On the calendar today …
- EVENT: The secret lives of water bloggers from 12pm to 1pm: Have you ever wondered what the bloggers that keep us supplied with water news talk about amongst themselves? Or about the stories that dropped their jaws or perhaps just made them laugh? Now is your chance to find out. The April 18 lunch hour session, in honor of Maven’s Notebook’s 15 Anniversary, will feature four state and nationally recognized water bloggers sharing a few of their own best reminiscences. Look for a fun session as Lisa Beutler and audience members pose questions to the people used to getting the answers, on the topics that inquiring minds want to know. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Wet weather to provide drought relief across West
“AccuWeather forecasters say the stormy parade of the northwestern United States is starting up again this week as storms are expected to sweep through the region one by one. This can provide drought relief for the Northwest as rain and snow will fall. “The Gulf of Alaska will become the jumping-off point for numerous Pacific storms that will impact the northwestern United States with rounds of rain, wind and mountain snow throughout this week and right through next weekend and into early May,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Michael LeSeney. … ” Continue reading at AccuWeather here: Wet weather to provide drought relief across West
Can late storms make up for one of the driest periods in Northern California?
“More wet weather is on tap for the week as the Pacific storm track continues to favor a wetter weather pattern for Northern California. This is much-needed rain after Jan. and March 2022 ended as the driest on record for much of California. The pattern shift in mid-April brought much-needed rain and snow but not enough to catch up to big deficits that grew through the end of the wet season. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Can late storms make up for one of the driest periods in Northern California?
Kern groundwater plans not all on the same level, sparking fears of state intervention
“Kern County agricultural water districts are giving major side-eye to one of their own over what’s known as “minimum threshold” groundwater levels. The grumbling is aimed at the sprawling Semitropic Water Storage District in northwest Kern, where minimum thresholds are set, in some cases, at levels that would allow farmers to pump down the water table by more than 350 feet from where it is today. Its water levels are also often far below those of neighboring water district. “(Semitropic’s) minimum thresholds impact our water users,” said Dan Bartel, general manager of Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District. “We can’t maintain our own minimum thresholds with much lower minimum thresholds around us.” … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Kern groundwater plans not all on the same level, sparking fears of state intervention
Sonoma County unveils first-ever proposed well water fees under pioneering California groundwater law
“In a dramatic shift from California’s history of allowing landowners to freely pump and consume water from their own wells, Sonoma County’s rural residents and many others will soon begin paying for the water drawn from beneath their feet. In the sprawling 81,284-acre Santa Rosa Plain groundwater basin, the proposed regulatory fee for a rural resident is $18 to $25 a year, much lower than the rates in the more sparsely populated Petaluma and Sonoma valleys. In the 44,846-acre Sonoma Valley basin, the fee would be $48 to $80 a year, and in the 46,661-acre Petaluma Valley basin, it would be $115 to $200 a year. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Sonoma County unveils first-ever proposed well water fees under pioneering California groundwater law
California snowpack levels are low, now it’s affecting farmers and grocery prices
“High up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Andrew Schwartz is gathering data that tells us a lot about snowpacks and their importance to the overall water supply. “We have seen just massive weather whiplash up here,” Andrew Schwartz, Station Manager and Lead Scientist at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, said. He’s referring to the record-breaking December snowfall – almost 18 feet – followed by the record longest period from January to mid-February with no precipitation. “It’s looking like it could be another drought year in which we don’t have enough water to go around,” he said. … ” Read more from KSBY here: California snowpack levels are low, now it’s affecting farmers and grocery prices
What did the 2021 drought cost California’s economy?
“Aside from farmworkers, the ongoing drought in California is impacting the state’s economy in several ways. 23ABC took an in-depth look at a recent study done by the University of California Merced in February and have a look at those impacts. The report was done by “using surveys, reviews of hydrological information and remote sensing data gathered from those areas and comparing them to average conditions, as well as to the 2012-2016 drought.” It also focused on the areas of the Central Valley, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Tulare Lake Basins; the Russian River Basin, and valley regions within Lassen, Modoc, Shasta and Siskiyou Counties. … ” Read more from Channel 23 here: What did the 2021 drought cost California’s economy?
Recreational salmon seasons finalized for the California coast
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announces California recreational ocean salmon fishing season dates are now set for the remainder of 2022 and offer about the same number of open days as last year. Sport fisheries opened south of Point Arena on April 2 and the remainder of the coast will open May 1. Although anglers can enjoy an earlier start to the season than last year, there will be intermittent breaks in fishing opportunity in management areas north of Pigeon Point. This week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) met in Seattle, Washington to finalize and adopt recommended ocean salmon seasons occurring between mid-May and October. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Recreational salmon seasons finalized for the California coast
What would Brian Dahle do as California governor?
