On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 8am to 3pm. Agenda items include Discussion of the next steps on the current and completed reviews; Science needs assessment, and draft response of the Delta Science Program assessment of the impact and value of the Delta ISB. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- EVENT: California Financing Coordinating Committee Funding Fair from 9am to 2pm. This is a great opportunity for local government employees, water industry professionals, city planners, economic development and engineering professionals, water and irrigation district managers, financial advisors, project consultants, and California Native American tribes to learn about current available infrastructure grant, loan, and bond financing programs through federal and state agencies. The afternoon session includes time to speak directly with state and federal program staff about your project and issues affecting your community. Click here for more information.
In California water news today …
PPIC policy brief: Tracking where water goes in a changing Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta
“The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and its watershed supply water to cities and farms across much of California; they also support commercial and recreational fisheries and provide vital habitat for many endangered native fishes and other aquatic species. During dry periods, most of the outflow from the Delta into San Francisco Bay is required to keep the Delta fresh enough for agricultural and urban uses, while during wet periods, most outflow is runoff that is too great to be captured and used. The climate in the watershed is changing: the past two decades have seen record warmth, making droughts more intense, with higher evaporation and declining snowpack. Water use upstream of the Delta appears to be rising, resulting in less inflow to the Delta. To address declining ecosystem health, regulations have also been changing, leading to higher outflows and lower water exports to other regions. These changes have not stopped the decline in native species. To better cope with more intense droughts, management of the Delta and its watershed would benefit from a suite of improvements in water use tracking and oversight, updates in water flow and quality regulations, and cost-effective investments to store more water in wet years. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: PPIC policy brief: Policy brief: tracking where water goes in a changing Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta
RELATED: Four strategies for managing California’s crucial watershed, commentary at Cal Matters
California Farm Water Coalition press release: Without action, water shortages will lead to less food production, food shortages, and price hikes
“Water shortages that continue to plague California are increasingly affecting the number of acres devoted to growing much of the nation’s fresh food, according to the California Farm Water Coalition. Farmers are making tough choices on which crops to grow and how much to plant in the face of crushing water supply cuts. “New estimates are emerging on the number of acres without enough water to grow food and it doesn’t look good,” said Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition. “We believe the state could see as much as 691,000 acres taken out of production this year, a 75 percent increase over last year and 151,000 acres more than the previous high in 2015.” … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition via the AP here: Without action, water shortages will lead to less food production, food shortages, and price hikes
California still in a drought: 3 years and counting
“Climate change and water shortages are in large part responsible for causing the drought within California in the US, as well as other western states. This has been an ongoing trend for three years now, and in 2022 alone, California has experienced 1,402 wildfires that have consumed at least 6,507 acres of land. However, there is also a weather phenomenon known as La Niña, trade winds that blow across the Pacific Ocean that bring warmer and drier winters to the western United States. This produces little precipitation, thereby leading to less snowmelt and runoff during the spring thaw, which then leads into optimal drought conditions. Naturally, La Niña and exacerbating climate factors would strain already dwindling water sources. … ” Read more from Earth.org here: California still in a drought: 3 years and counting
Hydropower’s future is clouded by droughts, floods and climate change – it’s also essential to the US electric grid
“The water in Lake Powell, one of the nation’s largest reservoirs, has fallen so low amid the Western drought that federal officials are resorting to emergency measures to avoid shutting down hydroelectric power at the Glen Canyon Dam. The Arizona dam, which provides electricity to seven states, isn’t the only U.S. hydropower plant in trouble. The iconic Hoover Dam, also on the Colorado River, has reduced its water flow and power production. California shut down a hydropower plant at the Oroville Dam for five months because of low water levels in 2021, and officials have warned the same thing could happen in 2022. ... ” Read more from The Conversation here: Hydropower’s future is clouded by droughts, floods and climate change – it’s also essential to the US electric grid
Hydropower is 53% of the renewable energy supply in the West. Drought is slowing down production
