Special section: California Coastal Commission unanimously rejects Huntington Beach desalination plant
A salty dispute: California Coastal Commission unanimously rejects desalination plant
“The California Coastal Commission tonight rejected the proposed construction of a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, sealing the controversial project’s fate after more than 20 years of debate. The unanimous decision about the $1.4-billion plant in Huntington Beach is pivotal because it sets a high bar for the future of turning seawater into drinking water in California, which can help buffer its vulnerable water supply against drought. The Coastal Commission staff had advised the commission to deny approval — citing, among other factors, the high cost of the water and lack of local demand for it, the risks to marine life and the possibility of flooding in the area as sea levels rise. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: A salty dispute: California Coastal Commission unanimously rejects desalination plant
California Coastal Commission votes down Huntington Beach desal project
“In defiance of Governor Gavin Newsom and amid a historic drought, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to prevent the construction of a desalination plant in Huntington Beach that aimed to augment the state’s water supply. While the commissioners acknowledged that desalination plants are a viable and likely necessary part of California’s water supply portfolio, they said the project as proposed was inappropriate. “For desal to be the right choice, it has to be cost-effective and environmentally sound,” said Meagan Harmon, one of the commissioners. “They have to be compliant with the Coastal Act.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: California Coastal Commission votes down Huntington Beach desal project
SEE ALSO:
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- California Coastal Commission rejects plan for Poseidon desalination plant, from the LA Times
- California regulator rejects desalination plant despite historic drought, from Reuters
- Residents celebrate as California Coastal Commission rejects plan for Huntington Beach desalination plant, from the LA Times
- Joy for environmentalists as California blocks bid for $1.4bn desalination plant, from The Guardian
- Coastal Commission rejects Poseidon desalination bid for O.C., from the OC Register
Commentary: Why should Delta continued to be sacrificed for Huntington Beach, other cities in the OC?
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Where is it written in the “Book of California” that coastal cities that are addicted to Sierra snowpack runoff from outside of their water basins can play the “pristine environmental trump card” to try and kill a desalination plant using ocean water? There is indeed a morality debate going on in Huntington Beach over whether to allow the proposed Poseidon desalination to be built. The Surf City USA folks in Orange County are locking horns over protecting the coastal environmental near the proposed plant and the need to have another water source to buffer against droughts. But the real environmental damage isn’t what will happen in close proximity to where the seawater is sucked into the plant, separates elements that make water non-drinkable and then return those elements to the ocean. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Commentary: Why should Delta continued to be sacrificed for Huntington Beach, other cities in the OC?
In other California water news today …
NIDIS Drought update: April showers bring … little relief
“April precipitation provided boosts to snow and precipitation totals in northern parts of the region but did not alleviate the drought. Both California and Nevada remain 100% in drought with the expansion of extreme drought (D3) on the U.S. Drought Monitor since the beginning of April. Streamflows across California and Nevada and into Lake Powell are forecasted to be below normal, generally 75% of normal or less. As the region turns to its dry season, above-normal temperatures—which can impact evaporative demand—are forecasted as well as dry conditions with the exception of areas slightly favoring an enhanced early Monsoon. Drought impacts will continue to intensify and expand given a third dry year. Applying lessons learned from past droughts and drought preparedness are key. … ” Read full update from NIDIS here: NIDIS Drought update: April showers bring … little relief
Proposed law makes new well permitting process permanent
“New legislation introduced in the State Assembly aims to make the Governor’s March 28 order on new water well permits permanent. Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and representatives from Visalia-based Community Water Center (CWC) introduced Assembly Bill 2201 on March 31 requiring local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to evaluate new well drilling permits to ensure those wells will not negatively affect domestic wells nearby before the permits can be approved by county government. The law would codify Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which is temporary. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Proposed law makes new well permitting process permanent
State to provide $150m for groundwater projects
