On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level from 9am to 11am. 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.
- WEBINAR: Seeing the Forest: For the Water from 9am to 10am. Pacific Forest Trust President Laurie Wayburn and three pre-eminent scientists with deep experience in the management and science of forest hydrology and watershed function – Roger Bales, PhD, Jerry Franklin, PhD, and Julia Jones, PhD – will discuss their work understanding how forests function as watersheds and the effects of land management. Click here to register.
- TRAINING WEBINAR: Webinar on Water Supply Permitting for Extremely Impaired Sources from 10am to 3pm. As California’s drought continues, it is imperative that we use all available resources. This program will highlight how we can effectively incorporate impaired groundwater basins into the state’s water supply solutions. This webinar is hosted by the San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority (WQA) in cooperation with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW). Registration details are here.
- YOLO FLYWAY NIGHTS: Sacramento Perch from 7pm to 9pm. Sacramento Perch is a California native fish that was once common and abundant throughout the Central Valley, but now struggles to survive in its native habitat. One of the most unique populations of Sacramento Perch was rescued from the drying Jewel Lake in 2014 and now live in the demonstration wetlands ponds located at the YBWA Headquarters. This presentation highlights their journey to the ponds and CDFW’s management efforts along the way. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
‘Urgency change’ will allow more water to be stored in Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake
“Federal and state water agencies have issued an urgency change to conserve more water in Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake. District 1 Rep. Doug LaMalfa announced Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have issued a temporary urgency change petition (TUCP). It will be in effect now through June 30. The urgency petition allows the State Water Project and Central Valley Project to release less water through the Delta, in order to conserve stored water at reservoirs including Shasta Lake, Lake Oroville and Folsom Lake. … ” Read more from Action News Now here: ‘Urgency change’ will allow more water to be stored in Lake Oroville and Shasta Lake
Rock Barrier hopes to save California’s water
“The Department of Water Resources is reconstructing the rock barrier once again in W. False River near Oakley. The wall was put up in May 2021 to limit saltwater from pushing through freshwater rivers and channels in the Delta. “By making some changes in our operational rules, as well as implementing this emergency drought barrier, we’re able to keep the salt at bay with the release of less freshwater,” says DWR Engineer Jacob McQuirk. … ” Continue reading at Channel 10 here: Rock Barrier hopes to save California’s water
LaMalfa: “Water Changes Were Needed Months Ago”
“Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R – Richvale) commented on the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and California Department of Water Recourses’ (DWR) announcement that they have issued a Temporary Urgency Change Petition (TUCP) to California water operations. The new order allows DWR and BOR to conserve more water in Shasta and Oroville, reduce Delta outflow requirements for salinity, and reduce the mandatory minimum flows in the river to save water. There had been a TUCP in place for much of the fall, however, BOR and the DWR allowed it to lapse in January. Congressmen LaMalfa, McCarthy, McClintock, Valadao, and Calvert had asked for this additional flexibility to be issued in February in order to store additional water during the winter months. “I’m happy to see the state finally taking our drought conditions more seriously. The flexibility to store additional water and reduce outflows that was issued today was needed months ago when fresh water was needlessly being flushed out to the ocean unused. … “ Continue reading at Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s website here: LaMalfa: “Water Changes Were Needed Months Ago”
Friant water officials dismayed over Federal water shuffle
“A move by Federal water officials to release water from Friant Dam to accommodate the needs of competing, farm water users is prompting increased worries from Friant Water Authority over its ability to serve disadvantaged communities in the San Joaquin Valley. Last Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced it would begin releasing water from Millerton Lake to assist San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors, those who have contracted with Federal water officials for Sacramento River water in exchange for historic rights to the Kings and San Joaquin River. In a statement on Tuesday, the Friant Water Authority – which services the Friant-Kern Canal and a bevy of San Joaquin Valley communities from Madera to southern Kern counties – expressed disappointment at the decision by Federal officials. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Friant water officials dismayed over Federal water shuffle
DWR allocates funds for Delta-Mendota canal repairs
“The California Department of Water Resources signed an agreement to award $3.3 million in funding to the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority to repair segments of the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) in the San Joaquin Valley that have been damaged by land subsidence. The Delta-Mendota Canal, which conveys water over 116 miles from its headworks in Byron to its outlet in Mendota, plays a critical role in delivering water to 1.2 million acres of farmland in the San Joaquin, San Benito, and Santa Clara valleys. It also delivers water to more than 2 million Californians and approximately 150,000 acres of managed wetlands important to the Pacific Flyway. … ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR allocates funds for Delta-Mendota canal repairs
Watch: Could the water wars in California be over? Westlands water district GM says new VA plan would solve state’s mismanagement of water
“Could the decades old battle over water distribution in California soon be over? This governor Newsom, state and federal officials along with two of the state’s biggest water agencies agreed to a new voluntary agreement that would provide a new framework on how water will be used. The general manager of Westlands Water District, the largest water ag district in the country, Tom Birmingham joined Alexan Balekian exclusively on Sunday Morning Matters after signing off on the agreement on why he believes this is the first major step in ending the water wars in the Golden State.” Watch the news segment at Your Central Valley here: Could the water wars in California be over? Westlands water district GM says new VA plan would solve state’s mismanagement of water
