On the calendar today …
- RWA Coffee & Conversation with State Water Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel from 9am to 10am. RWA will welcome State Water Resources Control Board Chair (SWRCB) Joaquin Esquivel as the featured speaker at our next Coffee and Conversation virtual event on Thursday, June 30 at 9 a.m. Chair Esquivel will explore the priorities of the SWRCB, how the SWRCB is addressing the drought, and Making Conservation a California Way of Life (including the Long-Term Standards for Efficient Use of Water). Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Rural residential purchases: What to know about groundwater and wells from 12pm to 1pm. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
California well water bill survives Senate committee
“A bill which would change the way groundwater wells are approved in California took a step forward Wednesday as it survived a fight in a California state Senate committee. The legislation was introduced by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, Democrat from Ventura, and would change the way new and expanded water wells are approved in California; focusing on areas that are experiencing rapid decline in groundwater reserves. Bennett told the committee that the goal of the bill is to provide some teeth to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA), which are tasked with coming up with sustainable groundwater discharge plans under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act passed in 2014, to oversee new and expanded wells. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: California well water bill survives Senate committee
Another group of Kern County water districts forming their own groundwater agency in face of possible state action
“A group of water districts clustered on the western edge of Kern County that are currently members of the Kern Groundwater Authority (KGA) announced they will form their own groundwater sustainability agency. The Westside District Water Authority, made up of the Belridge Water Storage District and the Lost Hills and the Berrenda Mesa water districts, announced at the June 22 KGA meeting, it would form its own groundwater agency but remain a member of the larger authority, according to General Manager Mark Gilkey. He said the districts share a number of similarities apart from the larger Kern subbasin, including that they overlie an area with very little useable native groundwater, and should have formed their own GSA years ago. This will bring the number of GSAs in the Kern subbasin to 13, the largest being the KGA. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Another group of Kern County water districts forming their own groundwater agency in face of possible state action
Feds are raising San Luis Reservoir dam 10 feet. Why not 20 feet?
“Work started last week on raising the B.F. Sisk Dam at San Luis Reservoir 10 feet to reduce the risk of the massive earthen structure collapsing in a major earthquake. This comes after exploratory blasting began in spring 2020 at the reservoir adjacent to Highway 152 near Los Banos. The federal project is expected to cost $1.1 billion and take nine years — even with crews working 24 hours a day beginning later this year. Altogether, more than 10 million cubic yards of rock, gravel, and soil will be moved from nearby hills to harden and raise the now 382-foot high dam. But, with the drought increasing the need to expand water storage in big precipitation years for ag and urban users alike, some are asking, “Why not raise the dam 20 feet instead?” ... ” Read more from GV Wire here: Feds are raising San Luis Reservoir dam 10 feet. Why not 20 feet?
California dairy uses lots of water. Here’s why it matters.
“When we picture California agriculture, we tend to think of almond and citrus orchards and the massive tracts of strawberry and lettuce fields that we can see from the highways dividing the western part of the state from the east. But dairy is, in fact, king. There are an estimated 1.7 million cows living on dairy farms in California, and the industry brought in $7.5 billion in 2020, including $2 billion in export sales. And because most people in the state don’t see the abundance of dairy farms—most of them function like feedlots surrounded by fields of feed crops such as alfalfa and corn growing nearby—they may not be aware of the fact that they use millions of gallons of water a day. ... ” Read more from Civil Eats here: California dairy uses lots of water. Here’s why it matters.