“California’s Department of Water Resources has announced 20 grants to local agencies totaling $150 million for water efficiency, groundwater recharge, monitoring wells and other projects. The money has been awarded to regional agencies through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant program through the 2021 state budget. “Groundwater is a critical lifeline for millions of Californians and that is especially true during severe droughts like the one we’re experiencing right now,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This first round of grant funding will help strengthen groundwater management, improve the reliability of those supplies statewide and ensure access to safe and clean water for all Californians.” ... ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: State to provide $150m for groundwater projects
Column: What does 80 gallons look like? The good, bad and insipid in California’s water conservation graphics
Columnist Carolina Miranda writes, “It has not been a good year for California’s water supply. Last summer, amid conditions of ever worsening drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a call for residents and businesses to voluntarily cut water use by 15%. California’s response? In March, water use rose nearly 19% over the same time last year, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. It appears that Californians have been actively ignoring Newsom. Or is it that they really haven’t been absorbing the message? After all, the messages we get about water conservation are confusing. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Column: What does 80 gallons look like? The good, bad and insipid in California’s water conservation graphics
Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere
“The entire point of renewable energy is that it comes from a source we can’t use up. Just take solar and wind—the sun won’t stop shining, nor will the wind stop blowing. (If they did, we’d have much bigger problems than figuring out how to power our appliances.) As long as we set up these energy technologies where nature can do its best work, sources like solar and wind give us functionally limitless power without the atmosphere-warming greenhouse gasses emitted by fossil fuels. But some renewable energies are a little bit trickier—and climate change could make our favorite renewable resources a lot harder to harness. A recent uptick in droughts shows us just how devastating this could be for our use of hydropower. ... ” Read more from Popular Science here: Lake Powell’s drought is part of a growing threat to hydropower everywhere
California to open first new state park in 13 years
“At a scenic spot where two rivers meet amid sprawling almond orchards and ranchlands between San Jose and Modesto, California’s state park system is about to get bigger. On Friday, as part of his revised May budget, Gov. Gavin Newsom is scheduled to announce that the state is acquiring 2,100 acres near the confluence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers to become a new state park — an area rich with wildlife and brimming with possibilities to reduce flood risk and restore some of California’s lost natural heritage. The property in Stanislaus County, 40 miles east of San Jose and 10 miles west of Modesto, is known as Dos Rios Ranch. It will become the first new state park established since 2009, when the U.S. Army donated four miles of beaches in Monterey County to become Fort Ord Dunes State Park. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California to open first new state park in 13 years
Hide and seq: Environmental DNA sequencing to monitor species in the San Francisco Estuary
“On any given day in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) it’s a common sight to see scientists checking water quality, surveying the diverse species that live there, or conducting a myriad of other monitoring and management activities. The SFE is truly one of the most intensely studied ecosystems in the world. Recently, a new monitoring tool has gained traction among scientists as a promising way to complement traditional monitoring and research approaches. By collecting DNA from the environment and analyzing it with molecular techniques, scientists can detect any number of target species of interest. Have you heard of environmental DNA? If not, then consider this a brief introduction. … ” Read more from the IEP here: Hide and seq: Environmental DNA sequencing to monitor species in the San Francisco Estuary
‘Like an inferno:’ US West burning at furious pace so far
“Wildfires are on a furious pace early this year — from a California hilltop where mansions with multimillion-dollar Pacific Ocean views were torched to remote New Mexico mountains charred by a month-old monster blaze. The two places could not be more different, but the elements in common are the same: wind-driven flames have torn through vegetation that is extraordinarily dry from years-long drought exacerbated by climate change. … ” Read more from US News and World Report here: ‘Like an inferno:’ US West burning at furious pace so far
In commentary today …
CA water rights: An unfair foundation yields unfair results
Kate Poole, NRDC’s Senior Director, Water Division, writes, “California’s system of water rights is undeniably built on a violent and racist foundation. The most valuable “senior” water rights with the highest claim of priority were snatched up by white European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th century, while Native Americans, blacks, Asians, and other people of color were systematically excluded from laying claim to water rights during the era when priority status was established. This shameful history manifests today in unfair allocation of water in California, and will continue to do so until water rights are reformed. Sadly, the inequity of this system has not diminished with time but is glaringly apparent in drought years like this one. ... ” Read more from the NRDC here: CA water rights: An unfair foundation yields unfair results
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Tribes to sue federal government over 2022 irrigation project allocation
