On the calendar today …
- EVENT: Delta Counties’ Water Summit on the Delta Conveyance Project at 9am. Join the Delta Counties Coalition (DCC) (elected officials from Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano and Yolo Counties) to learn about the State’s controversial Delta Tunnel Project, its impact beyond the Delta, why it matters to your jurisdiction, and to instead promote statewide water solutions that benefit all communities. Click here to enter Zoom meeting.
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a legislative update, Delta Levee Maintenance Subventions Program; Update on Pocket Levee Construction, Encroachment Removal, and Reconstruction; 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update; and Folsom Dam Raise Modifications Project. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Groundbreaking marks largest floodplain salmon rearing habitat project in California history
“Federal and state agencies broke ground today on a project that will become the single largest floodplain salmon rearing habitat restoration in California history. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are partnering on the “Big Notch Project,” a 30,000-acre floodplain habitat restoration and fish passage project in the Yolo Bypass in Yolo County. The project will expand floodplain rearing habitat for juvenile salmon and improve access through the bypass for salmon and sturgeon, which is pivotal to the recovery of these threatened and endangered fish species. “As California experiences a third year of dry conditions, the State and its federal partners are committed to supporting wildlife during this extended drought,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This project is part of a decades-long plan that has been recognized as critical for the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon.” … ” Read more from DWR here: Groundbreaking marks largest floodplain salmon rearing habitat project in California history
California DWR project to give struggling salmon more room to move
“California’s struggling salmon are about to get a lot more room to move. On Thursday, the California Department of Water Resources officially launched the “Big Notch” project on the Sacramento River, just along the Yolo Bypass. It’s the largest floodplain salmon rearing effort in state history. “As part of his work there is going to be quite a bit of excavation so we can encourage folks to take a little sample of soil,” joked Ted Craddock with the Department of Water Resources. “Because that will help with our construction project as well.” The project is a dig into the state’s old water infrastructure. The system that moves floodwaters away from Sacramento also creates barriers for fish. So the river will be sliced open here, allowing for a controlled spill into land that will serve as a giant fish nursery. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area here: California DWR project to give struggling salmon more room to move
85′ boat left to sink into Sacramento River after fire due to lack of funding to remove it
“A firefight on the Sacramento River is over, but troubled waters remain. “Once all the pollutants and hazmat are removed from this boat, it’s going to sit in the water,” said Natasha Drane, Sacramento County’s governmental and legislative officer. Oil, fuel and other hazardous material spilled from an 85-foot boat that caught fire in the Sacramento River on Tuesday are contained and will be cleaned up. However, due to a lack of funding, the wreck will be left in the water. The owner of the privately owned, former military watercraft still hasn’t been identified, but that’s not the only issue preventing crews from pulling the watercraft ashore. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: 85′ boat left to sink into Sacramento River after fire due to lack of funding to remove it
‘These vessels contain pollutants’: new efforts underway to remove abandoned boats along Sacramento waterways
“Just days after a boat fire on the Sacramento River, the concern is growing that it could happen again. There are dozens of other abandoned boats that are in danger of sinking on Sacramento waterways, and new efforts are underway to haul them away before they create a catastrophe. Abandoned boats can be an environmental ticking time bomb. “These vessels contain pollutants like oil and other hazmats like PCBs,” said Natasha Drane, a Sacramento County legislative officer. ... ” Read more from Channel 13 here: ‘These vessels contain pollutants’: new efforts underway to remove abandoned boats along Sacramento waterways
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley sets priorities to advance water solutions for the region
“The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley (The Blueprint) held its large group meeting with over 100 stakeholders at Fresno State yesterday to outline its priorities to achieve accessible and reliable water supplies for industries and the communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley. The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley (Blueprint) is a coalition of local leaders, water agencies, community-based organizations, farmers, commodity groups, and industry engaging to identify common-sense water solutions for our community and state. Outlined during the meeting, stakeholders provided a framework with a diversified approach that could grow water supplies and improve water conveyance so that the San Joaquin Valley can be more resilient to climate change while also being resourceful in the years of high precipitation. … ” Read more from Business Wire here: The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley sets priorities to advance water solutions for the region
