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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Proposed Regulation Modifying Water Right Ownership Notice Requirements and Reporting Dates beginning at 10am. State Water Board staff will hold a public workshop to present information and solicit public input regarding proposed revisions to California Code of Regulations, title 23, sections 831, 907, 915, 920, 924, 925, 929, and 930. The purpose of the proposed regulations is to provide the public with increased understanding of the obligations to notify the board of changes in ownership of water rights, agency and/or contact information; protect the State’s water resources by ensuring the State Water Board can efficiently and effectively administer the water rights system; ensure compliance with water rights regulations with fair, transparent, and efficient enforcement of State Water Board regulations; and align water right reporting periods and dates. Click here for the workshop notice.
- WEBINAR: Advancing Water Resource Management Through Team Collaboration beginning at 11am. This webinar will discuss a recently released report on water resource collaboration. Advancing Water Resource Management Through Team Collaboration looks at how the agencies improved cooperation between their conservation and operations departments to generate better management of the utilities’ resources. The report covers successful collaboration efforts at three water agencies: East Bay Municipal Utility District, Moulton Niguel Water District in Orange County, and Austin Water in Texas. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Salton Sea Management Plan Community Engagement Committee beginning at 2:30pm. A public event to further inform the community about projects around the Salton Sea and for community members to familiarize themselves with the processes that are part of the Salton Sea Management Program Phase I: 10-Year Plan and the Long-Range Plan. Please click the link to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88016801572 Or join over the phone by dialing 1 (669) 900 6833 Webinar ID: 880 1680 1572
In California water news today …
Using seismology for groundwater management
“As climate change increases the number of extreme weather events, such as megadroughts, groundwater management is key for sustaining water supply. But current groundwater monitoring tools are either costly or insufficient for deeper aquifers, limiting our ability to monitor and practice sustainable management in populated areas. Now, a new paper published in Nature Communications bridges seismology and hydrology with a pilot application that uses seismometers as a cost-effective way to monitor and map groundwater fluctuations. “Our measurements are independent from and complementary to traditional observations,” says Shujuan Mao PhD ’21, lead author on the paper. “It provides a new way to dictate groundwater management and evaluate the impact of human activity on shaping underground hydrologic systems.” … ” Continue reading at MIT News here: Using seismology for groundwater management
Report: Storing water for the environment: Operating reservoirs to improve California’s freshwater ecosystems
“Large reservoirs like those that rim the Central Valley are essential for managing water in California’s highly variable climate. They provide multiple benefits including water supply, hydropower, flood management, and recreation. However, construction and operation of these reservoirs have also imposed significant environmental costs, including native fishes’ loss of access to high-quality habitat above dams and degradation of freshwater ecosystems below them. Moreover, regulatory uncertainty for water users is rising as these ecosystems decline. California needs a new approach for managing environmental water in its large reservoirs, particularly as the climate warms and droughts become more intense. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: Report: Storing water for the environment: Operating reservoirs to improve California’s freshwater ecosystems
SEE ALSO: Policy Brief: Storing Water for the Environment, from the PPIC
Climate change projected to increase atmospheric river flood damages in the United States
“A research team at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has found that flood damages triggered by atmospheric river storms may triple from $1 billion a year to over $3 billion a year by the end of the century unless action is taken to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The damages could be limited to $2 billion a year if intermediate reductions in emissions are achieved, the researchers said. “The threat of a megaflood in the western United States is very real,” says lead author Tom Corringham, a climate economist at Scripps Oceanography’s Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). “As atmospheric rivers become more intense, flood damages are on track to triple by the end of the century, but it’s not too late to limit the risk. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could significantly reduce projected damages.” … ” Read more from Scripps here: Climate change projected to increase atmospheric river flood damages in the United States
