In California water news today …
Water districts bail on Kern’s largest groundwater agency; form their own group
“Fractures have appeared within Kern County’s largest groundwater agency as pressure mounts for it to show the state how it plans to address the region’s massive groundwater deficit. Four water entities recently notified the Kern Groundwater Authority they were pulling out of the 16-member group to write their own groundwater sustainability plan. That will add a sixth plan covering the Kern subbasin, which extends across the San Joaquin Valley portion of the county. This comes as members of the authority, and other groundwater sustainability agencies in the subbasin, are working to respond to the Department of Water Resources (DWR), which found all groundwater plans in Kern County incomplete in January. Those responses are due to the state by July 27. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Water districts bail on Kern’s largest groundwater agency; form their own group
Endangered California salmon returned to safer waters after more than a century
“State and federal biologists have begun moving threatened spring-run Chinook salmon to Clear Creek in northern California, where colder water temperatures will better support spawning and help their eggs survive the continuing drought. Teams from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are relocating the fish. Together, they will return about 300 adult winter-run Chinook salmon to native habitat above Eagle Canyon Dam on North Fork Battle Creek, about 20 miles east of Cottonwood, in Shasta and Tehama counties for the first time in more than 110 years. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), which operates hydroelectric facilities on Battle Creek, coordinated operations to make the move possible. It is one of a series of urgent actions to help the native fish survive another year of the lasting drought and high temperatures, thiamine deficiency, predators and other stressors that devastated the population the last two years in the Sacramento River below Shasta and Keswick dams. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Endangered California salmon returned to safer waters after more than a century’
SEE ALSO: Fish agencies join forces to save native salmon in this unprecedented year, from the Northern California Water Association
Audio: Drought worsens Black rural communities’ struggle to find water
“Southern Californians will face new water restrictions starting June 1 due to extreme drought. But the circumstances are particularly worse for unincorporated communities along the banks of the San Joaquin Valley, known as colonias where mostly Black and Latino families have lived for decades. These problems are rooted in racial inequity and environmental injustice, according to David Bacon, who recently wrote about their lack of access to water. Bacon explains that many of these communities were established during the early 20th century, when Black Americans migrated from the South to California. But they faced exclusion in cities across the Central Valley, such as Fresno, Visalia, and Tulare. As a result, they posted up in rural areas outside of those areas. … ” Read more from KCRW here: Audio: Drought worsens Black rural communities’ struggle to find water
Drought update: April storms boost late-season snowpack in the Northwest and Northern Rockies while snow drought worsens in the Southwest
“Spatial extent of snow drought across the West has decreased substantially over the past month due to a series of cold April storms; however, peak snowpack during the water year was well-below normal in many locations. The Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, and central and northern Sierra Nevada benefitted from recent storms while snow drought conditions became more severe in the southern Sierra Nevada, southern Great Basin, and most of the Colorado River Basin, which were south of the storm track in April. Several major dust-on-snow events accelerated snow melt in the southern tier of the West. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: Drought update: April storms boost late-season snowpack in the Northwest and Northern Rockies while snow drought worsens in the Southwest
As drought strains supply, report describes challenges to providing safe drinking water
“Advancing its mission to ensure every Californian has safe and affordable drinking water, the State Water Resources Control Board has released the second annual Drinking Water Needs Assessment, which evaluates the overall health of drinking water systems and domestic wells across the state. New this year, the report estimates the cost of infrastructure requirements and predicts the risk of groundwater contamination issues and supply shortages for small systems and rural communities related to drought. Among the report’s sobering findings is the reality that, for reasons exacerbated by a third consecutive year of drought, over half of California’s 1,300 state small water systems (serving fewer than 25 people) and 312,000 domestic wells are at risk or potentially at risk of experiencing drinking water shortages and failing to meet water quality standards. …
SGMA-based domestic well replacement
“The State Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) described six conditions that should be avoided or rectified, and one possible consequence of those conditions may be the need to address the loss of domestic well viability as a result of groundwater elevation declines allegedly tied to agricultural irrigation. Several Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSA) have been assessing the possibility of creating funding opportunities to replace existing domestic wells that have gone dry or are on the verge of going dry. Replacement domestic wells would need to be deeper, achieving at least the minimum threshold for depth as established by the local GSA, and deep enough to continue to provide reliable water supply for many years. While deepening wells usually results in more water, two issues arise from this simple attempt at providing domestic well owners a new water source. … ” Read more from Water Wrights here: SGMA-based domestic well replacement
Invasive species and climate change impact coastal estuaries
“Native species in California’s estuaries are expected to experience greater declines as invasive species interact with climate change, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published in the Ecological Society of America’s journal, Ecology, said these declines are expected not only because of climate-related stressors, but also because of the expanding influence of new invasive predators whose impacts are occurring much farther up the estuary. “Our study found that climate change and biological invasions can interact in coastal estuaries in unpredictable ways,” said lead author Benjamin Rubinoff, a Ph.D. student in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy when the research was conducted. “This increased risk of predation makes it difficult for native species that are already dealing with increasingly stressful environmental conditions.” … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Invasive species and climate change impact coastal estuaries