California’s largest reservoirs at critically low levels – signaling a dry summer ahead
“California’s two largest reservoirs are at critically low levels, signaling that the state, like much of the US west, can expect a searing, dry summer ahead. This week, officials confirmed that Lake Oroville, the state’s second-largest reservoir, was at just 55% of its total capacity when it reached its highest level for the year last month. Meanwhile, Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir, was at 40% capacity last month – after the state endured its driest start to a year since the late 19th century. It’s a dire sign for a state already struggling to manage water during the most severe megadrought in 1,200 years. … ” Read more from the Guardian here: California’s largest reservoirs at critically low levels – signaling a dry summer ahead
California-Nevada drought status update
“Precipitation over the last several weeks throughout northern California and Nevada alleviated some fire risk, but did not significantly improve the drought conditions. Streamflows across California and Nevada are forecasted to be below normal, generally 75% of normal or less. Reservoir levels are varied throughout the region, with reservoirs in the Western Sierras at approximately 80% of normal. Current projections are for a shortage on the Lower Colorado River in 2023, though official forecasts are issued in August. … ” Read the full update from NIDIS here: California-Nevada drought status update
Sniffing the Delta for greenhouse gases
“Dutch Slough in Oakley, on the southern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, is less than a mile from where biometeorologist Dennis D. Baldocchi grew up on his parents’ orchard and fished with pals in nearby Marsh Creek. In October 2021, the California Department of Water Resources breached the levees here, restoring nutrient-rich tidal flows to degraded ranchland. Early in the 20th century, Baldocchi’s father grew dry beans and sugar beets on the peat soils of the Delta’s Liberty Island, and his aunt’s family raised asparagus, sugar beets, and corn on Sherman Island. In 1952, his dad started growing almonds and walnuts at the junction of Sellers Avenue and Cypress Road in Oakley. “My family mined the Delta for agriculture, which led to subsidence and contributed to climate change,” says Baldocchi, a University of California, Berkeley, professor whose current research focus is the ability of restored tidal wetlands to sequester carbon. “Now my generation is trying to use science to stop it.” … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Sniffing the Delta for greenhouse gases
Living with a Novel Landscape: Suisun Evolves
“Morning at Suisun Marsh is a living watercolor with a soundtrack. Miles of tule and pickleweed populate the foreground, split by canals glinting silver from the sun. In May, the hills undulate across the northern boundary in classic California gold. A red-tailed hawk’s iconic hoarse screech punctuates the insectine buzz as it takes off from a powerline. At 7:40 AM, it’s already 72 degrees and there’s no trace of a breeze. … A cursory glance suggests a sort of unaltered refuge, but Suisun Marsh is as much a human construction as the steelworks that surround it, as improbable as the railroad that traverses it. Comprising dikes and levees, floodgates and canals, the ecological paradise that serves as an indispensable stop on the Pacific Flyway is thoroughly human-made. … ” Read the full article at Estuary News here: Living with a Novel Landscape: Suisun Evolves
Jonas Minton, California environmentalist and water-policy expert, dies at 73
“Jonas Minton, a California water policy expert and environmentalist who maintained a high profile around the Capitol for decades, has died. Minton, 73, the senior water policy advisor at the nonprofit Planning and Conservation League, died Wednesday due to a heart condition. As a former deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources, he was instrumental in securing protection for 1,200 miles of California rivers under federal law in 1981. He was the former executive director of the Sacramento Water Forum, a group that brokered a wide-ranging deal in the early 2000s between environmental groups and area water agencies to share the waters of the American River. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Jonas Minton, California environmentalist and water-policy expert, dies at 73
Water trading market: A solution to water scarcity?
“Water rights are most commonly assigned according to prior appropriation, a queuing system summarised as “first in time, first in right.” Another water management method, water trading on the stock market, however, is deemed to be a more efficient way for water allocation. Water trading is recommended as it not only improves market efficiency but also alleviates water scarcity and insecurity amid more frequent droughts as a result of climate change. The socio-economic, as well as environmental benefit of water trading is therefore worth discussing. Here, we take a look at how the water trading market works, using the development of water trading in Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), a crucial water catchment in Australia, as a case study. … ” Read more from Earth.org here: Water trading market: A solution to water scarcity?
