In California water news this weekend …
As new deadline looms, groundwater managers rework ‘incomplete’ plans to meet California’s sustainability goals
“Managers of California’s most overdrawn aquifers were given a monumental task under the state’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: Craft viable, detailed plans on a 20-year timeline to bring their beleaguered basins into balance. Earlier this year, DWR rendered its verdict: Most of the basin plans were incomplete. Now groundwater agencies responsible for 12 of the 20 basins are racing to meet a late July deadline to submit revised plans that meet SGMA’s requirements or risk the state stepping in to manage their groundwater basins. ... ” Continue reading at Western Water here: As new deadline looms, groundwater managers rework ‘incomplete’ plans to meet California’s sustainability goals
A tale of two ocean water desalination plants and finding a solution to drought
“This is the story of two ocean desalination plants. One: a huge facility proposed by desalination company Poseidon in Huntington Beach that faced massive public resistance. It was rejected by the California Coastal Commission last month, leaving that project dead in the water. And two: a smaller plant being considered at Doheny State Beach that has faced little resistance from environmentalists. It has sailed through the permitting process so far and the Coastal Commission is expected to make a final decision later this year. Brown’s organization was one of the most ardent opponents of the Poseidon project, but it supports the Doheny project. He said the latter is a model for doing desalination right. “Every desal project has to be analyzed on its own merits,” Brown said. … ” Continue reading at the LAist here: A tale of two ocean water desalination plants and finding a solution to drought
San Diego continues to argue for exemption to emergency drought rules; state officials disagree
“It’s no secret that San Diego County’s top water managers are deeply frustrated with California’s new conservation rules, even as drought continues to ravage the American Southwest. The San Diego County Water Authority, the region’s wholesaler, has repeatedly lobbied the state for an exemption to prohibitions on watering commercial and other landscapes that go into effect this month. Officials point out that San Diegans are currently using little, if any, water from the state’s imperiled Sacramento River Delta, which feeds urban and agricultural communities through the 705-mile State Water Project. Rather, the region imports more than half of its water from the Colorado River, making up most of the balance with water that is desalinated, recycled or from other local sources. However, California’s top water officials aren’t buying that logic. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: San Diego continues to argue for exemption to emergency drought rules; state officials disagree
California’s water wasters: One district has gotten tough with residents who repeatedly flout the rules: Their taps have been slowed to trickle.
“Tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains, the average home here goes for around $1.8 million, the gardens are bursting with pansies fit for rainy England, and hefty fines have done little to restrain many homeowners from squandering water in a time of drought. This week came a measure of last resort. The local water agency began choking the taps of the worst offenders, limiting the water flow of those who flouted water conservation rules, paid the fines, and kept on flouting. Their showers will henceforth slow to a trickle. Sprinklers will be rendered unusable. Good luck refilling the pool. Or the koi pond. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: California’s water wasters: One district has gotten tough with residents who repeatedly flout the rules: Their taps have been slowed to trickle.
Black rural community in California hurt by historic drought restriction
“Per KCRW, Southern Californians are facing new water restrictions that began June 1 due to extreme drought. However, the circumstances are particularly worse for unincorporated communities along the banks of the San Joaquin Valley, known as colonias where mostly Black and Latino families have lived for decades. According to author David Bacon, these issues are rooted in racial inequity and environmental injustice. Bacon explains that many of these communities were established during the early 20th century, when Black Americans migrated from the South to California. But they faced exclusion in cities across the Central Valley, such as Fresno, Visalia, and Tulare. As a result, they lived in rural areas outside of those cities. … ” Read more from Black Wall Street Times here: Black rural community in California hurt by historic drought restriction
California drought is pushing Latino farmers and workers to make difficult decisions
“Joe Del Bosque roamed the 2,000 acres of his California farm knowing he couldn’t touch nearly half of the land he’s owned for decades. “I got the land, I got the people. I have everything but no water. I can’t do it,” said Del Bosque, a 73-year-old farmer in Firebaugh, California. Del Bosque is one of the many Latino farmers and workers whose lives revolve around California’s agriculture industry and who have been forced to make difficult decisions due to the ongoing water crisis. … ” Read more from CNN here: California drought is pushing Latino farmers and workers to make difficult decisions
Water expert: Make conservation a “family project” as Calif. drought gets worse
“African American water experts are joining state officials calling on Californians to conserve as much water as possible in preparation for an abnormally dry summer ahead. California is in year three of a drought that scientists have called the driest in the history of the state. “Look at your usage. Make it a family project,” said Dale Hunter, respected African American water expert in Sacramento. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Observer here: Water expert: Make conservation a “family project” as Calif. drought gets worse
What is the right length of time for the California drought shower?
