On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council meets beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a public hearing, consideration, and possible approval of the final program EIR for the Revised Chqpter 4 of the Delta Plan; an update on the Delta Conveyance Project; Election of a new chair; Delta Independent Sciene Board update; and Delta Lead Scientist. Click here for the full agenda.
In California water news today …
California’s new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program is already oversubscribed. Here are 3 features of successful applications.
“Last month, the state of California reached an important milestone in its effort to proactively address water scarcity and the changing agricultural landscape: The Department of Conservation awarded over $40 million to regional organizations to strategically repurpose previously irrigated farmland in ways that create new public benefits while reducing groundwater use. The highly competitive Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) received 12 applications requesting over $110 million — more than twice the funding available during the program’s inaugural year. The four successful proposals, which received $10 million each, came from critically overdrafted groundwater subbasins in the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys. Here are three common features that gave the successful applications a competitive edge. ... ” Read more from EDF’s Growing Returns here: California’s new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program is already oversubscribed. Here are 3 features of successful applications.
Radio show: California’s water market
“Southern California water purchases across the Sacramento Valley. Jay Lund, Director for UC Davis Watershed Sciences, and Josue Medellin-Azuara, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Merced, discuss Southern California water purchases across the Sacramento Valley. … ” Listen at Capital Public Radio here: California’s water market
Assemblyman Gray, others call on state to do better with water
“With the San Luis Reservoir serving as a backdrop, Assemblyman Adam Gray renewed on his call for an audit of California’s entire water regulatory system. Gray and State Sen. Anna Caballero hosted a summit of top state, federal and Valley water managers on June 17 at Grasslands Water District. Gray was scheduled to attend the summit, but when Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, he asked Gray and Caballero to host the Friday meeting. “We’ve got a broken system,” said Gray. “All of the talk about conservation and efficiency, those are short-term solutions. What about the long term? How do we have water security for our state’s future? That’s what we’ve got to figure out.” … ” Read more from Westside Connect here: Assemblyman Gray, others call on state to do better with water
Delta: Listening to vital voices
“Jessica Rudnick’s first love was earth science. But after discovering that people’s beliefs and behaviors were key to solving environmental problems, she fell for social science. Now, as the California Sea Grant extension specialist for the Delta, Rudnick is working to better integrate local people into plans for the region. Understanding the needs of people who live, work, and recreate in the Delta could make the difference between fixes that are rejected or embraced. Delta planning has historically focused largely on ecological health. But, like many estuarine areas, the Delta is a lived-in landscape. “There are socially embedded challenges that play out in environmental issues,” she says. “You can’t just throw more data and research at a problem and think you will find a solution.” … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Delta: Listening to vital voices
Delta: Greenbacks for blueprint
“For the first time in decades, California’s federal estuary management and water quality programs are getting a big bump in bankroll. Priority actions in the newly updated Estuary Blueprint, a 25-action consensus plan for improving the health of San Francisco Bay and the Delta, are poised to take advantage of a new influx of federal money. “We’re fortunate with timing,” says San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP) environmental planner Darcie Luce. Completed this spring, the 2022 Blueprint includes some well-thought-out actions oriented toward greening grey infrastructure, making the region more resilient to climate change, and improving equity in adaptation planning and projects — all of which are federal priorities. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Delta: Greenbacks for blueprint
Environmentalists, property owners sue to block $2.5-billion dam project in Santa Clara County
“As California endures water restrictions due to widespread drought, a proposed $2.5-billion reservoir expansion project in Santa Clara County promises to increase the amount of freshwater for more than a million people. But a group of environmentalists and landowners claim in a lawsuit filed earlier this month that the local water district did not conduct the necessary environmental studies to determine how the project planned near Pacheco Pass would affect the region’s wildlife and undeveloped land. The coalition, which includes local residents, ranch owners and the Sierra Club, argues in its lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court that the proposed project is “environmentally destructive, high-cost and high-risk” and would affect wildlife habitat, cultural sites and other historic sites. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Environmentalists, property owners sue to block $2.5-billion dam project in Santa Clara County
CDFW awards $26 million for ecosystem and watershed restoration, protection and scientific study projects statewide
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced the selection of 23 projects to receive funding for projects to restore and protect multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under its Proposition 1 grant programs. The awards, totaling $26 million, were made under CDFW’s 2022 Prop. 1 Watershed Restoration Grant and Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program Proposal Solicitation Notice. Of the $26 million, approximately $21 million was awarded to 15 projects statewide through the Prop. 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program. Approximately $5 million was awarded to eight projects through the Prop. 1 Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program to projects that directly benefit the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: CDFW awards $26 million for ecosystem and watershed restoration, protection and scientific study projects statewide
DWR awards $29 million to underrepresented communities and tribes for drought relief
