On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Microplastics in Drinking Water: Key Issues and the Frontier of Contaminant Knowledge from 10am to 11am. Although microplastics are an increasingly important emerging water quality issue, industry awareness of these contaminants remains limited. This webinar will help close this knowledge gap, articulating the key issues and challenges from leading researchers in the field. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Wildlife Conservation Board General Grant Guidelines Workshop from 11am to 12pm. The Wildlife Conservation Board is hosting a workshop on April 6th at 11 a.m. to discuss the new WCB General Grant Guidelines. The workshop will be via zoom through the link below. At the workshop, WCB staff will present the new guidelines and application process, and answer questions from attendees. The webinar will be recorded and posted to the WCB website. Click here to join webinar.
- WEBINAR: Managed Aquifer Recharge as a strategy for Mitigating Drought Impacts on Irrigated Agriculture in California from 12pm to 1pm. Managed aquifer recharge (or intentional recharge) holds the potential to mitigate the impact of climate uncertainty on irrigated agriculture by replenishing storage levels in depleted groundwater sources, the economic value of which increases during droughts. We use a high-resolution dynamic regional hydro-economic framework that endogenizes farming decisions in response to water quantity-quality changes, as well as complex hydrogeological principles to analyze several policy and climate scenarios applied to the Kings Groundwater Basin in California. Our analysis demonstrates that intentional recharge is of benefit to the region, increasing in value under sustainable groundwater management derived from recent legislation in California. We also find that recharge strategy as well as the impact of climate uncertainty on regional welfare are sensitive to the prevailing institutional arrangements. Regional cooperation is essential, and its importance depends on climate conditions and existing policies. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Lunch-MAR from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. An explanation of isotope tracer techniques and how they apply to MAR will be presented. Isotope tracer techniques can identify recharge sources and quantify groundwater flow velocities at MAR facilities. Click here to register.
- EVENT: The Sierra Fund 20th Anniversary Reception from 5pm to 7pm in Sacramento. Join the Sierra Fund for this evening reception to revel in shared success and honor retired CEO Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Despite cutbacks to the rest of the state, some ag districts get full allotment of water
“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 650,000 acre feet — 100% of their “critical year” allotment. The move is just one of the quirks in California’s byzantine world of 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 the Fresno Bee here: Despite cutbacks to the rest of the state, some ag districts get full allotment of water
Water agency fears the difficulties for those relying on the Friant-Kern Canal
“The Friant Water Authority is warning of serious problems to come for communities that rely on water from the Friant-Kern Canal. The Bureau of Reclamation is now releasing water from the Friant Dam into the San Joaquin River. It’s now streaming to the San Joaquin River exchange contractors. That water authority services about 240-thousand acres of farmlands in Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties. The Friant Water Authority was hoping to make that water available to communities stretching from Madera, Chowchilla, Orange Cove, and Lindsay all the way south to Bakersfield and Arvin in Kern County. … ” Read more from KMPH here: Water agency fears the difficulties for those relying on the Friant-Kern Canal
SEE ALSO:
NASA finds new way to monitor underground water loss
“Scientists have produced a new method that holds the promise of improving groundwater management – critical to both life and agriculture in dry regions. The method sorts out how much underground water loss comes from aquifers confined in clay, which can be drained so dry that they will not recover, and how much comes from soil that’s not confined in an aquifer, which can be replenished by a few years of normal rains. The research team studied California’s Tulare Basin, part of the Central Valley. The team found that the key to distinguishing between these underground sources of water relates to patterns of sinking and rising ground levels in this heavily irrigated agricultural region. ... ” Read more from NASA JPL here: NASA finds new way to monitor underground water loss
Newsom urged Californians to cut water use by 15%. In February they saved less than 1%
“Total water usage in California cities and towns decreased by just half a percent in February compared to the same month in 2020, a far cry from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of reducing urban water use by 15%. Figures released this week by the State Water Resources Control Board showed that even during a third year of drought, Californians have been slow to step up conservation efforts. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the water board, said it’s vital that Californians continue to make progress on conservation, “given not just this drought but the increasing aridity in the West” with climate change. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Newsom urged Californians to cut water use by 15%. In February they saved less than 1%
Sacramento could top 90 degrees this week. What will heat mean for California water?
