On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water beginning at 9am. Click here for full agenda and audio link.
- EVENT: Global Climate Change and Water Conflict—where might we be headed? beginning at 12:30pm. How do water agencies and the industry, in general, better promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects Climate change is worsening freshwater-related disputes across our planet. Examples range from conflicts over diminishing water sources shared by countries, to migration pressures arising from refugees escaping regions suffering from chronic drought. This colloquium explores the causes and consequences of these and other societal challenges we will continue to face as climate change impacts freshwater. In-person in Irvine; Livestream available. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
Urban water use is latest target for drought cutbacks
“With farmers across California already facing severe cuts in irrigation supplies, state officials are now imposing additional aggressive conservation measures for urban consumers and local water agencies across the state. Emergency regulations, adopted May 24 by the California State Water Resources Control Board, are now targeting California cities and communities and the state’s nonagricultural landscapes. The regulations will require local agencies to impose restrictions on water use that can be sufficient to make up for potential 20% shortfalls in water supplies anticipated for summer months. That means no irrigation for municipal greenbelts. Watering lawns and turf at commercial or industrial buildings is now banned, meaning that lush green spaces at the Golden State’s popular tourist hotels or sprawling business parks will have to go brown. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Urban water use is latest target for drought cutbacks
Even amid worsening drought, enviros sharpen knives for Calif.’s lone dam prospect
“As California finds itself amid another severe drought that has deepened the need for new water storage, the fever pitch to add new dams has run into a buzzsaw of opposition from environmentalists. At the top of their target list? The proposed Sites Reservoir project. Sites Reservoir, which would be located in the Sacramento Valley west of Colusa, has been considered since the 1950s but was never able to gain full support to start construction. Through 2014’s Proposition 1, it appears to likely be the lone California dam constructed in the 21st Century to date. California’s need for more water storage is clear and evident. ... ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Even amid worsening drought, enviros sharpen knives for Calif.’s lone dam prospect
Bill to accelerate Bay-Delta Plan defeated
“A moderate Democrat in the California Assembly says he rounded up 44 votes to defeat a bill that would have accelerated an update of the Bay-Delta Plan, which governs water quality in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Assembly Bill 2639 by Assemblyman Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, would have required the plan to be implemented by December 2023, which could upend negotiations with water districts over voluntary agreements. It would also have prohibited the State Water Resources Control Board from issuing any new water right permits, putting in jeopardy needed new water storage projects like Sites Reservoir. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Bill to accelerate Bay-Delta Plan defeated
Experts recommend privately-owned wells be checked amid ongoing drought
“As we approach summer, some experts recommend that private well owners inspect their wells. “Every well owner should have their well inspected, but this is even more important for those of us who live in California who are experiencing these long-term droughts because the drought does impact operating wells, and obviously, the wells that have already gone dry,” said Ben Frech, spokesperson for the California Groundwater Association. Frech said an inspection by a certified professional can identify potential problems and leaks. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Experts recommend privately-owned wells be checked amid ongoing drought
California drought could reduce hydroelectric generation to half of normal levels
“As part of a supplement to our Short-Term Energy Outlook, we analyzed how drought conditions could affect hydroelectric generation in California this summer. California hydroelectric generation would be 48% less this summer in an alternative case that assumes drought conditions compared with a case that assumes relatively normal water conditions. This shortfall would need to be made up from other sources of electric power supply. During the 2022 water year, which began October 1, 2021, snowpack reached above-normal levels in December, but dry conditions then persisted through March. As of April 1, which typically marks the peak of snowpack, California’s snowpack had an equivalent water content of 6.9 inches, which is about 40% below the median value from 1991 through 2020. Less snowpack means that, as temperatures warm in the spring, less snow will melt and flow into California’s reservoirs. … ” Continue reading at the US Energy Information Administration here: California drought could reduce hydroelectric generation to half of normal levels
