On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Farmland in Transition: The San Joaquin Valley from 11am to 12:15pm. As the San Joaquin Valley works to bring its groundwater basins into balance, hundreds of thousands of acres of irrigated farmland may come out of production. How do we manage all this newly fallowed land? Our latest research examines whether water-limited agriculture might help ease the transition—and what other management practices could mitigate dust and air quality concerns in the valley. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Expanding the Way We Think About Climate Change: The Surprisingly Important Role of Soils and Plants in Our Carbon & Water Cycles from 12:30pm to 1:45pm. While climate change is driven by excess greenhouse gas emissions, our soils and plants also play a big role in our changing climate. In California and the arid west, soil moisture impacts nature’s ability to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. Our soils can alleviate, or exacerbate, high heat and drought conditions. How can actions we take to manage soils and our natural systems help us combat climate change and its impacts? How do we “help nature help us” stabilize our region’s climate? Join renowned California scientists to learn more about these topics and the field of biogeochemistry, and how it can guide our climate efforts in California. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Protecting the Coyote Valley through Strategic Conservation, Land Use and Climate Policy Approaches from 1pm to 2:30pm. Andrea Mackenzie and Marc Landgraf with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority will discuss the precedent-setting multi-year collaboration among a host of local partners – with State support – that resulted in protection of community-serving natural infrastructure in Coyote Valley, just south of urban San José. They will outline the science-based documentation of the nature-based climate solutions this multi-benefit landscape provides, the vocal community support calling for its protection, the bold political leadership, the creative public/private financing and the weaving-together of all these elements that successfully reversed decades of development momentum. They will also discuss how Coyote Valley is modeling the state’s 30 x 30 initiative and innovative planning efforts underway for Coyote Valley’s future. Click here to register.
- SoCAL GRA BRANCH HYBRID MEETING: Fly-over Briefing on Several OCWD Projects and Groundwater Basin Conditions from 6pm to 8pm. The Orange County Groundwater Basin continues to serve as the major water supply source for 2.5 million people and businesses in north and central Orange County. After two years of drought, groundwater in storage is at a relatively good level should below-average precipitation continue at least for another two years, particularly with the Groundwater Replenishment System final expansion scheduled to be completed in 2023. Hybrid meeting with in-person and remote (Zoom) components. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Latest blow in Boswell-Vidovich water war could bring state control over region’s groundwater
“The latest blow in an ongoing water war between two Kings County agricultural titans may put control of the entire region’s groundwater into state hands. The J.G. Boswell Farming Company and Sandridge Partners, controlled by John Vidovich, have been scuffling over water in court, on ditch banks and even in the air with accusations on both sides of various types of water skullduggery. On July 22, the Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency, controlled by Vidovich, voted to approve the region’s groundwater plan subject to an addendum that state representatives warned — during the meeting – could nullify the plan and lead to state control over groundwater. The problem is, the other four GSAs in the Tulare Lake subbasin would have to agree to the addendum, which hasn’t happened and isn’t likely to. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Latest blow in Boswell-Vidovich water war could bring state control over region’s groundwater
Report cites ways to extend California’s urban water supplies
“With California in the grip of yet another severe drought, water managers across the Golden State must find ways to protect and conserve existing supplies as much as possible. Against this backdrop, the advocacy organization the Pacific Institute estimated in a recent report the extent to which increased water-efficiency measures could reduce California’s urban water use. The organization also has quantified the potential boost to local water supplies from expanded water reuse and stormwater capture efforts in the state. Greater reliance on these three measures could reduce urban water use in California by millions of acre-feet annually, the report notes, while expanding local water supplies to a similar extent. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Report cites ways to extend California’s urban water supplies
CA DWR to release draft environmental impact report for Delta tunnel this week
“The California Department of Water Resources has announced that it will be releasing their Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) early this week for the Delta Conveyance Project, AKA the embattled Delta Tunnel. Documents for federal review of the project will be released later this fall. “Modernizing how California moves water supplies across the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta can’t be done by repeating the past,” DWR said in an update entitled, “Delta Conveyance: A Fresh Look Yields a New Project.” “It requires starting with a fresh look and an open mind. That is what the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) team did and the result, to be detailed shortly with the release of draft environmental documents, is a proposed project that is different than anything advanced in the last four decades.” The changes in the plans include changes to the intakes, the tunnel itself, the power lines, the route and the operations, according to DWR. Here are some of the highlights of the proposed changes ... ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: CA DWR to Release Draft Environmental Impact Report For Delta Tunnel This Week