California drought: Why more than 530,000 acres of farmlands are now left barren
“The years-long drought and dwindling water supply are estimated to leave more than 531,000 acres of California farmlands unplanted without harvest this year — a 36% increase since August of last year. The new estimates on acres farmed from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reflect the struggles of some California farmers to procure water to irrigate their crops as major government water projects supplying their water remain thirsty as drought continues for a third year. “It’s true that things are not great now,” Aaron Smith, professor of agricultural economics at UC Davis. The crops that are likely most affected by water shortages are water-intensive field crops, such as rice and cotton, which have been declining in the state. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California drought: Why more than 530,000 acres of farmlands are now left barren | Read via MSN News
SEE ALSO: California Drought Causing Significant Increase in Unplanted Farmland, from NBC Bay Area
Drought stays severe to extreme for California growing regions
““Not surprising is a good way to describe this year’s drought.” So says Brad Rubin, Wells Fargo food and agribusiness specialty crops sector manager, of the 2022 drought picture for the state of California. He notes that after a record-setting December 2021 for both rainfall and snowpack, the season did look promising. “However, January and February were some of the driest months on record with little rainfall to follow in the spring,” says Rubin. While there has been some rainfall in parts of California with monsoon activity this summer, that rainfall does very little to recharge the groundwater basins. “All-in-all, drought continues to be severe-to-extreme for much of the California growing regions.” … ” Read more from Fresh Plaza here: Drought stays severe to extreme for California growing regions
In California’s water crisis, neighbors turn in neighbors and even celebrities aren’t spared
“From working-class neighborhoods to the celebrity haunts of Malibu, residents in the Los Angeles area have been getting visits from what is essentially the water police as California remains in a near constant state of drought. Six million Southern California residents are under the toughest water restrictions in the nation. And because of the patchwork of different agencies overseeing different areas, that means different rules for everyone, sometimes even neighbors who live across the street from each other. Leading the charge is Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which includes some of the richest areas of the region, including Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and parts of Malibu. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: In California’s water crisis, neighbors turn in neighbors and even celebrities aren’t spared
SEE ALSO: Calabasas celebrities among the worst water wasters; water officials say they’re ‘working with us’, from KTLA
CA Delta Conveyance Project: Pros and cons impacting agriculture
“California Department of Water Resources released the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The proposed infrastructure plan would divert Sierra Nevada water from the Delta, to Southern California for farmland and residential use. However, this could negatively impact agriculture in the Delta. The project’s environmental program manager, Carrie Buckman, joins us again. “There are adverse impacts to the agriculture community within the Delta. So we would be looking at converting some agriculture land to use as facilities as part of this project. … ” Continue reading or listen at the Ag Info Network here: CA Delta Conveyance Project: Pros and cons impacting agriculture
Water Board’s Decision 1641 adopted in wetter period
Deirdre Des Jardins writes, “This blog post analyzes long term changes in the Sacramento Four River runoff using a 10 year and 30 year running mean. Sacramento River runoff was lower during the Dust Bowl era drought of 1928-34, and the current 30 year mean runoff is close to the mean for the historic record. However, current 10 year mean runoff is significantly lower than the long-term mean. The data also shows that the Water Board’s Decision 1641 was adopted during a wetter period in the historic record. … ” Continue reading at the California Water Research blog here: Water Board’s Decision 1641 adopted in wetter period
Radio show: One Planet: The West’s unprecedented drought leads to Colorado River cuts — experts say this is just the beginning
