On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Regional Water Board will meet beginning at 10:30am. The Board will consider a proposed amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the Tulare Lake Basin to Remove the Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) and Agricultural Supply (AGR) Beneficial Use from Groundwater within a Horizontally and Vertically Delineated Area Underlying a Portion of the Southern Lost Hills Oilfield, and numerous NPDES and water quality issues. Click here for more information.
- Early Detection & Rapid Response in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from 12pm to 1pm. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a highly invaded system, and long-term management of existing invasive species populations is challenging for regional natural resource managers. The Delta Interagency Invasive Species Coordination (DIISC) Team has been leading efforts to plan how to prevent, detect, and quickly respond to novel invasions in the Delta. Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) are a coordinated set of actions that aim to find and report, then eradicate potential invasive species before they spread and cause harm. In the Delta, EDRR efforts have been siloed by taxonomic group or organizational jurisdiction. Additionally, there are few structures to coordinate actions among groups with existing EDRR programs, and few communication structures between broader prevention and monitoring efforts and EDRR programs. To respond to this need, the DIISC team developed a draft EDRR framework for the region and coordinated a Symposium on the topic of EDRR. Beyond these EDRR efforts, the DIISC Team seeks to advance research on preventing and managing invasion in restored sites. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Looking Back & Moving Forward: Insights & Inspiration from Three Decades of Natural Resources Leadership from 12:30pm – 2:00pm. The Natural Resources Agency will be livestreaming a conversation between Secretary Crowfoot and California’s past five Natural Resources Secretaries. We’ll discuss what’s changed in environmental management over the last three decades and explore what the past can teach us about finding solutions to current challenges. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
How CA’s ancient hidden waterways could be key to recharging state’s depleted groundwater
“For California’s water experts, months in the air could soon reveal secrets under the ground, including the remnants of ancient waterways hidden for thousands of years. It’s a discovery that could be key to recharging the state’s depleted groundwater. Katherine Dlubac, Ph.D., is overseeing the high-tech survey for the California Department of Water Resources. “What we’re looking for with these potential recharge sites in areas where we have a pathway or recharge connection, between the surface of the earth and the aquifer itself,” Dlubac explains. To help find those channels, helicopters deploy spaceship-sized antennas, ping the ground with electromagnetic signals, mapping the geology deep below the surface. The technique was piloted in California by researchers at Stanford, led by prof. Rosemary Knight Ph.D. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: How CA’s ancient hidden waterways could be key to recharging state’s depleted groundwater
Where parched California is finding new water sources
“As drought-plagued western states watch their water sources literally dry up, California is digging deeper to tap the most basic source of all: groundwater. Amid a worsening drought scorching much of the western U.S., California’s numerous and varied potential drinking water sources are becoming unusable or, when purchased from Colorado or other districts, too costly. As reservoirs, rivers and washes dry out, state water resource administrators are boosting use of alternative supplies to ensure water keeps flowing. Groundwater is the “abandoned child of the water system because we have not been very meticulous in the way we gathered data or managed or protected it,” says Newsha Ajami, chief development officer for environmental research at Lawrence Berkeley Lab in Berkeley, Calif., and a longtime state drought expert. But more reliance on groundwater is problematic for a variety of reasons. … ” Read more from Engineering News-Record here: Where parched California is finding new water sources
Conference highlights deficiency of models for drought situations
“As the drought in California and across much of the western United States enters another summer season, several experts participated in a conference hosted by the California Department of Water Resources and the Water Education Foundation on Thursday to discuss issues of how modeling precipitation can impact decisions made by policymakers. One of the main takeaways of the conference was that the current modeling programs are not effective as they should be in helping water districts, state water agencies and federal departments in planning water distributions. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Conference highlights deficiency of models for drought situations
Video: Lack of snow impacting drought in California
“A big reason for the current drought in California is the lack of snow these past few winters. While the drought outlook is not good, it’s far from the worst it has been. Right now, about 48% of California is in what is considered an extreme drought. Back in 2014, 58% of the state was in the exceptional category, but the fear is the state could get there. FOX40’s Eric Rucker spent the evening in the Sierra to see what was left of the snow and how this drought compares to what has been seen in the past.”
