On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board meets beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include a drought update and current hydrologic conditions; An update on the Central Valley Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program; Consideration of adoption of drinking water, water rights, and core water quality regulatory fee schedules; Consideration of adoption of a regulation modifying water right notice requirements and reporting dates; Quarterly Delta Lead scientist report; and a periodic report from the Delta Watermaster. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- PUBLIC WEBINAR: SAFER Affordability Workshop #2 from 10am to 12pm. This webinar workshop will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute towards the enhancement of the drinking water Affordability Assessment, a component of the Drinking Water Needs Assessment. This workshop will look at potential affordability indicators. Click here for the full workshop notice.
- WEBINAR: EPA’s Proposed PFOA & PFOS Designation Under CERCLA: BB&K’s Primer on the Need-to-Know from 10am to 10:30am. During this 30-minute webinar, BB&K will provide a high-level overview of the Proposed PFOA/PFOS CERCLA Designation Rule. Presenters will also discuss the risks of liability and recommended next steps for municipalities and special districts. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Western reservoirs could run dry in 3 years, top official warns
“A top Centennial State official warned Colorado River Basin states that the system’s federal reservoirs could effectively empty in a few short years barring aggressive reductions to water demands. Colorado River Water Conservation District General Manager Andy Mueller painted a bleak future for the basin’s seven states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — on Friday, during his organization’s annual conference in Grand Junction, Colo., on the river’s future. “If we continue in the way we’re operating now, if we don’t reduce our demands, we’re going to really see those reservoirs really hit a crisis,” Mueller said. “I’m not talking about in 20 years, I’m talking about in the next three or four years. We have a period of time here to change our use.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Western reservoirs could run dry in 3 years, top official warns
Delta Independent Science Board requests extension on Delta tunnel Draft EIR comments
“On September 2, 2022, Lisa Wainger, the new Chair of the Delta Independent Science Board, sent a letter to the Department of Water Resources Director, Karla Nemeth, asking for a 30 day extension of time to comment on the Delta Conveyance Project Draft EIR. The DISB Chair’s letter gave the following reasons for asking for the extension: We have been actively working to review the document, but more time would be helpful for the following reasons. … ” Read more from the California Water Research blog here: Delta Independent Science Board requests extension on Delta tunnel Draft EIR comments
Harder pushes bill that would stop tunnel
“Congress could kill the Delta tunnel. Under legislation introduced by Congressman Josh Harder and co-sponsored by Congressman John Garamendi, the Army Corps of Engineering would be banned from issuing a required permit the state needs to build the $16 billion Delta Conveyance project known simply as the Delta Tunnel. The Corps has a pivotal role in the project given the water that would be diverted is stored behind Shasta Dam. Shasta Dam is part of the federally built and operated Central Valley Project whose water is sold to the Metropolitan Water District in the Los Angeles Basin as well as large corporate farms in the western part of Kern County and several Bay Area cities. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Harder pushes bill that would stop tunnel
SEE ALSO: Harder introduces bill in Congress to stop the Delta Tunnel project, from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
Here’s what you need to know about Northern California’s atmospheric river weather event
“Just on the heels of a record-breaking heat wave, California saw the onset of an atmospheric river this past weekend. It’s expected to break rainfall records throughout Northern California. Atmospheric rivers have become known for bringing heavy rainfall, and with it, flooding concerns. The same is true for this storm: The Sacramento office of the National Weather Service has warned residents of the potential for localized flooding throughout Northern California. Amounts of rainfall from the atmospheric river might vary in different parts of the region, according to the weather service. In a recent tweet, the agency explained that while some areas may see bursts of rain, others may see no rain at all. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Here’s what you need to know about Northern California’s atmospheric river weather event
Are we in an El Niño or La Niña year? What this winter could mean for California weather
