On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: How to Develop Innovative Drinking Water Partnerships and Find Funding: 3 Projects To Inspire You from 10am to 11am. This presentation will describe how water professionals can identify opportunities, funding, and partners focused on drinking water protection. Drinking water partners are highly motivated to develop and implement projects to protect water quality. Collaborative partnerships have been the key to protecting the nation’s sources of drinking water. Using three successful projects as examples, this talk will provide concrete ideas for how to achieve success in other watersheds. Projects to be highlighted include: the Sebago Clean Waters (Maine), the NH Regional Conservation Partnership Program and the Farm River National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) located in CT. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: A Sustainable Solution to Meet Data Center Water Need – Water Reuse, Innovation and Partnership from 11am to 12pm. According to the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the nation’s data centers collectively consumed 165 billion gallons of water in 2014. Without intervention and investment, water and energy use of data centers is expected to continue growing rapidly. These trends risk putting data centers into competition with other growing businesses for space, energy, and water, and pose a challenge for data center development in regions with limited water resources. In this webcast, Arcadis and Tomorrow Water will discuss their CoFlow concept which involves the co-location of water reclamation facilities and data centers to allow exchanging water and cooling capacities. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Hydropower: Powering a Brighter Future for Yuba County and California from 12pm to 1pm. Yuba Water Agency’s hydropower facilities are capable of generating up to 417 megawatts of carbon-free energy, which is enough to supply more than 400,000 homes throughout California. In addition to supporting the state’s clean energy goals, Yuba Water reinvests its hydropower revenue back into Yuba County through projects to reduce the risk of flooding, maintain water supply reliability and much more. Join Yuba Water Director of Power Systems Phil Cantarinha and Government Relations Manager Adam Robin for our next lunch and learn webinar at noon on Aug. 24 to learn more about how Yuba Water is powering a brighter future for Yuba County and California. Register here.
- WEBINAR: The History and Lessons of Potable Reuse in the United States from 12pm to 1pm. This presentation reviews the history of potable reuse and lessons learned by examining potable reuse projects across the United States. Case studies illustrate varying conditions that motivate potable reuse, challenges in implementation, and its potential future as urban population growth, environmental needs, and climate change pressure drinking water supplies of cities across the country. Click here for more information and to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Fishing Regulation Change Proposal for Striped Bass from 6pm to 8pm. A public information meeting will be held on Wednesday August 24 from 6-8 PM to solicit input on the proposed regulation change from Nor-Cal Guides and Sportsmen’s Association (NCGASA) that would restrict the harvest of striped bass to a “slot limit” between 20 and 30 inches for inland anadromous waters. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will provide an overview of the striped bass fishery and NCGASA will provide information in support of their regulation change proposal. The meeting location will be held within CDFW’s Fisheries Branch headquarters 1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento 95605 in the California Poppy Conference Room. Participants can join the meeting online .
Top story: Klamath irrigators defy order to stop water diversions …
Oregon officials defy order to halt farmer water deliveries
“The Klamath Irrigation District in Southern Oregon plans to defy a U.S. government order issued last week for a halt to water deliveries to farmers in the drought-stricken basin. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation manages the Klamath Project, which includes Klamath Irrigation District and serves 266 square miles (689 square kilometers) of farmland around the Oregon-California border. A limited allocation of water was allowed for irrigators from Upper Klamath Lake this year because of extreme drought. The bureau has said the project is now out of water and ordered a shutdown last week, but irrigation district directors met Monday and authorized the district’s manager, Gene Souza, to continue operations, the Capital Press reported. … ” Read more from the AP here: Oregon officials defy order to halt farmer water deliveries
Ranchers told to stop diverting water in drought-hit area
“California has warned a group of farmers and ranchers near the Oregon state line to stop diverting water from an area already wracked by extreme drought and a wildfire that killed tens of thousands of fish. The State Water Resources Control Board issued a draft cease-and-desist order last Friday to the Shasta Water Association, warning it to stop taking water from the Shasta River watershed. The association has 20 days to request a hearing or the order becomes final and could subject the organization to fines of up to $10,000 a day, according to the state water agency. … ” Read more from the AP here: Ranchers told to stop diverting water in drought-hit area
Tribes demand immediate action after water diverted from Shasta River before it reaches Klamath
