In California water news today …
Hurtado wants feds to probe hedge funds’ acquisition of water rights
“State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) are calling for U. S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate possible drought profiteering and water rights abuses in the western states. “As the West grapples with historic drought, California farmers and water managers are struggling to find the water we need to survive. We must be able to determine how anti-competitive practices and corporate investors may be disrupting water rights – leading to potential water shortages, water theft, and skyrocketing water rates,” Hurtado said in a news release Wednesday. … ” Continue reading at GV Wire here: Hurtado wants feds to probe hedge funds’ acquisition of water rights
The West, reliant on hydro, may miss it during heat waves
“When California suffers a heat wave, it leans heavily on hydropower from the Pacific Northwest to keep the lights on. But that hydropower may not always be available when it’s most needed, as climate change is shifting the ground on which the West’s dams sit. Higher temperatures means snowmelt occurs earlier in the year and leaves less water available for power generation during the depths of summer. The result is a heightened risk of blackouts during extreme heat waves as a result of less hydro availability, according to a report out this week from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC). The report highlights a paradox of running the region’s electric grid in a warming world: As energy demand rises with temperatures, there may be less hydro available to supply power, increasing the need for fossil fuels. … ” Read more from E&E News here: The West, reliant on hydro, may miss it during heat waves
USGS scientists explain how aquifer compaction is measured
“A recent tour of California’s Central Valley given by the nonprofit organization Water Education Foundation included a stop at the USGS California Water Science Center’s extensometer near Porterville. Tour participants, made up of water industry professionals, were met by USGS groundwater scientists Michelle Sneed and Justin Brandt who showed the extensometer to the group. The extensometer is one of several that dot the Central Valley. Extensometers measure compaction and expansion of an aquifer system, providing depth-specific data that can help scientists better understand the rate, extent, and at what depths in the system land subsidence is occurring. ... ” Read more from the USGS here: USGS scientists explain how aquifer compaction is measured
To pre-rinse or not to pre-rinse? How to use your dishwasher during the drought
“The science is in. Dishwashers save water — especially if you run them only when you have a full load. Experts will also tell you that you don’t even need to pre-rinse the crusty, sticky residue off your dishes before depositing them in the dishwasher. Just scrape the solid food off. That saves even more water. But for some who grew up not having a dishwasher, using the dishwasher mainly as a dish rack, or pre-rinsing the dishes before putting them in the machine (a ritual of up to 80% of dishwasher owners, estimated Wirecutter), ingrained dish-washing habits die hard. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: To pre-rinse or not to pre-rinse? How to use your dishwasher during the drought
Battle ready: Firefighters position themselves for possible wildfires in Lake, Colusa counties
“California emergency services officials have “strategically” placed fire engines and water tenders in Lake and Colusa counties ahead of critical fire weather conditions that are expected in parts of Northern California through Friday evening, authorities said Thursday. Gusty winds, high temperatures and low humidity were forecast to start on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, which issued a red flag warning for parts of inland Northern California stretching from Mendocino County to San Joaquin County — and including part of Solano County — through 8 p.m. Friday. … ” Read more from San Francisco Chronicle here: Battle ready: Firefighters position themselves for possible wildfires in Lake, Colusa counties
Forecasting our Future: Exploring the links between wildfire season, climate change and health
“Summer heat is fast-approaching and with it comes the increased risk for wildfires and more days under a hazy, smoggy sky. Pollution from wildfire smoke and from ozone are both dangerous for our health, especially in the short term. But with impacts from climate change pointing to more intense wildfire seasons, climate scientists and health experts are starting to consider the long-term cumulative damage that could be done by repeated exposure to days with unhealthy air quality. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Forecasting our Future: Exploring the links between wildfire season, climate change and health
Pressure mounts in Sacramento as Big Ag, Newsom’s corporate donors, prove that voluntary water conservation is a failure
