On the calendar today …
- VIRTUAL TOUR: Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) from 10am to 11am. Join us for a tour of Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world’s largest advanced water purification system for potable reuse. Featuring General Manager Mike Markus leading a video tour of the GWRS facility followed by a live Q & A session. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
State lawmakers reject bill to curb farms’ water pumping
“California lawmakers punted on a proposal to rein in agricultural groundwater pumping as drought continues to grip California and more than a thousand domestic wells have run dry. A bill by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, a Democrat from Santa Barbara, would have added hurdles to obtain a permit to drill an agricultural well. Though the bill cleared the Senate on Monday, Bennett elected to not bring it up for a final vote in the Assembly before the Legislative session timed out Wednesday night. He said California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office told him the bill was no longer viable because of changes made. During one of the driest years in recent history, California legislators did not pass any new laws that would boost the water supply or protect groundwater from overpumping, although funds were included in the budget for groundwater management and programs like water recycling. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: State lawmakers reject bill to curb farms’ water pumping
California passes bill banning sale of farmland to foreign governments
“The California legislature passed a bill Wednesday that is on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) desk and would outlaw foreign country land sales to protect the nation’s food supply. A similar bill was introduced on the federal level last month by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from buying land in the United States. “Food can, and is, being used as a weapon like we are seeing in Ukraine,” said the California bill’s author, state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Fresno). “Recent reports discuss how a nation could gain leverage by acquiring agricultural land and creating bioweapons that impact our food supply chain. The Food and Farm Security Act seeks to protect California’s water and food supply, especially as water availability across Western states decreases.” … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: California passes bill banning sale of farmland to foreign governments
California lawmakers approve new water regulations for marijuana growers
“California lawmakers have approved a streamlined permitting process that would allow marijuana growers to divert water from streams. Water regulators say the new permitting requirement is designed to make it easier for environmental regulators to protect streams and fisheries from the effects of marijuana growing operations. But Republican Assemblyman Brian Dahle says it allows marijuana growers to bypass the state’s toughest environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA. ... ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio here: California lawmakers approve new regulations for marijuana growers
Dirty water, drying wells: Central Californians shoulder drought’s inequities
“On a hot morning in August, the pressure gauge on Jesús Benítez’s well read about 10 pounds per square inch — barely enough for a trickle. Like a growing number of Central Californians, Benítez is bearing the brunt of the state’s punishing drought, which is evaporating the state’s surface water even as a frenzy of well drilling saps precious reserves underground. As a result, the number of dry wells in California has increased 70% since last year, while the number of Californians living with contaminated drinking water is at nearly 1 million. The majority of those people live in low-income communities and communities of color, state data show — and experts say heat, drought and climate change are only making those inequities worse. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Dirty water, drying wells: Central Californians shoulder drought’s inequities
California’s water year is nearly over. Here’s where our reservoirs stand amid drought
“With California about to experience perhaps the hottest and driest start to September in its modern history, 16 of the state’s 17 major reservoirs entered the month below their historic average levels — several of them well below average, in another daunting reminder of California’s extraordinary ongoing drought and water concerns. The state’s two largest reservoirs, Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville, were measured at a respective 58% and 64% of their averages for the end of August, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: California’s water year is nearly over. Here’s where our reservoirs stand amid drought
UN weather agency forecasts ‘triple-dip’ La Niña
“The World Meteorological Organization forecast that it is likely the protracted La Niña event will last until at least the end of the year, becoming the century’s first “triple-dip” La Niña. The “triple-dip” spans three consecutive Northern Hemisphere winters, according to the update. The organization predicts that there is a 70% chance in September and November that the current La Niña will continue – with that percentage gradually decreasing to 55% from December to February 2023. ... ” Read more from Fox News here: UN weather agency forecasts ‘triple-dip’ La Niña