Take five minutes right now to check for leaks. You’ll save water in the drought (and money)
“You’ve limited your outdoor watering, you’ve cut shower time, and you’ve stopped pre-rinsing dishes. As Angelenos continue adapting to another year of drought and California’s latest water restrictions, you might be wondering what else you can do to conserve water. A big water waster is leaks. Fixing a leak not only saves water, it also saves you money on your water bill. There are three ways you can inspect your home for leaks, including checking your water bill, checking your water meter, and doing an inspection inside and outside your home. Here’s how. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Take five minutes right now to check for leaks. You’ll save water in the drought (and money)
Legislation to increase penalties against cannabis farms for water theft and pollution
“Illegal cultivation of marijuana became the focus of law enforcement over the past few years as farms mushroomed throughout the state, often creating massive environmental damage through their use of fertilizers and pesticides and the illegal diversion of water. In an era of ever worsening drought California’s water supply is more precious than ever and that’s made shutting down these operations a high priority for legislators. Cannabis plants can use up to six gallons a day per plant but as California’s desert areas are becoming hotter and more arid, plants need even more water to keep thriving. Counties throughout California are passing measures to hit these growers with huge civil fines for grow operations, and now they’re adding penalties aimed specifically at water theft and pollution. … ” Read more from the California Globe here: Legislation to increase penalties against cannabis farms for water theft and pollution
Car tires produce vastly more particle pollution than exhausts, tests show
“Almost 2,000 times more particle pollution is produced by tire wear than is pumped out of the exhausts of modern cars, tests have shown. The tire particles pollute air, water, and soil and contain a wide range of toxic organic compounds, including known carcinogens, the analysts say, suggesting tire pollution could rapidly become a major issue for regulators. Air pollution causes millions of early deaths a year globally. The requirement for better filters has meant particle emissions from tailpipes in developed countries are now much lower in new cars, with those in Europe far below the legal limit. However, the increasing weight of cars means more particles are being thrown off by tires as they wear on the road. … ” Read more from The Grist here: Car tires produce vastly more particle pollution than exhausts, tests show
State Water Board issues sweeping water right curtailment order in 2022 for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed
“On March 21, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board” or “Board”) issued a letter to approximately 20,000 water rights holders warning them curtailment orders are imminent due to continued drought and insufficient surface water supplies, stating specifically: “If you are in the Bay-Delta, Russian River, Scott River, Shasta River, Mill Creek, or Deer Creek watersheds, you should prepare for earlier curtailments.” This week, on June 7, 2022, the State Water Board followed through on its early warning letter with an update to the Initial Orders Imposing Water Right Curtailment and Reporting Requirements in the Delta Watershed that affects more than 4,000 water rights in the Sacrament-San Joaquin Delta watershed. … ” Read more from Downey Brand here: State Water Board issues sweeping water right curtailment order in 2022 for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed
SEE ALSO: California Restricts Thousands From Pumping River Water in San Joaquin Valley, from the Epoch Times
Facing another drought, California proposes buying out farmers’ water rights
“In an ongoing struggle over water supply in California, a state that is grappling with another incoming summer of crippling drought, officials have proposed buying back water rights held by local farmers. In California, all water is technically the property of the state government. But thanks to a set of regulations, some farmers have “senior water rights” that allow them to take as much water as they need to keep their crops growing in abundance. The new proposal, introduced as part of budget negotiations between Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration and lawmakers, would use $1.5 million in taxpayer dollars to buy some of those rights back from farmers to keep the water in waterways. … ” Read more from Modern Farmer here: Facing another drought, California proposes buying out farmers’ water rights
‘The threat is real’: Officials offer grim outlook for 2022 fire season
“Southern California is facing a potentially treacherous wildfire season this year, as climate change, drought and extreme heat conspire to bake vegetation and prime the landscape for burning, officials say. Standing beneath the blazing sun at the start of a triple-digit heat wave, fire officials from various state, county and federal agencies gathered in Los Angeles on Thursday to warn residents about the current conditions and what the coming months may hold. “We know the drought is here. We know the fuels are flammable. We know now, with water restrictions, the vegetation around our homes are becoming flammable,” said Dustin Gardner, chief of the Ventura County Fire Department. “So we know the threat is here, and we know the threat is real.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: ‘The threat is real’: Officials offer grim outlook for 2022 fire season
Scientists develop method for seasonal prediction of Western wildfires
