“In California’s Central Valley region, a floodplain and river restoration project is working to turn back the clock on the Yuba River’s gold mining history and reset the equilibrium between natural river functioning and native fish survival. The Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project is a multiphase, multiyear effort designed to improve habitats in the lower Yuba River for chinook salmon and steelhead trout — members of the salmonid family. When completed by 2023, the project has the potential to enhance or create as much as 157 acres of seasonally inundated riparian floodplain habitats, more than 1.7 mi of perennial side channels and alcoves, and more than 6.1 mi of seasonal side channels, alcoves, and swales. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: California river and floodplain project restores natural processes
Water in the West: Q&A with Bureau of Reclamation water officials
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — the federal agency that oversees water resource management in 17 Western states — has big projects planned in both its Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region and its California-Great Basin Region. …To preview upcoming projects in the California Great Basin Region, the Capital Press interviewed Ernest Conant, the region’s director. CP: What’s the game plan for the Klamath Basin? I’m looking for specific ideas or plans that are under consideration to alleviate the crisis there. Conant: As you know, (2021) was a terrible year for the Klamath Basin. It was the first year since the project was put in place in 1907 that we delivered no project water. … ” Read the full article at the Capital Press here: Water in the West: Q&A with Bureau of Reclamation water officials
Officials eyeing 2024 to break ground on the Sites Reservoir
“The Sites Reservoir, a project that has been been decades in the making, is currently on track to break ground in 2024, although for some the project could not come soon enough. When full it could hold enough water to supply 3-million households for one year, helping offer relief during dry periods like we’re experiencing now. “Anything you do to add to the water supply is going to relieve the pressure on the supply we already have,” said Congressman LaMalfa discussing the proposed reservoir. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Officials eyeing 2024 to break ground on the Sites Reservoir
New data shows subsidence continues in Water Year 2021, but pace is slower
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released new satellite-based data that show subsidence – or the sinking of the land surface due to excessive groundwater pumping – continues in the state. DWR has intensified statewide subsidence monitoring to help identify impacts and address them collaboratively with local groundwater agencies, counties and landowners. The areas experiencing the most subsidence during Water Year 2021 (WY 2021) are in the San Joaquin Valley, with a maximum of 1.1 feet of subsidence observed in the region and the Sacramento Valley with a maximum of 0.7 feet in the region. Data show that in WY 2021 subsidence of greater than 0.5 feet per year expanded to more areas than observed in WY 2020. However, fewer areas experienced higher rates of subsidence than at the end of the last drought in 2016.… ” Continue reading at Valley Voice here: New data shows subsidence continues in Water Year 2021, but pace is slower
Ongoing drought in California killing farm jobs and generating billions in water costs
“California agriculture feeds the nation. So, after suffering a severe drought for the past three years that caused a loss of nearly 9,000 farm jobs and left the state with about $1.2 billion in water costs, it’s becoming more and more clear that what happens in California impacts all of us. According to a new report prepared for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2021 was the second driest two-year period on record, resulting in reduced water deliveries to nearly 400,000 acres of cropland. The New York Times reported that by 2040, the San Joaquin Valley is projected to lose at least 535,000 acres of agricultural production—more than one-tenth of the area’s farmland. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: Ongoing drought in California killing farm jobs and generating billions in water costs
Delta Council blog: Building bridges with science for communities
Senior Environmental Scientist Cory Copeland writes, “If you ever go to coffee or happy hour with a State scientist, you should ask them about the first time they were scolded by a member of the public. I remember mine. I was fresh from school and still extremely green. I was working on an amendment to the Delta Plan, and we were meeting with a group of stakeholders. About three minutes into the meeting, immediately following my introduction, one person started with “What you people don’t understand is that…” followed by an explanation of how they saw some interconnected issues in the Delta. I think by “you people” they meant State scientists and bureaucrats. And they were right about me, at least then. I left that meeting understanding that we needed new ways to engage with communities outside of high-tension political processes. … ” Continue reading at the Delta Stewardship Council here: Delta: Building bridges with science for communities
High numbers of salmon expected off California coast during 2022 fishing season