“On mornings that are chilly by Los Angeles standards, Camilo Loza sometimes takes a hot shower before heading to the gym. After a workout on the Stairmaster, Loza bikes home to Windsor Hills and showers again. And a few nights a week, Loza takes a third shower after getting home from work. California is now in the third year of a drought that ranks among the worst on record. But Loza says showering is an occasional indulgence in a studio apartment that has no lawn, no garden and no pool. “My water use is pretty minimal, and mostly utilitarian,” said Loza, 32, who works in logistics for an heirloom food company. Loza previously worked as a line cook in restaurants and hotels, and left those jobs thinking that even modest water reductions at institutions and businesses “would have a far more profound effect than anything I could do at home.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: What is the right length of time for the California drought shower?
After a cool, cloudy weekend, a statewide heat wave is on tap for California next week
“After a cool and cloudy weekend, Southern California can expect to see the heat return next week, particularly in inland, valley and desert areas, forecasters say. The heat wave will likely be the hottest of the season, with some areas seeing temperatures spike by 20 degrees or more, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Some inland areas could could see triple digit temperatures as early as midweek. Coastal regions and most of the Los Angeles metro area “will not be that hot — closer to 10 degrees above normal,” he said. For example, while the temperature in downtown L.A. is normally about 75 degrees this time of year, temperatures are expected to be closer to 85 by late next week. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: After a cool, cloudy weekend, a statewide heat wave is on tap for California next week
Data from California’s drought conditions may help predict fire danger
“California’s extreme drought conditions are beginning to appear in data collected to help predict fire danger. The Ventura County Fire Department says the “fuel-moisture” levels in brush sampled around the county this week — are already well below the historic average, meaning vegetation is drying out more quickly this year, which, in turn, contributes to an increasing danger of wildfire. “We’re seeing drier fuels at this time, than we were at this time last year,” said Capt. Brian McGrath, the Ventura County Fire Department’s public information officer. … ” Read more from NBC 4 here: Data from California’s drought conditions may help predict fire danger
Stanford study: Shutting down pumps alone won’t halt San Joaquin Valley sinking
“The San Joaquin Valley is sinking and it might continue to do so for centuries if groundwater levels aren’t recovered, according to a new Stanford University study. The study, which was published on Thursday in the Water Resources Research journal, simulated 65 years of land sinking, called subsidence, at a site near Hanford in Kings County. It found that even if all groundwater pumping stopped immediately, sinking would continue. The only hope is for groundwater levels to come back up. “We try and point out that stabilization, which has kind of been assumed to be sufficient, that assumption is wrong,” said Matthew Lees, a geophysics PhD student and lead author of the study. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Stanford study: Shutting down pumps alone won’t halt San Joaquin Valley sinking
SEE ALSO: Land is sinking as groundwater levels drop. New research shows how California could fix it, from LA Times
Publication: Identifying environmental factors limiting recovery of an imperiled estuarine fish
“Correctly identifying the environmental factors that limit population growth and recovery of imperiled species is an essential element of any targeted conservation program. Abundance index values for delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), an imperiled fish in the upper San Francisco Estuary, have exhibited substantial inter-annual variation and the population is now at historically low numbers. Drawing from conceptual ecological models, we developed and applied a new multivariate analytical technique that incorporates a fundamental characteristic of limiting environmental factors– recognition that certain factors influence abundance in certain seasons or years, but they may have no influence on the species’ performance at other times. … ” Read more from the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management here: Publication: Identifying environmental factors limiting recovery of an imperiled estuarine fish
9th Circuit Court blocks permits for fracking off California coast
“The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday blocked fracking off the California coast, ruling that the federal government must complete a full environmental review before approving permits for such offshore oil drilling platforms. The decision prevents the Interior Department and other federal agencies from issuing permits for “well stimulation” through hydraulic fracturing until a complete environmental impact statement is issued “rather than the inadequate [environmental assessment] on which they had relied.” “Today’s decision is a win for our communities, our environment, and the rule of law,” California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said in a news release. “Offshore drilling — particularly fracking — pollutes our waterways, damages our environment, and exacerbates climate change. We saw the risks of offshore drilling firsthand with the Huntington Beach oil spill last year, and we see it every day in the form of the climate crisis.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: 9th Circuit Court blocks permits for fracking off California coast
Podcasts …
LA TIMES PODCAST: California’s historic water restrictions
Unprecedented water restrictions in Los Angeles County are going to ensure the slow demise of lawns. And now, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is ready to deal green lawns a final blow. Today, how Southern Californians will have to get used to browner lawns — and why even that might not make a dent in a historic drought.
