On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Maximizing Water Resources through Integrating a Multi-benefit Approach into Land Use Planning from 10am to 11am. Panelists will share with attendees how and why they prioritize water projects that incorporate a multi-benefit approach in land use planning. From state-level funding to the economics of project valuations, to working with planners to design and implement environments that are equitable and resilient, this webinar will demonstrate how to integrate and scale a multi-benefit approach for the greatest community benefits. Click here to register.
- EVENT: California Water Rights with Valerie Kincaid from 11:30am to 1pm in Bakersfield. Valerie Kincaid, water right attorney, will give a breakdown of California water rights, the different systems in place, a history of cases that shape our system today, and the evolution of decreasing reliability. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Westlands spearheaded Delta restoration project. Now, it faces puzzling ‘greenlash.’
“If California sees its environmental goals get met, does it really matter who contributed to the success? Among certain environmental groups, the answer can be boiled down to a single word: “It depends.” Or, in the the case of a long-standing project by the state’s largest agricultural water district, the powerful Westlands Water District, the answer is a bit longer: “Yes, and no good deed goes unpunished.” The district faces a skirmish with environmental advocates over an effort to strengthen and restore fish habitat within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – including the oft-maligned Delta smelt – in support of long-term goals laid out by California regulators. Now, two years after Westlands completed the restoration, environmentalists are seeking to dispute the work and effectiveness of habitat restoration sought by state regulators and tamper with the bottom line for the water agency. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Westlands spearheaded Delta restoration project. Now, it faces puzzling ‘greenlash.’
California dam can consider endangered trout’s migration – appeals court
“A federal appeals court has found agencies operating a dam in central California are able to protect an endangered population of Steelhead trout by releasing water to help with its migration, reversing a lower court’s order finding their hands were tied by federal law. The 9th Circuit on Friday issued a split decision finding the operators of the Twitchell Dam are allowed to consider releasing more water in order to facilitate reproductive migration of the Southern California Steelhead. The decision upended a district court’s reasoning that the law, which authorized the infrastructure’s development in the 1950s, only allowed the dam to be used to recharge the region’s aquifer, and was therefore not liable for illegal “take” under the Endangered Species Act. … ” Read more from Reuters here: California dam can consider endangered trout’s migration – appeals court
The environmental benefits of the Water Storage Investment Program
“In August, the Newsom administration announced its Water Supply Strategy. Storing water in wet years is central to this strategy, principally to cope with increasing drought intensity and the resulting water scarcity that will impact supplies for cities and farms. As part of our recent study, Storing Water for the Environment, we investigated current efforts to expand storage under the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP)—a key component of a water bond passed by voters in 2014 (Proposition 1). WSIP put forth significant funding for storage—$2.7 billion—and it uses a novel approach. It requires that this funding go only to the public benefit portion of new storage, including new water for the environment. Seven WSIP projects are slated to receive support. The amount of funding for each project was determined based on the value of its public benefits, which were calculated as part of a complex and often contentious process. Ecosystem benefits had to make up at least half the public benefits, and projects had to improve conditions in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta watershed. ... ” Read more from the PPIC here: The environmental benefits of the Water Storage Investment Program
Why our drought isn’t going anywhere this winter
“The latest measurements from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows the American West is in for another dry La Niña winter, unwelcome news for the West currently struggling to keep flowing its main source of water: the shrinking Colorado River. “That’s the worry in the present situation is that the odds now are now with La Niña are tilted against a really wet winter, at least in the southern half of California which of course has already been really dry,” said Dan Cayan, a research meteorologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Why our drought isn’t going anywhere this winter
Since 1993, farming has suffered in Central Valley
“Mario Santoyo served as Assistant Manager for 30 years on their Friant Water user’s authority has been fighting for water for decades. He said he remembers better times when it comes to South of the Delta farming. Those good years were prior to 1993 when the Delta Smelt was put on the Federal Endangered Species List. “I remember the good years. I was around during those days, but I’ve now lived through what is now, the hard years,” said Santoyo. “The unfortunate fact is that there will no longer be good years, it will only be worse years because for those folks that think it’s bad right now, they’re wrong. It’s going to get worse.” … ” Read more from Cal Ag Today here: Since 1993, farming has suffered in Central Valley
Future of tomatoes in CA drought: hydroponic farming?