A single disaster once wiped out a quarter of California properties and spurred major changes to the capital
“Sacramento’s establishment at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River was a strategic one, but it would also be a devastating one for the capital’s early residents, and would shape the future development of the city. When John Sutter first established Sutter’s Fort, the local Native Americans warned Sutter the Sacramento Valley was prone to flooding and could become a small inland sea, prompting Sutter to build the fort on high ground. (Sutter’s Fort is located 1.5 miles south of the American River and two miles east of the Sacramento River.) … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: A single disaster once wiped out a quarter of California properties and spurred major changes to the capital
What’s the best way to reduce plastics? Not all California environmentalists agree
“Most California environmentalists want limits on the manufacture plastics. But negotiations on a bill in the legislature has unveiled a divide between groups willing to compromise and those who aren’t. SB-54 would require California producers to cut down on single-use plastic packaging and foodware by 25% over the next decade. It would also charge producers and plastic resin manufacturers $500 million annually, money which would go toward conservation efforts. Proponents led by Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), say that if passed, SB-54 would be the nation’s most comprehensive legislation of its kind. The measure attracted new attention last week after Allen introduced amendments, and a host of environmental organizations released statements in support. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: What’s the best way to reduce plastics? Not all California environmentalists agree
Thousands of lightning bolts hit California this week. Here’s why the state was spared from catastrophic fires
“A thunderstorm event this week with 67,000 lightning bolts captivated Californians, who anxiously tracked the monsoon and hoped it wouldn’t ignite any catastrophic fires. Data from the National Lightning Detection Network shows the storm largely outdid the number of lightning strikes that touched down in August 2020 and devastated parts of Northern California. Tuesday’s storm traveled from the Mexico border to the northern San Joaquin Valley, and west to the Big Sur coast. It carried with it lightning that ignited the Thunder Fire — which has since burned more than 2,300 acres in Kern County — and dozens of other smaller fires throughout the state. Still, California was spared from a repeat of August 2020. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Thousands of lightning bolts hit California this week. Here’s why the state was spared from catastrophic fires
Not enough or too far? California climate plan pleases few
“Heat waves and drought gripping California highlight the urgency to slash fossil fuel use and remove planet-warming emissions from the air, a top state official said Thursday during discussions of a new plan for the state to reach its climate goals.“I think every single Californian today knows that we’re living through a climate emergency,” said Jared Blumenfeld, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. He spoke as the California Air Resources Board opened a hearing on a plan for the nation’s most populous state to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. That means the state would remove as much carbon from the air as it emits. The timeline is among the most ambitious in the nation and in the world, but few who offered public comment were happy with the state’s plan for reaching that milestone. … ” Read more from US News & World Report here: Not enough or too far? California climate plan pleases few
In commentary today …
Guest Editorial: Supervisors Micari, Townsend support Sen. Hurtado’s $300 million water funding request
Tulare County Supervisors Larry Micari and Dennis Townsend write, “As the representatives of Tulare County’s first and fifth supervisorial districts, we write today to encourage you to strongly support Senator Melissa Hurtado’s $300 million Water Resiliency Funding request to the State of California. The extreme drought of 2012-2016 never ended here in Tulare County. Severe lack of water has ravaged our small, rural, agricultural communities for the last decade. The state’s failure to invest in its large surface water storage infrastructure over the last forty years has left us unable to store excess runoff during wetter months for use during the dry and hot summer months. Severe drought and lack of infrastructure have necessitated an over-reliance on groundwater pumping, and the resulting ground subsidence has damaged our main water conveyance system, the Friant-Kern Canal. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Guest Editorial: Supervisors Micari, Townsend support Sen. Hurtado’s $300 million water funding request
California farmers depend on Colorado River water
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “A recent commentary by Farm Press Associate Editor, Todd Fitchette, argues it’s not fair for California to use the Colorado River water to which it is legally entitled. However, his premise, that too much water goes to big cities like Los Angeles and San Diego and that they should rely on water sources other than the Colorado, is not true. Of California’s 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water, almost 90% goes to agriculture, providing water for high-value winter fruit and vegetable crops, and forage crops like alfalfa to feed beef and dairy herds, vital parts of California agriculture. Mr. Fitchette’s solution to a problem not based on fact would be harmful to California agriculture, cause more insecurity in our food system, raise prices for consumers, and make Americans more dependent on imported food supplies. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: California farmers depend on Colorado River water
How California can prevent wildfires and generate sustainable energy at the same time
