On the calendar today …
- SCOPING MEETING: Yolo Basin Cache Slough Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (Online) beginning at 10am. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is pleased to invite you to attend Scoping Meetings for the Yolo Basin Cache Slough Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is holding public meetings to receive comments on the scope and content of the Master Plan PEIR. Click here for the agenda. Join via Webex: https://cadwr.webex.com/meet/CVFPB or join via phone at: 1-844-517-1271 (access code: 1328038250).
- WEBINAR: Webinar No. 2 on County Drought Plan for Domestic Wells and State Small Water Systems from 1pm to 3pm. This is the second of four webinars to inform and solicit input from stakeholders on the development of a guidebook to support the preparation of County Drought Plans, which focus on state small water systems and domestic wells as required under SB 552. During this second webinar, DWR will review portions of the draft guidebook covering key content related to establishing a county drought and water shortage task force, conducting a drought risk assessment, and plan development for emergency and interim drinking water solutions. Click here to register.
- SCOPING MEETING: Yolo Basin Cache Slough Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report – West Sacramento beginning at 6pm. The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is pleased to invite you to attend Scoping Meetings for the Yolo Basin Cache Slough Master Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is holding public meetings to receive comments on the scope and content of the Master Plan PEIR. Click here for the agenda. The meeting will be held at the West Sacramento Community Center, 1075 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento, CA 95691.
In California water news today …
NGOs release evaluation of DWR’s determinations on 2020 Groundwater Sustainability Plans in Critically Overdrafted Basins
“Of the 46 GSPs submitted in January 2020, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) determined eight GSPs to be adequate and 34 GSPs to be incomplete. In this paper we evaluate to what extent DWR’s determinations provide oversight on the key issues of drinking water, disadvantaged communities, the environment, stakeholder involvement, and climate change. We summarize the corrective actions that DWR is recommending or requiring, as well as compare DWR’s determinations to the assessment of 31 GSPs that we conducted in 2020. We also reviewed the 11 comment letters submitted by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), 25 comment letters submitted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and seven comment letters submitted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to compare deficiencies identified in GSPs across agencies.” Read the report at the Groundwater Exchange here: Groundwater sustainability assessments: A review of DWR’s determinations on groundwater sustainability plans in critically overdrafted basins
RELATED: California can’t waver on water regulation, commentary at Cal Matters
Rewilding California farms: grants going out to repurpose drought-parched Central Valley land
“A withered cornstalk may become the near-future snapshot of some farms in the drought-stricken Central Valley, while also allowing the return of a native landscape that will help conserve the state’s water. The Federal Central Valley Project is not expected to send any water to most farmers who work the fields as California enters a third year of drought. “I always say we’re a poster child for this issue, because we’re not doing it right,” said Mike Hagman, executive director of the Lindmore Irrigation District, located in the Tulare County city of Lindsay. … Hagman owns 160 acres of now-fallowed agricultural land. But now there is some hope. His land and others may find a new life under an innovative $50 million California project. … ” Read more from CBS 5 here: Rewilding California farms: grants going out to repurpose drought-parched Central Valley land
SEE ALSO: Some California farmland being restored to natural state in hopes of lessening drought effects, from CBS News
Radio: Can drought-stricken CA get water from Midwest via pipeline?
“The Western U.S. is experiencing its driest period in more than a thousand years, according to scientists from UCLA and Columbia University. Arizona and Nevada residents must curb their use of water from the Colorado River, and California could be next. The state is expected to lose 10% of its water over the next two decades, reports the governor’s office. To account for that, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan earlier this month to capture more runoff and recycle wastewater in the coming years. The Inflation Reduction Act also includes money for water conservation. Some are proposing more radical solutions — like a giant pipeline to ferry water from the Mississippi River over the Rockies and through California’s parched deserts.” Listen at KCRW here: Radio: Can drought-stricken CA get water from Midwest via pipeline?