“On this edition of Your Call’s One Planet Series, we’re discussing the declining water levels in the Colorado River and the federal government’s new mandatory water cuts for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico. The Colorado River provides water for 40 million people. Under Tier two shortage conditions, Arizona’s annual water allocation will be reduced by 21 percentage, Nevada’s by 8 percentage and Mexico’s by 7 percent. The verdict is especially high-stakes for Southern California, where the river provides a quarter or a third of the region’s water supply. Seven Southern California counties rely on the river for water and hydroelectric power, and 600,000 acres of farmland draw on it for irrigation, according to CALMatters.” Guest: Rachel Becker, environment reporter for CalMatters. Listen at KALW here: One Planet: The West’s unprecedented drought leads to Colorado River cuts — experts say this is just the beginning
The world’s 20 most beautiful lakes include a California favorite
“An unending drought has rendered many of the country’s “most beautiful lakes” lists an asterisked affair, at least in California and the Southwest. But Veranda.com’s take on the planet’s most spectacular waterways is a splashy affair, showcasing lakes and lagoons around the world, with nary a whispered D word. The list highlights 20, from France’s stunning, manmade Lac de Sainte-Croix to New Zealand’s Lake Wakatipu, which comes complete with Maori lore. Lake Wakatipu isn’t tidal, but its water levels rise and fall — propelled, legend has it, by the heartbeat of a giant asleep beneath the waves. Lake Tahoe makes the list, but don’t expect to see that lake’s crystal blue hue echoed across its fellow listmates. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: The world’s 20 most beautiful lakes include a California favorite
Yosemite wildfires ignite study on how trees recover
“Sugar pines, the world’s largest pine, grow in Yosemite National Park, in which summer wildfires burned the parched area — and threatened the iconic and giant sequoias in Tuolumne Grove. While trees in this area have evolved to withstand low-intensity but more frequent wildfires — due to hot and dry conditions and California’s worsening drought — the recent fires have been more severe. This summer’s fires in and near Yosemite scorched thousands of acres, forcing evacuations and destroying homes and structures. To find answers on how climate change is impacting trees in the Sierra Nevada, Cal State Fullerton student geographer Daniel Swenson is investigating the influence of wildfires on the growth of sugar pines in Yosemite. … ” Read more from Cal State Fullerton here: Yosemite wildfires ignite study on how trees recover
California’s timber industry is calling on the military to help control fires
“As California confronts peak wildfire season with fewer firefighters than usual, the state’s timber industry is pushing federal and state officials to take the unprecedented step of calling in the National Guard and the U.S. military before fires get out of control. California has sought military assistance in past years when its firefighting crews were overwhelmed. But logging companies say this year the state shouldn’t wait until it needs help. Worsening heat and drought across California have led to dire predictions for this season, which traditionally is at its worst between July and October. At the same time, the U.S. Forest Service, which has long struggled with staffing shortages, has been scrambling to fill positions. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: California’s timber industry is calling on the military to help control fires
In commentary today …
California’s water rights need to be upheld, but must adapt to meet new challenges
State Senator Anna Caballero writes, “The drought conditions in California are putting a severe strain on families and critical workers throughout our state. Many water districts have already imposed restrictions on personal water use, and there are likely mandatory statewide cuts in the near future. As the state senator representing much of the Central Valley, the agricultural capital of California and the United States, I am keenly aware that the ongoing drought and decreased water allocations are causing intense hardship for my constituents. Our agricultural community quite simply needs consistent, reliable water sources to survive. This includes everyone from farm workers facing reduced hours, to the grocers who were already operating on tight margins, to the consumers facing higher prices to feed their families. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: California’s water rights need to be upheld, but must adapt to meet new challenges
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Interview: How the Yurok Tribe is revitalizing traditions through redwood canoes
“During the summer, CapRadio’s Insight host Vicki Gonzalez found herself traveling up Highway 101 through the Lost Coast and up into Del Norte County — the heart of California’s redwood forests. Parts of Del Norte and Humboldt County make up the home of the Yurok tribe — the largest in the state with land that extends up the coastline along the longest wild and scenic river in California, the Klamath River. The tribe is undergoing an economic revival and redevelopment in restoring priceless cultural traditions that are at a risk of being lost. One of the traditions being revitalized is hand-carved canoes made from redwood trees. Gonzalez met with Canoe Captain Julian Markussen, Yurok Cultural Bearer Hop Norris, and Yurok canoe builder David Eric Severns to discuss the tribe’s culture and way of life that goes back centuries. …” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Interview: How the Yurok Tribe is revitalizing traditions through redwood canoes
