On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife will hold a hearing beginning at 9am. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water will hold a hearing beginning at 9am. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: The State Water Resources Control Board will meet beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a drought update, an update on monthly water production and conservation data reported by urban retail water suppliers; and an update on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Statewide Investigation. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: The Department of Food and Agriculture will meet from 10am to 2pm in Merced. Agenda items include a departmental update from Secretary Karen Ross, a drought update from USBR Regional Director Ernest Conant, presentations on drought impacts to agriculture, irrigation and water districts; and a panel discussion on community/farmer perspectives. Click here for the full agenda. Click here for remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: California Water Data Consortium Data for Lunch w/Anna Holder at 12pm. Presenter is Anna Holder, Environmental Scientist & OIMA Tribal Coordinator at the State Water Resources Control Board. For the past three years, Anna has led the coordination of the California Water Data Science Symposium and many other data- and equity-centered engagement efforts. In this and all other work she does, Anna does her best to connect (sometimes seemingly unconnected, lofty, or abstract) principles and find ways to put them into practice in her daily work. During this webinar, Anna will discuss core principles and strategies she applies to her work to operationalize equity, inclusion, and belonging in the water data community. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Southwest Drought Briefing: A Focus on Snowpack from 12pm to 1pm. The Southwest has experienced an on-again, off-again winter snow pattern. As we prepare for the spring snowmelt, moderate to exceptional drought persists across the region. This drought briefing will focus on winter drought conditions and forecasts for spring for Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah. It will also take a closer look at April 1 snowpack conditions along with a deeper dive into snow measurement networks and how snowpack is measured across the West. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level beginning at 5:30pm. The State Water Resources Control Board will hold two public workshops to present information and solicit public input regarding the proposed administrative draft of the hexavalent chromium maximum contaminant level (MCL). These workshops are not part of the formal rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act. The formal rulemaking process for the hexavalent chromium regulations will be begin later this year after receipt and consideration of comments on the administrative draft. Click here for the full workshop notice and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Water trading can help California’s struggling freshwater ecosystems
“Adding more water to rivers, wetlands, and streams at key times can support California’s struggling native fishes and birds. Regulation is one way to do this, by requiring water users to leave a certain amount of water instream. A complementary approach is water trading. Paying water users to make water available can enhance the environment while reducing conflict over the allocation of scarce supplies. Despite trading’s promise, however, there are questions about the path forward. ... ” Continue reading at the PPIC here: Water trading can help California’s struggling freshwater ecosystems
Judge’s order stops a Kings County pipeline, the focus of just one battle in the ongoing Boswell-Vidovich water war
“A Kings County judge issued a preliminary injunction Monday stopping a 48-inch water pipeline from cutting through the Tulare Lake Canal. The decision comes several months after J.G. Boswell, which controls the Tulare Lake Canal Company, blockaded the canal with bulldozers and excavators to keep the pipeline, owned by Sandridge Partners, which is controlled by John Vidovich, from trenching through its banks. Tulare Lake Canal Company sued in January alleging the Sandridge line constituted a trespass on its facility. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Judge’s order stops a Kings County pipeline, the focus of just one battle in the ongoing Boswell-Vidovich water war
Kings Co. pulls back, mulls options on halting massive ag water pipeline
“An effort to halt the construction of a controversial water pipeline in Kings County found itself backed-up late last week. Last Friday, the Kings County Board of Supervisors convened a special meeting to – in part – discuss an emergency ordinance halting construction on all agriculture pipelines that are greater than 24 inches in diameter. The proposal stemmed from the on-going battle between the Tulare Lake Canal Company and Sandridge Partners, the farming and water giant owned by Santa Clara County native John Vidovich. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Kings Co. pulls back, mulls options on halting massive ag water pipeline
When ag water is short, it’s good to be a San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor
“Even as most agricultural water supplies are being cut to the bone with California descending into a third year of extreme drought, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor districts will apparently receive 100% of their “critical year” allotment – 650,000 acre feet. The move is just one of the quirks in California’s byzantine world water rights. The federal Bureau of Reclamation has increased the amount of water coming out of the Friant Dam above Fresno to help satisfy its contract with the Exchange Contractors. That water normally goes to Friant Water Authority and its member agencies which are spread more than 150 miles up and down the east side of the San Joaquin Valley. Calls to the Authority weren’t returned. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: When ag water is short, it’s good to be a San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor
Central CA lawmaker pushes new legislation to ‘modernize’ state’s water management
“A Central California lawmaker is pushing for new legislation with the goal of modernizing the state’s water management. “Modernizing in 2022 means increasing transparency and extending ways for people to navigate processes and procedures, especially when it comes to water curtailments and what a holistic vision for water in California looks like,” said California State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger). Hurtado held a virtual conference to discuss the impact of the drought. … ” Read more from KFSN here: Central CA lawmaker pushes new legislation to ‘modernize’ state’s water management
Voluntary agreements for Delta water established in MOU
“A series of voluntary agreements related to water flows have been solidified with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The document outlines an eight-year plan to improve conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed. Several of the water agencies impacted by the MOU have praised the development as positive progress in addressing water supply challenges. “The program advanced today represents a fundamental change in how state agencies, federal agencies, public water agencies, and other interested groups approach efforts to protect the environment and provide water for cities, industries, and farms,” said Thomas Birmingham, general manager of Westlands Water District. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Voluntary agreements for Delta water established in MOU
Cotton acreage up with record prices but short of potential due to water
“Although cotton acreage looks to be increasing this year, there was significantly more potential for the industry had it not been for the current condition of California water supplies. According to the preliminary planting intentions survey conducted by the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association (CCGGA), cotton acreage is expected to be approximately 132,000 acres. The figure represents an increase of more than 10,000 acres over 2021. CCGGA President and CEO Roger Isom said that demand has picked up substantially for cotton after disruptions related to COVID, which is helping push prices. … ” Continue reading at Ag Net West here: Cotton acreage up with record prices but short of potential due to water
California steps up water conservation measures, stops short of statewide mandate
” … On March 28, 2022, Gov. Newsom signed Executive Order N-7-22, which takes effect immediately, to prepare for and mitigate the effects of the ongoing drought. Although the order once again stops short of a statewide water conservation mandate, the order goes beyond the emergency measures adopted during the last drought in 2013‒20171 and has significant implications as outlined below. ... ” Read more from Brownstein Water here: California steps up water conservation measures, stops short of statewide mandate
Reclamation announces recipients of $1.8 million in CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants
“The Bureau of Reclamation announces selection of four California projects to receive $1.8 million total for fiscal year 2022 under the Bay-Delta Restoration Program, CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants. Combined with local cost-share contributions, these projects are expected to implement about $16.1 million in water management improvements during the next two years. The projects will conserve an estimated 3,859 acre-feet of water per year and better manage 18,000 acre-feet, contributing to the CALFED Bay-Delta Program objectives of improving ecosystem health, water supply reliability and water quality. California and federal agencies are partners in the 30-year program (2000-2030). … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation announces recipients of $1.8 million in CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants
State Water Board receiving limited comments on its proposed reissuance of the statewide NPDES construction stormwater general permit; will consider adoption at July 19, 2022 meeting
“The State Water Resources Control Board (“Water Board”) is now receiving public comments on certain components of its revised proposed statewide National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) Construction Stormwater General Permit (“Construction Stormwater General Permit”). The first draft Construction Stormwater General Permit was released by the Water Board on May 28, 2021, following Staff’s preliminary draft released in November 2020 and consideration of public comments raised in public workshops held in December 2020. A revised proposed draft Construction Stormwater General Permit was released on March 30, 2022. Water Board Staff is now accepting comments on the following items in the revised draft Permit … ” Read more from Stoel & Rives here: State Water Board receiving limited comments on its proposed reissuance of the statewide NPDES construction stormwater general permit; will consider adoption at July 19, 2022 meeting
Snow levels and water conditions at comparable levels to 2013 and 2015
“California Department of Water Resources (DWR) personnel have indicated that current snow levels and water conditions are similar to those seen during the height of the last drought. During the fourth snow survey of the season, DWR highlighted the impact of a warm and dry start to 2022. The conditions at Phillips Station reflected the disappointing state of California’s water supplies heading into summer. “Unfortunately, I hoped for better conditions than this, but our survey today recorded a snow depth of 2.5 inches and a snow water content of one inch. That is only four percent of average here as this location,” said Sean de Guzman, Manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “On the contrary though, our statewide automated snow sensor network is reporting 38 percent of average to date.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Snow levels and water conditions at comparable levels to 2013 and 2015
Little snow is left in California, setting up a dangerous wildfire season