“When Scott Beylik’s grandfather started the now four-acre Beylik Family Farms in Fillmore in the 1970s, it was a radical idea to grow tomatoes indoors without soil. Back then, they were pioneers of what has since become a growing trend in the agriculture industry: hydroponic farming. The technology involves lacing water with all the nutrients a plant needs, which eliminates the reliance on soil. That means no water is wasted in keeping dirt moist. This type of farming uses less than 10% of the water needed to grow tomatoes in the field, according to the National Park Service. Since Beylik mostly grows tomatoes, it made more sense to grow them in a place where they’d thrive year-round. In the fall when his outdoor competitors sell the last of their summer tomato crop, Beylik keeps making money. “In a way, it balances out. We’re able to grow 365 days. With … crops in the field, you’re only going to do maybe one a year because it’s seasonal,” he says. … ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Future of tomatoes in CA drought: hydroponic farming?
Review of decade-old misdirection on Delta smelt
Tom Cannon writes, “For several decades, scientific literature and state and federal permits have documented the decline in Delta smelt and promoted actions designed to slow the Delta smelt’s demise or even reverse it. However, that soundly based and widely promoted recovery strategy has often been undermined by some scientists and engineers funded by water-related industries and users intent on minimizing constraints on their water operations. The undermining of traditional science and regulatory institutions has been insidious and aggressive, to the point of nearly destroying the Central Valley and Bay-Delta ecosystem and many of its public trust resources. I know this from working nearly 50 years on these conflicts. A recent interest takes me back to some of these undermining efforts from a decade ago. In this post, I evaluate past theories from such efforts and further characterize the “science” used to support them. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: Review of decade-old misdirection on Delta smelt
California leads the world in testing drinking water for microplastics
“You are drinking microplastics. Miniscule fragments of deteriorated plastic from bottles, bags and other products are in the deepest depths of the ocean, in the Antarctic and Arctic, and in countless rivers and lakes. Now, these specks — some less than 5 millimeters and others only visible by microscopes — are in the drinking water of millions of Americans. While there is still more research needed on the health effects of ingesting these particles, California has taken the first steps to better understand the extent to which microplastics have infiltrated its drinking water by launching a statewide testing apparatus. This initiative is not just unique within the United States. California is the first government entity in the world to test its drinking water for microplastics, setting a global bar that could inspire a wave of new research on a pollution that increasingly worries experts. … ” Read more from the Pew Charitable Trust here: California leads the world in testing drinking water for microplastics
Gov. Newsom strengthens California’s ability to reduce lead poisoning
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to improve the removal of lead paint from buildings and streamline blood testing for lead levels. Lead exposure remains a serious problem. The primary sources of lead exposure are paint in older, badly maintained residential units and contaminated drinking water. Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) authored the new law, S.B. 1076, that requires California to assume the administration and enforcement of the federal lead paint renovation and remediation program. Contractors renovating homes and buildings will need to be trained to remove lead paint safely and comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule. ... ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group here: Gov. Newsom strengthens California’s ability to reduce lead poisoning
A legal pot problem that’s now plaguing the streets of America: Plastic litter
“Waste packaging from a burgeoning and newly legalized marijuana industry litters streets across the country, adding to a global crisis of plastic waste. In New York, regulators who are making the state’s first-ever rules for the retail sale of recreational marijuana hope they have answers to limit their state’s contribution to the problem. They’ve been working to include sustainable packaging requirements into the licenses that businesses will need to open by the end of this year. However, at least one prominent environmental advocate fears New York—and other states grappling with a new and booming industry—aren’t requiring enough producer responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a group working to end plastics waste, said the best time for a nascent industry to bake in sustainability principles is when it’s just getting established—and for legalized cannabis sales, she added, that means now. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: A legal pot problem that’s now plaguing the streets of America: Plastic litter
Researchers discuss equity in storm planning and response