Farmers struggle through drought to bring food to the table but face more challenges ahead
“Lack of summer rain forced Nebraska farmer Kevin Fulton to go underground to find water for his crops. Not a perfect solution: the Ogallala Aquifer, where Fulton tapped in, has pumping restrictions in some areas, just not where Fulton is located. That’s because the aquifer is running dry. As drought extends its deadly fingers from California to the eastern side of the Mississippi River — a vast stretch of the continent that produces most of America’s food, including three-quarters of its beef cattle and 70% of its vegetables, fruits and nuts — farmers and ranchers are facing a double whammy. They have to go farther to find water and higher fuel costs are forcing them to pay more to pump whatever isn’t coming from the sky. That predicament is still better than what’s happened to the land that’s not irrigated, Fulton says. … ” Read more from Forbes here: Farmers struggle through drought to bring food to the table but face more challenges ahead
California rice industry takes a hit as drought drags on
“As the calendar turns to September, over 37 million Californians find themselves living under drought conditions for a third straight year. The latest drought monitor, released Thursday, shows slight relief in the southern California desert but no change elsewhere. Over 40% of the state is in extreme drought, and 17% is in exceptional drought – the highest rating given out. … In a normal, non-drought year, farmers across the valley would be preparing for the harvest of one of California’s most prominent crops, rice. However, this is not a normal year. A lack of water has greatly harmed California’s agriculture industry, specifically rice farmers. Rice production is a heavy water consumer, being the fourth largest water consuming crop in California, according to the Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: California rice industry takes a hit as drought drags on
USDA Undersecretary Bonnie gets firsthand look at drought impacts across Sac Valley’s rice country
“United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary Robert Bonnie, along with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross, Jeff Yasui with USDA/RMA and Carlos Suarez with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) spent the day on a tour of the Sacramento Valley co-hosted by the CRC and NCWA. They heard from biologists and conservationists on environmental impacts due to drought as well as met with local businesses that are key in California’s rice production process. … ” Read more from the California Rice Commission here: USDA Undersecretary Bonnie gets firsthand look at drought impacts across Sac Valley’s rice country
Experts stress importance of farmers in water conservation efforts
“Modernizing a crumbling 19th-century irrigation system in Colorado and building spawning habitat for salmon downstream from thirsty California farms are among the nature-based projects in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill designed to help western states cope with drought. Tanya Trujillo, assistant secretary for water and science at the U.S. Department of the Interior, highlighted these and other projects during a Wednesday session on agriculture and water as part of World Water Week, an annual event sponsored by the Stockholm International Water Institute. “Our basic approach to many of our challenges around the western U.S. is letting science guide our decision-making and doing that in a transparent way,” Trujillo told a global audience of researchers, NGO administrators, business leaders and government officials. … ” Read more from Successful Farming here: Experts stress importance of farmers in water conservation efforts
How Californians feel about ripping out their lawns
“After decades of dedication to their manicured lawns, Californians are finally giving them up amid a worsening drought that’s prompted stringent new water restrictions. In other words, the California dream of a single-family home surrounded by lush grass is maybe, probably, finally dead. And that’s elicited a host of complicated feelings. To some, lawns remain a beloved symbol of economic success and domestic stability — and ripping them out feels almost sacrilegious. To others, they’re a dangerous form of blight in a period of extreme water scarcity. For the past few weeks, you’ve been telling us about how you’ve handled increasing water restrictions and what you’re doing with your lawn (or absence thereof). Here’s some of what you’ve shared, lightly edited for clarity … ” Read more from the New York Times here: How Californians feel about ripping out their lawns
Desalination may be key to averting global water shortage, but it will take time
