On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Department of Food and Agriculture from 10am to 2pm. Agenda items include a presentation on climate change, aridification, and California; a presentation on California’s Water Supply Strategy; and an update on the Voluntary Agreements. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Path to Power: Women Water Professionals Week from 11am to 12pm. This webinar will feature impressive women in water for an insightful conversation about their professional journeys. Join us as we hear how they navigate challenges and balance their professional and personal priorities, share their best advice, and answer audience questions. Hosts: Lana Haddad, MWD, President AWWEE, Meghan Roberts, Executive Director, AWWEE. Panelists: Jennifer Rojas, Long Beach Water Department (LBWD), Patty Cortez, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, and Rajani Nair, City of San José Environmental Services Department. Click here to register.
- 2022 Virtual Water Career Fair – San Diego Agencies from 2pm to 3:30pm. California’s water and wastewater agencies are hiring right now for a variety of exciting and interesting roles. A career in water offers numerous benefits, including: family sustaining wages and benefits; opportunity to work on a great team; and serving your community by protecting clean water. Water professionals are the heroes within their communities. Join us! During these virtual career fairs, you can meet with the featured employers listed below in a Zoom webinar format. Want to learn more about water careers? Explore this site and find information about career paths, job openings, and scholarship programs. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Onsite Wastewater Systems from 5pm to 7pm. The State Water Resources Control Board staff will hold a workshop to present information and answer questions about the proposed Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Policy (OWTS Policy) amendments, conditional waiver renewal, and the California Environmental Quality Act addendum. Click here for the notice.
In California water news today …
California suffering through driest three years ever recorded, with no relief in sight
“California’s drought has become the state’s driest three-year period on record, surpassing that of 2013-15 — and a fourth dry year is looking increasingly likely, officials said Monday. The news came just days after the state began its new water year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The 2022 water year was marked by dramatic swings between wet and dry conditions and a record-shattering heat wave at the start of September. With long-range forecasts suggesting that warmer and drier than average conditions will persist, uncertainty remains about what the new water year may bring, even as residents continue to conserve at a commendable pace. “This is our new climate reality, and we must adapt,” Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth said in a statement. “As California transitions to a hotter, drier future, our extreme swings from wet and dry conditions will continue. We are preparing now for continued extreme drought and working with our federal, state, local and academic partners to plan for a future where we see less overall precipitation and more rain than snow.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California suffering through driest three years ever recorded, with no relief in sight
California officials warn of more water restrictions in 2023 as fourth year of drought looms
“California cities and farms should brace for little or no water from the state’s big reservoirs in the coming year, a prospect that signals more water restrictions for households and more fallowed fields in the farm belt. The warning was delivered Monday by state and federal water officials who said they are preparing for the possibility of a fourth year of drought. Both are considering, at least initially, reduced allocations for the many water agencies that contract for reservoir supplies from California’s sprawling water projects. The past three years, as tracked between October and September, marked the driest three-year period on record in California, yielding a statewide average of just over 46 inches of precipitation. Typically, California gets closer to 65 inches over three years. While no one knows for sure what the coming months will bring, many believe the odds favor another dry year, particularly in light of the warming climate. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California officials warn of more water restrictions in 2023 as fourth year of drought looms | Read via MSN News
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- New water year begins amid preparations for continued drought, press release from DWR
- California braces for dry winter as Western drought drags on, from KPBS
- 5 impacts from California’s growing multi-year drought, from Channel 10
- As California heads towards another year of drought, experts predict stricter rules and hope for better solutions, from the LAist
California drought: Where major reservoir levels stand amid dry spell
“September 2022 in California was a climatological roller coaster ride. It included a record-shattering heat wave, followed by unusual downpours. But those rains were not enough to quench the thirst of the state’s major reservoirs, especially as October began with a dry spell. Total statewide reservoir storage remained at just 69% of historical average at the end of the 2022 water year — a 12-month period from October to September used to gauge precipitation and water supply. The historical average is based on data from 1991 to 2020. While that’s slightly higher than the storage levels during the same time in 2021, state water officials say most of the state’s reservoirs are still noticeably below the average conditions for this time of year. The 2022 water year was the third in a multiyear drought. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California drought: Where major reservoir levels stand amid dry spell