“They may not agree on much, but Republican gubernatorial hopeful Brian Dahle pledges that Democratic lawmakers would find a more receptive partner at the Capitol if he unseats Gov. Gavin Newsom this year. … As California sinks deeper into drought conditions, Dahle does not favor imposing mandatory water use reductions, which he called “a sound bite that I don’t believe is going to make much difference at all.” He raised particular concerns, as a farmer, that harsh restrictions would further devastate California agriculture by forcing farms to fallow hundreds of thousands of acres of land. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: What would Brian Dahle do as California governor?
Big fight brewing over California ballot measure to reduce single-use plastics
“On any given afternoon, the garbage cans in San Jose’s Westfield Oakridge Mall food court overflow with plastic spoons, forks, soft drink cups and takeout food containers. Paper frozen yogurt containers are mashed in with plastic boba tea cups and soda bottles. The same can be seen across California — piles of single-use plastics that can’t easily be recycled, pollute roadsides and waterways and add to the garbage that clogs landfills. In November, Californians may get a chance to shrink that waste. An initiative designed to reduce single-use plastics and polystyrene food containers will be on the ballot, a move by environmentalists to bypass the Legislature, where such measures have repeatedly failed in the face of industry lobbying. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Big fight brewing over California ballot measure to reduce single-use plastics
Millions of years ago, these North American forests disappeared for good
“More than 26 million years ago, west-central North America’s grasslands didn’t exist. Instead, denser forests spanned the region, even extending eastward to the 100th meridian — the line famously identified by John Wesley Powell of the U.S. Geological Survey in 1878 as separating the dry and humid areas of the continent. Over time, however, the climate changed, and this tree-dominated landscape transitioned to the open-habitat grasslands that today include the Great Plains. Why? “The common explanation is that drier summers caused the transition because the new plants resemble those found in places that have a warm, dry season,” says Tyler Kukla, a paleoclimatologist at Colorado State University. But while completing his PhD at Stanford University, Kukla and a team of researchers instead found that drier winters were the driving force. … ” Read more from Discover Magazine here: Millions of years ago, these North American forests disappeared for good
In commentary today …
Community Voices: California farmers are key to carbon capture
Jim Lauria, a water technology executive with a bachelor of chemical engineering degree, writes, ““Getting to Neutral” by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory draws a roadmap to California’s carbon neutrality by 2045, removing 125 million tons of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere (and the economy). The report’s map is crossed by pipelines, dotted by underground carbon storage facilities, anchored by biomass-burning pyrolysis plants, and colored by a bias toward the sorts of high-tech solutions that appeal to ivory tower scientists and sci-fi fans. But unlike the actual map of California, “Getting to Neutral’s” carbon roadmap barely includes the 27 million acres of cropland and 16 million acres of grazing land. And that’s a massive oversight. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Community Voices: California farmers are key to carbon capture
Editorial: Joshua trees, threatened by climate change, deserve California’s protection
The LA Times editorial board writes, “The Joshua tree, a singular but imperiled fixture of California’s high desert, faces a dim long-term future because of the interconnected threats of development, wildfire, drought and climate change. But efforts to ensure that these beloved trees survive into the next century have encountered a serious setback. In a report made public Wednesday, scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended against listing the Joshua tree as threatened under the state Endangered Species Act, saying it is not in serious danger of extinction in the foreseeable future. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Editorial: Joshua trees, threatened by climate change, deserve California’s protection
In people news this week …
Salinas Valley’s David Mancera goes from farmworker to state leadership
“After decades of hard labor, Monterey County native David Mancera has officially gone from being a farmworker to a member of state leadership in agriculture. Mancera was recently appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture by Gov. Gavin Newsom. He is now one of 15 members of an advisory board working for the governor and secretary that address a range in key issues for farmers, ranchers, stake holders and citizens across the state. With this appointment, Mancera says he will help oversee matters of food policy, water and and weigh in on decisions that impact agriculture in the central coast and beyond. “What I’ve learned over the years is that we need food and we need agriculture,” Mancera said. “We also need to look at other resources needed to produce the food, and that’s labor, people, soil and water.” … ” Read more from the Salinas Californian here: Salinas Valley’s David Mancera goes from farmworker to state leadership
“An era of surprises”: Studying climate change and salmon with Nate Mantua
“Growing up in a Northern Californian fishing town, Nate Mantua’s family owned a business connected to the local salmon fishing industry. When one of the worst El Niño events ever recorded hit the West Coast in 1982 and 1983, the salmon fishery his family relied on suffered. Nate would go on to study how to predict El Niño events in graduate school, years later. Now he works to understand the impacts of climate change. Nate leads a team of salmon ecologists, biologists, freshwater and ocean experts at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. These scientists are examining how changing conditions in freshwater, estuary, and ocean habitats affect salmon on the West Coast, sometimes in unexpected ways. ... ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries here: “An era of surprises”: Studying climate change and salmon with Nate Mantua
Senior research scientist Forrest Melton awarded medal by NASA
“CSUMB and NASA Scientist Forrest Melton was awarded NASA’s Exceptional Public Service Medal. According to NASA, the medal is “awarded to any non-government individual or to an individual who was not a government employee during the period in which the service was performed for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions on NASA projects, programs, or initiatives.” Since 2003, Melton, a CSU Monterey Bay and NASA senior research scientist, has worked for the Biospheric Sciences Branch at NASA Ames Research Center, with the aim of developing better frameworks for data assimilation and application. Much of his work focuses on natural resource management, especially evapotranspiration and agricultural water requirements. … ” Read more from CSU Monterey Bay here: Senior research scientist Forrest Melton awarded medal by NASA
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Podcasts …
WHAT MATTERS PODCAST: Heather Dyer, Sandra Kerl, Joone-Kim-Lopez, Kris Murray
See how unusual career paths and a willingness to take risks led these four women to lead California water agencies and boards. Our sixth episode features a roundtable discussion with four women who have made crucial contributions to achieving sustainability. They are leaders, collaborative peers and experts who contribute with leadership skills and as mentors for other women. Their reflections on their careers and their advice for other women pursuing a future in water are inspiring. Heather Dyer is the general manager of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. Sandra Kerl is the general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority. Joone Lopez is the general manager of Moulton Niguel Water District. Kris Murray is chair of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and president of KLM Strategies.