“Clean freshwater is critical for sustaining human life. However, 1.1 billion people lack access to it worldwide. Desalination represents an increasingly popular way of addressing this. Desalination is used to extend drinkable water supplies beyond what is naturally available. Water-scarce regions are therefore particularly reliant on the technology. Desalination provides the United Arab Emirates with 42% of its water needs. Because of the minimal cost of pumping, desalination is most economical in large coastal locations. However, our changing climate is contributing to increasing water shortages in typically mild regions, necessitating the expansion of desalination plants further inland and from brackish water. China, the US, and South America are all expanding their desalination capacity. While desalination may be a technology capable of countering global water shortages, there are issues regarding its cost and efficiency. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: Desalination may be key to averting global water shortage, but it will take time
Study: Climate change heating, salinizing and expanding the San Francisco Estuary
“Climate change is heating, salinizing, and expanding the San Francisco Estuary, a review of nearly 200 scientific studies concludes. Sea level rise, changing snow and rainfall patterns, and warmer waters are some of the changes already observed in the Estuary and expected to continue through the rest of the century as greenhouse gas concentrations rise. Changes to water are at the heart of the documented and further expected impacts; there’s less of it entering the system overall, but more arriving in torrential bursts, and more saltwater creeping inland from the Bay. … ” Read more from Estuary Pearls here: Study: Climate change heating, salinizing and expanding the San Francisco Estuary
Developing an annual estimate for juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon
“Researchers are applying a novel genetic technique as part of the development of an annual estimate for the number of juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon entering the Delta. The technique, spearheaded by geneticist Melinda Baerwald from the California Department of Water Resources, allows researchers to accurately distinguish young spring-run salmon from other runs by targeting DNA sequences specific to these fish. In a paper published in San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science, lead authors Baerwald and Peter A. Nelson explain some of the challenges of developing this estimate, called the spring-run juvenile production estimate. A key hurdle is differentiating spring-run fish from salmon that migrate during other seasons. … ” Read more from Estuary Pearls here: Developing an annual estimate for juvenile spring-run Chinook salmon
Winds and tides affect phytoplankton
“Light and nutrients are the staples of every phytoplankton production recipe, but wind and tides in the Delta affect phytoplankton production too, say researchers. Several projects in the lower Sacramento River and Delta have been exploring strategies for increasing the quantity and quality of food for migratory and resident fish. As part of a broader whole-ecosystem experiment that added nitrogen into the Sacramento River Deep Water Ship Channel, Leah K. Lenoch and colleagues at USGS and UC Davis looked into the channel’s hydrodynamics to explore whether the environmental conditions there hold promise for increasing the quantity of phytoplankton (the microscopic algae at the base of the food web). … ” Read more from Estuary Pearls here: Winds and tides affect phytoplankton
Legal brief: Save the bull kelp
“Conservationists asked the Biden administration to protect the forests of bull kelp off the California coast, which have been ravaged by marine heat waves and violent El Niño events.” Read the legal brief via Courthouse News here: Save the bull kelp
Tribal fishery disasters declared in the West; $17.4 million allocated
“U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today her determination and the allocation of $17.4 million to address fishery disasters that occurred in multiple tribal salmon fisheries on the West Coast from 2014 to 2019. “Sustainable and resilient fisheries play a vital role in helping tribal communities put food on the table and in supporting economic well-being,” said Secretary Raimondo. “It’s our hope that this disaster declaration will help the affected tribes recover from these disasters and increase their ability to combat future challenges.” … ” Read more from NOAA here: Tribal fishery disasters declared in the West; $17.4 million allocated
Some California power plants have already failed due to extreme heat. So how will the grid hold up this weekend?
“Will there be rolling blackouts in California this weekend? It depends on how hot it will get as well as how much Californians voluntarily cut back their power usage. The blackouts, also known as rotating outages, “are a possibility but not an inevitability,” grid operator President and CEO Elliot Mainzer said at a Wednesday news briefing. State officials have urged Californians to scale back electricity usage between the peak hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to ease the strain on the grid amid heavy air conditioning use prompted by the heat. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Some California power plants have already failed due to extreme heat. So how will the grid hold up this weekend?
