A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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This week’s featured articles …
DELTA INDEPENDENT SCIENCE BOARD: How the State Water Project and Central Valley Project comply with the endangered species acts
Presentation provides an overview and details on the biological opinions and incidental take permit
For the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Department of Water Resources consult with the federal fish agencies, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, on the operation of the water projects. The federal fish agencies each then issue a biological opinion that includes specific actions intended to enable the long-term operations of the water projects without jeopardizing listed species. For the State Water Project to comply with the California Endangered Species Act, the Department of Fish and Wildlife issues an Incidental Take Permit to the Department of Water Resources through a similar process.
At the March meeting of the Delta Independent Science Board, board members heard presentations on the biological opinions and the incidental take permit for long-term operations of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. The presentations addressed the process and goals of their respective processes, the uncertainties with species management, and how adaptive management is included in the permits.
Click here to read this article.
MONTHLY RESERVOIR REPORT for April 1st
The “Miracle March” everyone was hoping for, unfortunately did not materialize.
Across California, federal CVP reservoir storage currently stands at 4.698 million acre-feet (MAF), representing a little less than 40% of total federal reservoir system capacity but, 57% of the 15-year average. When compared to this same time last month, however, total CVP storage was only 4.573 MAF, thus indicating an actual storage gain of 125,000 acre-feet (AF) over the past 30-days despite receiving little to no new precipitation.
How could this have happened? Particularly under supposed drought conditions?
Click here to read this month’s reservoir report.
GUEST COMMENTARY: Don’t be too quick to write off Delta smelt
Guest commentary by Bill Bennett
The situation for the endangered Delta smelt is pretty dire, to say the least. Monitoring results show that the population of this tiny, silvery fish – which only lives for one year, used to be one of the most abundant fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and is at the heart of California’s water wars – has declined to record low levels in recent years.
This population decline has led numerous commentators to conclude that the species is “virtually” or “effectively” or “functionally” extinct.
Not so fast. To quote the famous “bring out your dead” scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Delta smelt are “not dead yet.”
There are two main reasons behind the false impression that the fish is extinct.
Click here to read this guest commentary.
GUEST COMMENTARY: Climate-proofing California’s water future, one drought dollar at a time
Commentary written by Charming Evelyn, chair of the Water Committee and vice chair of the Environmental Justice Committee at Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, and Nancy Buchoz, a Huntington Beach resident.
It’s raining drought dollars in California! The state has a $30 billion budget surplus, and billions of federal infrastructure dollars pouring in. Water is a top priority, with good reason in the midst of drought, but we have to spend our money wisely.
That not only means fixing aging infrastructure, but also choosing climate-smart and cost-effective water supplies, to ensure the projects we pay for now don’t drive more drought or more water debt for hardworking families that are already struggling to pay rising bills.
Click here to read this guest commentary.
In California water news this week ….
Where snowpack level stands after most critical survey of the year
“California’s wet season is coming to a close without fulfilling hopes of drought relief, meaning another year of painful water shortages and widespread calls for conservation. The modest snowpack that state water officials will find at their April 1 snow survey on Friday – less than 40% of average, the lowest peak accumulation in seven years – confirms winter as a disappointment, the result of a record dry start to 2022. Some parts of Northern California have seen less than an inch of rain since Jan. 1, including San Jose, Oakland and Salinas, while a lack of winter storms in the mountains this year has brought the northern Sierra Nevada just 12% of average precipitation, state and federal data show. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Where snowpack level stands after most critical survey of the year
Reclamation updates Central Valley Project water supply allocation for municipal and industrial contractors
“Due to critically dry hydrologic conditions, Reclamation is updating water supply allocations for Central Valley Project municipal and industrial water service contractors. Effective April 1, water supply for all Central Valley Project M&I water service contractors will be reduced to Public Health and Safety. The announcement comes after the first three months of 2022 are the driest in the state’s recorded history. Initial CVP water supply allocations were announced last month, which included a 25% allocation for M&I water service contactors with exception of north-of-Delta M&I contractors, who were already allocated Public Health and Safety due to limited northern California water storage.