A water strategy for the parched West: Have cities pay farmers to install more efficient irrigation systems
Regents Professor Emeritus and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy Emeritus, University of Arizona, writes, ““Are you going to run out of water?” is the first question people ask when they find out I’m from Arizona. The answer is that some people already have, others soon may and it’s going to get much worse without dramatic changes. Unsustainable water practices, drought and climate change are causing this crisis across the U.S. Southwest. States are drawing less water from the Colorado River, which supplies water to 40 million people. But levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the river’s two largest reservoirs, have dropped so low so quickly that there is a serious risk of one or both soon hitting “dead pool,” a level when no water flows out of the dams. … To achieve Touton’s objective, states need to focus on the region’s biggest water user: agriculture. Farmers consume 80% of the water used in the Colorado River Basin. As a longtime analyst of western water policy, I believe that solving this crisis will require a major intervention to help farmers use less water. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: A water strategy for the parched West: Have cities pay farmers to install more efficient irrigation systems
How the agriculture industry must adapt to megadrought in the West: Experts
“The industry that overwhelmingly uses the most water resources in the West does so for good reason: to provide sustenance for the rest of the country. Globally, the agriculture sector uses 70% of all freshwater withdrawals. In California, that number is ever higher — at 80% of the state’s public water supply — and farmers are being forced to transform the way they cultivate crops as megadrought that has been plaguing the region for decades intensifies. … As a warming planet threatens to worsen drought and heat conditions in the West, farmers may be called to grow the crops that will be most resilient in the changing climate, Sharma said. That could include lessening the amount of land and water dedicated to “thirsty nut orchards,” she said. … ” Read the full story at Yahoo News here: How the agriculture industry must adapt to megadrought in the West: Experts
COLUMN: Technology and water use efficiency for agriculture
Shawn Novack, water conservation program manager with the Water Resources Association San Benito County, writes, “A major concern facing the future of agricultural production is the availability of water. We are seeing the impacts of climate change with more extreme climate events including droughts and floods and shifts in plant growing zones. Locally, we have been in the grips of a three-year drought. Our allocations from the Central Valley Project is zero for both agriculture and the local municipalities this year. This means we have turned to our groundwater supply, which is a finite resource. Because of these abnormally dry conditions, the local water agencies enacted Stage II of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in May. These are mandatory water conservation measures. Most restrictions are for outside water use. Agriculture is also trying to adapt to these challenges by using innovative technology and methodologies. … ” Continue reading at Benito Link here: COLUMN: Technology and water use efficiency for agriculture
Almond Alliance supports growers whipsawed by supply chains, water
“Almonds may be California’s second-largest crop, bringing in $5.62 billion in sales in 2020, but almond growers feel whipsawed by two factors over which they have no control: water and supply chains. That’s where the Almond Alliance comes in. A trade association devoted primarily to advocacy in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., the group formed in 1980 as the Almond Huller and Processors Association, but more recently changed its name and focus, said Aubrey Bettencourt, the organization’s new president and CEO – and a third-generation farmer. “Our mission is to be the advocacy voice for the almond community in California and protect everything we need to create a thriving almond industry,” Bettencourt said. … ” Read more from California Ag Today here: Almond Alliance supports growers whipsawed by supply chains, water
Designers of collaboration mandates for sustainable natural resource management must address public agencies’ concerns about losing autonomy and influence
“With climate change increasingly transforming our environment, governments and communities worldwide face critical challenges in managing natural resources sustainably. Resources like air, fisheries, and groundwater— called common-pool resources – often pose intractable management problems as their scale and scope may not align with existing political or administrative boundaries. Without policy mechanisms to bring together the independent efforts of different state and local governments and other stakeholder groups, sustainability remains a mere buzzword. Policymakers can advance their sustainability goals by using inter-agency collaboration mandates to push stakeholders to work together. But they first must understand why certain public agencies may be overly attached to their bureaucratic “turf”, and what prevents them and others from developing integrated collaborative frameworks that match the scope of the underlying collective action problems. … Our study setting uses the inter-agency collaboration requirement described in California’s ongoing Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), launched in 2014. … ” Read the full story at LSE Phelan US Center here: Designers of collaboration mandates for sustainable natural resource management must address public agencies’ concerns about losing autonomy and influence
Press release: Public records act requires water district to disclose identities of wasteful water users
“Multiple media outlets have submitted public records requests to LVMWD, requiring the District to make public the names of its customers throughout the service area who are not compliant with the current water use restrictions. LVMWD’s policy is to maintain the confidentiality of its customer records and not to share the information without consent of the customer. However, the California Public Records Act compels the District to release certain information for customers who use water in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies. As a result, the District must release certain information on customers who have routinely exceeded 150% of their water budgets or otherwise not complied with water use restrictions since LVMWD declared a local drought emergency on November 2, 2021. It is important to note that no information will be released for customers who have consistently complied with the District’s water use restrictions. … ”
Should business owners be required to cut down on water use?