Farm groups encourage swift and effective utilization of drought response funding
“A coalition of agricultural organizations highlighted the need for effective deployment of drought response funding. In a letter addressed to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, the coalition details the ominous water conditions in the Western U.S. The groups expressed appreciation for the $4 billion that has been allocated for drought response in the Inflation Reduction Act but emphasized the need for swift and decisive action. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Farm groups encourage swift and effective utilization of drought response funding
California takes major step in identifying sources of PFAS “forever chemicals” in its people and environment
“Today the California Legislature passed A.B. 2247, bill requiring the reporting of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS coming into California. The bill is now on its way to Governor Newsom for his signature. “A.B. 2247 will help us accurately identify how many PFAS are coming into California,” said the Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica). “Giving the state the authority to collect this data will enable us to explore how best to mitigate its harmful impacts. Without this information, we cannot take meaningful steps toward protecting the health of Californians and our environment in the long-term.” Bloom authored A.B. 2247, with state Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) as coauthors. ... ”
Help paying water bills may be on way for low-income Californians
“María Dolores Díaz sighs when she opens her water bill every month because she knows what she’ll see: another bill that she’ll struggle to pay. California’s water affordability crisis has been simmering for years as water rate increases have outpaced inflation, rising 45% between 2007 and 2015 alone. By September 2021, nearly 650,000 residential and 46,000 business accounts owed more than $315 million in unpaid water and wastewater bills. Latino and Black communities have been hit the hardest, with higher average debt. About half a million account holders had their water shut off for unpaid bills in 2019, according to state data. California lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Monday and Tuesday to offer assistance: A bill that creates a new state program to help low-income Californians like Díaz pay their water and sewage bills is now expected to be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Help paying water bills may be on way for low-income Californians
SEE ALSO: First-in-the-nation water affordability program heads to governor’s desk, from Clean Water Action
Delta Stewardship Council shares progress on environmental justice initiative
“At the August 25, 2022, Delta Stewardship Council meeting, staff presented results from recent interviews with environmental justice organizations and advocates. These interviews were conducted to inform the development of a paper on EJ issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which was initiated in response to a recommendation from the 2019 Delta Plan Five-Year Review. Through this paper, the Council aims to build a network of community leaders and organizations to inform and support the Council’s EJ work; identify the associated issues impacting communities in and around the Delta; and chart options to address those issues. “Delta issues are California issues,” said Chair Virginia Madueño. “This work is about human dignity. As EJ issues continue to become a greater priority, we have a responsibility as Delta stewards to set the tone and example for how EJ work is conducted.” … ” Continue reading at the Delta Stewardship Council here: Delta Stewardship Council shares progress on environmental justice initiative
Wildlife Conservation Board funds environmental improvement and acquisition projects
“At its Aug. 25, 2022 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $15.82 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 17 approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife — including some endangered species — while others will provide public access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community. Funding for these projects comes from a combination of sources, including the Habitat Conservation Fund and bond measures approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: Wildlife Conservation Board funds environmental improvement and acquisition projects
Long, possibly record-setting heat wave expected to hit California this week
“A long and possibly record-setting heat wave is expected to hit California this week, bringing temperatures into the 90s and lower 100s on Wednesday with little relief expected overnight, according to the National Weather Service. “There’s a large dome of strong high pressure building over the Great Basin and it will shift westward over California tomorrow and Thursday and result in temperatures rising up to well above normal,” said David Spector, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. A map of the U.S. on the National Weather Service website shows that most of Northern California is under an excessive heat watch, while Southern California is under an excessive heat warning, as temperatures could exceed 110 degrees in the next few days. … ” Read more from NBC News here: Long, possibly record-setting heat wave expected to hit California this week