Saving salamanders: Vital to ecosystem health
“Amphibians—the big-eyed, swimming-crawling-jumping-climbing group of water and land animals that includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and worm-like caecilians—are the world’s most endangered vertebrates. One-third of the planet’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction. Now, U.S. populations of these vulnerable creatures could face a new foe: the Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans fungus, or Bsal. The Bsal fungus causes an amphibian disease that decimated wild European salamander populations. For more than seven years, amphibian and wildlife disease experts from the USGS have been working on a coordinated response to this disease, including disease surveillance efforts and planning what to do if it is detected in the U.S. … ” Read more from the USGS here: Saving salamanders: Vital to ecosystem health
Pump it up? The economics of stored-hydro energy may not be as green as the pitch
“Two proposed hydropower projects in southern Oregon, and a third just across the Columbia River near Goldendale, Wash., have so far generated no electricity, but plenty of controversy. Environmental concerns have put the brakes on pumped hydropower storage in the region, with opponents citing the effect of high-voltage power lines on migrating birds, and the havoc construction of dams and reservoirs would wreak on sites of cultural significance to Klamath and Yakama Nations. Boston-based Rye Development, the company managing two of the projects, has promised to work with stakeholders to address their concerns. A third project, on the Owyhee, is a project of rPlus Hydro. But a more complicated problem awaits each of these energy projects should any of them be completed: will they generate enough revenue to keep their doors open? ... ” Read more from Investigate West here: Pump it up? The economics of stored-hydro energy may not be as green as the pitch
AMI adoption: Challenges and opportunities for local water providers in California
“Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) integrates hardware, data management, and communications systems for real-time data collection with two-way communication between water service providers and their customers. This technology is particularly impactful in drought prone areas, incentivizing water conservation and alerting both service providers and consumers to possible leaks in real time (Moore and Hughes 2008). Researchers at UC Berkeley have used FirmoGraphs’ database of meeting minutes and capital improvement plans to analyze recent trends in AMI adoption among California drinking water agencies. In the last two years, nearly 50 cities and water districts have adopted advanced metering infrastructure. More recent AMI adopters are located in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego metro areas than the remaining regions of California, which include agricultural areas. … ” Read more from Water Online here: AMI adoption: Challenges and opportunities for local water providers in California
Fire suppression fueled California’s destructive 2020 wildfires
“The 2020 wildfires that incinerated a record 4.3 million acres in California harken to centuries past when huge swaths of the state burned annually, researchers have found, but today’s climate-driven conflagrations are far more destructive to the environment and human health. “California is in for a very smoky future, and the continued resilience and even persistence of numerous terrestrial ecosystems is not assured,” concluded a new study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography The state’s Mediterranean climate, with its normally wet winters and dry, hot summers, has primed California to burn throughout its history. Before colonization, though, such wildfires helped keep the state’s vast forests healthy by burning underbrush and triggering trees to release their seeds, according to scientists. . … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: Fire suppression fueled California’s destructive 2020 wildfires
California announces $98 million in forest health grants, provides update on projects from $1.5 billion wildfire resilience package
“California announced $98.4 million in forest health grants today at the first in-person meeting of Governor Newsom’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. The announcement came as the state released a new report tracking investments in wildfire resilience supported by the $1.5 billion package approved by the Governor and the Legislature in 2021. The 2021 package – including $536 million in “early action” funding – allowed California to accelerate forest health and fire prevention projects throughout the state. In less than a year, the state allocated funding to launch more than 553 wildfire resilience projects and activities ranging from fuels breaks to home-hardening to reforestation. “California, along with states throughout the West, is on the frontlines of extreme climate impacts that are driving more destructive wildfires – and our state is taking aggressive action to protect communities and make our forests more resilient,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We’re investing in community-based projects that will protect lives and property, and restore forest health across the state. Together with local, state, tribal and federal partners, we’ll continue to scale up our work to tackle this challenge head-on.” ... ” Read more from the California Natural Resources Agency here: California announces $98 million in forest health grants, provides update on projects from $1.5 billion wildfire resilience package
California wildfires: Here’s when experts think fire danger will peak in Northern California
“Northern California firefighters are preparing for what could be “the absolute worst” fire season this year, with the potential for significant blazes expected to increase in July, Cal Fire officials said Thursday. The potential for significant fires in the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California is expected to increase in June and last through August, according to the latest monthly and seasonal outlook from the National Interagency Fire Center. Meteorologists predicted those blazes could start through a “thunderstorm complex or two targeting areas near and north of the San Francisco Bay region and points north,” according to AccuWeather. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California wildfires: Here’s when experts think fire danger will peak in Northern California
USU study finds big trees play a big role in preserving snowpack