“Days after a fire induced mudslide killed all fish in a 60-mile reach of the Klamath River, ranchers defied state law by diverting flows from the Shasta River, one of the most important Klamath tributaries for imperiled salmon, according to a joint press release from the Karuk and Yurok Tribes. “The Shasta River Water Association is illegally dewatering one of the most important salmon nurseries in California,” according to Karuk Chairman Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery. “After last week’s fish kill, every juvenile salmon in the Klamath basin must be protected to ensure future runs. We are horrified, we are angry, and we expect accountability.” … ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: Tribes demand immediate action after water diverted from Shasta River before it reaches Klamath
SEE ALSO:
- Local Tribes Demand Immediate Action After Upstream Farming Association Found to be Illegally Diverting Shasta River Water From Reaching the Klamath, from the Lost Coast Outpost
- Abrupt shutoff order sends districts scrambling, from the Western Farm Press
In other California water news today …
CA Tribes and Delta Environmental Justice groups ask State Water Board to Reconsider Delta Plan
“Represented by the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford, California Tribes and environmental justice organizations have sent a formal Request for Reconsideration of the State Water Resources Control Board decision in June of this year denying their Petition to review and update water quality standards for the Bay-Delta. The Request points out the serious deficiencies in the Board’s decision, including its failure to address the Board’s decades-long neglect of its duty to update water quality standards and its failure to set forth a pathway to remedy the discriminatory effects of that inaction on Indigenous Peoples and disadvantaged communities in the Delta. “The State Water Board has made a public commitment to addressing the State sponsored racial inequity baked into the water rights system. It now needs to act in alignment with that commitment by addressing the issues raised in the Petition,” said Rica Garcia, an attorney with the Environmental Law Clinic at Stanford Law School. … ” Read more from Restore the Delta here: CA Tribes and Delta Environmental Justice groups ask State Water Board to Reconsider Delta Plan
SJV Water Blueprint in Southern California
Don Wright with Water Wrights writes, “The San Joaquin Valley Water Blueprint has come a long ways since its formation. Last month it took its place amongst 17 other water organizations from across the state by cosigning a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders requesting the massive state budget surplus be responsibly spent on water related needs. The July 12, 2022 letter outlined $1.35 billion in 2022-2023 funding priorities with: $750 million for water recycling projects, $500 million for Proposition One adjustments and $100 million for dam safety and reservoir operations. The other signing organizations were a diverse group of heavy hitters including: the Bay Area Council, Metropolitan Water District, Santa Clara Valley Water District, the Orange County Business Council and the Southern California Water Coalition. It’s a mark of progress for the Blueprint to be recognized as a viable partner. … ” Read more from Water Wrights here: SJV Water Blueprint in Southern California
Striped bass slot limit
Don Wright with Water Wrights writes, “Well, there’s something fishy going on with striped bass. The California Department of Fish & Wildlife sent out a press release about changing the take limit on striped bass. The current limit is two fish per day a minimum of 18 inches long. The proposed change is for taking only fish between 20 and 30 inches long and the limit is still two fish per day. This is known as a slot limit. This proposal is brought to you by the Nor-Cal Guides & Sportsmen’s Association. https://ncgasa.org/ The press release says, “The stated goal [of Nor-Cal] is to protect the species by increasing the minimum length to allow more fish to mature and successfully spawn prior to harvest and to protect the larger fish that tend to be the most prolific spawners and are becoming increasingly rare in the fishery.” … ” Continue reading at Water Wrights here: Striped bass slot limit
Roadway runoff: Simple filtration columns along roads can remove toxic substances and save fish
“Stormwater runoff containing a toxic compound from automobile tires that washes into streams is lethal to protected coho salmon, Pacific steelhead, and Chinook salmon, according to new research published today. In contrast, sockeye salmon seem largely unaffected by the same compounds. The newly identified risk to steelhead and Chinook salmon could help inform mitigation efforts for construction and overhaul of highways on the West Coast to ensure that future runoff is less lethal to for salmon and steelhead. Some western states have already begun designing highways with inexpensive filtration measures shown to protect salmon. “There is good news for the fish. Biofiltration appears to remove a decent amount of the toxicity,” said Barbara French, a research scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. “As we learn more about the effects of roadway runoff on fish, we learn more about where these mitigation efforts are most warranted.” … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries here: Roadway runoff known to kill coho salmon also affects steelhead, chinook salmon
State unveils latest environmental documents meant to push controversial Delta Tunnel ahead