“Storms exacerbate inequalities. Increasingly frequent hurricanes and intense precipitation events hit hardest in communities with less ability to afford flood insurance, a higher percentage of homes near industrial plants, and other challenges. Below, Morgan O’Neill and Elliott White, Jr.—both assistant professors of Earth system science at Stanford, as well as Stanford economist Charles Kolstad, discuss how to ensure equity in planning and response for such extreme weather events, economic benefits of nature-based storm defenses, and related issues. … ” Read more from PhysOrg here: Researchers discuss equity in storm planning and response
Audio: The U.S. Forest Service is behind on prescribed burns in parts of California
“The resort town of Big Bear is surrounded by land slated for fire mitigation, such as prescribed burns. But obstacles have prevented the crucial work and heightened the risk of disaster.” Listen at NPR here: The U.S. Forest Service is behind on prescribed burns in parts of California
In commentary today …
Water board should force Caltrans to stop trashing the Bay
David Lewis, executive director of Save The Bay, writes, “The ongoing failure of Caltrans to stop litter blighting Bay Area communities, flowing into local creeks and San Francisco Bay recently prompted San Jose Vice Mayor Chappie Jones to describe our trash-filled local highways “a hot mess.” Trash on our state roads isn’t just an eyesore. It blows into surrounding neighborhoods, adding to the air and noise pollution they already suffer. And it washes down storm drains that funnel plastic, Styrofoam and other trash to the Bay, where it poisons fish and wildlife and smothers sensitive wetlands. Larger trash in the Bay can choke or strangle seals. When herons, pelicans or other birds eat plastic it may fill their stomachs until they starve. And toxics leaching from discarded cigarette buts and plastic pieces can poison fish and concentrate up the food chain. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Water board should force Caltrans to stop trashing the Bay
Damn the Delta conveyance profiteers
Liz Amsden, a contributor to CityWatch and an activist from Northeast Los Angeles with opinions on much of what goes on in our lives, writes, “First it was the Twin Tunnels and then it was the California WaterFix, and now it’s the Delta Conveyance Project. Any way you cut it, it’s a boondoggle wrapped up in controversy with significant negative environmental implications. The current iteration is just another in a long line of projects driven by special interests and a hundred years of poor water policies. The original systems that moved water throughout California were built as pork approved by folks in Congress to benefit wealthy investors (and the politicians they supported), and as part of a game of brinksmanship between the Army Corps of Engineers, the US Bureau of Reclamation, the State Water Project and a consortium of bought and paid-for politicians at all levels of government. … ” Read more from City Watch here: Damn the Delta conveyance profiteers
Today’s featured article …
WATER REUSE CONFERENCE: Dr. David Sedlak lays out five challenges for expanding water reuse and desalination in California
Climate change and drought are forcing California to reimagine its water supply future. One promising tool in the toolbox is water recycling, something California has been doing since the 1970s. Recycled water can be used for agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial and commercial uses, seawater intrusion barriers, and groundwater recharge. More importantly, putting recycled water to use can free up potable water for other uses and provides a local source for water supplies.
Most recycled water projects are what Dr. David Sedlak, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley and the co-director of the Berkeley Water Center, describes as ‘water for wealthy people in cities.’ But the benefits of water recycling and desalination technologies can be expanded beyond just the large cities, he says. At the WateReuse conference held earlier this month in San Francisco, he issued five challenges to water professionals to find ways to expand the benefits of water recycling to smaller communities, the environment, and even agriculture.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Even with recent rains, Redway still in water conservation stage 3…here’s why
“The Redway Community Services District (RCSD) held their monthly meeting via Zoom on September 21st at 5:30 p.m. though connectivity issues may have prevented some community members from attending the meeting that focused on issues and projects undertaken by the rural district. As with most community service districts, drought and water shortages continue to be a topic of discussion with the RCSD (even after an early season rain event) in addition to day-to-day operations. … ” Continue reading at the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Even with recent rains, Redway still in water conservation stage 3…here’s why
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake monsters: here’s why sturgeon grow to be so big in Shasta Lake
“For anyone who’s been lucky enough to take a trip to Shasta Lake, you’ve surely heard of the legend of giant sturgeon sitting on the bottom of the lake. I have to admit, the legends even freaked me out as a kid. With modern-day photos and videos, we’ve actually seen some of these fish reach up to 500 pounds. So why the heck do they get so big? That’s actually a story that’s 75 years in the making. Sturgeon are an ancient species of fish that have been known to grow to 12 feet long at up to 3,000 pounds (the record sturgeon weighed in at 3,463 pounds. These distinct look fish live most of their lives feeding at the bottom river deltas near the ocean, like the Sacramento River delta, and swim upstream to spawn. Their life cycle is typically 50-60 years, but they can grow as old as 100 years. So how the heck do these fish grow to be so big in Shasta Lake? … ” Read more from Active NorCal here: Lake monsters: here’s why sturgeon grow to be so big in Shasta Lake