“A big, early-spring heat wave will toast Northern California, with high temperatures that could soar more than 20 degrees hotter than normal in Sacramento by Friday. … This week’s heat wave, as well as the one just two weeks earlier, are concerning given a severe drought in California that has already been exacerbated by extraordinarily low rain and snow totals this calendar year. “The recent rate of Sierra Nevada snowmelt is extraordinary,” Daniel Swain, a UCLA climate scientist, tweeted Monday. “With upcoming heatwave, it’s starting to seem possible that vast majority of snowpack could be gone by mid-late April.” ... ” Read the full article at the Sacramento Bee here: Sacramento could top 90 degrees this week. What will heat mean for California water?
Progressives want to ban trading of California water futures
“In September 2020, as wildfires lashed a drought-stricken West Coast and average water prices in California leaped to double what they had been a year earlier, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and NASDAQ announced a new tool to bet on the price of water. The exchanges were offering a futures contract—an agreement to buy an asset at a predetermined time—structured much like existing derivatives that allow investors to wager on changes in the cost of pork or palm oil. The launch prompted considerable distress from environmental nonprofits. “My first reaction when I saw this was horror,” Basav Sen, climate justice project director at the Institute for Policy Studies, told the news outlet Earther. “What this represents is a cynical attempt at setting up what’s almost like a betting casino so some people can make money from others suffering.” … ” Read more from The American Prospect here: Progressives want to ban trading of California water futures
Water plan announced for habitat, farms
“A $2.6 billion plan to improve water quality for salmon and native fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, unveiled last week by the Newsom administration, pledges to increase river flows and enhance habitat restoration. The plan, which describes steps for binding agreements, would also include funds to reimburse rice farmers who fallow land to save water. California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said voluntary agreements under the framework are preferable to a regulatory, flows-only approach to managing California water supplies. But he said the plan needs more work. “Our farmers and ranchers need alternatives to flow-centric Bay-Delta policies that still fall short in safeguarding our environment and protecting California’s economy, including the critical contributions of agriculture,” Johansson said. “We strongly encourage a renewed commitment by the administration to find collaborative solutions to ensure healthy ecosystems and a healthy economy for those farming communities.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Water plan announced for habitat, farms
Listen: The dire consequences of continued chiseling away of water from California farmers
“Mario Santoyo served as assistant manager for 30 years on the Friant Water Users Authority, and then served as Executive Director for the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority representing the counties of Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings, in order to promote the building of Temperance Flat Dam. He has seen many zero allocations and has been bruised badly trying to insure water for California Agriculture.” Listen at Cal Ag Today here: The Fate of Available Water—A Dire Prediction for California Agriculture, Part 1 and The dire consequences of continued chiseling away of water from California farmersm Part 2
Cattle may move early due to feed prices, drought
“California ranchers are being squeezed by drought, high prices and, now, transportation issues. That is expected to result in an earlier, faster and more expensive move to get cattle to their summer grazing pastures. “Normally, the movement from winter grazing country to summer grazing is a six- to eight-week-long process,” said Ned Coe, a Modoc County rancher and California Farm Bureau field representative. “That’s impacted by the location of the grazing and when that feed dries up, and also the location that the cattle producer is moving his cattle to for the summer.” This year, with the drought drying up the winter grounds faster than usual, the timeline for cattle moving is likely to be compressed. “I think we’re going to see the bulk of it in April 15 to the first week of May,” Coe said. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Cattle may move early due to feed prices, drought
Hurtado talks about bill to reshape water management
“Everyone is pretty much in agreement the way water is managed in the state needs to change. State Senator Melissa Hurtado says she has proposed a bill that would go a long way in improving how water is managed in the state. But not surprisingly there are those who have concerns with the bill, particularly the bill’s proposal to dissolve the State Water Resources Control Board and replace it with a Blue Ribbon Commission. Hurtado addressed those concerns at a press conference she held on Monday. Hurtado is a Democrat from Sanger, who represents District 14, which includes Porterville. In the 2022 election, Hurtado is running to represent District 16, which will still include Porterville after redistricting. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Hurtado talks about bill to reshape water management
Sen. Dodd’s remote water monitoring bill passes committee
