On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife will meet upon the call of the chair. Click here for the agenda.
- WEBINAR: A life cycle model for evaluating estuary residency and restoration potential in Chinook salmon from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Life cycle models generate predictions at scales relevant to conservation and are an advantageous approach to managing and conserving anadromous salmon that use multiple habitats throughout their life cycle. This presentation will walk through how life cycle monitoring data throughout Redwood Creek was integrated into a life cycle model to evaluate restoration potential in different habitats. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Ranchers, tribes, state officials clash over Shasta River water
“The land that Jim Scala and his family have been ranching for three generations is parched and brown as far as he can see. The pond where his cattle used to drink is now a puddle, ringed with cracked mud. With bills mounting from trucking in water and buying hay to replace dead pasture, and facing the prospect of selling half his herd, Scala and others made a decision to defy the state’s order. “We said, ‘To hell with it,’” Scala said. “We’re starting the pumps.” In a single day in mid-August, the Shasta River’s flows dropped by more than half and stayed there for a week, which could jeopardize the salmon and other fish that spawn there. Klamath river tribes were outraged, and California water regulators sounded the alarm. The State Water Resources Control Board ordered the Shasta River Water Association, which serves roughly 110 farms and ranches in central Siskiyou County, to stop pumping. … The weeklong standoff crystallized a warning from California water watchers: The state has limited power to speedily intervene in urgent conflicts over water, which are expected to flare across the state as drought squeezes water supplies for ranches, farms, tribes, cities and fish. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Ranchers, tribes, state officials clash over Shasta River water
RELATED: The State Water Board takes enforcement action against Shasta River Water Association for illegal diversions, press release from the State Water Resources Control Board
Bird migration season to see drought with possible increase of disease
“As the season transitions to the fall, migratory birds are heading south for the summer and are faced with drought challenges. Mary Muchowski, executive director of Altacal Audubon Society, said that around this time of the year, local birds and birds that migrate along the Northern California mountains begin to drop down into the valley on their journey to Central America. As California continues with severe drought, these migratory birds will face another season of challenges as many shallow bodies of water, wildlife refuges and rice fields have less water. “They will still migrate and they will try and find as much water as they can,” Muchowski said. “But it could lead to things like increased disease because they’ll be more cramped.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Bird migration season to see drought with possible increase of disease
Lake Oroville boat ramp closes as lake levels continue to drop
“The State Parks’ Superintendent Aaron Wright tells Action News Now the Lime Saddle Boat Ramp off of Pentz Rd. in Paradise is officially closed. This comes as Lake Oroville water levels continue to drop. Wright says the ramp is only designed to go down to 702 ft. and there needs to be at least 5 ft. of water to be able to launch safely. Lake levels are around 708 ft. making it unsafe to launch. Employees at the Lime Saddle Marina say there’s only a couple feet of concrete left before it’s just dirt, cables and anchor points. … ” Read more from Action News Now here: Lake Oroville boat ramp closes as lake levels continue to drop
‘It’s a scary time’; Life-long Central Valley farmer threatened by drought conditions
“Cannon Michael and his family have deep roots farming the fertile fields of the Central Valley, but the worsening California drought has him on edge. “It keeps you up at night and you wonder what the future is going to hold It’s a scary time,” Michael told KPIX. He manages the Bowles Farming Company — 11,000 acres of farmland located outside of Los Banos in Merced County and takes pride in his yearly harvest. But like his contemporaries, the lack of rainfall has Michael casting a weary eye on the immediate future. This year, his farm saw a 25% cut in water supplies, and he knows there may be more. … ” Read more from CBS News here: ‘It’s a scary time’; Life-long Central Valley farmer threatened by drought conditions
Audio: Preserving the California food supply with sound solutions
“William Bourdeau is Vice President of Harris Farms, a Director of Westlands Water District, and Chairman of the Board of the California Water Alliance. He speaks about preserving the California Food Supply for the Future.” Listen at Cal Ag Today (10:08) here: Audio: Preserving the California food supply with sound solutions
Western farm coalition: Drought assistance urgent