“A new drought directive from state regulators prohibits commercial and industrial property owners in California from using potable or drinkable water to irrigate decorative lawns. The new rules come from the State Water Resources Control Board and follow Governor Newsom’s executive order back in March calling for water use reduction measures in the face of California’s worsening drought. It’s important to note that industrial and commercial property owners are still allowed to water plants and trees on their properties. The restrictions apply to grass around an establishment, also referred to as “ornamental turf.” The restrictions took effect June 10. Those who ignore the restrictions will be subject to warning letters and daily fines of up to $500. We wanted to know: Should business owners be required to cut down on water use? … ” Read more from KGET here: Should business owners be required to cut down on water use?
California farmers preparing for state water curtailment orders
“Farmers up and down California are once again facing an uncertain season ahead of them as a state water curtailment order issued in August 2021 continues to take its toll on farming and ranching families. In July 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order calling a drought emergency and asking for water conservation. Soon after, farmers and ranchers in California received curtailment orders from the California Water Board (CWB) to either immediately or prepare to suspend their senior water rights. Water rights are a complicated and century-long system that farmers and ranchers are all too familiar with — because water is their lifeline. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Press here: California farmers preparing for state water curtailment orders
San Joaquin River Restoration Program receives prestigious Environmental Achievement Award
“The San Joaquin River Restoration Program, a multi-agency effort to restore the upper 152-miles of the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence with the Merced River, recently received the Department of the Interior’s highest honor for environmental restoration. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo presented the award to the Program while visiting California for a groundbreaking ceremony and Reclamation’s inaugural 120th Anniversary celebration at San Luis Reservoir. “After a 60-year absence, it’s encouraging to see salmon returning to the San Joaquin River,” said Assistant Secretary Trujillo. “This award recognizes what is possible when federal and state government agencies work together and are committed to using science and engineering to overcome challenging obstacles. Congratulations to the Program.” … ” Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation here: San Joaquin River Restoration Program receives prestigious Environmental Achievement Award
An evaluation of the effectiveness of Fall Outflow Actions for Delta smelt
“A Fall X2 Action, intended to benefit delta smelt by increasing outflow through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in years with greater precipitation in the watershed that feeds the Delta, wetter years, was included in the USFWS 2008 Biological Opinion as a “reasonable and prudent alternative.” The management action requires increases in outflow through the Delta during September and October of wet and above-normal years. A similar flow-enhancing management action, but with differing outflow targets, was included in the operations analyzed in the 2019 Biological Opinion. Those Fall X2 Actions have been controversial since first being implemented because of their uncertain conceptual foundations, their large water costs, and the difficulty in detecting benefits of the management actions for delta smelt. … ” Read more from Delta Currents here: An evaluation of the effectiveness of Fall Outflow Actions for Delta smelt
‘Safety in numbers’ tactic keeps Pacific salmon safe from predators
“Animals that live in groups tend to be more protected from predators. That idea might be common sense, but it’s difficult to test for some species, especially for wild populations of fish that live in the ocean. A new University of Washington study that leverages historical data has found unique support for the “safety in numbers” hypothesis by showing that Pacific salmon in larger groups have lower risk of being eaten by predators. But for some salmon species, schooling comes at the cost of competition for food, and those fish may trade safety for a meal. The study was published June 29 in the journal Science Advances. … ” Read more from Science Daily here: ‘Safety in numbers’ tactic keeps Pacific salmon safe from predators
Extreme heat, drought will permanently scar California and its social fabric
“Unprecedented dryness across the western United States is meeting with increasingly warm temperatures to create climate conditions so extreme that the landscape of California could permanently and profoundly change, a growing number of scientists say. The Golden State’s great drying has already begun to reduce snowpack, worsen wildfires and dry out soils, and researchers say that trend will likely continue, along with the widespread loss of trees and other significant shifts. Some say what’s in store for the state could be akin to the conditions that drove people thousands of years ago to abandon thriving cities in the Southwest and other arid parts of the world as severe drought contributed to crop failures and the crumbling of social norms. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Extreme heat, drought will permanently scar California and its social fabric | Read via Yahoo News