“As California grapples with climate-worsened drought, legislation advanced today from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to improve the way the state measures and manages water, protecting precious supplies and ensuring the most efficient use in communities and agriculture. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and this bill helps us more accurately track where water is going, empowering us to chart a more sustainable water future,” Sen. Dodd said. “Because with climate change, Californians must be vigilant about our water use. Today we take another step toward ensuring we have water for generations to come.” ... ” Read more from Senator Dodd’s website here: Sen. Dodd’s remote water monitoring bill passes committee
Democrat legislator: Investigate DWR on ’21 snowpack
“A Democrat Assemblyman from Merced, Calif., is calling for an investigation into the state Department of Water Resources for its handling of spring runoff in 2021. Assemblyman Adam Gray joins others in criticizing the agency for being caught flatfooted as warm spring temperatures created a rapid snowmelt and sent more water downstream to the Pacific Ocean. He wants the California State Auditor to investigate the agency’s operations and management. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Democrat legislator: Investigate DWR on ’21 snowpack
Governor Newsom’s latest executive order takes local approach to drought response
“Last week, Governor Newsom issued an executive order calling on state and local agencies to increase water conservation measures following the driest January, February, and March on record. Executive Order N-7-22 expands upon a series of existing executive orders aimed at reducing water use, improving drought resiliency, and responding to future climate challenges such as more frequent, prolonged, and intense drought. The newest executive order provides that the Governor’s previous drought emergency proclamations remain in full force and effect, and directs state agencies to continue implementing all directives from previous proclamations and accelerate implementation where feasible. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: Governor Newsom’s latest executive order takes local approach to drought response
Report to California Legislature: Prepare for sweeping effects of climate change
“Painting alarming scenes of fires, floods and economic disruption, the California Legislature’s advisors today released a series of reports that lays out in stark terms the impacts of climate change across the state. The typically reserved, nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined dire consequences for Californians as climate change continues to alter most aspects of daily life. Much of the focus of the six-part series is detailing the economic cost as the changing climate alters where and how Californians build, grow food and protect the most vulnerable residents. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Report to California Legislature: Prepare for sweeping effects of climate change
LAO Report: Climate change impacts across California
“Addressing the widespread impacts of climate change represents a significant challenge for the state, and one that will increasingly occupy the Legislature’s agenda in the coming years. A changing climate presents California with five key climate hazards: (1) higher temperatures and extreme heat events, (2) more severe wildfires, (3) more frequent and intense droughts, (4) flooding due to extreme precipitation events, and (5) coastal flooding and erosion from sea‑level rise. These hazards will threaten public health, safety, and well‑being—including from life‑threatening events, damage to public and private property and infrastructure, and impaired natural resources. More frequent extreme weather and climate‑related emergencies will be increasingly disruptive for California’s residents and economy. … ”
How the indigenous practice of ‘good fire’ can help our forests thrive
” … These deadly infernos are stark evidence of how vulnerable California’s communities and forests have become in the era of climate change. But warmer, dryer forests aren’t the only factor behind these so-called mega fires. Ironically, it is a lack of fire that is also playing a major role. Two hundred years ago, someone walking through Yosemite would not have seen the densely packed forests we now associate with the Sierra Nevada. They would have passed through broad meadows and perhaps have even been drawn to comment, as the Spanish did, on how the land appeared like a “well-tended garden.” In fact, that is exactly what Spaniards were seeing: Indigenous people native to Yosemite and other parts of the world for millennia have used fire to promote healthy forests. Today, the wisdom of that approach is seen as one of the keys to unraveling the deadly cycle of California wildfires. … ” Read more from UC California here: How the indigenous practice of ‘good fire’ can help our forests thrive
In commentary today …
Commentary: Improved data on protecting salmon can help farms
