In California water news this weekend …
Newsom: Desalination project should be approved — “We need more damn tools in the toolkit”
“Citing California’s worsening drought conditions, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday made a powerful new push for a controversial $1.4 billion desalination plant on the state’s coastline. The proposed oceanfront facility in Huntington Beach has been under debate for more than 20 years, and its fate could set a course for other desalination plants on the state’s coast. The California Coastal Commission is scheduled to take a final vote on the project in two weeks. “We need more tools in the damn tool kit,” Newsom said during a meeting with the Bay Area News Group editorial board when asked about the project. “We are as dumb as we want to be. What more evidence do you need that you need to have more tools in the tool kit than what we’ve experienced? Seven out of the last 10 years have been severe drought.” ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Newsom: Desalination project should be approved — “We need more damn tools in the toolkit” | Read via Denver Gazette
Los Osos and Cambria must halt new development due to lack of water, state agency says
“The California Coastal Commission wants San Luis Obispo County to immediately halt all new water-using development, including housing, in Los Osos and Cambria. That’s according to two letters written by Central Coast District Director Dan Carl and sent to the county Planning and Building Department on April 19. The Coastal Commission also sent a letter on the same day to the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) notifying that it had violated the California Coastal Act over more than three decades due to its water extractions from wells in the San Simeon and Santa Rosa creek aquifers, and requests the locality retract its water service agreements at several properties. ... ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: These SLO County towns must halt new development due to lack of water, state agency says | Read via Yahoo News
Final Sierra snow survey of the year comes up dry
“The volatile water year of 2022 ended with a bust. Epic, record-setting storms started off the year giving a big lead to rain and snowfall numbers. The conditions were on pace to help dig California out of two years of drought. Then record dry conditions set in January through March. This put the state back on track to head deeper into drought. The California Department of Water Resources conducted the final snow survey of the 2022 water year at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, April 29 and found no snow. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Final Sierra snow survey of the year comes up dry
What La Niña means for California this summer
“La Niña has been with us all year, and it’s not showing any sign of leaving soon. The climate pattern is favored to continue through the summer, according to an updated outlook released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. There’s a 59% chance will stick around through August, and the odds are about even that it will continue past August into the fall (NOAA is giving it a 50-55% chance right now). La Niña – and its opposite, El Niño – are characterized by the temperature of the Pacific Ocean. But they have major impacts on the weather we experience on land. … ” Read more from Fox News here: What La Niña means for California this summer
La Niña could enter rare third straight year. Here’s what that means.
“Meteorologists are monitoring the potential for a “triple-dip La Niña,” an unusual resurgence of cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific. While such a phenomenon might seem remote, La Niña plays an enormous role in our weather stateside. In addition to helping juice up tornado season in the spring, La Niña has been known to supercharge Atlantic hurricane season when it sticks around into the summer and fall. La Niña is the opposite of El Niño, which are both sides of the coin that make up ENSO, or the El Niño Southern Oscillation. El Niño represents ENSO’s positive “warm” phase, while La Niña is the opposite. The effects of the different phases are wide-reaching and significant, with implications on the weather experienced all across the globe. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: La Niña could enter rare third straight year. Here’s what that means.