“The number of adult fall-run chinook salmon expected to swim along the California coast during the upcoming fishing season is much higher than last year’s, state wildlife managers announced Wednesday. Industry groups hope that could mean more opportunities during the recreational and commercial fishing seasons that are due to open later this spring. The number of adult Sacramento River fall-run chinook predicted to be on the coast this season is 396,500, about 45% higher than the 271,000 that were estimated at this time last year. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: High numbers of salmon expected off California coast during 2022 fishing season
SEE ALSO: 2022 Salmon Forecast Shows Uptick in Salmon Numbers, press release from the Golden State Salmon Association
From plague to delicacy — reconsidering the purple sea urchin
“Draped atop pillows of sushi rice or displayed in its forebodingly spiny seven-inch shell, the ubiquity of red sea urchin at high-end sushi restaurants and raw bars is a symbol of California’s coastal bounty. But while seafood lovers might debate the merits of Kumamoto and Kusshi oysters over happy hour, considerably less attention is paid to uni varieties — unless you make a living from the ocean. Anyone who falls into that category likely knows the purple urchin too: as a ravenous source of dramatic kelp-forest devastation. … ” Continue reading at the Los Angeles Times here: From plague to delicacy — reconsidering the purple sea urchin
Sea-level rise could bring toxic floods to California coast
“As sea levels rise in California, beachfront homes are not all that’s at risk of flooding. Many industrial sites are also located in coastal areas. “There are refineries, sewage treatment plants, power plants, legacy hazardous waste sites, Superfund sites, cleanup sites,” says Lara Cushing of the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. She says if these industrial sites flood, hazardous pollutants could be released into nearby communities. So she’s working on the Toxic Tides project, an effort by researchers and community partners to quantify the risks and raise awareness about the issue. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: Sea-level rise could bring toxic floods to California coast
California fire led to spike in bacteria, cloudiness in coastal waters
“Scientists analyzed coastal water quality in the months following a major Southern California wildfire. Their results were eye-opening. The November 2018 Woolsey Fire in Southern California’s Los Angeles and Ventura counties left more than a nearly 100,000-acre burn scar behind: It also left the adjacent coastal waters with unusually high levels of fecal bacteria and sediment that remained for months. For a new study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, scientists combined satellite imagery, precipitation data, and water quality reports to assess two standard parameters for coastal water quality after the fire: the presence of fecal indicator bacteria and the turbidity, or cloudiness, of the water. … ” Read more from JPL here: California fire led to spike in bacteria, cloudiness in coastal waters
How early will California’s fire season come this year? These maps show a grim outlook
“Northern California is primed for an early and fierce start to wildfire season this year. That’s the grim takeaway from the latest monthly and seasonal outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center, which shows significant fire potential starting in June across the Bay Area and other highly populated areas in the Sacramento Valley, Sierra foothills and portions of the Coastal Range. After sporadic bouts of precipitation in October and December, the north state suffered an “unusually long dry period” in January and February, when the region usually sees much of its winter rainfall. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: How early will California’s fire season come this year? These maps show a grim outlook
Sierra Nevada Conservancy launches new grant programs, funds $2.1 million in projects
“At its March quarterly meeting, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Board approved new grant guidelines for its upcoming Vibrant Recreation and Tourism Program, as well as its Strategic Land Conservation Program. It also awarded more than $2 million in funding for projects focused on restoring forest health, making communities more resilient to wildfires, and boosting recreation and tourism. ... ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Sierra Nevada Conservancy launches new grant programs, funds $2.1 million in projects
Study: USFS lands not the main source of wildfires
“Research led by Oregon State University shows that fires are more likely to burn their way into national forests than out of them. The findings contradict the common narrative of a destructive wildfire igniting on remote public land before spreading to threaten communities, said Chris Dunn of the OSU College of Forestry. The study, which looked at more than 22,000 fires, found that those crossing jurisdictional boundaries are primarily caused by people on private property. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Study: USFS lands not the main source of wildfires
Rep. McClintock and Rep. LaMalfa introduce legislation requiring the U.S. Forest Service to immediately suppress wildfires
