DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Federal agency recommends removal of four lower Klamath River Dams; Why CA’s largest reservoir in nearly 50 years may be derailed by water shortages; Klamath refuge completely dry; Phase II of Schafer Dam project begins; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

Federal agency recommends removal of four lower Klamath River Dams

“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a final Environmental Impact Statement on Friday recommending the removal of the four lower Klamath River Dams along the border of Oregon and California. The dam removal project will be the largest such project in U.S. history second to the 2012 removal of the Elwha Dam on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.  “Restoring the impounded reaches to a free-flowing river would have significant beneficial effect on restoring salmon runs, access to traditional foods, Tribal cultural practices, and a characteristic fluvial landscape,” read the environmental impact statement. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Federal agency recommends removal of four lower Klamath River Dams

FERC Staff recommends Klamath River dams removal — with conditions

“A final environmental impact statement for the Lower Klamath and Klamath Projects is on file today with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  It supports removal of four dams on the Klamath River, with conditions as noted in today’s FERC filing.  It summarized, “Under the proposed action with staff modifications, the Commission would authorize the decommissioning of the Lower Klamath Project. However, the surrender of license would become effective only upon completion of the requirements of any surrender order issued by the Commission, including all decommissioning activities and required mitigation measures. In addition, the conditions of water quality certificates issued by the California Water Board and Oregon DEQ, and conditions of BiOps issued by NMFS or FWS, would be made part of any order issued.” … ”  Read more from Channel 12 here: FERC Staff recommends Klamath River dams removal — with conditions

EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:

• FERC Staff Issues the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Klamath and Klamath Projects (P-14803-001 and P-2082-063), press release from FERC
• Statement by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation on Final EIS
• CDFW Director Statement on FERC Release of EIS on Klamath Dam Removal
• Major Milestone Met for Klamath Dams Removal, from Cal Trout
• Federal report boosts plan to remove 4 dams on Calif river, from the Associated Press
• FERC releases final environmental statement on Klamath dam removal, from the Eureka Times-Standard

Why California’s largest reservoir in nearly 50 years may be derailed by water shortages

“Deep in California’s farm country, this dusty valley ringed by brown hills and sunny skies is seen by many as the state’s answer to drought.  Here, about 70 miles north of Sacramento, a coalition of water agencies is setting out to build the first major reservoir in California in nearly half a century. The $4 billion plan calls for flooding miles of ranchlands with flows from the nearby Sacramento River and sending the water to cities and irrigation districts as far away as the Bay Area and Los Angeles.  Much of the money is already lined up, and as state water shortages have intensified, the project has won increasing bipartisan support, including from Gov. Gavin Newsom.  But there’s a problem: There may not be enough water to fill the new reservoir. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Why California’s largest reservoir in nearly 50 years may be derailed by water shortages

RELATED: NOTICE of acceptance of Sites Project Authority water right application and accompanying State Water Board letter

Atmospheric rivers could unleash billions in damages. One part of the Bay Area is especially at risk

“Flooding events have wreaked havoc across the country this summer.  Heavy rains in late July devastated eastern Kentucky, causing at least 39 deaths and millions of dollars in damage. Unprecedented rainfall caused flash flooding that stranded 1,000 people in Death Valley National Park earlier this month.  In Northern California, amidst efforts to contain the McKinney Fire, intense rainfall triggered flash floods and debris flows – fast-moving slurries of rock, mud and sediment – which temporarily trapped firefighters. More of this flooding may be on the way for the western United States as the planet continues to warm up. Atmospheric rivers — long, narrow regions of the atmosphere that transport water vapor from the tropics — drive storms that can produce extreme precipitation, causing 84% of flood damages in the western United States. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Atmospheric rivers could unleash billions in damages. One part of the Bay Area is especially at risk

The fight against drought in California has a new tool: The restrictor

“The pretty, cloudless blue skies over perfectly manicured lawns represent an ugly reality for California’s Las Virgenes Municipal Water District as it grapples with the historic megadrought ravaging the American West.  Despite a lack of any measurable rain in months, the carpet of lush, green grass likely means homeowners are either not getting the message about the dire need for water conservation, or they are ignoring the warnings.  But now, the water district has found a way to get customers’ attention. When customer service representatives are working in the different neighborhoods, they keep an eye out for any water restriction violations. And for repeat offenders, officials are trying something new: adding water restrictors to the pipes, which sharply reduce the home’s water supply. … ”  Read more from CNN here: The fight against drought in California has a new tool: The restrictor