“This summer’s western wildfire season is likely to be more severe than average but not as devastating as last year’s near-record, according to an experimental prediction method developed by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The new method, detailed in a peer-reviewed study, analyzes precipitation, temperatures, drought, and other climate conditions in the winter and spring in order to predict the extent of wildfires across the western United States during the following summer. The research team developed the method by applying machine learning techniques to observations of every wildfire season since 1984, when current satellite measurements of fires first became available. ... ” Read more from NIDIS here: Scientists develop method for seasonal prediction of Western wildfires
In commentary today …
California should buy some water rights
The Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board writes, “If Californians want to ensure that there is water available for endangered salmon and other wildlife, then Californians ought to pay for that water. That’s exactly what some lawmakers want to do. The yearslong drought is upending how Californians live and think about the environment around them. Water restrictions on residents can only go so far. Mandatory limits on watering lawns or suggested — and mostly ignored — cutbacks by the governor won’t save enough. There are more than 9 million irrigated acres of farmland accounting for more than three-quarters of all water used by businesses and homes. To achieve real water savings, agriculture must be part of the plan. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: California should buy some water rights
Column: Groundwater law has not stopped subsidence
Columnist Thomas Elias writes, “Drive almost any road in the vast San Joaquin Valley and you’ll see irrigation pipes standing up several feet tall in the middle of fields and orchards, pipes that once were underground. These metallic artifacts are emblematic of the utter failure of a 2014 law once billed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown as a landmark achievement. The omnipresent pipes, often unnoticed by speeding motorists, are symptoms of subsidence, the result of decades of overpumping groundwater in all the frequent episodes when California endured drought conditions, right up to this moment. ... ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Column: Groundwater law has not stopped subsidence
Organic agriculture helps solve climate change
Lena Brook, Director, Food Campaigns, Healthy People & Thriving Communities Program at the NRDC, writes, “For the past year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been developing its 2022 Draft Climate Change Scoping Plan, intended to carve out a path to carbon neutrality for California by mid-century. After months of advocacy from NRDC and its allies calling on CARB to include incentives for organic farming as well as pesticide use reduction in the Natural Working Lands section, the agency released its proposed approach in May. In this draft, the agency recommends converting 20% of California’s agricultural lands to organic agriculture by 2045 as a way to mitigate climate change. While this recommendation is not nearly ambitious enough (California’s organic acreage grew by 44% from 2014 to 2019 according to a report from the state’s Department of Agriculture), it is nonetheless an important milestone because it recognizes and affirms the essential role that organic farming systems can play in climate-smart agriculture. … ” Continue reading at the NRDC here: Organic agriculture helps solve climate change
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Agencies seek input on Meeks Bay Restoration Project
“The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking input on the environmental review of the Meeks Bay Restoration Project. The LTBMU, in conjunction with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, is developing a plan to restore Meeks Creek to a more natural condition, while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities. In 1960, a marina with approximately 120 boat slips and a boat launch facility was dredged at the mouth of Meeks Creek, on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The marina eliminated a unique wetland habitat for numerous bird, mammal, and amphibian species. The deteriorating condition of the existing marina infrastructure, along with concerns over water quality, aquatic invasive species, and degraded habitat for native species prompted the need for action in Meeks Bay. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Agencies seek input on Meeks Bay Restoration Project
Keep Tahoe blue
“Unless you just moved here from Mars, odds are you have at some point seen the bumper sticker “Keep Tahoe Blue.” … Anyway, the famous body of water that shares shores with California and Nevada is under environmental stress. Keep Tahoe Blue, which is an actual organization, says that the lake and its surroundings are most threatened by urban stormwater runoff, invasive species and climate change. Everyone who lives in what’s encompassingly called Tahoe or visits there has a stake in the lake. Concerned local residents include Matt Levitt, founder/president of Tahoe Blue Vodka. “It’s important to me to help preserve the lake because it’s the reason I moved to California at the end of a road trip from Maryland,” Levitt said in a recent phone interview. “I fell in love with Tahoe. Its clear water and clean air and outdoor lifestyle—I set up shop, made it my home and have been here ever since. ... ” Read more from Sacramento Magazine here: Keep Tahoe blue
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County installs flood monitors after wildfires
“Unfortunately for communities that have faced devastating wildfires, the danger to life and property doesn’t end after the fires are extinguished. Flood risk is high after a fire, and those communities need to be on alert to mitigate against flash flooding, as even modest rainfall can trigger floods with little warning. That’s why Sonoma County and other communities deployed AEM’s post-wildfire flood monitoring solution after the Nuns and Tubbs fires 2017. The solution involves deploying rainfall and flood gauges throughout the area to alert officials when rainfall totals reach a critical point or flooding reaches the point where officials need to respond. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Sonoma County installs flood monitors after wildfires