The other CEQA shoe drops: Third District reverses judgment upholding Siskiyou County’s EIR for Crystal Geyser Bottling Plant project
“On May 12, the Third District Court of Appeal belatedly ordered partially published an opinion it had filed on April 20, 2022, reversing the trial court’s judgment upholding the EIR for lead agency Siskiyou County’s approval of Crystal Geyser Water Company’s water bottling plant project. We Advocate Through Environmental Review, et al. v. County of Siskiyou, et al. (Crystal Geyser Water Company, Real Party in Interest) (2022) ____ Cal.App.5th ______. The decision followed close on the heels of the Court’s earlier decision in a related CEQA case brought by the same plaintiff and involving the same project in which it held that the City of Mount Shasta, acting as a responsible agency issuing a wastewater permit for the project, had violated CEQA by failing to make the required Public Resources Code § 21081 findings regarding potentially significant effects identified in the EIR. Only about 16 pages of the Court’s 44-page slip opinion were ordered published; only those parts will be discussed in any detail here. … ” Read more from Miller Starr Regalia here: The other CEQA shoe drops: Third District reverses judgment upholding Siskiyou County’s EIR for Crystal Geyser Bottling Plant project
Unanimous three-judge panel rules bees are ‘fish’: ‘we are tasked with liberally construing’ the California Endangered Species Act
“Bees are fish, a California court (kind of) ruled on Tuesday. More precisely, a three-judge panel of a state appellate court found that certain invertebrate animal species, including bees, are legally contained under the same umbrella definition as “fish” under the terms of the Golden State’s homegrown Endangered Species Act. Four different bumblebee species are facing dire odds in the country’s most populous state. That danger mostly comes from the activities of huge agricultural interests. In 2019, the California Fish and Game Commission moved to protect those bees, the Crotch, Franklin’s, Western, and Suckley’s cuckoo, by designating them as endangered, threatened, and candidate species under three sections of the CESA. ... ” Read more from Law & Crime here: Unanimous three-judge panel rules bees are ‘fish’: ‘we are tasked with liberally construing’ the California Endangered Species Act
Judge orders stop to California’s pesticide spraying program
“A California judge has ordered a halt to a state-run program of spraying pesticides on public lands and some private property, saying officials failed to assess the potential health effects as required. Superior Court Judge James Arguelles ordered the Department of Food and Agriculture to suspend all spraying under the Statewide Plant Pest Prevention and Management Program within two months, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday. The ruling follows a state appeals court’s decision in October that found the program violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to conduct site-specific environmental reviews and notify the public before sprays. The lower court also found the program didn’t appropriately consider contamination to water bodies or mitigate harm on bees and that the department understated existing pesticide use. … ” Read more from KTLA here: Judge orders stop to California’s pesticide spraying program
SEE ALSO: Do bumblebees count as fish? Here’s why a California court just said yes, actually, from the SF Chronicle
Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
“At its May 26, 2022 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $52.93 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 33 approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife — including some endangered species — while others will provide public access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community. Funding for these projects comes from a combination of sources including the Habitat Conservation Fund and bond measures approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
Conservation goals leave many farmlands out
“Michael Machado’s farmland is in no danger of sprouting houses or strip malls anytime soon. The third-generation farmer and former legislator has easements on his property meant to ensure the century-old family farm in Linden remains as such in perpetuity. In addition to the estate-planning benefits, there’s a natural component. “If you maintain the land in agriculture, there’s going to be natural habitat that comes about just because of it, whether it be orchard or row crop or pasture,” Machado said. “If you’re dealing with pastures that may have farm ponds on them, farm ponds can become a focal point for certain species.” The problem, according to farmland-conservation advocates, is that the state’s ambitious conservation-based climate plan, “Pathways to 30×30,” largely excludes farmers and ranchers—and the lands they steward—from being counted. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Conservation goals leave many farmlands out