U.S. Interior Secretary sees California drought impacts firsthand

“United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recently visited the Central Valley to see the California drought impacts in person. Hosted by Congressman Jim Costa, the farm tour and discussion also included U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, and Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot.  “We started with a roundtable at Fresno State about the current water situation. We had water managers and farmers in that discussion. It was a really good discussion about collaboration,” Ross noted. “We are only going to succeed by working together and making the hard decisions together and understanding what are the resources that are going to be necessary for some of the changes that are happening.” … ”  Read more from Ag Net West here: U.S. Interior Secretary sees California drought impacts firsthand

How California’s drought compares to others around the world and some water saving tips

“As California is increasing restrictions on water usage, it may not feel like it, but drought here is less severe than many places around the world.  More than 1.4 billion people were affected by drought between 2000 and 2019. Drought affects the second-highest number of people, after flooding. Africa suffered from drought more frequently than any other continent with 134 droughts, of which 70 occurred in East Africa.  As a result of the Australian millennium drought, total agricultural productivity fell by 18% from 2002 to 2010. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: How California’s drought compares to others around the world and some water saving tips

This summer has been packed with record-breaking rainstorms. Why?

“The Bay Area has generally seen a cool summer thanks to a healthy summer monsoon providing drizzle and cloud cover. But in other parts of the country, torrential downpours have shattered rainfall records and triggered serious damage.  In the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, heavy rains earlier this week caused flash floods and at least one death. A part of Interstate 10 freeway near the California-Arizona border washed away earlier this month, amidst record-breaking rains that flooded Death Valley. More than 9 inches of rain fell in the span of just 24 hours in St. Louis in late July, breaking a record that had stood since 1915. Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi have similarly dealt with heavy rains and devastating floods.  Taken together, there have been at least five rain events toppling long-held 1-in-1,000-year event thresholds in the past five weeks. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: This summer has been packed with record-breaking rainstorms. Why?

Tiny oysters play big role in stabilizing eroding shorelines

“Denise Vaccaro bought her home on the Jersey Shore over 20 years ago, charmed by the little beach at the end of a sandy spit on Barnegat Bay where she could sit and read while listening to the waves and enjoying the cool breezes. That home was destroyed 10 years ago in Superstorm Sandy, and the beach she loved is also gone, claimed by rising seas that are eroding the shoreline and pushing water to porches. …  It’s a story being played out on shorelines all around the world as once idyllic beach communities are washing away, and residents are struggling to adapt. But a partial solution being tried around the world is also being done here: establishing oyster colonies to form natural barriers that blunt the force of waves and help stabilize eroding shorelines. … ”  Read more from the AP here: Tiny oysters play big role in stabilizing eroding shorelines

Innovative program strives to protect the wildlands of the West

“If you have ever found yourself in the North State admiring its ancient Valley Oaks, traversing golden hills speckled with native perennials, or standing in the clean streams cutting through its valleys, you have experienced the living results of countless people who have worked to protect, maintain, and preserve this unique landscape.  Yet, the health of the wildlands of the west is increasingly threatened.  Effects of climate change, such as wildfires, droughts, and warmer temperatures, have accelerated a critical need for experienced and multifaceted land stewards to lead the future of protecting its native ecosystems.  A small hub of passionate graduate students and faculty at Chico State decided to take an active role and has since created one of the most effective and unique land management graduate programs in the California State University system—ultimately redirecting the future of wildland management in California. … ”  Read more from Chico State Today here: Innovative program strives to protect the wildlands of the West

The impact of wildfires goes far beyond acres burned

“Last summer the Caldor, Tamarack, and Dixie fires burned over 1.2 million acres across northern California and western Nevada. The impact of those three wildfires has gone far beyond acreage, adding to the already staggering suppression cost.  “It is more that we are not spending enough upfront on mitigation so communities can be prepared before they occur,” explained Dr. Kimiko Barret in a recent media briefing. She is the lead wildfire research and policy analyst at Headwaters Economics, a nonpartisan research organization based in Montana.  In a report published in 2019 by the National Institute for Building Sciences, researchers noted that by exceeding fire-resistant building codes, homes in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the taxpayer could effectively save on average $4 per every $1 spent. … ”  Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally here: The impact of wildfires goes far beyond acres burned

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In commentary this weekend …

The true cost of building the Delta tunnel can be found in what’s left of Owens Valley

Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “High in the eastern Sierra in early July, rain and hail fell above the county seat of Inyo County.  It helped feed the stream that gives life to the community of 761 souls known as Independence that most view as just a wide spot on Highway 395 as you zip from Reno to San Bernardino.  The result of the early afternoon drenching served up with exclamation points of lightning bolts will also seeped into underground streams.  It is how a journey of years starts for that water to reach aquifers in the Owens Valley below to nourish the handful of ranches and farms.  They are what have been able to survive since the Los Angeles Aqueduct — the early 1900s version of the proposed myopic Delta tunnel plan — started sending water to the faucets of Los Angeles bungalows and mansions. … ”  Read more from the Mantec Bulletin here: The true cost of building the Delta tunnel can be found in what’s left of Owens Valley

The Colorado River is in crisis. There are no painless solutions.

The Washington Post editorial board writes, “After 22 straight years of drought, the Colorado River is no stranger to crisis. But even by its standards, the outlook this summer is bleak. The nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are nearly three-quarters empty.  Satellite images show the river’s topography has changed dramatically since 2017, and scenes on the ground are no less shocking: stranded houseboats, dead plants and cracked lake beds.  None of this should be a surprise. Scientists have warned for years that drought, fueled by climate change, and consistent overuse of the waterway would result in dangerous lows. It is clear drastic cuts in water use are needed — soon. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post here: The Colorado River is in crisis. There are no painless solutions.

On the Public Record: My spectacular friend Margie.

On the Public Record writes, “My friend Margie died of cancer this summer. She was glorious: insightful, funny as hell, kind. She was the DFW Fish Passage engineer for the north state, including the Scott and Shasta Rivers. She designed and reviewed restoration and fish passage projects, adamantly requiring that they be sound and effective. She did fieldwork up on the Scott and Shasta rivers most of the summer. She thought she had the perfect job.  She also thought that fish management up on the Scott and Shasta Rivers was a … ”  Continue reading at On the Public Record here: On the Public Record: My spectacular friend Margie.

In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

The Klamath refuges, America’s first-ever waterfowl refuge, is completely dry

“For the first time in history, America’s first National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) established for waterfowl conservation purposes by Theodore Roosevelt is a barren wasteland. Millions of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds and other essential wildlife species will not have anywhere there or at neighboring Tule Lake NWR to rest, refuel and prepare for their migration. This could have a permanent, lasting effect on migrating birds and local wildlife along the Pacific Flyway. Healthy wetlands in the Klamath Basin not only provide refuge for migratory and local species; they also help filter groundwater and recharge aquifers. Dry wetlands could result in people losing access to a vital water source that is necessary for drinking water and for sustaining the local economy. … ”  Read more from Wildfowl here: The Klamath refuges, America’s first-ever waterfowl refuge, is completely dry

Guest commentary: Water dispute should be decided in court

Gene Souza, Klamath Irrigation District, writes, “Laws and contracts help ensure dispute resolution and promotes the maintenance of domestic tranquility. As with all government activities, the Klamath Project should be operated in accordance with law, not illegal shut-off orders, illegal water diversions, nor thuggish federal extortion tactics.  The Klamath Tribes and Klamath Irrigation District (KID) both have water rights in Oregon’s Upper Klamath Lake. While the Klamath Tribes water rights are for protection of fish species, KID.’s water rights are for irrigation, and both rights are valid property rights entitled to legal and mutual respect. The Endangered Species Act also imposes requirements that must be legally understood and respected. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here: Guest commentary: Water dispute should be decided in court

‘You can’t have people respect you if they don’t know who you are’: Lessons from a redwood canoe ride

“Before the dams were built, before the trees were logged and before the fish were blocked from going upstream, the Klamath River was a highway for redwood canoes. The Yurok were not the only Native American tribe to navigate the Klamath, but they were among the last.  Normally, Julian Markussen wouldn’t be taking tourists for a ride in a Yurok canoe. The Ohl-we-yoch (Oth-way-otch), as they’re called, are sacred vessels. Last year, the tribe had a change of heart and started offering the public two-hour tours down the Klamath.  “You can’t have people respect you if they don’t know who you are,” Julian Markussen says. “There’s only about 11 of these in existence, so this is one of the rarest vessels in the world right here.” … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: ‘You can’t have people respect you if they don’t know who you are’: Lessons from a redwood canoe ride