Central Valley Project begins 2023 water year with 3.6 million acre-feet of storage
“After a third straight year of severe drought, the Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project begins the 2023 water year with 3.6 million acre-feet of water in storage — one of the lowest starting points in recent years. The CVP’s major reservoirs are (from north to south) Trinity, Shasta, Folsom, New Melones, Millerton, and the federal share of San Luis Reservoir. The water year begins Oct. 1 each year and ends Sept. 30. “The 2022 water year was wetter than 2020 and 2021 in some areas of the state, but it was still well below average and came on such a large water supply deficit that it earned the title as the worst three-year drought on record with some of the driest winter months on record,” said Ernest Conant, regional director of the California-Great Basin region. “In order to navigate through this record-breaking drought, we had to modify operations outside of those considered in previous droughts and take a fresh look at every component of the CVP including facilities, contractors and environmental requirements.” … ”
Central Valley water storage at one of the lowest points for 2023
“The Central Valley Project (CVP) will begin the 2023 water year with 3.6 million acre-feet of water in storage “one of the lowest starting points in recent years”, CVP officials say. The water year begins on Oct. 1 and ends on Sept. 30, and 2022, is the third straight year of severe drought, according to water experts. “The 2022 water year was wetter than 2020 and 2021 in some areas of the state, but it was still well below average and came on such a large water supply deficit that it earned the title as the worst three-year drought on record with some of the driest winter months on record,” said Ernest Conant, regional director of the California-Great Basin region. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: Central Valley water storage at one of the lowest points for 2023
Audio: William Bourdeau on state wasting water
“William Bourdeau is Executive VP of Harris Farms– producing almonds, pistachios, and many other crops. He comments on the state sending more water than necessary out to the ocean without helping any fish species.” Listen at Ag Net West here: Audio: William Bourdeau on state wasting water
Unseasonable warmth to maintain grip on Northwest, spread south into California
“Abnormally high heat has been in place across the Northwest in recent days, making conditions feel more like summer than the middle of fall. Unlike the cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s that are typical in many cities this time of year, the mercury has surged into the 80s, even breaking daily record highs in some areas. AccuWeather forecasters say that the warmth is not going to dissipate this week, and it should begin to spread southward into the warmer regions of California. While the forecast temperatures wouldn’t be notable in July and August, they will certainly feel out of place this late in the year. “The calendar recently flipped to October, but it certainly will not feel like fall across the West,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Joe Curtis said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Unseasonable warmth to maintain grip on Northwest, spread south into California
These two massive weather patterns will determine California’s rain outlook this month
“From record-breaking heat waves to historic rainstorms, September was nothing short of a meteorological roller-coaster ride and the Bay Area was given a front-row seat. This roller coaster of temperatures and intense back-and-forth between extreme heat and strong rains has come to a halt, though. A quiet, mostly dry pattern looks to be taking center stage for October as California is set to enter its third consecutive year of La Niña. But another weather pattern could shake up our chances of seeing at least one more storm roll into California before the end of the month. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: These two massive weather patterns will determine California’s rain outlook this month
WATER for California Act seeks to establish better regulatory stability
“Last week Congressman David Valadao introduced the WATER for California Act to address how the state’s water projects are administered. The Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act is being supported by the entire California Republican delegation. Some of the provisions of the legislation include requiring management of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and California State Water Project (SWP) be consistent with the 2019 Biological Opinions. “The WATER for California Act would benefit the cities, farms, and ecosystems throughout California that depend on the Central Valley Project and State Water Project for water supply,” Westlands Water District General Manager Tom Birmingham said in a statement. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: WATER for California Act seeks to establish better regulatory stability
SEE ALSO:
- Valadao leads Calif. GOP delegation in introducing bill to shore up water for state, from the Ripon Advance
- Garcia cosponsors WATER for California Act, from the Santa Clarita Valley Signal
