A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
Note to readers: Sign up for weekly email service and you will receive notification of this post on Friday mornings. Readers on daily email service can add weekly email service by updating their subscription preferences. Click here to sign up!
This week’s featured articles …
STATE WATER BOARD: California making steady progress on recycled water use
At the August 2 meeting of the State Water Board, Rebecca Greenwood, Engineering Geologist with the Recycled and Desalination unit of the Division of Water Quality, reported on the data submitted by wastewater and recycled water facilities for 2021.
Click here to read this article.
In California water news this week …
Felicia Marcus Q&A: Harnessing the power of nature to address water and climate challenges
“This has been a summer of extremes. As America wilts under unprecedented waves of heat, parts of the country have been inundated with flooding rains that climate scientists say should only happen on average once every 500 years. Meanwhile, reservoir levels across the West have bottomed out amidst a withering drought, imperiling water supplies from Denver to Los Angeles and threatening to dry up millions of acres of agricultural land in between. Recent passage of funding for climate measures suggests that the federal government is ready to join states in addressing climate change. For years, policies in many states have incentivized electric vehicles, energy efficiency, and decarbonization. Below, Stanford’s Felicia Marcus discusses how states are also turning to nature in their efforts to combat climate change. … ” Read more from Stanford here: Q&A: Harnessing the power of nature to address water and climate challenges
SEE ALSO: State Climate Policy and Nature-based Solutions: A Match that Provides Multiple Benefits for Climate, Water, and More, from Stanford University
California Congressional Republicans pitch Newsom on Shasta Dam expansion
“California’s Republican congressional delegation, led by House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, has opened up a new front in the state’s ongoing water wars, urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to support the expansion of the Shasta Dam. “Raising Shasta Dam would improve water supply reliability for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental uses, improve Sacramento River temperatures and water quality below the dam for salmon survival, increase the generation of hydroelectric power, and reduce the risk of flood damage,” the letter reads in part. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Alert here: California Congressional Republicans pitch Newsom on Shasta Dam expansion | Read via MSN News
Pipe dreams: Why far-fetched western water projects won’t go away
“The California water wars of the early twentieth century are summed up in a famous line from the 1974 film Chinatown: “Either you bring the water to L.A., or you bring L.A. to the water.” Nearly a hundred years have elapsed since the events the film dramatizes, but much of the West still approaches water the same way. If you don’t have enough of it, go find more. As politicians across the West confront the consequences of the climate-fueled Millennium Drought, many of them are heeding the words of Chinatown and trying to bring in outside water through massive capital projects. There are at least half a dozen major water pipeline projects under consideration throughout the region, ranging from ambitious to outlandish. ... ” Read more from Grist here: Pipe dreams: Why far-fetched western water projects won’t go away
Column: Newsom’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta plan makes more sense. But it’s still a ‘water grab’
Columnist George Skelton writes, “The third attempt could be the charm for repairing California’s main waterworks, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. On paper at least, the latest plan by a governor to upgrade the delta into a more reliable state water supply seems to make much more sense than what his predecessors promoted. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s single-tunnel proposal is smaller and more respectful of the bucolic estuary’s small farms, waterfowl habitat, unique recreational boating and historic tiny communities. So, it’s potentially less controversial. But it still can legitimately be labeled a Los Angeles and corporate agriculture “water grab.” It justifiably scares little delta towns and local farmers who rely on fresh river flows to turn back salty water from San Francisco Bay. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Column: Newsom’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta plan makes more sense. But it’s still a ‘water grab’ | Read via Yahoo News
Experts warn California of a disaster ‘larger than any in world history.’ It’s not an earthquake.
“Megadrought may be the main weather concern across the West right now amid the constant threat of wildfires and earthquakes. But a new study warns another crisis is looming in California: “Megafloods.” Climate change is increasing the risk of floods that could submerge cities and displace millions of people across the state, according to a study released Friday. It says that an extreme monthlong storm could bring feet of rain – in some places, more than 100 inches – to hundreds of miles of California. Similarly unrelenting storms have happened in the past, before the region became home to tens of millions of people. Now, each degree of global warming is dramatically increasing the odds and size of the next megaflood, the study says. ... ” Read more from Yahoo News here: Experts warn California of a disaster ‘larger than any in world history.’ It’s not an earthquake.
California is at risk of a mega-flood. Are Central Valley communities prepared for it?
