In California water news this weekend …
State collaborates with farmers to conserve water, provide critical habitat for migratory birds in the Delta
“Farmers are receiving financial incentives to reduce their water use and protect wildlife and water quality in the Delta as part of a Delta Drought Response Pilot Program launched by the State of California. The program is led by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, in partnership with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), the Office of the Delta Watermaster, and The Nature Conservancy. The program works with farmers to implement practices to conserve water, protect Delta water quality, promote soil health, and mitigate potential drought impacts on fish and migratory birds. The program first launched in January 2022. Response to the first phase of the program offering $10 million in grant funding was a success, with more than 8,700 acres enrolled. … ” Read more from DWR News here: State collaborates with farmers to conserve water, provide critical habitat for migratory birds in the Delta
These historic California sites are at risk of flooding
“Rising sea levels. Runoff from rapidly melting snow and ice. Rivers and streams overflowing their banks. As climate change continues to wreak havoc on the environmental norms humans widely take for granted, the frequency and severity of extreme weather has increased on a global scale. Floods, the most common and fatal natural disasters in the U.S., continue to get more destructive. Catastrophic flooding events once thought to occur every 100 years could become annual happenings. And the nation’s floodplains are projected to grow by roughly 45% by the end of the century. Because of the deterioration and fragility of historical buildings, as well as long-term degradation of the natural environment around these structures, historic sites are often at serious risk of flooding. Stacker identified historic buildings of national significance across the U.S. located in census tracts with very or relatively high risk of flooding, using data from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Risk Index and the National Register of Historic Places. ... ” Read more from KTLA here: These historic California sites are at risk of flooding
Where water and electricity meet: Solar panels over canals
“With record heat waves and stubborn droughts, the state needs electricity. A partial solution? California’s first project to cover a major canal with solar panels. The Turlock Irrigation District (TID), the state Department of Water Resources, the water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, Marin County and UC Merced have partnered up on the project. The goal is to provide clean power and avoid fossil fuels. Dubbed Project Nexus, they hope to build a large comprehensive system to help with both California’s energy and water needs. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly here: Where water and electricity meet: Solar panels over canals
And lastly … Washington’s salmon memes have the internet laughing: ‘Lay eggs and die’
“Most fish swim. Salmon run. And based on the official Twitter account of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, they also make for perfect meme material. On October 5, @waDNR tweeted a simple, tongue-in-cheek poster offering encouragement to all of the spawning salmon across the state. “Live, laugh, lay eggs and die,” it reads, scrawled out in fittingly pink script. … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Washington’s salmon memes have the internet laughing: ‘Lay eggs and die’
In commentary this weekend …
Running on empty: How the continued drought in California could impact food supply nationwide
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “Increased food prices are due to a combination of multiple factors such as higher transportation and labor costs and the effects of the war in Ukraine. But they’ve also increased because of reduced availability. Consider the following statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture: In 2019, 46% less cantaloupe was available than in 1999. In 2019, 40% fewer grapes were available in 2019 than in 1989. In general, there were nearly 2 pounds less fruit available per person in 2019 compared to 1970. And these figures don’t yet reflect the dismal harvest figures expected this year. The fact that California farms produce 60% of our nation’s fruits, nuts and vegetables is taken for granted. … ” Read more from Irrigation Today here: Running on empty: How the continued drought in California could impact food supply nationwide
Commercial community should share in water-saving effort