California wells run dry as drought depletes groundwater
” … Amid a megadrought plaguing the American West, more rural communities are losing access to groundwater as heavy pumping depletes underground aquifers that aren’t being replenished by rain and snow. More than 1,200 wells have run dry this year statewide, a nearly 50% increase over the same period last year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. By contrast, fewer than 100 dry wells were reported annually in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The groundwater crisis is most severe in the San Joaquin Valley, California’s agricultural heartland, which exports fruits, vegetables and nuts around the world. ... ” Read more from AP News here: California wells run dry as drought depletes groundwater
Manmade wetlands, a barrier to the spread of microplastics
“Constructed wetlands, built to treat wastewater and stormwater runoff, act as a barrier preventing the spread of microplastics through the environment, a Griffith-led study has found. Published in Environmental Pollution, the researchers investigated the amount and distribution of microplastics in water and sediment at five constructed wetlands with stormwater and wastewater sources feeding into the wetlands. “Wastewater and stormwater are both critical pathways for microplastics to enter the aquatic environment,” said Mr Hsuan-Cheng Lu, a PhD candidate from the Australian Rivers Institute. … ” Read more from Water Online here: Manmade wetlands, a barrier to the spread of microplastics
Wildfires pose growing threat to drinking water systems
“In many areas across the United States, wildfires pose a growing threat to drinking water infrastructure, a complex issue that is only just beginning to be understood. Risks associated with wildfire include the physical destruction of infrastructure components as well as the contamination of drinking water supplies with known pollutants and other potentially harmful compounds. As more communities experience the trauma of wildfire, they often must cope with the follow-on threat of contamination in their drinking water, a threat that can be hard to pinpoint and eradicate. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Wildfires pose growing threat to drinking water systems
More high-elevation wildfire is sapping Western snowpack, study finds
“Researchers from Colorado State University focused on areas they call “late snow zones” – regions in the Western mountains where snow doesn’t typically melt until May or later. They found that between 1984 and 2020, wildfire activity increased in 70% of these zones throughout the West. The mountain ranges studied included the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Basin and Range, and Northern and Southern Rockies. In the Southern Rockies, specifically, more forest burned in late-melt snow zones in 2020 than in the previous 36 years combined. These burn scars at higher elevations, the researchers discovered, affect how much snow the mountains can hold, and for how long. … ” Read more from KUNC here: More high-elevation wildfire is sapping Western snowpack, study finds
Wildfires are getting worse. Can scientists save California’s forests from going up in smoke?
“This patch of woodland in the northern Sierra Nevada looks idyllic. Dappled sunlight filters through the lush branches of towering pines. Spaces between their slender trunks are thick with saplings. But forest ecologist Robert York sees danger lurking in this portion of the UC Berkeley research forest. The control plot has grown unmolested since the 1930s, when a timber company turned the land over to the university. It is now teeming with young cedars and firs — conifer species that tolerate crowded and shady conditions, but are more vulnerable to fire and drought.“We have different metrics for describing why the fire hazard is high here,” York said. “But basically the gist is: There’s a lot of fuel on the ground and there’s a lot of trees here.” ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Wildfires are getting worse. Can scientists save California’s forests from going up in smoke?
Beavers offer natural solution to fighting wildfires
“When Smokey Bear says, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires,” he’s talking to humans. But humans aren’t the only ones who can help. Beavers, North America’s largest rodents, are succeeding at fighting fires and reducing wildfire destruction. It’s common sense. Water, soggy ground and well-hydrated vegetation reduce fire’s ability to spread. Beavers create deep ponds by building dams, then dig fingerlike canals to slowly spread that water throughout the flood plain. The stream’s reduced speed allows collected water to seep into the ground where it encourages deep plant roots and an abundance of wildlife to thrive. Beavers’ water highways are not for our benefit, but theirs. ... ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Beavers offer natural solution to fighting wildfires
In commentary today …
The American West should look to Israel for climate solutions
“The American West is learning climate lessons the hard way. This summer especially, droughts have required the federal government to settle disputes over water shortages between states, signaling rising tensions in U.S. water policy. While these challenges are uncharted territory for the U.S., time-tested solutions from other countries may be closer than they seem. Israel, in particular, having weathered extremely tight water margins for years, is several steps ahead in climate innovation. We should look to it for inspiration. … The tiny country surrounded by deserts only sees rain in the winter and has limited sources of freshwater. With a growing population and a strong agricultural industry, Israel’s need for water has long outgrown its conventional supply—as is the case in much of the American West. As recently as 2015, Israel had a one billion cubic meter potable water deficit. Now? It produces 20% more water than it needs. … ” Read more from the Jewish News Syndicate here: The American West should look to Israel for climate solutions