Shasta River Water Association must comply with state drought rules

“The Shasta River Water Association appears to have resumed compliance with water curtailment regulations set by the California State Water Resources Control Board.  Flow measurements taken by the U.S. Geological Survey in Yreka on Wednesday, Aug. 24 show a return to normal flow of about 50 cubic-feet-per-second.  On Aug. 17 the SRWA sent a letter to the state water board informing, “we will start pumping to supply water to livestock as the weather is over 90 degrees.” The water association, which serves farmers in the Shasta Basin, also moved to fill about a dozen ponds, for the use of fire suppression. … ”  Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: Shasta River Water Association must comply with state drought rules

When it comes to water…you need the facts

Columnist Jim Shields writes, “Without a doubt most County residents know little if anything about something called the Mendocino County Water Agency (MCWA or “Water Agency”).  It was originally formed in 1987, with the Board of Supervisors sitting as its governing board. Its responsibilities included such things as researching new sources of water supply, reviewing additional surface storage options, and working on watershed improvement projects.  Around 2008 when the County was faced with another budget crisis, the Water Agency was quasi-tombstoned until 2021 when the Supes voted to take a look at possibly resurrecting it. To that end, the BOS OK’d a $307,000 consultant-driven process that occurred in the spring of this year to study the feasibility of raising up the nearly defunct Agency. … ”  Read more from the Anderson Valley Advertiser here: When it comes to water…you need the facts

Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians celebrates new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility

“On Wednesday, the Tribal Council of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the tribe’s new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility. The ceremony was scheduled for 9 a.m. on the reservation.  The wastewater treatment facility project includes a membrane bioreactor (“MBR”), sewer connections into the facility, solids removal out of the facility, equalization tanks, a recycled water system, and recycled water storage tanks.  It will allow the tribe to operate a “purple pipe” recycled water system for irrigation, toilets, and back-up fire water, the tribe stated in a news release announcing the ceremony. In addition to its many other benefits, the facility is a win for the tribe because it will decrease the amount of water going into the existing leachfields, extending their useful life, and creating redundancy. … ”  Read more from the Willits News here: Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians celebrates new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Have you been to a Lake Tahoe beach lately?

Dr. Geoffrey Schladow, professor of civil and environmental engineering and founding director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, writes, “If you’ve been to the beach lately you’ve likely seen an unfamiliar and unforgettable sight: algae. Lots of algae. More algae than long-term researchers have ever seen.  The type of algae you may have experienced varies all around the lake and the extent changes week by week. What is it? What is causing it? Should you be concerned?  Earlier in the summer, the algae near the shoreline were periphyton, which are attached algae on rocks and gravel that can often appear as yellow-brown stalks. They occur around the lake every year. As these algae age in early summer, they break loose from rocks and can wash up on beaches. What was different this year were the vast areas covered by these algae and the thickness of the growth. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here:  Have you been to a Lake Tahoe beach lately?

Water rights transfer a slow process

“On Aug. 12, 2020, the El Dorado Irrigation District board authorized a $395,90 contract with Zanjero Inc. as a consultant on transferring 17,000 acre-feet of water rights from Folsom Lake to possible upstream locations, with the Kyburz diversion dam as one of the ultimate transfer locations.  EID Senior Deputy General Counsel Elizabeth Leeper on Monday updated the board on the work so far. By 2021 the Upper American River Project of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and EID’s facilities had an updated hydrologic model. That included the areas feeding into Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness, Echo Lake, Silver Lake and Caples Lake. … ”  Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: Water rights transfer a slow process

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

How did ACID respond to federal water cuts? Key questions, answered.

“The Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District (A.C.I.D.) has supplied senior water rights to local irrigators within Shasta County for over 100 years. Over that time, a naturalized ecosystem dependent on the A.C.I.D. water system has developed within the district boundaries. Both human residents and other parts of the ecosystem have come to depend on this water, which not only provides irrigation but also refills groundwater supplies, contributing to local wells and ponds. This year, in response to drought conditions, federal officials cut water allocations to the district by 82 percent. Here’s how A.C.I.D.’s board responded to that decision. … ”  Read more from the Shasta Scout here: How did ACID respond to federal water cuts? Key questions, answered.

