In California water news today …
Why the Great American Lawn is terrible for the West’s water crisis
“As California plunges even deeper into its multiyear megadrought after an alarmingly dry winter, officials are eyeing what experts say is one of the leading culprits in the crisis: water-guzzling grass lawns. Residents and businesses in the counties around Los Angeles were told this week that they would need to limit outdoor water use to one day a week starting June 1. It’s the first time water officials have implemented such a strict rule. “This is a crisis. This is unprecedented,” said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “We have never done anything like this before and because we haven’t seen this situation happen like this before.” ... ” Read more from KESQ here: Why the Great American Lawn is terrible for the West’s water crisis
New water restrictions in California show just how bad the Western drought is
“In the face of a deepening drought and ongoing water shortages, southern Californians will soon experience the most severe water restrictions ever applied in the region. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted unanimously on Tuesday to implement a new framework that would limit water use for about 6 million southern Californians. As of June 1, dozens of cities and districts will need to limit residents’ outdoor watering to once a week or reduce total water use below a certain target. Water providers must draft plans to police their customers and could face fines of up to $2,000 per acre-foot of water, about 325,850 gallons, in excess of monthly allocation limits. … Households will still be allowed to use 1,646 gallons per day, which is far above the average household usage of about 200 gallons daily. … ” Read more from Popular Science here: New water restrictions in California show just how bad the Western drought is
SEE ALSO: Letters to the Editor: The drought isn’t temporary. Make water cutbacks permanent, from the LA Times
Why some SoCal neighborhoods face dire water cuts while others escape restrictions
“Major water restrictions are about to take effect in areas ranging from Rancho Cucamonga to Thousand Oaks, and Baldwin Park to North Hollywood. But many nearby areas will escape the mandatory one-day-a-week watering limits — among them Santa Monica, Long Beach, Torrance and Beverly Hills. Why? The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has targeted these first-ever water restrictions for areas that rely heavily or entirely on the State Water Project — a Northern California water supply that officials say faces a real risk of running dry. Areas that receive water from the Colorado River and other sources will be spared — at least for now. It’s a strategy whose wisdom has divided experts. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Why some SoCal neighborhoods face dire water cuts while others escape restrictions
As some cities face water restrictions, a desalination debate grows
“Even as the northern third of the MWD’s vast service area faces unprecedented water restrictions, a different sort of struggle is underway in Orange County, where a company’s plan to build a large desalination plant is to face a critical vote next month before the California Coastal Commission. This week, the agency’s staff recommended that the commission reject the proposed project in Huntington Beach, writing that Poseidon Water’s project “raises significant and complex coastal protection policy issues.” Concerns included flood risks based on updated projections of sea-level rise, the plant’s location in an industrial area with a history of contamination problems, and higher costs for water that would probably mean “significant burdens” for low-income communities. … ” Read the full article at the LA Times here: As some cities face water restrictions, a desalination debate grows
Southern California gets drastic water cutbacks amid drought. What’s next for Sacramento?
“What might this mean for Sacramento? California’s urban water shortage rules California’s urban water suppliers are required under state law to maintain a water shortage contingency plan. Most, including the city of Sacramento and the Sacramento County Water Agency, follow a standard framework laid out by the state Department of Water Resources. That standard, last revised in 2020, includes six shortage levels in which restrictions are gradually increased. Levels 1 through 5 correspond with targets of limiting water usage by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%, respectively. Level 6 calls for saving more than 50%. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Southern California gets drastic water cutbacks amid drought. What’s next for Sacramento?