“Citing the dire challenges agricultural water users face in the West, a coalition of western agriculture groups is calling on the Department of the Interior to immediately put into effect the $4 billion in drought funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. “Beyond the urgency of the dire hydrological situation faced in many western watersheds, this prompt action is essential for a variety of other reasons,” the coalition said in a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. Significant time and effort are being put into the development of response plans. For those to result in meaningful progress, it is essential to understand the key factors that will be considered in providing any future financial assistance, the coalition said. ... ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Western farm coalition: Drought assistance urgent
SEE ALSO: Western Agricultural Coalition stresses immediate implementation of drought funding, from The Packer
Fallout from Kings County water war continues as state mulls groundwater plan
“There’s no word, yet, of state intervention in the ongoing water war between two of Kings County’s largest growers – John Vidovich and the J.G. Boswell Company – but there has been fallout. Kimberly Brown, a board member of the Southwest Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency, resigned August 10 in protest of last-minute language added to the region’s groundwater plan. That language, it’s widely believed, could prompt negative action from the state Department of Water Resources affecting the entire subbasin. Brown’s response is significant as she not only represented the Dudley Ridge Water District on the groundwater agency, she is also a vice president of the large and powerful Wonderful Orchards farming company. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Fallout from Kings County water war continues as state mulls groundwater plan
Assembly passes Sen. Dodd’s water access & equity bill
“With hundreds of thousands of Californians falling behind on their water bills, the state Assembly today approved legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, to establish a water utility assistance fund to prevent low-income families from losing access to this essential service. “Rising water rates coupled with pandemic job losses threaten to cut off many California families from an essential service – water,” Sen. Dodd said. “No one should be denied access, regardless of their income level or economic status. Today’s vote is a step toward ensuring low-income customers get the help they need to keep the tap open. I thank my Assembly colleagues for supporting this measure.” … ” Read more from Senator Dodd’s website here: Assembly passes Sen. Dodd’s water access & equity bill
Meadow restoration efforts yield long-term climate change mitigation benefits
“Restoration efforts in montane meadows designed to increase late-season water flows, improve water quality, diminish flood events and provide valuable habitat have been ongoing for decades in the Sierra Nevada. It has been known that, generally, healthy meadows also soak up and hold carbon in the soil, becoming natural “sinks” for carbon, and decreasing harmful atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, how much carbon restored meadows can sequester and for how long they can consistently do so has been unclear, until now. A new study recently published in the scientific journal Ecological Applications and led by researchers in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources at the University of Nevada, Reno, has demonstrated that restored Sierra Nevada meadows continue to successfully sequester carbon for more than 20 years, and at rates that exceed international climate change mitigation goals by up to 10 times. … ” Continue reading at Nevada Today here: Meadow restoration efforts yield long-term climate change mitigation benefits
Sustainable Conservation: A look back on spring’s Climate Resilience from the Ground Up
“A resounding THANK YOU to everyone who joined us this spring for our Climate Resilience from the Ground Up event series! If you didn’t get a chance to join us, or if you want to take a closer look at a particular subject area, we’ve got a one-stop-shop video round-up for you below. Click, watch, learn, and don’t hesitate to tweet your questions at us using the hashtag #CRFtGU.” Available videos include In Conversation: CEO Ashley Boren and CA Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot; A Restored California is a Resilient California; and A Watershed Approach to Drought, Fires, and Flood. Check it out from Sustainable Conservation here: Sustainable Conservation: A look back on spring’s Climate Resilience from the Ground Up
California’s large reservoirs need better management
“As climate change and drought continue to intensify, aging infrastructure across California must be reevaluated. Specifically, California needs a new approach for managing large reservoirs, a new report from the Public Policy Institute of California “Storing Water for the Environment” argues. PPIC CalTrout Ecosystem Fellow Sarah Null was the lead author on this paper. Reservoirs in California are important for the many benefits they provide: flood control, water supply, hydropower, and recreation. However, their construction and management also presents many environmental harms including loss of habitat for native fish above dams and degraded freshwater ecosystems below. The visual below shows fish species affected by dams that prevent them from reaching historic habitat. As freshwater ecosystems suffer, water users are also faced with regulatory uncertainty. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: California’s large reservoirs need better management