“It starts to rain, and it doesn’t stop. Day after day after day. The rivers keep rising. Mud, ash and burned logs from recent wildfires clog the rapidly-rising channels. Levees overtop or burst. Dams strain or buckle. Neighborhoods are submerged. Flood waters wash over freeways. Entire California cities are cut off from each other. By the time the waters recede, dozens are dead and the damage is in the billions. It might be hard to wrap your head around a doomsday flooding scenario as California struggles through one of the worst droughts ever recorded. But a growing number of scientists say climate change — the same catastrophe that’s drying up the West — is also increasing the risk of nightmarish flooding across much of the state. Among the most vulnerable: Sacramento, Modesto, Stockton, Fresno and other cities of the Central Valley, the flood plain stretching from Red Bluff to Bakersfield. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: California is at risk of a mega-flood. Are Central Valley communities prepared for it?
Better atmospheric river forecasts are giving emergency planners more time to prepare for flooding
Marty Ralph, research meteorologist and founding director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, writes, “ARs are essentially rivers of water vapor in the sky that are pushed along by strong, low-altitude winds, sometimes at hurricane speeds. The meteorological community formally defined them only in the early 2010s, after improved satellite imaging and science revealed how these storms can form far out over the remote ocean. They can grow to 2,000 miles long, 500 miles wide and two miles deep by the time they strike the western coasts of continents. An average AR brings far greater rainfall than a typical rain or thunderstorm in those parts of the world, transporting enough vapor to equal 25 times the flow rate of the Mississippi River where it pours into the Gulf of Mexico. These storms can produce disastrous flooding, including the biggest floods that some areas may see in a century. They can occur in families—a series of storms, as if rolling in on a treadmill. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Better atmospheric river forecasts are giving emergency planners more time to prepare for flooding
Drought-stricken farmers in California’s Central Valley promised billions in water projects
“Led by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, federal and state leaders on Wednesday pledged “once in a generation” investments in water projects to help farmers in California’s central San Joaquin Valley through a crippling drought. “The worsening drought crisis across the west is not just bad for business and farms. It’s an existential threat to our communities and to our livelihoods,” Haaland said during a visit to a Madera-based Specialty Crop Company almond orchard. Haaland was joined by Camille Calimlim Touton, commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Congressman Jim Costa, a Democrat from Fresno, Wade Crowfoot, California’s Secretary of Natural Resources Agency, Karen Ross, California’s Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and local farmers. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Drought-stricken farmers in California’s Central Valley promised billions in water projects
Is SGMA compatible with farmland preservation?
“As implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) gets underway, questions are emerging about what it will mean for lands protected under the Williamson Act, California’s chief farmland preservation policy. For nearly 60 years, the Williamson Act has helped protect 16 million acres—roughly half of the state’s crop- and rangelands—from development. But as SGMA’s limitations on groundwater extraction go into effect—and as warmer, more intense droughts begin to push land out of irrigation–the context within which the program operates is shifting. In July, we gathered a group of agriculture, solar, and county stakeholders to explore the interplay between the Williamson Act and SGMA in the San Joaquin Valley. Here is what we learned. … ” Continue reading at the PPIC here: Is SGMA compatible with farmland preservation?
Could virtual networks solve drinking water woes for California’s isolated, disadvantaged communities?
“A pilot program in the Salinas Valley run remotely out of Los Angeles is offering a test case for how California could provide clean drinking water for isolated rural communities plagued by contaminated groundwater that lack the financial means or expertise to connect to a larger water system. The high-tech system developed by the University of California, Los Angeles removes common contaminants from groundwater, allowing residents of a cluster of Salinas Valley disadvantaged communities to finally turn on their taps without fear. UCLA’s smart systems are smaller and cheaper to implement than traditional water treatment plants and can be operated via smartphone or tablet by an expert located hundreds of miles away. … ” Read more from Western Water here: Could virtual networks solve drinking water woes for California’s isolated, disadvantaged communities?