California salmon are at risk of extinction. A plan to save them stirs hope and controversy
“Shasta Dam stands more than 600 feet tall, the height of a 55-story building, with a colossal spillway that towers over the Sacramento River in a curved face of concrete. Since its completion in 1945, the dam has created California’s largest reservoir, which provides water for farms and cities across the state. But it has also blocked Chinook salmon from returning upstream to the cold, spring-fed streams near Mt. Shasta where they once spawned. … With California in a third year of drought, state and federal officials are moving ahead with plans to truck fish above Shasta Dam and reintroduce them to the McCloud River. After the fish spawn and die, their offspring would be captured and trucked back to waters below the dam to begin their journey to adulthood in the Pacific Ocean. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: California salmon are at risk of extinction. A plan to save them stirs hope and controversy
New study shows robust increases in atmospheric thirst across much of U.S. during past 40 years
“In arid Western states, the climate is growing warmer and drier, leading to increased demand for water resources from humans and ecosystems. Now, the atmosphere across much of the U.S. is also demanding a greater share of water than it used to, according to a new study by a team from DRI, University of California, Merced, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The study was published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology and assessed trends in evaporative demand across the U.S. during a 40-year period from 1980-2020 using five datasets. Evaporative demand, sometimes described as “atmospheric thirst,” is a measure of the potential loss of water from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere based on variables including temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. ... ” Read more from the Desert Research Institute here: New study shows robust increases in atmospheric thirst across much of U.S. during past 40 years
Record heat to bake California as April snowpack nears 70-year low
“It’s only early April but spring’s first substantial bout of hot weather is set to scorch large parts of California on Thursday. The pulse of heat should be fairly short-lived, lasting only a couple of days, but scores of records could fall between Thursday and Friday. The abnormally high temperatures are the result of a dome of high pressure sprawled over the western United States. Long-term warming from human-caused climate change also increases the frequency and intensity of such events. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Record heat to bake California as April snowpack nears 70-year low
SEE ALSO: Drought conditions worsen, from Westside Connect
California drought: Disappointing rain and snow mean tighter water rules ahead
“California’s wet season wrapped up as a big disappointment, setting the stage for a third year of drought. Most of the state — about 96% — was categorized as having severe drought conditions as March came to a close, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The continuing drought suggests more water restrictions are forthcoming as supplies run low. “You need no more evidence than standing here on this very dry landscape to understand the challenges we’re facing in California,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, at the agency’s April snow survey in the Sierra Nevada, where there was very little snow to measure. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California drought: Disappointing rain and snow mean tighter water rules ahead
CA snowpack is a fraction of what it should be. Expect water restrictions
“Record temperatures are expected to hit California starting Thursday — right as details emerge about the megadrought ailing the state. As it turns out, the western United States is the driest it’s ever been in at least 1200 years, according to a UCLA analysis. California’s Sierra snowpack sits at just 38% of its average, which spells trouble for the amount of water the state will have access to this year, says Andrew J. Schwartz. He’s the lead scientist and station manager at University of California, Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab. “It’s a clear signal that we’re going to be in another drought year unfortunately, and that our conservation of water really needs to ramp up,” he explains. “That means that our [snow] melt is also about a month ahead of schedule. And so that means that we have an extra month of drying of our forests and underbrush, before peak fire season occurs.” … ” Read more from KCRW here: CA snowpack is a fraction of what it should be. Expect water restrictions
Black water leaders: outreach “critically important” in Gov. Newsom’s conservation plan
“If it were not for the news headlines, you probably would not know California is under a state of emergency due to continuing drought conditions affecting more than 95% of state residents. Last summer was the hottest recorded in Western states. And in a 128-year stretch, 2022 has so far been the driest in Golden State history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). … Last month, Newsom invested $22.5 million in immediate funds to address the state’s drought emergency. That amount included $8.25 million for outreach efforts educating Californians on water conservation. Dale Hunter is executive director of the California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF). He says he applauds the governor’s decision to invest in outreach, but he also emphasized how important education will be for this campaign because of the seriousness of this ongoing drought. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Observer here: Black water leaders: outreach “critically important” in Gov. Newsom’s conservation plan
KQED Forum: Can California’s agriculture survive extreme drought? Should it?
“California is in its third year of extreme drought. Given that, is it time to rethink California’s role as the breadbasket of the country? Agriculture brought in $49.1 billion to the state, nearly half of which was money made from exporting crops. But agriculture also uses 80% of the state’s water. Last year the industry lost 87,000 jobs, and crop land totaling an area bigger than Los Angeles went unplanted. What crops are reasonable to continue to produce? What should be jettisoned? And what crops and farm practices can be adaptable enough for the dwindling water supply? We’ll talk about the future of agriculture with experts and a farmer in the Central Valley.” Guests: Joe Del Bosque, San Joaquin Valley farmer; Tom Philpott, food and ag correspondent, Mother Jones; and Ellen Hanak, vice president and director of the PPIC Water Policy Center. Listen to the radio segment from KQED here: KQED Forum: Can California’s agriculture survive extreme drought? Should it?