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Humboldt Bay to see dry start to new water year
“October marks the beginning of a new water year in Humboldt County, but the next few weeks are projected to see little precipitation. In 2021, October was the wettest month of the water year, but the next few weeks are not forecast to see much rain. While storm systems could provide greater rains closer to the end of the month, the first few weeks will likely be dry around the Humboldt Bay region, said Jeff Tonkin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Eureka. “We’re off to a very dry start for this October. That doesn’t really mean we won’t get anything. A lot of times, we’ve gotten a fair amount of rain right at the end of October,” Tonkin said. “Typically, October is our first month of starting to see some rainfall, it’s just not going to happen here in the first third of the month for sure.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt Bay to see dry start to new water year
Mendocino City Community Services District Board rescinds rate increase
“The Mendocino City Community Services District Board of Directors announced today they plan to rescind the resolutions passed Monday, September 26th to initiate Proposition 218 procedures for rate increases for both sewer rates and groundwater management. Proposition 218 requires all water and wastewater districts to hold hearings and provide their constituents the option of voting against rate increases, fees, or taxes associated with water and or wastewater management. The district cited an incorrect mailing date for the reason. However, in a late Friday afternoon conversation, Board President Dennak Murphy also indicated they wanted to be sure the public had the opportunity to review the materials including the rate study before the 218 process begins. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon here: Mendocino City Community Services District Board rescinds rate increase
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A small water district deals with a major wildland fire emergency
“The Board of Directors of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District convened a special meeting on September 6 to discuss the need to maintain irrigation services for fire mitigation due to the unprecedented extreme temperatures. President Michael Saunders stated, “We had no idea that within hours of adjourning, the Mosquito fire would start in Placer County and quickly expand into El Dorado County. In fact, I could see the smoke during my drive home from the meeting. The timing of the fire shows the relevance for not only our district but the Region’s focus on critical water infrastructure for fire mitigation and fire suppression. These policies and infrastructure are not just about water delivery, it is about protecting our communities.” President Saunders is also a member of the Region 3 Board for ACWA. … ” Read more from ACWA Water News here: A small water district deals with a major wildland fire emergency
60 Minutes investigates the initial attack on Caldor Fire
“Last year’s Caldor Fire and the community that was heavily damaged by it, Grizzly Flats, has been in the news recently. The latest is a piece aired on CBS’ 60 Minutes yesterday (see video below) about the fire southwest of Lake Tahoe, California. On August 16 Cap Radio wrote about the fuel treatment program the US Forest Service planned to conduct around the town, but barely started. Then on September 26 and 27 National Public Radio published articles about the failed project and difficulties in conducting prescribed fires. The 13-minute piece on 60 Minutes concentrated on the initial attack of the fire, which was first reported at about 7 p.m. on August 14. One of the first challenges was gaining access, complicated by a washed out road and others that had not been maintained. … ” Read more from Wildfire Today here: 60 Minutes investigates the initial attack on Caldor Fire
Tahoe Keys: No herbicides found in final test area
“The project to test innovative methods to control the largest infestation of aquatic invasive weeds in the Tahoe Basin reached another milestone in late September, officials announced. Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association monitoring showed that herbicides were no longer present in the Area A test location and on Thursday divers removed the rubber barriers, called turbidity curtains, that since May had sealed off the test area to restrict herbicide movement. This ends all boating restrictions in the Tahoe Keys lagoons and marks the successful end of the herbicide portion of a rigorous, three-year Control Methods Test project. ... ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: Tahoe Keys: No herbicides found in final test area
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New water year, same challenges in the Northstate
“The beginning of October also marked the beginning of the 2023 water year, an important date in the hydrological cycle. And while it is the beginning of a new year, it is only a continuation of existing problems across the Northstate. In examining the recently completed year, the department noted that statewide precipitation in Water Year 2022 was 76% of average, while Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, is only at 64% of normal levels. … ” Read more from KRCR here: New water year, same challenges in the Northstate