To survive drought, parts of SoCal must cut water use by 35%. The new limit: 80 gallons a day
“When the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California this week unveiled its strictest-ever water restrictions for about 6 million residents, it did so with an urgent goal in mind: a 35% reduction in water consumption, equating to an allocation of about 80 gallons per person per day. Officials said that’s the number needed to conserve critical supplies for health and safety amid worsening drought — and to prevent a full outdoor watering ban as soon as September. Currently, the average potable water use across the MWD’s service area — including residential, commercial and industrial water use — amounts to 125 gallons per person per day. “The ballpark figure we’re looking at is getting to the consumption of about 80 gallons per person per day,” said Adel Hagekhalil, the district’s general manager. “We’re trying to preserve everything we can.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: To survive drought, parts of SoCal must cut water use by 35%. The new limit: 80 gallons a day | Read via Yahoo News
New government maps show nearly all of the West is in drought and it’s not even summer yet: “This is unprecedented”
“In an unprecedented move, Southern California officials declared a water shortage emergency and asked roughly 6 million residents to limit all outdoor watering to just once a week. “We knew climate change would stress our water supplies and we’ve been preparing for it but we did not know it would happen this fast,” said Gloria Gray, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors. The latest government maps show nearly all of the West is in drought, and 95% of California is suffering severe or extreme drought. ... ” Read more from CBS News here: New government maps show nearly all of the West is in drought and it’s not even summer yet: “This is unprecedented”
Here’s a look at California’s drought map — and how it compares to this time last year
“Although Thursday’s drought monitor report shows a dry California, KCRA 3 meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn says it’s not quite as dry as it was this time last year. April has seen some spring rain and snow, but that still hasn’t helped to reach normal levels for the month. The drought monitor map shows areas of extreme drought stretching from the northern mountains of California, all the way down to the Valley and into the surrounding foothills. … ” Read more from KCRA here: Here’s a look at California’s drought map — and how it compares to this time last year
Cannabis: A look at the legal and illegal sides of California’s cannabis industry
“Recreational cannabis sales began in January 2018, and while many sellers have played by the rules, the illegal growth and sale of the plant continue to undermine those following the rules. State license issuance began in 2018, but data isn’t available for that initial year because temporary licenses were issued. Data sets begin in 2019, when 12-month annual and provisional licenses began to be issued, using the online licensing systems. Licenses remain active for 12 months, at which point they can be renewed for an additional 12 months. This list displays counts of when the license was first issued but not each time it was renewed. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Cannabis: A look at the legal and illegal sides of California’s cannabis industry
Government spending on stormwater management in California
“Stormwater infrastructure in cities is highly visible and serves to mitigate flooding and reduce pollution that reaches local waterbodies. Being so visible, it might be reasonable to assume that stormwater is adequately funded both in infrastructure and water quality management. Yet, stormwater infrastructure and water quality improvement are notoriously difficult to fund. Paying for stormwater quality improvements in California has been a multi-decade challenge due to the industry’s relatively recent emergence during a time of fiscal constraints on local governments. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog here: Government spending on stormwater management in California
Farmers confused over new well drilling regulations
“Farmers that are thinking of submitting a drilling permit to their local permitting agency for a new well are now having to go through an extra step before approval. Farmers in the Central Valley are finding it more difficult to drill for new agriculture wells under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new drilling requirements, as the permit approval process now requires local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) to determine the wells are not inconsistent with the groundwater sustainability plan for the local groundwater sustainability agency, among other criteria. … ” Read more from the Clovis Round Up here: Farmers confused over new well drilling regulations
Climate scientist says we’re not measuring the right things to predict drought
“Even after recent rain and snow, the western U.S. is facing another year of extreme drought. Water managers in Oregon and across the West will have to decide where slim resources should go. But those water managers are relying on outmoded data, says Andrew Schwartz, who manages the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory for the University of California at Berkeley. For one thing, he says, climate scientists need to spend more time looking at the ground. … ” Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting here: Climate scientist says we’re not measuring the right things to predict drought
When California’s water wars turned violent
“In September of 1904, William Mulholland, the man in charge of making sure Los Angeles had enough water, took a fateful camping trip. Together with one of the city’s former mayors, Fred Eaton, Mullholland drove northeast about 250 miles to the Owens Valley, where the Sierra Nevada mountain range stood off to the west, its gleaming snowcaps melting into streams that fed the Owens River — or to Mulholland’s eyes, what could be an abundant water supply for the distant city. In the coming years, Owens Valley residents, just then unaware of the Angelenos in their midst, would grow to deeply resent both Mulholland and what he stood for: a thirsty metropolis whose ever-increasing water needs took primacy over their own livelihood. … ” Read more from KCET here: When California’s water wars turned violent
A lidar’s-eye view of how forests are faring