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Wildfire-safety work completed in South Fork Mokelumne watershed
“One year after the 2015 Butte Fire destroyed nearly 500 residences nearby, CAL FIRE identified the South Fork Mokelumne River watershed as a top priority for fuels reduction in order to protect communities from future wildfires. With the recent completion of the South Fork Mokelumne River Watershed Restoration Project Phase 3, many of those wildfire worries have, fortunately, been doused. Funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) in 2019, Phase 3 removed small-diameter trees and ladder fuels on 285 acres of dense, pine-plantation forests managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), completing the project’s goal of restoring roughly 500 acres of forest. Considering the project area borders many neighborhoods and is surrounded by nearby towns, such as Glencoe, Sandy Gulch, Rail Road Flat, and Wilseyville, this strategic work should greatly reduce the threat of wildfire for thousands of Calaveras County residents. ... ” Read more from the Siera Nevada Conservancy here: Wildfire-safety work completed in South Fork Mokelumne watershed
Vail Resorts announces opening dates for Tahoe ski areas
“Vail Resorts has opening dates targeted for their Lake Tahoe ski areas. Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California plan to open Friday, Nov. 18, with Kirkwood Mountain Resort targeting Friday, Dec. 2. This upcoming winter is the 50th anniversary of operations at Northstar and Kirkwood. Heavenly and Northstar will be debuting upgraded chairlifts. Heavenly is upgrading its North Bowl lift to a high-speed four-person chair – a previously fixed grip three-person lift. This upgrade will increase uphill capacity by more than 40%, reduce the combined ride time of the Boulder and North Bowl lifts, and we expect this to reduce wait times at the Stagecoach and Olympic lifts, as well. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun here: Vail Resorts announces opening dates for Tahoe ski areas
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Drought takes toll on Northstate farmers
“Rays of sunlight radiate across a small rice paddy as the loud rattling of a water pump starts trickling meager amounts of water allocated for the day’s crop. Farmers usually use one of four methods of irrigation to maintain water efficiency: the sprinkler, drip, surface, and sub-irrigation. Rice farmers are more likely to use the surface irrigation method because the water uses gravity to flow over the surface of a field and is the least energy cost out of the four irrigation methods. Deputy Director of Public Works & Water Resources, Justin Jenson, shines some light on what the public could do to conserve water during these extreme drought conditions. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Drought takes toll on Northstate farmers
BAY AREA
EBMUD agrees to pay $816k settlement for toxic discharge into bay
“The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has agreed to pay a $816,000 penalty for discharging 16.5 million gallons of partially treated wastewater into the San Francisco Bay, the water board announced on Monday. The discharge flowed from EBMUD’s Point Isabel Wet Weather Facility to Richmond Inner Harbor in the bay in October of 2021. The wastewater was released during a major rainstorm, according to the SF Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, which approved the settlement. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: EBMUD agrees to pay $816k settlement for toxic discharge into bay
Año Nuevo State Park restoration project to provide more endangered species habitat
“California State Parks announced a restoration project at Año Nuevo State Park that will help expand habitat for species such as the threatened California red-legged frog and the endangered San Francisco garter snake. By restoring the natural hydrology and raising the groundwater table of the site, the Green Oaks Restoration Project will bring back the historic wetland habitat to benefit many species. Located 50 miles south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, Año Nuevo State Park draws visitors from around the world. Every year, up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed, give birth and molt their skin amongst the scenic dunes and beaches. … ” Read more from the San Mateo Daily Journal here: Año Nuevo State Park restoration project to provide more endangered species habitat
Santa Clara County Medical Association endorses Valley Water’s purified water project