“Yesterday, Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-04) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced legislation directing the U.S. Forest Service to immediately suppress wildfires on National Forest System lands and put an end to the policy of letting fires burn. “This ‘let burn’ policy of federal land managers began in 1972, during the height of the radical environmental movement,” McClintock said. “Essentially, it holds that ‘fire is our friend.’ It stems from the premise that fire is nature’s way of cleaning up forests, and that active suppression of fires leads to a build-up of excess fuels. As we have tragically witnessed firsthand, it is dangerous nonsense to ‘monitor’ incipient fires in today’s forest tinderbox. The U.S. Forest Service was formed to remove excess growth before it can burn and to preserve our forests in a healthy condition from generation to generation. It’s time they did.” ... ” Continue reading at Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s website here: Rep. McClintock and Rep. LaMalfa introduce legislation requiring the U.S. Forest Service to immediately suppress wildfires
‘We need to do all we can’: Five key takeaways from the U.N. climate report
“In the latest United Nations report on climate change, scientists document the stark toll inflicted by global warming through more intense heat waves, droughts, floods and other disasters, and present a dire warning that humanity should act quickly to move away from fossil fuels and cut planet-heating emissions. The report goes beyond past assessments not only by detailing the latest science but also by focusing on how the world, while reducing emissions, can better adapt to the accelerating effects of climate change to reduce risks and protect especially vulnerable people. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: ‘We need to do all we can’: Five key takeaways from the U.N. climate report
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
A look at 100 years of Upper Klamath Basin history through the lens of its birds
“The Upper Klamath Basin has been in what some call “an almost continual period of drought” for more than 20 years. Wetlands have dried up, and populations of migratory water birds have plummeted, and not just in the last two decades. In the 1960s there were 6 million waterfowl. Now there are more like 120,000. Jami Dennis is a natural resources graduate student at Oregon State University. Her research led her to investigate the continued plight of migratory waterbirds and how it’s tied to water, wetlands and human intervention. Her story uses photos and data visualization to draw readers into a history that sheds light not only on this region but on the broader ecological landscape as well. Dennis presented her research at the recent Winter Wings Festival in Klamath Falls, and she joins us to share her story of “Wetlands, Waterbirds, and Water.” Listen at Oregon Public Broadcasting here: A look at 100 years of Upper Klamath Basin history through the lens of its birds
CDFW scientists look at salmon numbers, Klamath River’s stock ‘well below’ historical levels
“At the annual Salmon Information Meeting held virtually [yesterday], state and federal fishery scientists presented updates on the numbers of spawning salmon that returned to California’s rivers in 2021 and shared the expected abundance for the upcoming fishing season. The 2022 ocean abundance projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook, a main salmon stock harvested in California waters, is estimated at 396,500 adult salmon, higher than the 2021 forecasts. The Klamath River fall Chinook abundance forecast also came in slightly above the 2021 value, with 200,100 adult Klamath River fall Chinook salmon predicted to be in the ocean this year, a value that remains well below the stock’s historical levels. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: CDFW scientists look at salmon numbers, Klamath River’s stock ‘well below’ historical levels
Drought forces city of Shasta Lake to ask customers to reduce water use
“Citing the ongoing drought and a reduction in water allocations it receives, the city of Shasta Lake is asking customers to reduce water use and limit outdoor watering to after 9 p.m. three days a week. In February, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that many water agencies in the county, including Shasta Lake, would receive the minimum health and safety allocation of 55 gallons per person daily. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: Drought forces city of Shasta Lake to ask customers to reduce water use
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Invasive species could ruin Lake Tahoe and cost the region billions
“They’re carried in bilge water. They live in wells and bait buckets. They cling to boats, motors and trailers. And though they’re often invisible, they’re considered the biggest threat to Lake Tahoe’s pristine blue waters and the area’s booming tourism industry. Following the implementation of “bubble curtains,” potent herbicides, and brigades of weed-fighting scuba divers, the Lake Tahoe region is upping its arsenal for fending off aquatic invasive species: non-native plants, animals and invertebrates that threaten the vitality of its famous water. According to the Lake Tahoe Region Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan, the lake is plagued by at least 30 non-native species. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Invasive species could ruin Lake Tahoe and cost the region billions
Invasive species test area to close off areas of Tahoe Keys to mid-July
“The approved controlled methods test in the Tahoe Keys lagoons on aquatic invasive species (AIS) will affect boaters, paddlers, swimmers, pets, and other water activities this spring and summer. Scientists will be gathering new data points and information during this time in the long-waged battle against aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe. The results will help determine long-term solutions for the lagoons and Lake Tahoe. … ” Read more from South Lake Tahoe Now here: Invasive species test area to close off areas of Tahoe Keys to mid-July