Dan Bacher writes, “The California Department of Water Resources, or DWR, has released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the embattled Delta Tunnel, beginning the 90-day public comment period from July 27 to October 27 for what conservationists describe as an “environmentally destructive project.” According to project opponents, different versions of this same gigantic and wasteful public works project — the Peripheral Canal, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the California Water Fix and now the single Delta Conveyance — have cast a dark, toxic shadow over California water policy since it was first decisively rejected by California voters in November 1982 as the Peripheral Canal. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: State unveils latest environmental documents meant to push controversial Delta Tunnel ahead
15 California communities to receive drought funding amid extreme conditions
“As part of ongoing efforts to help small communities address water supply challenges amid extreme drought and build water resilience for the future, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its eighth round of funding through the Small Community Drought Relief Program. In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, the program will provide $40 million to 15 projects in Butte, Humboldt, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Sierra, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Ventura and Yolo counties. Of the selected projects, 12 will directly benefit disadvantaged communities to implement long-term solutions such as pipeline replacement, well installation, and infrastructure upgrades to improve water resilience and water quality. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources here: 15 California communities to receive drought funding amid extreme conditions
Beyond the Drought: The team behind the U.S. Drought Monitor
“For more than 20 years, the U.S. Drought Monitor has released a map once a week, releasing new information on the drought-stricken parts of the U.S. Not once have the authors of the Drought Monitor missed their two-decade-old weekly deadline, keeping everyone informed on the ever-changing drought classifications throughout the country. This information is especially pertinent for the Western half of the U.S., with large portions of California and Nevada both in Extreme Drought (D3). ... ” Read more from Channel 11 here: Beyond the Drought: The team behind the U.S. Drought Monitor
California winemakers are using A.I. to combat climate change challenges
“Drones hovering over grape vines—that’s the sight you may see when you visit Gamble Family Vineyards in the Oakville region of Napa Valley, California. There, proprietor Tom Gamble and his team send up drones regularly to collect data on the vineyards, health of the vines, and the effect of recent weather.It’s not his only embracement of technology. Gamble believes that utilizing innovative tools, like artificial intelligence, allow his team to drop many tedious production tasks and focus on more value-added projects. That includes wireless soil sensor networks with recommendations on water needs to support his deficit irrigation practices and drones that identify grapevine diseases, gauge vine density, and even apply mildew prevention products in hard-to-reach vineyards. ... ” Read more from Fortune here: California winemakers are using A.I. to combat climate change challenges
A former national parks director’s guide to not wasting your precious greywater
“To suggest that my blood runs green is an understatement. I worked 40 years for the National Park Service as ranger, biologist, park superintendent, and as the 18th Director. As a ranger working in remote places like Crater Lake National Park or Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska, I acquired a suite of DIY skills to tackle just about anything: fixing a car, a broken leg, or the plumbing. … I brought many of those lessons home and my wife, Paula, and I have practiced conservation measures wherever we have lived. The first system we built was the “laundry to landscape,” which redirects the water from the washing machine downhill to our fruit trees. … ” Read more from Bay Nature here: A former national parks director’s guide to not wasting your precious greywater
Why grasshoppers are the newest problem plaguing California farmers
“Along with drought and climate change, a different type of threat is now devastating the fields of California farmers: grasshoppers. The bugs are mowing down fields across Northern California. “We’re getting counts of, you know, 100 to 200 grasshoppers per square foot in the fields,” said Modoc County hay farmer Bryce O’Sullivan. “The numbers are so bad that they’re actually completely eating it all the way to the ground.” O’Sullivan says that most of his fields are at a complete loss for their second cutting due to the pests. Grasshoppers can consume up to 250% of their body weight daily and 30 pounds of the insects consume the same forage as a 600-pound steer, according to farm advisor Tom Getts of the University of California Cooperative Extension. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Why grasshoppers are the newest problem plaguing California farmers
In commentary today …
California is not prepared to protect the environment from drought during the ongoing climate crisis
Redgie Collins, Legal and Policy Director for Cal Trout, writes, “This past month was a major setback for California’s diverse freshwater ecosystems. Drought preparedness bill AB 2451, representing real hope for water scarcity, likely failed, and Governor Newsom introduced a Water Supply Strategy that is an important step but inadequate for the protection of freshwater ecosystems – especially in the face of the ongoing climate crisis. Here at CalTrout, we balance the needs of fish, water, and people. We recognize that the California we know and love is a functionally altered landscape. Our work and our vision support clean drinking water for all Californians, a thriving economy, while also allowing wild fish to thrive in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and headwater habitats. However, this balance is not reflected in the Governor’s or the State’s drought preparedness, vision for the future, or policies. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: California is not prepared to protect the environment from drought during the ongoing climate crisis
