On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. Click here for the complete agenda and remote access instructions.
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water beginning at 9am. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: California Pathways to 30×30 and Natural Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy Overview from 12pm to 1pm. Join the California Natural Resources Agency this coming Tuesday, April 26 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) for a presentation on the state’s final Pathways to 30×30: Accelerating Conservation of California’s Nature and final Natural and Working Lands Smart Climate Strategy documents. We look forward to discussing highlights and next steps. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework as a guide for strategic natural resource conservation in a fast-changing world from 1pm to 2:30pm. Click here for more information. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Coastal Commission staff says Poseidon’s ocean-to-tap water plant should not be built
“Poseidon Water’s long-running, controversial effort to turn the ocean off Huntington Beach into tap water for much of Orange County suffered a potentially fatal blow Monday, April 25 when staff for the California Coastal Commission released a report saying the project should not be built. Citing a range of economic and social factors, including environmental damages from the proposed plant and the company’s track record for slow-walking environmental projects that would offset harm caused by its existing desalination plant in Carlsbad, the staff recommended that the commissioners vote against approving the project May 12 when they hold a public hearing in Costa Mesa. “Due to this project’s fundamental inconsistencies with the Coastal Act … as well as its unclear but likely significant burdens on environmental justice communities, staff is recommending denial of the project.” … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Coastal Commission staff says Poseidon’s ocean-to-tap water plant should not be built
California desalination plant suffers setback with recommendation for denial
“A proposed California desalination plant that would produce 50 million gallons of drinking water per day failed a crucial regulatory hurdle on Monday, likely dooming a project that had been promoted as a partial solution for sustained drought. The staff of the California Coastal Commission recommended denying approval of the Huntington Beach plant proposed by Poseidon Water, controlled by the infrastructure arm of Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management. The Commission’s staff said the project was more susceptible to sea-level rise than was understood when it was first proposed more than two decades ago. The project, just south of Los Angeles, was also deemed by Commission staff too harmful to nearby fish and bird habitat. … ” Read more from the US News & World Report here: California desalination plant suffers setback with recommendation for denial
New technology helps find water underground in California
“California is deploying cutting-edge technology that can ‘see’ underground water. A giant electrified ring suspended from a helicopter will make a never-before-seen picture of a world beneath our feet. Wells in the Valley are running dry. Drilling deeper is more expensive and sometimes still fails to find water. When it does, water quality is often worse, containing minerals like arsenic. California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth says an Airborne Electromagnetic Survey is “one of many new technologies the Department is implementing in addition to forecasting improvements.” … ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: New technology helps find water underground in California
A quiet revolution: Southwest cities learn to thrive amid drought
“In the rolling hills around San Diego and its suburbs, the rumble of bulldozers and the whine of power saws fill the air as a slew of new homes and apartments rise up. The region is booming, its population growing at a rate of about 1 percent a year. This, in spite of the fact that Southern California, along with much of the West, is in the midst of what experts call a megadrought that some believe may not be a temporary, one-off occurrence, but a recurring event or even a climate change-driven permanent “aridification” of the West. The drought is so bad that last year federal officials ordered cuts to water provided to the region by the Colorado River for the first time in history. Water officials in San Diego, though, say they are not worried. “We have sufficient supplies now and in the future,” said Sandra Kerl, general manager of the San Diego Water Authority. “We recently did a stress test and we are good until 2045” and even beyond. San Diego is not alone. … ” Continue reading at Yale E360 here: A quiet revolution: Southwest cities learn to thrive amid drought
Listen: Why the ag community is confused—and concerned—about an executive order on well drilling
“In late March, Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a drought-related executive order that adds a layer of bureaucratic approval to the permitting of new agricultural wells. The added labor has raised fears among the agricultural community that the order will amount to a moratorium on drilling new wells or even altering existing ones. In this interview, KVPR’s Kerry Klein spoke about Executive Order #N-7-22 with Don Wright, publisher of Water Wrights, a website that provides water policy news and information to the agricultural community. Wright explained the nuts and bolts of the order and why it took the ag community by surprise, but also why there’s reason to believe its effects won’t be as severe as anticipated.” Listen at Valley Public Radio here: Why the ag community is confused—and concerned—about an executive order on well drilling
Cash for farmworkers? California lawmaker says new $20 million idea will help amid drought
“A Democrat lawmaker from the central San Joaquin Valley wants to put cash in the hands of eligible farmworkers to help them deal with the devastation of California’s drought. Proposed by State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Democrat from Sanger, Senate Bill 1066 would allocate $20 million to create the California Farmworkers Drought Resilience Pilot Project, a state-funded project that would provide unconditional monthly cash payments of $1,000 for three years to eligible farmworkers, with the goal of lifting them out of poverty. “When we talk about climate change, we forget about those that are most impacted and are already hurting,” Hurtado said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “And that is the workers and the farmers.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Cash for farmworkers? California lawmaker says new $20 million idea will help amid drought