In commentary today …
For his water plan to work, Newsom must marshal all key forces
Edward Ring, the co-founder of the California Policy Center, a libertarian think tank, and the author of “The Abundance Choice – Our Fight for More Water in California,” writes, “At first glance, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new water supply strategy might suggest the projects he is proposing will create about 7 million acre-feet of new water, but a closer reading shows that’s not quite true. If every proposed storage facility is built, and the proposed water recycling and desalination projects are also eventually completed, Newsom’s water supply strategy will add about half that much. Even so, his plan is timely and much needed, but making it happen will require unprecedented compromises from California’s powerful environmentalist lobby. … ” Continue reading at Cal Matters here: For his water plan to work, Newsom must marshal all key forces
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Big win for endangered Klamath Basin fish
“The federal government will invest $162 million over the next five years to restore the health of the Klamath Basin, including $26 million this year. Endangered suckers and salmon in the Klamath Basin have a greater shot at survival thanks to federal funds awarded this week. On Wednesday, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the first 33 Klamath Basin restoration projects to receive funds totaling more than $26 million this year. … ” Continue reading at the Oregon Mail Tribune here: Big win for endangered Klamath Basin fish
Poor river conditions lead to gill rot in chinook salmon on Lower Klamath
“Over the weekend, the Yurok Tribe’s Fisheries Department received reports of dead and dying adult Chinook salmon on the Lower Klamath River. The Department immediately mobilized monitoring crews, which observed approximately 35 dead adult salmon on a 40-mile river stretch from Blakes Riffle to Weitchpec. According to the Fisheries Department’s preliminary analysis, the pathogen Flavobacterium columnare is the primary cause of fish mortality. Known locally as Columnaris or Gill Rot, the pathogenic bacteria rots fish’s gills until suffocation. This disease can also cause lesions on the exterior of salmon. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Poor river conditions lead to gill rot in chinook salmon on Lower Klamath
Mendocino County Community Services District appoints new board member and receives update on water systems
“The Mendocino City Community Services District Board of Directors appointed Donna Feiner in early August to complete past board member Christina Aranguren’s term following her July 7, 2022 resignation. In addition to Aranguren leaving in July, board members Harold Hauck and Maggie O’ Rourke are both leaving at the end of their terms this year. Feiner, Matthew Miksak, and Ishvi Aum took out papers for their seats. As there were three applications for three seats, all three will automatically be on the board at the beginning of the next term in January. The board also received presentations from two state agencies, the Department of Drinking Water (DDW) and the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER). … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon here: Mendocino County Community Services District appoints new board member and receives update on water systems
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Danger warning at Indian Creek Reservoir for harmful algae blooms
“The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, in collaboration with Alpine County, is urging visitors to stay out of the water at Indian Creek Reservoir after recent tests confirmed the lake is being impacted by harmful algal blooms that are especially dangerous for children and dogs. The lake is posted with a recreational advisory of “Danger” to alert visitors of the elevated risk. Recreational water users are encouraged to follow the below guidance until further notice. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Danger warning at Indian Creek Reservoir for harmful algae blooms
Nevada Lake Tahoe oversight committee urges spending millions
“The Joint Interim Committee for Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Marlette Lake on Wednesday approved a long list of recommendations that would pump millions into environmental, transportation and other projects in the Tahoe Basin. The vote was unanimous among Senate and Assembly members, including Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Douglas, despite his concern that money not be used for studies but actual projects. Witnesses, including Jim Lawrence, acting director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Carl Hasty, head of the Tahoe Transportation District, assured him the goal is projects on the ground. … ” Read more from the Nevada Appeal here: Nevada Lake Tahoe oversight committee urges spending millions
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Endangered salmon returned home for first time since 1940s
“When scientists proposed moving endangered winter-run Chinook salmon into historical habitat upstream of Shasta Dam this summer, they expected some people would doubt the seemingly new idea could work. But it wasn’t a new idea at all, and it had been proven long ago. “When talking about returning salmon to historical habitats above high-head dams, it’s not uncommon to hear claims that it’s too difficult,” said Stacie Fejtek Smith, fisheries biologist for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. “And that is fundamentally untrue. The traditional knowledge shows us that fish can be moved and that people have been doing it since time immemorial.” … ” Continue reading at the US Fish & Wildlife Service here: Endangered salmon returned home for first time since 1940s
Here’s why California’s new well in Cottonwood won’t pump water