SEE ALSO:
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- Severe, dangerous, and likely record-breaking heatwave over Labor Day weekend, from Dr. Daniel Swain at Weather West
- California’s power grid may struggle to meet demand during epic heat wave, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Death Valley could see the hottest-ever September day recorded on Earth this week, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Heat, water, fire: How climate change is transforming the Pacific Crest Trail
“Thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail spend up to five months walking from Mexico to Canada — and the imprint of climate change is now felt along the entire route.The increased incidence of wildfires — which can imperil hikers, scorch the landscape and upend itineraries — is the single biggest threat.But so, too, are weirder weather patterns, meager shade and disruptions to streams and water sources.We sent a reporter and a photographer to document the P.C.T. in the era of climate change. Here’s what they found. … ” Read more and view photos in this interactive from the New York Times here: Heat, water, fire: How climate change is transforming the Pacific Crest Trail
In commentary today …
Abandoning established water law does nothing to produce or save one drop of water and puts our food supply at risk
The California Farm Water Coalition writes, “In times of crisis, drastic measures born out of panic almost always make things worse, and the same applies to dealing with California’s current drought. There is no doubt that people, farms, our communities, and the environment are suffering. And there is a theory being floated among the state’s water bureaucracy that if we abandon our long-established system of water rights, our problems will be solved. They won’t. Water rights are not the cause of California’s changing weather patterns and neither discarding this long-established law, nor fighting the legal battles that would result from trying to do so, will move, store, or create one drop of water. … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition here: Abandoning established water law does nothing to produce or save one drop of water and puts our food supply at risk
California can’t waver on water regulation
Samantha Arthur, working lands program director at Audubon California, and Ngodoo Atume, a water policy analyst at Clean Water Action, both serving on the Groundwater Leadership Forum, write, “Over the past decade, California has gone from being the state with the least groundwater regulation to adopting a law that serves as an international model. How the state implements its landmark groundwater law during California’s worst drought on record could inform global climate change adaptation practices for generations. The Golden State has one shot over the course of the next 20 years to bring its depleted aquifers into balance and achieve sustainability. Californians are counting on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act to get the state there. Carrying out the act, however, isn’t easy. While many honest actors at the state and local level want the new regulation to succeed, the law calls for undoing a century of unsustainable groundwater pumping. The forces that helped create the problem still stand in the way of reforming it. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: California can’t waver on water regulation
RELATED: Groundwater sustainability assessments: A review of DWR’s determinations on groundwater sustainability plans in critically overdrafted basins, report from the Groundwater Leadership Forum
Another view on AB 2201 (groundwater well requirements)
Louise Lampara, Executive Director of the Ventura County Coalition of Labor Agriculture and Business, writes, “Assemblymember Steve Bennett’s proposed bill, AB2201, would create a new permanent permitting process for groundwater wells that negatively impacts local water districts, municipalities, and California’s agricultural community. Even with recent amendments to the bill language, AB2201 would force a strict new mandate on how groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) must operate. The bill dictates how GSAs must manage their own groundwater basins and removes the ability of locally based experts at the GSAs to decide for themselves what management options best address local conditions. Instead, the bill would require local GSAs to make specific findings and determinations for new and modified groundwater wells before these wells may be allowed. ... ” Read more from Water Wrights here: Another view on AB 2201
The mystifying absence of hypothesis testing in the Delta science endeavor