Dan Bacher writes, “Domestic water use in California rose by 19% in March, exposing what Food & Water Watch describes as the “clear failure” of Governor Gavin Newsom’s repeated pleas for voluntary reductions in household water consumption, as well as California’s failure to rein in Big Ag and other corporate water abusers. Food & Water Watch, and other environmental advocates, have long urged mandatory action to curb excessive urban water use and rein in some of the thirstiest business entities – companies owned by the likes of billionaires Stewart and Linda Resnick. Conservationists say, thus far, Newsom has ignored those warnings. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Pressure mounts in Sacramento as Big Ag, Newsom’s corporate donors, prove that voluntary water conservation is a failure
‘We’re really facing a catastrophe’: Bay Area artist’s billboards in Oroville blast California’s struggles
“If a daily drive doesn’t take you by some of the harsh realities of everyday life, then multiple billboards in Oroville will. They highlight California’s homeless crisis, devastating wildfires and relentless drought. “My hope for these billboards is people will look at what’s happening. We ignore it all the time,” said Oakland artist Thomas Broening. Broening is the artist behind the images. He says his project, which includes six billboards, is not a political ploy. He’s not representing an organization. He just wants to make people think about the issues facing California. … ” Read more from CBS 13 here: ‘We’re really facing a catastrophe’: Bay Area artist’s billboards in Oroville blast California’s struggles
California to test solar panels over irrigation canals to save water, boost electricity output
“As the most persistent drought conditions on record continue to grip the Southwest, a pilot project in California’s lush Central Valley looks to save water and increase energy efficiency. The Turlock Irrigation District, the California Department of Water Resources and university researchers are working together to build solar-panel canopies over existing canals to test and study the benefits for saving energy and water. They’ll break ground this fall on Project Nexus, which focuses on three sections of the district’s 250 miles of canals. The district says canal water should cool the solar panels, increasing their efficiency, while the canopies will shade the water and protect it from wind, lowering evaporation while reducing aquatic growth that harms water quality. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: California to test solar panels over irrigation canals to save water, boost electricity output
Summer outlook: Most of US will see above-average temperatures as Western drought continues
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast for summer calls for a whole lot of heat without much rain to provide relief. Nearly the entire contiguous US is expected to have above-normal temperatures this summer, which runs from June through August, according to Thursday’s Climate Prediction Center’s outlook. The combination of hotter weather and below-average rainfall is expected to fuel the megadrought that covers much of the West. The chance for above-normal temperatures will continue to be an issue from the Inter-Mountain West to the Southern Plains, with an emphasis on the Desert Southwest. Many “above” readings are expected again from southern Colorado into west Texas and encompassing the entire state of New Mexico. … ” Read more from CNN here: Summer outlook: Most of US will see above-average temperatures as Western drought continues
President Biden forest plan stirs dispute over what counts as “old” and “mature”
“President Joe Biden’s order to protect the nation’s oldest forests against climate change, wildfires and other problems devastating vast woodlands is raising a simple yet vexing question: When does a forest grow old? Millions of acres are potentially on the line — federal land that could eventually get new protections or remain open to logging as the administration decides which trees to count under Biden’s order covering “old growth” and “mature” forests. Underlining the urgency of the issue are wildfires in California that killed thousands of giant sequoias in recent years. Experts say there’s no simple formula to determine what’s old: Growth rates among different tree types vary greatly — and even within species, depending on their access to water and sunlight and soil conditions. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: President Biden forest plan stirs dispute over what counts as “old” and “mature”
In commentary today …
The abundance choice, part 5: California’s fractured farmers
Edward Ring, a contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “This statement, which I heard with my own ears sometime in early September of 2021, was made by someone painfully aware of the paradox it expressed. It epitomizes how California’s farmers confront the existential threat of not enough water to irrigate their crops. They are bitterly divided over what solutions to support. If your farm is located north of the Sacramento Delta, you don’t want Southern Californians to build a giant straw that will suck the North Central Valley dry. And if your farm is south of the Delta, escalating restrictions on pumping water into southbound aqueducts from fragile Delta ecosystems makes a tunnel an elegant solution. Disagreement over how to transport water through, around, or under the Delta is just one of many causes of gridlock in California over water policy, but the scale of the project and the impact it would have makes it central to discussions over state water priorities. … ” Read more from the California Globe here: The abundance choice, part 5: California’s fractured farmers
2MAF of CA water is held in stored almonds.
