On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Great Basin Water Summit from 9am to 4pm. The Summit will feature virtual panels and discussions with the organizers as well as representatives from various other groups and entities, including the Keep Long Valley Green Coalition, of which Friends of the Inyo is a leading member, the Sierra Club, Mono Lake Committee, Big Pine Paiute Tribe Environmental Department, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute, Great Basin Resource Watch, and others. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: Innovative Sources for Water in an Age of Limited Supply from 9am to 10:30am. Increasing pressure on water supply and water quality are leading many water users to explore non-traditional water sources from seawater and brackish groundwater to wastewater reuse and atmospheric water harvesting. This presentation will review non-traditional water sources, their unique treatment needs, and their role in a complete water portfolio. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Climate Change and California’s Water Future from 11am to 12:30pm. Presentation will address water availability concerns that are being exacerbated by climate change. Speakers are Dr. Erica Siirila-Woodburn, Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Dr. Benjamin Bray, Senior Civil Engineer at East Bay Municipal Utility District. Speakers will discuss the impact of climate change on snowpack and future water resources. Presentation will address the potential impacts of climate change on the Mokelumne Watershed and EBMUD’s water system. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Cannabis Goes Green: Water and energy conservation at new grow facilities from 1pm – 2:30pm. The cannabis industry is growing at a rapid rate in California and grow facilities are particularly intense consumers of water and energy. This panel presentation will cover water and energy conservation strategies including hydroponic irrigation best practices, water recovery systems, enhanced water treatment, interconnection to HVAC system operation, energy-efficient lighting, and optimized growing techniques. Conservation strategies covered will include hydroponic irrigation best practices, water recovery systems, enhanced water treatment, interconnection to HVAC system operation, energy-efficient lighting, and optimized growing techniques. Click here to register.
Urban water conservation numbers …
Water use in California dips, but still short of Newsom’s goal
“Californians used less water in June but are still falling short of the 15% mark set by Governor Gavin Newsom. According to numbers released Tuesday by the State Water Resources Control Board, Californians cut water usage by 7.5% in June compared to June 2020. However, between July 2021 and the end of June 2022, water usage dipped by just 2.7%. Given the relatively slight drop in water use and the increasingly dire picture of the Golden State’s drought, Newsom convened a panel with local water leaders for the second time in as many months to point out the importance in continuing to use less water. “We are dealing with a changed climate in California that demands we reimagine not just how we use water, but how we capture, store and distribute it throughout the state,” said Newsom. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Water use in California dips, but still short of Newsom’s goal
Northern California tops Southland in water conservation as savings improve statewide
“New data suggest Californians are steadily reducing water usage in the face of severe drought, although cities and towns in the northern part of the state are cutting back more than those in the thirsty and more heavily populated south. Water use in cities and towns across the state decreased 7.6% in June when compared with the same month in 2020 — significantly short of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s voluntary 15% goal last year, but a significant shift compared with the previous month, according to data released by the State Water Resources Control Board. In May, statewide savings were just 3.1%. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Northern California tops Southland in water conservation as savings improve statewide | Read via AOL News
California drought: Summer is crucial for saving water, but conservation still ho-hum
“Californians began paying more attention to their water use as summer arrived, but statewide conservation remains well short of what the governor has requested during the drought. In June, municipal water consumption dropped 7.6% compared to the same month in 2020, marking a second straight month of savings, according to state data released Tuesday, and parts of the Bay Area did considerably better. The four prior months, however, saw increases in water use, sometimes by double digits. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California drought: Summer is crucial for saving water, but conservation still ho-hum
California drought: Water conservation increasing statewide, Bay Area saving more than Southern California
“After months of failing to conserve water, Californians are finally starting to make significant progress as the state’s three-year drought worsens, summer heats up and local agencies are increasing rules and penalties for water wasters. New numbers out Tuesday showed that statewide, California’s urban residents cut water use 7.6% in June compared to June 2020, the baseline year. That’s still short of the 15% goal that Gov. Gavin Newsom set last July. But it is a considerable jump from the 3.1% savings in May compared with May 2020. And it is a major change from March and April, when residents cranked up lawn sprinklers during an unseasonably dry spring, actually increasing water use statewide by 18.7% and 17.8% compared to those months two years ago. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: California drought: Water conservation increasing statewide, Bay Area saving more than Southern California | Read via MSN News