“A large provider of Colorado energy says sagging hydropower production on the Colorado River system, which has raised concern over the long-term reliability of the power source in the West, has not had a significant impact here. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the largest hydropower customer on the Colorado River system, has received about two-thirds of its normal hydro supply this year. But only 8% of Tri-State’s total energy comes from the Colorado River Storage Project, known as CRSP, and so the reduction only accounts for about 3% of its total system, according to figures the company provided. … The assurances come as some parts of the basin worry about the potential impact of the water at Lake Powell falling below a level at which Glen Canyon Dam could no longer generate power. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Hydropower is 53% of the renewable energy supply in the West. Drought is slowing down production
‘We’re worried’: CA power officials warn extreme heat could bring blackouts this summer
“California energy officials are warning the state will likely have an energy shortage that could result in rolling blackouts this summer. As drought, extreme heat and wildfires challenge California’s energy reliability, projections show a potential shortage of 1,700 megawatts of power statewide – the equivalent of power to 1.3 million homes. Officials said it would happen during times of highest demand, which are typically in the hottest months when air conditioners are in full use. Alice Reynolds, president of California Public Utilities Commission, said despite preparations to avoid blackouts, climate change is the curve ball – and people should be ready to conserve. … ” Read more from Channel 3 here: ‘We’re worried’: CA power officials warn extreme heat could bring blackouts this summer
Reclamation selects 22 projects to receive $17.3 million to improve water efficiency in West
“The Bureau of Reclamation selected 22 projects to share $17.3 million in WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. These competitive projects improve water use efficiency, increase renewable energy production, reduce the risk of water conflicts, and provide other benefits that will enhance water supply sustainability in the Western United States. “The projects announced today are an example of the Biden-Harris administration’s actions to help ensure we are using as many tools as possible to build resiliency and respond to the ongoing drought,” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo. “The funding for these projects is an example of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is supporting the Department of the Interior’s work to address the impacts of climate change by helping water districts become more efficient in water delivery.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation selects 22 projects to receive $17.3 million to improve water efficiency in West
Feds wrongfully withdrew proposal to list sage grouse as threatened species, judge rules
“After more than half a decade of legal feuding, a federal judge Monday sided with conservationists in their challenge to the government’s efforts to deny the bi-state sage grouse protections under the Endangered Species Act. Home in the southwestern corners of the California-Nevada border, bi-state sage grouse have become a symbol of America’s rural rangeland, with their stocky chests decorated in brilliant plumage — put to good use in drawing the gaze of a potential mate. But experts have warned for years that their population is dwindling. Housing developments, mining practices and cattle grazing have taken a toll and led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to agree to list the bird as a threatened species in 2013. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Feds wrongfully withdrew proposal to list sage grouse as threatened species, judge rules
Laser imaging reveals how fire renews Sierra Nevada forests
“Plane-mounted laser imaging has allowed scientists to map the size, shape, and density of trees in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, revealing how low- and moderate-intensity burns make forests more resilient to larger blazes. Historically, scientists could only map small plots of forest in great detail, which limited the scope of studies. But with high-resolution laser imaging, or “lidar,” scientists can gather more refined data on a broader swath of woodlands, offering greater insight into their response to fire, as scientists detailed in a recent article in Eos. Previous fieldwork, for instance, suggested that low-severity fires only affected underbrush, but lidar research in Yosemite National Park indicates that weak fires also incinerate dead and unhealthy trees, keeping forests vibrant. … ” Read more from Yale e360 here: Laser imaging reveals how fire renews Sierra Nevada forests
California properties at risk of wildfire expected to see sixfold increase in 30 years
“The number of California properties facing severe wildfire risk will grow sixfold over the next 30 years when considering only the impact of climate change, according to projections released Monday by a nonprofit research group. Just over 100,000 properties in the state currently have a 1% or greater annual chance of being affected by wildfire. The number is expected to reach about 600,000 by 2052, according to the data from First Street Foundation. The modeling, which marks the first effort to calculate the fire risk of each property in the United States, assumes that development will remain constant and takes into account only climate inputs, according to Jeremy Porter, the foundation’s chief research officer. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California properties at risk of wildfire expected to see sixfold increase in 30 years
In commentary today …
Four strategies for managing California’s crucial watershed