Flooded rice fields promoted for river health
“California rice growers can apply through Oct. 7 for water to flood winter fields. The program will compensate growers and wetland managers to flood fields between November and April to benefit fish populations in nearby rivers. The program includes minimum requirements to hold water for at least three weeks during the targeted period; flood to a target depth of 10 inches and drain water back to a fish-bearing waterway. Applications will be selected by California Trout. Applicants along the major rivers with access to decomp water, and those along the Yolo and Sutter Bypass and Colusa Drain are encouraged to apply. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Flooded rice fields promoted for river health
NAPA/SONOMA
Sebastopol relents in battle over high tech water meters
“Concerns about grave health impacts from exposure to radio waves has prompted one Sonoma County city to back off, up to a point. The Sebastopol city council unanimously approved a measure last week allowing residential customers to keep their old water meters, if they insist. Like other cities and towns around California, Sebastopol has been preparing to roll out new, digital water meters. Supposedly more accurate, the new ones have a big advantage for a utilities: they no longer have to pay meter readers. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Sebastopol relents in battle over high tech water meters
BAY AREA
Sausalito to receive $1M for sea level planning
“Sausalito is slated to receive $1 million from the state to plan infrastructure solutions for rising seas. The money comes after a lobbying effort by the city to the office of Assemblyman Marc Levine, whose district includes Marin County. Levine, a Democrat who lives in Greenbrae, brought the appeal during state budget negotiations and was able to secure the funds, said Mayor Janelle Kellman. “This is very meaningful for our community,” she said. Kellman, a member of the city’s committee on the rising sea level, said Sausalito is seeking long-term resiliency to climate change, including flooding from tides and the sea level. The committee released a report in November 2021 on the threat to coastal communities and infrastructure. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Sausalito to receive $1M for sea level planning
Richmond: Leaders, experts gather at De Anza High to discuss equitable water distribution
“If we build more homes, won’t we also need more water? In the drought-prone state of California, the challenges of providing sufficient and equitable water distribution are daunting as providing adequate affordable housing. The good news is the problem isn’t being ignored. At De Anza High School on Saturday, a diverse group of elected officials, policymakers, representatives of government agencies, community-based organizations, researchers and water industry experts gathered to discuss equitable water distribution at the “Untapped Legislative Water Workshop.” The workshop included four panels of experts moderated by Cheryl Sudduth, VP of the West County Wastewater District and graduate of WELL Untapped, and co-hosted by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-15). Speakers also included County Supervisor John Gioia and East Bay Municipal Utility District Director Lesa McIntosh. … ” Read more from the Richmond Standard here: Richmond: Leaders, experts gather at De Anza High to discuss equitable water distribution
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Allensworth, a town founded by Black settlers, secures new funding and a better future
“Many of us living in the Central Valley have long known and experienced the effects of discrimination and divestment. Allensworth, California’s first all-Black town established in 1908, has not been an exception. Once a thriving farm community inspired by the dream of self-determination, Allensworth has grappled with arsenic contamination in our drinking water, expansive food deserts and limited wastewater infrastructure. My mother, Nettie Morrison, dedicated her life to Allensworth’s revitalization. I followed in her footsteps, immersing myself in the fight for environmental justice. Over the decades, I’ve learned progress is not always linear. But I’m hopeful we’ve now reached an inflection point, thanks to the passionate advocacy of community members and legislative leadership in our state. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Allensworth, a town founded by Black settlers, secures new funding and a better future
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Water Conservation efforts paying off in Santa Monica
“Even as the recent 15-day watering ban in LA county ended earlier than scheduled last week, water – specifically lack of water – remains a top concern for many city officials. However, Santa Monica Water Resource Manager Sunny Wang reported to the planning commission last week that unlike some nearby municipalities, Santa Monica’s is on track to maintain the stability of the city’s water supply and eventually make the city self-sufficient in terms of water. “If you compare July of this year 2022 to July of 2021 we saw about an eight to nine percent reduction in total water consumption,” he said. “Overall our city has been doing great in terms of residential average – we’re using less than 80 gallons per person per day which is really great compared to some of our neighboring cities and what they’re doing.” … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press here: Water Conservation efforts paying off in Santa Monica