California gears up for a new composting law to cut methane emissions and enrich soil
“California’s jurisdictions have begun reducing organic wastes under a new composting law that takes effect in 2025, changing the landscape of waste management and making compost more accessible to farmers and cities alike. Senate Bill 1383, passed in 2016 to curtail emissions of methane and other “super pollutants,” requires local governments in California to reduce the amount of green waste (food scraps and yard trimmings) sent to the landfill by 75 percent before 2025. The increase in compost volume, farmers say, will make using it less expensive and could help improve climate resiliency on California farms in the face of more frequent droughts. However, it remains to be seen whether cities and private waste management companies can keep up with the increasing volume of green waste. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: California gears up for a new composting law to cut methane emissions and enrich soil
In commentary today …
Editorial: We’ll have to ask you to back away from the spigot, California
The LA Times editorial board writes, “What a difference almost half a century makes. In 1973, amid the Arab oil embargo and resulting fuel shortage, drivers could fill their tanks only on certain days, based on license plates: Even numbers got Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; odd got Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Or was it the other way around? Now, instead of gasoline that’s running low, it’s sprinkler water; and instead of license plates determining when you can open the nozzle, it’s addresses. Beginning Wednesday, Los Angeles residents are permitted to water their lawns and gardens only two days a week. Mondays and Fridays go to homes with odd-numbered addresses; Thursdays and Sundays are for even numbers. Don’t let anyone catch you watering on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Saturdays. That’s an additional restriction on top of the three-day-per-week limit you’re currently following. And you are following it, right? … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: Editorial: We’ll have to ask you to back away from the spigot, California
Desalination: An essential part of California’s water future
Richard Frank, Professor of Environmental Practice and Director of the U. C. Davis School of Law’s California Environmental Law & Policy Center, writes, “Let me begin this commentary with a disclaimer: I was an early and strong proponent of Proposition 20, the successful 1972 California voter initiative measure that enacted the Coastal Act and created the California Coastal Commission (albeit temporarily). I supported with equal enthusiasm the state Legislature’s 1976 enactment of legislation making both the Coastal Act and the Commission permanent. For the past 50 years I’ve similarly advocated for robust implementation and enforcement of the Coastal Act. And one of the highlights of my legal career in the California Department of Justice was the privilege of representing the Coastal Commission in state and federal courts for over a quarter century. So it pains me to criticize a recent, closely-watched decision by the Coastal Commission to vote down–unanimously–a desalination plant that the Poseidon Water Company had proposed to build on a remediated Superfund site in Huntington Beach, California. That plant would have converted approximately 50 million gallons of seawater per day into fresh water for urgently-needed residential, commercial and industrial water use in Southern California. … ” Continue reading at the Legal Planet here: Desalination: An essential part of California’s water future
The Abundance Choice, Part 9: Can reservoirs be part of the solution?
Edward Ring, contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “In May 1957, Harvey Banks, then director of the California Dept. of Water Resources, submitted “The California Water Plan” to the governor and state legislature. On page 14 of part one of this comprehensive document, Table 3 depicts what Banks and his team determined to be the “Estimated Present and Probable Ultimate Mean Seasonal Water Requirements.” The scale of their ultimate expectations reveals the magnitude of the challenge they had accepted. At the time, the estimated statewide water requirements were 19.0 million acre-feet (MAF) per year for agriculture, which they estimated would ultimately peak at more than double that amount, 41.1 MAF/year. The total urban and miscellaneous use per year at the time was 2.0 MAF/year, which they estimated would eventually quintuple to 10.0 MAF/year. In all, California’s mid-century water planners intended to build infrastructure capable of delivering to farms and cities 51.1 million acre-feet per year. … ” Read more from the California Globe here: The Abundance Choice, Part 9: Can reservoirs be part of the solution?