Ellen Hanak, an economist and director of the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center, and Greg Gartrell, an independent consulting engineer and an adjunct fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California’s Water Policy Center, writes, “Conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its watershed are changing as droughts become warmer and more intense. But as our new study highlights, California is not doing a good job of tracking these changes. That’s making it even tougher to manage the water that is available for the benefit of the state’s communities, economy and environment. This critical watershed supplies water to more than 30 million people and more than 6 million acres of farmland. It also supports commercial and recreational fisheries and provides vital habitat for many endangered native fish and other aquatic species. But temperatures are rising, as is evaporative demand, or the “thirst of the atmosphere.” … The drying of the delta watershed has consequences for water supply and the environment. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Four strategies for managing California’s crucial watershed
The Abundance Choice, Part 4: Crafting the initiative for more water
Edward Ring, a contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “To be fair, Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Porterville) didn’t come up with the idea of allocating a percentage of the state budget to accomplish a policy priority. He got that idea from the California Teachers Association, which back in 1988 convinced voters to approve an initiative constitutional amendment that required a minimum of 40 percent of California’s general fund spending to be used for K-14 education. But Mathis had the temerity to be one of the first legislators to emulate the concept, when in 2019 he introduced to the State Assembly the “Clean Water for All Act,” which would have given voters a chance to allocate another slice of the general fund to a specific purpose, in this case, funding water infrastructure. ACA 3 died in committee, but the precedent was set. ... ” Read more from the California Globe here: The Abundance Choice, Part 4: Crafting the initiative for more water
California can do better than carbon neutrality by 2045
Daniel Kammen, a professor of sustainability at UC Berkeley, writes, “Ten years ago, many Californians could not have imagined the climate nightmare we are living today — dark orange skies during wildfire season, heat waves in the dead of winter, mandatory water restrictions amid crippling drought. Without urgent action, we may well look back on this moment as the calm before the storm. Over the course of the next decade, California’s biggest climate challenges — hotter summers, a shorter rainy season and more destructive wildfires — could double in intensity. It’s against this backdrop that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) last week released a draft of our state’s scoping plan, a blueprint for combating climate change that will guide California’s policy for years. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: California can do better than carbon neutrality by 2045
Today’s featured article …
SGMA IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE: With the deadline looming for the GSPs deemed incomplete, the State Water Board prepares for possible intervention
In January of 2022, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released their assessments of the groundwater sustainability plans for the critically overdrafted groundwater basins, approving eight of them and determining twelve to be incomplete. Those basins have until July 31, 2022 to correct the deficiencies and resubmit their plans to DWR or face possible intervention by the State Water Resources Control Board.
At the May 10 meeting of the State Water Board, James Nachbaur and Anthony Wohletz from the State Water Board’s Office of Research, Planning, and Performance, and Paul Gosselin, Deputy Director of Sustainable Groundwater Management, updated the Board members on the status of SGMA implementation and the what the possible future role of State Water Board’s intervention would look like.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Siskiyou County Sheriff asks for ‘state of emergency’ declaration due to black market marijuana
“The sheriff of Siskiyou County is asking California’s governor to declare a state of emergency due to illegal marijuana cultivation. Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said in the last few years, the number of non-permitted illegal grow sites in his county has exploded. Aerial footage indicates there are about 5,000 greenhouses and outdoor grows on federal and private property in Siskiyou County. According to Sheriff LaRue, the exponential growth of black market cannabis operations is leading to a dramatic increase in homicides, property crimes, animal abuse, and other violent crimes in the community. ... ” Read more from KOBI here: Siskiyou County Sheriff asks for ‘state of emergency’ declaration due to black market marijuana
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Dry winds in the valley to bring fire weather
“Fire season is in the air. After a cool, cloudy and slightly rainy in the first half of the month May, high winds and high temperatures later this week may increase the risk of fires in the north valley. Winds up to 30 to 40 mph are forecast for Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service Sacramento. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Dry winds in the valley to bring fire weather
Folsom Lake water levels above-average — for now
“Folsom Lake is 85% full, and it is once again a welcoming place for boaters and swimmers. It’s a dramatic turnaround from last July when boat docks were unusable. “It hasn’t been like this for a couple of years,” Cynthia Kelly said. “Yeah, last year we couldn’t even get the boat in the marina because it was so low,” Roark Kelly told FOX40. Boaters like Cynthia and Roark Kelly are thrilled to be back on the water. ... ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Folsom Lake water levels above-average — for now