Toxic algal bloom spreads along California coast, poisoning sea lions
“The rapid growth of harmful algae along parts of the Southern California coast is producing high concentrations of a toxin that affects California sea lions. It has ledto strandings of more than 60 of the marine mammals since mid-August. Many have acted erratically, suffered from seizures, and in some cases died. Volunteer responders have been fielding about 100 calls about sick sea lions every day, said Ruth Dover, Managing Director of Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute in Santa Barbara. The Institute responds to marine mammal strandings in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Growth of the toxic algae Pseudo-nitzschia is expected to continue in coming days, according to forecasts from the California Harmful Algae Risk Mapping (C-HARM) system. The algae produces a neurotoxin called domoic acid, which accumulates in fish such as sardines, anchovies, and squid. The toxin then transfers to predators such as sea lions and birds that prey on the fish—causing seizures, brain damage, and sometimes death. … ” Read more from NOAA here: Toxic algal bloom spreads along California coast, poisoning sea lions
‘Very dangerous’ heat may reignite fire season in western U.S.
“A quiet late summer for western wildfires may be about to come to an abrupt end. Weather models are indicating that a potentially extreme and prolonged heat wave will build over western states this week and into the Labor Day weekend. The National Weather Service in Sacramento is warning of a “very dangerous heat risk” with high temperatures well above 100 degrees. Although a supercharged monsoon brought a welcome reprieve from the smoke-filled summer skies and destructive wildfires of the past two years, not every region has seen soaking rain. Much of California is entering autumn parched and flammable after a months-long dry season, as are parts of the Pacific Northwest into Nevada, Idaho and Montana. And the heat wave is arriving just as windy weather patterns begin to increase in the West. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: ‘Very dangerous’ heat may reignite fire season in western U.S. | Read via MSN News
In commentary today …
Newsom’s water strategy needs to go a step further
Sarah Null, the 2021–22 CalTrout Ecosystem Fellow at the PPIC Water Policy Center, and Jeffrey Mount, a geomorphologist and senior fellow at the PPIC Water Policy Center, write, “Two weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his water supply strategy, which is designed to address California’s warming climate and increasing drought intensity. Central to this strategy is expanding storage to capture water during wet periods and to help urban and agricultural users make it through dry times. But why stop there? What about storing water for the environment? In our recent Public Policy Institute of California report, titled “Storing Water for the Environment: Operating Reservoirs to Improve Freshwater Ecosystems,” we explore how to do a better job of managing rivers that are affected by large dams and how to make restoring river health a primary objective of reservoir management. ... ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Newsom’s water strategy needs to go a step further
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Two Klamath Basin wildlife refuges close to bird hunting due to extreme drought
“On the morning of Aug. 26, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuges will be closed to all public bird hunting for the 2022-2023 season. The reason for the closures? Both refuges are out of water. “The decision to close the hunt season was based on the ongoing and severe drought conditions and lack of available habitat, including food, water and shelter to support upland game and migratory water birds,” a FWS press release says. It notes that upland game bird, general waterfowl, special group waterfowl, and late season duck and goose hunting will all be impacted. … ” Read more from Outdoor Life here: Two Klamath Basin wildlife refuges close to bird hunting due to extreme drought
Tribes, conservationists applaud FERC recommendation to remove Klamath dams
“The federal government issued a report recommending the removal of the lower four dams on the Klamath River, and the area’s tribes and conservationists are applauding the decision. “We can see the light at the end of the dam removal tunnel,” Karuk Chairman Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery said in a statement. “I am so proud of everyone in our river communities that have worked so hard for the past 20 years to realize our vision of river restoration.” On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the final environmental impact statement for the removal of the lower four dams on the Klamath River with a recommendation to remove them with some conditions. The commission staff recommended their removal because it would not only benefit the restoration of the ecosystem, but also the restoration of tribal practices and traditions that were disrupted by the construction of the dams. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Tribes, conservationists applaud FERC recommendation to remove Klamath dams
SEE ALSO: FERC endorses nation’s largest dam removal project, from E&E News