“Just about every one of us was introduced to the scientific method in a middle-school science class. We were told that science happens when hypotheses about how things work are evaluated using observations and data. Facts we were told emerge when hypotheses stand up or don’t stand up to that test. And that we learned is how science is done. Of course, for the very most of us that straightforward explanation had no ready adolescent application, and the lesson like so many others was lost in the white noise of stuff that mattered at the time. Now, even for the teenagers who were later to become scientists, that early in-one-ear-and-out-the-other exposure to the scientific method was a last-time experience. Incredibly, a college education in many scientific disciplines is no longer grounded in the scientific method — the central concept underpinning the advancement humanity’s collective knowledge. … ” Read more from the Center for California Water Resources Policy and Management here: The mystifying absence of hypothesis testing in the Delta science endeavor
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
In the Pacific Northwest, salmon declines upend a way of life
“Every spring and fall, Chinook salmon make their way from the Pacific Ocean into the Klamath River, in Northern California. Historically, their black-speckled bodies would swim upstream, around the Cascade and Klamath mountain range and into the Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon, before spawning in its major tributaries. Since time immemorial, local tribes—the Klamath, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, and Yurok—fished these waters. The Chinook formed a vital part of the tribes’ culture, economy and food security. Barry McCovey Jr., of the Yurok tribe, learned to fish along the Klamath as a child, when, as he recalls, the salmon were abundant. Now a father of four, he’s teaching his two oldest children to fish; but unlike when he was growing up, the catches are meager. Since the early 20th century, Chinook salmon numbers in the Klamath River—once the third-largest salmon-producing river in the United States—have fallen by more than 90 percent, according to federal statistics. Climate change is partly to blame. … ” Read the full story at The Nation here: In the Pacific Northwest, salmon declines upend a way of life
Karuk Tribe talks about importance of making sure endangered fish have enough water
“The Klamath Irrigation District has been ordered to shut off water to the Klamath Project. District leaders and farms shared concerns, but this does help endangered fish species and the Karuk Tribe. Crag Tucker, the tribe’s natural resources policy consultant, said thousands of fish were killed when debris entered the river following the McKinney Fire. This highlights to need to make sure endangered species have enough water. “We’re almost 20 years exactly away from this massive fish kill that happened in 2002 that left 10s of thousands of adult salmon dead along the banks of the Klamath River,” Tucker said. “For older folks who experienced that, there was a little bit of trauma sort of reliving that experience from long ago. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Karuk Tribe talks about importance of making sure endangered fish have enough water
Scott River flow correction at USGS gage: a win for data accuracy
“Flows in the Scott River at the primary monitoring gage appeared to have doubled overnight last week. What happened? It certainly didn’t rain. The answer? The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finally recalibrated the flow gage. The gage was corrected on August 24th, after two months of no on-site field-checks by USGS. This gage, located below Scott Valley at river mile 21, is the flow measurement site that is used by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to determine whether its “Drought Emergency Minimum Flows” are being met on the Scott. AgWA had been encouraging the State Water Board and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to coordinate with USGS for several months in order to get the gage calibrated. “Getting accuracy is very important when the State Water Board is using the USGS flow gage as a regulatory tool,” says Sari Sommarstrom, a retired watershed consultant who has observed Scott River flows for 30 years. … ” Read more from the Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance here: Scott River flow correction at USGS gage: a win for data accuracy
Californian First Nations tribes fight to save salmon from defiant ranchers amid water crisis
“First Nations people in northern California are fighting to save the environment and their communities from ranchers who are defying state orders to reduce their water usage. The ranchers, operating under the banner of the Shasta River Water Association, have diverted flow from the Shasta River, putting the salmon population of the Klamath tributaries at risk. Yurok and Karuk tribes say the diversion caused a 37 per cent decrease in Shasta River flows in just two hours on August 17. First Nations leaders noted that just days before the diversion, thousands of fish were killed by a mudslide caused by wild fires devastating the vegetation that stabilised the soil. In a statement issued last Tuesday, Karuk chairman Russell Attebery said the rangers were breaking the law by dewatering one of the most important salmon nurseries in California. … ” Read more from the National Indigenous Times here: Californian First Nations tribes fight to save salmon from defiant ranchers amid water crisis