Environmentalists gone wild: Ignoring climate change in lust for 1,103 more fish
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “There’s a severe drought emergency in California. The state says we need to cut back at least 15 percent on our use to get through this year. A fourth year — and even a fifth and beyond — consecutive year of drought that is highly likely based on historic hydrology will force significantly deeper cuts in water use. … Clearly Gov. Newsom has looked at the data on reservoir storage, diminishing snowpacks, and dropping groundwater levels. … Newsom also sells himself as a true believer of climate change. So why, might you ask, is the governor not stopping the state for making the drought worse for the Northern San Joaquin Valley in exchange for the possibility of 1,103 more Chinook salmon annually coming from the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers? … ” Read the full commentary at the Manteca Bulletin here: Environmentalists gone wild: Ignoring climate change in lust for 1,103 more fish
Commentary: Dairy farmers are working to address climate issues
“Each year we use the month of June to recognize our dairy farm families and the delicious, nutritious foods they help bring to the table. On the heels of Earth Day, we are leaning into the topic of dairy sustainability for this year’s Dairy Month celebration to showcase California dairy’s commitment to slowing climate impacts. Our state remains one of only two major global regions to establish a statutory mandate to reduce methane from the dairy sector and is on track to meet its ambitious target of a 40% reduction in manure methane by 2030. California dairy farm families have a long commitment to providing products that keep the state’s finite resources and environmental balance in mind. For example, the amount of water used per gallon of milk produced has decreased by more than 88% over a 50-year period, due to improved feed crop production, water use efficiency and the use of byproducts as feed ingredients. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Commentary: Dairy farmers are working to address climate issues
Today’s featured articles …
RISING VOICES: Water, food, soil, and California’s need for holistic climate policy
Written by the Water Hub
Each month, the Water Hub checks in with advocates and organizers in California to talk about the water issues impacting local communities. We spoke with Arohi Sharma about why #SoilIsSexy, how soil health can be a tool for promoting water conservation and water efficiency, and the need for holistic policies that address the systematic structures of climate change.
Water Hub: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role at NRDC?
Arohi Sharma: I am the Deputy Director of Regenerative Agriculture at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). I’ve been with NRDC for about four and a half years. NRDC is an environmental non-profit organization that fights to protect our environment, natural resources, and people and communities. We say we are ‘Earth’s best defense’ and embody that in [our] advocacy. My work focuses on how we can transition agriculture from being a contributor to climate change to fighting the climate crisis while building soil health to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon, and increase water conservation. That last point is especially important for my work to reduce agricultural water use and increase agricultural water use efficiency in California.
Click here to continue reading this article.
MONTHLY RESERVOIR REPORT for June 1
Written by Robert Shibatani
Summer is here, well, not officially…
But as California prepares itself for the “business-end” of what is shaping up to be a long, hot summer, water operations managers are running out of options. Savvy CVOC operators along with their DWR counterparts can skillfully manipulate our CVP water system in a number of ways over the course of any WY, particularly during the flood season and the ramp-up to the irrigation season. But even that has limits; for at some point, no other options remain and the inevitable plunge in carryover reserves becomes unavoidable. The implications to future water quality and fisheries concerns over the next several months builds with each passing day as the carryover reserves in the CVP/SWP terminal reservoirs simply will not be available.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Mechanical whole tree thinning project starts near South Lake Tahoe neighborhood
“Equipment is being moved into the neighborhood and powerline corridor near Montgomery Estates in preparation for a mechanical whole tree thinning operation that will start this week. Work is scheduled to begin in Montreal Units 6, 26, and 1006 (see map above) at the end of High Meadows Trail off of Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe. The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is partnering with Great Basin Institute on this project. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Mechanical whole tree thinning project starts near South Lake Tahoe neighborhood
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Drought heavily affecting rice farmers’ fields
“In a normal year, Don Bransford gets 75% of his water supply for his crop from Shasta Lake. “Typically, you would see a green carpet of rice just emerging from the water right now, but because we have no supply of water right now, it’s just bone dry,” Bransford said. This year, he’s only getting 18%, forcing him to make a decision. “I mean nothing has been planted this year,” Bransford said. For the first time in his 42 years of farming, Bransford’s fields are empty. … ” Read more from KTXL Channel 40 here: Drought heavily affecting rice farmers’ fields
