DAILY DIGEST, 7/27: Audit: State Water Board lacks urgency in addressing failed water systems; The future of San Joaquin Valley farming could be ‘dryland farming’; Feds double water supply for Valley farms, cities; Fates of fish and flow of the Eel River still uncertain; and more …

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On the calendar today …

• MEETING: Delta Conservancy Board Meeting from 9am to 1pm. Agenda items include updates on Prop 1 and community enhancement grant programs and award, Delta fish friendly farming program, Eco Restore, Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Protection Commission, and Delta Conveyance Project. Click here for meeting agenda and materials.
• WEBINAR: Home Water Makeovers: Solutions for all budgets from 9am to 10:30am.  In this session, our expert panel will explore a wide range of residential water conservation strategies. The panel will begin with simple tried-and-true conservation recommendations with little or no investment required. As the presentation progresses, the speakers will introduce strategies that push the boundaries of both innovation and cost to fully demonstrate what can be achieved in the world of residential water conservation.  Click here to register.
• WEBINAR: Case Studies in Water Efficient Design and Building Management from 11am to 12:30pm.  Presentation will explore three water conservation case studies: a multifamily and mixed use residential project located in Oakland, a high-rise residential tower in San Francisco, and the San Francisco International Airport complex. Strategies discussed will include water recycling systems; stormwater retention and treatment; re-use greywater for toilets, irrigation and laundry; high-efficiency fixture replacements; Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI); leak detection and mitigation; and reductions in landscape irrigation.  Click here to register.
• WEBINAR: An Overview of PFAS Fate, Transport, and Modeling in Groundwater from 12pm to 1pm.  This webcast presents the fundamentals of PFAS fate and transport, including characteristics unique to certain PFAS such as recalcitrance to degradation, potential for terminal degradation product accumulation, and unique sorption phenomena. An empirical fate and transport assessment will be presented using real-world data, ground-truthing our understanding of the nature and extent of PFAS in groundwater. Finally, fate and transport modeling approaches and options will be covered. Click here to register.
• PUBLIC WORKSHOP: State Water Board’s Racial Equity Action Plan: Visalia/Zoom from 4pm to 6:30pm.  The State Water Board invites you to attend a workshop to learn about our ongoing racial equity efforts and to join us in developing a Racial Equity Action Plan. Please help us create a future where we preserve, protect, and restore drinking water and water resources for all Californians, and where race is not a predictor of professional outcomes for Water Boards employees.  Click here to register.
• PUBLIC MEETING: DWR West False River Drought Salinity Barrier Draft EIR Public Meeting from 6pm to 8pm.  The CA Department of Water Resources is hosting this public meeting on the West False River Drought Salinity Barrier Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Click here to register.

In California water news today …

Audit: State Water Resources Control Board lacks the urgency necessary to ensure that failing water systems receive needed assistance in a timely manner

“Our audit of the State Water Resources Control Board focused on the board’s efforts to help provide Californians with safe drinking water.  The State Water Board reported that more than 370 such systems, providing water to more than 920,000 people, were not meeting water quality standards as of December 2021. More than two‑thirds of these systems are located in disadvantaged communities with significant financial need.  The State Water Board has funding available to help these failing systems improve the quality of their drinking water. Nonetheless, the board has generally demonstrated a lack of urgency in providing this critical assistance. In fact, the time necessary for water systems to complete applications for funding and for the State Water Board to approve and award that funding nearly doubled from 17 months in 2017 to 33 months in 2021. … ”  Continue reading at the California State Auditor here: State Water Resources Control Board lacks the urgency necessary to ensure that failing water systems receive needed assistance in a timely manner

Audit: Nearly a million Californians lack access to safe drinking water

“Nearly a million people living in California use water from a “failing water system,” according to a state audit published Tuesday, exposing them to a range of negative long-term health outcomes including an increased risk of cancer and liver and kidney problems.  The California State Water Resources Control Board classifies 418 local water systems as “failing,” meaning their water supply exceeds the maximum allowable contaminant levels for safe drinking water. More than 920,000 people rely on drinking water from those systems. Nearly 240 systems have been failing for three years or more.  An additional 432 water systems, serving more than 1 million people, are “at risk of failing.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Audit: Nearly a million Californians lack access to safe drinking water

SEE ALSO:

• California too slow to help Valley communities with tainted drinking water, auditor says, from the Sacramento Bee
• State Audit: California too slow to fix unsafe tap water for more than 900,000 residents, from KQED

The future of San Joaquin Valley farming could be ‘dryland farming’