California salmon are swimming in a cool mountain creek for first time in a century, after a little help from humans
“For 100 years, no salmon have made it to their historic habitat in a tributary of the Sacramento River due to dams on its lower reaches. Now, with the river’s population of winter-run chinook dwindling to crisis levels due the worsening drought, wildlife managers are taking unprecedented action to save them. Last week, for the first time, they began trucking adult fish, two or three at a time, to the upper reaches of Battle Creek at the border of Tehama and Shasta counties, which was part of the population’s historic habitat before the flow was dammed. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California salmon are swimming in a cool mountain creek for first time in a century, after a little help from humans
How California is frantically trying to protect endangered salmon from extinction in drought
“Critically endangered adult salmon are again swimming above a century-old dam in this remote corner of far Northern California in the shadow of the Mount Lassen volcano. But this isn’t a habitat-restoration success story — at least not yet. For the past two weeks, state and federal fisheries managers have begun hauling the winter-run Chinook nearly 50 miles by truck from the dangerously warming Sacramento River to a stretch of the north fork of Battle Creek and releasing them, a handful at a time, into the creek’s icy waters. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: How California is frantically trying to protect endangered salmon from extinction in drought
The ethics and economics of trading water futures
“Ninety percent of North America’s surface freshwater is in the Great Lakes. So every now and then, the Great Lakes are proposed as a solution to drought in the American West. There’s been speculation about piping water to Idaho, Phoenix or Las Vegas. But some say the more immediate danger is commodifying water, including trading water on a futures market. “I think water is a human right, and I don’t think we should be speculating or trading in human rights,” said Dave Dempsey, author of “Great Lakes for Sale.” Dempsey has more than 35 years of experience as an environmental policy analyst, working for the Michigan Environmental Council, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the International Joint Commission. … ” Read more from Interlochen Public Radio here: The ethics and economics of trading water futures
How recycled wastewater could help combat dwindling supplies amid CA’s drought
“We recycle cans, bottles, paper and some plastics. Yet most of our wastewater goes down the drain where it’s discharged into the bay or the ocean. California hasn’t developed regulations yet to allow the use of recycled water for drinking, but the South Bay’s water wholesaler and several cities see it as a critical step as a result of persistent drought and dwindling water supplies. “As long as people are flushing, we continue to create more water. That’s very important. We’re hoping, we’re planning on making sure that it’s about 10% of our water supply in the next few years,” says Valley Water Board director Tony Estremera. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: How recycled wastewater could help combat dwindling supplies amid CA’s drought
California sunshine could be key to combating drought
“Some ideas are so satisfying that you wonder how they haven’t been done before. Solar canals, which will get their first U.S. pilot later this year in California, fit that mold. Western states are crisscrossed by thousands of miles of irrigation canals, some as wide as 150 feet, others just 10 feet across. By covering those channels with solar panels, researchers say, we could produce renewable energy without taking up precious land. At the same time, the added shade could prevent billions of gallons of water loss through evaporation. “I’ve received several emails from people saying, ‘Hey, that was my idea ten years ago! But nobody wanted to do it,’” Roger Bales, the engineer leading the pilot, says with a laugh. … ” Read more from Time Magazine here: California sunshine could be key to combating drought
Hurtado’s ag, water bills advance in Senate
“Two bills authored by Democratic State Senator Melissa Hurtado, who represents the 14th district that includes Porterville, advanced in the Senate on Wednesday. SB 1219, Hurtado’s State Water Resiliency and Modernization Act passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Hurtado’s bill to prevent foreign purchases of agricultural property, SB 1064, the Food and Farm Security Act also passed the Senate Agricultural Committee 4-0. “California is experiencing a water shortage, one that touches on all aspects of our life,” said Hurtado, commenting on SB 1219. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Hurtado’s ag, water bills advance in Senate
Senate leadership proposes $1.5 billion for safe drinking water
“Water advocates today expressed optimism upon the release of the California Senate budget plan. A $1.5B package for drinking water has been proposed by the Senate as part of a historic $18 billion dollar climate proposal. As the climate crisis, inflation, and drought make accessing safe and affordable water more out of reach for families across the state, this commitment from the Senate, if appropriately allocated and implemented, is exactly what we need at this moment. While we celebrate this funding proposal, it must be directed to benefit households throughout the state who cannot afford safe drinking water. “As advocates for frontline communities facing the brunt of drought, climate change, and the overall affordability crisis, we thank pro tem Atkins, Senator Skinner, and the Budget Committee for their work to prioritize drinking water needs,” said Kyle Jones, Policy & Legal Director with Community Water Center. “We look forward to working with everyone to ensure these funds provide the greatest benefit and prioritizes low-income communities of color.” … ” Read more from the Community Water Center here: Senate leadership proposes $1.5 billion for safe drinking water