“Snowpack is the accumulation of snow that has fallen on the ground and remains stored for months. It insulates the ground beneath and prolongs the supply of water through the landscape into the summer months. Through this insulation, snowpack becomes essentially water-in-the-bank, slowly providing water overtime rather than all at once, feeding reservoirs and benefiting forests and communities. To better understand the interactions between snowmelt and trees, a recent study conducted at the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot has shown how large trees can influence the retention of snowpack. ... ” Read more from Utah Public Radio here: USU study finds big trees play a big role in preserving snowpack
New drones could spot wildfires earlier, even help snuff them out
“Right now, 12 wildfires are burning through nearly 280,000 acres in five states. Many more will burn in the months ahead, thanks to a changing climate that is resulting in widespread dryness across the U.S. Already, the country has seen hundreds of thousands more acres burn than usual for this time of year. Between Jan. 1 and May 4, wildfires had burned over 1.1 million acres. Over the last 10 years on average, those four months see about 707,000 acres burned, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). In drought-stricken California, fires have already scorched 6,500 acres, more than double the state’s five-year average for this period. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: New drones could spot wildfires earlier, even help snuff them out
In commentary today …
Adapting to drought – the good and the bad
Robert Hunziker, a freelance writer and environmental journalist, writes, “Not all climate change/global warming news is negative. Positive pushback to global warming is real and happening right under our collective noses. Still, climate scientists wring their hands in despair over the failure of the corporate-controlled world to come to grips with climate change’s biggest bugaboo, which is too much fossil fuel emitting too much CO2 creating too much warmth that eventually brings on excessive heat. Ergo! Ecosystems fail! Droughts accelerate! For decades now, scientists have been warning about the danger of too much fossil fuel causing climate system failure, like wet-bulb temperature-related deaths within 6 hrs. @ 95°F/90%H (India?), crop failures, rising sea levels, and scorching droughts. The broken promises of nation/states to “fix it” almost always turn to dust or result in too little, too late. ... ” Read more from City Watch here: Adapting to drought – the good and the bad
Amid California water shortage billions of gallons of water lost to protect small fish
Jamie Joseph, a California-based reporter covering issues in Los Angeles and state policies for The Epoch Times, writes, “As drought concerns prompt state and city leaders to implement water conservation efforts, a small fish has made its way back to center stage in California’s water wars, with many farmers questioning why millions of acre-feet of fresh water are being sent to the ocean to try to save it. The Delta smelt fish—a small fish that lives in the San Francisco Estuary and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta—was placed on the threatened list under the federal Endangered Species Act and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) in 1993. By 2009, CESA changed its status to endangered. However, for four years in a row, beginning in 2017, the fish weren’t detected at all in annual surveys by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). ... ” Continue reading at the Epoch Times here (free registration may be required): Amid California water shortage billions of gallons of water lost to protect small fish
Huntington Beach desalination plant is a crucial tool in California’s climate change arsenal
Mark Donovan, chair of the CalDesal board of directors, writes, “On May 12, the California Coastal Commission is expected to consider final approval of the Huntington Beach desalination plant. Poseidon Water has weaved through the state’s complex and evolving regulatory landscape for nearly two decades in pursuit of that development permit. Signing off on this project would demonstrate that seawater desalination — a proven water resource technology relied upon around the world to combat the effects of climate change and drought — has a future in California. For decades, California has been at the forefront of policies to clean our air and waterways and protect endangered species, but as the climate change challenges we face become more complex, this commitment will be tested. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Huntington Beach desalination plant is a crucial tool in California’s climate change arsenal
Huntington Beach desalination project would be money down the drain
Kelly E. Rowe, an engineering geologist, hydro-geologist and Orange County Water District director, and Karl W. Seckel, a water resources engineer and a director of the Municipal Water District of Orange County, writes, “As North Orange County residents, we are concerned about our future water supplies, and we hate seeing bad investments made with public dollars — especially for private entities. While North Orange County may not have the same drought burdens as other communities across California — given our robust aquifer — we know Brookfield-Poseidon’s proposed Huntington Beach Ocean Desalination Project is not the answer to bringing new water resources to our region. The California Coastal Commission should not approve the coastal development permit Poseidon seeks at the May 12 meeting. Rather, it should follow the guidance of the commission staff, who recommended its denial on April 25. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Huntington Beach desalination project would be money down the drain
Is Diablo Canyon a problem – or the solution?
Assemblymember Devon Mathis writes, “California regularly struggles to meet power demands during the summer months, resulting in rolling blackouts that put our residents at risk. This issue is compounded by the goal of transitioning our entire automotive industry away from fossil fuels and onto renewable options. Simply put, we are far too behind in our production of energy to meet these lofty goals. It is for this reason, in my opinion, that Governor Newsom has come around on the issue of the closure of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which is set to shut down by 2025. Diablo Canyon, which utilizes nuclear power, produces roughly 8% of California’s in-state electricity production and accounts for 15% of our carbon-free energy production. As the State and the Federal Government debate the future of the site, a 2021 report from Stanford and MIT highlights a way in which we could alleviate two major problems afflicting California: access to clean water and the energy to keep the state running. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Is Diablo Canyon a problem – or the solution?