“The Klamath Tribes announced Wednesday, May 11 their plan to sue the Federal Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), saying the federal government’s decision to allocate water to the Klamath Basin Irrigation Project violates the Endangered Species Act and their obligation to protect endangered fish in the Upper Klamath Lake. “It was not an easy decision it was something we did reluctantly, we are not a rich tribe and legal fights are expensive but we really saw that we had no choice,” said the tribe’s newly elected chairman, Clayton Dumont during an interview on Thursday. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Klamath Tribes to sue federal government over 2022 irrigation project allocation
Native runners kick off annual 340-mile Klamath salmon run this morning, bringing awareness to the plight of the river
“Press release from the Yurok Tribe: To kick off the Annual Klamath Salmon Run in a good way, several Yurok families shared traditional prayers of gratitude this morning before dipping hand-carved salmon into the Pacific Ocean and taking the first steps of the 340-mile relay from the mouth of the Klamath River to its headwaters. “For millennia, the Klamath salmon supported our communities from the headwaters to the coast. As Tribes recover our roles as the caretakers of the Klamath and the dams are removed, I am optimistic about the future of the river and all of the people who depend on it,” said Yurok Vice Chairman Frankie Myers. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Native runners kick off annual 340-mile Klamath salmon run this morning, bringing awareness to the plight of the river
SEE ALSO: Runners take off for annual Klamath Salmon Run, from KRCR
Judge blocks water sanctions that would affect rural Asian immigrants
“A federal judge struck down a second attempt by a Northern California county to dismiss a case against them for water sanctions that would leave the local Asian community without water. In May 2021, Siskiyou County enacted two ordinances that would require a permit to withdraw and move groundwater by truck. These were executed under the guise of environmental concern, curbing violent crime, and illegal marijuana grows in certain areas, including Shasta Vista where many Hmong immigrants reside. The 2021 proposed permits required a significant amount of information, such as zoning categories and parcel numbers which created roadblocks for the Hmong community. The majority do not speak English, struggle to establish legal residence, build their homes without permits and rely on trucked-in water for drinking, bathing and caring for their gardens and livestock. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Judge blocks water sanctions that would affect rural Asian immigrants
Lakeport City Council votes to pursue private financing for water projects
“With the city of Lakeport needing a way to address millions of dollars’ worth of water infrastructure projects, the City Council last week voted to pursue private financing to do the work. The council unanimously approved the proposal to seek funding from a bank at its May 3 meeting. Assistant City Manager and Finance Director Nick Walker presented the council with options to finance $5.845 million in proposed water system capital improvement projects. That’s the amount an August 2021 rate study identified as needing to be completed over the next 10 years, Walker wrote in a written report for the meeting. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Lakeport City Council votes to pursue private financing for water projects
Column: Potter Valley Project as we know it is dead
David Keller, Bay Area Director of Friends of the Eel River, writes, “PG&E is getting rid of its obsolete, dangerous and expensive Potter Valley Project on the Eel River. PG&E has have declined to re-license the project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and no other qualified entity is interested. Time is up: the license will be surrendered, and the project will be decommissioned. PG&E recognizes that its century-old hydropower project loses money on the electricity generated (now shut down for the next few years due to major equipment failure), and was poorly designed and constructed too close to an earthquake fault and large, active landslide. It kills and harms protected salmon and steelhead. ... ” Continue reading at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Column: Potter Valley Project as we know it is dead
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
No sea serpents, mobsters but Tahoe trash divers strike gold
“They found no trace of a mythical sea monster, no sign of mobsters in cement shoes or long-lost treasure chests. But scuba divers who spent a year cleaning up Lake Tahoe’s entire 72-mile (115-kilometer) shoreline have come away with what they hope will prove much more valuable: tons and tons of trash. In addition to removing 25,000 pounds (11,339 kilograms) of underwater litter since last May, divers and volunteers have been meticulously sorting and logging the types and GPS locations of the waste. The dozens of dives that concluded this week were part of a first-of-its-kind effort to learn more about the source and potential harm caused by plastics and other pollutants in the storied alpine lake on the California-Nevada line. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: No sea serpents, mobsters but Tahoe trash divers strike gold
‘We’re not done’: Sierra-at-Tahoe looks to future post-Caldor