BAY AREA

Continued calls for water conservation as drought deepens

“Big cutbacks and big fines could be on the table if the drought continues.  That was the message that came out of a Bay Area water summit held Friday.  “We all have to be conscientious of the shortage of water that we currently are in,” Santa Clara Valley Water District board member John Varela said. “We call it a water crisis.”  The summit brought together experts from all over the Bay Area to talk up the deepening drought, the benefits of low water use lawns and to stress the need for conservation.  “We’re asking for no more than two days a week of watering for lawns,” senior water resources specialist Neeta Bijoor said. “You can do even less watering than that. No runoff. No midday watering.” … ”  Read more from NBC Bay Area here:  Continued calls for water conservation as drought deepens

Valley Water discusses solutions to water supply challenges

“It’s the third year of a severe drought in Santa Clara County. On Friday, Valley Water held a summit to discuss the current water supply challenges.  John Varela, who is on the Valley Water Board of Directors, said at the summit, “recycling is our message today, that’s what our board of directors feels is a sustainable water supply for our future.”  John Varela with Santa Clara Water says dollars will flow to recycling and the purification of water. Here’s how it works: Valley Water will take highly treated wastewater that currently goes to the Silicon Valley advanced water purification center, purify the water to meet drinking water standards, then pump it back through your faucet. ... ”  Read more from KRON here: Valley Water discusses solutions to water supply challenges

CENTRAL COAST

The Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County discussion marks progress for two developments in Seaside

“Christopher Neely here, keeping my eyes on a vote coming up on Monday from a fairly niche government agency board that thrust themselves into the public consciousness earlier this year.  The board is the Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County, or LAFCO. …   The LAFCO vote I’m watching for when the board meets at 4pm on Monday, Aug. 22 involves another public water agency, Marina Coast Water District, which is looking to expand its political boundaries into the former Fort Ord community and claim 96 high-profile acres in Seaside where two forthcoming developments are located: the Campus Town and Parker Flats projects. ... ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: The Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County discussion marks progress for two developments in Seaside

Soquel water project awarded millions in federal funds

“The Soquel Creek Water District announced this week that it had been awarded roughly $21 million in additional federal funding for its Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention project.  The grant money comes from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, passed by Congress in 2021.  The award is the latest in a series of fundraising wins for the project, which aims to secure sustainable access to fresh water for the more than 40,600 residents it serves in the Mid-County region stretching from Capitola to La Selva Beach. … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Soquel water project awarded millions in federal funds

Column: Did You Know: California water woes

Columnist Bonnie Donovan writes, “Did You Know was somewhat taken aback at the sudden realization by Governor Gavin Newsom that California cannot save itself from the continuous loss of drinking water caused by non-stop droughts, by simply using less water?  How does this co-exist with Newsom’s demand for 2.5 Million new homes to be built by 2031, when the average home uses more than 300 gallons of water per day? That is an additional 750,000,000 gallons a day for the 2.5 million new homes or 273.75 billion gallons of additional water a year.  Why did the city of Santa Barbara and county not reject this preposterous number, when it means 8,000 new homes to be built in eight years within city limits alone? The number for the county as a whole is 24,856 additional homes.  Where were/are our elected officials in rejecting these numbers from the state? ... ”  Read more from the Santa Barbara News-Press here: Column: Did You Know: California water woes

Ventura County editorial: Tell Californians clearly — save water

The Ventura County Star editorial board writes, “Californians have been asked to cut back water use by 15%, but in Ventura County there is an even greater need to conserve. The drought has strained water supplies across the state, but as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California notes, “the emergency is particularly acute” in State Water Project-dependent communities.   That’s us, folks.  Unlike most of Southern California, Ventura County relies upon a single source for its imported water — the vast plumbing system know as the State Water Project, which connects some of the flows into the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta to much of the rest of the state. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Editorial: Tell Californians clearly — save water

Camarillo to limit outdoor watering to 10 minutes a week in September

“Camarillo will limit outdoor watering to 10 minutes once a week starting Sept. 1 as the state’s drought continues.  The City Council unanimously approved the cutback Wednesday following a June 14 order by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to reduce watering from 15 to 10 minutes a week.  The decision affects the two-thirds of residents who get their water from the MWD through the Calleguas Municipal Water District. The Camrosa Water District, which already has a 10-minute limit, and several smaller districts supply the remaining third of residents. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Camarillo to limit outdoor watering to 10 minutes a week in September

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Downstream struggle: Phase II of Schafer Dam project begins

“Before the ceremony former Tulare County Supervisor Mike Ennis said he was glad Congressman Kevin McCarthy was going to be at the Phase 2 groundbreaking for the Tule River Spillway enlargement at Schafer Dam and Success Lake, on Friday.  “This has been such a struggle for years,” Ennis said. “The Success Lake/Richard Schafer Dam had so many obstacles through the years. When the Corps thought the dam might be liquified, they were concerned. So they drilled 80 holes in the dam, and millions of dollars later the dam is fine. We are not on a fault line, no concerns there.  “But the real plus is for public safety. The spillway will be raised 10 feet securing flood control and there will be more water storage so farmers will have more irrigation.” … ”  Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Downstream struggle: Phase II of Schafer Dam project begins