Droughts are ravaging the US — it’s time to get serious about water recycling
Craig Lichty, president of the WateReuse Association, and Patricia Sinicropi, executive director of the WateReuse Association, write, “Following the release of a dire new International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report this month, which warns of accelerating threats to our environment and society, community leaders from across the country are convening in Washington, D.C. for Water Week 2022. From today through Saturday, Water Week organizers will send a strong message to Congress and the administration about the need to secure our water future. Water recycling is a particularly critical tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Droughts are ravaging the US — it’s time to get serious about water recycling
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Oregon’s Curry County Board of Commissioners express interest in supporting Jackson County’s request for ‘no action’ in Klamath Dam Removal Project
“At today’s business meeting, the Curry County Board of Commissioners discussed supporting Jackson County in its efforts to save four hydropower dams lining the Klamath River. The Jackson County Board sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on March 29, in response to the Environmental Impact Statement published by the FERC in February, which could allow for the physical dam removal process to begin in 2023. The letter requests that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission not proceed with the surrender, decommissioning and removal of the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project, which includes the John C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2 and Iron Gate dams. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Oregon’s Curry County Board of Commissioners express interest in supporting Jackson County’s request for ‘no action’ in Klamath Dam Removal Project
California water regulators weigh renewing emergency drought restrictions in the Scott and Shasta rivers
“California water regulators hosted a public forum on Wednesday to collect comments about re-adopting drought emergency regulations for Siskiyou County’s Scott and Shasta River watersheds. The meeting attracted ranchers, tribal members and environmental groups, all concerned about access to water during the third year of a punishing drought in the state. “We’ve officially been experiencing drought conditions for a year now and, unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be any relief in sight,” said Ann Marie Ore with the California State Water Resources Control Board. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: California water regulators weigh renewing emergency drought restrictions in the Scott and Shasta rivers
At California’s second-largest lake, fish are dying in dried-up streambeds
“At California’s second biggest freshwater lake, the latest fallout of drought is gruesome: dead fish in nearby stream beds that have run dry. Some of the foot-long, silvery Clear Lake hitch have been decapitated by racoons and other varmints, which have had easy pickings of the beached minnow. The grim sightings by Lake County and tribal crews surveying the lake have prompted a rescue effort over the past week to save hitch, a threatened species found only in this region. Many are still stranded in what little water remains in the channels amid larger questions about the fate of the fish and the state of drought-diminished Clear Lake. “We’re called Lake County, right?” said Marina Deligiannis, deputy water resources director for the county’s Water Resources Department. “We rely on this lake for a lot of things. … Low water levels impact everything, whether it’s the hitch, the (recreation) economy or agriculture.” ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: At California’s second-largest lake, fish are dying in dried-up streambeds
Lakeport Council greenlights funding for water system projects
“The Lakeport City Council gave direction to staff to find additional funding for water system capital improvement projects during the Tuesday council meeting. Lakeport Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Nick Walker said the most recent rate study from August 2021 included various projects totaling $5.8 million to be completed over the next 10 years. “While the city’s 5-year water rate study included new debt service expenditure for $2 million in capital projects, the need for funding additional projects is imminent.” Walker said. ... ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Lakeport Council greenlights funding for water system projects
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
North Yuba Forest Partnership to receive funding for forest restoration
“The North Yuba Forest Partnership is set to receive $34.8 million in federal funding to support the implementation of forest restoration treatments in the North Yuba River watershed. The treatments this funding will support, such as ecologically based thinning and prescribed fire, are designed to promote forest conditions that are more resilient, while reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire and restoring watershed health and native biodiversity. The North Yuba Forest Partnership was formed in 2019 to improve and protect the health of the forests and communities in the North Yuba River watershed. ... ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League here: North Yuba Forest Partnership to receive funding for forest restoration
Conditions right for Tahoe Keys invasive Aquatic Species testing; Water activities to stop May 9
“Environmental factors are favorable for the scheduled start of the Control Methods Test in the Tahoe Keys Lagoons, project leaders confirmed this week. Boating, fishing, and other water activity restrictions in the test areas start May 9 with herbicide application beginning May 23. The test will allow scientists to gather new data points and information this spring and summer in the long-waged battle against aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe. The results will help determine long-term solutions for the lagoons and Lake Tahoe. Turbidity curtains to isolate the test areas in the Lake Tallac control area were installed this week. West Lagoon curtain installations are scheduled May 9 through 11. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Conditions right for Tahoe Keys invasive Aquatic Species testing; Water activities to stop May 9
Visiting Tahoe waterfalls this spring, safety first
“It’s time to go chasing waterfalls in the Lake Tahoe Basin. With the snowpack quickly melting the waterfalls in the area are flowing. USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Public Affairs Specialist Lisa Herron thinks the time to go out is now, given what a dry winter the basin had. “More falls directly correlates to how much precipitation we received,” said Herron. “This season, the optimal time to see these waterfalls is going to be right now and probably over the next several weeks. It’s really hard to predict how long the stream flow will last. If people are looking to get out and visit some waterfalls, they should do it sooner rather than later because of our dry season.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Visiting Tahoe waterfalls this spring, safety first