WATER LOOP PODCAST: Local is the leading location
Tremendous attention is paid to decisions, dollars, and officials at the federal and state levels, but local government is arguably the key cog in water management. Local leaders and staff are the ones ultimately spending funds, setting policy, and implementing programs that directly impact water resources and people’s daily lives. That’s why it is vital to listen to and assist those at the local level, as explained in this episode with Cynthia Koehler, Executive Director of the WaterNow Alliance. She talks about top challenges and current trends for local government in the areas of finance, equity and affordability, and adoption of innovation, as well as how water utilities are becoming anchor institutions in the community.
LEADERSHIP SECRETS: Chris Garner, Long Beach Water, on Stepping Up and Taking Responsibility
Listen in to a great interview with Chris Garner, General Manager of the Long Beach Water Department. Chris describes his incredible journey from a kid who just wanted to work in an office, to trading tens of millions of dollars of gas with Enron, running the Public Works Department, the Natural Gas Utility, and finally, Long Beach Water. He stayed ready and showed he could take on big responsibilities, and as a result was given bigger and bigger roles. Chris discusses the importance of treating good employees well and has ideas on what to do with employees who underperform. It’s a great conversation full of high-quality leadership advice.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Protecting the Commons
Water is fundamental to our lives and environment. The thought of disruption or compromise of our water supply causes each of us to jump into action attempting to resolve the problem before it gets out of hand. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, email: water@operationunite.co
SCIENCE IN SHORT: Daylighting Delta Data
Scientist Sam Bashevkin spends his time making the millions of data points collected by Delta researchers — where the fish are, how fast the water is flowing, what’s the salinity on a certain day and time on a particular river bend — more accessible and useful to the other scientists and managers. In this 14-minute Science in Short interview with the Estuary News Group’s Ashleigh Papp, Bashevkin talks about the challenges and rewards of his work in data science for the Delta Stewardship Council, and how he’s applied his skills to complex data sets on everything from endangered fish to drought. “It’s really a form of storytelling,” he says.
THE ECONEWS REPORT: The Beginning of the End for Eel River Dams
On Thursday, we celebrated the expiration of PG&E’s 50-year license for the Eel River dams. Next up comes license surrender, decommissioning and ultimately dam removal. Tune in to hear about what this process might look like and why it is so important to act swiftly to seize the opportunity for recovery of the Eel River’s wild runs of salmon and steelhead. And in other celebratory news: Klamath dam removal is on track to begin by the end of this year. Two of California’s largest rivers are in for monumental change over the next few years. Listen to the EcoNews report at the Lost Coast Outpost here: THE ECONEWS REPORT: The Beginning of the End for Eel River Dams
WATER + TALK PODCAST: Emily Fairfax – Beavers, Wildfires, Flooding & the Ecology of Watersheds
Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler interviews Dr. Emily Fairfax, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Resource Management at California State University Channel Islands. Dr. Fairfax’s current research is focused on the ecohydrology of riparian areas, particularly those that have been impacted by beaver damming. She uses a combination of remote sensing and field work to understand how beaver activity can create drought and fire-resistant patches in the landscape under a changing climate. Her colleagues and students can vouch that when Dr. Fairfax says she can talk about beavers all day, she’s not kidding.
