On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Obi Kaufmann: Understanding water through art, science, and ecology from 9am to 10:30am. Renowned author, naturalist and artist, Obi Kaufmann will share his insights on how to synthesize scientific information with an artistic perspective in an effort to better understand the many stressors currently impacting the California landscape and watershed. Mr. Kauffman will explore the interconnection of water, fire, biology, and even justice as part of this presentation. Obi Kaufmann’s publications including “The State of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource” can be found online here: californiafieldatlas.com. Click here to register.
- CEQA SCOPING MEETING: Proposed Regulation to Implement the Bay-Delta Plan from 10am to 5pm. The meeting will consist of a presentation regarding the development of the proposed regulation, and an opportunity for meeting participants to provide oral comments regarding the scope and information to be included in the draft environmental impact report (EIR). Participants wishing to comment at the scoping meeting may attend the meeting in person at the Joe Serna Jr. CalEPA Headquarters Building or may comment remotely via Zoom. Instructions to participate remotely via Zoom are included in the Notice.
- WEBINAR: Communicating on Water Conservation: Influencing consumer behavior from 11am to 12:30pm. We need more people to do more to protect the planet and our limited resources. Yet, we regularly struggle with how to communicate our initiatives and calls-to-action in a way that truly resonates with our audiences and customers. This webinar presentation will review motivation strategies that can shift public behavior and explore the public outreach campaigns of two California water utilities that encourage customers to conserve water during our ongoing drought. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Meet the man trying to save this ‘stupid little fish’ and see why he thinks it’s important
“The fragile little fish that swim around in dark tanks in a lab are the last hope for their kind. The lab director who oversees their care, Tien-Chieh Hung, explained that when the Delta smelt captives are young, scientists at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory put snails in the black interiors of the tanks as a slow-moving mollusk cleaning crew. The snails must do the work because the fish are so delicate, they could get tangled in a human cleaner’s arm hair and perish. The whole project of painstakingly raising these temperamental endangered creatures, Hung said, may be futile — the smelt could just keep surviving in the lab because of human intervention, and vanishing in the wild because of human intervention. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Meet the man trying to save this ‘stupid little fish’ and see why he thinks it’s important
Urban water suppliers report water savings progress statewide
“Following Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order and a State Water Board emergency regulation, members of the California Urban Water Agencies, or CUWA, including the San Diego County Water Authority continue to advance water-saving efforts, yielding measurable results. These efforts come on the back of the driest first quarter in California’s history, which prompted the Governor to call for local water conservation steps rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. As severe drought conditions persist, state and local agencies are working together to support the Governor’s call to action and lower water use across all sectors through a variety of measures. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Urban water suppliers report water savings progress statewide
The American West is running out of water. Will California desalinate?
After a lengthy introduction about the drought on the Colorado River, this: “Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico are landlocked states at the mercy of the Colorado River’s fate. California, on the other hand, is the nation’s most populated state with one of the longest coastlines. Despite supplies drying up, California water officials vetoed plans for a $1.4 billion desalination project in May, which would have offered L.A. residents 50 million gallons of potable water by next year from the Pacific. The state Coastal Commission, citing a risk to marine habitat and “environmental justice,” unanimously rejected the proposal for a plant in Huntington Beach after a two-decade effort to meet the requests of public officials. Commissioners argued the energy-intensive process of desalination presented too much of a coastal hazard while raising local water prices. Energy expert and environmental author Michael Shellenberger told The Federalist, however, that habitat concerns are overblown by interest groups such as the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council masquerading as crusaders for the climate. … ” Read more from The Federalist here: The American West is running out of water. Will California desalinate?