Sustainability means water certainty, California dairy leader says
“With every geographic region in California coping with severe or extreme drought, water is top of mind for the state’s dairy farmers. Due to the lack of rain across the state in the last three years, every single dairy farmer is suffering, said Anja Raudabaugh, executive director of Western United Dairies. Even California’s North Coast, which has been unscathed in previous droughts, is affected. And farmers there don’t even have access to groundwater and won’t have water for their livestock starting in May, she said during the latest “Dairy Download” podcast. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Sustainability means water certainty, California dairy leader says
Summer preview to set more records in California; Chance of rain in the forecast
“Temperatures have been soaring in the West this week, particularly in portions of California. However, AccuWeather forecasters say that residents should not expect the summer preview to last long. … Despite being at the end of the typical wet season, the dip in the jet stream may also afford the chance of much-needed precipitation as far south as Central and Southern California. “Residents may even get a brief reprieve from the dry conditions with a period of wet weather early next week,” said Smithmyer. The best chance for precipitation appears to be Monday to Monday night, but the rain will be far from enough to put a noticeable dent in the drought across the Southwest. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Summer preview to set more records in California; Chance of rain in the forecast
Senator Wiener’s legislation to ensure public schools and state agencies have safe drinking water passes the Senate Governmental Organization Committee
“Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)’s Senate Bill 1144, the Safe and Efficient Water Act, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee by a vote of 10-1. It will now head to the Senate Education Committee. SB 1144 requires public schools and state agencies to complete a water quality and efficiency assessment on their facilities. This bill ensures our public schools and state agencies have safe, drinkable water. Far too many school children and other California residents currently lack access to clean water. Under SB 1144, the water systems at public schools and state agencies must undergo testing for lead, radon, Legionella, and other contaminants. It will also require schools and agencies to test their water systems for water use efficiency. If any plumbing fixture is found to contain levels of contaminants beyond the legal limits, or is found to use more water than the current standards for water efficiency, the operating agency must replace the fixture at the earliest practical time, subject to funding. … ” Read more from Senator Wiener here: Senator Wiener’s legislation to ensure public schools and state agencies have safe drinking water passes the Senate Governmental Organization Committee
GAO Report: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior—Amounts collected from Central Valley Project Water Contractors and the Miscellaneous Receipts Statute
“Under the miscellaneous receipts statute, agencies are required to deposit money received for the government into the general fund of the Treasury, unless otherwise authorized by statute. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), Department of the Interior collected amounts from Central Valley Project water contractors but did not deposit them as miscellaneous receipts in the general fund of the Treasury. USBR did not violate the miscellaneous receipts statute because USBR is authorized by law to retain these amounts.” Read the report at the Government Accountability Office here: GAO Report: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior—Amounts collected from Central Valley Project Water Contractors and the Miscellaneous Receipts Statute
California fish hatcheries reopen to public visitors
“California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that 21 of its 22 state fish hatcheries will reopen to the public on Thursday, April 7. The facilities have been closed to visitors for nearly two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, although hatchery operations and stocking efforts continued without significant interruption. Kern River Hatchery remains temporarily closed to the public while water supply pipelines are being upgraded. However, starting Thursday, the public is welcome again at outdoor areas of all other hatcheries, including raceways and picnic spots. Hatcheries offer numerous activities including fish feeding, nature walks and educational kiosks. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: California fish hatcheries reopen to public visitors
Can hydropower help solve the climate crisis? This $63-billion plan is banking on it
“Conservationists in California and across the West are deeply skeptical of hydropower, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s a long history of government agencies damming spectacular canyons, choking off rivers, obliterating fish populations and cutting off access to Indigenous peoples. It’s a history detailed in books such as “Cadillac Desert,” and experienced by anyone who has spent time fishing, kayaking or swimming in the region’s reshaped waterways, or hiking alongside them. But despite the environmental damage they’ve done, many dams also generate electricity that is free of planet-warming carbon emissions. … ” Red more from the LA Times here: Can hydropower help solve the climate crisis? This $63-billion plan is banking on it
Early heat wave, ongoing drought prompts concerns of long summer ahead for California’s power grid