Humboldt County: Responding to drought concerns, supes tell staff to develop a cannabis policy on water storage and forbearance
“Humboldt County continues to experience severe-to-extreme drought conditions, heightening concerns about the water being used to irrigate our region’s most famous cash crop: cannabis. On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors responded to concerns from its own Planning Commission by directing staff to develop a new cannabis permitting policy addressing water storage and forbearance. The Planning Commission recently asked the board for guidance on this matter. On August 11 the commission submitted a letter telling the board that “there continues to be substantial public concern expressed over the use of groundwater for cannabis irrigation needs.” … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: Responding to drought concerns, supes tell staff to develop a cannabis policy on water storage and forbearance
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Here is where Sacramento River water is not going
“Q. I keep reading that A.C.I.D. customers are not receiving water anymore, yet when I drive over the (Sacramento) River on the Market Street bridge, I see water going into the canal. Where is it going? A. Before we answer that question, a little background on the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District’s operations on the Sacramento River. The district has a weir on the river it uses to raise the water level so water is diverted into the main irrigation canal on the south side of the river. Each spring, the district usually installs boards in the dam to raise the water level in the river, which forms Lake Redding. In the fall, after irrigation season ends, the boards are removed and the water level behind the dam drops down again. However, this has not been a typical year. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: Here is where Sacramento River water is not going
Congressman LaMalfa announces FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to Paradise Irrigation District
“Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced a $4,694,486.25 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award to the Paradise Irrigation District. This grant will fund a water supply hazard mitigation project which will improve the irrigation district’s wastewater treatment plant and water distribution system. This will reduce the risk of damage to water distribution infrastructure and damage from loss of service due to natural disasters, such as flooding, storms, or wildfires. “The devastation of the 2018 Camp Fire clearly showed there is a profound need to improve disaster prevention on critical public utilities. This grant will help make this mission a reality and fund improved infrastructure as the area recovers. I will continue my efforts in securing disaster recovery and mitigation funding for the North State, and I look forward to assisting the Town of Paradise rebuild,” said Congressman LaMalfa. … ” Read more from Congressman LaMalfa’s website here: Congressman LaMalfa announces FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to Paradise Irrigation District
Solano County bridge gets ‘stuck in up position,’ reopening time unknown
“With Labor Day weekend traffic just over the horizon, a Solano County bridge has been closed indefinitely after getting stuck in an “up position,” transportation officials said late Tuesday. Solano County’s Rio Vista bridge, one of many movable bridges in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta region, normally lofts drivers on State Route 12 over the water near its namesake town. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Solano County bridge gets ‘stuck in up position,’ reopening time unknown
BAY AREA
An extreme heat wave has arrived in California. Here’s what it means for the Bay Area.
“Fogust is on its last legs today, and the days aren’t the only thing getting shorter. San Franciscans on the west side are already starting to notice less and less cloud cover. The cool, misty morning fog is slowly fading away from the California coast. And for some Bay Area residents, the natural AC is about to come to a screeching halt. Cold air that normally drives the sea breeze is being tucked away by an area of low pressure off the coast. This low normally launches daily breezes toward the coast, eventually wrapping around the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. So, what’s blocking the cold air from coming ashore? The heat dome rolling into California … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: An extreme heat wave has arrived in California. Here’s what it means for the Bay Area.
Fatal algae bloom killing fish around the Bay could last for weeks, officials say