“It was an emotional day in April when Sierra-at-Tahoe employees and passholders returned to the mountain to celebrate what would have been the resort’s 75th season. Eight months after the Caldor Fire burned its way up the Western Slope into the Tahoe Basin, scorching 221,835 acres, the resort wanted to convey to its stakeholders an important message: It’s not over. “A lot of people saw it for the first time. There were a lot of tears,” said John Rice, general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe. “When the fire came through, I was one of the last people there before we were told we had to leave. With a heavy heart, I knew something was going to happen.” … ” Continue reading at Tahoe Daily Tribune here: ‘We’re not done’: Sierra-at-Tahoe looks to future post-Caldor
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Endangered chinook salmon moved to Shasta, Tehama counties waterways
“State and federal biologists have begun moving endangered adult winter-run Chinook salmon to the upper reaches of Battle Creek and 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. … ” Read more from the Corning Observer here: Endangered chinook salmon moved to Shasta, Tehama counties waterways
Preparing for a dry summer: Ensuring safe drinking water in the Sacramento Valley
“As we prepare for the summer in the Sacramento Valley, the North State Drinking Water Solutions Network (Network) convened this week as part of the ongoing effort to ensure access to safe drinking water for all communities. The Network is designed to help connect communities in Northern California with the resources and support available, with a focus on identifying actions, technical services and funding needed this summer, including areas with dry wells and water quality issues. See Ensuring Access to Safe Drinking Water for All Communities. The discussion this week helped with coordination and revealed the challenges we will face this summer. It also provided key information on financial resources that the State will provide for counties, small communities and domestic well owners who need to address dry well conditions. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Preparing for a dry summer: Ensuring safe drinking water in the Sacramento Valley
Drought severely affecting California rice crops
“Severe drought is taking a severe toll on California rice crops as this year, hundreds of thousands of acres won’t be planted. Some call the impact on farmers and the surrounding communities catastrophic. Photos of the Barrett family rice fields in Maxwell should be seeded and flooded with water by this time of year. Instead, they’re empty. It’s what farmers call fallow. “This is the first time in four generations that we are not farming rice,” Brian Barrett said. And the Barretts aren’t alone. Experts say 80% of rice acreage will not be planted this year — that’s because the Bureau of Reclamation allocated zero water from Lake Shasta to farmers south of the San Joaquin Delta. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Drought severely affecting California rice crops
Sea lions in Sacramento? Here’s why these marine animals come so far inland
“Your eyes aren’t playing tricks. That honking blob that looked like a sea lion near Tower Bridge — it probably was one. Sightings of the marine animals often make their rounds on Sacramento social media, and can send the average user down a rabbit hole (if you’re new, or younger than, say, 35 you may also be excited to learn about Humphrey, the vagabond humpback whale). But why are these creatures — who typically spend their time on the coast — appearing so far from the ocean? The answer’s rather simple: There are more of them, and they’re hungry. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Sea lions in Sacramento? Here’s why these marine animals come so far inland
NAPA/SONOMA
Restrictions expected as early as June for Russian River water users as drought spurs new regulatory approach
“State water regulators could begin suspending water rights in the Russian River watershed as early as next month as the drought extends into a third summer, intensifying water conservation needs in the region. But curtailments are likely to affect fewer water diverters this year than last, when dangerously low reservoir levels forced state officials to freeze water rights for more than 1,800 landowners, water districts and municipalities to ensure minimal supplies remained in the two main reservoirs, especially Lake Mendocino, through fall. The luxury of time has allowed this year’s plans to reflect a more refined, nuanced approach to cutbacks, based in part on public input, water regulators say. Their goal: to sustain base stream flows and stored supplies in a river system that is the lifeline for rural residents, farms and city dwellers in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. … ” Read more from the North Bay Journal here: Restrictions expected as early as June for Russian River water users as drought spurs new regulatory approach
BAY AREA
Bay Area warm-up to offer a preview of summer: How hot could it get?
“A spring warm-up will bring above-average temperatures to the Bay Area this weekend, giving a hint of what’s to come when summer arrives. The warming trend will start Friday, when temperatures are expected to climb into the low 80s in inland areas and the upper 60s along the coast, according to the National Weather Service. By Saturday, highs could reach the low 90s in some parts of the Bay Area. “It’s a modest warming trend,” said National Weather Service forecaster David King. “It’s only May but summer’s right around the corner. This isn’t any type of excessive heat or sweltering heat but people are more adjusted to cooler temperatures and will notice it start to warm up.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Bay Area warm-up to offer a preview of summer: How hot could it get?