Department of Water Resources to release draft Environmental Impact Report for the Delta Conveyance Project this week
“Restore the Delta received word over the weekend that the Department of Water Resources will be releasing their Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) early this week for the Delta Conveyance Project. Documents for federal review of the project will be released later this fall. Comment from Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla: “We hold little faith that the Draft EIR will address any of the questions and concerns we raised repeatedly during our work with the Stakeholder Engagement Committee for the Design Construction Authority during that two-year tunnel planning process. … ” Read more from Restore the Delta here: Department of Water Resources to release draft Environmental Impact Report for the Delta Conveyance Project this week
Delta ISB review of Delta tunnel project proceeding under huge time pressure
“On June 8, 2022, DWR’s Director, Karla Nemeth, made a presentation on the Delta tunnel project to the Delta Independent Science Board (Delta ISB), with several of the scientists who had worked on the project. She said that she supported the Delta ISB’s review of the project. But unlike the twin tunnels project, the Department of Water Resources did not release the Administrative Draft EIR for the single tunnel. DWR is instead planning for the Delta ISB to review the project for the first time during the CEQA comment period on the Draft Delta Conveyance EIR, which could be as short as 90 days. … ” Read more from the California Water Research blog here: Delta ISB review of Delta tunnel project proceeding under huge time pressure
Western drought reaching catastrophic levels
“The western United States continues to suffer from a historic level of drought. California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot spoke during the Western Food and Ag Issues Summit hosted by Agri-Pulse. He offers a key example of the drought’s severity. “We are facing a worsening regional drought across most of the American West that’s unprecedented in nature. I spent the first half an hour of my day with the Western Growers talking about the Colorado River Basin. The Colorado River Basin provides water to seven states and two countries. It’s been experiencing a drought or water shortage for over 20 years. Apparently, this is the driest 22-year period on record and possibly in 1200 years.” … ” Read more from Ag Info here: Western drought reaching catastrophic levels
Radio: Perfect storm of lack of water for nut producers
“Ryan Jacobsen is CEO of Fresno County Farm Bureau. He noted this year has been a perfect storm leading to low water deliveries for growers.” Listen at Ag Info here: Radio: Perfect storm of lack of water for nut producers
The extinction of the American farmer
“The small family farm was once the cover story of the American dream. But today, American farms are dying left and right, and American farmers are on their way to extinction — and arguably at a faster rate here in California. According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2020 data, 1.4 percent of the nation’s population is responsible for farming. That equates to 2.6 million farming jobs providing for the 329.5 million people living in the United States. To put that statistic into historical perspective, in 1840, nearly 70 percent of the American labor force worked in agriculture, and in 1935, the number of farms peaked at 7 million. A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study found that in just five years (2007 to 2012), the nation experienced a net loss of 90,000 farms. The loss of farmers and farms in America has not been an overnight decline, and it cannot be blamed on one entity or disaster. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Press here: The extinction of the American farmer
Collaborating with responsible environmental groups
“Farmers and the environmental community are not always at odds with each other. Often, the agricultural industry and environmental and conservancy groups have overlapping interests, which can be better addressed through collaboration rather than government intervention. Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia said that groups like The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense Fund, and Sustainable Conservation have all been tremendous partners to collaborate with. “But there are other groups in the same space, really built around a business model that demands conflict, that leads to media coverage, that leads to litigation. All of which keeps a donor base interested, active, and writing checks,” Puglia noted. “We just have to be cleareyed and realistic about that.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Collaborating with responsible environmental groups
Drought-stricken West looks to Mississippi River to solve water woes
Chris Clayton, Ag Policy Editor, writes, “With the long-term drought, or essentially the change in climate, and steady decline of water supplies on the Colorado River, residents in states such as California are increasingly suggesting why can’t we pipe water to western dams much like we pipe oil now? This isn’t a new debate, but it’s a topic that’s going to come up more and more as water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell continue to shrink. … Debate is heightening as states in the Colorado River are proposing cuts in water use for next year to keep Powell and Mead from reaching critically low levels — points at which the Glen Canyon Dam could stop generating hydropower. Right now, the Bureau of Reclamation pegs it at nearly a one-in-four chance (23%) that Lake Powell is not generating power in summer 2024. … ” Read more from the DTN Progressive Farmer here: Drought-stricken West looks to Mississippi River to solve water woes
The nation’s first environmental law resulted from destructive California mining operations