Newsom energy plan would streamline electricity projects. Why environmentalists are unhappy
“Continuing his crusade to fortify California’s troubled electricity grid, Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing last-minute legislation that would give the state authority to streamline approvals for new energy projects — and potentially prolong the lives of the state’s last remaining nuclear plant and a group of aging fossil fuel plants in Southern California. Environmentalists denounced a pair of budget trailer bills — AB 205 and SB 122 — that would give the state Department of Water Resources and California Energy Commission broader powers to bring new projects online quickly. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Newsom energy plan would streamline electricity projects. Why environmentalists are unhappy
Bill moves forward to lock more carbon in the soil
“California has seen a lot of proposals to reduce carbon emissions; now a plan to scrub existing pollution is moving forward in the Legislature. Assembly Bill 2649, which just passed the State Senate Environmental Quality Committee on Wednesday, sets a big goal: to remove 60 million metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere per year by 2030, all by harnessing nature. Ellie Cohen, CEO of the Climate Center, a statewide advocacy group, said the plan to sequester more carbon in the ground will slow climate change and help the environment. “It helps us to hold more water when it does rain,” Cohen outlined. “It helps to replenish groundwater. It supports biodiversity, it supports food security, it helps ensure cleaner air, to get many, many co-benefits that help us to be more resilient.” ... ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Bill moves forward to lock more carbon in the soil
Calif. may rely on carbon capture to meet 2045 net-zero goal
“California must capture carbon from factory smokestacks and directly from the air to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045, according to a draft plan from a key state agency. The plan — from staff at the California Air Resources Board — estimates that about one-third of the needed emissions reductions in 2045 would come from greenhouse gas removal techniques. That assessment is stoking controversy in a state that sees itself as a national leader in fighting climate change, with concerns about the feasibility of carbon capture and whether it harms lower-income neighborhoods. “The threats posed by climate change to our communities, lands and environment, health, and the economy signify an all-hands-on-deck moment for California,” CARB Chair Liane Randolph said last week as staff presented the plan to the board for the first time. “This plan puts all tools on the table.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Calif. may rely on carbon capture to meet 2045 net-zero goal
And lastly … America’s 9 most impressive dams
“Dams are an oft-forgotten stalwart of our economy. They provide hydroelectric generation, prevent floods, and give people in dryer areas access to clean water. Also worth considering is the fact that many dams are architectural marvels and may sometimes be worth visiting just to witness their immense presence. With this in mind, what are the most physically impressive dams in the United States? … ” Spoiler alert: 2 Colorado River and 5 California dams made the list. Check it out at World Atlas here: And lastly … America’s 9 most impressive dams
In commentary today …
Sites Reservoir: A new reservoir for a new climate
Jerry Brown, Sites Project Authority Executive Director, writes, “In a year of unprecedented drought, a policy brief recently released by the independent Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) affirmed the need to modernize our state’s aging water infrastructure and highlighted the opportunities to better manage our water supplies by capturing excess storm and flood outflow from the Sacramento River. Today there is no existing infrastructure in place to capture and store truly excess water flows from the Sacramento River when they happen for use in subsequent dry years. Even in dry California, there are times when flows in the Sacramento River are huge, presenting an unrealized opportunity to capture and store significant amounts of water generated by stormwater and flood flows. This can be done safely for fish and is where Sites Reservoir would play a major role in adapting California’s water management for the changing climate. … ” Continue reading at the Sites Reservoir website here: Sites Reservoir: A new reservoir for a new climate
Today’s featured article …
DR. JAY LUND: Smarter Gambling with Water – Review of Water Supply Reliability Estimation
At the June meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Dr. Jay Lund, the immediate past chair of the Delta Independent Science Board, gave a presentation on the DISB’s recently-completed Review of Water Supply Reliability Estimation Related to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
“The title of this presentation is ‘Smarter Gambling with Water,’ because much of what we’re doing with the Delta is inherently risky,” Dr. Lund said. “We don’t really know what the next year’s hydrology is going to be. We don’t know exactly what the next decade’s hydrology is going to be. We don’t know whether particular actions of any sort, be they ecosystem, restoration actions, or others, are going to behave exactly as we would hope or was as people have promised us even, because this Delta is a very complex place subject to a lot of variability.”