NAPA/SONOMA
Water restrictions add to Russian River woes amid drought
“Hundreds of water rights holders in the Russian River watershed have been ordered to stop drawing from the river and its tributaries as the state struggles through its third year of debilitating drought conditions. The State Water Resources Control Board publishes a new list every month of water rights holders who must reduce or completely stop taking water from the watershed. For September, the list consists of 509 water rights holders — collectively holding 845 water rights — and includes individuals, farmers, ranchers and drinking water systems. … ” Read more from The Patch here: Water restrictions add to Russian River woes amid drought
Napa Valley’s vineyards are in “climate crisis,” winemaker says
“The effects of the climate crisis are appearing all over the world, and California is no exception. California’s water year from October 2020 to September 2021 was the driest in nearly a century. Napa Valley, a region famous for its wines situated north of the San Francisco Bay Area, saw record temperatures of about 115 Fahrenheit last month, and wildfires in the West are more frequent and intense than ever. Avery Heelan is a winemaker at Larkmead Vineyards in the Napa Valley town of Calistoga. She joined Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal to talk about what she’s seeing in Larkmead’s fields and how it’s preparing for the future. … ” Read more from Marketplace here: Napa Valley’s vineyards are in “climate crisis,” winemaker says
BAY AREA
Bay area wastewater plant plans upgrades to improve water quality
“The City of Hayward is making significant improvements at its Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) to serve a growing population, rehabilitate aging infrastructure and improve the quality of purified water released to the San Francisco Bay. Known as the “Heart of the Bay,” Hayward is the sixth-largest city in the Bay Area with over 163,000 residents. The WPCF, originally constructed in 1952, treats an average of 11.3 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater before it is pumped to a facility operated by the East Bay Dischargers Authority where it is dechlorinated and discharged into the bay via a deep-water outfall. Modifications are planned at the WPCF to meet anticipated nutrient discharge regulations and accommodate increased wastewater flows and loads as Hayward’s population is forecasted to grow by approximately 33 percent from 2015 to 2050, according to the Association of Bay Area Governments. Ultimately, the upgrades will position the city as an early adopter of nutrient reduction solutions that will protect vital ecosystems in the bay. ... ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Bay area wastewater plant plans upgrades to improve water quality
Bay Area has had ‘close to normal’ rain over the last year compared to most of CA
“While much of the western U.S. continues to suffer from a punishing drought, the Bay Area was close to its normal total precipitation over the last year, state officials said Monday. According to data from the state’s Department of Water Resources, the Bay Area received roughly 82% of its annual average rainfall during the 2021-2022 water year, measured from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022. That outpaced statewide precipitation, which only reached 76% of the average annual total. The northeastern part of the state was the only other region with an average rainfall total that eclipsed the state’s. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Bay Area has had ‘close to normal’ rain over the last year compared to most of CA
One Bay Area harbor is trying a first-in-the-nation strategy to combat plastic pollution
“A new autonomous robot that collects floating waste from harbors started its first job Monday at the Point San Pablo Harbor in Richmond. Called the Plastics Piranha and dreamed up by college students from Cincinnati, the fully electric device can collect 100 pounds of garbage at a time. While the rover is designed to help harbors and marinas clean up unsightly debris, the larger goal is to prevent plastic waste from making its way out to the ocean. “We have to start removing plastics from the water stream,” said Daryl Henline, harbor master at Point San Pablo, who signed up for the three-month pilot project. “It’s great if we could get rid of plastics at the source. But we know they end up in the water.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: One Bay Area harbor is trying a first-in-the-nation strategy to combat plastic pollution
CENTRAL COAST
Newsom signs Pajaro River flood protections bill
“A financial gap in the Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project will likely soon get filled after Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized funding assistance from the state that would help bring flood protections to South Santa Cruz County at long last. Newsom recently signed off on Senate Bill 489, clearing the way for the Department of Water Resources to advance gap financing to the $400 million project that seeks to overhaul the Pajaro River levee system that has repeatedly provided inadequate protection for local residents. “The current configuration of flood protection, a levee system constructed in 1949, provides only five-year flood protection along the Pajaro River and seven-year flood protection along Salsipuedes Creek. Since its construction, the region has experienced six major floods – the 1995 event caused over $95 million in damages and two people lost their lives,” the bill’s author, Sen. John Laird (D – Santa Cruz), said in a prepared statement. “SB 489 is my commitment to prevent disaster in the communities surrounding the Pajaro before it strikes again.” … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Newsom signs Pajaro River flood protections bill