“California’s upcoming winter is forecast to be mild and drier than normal, according to experts, as climate patterns steer the state. We’re in for another year of La Niña. Paul Ullrich, professor of regional and global climate modeling at the University of California, Davis, said we’ve been in a La Niña weather pattern for two years now. This upcoming La Niña winter will be the third consecutive year. The effects of the weather pattern will vary by region, with California seeing less rainfall. But it appears to be weakening, Ullrich said. According to the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s Recent Evolution, Current Status and Predictions, the La Niña will continue through the Northern Hemisphere to winter 2022 to 2023. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Are we in an El Niño or La Niña year? What this winter could mean for California weather
SEE ALSO: A La Niña three-peat portends continuing climatic disruption, from Discover Magazine
Bringing arsenic-safe drinking water to rural California
“Like many areas throughout California, the groundwater beneath Allensworth is tainted with dangerous levels of arsenic, a highly carcinogenic element that can seep into the water table from deposits in the soil and bedrock. While cities and larger municipalities can afford to remove arsenic from their water, many people living in small and rural communities are forced to choose between drinking contaminated tap water or purchasing bottled water—and those with private wells may not even know that their water is unsafe. In collaboration with Hutson and other Allensworth community leaders, engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, are currently field testing a simple and low-cost new arsenic treatment system that is designed to help small, rural communities like Allensworth access arsenic-safe drinking water. ... ” Read more from Phys Org here: Bringing arsenic-safe drinking water to rural California
California school organizations urge veto of latest bill to remove lead in school water
“A 2017 state law led schools across California to have their faucets tested for lead in a program to reduce lead in school drinking water. A new bill that proposes to remove lead from schools and state buildings, awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, now faces opposition from school groups. Public employee unions and organizations representing school districts, school boards and school business officers are pitted against each other on legislation spelling out how to protect students and school adults from lead in water. Newsom must pick a side: Senate Bill 1144 easily passed through the Legislature. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: California school organizations urge veto of latest bill to remove lead in school water
Firefighters make massive strides against the Mosquito Fire, aided by rain and cool temps
“The unusual September rains that swept into Northern California Sunday helped thousands of firefighters slow California’s largest wildfire this year — the Mosquito Fire in the area of rural Placer and El Dorado counties — and double containment of the blaze. But forecasts calling for the rain to continue over the fire area until Wednesday have prompted warnings of possible thunderstorms that could trigger mudslides, rockslides, and ash and debris flows where the 76,290-acre fire has already burned. “It adds another layer of complexity to the firefight,” said Scott McLean, a Cal Fire spokesperson. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Firefighters make massive strides against the Mosquito Fire, aided by rain and cool temps
Not even soaking rain can ease fire risk in a California hit by record heat, dry landscape
“A summer of drought, extreme heat and deadly wildfires will end with much-needed rain this week in parts of California, but it is unlikely to douse the threat of wind-driven fires this fall in a state scarred by record-setting heat waves and bone-dry landscapes. Although recent rains helped tame some of the state’s most active blazes — including the Mosquito fire in El Dorado and Placer counties and the Fairview fire in Riverside — it’s too soon to declare fire season over, experts say. In California, occasional bouts of heavy precipitation are proving outmatched by rising temperatures and worsening drought, which can leave vegetation nearly as brittle and fire-prone as it was before the rain. … ” Red more from the LA Times here: Not even soaking rain can ease fire risk in a California hit by record heat, dry landscape
A better understanding of crop yields under climate change
“You don’t need a PhD in agriculture to know that water is critical to crop production. But for years, people like Jonathan Proctor, who has a PhD in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of California Berkeley, have been trying to explain why the importance of water isn’t showing up in statistical models of crop yield. “Studies analyzing how crop yields respond to temperature and rainfall tend to find that temperature matters much more than water, even though we understand from plant physiology that temperature and water supply are both really important for crops,” said Proctor, a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Peter Huybers’ group at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). “Solving this puzzle is critical for quantifying how climate change will affect global crop yields.” The research team had a hypothesis: What if the models were measuring the wrong type of water? … ” Read more from Harvard University here: A better understanding of crop yields under climate change