21,000 fish die in ‘catastrophic failure’ at California research center
“About 21,000 fish at an aquatic research center at the University of California, Davis, died from chlorine exposure in what the university described as a “catastrophic failure” that had shocked researchers and would significantly delay their studies. The university said in a statement that it would investigate “where our process failed” and initiate an independent external review. “We share the grief of the faculty, staff and students who worked to care for, study and conserve these animals,” U.C. Davis said. … ” Continue reading from the New York Times here: 21,000 fish die in ‘catastrophic failure’ at California research center
These plastic balls are fixing an unexpected problem for California
“If you’ve ever seen a video about reservoirs in California or happened to visit one yourself, you might have caught a glimpse of a layer of black balls floating on the surface. These balls are known as shade balls. They were dumped in two separate reservoirs in California by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LAWPD) first in 2008, and then a couple of years after that in 2015. The balls were made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and were semi-filled with water to prevent the wind from blowing them away (via UPenn). … ” Read more from Slash Gear here: These plastic balls are fixing an unexpected problem for California
Delta striper population to be helped by proposed regulation change
“Striped bass fishing has been surprisingly productive all summer in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Savvy anglers willing to endure the wind have been catching good numbers of stripers while trolling on both the Sacramento and San Joaquin River sides of the Delta. For example, Clyde Wands of Sacramento reported top-notch action while fishing with Mike Steer and Mark Wilson on the Delta on Thursday, Aug. 11. “We caught a total of 29 keepers to 8 pounds,” he reported. … ” Read more from The Record here: Delta striper population to be helped by proposed regulation change
Feds order Arizona and Nevada to cut water use as Colorado River levels drop to historic lows
“As the historic drought in the U.S. West continues to push reservoir levels down to new lows, the federal government on Tuesday ordered Arizona and Nevada to cut the amount of water they draw from the Colorado River. The West is currently experiencing its driest 23-year period on record. Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border stands at 26% capacity. Lake Mead, a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Nevada-Arizona border, stands at 27% capacity. Those levels are expected to drop even further by the end of the year. “The prolonged drought afflicting the West is one of the most significant challenges facing our communities and our country,” said Tommy Beaudreau, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, during an online press conference Tuesday. “The critically low reservoir conditions in the Colorado River Basin are driven primarily by climate change, including extreme heat and low precipitation.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Feds order Arizona and Nevada to cut water use as Colorado River levels drop to historic lows
Dan Walters: California dodges Colorado River water cutbacks
“One cannot overstate the importance of Colorado River water in the evolution of Southern California from a collection of small cities and villages into a megaregion of 20-plus million people — more than the population of all but three states. In the early years of the 20th century, Los Angeles imported water from the eastern slope of the Sierra to fuel its growth, but the semi-arid region still needed more and in the 1920s looked to the Colorado River, California’s eastern border with Arizona, which at the time was only lightly tapped. Imperial Valley farmers had been drawing water from the Colorado for several decades but most of the river’s water, originating in runoff from the Rocky Mountains hundreds of miles away, ran freely into what was then called the Gulf of California. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: California dodges Colorado River water cutbacks
In commentary this week …
Gov. Newsom’s wise move on water policy
The Southern California News Group editorial board writes, “Gubernatorial administrations since Arnold Schwarzenegger have prioritized the battle against climate change. We’ve taken issue with the costs and effectiveness of many of those policies, but our biggest beef has centered on the issue of resilience. California can do little to change the entire Earth’s climate, but it can enable the state to adapt and become resilient in the face of warming conditions. That concept is particularly crucial when it comes to the availability of water, which is the lifeblood of our society — especially given our generally arid conditions. Since its origins, California has experienced a succession of droughts and flood years. Previous generations built an amazing array of water infrastructure that helped California grow and prosper despite such unpredictable conditions — mainly through the dams and canals found in the state-run State Water Project and federally managed Central Valley Project. … ” Read more from the Daily Breeze here: Gov. Newsom’s wise move on water policy
Western drought isn’t going anywhere. It’s time to rethink water use.
Mark Schlosberg with Food & Water Watch writes, “You wouldn’t know it by the water use in much of the Western U.S., but the region is mired in its worst drought in over 1200 years. Driven by the climate crisis, more than half of the West is in exceptional, extreme or severe drought. Only 17% of the West is experiencing normal conditions. This is bad news for our water supplies. Reservoir levels in California and across the West have sunk to historic lows. For instance, the Colorado River system provides water for 40 million people. Its two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are just 26 and 27% full, respectively. … It’s time for our elected leaders to take a hard look at the biggest water abusers and drivers of climate change. It’s time to take on big agribusiness and the fossil fuel industry. ... ” Read more from Food & Water Watch here: Western drought isn’t going anywhere. It’s time to rethink water use.