“California’s Gold Rush is known for making many people rich and inflating the population of the then-young state, but it also resulted in the creation of the nation’s first environmental law. As gold mining went from individuals with gold pans raking the bottom of creek beds to industries using the latest technologies to strip precious ores from California’s hillsides, the impact on the surrounding environment became more severe. Hydraulic mining was a growing form of industrial mining, in which high-pressure water would blast out of water cannons, known as monitors, into hillsides to wash away dirt and rocks to uncover the gold beneath. … ” Read more from KGET here: The nation’s first environmental law resulted from destructive California mining operations
The Bureau of Land Management lets 1.5 million cattle graze on federal land for almost nothing, but the cost to the climate could be high
“The hundreds of thousands of cattle dotting the vast sweeps and ranges of the West have become archetypal features of the American landscape, essentially entwined with a story the nation tells itself of cowboys and destiny. But for decades environmental groups and ecologists have argued that cattle are destroying the West’s arid pine and sagebrush-covered rangelands—the very landscape supporting a national mythology—turning thousands of acres into moonscapes. Livestock groups, meanwhile, argue the opposite, saying that cattle are critical for the health of that land. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: The Bureau of Land Management lets 1.5 million cattle graze on federal land for almost nothing, but the cost to the climate could be high
California drought leading to tens of millions of trees dying in state
“California’s deepening drought has resulted tens of millions of tree deaths, increasing the risk of wildfires and threatening the state’s surviving trees. “It’s obviously a concern and sad as well,” said Luis Garcia, who recently moved to the east foothills above San Jose’s Alum Rock Park. Cal Fire estimates more than 173 million trees have died either from bark beetles or directly as a result of the drought over the past 20 years. “Those trees are going to fall at some point. But also it’s a danger for wildfires because that’s a lot of dry fuel left on the landscape. A lot of trees just waiting to burn if conditions are right for a fire to start,” said Cal Fire’s Senior Plant Pathologist Dr. Tom Smith. … ” Read more from CBS News here: California drought leading to tens of millions of trees dying in state
Complex modeling by researchers predicts wildfires may decline, eventually
“Researchers attempting to help predict how the wildfire hazard will change due to various factors over the next several decades have some good news, and some bad news. Good news is, wildfire occurrence and intensity will likely decrease in several locations in the future. The bad news: decreases may not occur for another 50 years, and wildfire hazard will likely get worse before it gets better. “There are so many factors that we need to consider and better understand if we want to predict how the frequency, size and intensity of wildfires will change over time,” said Erin Hanan, a University of Nevada, Reno researcher with the University’s Experiment Station and an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. … ” Continue reading at Nevada Today here: Complex modeling by researchers predicts wildfires may decline, eventually
In commentary today …
Futures trading: Another threat to our right to water
Mia DeFelice writes, “In late 2020, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) launched the first water futures market, called the Nasdaq Veles California Water Index Futures. This market allows financial speculators to literally gamble on the price of water. But how does that actually work? And what are the consequences?First, let’s start with water rights. Generally, states west of the Mississippi allocate water resources through a water rights system based on the doctrine of “first in time, first in right.” Because of the history of the West, those with the most senior water rights are usually those who use it for agricultural purposes. The index that Nasdaq Veles created is a single number that estimates the prevailing price of water in California. This number changes as water prices change. It’s based on an algorithm and a supposedly representative list of transactions — both of which Nasdaq Veles keeps confidential. … ” Read more from Food & Water Watch here: Futures trading: Another threat to our right to water
The drought is decimating my farm and many others. What California should do to help us
Joe L. Del Bosque, the CEO and president of the family-owned Del Bosque Farms in the San Joaquin Valley, writes, “As I drive across my family’s farm in the San Joaquin Valley, it feels as if I’m traveling on a chessboard. I cross one square with crops and then another without crops — our fields that must lay fallow. Our farm’s crops have been decimated by the drought. Last year, reduced water deliveries in the state led to 395,000 acres of cropland being idled, according to UC Merced researchers, and about 8,750 agricultural workers lost their jobs. On my 2,000-acre farm, we used to produce organic fruit and vegetables — melons, asparagus and sweet corn — in addition to cherries and almonds. Three years of unprecedented drought have altered our landscape. Last year we said goodbye to the asparagus and sweet corn. This year, we cut back on cherries. Next, we’ll reduce our almond acreage. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: The drought is decimating my farm and many others. What California should do to help us | Read via Yahoo News
Today’s featured article …
DELTA COUNTIES FORUM: Delta tunnel opponents express their concerns, push for alternatives
The Delta Counties Coalition (DCC) is an alliance of the California Counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo. These counties work collaboratively to give one voice on behalf of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and its 4 million area-wide residents. The DCC advocates for three goals: to improve the Delta ecosystem, to provide a more reliable water supply for the State, and to protect and enhance Delta communities.