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced $29 million in funding for 44 drought relief projects to improve water supply reliability, address drinking water quality, and support water conservation primarily serving underrepresented and Tribal communities. “As our state’s current drought situation worsens, California continues to invest in our future water supply and anticipate water supply challenges,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This funding will provide our state’s underrepresented and Tribal communities with new resources to address the challenges brought on by drought while building local resilience.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources here: DWR awards $29 million to underrepresented communities and tribes for drought relief
DWR, state agencies host workshops to help small, rural areas with ongoing drought
“As California’s severe drought worsens, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) are taking action to help small and rural communities. In September 2021, Governor Newsom signed SB 552 , which introduced new requirements for state and local governments, including counties and small water suppliers, to prepare for a possible water shortage event and support drought resilience projects. To help communities understand their new responsibilities, DWR and the State Water Board are hosting a series of informational workshops to explain SB 552. DWR and the Water Board are also gathering feedback on what tools may be needed and other concerns small water supplies have with the new requirements. … ” Read more from DWR here: DWR, state agencies host workshops to help small, rural areas with ongoing drought
Cutting green tape
“A novel exemption lawmakers passed to California’s landmark Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in late 2021 has helped fast-track at least four habitat restoration projects so far, with more to follow in the next couple years. The Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects, or SERP, offers a rare reprieve from California’s stringent environmental review and permitting process — and a clear indication of the urgency the state’s leaders feel in advancing ecological restoration work. “When [SERP] passed, it was a little bit controversial,” says Sara Johnson, executive director of the fledgling California Ecological Business Association. Sluggish regulatory approval timelines are the top grievance member organizations of the association share, she said at the Society for Ecological Restoration’s conference in Carmel Valley in May. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Cutting green tape
Where are California’s dirtiest beaches? This list might surprise you
“After a catastrophic year of oil spills and sewage equipment failures, here’s some good news for the California coast: Most beaches across the state are still much cleaner than in decades past. In its annual “report card,” Heal the Bay graded more than 700 beaches and found that 94% of California’s beaches logged clean water-quality marks between April and October 2021, and that 51 beaches had perfect year-round scores — a good sign for a shoreline once riddled with so much trash and bacteria that people often got sick when they swam. But the report still found troubling pockets of pollution — some surprising and others stubborn — especially in the winter months. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Where are California’s dirtiest beaches? This list might surprise you
SEE ALSO: ‘Summer of spills’ in 2021 messed up otherwise clean ocean in Southern California, from the San Bernardino Sun
Two FERC cases and why they matter
“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has been called the most important environmental agency that no one has heard of. At the end of last week, the D.C. Circuit decided two undramatic FERC cases that illustrate FERC’s environmental significance. One involved a bailout to coal and nuclear plants, the other involved water quality. The first case, Turlock Irrigation District v. FERC, involved FERC’s role in approving licensing and relicensing of hydroelectric dams. It also raised an important issue about the role of state government in approving federal projects and licenses. … ” Read more from the Legal Planet here: Two FERC cases and why they matter
The last nuclear plant in California – and the unexpected quest to save it
“California’s last nuclear plant was nearing the end of its life. Tucked against picturesque bluffs along California’s central coast, the aging facility known as Diablo Canyon began operating in 1985. It was designed for a different era, with analog knobs and systems that no longer comply with the state’s environmental standards. The plant has faced controversies over its impact on underwater ecosystems, the production of toxic waste and its proximity to earthquake fault lines – and its planned closure by 2025 seemed an all-but-certain step in California’s ambitious journey toward a greener future. But with just three years to go, the fate of Diablo Canyon now looks less assured. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: The last nuclear plant in California – and the unexpected quest to save it
California wildfires caused by humans are more dangerous than fires sparked by lightning
“The sheer acreage consumed by fire in California in recent years is numbing: more than 2.5 million acres last year, and 4.3 million acres the year before that. Already in 2022, before peak fire season has descended upon this drought-parched state, fire has burned nearly 17,000 acres. Yet not all fires are equal. New research from UC Irvine shows that fires caused by human activity — be it arson, a neglected campfire, sparking electrical equipment or ill-conceived gender reveal parties — spread faster, burn hotter and destroy more trees than those caused by lightning strikes. “The physics behind the fire is of course the same, but humans increase the risk of having these kinds of ignitions at really bad times during the year,” said Stijn Hantson, the study’s lead author. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California wildfires caused by humans are more dangerous than fires sparked by lightning
Today’s featured article …
DELTA INDEPENDENT SCIENCE BOARD: Update on Delta Conveyance Project environmental documents
The environmental documents, due mid-summer, are about 3200 pages plus appendices
In April of 2020, the Delta Independent Science Board (DISB) submitted a public comment to the Department of Water Resources on the Notice of Preparation on the Delta Conveyance Project, indicating their intention to review the environmental impact report (or EIR) and highlighting areas from previous reviews on the Delta conveyance that DWR should consider in preparing the document. The DISB has received updates previously from DWR in August 2020 and January 2022 on the progress of the documents.