Despite April rains, California still faces significant drought conditions as summer nears
“The late-season burst of snow and moisture that blanketed Northern California in April helped make a small dent in drought conditions, experts said, but the majority of the state is still far below where it needs to be as it heads toward the hot, dry months of summer. Several storms arrived weeks after the final snow survey of the season on April 1, in which state officials reported that statewide snowpack had dwindled to just 38% of average for the date after a bone-dry start to the year. But on Friday, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab in Donner Pass said it had received 76 inches of powder since the start of the month thanks to April’s storms — nearly doubling the 41 inches it received in the first three months of the year combined. “It’s not a record-breaking April, but it’s definitely above average,” said station manager Andrew Schwartz. “It’s welcome for sure.” ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Despite April rains, California still faces significant drought conditions as summer nears
California wildlife officials bust white sturgeon poaching ring, authorities say
“Nine people were arrested by state wildlife police on suspicion of poaching, selling animals on the black market and other offenses after a sprawling investigation by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife investigation, the agency said. Eight men were arrested on suspicion of poaching white sturgeon from Sacramento Valley waterways, the department said last week. A ninth man was arrested on suspicion of selling Dungeness crab and red abalone on the black market. “I am proud of the dedicated wildlife officers who spent countless hours investigating this wildlife trafficking case to protect our native sturgeon population, which is already severely affected by historic drought conditions,” David Bess, deputy director and chief of the law enforcement division, said in a release. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: California wildlife officials bust white sturgeon poaching ring, authorities say
Stanford experts discuss California’s 30×30 initiative – one of the most ambitious conservation efforts ever
“One of the most ambitious conservation efforts ever, California’s 30×30 initiative aims to protect plant and animal life across 30 percent of the state’s most critical land and water by 2030. Gov. Gavin Newsom has described the plan as an important step toward ensuring community well-being, equity, and economic sustainability while staving off mega wildfires, droughts, and other climate change-driven threats. Stanford University experts have informed 30×30 through their participation in public outreach sessions, meetings with the plan’s leadership and a letter of support signed by faculty members from all seven of the university’s schools. Stanford students recently completed research projects to inform the initiative’s implementation. On the heels of the plan’s rollout April 22, biologists Elizabeth Hadly and Mary Ruckelshaus and environmental law expert Deborah Sivas discuss keys to its success, potential impacts on land owners, legal precedents for federal and international plans with similar conservation goals, and related issues. … ” Read more from Stanford News here: Stanford experts discuss California’s 30×30 initiative – one of the most ambitious conservation efforts ever
In commentary today …
Delta voluntary agreements are a “plan to fail” in droughts
Doug Obegi, Director of California River Restoration for the NRDC, writes, “Rather than planning for droughts and ensuring that minimum water quality objectives are achieved in critically dry years, the proposed voluntary agreement appears to be a “plan to fail” to protect the Delta in future droughts. Droughts are a fact of life in California, even as climate change is making them worse. The Governor’s Water Resilience Portfolio recognizes the need to improve drought preparedness, requiring that the State to be able to protect fish and wildlife during a six year drought (recommendation 26.3). That recommendation is crucial because instead of being prepared for droughts and ensuring that water quality objectives that protect fish and wildlife are met, the State’s current “plan” for droughts is to declare an emergency and violate minimum water quality standards, devastating native fish and wildlife — and the thousands of jobs that depend on their health. … ” Read more from the NRDC here: Delta voluntary agreements are a “plan to fail” in droughts
If droughts are predictable because they self-propagate, not planning for them is irresponsible
Hank Campbell writes, “Everyone knows droughts are bad. They increase risk of wildfires and damage life in the affected region. They are not always predictable, when I lived in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s there was a drought with no known mechanism involved, but they are often cyclical, which makes them at least broadly predictable. The Dry 2 Dry program at Ghent University believes droughts are not only predictable and cyclical, they can propagate in a kind of feedback loop; instead of being local, evaporated water is moved to other areas, so less of it is taking drought with them. If so, that is even more reason California government needs to obey the laws it is bound to follow and create more water storage. It is the goal of science and technology to not let fickle nature hold us hostage. … ” Read more from Science 2.0 here: If droughts are predictable because they self-propagate, not planning for them is irresponsible
Today’s featured article …
GUEST COMMENTARY: As the drought worsens, there are two plans to protect water: one keeps water flowing for now, the other for decades to come
Guest commentary by Ruth Martinez (Ducor Water Board Member) and Roger Dickinson (Co-author of SGMA)
On March 28th, Governor Newsom signed an executive order intended to protect the majority of Californians who rely on groundwater for their water supply. This order requires local well drilling permits to align with groundwater sustainability plans before being approved. Local groundwater agencies must now review each permit and determine how the new well would impact existing nearby wells, and the groundwater sustainability plan for that basin.