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Interior officials visit Klamath Basin, discuss drought
“Senior U.S. Department of the Interior officials visited the Klamath Basin this week to meet with Native American tribes, local and state government officials and water users to discuss impacts from the drought. With the basin straddling the Oregon-California state line experiencing its third consecutive drought year, farmers and ranchers have been faced with operating on a very limited water supply from the Klamath Project, managed by Reclamation. Discussions this week reinforced the efforts of the Interagency Drought Relief Working Group, co-chaired by the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, which is actively working to identify and disburse immediate financial and technical assistance for impacted irrigators and tribes. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Interior officials visit Klamath Basin, discuss drought
Nonprofit behind Klamath River dam removal offers plan for allocating water to fight wildfires in region
“Four dams in the Klamath River along the Oregon and California border are in the process of being removed. But that means reservoirs previously used as a water source for firefighting will ultimately be gone too. The Klamath River Renewal Corporation is overseeing the removal of the dams. We learn more from Mark Bransom, CEO of the organization, about what’s being done to balance dam removal and firefighting in the region.” Read more from OPB here: Nonprofit behind Klamath River dam removal offers plan for allocating water to fight wildfires in region
Eureka to expand waterfront trail, build out Elk River estuary
“On Tuesday, Eureka city officials and partners broke ground on the Elk River Estuary project, which aims to restore and enhance estuary wetland habitat on 114 acres of city property. The project will create 78 acres of salt marsh habitat and 2.8 miles of channels connected to the Elk River, and includes public amenities such as a new nonmotorized boat launch station, a new parking area with trailhead access and a one-mile extension of the Eureka Waterfront Trail. “The Elk River is the largest and most ecologically significant river entering Humboldt Bay. Ecological values of the Elk River include old-growth redwoods, marbled murrelet, bald eagle, Coho and Chinook salmon, and steelhead, all of which utilize estuarine habitat for rearing and foraging. This watershed is heavily impacted by upstream land use including grazing, farming and timber harvesting, which have significantly impacted water quality, hydrology and sediment transport. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Eureka to expand waterfront trail, build out Elk River estuary
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
State water funding to help upgrade mountain systems
“A sliver of state money will help upgrade drinking water systems in eastern Fresno County mountain communities that have been plagued by both drought and devastating wildfires. The money is part of an overall $300 million in Department of Water Resources funding aimed at drought impacts. In Fresno County, the Sierra Resource Conservation District was awarded $525,000 to upgrade technology for five community groundwater systems in the mountains. The five water systems were all impacted by the 2020 Creek Fire, one of California’s biggest wildfires, which burned nearly 380,000 acres in the Sierra Nevadas. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: State water funding to help upgrade mountain systems
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County residents can now get water through Drought Assistance Program
“Assistance is coming to Butte County residents suffering in the drought. The state-funded Butte County Drought Assistance Program is delivering drinking water to residents without access to clean water. The first phase of the project provides up to 5,000 gallons per month to households with a storage tank. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Butte County residents can now get water through Drought Assistance Program
Celebrating Reclamation District No. 108’s 150th anniversary
“As far back as the 1870s, the people of Reclamation District 108 were faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, but they always seemed to find a resolution to the problem before them. From building levees to corral the mighty Sacramento River, to pumping out millions of gallons of floodwater from the fields, to creating unique irrigation systems to support crop growth, our ancestors uncovered innovative and sustainable solutions that we still use to this day. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Celebrating Reclamation District No. 108’s 150th anniversary
Levee safety a focus in aftermath of Sacramento River boat fire near I-80 bridge
“It’s been one week since a boat erupted in flames near the I-80 bridge over the Sacramento River, and while multiple agencies work to assess what happens next, it’s shining a light on how to police what’s in the river and along it. The burnt-out boat still bobs on the water under the stretch of freeway connecting West Sacramento and Natomas. State officials say dangerous chemicals onboard have been removed. “That’s the emergency phase of this, and then once we finish that, we will talk with other agencies about removing it, salvaging it,” said Eric Loughlin with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read more from CBS 13 here: Levee safety a focus in aftermath of Sacramento River boat fire near I-80 bridge
BAY AREA
Mountain View orders water cutbacks but even tougher drought measures elsewhere in California