Questions about water for Governor Newsom: We may hope Gov. Newsom is prepared to go out on a limb to answer them all in the affirmative
Edward Ring, contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “Borrowing a page from the More Water Now campaign, which unsuccessfully attempted earlier this year to qualify a water funding initiative for the November 2022 ballot, Governor Newsom announced a new water supply strategy on August 11. Perhaps with the presidency in mind, or perhaps because he really means it, Newsom’s remarks were surprisingly accommodating towards those of us who have been fighting for more water supply infrastructure. For example, Newsom said “We have a renewed sense of urgency to address this issue head on, but we do so from a multiplicity of perspectives and ways. Not just from a scarcity mindset – so much of the water conversation in this state has been about conservation – but that is a relatively small component of the overall strategy we are introducing here today. What we are focusing on is creating more water, moving away from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance.” This shift in emphasis, if it is genuine, cannot come a moment too soon. … ” Read more from the California Globe here: Questions about water for Governor Newsom: We may hope Gov. Newsom is prepared to go out on a limb to answer them all in the affirmative
Gov. Newsom tackles water, electricity
John Seiler, a veteran California opinion writer, writes, “You can learn a lot even from people whose policies you generally don’t like. A good example is Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose political skills continue to evolve. Newsom knows the two biggest issues in California are not the ones in the news most days, such as the economy, abortion, and climate change. The two biggest issues are water and electricity. Get those wrong and you’ll drown politically. Get them right and, although people might not notice, you will not be hammered because the lights went out for hours. Or they couldn’t water their lawns for years. I recently interviewed Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn, who’s running for the Assembly from District 71. He mentioned how both increased electricity and water prices are boosting charges to vintners in his area, the major wine region in Southern California. Higher Chablis costs will get the attention even of liberal activists. ... ” Continue reading at the Epoch Times here (free registration may be required): Gov. Newsom tackles water, electricity
Today’s featured article …
WEBINAR SUMMARY: Collaborative governance in the Delta
In the spring of 2022, the Delta Science Program hosted a series of lunchtime webinars focused on governance in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The second webinar, held in April, focused on collaborative governance.
Click here to read this article.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Historic funding from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law headed to Klamath Basin
“Building on months of close collaboration and engagement with Klamath Basin stakeholders, Tribes, and federal, state and local leaders, the Department of the Interior today announced that nearly $26 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated for Klamath Basin restoration projects, including nearly $16 million for ecosystem restoration projects in the Basin and $10 million to expand the Klamath Falls National Fish Hatchery. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation, in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, will fund 10 grants totaling $2.2 million to improve fish and wildlife habitat as part of two programs: the Klamath River Coho Restoration Grant Program, and the Trinity River Restoration Program. The grants will generate $777,000 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of almost $3 million. … ” Read more from the Department of the Interior here: Historic funding from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law headed to Klamath Basin
Friends of the Eel River plans to sue county, says groundwater pumping harms fish ecosystem
“Friends of the Eel River, a Eureka-based citizens’ group dedicated to protecting and restoring Eel River fisheries, has sent a formal letter to Humboldt County demanding it move to protect fisheries and other public trust values in the lower Eel River from groundwater pumping that lowers surface flows in the river. “Humboldt County’s recently submitted Groundwater Sustainability Plan appears to be an attempt to prevent regulation of groundwater pumping in the lower river, at the expense of Eel River fish,” said Friends of the Eel River Executive Director Alicia Hamann. “But the county’s own data shows well pumping is pulling water out of the Eel River’s flows. In dry, hot years like those we’ve been seeing recently and expect to continue, groundwater pumping in the lower Eel River basin is reducing surface flows, and even leading to the lower river entirely disconnecting.” … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Friends of the Eel River plans to sue county, says groundwater pumping harms fish ecosystem
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe Keys sewer pump station replacement project underway