State funding brings small San Joaquin Valley town closer to long-term drinking water solution

“The two-street town of Tooleville finally saw significant progress in a decades-long quest for clean drinking water this week when the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced $7.2 million in funding for an interim connection project. Tooleville will be hooked up to the nearby city of Exeter’s water system, something advocates and Tooleville residents have been asking for since the 2010s.  “We’re really excited to see progress on this,” said Michael Claiborne, directing attorney for nonprofit Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, one of the organizations that has assisted Tooleville in its fight for water access. “It’s nice to actually see some positive momentum.” … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: State funding brings small San Joaquin Valley town closer to long-term drinking water solution

Tule River Tribe calls on California for assistance after well runs dry

“Tule River Tribe Chairman Neil Peyron calls on the California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom to assist the Tribe with its immediate water crisis.  “Every Summer, the Tule River Tribe faces water shortages,” said Chairman Neil Peyron. “This year, the problems are exacerbated by climate change, and one of our wells is running dry. As a result, dozens of residents must rely on bottled water or disrupt their families and move.”  Most summers, the Tule River Tribal people must adjust to insufficient water for drinking, basic hygiene, and sanitation. However, this year’s problems are much worse. With one well going dry, dozens of residents in one neighborhood are left without water. … ”  Read more from Yahoo News here:  Tule River Tribe calls on California for assistance after well runs dry

VIDEO: First Point is a foundational structure under the Law of the River on the Kern

“The Kern River is a very highly structured river with multiple weirs, canals and points of measurement.  In this video, we’ll look at what’s known as the First Point of measurement on the river, where it is, and why it’s so important to understanding how the Law of the River govern’s Kern River operations.”  Watch the video here: VIDEO: First Point is a foundational structure under the Law of the River on the Kern

EASTERN SIERRA

Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s recent water purchase agreement doesn’t mean what they say it means

“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (GA) recently announced they had signed a “letter of Intent” (LOI) to purchase approximately 750-acre feet (AF) of state water from the California Aqueduct from Jackson Ranch, a fully entitled, master planned development in Kings County. The water would be imported to the Indian Wells Valley and sold to residents and businesses, but only after costly pipeline infrastructure is permitted and constructed.  To be clear, a LOI is not a binding legal document. On the contrary, a LOI simply states the parties have reached an agreement on basic terms. A future document, usually a ‘Purchase and Sale Agreement,’ spells out terms and conditions, and once signed, makes the agreement legally binding on both parties.  The thing is, the LOI was not signed by any of the members of the current owners of Jackson Ranch, but by Jon Lash whose entity – reportedly Utica J.L.J. LLC – has an option to buy a portion of the Jackson Ranch. This option has not yet been exercised and expires November 20, 2022. … ”  Continue reading from Mojave Pistachios here: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s recent water purchase agreement doesn’t mean what they say it means

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Montecito Water District helps customers avoid water waste

“Recognizing that leaks can be a major water-waster, the Montecito Water District recently checked every customer’s meter for the faucet icon that indicates a potential leak on the property.  More than 800 faucet icons were identified, and the district has mailed notices to these customers so that they are aware of their potential water waste. The district is asking all customers to do everything they can to monitor for leaks and to make any needed repairs right away.  Customers frequently ask about the status of the “smart meter” program. The district has installed new meters, but the “smart” part that will provide real-time data has been delayed due to the global shortage of semiconductor chips. … ”  Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Montecito Water District helps customers avoid water waste

Metropolitan board’s diversity, equity, inclusion forum paves path for future progress

“Continuing on its path to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, Metropolitan Water District leaders this week convened its first-ever Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum focused on creating a strong sense of belonging for all.  Metropolitan’s Board of Directors, executive managers, employees and the public participated in the district’s inaugural workshop on Tuesday (Aug. 23). The “Play to Win, Advancing Inclusive Excellence” event explored best-in-class practices to advance inclusive leadership and strategies to support a diverse workforce. Speakers from external companies and organizations also shared about diversity’s critical role and how those values translate into success. … ”  Continue reading at the Metropolitan Water District here: Metropolitan board’s diversity, equity, inclusion forum paves path for future progress

SAN DIEGO

Study: Increased — but still low — levels of water radiation around the San Onofre nuclear plant