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “Farms require water to grow the healthy local food supply we depend on. But despite increasing water efficiency, farmers are always the first to have supplies cut. That trend continues this year, with increasing tensions, as California enters year three of a withering drought. Yet amid our water challenges, farmers continue to recognize the importance of iconic California wildlife, such as winter- and fall-run Chinook salmon. Numerous farms and irrigation districts work with state agencies and multiple interest groups to help improve salmon habitat, reduce predators and ensure ample supplies of nutrients for juvenile salmon populations. Those considerations for farms and fish were points of discussion recently when the State Water Resources Control Board held a workshop to discuss Sacramento River temperature management and its impact on salmon for 2022 and beyond. The workshop was planned when there was still hope for improved water conditions. After heavy early-season snowfall, the opportunity seemed ripe to explore water management options for water users and the environment. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Commentary: Improved data on protecting salmon can help farms
Column: The end of the world is coming, even if you’ve heard it all before
Columnist Nicholas Goldberg writes, “The periodic reports of the U.N.’s International Panel on Climate Change are lapsing into self-parody. This is your last warning, they say. Get a move on. Don’t sit idly by. Fix the problem now. We mean it! I am continually amazed that the IPCC scientists don’t throw up their collective hands in disgust at humanity’s inability to awaken from its slumbers and stop issuing reports altogether. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: Column: The end of the world is coming, even if you’ve heard it all before
Today’s featured article …
ESTUARY NEWS: Suisun Marsh: A Bastion for Fish
By Nate Seltenrich
Rising seas are coming for Suisun Marsh, and without careful management some of its most critical habitats could be lost forever. The largest remaining contiguous, brackish-water marsh in western North America, Suisun Marsh is also a critical refuge for many native fishes of the highly modified, highly invaded San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary – but for how much longer?
“[Sea-level rise] really has the potential to change the marsh into a much more homogeneous, much less interesting system that offers a lot less refuge and food production for fishes,” says UC Davis senior researcher John Durand, who since 2015 has led the 42-year-old Suisun Marsh Fish Study, which involves monthly surveys of fish and invertebrates.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Another year of record low inflows for Upper Klamath Lake
“One year after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation shut off water to the Klamath Project amid a devastating region-wide drought, conditions appear to be worse heading into the 2022 irrigation season. Upper Klamath Lake is again getting record low inflows following another dry winter. As of April 5, the Klamath Basin had received just 67% of its median precipitation for the water year dating back to Oct. 1 and 26% of median snowpack. Brian Person, a senior adviser for the Bureau of Reclamation in Klamath Falls, Ore., said the agency will announce its annual water allocation for the Klamath Project on April 12. He declined to speculate whether there would be a second consecutive shutoff, but said it has been “a very difficult year.” ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Another year of record low inflows for Upper Klamath Lake
Judge halts curtailment for Siskiyou County irrigators
“Irrigators in Siskiyou County have won a court ruling to temporarily block a state water curtailment order that would have prevented area farmers and ranchers from tapping into percolating groundwater supplies they have relied on for decades. Superior Court Judge John Lawrence granted their request last week for injunctive relief to stop the state action. Citing “imminent, irreparable harm and waste,” attorneys for Big Springs Irrigation District argued that the State Water Resources Control Board, in issuing the drought emergency curtailment order for the Shasta and Scott rivers last year, exceeded its jurisdiction on groundwater. Darrin Mercier, a Yreka-based attorney for Big Springs Irrigation District, called the decision a win for agriculture and the first step in a long legal journey. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Judge halts curtailment for Siskiyou County irrigators
Siskiyou County Water Users Association oppose removal of Klamath Dams
“The Siskiyou County Water Users Association is throwing its opposition against the removal of four dams along the Klamath River. Built as part of a mostly-defunct hydroelectric project, the dams are being considered for removal to prevent toxic algal blooms and restore heavily declining salmon populations. The dams do not provide irrigation. Richard Marshall, president of the SCWUA believes that the dams don’t need to be removed to improve salmon populations. “The money that’s being spent to do this would be much better spent for everybody if they would work on improving the downstream capability for salmon production,” said Marshall. ... ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Siskiyou County Water Users Association oppose removal of Klamath Dams
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Glenn County supervisors discuss possible water transfer amid extreme drought conditions
“In Glenn County, the board of supervisors received notice from Reclamation District 1004 notifying them of its plan to transfer water out of the county as soon as reasonably feasible. With the county already experiencing extreme drought conditions, not everyone is on board. The board voted unanimously to write a letter opposing the transfer of the county’s water.” … ” Read more from KRCR here: Glenn County supervisors discuss possible water transfer amid extreme drought conditions