“If you’ve driven on Tahoe Keys Boulevard near Venice Drive this summer you’ve most likely noticed the construction under the roadway and traffic being redirected. It has all been to replace a wastewater pump station. South Tahoe Public Utility District has been at work to replace the station that transports all the wastewater from Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, the Y, and Tahoe Keys, to the wastewater treatment plant. The current pump station is 60 years old and needs to be replaced to improve the reliability of this critical piece of infrastructure and protect Lake Tahoe. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Tahoe Keys sewer pump station replacement project underway
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County receives over $72 million in disaster recovery funding, millions more awarded to Paradise, Chico
“Butte County, Chico and Paradise have been awarded millions in disaster recovery funding for primarily sewage and infrastructure projects necessitated by the 2018 Camp Fire. In California, the total of federal grants awarded to seven jurisdictions affected by wildfires sit at more than $317 million. The town of Paradise received the most grants — a sum of $199,592,735.75. Butte County received the second largest package at $72,722,679.61. Chico received the fourth-largest package of disaster funding — $12,388,409.65, behind the city of Redding. On Monday, Aug. 22, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced three disaster recovery infrastructure programs alongside Chico City Manager Mark Sorensen, Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder and Butte County Chair and Supervisor Bill Connelly at Paradise Town Hall. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Butte County receives over $72 million in disaster recovery funding, millions more awarded to Paradise, Chico
Butte Creek Salmon – 2022 Update
Allen Harthorn, Executive Director, Friends of Butte Creek, writes, “The 2018 run of spawning adult spring-run Chinook salmon in Butte Creek was not abundant by Butte Creek standards. These were the offspring of the 2015 drought-year run. California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) estimated only around 2000 spawning adults in 2018, in the lower 25% percentile of the population counts since 1995. The first egg laying in 2018 happened in late September, and the last of the spawners finished their dance around the middle of October. Carcasses were counted, the wildlife of the creek had been feasting for weeks. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: Butte Creek Salmon – 2022 Update
Sacramento leaders ban homeless camps from sidewalks, American River Parkway and more
“Homeless people will soon be prohibited from camping along the entirety of the American River Parkway, and also from blocking city of Sacramento sidewalks and business entrances. City and county elected leaders voted unanimously Tuesday on three separate ordinances that collectively ban encampments from many public spaces. The measures do not commit the agencies to providing more shelter. They will take effect in 30 days. Starting in late September, people can be cleared from the parkway and sidewalks — two of the most common locations for camps. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Sacramento leaders ban homeless camps from sidewalks, American River Parkway and more
4Cs to address Delta tunnel, water infrastructure, drought, broadband
“The Solano City-County Coordinating Council will receive a presentation on the status of the Delta Conveyance Project and regional water infrastructure. The council is comprised of the Solano County Board of Supervisors and the seven city mayors. Misty Kaltreider, the county Water and Natural Resource Program manager, will make the presentation on the Delta tunnel project. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: 4Cs to address Delta tunnel, water infrastructure, drought, broadband
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa County sees renewed focus on fish barrier removals
“A push has begun to remove or remediate fish barriers in Napa County. The Napa County Resource Conservation District and Water Audit California have come up with a list of 51 barriers that, if removed, would open up more than 250 miles of spawning habitat. The time is right to seek grants for these projects, the Resource Conservation District’s executive director Lucas Patzek said. “This seems to be an unprecedented time for the amount of funding available on the federal and state levels for habitat work,” he said. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa County sees renewed focus on fish barrier removals
Napa: Landfill operator sued over runoff
“The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a complaint against Clover Flat Land Fill Inc., alleging the defendant violated the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) by discharging polluted stormwater out of their Clover Flat Resource Recovery Park and Landfill industrial facility. The plaintiff is a non profit public benefit organization with the aim of protecting, preserving, and defending the environment, the complaint says; the defendant allegedly operates the Clover Flat Resource Recovery Park and Landfill. … ” Read more from Law Street Media here: Napa: Landfill operator sued over runoff
BAY AREA
Column: Election kickstarts Marin Municipal Water District’s drive to increase water supply