We applaud Governor Newsom’s commitment to bolstering conservation efforts. But the Governor’s order is only a temporary solution. Executive orders may be overturned by the current Governor or a coming one. But there is a permanent solution to protect the water California’s families need, AB 2201.
Click here to read this article.
BLOG ROUND-UP: Delta voluntary agreements are a “plan to fail” in droughts; If droughts are predictable because they self-propagate, not planning for them is irresponsible; Can Elon Musk save the Colorado River, and the American Southwest?; and more …
Click here to read the blog round-up.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Where will the North Coast get its water if drought becomes common?
“With parts of the North Coast facing what forecasters say is shaping up to be “extreme drought” this year, the region’s water managers are busy exploring near- and long-term options. But new large reservoirs like Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino aren’t among them. Even as the first of seven large reservoirs funded by the 2014 $2.7 billion California water bond is set to get under construction elsewhere in the state, agency officials and local lawmakers say the regulatory and political environment has shifted dramatically from decades ago when the Golden State’s big water catchments were constructed. Beyond eking out capacity in the region’s existing reservoirs, the long-term answer for increasing water supply in the most stressed areas, they say, likely will be below ground, rather than above. … ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: Where will the North Coast get its water if drought becomes common?
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
A necessary building block of fish survival is added to the Sacramento River
“In addition to sufficient flows of cold water, chinook salmon migrating in the Sacramento River depend on having sufficient gravel in the riverbed to support spawning. In response to that need, Reclamation and its partners — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, Reclamation District 108, and the Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District — recently completed placing 20,000 tons of spawning gravel on the west bank of the Sacramento River below Keswick Dam. With the passage of time and the arrival of high flow, the gravel will wash downstream into the riverbed, creating the vital habitat that helps ensure the species’ survival. Gravel placement began April 4 with 1,200 tons distributed a few hundred yards downstream of Keswick Dam, in front of the Keswick office building. “Placing gravel at this location at the dam is critical for maintaining as much habitat in the coolest water as we can,” said John Hannon, fish biologist with Reclamation’s Bay-Delta Office. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: A necessary building block of fish survival is added to the Sacramento River
Chico: Student fly-fisherman casts his line into researching local creeks
“Maurice Ledoyen remembers the day clearly. It was a Wednesday in late August 2019, and he was sitting in Monica So’s “General Chemistry I” class in Butte Hall—his first time in a college classroom in 10 years. He pulled out his phone and texted his sister, “I’m not sure I’m going to make it.” It took until the first round of midterms for the environmental science major to believe he belonged at a university. But in the time since, he’s done more than just make it. According to Sandrine Matiasek, his professor in several geological and environmental science courses, he’s finished her classes with near-perfect grades, an academic performance that she hasn’t seen in 10 years of teaching, and become a consummate scholar with great research promise. “Maurice has a deep appreciation and love for the creeks in the North State,” said Matiasek. “I feel so fortunate he has been able to harness local knowledge and his passion for the work that we are doing on all the local watersheds in the area.” ... ” Continue reading at Chico State here: Student fly-fisherman casts his line into researching local creeks
Sacramento District projects receive ASCE awards
“Two Sacramento area projects were recognized for their excellence during an awards dinner as part of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Region 9 and San Francisco Section’s annual infrastructure symposium April 22 in San Francisco. The Sacramento District took home two prizes amongst 21 categories of California projects including 2021 ASCE Region 9 Project of the Year, presented to the Sacramento River East Levee Contract 1 project. The Sacramento River East Levee (SREL) Contract 1 is part of the American River Common Features program authorized in 2016, a $1.8 billion effort aimed at reducing the flood risk for more than half a million people who live and work in the Sacramento region. … ” Read more from the Sacramento District of the US Army Corps here: Sacramento District projects receive ASCE awards
BAY AREA
Bigger ‘bomb cyclones’ could deluge Bay Area in coming decades, climate study finds