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma continues to lag in water conservation efforts
“The rolling, grassy hills of Sonoma Valley turned their iconic color of California blonde months ago as the parched landscape and its residents wait for the first significant rainfall, which may be months away amid the state’s mega drought. But a year after being named one of the worst performing cities in Sonoma County in terms of water conservation, according to California state water resource control board data, the city of Sonoma is starting to catch up, although more drops are needed to meet local conservation goals. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette here: Sonoma continues to lag in water conservation efforts
Virtual town hall to update public on drought Sept. 1
” Sonoma County officials will present an update on the drought and its impacts on Sonoma County during a virtual town hall meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, the fifth in the county’s series of monthly public forums on the drought. Hosted by Supervisor Chris Coursey, the town hall will feature a panel of experts reporting on the relationship between the drought, climate change and wildfire, including an updated weather forecast for Sonoma County; a report on an innovative project to store water in underground aquifers for use in future droughts; and a presentation on how to install a water catchment system or rain garden before winter. Register in advance to view the town hall live on Zoom and to pose written questions to panelists during the briefing. Questions may also be submitted in advance to publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org. … ” More information from the County of Sonoma here: Virtual town hall to update public on drought Sept. 1
North Bay city leads Bay Area and California for water conservation during historic drought
“A North Bay community is leading the way when it comes to conserving water during our ongoing historic drought. “I’m super proud of Petaluma,” said Natasha Juliana. Juliana knows her city has been crushing it when it comes to saving water. “I didn’t know how much water you can get out of your sink and shower,” she said. Natasha works for Cool Petaluma, a grass roots nonprofit, helping to mobilize people to take climate action and save water. Through its website, hundreds of neighbors are now participating in the challenge to conserve. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: North Bay city leads Bay Area and California for water conservation during historic drought
BAY AREA
Q & A: What’s causing the mass die-off of Bay Area fish?
“One of the Bay Area’s largest algae blooms in recent memory could intensify with the arrival later this week of the longest, most intense heat wave of the year — creating pitch-perfect conditions for the toxic algae to potentially kill even more fish across the San Francisco Bay, experts and water regulators said Monday. The bloom — which is a chief suspect in the killing of thousands of fish across the San Francisco Bay over the last several days — appears to be affecting everything from tiny yellowfin goby to sharks, bat rays and possibly even green sturgeon, an already threatened species. Experts and water quality regulators have little idea about when this so-called red tide event will end. And for the time being, they say, there is no readily available solution to reverse its course and curtail the die-off of Bay Area marine life. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Q & A: What’s causing the mass die-off of Bay Area fish?
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- Is it still safe to swim in Bay Area waters amid toxic algae bloom? Experts weigh in, from ABC 7
- Bay Area’s red tide could cause 10,000 fish to wash ashore. The smell is already ‘horrible’, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- S.F. Bay’s algae bloom is the largest in over a decade. Here’s why it’s puzzling scientists, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Photos: Toxic algae bloom kills fish in San Francisco Bay, from the LA Times
Commentary: Examining Marin Municipal Water District decisions from a firefighters’ perspective
Matthew Samson, of Terra Linda and deputy fire chief in South San Francisco, writes, “As a deputy fire chief, I recognize an emergency when I see one. The Marin Municipal Water District is facing multiple emergencies, from drought to wildfire to climate change. It is not adequately responding to or preparing for any of them. This is not just my perspective as a fire service professional. These are the official findings of an independent 2022 Marin County Civil Grand Jury report that stated, “Last year’s drought emergency could have been avoided, if MMWD had taken sufficient measures to provide for a resilient water supply.” Marin grand juries in 1991, 2004 and 2007 were similarly critical. Change is long overdue. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Commentary: Examining Marin Municipal Water District decisions from a firefighters’ perspective
Opposition grows to Santa Clara Valley Water District’s plans for a dam