“Despite their destructive power, fires are natural phenomena in many forests, where they are essential to the biomes’ long-term health. Decades of field-based studies have built the field of fire ecology and have informed nuanced views of fire as both a threat and a restorative process. However, the expense of such fieldwork has meant that relatively small portions of forests—and their relation to fire—have been studied in detail. … Today, with help from remote sensing technologies, fire ecologists are more often examining continuous forest landscapes to understand their conditions before and after fires. In particular, they are using high-resolution laser imaging measurements gathered by lidar instruments aboard planes to map conditions from the treetops to the ground. … ” Read more from EOS here: A lidar’s-eye view of how forests are faring
In commentary this weekend …
To avoid the ‘if it is yellow let it mellow’ toilet rule we need to ban new ornamental lawns
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “The canary in the proverbial coal mine is making croaking noises. The Metropolitan Water District— the mother of all water California water districts — has issued a blasphemous decree in the heart of the land of swimming pools and endless green grass. Starting June 1, some 6 million Los Angeles Basin residents will only be allowed to water outdoors one day a week. And the worst is yet to come. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: To avoid the ‘if it is yellow let it mellow’ toilet rule we need to ban new ornamental lawns
When it comes to life, water is more valuable than gold
The Simi Valley Acorn editorial board writes, “California truly is running dry and there won’t be enough water available to carry us through the entire year unless we cut back now, Adel Hagekhalil, general manager for the Metropolitan Water District, said at a news conference Wednesday after MWD officials voted to curb water use by 35%. … “This is real, this is serious, this is unprecedented,” Hagekhalil said. … Given that we live in an arid region, water conservation should already be a way of life. In addition to reducing outdoor irrigation, it’s important to be water-wise indoors by fixing leaky toilets and sinks and taking shorter showers. Water officials are not being alarmist. This is real. If we don’t act, there won’t be enough water to go around for residents and farmers. … ” Read more from the Simi Valley Acorn here: When it comes to life, water is more valuable than gold
Is Lake Powell an example of climate change danger? Not entirely
Robert E. Bakes, a former Idaho Supreme Court justice, writes, “When Hoover Dam was built near Las Vegas in the 1930s creating Lake Mead, and when Glen Canyon Dam was built in the 1950s and ’60s creating Lake Powell, the western United States had for decades been subjected to a wet weather cycle which regularly caused western rivers to flood. This cycle resulted in the building of hundreds of dams to both try and control the flooding, and run the plentiful water out onto the arid land for irrigation. … So, while the world’s climate constantly varies at different locations and times, science demonstrates that the world is getting warmer and wetter coming out of the most recent ice age — known as the Little Ice Age — beginning about 200 years ago, long before any human caused carbon dioxide buildup. Satellite photographs taken of the Earth since 1980 show that the Earth is getting greener with more vegetation. What could cause the increased vegetation? ... ” Read more from Deseret News here: Is Lake Powell an example of climate change danger? Not entirely
In people news this weekend …
San Bernardino Valley Water District Gen. Manager Daniel Cozad set to retire in May
“General Manager Daniel Cozad, credited with bringing a new spirit of collaboration among water agencies in the region during his 12 years of leadership with the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, has announced his retirement in May. Assistant General Manager Betsy Miller will succeed him as the first woman general manager in the District’s history. “Daniel is good at leading people to common ground,” said Board President Melody MacDonald. “Under his leadership, he forged new relationships, mended broken ones, and fostered a newfound sense of collaboration that pushed the long-awaited Upper Santa Ana River Wash Habitat Conservation Plan, the Groundwater Council, and many other groundbreaking innovations over the finish line.” Miller’s deep knowledge and experience in evironmental planning and organizational development make her ideal to lead the District, Cozad said. “She has been exceptionally quick to absorb the District’s priorities, culture and unique role in the region,” he said. “I have total confidence in her abilities and could not be more proud to be leaving the District in such good hands.”
Camille Touton: How mermaids in the desert launched the career of Bureau of Reclamation commissioner
“We are screen to screen – the 21st century twist on face-to-face interviews. Truth time: What led this UNLV graduate all the way up to a post requiring an appointment by the president of the United States and a confirmation by the Senate? That’s a no-brainer, she said. Mermaids. Of course. “I had a – what do they call it in the movies? – a ‘meet cute’ story with Reclamation,” said Camille Calimlim Touton, now the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. … ” Continue reading from the University of Las Vegas here: Camille Touton: How mermaids in the desert launched the career of Bureau of Reclamation commissioner
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Podcasts …
WATER TALK PODCAST: Ag in the Delta
A conversation with Dr. Michelle Leinfelder-Miles (University of California Cooperative Extension Delta Crops Resource Management Advisor) about different types of crops, soils, salinity, and water management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
INGRAINED PODCAST: Unprecedented
Many travelers heading north on Interstate 5 or Highway 99 only get a fleeting glimpse of the Sacramento Valley. However, those who know this region understand and appreciate how unique and valuable it is. The Sacramento Valley is an impressive patchwork of farms and communities, living and working in harmony with the environment. A worsening drought has led to major water cutbacks. Farmers will grow less and the communities with agriculture as their foundation will be impacted. Local officials are concerned about how lost farm production will impact their communities. “Those impacts are actually huge,” remarked Colusa County Supervisor Denise Carter, who farms with her husband, Ben.