“Little snow remains in California, officials say—another sign the state could face a dry and dangerous summer. The California Department of Water Resources announced Friday that the amount of statewide snowpack had fallen to just 38 percent of the average for that date. As if to underscore the point, California officials stood on browning grass after a snow survey Friday in the South Lake Tahoe area. In that location, the only patch of snow available to measure was 2.5 inches deep, while the snowpack in a normal season should be about 5 feet deep, said Sean de Guzman, a California Department of Water Resources forecasting manager. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Little snow is left in California, setting up a dangerous wildfire season
Wildfire danger to accompany record-challenging heat in California
“A wave of warmth is set to build over the western United States from Wednesday to Saturday, putting multiple records at risk of being broken and increasing the fire threat as temperatures climb well above average. “An unusually strong ridge of high pressure for early spring will be strengthening off the West Coast,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. Forecasters say that while this area of high pressure will continue to strengthen and shift inland Wednesday, the strong offshore winds will provide a rush of unseasonably warm and dry air. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Wildfire danger to accompany record-challenging heat in California
California offers $100 million for tribes to buy back their land. It won’t go far.
“California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to send out more money to Indigenous people, this time to buy back and conserve some of that stolen land — $100 million for nearly 200 tribes. The proposal is part of Newsom’s goal to conserve 30 percent of the state’s land and waters by 2030, with tribal partners playing a crucial role. “I’ve tasked our administration with seeking out ways to support California Native peoples in accessing, co-managing, and acquiring your ancestral lands,” said Newsom in a meeting with the state’s Indigenous Truth and Healing Council, a group of tribal leaders who are examining the state’s treatment of tribes and making recommendations for reparation. “Today we’re making a down payment on this commitment.” … ” Read more from Grist here: California offers $100 million for tribes to buy back their land. It won’t go far.
California is hog wild
“At first they were isolated incidents, reported by TV newscasters struggling not to laugh. But as the sightings in California piled up, the phenomenon began to resemble the opening scene of a zombie movie. In downtown Riverside, a pack of feral hogs marauded through the streets at night, causing millions of dollars in damage. In Corona, a wild boar trailed a woman and her dog through a residential neighborhood. In Ventura County, a car was damaged after hitting a giant hog ambling along Highway 126. … And that’s just the tip of the ecological-disaster iceberg. … ” Read more from Alta here: California is hog wild
State updates climate priorities
“State government released an updated set of strategies Monday for meeting the increasingly urgent challenges of climate change. The six-point plan published online at climateresilience.ca.gov calls for doing more to protect vulnerable communities, strengthen public health and safety, reinforce the economy, speed up natural climate solutions, stick to the best available climate science and create partnerships to maximize resources. The website’s debut followed a report Monday by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that warned governments have fallen behind in their efforts to limit temperature increases to 2.7 degrees on average. It said much more will have to be done soon to limit greenhouse gas emissions and avoid devastating impacts such as widespread water shortages, inundation of major cities and unprecedented heatwaves. ... ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: State updates climate priorities
Listen: Climate Costs: the high price of climate change for California communities
“California is vast, made up of forests of towering giants, miles and miles of sprawling farmland, deserts teeming with life, and our vibrant and ever-changing coastline. People have built lives here intimately tied to the land. But those lives, and that land, are changing as sea level rises, oppressive heat makes outdoor labor hazardous, and wildfires destroy entire neighborhoods and towns. Many of those who are being asked to bear the costs of climate change receive little support. In a California Newsroom special, “Climate Costs: the high price of climate change for California communities,” we’ll meet a lumber worker in Trinity County, a farmworker in the Coachella Valley, and an environmental scientist on the Central Coast. … ” Listen to radio segment at KPBS here: Listen: Climate Costs: the high price of climate change for California communities
CA updates climate adaptation strategy in wake of new IPCC report
“State and international reports on the effects of climate change are out this week, urging government efforts fighting climate change to speed up significantly if the world is to avoid the worst effects, from megafires and drought, to sea level rise and floods. In a report released Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said countries need to cut carbon emissions by 43% in the next eight years. Lauren Sanchez, senior climate adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom, said California is taking a “whole-of-government approach.” “The world’s leading climate scientists have made it clear,” Sanchez asserted. “Our window to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis is narrowing faster than expected, and success requires unprecedented collective effort and transformational change.” … ” Read more from the Public News Service here: CA updates climate adaptation strategy in wake of new IPCC report
In commentary today …
Who (and what) are excluded from backroom Bay-Delta “deal”