UCSB scientists see the end of ‘normal’ climate
“In August, Governor Gavin Newsom and officials from the Department of Water Resources released a new Water Supply Strategy, saying that because of California’s “hotter, drier climate,” the state needed to find at least 10 percent more water to supply its farms, cities, and industry by 2040. … This new state plan follows the climate science on “aridification.” That’s the scientific term for the “drying trend” that young climate scientist Samantha Stevenson of UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Engineering identified this year in an extensive global study of the 21st-century hydroclimate. Stevenson said that she wanted to provoke new thinking about what we call drought. “Drought is already normal in much of the western United States and other parts of the world, such as western Europe,” Stevenson said. “Part of the reason I wrote the paper was to try to say that we need to think about what we mean when we say ‘drought,’ because we’ve been using these definitions based on expectations from 40 years ago. What happens if you know the drought is never going to end?” ... ” Read more from Santa Barbara Independent here: UCSB scientists see the end of ‘normal’ climate
These animal climate heroes restore habitats and revive ecosystems
“You might be surprised to learn just how much of our world is shaped by animals doing unremarkable things like scratching, digging, eating, and pooping. Especially pooping. These activities are the first in a chain of events that result in highly complex, biodiverse ecosystems. Certain species, because of their unique skills, food choices, or even size, are ecosystem linchpins—remove them from the equation, and an ecosystem collapses. Without mussels, you might not have clean drinking water. Without forest elephants, atmospheric carbon dioxide would skyrocket. And if you think an otter’s appetite for sea urchin doesn’t impact your life, think again. Stacker compiled a list of 10 animals from diverse environments, outlining how each helps sustain its ecosystem. ... ” Read more from Channel 21 here: These animal climate heroes restore habitats and revive ecosystems
RADIO: Boosting beaver population could help CA fight climate change, from KCRW
Wildfires are burning away the West’s snow
“The ground beneath researcher Stephanie Kampf’s boots was black and burned to a sooty crisp in June 2021 as she walked across the burn scar left by the Cameron Peak Fire of 2020. A summer after the fire engulfed over 200,000 acres in flames, there was no snow to be found in its footprint — despite being almost 10,000 feet above sea level, where snow often persists in Colorado. In a nearby stand of unburned trees, however, Kampf noted, some “nice snow” did appear. “It was really striking,” she said. “It was so mind-blowing to me.” According to research out Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, wildfire is increasingly altering the snowpack in the Western U.S. Kampf, the lead author and a professor of watershed science at Colorado State University, said the Cameron Peak Fire — Colorado’s largest fire to date — inspired her research, because it started so close to the Continental Divide. That surprised Kampf. “We started wondering, is this something that’s happening elsewhere in the West?” she said. … ” Read more from High Country News here: Wildfires are burning away the West’s snow
Interior Department invests over $7.5 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law to advance wildfire resilience in California
“Today the Department of the Interior announced that it has invested over $7.5 million in fiscal year 2022 funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to advance wildfire resilience work and support fuels management projects in California on 9,969 acres of land across the state. This is part of $103 million allocated by the Department earlier this year to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate impacts and rehabilitate burned areas. The additional funding will help complete fuels treatments on nearly 2 million acres nationwide this fiscal year, a substantial increase over the prior year. “As climate change drives harsher heat waves, more volatile weather, and record drought conditions, we are seeing wildfire seasons turn to wildfire years, threatening communities, businesses, wildlife and the environment,” said Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau. “Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are investing in California communities, advancing wildfire resilience work across the country, improving resources for the heroic firefighting workforce, and reducing the risk of wildfire.” … ” Read more from the Department of Interior here: Interior Department invests over $7.5 million from the bipartisan infrastructure law to advance wildfire resilience in California