Montecito: Water use warning
“In an effort to get an urgent and important message to the Montecito community, Montecito Water District (MWD) installed a road sign last week at the triangle on Olive Mill Road and Hot Springs with the rotating message: “Extreme Drought, Reduce Irrigation.” The goal is to get customers’ attention so that they will reduce water use now. The quickest, most effective way to do that is by cutting back on irrigation. Despite the District’s improved drought resilience in recent years thanks to actions including completing a 50-year agreement with the City of Santa Barbara to share in desalination, customer demand is the challenge and currently, customer water use is too high, according to MWD General Manager Nick Turner. “We’ve planned and budgeted for water supply for the long haul, but right now we need to get demand under control or the District could be facing water shortages as soon as 2024,” Turner informed the MWD Board during a special meeting earlier this month. … ” Read more from the Montecito Journal here: Water use warning
Got water? Ventura County firefighters develop system to save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water
“Ventura County Fire Department’s pump pod system now being adopted by other agencies for huge water savings during training. We’re at Camarillo Airport, and at first glance, it looks like the scene of a fire. There are four Ventura County Fire trucks, hoses everywhere, and some firefighters pumping water. But, it’s actually a training mission for some future fire department engineers, who drive and operate fire trucks. In the past, leaning how to operate trucks meant actually hooking up hoses to hydrants, and shooting out tens of thousands of gallons of water onto the ground. That’s not practical during a drought. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Got water? South Coast firefighters develop system to save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water
EASTERN SIERRA
LADWP/GBUAPC – Dueling press releases? No, just two truths
“Here’s a little background on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power vs Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPC) legal battle the end result of which is a win/win, or lose/lose, depending on one’s point of view. GBUAPC identified an area on the Owens Lake shore that required dust controls. The area was not publicly identified as it has cultural significance to the area’s indigenous peoples. LADWP declined to do so. GBUAPC started levying fines, at a rate in excess of $5,500 a day. According to a press release from LADWP, the total accrued exceeded $1 million. LADWP sued GBUAPC. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: LADWP/GBUAPC – Dueling press releases? No, just two truths
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Ballona Creek is polluted. New technology aims to clean it
“Ballona Creek has a trash problem. Just ask Deborah Gregory, president of Ballona Creek Renaissance, who picks the stuff up by hand. “What happens to society, we see it in the creek,” she says. “When the bag ban went into effect for the City of LA, we immediately started seeing fewer bags. It was amazing. It felt like it was overnight. When marijuana was legalized, we started seeing a lot of marijuana containers. We see a lot of hypodermic needles.” Now, LA County’s Department of Public Works is bringing in new technology to help clean the 12-mile waterway, which meanders from Mid-City, passing through Culver City until it empties in Santa Monica Bay at Marina Del Rey, near the Ballona Wetlands. … ” Read more from KCRW here: Ballona Creek is polluted. New technology aims to clean it
San Clemente City Council to vote whether to support South Coast Water’s desalination plant
“As the South Coast Water District prepares to present its proposed desalination plant to the California Coastal Commission next week, the San Clemente City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday, Oct. 4, whether to publicly back the project. The council is set to decide on sending a pre-written letter of support to the Coastal Commission, which will consider on Oct. 13 whether to approve SCWD’s application to construct its Doheny Ocean Desalination plant. The project looks to construct a facility that would produce five million gallons of water per day (MGD) by drawing ocean water through the ocean floor at Doheny Beach. … ” Read more from the San Clemete Times here: Council to Vote Whether to Support South Coast Water’s Desalination Plant
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Local farmers share what is next for the Coachella Valley agriculture industry
“Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and some local agricultural workers are celebrating the signing of the bill, California Grown. The bill is also called AB 778. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on September 27, requiring state-owned institutions to target 60% of their food product purchases to be California grown or produced. News Channel 3 covered the press conference where farm working families shared their perspectives on what agriculture meant to the valley. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Local farmers share what is next for the Coachella Valley agriculture industry
