On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Draft biological goals for the Lower San Joaquin River from 1pm to 5pm. State Water Board staff will hold a technical workshop on the revised draft initial biological goals to receive input and recommendations on possible revisions and improvements from members, or potential members, of the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Working Group and the public.Click here for the meeting notice.
- SONOMA COUNTY TOWN HALL at 4pm: Hosted by Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the town hall will feature a panel of experts reporting on emergency planning underway to respond to the drought, the potential for water rights curtailments along the Russian River, and an innovative program in Windsor that is distributing free treated wastewater to residents and businesses. Register in advance to view the town hall live on Zoom and to pose written questions to panelists during the briefing. Questions may also be submitted in advance to publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org. The briefing will be streamed live on the County of Sonoma Facebook page. Live translation in Spanish can be viewed on the County of Sonoma YouTube channel.
- EVENT: Watershed Walk at Lafayette Reservoir with Obi Kaufmann from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. This event will be a social and educational walk around East Bay Municipal Utility District’s Lafayette Reservoir, with author of The California Field Atlas Obi Kaufmann and EBMUD ranger/naturalist Han Barret-Liu. Participants will walk the paved 2.7 mile loop around the reservoir, with guides Kaufmann and Barret-Liu sharing stories and highlighting interesting aspects of the reservoir and surrounding watershed. Participants will learn about the Lafayette Reservoir watershed, including history of the reservoir, common plants and wildlife, and how this reservoir and watershed are representative of our greater water system. The walk will conclude with a networking happy hour to convene with other folks interested in water conservation. Registered participants will receive a parking pass for the reservoir. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
The future of desalination
“It was the end of a fight that lasted for almost a decade. On 12 May 2022, the California Coastal Commission, which has a legal mandate to protect the coastline of the US state, voted to deny the building permit for a large seawater-desalination plant that was proposed to be erected near Huntington Beach. … The arguments being made in the debate in California mirror similar concerns about desalination around the globe. Global warming and the increasing frequency of droughts in regions that once enjoyed mild climates have led experts to make an alarming prognosis: by as early as 2030, there will be a 40 per cent deficit between demand for, and supply of, drinking water worldwide. Most of these experts say that desalination is the only currently available technology capable of countering such a crisis, but it undoubtedly comes with downsides. Apart from concerns for the environment and marine life, there are issues with regard to cost and efficiency – but there is hope on the horizon. … ” Read more from Geographical here: The future of desalination
Critically low water levels at Lake Shasta, California’s largest reservoir
“KTVU is continuing its week-long series of stories about the drought with a look at the dire situation at California’s largest reservoir. Lake Shasta provides water not only to agriculture in the Central Valley, but also to several regional Bay Area water systems. Lake Shasta is located 10 miles from Redding, in Shasta County, and about 200 miles north of the Bay Area. “This year, we are 124 feet down, which is a significant loss of a lot of storage,” said Don Bader, the northern California area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees Shasta Dam and manages the water flowing from the lake. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Critically low water levels at Lake Shasta, California’s largest reservoir
Fire and rain: As McKinney blaze rages, floods hit Northern California
“In the Klamath National Forest in Northern California, where the McKinney Fire has killed four people, residents have been confronted by a raging inferno and flooding rain. On Tuesday night, slow-moving severe thunderstorms unleashed downpours near the McKinney Fire, which has consumed more than 57,000 acres and is California’s largest fire of 2022. The heavy rains helped slow the growth of the blaze but triggered flooding and mudslides in parts of the burned area. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Fire and rain: As McKinney blaze rages, floods hit Northern California
Crews remove boat from Sacramento River after fire
“Crews removed a boat from the Sacramento River on Wednesday after it caught on fire earlier this summer. The Sacramento Fire Department responded to the boat fire west of Sand Cove Park on June 21. In addition, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Responses also got to the scene when there was a concern oil might spill into the waterway.” Watch video below or click here to read at KCRA.
Burned-out boat pulled from Sacramento River. What about the other 50 in the Delta?