“Often touted as the breadbasket of the world, California’s San Joaquin Valley is the most agriculturally productive region on Earth with over 250 different crops grown. But the area is also a well-irrigated desert, and years of below-average rain and snowfall have dried up its relatively few water sources.  So far, farmers in the region have fallowed approximately 100,000 acres of farmland. Experts believe that by 2040, drought may force up to 500,000 acres to be fallowed.  But fallowed land also becomes a dust hazard for people living in nearby communities already affected by some of the worst air quality in the nation. The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released two reports and held a webinar Tuesday to discuss both fallowing of land and the resulting dust pollution as well as a solution: dryland farming. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: The future of San Joaquin Valley farming could be ‘dryland farming’

These before and after images show the devastating effects of California’s drought — from space

“Sometimes, it takes zooming out to a bird’s eye view to fully understand the devastating impacts of drought in California.  Images captured from space by government and private satellites offer a sobering look at how the current drought — in year three — is affecting the state’s land and natural resources.  The latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows about 97% of California in moderate or worse drought, with much of the Central Valley and southern portions of the state in the worst conditions. … ”  Read more and view pictures from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  These before and after images show the devastating effects of California’s drought — from space

Feds double water supply for Valley farms, cities

“More water will flow into farms and cities on the Valley’s east side after a decision by the federal government to increase the supply streaming down canals.  On July 20, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) announced it will increase the water supply delivered to contractors along the eastern side of the Valley to 30%, doubling the original allocation of 15% announced in February. The amount of Class 1 water, for contractors with first rights for water deliveries, was confirmed by Friant Water Authority, which operates the Friant-Kern Canal, in a July 22 update on its website. ... ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Feds double water supply for Valley farms, cities

SEE ALSO:  FWA called it: Water allocation increased to 30 percent, from the Porterville Recorder

Report: Nut farmers expanded as drought deepened in California

“As California declared multiple drought emergencies and imposed mandatory water restrictions on residents in recent years, the state’s almond farmers expanded their orchards by a remarkable 78%, according to new research by Food & Water Watch. In a brief but critical report issued last week, the climate and consumer advocacy group found that California’s nut farms have grown steadily over the past 12 years, even as the state’s water crisis has deepened. Between 2017 and 2021 alone, almond and pistachio crops expanded so quickly that they required an additional 523 billion gallons of irrigation water. According to the report, that’s enough water to fill 790,000 Olympic swimming pools—or to supply 4 million households with enough water for an entire year. … ”  Read more from Successful Farming here: Report: Nut farmers expanded as drought deepened in California

Innovative technology offers non-invasive, efficient way to monitor fish populations and their habitat

“In an ecosystem as complex and altered as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, determining the abundance and distribution of native fish populations is a challenging undertaking.  Enter the Single-Platform Aquatic Species and Habitat Sampling System, or simply the Platform. Crafted from a reconfigured pontoon boat, the Platform provides a non-invasive way to monitor sensitive fish species without having to capture and handle them.  “The Platform can collect streaming images and associate them with environmental parameters in space and time, reducing take during estuary studies … and complementing existing monitoring efforts,” said Joe Merz, president and principal scientist with Cramer Fish Sciences in West Sacramento, during a recent online presentation. … ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Innovative technology offers non-invasive, efficient way to monitor fish populations and their habitat

CW3E Research: Winter wet-dry weather patterns driving atmospheric rivers and Santa Ana winds provide evidence for increasing wildfire hazard in California

“A new study finds that weather patterns are changing in a way that favors fire weather at the expense of precipitation in Southern California. The paper Winter wet–dry weather patterns driving atmospheric rivers and Santa Ana winds provide evidence for increasing wildfire hazard in California was recently published in Climate Dynamics. … This study investigated daily phase relationships between four key drivers of atmospheric variability over the North Pacific Ocean, known as the Baja-Pacific, Alaskan-Pacific, Canadian-Pacific, and Offshore-California modes. These modes are collectively called “North Pacific Modes”, or “NP4 Modes”, and they are important drivers of atmospheric river (AR) landfalls and precipitation in California on daily to seasonal timescales. … ”  Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes here: CW3E Research: Winter wet-dry weather patterns driving atmospheric rivers and Santa Ana winds provide evidence for increasing wildfire hazard in California

CW3E Research: Advances in sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction relevant to water management in the Western US