At the June meeting of the DISB, DWR staff provided another update on the progress of the environmental documents, which are anticipated to be released mid-summer for public review and comment.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
As Tule Lake vanishes, so do lives and livelihoods
“The cracks in the dry lakebed are wide enough to slip your hand inside. A reminder that this vast, flat, moonlike landscape was once wet, and covered in life. In too many ways, the story of Tule Lake, in the far northeast corner of Siskiyou County, is the story of loss. Farmers in the area are idling croplands. Workers are moving on to other jobs in other parts of California and southern Oregon. And this once wet area serving as a stop-over for millions of birds on the Pacific Flyway is a far lonelier land. “As wetlands have declined, you lose that nesting component. You lose that breeding area for all of these water birds. And then, you start to lose that tradition of birds coming,” said John Vradenburg, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, having deep familiarity with the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: As Tule Lake vanishes, so do lives and livelihoods
RELATED: PHOTOS: Tule Lake in California is vanishing, from the Siskiyou Daily News
Padilla, Feinstein, Huffman introduce legislation to transfer sacred land from the Forest Service to the Karuk Tribe
“Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein (both D-Calif.) introduced the Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act to transfer ownership of sacred lands from the United States Forest Service (USFS) to the Interior Department to place those lands into trust for the benefit of the Karuk Tribe, a federally recognized Tribe. This bill would place roughly 1,000 acres of federal land located in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties into trust for the Karuk to allow for uninterrupted access to the sites, which the Karuk have used for ancestral ceremonies for centuries. These lands are considered to be the center of the Karuk world and sit at the heart of the tribe’s culture, religion, and identity. Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) has previously introduced the legislation in the House. … ” Read more from Senator Padilla’s website here: Padilla, Feinstein, Huffman introduce legislation to transfer sacred land from the Forest Service to the Karuk Tribe
Water is going to stay in the Scott, Shasta rivers this year
“The state water board is continuing to prioritize keeping water in the Shasta and Scott rivers this year to ensure there is enough water to meet environmental needs in the face of continuing drought. On Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously to continue the emergency curtailments of water diversions from the rivers put in place last year and recommended new minimum instream flows for the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. Craig Tucker, a local environmental consultant, was among the many residents from the region speaking in favor of the curtailments and said he was pleased with the decision to continue the emergency measures. “We remain locked in one of the worst droughts in over a thousand years and we have to take steps to keep fish wet,” Tucker told The Times-Standard. “These curtailments will ensure there’s some water for the fish as we hopefully work with folks from Siskiyou County to develop a longer-term solution.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Water is going to stay in the Scott, Shasta rivers this year
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Georgetown Divide Public Utility District issues water conservation measures
“In response to new drought regulations now in effect in California the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District issued a Level 2 water warning, which implemented emergency water conservation measures on June 14 to reduce water demand within the boundaries of the district that includes the communities of Cool, Garden Valley, Georgetown, Greenwood, Kelsey and Pilot Hill. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: Georgetown Divide Public Utility District issues water conservation measures
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Local farmers are ready to fight water restrictions: “They have lost their livelihoods.”
“Residents and farmers in the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District (ACID) are ready to fight for their water. After being allocated zero irrigation water in 2022 for the first time ever, locals have begun pushing back at the water district board and bureau of reclamation. Residents believed their water contract was “iron-clad” and that, regardless of conditions, they would be given enough water to survive the summer months. Furthermore, residents were outraged to learn the water they did have was sold off, without the public’s approval or knowledge. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Local farmers are ready to fight water restrictions: “They have lost their livelihoods.”