In regional water news today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Tribes protest water released from Upper Klamath Lake
“The headgates of the A Canal, the main irrigation artery to the federally managed Klamath Project at the outlet of Upper Klamath Lake, have once again become a site for activism during the third straight year of punishing drought in the Klamath Basin. Members of the Klamath Tribal community gathered Friday morning in the parking lot next to the headgates to protest the Bureau of Reclamation’s decision to release water from the lake in apparent violation of Endangered Species Act requirements for the fish the tribe calls C’waam and Koptu (Lost River and shortnose suckers), and to call for solutions to the basin’s decades-long water crisis. … ” Continue reading at Jefferson Public Radio here: Klamath Tribes protest water released from Upper Klamath Lake
Tribe suing Biden administration over Oregon water
“The Klamath Tribes are suing the Biden administration over its decision to release some water from Upper Klamath Lake for use by drought-besieged farmers and other irrigators. That’s not the only grief the U.S. government is getting over its decision to release a small amount of water in the Klamath Basin as the region faces severe drought conditions. Oregon-based Klamath Tribes contend the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s decision to release 50,000-acre feet of water for the Klamath Project violates the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The tribes are made up of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin peoples in southern Oregon and northern California. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Tribe suing Biden administration over Oregon water
Tule Lake is set to run dry. Scientists are scrambling to save its endangered fish
“The icy wind and blowing snow whipped across the farms and fields of the Tule Lake basin on a recent morning. By summer, the lake is expected to run completely dry, a historic first for the region’s signature landmark and the latest chapter in a broader, escalating water war. The lack of water could hamper irrigation of potatoes, onions and other agricultural staples. It will likely deny countless migratory birds a popular rest stop on the Pacific Flyway. But most immediately, it will strand an untold number of fish on barren land, a reality that has triggered a novel — and hurried — effort to save two endangered species of suckers on the verge of extinction. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Tule Lake is set to run dry. Scientists are scrambling to save its endangered fish
Envisioning the Klamath without dams
Congressman Jared Huffman writes, “The beleaguered Klamath River Basin is finally getting good news. The recommendation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to advance Klamath dam removal sets a path for a more sustainably managed river — something we haven’t seen for more than a century. It won’t solve every problem in the Klamath Basin, but it bodes well for the future. Klamath dam removal will be the largest salmon restoration project in history — a remarkable victory for the tribes and downstream communities that rely on this river. Removing these obsolete dams will help restore iconic salmon without reducing water supply. But even with these improvements, there’s a looming threat to the health of the Klamath River and all who depend on it: climate change and the chronic drought conditions it is bringing to the West. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Envisioning the Klamath without dams
PG&E’s license expires for Eel River dams
“It’s the beginning of the end for the Eel River dams. On April 14, 2022, PG&E’s 50-year license for the Potter Valley Project dams expired and it will not be renewed. The company will soon begin the process of license surrender, decommissioning, and ultimately dam removal. This is an important first step in the long road we must travel until the dams are removed. Out of the 1,400 dams in California, a great number are critical to keep our communities safe and operating. But many have outlived their functional lifespan and the ecosystem and economic benefits of removal far outweigh the cost of leaving them in place. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: PG&E’s license expires for Eel River dams
Eel River dam removal is moving forward. It will create California’s longest free-flowing river.
“On Thursday, PG&E’s 50-year license for the Eel River Dams expired, with the company opting against renewing the costly Potter Valley Project (PVP). After the license is surrendered and the project is decommissioned, the long road to removing the Eel River Dams will begin, eventually creating California’s longest free-flowing river. The PVP is a hydroelectric system consisting of two dams, a diversion tunnel and a powerhouse on the Eel River. When old dams come due for relicensing, they are required to meet 21st century standards for fish passage. Upgrading these ancient structures comes with enormous cost, so much so that it is often cheaper to just remove the dams entirely. That’s why PG&E has opted to abandon the outdated structures. … ” Read more from Active NorCal here: Eel River dam removal is moving forward. It will create California’s longest free-flowing river.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Multiple feet of snow in forecast this week for Lake Tahoe
“Strong winds and snow returns on Tuesday to Lake Tahoe and a bigger, wetter storm is expected later in the week. Strong winds and up to a foot of heavy, wet snow are in the Tuesday forecast. The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a pair of advisories, one for winter weather and the other for strong winds. ... ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Multiple feet of snow in forecast this week for Lake Tahoe
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Environmental groups say City of Redding must conduct environmental review before declaring riverfront land “surplus”