“CW3E researcher Agniv Sengupta, along with co-authors Mike DeFlorio (CW3E), Bohar Singh and Andrew W. Robertson (International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University), Colin Raymond and Duane E. Waliser (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Xubin Zeng (University of Arizona, Tucson), and Jeanine Jones (California Department of Water Resources) recently published a paper titled “Advances in Sub-seasonal to Seasonal Prediction Relevant to Water Management in the Western United States” in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.  This publication presents a summary of the 2022 Virtual Workshop on S2S Forecasting for Water Management in the Western U.S. During this three-day virtual event (15-17 March 2022), scientists and stakeholders (~80 participants) came together to discuss forecast priorities for the western United States water resource management and to review existing and emerging methodologies that have the potential to improve prediction of precipitation, circulation regimes, and atmospheric rivers at lead times of weeks to months. … ”  Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes here: CW3E Research: Advances in sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction relevant to water management in the Western US

Politically savvy surfers in California fight plastic pollution

“A landmark bill designed to drastically reduce plastic pollution in California, SB 54, was signed into law on June 30. It imposes the most stringent plastic reduction rules in the United States. It has to. California, like the world, is enduring a seemingly insurmountable plastic pollution crisis. The Surfrider Foundation continues to play a key part in reducing plastic pollution by shaping policy.  Even though many single-use plastic items are labeled as recyclable, only 9% of plastics ever get recycled. The other 91% ends up littering the ocean and terrestrial landscape. The stuff is everywhere, not just the obvious plastic bottles, plastic bags, and Styrofoam cups you see littering city streets, but the small particles that plastic breaks into, known as microplastics. By some estimates, over 14 million tons of plastic ends up into the ocean each year. … ”  Read more from Capitol Weekly here: Politically savvy surfers in California fight plastic pollution

‘Mysterious plastic items’ scooped up in 45-day sweep of Great Pacific Garbage Patch

“After 45 days plying the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a cargo ship hauling nearly 200,000 pounds of trash arrived Tuesday in Sausalito.  The 132-foot sailing cargo ship from the nonprofit Ocean Voyages Institute gathered the more than 96 tons of ocean debris — ranging from fishing nets to kids’ plastic toys — during its cleanup voyage from Honolulu through the patch, more formally known as the North Pacific Gyre. Across 4,600 nautical miles, the ship’s crew recovered the garbage haul in the vast Pacific area between Hawaii and San Francisco that’s prone to accumulations of swirling debris — what the ship’s captain, Locky MacLean, called mind-boggling miles of “whirlpooling, gyrating plastic debris floating around.” … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: ‘Mysterious plastic items’ scooped up in 45-day sweep of Great Pacific Garbage Patch

California’s wildfire season is here. But experts say different, potentially more destructive fires lie ahead

“The relative calm that had marked California’s early wildfire season ended Friday with the explosion of the Oak Fire in Mariposa County.  Hot gusts of air engorged gray pyrocumulus clouds that spewed ash and firebrands. Fast-moving flames climbed and toppled trees. And while fire crews have quickly contained the majority of California wildfires this year, it took three days to get any containment on the fire.  Such extreme fire behavior has Californians wondering if the Oak Fire marks the start of a season of mega-fires. The answer largely depends on geography and weather. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California’s wildfire season is here. But experts say different, potentially more destructive fires lie ahead

Model developed to predict landslides along wildfire burn scars

“A wildfire followed by an intense rainstorm is often a recipe for disaster. Without vegetation to cushion rainfall, water runoff can turn into a fast-moving, highly destructive landslide, called a “debris flow,” which often has the power to wipe out cars, homes and highways — sometimes resulting in casualties.  Northwestern University researchers have augmented a physics-based numerical model to investigate and predict areas susceptible to debris flows. This augmented model eventually could be used in an early warning system for people living in high-risk areas, enabling them to evacuate before it’s too late. Information from model simulations also could be used to design new infrastructure — such as diversion bars that deflect fast-moving water away from homes and roads — for high hazard zones. … ”  Read more from Northwestern University here: Model developed to predict landslides along wildfire burn scars

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In commentary today …

State can fight fire with prescribed fire, but first it must fund training

Tom Gardali, the CEO of Audubon Canyon Ranch, a nonprofit conservation organization that trains land managers and others to use prescribed fire, writes, “California is awash in well-prepared planning documents that strive to achieve ambitious environmental, public health and safety, and equity goals. A key thread connecting them is prescribed fire—setting controlled fires to maintain the health of the land and its people and reduce the danger of wildfire.  By now, it is accepted that prescribed fire is needed to conserve and restore biodiversity, prevent catastrophic fires, stabilize carbon and promote public health and safety. The science corroborates the longstanding practices of Indigenous peoples—for them, fire is culturally and environmentally important, and its use was widespread before the devastating effects of colonization and fire-exclusion policies. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: State can fight fire with prescribed fire, but first it must fund training