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Hamilton City: Making room for a river
“Rivers shaped California’s Central Valley, but when people started shaping rivers the trouble started. This is the story of how the community of Hamilton City protected itself from flooding by bringing natural features back to the Sacramento River. The problem: Around the community of Hamilton City, old infrastructure prevented the Sacramento River from being the river it once was. In the early 20th century, a levee was hastily built to protect a new sugar factory around which the community of Hamilton City grew. This levee resulted in serious consequences for people and nature. The town asked TNC to partner with them, not only in designing the project, but in getting it funded by the US government. … ” Read the full article at The Nature Conservancy here: Hamilton City: Making room for a river
Folsom Lake nearly full, but extra releases needed this summer to make up for shortages elsewhere
“For the first time in nearly two years, Folsom Lake is looking nearly full. The sight of a high waterline is a welcome one for boaters, boarders and jet skiers whose season was limited or even canceled last year because of low water levels. Managers with the Department of Reclamation say that the turnaround this season was a combination of some late-season rain and snow in April and better system-wide water management and forecasting overall. “Today, we’re better than twice the storage in Folsom than we are at this date last year,” said Drew Lessard, Area Manager for the [Bureau] of Reclamation, which manages functions at Folsom Lake. … ” Read more from KCRA here: Folsom Lake nearly full, but extra releases needed this summer to make up for shortages elsewhere
Water officials address questions regarding Folsom Dam and its water releases
“It’s not uncommon to see Folsom residents taking to Facebook this time of year, questioning why they are seeing what is being released from Folsom Dam in a time when our region is facing a drought. While water is regularly being released from the dam below its gates to furnish the lower waterways, it becomes a hot topic in town when it becomes visible from the auxiliary or flood gates. To help the public have a better understanding of the operations of Folsom Dam, the Bureau of Reclamation has put out a series of frequently asked questions in regards to Folsom Dam, from its main purpose of flood control,to the explanation of why residents are seeing that water flow from it on occasion. … ” Read more from Gold Country Media here: Water officials address questions regarding Folsom Dam and its water releases
Conservation efforts could impact water agency funding
“A new Sacramento County project is meant to help residents and the county see how much water they’re using. The project will eventually help residents conserve their water usage, but it’s only possible with the money people spend on their water bills. “When people use less water, it means the revenue for the Sacramento County Water Agency are less,” said Matt Robinson with the Sacramento County Water Agency. “That ends up hitting our pocketbooks in terms of our operations and maintenance. Trying to get various projects like this completed.” … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Conservation efforts could impact water agency funding
BAY AREA
Marin relaxes some water restrictions for customers
“In a move that seems counter to what other water agencies are doing, the Marin Municipal Water District has ended its emergency water declaration. That means customers in Marin County are allowed certain water uses that are strictly prohibited throughout much of the rest of the state. Marin’s Nicasio Reservoir is essentially full, and the fishermen are back. But last fall, the Marin Municipal Water District’s seven reservoirs were down to just 33% of capacity. Like other districts, it imposed water use restrictions. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Marin relaxes some water restrictions for customers
Richardson Bay advocates seek $1.2M for eelgrass restoration
“The Richardson’s Bay Regional Agency and its conservation partners have applied for a $1.2 million grant to facilitate eelgrass restoration. The plan calls for work on 15 acres of eelgrass beds over the next three years. It would designate $200,000 for the development of the restoration plan; $400,000 for educational outreach; and $600,000 for underwater restoration and the development of flow-through bay water tanks for eelgrass cultivation and maturation. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Richardson Bay advocates seek $1.2M for eelgrass restoration
Marin commentary: New water ethic should include drinking recycled wastewater
Steven Moore, former member of the California Water Resources Control Board and the regional water board, writes, “We are water, literally, by weight and so much more. It’s the sparkle in your eye, the sweat on your brow and the blood in your veins. All life and communities are totally dependent on a healthy water supply. These truths are often overlooked in times of plenty, but when water’s scarcity becomes plainly evident, we are forced to reckon with doing what is right, because so much is at stake: our lives, livelihoods and quality of life. We should therefore embrace a water ethic. In other parts of California with higher populations than Marin, this idea of a water ethic has taken hold and resulted in sustainable water supply projects in the ground and in the works. It is past time for Marin to join this community of doers. Each of us can participate. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Commentary: New water ethic should include drinking recycled wastewater
With one threat nearly tamed, a related question: what does the Bay most need to be saved from?
“If you look up the Arrowhead Marsh along the Oakland shoreline on Google Maps, the arrowhead shape is striking. If you look closer, you see that the eastern half of the marsh is noticeably darker in color than the western half; there seems to be an imaginary line bisecting the marsh, and there might as well be. In the 1970s, the Army Corps of Engineers introduced a species of Atlantic cordgrass from the East Coast, called Spartina Alterniflora, to the Alameda shoreline. The East Coast Spartina interbred with the native species of Pacific cordgrass, Spartina foliosa, spawning the hybrid Spartina alterniflora x foliosa. The hybrid species – and its further hybridized forms — reproduced at a much faster rate than the native Spartina foliosa and in the ensuing decades spread across Bay Area marshes, including Arrowhead. As it spread, the non-native Spartina drastically altered tidal marshes to the detriment of the wildlife they support. … ” Read more from Bay Nature here: With one threat nearly tamed, a related question: what does the Bay most need to be saved from?