“The shell of the “All American,” an 85-foot boat that went up in flames in June, floated in an industrial area of the Sacramento River for the last six weeks with no one to claim it. On Wednesday morning, the ship finally left the river. A barge loaded with construction equipment moored beside the boat and began dismantling it, ripping off pieces of wood to be transported to a waste facility. Sacramento County leaders hope that extraction marks just the beginning of their new push to clear the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of dozens of abandoned boats cluttering up waterways. They say they can’t do it alone, and are asking state lawmakers pass a bill that would set aside $25 million to seed the cleanup work. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Burned-out boat pulled from Sacramento River. What about the other 50 in the Delta?
Going with the flow: How aquifer recharge reduces flood risk
“On a small scale, aquifers — subsurface natural basins — have been recharged with flood waters from extreme storms for decades. Now, a new Department of Water Resources (DWR) assessment shows how Flood Managed Aquifer Recharge, or Flood-MAR, can help reduce flood risk and boost groundwater supplies across large areas of land. A climate change problem solver, Flood-MAR collects high flow flood waters from heavy precipitation or snow melt and conveys it downstream. There, the flood waters are spread across the land, creating wetland habitat or irrigating fields while also percolating to aquifers underground. The capturing of flood waters during times of peak flows lessens the risk of major flooding during heavy storms. Some of the collected water is also later redirected back to waterways to support ecosystems and riverine habitat. … ” Read more from DWR News here: Going with the flow: How aquifer recharge reduces flood risk
California water agencies cope with diminishing water supply
“California in particular is facing a deepening water crisis, with over 93 percent of the state experiencing extreme drought. 2022 is the state’s driest year on record for the past 128 years, while 58 counties in the state are currently under a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster designation. Recognizing that the challenge demands a new approach, state regulators are shifting their focus from conservation to efficiency, enacting new efficiency standards in 2018 for both indoor and outdoor water use. To meet them, utilities are using software that combines water use, aerial mapping and remote sensing data to pinpoint and target outreach to their most inefficient users. The goal: achieving bigger reductions in water use with less effort and expense, while helping water utilities improve service area efficiency and gain deeper insights into district trends. … ” Read more from Water World here: California water agencies cope with diminishing water supply
California’s water sector navigates drought and other challenges
“California’s water systems, currently facing their third year of drought, have been the subject of many recent headlines. The threats faced by these utilities are real, but also underscore the strength of the sector—specifically the key legal provisions, essential nature of the services provided, and forward-looking capital planning that will allow California water utilities to weather the drought. The water-and-sewer sector, in which California is one of the largest participants, makes up about 8.5% of the entire municipal bond market, and with an average rating between AA+ and AA, is of high-credit quality. ... ” Read more from Lord Abbott here: California’s water sector navigates drought and other challenges
California deploys “water police” to impose water-wasting fines amid drought
“Much of the U.S. West Coast has been suffering from an ongoing drought — especially the state of California. For several summers in a row, the Golden State has gone into a “drought emergency,” due to lack of precipitation, relentless wildfires, and unbearable heatwaves. So to combat the shortage for summer 2022, cities across California are deploying water police, to crack down on those disobeying water restrictions. In June, for example, Manteca City Council declared a drought emergency, and began cracking down on residences and businesses that were guilty of wasting water on grass. … ” Read more from Green Matters here: California deploys “water police” to impose water-wasting fines amid drought
Group releases plan to improve health of SF Bay, Delta
“A report that addresses sea level rise – including plans to protect Highway 37 – water quality and habitat protection this week was released by the the San Francisco Estuary Partnership. The 2022 San Francisco Estuary Blueprint maps out how the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will be managed over the next five years. “The Estuary faces immense challenges, but we have remedies in the blueprint and a serendipitous confluence of funding that can begin to implement solutions,” Caitlin Sweeney, director of the partnership, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Group releases plan to improve health of SF Bay, Delta
Legacy farmers get their induction into state history