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

Deputies: Klamath Co. grow op stole 5 million gallons of water since 2018

“A response to a report of child abuse in Klamath County revealed a marijuana grow operation that deputies say may have illegally used 5 million gallons of water over the past four years.  The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the property in the 13000 block of Falvey Road in Merrill to investigate the child abuse report. Merrill is just a few miles north of the California border.  When they arrived, they found six greenhouses in what they believed to be an unlicensed and illegal marijuana grow operation, KCSO said. … ”  Read more from Oregon Daily News here: Deputies: Klamath Co. grow op stole 5 million gallons of water since 2018

Press release: Biden appointees back Trump Administration’s decision to nullify Hoopa Valley Tribe’s sovereignty and wipe out $400 million debt owed by Central Valley water barons

“Yesterday, Secretary Deb Haaland’s Chief of Staff killed off any hope of a negotiated settlement of pending claims against the Trump administration for financial misconduct, environmental depredation, and violation of tribal sovereignty and fishing rights in California’s Trinity River fishery.  For over a year, the Hoopa Valley Tribal Council made repeated and urgent written requests to meet with the Secretary to settle litigation the Tribe filed in August, 2020 against Secretary Haaland’s predecessor, David Bernhardt. All requests went unanswered. “That changed yesterday when Secretary Haaland’s Chief of Staff, Rachael Taylor, broke her silence and told us that “unfortunately, the Secretary is unable to meet on this matter’”, said Michael Orcutt, Fisheries Director for the Hoopa Valley Tribe. Orcutt said, “It was a slap in the face.” … ”

Fates of fish and flow of the Eel River still uncertain

“The Potter Valley Project is a century-plus-old hydroelectric plant north of Ukiah. Owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, it transfers water from the Eel River to the Russian River, providing drinking water to many in Sonoma County. But big changes are on the way.  “Everyone who is a PG&E customer is currently paying PG&E to run these facilities, kill fish and not determine the proper solution.” Redgie Collins said. “They need to step up to the plate and be the stewards in the environment that they claim to be in order to move this process as quickly as possible.”  That’s how Collins, with the conservation group California Trout, described PG&E’s handling of the Potter Valley Project. Cal Trout’s criticism follows a letter to federal agencies claiming PG&E fails to protect endangered salmon and trout populations in the Eel River, below the dams of the Project. … ”  Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Fates of fish and flow of the Eel River still uncertain

Salmon and steelhead in the Anthropocene

“Salmon and steelhead are cold water fish and have been on Earth for millions of years, surviving numerous ice ages. Our present climate, the new normal, consists of unprecedented climate heatwaves, droughts and atmospheric rivers of wind and rain. Climate extremes disrupt salmon and steelhead migrations and increase their mortality rate.  Salmon and steelhead are spawned and mature in fresh water and then spend their adulthood in the ocean, before returning to spawn in their natal place. Atmospheric warming has led to ocean warming, which has caused poor nutrient and health conditions reducing the amount of returning salmon and steelhead. This year, the return of cold, nutrient rich upwelling has improved the fitness of returning fish. … ”  Read more from the Northcoast Environmental Center here: Salmon and steelhead in the Anthropocene

Column: If lawmakers have their way, Mendocino County will become a desert

Don Moir, 4Reel Fishing columnist, writes, “Many Californian’s have become very concerned about the future of water in our state! “ This is not a democrat or republican thing! It’s a common sense thing,“ said one one angler. Some polls say that up to 60 percent of Northern Californians believe that our state is on the “wrong track” when it comes to the management of California’s water resources. Many voters feel that they are not heard, worse yet, they also believe that when they do get an opportunity to speak their piece, their opinions are given little value or worth.  This same attitude applies to what is going on with the removal of Lake Pillsbury Dam and the Van Arsdale Dam. … ”  Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Column: If lawmakers have their way, Mendocino County will become a desert

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Bear River Headwaters now protected in perpetuity for public benefit

“Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT), in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), announces the permanent protection of 267 acres of mixed conifer forests and meadows in the Bear River Headwaters and beautiful granite walls along the South Yuba River canyon. This transaction represents the donation of the land by PG&E to CAL FIRE as a State Demonstration Forest, as well as the donation of a conservation easement to BYLT to ensure that the property’s scenic open space, forest, wildlife habitat, recreation, and historic and cultural values will be protected forever. … ”  Read more from Yuba Net here: Bear River Headwaters now protected in perpetuity for public benefit