Giant sequoia protection efforts underway in the southern Sierra
“In the past two years, nearly 20 percent of all giant sequoias, the largest trees in the world that only grow naturally on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, have been killed. Among those killed were many of the largest trees in each grove, called monarchs, that mostly died in the 2020 Castle Fire and the 2021 KNP Complex and Windy fires. In an effort to help protect these iconic trees from future wildfire, the federal government recently initiated emergency fuel-reduction treatments on 13,000-plus acres of U.S. Forest Service land in and around 12 different giant sequoia groves. Scheduled to begin this summer and end in 2024, these emergency-response treatments will complement the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC)-funded Grant Grove Big Stump Ecological Restoration Project, which will wrap up in early 2023. … ” Read more fr3om the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: Giant sequoia protection efforts underway in the southern Sierra
In commentary today …
Gavin Newsom can stop water projects from drowning in red tape
senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, writes, “Earlier this month, the California Department of Water Resources announced a new round of funding for desalination projects in the state. Six million dollar grants will be made available for new projects that help expand the Golden State’s fresh water supply. The move comes on the heels of a new water initiative Governor Gavin Newsom has launched to address California’s historic drought. …More facilities may come online now that the state is offering the $6 million incentive packages. The Newsom Administration is supportive—desalination is a pillar of its new water supply initiative—which isn’t surprising given the state’s once-in-a-millennium drought. The question now is whether the administration will stand up to some of the interest groups that have historically thwarted progress. … ” Read more from Forbes here: Gavin Newsom can stop water projects from drowning in red tape
Today’s featured article …
METROPOLITAN IMPORTED WATER COMMITTEE: Challenges ahead for Metropolitan’s water supplies in 2023
Storage supplies not evenly distributed throughout the service area; Changes in accounting on the Colorado River could further impact supplies
At the September meeting of Metropolitan’s Imported Water Committee, staff updated committee members on Metropolitan’s water supplies and demand, the emergency water conservation program, and the outlook for Metropolitan’s Colorado River supplies.
Click here to read this article.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County staff to propose new well permit regulations
“Sonoma County staff are polishing off a new draft of revisions to the county’s well regulations after the county Board of Supervisors delayed adopting the original revisions in order to obtain more community input on the possible impacts of the changes. The revisions are intended to align the county’s well ordinance with California’s Public Trust Doctrine, which requires local governments to protect public-use waterways , such as those used for commerce, recreation, navigation or habitat. The core of any proposed changes would require well permit applicants to meet certain criteria based on their proximity to protected waterways and use of groundwater. There would also be a public trust review of the well’s potential impact on those nearby waterways. ... ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Sonoma County staff to propose new well permit regulations
Webinar set on Sonoma County’s well-drilling ordinance
“The public is invited to participate in an informational webinar on Thursday focusing on Permit Sonoma’s proposal to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to enact new standards for drilling wells. The webinar, which will take place from 4 to 5 p.m., will be offered on Zoom (here). Featuring a panel of experts and a Q&A period, it will be streamed on the county’s Facebook page in English and on its YouTube channel in Spanish. After the event, a recording of the webinar will be available on YouTube. Community members also invited to participate in the public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 4, during the board’s regular meeting at the Supervisors Chambers, 575 Administration Blvd. in Santa Rosa. If approved by the Supervisors, the amended ordinance would create a new framework for Permit Sonoma to evaluate environmental impacts while reviewing applications for permits to drill new or replacement groundwater wells. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: Webinar set on Sonoma County’s well-drilling ordinance
Petaluma moves to shore up groundwater supply