“Since dry years became common and the effects of climate change more pronounced, Marin Municipal Water District has faced a quandary. Its traditional sources of water were inadequate to meet the public’s demand. Addressing that need led to a policy divide on the five-member elected water board. Some, mostly in Marin’s environmental community, believed the best method to address water shortages was by conservation. The idealistic, if unrealistic, implication of the “less is more” thinking is that Marinites’ quality of life won’t decrease even if water use is restricted. Using the carrot and stick, many of MMWD’s 191,000 consumers did just that. Lawns were removed, cars went unwashed and home water use significantly decreased. It was a good first step. But subsequent dry years demonstrated that strategy was inadequate to meet long-term reasonable demand. The maximum realistic benefits from conservation have been achieved, Marin voters are now at a decision point. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Column: Election kickstarts MMWD’s drive to increase water supply
Is SF hoarding water? One environmental group wants the city to get real about its planning
“An environmental group is arguing that the city’s water agency is taking too much water from the Sierra Nevada, and that its drought planning will wind up hoarding water unnecessarily and hurting vulnerable river ecosystems. The group, Tuolomne River Trust, says its pleadings have fallen on deaf ears up until now. But with the state mulling the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan, a plan that would reduce the city’s rights to water from the Tuolomne River, the question of whether San Francisco controls more than its fair share of water is back up for discussion and spilled over into a meeting of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard here: Is SF hoarding water? One environmental group wants the city to get real about its planning
Drought expected to continue even with a wet winter
“Droughts are here to stay. That’s the warning from Santa Clara Valley Water as we continue to face a severe water shortage and uncertainty with regard to the upcoming winter months. Rain or not, the message is to expect droughts to be a much more regular part of life, meaning conservation and preparation need to become lifelong habits as well. “Last year, we had a great October and December,” Santa Clara Valley Water spokesman Matt Keller said. “We had huge record-breaking storms. A lot of people were like, ‘Great, the drought’s over.’ And then we hit January, February and March. It was the driest start to a year ever.” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Drought expected to continue even with a wet winter
Climate in crisis: Increasing drought, La Niña & rain outlook
“We’re all looking and wanting anything that looks like a “normal” rain season but that may not be in the cards for us over the next several months. As our drought continues it looks like we’ll have two key factors that will play into our Bay Area rain season. The first one is La Niña, which tends to set off extremes in Bay Area weather. The second is known as “precipitation whiplash” and that’s related to climate change which can also set off weather extremes. So, what would this look like or potentially bring? Well, it could look a lot like last year (see the bar graph below), if you remember back we had strong record setting storms in 2021 October & December and then extended periods of record drying into January. It may not happen in that exact order but be ready for these potentially frustrating trends. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Climate in crisis: Increasing drought, La Niña & rain outlook
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bakersfield: Wildlife left to rot in baking sun as drought dries lakes
“Wildlife in California is reportedly being left to perish under the baking sun as the ongoing megadrought dries up lakes. Aquatic wildlife living in two particular lakes in Bakersfield—one at River Walk Park and another at Kern River Parkway—are being left without a home as water levels continue to recede, per KGET. “This is the driest it’s been in 1200 years,” Richard O’Neil, president of the Kern River Parkway Foundation, told the news outlet. “This is a three-year drought but it extends beyond that. It’s one drought upon the next drought.” ... ” Read more from Newsweek here: Bakersfield: Wildlife left to rot in baking sun as drought dries lakes
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Celebrities and excessive water use: how income disparity is magnifying California’s drought crisis
“As recently reported by the Los Angeles Times, major Hollywood and entertainment industry-adjacent names (Sylvester Stallone, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Hart, Kourtney Kardashian) living in the cities of Calabasas and Hidden Hills have been a few of some 2,000 citizens who were recently issued “notices of exceedance” by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which services some 75,000 customers across many neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley. These exceedances stand in contrast to the slow but steady overall reduction in water use among Los Angeles county inhabitants, aided by massive efforts by the State Water Resources Control Board to reduce water use. … ” Read more from The Hollywood Reporter here: Celebrities and excessive water use: how income disparity is magnifying California’s drought crisis
EPA settles with L.A.-Area Amalie Oil for violating Clean Water Act
“Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Amalie Oil Company USA (AOCUSA) for violations of the Clean Water Act and its regulations related to oil pollution prevention at the company’s Vernon, Calif. facility. Under the settlement, AOCUSA will pay a $132,590 penalty. “Facilities must comply with federal clean water laws or face significant fines,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “To protect our communities and aquatic environments, companies managing large quantities of oil must take actions to prevent and plan for oil spills.” … ” Read more from the EPA here: EPA settles with L.A.-Area Amalie Oil for violating Clean Water Act