“A test to measure the amount of radioactive isotopes in the beach water near the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station showed higher levels than what is currently found along the coast of California but in concentrations well within legal drinking water limits.  The Surfrider Foundation, an environmental group based in San Clemente, funded the study and collected samples that were tested by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, looking to see if “batch releases” of wastewater that come out of the plant have led to a measurable increase in the levels of Cesium-134 and 137 isotopes in the ocean. ... ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Study: Increased — but still low — levels of water radiation around the San Onofre nuclear plant

New public opinion poll shows most county residents are saving water

“San Diego County residents have taken multiple actions to conserve water and nearly two-thirds feel they can do more, according to a regional public opinion survey released by the San Diego County Water Authority.  As in prior polls, approximately nine in ten respondents recognize the importance of water to the San Diego region’s economy and quality of life, and an overwhelming majority (88%) agree that they have a civic duty to use water efficiently. Even though conservation has become a way of life in San Diego County, two-thirds (66%) of respondents feel they can do “a little more” or “much more” to conserve.  “San Diego County residents appreciate the importance of a safe and reliable water supply, and they are taking actions to ensure the long-term reliability of the water supply,” said Water Authority Board Chair Gary Croucher. … ”  Read more from the San Diego County Water Authority here: New public opinion poll shows most county residents are saving water

Money available for low-income water customers in San Diego County

“The San Diego County Water Authority has helped secure financial aid for low-income water customers in the region to cover overdue residential water and wastewater bills. As part of its commitment to water affordability, the Water Authority is partnering with the Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty of San Diego County (MAAC) and Campesinos Unidos, Inc. to provide outreach and education that ensures residents who are struggling economically are aware of this funding.  The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federally funded program that offers one-time payments to cover outstanding residential water and/or wastewater bills. The federal government allocated $116 million to California to help households struggling to pay their water bills. … ”  Read more from the San Diego County Water Authority here: Money available for low-income water customers in San Diego County

Revised climate action plan would bolster San Diego’s marshland

“The city of San Diego updated its climate action plan this month, creating a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city to net-zero by 2035. Among the new initiatives in the plan is a program that lets nature help the city work towards zero-carbon emissions. The plan involves restoring 700 acres of wetlands along the coast. Environmentalists say the wetlands will help San Diego mitigate sea level rise and absorb of carbon dioxide from the air. … ”  Read more from KPBS here: Revised climate action plan would bolster San Diego’s marshland

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Along the Colorado River …

The struggle to save the Colorado River stalls, but potential solutions emerge

“What happens when the law of the river and the river no longer work well together?  One hundred years of the Colorado River Compact — the agreement that divides 15 million acre feet of water each year among the seven states of the Colorado River basin and Mexico — has wrecked on the shoals of a drier climate and 22 years of drought.  The compact as is doesn’t work anymore, various water and legal experts say.  The river is over-appropriated — there’s much more demand for the water than there is supply — and that gap is growing.  The crisis on the Colorado River is growing. … ”  Read more from the Gazette here: The struggle to save the Colorado River stalls, but potential solutions emerge

Climate scientist: ‘This isn’t a drought. It’s something else;’ ‘The desert just to the south of us is moving our way’

“The above-average monsoon season along the Upper Basin of the Colorado River has brought relief after recent summers suffocated by wildfire smoke in the American West. But, according to Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist at the Colorado Water Institute and director of the Western Water Assessment at Colorado State University, the relief we’re feeling now is a sign of bigger problems for years to come.  “Next year’s runoff will be really interesting to see what happens. It will be a test of this theory of depleted soil moisture,” Udall told a packed room at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center on Aug. 19. … ”  Read more from Summit Daily here: Climate scientist: ‘This isn’t a drought. It’s something else;’ ‘The desert just to the south of us is moving our way’

How water use has to change: 3 problems that loom over Colorado River ‘solutions’

“With only about a fourth of Lake Mead’s water remaining and the Colorado River under attack, it’s time to change the conversation about water in the Southwest U.S., according to one conservationist.  Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, said Thursday that projects designed to solve water shortages for some despite impact on others need to be stopped “dead in their tracks.”  “Whether it’s the Lake Powell pipeline, whether it’s the Cove Reservoir proposal, whether it’s the Gross Dam expansion, whether it’s the Fontenelle, whether it’s the Green River block exchange, whether it’s the Cedar City water grab … I can go on,” he said. He named six, but he said there are about a dozen that need to die. ... ”  Read more from Channel 8 here: How water use has to change: 3 problems that loom over Colorado River ‘solutions’

How will more Colorado River water cuts affect Southern Arizona?