On the Public Record writes, “You may not know that the California almond industry has been unable to ship its almonds for two years (almonds used to be shipped to China in returning empties; the past two years ships aren’t willing to wait at port long enough to fill up with almonds). Last year, 20% of CA almonds were held in storage for lack of shipping. This year, the prediction is that 30% of CA almonds will be held over. Let’s do some fun math and then do some fun context. For this exercise, we will be b.o.t.e. people, content with a first approximation. It will not be so inaccurate as to change the conclusion, which is likely to involve swearing. … ” Continue reading at On the Public Record here: 2MAF of CA water is held in stored almonds.
California’s water bureaucrats are making a bad drought worse
Steven Greenhut, western region director for the R Street Institute, writes, “Are California’s reservoirs half-full or half-empty? The state’s largest reservoirs—Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta—are exceedingly low for this time of year, with the former at 55 percent of capacity and the latter at 40 percent of capacity. However, my snarky question isn’t about water levels, but about policy makers’ attitudes toward our water crisis. Do California officials see the current, dire drought situation as an opportunity or an unfixable crisis? … ” Continue reading at Reason here: California’s water bureaucrats are making a bad drought worse
It’s like environmentalists are trying to drive people out of California
Conn Carroll, commentary editor, writes, “In 13 of the last 16 years, California has experienced at least some level of water shortage. This year, the wet season was so dry that 95% of the state was classified as under severe drought. … Considering the state’s severe need for more water, a reasonable person might think that California would be doing everything possible to increase the production and storage of water. But there is nothing reasonable about the environmentalists that have total control of the bureaucratic agencies needed to sign off on development projects. … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: It’s like environmentalists are trying to drive people out of California
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe to the Delta: Sacramento region plans 750-mile trail network
“As the Sacramento area’s freeways become more congested and suburban sprawl covers formerly open space, regional planners are focusing on alternate ways of moving people around. After three years of planning and community surveys, the region’s chief planning agency will announce in a series of public events today the framework of an extensive trail network that will serve nearly every corner of the six-county region. The Sacramento Region Parks and Trails plan would run from the shores of Lake Tahoe to the Delta. It would serve the Sierra foothills of El Dorado County, the rural farmlands of Yolo County and reach as far north as New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Yuba County. And it would transform a puzzle of disconnected trails into a 750-mile network. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Lake Tahoe to the Delta: Sacramento region plans 750-mile trail network
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento: New wastewater project to help farmers, conservation
“As drought conditions persist, the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is working on a new project that will not only help conserve drinking water but also help farmers in the process. Wastewater is in the process of being treated as part of a major project that started in 2012 called the EchoWater Project. Ten years later, Mike Crooks says it’s in its final stages. “We will be filtering most of our wastewater flow,” Mike Crooks, the Engineering Section Manager, Regional SAN said. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Sacramento: New wastewater project to help farmers, conservation
This 1955 dam still produces needed power for Sacramento
“Since 1955, the towering concrete and earthen walls of Folsom Dam have held back the waters of the South Fork and North Fork of the American River, but does holding back that water create any power? Folsom Dam was built as part of the Central Valley Project which extends 100 miles from the foothills of the Sierras to the coastal range and includes dams, reservoirs, canals and powerplants. Folsom Dam was mainly built for flood control and has saved the Sacramento area at least $4.7 billion in flood damage since 1987, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: This 1955 dam still produces needed power for Sacramento
BAY AREA
Marin Voice: Opportunities to diversify MMWD water supply are still in reach
Richard Rubin, founder and board chair of the Marin Coalition for Water Solutions, writes, “Some problems can be easily fixed; others require sterner measures. The current imbroglios surrounding the actions (and inactions) of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors fall into the latter category. After years of dithering and delays over what to do to resolve what has become an endemic water crisis it is fair to say that we need changes. The authority, aka the five overseers of our long-term water future (which is no less than the power to regulate the most important element of our everyday lives), is being abrogated either by gross ineptitude or plain indifference. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin Voice: Opportunities to diversify MMWD water supply are still in reach
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz: How CA coastal communities are working to conserve water, combat saltwater intrusion amid drought