“Citing concerns about impacts to the “abundance of natural and biological resources immediately adjacent to the Project site,” a legal representative for three local environmental groups told city officials in a letter sent Thursday April 14, that they must conduct an environmental review prior to declaring key riverfront land “surplus.” Under consideration is an area of about 45 acres at the Redding riverfront, including the Civic Auditorium and Redding Rodeo Grounds. That land sits amidst a larger approximately 200 acres area at the riverfront described in the letter as “extensive riparian lands with extremely high biological resource values, including the Turtle Bay Exploration Park open space area, the Turtle Bay Bird Sanctuary, and riparian resources extending from the Sundial Bridge upstream and beyond the Posse Grounds boat ramp, all areas with significant natural resource and public recreational values.” … ” Read more from the Shasta Scout here: Environmental groups say City of Redding must conduct environmental review before declaring riverfront land “surplus”
Potential hiking trail stuck in regulatory process between PG&E and FERC
“The fate of a recreational hiking trail near the community of Pulga is stuck in a regulatory process between Pacific Gas & Electric and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The Poe Hydroelectric Project located in the North Fork Feather River is licensed to PG&E. As part of its re-licensing, PG&E in 2018 was ordered by the FERC to create a recreation plan that would provide recreational enhancements to the area it manages and prospect possible hiking trails. When PG&E submitted its recreation plan to the FERC on Sept. 29, 2020, it included five enhancements including access trails upstream of the Poe Dam and to beaches around the dam; and parking lots at Sandy Beach, Bardees Bar and Poe Powerhouse for river access. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register here: Potential hiking trail stuck in regulatory process between PG&E and FERC
NAPA/SONOMA
BAY AREA
Here’s how much rain the Bay Area got from Saturday’s showers
“The Bay Area received a smattering of much-needed rain Saturday morning that gave way to sunny skies by early afternoon — an alternating pattern that weather forecasters say will continue throughout the upcoming week. Downtown San Francisco measured about .28 inches of rainfall over the past 24 hours, according to Matt Mehle, a National Weather Service meteorologist for the Bay Area. Most other communities across the region received between a quarter- and half-inch of rain. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Here’s how much rain the Bay Area got from Saturday’s showers
Overnight storm in Bay Area is last rain of the weekend, but more is on the way
“Between a recent heat wave, gusty winds and an overnight rain storm, the Bay Area’s April weather has been nothing short of erratic. Don’t expect that to change. Although Sunday is expected to be clear and warmer, meteorologists predict more wet weather starting Tuesday morning with another storm on track to hit later in the week. Those April showers are a welcome sign for a region struggling with drought conditions and could produce some green in the browning hills of the Sacramento Valley, where just last week weather officials issued their earliest ever red-flag wildfire warning. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Overnight storm in Bay Area is last rain of the weekend, but more is on the way
Marin district weighs permanent water use restrictions
“Some drought restrictions imposed on most Marin residents last year could become permanent, while others could be repealed in the coming weeks. On Friday, the Marin Municipal Water District proposed keeping a two-day-per-week sprinkler irrigation limit in place for good but also rescinding some prohibitions to allow residents to wash their cars at home or refill their pools. The debate on which rules to keep comes after the district and its 191,000 residents nearly faced depleted local reservoir supplies after two dry winters. But heavy downpours in late 2021 saved the county from the emergency by nearly refilling the district’s seven reservoirs. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin district weighs permanent water use restrictions
Editorial: It’s time for Caltrans to address Southern Marin flooding problem
“The state is getting ready to tackle a longstanding problem, flooding that closes down the roads in and out of Marin City and Shoreline Highway north of the Manzanita commuter lot. These have been troublespots for years and previous flood-control strategies have been far short of effective cures. In fact, state Sen. Mike McGuire has called fixing the Marin City flooding the “first priority.” That’s good news for neighborhood leaders who have been complaining about the slow pace of state and county leaders in implementing any long-term remedies. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Editorial: It’s time for Caltrans to address Southern Marin flooding problem
Marin jury rejects San Rafael school contamination lawsuit
“A Marin County jury has rejected a lawsuit by the owners of the St. Vincent’s School for Boys property seeking compensation for polluted groundwater in San Rafael. Catholic Charities CYO of the Archdiocese of San Francisco sued the owners of the Marinwood Plaza Shopping Center, and various operators of a dry cleaning business there, in 2013. The lawsuit sought compensation for pollution that spread underground from the shopping center to the school campus. The suit alleged that the Hoytt family controlled Marinwood Plaza LLC, which owned and operated the shopping center, and “had at all times the legal duty to inspect, maintain and/or repair the site.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin jury rejects San Rafael school contamination lawsuit
San Francisco Bay restoration bolstered by $53M federal influx
“Despite being the largest estuary on the West Coast and supporting both a highly diverse ecosystem and a multi-billion dollar economy, the San Francisco Bay Estuary was not getting its fair share of federal funding for restoration, according to local lawmakers and environmental organizations. That changed this year after Congress and President Joe Biden approved more than $50 million in funding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for projects to restore lost wetlands, improve water quality, address pollution and bolster sea-level rise defenses throughout San Francisco Bay. … ” Continue reading at the Marin Independent Journal here: San Francisco Bay restoration bolstered by $53M federal influx
Caltrans can’t keep trash out of the bay, Silicon Valley activists say