With the release of the environmental documents for the Delta Conveyance Project imminent, the Delta Counties Coalition hosted a forum in June of 2022 to air their concerns about the project and to push for alternative solutions.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Wildfire risk reduced near Scotts Flat Reservoir, Nevada City
“Nestled between the steep, pine-covered slopes of the Central Sierra Nevada lies Scotts Flat Reservoir, an incredibly vital water resource for many local communities. Over the last century and a half, the forests surrounding this watershed have become severely overcrowded with far too many trees per acre. Without proper treatments, the landscape is prone to high-severity wildfire, which can damage water supply infrastructure and impact water quality. The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) serves homes, businesses, and farms in Nevada, Placer, and Yuba counties and relies on Scotts Flat Reservoir to store and release water for tens of thousands of customers. The NID recognized the need for forest-health treatments and began working with partners on forest health projects around Scotts Flat Reservoir. ... ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Wildfire risk reduced near Scotts Flat Reservoir, Nevada City
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
“Looked like a war zone,” this week marks the four-year anniversary of the Carr Fire
“On July 23, 2018, the Carr Fire was ignited in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and had a moderate rate of spread. Danika Honeywell said when she first heard about the fire she casually started preparing, not thinking too much of it. Two days later she, her husband, and their three dogs were evacuating their home near Keswick Dam as the fire rapidly approached. “We drove around the corner and it was just flames—and they were huge,” Honeywell said. “An entire house was already up in flames. The flames were already in their neighborhood and it was just so scary. It still gets me.” … ” Read more from KRCR here: “Looked like a war zone,” this week marks the four-year anniversary of the Carr Fire
Folsom Lake’s water level is dropping quickly. Here’s why
“The water level in Folsom Lake has been dropping quickly in recent weeks. The level peaked in early June just shy of 456 feet, which is about 89% of Folsom’s total capacity and 110% of the average for that point in the year. Overall, that is more than double the amount of water that was stored last year. Because of extremely low water levels, the 2021 boating season was a big disappointment. A decreasing water level is to be expected throughout the summer months as water managers make releases needed to keep cool water flowing into the American River, keep the delta saltwater-free and export water to Southern California. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Folsom Lake’s water level is dropping quickly. Here’s why
NAPA/SONOMA
American Canyon facing water squeeze amid drought
“American Canyon is making urgent calls for water conservation and suing Vallejo over a water disagreement as it tries to eke out every drop amid a historic drought. The city’s water supplies are on the edge. Demand in recent years is about 2,800-acre feet of water annually. City officials estimate a potential 470 acre-foot deficit this year if demand remains the same. While a city report contemplates filling the hole with additional supplies, it says there is “little margin for error.” The city is calling on residents to cut water use by 20% compared to 2020. ... ” Read more from the Napa Valley Register here: American Canyon facing water squeeze amid drought
BAY AREA
Valley Water receives funding for the Cross Valley Pipeline Extension Project
“While we rebuild Anderson Dam, Valley Water is working to ensure Coyote Creek and the Coyote Percolation Pond in South San José have sufficient water to recharge groundwater and support the surrounding habitat and wildlife who depend on it. To achieve this, Valley Water is undertaking the Cross Valley Pipeline Extension Project, which will extend an existing pipeline by about one-quarter mile so that we can feed water into Coyote Creek near the Coyote Creek Golf Club. Currently, that water can only be released into Coyote Creek about one-quarter mile below Anderson Dam. Once completed, Valley Water will be able to provide up to 22,000 gallons of water a minute directly into Coyote Creek. ... ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water receives funding for the Cross Valley Pipeline Extension Project
CENTRAL COAST
Hearst Castle under water restrictions as severe drought continues to hit the Central Coast
“One of the most famous attractions at Hearst Castle in San Simeon is the marble-framed outdoor Neptune pool. While severe drought is causing California State Parks to implement water restrictions at the castle, they say the iconic pool will remain full, even as most irrigation stops and portable toilets replace bathrooms. California State Parks, which operates and preserves the Hearst estate, turned off much of the water at there earlier this month amid the statewide drought. “We operate our own water system. We’re not on a city system or anything like that,” said State Park Superintendent for San Luis Obispo Coast District, Dan Falat. ... ” Read more from KCBX here: Hearst Castle under water restrictions as severe drought continues to hit the Central Coast