“Santa Clara County and all of California are enduring another historical drought. Climate change means hotter and drier weather, leaving us with less water. That’s why it’s important to invest in new technologies to help ensure there’s enough water for us now and into the future. Valley Water is expanding its ability to replenish the county’s groundwater with a drought-resilient, and locally controlled water source through the Purified Water Project. Following a series of presentations and discussions with representatives from Valley Water, the Santa Clara County Medical Association (SCCMA) endorsed the Purified Water Project as a safe and healthy option to add to our water supply. According to the SCCMA Committee on Environmental Health, “based on its extensive regulation and treatment, recycled [purified water] is safe for human consumption.” … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Santa Clara County Medical Association endorses Valley Water’s purified water project
CENTRAL COAST
Report spells out Scotts Valley’s options for wastewater system upgrade
“Last week, Scotts Valley held the unboxing of the $79,873 wastewater study it ordered for itself from Kennedy/Jenks Consultants Inc., during its regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Aug. 17. But unlike a small gadget shipped from Amazon, what the elected officials do with the report’s findings will have a massive impact for years to come—not just on local voters, but on area municipalities, park and golf course users, as well as the surrounding environment. The plant, built in 1964 and upgraded multiple times over the decades, can process 1.5 million gallons of wastewater a day. ... ” Read more from the Press-Banner here: Report spells out Scotts Valley’s options for wastewater system upgrade
California army post still doesn’t have clean drinking water after more than a week
“More than a week after routine maintenance went awry and caused officials to shut off water to an Army post in the mountains of central California, troops and families at Fort Hunter Liggett are still without clean drinking water. In a video update posted on the base’s Facebook page Sunday morning, base officials said that after public works officials “identified many areas of concern,” repairs will necessitate shutting off water for most of the buildings along one of the base’s main streets, Infantry Road, on Tuesday. … ” Read more from Military here: California army post still doesn’t have clean drinking water after more than a week
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
City manager wants California to prepare for a megastorm before it’s too late
“Firebaugh, Calif., sitting right on the San Joaquin River, is a great place to raise a family, says city manager Ben Gallegos. He’s lived in this Central Valley community for most of his life. But now he’s preparing the city for a force of nature potentially more destructive than the fires and drought Californians are used to — a megastorm. They form out at sea as plumes of water vapor thousands of miles long. As they reach land, they dump rain and snow for weeks at a time, causing devastating flooding. Gallegos is in no doubt about what a megastorm would mean for Firebaugh. “A lot of water. Flooding for many days. [A] potential hazard to really wiping out the city,” he told NPR’s Leila Fadel. … ” Read more from KQED here: City manager wants California to prepare for a megastorm before it’s too late
‘I could hardly believe it’ | Pilot program captures water from air near Keyes
“When Martha Lorenzo was told she could get clean drinking water simply by installing some panels and extracting moisture from the air, she was in disbelief. “I could hardly believe it because I had never heard of such a thing. It was like, what are you going to do? How does it work?” said Lorenzo, whose home sits in an agricultural area near Keyes. In April, Lorenzo had three solar, hydro panels installed outside her home by the company Source Global, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The panels absorb water vapor pulled from the air. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: ‘I could hardly believe it’ | Pilot program captures water from air near Keyes
Tipton receives millions to combat contaminated water
“Millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act was put towards water access improvements in the community of Tipton. The Tulare County Board of Supervisors allocated $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on Aug. 16 to improve water quality and access for the unincorporated community of Tipton. Residents can expect three different projects that will aid in cleaner water to be completed by the end of December 2023. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tipton receives millions to combat contaminated water
California megadrought sends wave of death to Bakersfield wildlife
“Two new casualties in Bakersfield from California’s punishing megadrought. Two small lakes, one at the Park at the River Walk and the other along the Kern River Parkway on Truxtun Extension are drying up and the aquatic wildlife in those two lakes, is left to rot in the summer sun. The lake has been drying up for years due to the epic drought in California. Truxtun Lake is not the only one. The Park at River Walk lake is also drying up too.“This is the driest it’s been in 1200 years,” Richard O’Neil the president of the Kern River Parkway Foundation said. ... ” Read more from Channel 12 here: California megadrought sends wave of death to Bakersfield wildlife