“Environmentalists are concerned Caltrans isn’t doing enough to keep trash from washing off its properties into the San Francisco Bay. The state transportation department has been under a cease and desist order since 2019 requiring it to reduce trash over the next seven years. The order covers more than 8,000 acres of its property in the Bay Area, including the South Bay. The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board issued the order following widespread community outrage about Caltrans failing to pick up trash polluting local waterways. Caltrans officials have said they are taking various compliance actions, but environmental advocates claim the agency is dragging its feet. They say Caltrans’ inaction is putting strain on cities such as San Jose, which end up having to pick up trash the agency should collect. … ” Read more from San Jose Spotlight here: Caltrans can’t keep trash out of the bay, Silicon Valley activists say
CENTRAL COAST
Levee rebuild in voters’ hands
“People living in south Santa Cruz County and north Monterey County could soon see Pajaro River’s levee system rebuilt, a long-awaited project that would offer up to 100-year flood protection to the area, and be a comfort to residents who have been beset by periodic floods since the 1950s. But whether the project can move forward is now in the hands of property owners living in the floodplain of the Pajaro River levee, who will soon decide on placing an assessment on their property tax bills, which is needed to pay $1.2 million in maintenance and operations costs. … ” Read more from Good Times Santa Cruz here: Levee rebuild in voters’ hands
‘We’ve turned our backs on the river’: Laurie Egan works to revive, transform the San Lorenzo River
“Laurie Egan, the Coastal Watershed Council’s (CWC) new executive director, was not allowed to touch the Housatonic River that ran down the street from her childhood home in Western Massachusetts. Everyone told her the river was dangerous. “It was always the story of, you know, the water is dirty and you’ll get sick if you touch it,” she said. “There was this real fear that our community had around that space.” But when she was in fourth grade, she went canoeing with her school and discovered the river’s beauty. Seeing the plants, animals, and native wildlife changed her outlook and set her on her course as an environmentalist determined to showcase underappreciated natural resources. The San Lorenzo River, she says, is a perfect candidate. … ” Read more from Good News Santa Cruz here: ‘We’ve turned our backs on the river’: Laurie Egan works to revive, transform the San Lorenzo River
Montecito districts have multiple studies underway on recycled water options
“Beginning in 2016, when Montecito was under rationing and a group of wealthy residents started funding a shakeup of the water board, the challengers running for office pledged to bring water recycling to the community in the drought. Over three election cycles — in 2016, 2018 and 2020 — running twice as “Your Water Security Team,” candidates promised “greater use of recycled wastewater for landscaping” and vowed to end or update Montecito’s disposal of treated wastewater through an ocean pipeline, a practice widely in use throughout the South Coast. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Montecito districts have multiple studies underway on recycled water options
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tuolumne River spring pulse water releases set to start on Saturday
“Water managers say they will be starting the spring pulse flows in the Tuolumne River on Saturday. The Turlock Irrigation District sent out an alert about the impending flow increase ahead of Easter weekend. Officials note that the pulse flows are expected to cause a noticeable increase in river elevation. While officials say the Tuolumne River will not reach flood stage with the spring pulse flows, the water level is expected to rise above typical winter river levels – including up to the flood plain on the north bank of the river between Dry Creek and the Highway 99 bridge. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Tuolumne River spring pulse water releases set to start on Saturday
Stanislaus National Forest gets $55.2 million to take a big bite out of wildfire fuel
“The Stanislaus National Forest is getting $55.2 million for an unprecedented effort to reduce wildfire fuel. The money will go to selective logging, prescribed burning and other work over three years on sites totaling about 41,000 acres. The project aims to create a mosaic that slows fires in a 245,000-acre zone that takes in Sonora, Twain Harte, Pinecrest and several other towns. It also could enhance the watershed for part of the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The funding comes from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package signed by President Joe Biden in November. The first $131 million for fuel reduction went to the Stanislaus and nine other national forests around the West. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Stanislaus National Forest gets $55.2 million to take a big bite out of wildfire fuel
Tehachapi: Golden Hills reviews goals, looks to plumb water directly to Tom Sawyer Lake
“Water, facilities, entertainment, parks and education were among the priority topics addressed during a special meeting of the Board of Directors of Golden Hills Community Services District held Saturday, April 9. … Among items on the agenda for the April 21 board meeting is Tom Sawyer Lake. The board will review and consider lake water analysis and an informal proposal from Solitude Lake Management along with an analysis of the Poor Well analysis as it relates to the lake. … ” Read the full story at the Tehachapi News here: Tehachapi: Golden Hills reviews goals, looks to plumb water directly to Tom Sawyer Lake
EASTERN SIERRA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District to discuss uses for Tres Lago property
“After purchasing 1,658 acres of land once slated for the Harmony residential development in Highland, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD) will begin considering water infrastructure and other uses for the land during a board of directors workshop scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The public is encouraged to view and participate in the meeting virtually through Zoom teleconferencing. The undeveloped acreage was purchased from Orange County Flood Control District in auction for $32.5 million ($19,601 per acre) on Sept. 8, 2021 and the transaction was completed in late-February 2022. … ” Read more from the Community News here: San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District to discuss uses for Tres Lago property