$1,000 a month for farmworkers? Proposed payments aim to help amid drought
“A Democratic 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 Senator 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 Civil Eats here: $1,000 a month for farmworkers? Proposed payments aim to help amid drought
DWR awards $22 million to address drought impacts and support small communities statewide
“Following the driest three-month stretch in the state’s recorded history and with warmer months ahead, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its seventh round of grant awards for local assistance through the Small Community Drought Relief program. In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, DWR has selected 17 projects located in Plumas, Napa, Butte, Glenn, Tulare, Humboldt, Fresno, Kern, Marin, Mendocino, and Yolo counties to receive funding for projects that will help strengthen drought resiliency. Of the 17 projects, 14 will directly support disadvantaged communities, including three Tribes, and will replace aging infrastructure, increase water storage, and improve drinking water quality and supply. … ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR awards $22 million to address drought impacts and support small communities statewide
From supercomputers to symbiotes, NASA in Silicon Valley invests in the earth
“NASA’s Student Airborne Science Activation program (SaSa) is on a mission to broaden the ethnic and racial diversity of researchers in the Earth sciences. SaSa is designed for first- and second-year undergraduates enrolled at Minority-Serving Institutions to participate in an authentic NASA field research campaign. The program’s name is an acronym, but has a double meaning. In Kiswahili (the language also known as Swahili), the word “sasa” means “now.” It was adopted by the program to convey the urgency of their mission to mentor, train, and inspire students from historically underrepresented groups in the geosciences. This summer, SaSa’s first 25 participants will spend eight weeks gaining hands-on experience in all components of a scientific research campaign. That includes flying aboard the NASA P-3 research aircraft to collect measurements of land, ocean, and atmospheric phenomena. The program also includes mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities to prepare these students to enter STEM graduate programs – those in science, technology, engineering, and math – and, later, NASA and research careers. … ” Read more from NASA here: From supercomputers to symbiotes, NASA in Silicon Valley invests in the earth
American experience: Flood in the desert
“Just before midnight on March 12, 1928, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles, one of the biggest dams in the country blew apart, releasing a wall of water 20 stories high. Ten thousand people lived downstream. The St. Francis Dam disaster not only destroyed hundreds of lives and millions of dollars’ worth of property; it also washed away the reputation of William Mulholland, the father of modern Los Angeles, and jeopardized larger plans to transform the West. A self-taught engineer, the 72-year-old Mulholland had launched the city’s remarkable growth by building both an aqueduct to pipe water 233 miles from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the St. Francis Dam, to hold a full year’s supply of water for Los Angeles. Now Mulholland was promoting an immense new project: the Hoover Dam. … ” Read more from KPBS here: American experience: Flood in the desert
Newsom reveals new plan to tackle California heat waves
“As California faces rising temperatures and more frequent deadly heatwaves, Governor Gavin Newsom released an Extreme Heat Action Plan on Thursday, a year after passing an $800 million budget for heat resilience. Now, $300 million is allocated for the action plan. This 65-page plan covers a variety of communities, businesses and environments, from California’s agriculture laborers to using cooling, porous building materials. Of course, weather protections aren’t the only things covered; energy efficiency and sustainable building practices are the backbones of the EHAP. One piece of this comprehensive plan is the Low-Income Weatherization Project — a program that offers solar panels and energy-efficient upgrades at no cost to the homeowner. There are a variety of similar initiatives ranging from HVAC repairs to energy surveys and retrofits for schools and other public agencies. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Newsom reveals new plan to tackle California heat waves
California releases extreme heat action plan to protect communities from rising temperatures
“Amid intensifying climate impacts, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that the state has released an Extreme Heat Action Plan outlining a strategic and comprehensive set of state actions to adapt and strengthen resilience to extreme heat. The announcement comes on the heels of a heat wave earlier this month in Long Beach that reached a high of 101°F, nine degrees hotter than the record high in April 2014. “Extreme heat driven by climate change endangers the lives and livelihoods of Californians in every corner of our state, and threatens our vital natural systems,” said Governor Newsom. “The Extreme Heat Action Plan is a critical part of California’s commitment to strengthening community resilience and will guide partnerships and investments in equitable solutions to protect all Californians.” … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor here: California releases extreme heat action plan to protect communities from rising temperatures
California warming more than U.S. average as co2 climbs