KQED PODCAST: Long Shuttered Reservoir Project Could Be Revived
As California’s drought conditions worsen, the state is looking for more answers beyond just asking residents to conserve. There’s now renewed debate about whether or not to build the Sites Reservoir, a massive reservoir project in the western Sacramento River Valley.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Personal Experience is a Great Teacher
Steven Baker writes, “During a recent winter storm that occurred in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, my family and community lost our electric power and had no way to pump groundwater from our water well. The power grid was so damaged, we had to wait a week for power to turn back on. The inconvenience of not having water and the inability to not be able to carry on normal daily activities definitely added a personal touch to our understanding of waters’ importance in our lives. The state of Washington is also interested in the growing use of permit except water wells. The question is; How personal an experience to the people of the state need to make the appropriate changes that can add certainty to this water resource? Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems. water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
THE ECONEWS REPORT: Toxic Tires?
On this week’s EcoNews Report, Warner Chabot of the San Francisco Estuary Institute joins Gang Green to talk about micro-plastic pollution, including that which comes from car tires. A chemical in tires has been found to kill coho salmon. Now the California Department of Toxic Substances Control is considering regulation to address this threat. Click here to listen at the Lost Coast Outpost.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Radio show: Agricultural leaders and Ducks Unlimited join forces on water issues in the Klamath Basin
“Irrigators in Southern Oregon and Northern California are facing another year of drought. The Klamath Water Users Association, an organization that represents farmers and ranchers, has teamed up with Ducks Unlimited, an organization that works on wetland conservation, to handle water issues. The groups aim to recycle water in the region and envision pump stations that can manage water more efficiently. We hear more about the plan from Moss Driscoll, the Director of Water Policy for the Klamath Water Users Association, and Jeff McCreary, the Western Region director of operations for Ducks Unlimited.” Listen to radio show at Oregon Public Broadcasting here (9:16): Radio show: Agricultural leaders and Ducks Unlimited join forces on water issues in the Klamath Basin
North Coast rail dispute intensifies with competing bids from Skunk Train and coal export company
“A mysterious Wyoming-based firm believed to be pushing a controversial coal-by-rail export proposal along the Northern California coast has made a new filing with a powerful federal board to advance its bid to seize control over the defunct lines running between Willits and Eureka. The June 1 filing indicated the so-named North Coast Railroad Company, which wants to ship Rocky Mountain coal out of the port at Humboldt Bay, had at least $15 million in the bank — enough to clear an initial federal hurdle in which a company must prove it can cover the cost of a line’s scrap steel and two years of maintenance. But that company is not the only entity vying for control of abandoned track running through Mendocino and Humboldt counties — along a right of way state lawmakers hope will one day welcome a 320-mile multiuse trail stretching south to San Francisco Bay. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: North Coast rail dispute intensifies with competing bids from Skunk Train and coal export company
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Van Norden Meadow to be restored over the next 2 years
“The Sierra Nevada’s meadows — some 10,000 of them — have significantly deteriorated in the last century because of road building, overuse of habitat, development and catastrophic wildfire, according to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The South Yuba River Citizens League was awarded $3.746 million from the Wildlife Conservation Board’s Forest Conservation grant program to implement Phase One of the restoration of Van Norden Meadow — “Yayalu Itdeh” in Washoe — in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest. SYRCL this July will begin restoration on a 485-acre swath of meadow that collects water from spring runoff from Castle Peak, Sugar Bowl and Razorback Ridge. … ” Read more from The Union here: Van Norden Meadow to be restored over the next 2 years
Lake Tahoe to receive 100,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout this summer: Agencies, Washoe tribe unite to return native trout to Lake Tahoe