“The Bay Area could see record high temperatures on Thursday, and the start of summer is still two and a half months away. Some experts worry this year’s summer heat could mean problems for the power grid, especially with the drought. As air conditioners get cranked up, more power than usual gets pulled from the grid. “Problems get really bad when we have many days of severe heat in a row,” said Steven Weissman of the UC Berkeley School of Public Policy and a former administrative law judge for the California Public Utilities Commission. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Early heat wave, ongoing drought prompts concerns of long summer ahead for California’s power grid
NASA finds two new space-based ways to track climate change
“We often think of NASA as an agency that looks outward into space, but it’s the agency’s position in space that makes it such a powerful tool for observing the Earth itself. Today NASA announced the results of two space-based studies observing climate change across the planet. The first is a data set from the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission, a high-resolution lidar instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS) that has estimated the total amount of above-ground forest biomass and its carbon storage capacity. That information can now be used by researchers studying the role of forests in mitigating climate change. … ” Read more from Tech Crunch here: NASA finds two new space-based ways to track climate change
How UC research is helping meet the challenges of the climate crisis
In commentary today …
California needs to update water conservation standards
State Senator Bob Hertzberg and Tracy Quinn, Director of Natural Resources Defense Council’s California urban water policy, writes, “With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order calling on local water systems to start conserving more water, we find ourselves in an all-too familiar cycle. When signs of drought abound, we hope for miraculous storms to parch the land’s thirst. Hope starts to fade, and our agencies pivot into crisis mode, cutting water use in ways that likely won’t impact daily life but will ensure our faucets keep flowing. But what happens if the faucets stop flowing? Without transforming California’s water-efficiency standards, that unfortunate day could come much sooner, devastating our poorest neighborhoods where access to clean water is already no guarantee. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California needs to update water conservation standards
Environmental justice work starts with relationships
Delta Stewardship Council Senior Environmental Planner Morgan Chow writes, “Environmental Justice and equity have been a common thread throughout my career in environmental management. Before I joined the Delta Stewardship Council as a Senior Environmental Planner, I worked as an analyst at the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, where I had the opportunity to participate in the formation of the agency’s first EJ policy. While at BCDC, I not only learned from their EJ policy process but also from other State agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission, and the State Coastal Conservancy, who were simultaneously writing EJ policies and guidelines reflecting California’s recent prioritization of EJ. Little did I know at the time, but this experience equipped me well to support the Council’s EJ initiative. The most important lesson I took away from these State agencies’ EJ processes is that to succeed in this work, we, at the Council, need a more inclusive and varied approach to community outreach. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council here: Environmental justice work starts with relationships
Lawmakers have chance to block worst aspects of climate change
Arnold Sowell, executive director of NextGen Policy, writes, “Not many people have seen how state budgets get put together and state legislation gets enacted, but I have. For decades, I helped shape the state’s policy priorities as a senior member of the Assembly Speaker’s Office – including being the lead Assembly staffer on the historic passage of AB 32, which made California the first state in the nation to place caps on greenhouse gas emissions. So trust me when I say, California’s elected leaders have a huge opportunity to stave off the worst impacts of climate change by enacting the governor’s current Climate Budget. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly here: Lawmakers have chance to block worst aspects of climate change
Today’s featured article …
DELTA INDEPENDENT SCIENCE BOARD: The California Environmental Flows Framework
California water is a seemingly unending battle of allocating an often scarce resource among cities, farms, and the environment. In particular, the question of how much water should be left instream for the environment rather than diverted for human use is perhaps the most controversial. Most (if not all) people would agree that some water should be left in the rivers and streams, but just how much?
California’s environment is incredibly diverse; it includes chaparral scrub, temperate coniferous forests, mountains, desert, and the coast, and the rivers and streams that flow through the landscape reflect that diversity. This means that what works for environmental flows in one area will likely not work in another. Further complicating matters, multiple state and local agencies share responsibility for determining the flows needed to protect freshwater ecosystems. Still, the vast majority of streams and rivers in California do not have any instream flow prescriptions, and where such flow criteria have been developed, those efforts have been poorly coordinated and have not resulted in effective protection of the ecosystem.
Enter the California Environmental Flows Framework, which uses a functional flows approach to develop consistent science-based recommendations for setting ecological flow criteria that is flexible enough to apply statewide. The Framework was recommended in Water Resilience Portfolio as a way to better protect the environmental flow patterns that sustain fish and wildlife.