“In a summer marked by Shasta County drinking water wells going dry, a new well being drilled on Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District property in Cottonwood has garnered some attention. But a district official said residents in the area of Jim Dandy Drive in Cottonwood need not be concerned the new well will disrupt other residential wells in the area. Brenda Haynes, president of the district’s board of directors, said the state Department of Water Resources is putting in the well to monitor groundwater levels in the area. No water will be pumped out of the well, she said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here: Here’s why California’s new well in Cottonwood won’t pump water
Paradise Irrigation District gets nearly $4.7 million from FEMA grant
“More help is on the way for the Paradise Irrigation District as Congressman Doug LaMalfa‘s office on Tuesday announced that Federal Emergency Management Agency had awarded a nearly $4.7 million hazardous mitigation grant to the district. According to the Richvale Republican congressman’s office, the grant fund a water supply hazard mitigation project which will improve the district’s wastewater treatment plant and water distribution system. … ” Read more from the Paradise Post here: Paradise Irrigation District gets nearly $4.7 million from FEMA grant
Chico estimates sewer rates need to double by 2025
“Next year’s sewer rates may look a bit higher. Chico released findings on a study of its sewer system Wednesday that estimates the cost to consumers to pay for upgrades to its dilapidated sewer networks — an estimated 30% of which are past their useful life. The findings were published before Tuesday’s City Council meeting during which the council will consider whether or not to impose new fees to residents in Chico. “With nearly 30 percent of our network past its useful life, it is critical that we start initiating large capital improvement projects to replace aged sewer pipes before they fail,” Chico Public Works Director Erik Gustafson said in a press release. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register here: Chico estimates sewer rates need to double by 2025
NAPA/SONOMA
Creek Week 2022 – Ways to get involved with protecting our creeks
“September marks several dedicated efforts throughout California that signify the importance of clean water and promote cleanups of local waterways. Pollution Prevention Week, Creek Week, and California’s Coastal Cleanup Day all coincide in the third week of September to encourage public participation in keeping our water free of harmful pollutants, with a primary focus on removing trash from local waterways. Each September cleanup event is organized to bring volunteers together to clean up trash and debris from beaches, rivers, and creeks, to educate community on the importance of clean water, and to promote an overall appreciation of our environment, nature and being outside. ... ” Continue reading at the Community Voice here: Creek Week 2022 – Ways to get involved with protecting our creeks
BAY AREA
Potentially devastating loss of sturgeon may provide insight to ancient fish
“A toxic algae bloom known as “red tide” is likely the cause of fish and other sea animals dying and washing up on shores around the Bay Area – including the shores of San Pablo Bay on the west side of Mare Island. Dozens, if not hundreds of sturgeon have washed up in recent days, as well as a handful of bass. The losses among the sturgeon population have been great enough from this red tide event that state Fish and Wildlife Service officials are reportedly considering shutting down the sturgeon fishery to fishing. A spokesman for the state agency said no meeting for that specific purpose was held, but as part of the overview of the situation, that was certainly a topic to be discussed. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here:
Residents forced to sell homes as part of earthquake upgrade at largest reservoir in Santa Clara County
“Last year, while they were sitting in their home in a picturesque wooded area along the shores of Anderson Reservoir between Morgan Hill and San Jose, Trevor Holler and his father, Martin Holler, noticed a bad smell. It lasted for days. Then they realized it was coming from under the house. They found a broken sewer pipe. As they kept digging, they were stunned to see that the 3-bedroom lakefront house the family had owned since the mid-1980s had slid about a foot off its foundation. Now, in what may be collateral damage from a $1.2 billion project to rebuild Anderson Dam to bring it up to modern earthquake standards, the Hollers and six of their neighbors along Hoot Owl Way are being forced to sell their homes to the Santa Clara Valley Water District, which owns the dam and the reservoir, the county’s largest. The district’s engineers say the earth will continue to slowly slide, the problems can’t be fixed, and the homes must be torn down. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Residents forced to sell homes as part of earthquake upgrade at largest reservoir in Santa Clara County
‘It’s in Mother Nature’s hands’: Oakland fish carcass cleanup continues amid signs algae may be dissipating
“Crews this week were working to remove thousands of dead fish, clams and other animals from Lake Merritt ahead of a punishing heat wave that threatened to exacerbate the smell from the decaying carcasses. About 1,200 pounds of dead fish were hauled away from the shores of the popular Oakland waterway Wednesday after the mass die-off over the last week. The work, which is continuing, was prompted by one of San Francisco Bay’s largest toxic algae blooms in recent memory. The heat that began Thursday — expected to topple high-temperature records by early next week — could re-energize the outbreak of algae believed responsible for the die-off. Still, experts expressed cautious optimism that the outbreak may be receding. “I’d like to think the worst is behind us, but we don’t know,” said Eileen White, executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. “It’s in Mother Nature’s hands at this point, and we’re in uncharted territory.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury Times here: ‘It’s in Mother Nature’s hands’: Oakland fish carcass cleanup continues amid signs algae may be dissipating