“The red algae bloom in the San Francisco Bay killing hundreds, if not thousands, of fish since last week likely won’t end for at least a couple weeks, as the warm weather gets hotter going into Labor Day weekend, according to experts. Environmental agencies held a press conference Monday afternoon saying the bloom — which has been reported from the Dumbarton Bridge to Oakland’s Lake Merritt and the Alameda Estuary, Oyster Point, Baywinds Park in Foster City, Hayward, Keller Beach, Point Molate, and Sausalito — may come from a harmful species called Heterosigma akashiwo. … ” Read more from the Almanac here: Fatal algae bloom killing fish around the Bay could last for weeks, officials say
SEE ALSO: Toxic red tide kills ‘uncountable’ numbers of fish in the Bay Area, from the New York Times
Crews to start cleaning up dead fish at Lake Merritt on Wednesday, ahead of heat wave
“Crews on Wednesday morning will begin removing the thousands of dead fish that have washed ashore at Lake Merritt in Oakland due to a harmful algal bloom that is spreading across the bay, city officials said. Oakland’s Public Works Department said Tuesday that contracted crews are scheduled to remove “the dead wildlife to mitigate the odor and public nuisance ahead of forecasted hot weather.” People are asked to be aware of signage, vehicles and crews that will be working around the lake. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Crews to start cleaning up dead fish at Lake Merritt on Wednesday, ahead of heat wave
Bay Area water agencies and state leaders urge more conservation outdoors as California prepares and braces for fourth dry year
“State leaders and Bay Area water agencies gathered today at a drought-tolerant garden to highlight conservation efforts currently underway and discuss important outdoor water saving devices and practices that can collectively save thousands of gallons of water for Californians. California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot joined water agency leaders at the Quarry Lakes Demonstration Garden to announce resources to assist and inspire Bay Area residents in their efforts to reduce outdoor water use as California prepares for a fourth dry year amid extreme drought. “Drought across the west is bad and getting worse. In response, we’re taking actions to stretch our water supplies and deliver projects that help us adjust to a hotter, drier climate,” said Secretary Crowfoot. “Thanks to our local partners and leaders in the Bay Area, we are making progress to conserve water and improve water efficiency. It’s time to double down on these critical efforts.” … ” Read more from EBMUD here: Bay Area water agencies and state leaders urge more conservation outdoors as California prepares and braces for fourth dry year
Flood mitigation amid drought – work ongoing along Hale Creek
“Santa Clara Valley Water District crews are replacing a concrete channel section of Hale Creek in Mountain View with a natural one comprising soil and rocks. The work is part of the Hale Creek Enhancement Pilot Project, slated for completion by the end of the year. The impacted area, approximately 650 feet in length and just shy of a total acre, is occurring in the creek stretching from Marilyn Drive upstream to Sunshine Drive. The project, in the planning stages since 2014, carries a $6.38 million price tag, paid from the voter-approved Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Fund. It is one of two such ongoing Valley Water projects, the other in Gilroy. … ” Read more from the Los Altos Town Crier here: Flood mitigation amid drought – work ongoing along Hale Creek
CENTRAL COAST
Soquel Water District secures $21 million grant
“The Soquel Creek Water District received a grant of nearly $21 million for its Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project this month. The funds came from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, as part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The federal WaterSMART Title XVI program supports water recycling and reuse projects in western states. This month, it provided $54 million in funding to projects along the Central Coast, including Soquel. “We are so grateful for this $21 million grant which, when added to the prior $9 million grant awarded under this program, represents a benefit of $2,000 per each of our 15,000 customer accounts,” said Tom LaHue, president of the water district’s board of directors, in a statement. … ” Read more from Good Times Santa Cruz here: Soquel Water District secures $21 million grant
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Valley water agency to place solar panels over canals to combat drought
“In an effort to combat the devastating drought conditions hitting California, the Golden State will become the first in the nation to install solar panel canopies over canals. The $20 million pilot project funded by the state has been dubbed “Project Nexus.” It will consist of an estimated 8,500 feet of solar panels installed over three sections of Turlock Irrigation District (TID) canals in Central California. The installation process is expected to begin by 2023, and be completed by 2024. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Valley water agency to place solar panels over canals to combat drought
Tule River Reservation reaches for state’s help amid water crisis