John L. Varela, chair pro tem of the Santa Clara Valley Water Board of Directors, writes, “Santa Clara County is making headlines for being a leader in water conservation. The efforts we undertook this summer have resulted in our county exceeding our board’s call for conservation. In June 2021, the Valley Water Board of Directors established a 15% water use reduction call for Santa Clara County, compared to 2019. After months of steady progress, Santa Clara County reached this goal in July, saving 16%. I want to thank everyone who made a difference for our community by taking steps to reduce water use during this drought. We don’t know how much rain and snow this winter will bring us, so we must continue reducing our water use. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Commercial community should share in water-saving effort
Four key strategies for tackling Colorado River crisis
Ron Burke, president and CEO, and Mary Ann Dickinson, past president and CEO of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, write, “All eyes are on Utah and the six other Colorado River Basin (CRB) states that recently missed the federal government’s deadline to adopt a plan that substantially cuts water usage in just one year. The 23rd consecutive year of drought, fueled by climate change, has accelerated the basin’s water crisis. Quite simply, demand for water within the CRB exceeds what the basin can sustainably provide. While some have called for desalinization and piping water from the Midwest, the fastest and least expensive ways to restore the CRB’s water balance are by using existing water supplies more efficiently to reduce demand, which can also lower water bills, reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and protect rivers and lakes. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Four key strategies for tackling Colorado River crisis
In people news this weekend …
Appointments from the Office of the Governor
Jane Gray, 49, of Goleta, has been reappointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2015. Gray has been a Senior Project Manager and Environmental Planner at Dudek since 2006. She was a Planner at the Santa Barbara County Long-Range Planning Division from 2004 to 2006 and a Policy Planner for Planning and Environmental Services for the County of Fresno from 2003 to 2004. Gray was an English-Language Arts and English as a Second Language Teacher and worked in refugee resettlement programming and funding in California from 1998 to 1999 and 2003 to 2004, in New York from 1993 to 1995 and in Arizona from 1991 to 1993. Gray earned a Master of Science degree in Regional Planning and Management from the Technical University of Dortmund. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gray is a Democrat.
Beatriz “Bea” Gonzalez, 53, of Indio, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2021. Gonzalez has served as District Director of Expanded Learning Programs at the Coachella Valley Unified School District since 2011 and has served in several positions there since 1995, including Para-Educator for Special Education, Program Specialist for Bright Futures and as a Community Liaison for Healthy Start. She is a member of the Desert Community College District Board of Trustees. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gonzalez is a Democrat.
Peter Satin, 34, of Palm Desert, has been reappointed to the Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2018. Satin has been Regional Planner for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments since 2020. He held several positions at the Mojave Desert Land Trust from 2017 to 2020, including Director of Land Management and Land Stewardship Supervisor. He was a Wildlife Technician at the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station in 2016, a Community Health Educator for the Peace Corps in Cambodia from 2012 to 2014 and an HIV/AIDS Prevention and Child Survival Health Extension Agent for the Peace Corps in Honduras from 2011 to 2012. Satin earned a Master of Environmental Management degree in Ecosystem Science and Conservation from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Satin is a Democrat.
Hector Bedolla, 63, of Healdsburg, has been reappointed to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2016. Bedolla has been a Consulting Agronomist in the western U.S. and internationally since 1985 and an Adjunct Professor in Viticulture at Santa Rosa Junior College since 2017. He was Viticulturist at Chenoweth Vineyards from 2020 to 2022. Bedolla was Vineyard Manager at Navarro Vineyards in 2018 and at North Pacific Vineyard Management from 2016 to 2018. He was Crop Advisor, Pest Control Advisor and Agronomist at Crop Production Services from 2013 to 2016. Bedolla was Vineyard and Ranch Manager at Stuhlmuller Vineyards from 2011 to 2013. He was a Consulting Viticulturist at Windsor Oaks Vineyards in 2011 and an Agricultural Biologist in the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office in 2010. He was a Vineyard Manager at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates from 2000 to 2010 and at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars from 1999 to 2000. Bedolla was Vice President of Vineyard Operations at Hambrecht Vineyards from 1995 to 1999. He was Vineyard Manager at Hambrecht and Peterson Vineyards from 1988 to 1995 and at Iron Horse Vineyards from 1983 to 1988. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Bedolla is a Democrat.