At the March meeting of the Delta Independent Science Board, Dr. Sarah Yarnell, professor of research at the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis, and Dr. Julie Zimmerman, lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy’s water program in California, gave a presentation on the state of the science of environmental flows, an overview of the California Environmental flows framework, and the opportunities and challenges for improving the science underpinning environmental flows.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Lake County Board of Supervisors hears update on Middle Creek Restoration Project
“The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday received an update from staff and volunteers on the ongoing effort to move the Middle Creek Restoration Project toward completion. The project to restore wetlands encompasses 1,650 acres near Upper Lake in the confluence of Middle and Scotts creeks, Clear Lake’s two largest tributaries, which Deputy Water Resources Director Marina Deligiannis said make up 50% of the Clear Lake watershed. Deligiannis said those two tributaries provide 57% of the inflow and 71% of the phosphorus floating into Clear Lake. She said the project is meant to reduce flood risk in Upper Lake — which will be aided by removing deteriorating levees — while also improving water quality and restoring habitat. ... ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Lake County Board of Supervisors hears update on Middle Creek Restoration Project
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
What is a ski resort’s true value? New report details economic impact of closed Tahoe ski area
“More than a ski area, Sierra-at-Tahoe has long been regarded as a social hub for the rural mountain communities on the western slopes leading towards South Lake Tahoe. Without a hotel attached, Sierra is more of a local spot — a place where many Northern Californians first learned to ski and where generations of families have vacationed for 75 years. On busy days, its massive sun deck carries the vibe of a town square. Since the Caldor Fire burned through the area last fall, Sierra has remained closed all winter for the first time in its 75-year history — a palpable void that some locals say is hard to measure. But a new report seeks to do just that. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: What is a ski resort’s true value? New report details economic impact of closed Tahoe ski area
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Red Bluff High students help complete East Sand Slough project
“The Resource Conservation District of Tehama County organized a student revegetation planting day March 9 at the East Sand Slough Side Channel Reconnection Project and Red Bluff High School students from the Honor Society as well as Eco and Key clubs joined the effort in restoring vegetation in the project’s post-construction footprint. Over the past year the slough has undergone substantial improvements in successfully creating rearing habitat for juvenile salmonids. Nearly 106,000 tons of material from the slough was excavated to allow water to pass through its entire length year-round, even during low Sacramento River flows. Reconnecting the side channel with the river drastically reduces the odds of fish stranding in the slough, particularly the threatened winter-run Chinook salmon. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Red Bluff High students help complete East Sand Slough project
Showcasing Sac Valley Rice Fields in new Netflix episode
“In the latest episode of MeatEater’s Cal in the Field, avid outdoorsman and conservationist Ryan Callaghan shined a spotlight on the Sacramento Valley. He visited with one of our members, rice grower Sean Doherty, who was able to carry this out after forming a personal relationship with Callaghan. The 20-minute hunting program shows how the years of collaboration between rice growers and conservationists have provided an unparalleled environment for wildlife, first with birds and now with emerging research to help salmon. … ” Get the link to the episode from the California Rice Commission here: Showcasing Sac Valley Rice Fields in new Netflix episode
A creek thrives again in Rancho Cordova… with a little help from nature’s “ecosystem engineers”
“Habitat naturalization works, and we have Cordova Creek to show for it. The creek in Rancho Cordova actually didn’t have a name, as far as we know, until the 1960s. That’s when it was lined with concrete and became known as Clifton Drain, named after the gentleman who initiated the lining project to protect area soils from erosion. However, as this area became part of the American River Parkway, the community became more aware of its potential and interested in revitalizing it. In 2016, the Water Forum began working to restore the sterile concrete-lined storm drain into a more natural state in partnership with the Sacramento County Regional Parks Department, Wildlife Conservation Board, California Native Plant Society, SAFCA, City of Rancho Cordova, and Soil Born Farms. … ” Read more from the Water Forum here: A creek thrives again in Rancho Cordova… with a little help from nature’s “ecosystem engineers”
Yolo County to have new process for issuance of groundwater well permits
“Yolo County will have a new review process for the issuance of permits for wells after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order to address drought conditions in California. The order was issued on March 28, following the driest first three months of the calendar year in the state’s recorded history and ordered various state agencies to consider new regulations for various components of the state’s drought response, according to a press release from Yolo County. The Executive Order excludes domestic wells, which typically serve single-family homes. The order contains a regulation that changes the permit process for wells in medium and high-priority groundwater basins. … ” Read more from the Daily Democrat here: Yolo County to have new process for issuance of groundwater well permits
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County: Why are we building new houses if we’re in a drought?
“The population of California (like the rest of the world) is growing. In order to ensure there is enough housing for everyone to live affordably, the State of California determines projected population numbers then estimates how many housing units must be created to meet the housing demand. The State then calls upon cities to help, allocating each city a number of housing units they must create to support the growing population (this is known as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation). Simply put, the City of Sonoma, like all other cities in California, is required by the State to create housing units. ... ” Continue reading at the County of Sonoma here: Why are we building new houses if we’re in a drought?
Napa River dredging plan won’t use The Bowl
“Sediment acquired from dredging the Napa River at the end of this year will likely be trucked to a property at the southern, blocked-off end of South Jefferson Street that’s planned to eventually become a city of Napa park, and not to the site of a former homeless encampment known as The Bowl. In the past, dredged material has been stored at The Bowl. The encampment there was cleared last November — displacing about 30 residents, all of whom were offered a shelter bed — to make sure the space could be used to store the sediment dredged this year. But, if all goes according to plan, the dredged material will instead initially go to the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District property on South Coombs street adjacent to the Wine Valley Lodge. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa River dredging plan won’t use The Bowl
BAY AREA
‘Thirst-inducing’ temperatures to overtake the Bay Area. How hot is it expected to get where you live?
“An early spring heat wave continues to grip the Bay Area, expected to ramp up temperatures into the 80s and 90s for most of the region Thursday before cooling off by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The toasty weather began Wednesday due to a ridge of high pressure and offshore winds keeping humidity levels low and temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees above normal. The hot weather is expected to hit its peak Thursday, with areas of the Santa Clara Valley swelling to 95 degrees, while more inland areas like Livermore could climb to 92. Meanwhile, it could be cooler — around the 70s and 80s — along the shoreline. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: ‘Thirst-inducing’ temperatures to overtake the Bay Area. How hot is it expected to get where you live?