“The Tule River council hopes that asking the state for less might lead to more money as they drop their request from $30 million to $6.6 million to help mitigate their water crisis. Wells are running dry in the rolling foothills of the Tule River Reservation, which has occurred every summer since 2013. The Tule River Reservation recently appealed to the California legislature requesting $6.6 million to fix the water reservoir and water treatment center, as many in the community have little to no access to water for drinking, hygiene and sanitation. Measures to remedy the lack of water access have even gone as far as moving the Eagle Mountain Casino (EMC) in fall 2022. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tule River Reservation reaches for state’s help amid water crisis
LOIS HENRY: Lawsuits attempt to extract Boswell pumping numbers
“The J.G. Boswell Company pumps, on average, 100,000 acre-feet of groundwater a year from beneath its lands covering the old Tulare Lake Bed, according to a Boswell employee. The information was elicited in a wide-ranging deposition of Boswell water department manager Mark Unruh as part of an ongoing lawsuit over a pipeline being built by rival farming entity Sandridge Partners, controlled by John Vidovich. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: LOIS HENRY: Lawsuits attempt to extract Boswell pumping numbers
Truxtun Lake cleared of dead fish and water
“Truxtun Lake has been disappearing more and more because of California’s mega drought. As of this Monday, it’s now completely empty including the dead wildlife left behind. Truxtun Lake has been cleared out. Not only of its water but also of its rotting, dead fish. Just a week ago the lake had just a little water. Plus, dead fish all over the area but that’s no more. “There are no more dead fish in the lake,” Ken Weir the Bakersfield Vice Mayor and ward three councilmember said. “We hired an environmentalist to be out there and take care of the wildlife and to mediate any problems that might occur.” ... ” Read more from KGET here: Truxtun Lake cleared of dead fish and water
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Officials announce 15-day watering ban for large areas of Los Angeles County
“Officials are urging large areas of Los Angeles County to heed a temporary outdoor watering ban that will begin next week and affect more than 4 million people, as crews make repairs to a leaking major pipeline. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California outlined the 15-day ban at a Tuesday news conference. The watering restrictions begin Sept. 6 and run through Sept. 20, allowing workers to repair the 36-mile Upper Feeder pipeline that supplies water from the Colorado River, one of the two main sources of water for most of Southern California. “Today, we are asking the community to join us in ensuring our region manages our liquid gold — our water — responsibly, and to stop outdoor watering from Sept. 6 through Sept. 20,” Dawn Roth Lindell, general manager of Burbank Water and Power, said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Officials announce 15-day watering ban for large areas of Los Angeles County
SEE ALSO: MWD customers in SoCal asked to stop outdoor watering for 2 weeks during pipeline repair, from ABC 7
SoCal’s worst heat wave of the year: What’s the timing, who will be hit hardest?
“September is bringing searing heat across Southern California, and forecasters are predicting record-setting temperatures. From Wednesday through Labor Day weekend, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures could reach as high as 115 degrees in some parts of Southern California. It will be the region’s longest and warmest heat wave of the year, said David Sweet, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard. The conditions are expected to last through Monday, though “we don’t see an end to it right now,” Sweet said. Here’s what you need to know. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: SoCal’s worst heat wave of the year: What’s the timing, who will be hit hardest?
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside spending $7 million to improve downtown storm drainage
“Oceanside is preparing to launch a $7 million upgrade of its downtown storm drain system to prevent seasonal flooding, but the California Coastal Commission has raised concerns about the plan. City officials met with the Coastal Commission staff Aug. 24 to discuss a possible 90-day extension of the city’s application for a coastal development permit needed for the project. The three-month delay should give the city enough time to resolve issues the commission has raised about what’s called the storm drain system’s “outfall,” where the water empties onto the beach at Surfrider Way, said Jonathan Smith, the project manager for the city, on Monday. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Oceanside spending $7 million to improve downtown storm drainage
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River at a state ‘no one wanted to get to’ due to climate change
ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth spoke with National Geographic environment writer Alejandra Borunda about the “climate reckoning” facing the Colorado River.