SEE ALSO: Thousands of dead fish in San Francisco Bay Area blamed on toxic red tide, from the LA Times
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto ranks high for drought impacts in national survey. It needs some explaining
“Modesto ranked 12th among 193 cities across the nation in a new survey on drought impacts. It was conducted by Lawn Love, an online service that connects homeowners with landscape maintenance companies. And despite its name, the sponsor acknowledges that water-sucking turf isn’t the best option in areas facing drought. It urges alternatives such as gravel, mulch and native plants. Modesto’s ranking resulted in part from its summer heat, which can be severe at times, lawn-watering needs and relatively low annual rainfall. … ” Red more from the Modesto Bee here: Modesto ranks high for drought impacts in national survey. It needs some explaining
Friant Water Authority fighting to keep canal flowing
“It isn’t obvious to the naked eye, but the San Joaquin Valley is sinking, and it’s slowly destroying key parts of the agricultural infrastructure as it goes. … The ground in some areas of the South Valley – centered in the middle of the former Tulare Lake Basin near Corcoran – is falling at a rate of up to a foot a year. In the stretch between Pixley and the Kern County line, the subsidence is so bad the Friant-Kern Canal has sunk to the point it now carries just a fraction of its original capacity. “The canal is just going down into a hole,” Chris Hickernell, general superintendent for the Friant Water Authority, said during a recent interview with KPIX CBS SF Bay Area. “But it’s the whole region around here that’s kind of settling in, and a lot of people don’t look at it that way because the grapes aren’t any lower and the pistachios aren’t any lower.” … ” Read more from the Valley Voice here: Friant Water Authority fighting to keep canal flowing
Bakersfield: State wildlife agency’s policy is limiting official action on Truxtun Lake turtles, city says
“If you’ve had your heart set on rescuing some of Truxtun Lake’s struggling turtles – forget it. That opportunity has appeared to have come and gone. Truxtun Lake – a manmade lake just off the now-dry Kern River riverbed – is basically gone, and outwardly devoid of significant wildlife, a victim of the ongoing California drought. The city of Bakersfield has basically elected to let the Truxtun Lake turtles die, citing a state Department of Fish and Wildlife regulation that says non-native invasive species like these turtles – the Red-Eared Slider, most likely descended from domestic reptiles purchased in stores and then turned loose at the lake – cannot be removed unless the removing party is prepared to keep them in captivity for the remainder of their lifespan. … ” Read more from KGET here: State wildlife agency’s policy is limiting official action on Truxtun Lake turtles, city says
EASTERN SIERRA
Advisory issued at Bridgeport Reservoir for harmful algal bloom
“A recreational advisory has been issued at Bridgeport Reservoir for a harmful algal bloom. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board is asking fisherman and recreation users to stay out of the water there. Areas of the lake were tested and confirmed to be impacted by the blooms. … ” Read more from KOLO here: Advisory issued at Bridgeport Reservoir for harmful algal bloom
Commentary: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s recent water purchase agreement and related concerns
Rod Stiefvater, on the Board of Directors of the Belridge Water Storage District and a SWP contract owner since 1999, writes, “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 water, through the State Water Project (SWP), from the California Aqueduct in Kings County. The water would be imported to the Indian Wells Valley, but only after a costly pipeline infrastructure is permitted and constructed. 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 the specific terms and conditions of the agreement, and once signed, makes the agreement legally binding on both parties. 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. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Commentary: IWVGA’s recent water purchase agreement and related concerns
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California heat wave continues to break records, with more expected to fall
“The heat wave lingering in Southern California for a second day continued to set or match daily records Thursday, and the National Weather Service expects more historic temperatures in the coming days. Lancaster, Palmdale and Sandberg, located 10 miles east of Gorman, all reached record highs for Sept. 1, with some of the records falling after more than 70 years, according to the weather service’s Oxnard office. Lancaster saw a high of 112 degrees Thursday, surpassing the previously daily high of 110 set in 1950. On Wednesday, the city tied its daily record for Aug. 31, previously set in 1948, with a high of 109. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Southern California heat wave continues to break records, with more expected to fall
Antelope Valley commentary: Water restrictions seem to be here for good
“If you think the heat on Wednesday was bad, just wait until later today, when the temperature is supposed to reach 111 in Lancaster and 110 in Palmdale. Whether you believe there’s a climate crisis or you believe the Earth’s increased temperatures are due to a natural, cyclical occurrence, you cannot deny that summers seem hotter than they used to be. The increasing temperatures, each year, combined with rapidly shrinking water sources like the Colorado River, seem to signal that the outlook for humans isn’t good. It also appears that amid the water crisis, water restrictions are here to stay. We have been asked to cut back on our watering days, so many lawns and other yard foliage across the Antelope Valley are drying up and dying due to lack of water. … ” Continue reading at the Antelope Valley Press here: Antelope Valley commentary: Water restrictions seem to be here for good