“For Executive Pastor Mark Spurlock, expanding classroom space at the Twin Lakes Christian School in Aptos has been addition by subtraction. At least when it comes to saving water. Following development offset rules outlined by the Soquel Creek Water District, the school engineered water-saving solutions to offset the new space they were building including replacing lawn areas with a drought-friendly plaza that catches and diverts water routed from nearby rooftops. “Underneath it is actually a water retention basin that takes stormwater and puts it back into the ground. And we also replaced every plumbing fixture on the campus with more high-efficiency fixtures. And so the combination of all of those measures amounted to 2 million gallons of water that would have otherwise gone down the drain,” Spurlock said. ... ” Read more from ABC 7 here: How CA coastal communities are working to conserve water, combat saltwater intrusion amid drought
Santa Maria Valley’s water supply status stable, residents are asked to continue to conserve water
“The Santa Maria Valley’s water supply is stable despite California’s severe drought status, according to an annual water supply report. According to the City of Santa Maria, people in the community are using as much water as in the 1980s. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Santa Maria Valley’s water supply status stable, residents are asked to continue to conserve water
Sewage spill shuts down ocean access at popular South Coast beach
“Spill happpens in Isla Vista. A section of a popular South Coast beach has been closed by a sewage spill. Santa Barbara County Public Health officials say it happened in Isla Vista. An unknown amount of sewage ended up in a storm drain, which discharged near Pelican Park. There’s no word on what led to the spill. People can still walk on the beach, but going in the ocean from Ocean Road to Camino Pescadero Park has been banned. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Sewage spill shuts down ocean access at popular South Coast beach
Montecito: The 1/9 debris flow was not so rare
“The bulldozers are back at Randall and East Valley roads this month, working on the final phase of the Montecito’s newest debris basin — a giant bowl designed to trap boulders and fallen trees and help protect the downstream homeowners on San Ysidro Creek from catastrophic debris flows. When it is finished in late August, the $10 million Randall Road basin will be the fifth on Montecito’s deadly creeks. The older basins on Cold Springs, San Ysidro and Romero creeks were quickly overwhelmed after the pre-dawn deluge of Jan. 9, 2018 and could not prevent the worst impacts of the raging rivers of mud, boulders and fallen trees that engulfed whole neighborhoods: 23 fatalities, 500 damaged or destroyed, 1,000 rescues in the first 24 hours, closure of Highway 101 for 13 days, and $1 billion in economic losses. Montecito will be somewhat better protected next time — and there will be a next time. … ” Read more from Edhat here: Montecito: The 1/9 debris flow was not so rare
South Coast Habitat Restoration completes project to help steelhead trout population
“Earlier this year, the Carpinteria-based nonprofit South Coast Habitat Restoration (SCHR) completed a decades-long endeavor to remove three barriers found in creeks in Los Padres National Forest, helping the steelhead trout population find safe passage and thrive. The recent project also improved the habitat for other fish and amphibians, like red-legged frogs, while increasing safety for recreationists. CVN caught up with the organization’s founder and director, Mauricio Gomez, who has led the the nonprofit and its mission to improve the habitat of the steelhead trout, an endangered species. … ” Read more from Coast News here: South Coast Habitat Restoration completes project to help steelhead trout population
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Water contamination in Exeter critical but fixable
“Last week, an official and dire-sounding warning about high nitrate levels in the city of Exeter’s water supply began appearing on social media sites, and with them came comments rife with speculation, fearful reactions and visions of impending doom. The water situation in the midsize foothill town, however, is not as dangerous or widespread as some of those who stumble across the notice without context imagine it is. The reality, says Exeter’s Director of Public Works Daymon Qualls, is Exeter’s water remains safe for most consumers. It should not be consumed by infants and pregnant women until the nitrate levels drop, probably in the autumn when the dry season ends. The city will alert users when that happens. … ” Read more from the Valley Voice here: Water contamination in Exeter critical but fixable
Drought, groundwater restrictions and – oh yeah, drought – pervade talk at annual Kern water summit
“Local and state water leaders were practically upbeat two years ago at the last in-person Water Summit put on by the Water Association of Kern County. At least as upbeat as California water folks typically get. They advocated for new ideas, radical partnerships and solutions that could benefit both ag and environmental interests. That was then. Facing a third year of punishing drought and the bleak realities of new groundwater restrictions, the vibe at this year’s summit was more “in the bunker” than “in it together.” … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Drought, groundwater restrictions and – oh yeah, drought – pervade talk at annual Kern water summit
SEE ALSO: Kern County Water Summit looks for solutions to California’s drought. from Channel 23
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A note from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti: Every drop counts