‘Butte County Drought Assistance Program’ to provide clean drinking water
“The Butte County Office of Emergency Management (BCOEM) has announced their ‘Butte County Drought Assistance Program’ to help provide qualified Butte County residents with clean drinking water through water deliveries. According to BCOEM, the program will roll out in two phases. In phase 1, the program will provide up to 5,000 gallons of clean drinking water per household each month. Phase 2 will provide temporary storage tanks to residents that don’t already have them. … ” Read more from KRCR here: ‘Butte County Drought Assistance Program’ to provide clean drinking water
BAY AREA
Three beaches in one Bay Area county are among the most polluted in California, report says
“Three San Mateo County beaches are among California’s most polluted beaches, according to a list compiled by an environmental group. Erckenbrack Park, Marlin Park and Lakeshore Park all struggle to clear pollution, as they are “enclosed in an engineered patchwork of channels that do not allow much water circulation so pollution is not easily flushed away from the beaches,” the report, from Heal the Bay, states. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Three beaches in one Bay Area county are among the most polluted in California, report says
Potentially harmful algae blooms reported in Discovery Bay
“The Contra Costa Health Department urges anyone who boats, fishes or swims in or around Discovery Bay to be cautious after large blooms of blue-green algae were discovered there. A bloom is a buildup of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, that creates a green, blue-green, white or brown coloring on the surface of slow-moving waterways. Contact with a toxin produced by the bloom can make people and pets sick. ... ” Read more from The Press here: Potentially harmful algae blooms reported in Discovery Bay
Monsoon thunderstorms are lashing region just south of the Bay Area
“Thunderstorms lashed the San Benito County area Wednesday evening, signalling that a monsoon had flowed in from the coast of Mexico —which could possibly send ripples through the South Bay and Central Valley, one meteorologist said. Sheets of rain pounded over Highway 101 outside King City, spattering a Chronicle photographer’s car windshield so relentlessly that she had to pull over. In Hollister, people gleefully tweeted video of flickering in the murky sky, which at one point had a sliver of a rainbow and clouds so pink, they could have been drawn in crayon. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Monsoon thunderstorms are lashing region just south of the Bay Area
CENTRAL COAST
Desalination can now be owned and operated by private entities in Monterey County
“With an extreme drought tightening its grip, drawing concerns about the future of water in Monterey County and throughout California, the county’s Board of Supervisors overturned a 33-year-old law to allow the private ownership and operation of desalination facilities within the county. Previously, desalination facilities were limited to public ownership, a rule that was criticized as more of a political decision than anything else. The decision to overturn the law and allow private ownership and operation passed 4-1 on June 21, with Supervisor Wendy Root Askew dissenting. She said she felt this vote was aimed at a specific project and she could not approve county staff’s determination that the rule change would not have a significant environmental impact. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Desalination can now be owned and operated by private entities in Monterey County
Monterey County elected officials tackle water, cannabis tax
“Monterey County officials on Tuesday made several key decisions that could affect everything from area water supplies to helping a struggling cannabis industry, all the while juggling a spending plan that will likely see darker times ahead. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors gave the green light to allowing private ownership of desalination projects and took a step toward allowing errant cannabis producers to catch up on owed taxes — itself a problem as officials are counting on that revenue to shore up a budget that was also passed Tuesday. The fight over private ownership of desal projects dates back years and was the impetus for grass-root efforts like Public Water Now that strive to take water supplies out of the hands of for-profit merchants like California American Water Co. But supporters of private ownership say that restricting any cache of water to only public agencies narrows the sources of supplies available to county residents. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey County elected officials tackle water, cannabis tax
Paso groundwater basin gets revised sustainability plan
“With $3.5 million in hand, the city of Paso Robles is moving forward with a water recycling project included in the as-yet unapproved plan to bring the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin into sustainability. “We’re still moving forward with implementation of the plan,” city Public Works Director Christopher Alakel told the Paso City Council on June 21. “We recently got some grant funding to do some projects, including a portion of our recycled water project.” … During its June 21 meeting, the Paso Robles City Council—acting as the Paso Robles Groundwater Sustainability Agency—was the first to approve that revised GSP, which needs to be resubmitted to the state by July 20. ... ” Read more from New Times SLO here: Paso groundwater basin gets revised sustainability plan
Santa Barbara declares Stage II drought
“As usual, Santa Barbara City Councilmember Mike Jordan asked the most questions. He also asked one that induced a condition approximating whiplash for Mayor Randy Rowse. The subject at hand was water, as in the Stage II drought declaration the council adopted this Tuesday at the insistence of Governor Gavin Newsom despite widespread grumbling that the governor’s one-size-fits-all approach treated Santa Barbara’s conservation-minded water customers unfairly. Jordan, who in a prior incarnation served on the state’s regional water quality control board, was drilling down on what the new Stage II restrictions actually might mean. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara declares Stage II drought