San Jose officials tighten water restrictions for new developments
“San Jose officials are restricting water use for new developments, but conservationists want to see the city take more aggressive steps. San Jose councilmembers voted Tuesday to amend the city’s water efficient landscape ordinance—a 1993 rule which is periodically updated. City officials said there’s an urgent need for new developments to only install drought-tolerant landscapes, citing the extreme dry conditions affecting the Bay Area and the state. The amended ordinance applies to any new residential or business project with a landscape area, and it bars the use of high-water use plants, such as Kentucky bluegrass. It also prohibits turf—with a few exceptions—and the use of water sprinkler systems. … ” Read more from the San Jose Spotlight here: San Jose officials tighten water restrictions for new developments
CENTRAL COAST
COLUMN: Stage II of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan to be implemented
Shawn Novack, water conservation program manager with the Water Resources Association San Benito County, San Benito County Water District, writes, “May is Water Awareness Month. It’s also the start of our irrigation season when water use starts to go up dramatically. Over 60% of residential water use is for landscape purposes in the summer. This is especially important since we are in the grips of a three-year drought and there is no end in sight. Being efficient and “aware” while irrigating is essential! Our water supply is derived from three sources. Our groundwater basin is our main source of water. We also import water from the Central Valley Project, and our third source is recycled water from the City of Hollister’s Reclamation Plant that delivers this water to agricultural and landscape accounts. … ” Continue reading from Benito Link here: COLUMN: Stage II of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan to be implemented
Land conservancy protects 7,628 acres near Lake Nacimiento
” On Dec. 21, 2021, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County completed three contiguous conservation easements on the Attiyeh Ranch near Lake Nacimiento. The easements permanently protect 7,682 acres of oak woodland, annual grasslands, and chaparral, as well as significant freshwater resources and wildlife habitat. The journey to this point began in the late 1990s when the Attiyeh family approached LCSLO with an interest in conservation on their property. “People come to us almost daily looking to conserve property,” says Deputy Director Daniel Bohlman. “There are many reasons someone might want to enter into a conservation easement. The owners of the Attiyeh Ranch recognize the importance of their property and its role in protecting freshwater resources for wildlife and for our community.” ... ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: Land conservancy protects 7,628 acres near Lake Nacimiento
California Coastal Commission issues strict guidelines for San Luis Obispo County
“The California Coastal Commission has issued strict new recommendations to both the Los Osos and the Cambria community services districts. The commission is recommending that San Luis Obispo County stop accepting applications for developments that cannot show evidence of adequate water supply. The commission says it gives a “false hope that leads to application denials.” This would apply to guesthouses or any large-scale expansions that lead to more water use. … ” Read more from Channel 23 here: California Coastal Commission issues strict guidelines for San Luis Obispo County
Grass a low priority as water supply drops
“Water woes continue for the Southland, and the message from authorities is drastic: There are insufficient supplies to meet normal water demands in the area. Facing unprecedented shortages, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California indicated last week it will impose restrictions that would make it nearly impossible to preserve residential lawns. At its April 26 board of directors meeting, MWD declared a water shortage emergency condition, calling on customers to limit outdoor irrigation to one day per week starting June 1. “This is, in fact, the worst drought in the history of Calleguas and of the State Water Project since imported water came to the system in 1972,” Dan Drugan of the Calleguas Municipal Water District—which distributes water from MWD to local purveyors— told the Thousand Oaks City Council last week. … ” Read more from the Acorn here: Grass a low priority as water supply drops
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Lodi: Local water district receives $3.9M grant for groundwater project
“The North San Joaquin Water Conservation District announced this week that it has received a $3.9 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources. The grant will be used for the district’s North System Groundwater Recharge Project, which will help support groundwater sustainability efforts in the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Subbasin. “The district is excited to begin work on the North System and associated groundwater recharge projects, especially since the North System has not operated for more than a decade,” district board of directors president Joe Valente said. “We are thankful to DWR and our cooperating landowners for making this project possible.” … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here: Lodi: Local water district receives $3.9M grant for groundwater project
Tule Subbasin: Groundwater law’s sinking of ag economy may have been overstated
“As the deadline for local agencies to implement plans to reduce groundwater use approaches, a new study finds California’s landmark legislation may have less of an impact on the local agriculture economy than originally predicted. A study authored by Professor Michael McCullough on the effect of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in the Tule Sub Basin in the Central Valley shows the long-term effect of the ongoing drought and restrictions on groundwater. It says by 2040, the deadline for local agencies to reach groundwater sustainability, the 2014 law will likely result in the loss of some crops, but probably not the more valuable ones, such as fruit and nuts, in the sub basin which encompasses Tulare County south of Tulare to the Kern County line. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Groundwater law’s sinking of ag economy may have been overstated
EASTERN SIERRA
State Commission offers overwhelming support to acknowledge indigenous history at Owens Lake
“In a unanimous vote, the nine members of the California State Historical Resources Commission affirmed support for nominating Patsiata Tübiji Nüümü-na Awaedu Ananisudüheina (Patsiata Historic District) to the National Register of Historic Places. “Patsiata” is the Indigenous name for Owens Lake, and the nomination has been prepared by the Patsiata Tribal Oversight Committee (PTOC). At their April 29, 2022, public meeting, the Commissioners congratulated the PTOC for adapting a nomination process, originally designed for historic buildings, to a traditional Indigenous landscape that has witnessed creation, beauty, genocide, and cultural resilience. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: State Commission offers overwhelming support to acknowledge indigenous history at Owens Lake
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Pico Rivera’s plan to clean up contaminated water is fully funded