Matt Dias, president and CEO of Calforests, writes, “California has some of the most expensive energy in the world. It also has mountains full of black vegetation that was charred in catastrophic wildfires, as well as countless dead or overly dense trees that pose a real and substantial fire hazard to many communities. Fortunately, there is something we can do to combat these problems: unlock real investment in biomass energy. Sustainable forest management in fire prone areas generates tons of organic material that needs to be disposed of. California burns or chips the majority of this material to mitigate fire risk or is forced to leave the residue in forests due to limited disposal facilities. But we can use these resources to produce heat or energy instead. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle here: How California can prevent wildfires and generate sustainable energy at the same time
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Worsening conditions prompt readoption of drought emergency regulation for Scott and Shasta Rivers
“With historic dry conditions continuing in the Scott and Shasta Rivers, the State Water Resources Control Board [Tuesday] readopted and updated an emergency curtailment regulation that includes measures to protect imperiled fish, ensures supplies for human health and livestock needs and encourages voluntary efforts that may be used in lieu of curtailments. Curtailments in the Scott River currently are suspended but expected to be reimposed this summer. In the Shasta River, curtailments of water rights acquired after 1912 were reinstated March 15. There are approximately 3,500 combined water rights in the watersheds, but given expanded conservation efforts and an unpredictable hydrology, the number of right holders who may be curtailed is yet to be determined. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: Worsening conditions prompt readoption of drought emergency regulation for Scott and Shasta Rivers
Humboldt County beach on ‘Beach Bummer’ list for the 1st time
“The Moonstone County Park in Trinidad made its first appearance on the annual “Beach Bummer” list ranking California’s most polluted beaches. The Moonstone County Park was ranked as sixth in a list of beaches that received the worst summer dry season grades in California by environmental nonprofit Heal The Bay’s 2021-22 Beach Report Card. The beach receives pollution from the nearby Little River flowing into the ocean. A study of nearby Clam Beach, which made the list as one of California’s more polluted beaches from 2013 through 2021, found that the pollution can be attributed to fecal matter from birds, cows and dogs. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt County beach on ‘Beach Bummer’ list for the 1st time
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A California gold mine’s toxic legacy: Inside the fight over reopening a treasure trove
“Five years ago, Canadian mining executive Ben Mossman came to this little Gold Rush town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, planning to strike it rich. His company bought the abandoned Idaho-Maryland mine — an 1860s-era treasure trove that once was one of the most productive gold mines in the country. He has tried to sell the idea of reopening the mine to locals by promising to create more than 300 good-paying jobs in rural Nevada County, where references to the Gold Rush — the Mine Shaft Saloon, the Gold Miners Inn, the rusty ore carts and stamp mills decorating street corners and parks — are everywhere. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: A California gold mine’s toxic legacy: Inside the fight over reopening a treasure trove | Read via Yahoo News
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Bringing the Sacramento Valley to life: The vital role of pollinators
“The leaders in the Sacramento Valley are cultivating a shared vision for a vibrant way of life. This includes the vital role that pollinators serve in bringing this region to life. Over the past several decades, we have learned much about pollinators and the efforts needed to ensure their vitality for a functioning ecosystem and economy in the region. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Bringing the Sacramento Valley to life: The vital role of pollinators
Butte County announces drought assistance program
“Butte County announced a new program Wednesday that is expected to provide up to 5,000 gallons of water per household to residents with storage tanks, at least in its first phase. In the second phase, the county will begin providing temporary storage tanks to those who do not already have one, according to a press release issued Wednesday by the county. The program is being headed by the Butte County Office of Emergency Management and is meant to provide water access for those facing water insecurity. Services provided through the program will be free to those who qualify. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Butte County announces drought assistance program
Even during the drought, Sacramento wants you to water your trees and keep them healthy
“Sacramento is in a “water alert,” which asks residents and businesses to reduce water usage by 20%, but the city still wants people to keep trees healthy by watering them. According to the city, trees do not fall under the city’s watering schedule. Lawns and landscapes, however, fall under those rules, which only allow for watering two days per week. The city said it wants residents to still water trees because they “don’t come back as easily or quickly as lawns do.” They also recommend making tree-watering a priority. … ” Read more from Channel 40 here: Even during the drought, Sacramento wants you to water your trees and keep them healthy
Fairfield water to comply with California emergency drought regulations
“On May 24, 2022, the State Water Board adopted an emergency conservation regulation in response to Governor Newsom’s March 28, 2022 Executive Order. Fairfield has access to multiple water supplies, and good planning means that droughts will have different effects on different agencies. Residents should know that Fairfield’s water supply remains healthy. Over the past several decades, City staff has prepared for droughts, in order to avoid a water shortage. Lake Berryessa continues to be a reliable source that keeps Fairfield from experiencing water shortages. The State Water Project, the less reliable of the City’s two water sources, continues to be utilized in a manner that maximizes and offsets usage from Lake Berryessa. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Fairfield water to comply with California emergency drought regulations
BAY AREA
Health officials urge caution after harmful algal blooms found in Bay Area waters