LA Mayor Eric Garcetti writes, “Our city didn’t just become one of the most water efficient cities in the world overnight. We pulled together, and have achieved so much … but we have further to go if we want our children and grandchildren to be able to turn on the tap with confidence. Given that 2022 is our third consecutive year of drought, we need to double down on the solutions that have made conservation a way of life in L.A.That’s why on May 10, I announced that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will move to Phase 3 of its emergency water conservation plan. So, what does this mean for you? … ” Continue reading at the LA Sentinel here: A note from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti: Every drop counts
Ballona Creek trash collection barge project challenged in court
“Two Playa del Rey residents have filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County, the Board of Supervisors and the Flood Control District, challenging last month’s board approval of a trash collection project that will include the placement and operation of a floating barge dumpster where the Ballona Creek meets the Pacific Ocean. The board’s April 5 approval of the Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor Pilot Program Trash Project followed months of discussions with community members, who expressed their “utmost concern and dismay at the adverse impacts that installation and operation of a massive floating trash barge in such a sensitive location would cause,” including its potential effects on public health, noise, recreation and air quality, according to the petition filed this week in Superior Court by David and Tracy Blumenthal. … ” Continue reading at the Culver City Observer here: Ballona Creek trash collection barge project challenged in court
IEUA Board of Directors take action to increase water supply resiliency in the region
“At yesterday’s Board meeting, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA/Agency) Board of Directors adopted a drought resolution in response to current water supply conditions and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) Water Shortage Emergency Condition declaration in April. This resolution declares a Water Shortage Emergency Condition, activating Level 3 of the Agency’s Water Storage Contingency Plan, and adopts an Emergency Water Conservation Program Framework (EWCP). “California’s precipitation through the end of this year is projected to be the driest on record, snowpack is shrinking, and reservoirs have hit all-time lows. These water supply challenges have led to unprecedented drought conditions,” stated IEUA Board Vice President and MWD Board Member Michael Camacho. “The Board recognizes the severity and need for water reductions across the region and State. We must all work together to ensure water reliability today and for the future.” … ” Read more from the Inland Empire Utilities Agency here: IEUA Board of Directors take action to increase water supply resiliency in the region
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Commentary: Planning for certainty
JB Hanby, Imperial Irrigation District director, writes, “In Thursday’s Imperial Valley Press, an article entitled “Farmers concerned about potential water cuts” warned that, “Imperial Valley farmers may need to drastically change plans to grow crops this autumn if an Imperial Irrigation District (IID) plan to retroactively curtail water usage back to January goes forward.” The alarming headline and lede do not accurately characterize the ongoing and straightforward process to ensure that Imperial Valley lives within – and doesn’t exceed – our community’s Colorado River allocation. The IID diverts water from the Colorado River and delivers that water to users in the Imperial Valley. IID has some of the oldest and most secure rights on the Colorado River and, as a result, has been largely insulated from the impact of ongoing drought across the Colorado River Basin and the western United States more broadly. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: Commentary: Planning for certainty
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside begins indirect potable reuse
“Located in semiarid San Diego County and alongside the Pacific Ocean, the coastal city of Oceanside, California, is not blessed with abundant freshwater resources. For this reason, the city historically has relied heavily on imported water to meet its needs. Like many water providers in Southern California, Oceanside is moving to reduce its dependence on these imported water supplies. With the recent opening of its $71 million advanced water purification facility, known as Pure Water Oceanside, the city has taken a key step in this direction, initiating an indirect potable reuse program that also will improve the quality and quantity of water from the aquifer that is the predominant source of locally available freshwater. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Oceanside begins indirect potable reuse
San Diego reneges on water deal signed by mayor
“An East County water authority says its massive project to overhaul how hundreds of thousands of residents get their drinking water is now threatened. It’s because the city of San Diego is reneging on a deal Mayor Todd Gloria signed in January 2021 that would have helped what’s called the East County Advanced Purification Project come to fruition. The project would capture and treat 15 million gallons of wastewater per day to produce 11.5 million gallons of potable water to the Helix and Padre Dam water districts. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: San Diego reneges on water deal signed by mayor
San Diego offers $33M olive branch in pipeline dispute with East County water recycling project