“Pico Rivera now has the last chunk of funding to pay for a treatment system to remove PFAS and PFOS contaminants, dubbed “forever chemicals,” from the city’s water supply. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Norwalk, included $2.5 million in the House Appropriations Committee’s 2022 energy and water funding bill to help the City fund this project. Funding for this project was signed into law on March 15 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. Sanchez and city officials on Wednesday, May 4 celebrated the federal funding. “This is a really big day in Pico Rivera,” Mayor Monica Sanchez said at Plant 1, which houses wells 1 and 2. … ” Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: Pico Rivera’s plan to clean up contaminated water is fully funded
Southern Californians need to use less water, here’s what officials are implementing
“The months of January, February, and March 2022 were the driest on record dating back more than 100 years, according to the weekly California Drought Update. And the city intends on doing something about it starting June 1. The other which Metropolitan proposed was providing a volumetric amount on a monthly basis for member agencies to manage that amount of water that is allocated to them from Metropolitan through the State Water Project,” said Terrence McCarthy, Manager of Water Resources Policy at LADWP. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: Californians need to use less water, here’s what officials are implementing
Water districts targeting wasteful residents as historically bad drought continues
“Californians continue to get hit with water conservation restrictions while in the midst of one of the worst droughts in state history. Now, some water districts are taking another step towards limiting waste from residents who have incurred multiple violations in recent months. The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District is one of many taking additional action against extra wasteful residents – planning to install water reduction devices on over 3,000 residences under their jurisdiction. … ” Read more from CBS LA here: Water districts targeting wasteful residents as historically bad drought continues
Fontana: Water shortage emergency is declared
“The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California recently declared a water shortage emergency, saying it does not have enough water to meet normal demands for the 6 million people living in State Water Project (SWP) dependent areas in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties. … The MWD’s announcement affects the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), which serves Fontana and several other cities. IEUA General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh said in a statement that the agency is collaborating with its customer agencies and MWD to develop options for conservation measures to stretch SWP supplies as much as possible in addition to implementing its own. “Although IEUA is identified as State Water Project dependent, the Agency has a diverse water supply portfolio, with approximately 70 percent of IEUA’s water supplies stemming from local resources that we continue to contribute to and invest in to increase regional drought resiliency,” Deshmukh said. ... ” Continue reading at the Highland Community News here: Fontana: Water shortage emergency is declared
City of L.A. to test for possible toxic waste near Lincoln Heights housing development
“In response to community outcry, the Los Angeles City Council has ordered that additional testing for potential toxic waste be performed outside the boundary of an embattled housing and retail development in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the City Council directed the Bureau of Sanitation to test the soil, storm water and wastewater surrounding the the development site on Avenue 34. Testing has already been conducted within the project site, but residents have called for additional testing on property near their homes. Councilmember Gil Cedillo who represents the area, proposed the action after community activists and media reports called to light a long-forgotten criminal case in which more than 250 barrels of toxic chemicals were illegally buried in the area where developers now plan to build a five-story apartment complex, retail space and an underground parking garage. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: City of L.A. to test for possible toxic waste near Lincoln Heights housing development
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Kore completes second phase study on Salton Sea remediation
“Kore Mining has completed a Phase 2 engineering and market assessment work for excess material from the Imperial oxide gold deposit in California. The excess materials are being studied to supply to remediation projects of the Salton Sea as part of Kore’s “A Clean Environment for the Salton Sea” (or ACES) initiative. Under its ACES initiative, Kore proposes to supply clean, low-environmental impact materials to remediate the Salton Sea, a major local health problem. The objectives include reducing respiratory illness from dust pollution, preserving wetlands to benefit migratory birds suffering from sea salinity, restoring local community waterfronts, and rehabilitating playas to restore desert habitat. … ” Read more from the Canadian Mining Journal here: Kore completes second phase study on Salton Sea remediation
SAN DIEGO
California can’t force San Diego to pay for lead-testing of water at local schools, court rules
“San Diego has won a key victory in its battle with the state over who should pay for the lead-testing of water that city officials conducted at hundreds of local schools beginning in 2017. A state appeals court ruled unanimously last week that a state policy requiring water agencies to conduct such tests is an unfunded mandate because it meets the definition of a new requirement imposed on local government. The requirement came in response to a national outcry when it was discovered that drinking water in some Michigan schools contained lead, which can cause behavioral and learning problems in children. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: California can’t force San Diego to pay for lead-testing of water at local schools, court rules
San Diego County students discover practical water solutions
“On April 28, the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors showcased this year’s group of award winners from the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. The Water Authority has judged water-related projects in the fair for several decades as part of an effort to support STEM education in the region and inspire young people to pursue careers in the water industry. Each year, the fair showcases hundreds of innovative projects created by middle and school students. The water-related projects often aim to solve a variety of global water issues. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: San Diego County Students Discover Practical Water Solutions
Along the Colorado River …
A drought so bad it exposed a long-ago homicide. Getting the water back will be harder than ever
“As a metaphor for the uncomfortable truths this drought has laid bare, the body in the barrel is grimly apt. At some point in the mid-1970s or 1980s, someone tipped a metal canister containing the remains of a male gunshot victim into Lake Mead. At the time, the barrel sank through hundreds of feet of cold Colorado River water before settling on the muddy bottom of the country’s largest human-made reservoir. Now the lake is emptier than it’s ever been, and the consequence of those decades-old actions are no longer obscured. The water level has plummeted, leaving ghostly calcium deposits along the lake’s rocky shores. On Sunday, police say, boaters spotted the rusted remains of the barrel and its occupant on a sun-scorched stretch of exposed mud. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: A drought so bad it exposed a long-ago homicide. Getting the water back will be harder than ever