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A major earthquake could cripple vital SoCal water supply. The drought makes fixes urgent
“As drought, global warming and chronic overuse push the Colorado River to perilous new lows, water officials are hoping to prevent an earthquake from severing a critical Depression-era aqueduct that now connects millions of Southern Californians to the shrinking river. Recently, officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California celebrated as crews lowered a section of earthquake-resistant pipeline into a portion of the Colorado River aqueduct — the 242-mile system of pumps, tunnels, pipelines and open canals that carry water from Lake Havasu to Southern California. The upgrade is just the latest instance of state and federal water managers struggling to maintain a complex and aging water conveyance system that is not only beset by drought, but also challenged by sagging canals, leaking pipes and the looming threat of wildfires and earthquakes. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: A major earthquake could cripple vital SoCal water supply. The drought makes fixes urgent | Read via MSN News
Rare ban on all outdoor watering hits 4 million Southern California residents on Sept. 6
“San Fernando resident Adriana Gomez has been doing everything in her power to save her lawn from turning brown while recycling water during the worsening drought in Los Angeles County. She brought home empty bottles left by her co-workers in the office, to refill them with water. She set empty buckets in the shower to collect water and used it for her trees, plants and grass. She put in astroturf and planted a shady 50-year-old carrotwood tree in her yard. But she grew concerned that her plants could die when she heard that officials at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California were asking San Fernando residents to turn off their sprinklers and stop using hoses for nearly two weeks starting Tuesday, Sept. 6, so the district can repair a break in a major pipeline that supplies water to a large part of Southern California. Gomez found herself in a situation shared by more than 4 million residents in Los Angeles County who will face a mandatory ban on outdoor watering for 15 days in September while the Metropolitan Water District repairs the crucial pipeline. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Rare ban on all outdoor watering hits 4 million Southern California residents on Sept. 6
Antelope Valley water contractors will explore recharge options
“The Antelope Valley State Water Contractors Association agreed, on Thursday, to pursue two parallel options for recharging the underlying aquifer with surplus water from the State Water Project in and adjacent to Big Rock Creek, in the southeastern part of the Valley. A pilot study of the original plan — to recharge water directly into the aquifer through the creek bed — conducted in 2019-2020 proved to be infeasible, as the ground did not absorb the water fast enough to prevent it from spilling downstream, where it crossed and flooded East Avenue T. Instead, the Association is looking at either using culverts beneath avenues T and S to direct the water without flooding the roads, or to pipe water into recharge basins east of the creek bed. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Antelope Valley water contractors will explore recharge options
Santa Monica Bay moves forward on plan to rebuild breakwater
“Details remain scant, but local environmental leaders have voiced their unanimous support for pursuing a slate of new environmental programs in and around the Santa Monica Bay using funds provided by last year’s federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. During its Aug. 18 meeting, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission’s (SMBRC) Governing Board voted unanimously, 23-0, to approve a work plan outlining eight projects to protect the Santa Monica Bay’s resources and bring more equitable coastal access to underserved communities around Los Angeles, utilizing a $4.5 million federal grant, spread out over the next five years. ... ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press here: Santa Monica Bay moves forward on plan to rebuild breakwater
SAN DIEGO
US-Mexico sewage solution hits snag on Capitol Hill
“West Virginia’s Republican U.S. senator is holding up a money transfer that would allow federal officials to build the sewage infrastructure to fix San Diego’s cross-border sewage problem. Sen. Shelley Capito sits on the senate committee that oversees the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She is the key obstacle to legislation that was widely thought to be a technicality. … “It’s in the Senate’s hands, and I don’t know why they don’t just push it through quickly,” said Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, who represents the region along the border. “It’s problematic when she says it has to go through her committee and, when it goes to her committee, she kills it.” … ” Read more from KPBS here: US-Mexico sewage solution hits snag on Capitol Hill