“For 174 years, pears have grown near Steamboat Slough along the Sacramento River—and six generations have tended to them. “Farming is a long-term proposition,” said Sacramento County farmer Tim Neuharth, who represents the fifth of those six generations. “You’re not in it for a year or two.” Some families in California have been in it for well more than a year or two—try a century, or nearly two of them. Seven of those legacy family farms and ranches and two county Farm Bureaus have been honored for their historic service to agriculture. ... ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Legacy farmers get their induction into state history
California emissions regulators don’t monitor methane leaks from idle wells
“California claims to know how much climate-warming gas is going into the air from within its borders. It’s the law: California limits climate pollution and each year the limits get stricter. The state has also been a major oil and gas producer for more than a century, and authorities are well aware some 35,000 old, inactive oil and gas wells perforate the landscape. Yet officials with the agency responsible for regulating greenhouse gas emissions say they don’t include methane that leaks from these idle wells in their inventory of the state’s emissions. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California emissions regulators don’t monitor methane leaks from idle wells
In commentary today …
Environmental Impact Report on Delta afflicted with tunnel vision
Columnist Michael Fitzgerald writes, “Like Godzilla attacking Tokyo, the Delta tunnel periodically revives and menaces the Delta and Stockton with destruction. Now, the monster is back, renamed the “Delta Conveyance.” Where is the Science Patrol when you need them? Not in the draft Environmental Impact Report released Wednesday by the Department of Water Resources. The 3,000 page document is chock full of scientific data showing the tunnel will be bad for the Delta – and perversely concludes everything will be just fine. “DWR does good research and good reports,” said Barbara Barrigan Parilla of Restore the Delta. “Then they write conclusions that do not match the data. It’s almost as if some political expert comes in and writes the conclusions.” … ” Read more from Stocktonia here: Environmental Impact Report on Delta afflicted with tunnel vision
Congressional passage of inflation reduction act is critical to tackling the West’s water crisis
“This week the U.S. Senate is poised to vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, which addresses climate change, health care and inflation. If passed, the bill would invest $369 billion in climate solutions and put the U.S. on a path to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. … Chris Kuzdas, co-lead of the Water for Arizona coalition and Senior Manager, Climate Resilient Water Systems at Environmental Defense Fund, issued the following statement about the critical need to pass the legislation: “The Southwest is grappling with the worst megadrought in 1,200 years and staring down the possibility of a major water supply collapse on the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the EDF here: Congressional passage of inflation reduction act is critical to tackling the West’s water crisis
Will the Supreme Court gut the Clean Water Act?
Dan Farber, Berkeley Law, writes, “What wetlands and waterbodies does the Clean Water Act protect? Congress failed to provide a clear answer when it passed the statute, and the issue has been a bone of contention ever since. The Biden Administration is in the process of issuing a new regulation on the subject. Normally, you’d expect the Supreme Court to wait to jump in until then. Instead, the Court reached out to grab Sackett v. EPA, where landowners take a really extreme position on the subject. Not a good sign. … The landowners in Sackett take a position that would restrict federal jurisdiction even more than Scalia or Trump. In their brief, they argue for a two-step test ... ” Read more from Legal Planet here: Will the Supreme Court gut the Clean Water Act?
Many farmers, ranchers struggling to hold on through drought
Vincent “Zippy” Duvall, the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, writes, “Mother Nature can be a tough business partner. Storms can come in an instant, undoing months—or even years—of hard work and planning. But it’s not just the sudden, sweeping natural disasters that are devastating. Sometimes Mother Nature is slow and unforgiving. This is something our friends out West know all too well as they face another year of intense drought—a drought that is dragging on and edging eastward. Nearly 70% of the U.S. is facing abnormally dry conditions, or worse, according to the latest reports. For some areas, folks are praying for summer rain, while others will do their best to hold on in hopes of more snowfall this winter. But a heartbreaking number are facing tough decisions already, from selling off herds to plowing under withered crops. … ” Read more from the Farm Bureau here: Many farmers, ranchers struggling to hold on through drought
Today’s featured article …
WEBINAR SUMMARY: Environmental governance in the Delta
In the spring of 2022, the Delta Science Program hosted a series of lunchtime webinars focused on governance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The first webinar, held in March, featured speakers from the federal, state, and local levels who discussed environmental governance in the Delta.