“Extreme storms like the massive bomb cyclone that drenched the San Francisco Bay Area last October are likely to become more powerful in the coming decades as climate change alters atmospheric conditions. The Bay Area could see between 26% and 37% more water from these mega-storms by the end of the century, according to a new study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory commissioned by the city. Dennis Herrera, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission general manager, said the city commissioned the study to help prepare for increasing weather volatility, so San Francisco’s infrastructure is not overwhelmed by stormwater in addition to rising seas. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Bigger ‘bomb cyclones’ could deluge Bay Area in coming decades, climate study finds
Does SF have enough water to give some back to the salmon—and the ecosystem?
“Peter Drekmeier has good news to share about San Francisco. Despite climate change, megafires, and a state-wide drought, the city can expect its Hetch Hetchy water system, 85% of our water supply, to keep us flush with water for the foreseeable future. The catch? You’ve got to use his organization’s numbers, not the forecast of the agency in charge, namely the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, or SFPUC. “The big story is how dishonest the SFPUC is with their numbers,” Drekmeier, Policy Director of the Tuolumne River Trust, said. Drekmeier argues that San Francisco could release more water from its Hetch Hetchy supply into the Tuolumne River, helping the fish and the ecosystem, without worrying about running out of water. … ” Read more from 48 Hills here: Does SF have enough water to give some back to the salmon—and the ecosystem?
A historic win for spawning salmon, trout in Alameda Creek
“For the first time in half a century, ocean-going fish will soon be able to migrate up Alameda Creek to spawn, now that a second fish ladder has been completed in the lower portion of the creek in Fremont. Alameda County Water District and Alameda County Flood Control District officials on Monday celebrated the completion of the fish ladder, which was finished earlier this month, according to Sharene Gonzales, a water district spokesperson. The ladder, which consists of a series of steadily elevating pools, allows migratory fish such as Chinook salmon and threatened steelhead trout to get around human-made barriers in the lower creek, including a 12-foot, sloping cement structure known as a weir, and a rubber inflatable dam, according to Jeff Miller, director of the nonprofit Alameda Creek Alliance. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: A historic win for spawning salmon, trout in Alameda Creek
Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center receives multiple awards for its excellence
“Valley Water has won two prestigious awards for its work to increase Santa Clara County’s local water supply through recycled and purified water. In February 2022, the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC) was named the Tertiary Recycled Water Plant of the Year by the Santa Clara Valley Section of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). The accolades continued in March 2022 when the purification center claimed victory at the state competition. The regional and state recognitions come in the plant’s first year of applying. “We are so proud of the work our men and women do on a daily basis in and around the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center,” Valley Water Chair Pro Team John L. Varela said. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center receives multiple awards for its excellence
CENTRAL COAST
Central Coast Water Board allocates $5.9 million from PG&E settlement
“The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board today approved a plan for allocating $5.9 million that Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) paid as part of a settlement agreement reached with the regional board in May 2021. The settlement resolved alleged violations of PG&E’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for its Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant that resulted from discharges of once–through cooling water, water used to keep the nuclear reactors cool, into the Pacific Ocean. The approved fund allocation plan includes $1.2 million to establish a grant program to fund water quality projects that benefit the central coast region. The new Central Coast Community–Based Water Quality Grants Program will be administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment. The board expects to begin public solicitation for project applications in 2023. … ” Continue reading at the Central Coast Regional Water Board here: Central Coast Water Board allocates $5.9 million from PG&E settlement
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Yorba Linda Water District PFAS Treatment Plant wins two awards from American Society of Civil Engineers
“The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) and the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) won top honors at the 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County (ASCE OC) awards ceremony. The per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Treatment Plant, the nation’s largest ion exchange (IX) treatment plant, was awarded Outstanding Water Project and Project of the Year. “We are honored to receive this recognition for the YLWD PFAS Treatment Plant,” said OCWD President Steve Sheldon. “I want to thank the OCWD and YLWD staff for their hard work and coordination with all the project partners to get the nation’s largest ion exchange treatment plant up and running.” … ” Read more from the Orange County Water District here: Yorba Linda Water District PFAS Treatment Plant wins two awards from American Society of Civil Engineers