As Colorado River wanes, water supplies and ecosystems hang in the balance
“At a time of unprecedented drought across the American West, the 1,450-mile-long Colorado River and its primary storage reservoirs — Lake Powell and Lake Mead — have fallen to unprecedented lows. Fragile ecosystems that depend on the river for water, food and habitat are in peril. In fact, at least 44 of 49 freshwater fish species native to the basin are now endangered, threatened, or extinct. “When droughts happen, the environment tends to lose,” said Philip Womble, a postdoctoral fellow with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. “In an overallocated system, the environment is usually the first use of water that gets left out.” … ” Read more from Stanford News here: As Colorado River wanes, water supplies and ecosystems hang in the balance
Why Lake Mead continues to rise while Lake Powell falls
“It’s not all bad news when talking about Lake Mead, in fact, recently, the news about its rising water levels have been good. Now, we are getting a clearer picture of what is causing the lake to rise more than three feet since the beginning of August. On Aug. 1 the lake’s water level was 1,040.99 feet above sea level. As of noon on Aug. 31, the level was 1,044.32 feet, an increase of 3.3 feet. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) — which oversees water distribution and collection along the Colorado River basin – told 8 News Now the rise was due to the increase in rainfall from the monsoonal flow and decreased demand from downstream partners (states). We now know that, according to the BOR, 64% of the lake level rise this past month has come from rain runoff and the other 36% from decreased downstream demand. ... ” Continue reading from Channel 8 here: Why Lake Mead continues to rise while Lake Powell falls
Arizona water leaders vow to work on a system-wide agreement to protect the Colorado River
“Shortly after the Bureau of Reclamation announced that conditions at Lake Mead had deteriorated to a “Tier 2a” shortage condition, ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke and Central Arizona Project General Manager Ted Cooke released a statement outlining Arizona’s efforts to help stabilize the troubled Colorado River system. ADWR and CAP “came to the table prepared to take significant additional reductions beyond those required under the 2007 Guidelines and the Drought Contingency Plan with the expectation that others would need to do likewise, as no one state can do it alone,” the two water leaders wrote on August 16. Their declaration came in the wake of a stunning statement in June by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, who said the Colorado River States would need to come up with a plan to leave at least an additional two million acre-feet of water in the system, on top of all other conservation measures already undertaken, by mid-August. … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources here: Arizona water leaders vow to work on a system-wide agreement to protect the Colorado River
Arizona AG, governor candidates call for Saudi Arabian water leases investigation
“Democratic attorney general candidate Kris Mayes is calling to investigate and potentially cancel the leases the State Land Department signed with a Saudi Arabian company that is pumping from Phoenix’s backup water supply in western Arizona. Mayes is also calling for the Saudi Arabian company to pay the state approximately $38 million for using the water in La Paz County, which sits in a basin that could be tapped as future water source for the Phoenix metro area. Mayes says the lease should be put on hold while they are investigated because they potentially violate the Arizona Constitution in two ways: they could violate the gift clause as well as a clause that requires state land and its products to be appraised and offered at their true value. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Arizona AG, governor candidates call for Saudi Arabian water leases investigation
Radio: This Pinal County cotton farm started due to drought. Water cuts are challenging its traditions
“When the Department of the Interior announced new cuts to Colorado River water earlier this month, the hardest-hit stakeholders were clear: farmers in Pinal County. Agriculture uses the majority of the water allocated to the state from the Colorado River, and now, they are going to have to adapt to meet a changing climate. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Nancy Caywood. She’s the co-owner of Caywood Farms in Casa Grande, where her family has farmed for generations. In fact, she said her grandfather actually started their family farm there because of drought. The Show spoke with her to learn her reaction to the water cuts.” Listen at KJZZ here (8:25): Radio: This Pinal County cotton farm started due to drought. Water cuts are challenging its traditions
In national water news today …
Federal cyber mandate looms for local water systems
“EPA is set to unveil a new federal mandate requiring states to expand inspections of about 1,600 water systems to include cybersecurity threats, according to a senior administration official. The official, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak candidly, said EPA is not issuing a new rule but instead will release a so-called implementation memo based on the agency’s existing authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Ultimately, states already responsible for inspecting everything from tanks to pumps and operations at hundreds of public water systems across the nation would also be responsible for ensuring utilities are protected against hackers. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Federal cyber mandate looms for local water systems
‘Weather whiplash’ withers, then drowns areas worldwide
“The Dallas area is still reeling from record-breaking downpours that triggered flash floods across northeastern Texas last week. The event swamped houses, submerged vehicles and prompted hundreds of emergency rescues. At least one death has been reported so far. The sheer volume of rain was stunning, with some locations receiving more than a foot. But the deluge was all the more surprising because Dallas has been choked by severe drought for months. It’s a phenomenon often referred to by scientists as “weather whiplash.” And Texas isn’t the only place it’s happened this summer. Monsoon rains triggered flash floods in Arizona and New Mexico in the past week, even as the Southwest continues to suffer under a decadeslong drought. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: ‘Weather whiplash’ withers, then drowns areas worldwide
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: August 30 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