A goal of the series is to raise awareness and understanding of governance as a topic of social scientific inquiry, so each webinar will focus on a different social science framework that can be used to understand Delta governance. The framework for this webinar’s panel is environmental governance, which broadly refers to the processes, structures, and institutions within which decision-making and action for the Delta environment occur.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Yurok Tribe warns of toxic blue green algae in Klamath River
“As of Aug. 3, the Yurok Tribe Environmental Department has advised visitors of the Klamath River to be aware of toxic blue-green algae in the water. The algae was detected after getting back samples of the Microsytin toxin from the Environmental Protection Agency. The samples were found to be above the caution thresholds. The algae was spotted along the river from Weitchpec to the Klamath Glen. Microsytin can cause liver damage in humans while being lethal to pets who drink or swim in the water. ... ” Read more from KRCR here: Yurok Tribe warns of toxic blue green algae in Klamath River
Salmon, steelhead conservation groups plan to sue PG&E, allege ESA violations
“As Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) moves toward decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, a coalition of environmental groups is readying materials to sue the power company over operations the groups say harm the Eel River’s salmon and trout populations and violate the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Potter Valley Project is a hydroelectric power plant — more than a century old — designed to generate power and divert water flows from the Eel River to the Russian River. The plant utilizes two dams: Cape Horn Dam at the Van Arsdale Reservoir and Scott Dam at Lake Pillsbury. The future of these dams remains murky and controversial, as government agencies, nonprofits, tribal nations, agricultural stakeholders, and other California citizens all have a vested interest in water rights and land stewardship in the two watersheds. For example, some Lake County residents oppose removing Scott Dam because of Lake Pillsbury’s community significance and value as a reservoir. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon here: Salmon, steelhead conservation groups plan to sue PG&E, allege ESA violations
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Senators want Tahoe advisory committee restored, concerned about retaining leadership at Forest Service
“Senators from California and Nevada have sent a letter urging the Biden Administration to re-establish the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee and to address senior leadership staffing issues within the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), who will be hosting the 26th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Sand Harbor, led senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in writing a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, asking for the LTFAC to be re-established after it expired in 2017 and to work with the Forest Service on trying to maintain leadership at LTBMU which has had three supervisors in the past two years including the current supervisor Erick Walker who started near the end of 2021, Bill Jackson who lasted a year (December 2020 to December 2021) and Jeff Marsolais who left for the Eldorado National Forest in June 2020 after five years. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Senators want Tahoe advisory committee restored, concerned about retaining leadership at Forest Service
Town of Truckee closes the funding gap for Donner Lake monitoring project
“Clean Up The Lake’s mission to fight against plastic and all forms of pollution has caught the attention of local businesses and foundations; Martis Fund, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, Truckee Tahoe Lumber Company, and the Parasol Community Foundation who have become major partners on the Donner Lake Monitoring Project. The Town of Truckee has just joined this group as the final partner for this year’s efforts led by Clean Up The Lake on Donner Lake. Support from these specific partnerships, among others, has now completely closed out the total funding required for the 2022 Donner Lake Monitoring Project. ... ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Town of Truckee closes the funding gap for Donner Lake monitoring project
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
North Yuba Water District seeks water transfer sales
“North Yuba Water District and its general manager sent a request to another regional water agency to help facilitate the transfer of as much as 15,000 acre-feet of water following a previous denial of water to its irrigation customers for the year. In emails obtained by the Appeal, Jeff Maupin, general manager of North Yuba Water District, sent a transfer proposal dated July 15 to South Feather Water & Power Agency General Manager Rath Moseley. According to the letter sent by Maupin, North Yuba was informing Moseley and South Feather of the district’s intent to “transfer up to 15,000 acre-feet (AF) of water currently stored in South Feather Water & Power Agency’s (SFWPA) Little Grass Valley Reservoir and Sly Creek Reservoir under Permit 11518.” ... ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: North Yuba Water District seeks water transfer sales | Read via Yahoo News
Yolo County Farm Bureau wins lawsuit against Woodland Flood Risk Management Project
