On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9am. Public hearing regarding appeals of the revised certification of consistency for the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project and consideration and possible dismissal of issues on appeal; Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee Restoration Subcommittee update and upcoming meeting preview; Lead Scientist’s Report; and appointment of members to the Delta Independent Science Board. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Climate Resilience from the Ground Up from 9am to 10am. Join Sustainable Conservation as we kick off our Spring 2022 webinar series, Climate Resilience from the Ground Up, with a conversation between our CEO Ashley Boren and California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot on what climate resilience means for California, why it matters, and what Sustainable Conservation and California’s Department of Natural Resources are working on to build the foundation for a healthy and climate-resilient California. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Equitable Wastewater Infrastructure in Disadvantaged Rural Communities from 11am to 12:30pm. Join us as we discuss financing and regulatory solutions that are being enacted to support the repair, replacement and installation of septic systems in rural and low-income communities. Presented by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: PFAS Legislative Solutions from 12pm to 1pm. Water agencies are faced with the costly responsibility to monitor, treat, and remove PFAS from their local water supplies. Pending legislation and regulations could also cause financial issues for water and wastewater agencies, and their ratepayers. Hear from impacted agencies and organizations and learn what they are doing to advocate for and protect ratepayers. Click here to register for the webinar
In California water news today …
Record-challenging heat to ease as new storm takes aim at California
“The first three months of 2022 have not been what the doctor ordered when it comes to easing drought concerns in California, particularly following a very wet December that resulted in a surplus amount of rain and snow in the Golden State. With spring underway and the end of the rainy season in sight, AccuWeather forecasters say there is some good news on the way following the recent stretch of record-breaking warmth and dry weather. “A storm tracking eastward across the Pacific Ocean will likely arrive along the shores of Central California on Sunday evening and bring a swath of much-needed moisture,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Smithmyer. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Record-challenging heat to ease as new storm takes aim at California
Mono Lake’s low level may reduce LADWP water diversions
“Like we do every year, next Friday, April 1, Mono Lake Committee staff will meet staff from the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) down at Mono Lake’s shore to read the lake level gauge together. The reading of the lake’s elevation will determine how much water DWP can divert from the streams in the subsequent twelve months. And this year the moment will be dramatic! The lake is closer to the important 6380-foot threshold than it ever has been for an April 1 reading. Just this morning the vast surface of Mono Lake, twice the size of San Francisco, was a mere inch below 6380′. If the lake is still below 6380′ on April 1, then automatic State Water Board protections kick into action and DWP’s allowed stream diversions will be reduced. This requirement was designed to respond to the many perils created by the lake being so low. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee here: Mono Lake’s low level may reduce water diversions
The deceptively simple plan to replenish California’s groundwater
“From afar, the rows of knobby grapevines blend into the landscape of pink-blossomed almond trees and fragrant citrus. But get up close and you’ll see something strange: The trunks of the vines are standing in several inches of glistening, precious water. These grapes, at the Kearney Agricultural Research Center in California’s San Joaquin Valley, are part of a grand experiment that many hope will help solve the state’s deepening water crisis. Here, in the state that provides some 40 percent of all the fresh produce grown in the United States, a 20-year-long drought has left growers and communities desperately short of water. To make up the persistent shortfall from rain and snow, they are pumping groundwater—and doing so far faster than water can trickle down from the surface to replenish underground aquifers. … ” Read the full story at National Geographic here (note: registration required): The deceptively simple plan to replenish California’s groundwater
Anglers, hunters rally to preserve recreational access to Shag Slough, Liberty Island
“The Delta Stewardship Council at 10 a.m. March 24 will hear an appeal of a Delta Plan certification for a California Department of Water Resources restoration project at Lookout Slough, just west of Liberty Island in the North Delta, that opponents say will result in the loss of recreational fishing and hunting access. The Delta Stewardship Council is the agency that is tasked with managing the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta under the Delta Plan. Most self-certified projects like this one are not appealed — and they are allowed to proceed forward by the council if they are not appealed. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Anglers, hunters rally to preserve recreational access to Shag Slough, Liberty Island
RELATED: DELTA COUNCIL: Consistency determination for the Lookout Slough Project appealed – again
PUBLIC HEARING TODAY: Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
California considers advisory level for PFHxS in drinking water