“San Diego’s top brass offered on Thursday to pony up more than $33 million to resolve a hotly disputed pipeline deal between the city and East County concerning two large water recycling projects. The move comes as the parties inch closer to what could become a protracted legal battle, with serious implications for the East County Advanced Water Purification Project and the city’s massive $5 billion Pure Water sewage recycling venture. The so-called brine line would connect the envisioned $950 million East County recycling project to San Diego’s primary wastewater system, bypassing the Pure Water system, now under construction. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: San Diego offers $33M olive branch in pipeline dispute with East County water recycling project
Column: Extended drought leads to increased wildfire threat now and in the future
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “The resort at Mammoth Mountain just announced it will extend the skiing season into June because of storms in April and May. A week earlier and 350 miles south, tinder-dry conditions fueled a wildfire that ripped through Laguna Niguel, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate and destroying 20 homes. The late snowfall in the Sierra may have been good for skiing, but it did next to nothing to relieve overall drought conditions and lessen fire danger across California. The historic drought has triggered recent restrictions on water use and heightened caution about fire safety. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Column: Extended drought leads to increased wildfire threat now and in the future
Along the Colorado River …
Major changes ahead for the Colorado River Basin
“New research shows that snow will melt earlier in the Colorado River Basin, filling streams sooner and changing how reservoirs and irrigation are managed. “Because of global climate change, areas of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could have much less water, and future hydrologic conditions may more closely resemble those of the arid Southwest regions of the basin today,” said study co-author Katrina Bennett, a hydrologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Colorado River Basin is massive, encompassing 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado to sea level deserts near the Gulf of California. Water from the basin is channeled to supply cities such as Albuquerque, Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Santa Fe. … ” Read more from Earth.com here: Major changes ahead for the Colorado River Basin
Flood alert: Colorado River basin will see earlier snowmelts, scientists predict
“Spring floods are likely to arrive increasingly early in the year for the vast majority of the Colorado River Basin as climate change brings about a shift in peak streamflows. The changes in mountain snowmelt will mean altering reservoir management and irrigation across the entire region, according to new research. “Because of global climate change, areas of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could have much less water, and future hydrologic conditions may more closely resemble those of the arid Southwest regions of the basin today,” said Katrina Bennett, a hydrologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory and coauthor of the paper published in the journal Earth and Space Science. … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Flood alert: Colorado River basin will see earlier snowmelts, scientists predict
Bodies pulled from parched Lake Mead stir wise-guy ghosts of Las Vegas
“It’s the mob guy who went missing after skimming from the Stardust casino. No, it’s the lake resort manager hunted down by the Chicago Outfit. Could it be the work of a biker gang muscling in on Mafia turf? Or maybe someone just fell off a boat after one too many. Ever since the bodies started turning up this month in Lake Mead — the first in a barrel, the next half-buried in sand, both exposed by plunging water levels — theories in Las Vegas are flourishing about who they are, how they wound up in the country’s largest man-made reservoir, and what might surface next. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Bodies pulled from parched Lake Mead stir wise-guy ghosts of Las Vegas
Tucson votes to give up some of its CAP water to help save Lake Mead
“The Tucson City Council voted unanimously to give back about a third of its Central Arizona Project water allocation to help an ailing Lake Mead. The lake, hit hard by a prolonged drought, is at 31% capacity and dropping. It provides water for 20 million people in Arizona, California and Nevada as well as large swaths of farmland. “I feel that the city of Tucson is in a position where we can add water back to the lake, specifically Lake Mead,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero before the vote. Tucson receives about 144,000 acre feet of water from the lake annually but uses only about 100,000. For years, the city has been storing the surplus underground and has more than seven years of CAP water banked. … ” Read more from Channel 13 here: Tucson votes to give up some of its CAP water to help save Lake Mead
SEE ALSO: Tucson willing to give up some Colorado River water, from Arizona Public Media
Here’s how we can secure the future of water in Arizona