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water to host virtual town hall on impacts of drought
“Sonoma Water will issue an update on the drought emergency and its impacts on Sonoma County during a virtual town hall meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2022, part of a new series of monthly public forums on the drought. A panel of experts will report on current drought conditions, local water conservation measures and guidelines for well water users. ... ” Read more from the County of Sonoma here: Sonoma Water to host virtual town hall on impacts of drought
BAY AREA
In this SF Bay Area county, you can rat on water wasters who may face fines up to $10,000
“It’s a sign the drought is worsening: One of the largest water districts in the San Francisco Bay Area became the first in the state on Wednesday to introduce a program to fine water wasters who ignore repeated warnings. Santa Clara Valley Water customers could face fines, as little as $100 and as high as $10,000 in the most extreme cases, for not following rules aimed at reducing outdoor water use. Outdoor watering historically goes up during the warm summer months when California sees no or very little rain, and residents and businesses crank up their irrigation systems to keep their lawns green. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: In this SF Bay Area county, you can rat on water wasters who may face fines up to $10,000
Hunter’s Point could face ‘toxic soup’ of contaminants due to climate change
“Plans to redevelop the Hunters Point Shipyard, a 638-acre Superfund site on San Francisco’s southeastern shore, have been in the works for decades but have stalled numerous times due to scandal, the continual discovery of toxic materials and years of neglect. Now, one of the largest redevelopment proposals in San Francisco’s history faces a new threat: climate change. Rising sea levels are poised to seep into groundwater in low-lying areas, including Hunter’s Point, a former Naval shipyard and radiological research laboratory, and turn once-buried chemicals into what environmental activists call “a toxic soup” of mobilized contaminants. … ” Read more from the SF Examiner here: Hunter’s Point could face ‘toxic soup’ of contaminants due to climate change
Victims of 2017 San Jose flood settle lawsuits for $8.25 million with Santa Clara Valley Water District
“More than five years after neighborhoods near downtown San Jose flooded following a series of major storms, Silicon Valley’s largest water agency has agreed to pay $8.25 million to settle lawsuits from more than 200 people who suffered losses. By June 15, the Santa Clara Valley Water District will pay 231 families and individuals whose homes and belongings were submerged under a torrent of muddy, rising water when Coyote Creek burst over its banks on Feb. 21, 2017. “There’s a level of relief that we were able to reach resolution,” said Anne Kepner, lead attorney for the victims. “Given all the circumstances, I think it was fair.” … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Victims of 2017 San Jose flood settle lawsuits for $8.25 million with Santa Clara Valley Water District
CENTRAL COAST
Water usage restrictions are coming to some SLO County cities amid severe drought
“The state is in its third year of harsh drought, and the Central Coast is particularly vulnerable. State officials announced new water bill use restrictions to try to address that, and San Luis Obispo County is preparing for a change in how much water we use. The Water Quality Control Board’s decision means urban water suppliers have until June 10 to go to Level 2 of their water supply plan, which means a 10-20% reduction in usage. “An urban water supplier has 3,000 connections or more or delivers 3,000 acre feet a year or more. So some of our larger communities in the county like the City of Paso [Robles], city of San Luis Obispo [and] Arroyo Grande would qualify as urban water suppliers,” said Courtney Howard, the Water Resources Division manager for SLO County Public Works. … ” Read more from KCBX here: Water usage restrictions are coming to some SLO County cities amid severe drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Where there is a ‘well’ … Cemetery’s water source exempts it from mandate
“The grass this summer will be sort of green — just like it has from May through October for years — at East Union Cemetery. The fact it will be partially green has nothing to do with ignoring a state mandate that goes into effect June 10 barring the irrigation of non-essential turf. Nor does the fact it will be yellow in spots or even brown have anything to do with it not being irrigated. A unique set of circumstances means the 150-year-old cemetery on the southwest corner of Louise Avenue and Union Road won’t need to comply with the state order for all non-essential turf that isn’t used for recreational purposes such as playing fields, parks, and golf courses or in front of homes not to be irrigated starting in 10 days as California struggles to deal with a deepening drought. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Where there is a ‘well’ … Cemetery’s water source exempts it from mandate
Blue-green algae found in Merced County’s San Luis Reservoir. Avoid the water, officials say
“The public is advised to avoid contact with water at the San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos in Merced County, according to a warning issued Tuesday by the state Department of Water Resources. The notice was made on account of the presence of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, that could cause health issues. Swimming and other recreation and sporting activities that require contact with the water are not considered safe due to potential adverse health effects. Individuals should also refrain from eating any shellfish from the reservoir. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Blue-green algae found in Merced County’s San Luis Reservoir. Avoid the water, officials say