BAY AREA
S.F. Bay Area ‘weather roller coaster’ to bring wild temperature swings this week
“A heat wave was expected to descend on the Bay Area on Wednesday, bringing what meteorologists called a “weather roller coaster” of dramatically swinging temperatures. Above-normal temperatures were predicted Wednesday through Friday, with Thursday potentially breaking high-temperature records in several locations, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will start to cool down on Friday, but will remain at above normal conditions, weather officials said. By Sunday, the region will see a drastic change in conditions with a 10-20 degree drop, weather officials said. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: S.F. Bay Area ‘weather roller coaster’ to bring wild temperature swings this week
Punishing Bay Area drought prompts calls for major water rethink
“Each morning for months, Amelia Morán Ceja has peered out her window, searching Sonoma’s wine country for dark clouds or the residue of rain on the leaves of her grapevines. Her searching has proved futile, and now she’s worried as California faces its third consecutive summer with drought. The dry conditions threaten her thirsty vines at Ceja Vineyards and elevate the risk from fire and heat waves. The triple threat is a “perfect storm during harvest,” she said. Smoke from wildfires can ruin a year’s worth of wine and is harmful to the health of harvesters. Ceja is banking that last October and December’s heavy storms filled aquifers below her vineyard. … Ceja is just one example of the millions of Bay Area residents learning to live with seemingly perpetual dry times. … ” Read more from KQED here: Punishing Bay Area drought prompts calls for major water rethink
Column: Marin water director Gibson steps forward with his plan
Columnist Dick Spotswood writes, “I have tried to challenge members of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors who are up for election this year to prove the veracity of claims they are seriously pursuing additional water supplies for the agency’s 190,000 customers. Most directors claim they are open to water sources other than conservation, the approach often referred to as water rationing. The fear is that those directors focused on conservation are delaying decision-making by commissioning ever-more studies until after November’s pivotal election. A “paralysis by analysis” approach will doom their central and southern Marin constituents to eternal water shortages except in increasingly rare wet years. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Column: Marin water director Gibson steps forward with his plan
Editorial: Reject Santa Clara County water board’s blatantly deceptive term-limit measure
The San Jose Mercury News editorial board writes, “Voters in the Santa Clara Valley Water District should reject board members’ costly, self-serving and deceptive ballot measure that would extend their terms in office. Term limits have their drawbacks. But they are needed here. Members of the water board, responsible for providing water and flood control to 2 million people in Santa Clara County, seem to stay forever. Meanwhile, the problems that continue to surface are typical of entrenched leadership that has lost perspective. That’s why in 2009 we urged voters to approve the three-term limit for board members that began counting in 2010. Now that some members are reaching those limits, the board has conveniently placed a measure on the ballot to allow them another four-year term. … ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: Editorial: Reject Santa Clara County water board’s blatantly deceptive term-limit measure
CENTRAL COAST
Paso Robles groundwater pumped far beyond sustainable levels, new report shows
“A new report shows that over-pumping of the Paso Robles groundwater sub-basin has continued at unsustainable levels, an issue worsened by the ongoing drought that has resulted in greater irrigation needs for agriculture operations in the region. In total, groundwater users in the basin in northern San Luis Obispo County — generally encompassing the area east of Highway 101 and north of Highway 58 — pumped 82,100 acre-feet of water in 2021, up from 67,300 in 2020, a 22% increase, according to the latest annual report for the basin. That’s a far cry from the estimated sustainable yield of 61,100 acre-feet per year and resulted in the basin’s groundwater supply being depleted by about 41,500 acre-feet, the annual report says. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Paso Robles groundwater pumped far beyond sustainable levels, new report shows
Santa Barbara City Hall proposes cure for summertime stench
“For nearly 100 years, people in Santa Barbara have been complaining about the summertime stench emanating off the oxygen-starved waters of Andrée Clark Bird Refuge, located where Cabrillo Boulevard seems to collide with both the railroad tracks and the Pacific Ocean. This past week, a $2 million effort to finally fix the big stink got the green light from the city’s Historic Landmarks Commission. For a while, city workers crisscrossed the 29-acre lagoon in little motorboats, hoping to infuse the stagnant estuary with enough oxygen to make the odors go away. When this didn’t exorcize the pervasive smells, they installed little air jets throughout the scenic lagoon, hoping the mico-bubbles churning to the surface would do the trick. They didn’t. For a while, they even doped the waters with copper sulfate, which succeeded only in killing everything. Except not, of course, the pervasive stink. Now, City Hall has another plan. It’s called flushing. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara City Hall proposes cure for summertime stench