Republicans send letter expressing ‘grave concerns’ over reconsideration of water policy
“On Monday, Republican members of Congress continued their fight when it comes to the biological opinions that help determine water deliveries from the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project, sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland expressing their “grave concerns” over the process to reconsider those biological opinions. The California Republican Congressional delegation said the reconsultation process of 2019 biological opinions developed by the Trump administration will decrease the amount of water delivered to the San Joaquin Valley. In February, 2020, then-U.S. Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt and President Trump came to Bakersfield to sign a Presidential Memorandum for the 2019 biological opinions that would lead to more water being diverted to the Central Valley. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Republicans send letter expressing ‘grave concerns’ over reconsideration of water policy
Central Valley subsidence could last longer than expected
“California’s Central Valley could not have become one of the world’s most productive areas of farmland without its significant groundwater supplies. Until the development of the major state and federal water projects that began delivering surface water to the area in the second half of the 20th century, the Central Valley relied almost exclusively on groundwater. … Heavy pumping of groundwater has led to significant land subsidence throughout the valley, causing major damage in some areas to canals, aqueducts, and other infrastructure. Efforts to limit subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley have sought mainly to stabilize existing groundwater levels, on the assumption that preventing further declines in area aquifers would keep subsidence in check. However, recently published research has found that past groundwater withdrawals are likely to continue to cause continued subsidence well into the future, unless hydraulic head is allowed to recover in the affected aquifers. ... ” Continue reading at the Civil Engineering Source here: Central Valley subsidence could last longer than expected
Karen Ross on water management restructuring
“California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross joined us in Sacramento at the Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Issues Summit West to talk all things agriculture. Ross says, water supply reliability in California starts with a state-wide infrastructure update. That includes updating modeling and forecasting, storm water capture, and water recycling. “What took us by surprise last year is that our modeling is based on historic data, and that’s great except that we don’t have the same kinds of circumstances that we’ve had. So one, how do we do better forecasting? That’s going to be part of an infrastructure change. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Karen Ross on water management restructuring
Crops fallowed, herds reduced as drought deepens
“California farmers and ranchers affected by a third consecutive year of drought and related emergency curtailments of water deliveries have planted fewer acres, fallowed fields or reduced livestock herds to make it through the season. Siskiyou County rancher Ryan Walker, president of the county’s Farm Bureau, said farmers affected by emergency water curtailments—readopted in July by the State Water Resources Control Board—face water shortages and high hay prices, which impact ranchers’ ability to maintain livestock herds. “For the cow guys…with the combination of drought that is preventing people from growing pasture and the very high hay prices and high cull-cow prices, there’s just been a flood of good brood cows going to market,” Walker said. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Crops fallowed, herds reduced as drought deepens
DWR launches new web-based mapping tool showing nearly 3,000 groundwater sustainability projects
“A new web-based tool developed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will allow the public to explore thousands of groundwater projects across California to get a better understanding of one of the state’s most critical water supply resources. The virtual mapping tool is part of the State’s ongoing commitment to develop new, innovative solutions to provide information and resources to address the effects of California’s changing climate and ongoing severe drought. The California Groundwater Projects Tool is an interactive mapping tool that allows users to explore a database of nearly 3,000 projects initiated in California over the last decade to protect groundwater resources. … ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR launches new web-based mapping tool showing nearly 3,000 groundwater sustainability projects
Heavy rains close major California tourist attractions, including Death Valley and part of Joshua Tree National Park
“Scattered thunderstorms continued to hammer parts of southeastern California and southern Nevada on Tuesday, causing more flooding and shutting down more roadways in a region that has seen several days of severe storm activity amid the summer monsoon season. “A lot of rain is what’s going on,” said Daniel Berc, a forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office. The rain and flooding has already impacted many of the region’s most popular national parks, including Death Valley and Joshua Tree, as well as tourist attractions like the Palm Springs Tramway. On Tuesday, storms temporarily closed a portion of the main artery between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Heavy rains close major California tourist attractions, including Death Valley and part of Joshua Tree National Park
California’s cliffs are crumbling into the sea. This map shows the spots where they’re eroding the fastest
“Coastal cliffs in California’s far northern counties are eroding faster than those elsewhere in the state, according to a new study that used high-resolution data to pinpoint hot spots where cliffs are receding rapidly along the state’s entire coast. In the Bay Area, locations with some of the highest rates of clifftop erosion include Daly City, Pacifica and Bodega Bay, according to the study published this month by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. The highest erosion rates were found near Humboldt Bay and in a few remote locations in Del Norte County. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California’s cliffs are crumbling into the sea. This map shows the spots where they’re eroding the fastest
Rewilding could benefit ecosystem in American west, new study says
““Rewilding” areas of the western U.S. with gray wolf and beaver populations could help in ecological restoration efforts, according to researchers from Oregon State University (OSU). In the paper, “Rewilding the American West” published in BioScience, co-author, William Ripple, along with 19 other authors are suggesting using portions of federal land — like national parks and national forests — in 11 states to establish potential rewilding habitat for the gray wolf and the beaver. There has been a sharp decline in both wolf and beaver populations in the western U.S. due to hunting. Beavers were also once abundant in the West, however, due to human trapping for their fur, beaver populations plummeted by 90 percent, according to a press release. ... ” Read more from Science That Matters here: Rewilding could benefit ecosystem in American west, new study says
Radio show: One Planet: What should be done to restore California’s forests & reduce wildfire risks?