Press release: State, Federal Agencies Announce Agreement with Local Water Suppliers to Improve the Health of Rivers and Landscapes
“State, federal and local water leaders announced broad agreement today on measures to provide additional water flows and new habitat to help improve conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today outlines terms for a transformational eight-year program that would provide substantial new flows for the environment to help recover salmon and other native fish, create new and restored habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide significant funding for environmental improvements and water purchases. It also outlines a governance and habitat monitoring framework with clear metrics and goals to allow state, federal and local partners to analyze progress, manage adaptively and decide whether the program should be continued, modified or ended after eight years. … ” Continue reading this press release from the California Natural Resources Agency here: Press release: State, Federal Agencies Announce Agreement with Local Water Suppliers to Improve the Health of Rivers and Landscapes
California plan would pay farmers to grow less to save water
“California would pay farmers not to plant thousands of acres of land as part of a $2.9 billion plan announced Tuesday aimed at letting more water flow through the state’s major rivers and streams to help restore the unique habitat in one of North America’s largest estuaries. The agreement, signed Tuesday between state and federal officials and some of California’s biggest water agencies, would result in about 35,000 acres of rice fields left unused — or about 6% of the state’s normal crop each year, according to the California Rice Commission. The result, combined with other measures, would be up to an extra 824,000 acre feet (1 billion cubic meters) of water each year flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. … ” Continue reading at the Associated Press here: California plan would pay farmers to grow less to save water
Peace deal? Valley farmers see Treaty of Versailles in Newsom’s water pact
“Amid a second straight year of bone-dry conditions and worsening drought and following four years of intense negotiations with agricultural and urban water users and environmental advocates, Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration rolled out what they pitch as a “peace accord” on the state’s water wars. The deal, dubbed the voluntary agreement for water management, has left Valley farmers and water users searching for a different description. Instead, many Valley water officials and farmers feel as though they are living as the unnamed band leader referenced in the The Godfather and Newsom is giving them an offer they can’t refuse. Given the options in front of them, either their brains or their signature will wind up on the voluntary agreement. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Peace deal? Valley farmers see Treaty of Versailles in Newsom’s water pact
Salmon advocates slam voluntary agreements, Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan
Dan Bacher writes, ” … According to its proponents, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) “outlines terms for a transformational eight-year program that would provide substantial new flows for the environment to help recover salmon and other native fish, create new and restored habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide significant funding for environmental improvements and water purchases. It also outlines a governance and habitat monitoring framework with clear metrics and goals to allow state, federal and local partners to analyze progress, manage adaptively and decide whether the program should be continued, modified or ended after eight years.” However, salmon advocates, environmentalists and Tribes strongly disagree with proponents of the voluntary agreements, arguing that there is nothing “transformational” about the MOU. “These voluntary agreements were created by the most powerful water users in California and usurped a scientifically informed, democratic process meant to protect water quality and salmon that was open to all Californians,” stated Regina Chichizola from Save California Salmon. … ” Continue reading from the Daily Kos here: Salmon Advocates Slam Voluntary Agreements, Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan
Press release: State, Federal Agencies and Sacramento River Settlement Contractors Agree on Approach for 2022 Water Operations on the Sacramento River
“Federal and state agencies along with Sacramento River Settlement Contractors (SRSCs) agreed this week on an approach to addressing Central Valley Project operations on the Sacramento River this year (mid-April through November). As a result of extreme weather brought on by climate change, California is experiencing one of the driest years within the driest decade on record. The Sacramento River watershed has been especially impacted with the current storage in Lake Shasta at 1.7 million acre-feet, compared with the average 3.5 million acre-feet for this time of year. The unprecedented conditions will result in significant environmental impacts to native fish, birds, and other wildlife, along with critically low water supply to agriculture, resulting in substantial fallowing of crop lands in the Sacramento Valley. In order to respond to the dire circumstances and ensure the system can continue to serve multiple beneficial purposes that include water for cities and rural communities, farms, and fish and wildlife and their habitats in the Sacramento Valley, the agencies and SRSCs developed an approach to a proposed temperature management plan to be submitted by the Bureau of Reclamation to the State Water Resources Control Board for approval. … ” Continue reading this press release from Cal EPA here: Press release: State, Federal Agencies and Sacramento River Settlement Contractors Agree on Approach for 2022 Water Operations on the Sacramento River
Californians face water restrictions as drought intensifies