“A lawsuit filed against Santa Clara Valley Water District now has two more plaintiffs. The groups say they’re against the proposed Pacheco Dam because they believe it will destroy the environment and sacred land. The Stop the Pacheco Dam Coalition filed the lawsuit back in June, claiming Valley Water is trying to avoid following state guidelines before building the dam. Now the Sierra Club and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band say they agree with the coalition and are joining the lawsuit. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Opposition grows to Santa Clara Valley Water District’s plans for a dam
CENTRAL COAST
Some Central, South Coast communities tightening water use restrictions as drought impacts hit home
“With the impacts of the drought continuing to grow on the Central and South Coasts, many communities are ramping up water use restrictions. In the City of Thousand Oaks, the city’s limitations on the use of spray sprinklers could go from 15, to ten minutes a day starting on Thursday. The City Council will vote on it Tuesday. The city has had advanced mandatory conservation measure in place since June. And, it hired a private security firm to help with overnight water patrols. So far, more than a thousand warnings have been issued, without fines. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Some Central, South Coast communities tightening water use restrictions as drought impacts hit home
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
City of Lindsay offering rebates, incentives to encourage water conservation
“A Tulare County community is offering rebates and other incentives to help residents conserve water. With California’s drought only worsening, the city of Lindsay is working to conserve as much water as possible. City Manager Joe Tanner says he sees people making an effort. “A lot of it is just about educating folks and getting the word out and once we can do that, they genuinely understand and want to see the situation improve,” says Tanner. … ” Read more from Channel 30 here: City of Lindsay offering rebates, incentives to encourage water conservation
Tule River Tribe seeks $6.6 million from state to deal with immediate water crisis
“The Tule Rive Tribe is asking for $6.6 million from the state to provide immediate assistance in helping the Tule River Indian Reservation with its dire water situation. Tule River Tribe Chairman Neil Peyron has called on the the State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom to provide the funding to hep the Tribe deal with its immediate water crisis. “Every Summer, the Tule River Tribe faces water shortages,” Peyron said. “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.” … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Tule River Tribe seeks $6.6 million from state to deal with immediate water crisis
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins Tule River Spillway Enlargement Phase 2
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District held a groundbreaking ceremony today at the Shafer Dam spillway, on the banks of Success Lake near Porterville, California, to mark the beginning of Phase 2 construction on the Tule River Spillway Enlargement project. “This project is about protecting the safety and well-being of the key community in California’s Central Valley,” said Col. Chad Caldwell, commander of the Sacramento District. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains committed to serving them and our nation.” The purpose of the project is to lower the flood risk for downstream communities by increasing the capacity of Success Lake by 28,000 acre-feet, which will also support the lake’s additional purposes of water storage and recreation. … ” Continue reading from the US Army Corps here: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins Tule River Spillway Enlargement Phase 2
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
15-day lawn watering restriction begins next week as Metropolitan Water District crews repair pipeline
“Residents throughout the Southland will yet again be faced with additional watering restrictions as state officials work to limit overuse in the face of California’s worst drought in 1,200 years. The 15-day shutdown is scheduled to begin on Sept. 6 as Metropolitan Water District crews work on repairing a crucial pipeline that serves more than 4 million Southern Californians, affecting areas like Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Fernando, Torrance, and those served by the Central Basin Municipal Water district, Foothill Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and the West Basin Municipal Water District. ... ” Read more from CBS LA here: 15-day lawn watering restriction begins next week as Municipal Water District crews repair pipeline
Get ready for Southern California’s hottest and longest heat wave of the year
“A new week, a new month, a new heat wave — this one the hottest so far this year. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for much of Southern California, as temperatures are expected to hit triple digits this week and into Labor Day weekend. This week’s excessive heat for the region will be the warmest and longest heat wave so far this summer, said David Sweet, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Oxnard, adding that record temperatures are possible. A large dome of hot air sitting over Central and Southern California is driving the heat wave, Sweet said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Get ready for Southern California’s hottest and longest heat wave of the year | Read via AOL News
Don’t beat the heat wave at these L.A. County beaches: Bacteria levels spur water warnings