“On this edition of Your Call’s One Planet Series, we discuss forest fires in California. Last year, more than 2.5 million acres burned and 4.3 million acres burned in 2020. Since 2017, more than 10 million acres and thousands of homes have burned in California. Climate change has led to an increase in wildfire season length, wildfire frequency, and burned areas. Climate change and land-use changes are projected to make wildfires more frequent and intense, with a global increase of extreme fires of up to 14 percent by 2030; 30 percent by the end of 2050; and 50 percent by the end of the century, according to a report by the UN Environment Program and GRID-Arendal. What will it take to make California forests more resilient to fires? Guests: Kurtis Alexander, enterprise reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, with a focus on natural resources and the environment, and Chad Hanson, co-founder of the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute, author of Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate, and co-editor of The Ecological Importance of Mixed-Severity Fires: Nature’s Phoenix” Listen at KALW here: Radio show: One Planet: What should be done to restore California’s forests & reduce wildfire risks?
The life of a forest & wildfire resilience project
“Forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction projects are complex, involving many steps and moving parts that determine whether a project will succeed and how long it will take. In the infographic below, we take a look under the hood of forest restoration projects to understand each of the steps necessary to get a project on the ground and through completion. While the complexity of each project varies, most projects move through the same key steps in the planning and the implementation phases. Consistent funding committed to each step supports the development of a robust project pipeline and the workforce needed to get projects done. This is the pathway to achieving California’s forest restoration and wildfire resilience goals. … ” Read more rom the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: The life of a forest & wildfire resilience project
In commentary today …
The LA way: Killing a few fish in SoCal is no-no to secure water but massive fish kills in Delta are OK
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “Fish dying in large numbers. Crop production on farmland plummeting. Fragile ecological systems devastated or destroyed. Dust storms. Drinking water tainted. Get ready for the more destructive version of Los Angeles water grabs: Owens Valley 2.0. But instead of insatiable demand for water projects destroying a lightly populated distant valley on the eastern side of the Sierra, the trademark of Los Angeles’s complete disregard for other water basins will wreck permanent havoc on the Delta as well as Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, Stockton, and other communities in the region. What’s not to like to make sure LA can keep growing and protect its own local environment by not turning to desalination? … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: The LA way: Killing a few fish in SoCal is no-no to secure water but massive fish kills in Delta are OK
Today’s featured article …
RISING VOICES: Dam Removal and the Future of Algal Blooms
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Elwha River transformed 10 years after dam removal
“For about a century, the Elwha River in Northwest Washington was broken up by two dams, to generate power to Port Angeles. The Elwha Dam was removed in 2012 and the Glines Canyon Dam was removed in 2014, creating a transformation in the natural ecosystem. Fish are returning, and vegetation in the region continues to thrive. Chhaya Werner examined vegetation regeneration in the affected areas and documented how plants responded to a free-flowing river. She has visited the region many times over the last decade, observing the changes. Werner will begin teaching at Southern Oregon University in the fall as an assistant professor of ecology. She joins us with details of the region’s transformation. … ” Read transcript or listen to radio show here: Elwha River transformed 10 years after dam removalh
‘Our river is sick’: Yurok Chair Joe James joins tribal leaders at state Capitol to advocate for water rights
“As the state reckons with a fast-changing climate and water cycle, tribal leaders are calling on California to stand with them as they assert their water rights. Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James joined several other tribal leaders from across California at a joint session of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs on Tuesday morning for an informational hearing. James and the other tribal leaders spoke about the water issues their communities are facing, as well as how the government’s long history of marginalizing their concerns has fostered these problems. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: ‘Our river is sick’: Yurok Chair Joe James joins tribal leaders at state Capitol to advocate for water rights
McKinney fire landslide kills scores of fish in Klamath River