“Like just about everyone else in Sonoma County, Petaluma is looking for more water. They recently made it happen. Aiming to stave off any shortage, last week Petaluma moved forward with a new municipal well – this time on the city’s west side. Called the Oak Hill Municipal Well, Dan Herrera, a civil engineer for the city, explained the project’s necessity. “We have a local production goal from Sonoma Water to deliver 40% of our average day demand.” Herrera said. “This is about 4.6 million gallons per day. We have 10 active wells that produce about three MGD. Only about 20, 27 to 28% of that average day demand. So, so we have a little bit more that’s needed.” … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Petaluma moves to shore up groundwater supply
BAY AREA
Marin’s water district reservoirs 106% of normal
“On Sunday, Mount Tamalpais and the surrounding towns got more than an inch of rain. Instead of that all being soaked into the parched earth, a lot of it got into the reservoirs of Mt. Tam’s watershed. Now, despite three hard drought years, Marin’s reservoirs are 106% of their historical average for this date due. It’s not just from this weekend’s localized rains, but the huge atmospheric river storms that hit Mt. Tam late last year and early this year. “It’s great. It smells good. It looks good. All the animals are really happy. Birds are great,” said San Anselmo resident Maria Kennedy. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Marin’s water district reservoirs 106% of normal
It’s not over yet: Rainy weather possible for a few Bay Area cities today
“What’s left of last weekend’s storm is still clawing the California coast and is set to produce a fair share of rain showers from the East Bay to the Sierras. But its days are numbered, and the system is on track to slowly fizzle out by the middle of the week. The storm’s remnants are spraying unstable air and moisture on the North Bay, East Bay and South Bay Tuesday, setting residents up for another day of showers. It should be said that the North American and European models are the ones leaning toward a wet wetter pattern this afternoon. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: It’s not over yet: Rainy weather possible for a few Bay Area cities today
Improvements eyed for San Francisco Bay in wake of algae bloom
“Marine scientist Dr. William Cochlan is old friends with the tiny algae blamed for the recent devastating bloom in San Francisco Bay. He and his colleagues at the Estuary and Ocean Science Center in Tiburon first identified it during an event here nearly two decades ago. He says the species is both patient and mobile. They’re able to survive in a pod-like state until conditions are right, and actually navigate around the surface to reach sunlight and nutrients. “It has flagella, which are like little tails. One spins it so like a screw on a ship, and the other one has like a tiller, and it could move around and optimize its position in the water column. So in doing so, it can go right to the surface and get plenty of light, because normally we don’t get big blooms in San Francisco Bay, because of all the silt load and high turbidity,” explains Dr. Cochlan. But now, changes evolving in San Francisco Bay also have researchers debating what’s ahead and how best to prepare. ... ” Read more from KABC here: Improvements eyed for San Francisco Bay in wake of algae bloom
CENTRAL COAST
Mini-documentary to focus on Pure Water Soquel project
“An upcoming mini-documentary will focus on Soquel Creek Water District’s advanced water purification project. The film was produced for the District by BBC StoryWorks and focuses on the Pure Water Soquel project. It is part of a human-centric film series presented by the International Water Association called “Beneath the Surface: The Journey of Water.” The series includes short films that profile the innovations and innovators advancing water sustainability. The complete series, which initially launched at the International Water Association Conference in Denmark, includes 16 unique stories from around the world. The Pure Water Soquel film is one of only two in the series from the United States with others from around the world representing Spain, Uganda, Brazil, Scotland, Sweden, Portugal, and more. … ” Read more from Water World here: Mini-documentary to focus on Pure Water Soquel project
Marina seeks to hire consultant to find source of long-complained-about odor
“The city of Marina will consider two actions to take at its city council meeting Tuesday in an effort to find the source of an odor that has long eluded detection. The first is the adoption of a memorandum of understanding for an odor attribution study between the city, ReGen Monterey (Monterey Regional Waste Management District) and Monterey One Water. The second is approving a professional services agreement between the city and SCS Engineers for environmental services for the odor attribution study project. Throughout the past few years, there have been several odor complaints by community members reported to the city and the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Marina seeks to hire consultant to find source of long-complained-about odor
Rangers don’t expect latest rainfall to make much difference at Lopez Lake