SEE ALSO:
- THIS JUST IN … June 2022 Urban Water Conservation Update: Water use trending down, press release from the State Water Board
- Bay Area leading state on water conservation amid another summer of drought, from CBS Bay Area
In other California water news today …
Desert groundwater agency to pay $8,500 per acre-foot for valley water rights
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority in eastern Kern County has signed a “letter of intent” to buy the rights to 750 acre feet of state water for $6,396,000 from a State Water Project contractor in Kings County. The purchase is part of the authority’s plan to bring that overdrafted groundwater basin into balance. The seller is Utica J.L.J. LLC, which purchased the Jackson Ranch and is developing a truck stop and industrial center on 400 acres at Utica Avenue and Interstate 5, just south of Kettleman City. If approved by the groundwater authority, Dudley Ridge Water District and the Department of Water Resources, this would be a permanent water sale – not a one-time purchase. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Desert groundwater agency to pay $8,500 per acre-foot for valley water rights
Reclamation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service launch innovative plan to aid winter-run Chinook salmon amid extreme drought
“The Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service are partnering to protect winter-run Chinook salmon in a crucial year of their life cycle at the Livingston Stone National Fish Hatchery and third consecutive drought year in California. The Service operates the hatchery while Reclamation provides water, power, and funding to support operations and maintenance of the facility. Behind the scenes, water managers, fish biologists, and project managers from Reclamation and the Service have been working together to best meet critical water needs anticipated during this unprecedented drought. During years of average or greater precipitation, water quality at LSNFH is generally suitable for salmon production. However, as water temperatures from Shasta Lake are expected to be elevated this year due to the lake’s low level, Reclamation and the Service have installed several temporary water chilling units to cool and stabilize the water supply to the hatchery. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service launch innovative plan to aid winter-run Chinook salmon amid extreme drought
A summer of (Eco)Restoration
“Summer 2022 is a season of ecological restoration for the Department of Water Resources (DWR). From June 23 to July 14, 2022, DWR and partners celebrated four multi-benefit restoration projects taking place in California’s Central Valley including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), Suisun Marsh, and Yolo Bypass region. Each of these projects have the capacity to deliver multiple benefits that include habitat restoration, supporting endangered species, flood risk reduction, or public access. “As a third year of dry conditions continues to stress California’s natural systems, these projects become even more vital,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Drought and climate change have elevated the importance of multi-benefit projects because dry conditions and warmer temperatures elevate flood risk and negatively impact vegetation and wildlife.” … ” Read more from DWR News here: A summer of (Eco)Restoration
Draft EIR released for Delta Conveyance Project
“A key priority of the Newsom Administration – the Delta Conveyance Project – has officially entered its next chapter. On July 22, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) released its draft environmental impact report (Draft EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The Delta Conveyance Project is DWR’s and Governor Newsom’s plan to build an underground tunnel to bring water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the State Water Project pumps near Tracy in order to reduce the risk from earthquakes and climate change to the State’s water supplies. It is intended to protect water supplies to millions of Californians in an area that includes Silicon Valley, prime agricultural farmland in central California, and most of southern California. … ” Read more from the Nossaman here: Draft EIR released for Delta Conveyance Project
Representatives Garamendi, Harder, McNerney, and Thompson respond to state’s misguided delta tunnel plan
“Today, Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-03), Josh Harder (D-CA-10), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-05) issued the following statement urging Governor Newsom to cancel the planned construction of the tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in response to the release of a Draft Environmental Impact Report by the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) for the Delta Conveyance Project: “When Governor Newsom announced on May 2, 2019, that the Delta Tunnel Project would be downsized from two tunnels to one our message was clear: one down, one to go,” the Representatives said. … ” Continue reading at Congressman Garamendi’s office here: Representatives Garamendi, Harder, McNerney, and Thompson respond to state’s misguided delta tunnel plan
Meeting report: State Board Racial Equity Workshop July 29, 2022