“With temperatures sweltering, the water in many Bay Area lakes, bays and reservoirs might look inviting, but health officials are urging people to use caution while swimming, boating or fishing as the conditions are ripe for the creation of toxic blue-green algal blooms. Harmful blue-green algal blooms have not only been increasing in frequency in recent years, but also in duration, here and elsewhere, said Marisa Van Dyke, a senior environmental scientist and harmful algal bloom manager with the state Water Resources Control Board. “Before it was a few weeks to months” when the blooms would appear, she said. But now, “we’re also seeing blooms that occur in the winter months or year-round. We’re concerned, and that’s why we’re working toward getting the resources to monitor and get better data to inform what to do about it.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Health officials urge caution after harmful algal blooms found in Bay Area waters
As drought drags on, South Bay farmers struggle — and worry
“If you were to visit Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill, there would be nothing but a dried-up gorge, with bleached stones to show old water levels. While the empty lake is attributed to its dam’s 10-year restoration program, future water levels post-construction may remain dangerously low due to the drought. This could be the future of many nearby water sources. With this year’s drought looming over the western and southwestern United States, lower water output from local, state and federal reservoirs has put the agricultural industry and farmers at risk. California’s major reservoirs, Lakes Shasta and Oroville, are currently under 50% maximum capacity, which has reduced harvests. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: As drought drags on, South Bay farmers struggle — and worry
San Jose Water gets CPUC approval for smart meters
“San Jose Water (SJW), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJW Group (NYSE: SJW), announced recently that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved its request to deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). SJW will be investing approximately $100 million over the next four years in this technology, which it says supports its customer service and environmental goals. “We appreciate the CPUC’s approval of our AMI request, which will enhance the customer experience by giving customers greater control over their water usage and water bills,” said Andy Gere, president and COO of San Jose Water. “Smart meters support SJW’s commitment to preserving and protecting the environment by helping to detect and stop leaks quickly, respond to climate change impact, and reduce carbon emissions. This technology will help us effectively plan for future water supply needs.” … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: San Jose Water gets CPUC approval for smart meters
Bagman for Bay Mussels
“Martin Trinh practically bounces along the dock at the Coyote Point Yacht Club on a breezy, sunny spring morning. He’s carrying a case full of instruments and scopes out an open slip at the end of the pier. Soon he’s lowering a probe into the water, alongside kelp clinging to the underside of the dock. Another trip back to his Prius, still sporting South Carolina license plates, and he’s got a white plastic dish pan and a scrub brush. He fills and rinses a brown plastic bottle several times before finally capping it while full and placing it into a zip-top plastic bag. Then he lies on his belly, reaches into the water, and with blue nitrile gloves feels amidst the kelp for the last thing he needs here today: five medium-size mussels. Trinh began his work as an environmental analyst with the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) less than a year ago, shortly after graduating from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. “I’ve been primarily continuing the projects and the passions I’ve had from my undergraduate studies,” he says, “analyzing what we call ‘contaminants of emerging concern.’” … ” Continue reading at Estuary News here: Bagman for Bay Mussels
CENTRAL COAST
Wasting water? Think again: River flows ensure water quality for cities, farms, and fish
Carolee Krieger, executive director of the California Water Impact Network, writes, “Here in Santa Barbara, the water crisis is generating anxiety — but also reasoned and reasonable responses, from conservation to limited desalination. But in the San Joaquin Valley, anxiety has transmuted into outright fear — and anger. You see it in the signs. They’re as ubiquitous as almond groves, tumbleweeds, and jackrabbits. The wording differs from sign to sign, but the message is the same: Stop Dumping Our Water into the Ocean. Build More Dams. Stop Wasting Our Dam Water. It’s a natural response to a crisis situation. California agriculture depends on water, and anxiety is naturally rising in the valley’s farming communities as reservoir levels fall and aquifers are depleted. But the signs also represent polarized thinking that neither reflects reality nor points to any practical solution to our water dilemma. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Wasting water? Think again: River flows ensure water quality for cities, farms, and fish
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca City Council moves to avoid catastrophe
“Manteca elected leaders are moving to provide enhanced flood protection for thousands of existing residents as well as protect critical infrastructure such as the wastewater treatment plant. And, yes, it will also protect future growth. Yet not all council members think the move is a good idea. Manteca Mayor Ben Cantu was the lone dissenter on a 4-1 vote Tuesday on a measure to divert 20 percent of future city property tax receipts in the affected area to fund Manteca’s share of $280 million in levee improvements. His rationale: Developers should upgrade the levees first before they are allowed to build. ... ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca City Council moves to avoid catastrophe
Hanford officials warn residents, businesses to cut back water use