“The Yolo County Farm Bureau won its lawsuit filed against Woodland last year arguing that the city’s flood risk management project violated Measure S – a voter initiative that passed in 2004 in response to an attempt by the city to build a flood barrier that would increase flooding in northern Woodland. “The city is disappointed in and does not agree with the court’s ruling concerning the Woodland Flood Risk Management Project,” a city press release stated. “The city went to significant lengths in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Water Resources, the California Central Valley Flood Protection Board and a broad group of community stakeholders to design a project consistent with the restrictions contained in Measure S while providing much-needed flood protection to the region.” … ” Read more from the Woodland Daily Democrat here: Yolo County Farm Bureau wins lawsuit against Woodland Flood Risk Management Project
NAPA/SONOMA
Virtual town hall on drought to update emergency response plans, impacts of water curtailments
“State, county and local officials will present an update on the drought and its impacts on Sonoma County during a virtual town hall meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 4, 2022, the fourth in the county’s series of monthly public forums on the drought. Hosted by Supervisor James Gore, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the town hall will feature a panel of experts reporting on emergency planning underway to respond to the drought, the potential for water rights curtailments along the Russian River, and an innovative program in Windsor that is distributing free treated wastewater to residents and businesses. ... ” Read more from the County of Sonoma here: Virtual town hall on drought to update emergency response plans, impacts of water curtailments
BAY AREA
Bay Area leads state in latest water conservation numbers
“The latest statewide water conservation numbers are improving, having more than doubled from May to June, and the Bay Area is leading the way. In June, statewide water consumption dropped by 7.6% compared to June 2020, whereas in May, Californians reduced water use by just 3.1%, according to a report from the State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday. “The second round of the drought emergency regulations took effect at the end of May and the numbers seem to indicate we’re seeing some positive impacts from that,” said Marielle Pinheiro, a data specialist with the Water Board’s Office of Research, Planning and Performance. ... ” Read more from KQED here: Bay Area leads state in latest water conservation numbers
CENTRAL COAST
New drought realities will shift how the county prioritizes Salinas River steelhead trout.
“The Salinas River’s steelhead trout population was healthy enough in the 1950s that not enough hell was raised to stop the construction of the Nacimiento Dam, which effectively cut off steelhead trout from over 100 miles of habitat. When the National Marine Fisheries Service signed off on a dam reservoir release program proposed by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency in 2007 to help feed the Salinas Valley Water Project – critical to health of agriculture downstream – the possibility of extended droughts was known, but not yet a default mode of life in Monterey County. The federal government’s signature protected the MCWRA from Endangered Species Act violations as long as they stuck to the approved plan. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: New drought realities will shift how the county prioritizes Salinas River steelhead trout.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
How a Madera farmer fought a new groundwater fee — and (sort of) won
“A proposed fee system to manage irrigated land in Madera County has sparked a successful protest, leaving one groundwater agency unfunded and at least one farmer claiming the process was done with minimal notice. Officials with Madera County added fees to irrigated acreage commonly referred to as white areas — having no surface water access and not belonging to an irrigation district. Three newly formed groundwater sustainable agencies — Chowchilla Subbasin, the Madera Subbasin and the Delta Mendota Subbasin — are left with no funding for four ongoing groundwater projects required under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. It’s the County of Madera that oversees the land, said Stephanie Anagnason, director of water and natural resources for Madera County. ... ” Read more from The Business Journal here: How a Madera farmer fought a new groundwater fee — and (sort of) won
Alternatives sought for farm fallowing amid dust worries
“As local groundwater sustainability agencies bring groundwater basins into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, several hundred thousand acres of irrigated farmland in the San Joaquin Valley are anticipated to come out of production. Farmers, researchers, government officials and water managers are looking at ways to ease the transition to fallowed ground and mitigate concerns such as dust. “We’re now looking at options for managing this farmland transition in ways that can be most beneficial for the region’s communities, economy and environment,” said Ellen Hanak, director for the Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center, during a presentation last week on the nonprofit’s research. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Alternatives sought for farm fallowing amid dust worries