Group halfway through 2nd Donner Lake cleanup; collecting more trash than 1st visit

“Colin West and his team of divers from Clean Up the Lake took only a week off after finishing their clean-up effort around Lake Tahoe before starting their next project.  The team recently embarked on a second underwater circumnavigation effort around Donner Lake’s shoreline. Clean Up the Lake first circumnavigated Donner Lake in 2020 where they removed 5,151 pounds of trash.  Halfway through this year’s effort, crews have already collected about 6,500 pounds, which, at that pace, means they will nearly triple the amount of trash collected. While the extra amount of trash is discouraging, it isn’t all new trash that’s accumulated since 2020. A lot of it is bigger items such as tires and illegal moorings that they didn’t have the ability to remove before. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Group halfway through 2nd Donner Lake cleanup; collecting more trash than 1st visit

The Sierra Meadows Partnership and the journey to 30,000 acres

“The Sierra Meadows Partnership (SMP) is a regional collaborative group that works to improve the resources, support, and efficacy around meadow restoration in the Sierra Nevada. This June, the group members met for their first annual meeting in three years at Ackerson Meadow in Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest. The plan: to tour Ackerson and learn about one of the largest meadow restoration projects in the Sierra Nevada. Nearly 60 people attended this year’s SMP meeting. Affiliations included the National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, nonprofit groups, state agencies, land trusts and conservancies, and more. The purpose of this field tour was not only to learn about the Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project, but also to build connections, network, brainstorm new projects, and strengthen partnerships to enhance meadow restoration across the Sierra. … ”  Read more from American Rivers here: The Sierra Meadows Partnership and the journey to 30,000 acres

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Butte County supervisors accept final drought plan

“The Butte County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the finalized drought plan Tuesday with the stipulation that it would be a living document that develops as conditions change.  Water and Resource Conservation Director Kammie Loeser was joined by Assistant Director Christina Buck to deliver a series of presentations on water with the first focus surrounding a major analysis project that has occurred over the past six months.  In December, the county hired an outside consulting firm to do a large-scale analysis of drought conditions in Butte County. The board received its initial presentation from the group in April and the draft study was released in May. A webinar was conducted to get feedback from the public in June and the final draft analysis document was released later in June. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Butte County supervisors accept final drought plan

NAPA/SONOMA

Programs to help small farms get added state funding

“Drought and wildfires have hit small farms in Sonoma County hard.  For many farmers and grape growers along the Russian River, 2021 was a harsh wake up call. Stringent water rights curtailments left many unable to water crops during a critical point in the harvest season.  One such farmer was Rebecca Bozzeli, who runs Lantern Farm, perched along the Russian River in Cloverdale. Bozzeli said 2021’s curtailment orders brought her operation to a halt.  “Probably an acre of land uses about five to 10,000 gallons a week.” Bozelli said. “What the state wanted us to use, or what they were allowing us to use was 6,000 gallons a month. We basically had to stop farming.” … ”  Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Programs to help small farms get added state funding

A Napa filmmaker looked and found Roundup, the weedkiller tied to cancer, ‘everywhere’

“Early one winter morning, as Brian Lilla was riding his bike through Napa, California’s hills and meadows, he spotted farmworkers driving ATVs through rows of vines. They hauled huge canisters of the weedkiller Roundup. As the workers sprayed vines, a chemical smell shot through the air.  Having moved to Napa from Oakland nine years ago with his wife to start a family in the seemingly healthy environs of the country, Lilla found himself paying more attention to the use of Roundup after his daughters, now 8 and 5, were born. One day, he recalled, he saw the herbicide sprayed in a vineyard across the street from his daughters’ school.  Meanwhile, the herbicide and its maker, Monsanto, kept making the news.... ”  Read more from Capitol & Main here: A Napa filmmaker looked and found Roundup, the weedkiller tied to cancer, ‘everywhere’

Sonoma County grape growers, North Bay Water District & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service create Safe Harbor Agreement to protect California tiger salamander

“Sonoma Alliance for Vineyards and Environment (SAVE) is proud to announce an agreement among the local agricultural community of grape growers with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Bay Water District and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau to sustainably manage existing vineyards while enhancing and restoring habitat for the federally endangered Sonoma California tiger salamander in Sonoma County.  Twenty years ago, the Sonoma California tiger salamander was listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. As a result, conservation requirements for protecting the species were developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and had the potential to affect vineyard operations.  Now with the Safe Harbor Agreement in place, landowners enrolled in the program and who create or protect salamander habitat will have assurances from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that vineyard activities covered in the agreement can continue without requiring additional ESA-related permits. … ”  Read more from Wine Industry Advisor here: Sonoma County grape growers, North Bay Water District & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service create Safe Harbor Agreement to protect California tiger salamander