How California’s Salton Sea went from vacation destination to toxic nightmare
“In the spring of 1905, the Colorado River, bursting with seasonal rain, topped an irrigation canal and flooded the site of a dried lake bed in Southern California. The flooding, which continued for two years before engineers sealed up the busted channel, created an unexpected gem in the middle of the arid California landscape: the Salton Sea. In the decades that followed, vacationers, water skiers, and speed boat enthusiasts flocked to the body of water. The Beach Boys and the Marx Brothers docked their boats at the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club, which opened in 1959. At the time, it seemed like the Salton Sea, and the vibrant communities that had sprung up around it, would be there for centuries to come. But the sea’s heyday was short-lived. Cut off from the life source that created it — the Colorado River — and sustained mainly by limited agricultural runoff from nearby farms, the landlocked waterbody began to evaporate. … ” Read more from Grist here: How California’s Salton Sea went from vacation destination to toxic nightmare
Letter: Salton Sea panel’s recommendation against importing Sea of Cortez water is about money
“Re: Saturday’s story “State Panel Recommends against importing water to the Salton Sea” I was amazed to read the recommendations by the state-appointed Salton Sea Independent panel to not go forward with importing water from the Sea of Cortez. I’ve enjoyed the sea since the early 1970s and watched in horror over past several decades the deterioration, potentially leading to the worst environmental and health disaster in California history. After 60-plus years of study, research and millions of tax dollars spent, now the panel comes up with a so-called solution. An expert hydrologist from Israel who spoke at the University of California, Riverside, said desalinization is not feasible this far inland from the Gulf of Mexico. Each acre-foot of water produces one ton of salt. Recommending a smaller lake and dust suppression isn’t a new idea. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Letter: Salton Sea panel’s recommendation against importing Sea of Cortez water is about money
State panel debates ‘Lithium Valley’ boundaries and possible health risks of industry
“Better defining the boundaries of “Lithium Valley” and better understanding the potential risks of extraction and production of the critical mineral in Imperial County are key issues facing a panel that is preparing formal recommendations to California legislators about the nascent industry at the south end of the state. Lithium is a critical component of electric vehicle batteries, charging stations, smartphones and more, and up to a third of current potential worldwide supply sits in a two-mile-deep natural reserve at the southern end of the Salton Sea. The “blue ribbon” Lithium Valley Commission was created in 2020 via legislation authored by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella. An advisory arm of the California Energy Commission, it must “review, investigate, and analyze opportunities and benefits for lithium recovery and use” and produce a final report for the Legislature. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: State panel debates ‘Lithium Valley’ boundaries and possible health risks of industry
SAN DIEGO
Rainfall totals are below average even as San Diego saw 3 major rain events
“In Southern California, we measure our rainfall from October 1 until the end of September and as you would expect the numbers are below average for this past season. The official rainfall total in San Diego is over 30% below average for the rainy season and add that to the below average rainfall over the past five years and we’re looking at a significant drought. One of the major contributors to that is the La Niña pattern that has been in the Easter Pacific over the past two years, and now we’re heading into a third year, which will continue the below average rainfall totals. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Rainfall totals are below average even as San Diego saw 3 major rain events
San Diegans could soon pay a lot more for water as long-delayed rate analysis moves forward
“San Diego officials say they will complete a long-delayed comprehensive analysis of city water rates this year that could lead to sharp increases to help pay for major infrastructure projects such as the Pure Water sewage purification system now under construction. The last time San Diego completed such an analysis in 2015, city officials voted to raise water rates by 40 percent over four years. City water customers already face a 3 percent rate increase in January to cover rising costs of imported water. That increase, which the City Council approved in September, was prompted by the San Diego County Water Authority voting in June to increase what it charges the city for imported water. … ” Read more from the La Jolla Light here: San Diegans could soon pay a lot more for water as long-delayed rate analysis moves forward
Sewage spill may be at fault for fouled beaches from Imperial Beach to Coronado to La Jolla
“San Diego County issued a warning for the Imperial Beach and Silver Strand shorelines, advising residents that the water may contain sewage and be a health hazard, according to a news release Monday. According to the county Department of Environmental Health and Quality, south swell conditions pushing ocean waters from the south to the north, and “beachgoers are advised that bacteria levels exceed state health standards.” … ” Read more from Channel 7 here: Sewage spill may be at fault for fouled beaches from Imperial Beach to Coronado to La Jolla