“The entire state of California is in drought and reservoirs here on the Central Coast are recording lower and lower levels. Keith Kuiken, a park ranger at Lopez Lake in Arroyo Grande, said the last time the lake got close to full was back in 2012 when it reached 80%. “We’ll need significantly more to, you know, saturate the ground and to get runoff and to get our creeks flowing,” said Kuiken. The reservoir fills up slower than other lakes in the County, according to Kuiken, because it is not connected to a river system. … ” Read more from KSBY here: Rangers don’t expect latest rainfall to make much difference at Lopez Lake
EPA studies clean options at Halaco Superfund Site by Ormond Beach in Oxnard
“The Environmental Protection Agency and elected officials have promised to clean up the Halaco Superfund Site for nearly two decades. During a community meeting, residents learned the EPA was doing a feasibility study to decide how to clean up the former metal smelter plant at Ormond Beach in Oxnard. When the Halaco Engineering Company was tasked with cleaning it up after 40 years of operations, it declared bankruptcy. … ” Read more from KEYT here: EPA studies clean options at Halaco Superfund Site by Ormond Beach in Oxnard
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Time to go big. River Partners gets $40 million to replicate Modesto-area floodplain
“The state has granted $40 million to River Partners to greatly expand the floodplain restoration it has demonstrated at Dos Rios Ranch. The nonprofit will identify rivers from Stanislaus to Kern counties that could benefit from this work. It seeks to enhance wildlife habitat while providing room for floodwaters to spread. “This is four times larger than any grant River Partners has ever received,” President Julie Rentner said in a phone interview Thursday, Sept. 15. “It’s tremendous.” … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Time to go big. River Partners gets $40 million to replicate Modesto-area floodplain
Chances for La Niña event in Central California increasing, experts say
“The Central Valley is currently in an exceptional drought and now, Californians should buckle up for an increased chance of La Niña. According to the National Weather Service, La Niña is here and she’s not going anywhere any time soon. Steven Haugen is the Watermaster at the Kings River Water Association – the organization responsible for administering and allocating water in the Central Valley. He says, “When the sea surface temperatures are less than a half of a degree below average, they call it a La Niña.” Action News Meteorologist Madeline Evans explains what this means for Central California. … ” Read more from Channel 30 here: Chances for La Niña event in Central California increasing, experts say
Tehachapi: Water district’s new minimums could cause more trouble for ag
“The president of the board of Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District on Sept. 16 argued against minimum balances for the district’s banked water reserve accounts, calling such a policy an emotional response to the drought that will set the district up for disaster. The minimums were set regardless by a vote of 3-1 with Director Jonathan Hall absent and President Robert Schultz voting against the action. Director Kathy Cassil made the motion to adopt a resolution “establishing minimum balances for TCCWD banked water reserve accounts for the purpose of maintaining health and safety standards in the event of a catastrophic event.” Director Rick Zanutto seconded the motion and he and Director James Pack voted with Cassil to approve it. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News here: Tehachapi: Water district’s new minimums could cause more trouble for ag
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Temporary watering ban lifted in Los Angeles County as pipeline repair completed early
“Southern California water officials on Monday lifted a temporary ban on outdoor watering in portions of Los Angeles County after completing emergency repairs on a critical pipeline two days early. The 36-mile Upper Feeder pipeline, operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, is a major conduit for supplying water to the region from the Colorado River. Officials shut it down Sept. 6 so they could address a leak, and called on nearly 4 million residents to halt all outdoor irrigation — including sprinkling and hand watering — for 15 days while they did the work. The MWD said residents and businesses in affected areas can resume limited watering outdoors. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Temporary watering ban lifted in Los Angeles County as pipeline repair completed early
Marine researchers, Long Beach boat owners, continue Olympia oyster restoration project
“Marine biologists, local conservationists and Long Beach Yacht Club members spent Sunday afternoon examining oyster strings as part of a long-term project to restore Olympia oyster populations in Southern California. The oyster strings, made of oyster shells collected from local restaurants, have served as homes for oyster larvae since they were deposited into Alamitos Bay in mid-May, said Claire Arre, Orange County Coastkeeper’s marine restoration director. They were distributed to about 50 yacht club members to hang near their homes and docks around Alamitos Bay, said Arre. By placing strings of the shells at a certain depth, researchers hoped to attract native Olympia oyster larvae, which are searching through ocean, looking for something like an old shell to cling to, said Matt Sylvester, OC Coastkeeper’s communications director. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Marine researchers, Long Beach boat owners, continue Olympia oyster restoration project