Andrew Gunther, 66, of Oakland, has been appointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2020. Gunther has been a Consulting Scientist to Local Government and Non-Profits since 2017. Gunther was Executive Director at the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration from 2000 to 2017 and Vice President at Applied Marine Sciences from 1991 to 2000. He is a board member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Gunther earned Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Gunther is a Democrat.
Donald C. Young, 50, of Morgan Hill, has been reappointed to the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2021. Young has been Senior Vice President of Salas O’Brien since 2006, serving as leader of the Construction Services Team since 2007. He is a former board chair of the San Jose Evergreen Community College District Foundation and a graduate of Leadership San Jose. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Young is a Democrat.
Anthony C. Williams, 54, of Huntington Beach, has been appointed to the California Fish and Game Commission.
Williams has been Director of Public Policy for Amazon since 2020. He was Legislative Affairs Secretary in the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2020. He was Director of National Strategy and Engagement at the Boeing Company from 2014 to 2019. Williams was a Policy Director and Special Counsel in the California State Senate from 2010 to 2014. He was a Founding Partner at Wada Williams Law Group from 2007 to 2010. Williams was Director of Government Affairs at the State Bar of California from 2004 to 2007. He was a Policy Consultant in the California State Senate from 1999 to 2004 and a Legislative Advocate for the Office of Government Affairs at the Judicial Council of California from 1994 to 1999. He is a member of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Williams is a Democrat.
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Podcasts …
WATERING HOLE PODCAST: Connie Conway: Politics, water, energy, and more
The Watering Hole host Johnny Amaral discusses politics, water, energy, and other issues with Rep. Connie Conway. And as usual, more Norm jokes #RIPNorm
THE ECONEWS REPORT: PG&E Spraying, and the Spraying Last Time
News of PG&E spraying power poles alarmed Humboldt County residents. Humboldt, Trinity, and Mendocino Counties have a long and storied history in challenging the application of pesticides. On this week’s EcoNews, Gang Green talks to two veterans of the Pesticide Wars, Larry Glass of Safe Alternatives for our Forest Environment and Patty Clary of Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, about the long history of citizen activism against spraying. Listen to the podcast at the Lost Coast Oupost here: THE ECONEWS REPORT: PG&E Spraying, and the Spraying Last Time
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Swimming with the Fish
If you really want to understand the life of a fish in their home, start spending time living in their environment and share the experience through the lens of a camera. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
THE SCUUP PODCAST: What is the ACWA JPIA and what does it mean for water utilities?
Learn how Association of California Water Authority Joint Powers Insurance Authority balances safety with efficiency ensuring the job gets done right, safely and on time. Ruben, along with guest co-host Jon Moore, sit down with Peter Kuchinsky and get the SCUUP on risk and protections from the statewide water authority.
SPEAKING OF WATER PODCAST: Tap water failures and distrust of government: A conversation with Manny Teodoro
Bad tasting and polluted tap water are not just infrastructure problems.