Three Rivers residents cautioned against toxic water usage
“As the heat of summer continues to roast the Valley, Three Rivers continues to see the formation of Algal Blooms throughout the waterways. Residents are now cautioned against using water straight out the Kaweah River for daily use. Due to observations of potentially toxigenic algae in the river, Tulare County Public Health is recommending that residents with drinking water intakes that draw water directly from the river not use their tap water for drinking, cooking, showering or brushing teeth until more information is available. There is not an easy fix to make the water less toxic. Boiling or adding chemicals in the water does not eliminate the toxins. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Three Rivers residents cautioned against toxic water usage
SJV water managers know the pain of slow state response to failing water systems
“Water managers in the San Joaquin Valley who regularly work with residents of poor, rural communities facing water insecurity are applauding last month’s sharply critical audit of the state Water Resources Control Board. The California State Auditor’s report found a serious lack of urgency on the part of the water board, which is tasked with assisting failing drinking water systems. That lack of urgency, combined with byzantine regulations has led to hundreds of thousands of Californians living without access to clean, abundant water, according to the audit. The audit was right on, said local water folks. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: SJV water managers know the pain of slow state response to failing water systems
Effort to bring South Fork Kern River water to valley farmland buffeted by lawsuits, called a “joke”
“Drought cut short a pilot program to bring South Fork Kern River water through Lake Isabella and down 60 miles to farmland northwest of Bakersfield. Now, a raft of lawsuits could upend the environmental impact report in support of the project, which has been a goal of the Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District since it bought the old Onyx Ranch in 2013. The project was doomed from the start, said one board member of the water district that led the lawsuit charge. “It’s a joke,” said John Vidovich, a board member of the Buena Vista Water Storage District, one of five entities that hold rights on the river. “They bought an abandoned farm and took river water to irrigated it and now they think they have a riparian right and can take that water all the way to Rosedale? That’s a very long reach.” ... ” Read more at SJV Water here: Effort to bring South Fork Kern River water to valley farmland buffeted by lawsuits, called a “joke”
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority spending $6.4M for rights to 750 acre-feet of imported water
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority has signed an agreement to spend $6,396,000 to buy the rights to 750 acre-feet of state water per year to import from southwestern Kings County. A nonbinding letter of intent signed Tuesday and obtained by the Daily Independent lays out the terms between the IWVGA and an entity called Utica LJL, LLC to purchase water assets. Utica LJL is in the early stages of developing a site along Interstate 5 about four miles south of Kettleman City to build gas stations, restaurants, motels, an industrial park, and farmland. ... ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Ridgecrest: IWVGA spending $6.4M for rights to 750 acre-feet of imported water
Indian Wells Valley Water District talks money
“The Indian Wells Valley Water District board of directors holds two workshops per year to discuss their big picture plans. Their most recent workshop took place on July 27, and much of the discussion revolved around money matters: water rates, staff salary, and fees for the groundwater sustainability agency. The meeting opened with a report on the 10-year financial plan, presented by Mark Hildebrand of Hildebrand Consulting. As part of the financial plan, Hildebrand noted that there is a proposed schedule of water rate increases over the next five years. The proposed rate increases are ten percent for the next three years, then eight percent for the two years after that. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Indian Wells Valley Water District talks money
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Department of Water Resources denies request for additional water for wildfires
“The historic drought emergency continues with a reminder of limited water supplies statewide and difficult tradeoffs at play. On July 1, 2022, MWD requested an additional allocation of human health and safety water for wildfire prevention in areas designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones – including all LVMWD’s service area. Unfortunately, the request was denied by DWR in a joint letter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to MWD on July 29, 2022. “We’re frustrated by the decision but understand the state’s challenge to balance the needs of more than 27 million people receiving water from the State Water Project, along with the real possibility of another dry year,” said David Pedersen, general manager of LVMWD. “LVMWD is pivoting towards alternate strategies to help our communities be better prepared for the threat of wildfire. We are also actively investigating other options to supplement our limited supply.” ... ” Read more from Las Virgenes Municipal Water District here: Department of Water Resources denies request for additional water for wildfires