Doug Obegi, Director of NRDC’s California River Restoration Program, writes, “The State’s recent announcement of a proposed voluntary agreement (“VA” for short) for the Bay-Delta watershed is the result of an illegitimate, exclusionary backroom negotiation that fails to protect the health of the estuary, its native fish and wildlife, and the jobs and communities that depend on its health. Rather than the state using its longstanding authority to reform our inequitable water rights system and require water districts divert less water from our overtapped rivers, the proposed voluntary agreement seeks to reinforce the privileged, making state and federal taxpayers subsidize the obligations of the water districts whose unsustainable water diversions have devastated the estuary. … ” Continue reading from the NRDC here: Who (and what) are excluded from backroom Bay-Delta “deal”
Crisis in California water
Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs at the Milk Producer’s Council, writes, “It took me a while, but I finally got through all 122 pages of the court order, issued a few weeks ago by Federal District Court Judge Dale A. Drozd, that will dictate how water will flow through the Bay-Delta between now and September 30. I’d heard it before, but it is still shocking to read the dictates of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on the pages of a court order cited by the Judge: “Congress has determined that under the ESA the balance of hardships always tips sharply in favor of endangered or threatened species, courts considering and issuing injunctive relief under Section 7(a) of the ESA do not have the discretion to consider countervailing allegations of economic costs. Evidence regarding purely economic consequences of an injunction proposed to address an ESA violation is therefore arguably not relevant to the court’s evaluation of that proposed injunctive relief. That is because preserving an endangered species has an “incalculable value.” … ” Continue reading at the Milk Producer’s Council here: Crisis in California water
Today’s featured article …
BLOG ROUND-UP: California’s water crisis lingers as Gov. Newsom vacations in Costa Rica; Who (and what) are excluded from backroom Bay-Delta “deal”; Voluntary Agreement framework consolidates power and inequities in California water; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath irrigators vote for water deliveries even if it puts federal drought funding at risk
“A group of farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon have voted in favor of trying to access water in the parched Klamath Basin, even if it puts their access to federal drought funding in jeopardy. After last year’s drought that saw protests and threats of breaking into federal water management facilities, the implications of the recent Klamath Irrigation District (KID) vote are unclear, but support from irrigators was widespread on March 29, 2022. Out of 377 votes, 319 KID members voted ‘yes’ to the ballot question: “Pursuant to both our federal contract obligations and state water rights, do you want the district to attempt to deliver you water knowing it will likely complicate federal drought funding?” … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: Klamath irrigators vote for water deliveries even if it puts federal drought funding at risk
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Late 2021 storms account for nearly all of 2022 snowpack
“The fence around the snow pillow at the SNOTEL site near Mt. Rose summit that is usually buried in the snow was visible on Monday, showcasing just how dry this year has been. “We’ve already lost about a third of the snow this year at our SNOTEL sites,” explained hydrologist Jeff Anderson of NRCS. At the Mt. Rose site the snow was 55 inches deep, with 24 inches of water content – about 70% of normal for this time of year. “Our water year precipitation percentages were close to a normal amount, but it all came in October and December,” said Anderson. … ” Read more from KOLO here: Late 2021 storms account for nearly all of 2022 snowpack
Grass Valley: April snow survey: dry, warm weather starts early runoff
“Dry weather and warming in higher elevations do not bode well for the summer water supply. Conservation is vitally important, according to the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). Water content in the snow is only 55 percent of average for this time of year, based on the findings of the latest survey on snow courses that provide water to raw- and treated water to District customers. On the five courses, the April 1 historical average water content is 33.4 inches. The latest snow survey measured 18.4 inches. … ” Read more from the Nevada Irrigation District here: Grass Valley: April snow survey: dry, warm weather starts early runoff
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Work progressing towards providing full capacity CVPIA supplies to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
“California’s many wildlife refuges thrive on an adequate supply of water, including Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in Butte County, which receives part of the water it needs for waterfowl and other species through the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Located 55 miles northwest of Sacramento, Gray Lodge is home to more than 1 million waterfowl annually. The 9,100-acre preserve is managed for wildlife and supports more than 300 species of resident and migrant waterfowl, mammals, and wetland-dependent species such as the giant garter snake. Gray Lodge receives about 35,400 acre-feet of water each year through groundwater, California Department of Fish and Wildlife surface water rights and CVPIA surface water supplies. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Work progressing towards providing full capacity CVPIA supplies to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area
Even in the drought you can help nesting ducks
“As field work begins for this severely limited planting season, there are a few actions that rice farms can take to help breeding waterfowl in the Sacramento Valley. While we know all practices are not practical for everyone this season, a list of management actions that can be implemented on rice fields to help breeding waterfowl is provided for your consideration.” Click here to Download the Nesting Ducks and Drought PDF from the California Rice Commission.