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
How the water rights system supports “Ridgetop to River Mouth” multi-benefit water management in California
“In the Sacramento Valley, water resources managers work together, utilizing a nature-based approach to manage the region’s water and land resources from the ridgetop down through the system to the river mouth. This holistic approach restores biodiversity while increasing water supply reliability for cities, farms, fish, wildlife, hydropower production and recreation. The water rights system in California supports ridgetop to river mouth multi-benefit water management as water flowing down through the system is used multiple times for multiple purposes. As an example, the return flows from one water right can be the supply for another water right. (See the key elements of the water rights system below for more details). This type of water management—where water is used multiple times through the system—is the essence of the California Constitution’s requirements contained in Article 10, Section 2 … ” Continue reading at the Northern California Water Association here: How the water rights system supports “Ridgetop to River Mouth” multi-benefit water management in California
Will there be a Miracle March?
“California has just concluded the driest January-February period in recorded history. The March 1 survey of the Sierra Nevada snowpack, key to water supplies across much of the state, reflects the trend as well, showing the snow water content at 62 percent of average for the date. We at the Water Forum are hoping for a “Miracle March” that brings in above-average precipitation to reverse this trend. But we are also prepared for the reality that missing out on all that moisture in January and February—normally the wettest months of the year—likely means we will face a third consecutive drought year ahead. … ” Continue reading at the Water Forum here: Will there be a Miracle March?
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water to host drought town hall
“The Sonoma County water agency is hosting a virtual town hall on the drought next week. The March 10 event will focus on the continued drought conditions in the Russian River watershed as well as water supply management efforts and conservation measures. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Sonoma Water to host drought town hall
BAY AREA
San Francisco granted nearly $11 million to credit customers for utility bills
“The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has secured $10.9 million in federal and state funding that will be passed along to customers as credits on their bills. Customer will begin to see the credits around the end of the month, according to a news release issued by commission officials Wednesday morning. The amounts will vary based on the past-due amounts for each customer. Officials said the commission has also received $2.4 million in debt relief for CleanPowerSF customers. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: City granted nearly $11 million to credit customers for utility bills
Cupertino quarry’s expansion could affect vulnerable species
“What to do with California’s red-legged frogs, a vulnerable species with a decreasing population, is one of the main concerns at a South Bay cement quarry with a record as a polluter, which wants to expand as the county wages buying it. The owners of the 3,500-acre Lehigh Permanente Quarry, which is one of the Bay Area’s largest polluters, want to open a new 60-acre pit inside on the quarry ground in the Cupertino foothills. Lehigh Hanson previously had to relocate 22 of the red-legged amphibians in 2017 but now needs a new permit before they can dig a new pit, according to Joseph Terry, a senior biologist with the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Cupertino quarry’s expansion could affect vulnerable species
Saratoga allocates millions in federal funds for stormwater projects
“Saratoga City Council voted to allocate more than $7 million in federal relief funding toward several stormwater management projects in the city at its meeting Wednesday night. Saratoga received $3.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds in July 2021, and another $3.6 million is scheduled to deposit in June 2022. The funds will be used to support five projects across the city that will improve water quality in Saratoga and ensure proper sewage treatment and water savings during a drought, among other things. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Saratoga allocates millions in federal funds for stormwater projects
CENTRAL COAST
United Water Conservation District starts building iron, manganese treatment plant
“United Water Conservation District (UWCD) is beginning construction of a new iron and manganese treatment plant in Oxnard, Calif. Once operational, the first phase of the plant’s operation will have the capacity to treat 3,500 gallons of groundwater per minute, while future phases can expand operations up to 8,500 gallons per minute, vastly improving water quality, water supply reliability, and drought resiliency. … ” Continue reading at Water World here: United Water Conservation District starts building iron, manganese treatment plant
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Pistachio War between Resnick, Assemis continues to rage with new Tulare Co. suit