SEE ALSO: San Luis Reservoir Algal Bloom at Warning Level, press release from the Department of Water Resources
Commentary: Fresno-area dairy owner: Sustainability is the future, and milk cows key part of solution
Melvin Medeiros, owner of the 1,600 cow Medeiros Holsteins in Laton, writes, “As a dairy farmer whose family business has been milking cows for 53 years, here’s what I think: The dairy cow is the most efficient animal on Earth today. It can be a central source of energy for the human body, and it could be a net exporter of energy for society — with the right policies in place. California cows can be sustainability solutions. Dairy farmers for generations have dealt with changing weather patterns and moisture challenges, and it’s made us proactive. Research shows that producing a gallon of milk in 2017 required 30% less water, 21% less land, had a 19% smaller carbon footprint, and produced 20% less manure than in 2007. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Commentary: Fresno-area dairy owner: Sustainability is the future, and milk cows key part of solution
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In worsening drought, Southern California water restrictions take effect
“The forecast for Southern California grass is yellow and brown from here on out. On Wednesday, new restrictions on outdoor water use go into effect for more than 6 million residents in the Los Angeles area. The rules, set by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, limit outdoor watering to one day per week in many jurisdictions — while others opted to stay below a volume limit — as authorities try to dramatically reduce urban water use amid the record-breaking drought fueled by the warming climate. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: In worsening drought, Southern California water restrictions take effect
Lawns, swimming pools, car washes: Know new water rules
“Water restrictions are set to take effect on June 1 for people who live in many parts of Southern California. As the drought goes on, the Metropolitan Water District hopes that some of these changes will reduce water consumption by 20-30%, and maybe prevent a total ban on outdoor watering later in the summer. In the City of LA, watering is limited to two days a week, with no watering allowed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Customers with odd-numbered street addresses are able to water on Mondays and Fridays, and even-numbered street addresses on Thursdays and Sundays. Meanwhile, parts of Ventura County are already down to just one day a week. … ” Read more from the KCRW here: Lawns, swimming pools, car washes: Know new water rules
SEE ALSO: Surviving SoCal’s unprecedented water restrictions: A simple, no-nonsense guide, from the LA Times
The death of the American lawn?
“It’s going to be a long, hot summer for the Southern California lawn, the little squares of green that have long knitted together neighborhoods. Lawns played such a crucial role during the pandemic, bringing people together for evening social circles (six feet apart), for backyard barbecues, for a game of catch or running with the family pet. With many Southern California communities now on limited watering schedules, the lush emerald green grasses, the summery smells of fresh lawn clippings, the cool blades squiggling between our toes — all will give way to crispy, dusty lots of dying fescue. Southern California is still searching for a water cure. Whether it’s more reservoirs or expensive desalination, one thing is for certain — it’s going to be a summer of brown grass and hard choices. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: The death of the American lawn?
Rationing, saltwater toilets and desalination: How Catalina hopes to survive historic drought
“Thirty years ago in October 1992, the town of Avalon on Catalina Island became the first city on the West Coast to have its own municipal desalination plant. It was developing technology at the time, and the city hoped it would provide a stable source of drinking water on an island 23 miles off the coast of Southern California with few other options. … Today, Catalina has two desalination plants that strip salt from seawater, providing up to 230,400 gallons per day—roughly 40% of the island’s drinking water. While desalination has been a critical tool for water security, officials said the island will have to make tough choices as its reservoir levels continue to plummet in the face of worsening drought conditions due to climate change. This summer will likely be California’s driest on record. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Rationing, saltwater toilets and desalination: How Catalina hopes to survive historic drought
Long Beach: Want to replace your lawn with drought-tolerant plants? You can now get paid to do it
“With outdoor watering restrictions going into effect this month and potentially even stricter orders on the horizon from state water regulators, it will likely become harder to maintain a lush, green lawn. However, the Long Beach Water Department wants to help you convert your turf into a more beautiful, drought-tolerant version of itself. Starting June 1, residents will only be allowed to water their outdoor landscaping on Tuesdays and Saturdays and with drought conditions worsening, Gov. Gavin Newsom has hinted at even harsher measures to conserve potable water for drinking. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Long Beach: Want to replace your lawn with drought-tolerant plants? You can now get paid to do it