BAY AREA

San Anselmo flood protection project hits a roadblock

“A plan to remove a more than 80-year-old bridge in downtown San Anselmo as part of a key flood control effort in the Ross Valley has hit a snag.  The news came as part of a mandated, annual report on the use of funds generated by a stormwater drainage fee presented to the Board of Supervisors earlier this month.  The fee was narrowly approved by voters in 2007 to do flood prevention projects in the Ross Valley. Its passage followed destructive storm-driven floods in 1982 and 2005 that damaged 1,200 homes and 200 businesses.  … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: San Anselmo flood protection project hits a roadblock

Drinking water from MALT-protected Gallagher Ranch secured for West Marin residents

“By late summer, water from a new well installed on a Marin County ranch will provide residents of Point Reyes Station, Olema, Inverness Park, Paradise Ranch Estates and Bear Valley with more than 150 gallons of fresh drinking water every minute.  Water from the well, installed this year by the North Marin Water District (NMWD), will be available courtesy of the Gallagher North Bend Ranch, a property protected by a Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) agricultural conservation easement. According to the NMWD, the well will solve problems with reliability and seasonal salt-water intrusion in the community’s existing drinking water sources located near downtown Point Reyes Station. ... ”  Read more from Business Wire here: Drinking water from MALT-protected Gallagher Ranch secured for West Marin residents

Popular SF Bay Area state park closes campground for summer due to drought

“A favorite San Francisco Bay Area spot for sleeping under towering redwood trees is temporarily shutting down its campground again this summer because of California’s historic drought.  Portola Redwoods State Park said Tuesday that its campground facilities with 55 sites and four group sites will be closing Aug. 5 and not reopening for the remainder of the season because of low flows on its main water source, Peters Creek. (The campground closes every winter, from Nov. 1 to April 1.) “The water is used for the operation of the park and that includes restrooms, showers, drinking water and fire suppression,” said Gabe McKenna, a state parks spokesperson and public safety superintendent. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here: Popular SF Bay Area state park closes campground for summer due to drought

CENTRAL COAST

San Juan Bautista reaches a settlement with the Regional Water Quality Control Board

“San Juan Bautista announced it reached a settlement with the Regional Water Quality Control Board for the Central Coast Region (“Regional Board”) regarding the payment of mandatory minimum penalties under California Water Code section 13385 for alleged violations of the City’s expired 2009 Wastewater Permit, reaching back more than a decade, related to the city’s treated municipal wastewater discharged into No-Name Creek.  “For a variety of reasons, the city agreed to a settlement instead of proceeding to a hearing before the Regional Board,” the release said.  It went on to state the settlement includes relief for some of the fines and a suspension of future fines and penalties until the force-main project is build. It added The Regional Board agreed to remove 37 of the oldest violations and not issuing penalties for those alleged violations. The Regional Board also agreed to allow the city to retain and apply a significant number of penalties to the costs of the Project.” … ”  Read more from Benito Link here:  San Juan Bautista reaches a settlement with the Regional Water Quality Control Board

San Luis Obispo County sold water outside the county, residents foot the bill

“San Luis Obispo County began selling water purchased by county residents to out of county water purveyors in 2008 and 2013, without returning the funds to local property owners as required by law, according to a recent SLO County Grand Jury report.  … In 1963, the county entered into an agreement with the California Department of Water Resources to purchase water from the State Water Project. A tax was then added to all county properties to pay for state water, even though not all county residents benefited from the purchase. … ”  Read more from Cal Coast News here: San Luis Obispo County sold water outside the county, residents foot the bill

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

If you live in San Joaquin County and your well is affected by the drought, these resources are available

“If you live in San Joaquin County and you’re worried about your well going dry due to drought, there are now resources available to you. According to the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services, you might qualify for emergency bottled water, a water tank, a well assessment, and water quality testing. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here:  If you live in San Joaquin County and your well is affected by the drought, these resources are available