Water Forum: The lasting agreement
” … In the 1980s and ’90s, the Capital Region’s population was growing, and in dry years, the river was already oversubscribed, according to reports. The region’s water table — between the soil and groundwater — had dropped in some places by 90 feet, causing parts of the groundwater basin to become contaminated. Competing interests abounded. Just the threat of lawsuits stopped projects dead in their tracks. “In those days, there was a lot of litigation around water,” says Jim Ray, referring to the period of the 1970s to the 1990s. Ray is president of MacKay & Somps Civil Engineers in Roseville, and a participant of the Water Forum, an agreement that guides greater Sacramento regional water management. The agreement, he says, came out of all this conflict. … ” Read the full story at Comstock’s here: Water Forum: The lasting agreement
NAPA/SONOMA
Dates set for installation of Russian River seasonal dams in Guerneville
“Seasonal dams that raise the Russian River water level in the Guerneville area for swimming, boating and floating are scheduled to be installed just in time for the arrival of summer next month. The Russian River Recreation and Park District, which manages the dams, announced the installation dates on Sunday, noting that they are subject to change. ... ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Dates set for installation of Russian River seasonal dams in Guerneville
Walker Creek: Live Stream Outing
“It’s a beautiful day in Western Marin in late April. We’re only about an hour outside of San Francisco, but it feels very far away. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the cows are happily munching in the pastures with their large calves born last year, and we have an excited group of approximately 30 CalTrout donors, members, and supporters and many staff joining me for our first ever Live Stream Outing at Walker Creek Ranch Outdoor School and Conference Center. This is a special day for me because while I have worked out here for about four years, even many of our staff in attendance have never seen the Ranch themselves. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Walker Creek: Live Stream Outing
BAY AREA
Fire danger increases across Bay Area this week as drier, windier conditions intensify
“Warmer than average temperatures fill our Bay and Inland neighborhoods Tuesday through this weekend and with each day our wildfire risk increases, according to ABC7 News meteorologist Mike Nicco. Each dry day takes more moisture away from our vegetation and makes it more susceptible to critical fire conditions. Nicco says you’ll notice our hills and mountains lose more of their healthy green color as the transition to brown accelerates. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: Fire danger increases across Bay Area this week as drier, windier conditions intensify
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey to discuss affordable housing
“Concerted attempts at constructing affordable housing in Monterey are – once again – set to circulate city discussion this week. Prospects for progress, however, remain slim, as State Water Resources Control Board restrictions continue to leave insufficient water credits for fruitful development. Tuesday night, the Monterey City Council will review and provide direction on four proposed affordable housing projects. Though a desirable endeavor on a Peninsula strapped for budget-friendly options, seeing suggested development through in its entirety would come at a water credit cost beyond the city’s available balance. That means some difficult decisions are on the docket for council members, as they decide whether to move forward with a portion of potential projects, or none at all. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey to discuss affordable housing
Lopez Lake closes boat launch ramp as lake levels reach record lows
“Lopez Lake closed the boat launch on Monday, due to record low water levels. Boats are no longer able to launch without hitting the bottom of the lake. Years of drought ravaging the state of California have led to this. Nearly undetectable from day to day, over the years this slow regression has been culminating in an official closure of the Lopez Lake boat launch. … ” Read more from KSBY here: Lopez Lake closes boat launch ramp as lake levels reach record lows
Templeton CSD encourages further water conservation
“The Templeton Community Services District is commending its residents for their help in water conservation over the years and asks for continued efforts in water conservation. The State of California has reported record drought conditions following a dry winter leading to the designation of a category D3 (Extreme Drought) for our area, according to the TCSD. ... ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: Templeton CSD encourages further water conservation
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Madera community says agricultural pesticides are harming them. Will California help?
“Beneath a cloudless sky in southwestern Madera County, Berta Garcia stands in a driveway to talk with state officials about pesticides in the almond orchards planted a couple paces from her backyard fence. … Garcia’s neighborhood is at the epicenter of one of the most intensive pesticide, crop burning, and fumigation operations in the state of California. For the last three decades, the orchards around La Vina have soaked up more ag chemicals, fumigants and pesticides than nearly any other community in California, according to a Bee/Fresnoland analysis. Of California’s approximately 5,000 townships, La Vina’s has been in the top 10 for pesticide exposure nearly every year since 1990. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Madera community says agricultural pesticides are harming them. Will California help?