Drought imperils hydropower on Colorado River’s reservoirs
“The Department of the Interior announced this week that it’s taking unprecedented steps on the Colorado River to protect the power and water supplies for millions of people in the Western United States. Facing a drought that has persisted for more than 20 years, the West is drying out at an alarming rate. Two of the river’s key reservoirs — Lake Mead in Nevada, and Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah — haven’t been this low since they were first filled up. If the water level at Lake Powell drops another 30 feet or so, the Glen Canyon Dam will be unable to create hydroelectric power. … ” Read more from WBUR here: Drought imperils hydropower on Colorado River’s reservoirs
Colorado River Indian Tribes’ chairwoman hopes Lake Powell shortages will spur legislation
“On Tuesday, the Bureau of Reclamation announced two drought mitigation measures to ensure the water level at Lake Powell doesn’t dip below what’s required to generate electricity. … The Colorado River Indian Tribes, or CRIT, is a single tribal nation situated along the river’s banks near Parker. Like other Arizona tribes, it has senior rights to the river’s Arizona shares. At the end of last year, Sen. Mark Kelly introduced a bill that would allow the tribe to lease some of that water to other parts of the state. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Colorado River Indian Tribes’ chairwoman hopes Lake Powell shortages will spur legislation
Palisade hatchery program releases 250 endangered fish into Colorado River
“After three-quarters of a year of living in a fish hatchery, about 250 razorback suckers are finally free to inhabit the Colorado River and grow into adulthood. Students in Palisade High School’s fish hatchery program released the fish at Riverbend Park on Wednesday, the culmination of a full school year of taking care of the fish until they were ready to live in the river. Some students, as well as Palisade teacher and fish hatchery coordinator Patrick Steele, even planted farewell kisses on some of the Razorback Suckers before releasing them into their permanent home. “We’re trying to use these fish to educate students about the importance of keeping valuable diversity within our Colorado River Basin ecosystem, the importance of conserving water, and knowing that the Colorado River is an important resource for our community and our agricultural community,” Steele said. … ” Read more from the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel here: Palisade hatchery program releases 250 endangered fish into Colorado River.
Invasive plants are slurping up precious water in drought-stricken southwest Colorado
“When Dolly Gardner bought her land in Montezuma County in the southwestern corner of Colorado in 1970, there weren’t any Russian olives on it. Now, the invasive species has taken over. “It looks like it is a forest,” Gardner said. “We used to have kind of a wetland, but they take all the water and therefore we don’t have as much pasture.” Gardner is among the many Colorado landowners grappling with plants that were brought for ornamentation but have since become a nuisance across the state. The federal government introduced nonnative plants across the West decades ago to try to prevent erosion and serve as windbreakers. Now, Montezuma County officials are hunting for ways to uproot the nonnative invaders, from offering to defray landowners’ removal costs to seeking a long-term federal grant to bolster plant removal. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Invasive plants are slurping up precious water in drought-stricken southwest Colorado
In national water news today …
Department of Energy updates water heater rule for first time in two decades
“The Biden administration has unveiled the first new energy efficiency standards in over 20 years for water heaters in commercial buildings, a move it says could slash greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs. Proposed yesterday by the Department of Energy, the updated standards would save businesses $140 million per year in operating costs and eliminate certain inefficient natural gas-consuming water heaters from the market, according to DOE. The new standards would reduce carbon emissions by 38 million metric tons between 2026 and 2055, DOE said — an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of about 37 coal-fired power plants, according to an EPA calculator. Natural gas-powered water heaters typically use about 18 percent of the gas consumed in commercial buildings, the department said, citing data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Department of Energy updates water heater rule for first time in two decades
The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you’ve probably never heard of
” … A nurdle is a bead of pure plastic. It is the basic building block of almost all plastic products, like some sort of synthetic ore; their creators call them “pre-production plastic pellets” or “resins.” Every year, trillions of nurdles are produced from natural gas or oil, shipped to factories around the world, and then melted and poured into molds that churn out water bottles and sewage pipes and steering wheels and the millions of other plastic products we use every day. You are almost certainly reading this story on a device that is part nurdle. That is the ideal journey for a nurdle, but not all of them make their way safely to the end of a production line. As Marchio and I continued to make our way upriver toward New Orleans’ French Quarter, she began collecting nurdles in ziplock bags, marking in red Sharpie the date, location, number of beads collected, and the time taken to collect them. … ” Read more from Vox here: The massive, unregulated source of plastic pollution you’ve probably never heard of
Why a tool for reversing Trump era rules is seldom used
“CRA” It’s one of those acronyms even many-a-veteran environmental policy geek may not recognize. Amidst the scores and scores of acronyms in the field – CERCLA, IPCC, SARA, LUST, NPDES, NDCs, FIFRA, NEPA and scores more – CRA remains, contentedly or otherwise, under the radar screen. Maybe because it’s an acronym with a scope not limited to “just” environmental or climate issues. But perhaps more likely because it is – or at least it’s become – such a seldom used means to an end, albeit one that those obsessed with perceived excesses by the “administrative state” might just love. CRA, aka the Congressional Review Act, became law in 1996 to provide a mechanism through which the U.S. Congress could repeal recently adopted Executive Branch rules and regulations, with simple majority votes in both the House and the Senate. The approach was passed as part of then-House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America.” … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: Why a tool for reversing Trump era rules is seldom used
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-20220505Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
With One Threat Nearly Tamed, a Related Question: What Does the Bay Most Need to Be Saved From?
Introducing the Landscape Scenario Planning Tool Version 2.0