“Two of the California’s largest pistachio players are, once again, going at it in the courtroom. In January, the Wonderful Company – owned by billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick – sued Tulare County over the approval of the expansion of a pistachio processing plant for Touchstone Pistachio Company – owned by Fresno’s Assemi family – near the community of Terra Bella. Last month Touchstone responded by filing a cross-complaint under the premise that Wonderful’s lawsuit has no standing. The new legal controversy follows a failed attempt by Wonderful last year to prevent Touchstone from expanding its operations by reversing building permit approvals from the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Pistachio War between Resnick, Assemis continues to rage with new Tulare Co. suit
Got connections in rural SJV towns? Know how to work a room? The state may have a job for you…
“If you know your way around poor, rural communities with bad drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley, the state needs your help. A highly anticipated $130 million annual program to fix bad drinking water systems in disadvantaged communities has sputtered getting off the ground because the state can’t seem to connect with residents. So, now it’s looking to hire people to get out and spread the word. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Got connections in rural SJV towns? Know how to work a room? The state may have a job for you…
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Here’s what to expect from back-to-back storms moving into Southern California
“Keep the umbrella around Friday and into the weekend. Two storms are due to move into Southern California, bringing periods of rain and snow through at least part of Sunday. Drizzle is expected Thursday night as the cold system moves down the coast. About 1/4 to 3/4 inch of rain will fall with mountain communities above 5,000 feet seeing about 5 to 10 inches of snow. … ” Read more from NBC LA here: Here’s what to expect from back-to-back storms moving into Southern California
Palmdale Water District will help firm’s engineering project
“The Palmdale Water District Board of Directors agreed to contract with a firm to provide the engineering for a proposed water augmentation project that would treat recycled wastewater to a higher level, then inject it into the ground to be retrieved for future use. The contract with Stantec Consulting Services is for a maximum of $3 million per year for three years, with two optional one-year renewals. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Palmdale Water District will help firm’s engineering project
Customers/Idyllwild Water District directors debate water future
“Much of the Feb. 16 Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors meeting was taken up with concerns of future supply and demand as both public members and directors debated over several issues. Gene Schneider, an Idyllwild resident most of his life, expressed concern over the two housing projects before the Riverside County Planning Commission for approval — a 25-unit proposed motel or apartment complex, and a 12-unit hotel — both within IWD. Schneider said Idyllwild is over-populated and he would like to see the people who can effect change show “restraint and respect for the environment … somehow, we need to contain this.” “Right now, we have enough water for our customers,” said IWD President Charles Schelly. … ” Continue reading at the Idyllwild Town Crier here: Customers/IWD directors debate water future
Red tape ensnares L.A.’s plan to capture more storm water, despite $556 million raised
“After a series of storms drenched the region with a record 9.4 inches of rain in December, the Los Angeles River became a roiling, violent torrent in its concrete channel, before finally spilling into the Pacific Ocean. … In 2018, L.A. County voters said they wanted to stop squandering this resource when they approved a massive tax aimed at two main objectives: cleaning up storm water that contaminates the nearby coast and capturing more of it before it reaches the ocean. As prolonged droughts threaten supplies from distance sources, the vote reflected a recognition that every drop of local water is valuable and should not be wasted. Yet even after selling voters on the urgent need to build storm water projects, the county has disbursed only $95.5 million for projects out of $556 million collected, and actual construction has lagged well behind the money disbursed ... ” Read the full story at the LA Times here: Red tape ensnares L.A.’s plan to capture more storm water, despite $556 million raised
Golden State Water Company sues groundwater polluters and wins
“When Golden State Water Company discovered a regulated chemical in several of its drinking water wells in 2017, the public utility and subsidiary of the publicly traded American States Water Company knew it faced a cleanup costing millions of dollars. The chemical — 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), a contaminant in popular pesticide products used from the 1950s into the 1980s — was found at unacceptable levels in Golden State’s wells during routine water testing. Something had to be done. Denise Kruger, the experienced Senior Vice President who oversees operations at Golden State, felt strongly that those responsible for the water contamination should be the ones to pay for the cleanup of the manmade chemical, known to cause cancer in laboratory animals. … ” Continue reading at Water Online here: Golden State Water Company sues groundwater polluters and wins
Who knew you could find a marshland in the middle of a city?