“Los Angeles County public health officials issued ocean water warnings for four beaches Monday after recent tests found high bacterial levels in the water. The Santa Monica Pier, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey, inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu are covered by the Department of Public Health advisory. Visitors to the beaches are advised to avoid swimming and other activities because bacterial levels exceeded state health standards when they were last tested. Swimming in the waters could cause illness, the Department of Public Health said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Don’t beat the heat wave at these L.A. County beaches: Bacteria levels spur water warnings
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Cadiz Water Project promises free water for Salton Sea area
“As California’s water crisis deepens, a new project aims to help conserve resources and ensure disadvantaged communities are not left behind. Cadiz Inc. is hanging onto its years-long goal of storing water before it evaporates and then selling or giving it away to communities in Southern California. “We cannot afford to watch billions of gallons of water evaporate in the air while people don’t have access to clean drinking water,” said Susan Kennedy, Executive Chair of Cadiz Inc. Cadiz incorporated owns over 70 square miles of property in the eastern Mojave Desert and are hoping to turn the land into a key conservation site. … ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs here: Cadiz Water Project promises free water for Salton Sea area
SAN DIEGO
Commentary: California tribes need better access to clean water
Bo Mazetti, chair of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and president of the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, writes, “Water is everything. Without water, there is no life. As president of the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, the oldest congressionally chartered Indian water authority in the nation, which provides water rights and oversight services to five tribes in Northern San Diego County, I have witnessed firsthand the long years of struggle that our people have undertaken to survive without adequate access to clean water needs. On Aug. 9 in Sacramento, the California Assembly held a joint hearing of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs. This was the first meeting of its kind — an official state hearing to discuss the many water issues that tribes in California face. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Commentary: California tribes need better access to clean water
Along the Colorado River …
Additional water cuts could be coming to Yuma farmers, threatening supply of leafy greens
“Could the lettuce you see on store shelves not only in Arizona but nationwide become harder and harder to find? That’s at risk of being the case with ongoing water woes and more potential water cuts in Yuma. It all comes down to if an agreement is reached and what that agreement looks like. The water cuts made by the Bureau of Reclamation to the Colorado River that will affect Pinal County farmers will not affect Yuma farmers. Still, the bureau said there needs to be millions more cuts to the water, and Yuma farmers may take the brunt of it. The big picture problem: Yuma provides 90% of the nation’s leafy greens like lettuce and spinach during the winter months, and now that could be at risk. … ” Read more from Arizona Family here: Additional water cuts could be coming to Yuma farmers, threatening supply of leafy greens
These Arizona residents are in danger of being cut off from their water supply
“The Rio Verde Foothills is a hike, literally and figuratively. Winding through dirt roads and nestled between the mountains, it’s about an hour northeast of downtown Phoenix. The nearest grocery store is a 30 minutes away. Meredith DeAngelis moved here from Scottsdale. “It’s very different living up here. So we really moved out here to have some space, to have some acreage.” Acreage she has. But easy access to water she does not. “We’re on septic. We have hauled water. A lot of people don’t know what that means, but basically we have an above ground water tank.” DeAngelis says that’s caused her and family to see water a lot differently. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: These Arizona residents are in danger of being cut off from their water supply
Lake Mead’s water level has never been lower. Here’s what that means.
“The American West is facing its most severe drought in human history. Research suggests conditions are drier now than they have been for at least 1,200 years, and, compounded by the effects of climate change, will likely persist for another decade. Communities across the region are contending with the consequences of less water. Unmanageable wildfires have burned millions of acres of land as crops withered and air quality declined. But mounting concerns about the mega-drought seemed to reach a peak in recent months, when its repercussions became startlingly clear at Lake Mead. The reservoir, the country’s largest by volume, sank to record-low elevation levels this summer. Photos revealed cracked earth and barren canyons while satellite images showed the reservoir’s shrinking shorelines from space. ... ” Read more from CBS News here: Lake Mead’s water level has never been lower. Here’s what that means.