Tests give clear look at Lodi Lake, river water quality over 2 decades

“Lodi Lake’s water quality has not significantly changed since the city’s Watershed Program began monitoring it in 2001.  July is National Lakes Appreciation Month, and last Wednesday, Watershed Program Coordinator Kathy Grant and Environmental Compliance Inspector Claudia Torres dropped a Secchi disk at three sites in the lake and along the Mokelumne River, and found the readings were very similar to those taken two decades ago. Water clarity at Site One — north of the boathouse and west of center of Lodi Lake — was measured at 5.6 feet, while clarity at Site Two — east of the lake’s center — was measured at 4.8 feet. … ”  Read more from the Lodi Sentinel here: Tests give clear look at Lodi Lake, river water quality over 2 decades

More on Mapes Ranch water sales

Blogger Eric Caine writes, “July 25, attorneys for “Lyons Land Management and Mapes Ranch” issued a strong rebuttal to a letter to the Modesto Irrigation District (MID) from its former General Counsel that raised questions about Mapes Ranch’s use of MID water. The rebuttal argued the letter, “contains false accusations and incorrect information.” We summarized portions of the letter from Ronda Lucas on July 19.  Lucas, who served as MID’s General Counsel from early in 2016 until November 2018, reviewed Mapes Ranch’s 40 year agreement with MID for what Lucas called “gift water” because it is water that the ranch receives without recompense to the district. In her letter, Lucas also stated that Mapes Ranch had sold 10,000 acre feet of water to Del Puerto Water District (DPWD) in 2021 and 2022. … ”  Read more from the Valley Citizen here: More on Mapes Ranch water sales

It takes a village at Isabella: Partnerships at one of USACE’s largest projects

“Isabella Lake, California, is the site of the one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most prominent examples of partnering. Although it has the USACE name on it, this nearly $650 million investment in flood risk reduction for the southern Central Valley is hardly the work of one agency.  “Everything we do requires our commitment to proactive, collaborative, working relationships with partners across the public and private sectors,” said Col. Chad Caldwell, commander of the USACE Sacramento District. “The Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project builds on lessons learned from other successful dam safety projects, and one of those key lessons is the value of partnership.” … ”  Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers here: It takes a village at Isabella: Partnerships at one of USACE’s largest projects

Kern County lawmakers meet to discuss water legislation

“Water is essential to our everyday lives but with the ongoing drought, it’s becoming more difficult for people across the state and in the Central Valley to get the water they need. … And with the Central Valley being the root of farming in California some local legislators are working to bring more water back to our region.Tuesday Assemblyman Vince Fong (32nd District), Senator Melissa Hurtado (14th District), and Senator Shannon Grove (16th District) came together to explain what the legislature is working on to ensure that our region gets the water it needs. … ”  Read more from Channel 23 here: Kern County lawmakers meet to discuss water legislation

Lawmakers call on Kern stakeholders to engage on water investment

“Farmers and water managers may need to do more to engage with lawmakers from outside the Central Valley before the state Legislature can be persuaded to make important investments in water storage and other infrastructure projects, members of Kern’s Sacramento delegation told an audience Tuesday of the Water Association of Kern County. The three locally elected representatives — Assemblyman Vince Fong and state Sens. Shannon Grove and Melissa Hurtado — made the request in the context of their frustration with big-city, coastal lawmakers they said misunderstand how things work in not only the water world but in-state energy production as well. … ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Lawmakers call on Kern stakeholders to engage on water investment

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Drought: How one Orange County water district drilled down to become self-sustaining

“They call it “redwood tea.”  More than 100,000 years ago, a forest of redwood trees grew along Southern California’s then unspoiled coast. Today, on a wedge-shaped strip of land along the 405 freeway, next to a CarMax dealership, two massive wells pull water from 1,000 feet beneath the city of Costa Mesa — an aquifer from ground where those redwoods once grew.  The water that is brought to the surface is clear but with a light amber tinge, much like weakly brewed tea.  That water is 12,000 years old, untouched by pesticides or forever chemicals or other contaminants too often found now in aquifers closer to the surface. … ”  Read more from the OC Register here: Drought: How one Orange County water district drilled down to become self-sustaining

O.C. supervisors approve settlement in oil spill response

“Orange County supervisors voted today to accept nearly $1 million from Amplify Energy to cover expenses incurred responding to the oil spill off the waters of Huntington Beach in October.  The supervisors voted 4-1, with Supervisor Andrew Do dissenting, to accept $956,352 from the oil company to cover expenses related to the emergency response and cleanup efforts.  “We basically have made whole in terms of our expenses, which was the goal — to get reimbursed for all of our expenses related to the oil spill, and those expenses are nearly $1 million, so it was a very effective, timely turnaround to get the county reimbursed,” Supervisor Katrina Foley told City News Service. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: O.C. supervisors approve settlement in oil spill response