Southern California fish move closer to Endangered Species Act protection
“In response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to dates by which it will make decisions on whether Santa Ana speckled dace and Long Valley speckled dace warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. “I’m relieved to see these imperiled fish getting a chance at the federal protections they need to avoid vanishing forever from California’s rivers,” said Ileene Anderson, deserts director at the Center. “Endangered Species Act safeguards would be a crucial lifeline as Santa Ana and Long Valley speckled dace try to survive climate chaos and other threats. The future will be a tough place for these little fish, and they really need our help.” … ” Read more at YubaNet here: Southern California fish move closer to Endangered Species Act protection
SoCa
l area students honored for water industry-themed book
“Three students from Lakeside Middle School in the Val Verde Unified School District were honored this month as the winners of Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) annual “Write Off” student story contest. The contest is an annual partnership between EMWD and neighboring Rancho California Water District in which middle school students write and illustrate a water industry-themed book, which then becomes part of the agencies’ classroom curriculum for elementary school students in subsequent years. ... ” Read more from ACWA Water News here: SoCal area students honored for water industry-themed book
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
$100M New River funding legislation to address water quality problems at California-Mexico border rivers
“The California State Assembly recently approved Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s California-Mexico Border River Restoration, AB 2248. According to Garcia, the legislation would allocate $100 million to address water quality problems at California-Mexico border rivers, with $50 million each for the New River, in Calexico and the Tijuana River, in San Diego. “Our $100 million funding request for New River and Tijuana River improvement projects are a matter of public health and environmental justice urgency for our shared border communities. For too long, residents living alongside our borders have faced disproportionate consequences of cross-border pollution, and we have been fighting for the resources needed to rectify these disparities,” stated Assemblymember Garcia. … ” Read more from KYMA here: $100M New River funding legislation to address water quality problems at California-Mexico border rivers
SAN DIEGO
East San Diego County breaks ground on water purification program
“Marking an important milestone for the project and the region, elected officials, water industry leaders and city representatives will break ground this week on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program at the future site of the treatment facility in Santee, California. The groundbreaking follows approval of project construction on May 19, 2022, by the East County AWP Joint Powers Authority, which owns, administers and operates the program. The guaranteed maximum price for construction was set at $950 million. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: East San Diego County breaks ground on water purification program
Ocean off-limits as 40 million gallons of Mexican sewage flow north of the border daily
““Keep out of the water” signs are strung out along 15 miles of coastline from the border all the way up to Coronado, warning beachgoers about contamination due to sewage in the ocean. They’ve been up for weeks because of an ongoing release of sewage from a broken-down treatment plant in Tijuana that releases effluent at a clip of 40 million gallons per day, said Paloma Aguirre, an Imperial Beach City Council member and avid surfer. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Ocean off-limits as 40 million gallons of Mexican sewage flow north of the border daily
Along the Colorado River …
Las Vegas becomes unlikely model for water conservation
“Millions in Southern California are facing new water restrictions due to a megadrought crippling the Southwest, but across the border in Nevada — they’ve been conserving water for years. Now, officials in Las Vegas are going a step further by ripping out all the water-guzzling grass that serves no real purpose. “For having a reputation as a city of excess, we’re actually one of the most water-efficient cities in the world,” said John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. … ” Read more from CBS News here: Las Vegas becomes unlikely model for water conservation
Arizona’s growing rural groundwater crisis
“With a megadrought across the west, Arizona is hardly the only state with water supply issues, but experts say it is unique. “The really striking thing about Arizona is that there’s no one in charge for a lot of the state,” Rebecca Nelson told ABC15. She was a water policy researcher who studied groundwater in the western U.S. at Stanford University and is now at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She describes Arizona’s groundwater policy as “swiss cheese.” ... ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Arizona’s growing rural groundwater crisis
Access to clean water, rights to Colorado River are high priorities for tribes