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
EPA orders two Coachella Valley mobile home parks to provide safe drinking water
“On Wednesday, September 14, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Emergency Administrative Orders under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act to two mobile home parks located in the Eastern Coachella Valley on the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Tribe’s Reservation in California. EPA discovered that the mobile home parks are serving residents drinking water with naturally occurring, elevated levels of arsenic that exceed federal standards. The Gamez Mobile Home Park and Desert Rose Mobile Home Park serve predominantly agricultural workers. The EPA emergency orders require the parks to provide safe alternative drinking water to residents, install treatment for arsenic, and comply with all federal regulatory requirements for water systems. These actions are part of an EPA effort to ensure small drinking water systems in Eastern Coachella Valley comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA previously issued two emergency orders concerning elevated levels of arsenic to Oasis Mobile Home Park and seven other nearby parks. … ” Read more from the EPA here: EPA orders two Coachella Valley mobile home parks to provide safe drinking water
SAN DIEGO
Carlsbad delays plan to realign coastal highway to deal with sea level rise
“Carlsbad is getting another year to work on plans to realign one mile of Highway 101, called Carlsbad Boulevard in the city, as part of its effort to adapt to sea level rise. “Our original plan was to bring you a recommendation … in order to meet the February 2023 deadline for the South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project,” said Katie Hentrich, the city’s climate action plan administrator, at last week’s City Council meeting. Instead, Carlsbad obtained a one-year extension to February 2024 to complete the preliminary work funded by $533,175 in grants the city received from the California Coastal Conservancy in 2020 and 2021. Final designs and construction costs are not covered by the grant money. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Carlsbad delays plan to realign coastal highway to deal with sea level rise
City finds more issues at Hodges Dam, repair timeline pushed back to 2023
“While repairing parts of Hodges Reservoir Dam, city workers found additional defects that need to be addressed, likely delaying completion of the repairs by several months, the city announced Monday. During a prior inspection, city workers identified areas in the dam wall that required repair and needed to be sealed. To access areas on the dam for repair, the water level of the reservoir was lowered 18 feet to an elevation of 275 feet by transferring water to other reservoirs and treatment plants, officials said. ... ” Read more from Channel 10 here: City finds more issues at Hodges Dam, repair timeline pushed back to 2023
Video: City Council considers raising price of water in San Diego
“In the coming year San Diegans may be made to pay up to 3% more for running water. Tuesday, Sept. 20 San Diego City Council voted on whether or not to move forward with rate increases. A rate hike could be the second time in the last two years the price for water could go up. Ed Lenderman went live at the Embarcadero with more details on the proposal.” Watch at KUSI here: Video: City Council considers raising price of water in San Diego
Along the Colorado River …
Drought in Western US heats up as a Senate campaign issue
“In a midterm campaign season dominated by inflation, abortion and crime, there’s another issue that is becoming more urgent in Western states: drought. The topic of water historically has played little to no role in campaign ads in much of the region, but funding to fight drought is coming up now in door-knocking campaigns and is on the long list of talking points that advocacy groups are using to rally voters in two states with vulnerable Democratic incumbents and looming water cuts: Nevada and Arizona. “This issue appeals to the economic anxiety of our voters and our people,” said Angel Lazcano, a Las Vegas-based organizer for Somos Votantes, which seeks to mobilize Latino voters across swing states. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Drought in Western US heats up as a Senate campaign issue
Phoenix won’t limit water use because California would take saved gallons