“California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday enacted some of the strictest water conservation measures since 2016 after a record-breaking dry start to 2022. Newsom signed an executive order that mandates the State Water Resources Control Board evaluate whether to ban nonessential irrigation of grass in front of large industrial and commercial buildings. The order will not apply to private lawns or school fields, for instance, but is an indication that Californians will once again have to return to measures aimed at curtailing the use of water. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Californians face water restrictions as drought intensifies
Newsom imposes new California water restrictions — leaves details to locals
“As a dry summer looms, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered water suppliers across California to step up their local drought responses, but fell short of requiring water rationing or setting a statewide conservation target. Despite pressure from experts urging a strong mandate, the order leaves the exact conservation measures up to the urban water providers and major water wholesalers that supply the vast majority of Californians. It does not affect agricultural water providers, or the small water systems that are especially vulnerable to drought. Newsom also ordered state water regulators to consider banning irrigation of decorative lawns at businesses and other institutions. California’s water watchers said that the order wasn’t enough. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Newsom imposes new California water restrictions — leaves details to locals
Groundwater agencies at the epicenter of sinking beneath the Friant-Kern Canal have restricted pumping, raised fees in hopes of curbing water table free fall
“Three Tulare County groundwater agencies that cover areas with severe subsidence due to over pumping spent the last year implementing programs to stem that tide and collected more than $11 million in the process. The Lower Tule River Irrigation District, Pixley Irrigation District and Eastern Tule groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) are among the first to subject growers to pumping restrictions with associated fees. Much of that money will go toward paying a share to fix the Friant-Kern Canal, which has sagged in recent years as the land beneath it collapsed from over pumping. Other revenue collected through pumping fees will pay for water recharge projects to try and replenish the depleted aquifer beneath the GSAs, all of which are in the Tule subbasin. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: Groundwater agencies at the epicenter of sinking beneath the Friant-Kern Canal have restricted pumping, raised fees in hopes of curbing water table free fall
Gray demands audit into Calif.’s 700,000 acre-feet water loss
“With the startling revelation that California lost around 700,000 acre-feet of water last year, Asm. Adam Gray (D–Merced) is calling for an investigation into the matter. Gray requested the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to order an audit of the state’s water operations on Monday. Per the request, the audit would explore the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board. “Why was no one held accountable after the state grossly miscalculated how much moisture was actually stored in the Sierras last year?” Gray said. … ” Read more from the SJV Sun here: Gray demands audit into Calif.’s 700,000 acre-feet water loss
Water confab makes clear: Valley agriculture needs “greenlash” to Calif. restrictions
“The San Joaquin Valley’s future as the agricultural heartbeat of the United States and the world faces an existential crisis, an assembled group of water policymakers and state lawmakers warned Friday. Following a pandemic break, the Fresno-based California Water Alliance hosted its second-ever annual water forum, bringing in more than 100 attendees from the farming, water, and government sectors to dive into a wide-ranging discussion covering some of the most hotly-debated topics affecting the region’s water supply. As California enters its second bone-dry year of drought, a growing exasperation at the lack of long-range strategic planning to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle of the state’s water woes emerged. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Water confab makes clear: Valley agriculture needs “greenlash” to Calif. restrictions
B.F. Sisk dam safety project first to get funding through US President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
“The Department of the Interior has announced the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is providing project-specific funding of $100 million for the modification of B.F. Sisk Dam in California – becoming the first dam safety project funding authorized by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $500 million to USBR over the next five years to support critical dam safety projects, streamline construction management, maintain the operational capacity of it’s dams and minimize risk to the downstream public. … ” Read more from Water Power & Dam Construction here: B.F. Sisk dam safety project first to get funding through US President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Report finds California has fifth-most polluted water in U.S.
“A new report is painting a dire picture of California’s waterways. In fact, it shows the state has some of the highest levels of water pollution in the country. The Environmental Integrity Project, a non-profit, looked at rivers and streams in all 50 states and found California is the fifth-most polluted. We dug a little deeper into this and found that one of Sacramento’s most popular places to cool off has high levels of bacteria. “Basically, anything that you can picture — oil from your car, grass clippings, runoff from agriculture — mix into what we sometimes call this toxic cocktail of wastewater,” said Delia Bense-Kang with the Surfrider Foundation. … ” Read more from Channel 13 here: Report finds California has fifth-most polluted water in U.S.