Elections 2022: Long Beach voters to decide whether to combine utility departments
“Long Beach voters will soon decide whether the city should put its water and natural gas utilities under one manager, and have a semi-independent commission oversee the operation. Measure BB is a charter amendment that, if it passes during the Nov. 8 election, would move the natural gas operation under the Water Department, creating a Public Utilities Department. The existing Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners — mandated by the City Charter — would become the Board of Public Utility Commissioners, and would have responsibility for budget approval and other policies, with the City Council still able to override those decisions. Long Beach is the only large city in California that has two separately managed utilities — and officials have been considering merging the two for years. Earlier this year, the water commission formally requested the City Council put the merger to a vote, and the council unanimously agreed to put it on the ballot. ... ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: Elections 2022: Long Beach voters to decide whether to combine utility departments
Pomona professor: ‘pay it forward’ to solve state water woes
“In his spectacular new book, “Natural Consequences: Intimate Essays for a Planet in Peril,” Char Miller explores our relationship with a changing climate here in Claremont, providing a fascinating backstory to a crisis unfolding in real time. Among its six chapters of essays are thoughtful observations, historic explorations, criticism, and solutions to the city’s and state’s ever-increasing extremes in heat, flood, fire, and drought. Miller is the W.M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College, where’s he’s taught for 15 years, and the author of more than 15 books and 40 essays. He has a particularly elegant take on Claremont’s historic and recent water woes, from flood to drought. Miller’s overarching message is simple: keep it local. And for him, that means Claremont. … ” Read more from the Claremont Courier here: Pomona professor: ‘pay it forward’ to solve state water woes
How an ‘ancient landslide’ keeps threatening a railroad, homes in San Clemente
“When heavy rains and high surf from Tropical Storm Kay battered much of Southern California’s seaboard this month, the ground shifted — ever so slightly — under the railroad along San Clemente’s coast. It wasn’t the first time. The movement in the railway’s foundation caused short-term delays for Metrolink riders as officials attempted to mitigate the worsening erosion near the oceanfront rail line, threatened by a fragile landscape that also poses danger to expensive homes perched on a nearby bluff. Officials say the stretch of coast is caught precariously between an “ancient landslide” and severe sand loss from erosion, development and climate change. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: How an ‘ancient landslide’ keeps threatening a railroad, homes in San Clemente
SEE ALSO: Big waves move railroad tracks, again, in south San Clemente, from the OC Register
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Special book by the late Kevin E. Kelley, former general manager, unveiled
“The Imperial Irrigation District and the family of Kevin E. Kelley announced the publishing of “Where WATER is King,” Mr. Kelley’s first book in a press release. With love for the Imperial Valley and its unique history, Mr. Kelley’s book is a story of creating California’s great Imperial Valley. It provides a unique perspective on the people and events, detailing the epic struggles of ordinary and extraordinary people bringing life-giving water to a desert and turning it into a “new Egypt.” Written before Mr. Kelley’s untimely passing in January 2021, a team of friends and associates worked collaboratively to bring his words into book form and design the book. ... ” Read more from the Desert Review here: Special book by the late Kevin E. Kelley, former general manager, unveiled
SAN DIEGO
North county water agencies offers low‐cost rain barrels to help customers save water
“To encourage water conservation as drought conditions persist, Carlsbad Municipal Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, and Santa Fe Irrigation District have partnered to offer discounted rain barrels to area residents this fall. Collecting rainwater for future use not only can save drinking water and money, but also reduces irrigation runoff that can carry pollutants into local waterways and beaches. Although average rainfall in San Diego County is just under ten inches annually, even light rain can provide a sufficient amount of water for later use. For example, a roof with a 2,000‐square‐foot surface area can capture 300 gallons from only a quarter inch of rain. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: North county water agencies offers low‐cost rain barrels to help customers save water
Boulevard residents are running out of water, it’s not because of the drought