“A massive debris flow triggered by flash floods that followed a wildfire in Northern California is believed to have killed scores of fish along a 50-mile stretch of the Klamath River last week. Intense storms sent flood waters coursing through an area recently burned by the McKinney fire, pushing charred soil, rocks and trees into the river near Humbug Creek, said Craig Tucker, natural resources policy consultant for the Karuk Tribe. At least four deaths have been linked to the 60,000-acre fire, which is the largest to burn in California so far this year. The debris flow was reported after up to three inches of rain fell on the east side of the fire Tuesday, Aug. 2, said Mike Lindbery, a public information officer on the fire. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: McKinney fire landslide kills scores of fish in Klamath River
Prairie Creek floodplain restoration enters second phase of construction
“Along the banks of Prairie Creek in Humboldt County, the last wisp of fog gives way to a bright blue sky revealing a busy construction site below ancient redwoods. This summer marks the second year of construction by the Yurok Tribe on a large collaborative project that is transforming a developed and degraded site into the southern gateway to Redwood National and State Parks. In 2022, the Prairie Creek Floodplain Restoration Project began a two year phase to restore 11 acres of riparian habitat, create 800 feet of a new creek channel, and construct a second backwater pond to provide slow water refugia for juvenile salmon and steelhead. Today, the creek is constrained against the asphalt of Highway 101. This work will move the creek allowing it to meander and connect to a restored floodplain with a richness of native plants as the basis for the nutrient-rich food web. ... ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Prairie Creek floodplain restoration enters second phase of construction
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
California Demonstration State Forest System adds 2,500 acres to statewide total for research, restoration and conservation
“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, announced Monday the addition of more than 2,500 acres to its demonstration state forest system. Acquisition of these forested properties increases opportunities for critical research, forest restoration and public recreation. These two new properties, comprised of 2,246 acres along South Cow Creek in Shasta County and 267 acres in the headwaters of the Bear River in Nevada and Placer counties, were acquired as part of the Pacific Watershed Lands Stewardship Council’s commitment to permanently conserve watershed lands for the public good. The lands are being donated from Pacific Gas and Electric and will be managed in partnership with the Shasta Land Trust and Bear Yuba Land Trust who will hold conservation easements on the properties. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: California Demonstration State Forest System adds 2,500 acres to statewide total for research, restoration and conservation
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Glenn Groundwater Authority encouraging water conservation
“The Glenn Groundwater Authority (GGA) is encouraging residents to conserve water at home, work and on the farm to help the local groundwater basin. “We are experiencing a significant drought and we need your help,” read a release issued by the authority. “Eight of the last 10 years have been classified as below normal, dry, or critical based on the Sacramento Valley Water Year Hydrologic Classification. The Northern Sierra Precipitation 8-Station Index states our region is only at 79% of average precipitation this year. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows over 97% of Glenn County is in Extreme Drought.” The GGA is the Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the Glenn County portion of the Colusa Subbasin, which covers the area generally south of Stony Creek, east of the coast ranges, west of the Sacramento River, and north of the Glenn-Colusa County line. … ” Read more from the Glen County Transcript here: Glenn Groundwater Authority encouraging water conservation
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors calls for more study of revised well rules
“The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors put off adopting changes to the county’s well regulations on Tuesday, citing the need for additional analysis and more public outreach. County planning staff presented supervisors with revisions aimed at bringing the county’s well ordinance in line with California’s Public Trust Doctrine, a legal policy mandating local government protect certain waterways for public uses, including commerce, recreation, navigation and habitat. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors calls for more study of revised well rules
Enviros suing county; say mismanagement is draining Russian River basin