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca residents getting new water restrictions
“The Manteca City Council is expected to declare a drought emergency at Tuesday’s meeting, which will tighten water restrictions for residents, businesses and even at city hall. Dry lawns will soon be the norm in Manteca. Going from green to golden is now the goal. “Residents can expect to see yellow and brown lawns, yellow and brown public spaces, parks, etc,” Public Works Director Carl Brown said. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Manteca residents getting new water restrictions
The City Of Hanford reminds the community of state and local drought measures
“Last night, the Hanford City Council directed City staff to notify Hanford Businesses and Residents of the Governor’s recent executive order and the City of Hanford Drought Response Measures. The State of California is in the midst of a severe, multi-year drought with the first three months of 2022 being the driest in the State’s recorded history. In response, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22 on March 22, 2022, which requires local water suppliers, such as the City of Hanford, to implement Level 2 water conservation measures identified in their Water Shortage Contingency Plan. … ” Read more from Valley Voice here: The City Of Hanford reminds the community of state and local drought measures
Ag well permitting process still causing confusion in Kern County
“Kern County hasn’t issued a single agricultural well permit since early April and frustration in the ag community is at a boiling point. Ag well permitting slowed to a crawl up and down the San Joaquin Valley after Gov. Newsom issued an emergency drought order on March 28 that added an extra layer of scrutiny to new and refurbished ag wells. The order requires groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to provide written verification that the proposed well won’t interfere with their plans to bring overtapped aquifers back into balance. And it requires the well permitting agency – the Environmental Health Department in Kern County – to find new wells won’t interfere with existing wells or cause subsidence, the land to sink. While other counties seem to have found a way past those hurdles, permits in Kern have languished. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Ag well permitting process still causing confusion in Kern County
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Three lawn replacement myths debunked
“California is experiencing its third consecutive dry year, and while dry spells aren’t new, the current severe drought conditions call for an increase in water conservation efforts inside and outside of homes. Replacing the lawn with water smart plants is one way to take immediate water saving action and have a direct impact on the state’s ongoing drought. The Save Our Water program is debunking three lawn replacement myths to help encourage homeowners to prepare their landscape for California’s ongoing drought. Most water waste happens in the yard, and removing grass lawns and landscaping with native plants is one of the best ways to reduce water use. … ” Read more from the Los Angeles Sentinel here: Three lawn replacement myths debunked
Burbank to move to stage 3 for water use beginning June 27
“With continuing drought conditions throughout southern California, Burbank will be moving to Stage III of the Sustainable Water Use Ordinance starting June 27, 2022. While Stage III is active, outdoor watering is only allowed two days per week from April – October, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Attended hand watering is now allowed before 9 am and after 6 pm. … ” Read more from My Burbank here: Burbank to move to stage 3 for water use beginning June 27
Outdoor watering limited to three days a week in Riverside
“Riverside officials are limiting outdoor watering in the Inland Empire’s largest city this summer to three days a week as the region confronts a rapidly worsening drought. Riverside Public Utilities General Manager Todd Corbin said the restriction applies to 66,000 customers who are supplied drinking water by the city, which is asking customers to cut overall use 15%. “We’re asking our customers to water their landscapes no more than three times per week,” Corbin said at the Tuesday, June 14, Riverside City Council meeting, according to a meeting videotape. … ” Read more from the Riverside Press-Enterprise here: Outdoor watering limited to three days a week in Riverside
Amid drought, Riverside County water agencies ‘well positioned’
“Despite the severe drought impacting the Inland Empire and most of California, prompting warnings from the governor of mandated cutbacks, a few of Riverside County’s largest water agencies say they’re well-stocked on supplies, without the need to impose drastic measures to conserve. “The Eastern Municipal Water District is very well positioned to meet the needs of its customers during the ongoing drought,” the Perris-based agency said in a statement released to City News Service. “EMWD customers have reduced per-capita water usage by more than 40 percent in the past two decades and have embraced an industry-leading rate structure that promotes efficiency.” … ” Read more from The Patch here: Amid drought, Riverside County water agencies ‘well positioned’
Long Beach’s Big Bang fireworks target of environmentalists, water quality control board
“John Morris and the Boathouse on the Bay have hosted the Big Bang on the Bay, a July 3 fireworks show to raise money for the nonprofit Children Today and other charities, since 2011. “And I want to be clear,” Morris said recently. “The show will go on this year.” But for the last two years, environmental groups have fought the event, saying that the fireworks over Alamitos Bay are polluting the water and endangering birds in the area. This year, the Sierra Club Los Cerritos Wetlands Task Force persuaded the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board to issue an order requiring water quality tests and reports. … ” Continue reading at the Long Beach Press Telegram here: Long Beach’s Big Bang fireworks target of environmentalists, water quality control board
World’s largest water recycling plant located in Orange County getting major expansion