“California regulators are recommending that each utility in the state notify its customers if it finds perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) at a level greater than 2 parts per trillion in drinking water. This level is below the detection limit for current technologies, a spokesperson for the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) tells C&EN in an email. Because of this, the recommendation also includes the option of “the lowest level at which the chemical can be reliably detected.” ... ” Read more from Chemical & Engineering News here: California considers advisory level for PFHxS in drinking water
Column: Why we watch Shasta Dam
Columnist John Lindt writes, “If there is one place in California local water mavens watch to foretell the future — it’s Shasta Dam in Northern California. The headwaters of the 1933-designed Central Valley Project, the reservoir feeds both the mighty Sacramento River and Bay Delta region and also connects to a series of canals, aqueducts and pump plants. They importantly feed the more water-scarce region of Central California. The crown jewel of this system is Shasta Lake with a capacity of more than 4.5 million acre-feet of water. There is just 1.7 mil/ af now. It’s the biggest reservoir in California, compared to Folsom Lake with a capacity of less than 1 million acre-feet. … ” Continue reading at the Hanford Sentinel here: Column: Why we watch Shasta Dam
Drought in the Sacramento Valley – a Bird’s Eye View
” … The historic drought is causing stress levels to peak among farmers, conservationists and urban water policymakers across the U.S. West. Despite a wet December, the vast majority of the state remains in “extreme” or “exceptional” drought. Before it disappeared under generations of plows and bulldozers, winter rains and spring runoff turned the Central Valley into an inland sea, a vast seasonal wetland that for millennia has been a vital stop along the Pacific Flyway. Ninety percent of those wetlands are gone, and the Central Valley today is one of the world’s most highly managed hydrological landscapes. The habitat that birds rely on in the Central Valley – our last remaining wetlands and the “surrogate” habitat created in agricultural fields like rice and alfalfa – have seen major cutbacks in water. In a normal water year, Central Valley public wetlands receive only about 75 percent of the water they need to manage for optimal habitat; this year was even lower. … ” Read more from Audubon here: Drought in the Sacramento Valley – a Bird’s Eye View
When it comes to cotton production, sustainability is in the water
“Through new technologies, data collection and third-party verification, brands and retailers now have the critical assurances they need to show that the cotton fiber in their supply chain is more sustainably grown, with lower environmental and social risk. It all comes down to water use. Whether it’s in our own personal lives or the brands and retailers we patronize, lowering our water use is a significant part of how we reduce our environmental impact. And it matters in the raw materials these brands and retailers decide to source. … “We track every drop of water that we apply to our fields year-to-year,” said Aaron Barcellos, a Trust Protocol grower member from California. “We have soil probes in our fields and use satellite imagery. We have an agronomist that helps with irrigation scheduling and crop coefficients. All of these changes allow us to eliminate waste and put every drop of water to use.” … ” Read more from Sustainable Brands here: When it comes to cotton production, sustainability is in the water
New legislation could be on the way to help AG, water sectors with cybersecurity
“When it comes to cybersecurity, a recent report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office found the agriculture and water sectors have a long way to go. Now, a Central Valley lawmaker is proposing legislation to help beef up cybersecurity for those sectors. “We know it could happen here in the Central Valley too. We feed the world,” says State Senator Melissa Hurtado, who represents the 14th District. … ” Continue reading at KMPH here: New legislation could be on the way to help AG, water sectors with cybersecurity
Scientists harness mushrooms to detoxify soil and protect waterways after wildfires
“As wildfires burn hotter, bigger, and more frequently, toxic chemicals from burnt homes are polluting the soil and threatening public water systems. To help forests recover faster, a team of researchers in Northern California is harnessing the power of mushrooms. “I have a lot of belief in the resilience of nature to recover, but what we’re experiencing now is so new, so different and so scary,” said Maya Elson, manager for the Post-Fire Biofiltration Initiative at CoRenewal. “These fires are not like the natural fires that have been occurring for thousands of years.” ... ” Read more from Channel 25 here: Scientists harness mushrooms to detoxify soil and protect waterways after wildfires
Cal Fire says ‘there is no longer a wildfire season.’ Island fire near Antioch emphasizes that fear
“The Rio Vista Fire Department let a fire burning on an island in the Delta Tuesday night burn out. The department says conditions were not ideal to get crews over the island, and no one lives on the island. “The fuel and the conditions caused the fire to burn fast and hot,” said Will Coehlo with Rio Vista Fire. “We have rescue boats, we have a 16-foot rescue boat that doesn’t have water pump capabilities.” The fire remained isolated on the island. The smoke did not carry over to nearby neighborhoods, but a fire this early is causing concern about the rest of the year. … ” Continue reading at ABC 7 here: Cal Fire says ‘there is no longer a wildfire season.’ Island fire near Antioch emphasizes that fear
In commentary today …
Is California now at war with farms?