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Surge of desert surf parks stirs questions in dry California
“Hours from the California coast, surfers are hoping one of the next spots where they can catch a wave is in the desert. At least four large surf lagoons are proposed for the region around Palm Springs, which is more commonly known for art festivals, mountain hikes and golf, and has no natural waves in sight. But some environmentalists and residents say it isn’t water-wise to build large resorts in one of the driest spots in California during one of its driest periods in recent memory. They contend water in the massive surf pools will evaporate quickly in the desert heat, wasting a precious resource, while proponents argue the waves will boost tourism, ramp up recreation and use less water than ever-popular golf courses. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Surge of desert surf parks stirs questions in dry California
Column: 110 in the shade: Lithium, prosperity, and Imperial Valley
Richard Ryan writes, “This past week was rich in action, or at least speeches, about lithium extraction in Imperial Valley. Gary Redfern, writing in this newspaper, put it well when he stated that the week’s events were “a hat trick of sorts for the local lithium plans.” A hat trick in hockey is when one player scores three goals. Lithium is a key mineral necessary for the production of batteries for electric vehicles, EVs for short. The Salton Sea area, and the geothermal industry in particular, is rich in this mineral so the “prospectors” have come running. We are witnessing a modern day, California “gold” rush. The question remains, will Imperial County profit well from the focus on lithium as local promoters of “Lithium Valley” hope and promise. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: Column: 110 in the shade: Lithium, prosperity, and Imperial Valley
SAN DIEGO
National City resident tested their tap’s yellowed water, here’s what it said
“National City resident Ramel Wallace wanted to know what was in the apple juice-colored water that poured from his tap earlier this month, so he tested it and sent me the results. While a water quality test purchased from Walmart is not as detailed as one taken by a hydrologic specialist at a lab, Wallace’s tests didn’t seem to show anything out of the ordinary, said Justin Brazil, Sweetwater’s director of water quality, after hearing the results read to him by a reporter. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: National City resident tested their tap’s yellowed water, here’s what it said
Along the Colorado River …
Low lake level pumping station now operational at Lake Mead
“The Southern Nevada Water Authority announced Monday that its low lake level pumping station is now operational at Lake Mead. According to the group, the top of intake number one is now visible and the pumping station, which was completed in 2020, is now in operation. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Low lake level pumping station now operational at Lake Mead
Colorado River faces more stress in drought and more Utah reservoirs may go dry
“At an event with members of the Strawberry Water Users Association, Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson urged continued conservation as the state headed into another summer in a drought emergency. The members, some who are agriculture producers, will likely have less water again this year because of the mega-drought. “We’re trying to put bigger plans in place for long-term conservation and water development here in the state of Utah,” Lt. Gov. Henderson told FOX 13 News. “But right now, it’s critical people make sure they’re not over-watering their lawns, that they take advantage of the turf buyback programs, doing their part on an individual basis to conserve water.” ... ” Read more from Fox 13 here: Colorado River faces more stress in drought and more Utah reservoirs may go dry
Deliveries to be cut as Lake Powell approaches crisis level
“Lake Mead’s “bathtub ring” is set to become even more pronounced this year. The lingering drought is the overriding reason that the lake’s water level will fall again in 2022, but it’s also because less water will be released upstream on the Colorado River from Lake Powell. This month, the seven Colorado River Basin States — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — agreed with federal officials’ recommendations to institute a 480,000 acre-foot reduction from Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell to reduce the risk of the lake declining below 3,490 feet. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Sun here: Deliveries to be cut as Lake Powell approaches crisis level
The snowmelt is on – and that’s too soon in Colorado, say water watchers