In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Algae signs at Tahoe beaches – what they mean, what you should know
“Lake Tahoe is famous for its blueness. The growth and spread of algae is one reason blue lakes around the world can go green in the summer. Algae forms the base of many food webs, and most algae in Lake Tahoe, though sometimes unattractive, does not pose a health risk to people or animals that enjoy the lake. Harmful algal blooms are a different story. HABs are often mistaken for harmless types of algae or cyanobacteria that look like algae, which naturally occur in Tahoe and can be found clinging to rocks and washing up on beaches. HABs, however, pose a risk to public health and safety. ... ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Algae signs at Tahoe beaches – what they mean, what you should know
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New rice levee program application – now open
“California Waterfowl has a new Rice Levee Pilot Program that will pay farmers to provide waterfowl nesting habitat on levees/checks during spring and summer. This program is currently accepting applications and will be using a bid system. … ” Read more from Cal Rice News here: New rice levee program application – now open
CDFW offering free swan tours this fall and winter
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering free swan tours in Yuba County near Marysville on select Saturdays, November through early January. Held in partnership with Mathews Rice farming operation, this area boasts one of the largest populations of overwintering tundra swans in the Central Valley as well as abundant geese, ducks, shorebirds and raptors. These popular, naturalist-led tours last approximately two hours. In caravan fashion, the tours traverse flooded rice fields filled with migratory and resident birds, with periodic stops to watch and learn about the wildlife. … ” Read more from CDFW here: CDFW offering free swan tours this fall and winter
NAPA/SONOMA
Groundbreaking agreement made official for tribal authority at holy lake
“Since 2019 Sonoma County Parks and the Graton Rancheria have co-managed Tolay Lake Regional Park outside Petaluma. That interim agreement has been cemented for the next 20 years. Tucked away at the end of a quiet lane off Lakeville Highway sits Tolay Lake. Though reduced from its original size after settlers in the 1850’s dynamited the natural levee at the lake’s southern end to clear part of the shallow lake for agricultural use, Tolay’s cultural significance to the Indians of the Graton Rancheria remains. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Groundbreaking agreement made official for tribal authority at holy lake
BAY AREA
Marin water suppliers hope for luck in rain cycle
“The start of October marked the end of a roller coaster rainfall year in Marin County that included historic downpours and record dry periods. A year ago, the county’s main reservoirs were 33% full and approaching critically low levels after being wracked by two years of historic drought. Residents were placed under mandatory water use restrictions. The Marin Municipal Water District was scrambling to build a $100 million pipeline across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to prevent running out of water as soon as mid-2022. One year later, local reservoirs are now nearly 75% full — above average for this time of year — after being replenished by a series of unusual storms in October and December. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin water suppliers hope for luck in rain cycle
Trendsetting urban wildlife refuge in South Bay celebrates its 50th anniversary
“A sprawling wetland in the South Bay might not seem like a place that provokes tears. But a ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the history-making wildlife refuge and bird sanctuary unleashed plenty of emotion among attendees. The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont, which was authorized by Congress in 1972, was the first such area to be designated in an urban setting and laid the foundation for others around the Bay and the nation. As visitors ambled along the trails and bridges swirling through the marshes, the Ohlone Sisters from the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe kicked off the ceremony with songs and prayers for the continued enjoyment of the land and the sharing of cultures, in recognition that the land is part of the ancestral home of the the Ohlone and Miwok people. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Trendsetting urban wildlife refuge in South Bay celebrates its 50th anniversary
Toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide detected near East Bay wastewater treatment plant
“Public health officials in Contra Costa warned people who live near the Crockett wastewater treatment plant that harmful levels of hydrogen sulfide were emanating from the facility on Friday, causing putrid smell to waft through the air, and potentially causing headaches or nausea. Residents recently began complaining about rotten egg odors that appear linked to an “ongoing operational issue” at the plant on 1801 Dowrelio Road, county health staff said in a notice Friday afternoon. It said that Bay Area Air Quality Management District monitors had found dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide in the surrounding air. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide detected near East Bay wastewater treatment plant
SEE ALSO: Crockett Residents Urged to Take Precautions Due to High Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide, from NBC Bay Area
CENTRAL COAST
Meeting targets Montecito Groundwater Basin Sustainability Plan