Point Reyes ranch inspections find sewage dumping, leaks
“Inspections at two private dairy ranches in the Point Reyes National Seashore found raw sewage being dumped onto an open cow pasture and manure pond, and pooling beneath a ranch worker’s home. The inspections, completed in February and March by the National Park Service and Marin County Environmental Health Services, found multiple leaks and sewage discharges at the B and L ranches operating in the seashore. While park staff and county health officials said temporary measures have been put in place while permanent fixes are underway, they said they do not how much sewage was dumped, how long the leaks and discharges had been occurring and whether any of it entered nearby waterways. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Point Reyes ranch inspections find sewage dumping, leaks
Dead gray whale found in East Bay hauled to Sausalito ahead of move to bay island
“A gray whale discovered adrift in Alameda made its way to Marin this week after being hauled by the Army Corps of Engineers to Sausalito. Officials said they plan to tow the carcass Thursday to a sheltered area in the Brooks Island Regional Preserve, a hook-shaped island south of Richmond in the San Francisco Bay. There, the carcass will be allowed to decompose naturally, said Nick Malasavage, chief of the operations and readiness division at the San Francisco Army Corps of Engineers. “We want to be more deliberate, be practical,” he said. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Dead gray whale found in East Bay hauled to Sausalito ahead of move to bay island
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz County drought: dry vegetation fuels wildlife risk but reservoir level strong
“Warmer-than-average temperatures are set to hit Santa Cruz County on Thursday, drying out already-stressed vegetation. The Santa Cruz Mountains could see highs of upper 80s to lower 90s on Thursday, according to National Weather Service Bay Area meteorologist Sarah McCorkle. Near the coast weather is expected to be more mild where temperatures will hover around the high 70s. The trend triggered an early end to the backyard burning season, according to Cal Fire CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit Battalion Chief Jed Wilson, which usually extends through April 30. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz County drought: dry vegetation fuels wildlife risk but reservoir level strong
Monterey: LAFCO board member caught up in water debate is reelected to her seat
“Mary Ann Leffel, who has drawn the ire of advocates for public ownership of a large chunk of the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply by voting against the voter-mandated takeover, has won reelection to the inter-agency board that blocked the public acquisition. Leffel represents special districts, such as fire districts, on the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO. The commission is charged with encouraging the orderly formation of local governmental agencies, preserving land resources, discouraging urban sprawl and encouraging the efficient delivery of local government services. Much of its work concerns cities annexing unincorporated areas into their boundaries. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: LAFCO board member caught up in water debate is reelected to her seat
Montecito water part one: is a merger in the works?
“A merger of Montecito’s small, independent water and wastewater treatment districts, the dream of a group of wealthy Montecitans who raised more than $250,000 to win control of both agencies during recent elections, is now under study by a Los Angeles consulting firm. In February, the Montecito Water District and Montecito Sanitary District boards voted overwhelmingly to split the $47,000 cost of a study on consolidation “to determine if there is a business case affirming that the two Districts can and should consolidate.” “This is just to see if this is something that would work or not work for our community,” Dorinne Johnson, the sanitary district board president, said at a February 24 board meeting. “We’re not trying to rush anything.” … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Montecito water part one: is a merger in the works?
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca commentary: Local water table drops three feet in a year as we keep ignoring the drought
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Three feet. Thirty-six inches. It doesn’t sound like a lot. But when it comes to water spread over dozens of square miles it’s a lot. And when those three inches represent water consumed over the course of the past year that’s not being replaced, you might want to give serious thought to what could be coming down the tracks. ... ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Local water table drops three feet in a year as we keep ignoring the drought
Turlock Irrigation District cuts water allotment due to drought
““Pray for Rain” signs may start popping up once again around Stanislaus County with the continuation of extreme drought conditions. California is experiencing one of the driest starts to spring in decades, data showed Friday, and absent a heavy dose of April and May showers the drought will deepen and that could lead to stricter rules on water use and another devastating wildfire season. New readings showed the water in California mountain snowpack sat at 38 percent of average. That’s the lowest mark since the end of the last drought in 2015; only twice since 1988 has the level been lower. … ” Read more from the Ceres Courier here: Turlock Irrigation District cuts water allotment due to drought
State to bail out Cereans with delinquent water accounts