California water board’s actions and words show its utter disdain for Valley agriculture
Assemblymember Adam Gray writes, “I want to thank the now-former climate and conservation manager at the State Water Resources Control Board who last month quit his job, then widely distributed an email telling many of his co-workers what he truly thinks of them. He gave us the clearest proof yet that the water board is exactly what I and many others have accused it of being — loaded with activist staff who routinely undermine their own board members by presenting selective, misleading, or just inaccurate information and calling it fact. In the process of quitting, this ideological zealot outed his efforts to work as a taxpayer-funded environmental lobbyist, pushing an agenda intent on destroying most of the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural economy. ... ” Continue reading at the Fresno Bee here: California water board’s actions and words show its utter disdain for Valley agriculture
Sites Reservoir: As California’s drought worsens, this project could help — if only it stops being delayed
Gary Evans, a Colusa County Supervisor, writes, “California is experiencing its third consecutive year of drought with no end in sight. The effects on water supply, particularly for farming operations, are immense. Initial projections estimate 800,000 acres of California farmland will be fallowed this year, including about 370,000 acres in the Sacramento Valley, threatening critical food supplies and local economies. State officials’ attempts to mitigate the damage have been ineffective. Calls on the public to reduce water usage by 15% have fallen far short, and curtailments on landowners with water rights in the Sacramento and San Joaquin watersheds are creating significant challenges for farmers. These measures are only short-term solutions to a long-term problem that seems to be getting worse with each passing year. With the frequency and extremes of such weather events expected to continue, developing new large-scale water storage like the Sites Reservoir project in the Sacramento Valley is crucial to improving water resiliency in California. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: As California’s drought worsens, this project could help — if only it stops being delayed
Investing in water projects benefits all Californians
Assemblymember Robert Rivas writes, “We need to be honest with ourselves: Extreme heat and drought are not going to disappear any time soon. And while I believe we should be doing everything possible to slow and reverse climate change, I also believe the state needs to better implement resiliency measures to ensure our residents, agriculture and economy overall continue to thrive. One of the most important areas to enhance our resiliency efforts is water. Water is life. It powers the human body, our agriculture and production industries. Without it, there would be no life on Earth. As demand for fresh water for drinking, agriculture and other sectors of society increases our water supply becomes ever more strained. Extreme heat and drought only worsen this problem. ... ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Investing in water projects benefits all Californians
California — where extreme drought and ‘megaflood’ potential collide
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “California’s water future is dire indeed — there’s not only the likelihood of too little, but also the possibility of way too much. The potential for broad, devastating effects of climate change have become familiar over the years. In recent times, the prospect of actually running out of water has gone from the abstract to a realistic scenario in some regions of California and the Southwest. Add to that a new report of increased probability that vast portions of the Golden State may be inundated, if not washed away, by floods of biblical proportions. Even in a land of natural extremes such as California, it’s hard to get your head around this. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: California — where extreme drought and ‘megaflood’ potential collide
Editorial: Proposed Colorado River water ‘cuts’ ignore California
The Las Vegas Review-Journal writes, “Monsoon rains in recent weeks have halted the decline of Lake Mead for now, but that wasn’t enough to stop the Bureau of Reclamation this week from declaring a shortage on the Colorado River for the second straight year. The federal agency, however, continues to treat California with kid gloves. Under a previous agreement, the declaration will trigger reductions in the 2023 allocation limits for some states, including Nevada. But that will have little practical effect on Nevada, which is on track to use less than 240,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water this year, well below its adjusted limit of 275,000. Yet the Bureau’s actions are revealing. The agency originally threatened to impose draconian cuts of up to 4 million acre-feet a year unless the seven river states agreed to voluntary restrictions. Yet when the self-imposed deadline for such a deal passed, the Bureau failed to follow through and issued the more modest order, which hits Arizona the hardest while declaring “no required water savings for California in 2023.” California’s exemption is inexplicable if the goal is to address a system stressed by drought and over-allocation. … ” Read the full editorial at the Las Vegas Review-Journal here: Editorial: Proposed water ‘cuts’ ignore California
OC no match for much of state, especially the Bay Area, in conserving water
Columnist Teri Sforza writes, “Hey folks! It’s time once again for our new drought-inspired game, “Name O.C.’s Biggest Water Users!” This monthly extravaganza is brought to you by the State Water Resource Control Board and the governor who implores us to slice our consumption by 15%. We stink at that, by the way. No region in California has managed to hit that target yet. … Overall, O.C. agencies used less water in June than they did in the same month two years ago. Consumption was down (a not completely awful but certainly not stellar) 3.7% on average. That’s going in the right direction at least: In May, we saved just 2.4% over the same month two years earlier. We may be shamed by the statewide results. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: OC no match for much of state, especially the Bay Area, in conserving water | Read via MSN News