“We have all heard it’s warming because of climate change but by how much? Take a look at this map and you’ll see temperatures have warmed anywhere from 1.5 degrees to over 4 degrees nationally. What about the Bay Area? The data below shows San Francisco has warmed 2.9 degrees since 1970 and 1.7 degrees in San Jose. California as a whole has warmed 2.9 degrees, which is more than the national average of 2.6 degrees. ... ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: California warming more than U.S. average as co2 climbs
In novel move, California to investigate oil companies over plastic recycling claims
“California will investigate oil and chemical companies over what state officials described as the industry’s role in fueling the global plastic pollution crisis, including allegations that they have deliberately misled consumers to believe plastic products were recyclable when they were not. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the investigation — the first of its kind in the U.S. — Thursday morning during a news conference at a youth community center along an often-littered stretch of beach in Los Angeles. He said the plastics industry has falsely claimed that its products can be recycled when the vast majority of plastic actually isn’t reusable and typically winds up in landfills or pollutes the ocean and other waterways. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: In novel move, California to investigate oil companies over plastic recycling claims
In commentary today …
Water rights, and wrongs, in California
Kate Poole, Senior Director of the Water Division at NRDC writes, “California’s water laws and history are a fascinating reflection of the values of our State. On the one hand, we have some of the most progressive, far-reaching laws on the books – laws that direct that water be used for the public good and that how we use our water resources can and should change over time to reflect changing public values. On the other hand, it often seems that our decisionmakers are utterly captive to entrenched, powerful interests that hoard water for private gain and deprive most of us of the value of this public resource, despite overwhelming public support for prioritizing the use of water to provide clean drinking water for all and to protect public resources such as healthy rivers and fisheries. It’s time that California’s water management caught up with current realities and lived up to the laws on the books. … ” Read more from the NRDC here: Water rights, and wrongs, in California
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Siskiyou County’s sheriff is suddenly interested in policing ‘environmental crimes‘
“Last summer, Siskiyou County’s recently appointed sheriff, Jeremiah LaRue, released a video on YouTube to explain two controversial new county groundwater laws. The drought was severe that year, he said, and the “wasteful extraction” of water for illegal cannabis cultivation was making it worse. LaRue appeared in front of a green-screen projection of iconic Mount Shasta, like a news anchor, while stock photos of cannabis plants, armed men and helicopters punctuated his talking points. The new water laws would ban the delivery of groundwater to cannabis farms, in what LaRue described as the most effective strategy to stop them from “increasing violent crime, draining our water and polluting our environment.” The environmentalist rhetoric and talk of water policy signaled a shift in how LaRue’s department policed the illicit cannabis industry. Increasingly responsible for the county’s land use and water, LaRue told High Country News that he needed better “tools” — criminal penalties — to deal with “environmental crimes.” ... ” Continue reading at High Country News here: Siskiyou County’s sheriff is suddenly interested in policing ‘environmental crimes
Fish farm poised for county Planco consideration
“Humboldt County’s Planning Commission will soon be holding hearings on the Nordic Aquafarms fish farm project and the company’s managers say they’ve gone beyond what it takes to address potential impacts. “I’m not going to discount any concerns but I think it’s important to put things in perspective,” Marianne Ness of Nordic told commissioners at their April 21 meeting. She said the fish farm’s wastewater discharge will be “highly treated,” with 99 percent removal of nutrients and more than 90 percent removal of nitrogen. The aquaculture facility’s discharge volume – a maximum of 12 million gallons a day – has been noted by those concerned about water quality impacts. But Ness compared it to the outflow of the Mad River, which averages 714 million gallons per day. ... ” Read more from the Mad River Union here: Fish farm poised for county Planco consideration
Mendocino County column: Water, wells & water hauling
Columnist Jim Shields writes, “The Board of Supervisors last year created a body called the Ad Hoc Drought Committee overseen by Supes John Haschak and Glenn McGourty. This committee is looking at various issues related to groundwater including existing wells, drilling new wells, water hauling, and reviving the County Water Agency that was tombstoned a decade ago. The Water Agency issue is actually a separate committee endeavor and process, and we haven’t held a meeting yet. Which is fine with me because Mendocino County does not own a single water right to a single drop of water in this county. So by my reckoning, while a functioning Water Agency may be worthwhile to re-establish, we have larger fish to fry at this time. … ” Read the full column at the Anderson Valley Advertiser here: Water, wells & water hauling
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Invasive species removal resumes in Tallac, Taylor creeks marsh
“Project work to eradicate invasive plants has resumed at Taylor Creek and Tallac Creek marsh in South Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, began the project in November by removing vegetation from the marsh in preparation to install underwater bottom barriers in the marshes adjacent to Baldwin and Kiva beaches this spring, TRPA said when the project began. Bottom barriers are mats laid underwater to deprive weeds of sunlight they need to grow. The barriers help control and eradicate invasive plant species such as Eurasian Watermilfoil and will be in place through 2025. ... ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Invasive species removal resumes in Tallac, Taylor creeks marsh