A shrinking Lake Powell could herald an even worse water crisis in the Southwest’s future
“As climate change worsens, Americans who live in the Southwest will be hit very, very hard: experts predict that large cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas are going to be uninhabitable within decades, as will the surrounding metropolitan areas in their home states of Arizona and Nevada. Those regions are expected to overheat, like an oven with a temperature that constantly rises; by contrast, as the water cycle intensifies, there is apt to be more flash floods like the ones which already occurred in St. Louis, Mo. and throughout the state of Kentucky. Already, there are some omens pointing to the Southwest’s harsh future … ” Read more from Salon here: A shrinking Lake Powell could herald an even worse water crisis in the Southwest’s future
Commentary: It’s not just the Colorado River drying up. It’s the Rhine, the Volga, the Danube …
Phil Boas, an editorial columnist for The Arizona Republic, writes, “In Arizona, we have been lately hyper-focused on our diminishing Colorado River water supply and what it means for our future. We’ve watched the receding water lines that reveal historic relics and what may be the hidden skeletons of the Vegas mob families. We’ve been so hyperfocused, many of us have failed to see the bigger picture – the bigger and more disturbing picture. Many of the great rivers of the world are starting to dry up – at once. From the Yangtze to the Rhine to the Danube to the Tiber and Po to the Elbe and the Volga – spanning not just continents but much of the globe. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Commentary: It’s not just the Colorado River drying up. It’s the Rhine, the Volga, the Danube …
SEE ALSO: Photo gallery: Where the water once flowed: Rivers and lakes dry up as droughts take toll, from Reuters
In national water news today …
EPA releases proposed rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the pre-publication of the long-awaited Proposed Rule designating perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as “Superfund.” The White House Office of Management and Budget found the proposed rule to be economically significant. This designation means the rule is expected to annually cost $100 million or more, and requires the EPA to conduct a Regulatory Impact Analysis. … ” Read more from Best Best & Krieger here: EPA releases proposed rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA
National Academies: Guidance on PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up
“In thousands of communities across the United States, drinking water is contaminated with chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are used in a wide range of products such as non-stick cookware, water and stain repellent fabrics, and fire-fighting foam because they have properties that repel oil and water, reduce friction, and resist temperature changes (learn more). Exposure to PFAS has been linked to an increased risk of several adverse health effects, including certain cancers, thyroid dysfunction, small reductions in birth weight, and high cholesterol. A report from the National Academies recommends that Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) should revise its existing PFAS clinical guidance to say that clinicians should offer education and blood testing to patients who are likely to have a history of elevated exposure to PFAS, such as those exposed through their work or who live in areas with known PFAS contamination. … ” Read more from the National Academies here: National Academies: Guidance on PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up
Data centers, backbone of the digital economy, face water scarcity and climate risk
“Data centers are springing up around the world to handle the torrent of information from the expanding web of devices ingrained in people’s lives and the economy. Managing that digital information gusher is big business. It also comes with hidden environmental costs. For years, companies that operate data centers have faced scrutiny for the huge amounts of electricity they use storing and moving digital information like emails and videos. Now, the U.S. public is beginning to take notice of the water many facilities require to keep from overheating. Like cooling systems in large office buildings, water often is evaporated in data center cooling towers, leaving behind salty wastewater known as blowdown that has to be treated by local utilities. … ” Continue reading from NPR here: Data centers, backbone of the digital economy, face water scarcity and climate risk
Top 6 environmental issues in the 2022
“As the latest IPCC report warned, it is ‘now or never’ to limit global warming below 1.5C. Countries around the world are already bearing the brunt of climate change but the reality is that, unless we reverse this trend, the effects that we are going to experience in the near future are going to be significantly more devastating. The US is certainly not spared by global warming. From north to south, from east to west, all of its states are affected by pollution and extreme weather events in some shape or form. Here are the top environmental issues in North America and what the government is doing to tackle them. ... ” Read more from Earth.org here: Top 6 environmental issues in the 2022
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Moving Water, Protecting Fish
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