In commentary this week …
Editorial: Newsom’s water deal — years in the making — balances needs of public, farmers and greens
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “When it comes to water, balancing the competing interests of California farmers, environmentalists and residents is an extremely difficult challenge. That’s why it was a pleasant surprise to hear Tuesday that after six years of negotiations involving state and federal agencies, the farm industry and large water districts, Gov. Gavin Newsom had won agreement on a $2.9 billion plan to boost the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. It’s the hub of the Golden State’s ecosystem, providing fresh water to two-thirds of the state’s population and to millions of acres of farmland. … ” Continue reading at the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Editorial: Newsom’s water deal — years in the making — balances needs of public, farmers and greens
Newsom fails (again) to show drought leadership
The San Jose Mercury News and East Bay Times editorial board writes, “As California’s devastating drought worsens, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership has run dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 93% of the state is in a severe drought. Levels at California’s major reservoirs have dropped to frightening levels. As of Monday, the state’s largest reservoir, Shasta, was only 38% full. The next largest, Oroville, was 47% full. Yet, with no signs that this historic drought is relenting, Newsom on Monday again refused to impose mandatory water restrictions on urban users. Instead, our spineless governor ordered the state’s 420 water agencies, which serve 90% of California residents, to tighten their water conservation rules, allowing each provider to set its own plan. … ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: Newsom fails (again) to show drought leadership
State Auditor needs to investigate water agency over inaccurate data
Assemblymember Adam Gray writes, “We need to talk about what happened to all the water that was lost. We already know what happened to thousands of farmers: They went without. We know what happened in cities up and down the state: They went dry. We know what happened to salmon eggs and juveniles: More perished than usual. In the 2021 water year, California water officials disastrously miscalculated the moisture content of the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Because the Department of Water Resources didn’t know how much water was in the snow, or how much would be absorbed by the parched ground beneath, the department grossly overestimated how much would flow into reservoirs. That led the department to allow nearly 700,000 acre feet – some say much more – to flow to the ocean. … ” Continue reading at Cal Matters here: State Auditor needs to investigate water agency over inaccurate data
It’s time for Californians to talk about the cow in the room
Karen Rubio, co-founder of Plant-Based Advocates, writes, ” … Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging Californians to cut water consumption, but is reducing residential usage — taking shorter showers, pulling out lawns — really an effective solution? As it turns out, not so much. According to Pacific Institute, a leading nonprofit research and policy group based in Oakland, only 4% of California’s water footprint goes to direct household water consumption. So, where is our water going? In the midst of the turmoil over our diminishing water supply, an often-overlooked industry operates without scrutiny — consuming the lion’s share of California’s diminishing water, churning out massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and polluting our environment with impunity. Few realize that meat and dairy production devour a full 47% of California’s water, their huge water footprints due to the amount of water-intensive feed required to raise the animals. … ” Read the full commentary at the San Jose Mercury News here: It’s time for Californians to talk about the cow in the room
Coastal wetlands can provide our next climate solution
Julie Packard, executive director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, writes, “California is blessed with an 1,100-mile coastline. Before the modern era, it supported an immense network of coastal estuaries. Their underwater seagrass meadows were nurseries for fish and other marine life and important refueling stops for migratory birds. Offshore, dense kelp forests were equally productive homes for wildlife. Both estuaries and kelp forests benefitted from the key role played by sea otters — the top predator that helped them thrive. Today, more than 90% of our wetlands are gone, lost to urbanization, coastal development, pollution and runoff of smothering sediments. But wetlands and kelp forests can make a comeback. And, as state leaders now recognize, they also can serve as the vital first line of defense for vulnerable coastal communities that must adapt to rising sea levels from accelerating climate change. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Coastal wetlands can provide our next climate solution
Column: Pages From a Farmer: And then the rain never came
Carine Hines writes, ““Bombtober” some called it, when an incredible atmospheric river drenched the drought-stricken soils and mountains of California. We all danced and rejoiced, and much thought, and may still think, that we made it through the recent stretch of drought. Was it realistic to believe that a few days of heavy rain could undo the harm of months and years of drought? Only if it continued to rain, but it never did. This winter we experienced the driest January and February in recorded history, which are typically our wettest. And we will not have a “Miracle March”. Staring down the barrel of the coming summer, the entire West Coast should be terrified. California farmers are certainly shaking their usually calm and often-optimistic heads at what is to come. … ” Continue reading at the Napa Register here: Pages From a Farmer: And then the rain never came