Kerry Jackson, a fellow with the Center for California Reform at the Pacific Research Institute, writes, “California leads the nation in agricultural production. It’s no exaggeration to say this state feeds the world out of its fertile Central Valley. But that rich land has become a battlefield. California is the nation’s No. 1 state in agriculture commodity sales, with its share nearly double that of no. 2 Iowa. More than a third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts produced in America are grown in California. Cattle accounts for more than $3 billion in receipts. Poultry, eggs, hogs, and miscellaneous livestock rack up more than $2 billion. … Despite agriculture’s vital role in the California economy, some want to use legislation to shut down a significant portion of the industry. If enacted, Assembly Bill 2764 “would prohibit commercial animal feeding operations and slaughterhouses, as defined, from commencing or expanding operations.” …” Read more from GV Wire here: Is California now at war with farms?
Today’s featured article …
FEATURE: Legal aspects of groundwater recharge: Do we need a groundwater recharge ethic?
Groundwater is one of the world’s most important natural resources, but groundwater management has traditionally been governed by lax and uneven legal regimes which tend to focus on the extraction of groundwater or groundwater quality, rather than groundwater recharge. In a January 2022 webinar from Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment, Dave Owen, professor at UC Hastings School of Law in San Francisco, discusses the many human activities that can affect groundwater recharge, the existing legal doctrines that affect groundwater recharge, occasionally by design but usually inadvertently; and how more intentional and effective systems of groundwater-recharge law can be constructed.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Commentary: Arcata is heading up the proverbial creek without a plan
writes, “We don’t need a plan to understand why Arcata’s sewage treatment facility is located at the lowest elevation in town, like virtually every city in America. Simply put, gravity is an immensely important aid in moving sewage downhill to the treatment systems. Yes, in many areas of Arcata, pumping stations are necessary to route our sewage over our landscape’s contours and ideally safely down to the digester and solids extraction systems. And then the effluent is routed through our world-famous Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary for final treatments before the wastewater is rendered clean and safe for release into Arcata Bay (Flush with pride!) … But now we have the Gateway Infill PLAN which proposes to allow housing for 7,000 to 8,000 more residents who would be serviced by the Arcata’s limited sewage treatment systems. ... ” Read more from the Mad River Union here: Arcata is heading up the proverbial creek without a plan
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California Tahoe Conservancy grants $1M to local projects including South Lake Tahoe Greenbelt
“The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) today announced $1,005,800 in grants to local government agencies. The grants will support projects to expand public access to Lake Tahoe, improve water quality, and increase resilience to climate change. “We’re excited to support these projects, which will improve water quality, restore natural places in our communities, and make it easier for everyone to access and enjoy Lake Tahoe,” said Conservancy Board Chair and El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: California Tahoe Conservancy grants $1M to local projects including South Lake Tahoe Greenbelt
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
The Sacramento Valley approach to dry years in California
“The leaders in the Sacramento Valley, through the Northern California Water Association (NCWA), work hard to cultivate a shared vision for a vibrant way of life and to actively manage the region’s precious water resources, which are essential for all forms of life—people, fish and wildlife. To implement this shared vision, the NCWA Board of Directors on January 5, 2022 adopted our Strategic Planning and 2022 Priorities. With this year emerging as one of the driest years within the driest decade on record, conservation is a way of life and we elevate four principles that guide our actions this year, which also help advance our long-term goals for the region. ... ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: The Sacramento Valley approach to dry years in California
Spring heat wave sets multiple records in Sacramento. What’s in the weekend forecast?