“One Arizona water official said Phoenix won’t require residents to conserve water yet, fearing that the action wouldn’t actually benefit the Colorado River and instead would be diverted to other states struggling with drought. Cynthia Campbell, the water resource management adviser for the city, told WBUR’s Peter O’Dowd that the city won’t mandate that its residents save water by initiating bans on watering lawns. It will, however, pay residents to kill their grass and replace it with a more drought-resistant landscaping option, like gravel. “When you compel people to do something, they immediately kind of start to harden up,” Campbell said. “If we were to compel them to do more right now and not use as much water, what would happen? That water would go to some other user in California, probably. So it’s not like it’s water that gets saved in Lake Mead and helps the reservoir in any way.” … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Phoenix won’t limit water use because California would take saved gallons
Phoenix, Gila River Indian Community may cut back on giving up water
“Faced with deep cuts to the water supply, and angry that other states are not doing their share, tribes and local governments in Arizona are increasingly talking about backing off earlier offers to give up some water. The Gila River Indian Community said in August that it will begin storing water underground “rather than contributing them to system conservation programs for Lake Mead.” Officials in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Peoria and Glendale are considering following suit, asking to get their full allotment of water instead of financial compensation they might have received for reducing their take from the system. … ” Read more from the East Valley Tribune here: Phoenix, GRIC may cut back on giving up water
Radio: ‘It’s not responsible’: Phoenix area residents tear up lawns in face of historic drought
“With Western states facing deep cuts to their water supplies on the Colorado River, residents of Metro Phoenix are making the tough decision to tear out their lawns. But would getting rid of every blade of grass do anything to solve the crisis on the Colorado River? Here & Now‘s Peter O’Dowd went to find out.” Read more from Nevada Public Radio here: Radio: ‘It’s not responsible’: Phoenix area residents tear up lawns in face of historic drought
Rare Arizona wetland defended against development by land acquisition
“The Pumphouse County Natural Area, one of northern Arizona’s few preserved wetlands, has expanded its borders. Coconino County Parks and Recreation recently announced it acquired an important 6-acre parcel in Kachina Village that will be restored and incorporated into the preserved natural area. Located immediately adjacent to an Interstate 17 frontage road, the parcel would have been an attractive site for future development in the Kachina Village area, but with this recent acquisition, it will become a protected piece of the wetland landscape. “If you drive down this highway, everybody really appreciates this,” said Matt Ryan, county supervisor, as he looked over the scene. “It’s a gateway into Flagstaff, into northern Arizona.” … ” Read more from Tucson.com here: Rare Arizona wetland defended against development by land acquisition
Chandler sees no threat of water supply
“Arizona author Edward Abbey wrote “Desert Solitaire” as a tribute to the Colorado River and the excellent canyons it carved in Southern Utah before Glen Canyon was flooded by a new dam near Page in the 1960s, creating Lake Powell. His novel, “Monkey Wrench Gang,” plotted blowing up that dam, freeing the canyons hidden underneath that water. Turns out Abbey only needed to wait a few decades: The drought did what his fictional band of eco-terrorists could not. The water levels of both Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at record lows since the dams were constructed to supply energy and drinking water for most of the Southwest. … ” Read more from the East Valley Times here: Chandler sees no threat of water supply
In national water news today …
Nature-Enabled Urban Design: Innovative infrastructure projects find inspiration in the wild to restore urban air, waterways, and coastlines.
“Dozens of tall, wooden structures have appeared in European cities in recent years. Their height and shape allude to a frequent function of columns in public squares — usually vents for building HVAC systems or subways. Peering through the wooden slats of these structures, however, doesn’t reveal steel grills expelling hot exhaust, but rather a lush moss surface running the height of the structure and releasing refreshing, clean air. This is CityTree, a unit developed by Germany’s Green City Solutions to filter and cool the air in dense urban environments.“The CityTree is a combination of street furniture and biofilter — a bench at the bottom and a wooden ‘tower’ with our moss-filter technology inside,” says Simon Dierks, marketing lead of Green City Solutions. “Combined with sensors, intelligent ventilation, irrigation, and software, we make the natural ‘superpowers’ of moss usable and measurable and bring it to urban hotspots.” Green City Solutions is one of a growing number of innovators changing the relationship between cities and nature by developing a new style of urban infrastructure. … ” Read the full story at Earth Island Journal here: Nature-Enabled Urban Design: Innovative infrastructure projects find inspiration in the wild to restore urban air, waterways, and coastlines.