“In an effort to do their part in water conservation, the City of Hanford is doubling down its warnings to residents and businesses of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s most recent drought orders along with the city’s own drought response measures. Hitting the driest months in the last several years within the first three months of 2022, the State of California has been hit with a severe, multi-year drought reaching the worst ever recorded in state history. Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22 on March 22, 2022 in order to fight the drought, mandating 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 the San Bernardino Sun here: Hanford officials warn residents, businesses to cut back water use
Rural Community Assistance Corporation and EDF open applications for 2022 Water Leadership Institute in Tulare and Kern Counties
“Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have launched the 2022 Water Leadership Institute for communities in the Tule Subbasin in Tulare and Kern counties to gain skills and knowledge to make informed, innovative, and equitable water decisions. The Institute seeks to empower underrepresented and disadvantaged communities to participate more effectively in local groundwater management and water decision-making. Such community participation is critical as groundwater-dependent regions of California are finalizing plans to manage their groundwater supplies more sustainably to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. … ” Read more from EDF here: Rural Community Assistance Corporation and EDF open applications for 2022 Water Leadership Institute in Tulare and Kern Counties
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Early signs indicate Southern California finally using less water. But big test lies ahead
“Less than a month after sweeping water restrictions took effect across Southern California, early indications suggest residents are finally heeding calls to conserve as officials report a noticeable drop in demand throughout the region. Officials at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California reported that demand was 5% lower than what they hoped to see under the first three weeks of restrictions. At the same time, water waste complaints have soared throughout Los Angeles, signaling perhaps that many residents have taken conservation to heart. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Early signs indicate Southern California finally using less water. But big test lies ahead | Read via Yahoo News
Calabasas: This California area puts a target on the backs of wasteful water users
“Imagine having outdoor watering cut off completely and the water delivery to your house reduced to a mere trickle — enough to get it out of the tap, to flush and to take a weak shower. For about 20 water wasters in western Los Angeles County, this is their reality, with flow reductions of what was once 50 gallons per minute down to 1 gallon per minute. “This is basically a deterrent for consistent water wasters within our service area,” said Mike McNutt, spokesman for the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District that serves communities in western Los Angeles County. “And when I say consistent water wasters, what I mean is after four times that a customer who exceeds 150% of their water budget, they are then in line to receive a flow restriction device on their meter.” … ” Read more from Deseret News here: Calabasas: This California area puts a target on the backs of wasteful water users
Two Malibu beaches rank among top 51 on water-quality report
“Malibu has received both good and bad news for its 32nd Heal the Bay Annual Beach Report Card and their 3rd annual River Report Card. Las Tunas County Beach and Nicholas Beach were two of just six Los Angeles County beaches that made the honor roll among the top 51 beaches. The beach report graded more than 700 beaches and logged clean water-quality marks between April and October of 2021. The Beach Honor Roll List of beaches along the California coast has grown from 35 beaches in last year’s report to the current 51 beaches. Heal the Bay President and CEO Tracy Quinn acknowledged Malibu for its continued success of keeping its beaches clean. … ” Read more from the Malibu Times here: Two Malibu beaches rank among top 51 on water-quality report
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Commentary: Given our water crisis, La Quinta surf park plan should have been laughed out the door
De Karlen, a certified California naturalist, “La Quinta’s mayor and city council are taking a vote on July 5 regarding the Coral Mountain surf park development. The surf park should have been dismissed instantly and laughed out the door. The reasons are legion. The park’s water will be fed by Colorado River water, with its two main reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, down to about 28% capacity per recent calculations by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the lead federal agency. The agency mandated that states receiving the river’s water develop an emergency reduction plan within 60 days. California receives the bulk of the Lower Basin’s Colorado River water, consuming about 4.4 million acre-feet per year. Why would anyone think a surf park using finite Colorado River water in Coachella Valley is a good idea? … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Given our water crisis, La Quinta surf park plan should have been laughed out the door
Commentary: Salt, the Salton Sea, and the flow of water and money: A prediction
El Centro resdient John Dantice writes, “Imperial County is the No. 1 producer of salt in California. The salt is not produced for commercial use; it is stored in the Salton Sea as a waste product. The salt is a fundamental waste product from farming in the Imperial Irrigation District. Every 15 minutes, 100 tons of salt is delivered to the Salton Sea. Nearly 10,000 tons of salt is delivered every day of the year in a watery solution by the Alamo River and the New River. For over the past 60 years, over 3 million tons of salt per year have been removed from farm ground in a salty water solution and delivered to the Salton Sea. … ” Continue reading at The Desert Sun here: Commentary: Salt, the Salton Sea, and the flow of water and money: A prediction | Read via Yahoo News
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. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Calipatria to consider appeal of water saving measures
Major water reductions cause major concern for locals