“Northern California temperatures eased past longstanding records Tuesday and Wednesday, and the early-spring heat wave still has a couple of days to go. Sacramento Executive Airport reached 84 degrees on Tuesday and 81 on Wednesday, well above the previous all-time highs of 78 set March 22, 1960, and March 23, 2007, according to the National Weather Service. Downtown Sacramento warmed to 82 degrees on Tuesday, matching a mark set more than a century ago in 1915. Then it ticked up to 83 degrees on Wednesday, breaking a daily record set in 1997 by 3 degrees. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Spring heat wave sets multiple records in Sacramento. What’s in the weekend forecast?
BAY AREA
California Coastal Commission raises concerns with Point Reyes NS Ag Plan
“A plan the National Park Service developed at Point Reyes National Seashore to manage cattle operations could be derailed by the California Coastal Commission because of the Park Service’s failure to produce promised reports on dealing with the water quality impacts from the livestock operations. Before the plan was adopted last year, outside groups claimed the 24 cattle and dairy operations operating in the seashore pollute and adversely impact the environment (water quality, methane emissions, erosion, fish habitat), the infrastructure (pavement degradation from milk trucks), and recreational opportunities at the seashore. In the past, the Coastal Commission staff had voiced concerns that the plan failed to adequately protect marine resources. … ” Continue reading at the National Parks Traveler here: California Coastal Commission raises concerns with Point Reyes NS Ag Plan
San Rafael Creek set for full dredging after 20 years
“For the first time in two decades, San Rafael Creek could be fully dredged this year with the approval of nearly $7 million in federal funding. The creek channel is seen as a vital artery in San Rafael. Harboring nearly 2,000 boats, the channel acts as a key part of the city’s flood control defense system, provides access for emergency responders and is home to several businesses and about 12,000 residents within a half-mile radius. The channel has not been fully dredged since 2002, with storms in the following decades carrying in sediment that has shoaled the channel to depths as shallow as 2 feet. Larger vessels have run aground at times. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: San Rafael Creek set for full dredging after 20 years
S.F. residents, like many in California, face water-rate hike — but there’s one way to avoid a bigger bill
“San Francisco residents are about to see another downside of drought: higher water rates. Like a growing number of water agencies in California, the city’s water department has been losing millions of dollars as households and businesses, doing their part in a third dry year, conserve more and fork over less money to the utility. To make up for the loss, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to temporarily raise water and wastewater rates 5% for retail customers starting April 1. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: S.F. residents, like many in California, face water-rate hike — but there’s one way to avoid a bigger bill
CENTRAL COAST
Modeling shows Interlake Tunnel project designed to capture ‘that wet year’
“As the South Monterey County Interlake Tunnel project moves closer to being shovel-ready, the Monterey County Water Resources Agency presented a progress report to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday with data provided by a model showing the benefits of the project. Ron Drake, a consultant from Wood Environment & Infrastructure Inc., started by explaining the project is a water storage project that transfers water from Nacimiento Reservoir to San Antonio Reservoir, allowing for reduced flood control releases and increased storage of water during wet and normal years that can be released during dry years. The Nacimiento River basin produces nearly three times the average annual flow of the San Antonio River basin, therefore, capturing high Nacimiento River flows and diverting those flows to San Antonio Reservoir increases the overall storage capacity of the system. … ” Read more from the Monterey County Herald here: Modeling shows Interlake Tunnel project designed to capture ‘that wet year’
Monterey County water managers push for $300 million for water storage
“Amid California’s prolonged droughts, Central Coast water managers are making a new push to increase water storage capacity in Monterey County. More specifically they’re making a renewed push for a $300 million project to increase water storage capacity at one of the county’s largest but driest reservoirs; Lake San Antonio. “What we’re seeing with the climate changes that we’ll have drier periods and then we’ll have wetter periods and so that’s what I think the general public and the ratepayers need to understand that to have that infrastructure in place to capture that additional rainfall when it does occur is what we need to do,” said Brent Buche, general manager for the Monterey county water resources agency. ... ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Monterey County water managers push for $300 million for water storage
Santa Barbara to get only 5 percent of state water