Don Wright of Water Wrights writes, “The State Water Resources Control Board had staff conduct a workshop to garner public input on the Board’s racial equity plan. The two and half hour workshop was held in Visalia at the Self Help Enterprises’ headquarters at 4pm on Wednesday, July 27th. … In November of 2021 the State Board adopted Resolution No. 2021-0050, “Condemning Racism, Xenophobia, Bigotry, and Racial Injustice and Strengthening Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Access, and Anti-Racism” a resolution to incorporate racial equity in its decision making and hiring practices. … ” Read the full post at Water Wrights here: Meeting report: State Board Racial Equity Workshop July 29, 2022
The end of snow threatens to upend 76 million American lives
“The Western US is an empire built on snow. And that snow is vanishing. Since most of the region gets little rain in the summer, even in good years, its bustling cities and bountiful farms all hinge on fall and winter snow settling in the mountains before slowly melting into rivers and reservoirs. That snowmelt, often traveling hundreds of miles from mountain top to tap, sustains the booming desert communities of Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City — even coastal Los Angeles and San Francisco. A civilization of more than 76 million people, home to Silicon Valley and Hollywood alike, relies on snow. “The snow in the mountains is this incredible gift that created California,” said Spencer Glendon, founder of climate outreach initiative Probable Futures and former director of investment research at Wellington Management. “Nobody would build all of that stuff in a climate that was on the brink of being a desert.” … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: The end of snow threatens to upend 76 million American lives
Tear out your lawn, save California
“In case you missed the memo: Glossy green lawns fed by sprinklers arcing water into the sky just don’t work anymore in these days of lingering drought. As the supply of water in reservoirs and wells continues to shrink around California, we need to change what and how we’re irrigating. The Times has been speaking to L.A. County residents who’ve taken out their lawns and transformed their yards into fragrant, leafy, low-water paradises — often with a DIY approach. Yes, it takes work, but these yard converts rave about lower water bills, tackling climate change head on, the pride they felt after accomplishing a daunting task and finding serenity in the process. Let these stories of ripping out lawns guide and inspire as you reconsider your own landscaping plans. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Tear out your lawn, save California
Solution to solve California drought? Some say it’s water from the Mississippi
“Much of California is in a severe drought. In Riverside County, where Palm Springs is, leaders say they’re dealing with the fourth-driest season in 128 years. And starting this month, people who live there will be charged a pretty big penalty if they use too much water. So, why are we talking about this in Minnesota? Well, some of those people have their eyes on our 10,000 lakes — and the Mississippi River. Is our water the solution to their drought? It might sound unrealistic, but there could actually be some reason to it. … ” Read more from Channel 11 here: Solution to solve California drought? Some say it’s water from the Mississippi
Study shows how restoring California’s overstocked forests yields multiple and diverse benefits
“Mechanical thinning of overstocked forests, prescribed burning and managed wildfire now being carried out to enhance fire protection of California’s forests provide many benefits, or ecosystem services, that people depend on. In a paper published in Restoration Ecology, researchers at UC Merced, UC ANR and UC Irvine reported that stakeholders perceived fire protection as central to forest restoration, with multiple other ecosystem services also depending on wildfire severity. Researcher Max Eriksson, lead author on the paper, noted that “forest restoration involves multiple fuels-reduction actions that were perceived as benefiting fire protection, with some also offering strong benefits to other ecosystem services such as air quality, wildlife habitat, soil retention and water supply.” … ” Read more from UC Merced here: Study shows how restoring California’s overstocked forests yields multiple and diverse benefits
Wildfires have devastated these California towns. See how they are rebuilding
“California wildfires have been known to ravage through cities, burning thousands of acres and destroying properties and homes, and taking lives. Sometimes, forcing residents to rebuild their community from ashes. See how recent fires that have devastated these California cities: The Dixie Fire started in July of 2021, blazing through more than 960,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama counties for more than three months. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Wildfires have devastated these California towns. See how they are rebuilding
SEE ALSO: ‘Scarred, but not moving’: A year after the Dixie Fire, a town strives to recover, from the Sacramento Bee
In commentary today …
Thirsty? What was derided as ‘toilet-to-tap’ is key to California’s water future