“Arizona’s share of Colorado River Water is due for another cut as levels in key reservoirs continue to fall.  Lakes Mead and Powell are both nearing 200 feet below capacity, and a federal deadline for another agreement amongst the river states has come and gone without a plan being formed amongst the states that use a share of the water.  “States love to talk about collaboration,” said Alex Hager, Managing Editor and Reporter at the Colorado River Reporting Project based out of NPR member station KUNC. “They talk a big talk about how the only way out of this problem is a collective solution. But when the rubber meets the road, as it did during this massive call for conservation, they were unable to rouse that collective energy.” … ”  Read more from Arizona Public Media here: How will more Colorado River water cuts affect Southern Arizona?

Local Opinion: Feds’ failure on Colorado River cuts hurts Arizona

Kirsten Engel, a former state senator, an environmental attorney, and a candidate for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, writes, “Once again, Arizona is bearing the brunt of a national, indeed a global, crisis. The Colorado River, lifeblood of 40 million Americans, is in peril. Long known to be over-allocated, unprecedented climate change-driven drought is today finally forcing a reckoning that drastic cuts will be required to preserve the once mighty river.  Climate change makes this everyone’s problem. But inaction by President Biden’s Department of the Interior has made it Arizona’s problem. The good news is that the Biden administration can require cuts be taken equitably from all Lower Basin states, and importantly, from the river’s biggest water user, California. The bad news is that it has failed to follow through on its promise to do so. The even worse news is that, as a result, Arizona will be forced to continue to sacrifice more, while California and other states continue to use water in a crisis. This unfair distinction will carry far reaching and harmful consequences for farmers, municipalities and future generations. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star here:  Local Opinion: Feds’ failure on Colorado River cuts hurts Arizona

7 states and federal government lack direction on cutbacks from the Colorado River

“As the Colorado River shrinks, the seven states in the western United States that rely on it for water and power need to cut their use dramatically to keep the biggest reservoirs from getting critically low, according to federal analysts.  But a recent deadline for a plan to conserve an unprecedented amount of water came and went without many specifics from either the states or the federal government on how to achieve the cutbacks.  In June, federal officials gave leaders in the states the draw from the river — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — a mid-August deadline to come up with a plan to conserve 2 to 4 million acre-feet of water across the Southwestern watershed. … ” Read more from NPR here:  7 states and federal government lack direction on cutbacks from the Colorado River

Unique Colorado project could guide decisions on water usage for the West

“The Crested Butte region has it all — flowers, streams and towering peaks — and now it’s also temporarily home to a research facility that’s part of a program unlike any other.  “This is really North America’s first atmosphere-to-bedrock field observatory,” said Ken Williams, senior scientist for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. “These just don’t exist.”  Williams, who has been tracking groundwater levels in the East River Valley near Crested Butte since 2014, is talking about the SAIL project, short for Surface Atmospheric Integrated Field Laboratory. ... ”  Read more from Channel 9 here: Unique Colorado project could guide decisions on water usage for the West

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In national water news this weekend …

EPA to designate ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances

“The Environmental Protection Agency moved Friday to designate two “forever chemicals” used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, a step that would clear the way for quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.  Designation as a hazardous substance under the so-called Superfund law doesn’t ban the chemicals. But it requires that releases of PFOA and PFOS into soil or water be reported to federal, state or tribal officials if they meet or exceed certain levels. The EPA could then require cleanups to protect public health and recover cleanup costs. ... ” Read more from AP here: EPA to designate ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances

Scorching, global drought has uncovered lost artifacts around the world

“A worldwide drought has devastated communities across the globe, but it also has fascinated millions as historic artifacts have come to the surface, igniting memories from decades to centuries before.  This August, Texas’ Dinosaur Valley State Park saw rare dinosaur tracks that are usually covered by water and sediment. With the Paluxy River running through only a portion of its usual berth, tracks from Acrocanthosaurus dinosaurs have come to the light.  Jeff Davis, parks superintendent at Dinosaur Valley, told ABC News these tracks could date back millions of years. Davis added that Sauroposeidon tracks have become visible on the opposite side of the park, adding to the season’s remarkable attractions. … ”  Read more from ABC Bay Area here: Scorching, global drought has uncovered lost artifacts around the world

Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

NOTICE of acceptance of Sites Project Authority water right application

NOTICE of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding the Delta Levees Investment Strategy

YOU’RE INVITED: 30×30 Partnership Kick-Off

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