Rescue organization ‘inundated’ with calls about sick sea lions on SoCal beaches
“The deluge of calls began in mid-August and continued to flood the Channel Islands Marine and Wildlife Institute over the weekend. Sick sea lions were being reported along the Southern California coast. Since Aug. 15, the marine and wildlife rescue organization has been ‘inundated’ with similar calls from beachgoers. “Our volunteer team has been working from sunrise to sunset to respond to each report and the animals in distress,” the agency said Sunday in an Instagram post. “We are responding to 50-100 calls a day with multiple reports on individual animals.” … ” Read more from NBC 4 here: Rescue organization ‘inundated’ with calls about sick sea lions on SoCal beaches
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Commentary: We are more than an experiment for lithium in the desert
Cecilia Dora Armenta, a resident of Salton City, and Elizabeth Jaime, a resident of North Shore, write, “We refuse to be experimental zones for climate change programs that have unproven benefits and unknown environmental impacts, such as lithium extraction. We’re two community advocates and concerned citizens of North Shore and Salton City, asking for our communities to be recognized in the decision-making process. We are concerned that the profits that will result from lithium development are more important to decision-makers than our health. The lives of immigrants, children, and low-income people of color are worth more than the profits of lithium extraction. We experience the climate crisis every day through extreme heat, storms, high energy costs, and poor air quality. Climate solutions must not cause us more problems. Over a year ago, we began to ask the regional, state, and federal agencies to keep us informed and involved. This request continues to be unmet. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Commentary: We are more than an experiment for lithium in the desert
SAN DIEGO
Creating 700 acres of new marshland across San Diego is key to city’s new climate action plan
“The revised and more aggressive climate action plan San Diego adopted this month commits officials to creating 700 acres of marshland across the city, more than triple the 220 acres of new marshland Mayor Todd Gloria had previously promised in northeastern Mission Bay. The revised climate action plan prioritizes new marsh areas — sometimes called wetlands — because they serve the dual purpose of removing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the air and fighting sea-level rise by acting as a coastal sponge. Other elements of the revised plan, such as banning natural gas in new homes and getting more people to commute by transit and bicycle, would soften a negative impact on the climate by reducing carbon output. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Creating 700 acres of new marshland across San Diego is key to city’s new climate action plan
Santa Fe Irrigation board considers new water rates
“At an Aug. 18 special meeting to review water rate structure alternatives, the Santa Fe Irrigation District board opted to pause and take more time to get additional details on its options. The board had planned to make a decision on proposed new rate structures at its Sept. 29 meeting, selecting from options of tiered rates by water supply, tiered rates by meter size or budget-based rates, in which customers are given individual budgets and usage above the budget incurs a higher rate. SFID Vice President Sandra Johnson said she had serious reservations about some of the plans and, in fairness to all ratepayers and herself as a board member, she would need a lot more information: “I cannot make an informed decision on any plan,” Johnson said. … ” Read more from the Rancho Santa Fe Review here: Santa Fe Irrigation board considers new water rates
Along the Colorado River …
Bennet: U.S. shouldn’t dictate Colorado River water cuts
“Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (D) revealed today that he and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney (R) are drafting legislation to pump additional funds into the shrinking Colorado River Basin but insisted any planned cuts to water use must come from the states themselves. Bennet’s comments come in the wake of the federal Bureau of Reclamation’s decision last week to trigger the most severe shortage declaration to date in the basin, affecting the seven states that share the 1,450-mile-long river. “We’re going to have to have imagination, we’re going to have to have collaboration, we’re going to have to have leadership in order to do it,” Bennet said of reductions needed to maintain minimum levels of water in Lake Powell to operate hydropower at the Glen Canyon Dam. Negotiations over how to conserve as much as 4 million acre-feet of water — or 25 percent of the total water allocated to all seven states — continue after the states failed to meet a 60-day deadline set by Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton in mid-June. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Bennet: U.S. shouldn’t dictate Colorado River water cuts
Legal analysis: Bureau of Reclamation announces additional Colorado River cuts for 2023