Beyond the clarity: Celebrating unique biology beneath Tahoe’s waters
“In the 1800s, prior to big changes from human development, Lake Tahoe’s waters supported a biological community shaped by the lake’s geologic history and deep, nutrient-poor waters. Lake Lahontan, which flooded much of the western United States approximately 10,000 years ago, left behind many species in Lake Tahoe that are also found in the waters of the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. As a result, Lake Tahoe supports many native (found in other places) and fewer, but very important, endemic (only found in one place on the globe) organisms. The clear, cold water of Lake Tahoe hosts many native and endemic organisms. Historically, the lake and its streams supported North America’s largest trout, the Lahontan Cutthroat, which became extirpated (locally extinct) from the basin by the late 1930s. One of the more unique organisms is the wingless Tahoe Stonefly which spends its entire life cycle in the lake, starting with a near live birth. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Beyond the clarity: Celebrating unique biology beneath Tahoe’s waters
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Cal Water interested in returning to Chico sewer discussions
“Cal Water and the city of Chico will likely be returning to discussions on the city’s sewer system, possibly leading to future discussions of a purchase. The Chico Finance Committee heard a presentation from the water company Wednesday exploring different options for the local water treatment plant and pipe system which prompted the committee to send the discussions to the Chico City Council at a later date. Councilor Sean Morgan, who sits on the finance committee, said the company is interested in buying the water treatment plant as well as all assets affiliated with it. The assets would include all piping and sewage lines throughout Chico. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Cal Water interested in returning to Chico sewer discussions
Mandatory 20% water conservation stage to be implemented in Yuba City
“Yuba City says, starting June 1, residents will be put on a mandatory 20% water conservation stage and asked to use less water. “The transition and outreach will begin May 1, 2022, and enforcement will begin June 1, 2022,” the city said in a news release. “This is a direct response to the current water supply shortage occurring with the ongoing drought and the recent issuance of a state executive order calling for 20% water conservation compared to 2020 usage.” … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Mandatory 20% water conservation stage to be implemented in Yuba City
How the Water Forum will use fish ear bones to help evaluate flow management
“The Water Forum is using the ear bones of fish to learn insight into how different water release patterns and wetter vs. dryer years affect survival of different cohorts of juvenile salmonids. Ear bones, you ask? Yes, ear bones. Specifically, the bones scientists know as the “otolith,” oval-shaped bones in the inner ear that help fish sense gravity and movement. These bones record the life history of fish much like the growth rings in a tree trunk, except in miniature form: Most otolith bones are no more than 5 millimeters in size. Otoliths are extraordinarily valuable because they contain daily growth rings. … ” Continue reading from the Water Forum here: How the Water Forum will use fish ear bones to help evaluate flow management
What are Sacramento County’s current water restrictions? What to know as drought drags on
“California is no stranger to water restrictions in attempt to fix its statewide drought. According to the California Department of Water Resources, drought is dangerous and its list of affects are extensive: wildfires, drinking water shortage, cost to homeowners, loss of landscaping, tree mortality and more. In response to the state’s worsening drought, on Tuesday the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California slashed water use. Now outdoor watering is limited to twice a week for roughly six million Southern California residents. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: What are Sacramento County’s current water restrictions? What to know as drought drags on
BAY AREA
Bay Area storms get wetter in a warming world
“The December 2014 North American Storm Complex was a powerful winter storm, referred to by some as California’s “Storm of the Decade.” Fueled by an atmospheric river originating over the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean, the storm dropped 8 inches of rainfall in 24 hours, sported wind gusts of 139 miles per hour, and left 150,000 households without power across the San Francisco Bay Area. Writing in Weather and Climate Extremes this week, researchers described the potential impacts of climate change on extreme storms in the San Francisco Bay area, among them the December 2014 North American Storm Complex. Re-simulating five of the most powerful storms that have hit the area, they determined that under future conditions some of these extreme events would deliver 26-37% more rain, even more than is predicted simply by accounting for air’s ability to carry more water in warmer conditions. … ” Read more from Science Daily here: Bay Area storms get wetter in a warming world
Water capped for parts of Contra Costa, Alameda counties