“The Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex in Gardnerville, Nev., began stocking 100,000 catchable, Lahontan cutthroat trout into Lake Tahoe June 1 and will continue stocking throughout the summer as conditions allow. The stocking is part of a multiagency and tribal cooperative effort to reintroduce the Tahoe Basin’s native trout species and expand recreational fishing opportunities to anglers. The partners involved are the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (USDA LTBMU), Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: Lake Tahoe to receive 100,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout this summer: Agencies, Washoe tribe unite to return native trout to Lake Tahoe
SEE ALSO: Upstream battle: Once thought extinct, native Lahontan cutthroat trout are on the rise, from the Tahoe Daily Tribune
Drought impact: South Tahoe utility to prohibit watering ornamental grass
“Grass at businesses, office parks and along some South Lake Tahoe roads will likely go brown this summer with California suffering through its third year of acute drought, part of a two-decade megadrought facing the U.S. West that scientists say is the worst in 1,200 years. California last week approved stricter drought restrictions to reduce water use this summer. Acting on an executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency drought regulations that require water providers to activate their drought plan to prepare for up to a 20% water shortage. ... ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Drought impact: South Tahoe utility to prohibit watering ornamental grass
SEE ALSO: How is South Lake Tahoe affected by California’s new water restrictions?, from South Tahoe Now
Commentary: Seeing a lake for the trees
“Lake Tahoe’s cold, clear water provides an oasis in a dry landscape. Fed by the Lake, the lower Truckee River supports flourishing communities and ecosystems along its length and through to its final destination at Pyramid Lake. While a remarkable set of conservation efforts protect Lake Tahoe from urban runoff and pollutants, the majority of the Lake’s water originates in the forested creek, stream, and river drainages that surround it, and these forests are changing. Since the end of the last ice age, high elevation forests have covered the Tahoe Basin and helped keep the Lake clear and cold. The Washoe People used small, frequent fires to remove brush and dense clusters of young trees for centuries. Their fire management resulted in more fire-resistant forests with more old-growth trees and fewer small trees, shrubs, and forest floor vegetation. Then, European-American settlers clearcut the Tahoe Basin in the 1800s. As the forests regrew, settlers suppressed wildfire to protect the growing number of people and buildings in the Basin. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Commentary: Seeing a lake for the trees
2022 Fire Season underway – restrictions now in place in all districts around Lake Tahoe
“The Lake Valley Fire Protection District, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, and North Lake Tahoe Fire District have all implemented 2022 fire restrictions in line with those previously announced by South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Meeks Bay Fire, and North Tahoe Fire. This means, as of June 1, almost all fire protection districts around the lake are on the same page when it comes to what is, and isn’t, allowed where outdoor fires and barbeques are concerned. Tahoe Douglas Fire is giving residents a three-week education process where homeowners can apply for a special permit for an outdoor fire. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: 2022 Fire Season underway – restrictions now in place in all districts around Lake Tahoe
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
California non-profit looking to help fish populations as drought worsens
“With the ongoing drought, one organization is doing its best to help bring up fish populations in our Northstate rivers. California Trout is a non-profit organization working to help bring winter-run Chinook salmon back to its natural habitat. Last fall one of the projects brought the salmon to Battle Creek in Manton, which would help the fish swim back up to Shasta Lake. … ” Read more from KRCR here: California non-profit looking to help fish populations as drought worsens
‘We don’t use that much water!’ | Is an Arden-Arcade apartment complex price-gouging water bills?
“When tenants of the Harlow Apartments in Arden-Arcade reached out to ABC10 about abnormally high water bills, we started asking questions and got results. With the turn of a faucet, tenant Angy Boss washes her hands before lunch, wondering why her May water bill was more than 11 times the flat rate of $35 that’s written into her lease. “We don’t use that much water,” Boss said. “I don’t have $400 laying around to be put into a utility bill that I wasn’t expecting.” That’s a third of what she pays for rent now in a quiet two-bedroom, one-bathroom unit that doesn’t have its own washer and dryer at the Harlow Apartment complex. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: ‘We don’t use that much water!’ | Is an Arden-Arcade apartment complex price-gouging water bills?