In regional water news this week …
‘It’s just scary:’ Farmers and ranchers in Anderson and Cottonwood won’t get ag water
“Due to the ongoing drought, farmers and ranchers who rely on water from the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District, will not receive any water this year, creating a ripple effect through the Shasta County agriculture community. John Currey, the district’s general manager, said this year marks the first time in the district’s 106-year history that it will be unable to send agricultural water to its 800 customers. He said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which controls water allocations for many water agencies in the county, can supply less than 20% of the district’s typical allotment. … ” Read more from the Record Searchlight here: ‘It’s just scary:’ Farmers and ranchers in Anderson and Cottonwood won’t get ag water
Some Caldor Fire victims to resume paying water fees despite losing homes
“Despite losing their homes to the Caldor Fire, some property owners in Grizzly Flats will have to start paying a monthly water fee again. Jared McVey has a common story in Grizzly Flats. He lost his home in the Caldor Fire last year. But after living there for about six years, he will not be returning. “We went back up there saw the devastation and decided we didn’t want to go through it every day,” McVey said. Though we won’t be going back, he will still have to pay the monthly water fee from the local water district. The fee isn’t about the usage of water. It’s about whether or not there is a water meter. “In my mind, it’s not morally right,” McVey said. … ” Read more from Channel 40 here: Some Caldor Fire victims to resume paying water fees despite losing homes
Trying to keep taps from going dry: Central, South Coast legislator wants more review for new wells
“A state assemblyman representing parts of the Central and South Coasts is doing something to try to protect some drinking water supplies from literally being sucked dry. A proposed new state law, AB 2201, would require permits for new groundwater pumping facilities to insure they don’t deplete existing community drinking water wells. Democratic Assemblyman Steve Bennett of Ventura authored the legislation. Bennett says new wells are sometimes being approved without adequate analysis of how they might impact already overdrafted water basins. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Trying to keep taps from going dry: Central, South Coast legislator wants more review for new wells
Cost of Poseidon desalinated water gets renewed scrutiny
“Poseidon Water’s controversial proposal for a Huntington Beach desalination plant might cost water customers more than previously thought, a factor that could create a new obstacle to construction of the $1.4 billion project. Word that the principal customer for the water, the Orange County Water District, was reexamining costs came from district General Manager Mike Markus on Thursday, March 31, at an OC Forum panel discussion on solutions to water shortages. It’s one of several recent signs of emerging challenges for Poseidon, which needs a permit from the state Coastal Commission before it can negotiate a final contract with the water district and build a plant to turn ocean water into tap water. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Cost of Poseidon desalinated water gets renewed scrutiny
Man arrested on suspicion of stealing water meter from Phelan/Pinon Hills Water District
“A 51-year old man from Phelan was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of stealing a water meter while a felon in possession of a firearm and a controlled substance, authorities reported. Manuel Gomez remained at the High Desert Detention Center on Wednesday, with bail set at $50,000. He is scheduled to appear Friday in Victorville Superior Court, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s booking records show. The Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station reported that at 5 p.m. on Tuesday deputies were contacted by employees of the Phelan/Pinon Hills Water District. ... ” Read more from the Victorville Daily Press here: Man arrested on suspicion of stealing water meter from Phelan/Pinon Hills Water District
Governor’s new water saving order will have minimal effect on San Diego
“Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Monday calling for increased water conservation after the driest first quarter in California’s history, but the San Diego region will be largely spared. Newsom called on local water suppliers to move to their Level 2 drought plans, which anticipate shortages of up to 20% and could include restrictions on watering in many parts of the state. “While we have made historic investments to protect our communities, economy and ecosystems from the worsening drought across the West, it is clear we need to do more,” said said Newsom. “I am calling on local water agencies to implement more aggressive water conservation measures, including having the Water Board evaluate a ban on watering ornamental grass on commercial properties.” … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: Governor’s new water saving order will have minimal effect on San Diego
Weekly features …
BLOG ROUND-UP: Models that forecast water that isn’t there hurt all beneficial uses; Negotiating a Klamath Water Settlement based on what the River needs; Radio-tracking study greatly advances Central Valley salmon science; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