Delta Conveyance Project: Time to start moving dirt and stop throwing mud
Brett Barbre, former member of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Municipal Water District of Orange County, and the Yorba Linda Water District, writes, “The window may be closing on the Delta Conveyance Project as California slowly slides back to the stone age, while blaming everyone and everything except the organizations and individuals who have perfected the policy of paralysis by analysis. … Roughly 30 percent of those water supplies are utilized in the Central Valley to grow food, and nearly 70 percent is consumed for residential, municipal, and industrial uses in the Silicon Valley and southern California.That’s why the Delta Conveyance Project, which would build a tunnel below the Delta to bring fresh water to the pumps in the southern portion of the estuary, must be built. It’s long overdue. … ” Read the full commentary at the Epoch Times here (free registration may be required): Delta Conveyance Project: Time to start moving dirt and stop throwing mud
It’s raining fish: Animal oddities might have a message for California’s humans
“A month ago, I took a walk through the edge of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. I was off the main road, on a dirt and gravel trail. So it was strange to look ahead and see that fish were blocking my path. Yes, at least a dozen small, silvery fish — most of them completely intact, looking as if they had been recently alive — were scattered along the trail and in nearby bushes. I immediately assumed the worst, thinking this must be a sign of some human-caused catastrophe (a symptom of climate change, perhaps). But I was wrong. … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee here: It’s raining fish: Animal oddities might have a message for California’s humans
In regional water news this week …
State leaders discuss Lake Tahoe’s future amid worsening climate conditions
“U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, and U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Roseville, made an appearance in Nevada on Tuesday to join this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit — an annual discussion among state, federal and environmental leaders on how to better the Lake Tahoe Basin. Hosted by U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, this year’s conference revolved around the prompt “Protecting Lake Tahoe’s Future” — noting both the accomplishments made over the years, and how to move forward as climate change continues to bring about new or intensified challenges to the community. Many leaders mentioned water quality, forest management and wildfires as talking points. “Lake Tahoe has incredible cultural significance for so many, and it also plays a key role in our economic success,” Rosen said at the summit. “People come to Nevada and California from all over the country and the world to enjoy Lake Tahoe, to revel in seeing one of the world’s most beautiful and clearest bodies of water.” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: State leaders discuss Lake Tahoe’s future amid worsening climate conditions
Broken & abandoned in Lake Tahoe: Removing wrecked boats complicated issue
“Sunset on Lake Tahoe is breathtaking. … My eyes look west and the beauty is tainted by a partially submerged, ramshackle sailboat. The water is low and I walk out to inspect it. Shattered windows, rusted metal and broken glass are only a few dangers I can spot. Kite surfer and Tahoe Vista resident Ryan Kelly has tried to figure out what do to after the sailboat was abandoned in Kings Beach off North Tahoe Beach more than 2 years ago. Kelly called the U.S. Coast Guard, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Placer County Marine Patrol, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the California Division of Boating and Waterways. Each agency told him to contact another agency. Without resolution, after numerous calls, Kelly is frustrated. … ” Read more from Tahoe Weekly here: Broken & abandoned in Lake Tahoe: Removing wrecked boats complicated issue
Marin County: Rewilding of former golf course to benefit endangered salmon, other species
“Golf courses are highly managed landscapes, requiring constant human intervention to maintain them in the form desired by their users. But what would it take to convert a golf course into a more natural state, one that is resilient to climate change, benefits protected aquatic species, and meets the needs of the human community of which it is a part? A former golf course in Northern California’s Marin County is undergoing just such a conversion, and the process is expected to result in the restoration of critical habitat for imperiled fish species while also providing a key link between multiple existing preservation areas. Intensive hydrologic work will underpin these efforts. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Rewilding of former golf course to benefit endangered salmon, other species
Harmful algae bloom spreading across San Francisco Bay, turning water brown
“Looking out across the San Francisco Bay, you might notice it’s looking a little murky. Experts say the reason is a potentially harmful algae bloom that’s spreading in waters throughout the Bay Area. It’s called Heterosigma akashiwo and it’s what’s currently causing the water in the bay to look so dirty and brown. “About three weeks ago, the last week of July, we started getting reports of a very unusual brown discoloration of the water,” Ian Wren, a scientist with San Francisco Baykeeper, told ABC7 News. “Soon thereafter we learned the Department of Public Health had taken samples around Jack London Square and they identified the species that’s causing this bloom.” … ” Read more from KGO here: Harmful algae bloom spreading across San Francisco Bay, turning water brown
Coastal fog has kept the Bay Area cool. What happens now that ‘Fogust’ is fading?