“Residents living in Boulevard say they’re running out of water, and it’s not because of the drought. They blame the lack of water on one of their neighbors, who they say is building a lake on his property. In Boulevard, everyone lives off a well system. Now, people are finding their wells are completely dry or they’re recovering water very slowly. “You can’t live without water,” said John Dolan. The 77 year old retiree bought his property in nearly 14 years ago, and says he’s never had dry wells until this past July. “All three wells on the property went dry within a week….all of them,” said Dolan. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Boulevard residents are running out of water, it’s not because of the drought
Bacteria found in water on carrier Abraham Lincoln, Navy says
“Water on board the San Diego-based aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was found contaminated with bacteria after the ship left port last week, a Navy official said Monday. Sailors isolated one water tank after they noticed the water looked cloudy, according to Cmdr. Sean Robertson, a 3rd Fleet spokesperson. Other tanks also tested positive for bacteria and were also isolated, Robertson said, and no sailors have fallen ill. “There was some bacteria in the water but those tanks were isolated and the water they have now is safe to drink,” Robertson told the Union-Tribune Monday. “Nobody has gotten sick from any type of contaminants.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Bacteria found in water on carrier Abraham Lincoln, Navy says
Along the Colorado River …
Las Vegas bets on a range of conservation measures in face of megadrought
“Banking on its continued position as an oasis among the desert, Las Vegas is placing its bets on ambitious water conservation measures as regional drought conditions and consumption demand grow. According to recent coverage from CNN, the city has outlawed the construction of large swimming pools or spas at single-family homes and banned nonfunctional grass. It reclaims all drinking water that is used indoors and implements strict irrigation schedules throughout the year. And one of its more compelling measures can be found in a special division of the Southern Nevada Water Authority tasked with catching water wasters. … ” Read more from Water Online here: Las Vegas bets on a range of conservation measures in face of megadrought
Full-scale cutoff of water to farms in central Arizona
“Permit me to share my first reaction to a news item that I have read: Yow. “There will be no CAP surface water deliveries to central Arizona agriculture in 2023,” said Ted Cooke, manager of the Central Arizona Project (CAP). It was already clear that Arizona was going to be especially hard-hit by reductions in deliveries from the monumental, multistate Colorado River Project (of which the CAP is a part). “It is unacceptable for Arizona to continue to carry a disproportionate burden of reductions for the benefit of others who have not contributed,” said a CAP press release issued in August. Even so, Cooke’s announcement is staggering. … ” Read more from the Produce Blue Book here: Full-scale cutoff of water to farms in central Arizona
Federal officials meet in NM to counter water crisis on Colorado River
“Officials with the U.S. Interior Department met in Santa Fe, N.M., last week to outline a plan to counter the worsening crisis facing the Colorado River. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and others attended the Colorado River Symposium to highlight actions the agency is taking to prevent the river’s reservoirs from falling to critically low levels that would threaten water supplies and power generation. … ” Read more from KNAU here: Federal officials meet in NM to counter water crisis on Colorado River
Interior announces steps to address drought for Colorado River Basin
“Senior leaders from the Department of the Interior are outlining new actions to protect the Colorado River System from drought. “The prolonged drought afflicting the West is one of the most significant challenges facing our country. As a 35th generation New Mexican, I have seen firsthand how climate change is exacerbating the drought crisis and putting pressure on the communities who live across Western landscapes,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “We must work together to make the tough choices necessary to chart a sustainable future for the Colorado River System on which more than 40 million people depend. As we move forward, we will do so with key guiding principles, including collaboration, equity and transparency. I am committed to bringing every resource to bear to help manage the drought crisis and provide a sustainable water system for families, businesses and our vast and fragile ecosystems.” ... ” Read more from Water World here: Interior announces steps to address drought for Colorado River Basin
Western Slope water advocates reflect on 2022 water year
“As the 2022 water year comes to a close, experts on the Colorado River are reflecting on how drought has affected the river basin on the Western Slope in Colorado. The United States Geological Survey defines a water year as “the 12-month period Oct. 1 for any given year through September 30, of the following year.” Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, will designate the beginning of the 2023 water year. Brendon Langenhuizen, director of technical advocacy for the Colorado River District, said that this water year has been “fairly close to normal.” “We’re still in a drought. There’s still dry conditions,” he said. “I want to stress that it has improved, and I think a lot of that has been in part due to those monsoons.” … ” Read more from Summit Daily here: Western Slope water advocates reflect on 2022 water year