“Two recent moves aim to benefit water access for tribal communities in the Colorado River basin. One, a bill in the U.S. Congress, could increase access to clean water. Another, the release of a “shared vision” statement, outlines the goals of tribes and conservation nonprofits. Tribes in the basin hold rights to about a quarter of the river’s flow but have often been excluded from negotiations about how the river’s water is used. At the same time, tribal communities often lack reliable access to clean water as a result of aging infrastructure and a history of underinvestment. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Access to clean water, rights to Colorado River are high priorities for tribes
In national water news today …
State water ownership and the future of groundwater management
“Climate change—bringing worse drought and more erratic weather—will both increase our need for groundwater and shrink the amount available. Managing dwindling groundwater reserves poses stark legal and policy challenges, which fall largely on the states. But in many states, antiquated legal regimes allow for an unrestricted race to pump aquifers dry. As a result, from the High Plains to the agricultural valleys of California, the nation’s aquifers are being depleted. Some will never replenish. Against this backdrop, this Note addresses a question that the Supreme Court confronted—but failed to clarify—this Term: can states own the groundwater within their borders? Many states, particularly in the West, claim to own waters within their territory. Over the course of the twentieth century, the Court settled that these water-ownership claims are largely meaningless beyond states’ borders: states cannot rely on these claims to thwart federal supremacy or prevail in water contests with other states or the federal government. … ” Continue reading from the Yale Law Journal here: State water ownership and the future of groundwater management
The imperiled inland sea
“While Earth’s oceans are plagued by plastic pollution and warming waters, they aren’t the only seas on our planet that will be adversely impacted by climate change. Salty, landlocked lakes, commonly called inland seas, are salinated due to their geological history. For a salt lake to develop, the lake must be at the terminal point of a closed drainage system. In other words, the lake receives inflow water but has no strong outflow. Whatever water is lost from the lake due to evaporation or seepage through sediments must be balanced by water arriving from rivers, streams, springs, or precipitation. … ” Read more from JSTOR here: The imperiled inland sea
A growing movement to reclaim water rights for indigenous people
“In recent years, the hashtag #LandBack has surfaced across Indigenous platforms to signify a need to reclaim ancestral landscapes and protect the sacred and cultural resources they contain. Across the American Southwest, however, there has been an even deeper call to action: “We can’t have #LandBack without #WaterBack” reads the poster material for the Pueblo Action Alliance’s #WaterBack campaign. Between Arizona and New Mexico alone, 43 federally recognized tribes call the desert landscape home. However, their ways of life have been challenged by centuries of colonization and resource exploitation, resulting in large cities siphoning water from reservations; extractive industries contaminating Indigenous lands; and construction, poachers, and even rock climbers threatening cultural sites and ancient petroglyphs. Chaco Canyon, where Pueblo Action Alliance does much of its work, is unfortunately a nexus for many of these injustices. … ” Read more from Yes Magazine here: A growing movement to reclaim water rights for indigenous people
Tire industry seeks to better understand and mitigate road wear particles
“In addition to supporting a vehicle’s weight, absorbing impacts and withstanding weather conditions, tires are a car’s only connection to the road — and as such are essential to vehicle safety and performance. But that critical grip also leads to abrasion of both the tire and the road surface, producing tiny debris called tire and road wear particles, or TRWP. As TriplePundit has previously reported in this series, public awareness of TRWP and their potential impact on the environment and human health is beginning to emerge. But as more information about TRWP has been learned, tire industry stakeholders — including the Tire Industry Project (TIP), a voluntary CEO-led sustainability collaboration under the umbrella of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), which represents tire companies in the United States — have ramped up efforts to better understand TRWP and mitigate their potential impacts. … ” Read more from the Triple Pundit here: Tire industry seeks to better understand and mitigate road wear particles
Six reasons why wetlands are vital every month of the year.
“The Environmental Protection Agency has designated May as American Wetlands Month, a “time to celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to our Nation’s ecological, economic, and social health.” Scientists and coastal planners increasingly recognize the important role wetlands play in everything from flood protection to water quality to wildlife habitat to economic impact. At the same time, climate change and other stressors threaten wetlands, and in turn, the people and wildlife that rely on them. As we close out American Wetlands Month, here are six reasons why one of nature’s richest ecosystems provide value to our lives every month of the year. ... ” Read more from EDF’s Growing Returns here: Six reasons why wetlands are vital every month of the year.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WEBINAR RECORDING: California water futures: What are they? And what are they not?
USFWS Fish and Wildlife News: Extinction threats, protecting migration, and tools for land managers
May 2022 Delta Breeze: Science Action Agenda
The Failed Recovery Plan for the Delta and Delta Smelt
Worth Waiting For: The Advantages of Late-Migrating Spring-Run Chinook