“Mountain View is the latest Bay Area city to approve new water restrictions as California deals with dry conditions for its third consecutive year. As Bay Area residents deal with newly announced restrictions seemingly by the week the restrictions are even more severe in southern California and around the southwest. In Mountain View, the city council has now declared a stage 2 water emergency, which calls for new water restrictions for residents with the goal of cutting water use by at least 10%. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Mountain View orders water cutbacks but even tougher drought measures elsewhere in California
CENTRAL COAST
Central Coast groundwater fight pits small farmers against world’s largest carrot growers
“In the early afternoon in the Cuyama Valley, a hot June sun bears down as a dry wind gusts through the remote area that runs along San Luis Obispo County’s southeastern border. Dust devils whip up the fine, tan soil, interrupted only by a pair of two-lane highways and the few hundred buildings that make up the valley’s towns of Cuyama, New Cuyama and Ventucopa — total population, roughly 660 people. It’s an arid contrast to the region’s dominating business of agriculture fed solely by a declining and far-from-infinite groundwater basin. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Central Coast groundwater fight pits small farmers against world’s largest carrot growers
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Drought: Snowpack is virtually gone
“The snowpack on the far reaches of the Stanislaus River watershed Sunday was as anemic as it gets in mid-August. Atop the 11,404-foot summit of Sonora Peak — the highest and eastern most point where water from melting snow makes its way into the middle fork of the Stanislaus River — the view was reminiscent of a typical precipitation year leading up to Labor Day and not the Fourth of July weekend. Small splotches and not wide swaths of snow were on the horizon looking south toward Yosemite. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Drought: Snowpack is virtually gone
Remediation work set to begin on toxic plume in downtown Delano
“A $5 million soil cleanup effort about to start in Delano will vacuum toxic vapors from an underground plume of contamination left over from decades of improper disposal of a carcinogenic chemical that had been used in local dry-cleaning. Officials with the state Department of Toxic Substances Control unveiled a system Wednesday in downtown Delano that, upon activation next week, will filter vapors brought up from variable depths using a well and a powerful blower functioning as a vacuum. Local activists welcomed the end of construction on one of two vacuum sites expected to be operated for the next five to 10 years, until state monitoring indicates the vapors pose an acceptably low health risk. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Remediation work set to begin on toxic plume in downtown Delano
Water deal to keep taps flowing in Bakersfield even as Lake Isabella levels continue to drop
“Bakersfield City water managers learned from California’s last “epic” drought – don’t wait to make a deal. In 2015, city water managers scrambled to keep taps flowing for more than 20,000 Bakersfield residents as the Kern River ran so low the city had zero water entitlement coming down the river. The river is the only source for Bakersfield’s northeast water treatment plant but at only 11% of normal, there just wasn’t enough. CalWater, which buys the city’s river water and serves most of Bakersfield, was considering dropping water pressure to conserve. And former City Manager Alan Tandy even went hat in hand to Kern County asking for a morsel of the county’s water. Kern keeps a “minimum recreation pool” of 30,000 acre feet in the lake. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Water deal to keep taps flowing in Bakersfield even as Lake Isabella levels continue to drop
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Dirty water
“In Los Angeles, the historians know the truth: The water here is anything but clean. Like many areas with relatively high temperatures and paltry precipitation, water has always been a matter of life and death for L.A., a city that sits on a semi-arid coastal plain with desert on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the fourth. The city resorted to drastic, at times deeply unethical — and occasionally even criminal — means to secure the vital resource that enabled it to grow into a major world metropolis. “Water invites all kinds of shenanigans in the American West. It invites all kinds of deals: smoke-filled room deals, quiet deals, corrupt deals. And people need to know these histories,” says William Deverell, professor of history, spatial sciences and environmental studies at USC Dornsife. The conflicts over water were waged on two fronts. … ” Read more from USC Dornsife here: Dirty water
LA Council calls for reports on regional drought, conservation measures
“Calling the regional drought a major emergency in need of long-term regional solutions, the Los Angeles City Council Wednesday requested a series of reports on projected municipal water supplies and expansion of efforts to recycle water and support long-term conservation. “We keep talking about drought and, honestly, we’re past talking about drought, because drought implies temporary cycles,” Councilman Paul Krekorian said. “Water shortages in Southern California are endemic, long- lasting, almost certainly permanent. … This is more than just a temporary inconvenience of not being able to water our lawns as often,” he said. ... ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: LA Council calls for reports on regional drought, conservation measures
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS/SOUTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA
New problem for ‘Erin Brockovich’ town: Burning poop