NAPA/SONOMA
Water Audit proposes “rock vanes” for Napa River
“Carefully-placed boulders in a Napa River stretch near St. Helena might mean more water for fish and other aquatic life during the dry summer months. That’s the assessment of a Water Audit California report done by StreamWise. And, if getting water from rocks sound biblical, there’s no miracles being proposed here. The report suggests placing “rock vanes” in the river. Rock vanes are lines of rocks each weighing a quarter-of-a-ton to a ton positioned to direct water flow toward the central portion of a river or stream channel. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Water Audit proposes “rock vanes” for Napa River
CENTRAL COAST
Storm brought waterspouts to Central Coast — but what are they?
“Not only did the March 28 storm produce much-needed rain with the sound of thunder and scattered hail, but according to the National Weather Service, it may have produced a few waterspouts along the Central Coast. This leads to the question, what’s the difference between a tornado and a waterspout? To start, they are both columns of rotating air. The main difference is in where they form: A tornado begins over land, while a tornadic waterspout develops over water or moves from the land to the water. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Storm brought waterspouts to Central Coast — but what are they?
Dam fight pits city water against fish habitat
“Santa Maria is a modestly sized town in south San Luis Obispo County known for its resplendent wineries and local barbecue styles. Its water supply is almost entirely dependent on the Twitchell Reservoir, created by a dam built just east of the city in the 1950s. Recently a coalition of environmental activists filed suit against the Santa Maria Water Conservation District and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which jointly administers the dam, claiming the way in which the water district manages the water supply is killing the endangered steelhead trout by not releasing enough water for spawning habitat. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Dam fight pits city water against fish habitat
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Proposed Tulare County reservoir could begin banking water as soon as 2026
“Last Friday’s report that California’s snowpack is just 38% of normal underscores the importance for Tulare County to not only take the drought more seriously, but to brace for drier winters to become the rule rather than the exception. Two Tulare County irrigation water agencies aren’t waiting around to see how the state will cope with the current and future drought and are taking steps to secure more water storage in the Kaweah Subbasin. Tulare Irrigation District (TID) and Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company (CPDC) purchased 260 acres in December 2020 near McKay Point, where the Kaweah River forks into the Lower Kaweah and St. John’s rivers near Lemon Cove, to build a reservoir capable of storing 8,000 acre feet of water. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Proposed Tulare County reservoir could begin banking water as soon as 2026
Kings County declares local drought emergency
“The Kings County Board of Supervisors on Friday voted to declare a local emergency due to drought conditions in the area. All five Kings County supervisors voted in favor of declaring the local state of emergency. The resolution was considered during a Special Meeting held April 1 to consider a recommendation submitted by Edward Hill, county administrative officer, and Matthew Boyett, a Kings County Administration staff member. The primary purpose of the meeting — “declaring a local emergency due to drought conditions in Kings County” — was voted on after the closed session. ... ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Kings County declares local drought emergency
EASTERN SIERRA
Superior Court rules LADWP entitled to recover costs and attorneys’ fees from Inyo County in CEQA lawsuit
“On March 18, 2022, the Kern County Superior Court ruled that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is entitled to recover $654,460.33 in costs and attorneys’ fees from its lawsuit with Inyo County to compensate LADWP for upholding the public interest. This ruling follows a 2021 Appellate Court finding that the Inyo County Board of Supervisors violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in its attempt to seize City of Los Angeles land and water rights through eminent domain without conducting any environmental review. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Superior Court rules LADWP entitled to recover costs and attorneys’ fees from Inyo County in CEQA lawsuit
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Palmdale Water District ready to resume water class after pause
“The Palmdale Water District is renewing its “water ambassador” class, following a pandemic-related pause. The program, which graduated its inaugural class, in October 2018, is designed to inform members of the public about the District and its efforts, to be able to share the information with the rest of the community. The 2022 Water Ambassadors Academy will begin, on April 13, with four weekly sessions providing in-depth information on the District’s history, water supply sources, infrastructure, finances and future plans. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Palmdale Water District ready to resume water class after pause