Santa Clarita Valley Water board takes no action on empty seat
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency board of directors decided to take no action on Tuesday to fill one of its presently empty seats, leaving the election this fall to decide who fills the vacancy. In a meeting held on Tuesday, the board, following a handful of motions and lengthy discussion on the topic, opted to allow the vacant seat formerly held by Jerry Gladbach in Division 2 — a district that includes most of Saugus, as well as northeastern portions of Valencia and northern portions of Canyon Country — to remain empty. … ” Continue reading at The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water board takes no action on empty seat
Burbank to ban outdoor watering in September; other cities may follow
“Outdoor watering will be banned next month in Burbank. The city sent notices to residents Tuesday announcing the upcoming restrictions on sprinklers and automated irrigation because of emergency repairs to the upper feeder pipeline that supplies water to the region from the Colorado River Aqueduct. The ban is expected to be in effect Sept. 6-20. “Burbank is 100% dependent on imported water from the State Water Project and the Colorado River Aqueduct. Drought conditions have severely impacted the supply of water available through the State Water Project,” city officials said on the city’s website. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Burbank to ban outdoor watering in September; other cities may follow
History of DDT ocean dumping off L.A. coast even worse than expected, EPA finds
“After an exhaustive historical investigation into the barrels of DDT waste reportedly dumped decades ago near Catalina Island, federal regulators concluded that the toxic pollution in the deep ocean could be far worse — and far more sweeping — than what scientists anticipated. In internal memos made public recently, officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that acid waste from the nation’s largest manufacturer of DDT — a pesticide so powerful it poisoned birds and fish — had not been contained in hundreds of thousands of sealed barrels. Most of the waste, according to newly unearthed information, had been poured directly into the ocean from massive tank barges. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: History of DDT ocean dumping off L.A. coast even worse than expected, EPA finds
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coral Mountain developer aims to sway La Quinta opponents with lighting changes, shorter buildings and more
“The developer of the proposed surf resort at La Quinta’s Coral Mountain has made a slate of changes to the plans aimed at appeasing some of the concerns raised by city council members and some residents. The changes include reducing the size of the of the main wave basin from nearly 19 acres to just over 12 acres, a roughly one-third decrease in the size of the water body; reducing the height of the lighting poles around the wave basin from 80 feet to 40 feet … ” Continue reading at the Desert Sun here: Coral Mountain developer aims to sway La Quinta opponents with lighting changes, shorter buildings and more
Let’s seize lithium opportunities and bring jobs and economic benefits to Imperial Valley
Luis Olmedo, the executive director of Comite Civico del Valle and leader of the Lithium Valley Community Coalition, writes, “California has an opportunity to turn an environmental disaster into a catalyst for environmental justice, green jobs and economic development. Imperial Valley has one of the world’s largest deposits of lithium — a key component in batteries for zero-emission cars, trucks and buses as well as cell phones and laptops. We can become a global lithium producer and exporter and support Imperial Valley residents by creating new green jobs as well as clean economic development for the region. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Let’s seize lithium opportunities and bring jobs and economic benefits to Imperial Valley
SAN DIEGO
Inflation, supply-chain snarls force San Diego to pay $80M more for water treatment chemicals
“San Diego gave emergency authorization this week to pay an extra $80 million to chemical suppliers that say they need to sharply raise prices because of pandemic-related supply-chain issues, higher fuel costs and rising costs for raw materials due to inflation. City officials say the chemicals are essential for treating sewage and keeping drinking water clean and healthy. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Inflation, supply-chain snarls force San Diego to pay $80M more for water treatment chemicals
Along the Colorado River …
Drought and old pipes could slow Colorado River to a trickle
“In their pleas to Western states to cut back on water use from the Colorado River Basin, federal officials are keenly focused on keeping Lake Powell’s elevation at 3,490 feet — the minimum needed to keep hydropower humming at Glen Canyon Dam. But if federal efforts can’t stop the reservoir from shrinking to new lows — its elevation is 3,536 feet as of Monday — the lights going out might not even be the worst problem. If it dips 60 feet below its current level, the already dwindling Colorado River could trickle down into a fraction of what is expected for states below the dam, a new analysis by conservation groups found. “Much has been written about minimum hydropower generation level,” explained Zach Frankel, the executive director of the Utah Rivers Council. “But, really, 3,430 is the level at which the Upper Basin will not meet the 7.5-million-acre-foot water obligation of the Law of the River, and that is a big deal.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Drought and old pipes could slow Colorado River to a trickle