JIVE TALKING PODCAST: Erica Gies explains why water always wins
Episode 180: Erica Gies (Twitter: @egies; www.ericagies.com) is the author of “Water Always Wins: Thriving in an age of drought and deluge.” She’s an independent reporter and National Geographic Explorer who writes about water, climate, plants, and critters for Scientific American, Nature, National Geographic, The New York Times, bioGraphic and other publications.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Truck driver dumped 2,000 gallons of ‘asphalt binder’ in California forest, CHP says
“A truck driver who law enforcement believes was driving under the influence dumped 2,000 gallons of “hot asphalt binder” in a California forest this week. Raoul Payette, Jr., 58, was driving on Highway 199 in Del Norte County Tuesday with a damaged tire, California Highway Patrol said. Near the town of Gasquet, CHP says Payette’s semi-truck drifted off the road and into a power pole, which fell onto the highway. He allegedly continued on for another mile until the trailer he was towing overturned. Officials from Six Rivers National Forest said the trailer contained 2,000 gallons of “hot asphalt binder,” which began seeping into the Smith River. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Truck driver dumped 2,000 gallons of ‘asphalt binder’ in California forest, CHP says
McLean grants benefit Eel River watershed
“Local watersheds in the Eel River Valley and Southern Humboldt County will benefit from five grants recently awarded by the McLean Foundation. Grant recipients are the Eel River Recovery Project and Friends of the Van Duzen, the Salmonid Restoration Federation, Mattole Restoration Council, Friends of the Eel River, and Friends of the Lost Coast. “It was such a great pleasure working with these different organizations throughout the grant application process and learning the many ways they are implementing projects to better our communities and our environment,” McLean Foundation grants director Denise Marshall said. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: McLean grants benefit Eel River watershed
State, local and tribal officials partner to rescue stranded Clear Lake hitch
“Lake County’s drought conditions led this week to the need to rescue hundreds of threatened native fish. Lake County Water Resources staff and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, working alongside of Robinson Rancheria and Habematolel Pomo tribal members, leapt to the rescue on Thursday when it was reported that there were Clear Lake hitch in an isolated pool in Adobe Creek near Soda Bay in Lakeport. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: State, local and tribal officials partner to rescue stranded Clear Lake hitch
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe ski resort extends season after April snow. Here’s how long the fun might last
“After more than 7 feet of snow was dumped over the Sierra in April, Palisades Tahoe will extend its ski season to Memorial Day, meaning the ski resort will operate Lake Tahoe’s longest winter season. Moving forward, the resort will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The resort also will be open for the holiday weekend, including Monday, May 30. Lifts will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., though hours could shift to 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. if the resort starts “to see significant snowmelt again.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Tahoe ski resort extends season after April snow. Here’s how long the fun might last
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Cal Water’s Oroville District completes construction on treatment facility to remove PFOS, strengthens commitment to producing high-quality water
“California Water Service (Cal Water) has completed construction of a treatment plant to eliminate perfluoroctanesulfonic acid, commonly known as PFOS, at a well in its station on Feather River Boulevard in Oroville, Calif. The new treatment facility enables the utility to return the well-which has been offline-to service, increasing water supplies and reliability while ensuring Oroville District customers have high-quality water for their everyday and emergency needs. The treatment plant can treat up to one million gallons of groundwater per day to supplement the current water supply. ... ” Read more from Market Screener here: Cal Water’s Oroville District completes construction on treatment facility to remove PFOS, strengthens commitment to producing high-quality water
Northern California city enters ‘severe’ water shortage protocols, adding restrictions
“Yuba City will impose mandatory water cutbacks, entering “severe shortage” restrictions in the coming weeks and becoming one of the first Northern California jurisdictions to do so. Outdoor watering will be reduced to Mondays and Thursdays; residents must use a hose with a shut-off nozzle; and non-recirculating fountains may not be operated, the city said in a news release Thursday evening. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Northern California city enters ‘severe’ water shortage protocols, adding restrictions
Sacramento County launches project to monitor water usage