“The Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) invites the public to attend its quarterly board meeting, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, when discussion topics will include projects and actions that may be included in the Groundwater Sustainability Plan now and in the future. The Montecito Groundwater Basin supplies water for numerous public and private wells, and the Montecito GSA’s mission is to ensure a reliable and sustainable groundwater supply for the community through effective basin management pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Meeting targets Montecito Groundwater Basin Sustainability Plan
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Eastern Tule GSA sets extraction fee at $10.87 per acre-foot
“The Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency board again made quick work in approving the groundwater extraction fee for landowners in the district for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The ETGSA board set the fee at $10.87 per acre foot during a public hearing that was held at its meeting on Thursday. The public hearing lasted only about 10 minutes and there were actually no comments on the fee from the public during the hearing. That was the case for 2021-2022 when the board set the extraction fee at $9.08, so the fee went up this year. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the fee was $4.92 per acre fee, but that fee was only for half of the year. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Eastern Tule GSA sets extraction fee at $10.87 per acre-foot
EASTERN SIERRA
Mono Lake: First MAT-coordinated research benefits stream restoration
“One year ago, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued Order 21-86, mandating enhanced requirements for the restoration of 20 miles of stream habitat in the Mono Basin (see Fall 2021 Mono Lake Newsletter). The order launched a new era of restoration, including specific programs directed toward advancing restoration, one of which is the formation of the Mono Basin Monitoring Administration Team (MAT). Developing a functioning MAT has required a year of collaborative work led by the Mono Lake Committee and California Trout together with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) to set up protocols and secure a fiscal administrator to manage the restoration funds deposited by DWP. As of this fall, MAT-coordinated independent research is now underway. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee here: Mono Lake: First MAT-coordinated research benefits stream restoration
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Oil sheen contained in Talbert Channel near site of last year’s major O.C. pipeline spill
“State officials have contained an oil sheen that was spotted in Talbert Channel near Huntington Beach on Friday morning. Crews working to replace steep plate walls had noticed light sheening, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. “Due to the brownish milky characteristics of the oil officials believe it may be from an abandoned pipeline,” state officials said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Oil sheen contained in Talbert Channel near site of last year’s major O.C. pipeline spill
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Indian Wells City Council approves $500,000 for CVWD turf conversion rebate program
“Indian Wells became the latest city to pony up for a program offering residents money to switch to more drought-tolerant landscaping, as the city council unanimously approved a funding match for a Coachella Valley Water District rebate program Thursday. The city’s partnership with CVWD will double the reimbursement available for its residents through the water district’s existing rebate program. The council agreed to allocate $500,000 for the program, which will offer an additional $3 per square foot for residential conversions for projects up to 5,000 square feet of turf, as well as $1 per square foot for homeowners’ associations properties for conversions up to 15,000 square feet. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Indian Wells City Council approves $500,000 for CVWD turf conversion rebate program
Imperial County’s lithium may bring big bucks. But will its impoverished residents benefit?
“On a glaringly bright spring afternoon, with temperatures hitting the high 90s, Imperial County Supervisor Ryan Kelley ascends bumpy Red Hill. He points out places he’s known all his life: Obsidian Butte nearby where his family picnicked; the pale brown Chocolate Mountains to the east, and Mt. Signal, a guidepost for early desert dwellers, 40 miles south. And straight ahead, half a mile out now, the shimmering, ethereal blue but fast-receding Salton Sea. Less than 20 years ago, Red Hill where he stands was an island. Now its base is ringed with a marooned boat dock and rubble. In a quirk of the low-lying desert, Red Hill actually peaks 175 feet below sea level. It’s an apt metaphor for northern Imperial County: To reach equilibrium with the rest of the world, you have to climb up out of a huge depression. … ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: Imperial County’s lithium may bring big bucks. But will its impoverished residents benefit?
Along the Colorado River …
How rewilding could restore the Colorado River flows
“Seven states utilize the Colorado River water for irrigation and domestic water supplies.But climate change is shrinking the winter snowfall in headwaters and is predicted to reduce the river’s flows by 10-30 percent by 2050. At present, the seven states that are part of the 1922 Colorado compact are discussing conservation measures and cuts in water deliveries. While conserving water through policy changes, one of the most effective and least expensive ways to retain more water is to rewild the Southern Rockies of Colorado and northern New Mexico and the Mogollon Plateau of Arizona and New Mexico. Rewilding means we reestablish and enhance native species populations and native ecosystems, so their ecological function is improved and restored. ... ” Read the full story at Wildlife Today here: How rewilding could restore the Colorado River flows