Proposal for O.C.’s first man-made wave pool unveiled
“Huntington Beach is dubbed Surf City. Dana Point has its rich surf history. San Clemente is known for its buffet of world-class waves. But could Orange County’s next hot surf spot be inland in a town known for its agricultural and equestrian heritage? A proposal was presented on Friday, April 15, for what would be the region’s first man-made wave pool, a vision to transform San Juan Capistrano’s Northwest Open Space into a surf-meets-western hub that would also have equestrian centers and learn-to-ride programs, a public pool free to residents, a café in a historic home, an events center and more. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Proposal for O.C.’s first man-made wave pool unveiled
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Disney Planet Possible: Protecting the treasures of Joshua Tree National Park
“It’s the proverbial star of the show at Joshua Tree National Park, and while Joshua Trees look peculiar, with ragged scraggly limbs, they’re actually quite special. “This is a group of species that is only found in our region and further south, but not in Europe, Asia, Africa … nowhere else but here,” explained Dr. Cameron Barrows at UC Riverside’s Palm Desert campus. But Barrows said Joshua Trees are starting to disappear due to climate change. “It’s not just warming, it’s actually drying because of climate change, and there’s only a few areas where Joshua Trees are reproducing successfully, where we see seedlings coming up and successfully becoming adults,” said Barrows. … ” Read more from KABC here: Disney Planet Possible: Protecting the treasures of Joshua Tree National Park
SAN DIEGO
County exploring ways to use San Diego’s land to fight climate change
“With high biodiversity and rich farmland, San Diego County is exploring ways to put the region’s land to use to cut carbon emissions. In an online public workshop Thursday, county officials explained ways to expand the use of wetlands, marshes, forests and agricultural lands to capture and store carbon through the county’s Regional Decarbonization Framework. The framework aims to coordinate local governments and public agencies to eliminate carbon emissions in San Diego County before mid-century in order to slow the effects of global warming and stabilize the climate It’s separate from, but complementary to local climate action plans, and officials have said it’s the first such regional effort in California. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: County exploring ways to use San Diego’s land to fight climate change
Along the Colorado River …
CRS Report: Management of the Colorado River: Water allocations, drought, and the federal role
“The Colorado River Basin covers more than 246,000 square miles in seven U.S. states (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California) and Mexico. Pursuant to federal law, the Bureau of Reclamation (part of the Department of the Interior) manages much of the basin’s water supplies. Colorado River water is used primarily for
agricultural irrigation and municipal and industrial (M&I) uses; it is also important for hydropower production, fish and wildlife, and recreational uses. … ” Read the full report here: Management of the Colorado River: Water allocations, drought, and the federal role
Design progresses on major Las Vegas pumping station
“With its growing population amid a desert environment, the Las Vegas Valley in southern Nevada has long felt pressure to conserve its limited water supply, much of which comes from Lake Mead on the Colorado River. As the ongoing historic drought continues to decrease water levels on Lake Mead to new lows, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the wholesale water provider to the region, also is taking steps to improve the redundancy and resilience of its critical drinking water infrastructure. A key component of this effort is the $125 million Stage II Reliability Upgrades Project, the main element of which is a new 90 mgd pumping station. ... ” Read more from The Source here: Design progresses on major Las Vegas pumping station
Northern Arizona may see drinking water cutoff as Lake Powell continues to dry up
“Arizona’s top water official says he never thought this day would come so soon. Federal officials are warning that the West’s escalating water crisis could put some Arizona communities’ “health and safety” at risk, by cutting off their supply of drinking water. “This is really getting to (be) a health and safety issue… the health and safety of those who want to turn on the tap and have water,” Tom Buschatzke, Arizona’s director of water resources, said in an interview on this weekend’s “Sunday Square Off.” … ” Read more from Channel 12 here: Northern Arizona may see drinking water cutoff as Lake Powell continues to dry up
Two areas in rural Arizona might finally gain protection of their groundwater this year
” … With a mega-drought brought about by climate change exacerbating the problem of rapidly declining groundwater in a fast-growing state, [Steven] Kisiel is now part of a movement fighting to have more than 2,600 square miles in the rural Sulphur Springs Valley added to the only five areas designated to be regulated 40 years ago in populous parts of the state. Arizona is the only state in the Colorado River Basin that does not regulate all of its groundwater, and with water scarcity becoming increasingly dire, adding Sulphur Springs to the management areas—considered a distinct possibility this year—could set the stage for other rural areas to follow suit and try to curb rapidly decreasing groundwater levels. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: Two areas in rural Arizona might finally gain protection of their groundwater this year
Lake Powell is critically low, and still shrinking. Here’s what happens next
“Lake Powell is in crisis. The nation’s second-largest reservoir is strained by more than two decades of drought, and its water levels are slipping dangerously low. In March, the reservoir passed an important threshold. Water levels dipped below 3,525 feet – the last major milestone before a serious threat to hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam. The future of the reservoir is largely uncertain, but climate science and recent actions by the government are providing some hints as to what might happen in the near future. … ” Continue reading from Arizona Public Media here: Lake Powell is critically low, and still shrinking. Here’s what happens next