Lindsay receives emergency water allocation, avoids state of emergency
“Lindsay’s potential water crisis has been averted, thanks to an emergency water allocation granted to the city by the Bureau of Reclamation. The city submitted a request for a Health and Safety water allocation in February in order to meet this year’s water demands. At a May 10 city council meeting, City Manager Joe Tanner announced the allocation had been approved the week prior. If the allocation hadn’t been granted, Lindsay would have run out of water by July. This would have necessitated the declaration of a state of emergency and the utilization of highly contaminated well water from Well 11, which was shut down in 2007. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Lindsay receives emergency water allocation, avoids state of emergency
Water waste fines up $1,000 to $10,000 in Lindsay
“In response to ongoing drought conditions, Lindsay is increasing its penalty fees for the misuse of water. Residents will soon be charged $100 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for each violation thereafter. This is a hefty increase from the current fees of $50, $100 and $250. “It’s a tough love, I hate to say it. But we’re in a circumstance where it’s necessary,” said Planning Manager Curtis Cannon at a May 10 city council meeting. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Water waste fines up $1,000 to $10,000 in Lindsay
EASTERN SIERRA
Water wars: Court case to decide fate of Long Valley in rural Mono County
“Conservation groups are speaking out in support of water rights in rural Mono County, saying thirsty Los Angeles is endangering wildlife, ranching and tourism. All parties are awaiting the judge’s decision after a recent hearing, where the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) argued it has the right to cut off water ranchers use to irrigate Long Valley and Little Round Valley for cattle grazing near the Crowley Lake Reservoir. Wendy Schneider, executive director of the nonprofit Friends of the Inyo, said the DWP bought up water rights 100 years ago, but the Eastern Sierra is getting the short end of the stick. … ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Water wars: Court case to decide fate of Long Valley in rural Mono County
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
New report shows up to $70.3 billion in economic activity and up to 429,000 jobs to be created due to litigation aimed at protecting local waters and promoting a more resilient water future
“Clean water and environmental advocacy organization LA Waterkeeper recently released its Litigation Impact Report, which details the outcomes of the organization’s nearly three decades of legal advocacy to secure healthy coastal and inland waters and address environmental injustice throughout the Los Angeles region. Since its founding in 1993, LA Waterkeeper has filed more than 100 lawsuits, resulting in legal victories that established landmark water policy precedents and have transformed water policy and clean water enforcement throughout the region. LA Waterkeeper’s legal victories and settlements have led to a dramatic reduction in sewage spills throughout the City of LA, required cleanup plans for the region’s most polluted waterways, helped address urban runoff pollution from roads and industrial and commercial facilities, and are paving the way for a more secure and resilient local water future. ... ”
Along the Colorado River …
The Colorado River is getting closer to tanking. Can we free ourselves from the long arc of depletion?
Christopher Kuzdas writes, “Lake Powell, our nation’s second-largest reservoir, dropped 40 feet in just the last year to a new record low, triggering an unprecedented set of emergency actions. The changes underway at Powell provide a striking illustration of how a new era of aridification in the West is pushing a river management culture steeped in assumptions of the past to the brink. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Lake Powell, so two weeks ago I went back to see how it’s changed with my own eyes. I have great memories of fishing with my dad and grandpa at Lake Powell north of the Arizona-Utah border, and of camping with my family at Lone Rock Beach on the lake’s Utah side. My dad would tell me proudly that Lake Powell had more shoreline than the entire U.S. West Coast. … ” Read more from EDF’s Growing Returns here: The Colorado River is getting closer to tanking. Can we free ourselves from the long arc of depletion?
Commentary: The Colorado River is in trouble
Eric Holdeman writes, “I know most of my readers don’t have access to this story from the Washington Post, “The Colorado River Is in Crisis, and It’s Getting Worse Every Day.” Just Google the Colorado River crisis and other stories will pop up.