The latest Colorado River plan makes clear the Glen Canyon Dam has outlived its usefulness
“Last week, as agency leaders were attending the Colorado River Symposium, the Interior Department announced a series of initiatives to “to improve and protect the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System.” Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, officials have $4 billion to address concerns in the Colorado River Basin and beyond. What the Interior Department plans to do with those funds includes reducing water levels at Glen Canyon Dam, putting emergency drought operations into action for Lake Powell, and focusing on a 2023 plan where reductions are needed next year as well. Something that particularly caught the advocacy organization group Save The Colorado’s eye was the Interior Department’s plan to analyze whether bypass tubes at Glen Canyon Dam would help in drought conditions. For founder Gary Wockner, that possibility is a mixed bag. Wockner is supportive of efforts to divert water from the Glen Canyon Dam, but cannot imagine a solution involving the continued use of the Glen Canyon Dam preventing water from flowing through the Grand Canyon to go over well ecologically. … ” Continue reading at the Daily Kos here: The latest Colorado River plan makes clear the Glen Canyon Dam has outlived its usefulness
In national water news today …
Hydro provides reliable electricity even during historic droughts says new study
“A new study funded by the US Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) has found that hydropower has continued to provide reliable electricity even during times of historic droughts. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), with funding from WPTO, conducted a multi-regional study of drought’s impact on 21st century hydropower generation in the western US – with the report the described as the most comprehensive look into the effects of drought on hydropower generation in the US this century. The analysis reveals that though drought does raise concerns for hydroelectric generation, the overall hydropower fleet sustained 80% of its average generation for the years 2001-2021. Also during this time period, hydropower could still be relied upon to supply flexible power during periods of high energy demand, even during the most severe droughts of the past two decades. … ” Read more from Water & Power here: Hydro provides reliable electricity even during historic droughts says new study
Trump-era Endangered Species Act regulations reinstated
“Modernized Endangered Species Act regulations instituted by the Trump administration will be reinstated after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled September 21 that a district court improperly vacated the 2019 revisions. The appeals court determined a district court erred by reversing the regulations without determining whether they were actually unlawful. Those rules were largely supported by agriculture, but not so much by environmentalists—and so the ping pong of Endangered Species Act rules has continued back and forth. The latest action reinstates the Trump-era ESA regulations until remand or appeal. In July, a U.S. District Judge from San Francisco said vacating the challenged rules “would not be inconsistent with any district court authority” in the Northern California district. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Trump-era Endangered Species Act regulations reinstated
Remedies for harmful algal blooms are available in law and practice
“In 1974, when he was 27 years old, Wilfred Swiecki invited his Maltese-born fiancée to join him at the family cottage on Platte Lake in Benzie County. Swiecki’s return was a shock. Lake waters were green and filmy with algae. Swirls of blue-green algae and ugly algae mats floated on the surface. With the help of other members of Platte Lake Improvement Association, plus a team of lawyers and scientists, Swiecki led a 48-year campaign that forced a state fish hatchery to sharply reduce its bloom-generating phosphorus discharges, an achievement that set enduring precedents in state environmental law, and restored the lake’s ecological condition. Platte Lake’s recovery is a useful reference for contending with harmful algal blooms anywhere in America, or in any other country. It provides irrefutable evidence that ending harmful blooms is possible. Just as relevant, it reveals how difficult achieving that goal is, how much it can cost, and how long it can take. … ” Read the full story at Circle of Blue here: Remedies for harmful algal blooms are available in law and practice
Underwater data centers could be a great way to lower environmental impacts
Jennifer Sensiba writes, “A few weeks ago, I came across an interesting company that offers a product that sounds like a bad idea on the surface. Subsea Cloud offers data center services, but with an interesting twist: the data center lives under the waves. For most people, the closest water comes to computers is when a cat dashes by on the table and pours your drink into your laptop’s keyboard, causing obvious problems (especially if it’s a sugary drink). But, like EV batteries and combustion engines, liquid cooling can be very useful for computers, especially for high-performance computers. … ” Read more from Clean Technica here: Underwater data centers could be a great way to lower environmental impacts