Columnist Terri Sforza writes, “Many of you have apparently stopped brushing your teeth in the shower. Way to go! As drought closes in, “water police” patrol many parts of Orange County and conservation is a battle cry, there are some encouraging signs both statewide and locally. Californians did better at tightening the taps in June: Residential use was down to about where it was in 2019, which was a wet year, and we used 7.6% less water this June than we did in June 2020, new data from the State Water Resources Control Board show. But don’t get too self-congratulatory. Our cumulative water savings was only 2.7% when looking at the 12 months ending in June compared to the same period in 2020, thanks to a ravenously thirsty spring. We’ll tell you more about how your individual O.C. cities and water districts did in coming days, but in the meantime, there’s this to consider: O.C. is pushing more water in to its vast groundwater basin, and is pumping less water out, as compared to last year. ... ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: Thirsty? What was derided as ‘toilet-to-tap’ is key to California’s water future | Read via the OC Register
Mixed messages in California concerning water needs
Ron Fink, retired from the aerospace industry, writes, “It’s really difficult to try to keep up with the politics of saving the earth in California. The last couple of years have seen a shortfall in rain/snow melt to fill made-made water storage lakes in California and most of the western states; this has created a water shortage. Meanwhile environmental groups have continued to demand that what little water that’s left be released to save the fish habitat. And they have opposed efforts to convert ample sea water off the California coastline for use as drinking water. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Mixed messages in California concerning water needs
Don’t hamstring carbon removal
Eric Biber, a specialist in conservation biology, land-use planning and public lands law, writes, “Assessments by the IPCC have made clear that the most feasible way for the world to meet its target of restricting climate change to below two degrees Celsius of warming includes rapid and massive expansion of carbon removal technology – technology that would extract carbon dioxide and permanently sequester that carbon dioxide underground. California has long been a leader in decarbonization, but proposed legislation in Sacramento would hamstring California’s efforts to advance carbon removal. … ” Read more from the Legal Planet here: Don’t hamstring carbon removal
Today’s featured article …
FEATURE: How Wildfire-damaged Plastic Pipes Contaminate Drinking water – and What We Can Do About It
Written for Maven’s Notebook by Robin Meadows
The first time a reporter asked public health researcher Gina Solomon if wildfires could contaminate drinking water, she told them it wasn’t a concern. The second time a reporter brought this up, she learned that it was. Tap water collected after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, California had just tested positive for toxicants including benzene, a carcinogen, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The latest evidence links these contaminants with plastic pipes.
“The whole issue of benzene and VOC contamination was a stunner to me and many public health experts,” says Solomon, an occupational and environmental health physician who is a principal investigator at the Oakland-based Public Health Institute.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Toxic algae in this Northern California lake is corrupting drinking water and causing ‘horrendous’ smells
“Blooms of noxious, blue-green algae in California’s second-largest freshwater lake have prompted Lake County officials to issue warnings against consuming the water in Clear Lake as toxin levels rise to worrisome levels. County, health, and tribal officials urged Lake County residents and tourists — and especially those who get their water from Clear Lake — to be extra vigilant when getting near the water, and to report any unusual medical symptoms to their doctors and the county. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Toxic algae in this Northern California lake is corrupting drinking water and causing ‘horrendous’ smells
Supervisors approve proposed countywide water resource team, with caveats
“With two supervisors dissenting, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved further work on developing a countywide water resource team in collaboration with the University of California Cooperative Extension on Tuesday morning. Although concerns around water access are unanimous, board members disagree on what kinds of actions at the county level will best address short-term needs to provide county residents with necessary water, and long-term needs for clear systems of countywide water governance. Unsurprisingly, financial tensions also ran high, since employing a hydrology expert and devoting time to grant writing will necessarily come with a price tag. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Supervisors approve proposed countywide water resource team, with caveats
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Algae blooms, warming waters cause biggest changes to Tahoe in 50 years, report says
“Lake Tahoe’s clarity has been famously free of algae, but recently, a slick of greenish red muck is showing up on beaches and shallow waters across the lake. The amount of algae growing in Lake Tahoe increased by 300% in the past year alone, according to a UC University of California Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) report, published last week. A spike in algae growth is just one detail in the report, which documents “the largest and most significant” changes to Tahoe’s environment in the past 50 years. TERC has been monitoring Lake Tahoe since 1968, and its annual State of the Lake Report offers a snapshot of the lake’s environmental health. Its analysis is invaluable for Tahoe’s decision-makers, who are steering the future of the region at a time when the lake’s clarity has stopped improving. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Algae blooms, warming waters cause biggest changes to Tahoe in 50 years, report says