SEE ALSO:
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- Environmental groups call on feds to fix Glen Canyon Dam’s plumbing, from KUER
- Report: Modify Glen Canyon Dam soon or risk losing the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, from the Arizona Republic
A mud-caked “terra incognita” emerges in Glen Canyon as Lake Powell declines to historic low
“On a scorching July afternoon, Mike DeHoff steered his small metal motorboat down what one could argue is the weirdest stretch of the Colorado River in all of its 1,450 miles: the delta of Lake Powell. DeHoff’s boat floated on roiling water supercharged with sediment, the same color as an iced latte. Craggy, gnarled mud formations rose up from the river channel. Rapids made of mud, which change their contours by the hour, tossed the boat from side to side. “I mean, look at this,” DeHoff said. “It’s like boating through what you think Mordor would look like.” … ” Read more from KUNC here: A mud-caked “terra incognita” emerges in Glen Canyon as Lake Powell declines to historic low
More August rain may ease drought conditions temporarily
“More rain is on the way, enough to ease ongoing drought conditions. That’s especially true for Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and much of Colorado. Arizona state climatologist Erinanne Saffell said the rain gives a boost to plants and helps reduce the risk of wildfire, but won’t make much of a dent in the decades-long water supply-demand imbalance along the Colorado River. … ” Read more from Utah Public Radio here: More August rain may ease drought conditions temporarily. ... ” Read more from Utah Public Radio here: More August rain may ease drought conditions temporarily
Colorado asks anglers to catch and keep as many fish as possible before two reservoirs dry up
“Late last month, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department announced emergency public fish salvages for two reservoirs located on the state’s eastern plains. Fisheries managers expect Jumbo and Queens Reservoirs to dry up completely in the near future, and they are hoping the public can harvest as many fish as possible before that happens. These announcements come as CPW has implemented both voluntary and mandatory fishing closures on trout streams throughout the state. The idea of closing some fisheries while declaring open season on others might seem contradictory, but these actions are merely different responses to the same problem. Many waterbodies in Colorado are either running dry or warming up (or both) this summer, and the state is doing whatever it can to protect its precious aquatic resources while still providing opportunities for anglers. … ” Read more from Outdoor Life here: Colorado asks anglers to catch and keep as many fish as possible before two reservoirs dry up
As wells run dry, Hualapai tribe urges Senate to pass proposed Colorado River water plan
“The newly proposed Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022 would allow water rights to the Colorado, Verde and Bill Williams rivers and would fund infrastructure to deliver about 4,000 acre-feet of water annually to the tribe. Hualapai Chairman Damon Clarke told a Senate committee Wednesday that access to Colorado River water is the only solution for the tribe’s failing wells as the drought continues. The Hualapai have had to pump aquifer water and haul it along a gravel road to Grand Canyon West where they operate the Skywalk tourist attraction, a glass-bottomed walkway that extends over the edge of the Grand Canyon. According to the Navajo-Hopi Observer, water scarcity has affected the tribe’s ability to offer tourist services. ... ” Read more from KNAU here: As wells run dry, Hualapai tribe urges Senate to pass proposed Colorado River water plan
Commentary: The coming crisis along the Colorado River
a reporter for The Nevada Independent, writes, “It’s past time to get real about the Southwest’s hardest-working river. About 40 million people rely on the Colorado River as it flows from Wyoming to Mexico. But overuse and climate change have contributed to its reservoirs drying up at such a rapid rate that the probability of disastrous disruptions to the deliveries of water and hydroelectric power across the Southwest have become increasingly likely. Now the seven states that depend on the river must negotiate major cuts in water use by mid-August or have them imposed by the federal government. Those cuts are merely the beginning as the region struggles to adapt to an increasingly arid West. The rules for operating the river’s shrinking reservoirs expire in 2026, and those seven states must forge a new agreement on water use for farmers, businesses and cities. What’s worse, all of this is happening in a region that is one of the fastest growing in the United States, even as the signs of an impending crisis become more pronounced. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Commentary: The coming crisis along the Colorado River
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
UPDATE: August 2 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