“Sacramento County officials are urging people to conserve water as the temperatures continue to heat up in the months leading up to summer. The county is actively working on a project in hopes of making it easier for people to track their water usage. Part of the nine-phase project for the county is replacing pipes and installing water meters. County officials said it’ll make it easier for people to track their usage, which in turn will make it easier for people to cut back. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Sacramento County launches project to monitor water usage
State awards water infrastructure grant for Lake Berryessa improvements
“Napa County’s Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District will receive a $637,000 grant to support local water infrastructure amid the state’s ongoing drought, the state Department of Water Resources announced Thursday. The district is expected to use the grant to install a floating intake system and improved water transportation infrastructure, according to the DWR. The grant comes from the state’s Small Community Drought Relief program, according to the DWR, and is one of 17 grants announced this week for counties across Northern California and the Central Valley. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: State awards water infrastructure grant for Lake Berryessa improvements
CENTRAL COAST
Spring rain, quirky climate wipes out early strawberry crop in Monterey County
“Changing weather patterns are profoundly affecting those who grow our produce and one crop in particular has really taken it on the chin in recent weeks — organic strawberries. Gathering around the JSM Organics booth at Walnut Creek’s farmers market Saturday, most customers had no idea what strawberry growers are going through. “We don’t always appreciate the hard work,” said customer Angelica Davies. “I think we need to be more conscious of where our food is coming from.” ... ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Spring rain, quirky climate wipes out early strawberry crop in Monterey County
Demand holding steady for strawberries as farmers worry about drought
“It’s peak season for strawberries but a lack of rain has many farmers worried. San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau’s executive director, Brent Burchett, says they expect the strawberry crop on the Central Coast to be on the rise, adding that demand is holding steady, but in the long run, they are worried about where to get groundwater. Strawberries are the number one commodity in terms of total value in San Luis Obispo County and the fruit contributes to about 30 percent of the Central Coast agricultural economy. … ” Read more from KSBY here: Demand holding steady for strawberries as farmers worry about drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tehachapi-Cummings Water District will continue investment in potential Delta Conveyance Project
“It’s a long way from Tehachapi to the California Delta — the network of waterways, canals and sloughs that connects the Sierra Nevada watershed with the San Francisco Bay. But water the local water district brings to the Tehachapi, Brite and Cummings basins must travel through the delta before it reaches the pumping station near Arvin and is eventually pumped up the hill to Brite Lake. A potential $16 billion project could improve reliability of the State Water Project for contractors including the Tehachapi-Cummings Water District and its customers. Betting on that option, directors voted 4-1 on April 20 to continue an investment in planning and environmental review for what is known as the Delta Conveyance Project. The investment will be funded through property tax. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News here: Water district will continue investment in potential Delta Conveyance Project
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Water use restrictions announced for the Santa Clarita Valley
“Water use restrictions across the Santa Clarita Valley are now in effect, limiting lawn watering to specific days of the week, due to the ongoing drought. Officials with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, citing severe drought, announced plans Friday to ramp up restrictions already in place. The move comes, they said, as California and the Santa Clarita Valley continue to face a severe drought with no end in sight. The agency’s board of directors voted Tuesday to move the agency into Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. … ” Read more from The Signal here: Water use restrictions announced for the Santa Clarita Valley
SEE ALSO: SCV Water Board Votes to Ramp Up Water Restrictions as Severe Drought Intensifies, from ACWA News
A long-forgotten toxic dump site is raising new worries for this Los Angeles neighborhood
“In the summer of 1984, investigators peered into a cave dug beneath the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles and found dozens of rusted 55-gallon barrels filled with toxic chemicals. Some of the barrels lay nearly empty after their contents had leaked through corroded metal and escaped into the soil. “I saw the hole and I said, ‘I can’t believe it — who would do something like this?’,’’ recalled Barry Groveman, the head of the now-defunct Los Angeles Hazardous Waste Task Force. At the time, he described the dump as “a violent crime against the community.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: A long-forgotten toxic dump site is raising new worries for this Los Angeles neighborhood | Read via Yahoo News
Drought prompting new water use restrictions for hundreds of thousands of people on South Coast