New study reveals what’s to blame for the fecal bacteria in Sacramento’s American River
“Bird and dog feces — not human waste — are the main sources of E. coli found in the stretch of the American River below Sacramento’s sprawling riverside homeless encampments. On Friday, state scientists released those initial findings as part of their years-long DNA study that seeks to answer the controversial question that’s hounded the region for years: Whose poop is causing the dangerous spikes in E. coli fecal bacteria at popular swimming areas near downtown? The findings released by the State Water Resources Control Board on Friday seemed unlikely to settle the debate. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: New study reveals what’s to blame for the fecal bacteria in Sacramento’s American River
SEE ALSO: Study finds birds, dogs are most significant contaminators of the American River through Sacramento, from Channel 10
BAY AREA
As geese leave mementos, San Mateo weighs a cull
“They poop on the lawn. They poop in the park. That poop makes its way into the waterways. Officials in one California city have decided that enough is enough. In Foster City, Calif., as in much of the United States, the Canada goose population is booming, and the birds are making a mess. Now the city is saying it may have no choice but to cull them in an attempt to reduce potential risks to the public from the birds’ feces. “We all learn to be tolerant and to coexist with the wildlife, but lately we have been uncovering health hazards,” said Richa Awasthi, the mayor of Foster City, which winds around a lagoon about 22 miles south of San Francisco. Of the poop, Ms. Awasthi added, “it’s everywhere.” The proposal, however, has upset some residents and animal rights activists, who fear that the city will round up the birds and euthanize them. ... ” Read more from the New York Times here: As geese leave mementos, a California city weighs a cull
Experts advise South Bay residents remove lawns to fight drought
“Santa Clara County residents are being asked to reduce water usage and local water authorities are offering incentives to help homeowners and businesses achieve this goal. In mid-May, Valley Water officials said county residents are going in the wrong direction in their use of water. Valley Water reported residents reduced water by 15% last October and November, but then went the other direction and increased water usage by a 30% during March. To curb the problem, Valley Water’s board of directors voted in April to restrict outdoor watering to two days a week. The San Jose City Council voted in May to require new developments to install drought-tolerant landscapes. … ” Read more from the San Jose Spotlight here: Experts advise South Bay residents remove lawns to fight drought
CENTRAL COAST
Weigh in on proposed fee for Carpinteria Groundwater Basin
“Groundwater is a vital component of the local water supply, especially as resources are drying up due to drought, climate fluctuations, and increased competition for all water resources in the state. The Carpinteria Groundwater Basin is designated as a “high priority Basin” by the California Department of Water Resources under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. To ensure long-term sustainable use through monitoring, planning, and oversight of the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin, the Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency (CGSA) was formed in 2020. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Weigh in on proposed fee for Carpinteria Groundwater Basin
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca: Contractor will upkeep turf that will die; other areas
“Three days before Manteca must comply with a state mandate to cease watering all non-essential turf with potable water the City Council is posed to approve a $315,000 three-year contract for a landscaping firm to maintain some of that grass. While the grass in question will likely be yellow by month’s end and a mixture of brown and dirt as the summer drags on, Interim City Manager Toni Lundgren noted those turf areas in question that will die still need to be maintained so they don’t turn into unsightly weed-infested areas. Such areas include the lawn in front of the Civic Center as well as adjacent to the Manteca Library on the southwest corner of Sycamore Avenue and Center Street. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca: Contractor will upkeep turf that will die; other areas
Camping at Huntington or Shaver Lakes? Fill your water tanks before heading up
“Water shortages aren’t just a Valley thing. The impact of California’s drought also is being felt at Sierra campgrounds, prompting an advisory to fill your RV’s tanks before heading into the mountains. The goal, says Jody Nickerson-Powell, forest recreation officer for the Sierra National Forest, is not to run out of potable water at campgrounds before Labor Day. And, what if you’re driving up to a campsite in a car or on a motorcycle? Those campers should plan to bring up at least a couple of gallons of water, but the water haulage request is more aimed at RVs equipped with tanks, Nickerson-Powell said. If RVers or other campers run out of water while on an extended stay, they can still draw from the campground spigots, she said. … ” Read more from GV Wire here: Camping at Huntington or Shaver Lakes? Fill your water tanks before heading up
After 100 years, it’s time for Edison to let loose of flows on the North Fork of the Kern River, groups say
“It’s been more than 100 years since a 16-mile stretch of the North Fork of the Kern River has run full and free in its natural course. Local boaters, anglers and other river enthusiasts say that’s long enough. To that end, a new campaign called “Free the Kern” opposes the relicensing application for a Southern California Edison hydroelectric facility that pulls water from the river at the Fairview Dam near McNally’s Lodge and hauls it 16 miles by tunnel to the Kern River No. 3 (KR3) power plant near Kernville. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: After 100 years, it’s time for Edison to let loose of flows on the North Fork of the Kern River, groups say