High bacteria levels prompt water warning for popular SoCal beach spots
“As many make plans to head down to the coast to escape Southern California’s brutal heat wave, Los Angeles County health officials say there are high bacteria levels in the water at some popular spots. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a warning Tuesday asking beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters in the following areas: Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica; Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey; Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro; and Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu. … ” Read more from ABC 7 here: High bacteria levels prompt water warning for popular SoCal beach spots
Plan to bury contaminated sediment in Newport Harbor goes to Coastal Commission
“Newport Beach has spent four years and roughly $2 million on a plan to dig a hole the size of six football fields at the bottom of its harbor, a hole that U.S. Army Corps crews can use to bury contaminated sediment dredged up from nearby channels. City officials insist the plan, which is expected to take three more years and cost the city at least another $10 million to complete, is the most practical and environmentally friendly way to clear the harbor’s channels and get sediment — which contains elevated levels of chemicals such as mercury and DDT — out of open waters. But the proposal faces growing opposition from environmental organizations and a group of residents led by tech mogul Palmer Luckey. That group, which has spent more than $100,000 of their own money investigating the project and exploring alternatives, argues that the push to dredge in this fashion is being rushed. And opponents are worried about the project’s long-term effects on water quality and protected wildlife. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Plan to bury contaminated sediment in Newport Harbor goes to Coastal Commission
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s imported water supply may not be as secure as hoped
“San Diego water managers exude an understated confidence when they talk about the regional drought that is drying up California and the Colorado River Basin. “Despite the fact that we’ve developed the supplies and have the water available, it’s never okay to waste and we’re always moving toward becoming more efficient with that water that we do have,” said Jeff Stephenson of the San Diego County Water Authority in a July interview with KPBS. Earlier this year the SDCWA touted the fact they even if the current drought persisted, they would have a sustainable supply of water for years. … ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diego’s imported water supply may not be as secure as hoped
San Diego County showing way forward in beating back water shortages
“More than 30 years ago, if you were to visit San Diego County, you would be struck by the lush green lawns, beautiful gardens, and many folks washing their cars. The county alongside the Pacific Coast appeared to be flush with water. But in all actuality, a major water catastrophe was already in the works. From 1987-1992, California was hit with a megadrought, and San Diego, which was at the end of the fresh water pipeline, was in deep trouble. … Fast forward, and today, San Diego is riding a huge wave of success. The key: those who lived here decided to reduce the risk of another painful drought from ever happening again. They decided to spend the money, update the infrastructure, and create a diverse water portfolio. ... ” Continue reading from CBS News here: San Diego County showing way forward in beating back water shortages
Along the Colorado River …
Reclamation monitoring conditions threatening trout below Glen Canyon Dam
“Lower water levels at Lake Powell and rising temperatures in the Colorado River are contributing to dangerously low dissolved oxygen levels below Glen Canyon Dam, causing concern for the health of the trout fishery located near Lees Ferry. The Bureau of Reclamation works with the U.S. Geological Survey to closely monitor water quality conditions and is working with partners and stakeholders to better understand potential effects. Fish native to the Colorado River, such as humpback chub and razorback sucker, are generally located farther downstream where low dissolved oxygen levels are remedied by riffles and runs, which aerate the water. The poor water quality just below the dam is adversely impacting only the rainbow trout population located in that area. “Reclamation’s water quality forecasts suggested that there was potential for reaching low dissolved oxygen levels below the dam this year, but we didn’t anticipate it happening until early autumn,” said Reclamation fish biologist Clarence Fullard. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation monitoring conditions threatening trout below Glen Canyon Dam
SEE ALSO: Bureau of Reclamation monitoring trout health as warming water in Lake Powell creates low oxygen levels downstream, from KNAU
Lake Mead water level forecast shows point deadpool could start closing in
“A Lake Mead water level forecast has shown the point at which deadpool level could start closing in at the reservoir. Deadpool is the level when the water in a reservoir can no longer flow downstream from a dam. For Lake Mead, this level is 895 feet. A forecast from the Bureau of Reclamation released on August 31 show the two and five year projections at the lake. In the worst-case-scenario, the water level is expected to fall to just above 990 feet in July 2024. … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Lake Mead water level forecast shows point deadpool could start closing in
Does this fisherman have the right to be in a billionaire’s backyard?