“Tensions in the Colorado River Basin continue to escalate this summer amid the driest period in the basin in the past 1,200 years. Here is a snapshot of where things stand. During a U.S. Senate hearing on Western drought on June 14, 2022, Bureau of Reclamation commissioner Camille Touton gave the seven Colorado River Basin states a 60-day deadline to create an emergency plan to reduce basin-wide water use between 2 and 4 million acre-feet of water in the next year, or the agency would step in and make the cuts itself. The August 15 deadline came and went without agreement reached among the basin states. Reclamation announced on August 16 that it would not enact any cuts beyond those already agreed to by the Lower Division states, but stated at the end of the August 16 release that it would initiate a number of administrative actions aimed generally at basin-wide conservation and improved reservoir management. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: Legal analysis: Bureau of Reclamation announces additional Colorado River cuts for 2023
Bruce Babbitt: Tribes need to be involved in water talks
“Former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt said Arizona’s tribes need to play an important role in protecting the state’s groundwater and dealing with the pending crisis because of the lack of water in the Colorado River. Babbitt offered his comments during a Zoom meeting hosted by the Citizens Water Advisory Group (CWAG) with about 125 people attending. Babbitt praised the CWAG website for having the best information about the state’s water. Babbitt, who also served as secretary of the Interior, praised the Gila River Tribe as a model for other tribes as Gila River Tribe came away with 600,000 acre feet in water from negotiations. Babbitt said the negotiation has made the Gila River Tribe an import ant voice with the use of water in Maricopa County. … ” Read more from the Navajo-Hopi Observer here: Bruce Babbitt: Tribes need to be involved in water talks
Utah can’t save or stretch its precious water if it can’t super accurately measure it
“As the Western megadrought stretches on, conservation, rate hikes or tearing out turf may not be enough. There’s still a thirsty population, an agricultural industry and the shrinking Great Salt Lake to save. Each need pushes storage demands tighter and tighter. If water dips to dire levels, some Utah rights holders may not be able to use their full allotment. “We have multiple reservoirs that are empty, which leaves primary users grappling with enough water to go around,” said State Engineer Teresa Wilhelmsen during an Aug. 16 legislative interim hearing. To figure out who can divert water and when they can do it during times of shortage, the Utah Division of Water Rights wants to create a more synchronized schedule, known as a distribution system. … ” Read more from KUER here: Utah can’t save or stretch its precious water if it can’t super accurately measure it
Tucson reverses course, will order full CAP water allocation next year
“Tucson will order its full allotment of Central Arizona Project water next year despite previously indicating it would cut back on its annual water purchase as part of a collaborative effort to keep more water in Lake Mead amid dire conditions facing the reservoir. The city previously indicated it would leave more than 20% of its annual CAP water supply in Lake Mead next year — or 30,000 acre-feet of its annual 144,191 acre-feet allotment — but the indication was contingent on other Lower Colorado River Basin water users’ willingness to do the same. A lack of buy-in on Tucson’s plan led City Council to vote 6-1 Tuesday to order its full CAP allocation in 2023. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star here: Tucson reverses course, will order full CAP water allocation next year
Tucson struggles with water policy due to Colorado River issues
“Water issues have become big issues for the city of Tucson which is trying to plan for its water future. But things are changing so rapidly it’s making that planning difficult. The water level has dropped on the Colorado River much faster than the experts predicted throwing things into flux. But it’s not just Tucson. Many cities and towns are facing the same issue in the seven states which use Colorado River water. … ” Read more from Channel 13 here: Tucson struggles with water policy due to Colorado River issues
Earth Observatory: Lake Powell still shrinking
“The second-largest reservoir in the United States now stands at its lowest level since it was filled in the mid-1960s. The view from above is sobering. Lake Powell, a key component of the western U.S. water system, is currently filled to just 26 percent of capacity, its lowest point since 1967. On August 22, 2022, the water elevation of the lake surface was 3,533.3 feet, more than 166 feet below “full pool” (elevation 3,700 feet). … ” Read more and check out the pictures from the NASA Earth Observatory here: Earth Observatory: Lake Powell still shrinking
In national water news today …
Toxic “forever chemicals” accumulate above the water table
“PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are water-, stain-, and heat-resistant chemicals added to products like nonstick pans, nail polish, food wrappers, and firefighting foam. They have been linked to health problems, including thyroid disease, liver damage, and kidney cancer. Increasingly, PFAS have become a public health concern because they don’t break down, instead accumulating in the environment. These so-called “forever chemicals” are now found virtually everywhere, from human blood to the top of Mount Everest. Researchers are urgently trying to understand how PFAS move through the environment to get a better grasp of the extent of the problem and how to control it. In a new article, Lyu et al. summarize research published between 2010 and 2022 regarding the fate and transport of PFAS in the soil, ground, and groundwater. … ” Read more from EOS here: Toxic “forever chemicals” accumulate above the water table