“The Bixby Marshland is a 17-acre marsh near the intersection of Figueroa Street and Sepulveda Boulevard in the City of Carson, on land owned by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. Marshland is a transitional area between terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) environments. There are many native plants and animals, especially ones that need wetlands and depend on the marsh for survival. The Bixby Marshland was restored by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County in 2009. The marshland was formerly part of a large freshwater marshland area called Bixby Slough, which had been there long before Europeans came to California. … ” Read more from the Southern California chapter of the Sierra Club here: Who knew you could find a marshland in the middle of a city?
Commentary: Despite supporters’ hopes, the Poseidon project will affect the environment
Jeff Rokos, a member of the board of directors of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, writes, “There is no doubt that Shirley Dettloff has been a force for positive change in Huntington Beach for a long time, especially concerning the local environment and, in particular, the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Without her early involvement, it is questionable whether we would have the invaluable wildlife habitat today that is the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. However, one must wonder if she has considered the total picture regarding the Poseidon desalination project after her recent commentary in the Daily Pilot (“Working together to safeguard the environment”, Feb. 27). Because of the considerable influence she has in the community, I think it is important to provide some additional information to flesh out the bigger picture here. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Commentary: Despite supporters’ hopes, the Poseidon project will affect the environment
SAN DIEGO
New hydration stations in San Marcos save water, promote sustainability
“The City of San Marcos and the Vallecitos Water District partnered on a new project with funding from the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to encourage water conservation and reduce the use of plastic. Five hydration stations have been installed in San Marcos parks to encourage the use of refilling reusable bottles during outdoor activities instead of using purchased bottled water. Both the City of San Marcos and the Vallecitos Water District are committed to reducing single-use plastics. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: New hydration stations in San Marcos save water, promote sustainability
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Powell is about to drop below a critical level never reached before, as drought rages on
“For the first time since it was filled more than 50 years ago, Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the country, is projected to dip past a critical threshold, threatening water supplies and putting a key source of hydropower generation at heightened risk of being forced offline, as climate change-fueled drought continues to grip the Western US. The US Bureau of Reclamation told CNN it is currently anticipating water levels in Lake Powell to reach a significant elevation of 3,525 feet above sea level sometime between March 10 and 16. … ” Read more from CNN here: Lake Powell is about to drop below a critical level never reached before, as drought rages on
Remnants of old concrete plant resurface as Lake Powell water levels keep dropping
“The declining water levels at Lake Powell, caused by the West’s ongoing drought, have unearthed another piece of history that had been submerged for over five decades. Foundations of an old concrete plant used in the 1960s to help complete the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam — located just south of the Utah-Arizona border — started to reappear in recent weeks, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. Lake Powell was just 3 years old when the foundations were last visible. “These foundations we are seeing today have not been above water since 1966,” the agency wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday. … ” Read more from KSL here: Remnants of old concrete plant resurface as Lake Powell water levels keep dropping
Commentary: Southwest’s dryness shifts rivalries over water
The Christian Science Monitor’s editorial board writes, ” … After the driest 22 years on record, the Colorado River system, which sustains more than 40 million people across seven states and northern Mexico, is severely strained. The nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, have reached historic lows. They may soon not be able to generate hydropower. Faced with this widespread extremity, the historically adversarial stakeholders in the Colorado River basin are starting to demonstrate something else that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded: that “diverse forms of knowledge such as scientific as well as Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge” provide a strong shared basis for reducing the effects of human-induced climate change. Environmentalists, farmers, city planners, and tribal nations are learning that sustaining this vital, renewable resource depends as much on trust as rainfall. … ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor here: Commentary: Southwest’s dryness shifts rivalries over water
National water and climate report …
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-20220303Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Announcements, etc.