New water treatment plant secures reliable water source for West Lake Tahoe
“The Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) broke ground on its West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant (Project) in spring 2021. Scheduled to be completed in 2024, the Project represents a coordinated regional solution for drinking water and fire protection by providing a permanent, drought-resistant, safe drinking water source for TCPUD water service areas located in the West Lake Tahoe region. Once operational, the new treatment plant will use Lake Tahoe surface water as its source, producing up to 650 gallons per minute (gpm) to supply water to approximately 1,900 TCPUD connections. The Project is designed to expand capacity to a maximum of 1,100 gpm. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: New water treatment plant secures reliable water source for West Lake Tahoe
Court blocks huge Lake Tahoe ski development at Olympic Valley
“A judge has rejected a controversial plan to build out the Olympic Valley ski area at Palisades Tahoe with a new village, hotel and condominiums, dealing a blow to the resort’s plans to create an expansive, full-season vacation destination in the historic ski valley. Alterra Mountain Co., which owns the Olympic Valley ski area (formerly called Squaw Valley), is determined to beef up the resort’s profile. In 2011, Alterra’s ownership group, KSL Capital Partners, submitted a development plan to Placer County outlining a new 85-acre village at the resort’s base area replete with 850 new lodging units, housing for up to 300 employees, 300,000 feet of commercial space, a parking lot and an indoor water park. … A grassroots opposition movement, dubbed “Keep Squaw True” (now called Tahoe Truckee True), quickly formed to block the Olympic Valley development, saying it was too big, would generate too much traffic, would exacerbate wildfire danger, and was out of character with the region. … ” Read the full story at the San Francisco Chronicle here: Court blocks huge Lake Tahoe ski development at Olympic Valley
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Erosion control upgrades begin in upper Bidwell Park
“Erosion control at upper Bidwell Park is about to get an improvement. Chico will periodically close road access past Horseshoe Lake starting Monday to begin its Upper Park Road Sediment Reduction Project planned to reduce sediment flowing into Big Chico Creek from erosion caused by park trails and gravel roads. Chico Park and Water Resources Manager Linda Herman said the project, funded by a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board, will replace culverts and add rolling dips to improve the control of water flowing downstream during a storm. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Erosion control upgrades begin in upper Bidwell Park
NAPA/SONOMA
Cutback in Eel River diversions expected to prompt new curtailments for Russian River water rights
“Federal energy regulators say Pacific Gas & Electric can begin drastically reducing Eel River water diversions bound for Lake Mendocino, which will likely result in additional curtailments of water rights for hundreds of landowners, ranchers and communities in the Russian River watershed. The new flow regime, approved last week after more than two months of consideration by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, authorizes PG&E to divert as little water as it did last year even though there is almost 50% more water in Lake Pillsbury than there was at the same time last year. But PG&E is under pressure from state and federal wildlife agencies to improve conditions for federally listed salmon and steelhead trout below Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury and, thus, is seeking to preserve a pool of cold water in the lake for release when necessary to enable fish survival. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Cutback in Eel River diversions expected to prompt new curtailments for Russian River water rights
BAY AREA
Brown water in Oakland Estuary undergoing testing
“For more than a week the Oakland Estuary has appeared brown, muddy and murkier than usual, prompting scientists to test the water. The Port of Oakland sent out a dive boat and team of scientists Monday who say they found no sheen or file on the water to indicate oil or chemicals. They said they observed the muddy, brown color and in some spots a slimy substance. Water samples were taken, which are now undergoing testing at an outside lab. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Brown water in Oakland Estuary undergoing testing
Pleasanton: Parkside residents push back on plan to build recycled water fill station in neighborhood
“With Pleasanton and the rest of the Tri-Valley heading into what is looking like a long drought season, many residents are once again seeing mandatory limitations on outdoor irrigation. … In order to help residents, the city of Pleasanton, Dublin San Ramon Services District, Zone 7 Water Agency and the city of Livermore proposed to construct a recycled water fill station near the corner of Parkside and Hopyard where the old Zone 7 district headquarters is located. But a growing number of Parkside neighborhood residents said they are not happy with the 5997 Parkside Drive location and that it will congest their streets with unnecessary traffic. ... ” Read the full story at the Livermore Independent here: Pleasanton: Parkside residents push back on plan to build recycled water fill station in neighborhood