Santa Barbara County’s total agriculture output up 5% in 2021, according to Crop Report
“Strawberries remained Santa Barbara County’s king of crops, wine grapes climbed back to No. 3 after falling from second to fifth in 2020, and the county’s entire agricultural output rose 5% from the previous year, according to the 2021 Agricultural Production Report. County Agricultural Commissioner Cathleen Fisher released the summary of agricultural acreage, production and gross value statistics, commonly referred to as the Crop Report, on Monday. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Santa Barbara County’s total agriculture output up 5% in 2021, according to Crop Report
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Merced County town hit with clean water shortage. How are officials responding?
“Residents in the Merced County town of Ballico are advised not to drink the water after a mechanical failure at the well which supplies the community. According to Tricia Wathen, section chief of the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water Central California, the board was notified Saturday that a Ballico Community Services District well failed on Friday afternoon. Wathen said the problem is believed to be mechanical, and is expected to be repaired once parts are available. “From what I understand, they only had one source of supply that they can work with,” said Wathen. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Merced County town hit with clean water shortage. How are officials responding?
San Luis Reservoir algal bloom at warning level: public urged to avoid water contact
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is urging the public to avoid contact with water at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County until further notice due to blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Boating is allowed, but swimming and other water-contact recreation and sporting activities are not considered safe due to potential adverse health effects. … Bloom conditions can change rapidly, and wind and waves may move or concentrate the bloom into different regions of the reservoir. The algal bloom can accumulate into mats, scum, or form foam at the surface and along the shoreline, and range in color from blue, green, white, or brown. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources here: San Luis Reservoir algal bloom at warning level: public urged to avoid water contact
SJV water districts get $800,000 in federal grants to save water
“Two agencies in the San Joaquin Valley are closer to funding water conservation projects thanks to an $800,000 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation. The money comes from the Bureau’s Agricultural Water and Conservation Efficiency grants. About $362,000 will go to the Corcoran Irrigation District in Kings County and $430,000 will go to the Lost Hills Water District in Kern County. The money will partially fund projects aimed at water savings and streamlining water transportation and storage. The rest of the funding will come from local contributions. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: SJV water districts get $800,000 in federal grants to save water
Algae wreaks havoc on summer plans
“Extreme heat and stagnant water has provided prime conditions for potentially toxic algal matter to become more prominent in recreational areas showing cause for concern for local swimming holes. State, county and community members warn individuals who are looking to cool off in areas surrounding Three Rivers, not to get in the water. Harmful algal blooms (HAB) were reportedly seen in areas around Skyline Pond, Slick Rock and a mile west of Dinely Bridge. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Algae wreaks havoc on summer plans
South valley groundwater managers to use $10 million to protect community water and look for ways to retire up to 100,000 acres of farmland
“Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in grant funding from the state Department of Conservation to retire or repurpose farmland. Valley agencies that have received grants so far include the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, Pixley Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and Madera County. SJV Water will look at how each agency plans to use its $10 million in separate articles. The Pixley Irrigation District GSA sits within the Tule subbasin in the southern San Joaquin Valley just north of Kern County. For generations, farmers there have overpumped groundwater causing aquifer levels to plummet and the ground to sink. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: South valley groundwater managers to use $10 million to protect community water and look for ways to retire up to 100,000 acres of farmland
EASTERN SIERRA
‘You can’t manage what you can’t measure’