Along the Colorado River …
Meet the California farmers awash in Colorado River water, even in a drought
“A few hundred farms in the southern tip of California, along the Mexican border, may hold the key to saving the drought-plagued Colorado River from collapse. These farmers, in Imperial County, currently draw more water from the Colorado River than all of Arizona and Nevada combined. They inherited the legal right to use that water, but they’re now under pressure to give up some of it. The Imperial Valley is a place of jarring contrasts. Half is in its natural state, a bone-dry desert. The other half is mile after mile of green fields lined by irrigation canals. A few of the fields are shrouded by showers of water delivered from long lines of sprinklers. … ” Read more from NPR here: Meet the California farmers awash in Colorado River water, even in a drought
Colorado River water crisis deepens
“In a conversation with journalist Abrahm Lustgarten, NPR’s Dave Davies examines the worsening water crisis on the Colorado River and the difficult choices faced by residents and officials in the seven states affected. As Lustgarten explains, there is “a palpable sense of emergency when you visit those places.” Lustgarten describes the as-yet-unsuccessful attempt by the states to come to an agreement on water conservation goals and strategies. “But in order to reach an agreement for how we share the Colorado River going forward, the states will probably need to abandon everything that they’ve held to in the past about how they use that water, about which industries are supported by it and how cities are grown by it,” Lustgarten asserts, going on to explain the complex nature of water rights in the American West. … ” Read more from Planetizen here: Colorado River water crisis deepens
Why is the Colorado River in crisis, and what is being done about it?
“Q: Why are we in this situation, with the Colorado River and its reservoirs shrinking so quickly? A: Truth is, we saw this coming. We use more water than the river provides. The only reason we got away with it for so long was because the reservoirs were full when the climate’s shift to hotter temperatures and reduced river flows began 22 years ago. We did not reduce the amount of water we used until recently, and it has not been enough in the face of drought exacerbated by climate change. … ” Read more from Audubon here: Why is the Colorado River in crisis, and what is being done about it?
What happens if Lake Powell runs out of water?
“If Lake Powell recedes much further, one of the nation’s largest reservoirs could be at risk of no longer generating hydropower for the region. The lake was just under 24 percent full as of last week, and had lost 16 feet in the last year. Its depth level currently stands at around 3,530 feet. Northern Arizona’s Glen Canyon Dam, which creates the lake, has a full capacity of 1,320 megawatts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. However, the receding water levels have already greatly reduced the reservoir’s generating capacity, to about 800 megawatts—about 60 percent. ... ” Read more from KELO here: What happens if Lake Powell runs out of water?
In national water news today …
Supreme Court hears lively debate on protecting wetlands, led in part by Justice Jackson
“The Supreme Court opened its new term on Monday by hearing a property rights appeal that calls for limiting the government’s power to protect millions of acres of wetlands from development. At issue is whether the Clean Water Act forbids polluting wetlands and marshes that are near — but not strictly part of — waterways. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in her first day on the bench led the way in questioning why the court should move to limit the protection for wetlands. She said Congress in 1977 determined that wetlands “adjacent” to rivers and bays should be protected. Why should the law be narrowed, she asked, “when the objective of the statute is to ensure the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters? Are you saying that neighboring wetlands can’t impact the quality of navigable waters?” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Supreme Court hears lively debate on protecting wetlands, led in part by Justice Jackson
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- Supreme Court appears to back EPA in WOTUS war, from E&E News
- Supreme Court Poised to Scrap US Waters Test, Attorneys Say, from Bloomberg Law
- Supreme Court debates narrowing protections in Clean Water Act, from the Washington Post
Federal Ag Department’s climate-smart funding fails the grade
“President Biden’s Department of Agriculture surprised everyone this week by announcing it would triple expectations for funding the Partnerships for the Climate-Smart Commodities Program. The announcement seemed like a welcome signal that the administration’s getting serious about tackling agricultural emissions. But without evidence of a science-driven review process, it’s not clear how smart the “climate-smart” plan really is. A closer look shows most of the $2.8 billion will likely line the pockets of the biggest climate polluters in agriculture. Rather than addressing Biden’s call to mitigate greenhouse gases and break up the monopolies dominating corporate agriculture, the USDA is ignoring climate science by boosting the most harmful sectors in this industry. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly here: Federal Ag Department’s climate-smart funding fails the grade