“This week’s heat wave could have been much worse for San Francisco, but it was spared due to a familiar phenomenon: fog. The Bay Area’s coastal fog machine is so intense during much of the summer, that residents often refer to the month of August as “Fogust.” San Francisco’s famously chilly summers are actually due to sharp temperature differences that trigger rapid condensation along the coast — aka fog. The Bay Area can see temperatures up to 30 degrees lower than the nearby Sacramento Valley. This gradient fuels San Francisco’s summer fog production. Hot air from the Sacramento Valley is pushed away from the coast and rises into the atmosphere, leaving a gap. Cold air from the Pacific then rushes in to fill that void, driving the natural AC felt in the Bay Area. The sun heats up this leftover air, and the cycle repeats. But the weather is about to change. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Coastal fog has kept the Bay Area cool. What happens now that ‘Fogust’ is fading?
Study: Climate change makes Stockton “megaflood” certain
“A paradigm-smashing scientific study warns that Stockton is Ground Zero for “the most expensive geophysical disaster in global history to date,” a so-called “megaflood.” For this news to come out during a drought causes intellectual whiplash, but there it is. Climate change has rendered our flood-risk models, our dams and levees, woefully inadequate. “It’s scary,” said Dan Wright, a Stockton City Council member who chairs the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency. The sort of Old School floods that submerged pioneer Stockton — 8 feet of water, homes totaled, businesses ruined, bodies floating down Main Street — are no longer a question of if but when. ... ” Read more from Stocktonia here: Study: Climate change makes Stockton “megaflood” certain
Metropolitan commits to greater water reliability, supply equity for all member agencies
“With extreme drought placing unprecedented stress on the region’s water delivery system and supply availability that prompted shortages for 6 million Southern Californians this year, Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors is committing to providing its entire six-county service area with reliable and equitable access to available water and storage across the region. The board on Tuesday (Aug. 16) adopted an important resolution recognizing the impacts the historic drought and water system limitations have had on the region. The resolution outlines remedies to address the situation by building infrastructure, increasing local supplies, expanding partnerships, advancing water-use efficiency and planning for the escalating impacts of climate change. … ” Read more from Metropolitan Water District via Business Wire here: Metropolitan commits to greater water reliability, supply equity for all member agencies
Pasadena’s water conservation efforts result in city using same amount of water as in 1950’s – but with 35% more residents
“Pasadenans used less water in June and July compared to the same months in each of the last five years, according to Pasadena Water and Power. But the eight percent drop is less than the 15 percent goal, city officials said, prompting City Manager Cynthia Kurtz to ask the City Council to move up the winter one-day-per-week outdoor irrigation schedule by one month, to September 1. “Since implementing the Level 2 Water Shortage Plan in August 2021, Pasadena has seen a system-wide reduction in water usage of about eight percent,” Kellee O’Rourke, Customer Relations Program Manager at PWP, said. … ” Read more from Pasadena Now here: Pasadena’s water conservation efforts result in city using same amount of water as in 1950’s – but with 35% more residents
Will Lake Mead’s plummeting water levels leave San Diego high and dry?
“San Diegans get more than half their water from the Colorado River. So why haven’t local leaders rung alarm bells as Lake Mead has shrunk to record-low levels? … Amid the fervor, the wholesaler San Diego County Water Authority has stayed calm, repeatedly claiming the region has no shortage of water. “I would get nervous when we hit dead pool status at Lake Mead,” said Jim Madaffer, who represents the water authority on California’s Colorado River Board. “That’s a long way from happening.” But avoiding that catastrophic situation requires reaching a palatable deal, and not everyone is as optimistic. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Will Lake Mead’s plummeting water levels leave San Diego high and dry?
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
UPDATE: August 16 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
UPDATE on the Delta watershed emergency regulation
NOTICE OF PREPARATION and Scoping Meetings for the Yolo Basin Cache Slough Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Certification of consistency filed for the South Mokelumne River Setback Levee Project
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: DRAFT 2022 Guidelines/Proposal Solicitation Package (GL/PSP) for the Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program