“Farmers in Imperial County feel like they’ve borne the “lion’s share” of cutbacks in use of water from the Colorado River as the megadrought gripping the West the last couple of decades continues to diminish that vital resource for the Southwest. With elevations of the river’s reservoirs having now fallen to the point that significant additional cuts to the water supplied to the states that rely on the river are a grim likelihood next year, the Imperial Valley farmers are resigned to seeing further cuts in their water delivery. But they fear those cuts will adversely impact their farms, their lifestyle, their businesses and their communities. ... ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: Major water reductions cause major concern for locals
SAN DIEGO
Mayor Gloria and other leaders urge water conservation, warn of ‘collapse of Colorado River’ system
“San Diego County’s water supplies are in good shape in the face of severe statewide drought, but local and state leaders said San Diegans should still take steps to avoid water waste and limit outdoor irrigation. “We’re here on a somber note, and that is as we move into summer… we are navigating across the American West, an unprecedented drought,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said. On Thursday afternoon, the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the agency’s commitment to conservation, pledging to “sustain our most precious natural resource and protect the human right to water” and work with other agencies to achieve water savings. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Mayor Gloria and other leaders urge water conservation, warn of ‘collapse of Colorado River’ system
San Diegans praised for saving water but urged to do more
“”We are navigating across the American West with unprecedented drought, uncharted conditions.” That was the dire warning from California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot during a news conference Thursday at the headquarters of the San Diego County Water Authority. He said federal water officials were worried too. “Our U.S. reclamation commissioner that oversees federal water infrastructure in the West testified before Congress on Tuesday that extraordinary, never-before conservation measures are needed across the Southwest, including California, to avoid the collapse of the water supply system on the Colorado River,” Crowfoot said. … ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diegans praised for saving water but urged to do more
San Diego County Water Authority to increase 2023 rates, citing inflation
“The San Diego County Water Authority voted to increase rates in 2023 due to what the agency claimed are inflationary pressures. According to the agency, rates and charges will increase by 3.7 percent for untreated water and 5.2 percent for treated water. The authority said the increases are “attributed to historically high inflation, significant energy cost increases from SDG&E, and continued cost increases by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.” … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: San Diego County Water Authority to increase 2023 rates, citing inflation
Along the Colorado River …
‘A subtraction problem:’ A shrinking Colorado River faces sharp, sudden cuts
“Within the next two months, Colorado River negotiators face a daunting task: Develop ways to reduce use by an enormous amount, or the federal government will make the cuts on its own. Earlier this month, the federal government told the seven states in the Colorado River Basin that reservoir levels are so low they face a pressing crisis that warrants large-scale conservation, even as water users negotiate long-term operating guidelines for a shrinking river in an arid future. The ongoing drought and climatic conditions facing much of the West are “unprecedented,” said Camille Calimlim Touton, who leads the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the agency responsible for managing water infrastructure across the region. Touton told federal lawmakers on June 14 that Colorado River users must reduce diversions by a substantial amount: 2 to 4 million acre-feet. ... ” Read more from the Nevada Independent here: ‘A subtraction problem:’ A shrinking Colorado River faces sharp, sudden cuts
Federal officials warn of impending water crisis in the American Southwest
“The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing last week on the state of the severe drought affecting the American Southwest. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton informed the committee that severe cuts to water allocations would be necessary to ensure that water supplies did not deplete beyond “critical levels.” “A warmer, drier West is what we are seeing today,” she said. “And the challenges we are seeing today are unlike anything we have seen in our history.” … ” Continue reading from the World Socialist Web Site here: Federal officials warn of impending water crisis in the American Southwest
CAP not sure how much Colorado River water cities will get in 2023
“Central Arizona Project (CAP) officials are scrambling to figure out how to cut even more of its share of Colorado River water. The water accounts for 36% of the state’s water supply and is largely used to reduce groundwater usage in Phoenix and Tucson areas. U.S. Department of Interior announced last week that Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming will have cut 2-to-4-million-acre feet from their usage has triggered intensive negotiations between the states and the Republic of Mexico about how to get that done. The plan aims to keep Lakes Mead and Powell from dropping to critical levels in 2023. … ” Read more from Channel 15 here: CAP not sure how much Colorado River water cities will get in 2023
Phoenix appears confident as water alarm shakes the West
“Disclosures last week that Lake Mead’s water level is plummeting more quickly than expected and putting even more strain on the Colorado River jolted some Western cities, but Phoenix wasn’t among them. And that could be because of what city Water Services Department officials told City Council during a hearing earlier this month. Those officials expressed confidence that the measures they’ve taken so far and their future conservation plans have left Phoenix in a safer position than many of its neighbors, including some other Arizona cities, for at least the next few years. … ” Read more from the Ahwatukee Foothills News here: Phoenix appears confident as water alarm shakes the West
Lawmakers rewrite Ducey’s plan for $1 billion for new water
“Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to create a new state agency to boost the desert state’s increasingly strained water supply morphed into a plan to give an existing state entity the authority to leverage and dole out a new $1 billion appropriation. The entity is an obscure agency called the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, which will now be a standalone agency with oversight from a new board and some from the Legislature. The final plan was working its way through the House and Senate on Thursday as the Legislature moves to enact its final pieces of legislation of the year. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Lawmakers rewrite Ducey’s plan for $1 billion for new water
Reclamation welcomes public input on development of future Colorado River operations during historic drought
“The Bureau of Reclamation today published a Federal Register notice to assist in its efforts to develop future Colorado River operating provisions. Several decisional documents and agreements that govern the operation of crucial Colorado River facilities, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, and the management of Colorado River water will expire at the end of 2026. The notice seeks specific input on how to foster meaningful participation by all stakeholders in preparation for beginning the National Environmental Policy Act process to develop post-2026 operating approaches for the Colorado River, and operating strategies to address post-2026. “In my testimony last week, I stressed the need for a quick response and action from across the basin to reduce water use and protect the sustainability of the Colorado River system,” said Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “As we focus on these short-term response actions, we also clearly recognize the importance of simultaneously planning for the longer-term to stabilize our reservoirs before we face an even larger crisis.” ... ” Continue reading at the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation welcomes public input on development of future Colorado River operations during historic drought
Feds call for public input on how to manage the strained Colorado River
“Lake Powell is an important water storage facility and source of hydropower in the West. The reservoir is at an elevation of 3,539 feet. Decades of drought and overuse has put the Colorado River, and millions of its users, in a dire situation. The Bureau of Reclamation announced Thursday it’s looking for public input on how the resource should be managed, which some Utah officials aren’t too happy about. … At a Colorado River Authority of Utah meeting Thursday, Brian Steed, the state’s executive director of natural resources, said Reclamation’s call for public input makes him nervous. “This has been for the states to decide and to propose and not for the feds to dictate and frame,” he said. “It worries me that it looks like it’s going the other direction with the feds framing it.” ... ” Read more from KUER here: Feds call for public input on how to manage the strained Colorado River
Colorado’s drought is bad. Tree ring history shows it could get a lot worse.
“What two stooped and warped sentinels in the Great Basin are telling us is a scary story, with a twist of possible redemption. Approximately 1,800 years after popping out of the ground as seedlings, live bristlecone pines are still talking to us nearly 2 millennia later. They offer warnings and insight into long-term drought in the West, according to researchers from the Bureau of Reclamation and University of Arizona. Rings from trees that were alive in the west’s Great Basin in the second century A.D. show a devastating 24-year drought back then that makes our current 22-year Western drought look positively moist, the research shows. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Colorado’s drought is bad. Tree ring history shows it could get a lot worse.
In national water news today …
Feds overturn Trump-era endangered species ‘habitat’ definition
“The Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries today rescinded a Trump-era definition of habitat, a crucial but sometimes nebulous Endangered Species Act term that’s incited an ongoing war of words. In a highly anticipated move, the agencies made final their decision to erase the Trump administration’s definition that had effectively kept “critical habitat” designations from including land or waters not currently occupied by a protected species. “The Services should be able to designate unoccupied areas as critical habitat if those areas fit within any reasonable biological understanding of ‘habitat’ as established by the best available scientific data … and if such areas are essential for the recovery of the species,” the agencies stated. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Feds overturn Trump-era endangered species ‘habitat’ definition
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
Climate change fueling fires faster than predicted
“Federal officials say climate change is intensifying droughts, leading to wildfires far worse than experts or models have predicted. That is adding to the danger that accompanies one of the U.S. Forest Service’s primary methods of mitigation: the prescribed burn. “Fires are outpacing our models,” Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said in a statement this week. Moore pointed to escalating climate conditions as the reason why an otherwise routine prescribed burn in New Mexico earlier this year escaped to ignite the largest wildfire in state history. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Climate change fueling fires faster than predicted
Large-scale reforestation efforts could dry out landscapes across the world
“Here’s a riddle for you: How can we both increase rainfall around the world and simultaneously decrease the amount of water that’s available? The answer, it turns out, is to plant more trees. That counterintuitive finding comes thanks to a new analysis, published in Nature Geoscience, of how large swathes of trees affect the amount of water both in the ground and in the atmosphere. It’s a finding with implications for a growing movement seeking to plant trees on an unprecedented scale to combat climate change—a movement that has drawn criticism as unrefined and overly idealistic. … ” Read more from EOS here: Large-scale reforestation efforts could dry out landscapes across the world
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
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