“A revised county plan, adding additional reviews, water meters and other restrictions on new water wells in unincorporated Sonoma County…isn’t enough to stave off a looming lawsuit. The suit accuses local officials of hurting protected species by pulling too much water from local watersheds. After the environmental group California Coastkeeper Alliance signaled they would not drop their lawsuit, county staffers moved quickly to revise proposed changes to the county’s well ordinance. While officials are set to debate the provisions Tuesday, the organization has already reached a verdict. Drev Hunt is legal director of the Coastkeeper Alliance. “The county’s proposal to adopt this ordinance is a partial solution, but it doesn’t go far enough.” … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Enviros suing county; say mismanagement is draining Russian River basin
Sonoma County is wrestling with state groundwater well permitting requirements in the face of growing impacts on existing water supplies, public health and the environment
“Today, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors delayed consideration of a draft ordinance to begin addressing state requirements for permitting new groundwater wells. The County is facing a perfect storm of water management challenges related to groundwater pumping during the drought, including existing wells going dry and impacts on flows in the Russian River and its tributaries. Those reduced flows already limit local water supplies from the river. Low flows are also linked to the growth of harmful algae blooms, increasing threats to endangered fish and damage to the local tourism economy. Yet in a continuation of California’s long history of ineffective groundwater management, the county has issued hundreds of new well permits over the past several years. “When it comes to managing water during the drought, Sonoma County faces a perfect storm,” according to Sean Bothwell, executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance. ... “
BAY AREA
Why does Lake Merritt look red? It could be toxic algae
“There are lots of reasons not to go swimming in Lake Merritt, but officials say a toxic algae bloom may be making the water more hazardous. The city of Oakland has advised the public to avoid touching, swimming in, or drinking and fishing from the lake, and to keep young children and pets away. A red-brown discoloration in the water first appeared last week, especially on the southeastern shore of Lake Merritt, around where it connects to the Bay. “The reddish color of the material in the water indicates it could be a Cyanobacteria bloom … which can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals,” the city wrote in an advisory Friday. … ” Read more from Oaklandside here: Why does Lake Merritt look red? It could be toxic algae
Desalination plant construction underway in Antioch as drought worsens
“The city of Antioch sits right next to the largest source of fresh water in Northern California. But it’s facing a water supply crisis because of changes to the Delta, both natural and man-made. As a result, the city is taking extraordinary measures to increase supply in a way that has the rest of the state watching. … But while the state may be praying for rain, Antioch doesn’t see the situation improving anytime soon. So, they’re doing what a lot of other cities have only pondered–they’re building the first surface-water desalination plant in the Bay Area. … ” Read more from CBS News here: Desalination plant construction underway in Antioch as drought worsens
Water-efficient construction plays an important part in conservation
“A reliable supply of safe, clean water is necessary for the social, economic and environmental well-being of Santa Clara County. As the population grows and the effects of climate change are felt, we must adapt to the changing demand for water. Valley Water is planning ahead and has a strategy for meeting the county’s future water needs through its Water Supply Master Plan. While the county’s population saw a significant increase in the last 30 years, the overall demand for water decreased by 8%. This drop in overall water demand is due to investments in water-related technological advancements, conservation programs and behavior changes in water use. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Water-efficient construction plays an important part in conservation
CENTRAL COAST
Cal Am’s long embattled desalination plant proposed in Marina is very much a live wire.
“Christopher Neely here to tell you that California American Water’s long embattled desalination plant proposed in Marina is very much a live wire, and the company is hosting a public engagement meeting tonight at 6pm at CSU Monterey Bay to answer questions and provide updates. The desalination plant is the crux of a larger, $329 million Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project that has been crawling along for the last decade. The proposed desal plant promises to add 6,250 acre-feet of water per year (roughly 6.4 million gallons of water per day) to the Peninsula’s water portfolio. Although there seems to be growing acknowledgement on the Peninsula that, eventually, desalination might become a necessary tool, Cal Am’s project has been loudly criticized by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, which oversees water distribution for the area, for being too expensive and, for now, unnecessary. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Cal Am’s long embattled desalination plant proposed in Marina is very much a live wire.