State water restrictions would have little effect on drought-conscious Santa Monica
“As Californians are asked to further cut back on their water use, Santa Monicans must simply keep up the good work — at least for now. With citywide water use down around 18-20 percent from 2013 baseline levels, new water restrictions recommended by Governor Gavin Newsom last Monday, March 28, will not result in belt-tightening locally, but local water experts say there’s always more to be done. Newsom’s executive order directs the State Water Resources Control Board to consider requiring local suppliers to move to the second step of their conservation plans, which assumes water scarcity of 20 percent. About 140 cities and retailers are already operating at that level — including Santa Monica. ... ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press here: State water restrictions would have little effect on drought-conscious Santa Monica
SAN DIEGO
THE CONTRERAS REPORT: Flooding the border — sewage, not people
Raoul Lowery Contreras, a U.S. Marine veteran, political consultant and author, writes, “Every second of the day, seven days a week, millions of gallons of partially treated sewage flow into the Pacific Ocean — not in or around next door neighbor city of Tijuana. Media people, even from CBS’ “60 Minutes,” flock to the border to report on sewage and industrial runoff from Tijuana. It enters San Diego on a concrete-lined channel everyone sees when they drive or walk into Tijuana. There’s always water flowing towards the ocean through the Tijuana Estuary, the large chunk of land south and east of the city of Imperial Beach. That is the polluted water that causes the County of San Diego to close off activities that expose people to contaminated waters. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: THE CONTRERAS REPORT: Flooding the border — sewage, not people
Along the Colorado River …
US cuts water supply to Mexico’s Baja California state
“Mexico’s Baja California state could lose another 99Mm3 (million cubic meters) of clean water this year because of low levels at Nevada’s Hoover dam, according to an expert. Alfonso Cortez, an urban and environmental researcher at Mexicali’s Colegio de la Frontera Norte, said the low levels at Hoover have profoundly affected Baja California because the US has cut supply. “The coastal area depends on the Colorado river water and on the rain, which they barely have. Therefore, their dams are below 50%. The one in Ensenada is at 6% capacity, the Abelardo L. Rodríguez [dam] in Tijuana is at 37%. The one in Tecate has more water, with 46% [capacity] because they are closer to the mountain area,” he told BNamericas. … ” Read more from BNamericas here: US cuts water supply to Mexico’s Baja California state
Developers are flooding Arizona with homes even as historic Western drought intensifies
“California just experienced its driest January and February ever, and the snowpack is dangerously low. As the West enters its third year of drought, water sources are drying up, and restrictions on the Colorado River are now hitting all sectors of the Western economy, inculding homebuilding. While there is a shortage of water, there is also a shortage of housing. The US currently needs over a million more homes just to meet the current demand, according to an estimate by the National Association of Home Builders. Other estimates are even higher. As the millennial generation hits its prime homebuying years and Gen Z enters the fray, the supply of homes for sale is at a record low. Builders are hampered by high costs for land, labor and materials, so they are focused on the West and areas like the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, which are growing rapidly. … ” Continue reading at CNBC here: Developers are flooding Arizona with homes even as historic Western drought intensifies
Colorado River Basin hydropower revenue could be down 38%, forcing environmental programs to seek funding elsewhere
“A long-running effort to revive four fish species that once thrived in the Colorado River is poised to lose millions of dollars in funding due to sagging hydropower production in the Colorado River Basin. Since 2000, the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program has received 65% of its funding from hydropower sales, according to program director Julie Stahli. But, Stahli said, given the uncertainties over how much water will continue to flow through the Colorado River, the program can’t count on that money into the future. The program’s supporters, she said, are in the process of figuring out an alternate funding scheme. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Colorado River Basin hydropower revenue could be down 38%, forcing environmental programs to seek funding elsewhere
Punished by drought, some southwest Colorado farmers survived 2021 on 10% of their normal water supply