CENTRAL COAST
Great white sharks are thriving in Monterey Bay thanks to warming waters, study shows
“If you’re heading out to Monterey Bay this summer, you’re going to need a bigger boat. Great white sharks are on the rise in the area, and warming waters caused by climate change are playing a large part, according to a study recently released by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which tracked the migratory patterns of great whites over two decades. The vast data, part of the aquarium’s White Shark Research Project, tracked the seasonal travel patterns of 79 juvenile sharks using electronic tags and revealed that the apex predator has not only adapted to the perils of a warming planet but thrived in them. “These complete metadata sets can provide a vast amount of useful information to fisheries managers and other scientists,” said John O’Sullivan, Monterey Bay Aquarium director of collections and lead author of the study. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Great white sharks are thriving in Monterey Bay thanks to warming waters, study shows
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Video: Farmland in Transition—The San Joaquin Valley
“The San Joaquin Valley is California’s agricultural heartland and at the center of the state’s water challenges. As the region brings its groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), over half a million acres of irrigated farmland may need to come out of production. At a virtual event last week, PPIC researchers and a panel of local experts moderated by Ellen Hanak, director of the PPIC Water Policy Center, discussed how to manage this massive transition while reaping the greatest benefits from idled land and mitigating air quality concerns. ... ” Read more and watch video from the PPIC here: Video: Farmland in Transition—The San Joaquin Valley
Local residents among the most likely to drink harmful water
“Rural residents in Tulare County are more likely to be exposed to harmful water than a third of the state’s population and the State Water Board has been slow to flow funds into areas to fix failing water systems. A report by the California State Auditor last month revealed Tulare County was among nine counties in the state that represented almost 90% of Californians vulnerable to water systems with poor water quality. Tulare County also has one of the smallest populations of the nine counties, meaning a higher percentage of residents here are served by water systems at risk for harmful contaminants. The report stated between 20,000 to 60,000 Tulare County residents are connected to failing systems, or between 4% and 13% of the county’s population. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Local residents among the most likely to drink harmful water
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
What is with the miserable, muggy weather in SoCal, and when is relief coming?
“Is the heat getting to you? You are not alone. Southern California has endured days of sticky conditions, as well as intense heat, periods of heavy rain and even flash flooding. The summer has been scored with temperatures in the triple digits in some inland areas, with temperatures not cooling much at night either. “It’s monsoon season for SoCal,” said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. “We’re getting a lot of moisture being pulled up from the Gulf of California.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: What is with the miserable, muggy weather in SoCal, and when is relief coming?
Pipeline repair, drought will force some Southern California cities to ban outdoor watering for two weeks
“Residents and businesses in some Southern California cities could be forced to let their lawns go brown in September, as emergency pipeline repairs cut off water supplies from the vital Colorado River for two weeks. With a record-setting drought limiting other options, Burbank sent notice Tuesday that no sprinklers or other automated irrigation will be allowed at homes or businesses from Sept. 6-20. The city is encouraging residents to put buckets in their showers and mulch in their flower beds to help keep plants alive during the ban. But water officials say Burbank won’t be the only community to see water supplies tighten next month, and it might not be the only one to ask customers to cut back in such a dramatic fashion. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Pipeline repair, drought will force some Southern California cities to ban outdoor watering for two weeks
Congressman Aguilar visits Fontana to promote bill designed to help fight wildfires and protect water supplies
“Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-31st District) visited Fontana on Aug. 2 to express his support for legislation that he said will help local firefighters as they face the constant threat of wildfires. Aguilar, joined by San Bernardino County Fire Chief Dan Munsey, spoke at a press conference at Fire Station 79 in the northwestern corner of the city. Afterward, they took a tour of the nearby area in Lytle Creek which was impacted by the South Fire, which resulted in evacuations and lost homes last year. … ” Continue reading at the Highland News here: Congressman Aguilar visits Fontana to promote bill designed to help fight wildfires and protect water supplies
California spares coastal power plant owner from fines