“Arizona has experienced a rapid transformation from an economy based on agriculture and tourism to one more focused on logistics and advanced manufacturing, with the Grand Canyon State poised to reap long-lasting benefits from advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry’s transition to electric vehicles. But how will all this economic development impact the future of water in Arizona? “Our economy has really been diversified and now is competitive with any state in the nation,” Gov. Doug Ducey told the crowd at a Valley Partnership breakfast earlier this year. “It’s an all-of-the-above jobs economy, from the high tech, high paying semiconductor sector to our service sector and transportation and hospitality. Things like Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor, ElectraMeccanica, Lucid and Nikola are big deals. We’ve got a pipeline that is just full of these types of opportunities.” … ” Read more from AZ Big Media here: Here’s how we can secure the future of water in Arizona
May in the Mile High City: Heavy snowfall forecast for Denver area
“The calendar may read mid-May but parts of Colorado, including the Denver metro area, are bracing for a storm that would make winter proud. AccuWeather forecasters say the 93-degree AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature that roasted the Mile High City on Thursday will be a distant memory by Friday and into the early part of the weekend. Winter storm watches and warnings were in effect across a large section of Colorado and northward into Wyoming, and for good reason. AccuWeather meteorologists are calling for 3-6 inches of accumulation in downtown Denver and some places on the southern and western side of the Denver metro area could see as much as a foot of snow pile up, enough to potentially result in widespread power outages. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: May in the Mile High City: Heavy snowfall forecast for Denver area
SEE ALSO: Colorado’s snowstorm on Friday, Saturday will help – but it’s not good news for farmers, experts say, from Colorado Politics
In national water news today …
USDA launches voluntary-led conservation pilot in West
“USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie announced a new partnership May 20 that uses diverse farm bill investments to support voluntary conservation of private working lands and migratory big game populations in Wyoming. Bonnie made the announcement at the University of Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park 150th Anniversary Symposium. Using lessons learned from this pilot, USDA seeks to scale up this model across the West as part of President Biden’s commitment to support voluntary, locally-led conservation efforts to reach the administration’s national conservation goals. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: USDA launches voluntary-led conservation pilot in West
PFAS chemicals do not last forever:The use of sulfite and iodide under ultraviolet light can destroy PFAS in water in a few hours
“Once dubbed “forever chemicals,” per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, might be in the market for a new nickname. That’s because adding iodide to a water treatment reactor that uses ultraviolet (UV) light and sulfite destroys up to 90% of carbon-fluorine atoms in PFAS forever chemicals in just a few hours, reports a new study led by environmental engineering researchers at UC Riverside. The addition of iodide accelerates the speed of the reaction up to four times, saving energy and chemicals. “Iodide is really doing some substantial work,” said corresponding author Jinyong Liu, an assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering. “Not only does it speed up the reaction but it also allows the treatment of a ten times higher concentrations of PFAS, even some very recalcitrant structures.” ... ” Read more from UC Riverside here: PFAS chemicals do not last forever:The use of sulfite and iodide under ultraviolet light can destroy PFAS in water in a few hours
Interior IG clears Bernhardt on water district lobbying claims
“The Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General today cleared former Secretary David Bernhardt of allegations that he had violated lobbying disclosure laws prior to his tenure with the Trump administration — but put a notable asterisk on its findings, saying that investigators could not draw “firm conclusions” on some aspects of the case. “We faced certain investigative limitations … that affected our ability to draw a conclusion as to whether Mr. Bernhardt violated the LDA,” the OIG report states, referring to the Lobbying Disclosure Act. Bernhardt, who returned to his former law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP last year after serving as former President Donald Trump’s second Interior secretary, faced accusations that he had violated lobbying disclosure laws by continuing to work on behalf of California’s Westlands Water District in early 2017, despite having deregistered as a lobbyist for the group several months earlier. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Interior IG clears Bernhardt on water district lobbying claims
Microplastics are everywhere, even the Swiss Alps
“Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world, a cornucopia of the arts, alpine sports, chocolate, gold, and watches. But like the citizens of every country, the reality of microplastics is affecting the Swiss as well. The Federal Office for the Environment estimates that 14,000 tonnes of plastic end up in Swiss soil and water every year, with microplastics — which are created through the breakdown of macroplastics — being one of the largest contributors. A recent study by Swiss, Austrian, and Dutch researchers working in the Alps estimates that 43 trillion tiny plastic particles land in Switzerland every year, from the Alps to the lowlands, many traveling thousands of kilometers through the air before settling there — a number that is sure to rise. ... ” Read more from Earth Island Journal here: Microplastics are everywhere, even the Swiss Alps
National water and climate update …
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.
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