Along the Colorado River …
‘We’re almost at the breaking point’ on river
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced last week that two states plus Mexico will have a reduced supply of water for 2023 as the Colorado River basin enters a Tier 2 shortage for the first time in its recorded history. The effort to conserve water comes as water levels in two of the river’s largest reservoirs – Lake Mead and Lake Powell – reach historic lows, stoking concerns about their respective dams’ ability to provide power. Meanwhile, roughly 40 million people in seven states rely on the Colorado River for water. The latest federal restrictions were made official Aug. 16 after the states that use the Colorado River failed to reach an agreement about how to reduce consumption in the long-term. Those conversations will continue – and could lead to changes to the 100-year-old Colorado River Compact. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: ‘We’re almost at the breaking point’ on river
Citing Nevada’s example, Cortez Masto calls on feds to make other states conserve water
“Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto joined state water officials Monday to demand immediate federal action on the Colorado River water crisis as Nevada faces its second year of mandatory water cuts. Last week, federal officials announced that Nevada would lose about 8% of its water allocation, or 25,000 acre-feet of water, starting January 2023 as a stopgap solution to stabilize water levels at Lake Mead. The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency in charge of managing much of the West’s water, said states within the Colorado River basin needed to cut usage between 2 and 4 million acre feet in 2023 to protect the Lake Mead and Lake Powell reservoirs. However, states in the region failed to meet that federal deadline, leading to last week’s cuts. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current here: Citing Nevada’s example, Cortez Masto calls on feds to make other states conserve water
Radio show: Yuma growers know water cuts are coming
” … Today we’ll hear from Paul Brierley of the University of Arizona Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture – he’ll talk about what growers here in Yuma expected from federal action, and what it means for the coming crop year. And Luke Runyon is a regular contributor to our reporting on water in the west, he is managing editor and reporter at KUNC in Greeley, Colorado. We’ll talk to him about the implications of the actions the federal government did take this week, and ask about what comes next as projections continue to show water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell are under threat.” Listen at KAWC here (22:32): Radio show: Yuma growers know water cuts are coming
Opinion: Deeper cuts are coming for the Colorado River
Dave Marston, publisher of Writers on the Range, writes, “It seemed inevitable that the dwindling Colorado River would be divvied up by the federal Bureau of Reclamation. On June 14, BuRec gave the seven states in the Colorado River compact just 60 days to find a way to cut their total water usage by up to 4 million acre-feet. No plans emerged. But surprisingly, BuRec’s August 16 press release imposed no new cuts on states, instead affirming cuts mandated under 2007 and 2019 agreements. Nevada and Mexico took minor losses and Arizona emerged as the first big loser. … Here’s a question the Upper Basin states seem inclined to ask: If the 1922 Colorado River Compact parceling out the river’s water is the law, shouldn’t California face major cuts? After all, California’s huge allotment of 4.4 million acre-feet lately equals the entire consumption of the four Upper Basin states, and its allotment is also junior to almost 1 million acre-feet of tribal water. … ” Continue reading at the Denver Post here: Opinion: Deeper cuts are coming for the Colorado River
Flash floods wreak havoc in US south-west – but are no salve for drought
“Flash floods hitting the American south-west in recent days have shuttered parts of national parks including in Moab and Zion, closed highways in Colorado, submerged cars in Texas and trapped tourists in a New Mexico cave. A young woman remains missing after being swept away while hiking in Zion on Friday. But the destructive deluges have not been enough to relieve the drought and the continued pressure on water resources, experts say. Even strong storms are unable to overcome dry conditions that are decades in the making. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: Flash floods wreak havoc in US south-west – but are no salve for drought
MORE COLORADO RIVER COVERAGE …
- Lake Mead is finally rising again; Here’s why, from KTLA
- The Worth of Water as the River Runs Low, from the Legal Reader