“The city will be receiving an estimated $576,872 from the state to help the 1,012 Ceres households who are delinquent paying their water bills from March 4, 2020 through June 15, 2021. The funds are coming from the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (CWWAPP). The city will cover the water portion of the bill, not the sewer and garbage portion; but the city is also seeking for $546,972 to help cover delinquent sewer bills as well. … ” Read more from the Ceres Courier here: State to bail out Cereans with delinquent water accounts
California 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 Sacramento Bee here: California school district sues Dow and Shell over cancer-causing chemical in water
Porterville: EPA on Beckman cleanup: This is how it should be done
“If Holly Hadlock of the EPA could use an example of how a Superfund clean-up effort should work, she would likely point to what was accomplished with the former Beckman-Coulter site off of Jaye just south of Highway 190. Hadlock was the project manager for the Superfund cleanup of the site which lasted nearly 40 years. The EPA was finally able to announce last week it has taken the Beckman site off of its Superfund List. When talking about the cooperation Beckman provided in the cleanup effort in an interview on Tuesday, Hadlock said, “it was essential.” She added “we are where we are now” because of Beckman’s cooperation. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Porterville: EPA on Beckman cleanup: This is how it should be done
EASTERN SIERRA
Eastern Sierra current precipitation conditions as of April 5, 2022
“The April 5 Eastern Sierra Current Precipitation Conditions are dismal. Water content in what’sleft of the snow pack is at 7.7-inches of water content, 33-percent of normal for April 1. According to a press release from the Courthouse News Service, a team from the California Department of Water Resources had trouble finding a patch of snow to measure, ending up with 2.5-inches of snow, the equivalent of 1-inch of water, west of Lake Tahoe. The most recent Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s current precipitation conditions’ graph shows a flat line at the 15-inch mark from January through late March. Then the line measuring the 2021-22 snow pillows takes a nose dive. … Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Eastern Sierra current precipitation conditions as of April 5, 2022
“Fishmas” kicks-off 2022 Mono County fishing season – opening day set for April 30th
“Eastern Sierra locals and visitors alike are gearing up for “Fishmas” on Saturday, April 30th, the official start to Mono County’s regular fishing season. With the relatively mild winter this year, most front country lakes, rivers, and streams should be thawed by Fishmas, so there is much for anglers to celebrate. “The Eastern Sierra is home to some of the best fishing in the country, and we’re excited to welcome anglers to Mono County for Fishmas and the 2022 fishing season,” said Bob Gardner, Chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: “Fishmas” kicks-off 2022 Mono County fishing season – opening day set for April 30th
Along the Colorado River …
Two areas in rural Arizona might finally gain protection of their groundwater this year
“In the late 1990s, Steven and Lucia Kisiel bought 20 acres of land with a new well in Cochise County, a rural area in southeastern Arizona. The couple built a straw bale house with their own hands and started growing produce for themselves and others in the area. In 2013, Kisiel turned on his kitchen faucet and water sputtered out along with fine sediment, a sign that his well wasn’t pumping enough water. Soon after, his pump shut off, and he had the well redrilled to be 85 feet deeper. For Kisiel, like many residents in rural Arizona, it is not a matter of if his well will go dry again, but when. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: Two areas in rural Arizona might finally gain protection of their groundwater this year
Arizona farmers feeling impact of drought on their water supplies
““We are entering into an era of limits in which our existing water supplies have mostly been allocated,” says Tom Buschatzke, the Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Managing Arizona’s drought is the focus of Buschatzke’s department. Right now, the Colorado River system supplies 36% of Arizona’s total water use. According to the Department of Water Resources, Arizona has experienced extensive drought conditions for two decades due to climate change. Farmers are feeling the brunt of it as they rely on that water supply for their crops. ... ” Read more from Channel 15 here: Arizona farmers feeling impact of drought on their water supplies
Rio Verde homeowners still searching for new source of water
“For months, families in the Rio Verde Foothills have been looking for a new source of water. As ABC15 previously reported, because of the drought, Scottsdale officials announced that they would be limiting their water supply to city residents and local businesses. As a result, they will stop letting haulers transport water to people in Rio Verde. Different groups of homeowners have offered solutions but that’s caused some heated debates. … ” Read more from Channel 15 here: Rio Verde homeowners still searching for new source of water
Is cloud seeding possible in Arizona?
“Some states are using a technique called cloud seeding to produce more snow and rain. So, how about drought-stricken Arizona? It’s not being done here yet, but it’s something local agencies are researching. The Salt River Project distributes water to about half of the Valley, getting its supply from the Verde and Salt Rivers. It recently entered into a partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe to research the feasibility of cloud seeding, a complicated technique discovered in the 1940s. ... ” Read more from Channel 15 here: Is cloud seeding possible in Arizona?