Santa Barbara Commentary: Amid worsening drought, bring back stage 3 water restrictions now
Environmental lawyer Robert Sulnick writes, “In 2019, Santa Barbara rescinded Stage Three Drought Emergency measures (no decorative water fountains, irrigation pause after rain, automatic shutoff hose nozzles, broom instead of water to clean driveways, avoid overwatering trees) and replaced it with a Stage One Water Supply Condition, prohibiting just irrigation runoff and home leaks. This was a mistake! In March, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its U.S. Spring Drought Outlook. For the second year in a row, NOAA predicted prolonged, persistent drought in the West, including California, the Central Coast and Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, due to climate change, severe drought has become our “new normal.” … ” Continue reading at Noozhawk here: Santa Barbara Commentary: Amid worsening drought, bring back stage 3 water restrictions now
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca water use soars 14.6% as drought deepens
“Manteca’s per capita water use surged 14.6 percent in March as the city’s consumption continued to grow significantly over 2020 even after making adjustments for population gain. The double-digit gain in year-to-year use comes nine months after Governor Gavin Newsom asked Californians to voluntarily cut water usage by 15 percent based on 2020 consumption levels. So far water use on average in California jurisdictions is down by 6 percent although Manteca clearly isn’t one of them. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca water use soars 14.6% as drought deepens
Merced County school district sues Dow and Shell over cancer-causing chemical in water
“The Ballico-Cressey School District, a small school district in a rural stretch of northern Merced County, is suing corporate giants Dow Chemical and Shell Oil. The lawsuit, filed on March 30 in Merced County Superior Court, alleges that the big companies manufactured and sold agricultural fumigants containing the toxic chemical 1,2,3-TCP, or 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, that were sprayed on nearby fields surrounding the school district, polluting Cressey Elementary School’s water supply. “This is an effort to hold these companies accountable,” said Kenneth Sansone, attorney at SL Environmental Law Group who is representing the school district. “We want to make sure the companies who created the mess and profited from it are the ones who pay to clean it up.” ... ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Merced County school district sues Dow and Shell over cancer-causing chemical in water
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Heat, Santa Ana winds to hit Southern California this week, but a chance of showers awaits
“Heat and dry Santa Ana winds with elevated fire danger are on tap through Friday in Southern California, with record high temperatures possible Thursday and Friday, forecasters said, but conditions are expected to cool through the weekend and turn breezy and colder with a chance of showers early next week. Moderate Santa Ana winds, gusting 30 to 50 mph, are forecast for Wednesday through Friday in L.A. and Ventura counties. A heat advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Friday, and temperatures could soar into triple digits for coastal plains and valleys, as well as in the Santa Clarita Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains, the National Weather Service said. Red-flag fire warnings are not expected, however, because vegetation is still green from late March rains. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Heat, Santa Ana winds to hit Southern California this week, but a chance of showers awaits
Las Virgenes water district imposes some of the toughest water use restrictions in region
“A water district serving parts of the Conejo Valley is imposing some of the toughest watering restrictions in the region as a result of the drought. The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District reduced the amount of water customers can use for outdoor irrigation from 75% to 50% of normal. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Las Virgenes water district imposes some of the toughest water use restrictions in region
LA Waterkeeper sues over Clean Water Act violations
“Los Angeles Waterkeeper, a public benefit non-profit corporation, filed a complaint against Grover Products, a California corporation, alleging the defendant violated the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Water Act, and the terms and conditions of several water quality control permits. The complaint purports that the defendant is liable for past and ongoing failures to comply with the Clean Water Act, relating to compliance with discharge prohibitions, technology-based and water quality limitations, and monitoring their compliance with permit requirements. ... ” Read more from Law Street Media here: LA Waterkeeper sues over Clean Water Act violations
Santa Monica’s journey to water self-sufficiency