“The largest water recycling plant in the world can be found in Fountain Valley, California, and work is underway to make it even bigger. According to the Orange County Water District, its Groundwater Replenishment System takes about 110 million gallons of wastewater from the county’s sanitation district every day that would normally be dumped in the Pacific Ocean. It then puts it through a three-step treatment process to produce purified water. “The water that comes to this facility has already been through a significant amount of what we call conventional wastewater treatment,” said Orange County Water District Executive Director Mehul Patel. ... ” Read more from KABC here: World’s largest water recycling plant located in Orange County getting major expansion
Orange County needs a single, powerful water overlord, grand jury says
“We didn’t plant like-minded folks on the grand jury, we swear! But on Wednesday, entirely without prompting, the Orange County grand jury called on the two water giants in our compact little county to get over themselves, relinquish their pricey fiefdoms and form a single, unified, regional, county-level water authority to finally speak with — and this is the grand jury’s flourish — “One Voice.” “Ronald Reagan once said: ‘No government ever voluntarily reduced itself in size,’ ” the report said. “However, it is important that Orange County water providers consolidate their resources and establish a unified voice to lead the county more efficiently in its water policies and planning…. “(I)t is time to coordinate strategies in water conservation, development of new supply and infrastructure, and preparation for the possibility of continued drought, disaster, and state-mandated water cutbacks.” ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Orange County needs a single, powerful water overlord, grand jury says
First of four PFAS treatment facilities in Garden Grove begins operation
“The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the City of Garden Grove, California, in May began operating one of four treatment plants being constructed in Garden Grove to remove per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from local well water. PFAS are a group of thousands of manmade, heat-resistant chemicals that are prevalent in the environment and are commonly used in consumer products to repel water, grease and oil. Due to their prolonged use, PFAS are being detected in water sources throughout the United States, including the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which supplies 77 percent of the water supply to 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. Despite playing no role in releasing PFAS into the environment, water providers must find ways to remove it from their local water supplies. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: First of four PFAS treatment facilities in Garden Grove begins operation
Big Bear: Sustainability agency meets to adopt plan — again
“Déjà vu was the mood of the hour at this year’s second meeting of the Bear Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency. The main item on the agenda was to readopt the Bear Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan. It’s the same plan that was adopted at the agency’s January meeting. Due to a failure to notice all interested parties at least 90 days prior to the adoption of the plan, the Department of Water Resources kicked the plan back. The agency then resent the notice to ensure it met the proper 90-day noticing period and readopted the same sustainability plan. … ” Read more from the Big Bear Grizzly here: Big Bear: Sustainability agency meets to adopt plan — again
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
IID implements court-sanctioned water distribution plan for ag and cities
“With the Western drought beginning its third decade, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) fast-forwarded the Equitable Distribution Plan (EDP). To aid in the management of its available water supply for 2022, the Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved a plan that equitably apportions the resource among its categories of water users: potable, agricultural and industrial/commercial at the Tuesday, June 20 meeting. The revised Equitable Distribution Plan, adopted by the board on Tuesday, June 21, following five public workshops and stakeholder input, will use a hybrid apportionment methodology to calculate each agricultural field apportionment for the year, with the mid-year implementation beginning June 1 but retroactive to January 1, 2022. ... ” Read more from the Desert Review here: IID implements court-sanctioned water distribution plan for ag and cities
Calipatria to consider appeal of water saving measures
“What little greenery can be found at residences in Calipatria and Niland may soon brownout because of pending mandatory water conservation measures directed at Golden State Water Co. customers in the two locales. Golden State’s mandatory water restrictions are slated to go into effect Sunday, June 26, and would limit outdoor watering and impose surcharges for any total water usage that exceeds a ratepayer’s 2020 monthly use. If the city is forced to cut back on its already limited watering schedule, the mature trees that the city has in its parks risk potential death, said City Manager Romualdo “Rom” Medina. “This would be detrimental to the city,” Medina said in a phone interview on Tuesday, June 21. “If the trees lose that watering amount it sends them into shock. Two to three months later we see them dying.” ... ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle here: Calipatria to consider appeal of water saving measures
SAN DIEGO
15 San Diego beaches make ‘honor roll’ for water quality
“Fifteen beach areas across San Diego County offered ideal conditions for swimmers, while Baja California’s Playa Blanca and the Tijuana Slough were ranked as two of the most polluted beaches in the region, according to Heal the Bay’s annual report Wednesday. The nonprofit assigned letter grades to 500 beaches across the state. Grades were based on the levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution in the ocean, as measured by county health agencies. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: 15 San Diego beaches make ‘honor roll’ for water quality
Access to lakeside recreation at Loveland at risk as Sweetwater Authority continues to lower water level