“On the evening of May 28, residents of the unincorporated high desert outpost of Hinkley who cranked up their swamp coolers, or stepped outside for a clear view of the stars, noticed a foul stench in the air. And it didn’t go away. An odor reminiscent of burning plastic mixed with smoldering sewage has plagued the roughly 3,000 people who call Hinkley home for going on five weeks. Now, residents are reporting sinus issues, headaches, nausea and sick pets. One woman’s doctor, an ear, nose and throat specialist, instructed her to “get the hell out of town.” The smell is coming from a fire at a composting facility the locals unaffectionately call the “Poop Farm.” The combustion, which started spontaneously, deep within the massive piles of biosolids and high stacks of green waste that fill the 80-acre plant, sends odor into the air some 10 miles downwind of Hinkley. … ” Continue reading at the East Bay Times here: New problem for ‘Erin Brockovich’ town: Burning poop
California lithium tax would delay shipments to automakers, executives warn
“A proposed flat-rate tax on lithium produced in California’s Salton Sea region will delay deliveries of the electric vehicle battery metal to General Motors Co (GM.N) and Stellantis NV (STLA.MI) and may push some mining companies to exit the state entirely, industry executives told Reuters. The brewing tension comes as America’s largest state is trying to position itself as a leader in the green energy revolution and as supplies of lithium have failed to match surging demand amid the push to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles. Eric Spomer, chief executive of privately held EnergySource Minerals LLC, told Reuters his company has halted discussions with potential financiers and a major automaker he declined to identify while California’s legislature debates the tax. “This tax would stifle our industry before it even begins,” he said. “We’re willing to pay and contribute to the local community, but it has to be a rational tax.” … ” Read more from Reuters here: California lithium tax would delay shipments to automakers, executives warn
Calipatria residents assured no current water shortage
“Golden State Water Company customers learned drought conditions in the state affect local water usage during Calipatria’s city council meeting Tuesday evening. Perry Dahlstrom, general manager of the mountain district for the water company, provided updates on water supplies to residents via Zoom. “The current conditions in Calipatria and Niland are okay,” Dahlstrom said. “We have water supply from IID” (Imperial Irrigation District). ... ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: Calipatria residents assured no current water shortage
SAN DIEGO
Partners Program celebrates landowner’s conservation success
“Carolyn Read fields weekly phone calls with offers to take her property off her hands. Just shy of 14 acres, Pepper Hill Farm is one of the oldest working farms in northern San Diego County. Read uses half of it to raise horses and boysenberries, while the other half remains native, home to quail, hawks, roadrunners, and the occasional rattlesnake, among other wildlife. … Read works hard to manage her farm, and met Jonathan Snapp-Cook, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office biologist, in 2012 while embarking on a restoration project. Through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, Snapp-Cook was able to provide funding, technical expertise and good old-fashioned elbow grease to help replace invasive plants with native coastal sage scrub. ... ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service here: Partners Program celebrates landowner’s conservation success
San Diego County using new tiered warning sign system at contaminated beaches
“The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) is unveiling a new water quality warning system that it hopes will give visitors more beach access this summer. The new three-tiered system looks like this: The first is a yellow advisory sign, the second is a blue warning sign and the third is the familiar red and yellow closure signs. … ” Read more from NBC 7 here: San Diego County using new tiered warning sign system at contaminated beaches
Along the Colorado River …
Drought update: North American Monsoon and Drought Relief
“The Southwest U.S. Monsoon is the seasonal increase in summer precipitation and usually runs from June 15 to September 30. This year’s monsoon has started off strong, especially for Arizona and New Mexico. The monsoon has already brought a quick end to a busy and destructive fire season. The monsoon could bring short-term (seasonal) drought relief for vegetation and ecosystems in the region, especially in Arizona and New Mexico. The monsoon will not have much impact on long-term water supply challenges facing the Southwestern U.S.. … ” Read the full update at NIDIS here: Drought update: North American Monsoon and Drought Relief
The water wars come to the suburbs
“The best gossip you’re likely to hear in Rio Verde Foothills, Arizona, is about water. Last month, when a few residents stopped by Karen Nabity’s sprawling, high-ceilinged home, the talk quickly turned to wells. “My neighbor two lots to the east of me just got done putting in a nine-hundred-and-sixty-foot dry hole,” John Hornewer said. Two women exchanged a horrified look. “How much did they put up, cost-wise?” Leigh Harris asked. “I felt so bad I didn’t even ask,” Hornewer said. “I would venture to say it’s forty thousand dollars on a craps table that just crapped out.” “Same thing with the lot across the street from me,” Cindy Goetz said. “Nine hundred feet, no water. And now the guy starts building.” ... ” Continue reading at the New Yorker here: The water wars come to the suburbs
In national water news today …
Drinking water in short supply? There’s a solution in the air.