Healdsburg timber owner’s checkered land-use history followed him to Sonoma County
“Eureka attorney, landowner and timber operator Ken Bareilles had been battling state land-use regulations for some 50 years before he bought his forested property outside Healdsburg in 2015. He’d been fighting for others, too. In his role as criminal defense attorney, he said he represented numerous loggers confronting a slate of new guidelines when the state’s 1973 Forest Practice Rules, enforced by Cal Fire, went into effect. “To me the CDF guys are just cops, is all they were,” he said, using the older acronym for Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “I’m a criminal defense attorney. I’m not intimidated by cops.” “Yeah,” he added. “I’ve had lots of violations.” … ” Continue reading at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Healdsburg timber owner’s checkered land-use history followed him to Sonoma County
BAY AREA
Desalination and water recycling needed to increase Bay Area water supply
“California, in year three of its latest drought, has already set a dryness record in the first four months of 2022. “In data released Monday [May 9], NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information found January through April precipitation in the state was the lowest on record dating to 1895,” wrote meteorologist Jonathan Erdman for The Weather Channel on May 13. Jessica Wolfrom, a climate and environment reporter for the San Francisco Examiner, wrote on May 29 that more than conservation is needed to secure drinking water for the Bay Area as traditional sources will be insufficient due to climate change. … ” Read more from Planetizen here: Desalination and water recycling needed to increase bay area water supply
California water use continues to climb despite severe drought outlook
“Despite worsening drought conditions, urban areas of California have continued to ignore calls for conservation and increased water use in April by nearly 20%. Conservation data released this week by the State Water Resources Control Board showed the state’s 420 largest water suppliers increased water use in April by 17.6% compared to the same month in the baseline year of 2020. Southern California increased water use by 25% to 40% that month. By contrast, Marin’s two main water suppliers — the Marin Municipal Water District and North Marin Water District — both exceeded the statewide target of 15% conservation compared to 2020 water use and conserved by 16% and 29%, respectively, in April. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California water use continues to climb despite severe drought outlook
San Mateo: Stanford researchers reveal add-on benefits of natural defenses against sea-level rise
“Investments in the environment are paying off for a California county where projects designed to restore the natural environment are also buffering the impacts of sea-level rise, according to a new study by Stanford researchers. The research, published June 9 in Urban Sustainability, shows that nature-based solutions, such as conserving marshlands and restoring beaches, can be as effective as concrete seawalls at protecting against sea-level rise while providing extra benefits. Those benefits, such as opportunities for recreation, climate change mitigation through carbon storage, and nutrient pollution reduction, provide incentives for policymakers to prioritize nature-based solutions for sea-level rise. “We’re uncovering new benefits of decisions that have already been made about conservation or restoration efforts,” said study lead author Anne Guerry, chief strategy officer and lead scientist at Stanford University’s Natural Capital Project. “Our models show how communities can reap more benefits as they invest more in nature.” … ” Continue reading at Stanford News here: Stanford researchers reveal add-on benefits of natural defenses against sea-level rise
SEE ALSO: San Mateo County to invest in ecological management and sustainability to adapt to rising waters, from Nature World News
CENTRAL COAST
Voters approve levee assessment for south Santa Cruz County
“South Santa Cruz County voters have overwhelmingly approved a benefit assessment for levee operations and maintenance, according to the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and preliminary results from Wednesday’s ballot count. Official results, however, won’t be announced until the July 13 agency meeting. At that time, the agency board will consider action to implement the assessment. Ballot tabulation, according to a press release from Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, was completed immediately following Wednesday night’s public hearing on the proposed assessment, with results showing that 79% of the weighted ballots returned by property owners were in favor of the benefit assessment. In total, nearly 817 of the approximately 2,400 ballots were returned, or about 34%. ... ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Voters approve levee assessment for south Santa Cruz County
The Coastal Commission is set to consider a development permit for Carmel River
“David Schmalz here, thinking about a term I first heard in 2015, as I was touring the Big Sur Land Trust’s property known as Odello East (102.5 acres just east of Highway 1 and south of the Carmel River). There, the Odello family, starting in 1924, transformed the historical floodplain into an ag field to grow artichokes, and the river’s natural path to the sea became constricted. The idea behind the term “green infrastructure” is this: Instead of building man-made infrastructure to try to channel the river’s energy during major storm events—an expensive and ultimately futile pursuit—reclaim the floodplain to let the land do the work, as it had for millennia. And the reason it’s on my mind is because tomorrow, Friday June 10, the California Coastal Commission will consider whether to grant a coastal development permit to the Big Sur Land Trust for such a reclamation project to move forward; the agency’s staff recommends approval, with conditions (as are standard with such permits). … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: The Coastal Commission is set to consider a development permit for Carmel River