“On the outskirts of Alpine lies something rare in East County — an exceptional opportunity for fishing and other recreation on land that is free to access through an arrangement with the U.S. Forest Service. Its name is Loveland Reservoir, a sparkling lake in the East County foothills that sits just under 30 percent full these days, at around 1,300 feet above sea level. It provides water to National City and the South Bay Irrigation District via the Sweetwater Authority, the utility agency that owns and operates the water stored in Loveland. However, the opportunity for lakeside recreation is at risk of disappearing. At a meeting on May 16, 2022, SWA outlined plans to adjust their reservoir infrastructure to support decreasing the water level to the “dead pool” level, meaning to only 0.5 percent full. ... ” Read more from the East County Times here: Access to lakeside recreation at Loveland at risk as Sweetwater Authority continues to lower water level
Along the Colorado River …
Where a river no longer meets the sea, a pulse of water revives part of Mexico’s dry delta
“For decades, so much water has been diverted to supply farms and cities that the Colorado River has seldom met the sea and much of its delta in Mexico has been reduced to a dry riverbed, with only small remnants of its once-vast wetlands surviving. Over the past eight weeks, water has been flowing in parts of the delta once again, restoring a stretch of river in Mexico where previously there had been miles of desert sand. The water is being released from an irrigation canal to aid the delta’s parched environment as part of an agreement between the Mexican and U.S. governments and with support from environmental groups. Those who are involved in the effort say that even as severe drought and the warming climate sap the Colorado River, the initiative shows how small amounts of water can be used to benefit struggling ecosystems. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Where a river no longer meets the sea, a pulse of water revives part of Mexico’s dry delta
Even in a ‘megadrought,’ some eye new or expanded Colorado River dams
“Even as a persistent drought strangles the Colorado River and threatens the viability of giant reservoirs and dams erected decades ago, Western states and local governments are eyeing more projects to tap the flow of the 1,450-mile river and its tributaries. Whether those potential new reservoirs or other diversions would further tax an already overwhelmed system, or actually help states and municipalities adapt to a changing climate while making better use of their dwindling supplies, is a point of contention between environmentalists and water managers. According to data compiled by conservation advocates, more than two dozen major new reservoirs or diversion projects are either in the planning stages or actively being built along the Colorado River and its branches in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Even in a ‘megadrought,’ some eye new or expanded Colorado River dams
Lake Mead nears dead pool status as water levels hit another historic low
“Lake Mead’s water levels this week dropped to historic lows, bringing the nation’s largest reservoir less than 150 feet away from “dead pool” — when the reservoir is so low that water cannot flow downstream from the dam. Lake Mead’s water level on Wednesday was measured at 1,044.03 feet, its lowest elevation since the lake was filled in the 1930s. If the reservoir dips below 895 feet — a possibility still years away — Lake Mead would reach dead pool, carrying enormous consequences for millions of people across Arizona, California, Nevada and parts of Mexico. … ” Read more from NBC News here: Lake Mead nears dead pool status as water levels hit another historic low
Southern Nevada’s dire water outlook a focus of economics meeting this week
“This week, Southern Nevada business leaders will do what they’ve been doing once a year for more than 40 years. They’ll gather together and listen to experts who will try to look into the future to see where the economy is going. This year, probably more than in most years, they’ll be talking about an economic factor that few of them have any control over: Water. Water, or the dwindling supply of it as Lake Mead keeps shrinking in this record drought, is a major concern for the livelihood of Nevada, as well as six other states — some 40 million people — who rely on that water. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Southern Nevada’s dire water outlook a focus of economics meeting this week
Nevada: Justices uphold groundwater plan in ruling that could ‘significantly affect water management’
“The Nevada Supreme Court has cleared the way for Eureka County irrigators to move forward with a contested groundwater plan, issuing a 4-3 ruling last Thursday that could have significant implications for the way water is managed in dozens of aquifers across the state. The majority opinion is a win for irrigators in Diamond Valley, just outside of Eureka, who voted in 2018 for a groundwater plan that aims to address years of over-pumping. State officials, for decades, allowed irrigators to pump more than twice the amount of water that is sustainable. Water users and policymakers have closely watched the case. The plan, a first of its kind for Nevada, was noteworthy — and disputed — because its implementation rested on carving out an exception to the fundamental principles that guide existing water law. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Nevada: Justices uphold groundwater plan in ruling that could ‘significantly affect water management’
SEE ALSO: Nevada Supreme Court ruling shakes up groundwater rights, from SF Gate
Commentary: Rethink how water is used in the West
Alec Rodriguez, a water resources engineer at Atkins and co-founder and Vice-Chair of the Resilience Youth Network, writes, “In 2080, Colorado will be the new Arizona. According to a peer-reviewed study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, climate change is making Colorado more arid. This means that the state will become hotter and will have less moisture. Snowpack will continue along its downward trajectory in the state and Colorado River flows are projected to continue to decrease, which means less water for not only Colorado, but for each of the seven states in the Colorado River Compact: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California. In June, the federal government mandated that the Colorado River Compact states need to drastically reduce their water use as a result of the declining flows. Unfortunately, this information about a water-scarce future isn’t really new; climatologists and hydrologists, such as Brad Udall from Colorado State University, have been saying this for years. As our water supplies decrease, it is critical that we responsibly manage our water use. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Commentary: Rethink how water is used in the West