“To enhance the sustainability of its local water supply, the City of Santa Monica, Calif., has focused its efforts on developing alternative water supplies and expanding local groundwater resources. In January 2022, city officials broke ground on a project to expand the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant and to restore the Olympic Well Field. These projects are a $72 million undertaking with the potential to restore up to 3,200 acre-feet per year of water, according to city leaders. But the project is just one piece of a larger plan for the city — which imports about 30 to 40 percent of the water it uses — to become water self-sufficient by 2030. … ” Read more from Water World here: Santa Monica’s journey to water self-sufficiency
SAN DIEGO
Ramona water district to discuss agreement to sell water to Barona tribe April 12
“The Ramona Municipal Water District and the Barona Band of Mission Indians are considering a water sales agreement that would serve a growing reservation population and help the community be better prepared for wildfires, officials said. The water district’s board of directors will consider the proposal at their meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. In addition to selling drinking water to the reservation, which includes the Barona Resort & Casino, the water district aims to sell recycled water for the tribe’s golf course and other non-potable uses. Total sales to Barona have not yet been determined, said the water district’s Interim General Manager Craig Schmollinger. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Ramona water district to discuss agreement to sell water to Barona tribe April 12
San Diego County mostly winning its bout with the drought
“Although California’s governor has made overtures to conserve water, most of the water districts in San Diego County are already ahead of the game. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently asked everyone to try to conserve up to 20% of their water as the state endures another drought. The Sweetwater Authority in San Diego’s South Bay area, however, said it’s 200,000 customers are already ahead of those savings. … ” Read more from NBC San Diego here: San Diego County mostly winning its bout with the drought
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: The simple, big reason Colorado’s rivers are drying up
Rica Fulton, advocacy and stewardship director for Dolores River Boating Advocatesm and Jen Pelz, Rio Grande waterkeeper and Wild Rivers Program director at WildEarth Guardiansm writes, “While there is no doubt that climate change is accelerating the water crisis in the West, it is not the underlying reason why western rivers are disappearing. The Rio Grande and Dolores Rivers are drying because the water allocation system itself is not sustainable: More water is being used than is being replenished. … ” Read the full commentary at the Colorado Sun here: Commentary: The simple, big reason Colorado’s rivers are drying up
Arizona: Mining company plans to begin site preparation work soon
“A Hudbay Minerals Inc. subsidiary plans to begin clearing and grading this month on the southern Arizona site for a planned new mine with five open pits. Rosemont Copper’s planned work will take place on private land on the Santa Rita Mountains’ western slope south of Tucson, the Arizona Daily Star reported. Hudbay Vice President Javier Del Rio notified Pima County regional flood control officials recently that the company plans to start seeking environmental permits later this year from state agencies for construction of the Rosemont Copper World project. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Arizona: Mining company plans to begin site preparation work soon
In national water news today …
Trump-era water rule’s new flow draws out Roberts, liberal justices
“The Supreme Court sided with Republican-led states and fossil fuel industry groups on Wednesday to reinstate a Trump administration policy that shores up energy projects capable of polluting waterways. While the five justices in the majority entered an emergency stay in the case with no accompanying opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s liberal wing in a dissent criticizing the stay itself as well as the majority’s use of the emergency docket. The case centers on Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, under which regulatory permitting was explicitly secondary to a review process states and tribes could undertake for projects that might affect waters within their borders. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Trump-era water rule’s new flow draws out Roberts, liberal justices
EPA announces strategy to protect water quality by accelerating nutrient pollution reductions
“Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water, Radhika Fox, released a new policy memorandum on Accelerating Nutrient Pollution Reductions in the Nation’s Waters. This memo reaffirms EPA’s commitment to working with federal agencies, state co-regulators, Tribes, water stakeholders, and the agricultural community to advance progress in reducing excess nutrients in our nation’s waters. “Nutrient pollution is one of America’s most widespread, costly, and challenging environmental problems,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. “At the same time, promising innovations, creative partnerships, holistic One Water solutions, and unprecedented opportunities to invest in clean and safe water through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have the potential to rapidly accelerate progress on nutrient pollution. Our nutrients memo is a call for scaling up the innovative approaches being used by farmers, ranchers, water agencies, local municipalities, industry, and communities to make progress.” … ” Read more from the EPA here: EPA announces strategy to protect water quality by accelerating nutrient pollution reductions