“The board of the East Bay Municipal Utility District, or EBMUD, voted 6-1 on Tuesday to seek a 10% reduction in water use, the first restriction since 2016. According to EBMUD board member John Coleman, this restriction will affect 1.4 million residents in parts of both Contra Costa and Alameda counties, including the city of Berkeley. Coleman added that the mandate comes after the driest January to March on record. The district’s goal is to have an adequate and reliable water supply for its customers for the upcoming year. “Two years into COVID, dealing with ‘one more crisis’ isn’t an easy thing to ask but we have no choice,” said Berkeley City Councilmember Sophie Hahn in an email. “EBMUD is doing the right thing to direct us to conserve water.” … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Water capped for parts of Contra Costa, Alameda counties
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin Asparagus Festival to source from last commercial Delta asparagus grower
“Asparagus in San Joaquin County used to grow abundantly. The “delta queen” variety is known for its thicker stems and sweeter taste, compared to imported asparagus. However, the crop has been priced out of the delta due to rising labor costs and other factors, Bruce Blodgett with the San Joaquin Farm Bureau said. “It’s changed significantly over the years. Even in the last 10 years it’s just really, really declined. Right now, we’re just talking about a couple of hundred acres now,” Blodgett said. … ” Read more from KCRA here: San Joaquin Asparagus Festival to source from last commercial Delta asparagus grower
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Sweeping water restrictions will change life in Southern California: A guide
“Brown lawns. Concerns about dying tree. Big fines. Drought and climate change are forcing unprecedented water restrictions in parts of Southern California and millions of residents are wondering what happens now. Here is a guide to what we know. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Water District ordered outdoor water usage be restricted to just one day a week for about 6 million people in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties. The restrictions will take effect June 1 and will apply to areas that depend on water from the drought-ravaged State Water Project. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Sweeping water restrictions will change life in Southern California: A guide
California ESA listing of Southern California steelhead advances
“The science and data are clear. Southern California steelhead are on the brink of extinction. Southern steelhead populations have been decimated at the southern end of their native range, plummeting from tens of thousands to a few hundred remaining adults due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation from urbanization. On April 21, an important milestone was achieved to prevent the irreversible loss of this iconic Southern California fish species. The California Fish and Game Commission unanimously voted that the state ESA listing of Southern steelhead may be warranted. This decision means that further action will be taken on CalTrout’s petition to list Southern California steelhead as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: California ESA listing of Southern California steelhead advances
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coachella Valley: Engineer’s Report shows improved groundwater levels, suggests RAC increases
“Groundwater levels increased in most of the CVWD service area since 2009, according to a report presented to the Board of Directors on April 26. The 2022-2023 Engineer’s Report summarizes the condition of groundwater supplies, need for replenishment and replenishment assessment charges (RACs). The West Whitewater River Subbasin showed elevation increases up to 100 feet. East Whitewater River Subbasin long-term changes reached the 80-foot level. The Mission Creek Subbasin records changes up to 20 feet. “It all goes to show that our replenishment efforts are working,” said Board President John Powell Jr. … ” Continue reading at the Coachella Valley Water District here: Coachella Valley: Engineer’s Report shows improved groundwater levels, suggests RAC increases
Ash Meadows is the Galapagos of the Mojave Desert
“Despite being located in the hottest and driest corner of the United States, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is home to the second greatest concentration of endemic species in North America. In just under 24,000 acres live 26 species found nowhere else on Earth. That’s because approximately 10,000 years ago, as the climate warmed, aquatic species survived by seeking refuge in receding and fragmenting wetlands. Isolated for millennia, the survivors evolved into new species in separated “islands of water” scattered across a sea of desert. Nearly all of Ash Meadows’ endemic species live in or around its 50 springs and seeps. Within Ash Meadows’ springs and spring outflows live two varieties of charismatic pupfish, a speckled dace species, ten spring snail species, two water bug species, and a rifle beetle. The surrounding alkali soils and proximity to groundwater provide habitat for nine endemic wildflowers and a multitude of other rare ones. … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service here: Ash Meadows is the Galapagos of the Mojave Desert
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Along the Colorado River …
Arizona approves key environmental permit for uranium mine near Grand Canyon
“The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued an aquifer protection plan permit to Pinyon Plain Mine on Thursday, putting the mine’s operators a step closer to starting uranium extraction. The mine, about 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim in the Kaibab National Forest, is owned by Energy Fuels Resources, a company incorporated in Canada with corporate offices in Colorado. It has been opposed by environmentalists and tribes, particularly the Havasupai Tribe, some of whose members live in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon and have long feared that mining would contaminate their sole source of water. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Arizona approves key environmental permit for uranium mine near Grand Canyon