“The owner of an aging gas-fired power plant along California’s southern coast won’t be required to pay fines for some water pollution it causes through 2023, state water officials voted Tuesday. The Redondo Beach Generating Station is one of four coastal power plants that were set to close in 2020 but had their operating lives extended to 2023. The state is keeping them open in an effort to avoid power blackouts on hot summer days when there may not be enough renewable energy available as people crank up their air conditioners. The power plant uses ocean water to cool down equipment and spits it back out, a process known as once-through-cooling that pollutes the water supply. … ” Continue reading from the AP via the Stamford Advocate here: California spares coastal power plant owner from fines
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
County contract with engineering firm sets Salton Sea project in motion
“Riverside County supervisors Tuesday approved a $4.12 million contract with an Encinitas-based firm to provide engineering and design services for a project to revitalize a portion of the dying Salton Sea. “We’ve been working on this project for several years now,” Salton Sea Authority Executive Director Patrick O’Dowd told the Board of Supervisors. “It’s a big day for the community of North Shore and a big day for Riverside County.” The two-year agreement with Dudek Consulting formally marks initiation of the Salton Sea North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project, conceived four years ago. … ” Read more from My News LA here: County contract with engineering firm sets Salton Sea project in motion
SAN DIEGO
Pipeline collapse sends sewage across US-Mexico border
“A major Tijuana pipeline collapse is causing a lot of sewage-tainted water to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The cross-border flow began Sunday night, and is expected to continue flowing across the border at a rate of more than 30 million gallons a day. An estimated 49.9 million gallons have already entered the United States. … ” Read more from KPBS here: Pipeline collapse sends sewage across US-Mexico border
Along the Colorado River …
Lakes Powell, Mead face ‘collapse’ if states can’t work together to fight drought
“It appears that, after months of concerning historic milestones, some of the U.S. West’s most iconic waterbodies are on the verge of permanent damage caused by the ongoing drought. “Without significant, permanent cuts to water use in the Colorado River basin, both Lake Powell and Lake Mead may be headed for collapse,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported. “That demand can’t continue to outpace supply without further draining Lake Powell and Lake Mead — which are both filled to 27% of capacity, down from 95% full in 2000 — is a fairly obvious point. It also is clear that the current drought planning measures won’t cut it alone.” … ” Read more from Water Online here: Lakes Powell, Mead face ‘collapse’ if states can’t work together to fight drought
In national water news today …
AccuWeather’s 2022 US fall forecast
“It has been a hot summer across the United States with the mercury frequently flirting with the 100-degree mark in countless cities and towns across the country and even some of the longest-duration heat waves in a decade. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for those awaiting the return of hoodie weather, pumpkin-flavored beverages and even snow. AccuWeather’s team of long-range meteorologists, led by veteran forecaster Paul Pastelok, has been cooking up the long-term forecast for this autumn, blending together data from computer models, analyzing weather patterns around the globe and reflecting on past years. After combining the forecasting ingredients, the team has boiled down the seasonal outlook into one word: warm. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: AccuWeather’s 2022 US fall forecast
How the climate deal would help farmers aid the environment
“The climate deal reached last week by Senate Democrats could reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that American farmers produce by expanding programs that help accumulate carbon in soil, fund climate-focused research and lower the abundant methane emissions that come from cows. The bill includes more than $20 billion to improve the agriculture sector’s impact on the environment, mostly by expanding existing U.S. Department of Agriculture programs that help farmers change to better practices. Farmers would be paid to improve the health of their soil, withstand extreme weather and protect their land if the bill is enacted. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: How the climate deal would help farmers aid the environment
Tonga eruption blasted enough water to fill 58,000 Olympic pools into the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA says
“One of the most powerful volcanic eruptions on the planet blasted such a massive amount of water vapor high into the atmosphere that it’s likely to temporarily warm the Earth’s surface, according to detections from a NASA satellite. When the undersea Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on January 15, 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Tonga’s capital, it created a tsunami as well as a sonic boom that rippled around the world — twice. The eruption sent a tall plume of water vapor into the stratosphere, which is located between 8 and 33 miles (12 and 53 kilometers) above the Earth’s surface. It was enough water to fill 58,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, according to detections from a NASA satellite. … ” Read more from CNN here: Tonga eruption blasted enough water to fill 58,000 Olympic pools into the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA says
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Proposed Transfer – El Dorado Irrigation District