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Will water restrictions bring more destructive SoCal brush fires? Some demand more water
“After losing dozens of oak trees, a guest house and a garage filled with mementos of her late husband in the 2018 Woolsey fire, Nicole Radoumis dreads the arrival of extreme fire weather amid a punishing California drought. Recently however, the Agoura Hills resident grew even more apprehensive after the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California imposed strict one-day a week outdoor watering restrictions for areas that rely on water from the depleted State Water Project. Radoumis now worries that her two-acre property will be filled with dead, tinder-dry vegetation that will serve as fuel for wildfires. In a city that falls almost entirely within a very high fire hazard severity zone, Radoumis and her neighbors argue that the watering restrictions could place their homes — and lives — at increased peril. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Will water restrictions bring more destructive SoCal brush fires? Some demand more water
Can Claremont manage continued growth during a drought?
“As mandatory water restrictions officially hit Claremont ratepayers this week, many are wondering what comes next as the drought worsens while the state of California continues to pressure cities to build more homes. On May 24, the Claremont City Council declared a level two water supply shortage and urgency ordinance mandating that each household in the city limit outdoor irrigation to one day per week and reduce overall water consumption by 20%. Those restrictions began Wednesday and will be revisited in September, at which point more severe measures may be enforced if demand remains too high. … ” Read more from the Claremont Courier here: Can Claremont manage continued growth during a drought?
Corps updates citizens, officials after first year of Lake Elsinore ecosystem restoration study
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District hosted a virtual public meeting May 24 for partners, stakeholders and private citizens about the Lake Elsinore Continuing Authority Program 206 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. The purpose of the meeting was to update all interested parties about the feasibility study that began a year ago on how to restore Lake Elsinore’s wetland ecosystem and heal the lake of invasive plant species and abate algae. “In a city like Lake Elsinore, the lake is central to the identity of the town, and a cultural and recreational hub,” said Daria Mazey, Corps plan formulation specialist, South Pacific Division Regional Continuing Authority Program, or CAP, Center. “It’s important to engage with residents and business owners to find out what they care about and what they think of our ideas, so that we can refine them with this input.” … ” Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers here: Corps updates citizens, officials after first year of Lake Elsinore ecosystem restoration study
Commentary: Let’s wrap Laguna with recycled water before future wildfires
Mike Beanan, co-founder of the Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, writes, “With a troubling early start to the fire season, Californians are more concerned about water and drought than any other environmental issue, according to a report recently published by the Public Policy Institute of California. The drought will put additional stress on the Laguna Greenbelt, especially near homes, so more water is needed to mitigate the drought. We need more water to protect native plants central to local carbon sequestration while shading and cooling hillsides for climate change. New sources of water can bolster wildfire prevention efforts. However, State mandates seek a 30% reduction in water use. Where will we get some new water? Laguna pays to discharge to the ocean 1.87 million gallons of wasted wastewater every day or more than half a billion gallons annually. … ” Read more from the Laguna Beach Independent here: Commentary: Let’s wrap Laguna with recycled water before future wildfires
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coachella Valley water districts prepare for state reduction requirements
“June 21st is the official start of summer. And already, California is in its driest year to date. “You really can’t talk about water in one specific location in California without talking about all of California when it comes to water,” Mission Springs Water District Programs and Public Affairs Manager, Marion Champion, said. Currently, about 60% of the state is in extreme drought and nearly 12% is under exceptional drought. This has forced water agencies to take action. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs here: Coachella Valley water districts prepare for state reduction requirements
Commentary: How the Salton Sea came to be viewed as a ‘lost cause’
Traci Brynne Voyles writes, “The Salton Sea is a place of stunning contradictions. For decades, Californians have tried to figure out what to make of it. Often described as a “man-made” or “accidental,” the Salton Sea formed between 1905 and 1907 when the Colorado River overflowed from an irrigation project into a deep bowl in the desert floor in present-day Imperial County. … My recent book explores how, at different times viewed as a disaster, a sump, and a health resort, the Salton Sea came to be commonly viewed as a wasteland. Policymakers struggled to raise funds—and popular support—for the sea’s conservation. The area around it, subsequently, has been used for the kinds of industrial projects reserved for places held in low regard: mines, prisons, and military bases. … ” Read more from KCET here: Commentary: How the Salton Sea came to be viewed as a ‘lost cause’
SAN DIEGO
How stable is San Diego’s supply of Colorado River water?