“Ray Stokes has never been one for hair-on-fire histrionics. After serving 26 years as the resident Wizard of Oz running the Central Coast Water Authority — which conveys roughly 25,000 acre-feet of water a year from the rivers of Northern California to the spigots of Santa Barbara County — Stokes knows a thing or two about droughts. The one California now finds itself caught in might be the worst. “It’s very drastic,” stated the usually understated Stokes. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara to get only 5 percent of state water
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Latest water allocations released amidst prolonged drought
“Local irrigation districts have released information on how much water they will be able to allocate to farmers this water year. With dry weather conditions in the past few years, farmers will be feeling the impact of less water available to them. … The Central California Irrigation District has a tier two system for allocating water to farmers. Those farmers who operate on tier one land will receive 2.5 acre feet/gross acre (815,000 gallons) of water at a cost of $20 per acre foot. There will be no district water available for tier two lands ... ” Read more from Westside Connect here: Latest water allocations released amidst prolonged drought
Visalia nears the end of laundry lawsuit’s seven-year cycle
“After tumbling through court cases, mediation and insurance claims the city of Visalia is almost done with its seven-year Mission Linen lawsuit cycle. The city is planning to spend $1.22 million to clean up contaminated soil below Mineral King Avenue between Santa Fe and Tipton Streets caused by chemicals used in the dry cleaning process. The money was part of the proposed 2-year wastewater capital budget, part of the city’s larger five-year capital improvement plan budget, reviewed by the Visalia City Council on Feb. 22. … ” Continue reading from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: City nears the end of laundry lawsuit’s seven-year cycle
Tulare to drill new well with state funds
“Exeter and Tooleville are the latest communities to go through a state-mandated water consolidation, but not the first in Tulare County. In 2016, the state issued its first ever mandatory water consolidation between the city of Tulare and Matheny Tract, a rural community just west of the city limits. Now, six years later, Tulare is about to take the final step of the consolidation, building a new well with state money. Tulare Public Works Director Trisha Whitfield said the State Water Board notified the city on March 11 it has been approved for $4.28 million from the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program to build Well 4-3, which will generate 1,000 gallons per minute for the city’s water customers, including about 1,500 people living in Matheny Tract. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tulare to drill new well with state funds
EASTERN SIERRA
Mono County: Fire Resiliency Projects at Slinkard/Little Antelope Wildlife Area Improve Habitat
“The eight largest fires in California history have consumed more than 4 million acres and burned more than 7,000 structures. And because all those fires happened just within the last five years, the state of California recently approved spending hundreds of millions of dollars through its Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan (PDF). For the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), that means being able to significantly expand the scope of wildfire resiliency projects such as fuel reduction and forest health projects, as well as to restore habitat on CDFW lands that have burned recently. In northern Mono County, where the 2017 Slinkard Fire and 2020 Slink Fire together burned nearly 40 percent of the 11,700-acre Slinkard/Little Antelope Wildlife Area, CDFW is working hard with project partners to implement restoration and fuel reduction projects. … ” Continue reading at the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Mono County: Fire Resiliency Projects at Slinkard/Little Antelope Wildlife Area Improve Habitat
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Palmdale Water District OK’s entry into water transfer program
“The Palmdale Water District Board of Directors approved the District’s entry into a program to transfer water for State Water Contractors during dry years, such as this one. The program allows State Water Contractors, such as Palmdale Water District, to purchase water allocated to fallow rice farms in Northern California. District officials estimate it possibly will need to purchase an additional 1,000 acre-feet of water to meet its supply needs this year, according to the staff report. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Palmdale Water District OK’s entry into water transfer program
Southern California experiences short-term warm-up; rain forecast for next week
“Southern California residents experienced a short hot streak early this week, but forecasters predict a cool-off with possible rain coming soon. For inland areas, temperatures are expected to remain above normal through Saturday. Riverside, Brea, Los Angeles International Airport and San Bernardino had temperatures in the high 80s and lower 90s Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. … By Sunday, cooler temperatures are expected in all regions and are predicted to be back to seasonal normals. … ” Read the full story at the OC Register here: Southern California experiences short-term warm-up; rain forecast for next week