SEE ALSO: Oil company whose pipeline spilled will pay Orange County nearly $1 million, from the OC Register

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Water 101: A recap of where we are amidst a historic drought

“Local farmers may soon be forced to bite the bullet and find ways to use significantly less water in 2023 — potentially for a lot longer.  This drastic measure may come as a result of an emergency water conservation effort to prevent further depletion of the Valley’s main source of water, the Colorado River. If less water flows down the Colorado River, the consequences could be catastrophic for the two reservoirs — lakes Mead and Powell — that feed into the so-called basin states.  For example, if water levels in Lake Mead continue dropping, it could bring water and hydropower to a grinding halt, all due to a relentless drought over two decades. … ”  Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Water 101: A recap of where we are amidst a historic drought

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Along the Colorado River …

Policies will ensure not having to choose between water and economic growth

Jaime A. Molera, former Arizona state school superintendent, partner of Molera Alvarez, and the Arizona director for The Western Way, writes, “Reading the headlines about water issues in Arizona can be disconcerting. Our state is now more than 20 years into an historic drought with conditions projected to worsen in the coming years.  We can no longer rely on the water resources that once seemed abundant. Dwindling Colorado River supplies coupled with inadequate groundwater regulation in large parts of Arizona have put the entire state in a tough position.  But this is not a reason to despair – or to panic. We don’t need to discourage growth or declare that Arizona is closed for business because of the water challenges we face. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Capitol Times here: Policies will ensure not having to choose between water and economic growth

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In national water news today …

Eating too much protein makes pee a problem pollutant in the U.S.

“In the U.S., people eat more protein than they need to. And though it might not be bad for human health, this excess does pose a problem for the country’s waterways. The nation’s wastewater is laden with the leftovers from protein digestion: nitrogen compounds that can feed toxic algal blooms and pollute the air and drinking water. This source of nitrogen pollution even rivals that from fertilizers washed off of fields growing food crops, new research suggests.  When we overconsume protein—whether it comes from lentils, supplements or steak—our body breaks the excess down into urea, a nitrogen-containing compound that exits the body via urine and ultimately ends up in sewage. Maya Almaraz, a biogeochemist at the University of California, Davis, and her colleagues wanted to see how much of this nitrogen is being flushed into the U.S. sewage system because of a protein-heavy diet. … ”  Read more from the Scientific American here: Eating too much protein makes pee a problem pollutant in the U.S.

Fish & Wildlife Service seeks public comments on establishing objectives and standards for conservation banks

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments to assist in developing a proposed rule establishing objectives, measurable performance standards and criteria for use, consistent with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for species conservation banking.  “We share an interest with the regulated community in introducing greater efficiency and predictability into species conservation banking, while ensuring conservation of our most imperiled fish, wildlife and their habitats,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “We are soliciting public input and feedback on potential approaches to make the establishment and use of species conservation banks more effective and efficient.”  … ” Continue reading this press release here: Fish & Wildlife Service seeks public comments on establishing objectives and standards for conservation banks

Judges set ‘regulatory point of no return’ for midnight rules

“Departing administrations may now have extra time to finalize last-minute rules after a prominent federal appeals court ruling that faulted the Trump administration for withdrawing an Obama-era rule designed to protect show horses from abuse.  The 2-1 ruling Friday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit packs a big punch for federal rulemaking by extending the deadline for administrations — no matter their political party — to finalize regulations on the environment and other key issues.  “Governments — like everyone else — save things for the last minute,” said Sean Marotta, a partner at the law firm Hogan Lovells. … ”  Read more from E&E News here: Judges set ‘regulatory point of no return’ for midnight rules

Biden administration touts plans to plant a billion trees, restore forests scarred by wildfires

“The Biden administration has unveiled new plans to restore woodlands beset by drought, insect infestations, and wildfires, including planting more than one billion trees on federal lands.  While most forests singed by fires are able to regrow on their own, some in the U.S. have been so thoroughly scarred by intense blazes that they would need decades to recover. More than 4 million acres of forest need to be replanted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.  To erase that backlog, the agency is seeking to plant 400,000 acres of forest annually, a marked increase over the 60,000 acres planted last year, the Associated Press reports. As it scales up its work, the Forest Service will have to quadruple the number of seedlings grown in nurseries, according to its reforestation plan. ... ”  Read more from Yale e360 here: Biden administration touts plans to plant a billion trees, restore forests scarred by wildfires

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: July 26 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed

NOTICE of Staff-level Public Workshop and Board Consideration of Adoption – Restoration Projects Statewide Order

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