“The concern over drought over the past couple of years has focused on the Western Slope and much of southern and southeastern Colorado, but water watchers said on April 19 that a lack of precipitation is now a factor for the Eastern Plains, as well, just when farmers are getting ready to plant. Colorado’s drought situation is a little better than it was a year ago, but warm temperatures, windy conditions in April and almost no precipitation in parts of the state means the snowpack is melting a couple of weeks sooner than most water watchers would prefer. The state’s Water Availability Task Force met on April 19 to look at the most recent numbers from the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. … ” Continue reading at the Denver Gazette here: The snowmelt is on – and that’s too soon in Colorado, say water watchers
In national water news today …
Fitch Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities
“A rising interest rate environment could prove a boon for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The WIFIA loan program has been hugely successful for U.S. water utilities but is currently oversubscribed. The size of the WIFIA program has increased by 2.5 times since its inception. Congressional appropriations in fiscal 2022 would support an estimated $6.4 billion in WIFIA loans, funding about $13 billion in total project costs. According to Fitch Ratings Director Shannon Groff, the potential growth in loans occurs at an opportune time as interest rates and costs of borrowing in the public markets are increasing. ... ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Fitch Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities
In fight against Biden’s conservation plan, opponents bet on NEPA
“Property rights advocate Margaret Byfield’s strategy for defeating the Biden administration’s aggressive conservation pledge comes with a twist: She wants landowners to embrace the nation’s bedrock environmental law. Byfield, the executive director of American Stewards of Liberty — and daughter of the late E. Wayne Hage, an icon of the Sagebrush Rebellion II movement — sees the National Environmental Policy Act as a cudgel in her campaign to upend the “America the Beautiful” program. “My father would probably roll in his grave if he heard me ever say that I actually kind of like NEPA,” Byfield mused Friday, in closing remarks at the “Stop 30×30” summit her group held last week. “Because we know how to use it against the environmentalists, as well, and that’s exactly what we’re planning to do.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: In fight against Biden’s conservation plan, opponents bet on NEPA
White House Council on Environmental Quality finalizes first phase of NEPA regulation revisions
“The White House Council on Environmental Quality has reversed three key Trump administration changes that govern how federal agencies implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The rule, published on April 20, 2022, finalizes what the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) called “Phase One” of their effort to review and revise the Trump administration’s July 2020 overhaul of the NEPA regulations, and follows a proposed rule that CEQ issued for public comments last fall. The final rule, which takes effect May 20, 2022, reverses the following ... ” Read more from Best Best & Krieger here: White House Council on Environmental Quality finalizes first phase of NEPA regulation revisions
Microplastics are in our bodies. How much do they harm us?
“As plastic waste proliferates around the world, an essential question remains unanswered: What harm, if any, does it cause to human health? This spring, scientists from the Netherlands and the U.K. announced they had found tiny plastic particles in living humans, in two places where they hadn’t been seen before: deep inside the lungs of surgical patients, and in the blood of anonymous donors. Neither of the two studies answered the question of possible harm. But together they signaled a shift in the focus of concern about the plastics toward the cloud of airborne dust particles we live in, some of them so small they can penetrate deep inside the body and even inside cells, in ways that larger microplastics can’t. … ” Continue reading at National Geographic (free registration required): Microplastics are in our bodies. How much do they harm us?
Pathogens can hitch a ride on plastic to reach the sea
“Microplastics are a pathway for pathogens on land to reach the ocean, with likely consequences for human and wildlife health, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the first to connect microplastics in the ocean with land-based pathogens. It found that microplastics can make it easier for disease-causing pathogens to concentrate in plastic-contaminated areas of the ocean. The pathogens studied — Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium (Crypto) and Giardia — can infect both humans and animals. They are recognized by the World Health Organization as underestimated causes of illness from shellfish consumption and are found throughout the ocean. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Pathogens can hitch a ride on plastic to reach the sea
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Staff Workshop re: Making Conservation a California Way of Life: How forthcoming efficiency standards may impact local wastewater management
NOTICE: Public Workshops, Comment Period, and Board Consideration —Proposition 68 Groundwater – Drinking Water Treatment Operations and Maintenance Funding Program Guidelines