Benicia completes pipeline repair, lifts water conservation mandate
“Water pipeline repairs have been completed at the Benicia Water Treatment Plant and the 30-percent water conservation mandate in place since Sunday has been lifted, the city of Benicia announced Thursday afternoon. “The City of Benicia is very thankful for the understanding and response by residents and businesses to the city’s request to conserve water while repairs were underway,” city officials said. Customers conserved 4.5 million gallons over the last four days, allowing staff time to make repairs and return to treating water at full capacity, the city said. … ” Read more from The Patch here: Benicia completes pipeline repair, lifts water conservation mandate
As drought deepens, Milpitas gets message on conservation
“Despite urgent calls to conserve during California’s third straight year of drought, many communities are still not getting the message. Meanwhile, one South Bay community is heeding the call to conserve. If one is looking for a community that knows how to turn the water off, a good place to start is Big Bend Drive in Milpitas. Here, many of the homes have already ditched their front lawns for good. They’ve been replaced by hardscapes or drought tolerant landscaping that requires very little water. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area here: As drought deepens, Milpitas gets message on conservation
CENTRAL COAST
Camarillo water rates to rise; sewer costs expected next
“Camarillo is moving forward with water and wastewater rate increases to fund infrastructure improvement projects and meet the rising costs of materials. The City Council passed a resolution upping water rates by 2% on Wednesday. Acting in the capacity of the Camarillo Sanitation District, the council also approved an ordinance in its first reading raising wastewater rates by 4%. The ordinance will go before the Camarillo Sanitation District for a final reading on May 25. If approved, both rate increases will go into effect on July 1. ... ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Camarillo water rates to rise; sewer costs expected next
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Harder announces $2 Million for Ceres Reservoir Project
“Today, Representative Josh Harder announced that Turlock Irrigation District will receive $2 million from the United States Bureau of Reclamation toward their Ceres Main Regulation Reservoir Project, estimated to save 10,000 acre feet of Valley water each year. “We’re looking down the barrel of another disastrous drought here in the Valley and we have to building the water projects we need to get through it,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m proud to bring home these funds to help us save 20,000 families worth of water each year. That’s a game changer in an era when every drop counts.” Specifically, the project will capture excess flows from the District’s Ceres Main Canal during high flows and return them back into multiple canals systems during water shortages downstream of the reservoir. The project’s water savings supports water conservation by reducing the District’s reliance on limited groundwater resources, supporting the Turlock Sub-Basin’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act goals.”
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Susana Field Laboratory to undergo cleanup by the Boeing Company
“The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced a comprehensive framework for the cleanup of contaminated soil, groundwater, and storm water runoff at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in southeastern Ventura County. The framework includes protocols and timelines for The Boeing Company to follow in order to fix the contamination issues. According to CalEPA, from 1947 to 2006, “Boeing and its predecessors, along with NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, conducted research, development, assembly and testing of rocket engines, small-scale nuclear reactors, and chemical lasers at the site. Though all industrial activity at the site ended in 2006, radionuclides and other contamination remain.” ... ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions here: Santa Susana Field Laboratory to undergo cleanup by the Boeing Company
Palmdale Water District needs $2 million for two wells
“The Palmdale Water District is seeking up to $2 million in federal grant funding to design and construct two new wells. The District Board of Directors, on Monday, approved an application to the US Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program for the grant for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, under the program’s drought resiliency projects. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Palmdale Water District needs $2 million for two wells
San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water | Upper District adopts emergency water conservation program
“Residents of the San Gabriel Valley are being asked to conserve 20 percent of their household water use and limit outdoor watering to two days a week under an unprecedented action taken today by the Board of Directors for the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District). The Emergency Water Conservation Program, unanimously adopted today by Upper District’s Board of Directors, applies to the 18 cities and 22 water retailers in the San Gabriel Valley. This action follows Metropolitan Water District’s declaration of a Water Shortage Emergency for the State Water Project (SWP) dependent areas which requires SWP dependent areas to immediately cut water use by June 1, 2022. … ” Read more from the South Pasadenan here: San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water | Upper District adopts emergency water conservation program
Long Beach: Outdoor watering limited to 2 days as water commission declares new stage of shortage