“In June, 6 million people in Southern California began unprecedented water restrictions due to severe drought, with lawn watering limited to one day a week in many areas. But that doesn’t apply to David Hertz and his wife, Laura Doss-Hertz. High above the Pacific Ocean, tucked in the steep contours of mountainous Malibu, they supply their house, pool, and network of firefighting hoses with water harvested from the air. The couple use their property – dubbed Xanabu – as a demonstration site for atmospheric water generation. … But there is nothing magic about the science of their water-generating product, called WeDew. ... ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor here: Drinking water in short supply? There’s a solution in the air.
Drinking water, wastewater treatment systems fear federal PFAS limits will create cost issues
“Though advocates have been pressuring federal regulators to impose stronger limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water and the environment, recent efforts to do so are raising questions about who will pay for the costs. As consumption of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” through drinking water has been tied to significant adverse health effects, the Biden administration has been attempting to crack down on their presence, recently propelling the U.S. EPA to announce the first-ever rules limiting PFAS in wastewater discharge and set a deadline for drinking water regulations for PFAS. ... ” Read more from Water Online here: Drinking water, wastewater treatment systems fear federal PFAS limits will create cost issues
Methane, water, birds, pollution — how can rice farmers tackle trade-offs?
“Rice is the world’s most important crop. Over half of the global population relies on rice as their daily staple food; over a fifth depends on rice cultivation for their livelihood, according to the International Rice Research Institute and the U.S. Department for Agriculture. With such a massive footprint, it’s no surprise that rice is leaving its mark on the environment. Rice production is responsible for large amounts of methane emissions. According to the World Resources Institute, they equate to about 10 percent of global agricultural GHG emissions. It consumes 40 percent of global irrigation water. But nature also co-evolved with rice production. In particular, waterbirds such as waterfowls, wading birds and shorebirds take advantage of flooded rice fields to forage on a variety of prey, nest and stage during migration. … ” Read more from Green Biz here: Methane, water, birds, pollution — how can rice farmers tackle trade-offs?
Supreme Court curbs EPA climate authority
“The Supreme Court ruled today that EPA is prohibited from broadly regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The 6-3 ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, the most significant climate case in a decade, delivers a blow to President Joe Biden’s efforts to tackle planet-warming emissions and make electricity generation carbon-free by 2035. A coalition of Republican-led states and coal companies, led by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, had petitioned the justices to reverse a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that struck down the narrowly tailored Trump-era Affordable Clean Energy rule, which gutted the Obama administration’s more expansive Clean Power Plan. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Supreme Court curbs EPA climate authority
SEE ALSO: Supreme Court Curbs EPA’s Climate Authority in Blow to Biden, from Bloomberg Law
New research shows how to improve the voluntary carbon market to accelerate investment in nature
“The explosion of net-zero emissions commitments over the past few years from major companies and municipalities shows that institutions are ready to tackle climate change. While reducing industrial emissions of greenhouse gases is a clear and primary priority, achieving global net zero will hinge on investing in nature. Natural climate solutions (NCS) have the potential to deliver at least 20% of the emissions reductions we need to reach net zero by the end of this decade. Plus, they can deliver other benefits like clean air and water, increased biodiversity, economic opportunities for local communities and enhanced protection against storms and flooding. … ” Read more from the Environmental Defense Fund here: New research shows how to improve the voluntary carbon market to accelerate investment in nature