“It’s a familiar sound. It’s the sound of a lawn sprinkler. But, officials with some water agencies on the South Coast say it’s a sound we should be hearing less often this spring, and summer.A district which supplies state water to much of Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties announced that the drought is forcing some major cuts in how water can be used. “The action taken by the Metropolitan Water District was to enact an emergency water conservation program, for its State Water project dependent areas, to immediately adopt a one-day-a-week watering restriction,” said Dan Drugan, the Manager of Resources for the Calleguas Municipal Water District. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Drought prompting new water use restrictions for hundreds of thousands of people on South Coast
Why some lucky Southern Californians can use all the water they want
“There may be a megadrought and new water-usage restrictions on the horizon, but they won’t affect every area of Southern California. Some areas, like Santa Monica, Long Beach, Torrance and Beverly Hills, won’t have restrictions at all. Why not? It all depends on where your water supply comes from, according to the Los Angeles Times. That’s because the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California focused the current restrictions on areas that depend on the California State Water Project—a major water supply in Northern California that gathers water from rivers in Northern California and channels them south through a series of aqueducts. It’s a source that officials say “faces a real risk of running dry,” the Times reports. … ” Read more from Los Angeles Magazine here: Why some lucky Southern Californians can use all the water they want
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Commentary: Climate change threatens my Salton Sea community and others. California needs to prepare
Patricia Leal-Gutierrez, a senior policy and research analyst with the nonprofit group Advancement Project California, writes, “Amid 112-degree heat, an overnight storm knocks down 33 power poles, leaving thousands of community members in the dark. For four days, residents face unrelenting heat without access to power, cooling centers or medical equipment. This is not a dystopian future, but the reality that residents of my community, North Shore, experienced after a storm on Aug. 30, 2021. The fact is, cities and counties in California are often not ready to respond to these disasters. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Commentary: Climate change threatens my Salton Sea community and others. California needs to prepare | Read via Yahoo News
Lithium Valley Commission, hamstrung for funds, is moving slowly as October deadline looms
“The monthly meeting of California’s Lithium Valley Commission was abruptly canceled this week, a sign of the advisory body’s technical challenges and shoestring budget — even as extraction is poised to explode at the state’s southern end to meet surging global and domestic appetite for the valuable mineral. Lithium is a critical component of electric vehicle batteries, charging stations, cellphones and more, and up to a third of potential worldwide supply sits in a mile-deep natural reserve at the southern end of the Salton Sea, in rural Imperial County. The “blue ribbon” advisory body to the California Energy Commission was created in 2021 via legislation authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella. It must “review, investigate, and analyze opportunities and benefits for lithium recovery and use in the state,” and produce a final report for the legislature by Oct. 1. ... ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Lithium Valley Commission, hamstrung for funds, is moving slowly as October deadline looms
SAN DIEGO
Protecting the environment is part of the fight at Camp Pendleton
“Lea Brown, supervisor at Camp Pendleton’s Recycling Center, couldn’t temper her enthusiasm about the importance of recycling as much of the base’s waste as possible. “I’m looking and researching new ways every day,” she said as she walked across the yard showing off the multiple ways scrap metal, cardboard, even old tracks off of vehicles are collected and kept from landfills. “We actually take pride in our work.” The base was the first in the Marine Corps to recycle the brass casings that pile up at its many target ranges. The Department of Defense has made it a requirement across the military branches. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: Protecting the environment is part of the fight at Camp Pendleton
This is why San Diego won’t face mandatory water cuts
“Water restrictions are not new to California, but as the western U.S. faces its third year of drought they’re getting more stringent. On Tuesday Los Angeles notified residents of a new regulation that will only allow them to water outdoor landscapes one time per week. And that’s just the beginning. Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties all belong to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California which relies on the State Water Project, which funnels water from California’s northern rivers to the rest of the state. But with far less rain, and snow reaching the Sierra Nevada mountains and ultimately run into the states rivers, there simply isn’t enough water to meet demand. … ” Read more from Star 94.1 here: This is why San Diego won’t face mandatory water cuts
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Powell officials face an impossible choice in the West’s megadrought: Water or electricity
“Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir, is drying up. The situation is critical: if water levels at the lake were to drop another 32 feet, all hydroelectricity production would be halted at the reservoir’s Glen Canyon Dam. The West’s climate change-induced water crisis is now triggering a potential energy crisis for millions of people in the Southwest who rely on the dam as a power source. Over the past several years, the Glen Canyon Dam has lost about 16 percent of its capacity to generate power. The water levels at Lake Powell have dropped around 100 feet in the last three years. Bob Martin, deputy power manager for the Glen Canyon Dam, pointed toward what’s called the “bathtub ring” on the canyon walls. The miles of white rock represent this region’s problem. ... ” Read more from CNN here: Lake Powell officials face an impossible choice in the West’s megadrought: Water or electricity
‘The water is not there’: Drought forces Las Vegas to draw from deeper within Lake Mead
“A massive drought-starved reservoir on the Colorado River has become so depleted that Las Vegas now is pumping water from deeper within Lake Mead where other states downstream don’t have access. The Southern Nevada Water Authority announced this week that its Low Lake Level Pumping Station is operational, and released photos of the uppermost intake visible at 1,050 feet (320 meters) above sea level at the lake behind Hoover Dam. “While this emphasizes the seriousness of the drought conditions, we have been preparing for this for more than a decade,” said Bronson Mack, water authority spokesman. The low-level intake allows Las Vegas “to maintain access to its primary water supply in Lake Mead, even if water levels continue to decline due to ongoing drought and climate change conditions,” he said. … ” Read more from KTLA here: ‘The water is not there’: Drought forces Las Vegas to draw from deeper within Lake Mead
As drought shrinks the Colorado River, a SoCal giant seeks help from river partners to fortify its local supply
“Momentum is building for a unique interstate deal that aims to transform wastewater from Southern California homes and business into relief for the stressed Colorado River. The collaborative effort to add resiliency to a river suffering from overuse, drought and climate change is being shaped across state lines by some of the West’s largest water agencies. Southern California’s giant wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District, claims a multi-billion-dollar water recycling proposal will not only create a new local source for its 19 million customers, but allow it to share part of its Colorado River supply with other parched river partners already facing their own cutbacks. To advance what would become the nation’s largest wastewater recycling facility, Metropolitan is securing financial aid from other major Colorado River users in Nevada and Arizona in return for giving them portions of its river supply. ... ” Read more from Western Water here: As drought shrinks the Colorado River, a SoCal giant seeks help from river partners to fortify its local supply
Bug flow experiment to be conducted this summer under the Glen Canyon Dam Long-term Experimental and Management Plan
“The Bureau of Reclamation announced today a Macroinvertebrate Production Flow, or Bug Flow, will be conducted this summer at Glen Canyon Dam under the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan. This experiment is designed to improve egg-laying conditions for aquatic insects that are the primary food source for fish in the Colorado River. The experiment will begin May 1 and continue through August 31, 2022. The decision to conduct this experiment was based on input from a collaborative team, including the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Flow experiments are designed to optimize benefits to the Lees Ferry Reach and Grand Canyon’s Colorado River ecosystem while meeting water delivery requirements and minimizing negative impacts to hydropower production. ... ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Bug flow experiment to be conducted this summer under the Glen Canyon Dam Long-term Experimental and Management Plan
And lastly …
Desolation wilderness backpacking guide: Lake Aloha & endless views
“You know this place from scrapbooks found in that aging cabin on the shore of South Lake Tahoe. These are the moments captured in guidebooks left on the shelves of local cafes in rural Sierra Nevada towns. Depictions of old time ladies and gentlemen standing iron clad with steel frame packs atop a granite basin peering down into deep turquoise lakes scattered with sparse pine and gnarled juniper. … For our five day backpacking trip, our group consisted of four friends brought together by a passion for climbing with a desire to explore the High Sierra without the burden of ropes and heavy hardware. What we ditched in ropes, we made up for with film, cameras, and tasty food packs. ... ” Worth the click just for the photos … Check it out at Field Magazine here: Desolation wilderness backpacking guide: Lake Aloha & endless views
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
ONLINE CLASS: Introduction to Groundwater, Watersheds, and Groundwater Sustainability Plans – An Online Shortcourse
NOTICE of Proposed Rulemaking and Proposed Emergency Regulation Documents Posted for Russian River Watershed
CDFW GRANTS: Cannabis Restoration Grant Program: Public Land Cleanup and Remediation Solicitation and Watershed Enhancement Solicitation