Recycled water can help with drought
“As the county deals with water restrictions, Calleguas Municipal Water District Manager of Resources Dan Drugan tells the Tri County Sentry that recycled water in the City of Oxnard is the best method to alleviate the problem and increase water capacity. He said the areas in Ventura County that Calleguas serves have more resources than the Conejo Valley and Arroyo Valley areas. “Oxnard is looking to maximize their own water purification facility and the recycled water they produce from that program,” he said. “We have a couple of injection wells that are on the CIP for injecting highly treated water into those wells in the groundwater basin and then extracting it to blend with other water supplies to serve the customers. That’s progress and a good project.” … ” Read more from the Tri-County Sentinel here: Recycled water can help with drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State curtails river diversions again. What that means to Modesto-area water users
“The state has again stopped river diversions in much of Stanislaus and nearby counties, but the effect on farms and cities is minimal for the moment. The orders allow water agencies to continue delivering supplies already in reservoirs. They include the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts and San Francisco on the Tuolumne River, and the Oakdale and South San Joaquin districts on the Stanislaus River. These agencies have enough stored water for this year, but they still challenge the state’s authority over their long-held river rights. ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: State curtails river diversions again. What that means to Modesto-area water users
State bans thousands of farmers in the Valley from pumping water. How it affects you.
“The California State Water Resource Control Board is now ordering thousands of farmers and cities throughout the valley, including San Francisco, to stop pumping water from rivers and streams on Wednesday. It’s affecting more than 4,500 water right holders, including 212 public water systems. When it comes to state ordering bans on water right holders from pumping river water, you might think “why should it concern me” if I don’t pump water? Well, that order will may affect you. … ” Read more from Fox Channel 26 here: State bans thousands of farmers in the Valley from pumping water. How it affects you.
Residents in this small Tulare County town had no water this week
“A small Tulare County community continues fighting for access to drinking water. This week, one of Tooleville’s two wells nearly went dry. “There was no water,” said Maria Olivera, who is secretary for the Tooleville Mutual Non-profit Water Association. “If you put soap in your hands, you feel like you’re going to stay with the soap in your hands. People that got home from work late, they couldn’t shower.” Olivera said they lost most of their water on Monday and Tuesday. Service was restored on Wednesday after crews lowered the pump another 25 feet to get water. … ” Continue reading from Your Central Valley here: Residents in this small Tulare County town had no water this week
Kingsburg officials add watering restrictions as drought continues
“As the Golden State faces year three of a severe drought, cities like Kingsburg are doing their part to conserve as many drops as possible. “We know that about 50% to 60% of water use in each house comes from outdoor watering like landscaping, and we are very mindful that we live in the Central Valley and water is a precious resource,” says City Manager Alex Henderson. Henderson says people can water twice a week during the winter months and three times a week during the summer. To enforce those restrictions and help conserve water, fines have been in place for about two weeks. ... ” Read more from KFSN here: Kingsburg officials add watering restrictions as drought continues
Kern County oil and gas permits remain on hold following a split court ruling
“Environmentalists have been pushing for oil and gas permit accountability in Kern County and a recent ruling will implement new guidelines until a decision is finally made. The county’s original environmental assessment in 2015 was approved but complaints and lawsuits filed on appeal caused the courts to order the county to stop issuing permits until it addressed concerns. In 2021, the county approved the modified permit but seven months later, a judge ordered the county to halt the issuance of new oil and gas permits again until the court could determine if the county’s ordinance met the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines. … ” Read more from Channel 23 here: Kern County oil and gas permits remain on hold following a split court ruling
EASTERN SIERRA
Commentary: “It’s Time to Get Serious”
Don Zdeba, General Manager of the Indian Wells Valley Water District, writes, “On March 28th, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-7-22 in response to a third consecutive year of drought conditions. The Executive Order directed the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) to consider enacting emergency regulations to address anticipated extended water supply shortages no later than May 25th. The SWRCB delivered those regulations on May 24th. Three specific elements of the regulations include requiring urban water suppliers to implement, at a minimum, all demand reduction actions identified in Level 2 (a supply shortage of up to 20%) of their locally adopted Water Shortage Contingency Plans, urban water suppliers to submit a preliminary water supply and demand assessment to the Department of Water Resources by June 1, 2022, and prohibit the irrigation of “non-functional turf” with potable water in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sector. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: “It’s Time to Get Serious”
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Letters to the Editor: More construction in a drought — what bizarre world is this?