Colorado, San Pedro make annual list of ‘most endangered’ U.S. rivers
“Two Arizona rivers landed on an annual list of the top 10 “most endangered” rivers in the U.S. last week, including the drought-ravaged Colorado in the No. 1 spot. The San Pedro River in southern Arizona made eighth place on the list because of groundwater pumping that has caused once-free-flowing sections of the river to dry up, said American Rivers, the group that released the report. It said the Colorado was already “over-tapped” by demands from farms, businesses and homes, before the current megadrought that is “seriously impacting the environment and the economy from the headwaters to the sea.” The report said Colorado provides drinking water for 40 million people and waters 5 million acres of farmland across seven states. ... ” Read more from IndianZ here: Colorado, San Pedro make annual list of ‘most endangered’ U.S. rivers
Lake Powell is in crisis – A conversation with Colorado River reporter Alex Hager
“Lake Powell is in crisis. So reports KUNC’s Alex Hager, who covers the Colorado River – the most important water body for 40 million people across the Southwest. He says the nation’s second largest reservoir is strained by more than two decades of drought. Just last month, water in Lake Powell dipped below its target elevation. Hager joins us in conversation to discuss region-wide implications.” Listen to podcast or read transcript from KSUT here: Lake Powell is in crisis – A conversation with Colorado River reporter Alex Hager
In national water news today …
NASA scientist discovers new means to measure snow depth from space
“A NASA scientist is adding a new dimension to the climate-observing powers of a satellite instrument whose main mission is to measure the height of Earth’s ice sheets and sea ice. And the inspiration for this new method comes from how ants walk around their colonies. Using a concept adapted from the mathematics and biology communities, Yongxiang Hu of NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, developed a method to directly measure snow depth using lidar measurements from the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2). Lidar uses pulses of laser light to make measurements, similar to how sonar uses sound. Hu worked with other scientists at NASA, the University of Arizona, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Ball Aerospace. Snow depth is an important measurement in understanding climate, weather, and Earth’s water cycle, but there are limits to current measurement methods. … ” Read more from NASA here: NASA scientist discovers new means to measure snow depth from space
Watch: 7 TV meteorologists discuss their coverage of climate change and weather
“Time was – and not so long ago, it seems – you might have had trouble rounding-up a half-dozen broadcast meteorologists to speak openly about how they address climate change as part of their weather forecasting. That was then. This is now: Independent videographer Peter Sinclair, in his regular “This Is Not Cool” video for Yale Climate Connections, chats with seven broadcast mets across the country. They weigh in on how climate change influences weather in their markets and about how they, in turn, inform their audiences, sometimes on air and sometimes through local presentations and social media. … ” Watch video from Yale Climate Connections here: Watch: 7 TV meteorologists discuss their coverage of climate change and weather
EPA updates water pollution discharge permitting to cut PFAS
“The EPA is developing new water quality criteria for PFAS to protect aquatic life while updating its pollution discharge permitting to address the “forever chemicals,” the agency announced Thursday. Those measures—in addition to a new testing method that will help the agency detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water—advance the Environmental Protection Agency’s strategy announced last October to cut down on PFAS, the agency said. The EPA is using “all available tools to address PFAS contamination,” Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. “Today’s actions help protect the health of all Americans as we deliver on our commitment to research, restrict, and remediate PFAS.” … ” Read more from Bloomberg News here: EPA updates water pollution discharge permitting to cut PFAS
EPA delivers on three water commitments in the agency’s PFAS strategic roadmap
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing three actions to protect communities and the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in our nation’s waters. The actions announced today advance progress under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Plan to Combat PFAS Pollution Exit EPA website by improving methods to detect PFAS in water, reducing PFAS discharges into our nation’s waters, and protecting fish and aquatic ecosystems from PFAS. These efforts complement the historic investment of $10 billion to address PFAS and emerging contaminants secured under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “EPA is using all available tools to address PFAS contamination as part of a broader, whole of government effort to protect communities across the country from these chemicals,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This is why we put a Strategic Roadmap in place, and why President Biden fought for billions in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to tackle this challenge. Today’s actions help protect the health of all Americans as we deliver on our commitment to research, restrict, and remediate PFAS.” … ” Read more from the EPA here: EPA delivers on three water commitments in the agency’s PFAS strategic roadmap
National water and climate report …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20220428Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
BULLETIN 120 Forecast Update – April 26, 2022