“It’s no secret that San Diego County’s top water managers are deeply frustrated with California’s new conservation rules, even as drought continues to ravage the American Southwest. The San Diego County Water Authority, the region’s wholesaler, has repeatedly lobbied the state for an exemption to prohibitions on watering commercial and other landscapes that go into effect this month. Officials point out that San Diegans are currently using little, if any, water from the state’s imperiled Sacramento River Delta, which feeds urban and agricultural communities through the 705-mile State Water Project. Rather, the region imports more than half of its water from the Colorado River, making up most of the balance with water that is desalinated, recycled or from other local sources. However, California’s top water officials aren’t buying that logic. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: How stable is San Diego’s supply of Colorado River water?
Along the Colorado River …
Water crisis in the West begins: Colorado River basin on the edge of extinction
“Lake Mead — the largest reservoir in the Colorado River Basin — is losing water at record speeds, dropping below 1,050 feet elevation for the first time ever just a few weeks ago. The lake provides four states and millions of citizens in the west with water that Americans depend on for both agricultural and basic water necessities. Now, instead of plentiful water for the millions who are reliant on the river basin, washing up on the lake’s shores are previously submerged boats and cars. The cause of shrinking water levels is both complex and simple at the same time: climate change and the latest most innovative technologies that stem from it — hydropower. … ” Read more from the Impakter here: Water crisis in the West begins: Colorado River basin on the edge of extinction
Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could be as dry as Arizona in the future, study says
“A new study finds that the upper Colorado River basin is drying out due to climate change. This means in the future, parts of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming could more closely resemble Arizona and the desert Southwest. Research from the Los Alamos National Laboratory predicts that mountain snow will start melting and running into streams and reservoirs much earlier. Scientists used artificial intelligence to test out different climate models over the next 30 years. Although there was some uncertainty, those models generally pointed towards loss of high-altitude snowpack due to warmer temperatures. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Colorado, Utah and Wyoming could be as dry as Arizona in the future, study says
In national water news this weekend …
“In time & with water, everything changes” — The EPA is empowering people to gain water rights
“Last year, the US Supreme Court revived a Trump-era rule intended to fast-track big energy projects by limiting the states’ power to curtail them under the Clean Water Act. This week, the US EPA announced announced a proposed rule to update the regulatory requirements for water quality certification under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401. This proposed rule would strengthen the authority of states, territories, and Tribes to protect their vital water resources while supporting an efficient, predictable, and common-sense certification process, restoring long-held water rights. “For 50 years, the Clean Water Act has protected water resources that are essential to thriving communities, vibrant ecosystems, and sustainable economic growth,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “EPA’s proposed rule builds on this foundation by empowering states, territories, and Tribes to use Congressionally granted authority to protect precious water resources while supporting much-needed infrastructure projects that create jobs and bolster our economy.” … ” Continue reading at Clean Technica here: “In time & with water, everything changes” — The EPA is empowering people to gain water rights
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
- NOTICE OF IMMEDIATE CURTAILMENT: Term 91 water right
- NOTICE: Petition for Temporary Transfer of Water under Placer County Water Agency Permit 13856