“To the editor: Why do I feel like I am at Alice’s tea party? We are told that we are in a drought with a severe water shortage. And yet, there are new water-consuming homes being built off Ortega Highway in south Orange County. Oh, and how are the homeowners going to quickly get out of that area if they need to with only a few narrow roads? Good luck in a fire emergency. Meanwhile, our government leaders are trying to negotiate with some unsavory countries to produce more oil for us. If the goal is to reduce our drilling to save the planet, does an increase in drilling in other countries not pollute? ... ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: Letters to the Editor: More construction in a drought — what bizarre world is this? | Read via Yahoo News
SAN DIEGO
New drought restrictions take effect Friday
“San Diegans across the region will face new local drought restrictions under a state mandate that goes into effect Friday. The rules vary based on a customer’s water retailer but generally include checks on outdoor watering and prohibitions on at-home car washing. In the city of San Diego, for example, irrigation of nonagricultural landscapes will be limited to three days a week before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. If hand-watering with a hose, it must be equipped with a shutoff nozzle or be hooked up to a sprinkler system on a timer. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: New drought restrictions take effect Friday
SEE ALSO: What to Know: City Implements New Water Use Restrictions, from Channel 7
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado’s water future could look more like Arizona’s. That means a lot less snow and water for the Colorado River.
“Parts of Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states could be facing a water future that more closely resembles Arizona, new federal research finds. The drier and warmer conditions could mean less snow accumulates in the mountains of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and melts into a water system that feeds the Colorado River, researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Earth and Environmental Sciences division found. Warmer temperatures have already contributed to a 20 percent drop in the flow of the Colorado River since the 1900s, which supplies millions of people across the West with water and hydroelectric power. Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., have dropped to all-time lows with decades of ongoing drought. ... ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Colorado’s water future could look more like Arizona’s. That means a lot less snow and water for the Colorado River.
The looming Colorado water shortage crisis
“To understand the looming water shortage crisis in Colorado, it is important to first acknowledge that its waters have deep ties to the state’s unique geographical landscape and history of water rights. Located in the American West, Colorado encompasses a vast and diverse land made up of arid deserts, river canyons and the snow-covered Rocky Mountains. It is also home to eight major river basins, several aquifers and 2,000 lakes and reservoirs, making it a headwaters state. This means that many rivers in the western and midwestern US, including the Platte, the Arakansas, the Rio Grande, and the Colorado River, originate from Colorado. Together, the river system supplies water to 17 downstream states, as well as Mexico. Its role as a headwaters state, and how the state uses and consumes these waters, therefore can impact other water users downstream. … ” Read more from the Earth.org here: The looming Colorado water shortage crisis
Inside the boots-in-the-water effort to preserve and restore Colorado’s iconic greenback cutthroat trout
“On a sunny morning just west of Colorado Springs, Cory Noble slowly makes his way upstream in Bear Creek, sloshing through the shallow flow beneath towering pines and bending back tangles of low brush heavy with the drenching residue of the previous night’s rain. He’s looking for greenback cutthroat trout — a species more than once written off as extinct, but 10 years ago discovered populating this 3½-mile stretch of the creek. Although greenback cutthroats, Colorado’s native state fish, have been preserved and restored to certain waters through hatcheries, they are so far known to naturally reproduce only here, behind a locked gate restricting access to the dirt road that slices through the canyon. And it’s the hope of providing a genetic boost for the state’s broodstock that has brought a team of Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to these picturesque foothills to find the fish and extract their eggs and semen — all part of an on-site spawning project designed to strengthen the species that two years ago showed a concerning population dip. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Inside the boots-in-the-water effort to preserve and restore Colorado’s iconic greenback cutthroat trout
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.