In national water news today …
EPA warns of health problems when PFAS levels in drinking water are inconceivably tiny
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new warnings about the danger of certain PFAS chemicals to human health are a stepping stone toward the agency’s development of national drinking water standards later this year. The warnings also test the limits of laboratory observation. On June 15, the agency substantially lowered existing health advisories for two of the so-called “forever” chemicals, PFOA and PFOS. The agency also posted first-ever advisories for two additional chemicals, GenX and PFBS. The new interim advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS are almost inconceivably small. So small, in fact, that laboratory methods cannot detect the chemicals in drinking water at these levels: 0.004 parts per trillion for PFOA and 0.02 parts per trillion for PFOS. The previous advisory level, set in 2016, was 70 parts per trillion combined — more than 10,000 times higher than the new level for PFOA. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: EPA Warns of Health Problems When PFAS Levels in Drinking Water Are Inconceivably Tiny
EPA’s WOTUS overhaul will trail Supreme Court ruling
“The Supreme Court will decide the fate of the nation’s most contentious Clean Water Act rule before EPA releases regulations on the matter, according to a new regulatory blueprint released yesterday. Details about EPA’s plans for “waters of the U.S.,” or WOTUS — a regulation that determines the federal government’s reach under the Clean Water Act — were tucked inside the Biden administration’s sprawling regulatory agenda for this coming spring, which laid out planned executive branch actions on everything from water to air and energy policy, for months to come (E&E News PM, June 21). EPA doesn’t plan to release a proposed rule to redefine WOTUS until November 2023, with no date specified for finalizing the rule, according to the Unified Agenda. … ” Read more from E&E News here: EPA’s WOTUS overhaul will trail Supreme Court ruling
Clean energy, water projects get boost in spending bill
“House Democrats’ $56.3 billion fiscal 2023 Energy-Water spending bill released last night seeks to bolster a host of Biden administration clean energy and water infrastructure deployment goals that are running into funding limitations this year. In total, the bill’s topline number would represent an increase of $3.4 billion above the fiscal year 2022 level, including $48.2 billion for the Department of Energy, $8.9 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers and $1.9 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation. New to the discussion is a $100 million so-called Defense Production Act Domestic Clean Energy Accelerator, a new program at DOE meant to follow through on the promises made by the White House earlier this month to fund domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Clean energy, water projects get boost in spending bill
Prescribed burns more dangerous because of climate — report
“The head of the Forest Service says in a new report that climate change is making prescribed fire increasingly dangerous even as the controlled burns remain essential for thinning the nation’s forests to prevent wildfire catastrophes. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore issued the warning Tuesday in a detailed report examining how a prescribed fire in northern New Mexico grew out of control this spring and became the largest wildfire in state history, consuming an area nearly twice the size of New York City. The report reveals a long list of errors including poor preparation and a failure to account for climate change, which had made the Santa Fe National Forest “much drier” than the Forest Service realized and created highly combustible conditions. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Prescribed burns more dangerous because of climate — report
Inflation strains value of Biden’s signature infrastructure law
“The government can buy fewer roads, bridges, and tunnels today than it could seven months ago when President Joe Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure law. Historic inflation and labor shortages now threaten to hamstring one of the administration’s signature successes, which lawmakers were hoping to tout in reelection campaigns. States across the country are seeing project bids come in as much as 30% above their original expectations, as contractors complain about supply problems, spiking material costs, and a dearth of workers. The law (Public Law 117-58) sends billions to be spent on surface transportation each year over the next five years, limiting the ability of officials to wait out the worst of the economic tumult. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Inflation strains value of Biden’s signature infrastructure law
And lastly …
Should the Delta smelt stop oil drilling in Wyoming? Green groups say ‘yes!’
“Environmental groups want to use laws protecting fish in California to stop oil production in New Mexico and Wyoming. It is a legal concept some call novel, while critics say it could endanger the entire U.S. fossil fuel industry, and at a time when energy prices are soaring. Groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians are suing the Biden administration, hoping to block the sale of new drilling leases on federal land. And to do so, they are relying on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). … Their argument is oil from a well in Wyoming will add to the carbon dioxide already heating the planet and, therefore, endanger the habitat of every protected species, including bears in the Arctic, birds in the Caribbean, and the delta smelt in San Francisco Bay. … ” Read more from Inside Sources here: Should a San Francisco smelt stop oil drilling in Wyoming? Green groups say ‘yes!’