“Colorado’s natural beauty — groves of aspen shimmering in fall, snowcapped 14,000-foot peaks bathed in alpenglow — has much to lure outdoor enthusiasts, from college-age tubers to private jet owners. For the wealthy in particular, there is world-class skiing and shoulder-rubbing in glitzy redoubts like Telluride, plus an attraction no other state can provide: the power to control some of the most storied rivers in the West. According to federal law, the beds of navigable waterways are owned by states, which hold them in trust for the public. But in Colorado, a series of unusual rulings have given landowners leeway to bar the public from riverbeds adjoining their property — and the water covering them, even if people float onto it after entering legally elsewhere. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Does this fisherman have the right to be in a billionaire’s backyard?
In national water news today …
Researchers have found a simple method of assessment in microplastic concentration in urban rivers
“Contamination with microplastic (MP) is a problem on a global scale. Even so, there is no accepted method for determining MP concentrations in rivers, which are where most MPs enter the ocean. This results in arbitrary sampling and incorrect evaluations. The right number of samples should now be taken to accurately measure the concentration of MP in freshwater, according to a method that researchers have recently proposed. The technique could significantly cut down on the time and resources needed for MP surveys. … ” Read more from Nature World News here: Researchers have found a simple method of assessment in microplastic concentration to urban rivers
Texas study finds ‘massive amount’ of toxic wastewater with few options for reuse
“Oil and gas extraction in the Permian Basin of arid West Texas is expected to produce some 588 million gallons of wastewater per day for the next 38 years, according to findings of a state-commissioned study group—three times as much as the oil it produces. The announcement from the Texas Produced Water Consortium came two days before it was due to release its findings on potential recycling of oilfield wastewater. “It’s a massive amount of water,” said Rusty Smith, the consortium’s executive director, addressing the Texas Groundwater Summit in San Antonio on Tuesday. But making use of that so-called “produced water” still remains well beyond the current reach of state authorities, he said. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: Texas study finds ‘massive amount’ of toxic wastewater with few options for reuse
To fight severe drought, China is turning to technology
“On a grassy plateau overlooking a valley in central China, two officials stood by as a small, thin rocket blasted off from the rear of a pickup truck. The rocket, carrying a payload of silver iodide rods intended to initiate rainfall, was headed for the clouds above Zigui county in Hubei province. It was just another round of artillery fire in China’s war against its current drought—the worst on record in the country. Using chemicals to artificially cause the release of rain from clouds is called cloud seeding. Besides the rockets, Chinese authorities have also sent large drones into the skies above Sichuan province, another central region of the country. The aircraft have been shooting silver iodide flares into the atmosphere, also in the hope of prompting precipitation. This frenzy of activity is China’s response to a drought that has turned lakes into dust bowls and sent citizens in some areas scrambling underground to escape temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above. Evaporating rivers have also caused a drop in hydropower generation at dams, leading to electricity shortages. China is clearly trying to fight back against this crippling drought. But the country’s water scarcity problems run deep. And it’s not clear yet how effective its attempts to redress the situation are going to be. … ” Continue reading at Wired Magazine here: To fight severe drought, China is turning to technology
National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20220901Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
ESTUARY PEARLS: Beavers, climate impacts, harmful algal blooms, juvenile salmon, phytoplankton production, and more …