Another La Nina appears on track for 2022-23, which may continue drought on Central and South Coasts
“Climatologist says situation is complicated by global warming, as well as mistakes made in water management. It’s a sound we haven’t heard very often during the last few month. It’s the sound of rain. One of the nation’s leading climatologists says those sounds could continue to be infrequent, with key indicators showing that we could be in for a third straight year of drought. “This is the third year in a row that La Nina has hung in there,” said Dr. Bill Patzert. “It keeps the jet stream farther north. The southern tier of the United States tends to be drier, and the northern tier tends to be stormier.” … ” Read more from KCLU here: Another La Nina appears on track for 2022-23, which may continue drought on Central and South Coasts
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Lodi vineyards create a brand in farm sustainability
“Growers of vineyards in areas of San Joaquin County near Lodi have spent decades building the Lodi Rules brand by improving environmental and social practices and building relationships with wineries that share their commitment to sustainability. The program is viewed as a business success, as the value of the crop has increased along with the reputation for quality and sustainability. When the Lodi Rules Sustainable Winegrowing Program was created in 1992, San Joaquin County farmers were growing 33,400 acres of winegrapes, according to the county crop report. By 2020, the county’s farmers were producing 91,200 acres of grapes—and their price per ton had more than doubled. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Lodi vineyards create a brand in farm sustainability
Pilot program in Stanislaus County offers technology that turns air into drinking water
“A new technology could be the solution to dealing with contaminated groundwater in Stanislaus County. Nitrates are found in fertilizer or wastewater from treatment plants. These chemicals can seep into well water, making it unsafe to drink. The Central Valley Regional Water Control Board’s job is to protect residents from these chemicals. However, parts of Stanislaus County have not been successful, falling below the standard for drinking water. Valley Water Collaborative provides residents with temporary solutions, offering free well testing. Those with high nitrates are provided with free bottled water. … ” Read more from CBS News here: Pilot program in Stanislaus County offers technology that turns air into drinking water
Lake Success project promises to protect Porterville
“While the drought leaves the majority of the valley floor dry, Lake Success stands to hold 20,000 extra acre feet. The expansion project for Schafer Dam at Lake Success has entered its second phase, just months after completing the first phase that began in 2020. The $135 million project includes building a 10-foot tall ogee weir – a low concrete structure that helps control water flow by widening the dam’s spillway – and adds 20,000 acre feet of water storage. Improvements to the dam are needed to protect communities downstream in the case of a flood. ... ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Lake Success project promises to protect Porterville
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Ventura County considers possible legal action in field lab cleanup
“Ventura County is partnering with Simi Valley, Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles to consider litigation if the long-delayed cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Lab isn’t as stringent as possible. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the partnership last week in closed session. County Counsel Tiffany North announced the action in open session. North said the two counties and the two cities, plus other potential public entities, will engage “in pre-litigation activities” for potential legal action to enforce cleanup of the site to so-called background levels if the responsible parties “adopt a program for cleanup at a lesser level.” … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Ventura County considers possible legal action in field lab cleanup
L.A. residents saving more water but face bigger test as heat intensifies
“In another promising sign that residents are taking calls for conservation to heart, Angelenos in July achieved an 11% reduction in water use — more than any other July on record, officials announced this week. The report from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power comes as drought continues to sap supplies across the region. But while July’s conservation surpassed the record 9% reduction achieved in L.A. in June, officials urged residents to keep going. “It’s clear that our customers have made conservation a way of life and are doing things like taking shorter showers, watering only on designated days of the week and taking advantage of our water conservation rebates to save water and save money,” DWP general manager and chief engineer Martin Adams said in a statement. “But our job is not done. We are now entering one of the hottest months of the summer season and ask that our customers continue to save every drop.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: L.A. residents saving more water but face bigger test as heat intensifies