What struck me about this particular article is people’s attitudes towards their own personal use of water — especially wealthy people. This has to do with the watering of grass and other residential landscapes. Note, this is coming from a former gardener who sold the house and the garden just this year. … ” Continue reading at Gov Tech here: Commentary: The Colorado River is in trouble
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 KNPR here: For this summer’s water forecast, climate experts are looking back to winter
Two bills in Congress aim to expand water access on tribal lands
“Two pieces of legislation that would expand access to drinking water on tribal lands are under consideration in Congress. It’s estimated that about a third of households on the Navajo Nation lack indoor plumbing. One bill in the U.S. House would waive or reduce cost-share requirements for drought and water projects on tribal lands. It’s part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program, which recently awarded grants for Cameron, Arizona as well as one Utah community on the Navajo Nation with a combined 200 homes that lack access to water. Tribal officials say if it’s passed the legislation would allow more of the grants to be secured. ... ” Read more from KNAU here: Two bills in Congress aim to expand water access on tribal lands
The wildfires burning in the Southwest are bad but ‘not unprecedented’
“In New Mexico, the massive Calf Canyon-Hermits Peaks Fire is now officially the state’s largest recorded wildfire in modern history, eclipsing the 297,845 acre Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex of 2012. On Monday morning fire officials listed Calf Canyon-Hermits peak at 298,060 acres. Fanned by erratic and unpredictable winds and growing by more than 90,000 acres in the past week, Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak fire has already burned more acres than burned last year in all of New Mexico. Spring is historically a busy time for wildfires in the Southwest, before the summer monsoons arrive around the Fourth of July, if they do. But this year, as in recent ones, large fires began igniting in the region at least a month early due to an extended drought made worse by human-caused climate change. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: The wildfires burning in the Southwest are bad but ‘not unprecedented’
To help refill two struggling underground aquifers, Colorado lawmakers set aside $60 million to retire irrigation wells and acres of farmland
“Colorado lawmakers unanimously voted to set aside $60 million of federal COVID relief money to create a fund to help water users in two river basins meet groundwater sustainability targets. If signed by Gov. Jared Polis, the legislation would create a groundwater compact compliance and sustainability fund administered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The money would be used to buy and retire groundwater wells used to irrigate farmland in the Rio Grande River basin in the south and the Republican River basin in the east to keep the water in underground aquifers that are struggling to keep up with drought and overuse. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: To help refill two struggling underground aquifers, Colorado lawmakers set aside $60 million to retire irrigation wells and acres of farmland
In national water news today …
Federal cybersecurity agency seeks $80m to better protect water systems
“Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to protecting drinking water systems from cyberattack, a central federal body is seeking significant funding to help protect against the growing threat. “As the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency [CISA] prepares to disburse $1 billion in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency to improve cybersecurity of critical infrastructure around the country, director Jen Easterly drew lawmakers’ attention to the needs of the water sector in asking for the program to receive an additional $80 million,” Nextgov reported. ... ” Read more from Water Online here: Federal cybersecurity agency seeks $80m to better protect water systems
Committee leaders introduce bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022
“Today, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Ranking Member David Rouzer (R-NC), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) released the following statements after yesterday’s introduction of the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA). “WRDA projects provide benefits to our communities throughout the country and to the entire U.S. economy,” Ranking Member Graves said. … ” Read more from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure here: Committee leaders introduce bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2022
To solve the fertilizer crisis, just look in the toilet
“Record-high prices for synthetic fertilizers are making manure a hot commodity. With global food supplies under extreme pressure, fertilizer of any kind is critical to boosting yields and averting food scarcity. Animal manure is part of the solution, and its value has soared in recent weeks. But as farmers seek additional ways to secure nutrients for crops, it’s time to consider an even more plentiful option outside of the pigsty: human waste. ... ” Read more from the Washington Post here: To solve the fertilizer crisis, just look in the toilet
Mercury removal made easy in toxic environments
“Mercury pollution is a global problem in water, air and soil near goldmines, cement and some metal production, and other heavy industries burning fossil fuels—with removal too expensive or difficult in some of the poorest countries in the world. Now Flinders University experts have expanded testing of a sustainable extraction material capable of absorbing almost all mercury in polluted water in minutes—itself made entirely from low-cost waste from the petroleum, citrus and agricultural production. In fact, the tests showed almost total absorption of mercury within minutes in trial conditions, says senior author Professor Justin Chalker and fellow scientists in a new journal article published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. … ” Read more from PhysOrg here: Mercury removal made easy in toxic environments
Laying the groundwork: How the USGS is deploying the infrastructure law’s investments in science
“In the six months since Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the President signed it, the USGS has been busy setting the groundwork for these historic investments in science. The USGS received more than $510 million in direct appropriations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including 320fortheUSGSEarthMappingResourcesInitiative, 23.7 million for the USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program and $167 million for a new Energy and Minerals Research Facility, to be located on the campus of the Colorado School of Mines. In addition, the USGS will be supporting crucial projects led by the Department of the Interior focusing on ecosystem restoration and identifying and addressing orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells. ... ” Read more from the USGS here: Laying the groundwork: How the USGS is deploying the infrastructure law’s investments in science
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Notice Of Petition For Temporary Change Involving The Proposed Transfer From Carmichael Water District To Santa Clara Valley Water District And Various State Water Project Contractors
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Certification of Consistency Filed for North Delta Fish Conservation Bank