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County avocado farmers must pay water district thousands to switch their service 一 or lose it
“Farmers in the Highland Valley between Ramona and Escondido are fighting their water district over a plan to force them to pay thousands of dollars to switch the type of water they use to irrigate their crops — or else go without the water. The plan is now mired in a delay of almost two years as the Ramona Municipal Water District considers the risk it will get sued and the impacts on its fire hydrant system. Russ Snow, who grows avocados on four acres in the Highland Valley, said the cost of the switch might make him stop farming altogether. … ” Continue reading at iNewsSource here: San Diego County avocado farmers must pay water district thousands to switch their service 一 or lose it
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River, stolen by law: Indigenous nations have been an afterthought in U.S. water policy for over a century. That was all part of the plan
“The Colorado River sustains the culture, economy and future of 30 Southwestern Indigenous nations. And in a just world, these nations — the river’s most senior users — would be central to its management in a postcolonial society. But for the past century, the United States has repeatedly ignored the river’s original managers, despite the fact that 10 tribes within the Colorado River Basin hold 20% of the river’s total water rights. With a drought stretching into its second decade and the impacts of climate change now undeniable, the tribes are working together to ensure a future of inclusion. Modern water policy sits on a 200-year-old foundation of laws written and executed by non-Indigenous politicians. The modern reservation system, which is the foundation of Indigenous water rights, was formed in 1851 under the Indian Appropriation Act. … ” Continue reading at the Navajo Times here: Colorado River, stolen by law: Indigenous nations have been an afterthought in U.S. water policy for over a century. That was all part of the plan
Two Arizona tribe leaders make case for critically needed water projects
“Leaders of two Arizona tribes asked lawmakers Wednesday to support funding for development of critical water infrastructure and to OK a bill that would let tribal water be sold to others in the drought-stricken state. White Mountain Apache Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that her tribe needs more time and money to complete a long-delayed rural water system promised by the federal government more than 10 years ago. And Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores said her tribe has deals to reallocate some of its water, but needs congressional approval to do so. But Flores said the hearing was about more than just water rights and infrastructure. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Two Arizona tribe leaders make case for critically needed water projects
Arizona climate experts forecast good odds for wet 2022 monsoon season
“Arizona climate experts say the odds of either near or above-average rainfall are looking quite good with three months to go before the start of the 2022 monsoon season. The official calendar start of monsoon months is June 15. The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center said there was nearly a 70% chance for south-central Arizona to get a decent amount of rain for summer. Monsoon season ends Sept. 30. … ” Read more from KTAR here: Arizona climate experts forecast good odds for wet 2022 monsoon season
“Good” news from Lake Powell: rate of loss of storage capacity hasn’t changed since 1963
“With Lake Powell’s capacity at roughly 25 percent and its surface levels descending toward levels that may threaten power production at Glen Canyon Dam, “good” news about conditions at the nation’s second-biggest reservoir is hard to come by. The best we can muster is this: The rate of capacity loss in the reservoir due to sediment accumulation hasn’t changed since the dam was completed in 1963. … ” Continue reading from the Arizona Department of Water Resources here: “Good” news from Lake Powell: rate of loss of storage capacity hasn’t changed since 1963
In national water news today …
Many BLM grazing permits renewed without NEPA review, group says
“The Bureau of Land Management is failing to conduct an environmental analysis before renewing many livestock and sheep grazing permits across millions of acres of public lands in the West, an environmental advocacy group says. Western Watersheds Project says its analysis of federal data shows that last year, more than half — 54 percent — of federal grazing allotment permit renewals were authorized by BLM without conducting site-specific environmental analysis of the rangeland as mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act. The result is likely degraded federal rangelands, affecting everything from the survival of greater sage grouse habitat to the health of congressionally designated wilderness areas, argued the group, which has opposed livestock grazing on federal lands. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Many BLM grazing permits renewed without NEPA review, group says
By the numbers report …
2022-03-24-item-12-attachment-1-by-the-numbers