“Amid ongoing drought conditions that have shown no signs of letting up, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners voted Thursday to move to the next level of water restrictions that limit outdoor watering to two days per week. The last time Long Beach was in Stage 2 of the department’s water shortage plan was May 2015. Starting June 1, residents in Long Beach will be restricted to outdoor irrigation on Tuesdays and Saturdays through Sept. 30. The rules also require residents to water before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to limit the amount of water that’s lost to evaporation. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Outdoor watering limited to 2 days as water commission declares new stage of shortage
Along the Colorado River …
Heat dome to bring return of triple-digit temps to Southwest
“AccuWeather forecasters say the Southwest is about to embark on a temperature roller-coaster ride as temperatures soar 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal for many locations in the coming days. So far this week, a large swath of the southwestern United States has encountered unseasonably cool conditions, largely due to a deep southward dip in the jet stream. Places such as Death Valley, California, and Las Vegas experienced high temperatures 10-15 F below average for several days early this week. On Wednesday, Death Valley managed to hit only 78 F which is 21 degrees lower than the city’s average high of 99 F. Cities such as Chicago and Colorado Springs, Colorado, were hotter this week. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Heat dome to bring return of triple-digit temps to Southwest
For this summer’s water forecast, climate experts are looking back to winter
“In the middle of a parched summer in the arid West, any amount of rain can feel like a gift. But in reality, those precious summer showers barely move the needle when it comes to water. “Regardless of what you get in the summer,” said Becky Bolinger, Colorado’s assistant state climatologist, “what really impacts the water availability in the Colorado River is what happens in the winter.” As a drought-stricken region looks ahead to the summer, climate scientists are keeping an eye on high-mountain snowpack and its path to streams and rivers. ... ” Read more from KUNC here: For this summer’s water forecast, climate experts are looking back to winter
Appellate court blocks proposed Rosemont Mine south of Tucson
“A federal appeals court has affirmed a ruling that blocks Rosemont Copper Co.’s bid to dig a 6,500-foot-wide open pit mine in the Santa Rita Mountains about 30 miles southeast of Tucson. In a split decision Thursday, a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel said the company certainly is free to dig the proposed, 3,000-foot-deep Rosemont Mine pit on about 950 acres to mine more than 5 billion pounds of copper. That right to mine on the land the company owns and on U.S. Forest Service land is guaranteed by federal mining law, said Judge William Fletcher, writing for the panel’s majority. What the company can’t do, he said, is dump the estimated 1.9 billion tons of waste rock the excavation would produce on another 2,447 acres of Forest Service land. That pile “would occupy the land in perpetuity,” in an accumulation that over the mine’s 25-year life would be 700 feet deep, Fletcher said. … ” Read more from Tucson.com here: Appellate court blocks proposed Rosemont Mine south of Tucson
SEE ALSO: Ninth Circuit declines to overturn ruling blocking Arizona copper mine, from the Courthouse News Service
Far from Lake Powell, drought punishes another Western dam
Sammy Roth writes, “Water is flowing through two of three hydropower turbines in a blockish building at the base of Flaming Gorge Dam, so I can feel the floor buzzing — vibrations pulsating through my body — as Billy Elbrock leads me past the blue-and-yellow Westinghouse generators. The warehouse-like space is adorned with an American flag, and with the 1965 logo of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The electricity generated here, in northern Utah near the Wyoming state line, helps keep the lights on across 10 states. It’s made possible by a dam that interrupts the Green River, which flows into the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park hundreds of miles downstream before meandering southwest to Lake Powell, and then to Lake Mead — meaning as an Angeleno, I’ve been drinking this water my whole life. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Far from Lake Powell, drought punishes another Western dam
In national water news today …
US forests provide 83 million people with half their water
“Forested lands across the U.S. provide 83 million people with at least half of their water, according to a broad new study of surface water sources for more than 5,000 public water systems. 125 million people, or about 38% of the country’s population, receive at least 10% of their water from forests. In the arid western U.S., 39.5 million people get more than half of their surface drinking water from forests that are increasingly under threat of wildfires. … ” Continue reading at the AGU here: US forests provide 83 million people with half their water
Senate panel advances WRDA bill
“Recently, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously advanced the latest iteration of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), biennial legislation that authorizes flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), unlike several WRDA bills enacted in recent years, the EPW proposal does not include any extraneous drinking water or wastewater policy provisions affecting activities at EPA. This year’s EPW proposal, formally titled the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, would authorize 36 new Army Corps project feasibility studies and authorizes or modifies another 21 projects for construction. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Senate panel advances WRDA bill
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-20220512Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: California 2020-2022 integrated report approved by US EPA
NOTICE: SB19 Stream Gaging Prioritization Plan available for public review and comment
SCIENCE STORIES: Hide and Seq: Environmental DNA sequencing to monitor species in the San Francisco Estuary