First-Time Repair: Crews at Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant fix a leaking penstock
“Repairing a leaking penstock is a little like fixing a leak under your sink, except that a leaking penstock is a much, much bigger job—and one that the maintenance crew at Glen Canyon Dam had never faced until recently. Engineers discovered the leak during a routine inspection in August, and determined it was coming from both expansion joints on one of the penstocks. Glen Canyon Dam has eight penstocks that convey water from Lake Powell to the powerplant’s turbines. Each penstock has two expansion joints—the first expansion joint is located roughly 400 feet from where the water enters the face of the dam and the second one is about 75 feet farther downstream. Both are housed in separate vaults measuring approximately 24 feet long by 24 feet wide by 20 feet high to provide access to the joints for regular inspections and repairs. The expansion joints provide flexibility to take the brunt of the water’s force. ... ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: First-Time Repair: Crews at Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant fix a leaking penstock
It’s not just Glen Canyon—dams around the Southwest are taking a hit
“News that Arizona’s Lake Powell is slowly but surely drying up has spread far and wide. The reservoir behind the 1,320-megawatt Glen Canyon Dam and power station, Lake Powell plays an important role in providing power for some 3 million customers in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. But this year, the reservoir has hit a historic low, due to ongoing drought conditions in the region that have been attributed, at least in part, to climate change. The dam may even stop producing power if the situation continues to worsen, and this issue is not an isolated one in the American Southwest. The Colorado River, an important source for many dams and power plants in the region, has been wracked by drought for the past 22 years—some research even suggests that it is subject to the worst drought the area has seen in 1,200 years. Further, according to the US Drought Monitor, as of March 29, 88.75 percent of the Western US has been experiencing a moderate drought or worse. … ” Read more from Ars Technica here: It’s not just Glen Canyon—dams around the Southwest are taking a hit
In national water news today …
Inflation weighs on U.S. Water utilities
“Bacon. Gasoline. Lead pipe replacements. Just like at the grocery store and service station, a dollar for U.S. water utilities does not buy as much as it did a year ago. Inflation is pushing up the cost of labor, materials, and equipment, and water leaders are worried that rising prices will cause a historic federal investment in the nation’s water and sewer systems to fall short of lofty expectations. Kelly Green hears about the financial turmoil nearly every day. Green is in charge of water infrastructure financing for Michigan’s environment agency. Lead service line replacements that were expected to cost roughly $5,000 per line are coming in several thousand dollars more than that. Some communities are having to reduce the scope of the work, a downgrade that will lengthen the amount of time that the toxic pipes remain in use. … ” Read more from the Circke of Blue here: Inflation Weighs On U.S. Water Utilities
Over half of U.S. waters are too polluted to swim or fish
“Back in 1972, U.S. legislators passed the Clean Water Act with a 10-year goal: Make it safe for people to fish and swim in the nation’s waters. Fifty years later, around half of all lakes and rivers across the country that have been studied fail to meet that standard, according to a recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project, a D.C. watchdog and advocacy nonprofit. Instead, they’re classified as “impaired” — meaning that their fish are inedible, their water undrinkable, they’re unsafe for humans to swim in and inhospitable to aquatic life. The Clean Water Act delivered a major win — it laid the groundwork for essential enforcement on industry — but there were key failures. … ” Read more from Adventure Journal here: Over half of U.S. waters are too polluted to swim or fish
Five-justice majority restores Trump-era policy on water pollution, provoking more criticism of emergency docket
“A divided Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated a Trump-era environmental policy that makes it harder for states to block projects that may cause water pollution. The unsigned and unexplained decision prompted Chief Justice John Roberts to join the court’s three liberal justices in criticizing the majority’s use of the emergency docket. The court’s decision “renders the Court’s emergency docket not for emergencies at all,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent. “The docket becomes only another place for merits determinations — except made without full briefing and argument.” Roberts joined Kagan’s dissent, as did Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor. ... ” Continue reading at the SCOTUS blog here: Five-justice majority restores Trump-era policy on water pollution, provoking more criticism of emergency docket
Supreme Court revives Trump rule stopping states, tribes from regulating oil pipelines
“A divided Supreme Court, without explanation, reinstated Trump administration rules Wednesday that stopped states and tribes from regulating or blocking pipelines and other federally authorized power projects that could pollute their waters. The court’s order was opposed by environmentalists and a group of states led by California. The justices voted 5-4 to suspend a ruling issued last October, by U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco, that halted enforcement of the September 2020 regulations from President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency. Those rules, now back in effect, prohibited state and tribal governments from using their water laws to regulate discharges from pipelines, mines and other energy production or transmission, regulations that have barred some projects altogether. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Supreme Court revives Trump rule stopping states, tribes from regulating oil pipelines
SEE ALSO: Supreme Court halts ruling against Trump Clean Water Act rollback in 5-4 decision, from The Hill
Seizing the water infrastructure moment nationally and locally
“Aging and undersized sewers, contaminated drinking water, and lead-tainted pipes imperil millions of households and communities nationally. At the same time, more severe flooding and drought conditions have exacerbated the nation’s water infrastructure deficit. Decades of inaction and underinvestment—particularly at a federal level—have multiplied these and other water infrastructure challenges, but the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) holds promise to address them via an infusion of more than $57 billion to states and localities over the next five years. Extra federal funding will not only accelerate necessary system upgrades (think fewer leaking pipes and burst water mains) and reduce the total rate burden, but will also provide much-needed support for new plans and programs into the future. But more federal funding alone will not solve everything. … ” Continue reading at the Brookings Institute here: Seizing the water infrastructure moment nationally and locally
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WEBINAR RECORDING: Office Hours: Proactive groundwater management strategies with Maurice Hall