“Indian Wells Valley Water District General Manager Don Zdeba got something out of the way immediately when speaking to the Rotary Club of China Lake Wednesday. “What I can’t talk about are the lawsuits going on,” he said with a laugh. The reference of course is to numerous legal actions swirling the district and the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority right now. And there’s good reason for his silence, as parties are routinely advised to avoid comment on current legal issues. One topic Zdeba did talk about was a customer platform called WaterSmart, which he said can help water district customers better manage their personal water usage by keeping closer tabs on it. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: ‘You can’t manage what you can’t measure’
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
What the startling low water levels in Lake Mead mean for LA
“NASA recently released startling satellite images of Lake Mead, which the agency notes is now at its lowest since April 1937, when the reservoir was still being filled for the first time. A measurement taken on July 18 put Lake Mead at just 27% of capacity. That effect you see in the image above — with the lighter color on the cliffs where the water level once was — is known as the “bathtub ring.” NASA called the images released “a stark illustration of climate change and a long-term drought that may be the worst in the U.S. West in 12 centuries.” Which made us wonder: What does the reservoir’s low level means for L.A.’s water supply? … ” Read more from the LAist here: What the startling low water levels in Lake Mead mean for LA
Palmdale Water District drilling first water well in three decades
“To ensure that it continues to supply enough water to meet customer demands, especially at this time of extreme drought, Palmdale Water District (PWD) is drilling its first groundwater well in 31 years. Well 36, located north of 15th Street East at Rancho Vista Boulevard, is scheduled to be in operation by early 2023. It will produce between 1,000-1,300 acre-feet of water annually, or enough water for about 2,000 families in Palmdale. An acre-foot of water is equal to 326,000 gallons, and a family of four uses an average of 190,000 gallons of water each year. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Palmdale Water District drilling first water well in three decades
SCV Water moves vote to decide on empty seat
“Officials with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency announced Friday a decision to cancel their previously scheduled Tuesday night special meeting, postponing the discussion and possible vote on what to do with one of their two currently vacant seats. The seat that was previously set to be discussed this week was formerly filled by former Division 2 Director Jerry Gladbach, who died on July 13. The seat’s boundaries include most of Saugus, as well as northeastern portions of Valencia and northern portions of Canyon Country. The reason for the cancellation, according to Kathie Martin, a spokeswoman for the SCV Water Agency, is due to the expected availability of the SCV Water board of directors on Tuesday. … ” Read more from The Signal here: SCV Water moves vote to decide on empty seat
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Plans to import water to the Salton Sea seek approval
“The Salton Sea Independent Review Panel has 3 viable ideas to restore the Salton Sea. In a press release, the Independent Review Panel announced that there were 18 concepts submitted through “Request for Ideas” in 2017 and 2021. Of those 18 ideas, three made it to the top of the list. And one is to import water from the Sea of Cortez, a large body of water in Mexico. “One of the options is to import water from out of the basin to restore sea level and also to reduce the salinity of the sea, which is now about twice the salinity of the ocean,” said Brent Haddad an investigator with UC Santa Cruz. ... ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs here: Plans to import water to the Salton Sea seek approval
Along the Colorado River …
More human remains found at Lake Mead as water levels shrink
“More human remains have been found as the shrinking shore line of Lake Mead recedes in the face of a brutal drought gripping the western United States. In a statement, the National Park Service said the unidentified remains were spotted at Swim Beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area late on Monday afternoon. The age of the remains is unknown and the park service said: “The investigation is ongoing.” As the lake’s surface area has shrunk, various grim discoveries have been made at the popular south-western US recreation spot formed by the building of the Hoover Dam between Nevada and Arizona. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: More human remains found at Lake Mead as water levels shrink
Exposed water intake demonstrates necessity of infrastructure investment
“This past spring, Lake Mead dropped to a historic low, exposing one of Southern Nevada’s three water intakes. No longer able to draw water from the lake, the exposed intake is a stark reminder of the challenges created by the ongoing megadrought impacting the Colorado River basin. Southern Nevada draws 90 percent of its water supply from the Colorado River via Lake Mead, which has dropped more than 165 feet over the past two decades. Foresight by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and a community investment in critical infrastructure have helped ensure access to Southern Nevada’s water supply despite the falling lake levels. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Exposed water intake demonstrates necessity of infrastructure investment