“It’s early March, and Wilson is standing inside a massive storage shed on his family’s farm a few miles west of Pleasant View, in an often-forgotten corner of southwestern Colorado. Normally this time of year, this shed, and another just like it, are both full of hay bales the Wilsons will sell to dairy operations in New Mexico and Texas. This year, the sheds are empty. In 2021, the persistent drought that scientists believe is the driest 22-year stretch in the past 1,200 years hit this part of the state harder than just about anywhere else. Farmers and ranchers with junior water rights along the Dolores River, the region’s main source of water, got around 10% or less of what they’re used to receiving. What’s more, last year’s difficult conditions piled onto an equally dry 2020 — and the outlook heading further into spring and summer has many in the local agricultural community deeply concerned. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Punished by drought, some southwest Colorado farmers survived 2021 on 10% of their normal water supply
In national water news today …
Making water a public good: The bigger picture of water affordability
“For every community in our country, the availability of safe drinking water and wastewater services is a precondition for public health and prosperity. It is in our collective national interest that everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. Yet, the reality is that maintaining and operating water systems is incredibly costly, and both people who cannot pay water bills and utilities who cannot cover costs can face severe consequences. Many people struggle to afford their utility and other essential bills, especially since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. In this same two-year period, many utilities watched revenues plummet. The realities and trends driving up utility costs and customer bills are layered, as are the reasons some people are left without the economic and social conditions they need to afford the basics. … ” Read more from the US Water Alliance here: Making water a public good: The bigger picture of water affordability
Groups propose improvements to licensing process in the US, restore autonomy for tribes
“A package of proposals has been sent to the US Congress and the White House which call for amendments to the Federal Power Act to enhance cooperation, improve clarity, restore autonomy and self-determination for Tribal Nations, and suggest improvements to the hydropower licensing, relicensing and license surrender processes. Conservation organizations, hydropower industry groups, and Tribes worked on the package, which they believe will help address climate change, better protect the health of the nation’s rivers, and provide Tribes long-sought authority over their lands and waters. … ” Read more from Water, Power, & Dam Construction here: Groups propose improvements to licensing process in the US, restore autonomy for tribes
IPCC: For climate goals, it’s ‘now or never’
“For decades, the key to halting climate change has been clear: The world must reduce net greenhouse gas emissions down to zero. Now, a comprehensive new U.N. climate report summarizes years of studies from climate scientists, social scientists, economists, energy experts, policy specialists and others on how to make that happen. Its findings are stark: Tackling climate change requires a fundamental overhaul of nearly all aspects of human life. Everything — from the ways societies produce their electricity and power their transportation to the ways they build their cities, manufacture their goods and grow their food — is part of the solution. Meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Accords is still possible, the report notes. But it requires rapid, immediate and urgent action. … ” Read more from E&E News here: IPCC: For climate goals, it’s ‘now or never’
SEE ALSO: Stopping climate change is doable, but time is short, U.N. Panel warns, from the New York Times
Climate change could cost U.S. budget $2 trillion a year by the end of the century, White House says
“Flood, fire, and drought fueled by climate change could take a massive bite out of the U.S. federal budget per year by the end of the century, the White House said in its first ever such assessment on Sunday. The Office of Management and Budget assessment, tasked by President Joe Biden last May, found the upper range of climate change’s hit to the budget by the end of the century could total 7.1% annual revenue loss, equal to $2 trillion a year in today’s dollars. … ” Read more from Rueters News here: Climate change could cost U.S. budget $2 trillion a year by the end of the century, White House says
NASA Snow Water Equivalent Report …
20220401_RT_SWE_ReportAlso on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Order Conditionally Approving a Temporary Urgency Change Petition Filed by the DWR and Reclamation
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER RESTORATION PROGRAM: Restoration Flows to be reduced and halted
NOTICE: Workshops to provide summary of proposed hexavalent chromium standard, opportunities for public comment
NOW AVAILABLE: Oil and Gas Groundwater Monitoring: 2021 Model Criteria Performance Report