In drought-stricken West, officials weigh emergency actions
“Federal officials say it may be necessary to reduce water deliveries to users on the Colorado River to prevent the shutdown of a huge dam that supplies hydropower to some 5 million customers across the U.S. West. Officials had hoped snowmelt would buoy Lake Powell on the Arizona-Utah border to ensure its dam could continue to supply power. But snow is already melting, and hotter-than-normal temperatures and prolonged drought are further shrinking the lake. The Interior Department has proposed holding back water in the lake to maintain Glen Canyon Dam’s ability to generate electricity amid what it said were the driest conditions in the region in more than 1,200 years. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: In drought-stricken West, officials weigh emergency actions
Commentary: The West can still be saved with smart, pragmatic water management
Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, writes, “On the Colorado River, we have to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Today we are in the driest period since 800 AD, without an end in sight. Levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell — respectively the largest reservoirs in the nation — are crashing. Federal data suggest that trend will continue in the coming years. Independent scientists reasonably foresee that by the end of the century, the river will potentially flow 30-40% less on average than it did in 2000. As Colorado River-dependent states begin working on a new management agreement to begin Jan. 1, 2026, the public must vociferously debate the options on the table. Here are a few considerations for the debate … ” Read the full commentary at the Las Vegas Sun here: Commentary: The West can still be saved with smart, pragmatic water management
In national water news today …
GOP, industry push Supreme Court to narrow Clean Water Act
“House Republicans, conservatives and property rights advocates yesterday threw their weight behind an Idaho couple’s request for the Supreme Court to narrow the scope of the Clean Water Act. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, chair of the Congressional Western Caucus — along with Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa and Rodney Davis of Illinois, who also belong to the group — filed an amicus brief yesterday in Sackett v. EPA, in which Chantell and Michael Sackett are asking the justices to reconsider a lower court’s conclusion that their property contains a “water of the United States,” or WOTUS, subject to federal permitting requirements. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: GOP, industry push Supreme Court to narrow Clean Water Act
EPA soliciting input for WOTUS rulemaking
“While testifying before a Senate committee recently, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Reagan says EPA will continue its rulemaking process as the Supreme Court decides on the fate of the current definition of the waters of the U.S. “We are currently continuing our roundtable discussions with our farmers and elected agricultural officials,” Reagan says. Although the agency is still dealing with some uncertainty in terms of courts’ decisions, Reagan says EPA is taking into consideration many of the concerns in the agricultural community as well as those on the other side of the issue. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: EPA soliciting input for WOTUS rulemaking
How extreme weather has created a disaster for school infrastructure
“When last summer’s devastating flood put the town of Waverly, Tenn., underwater, Richard Rye was standing on the roof of the junior high school. The junior high school where, if it had not been a Saturday morning, entire classrooms of kids would have been submerged in five feet of water as a rising swell pushed through the building, ripping heavy doors off their hinges and turning hallways into rivers, desks bobbing in the current like paper cups. Rye, the director of schools for Humphreys County, stood on that roof for hours and watched first neighboring Waverly Elementary and then Waverly Junior High School, buildings that housed 1,100 total students on any given weekday, fill with water. All he could think was: What am I going to do? … ” Continue reading at the Washington Post here: How extreme weather has created a disaster for school infrastructure
Realistically planning to spend federal infrastructure money
“The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or Infrastructure Bill) promises to inject $1.5 trillion across the country to “rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind,” according to the Biden administration. Of this investment, $55 billion will be directed to improve access to clean water by increasing contributions to state revolving loan funds over the next five years, and a large portion of this funding will be awarded as principal forgiveness loans. With this prospect of billions of dollars of new federal funding for water infrastructure, many utilities will be tempted to rapidly increase planned capital investments. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Realistically planning to spend federal infrastructure money
Sources: Biden climate adviser Gina McCarthy to step down
“White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy plans to step down in the coming months, according to multiple sources. McCarthy, 67, was widely expected to serve in the Biden administration for about a year and help coordinate a climate response across all federal agencies. The former EPA administrator in the Obama administration was brought on to beef up President Joe Biden’s climate team in the latter days of the transition period after the election. At the time, McCarthy had served less than a year as executive director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The news was first reported by Reuters. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Sources: Biden climate adviser Gina McCarthy to step down
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOW AVAILABLE: Oil and Gas Regional Groundwater Monitoring – Report for Orcutt Oil Field
PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Standardizing Cost Reporting In Municipal Stormwater Permit
NOTICE: Announcing Outreach and Engagement Strategy for SAFER Drinking Water Program: Apply today to be considered for a Funding Partner
WEBINAR NOTICE: Urban Conservation Emergency Regulation