Marston: Ditches are a vanishing paradise in the west
“Annette Choszczyk lives in rural western Colorado these days, but when she was a kid, the Highline Canal in Denver was her summer paradise. “To us, it was river and a playground, complete with rope swings, swimming holes, crawdads and a trail alongside it that adults and kids could walk on to the foothills or far out into the prairie.” They always called it a ditch, this 71-mile-long canal that carried water all over Denver. Throughout the West, thousands of ditches that snake for miles through semi-arid country are nothing less than beloved. They add living green corridors to walk or bike along, impromptu wetlands frequented by birds, and always, a respite from summer heat. … ” Read more from Sky Hi News here: Marston: Ditches are a vanishing paradise in the west
Difficult policy decisions needed to stabilize Colorado River’s flow
“The Colorado River — a crucial source of water in the southwestern United States — is undergoing a basin-wide water supply crisis due to ongoing drought and a history of poor water management policies. In an article in Science magazine, Kevin Wheeler, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute, and colleagues argue that drastic measures and difficult decisions are needed to prevent further decline and to avoid severe outcomes. … The authors modeled 100 possible scenarios and management strategies and found that drastic political measures will likely be required to stabilize the river’s resources, particularly those that limit the amount of water used by all stakeholders. The findings highlight the difficulties and pressures that decision-makers will face in the coming years. … ” Read more from Water World here: Difficult policy decisions needed to stabilize Colorado River’s flow
Congress may continue to pay farmers to use less water as Colorado River pleas intensify
“Colorado’s U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is pushing legislation that aims to make federal funding available to pay farmers and ranchers to voluntarily use less water by leaving their fields temporarily fallow. The Hickenlooper bill, which has bipartisan support, passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. It still has to be approved by the full Senate and in the House. The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, is part of a plan introduced earlier this week by the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico in response to the Bureau of Reclamation’s call last month to slash 2 million to 4 million acre-feet of water use from the Colorado River by the end of 2023. … ” Read more from The Journal here: Congress may continue to pay farmers to use less water as Colorado River pleas intensify
In national water news today …
Robotics within USACE: The future is right now
“A team from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is utilizing robotics to help keep U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) team members out of harm’s way and enable successful completion of the Corps’ vital civil works mission. USACE operates and maintains more than 700 large dams across the country, many of them past their expected design life and in deteriorating conditions, and inspectors must make regular assessments to ensure safe and continued operations. This is no small task, particularly when it comes to earth dams. … “Soldiers in theater have an inherently risky jobs and often need access to unmanned systems,” Dr. Anton Netchaev, a research computational scientist in ERDC’s Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), said. “The same is true here – allowing USACE team members to complete certain tasks remotely significantly improves safety and increases capabilities. We can use our technology, the DamBot™, to create a full picture for dam inspectors to assess conditions without putting themselves at risk.” ... ” Read more from the Army Corps here: Robotics within USACE: The future is right now
Biden admin aims to plant a billion trees
“The Biden administration said today it can eliminate a tree-planting backlog on national forests within 10 years, relying on funds in last year’s infrastructure law. The Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service pledged to eliminate the reforestation backlog of 4 million acres on the 193 million-acre national forest system, planting more than a billion trees in the process. “Forests are a powerful tool in the fight against climate change,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a news release. “Nurturing their natural regeneration and planting in areas with the most need is critical to mitigating the worst effects of climate change while also making those forests more resilient to the threats they face from catastrophic wildfire, historic drought, disease outbreaks and pest infestation.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Biden admin aims to plant a billion trees