SEE ALSO:
- Angelenos Continue To Save Water, But More Heat And La Niña Loom, from the LAist
- LA Sets New Monthly Water Conservation Record in July, from the California Globe
San Diego lawyers sue Synagro, Goldman Sachs over noxious Hinkley waste-pit fire
“A team of San Diego law firms has filed suit against Synagro Technologies Inc. and a Wall Street titan whose investing arm owns the green-branded waste handler, marking the first lawsuit to come over a two-month fire in its open-air High Desert waste pit. The Law Offices of Gregory J. Hout and the Schack Law Group submitted a complaint on Aug. 4 to San Bernardino County Superior Court alleging myriad harms and demanding a jury trial against Maryland-based Synagro and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the New York mega-bank in charge of a private equity fund that bought Synagro in late 2020. … ” Read more from the Victorville Daily Press here: San Diego lawyers sue Synagro, Goldman Sachs over noxious Hinkley waste-pit fire
SAN DIEGO
Draft amendment to San Diego Gas & Electric habitat conservation plan available for public review and comment
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is making available for public review and comment a draft Habitat Conservation Plan amendment and associated environmental documents related to San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. In 1995, the Service issued an incidental take permit to SDG&E. The draft plan announced today amends the original 1995 permit to include the entire 2.8 million-acre SDG&E service area in all of San Diego County and portions of Orange and Riverside counties. The draft plan amendment proposes coverage for 41 listed species including Hermes copper butterfly and San Diego thornmint and unlisted sensitive species such as burrowing owl. The draft amendment includes an eagle conservation plan required by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Service’s 2016 Final Rule revising the regulations that govern its eagle take permit program. The eagle conservation plan will provide continued coverage of bald and golden eagles under the plan amendment. ... ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service here: Draft amendment to San Diego Gas & Electric habitat conservation plan available for public review and comment
Along the Colorado River …
Ensenada, last in line for Colorado River water, is facing the worst of the west’s drought
“Drought ravaging the western United States is falling even harder on Mexico, especially in places like Ensenada, which is dead last in line for water from the Colorado River that keeps much of the North American west alive. For Lucero Perez Badillo, that meant going three months without water service. That stretch finally broke when “la pipa,” the Spanish name for a water delivery truck, came to her home one afternoon in early July. She lives with her two children in a part of Ensenada that normally receives water from the Colorado River, shipped to the seaside tourist city by an aqueduct that crosses the U.S.-Mexico border in Mexicali. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Ensenada, last in line for Colorado River water, is facing the worst of the west’s drought
As drought hits farms, investors lay claim to Colorado water
“Michael Jones ducked under an idle sprinkler and strode across the sandy soil where he planned to plant drought-resistant crops, hoping to save water amid the driest period in more than 1,200 years. … After five years of scraping by, Jones and his wife, Sarah, are looking forward to a season shaped by greater demand for their potatoes, rye, canola, peas, and other crops that will allow them to make enough money to meet their needs. Yet this tenuous success may be in peril. A company known as Renewable Water Resources (RWR) aims to drill a series of deep wells on a nearby ranch it owns and pipe the water more than 200 miles north to a Denver suburb, where sprinklers rotate on manicured lawns. … ” Read more from Civil Eats here: As drought hits farms, investors lay claim to Colorado water
‘Lake Powell is the most immediate concern’: Water levels drop to historic lows
“The drying up of Lake Powell is much more apparent for someone who’s at Glen Canyon Dam every day. “It’s tough to see,” Gus Levy with the Bureau of Reclamation said, standing in the visitor’s center. “I’ve been here since 2007 and obviously this is way lower than I’ve ever seen it.” Levy is the acting manager of Glen Canyon Dam and the power plant housed within it. He’s watched the water on the other side drop to levels no one’s ever seen before.The lake’s water is measured in terms of its elevation above sea level. Water levels fluctuate constantly, but in 2022, the water dropped below 3,525 feet above sea level. That was a critical point for the Bureau of Reclamation. It’s a warning that the water could continue to drop and if it does, the dam could shut down. … ” Read more from Channel 12 here: ‘Lake Powell is the most immediate concern’: Water levels drop to historic lows
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: August 9 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
NOTICE: Water loss regulations update
NOTICE: 3rd Update on CWSRF and DWSRF 2022/23 Intended Use Plans
