On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC MEETING: Salton Sea Management Plan Long-Range Plan Committee beginning at 9:30am. The committee will discuss updates and receive feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan. Spanish interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación al español. Join the meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89578766476 Or join us by phone 1 (669) 900 6833 Webinar ID: 895 7876 6476
- WEBINAR: The Real Cost of the US Water Gap: 2.2M Americans Without Taps and Toilets from 10am to 11am. At least 2.2 million Americans still don’t have running water at home, costing the US economy $8.58 billion each year. But there’s hope. Every $1 spent on closing the water access gap yields nearly $5 in societal benefits—an incredible return on investment. Meet the Americans living in the “Water Gap”… without the taps and toilets many of us take for granted. Hear their stories, understand the forces driving this challenge, and listen to the latest economic data outlining the hundreds of billions in economic benefits we could generate by closing the gap for good. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: A Clean Water Act Time Machine: Reflections by a Key Legislative Staffer on the Act at 50 from 12pm to 1pm. For the past 50 years, the Clean Water Act has been one of the nation’s most consequential environmental laws. The Clean Water Act fundamentally reoriented the regulatory approach to water pollution control and the fact that the nation’s waters are now cleaner, supporting much healthier ecosystems is a testament to its effectiveness. For the Act’s 50th Anniversary, CLEE presents a discussion between Tom Jorling, one of the key legislative aides responsible for the Act’s structure and passage, and Dave Owen, UC Hastings Professor of Law and a leading water and environmental law scholar. We will learn about how the Act passed, what its drafters anticipated, how it has and has not lived up to its potential. We will also discuss key legal issues for the Act’s future. Click here to register.
- GRA SACTO BRANCH: Water Resource And Environmental Applications Of Borehole Geophysics from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. Borehole geophysics is, and will continue to be, a highly effective tool for water resources and environmental applications. This presentation will discuss some of the basic applications of borehole geophysics which can include: identifying water producing zones in well boreholes; evaluating the thickness and distribution of transmissive units; identifying fractures; conducting basin and hydrostratigraphic analysis; evaluating relative water yield and water quality; designing and completing water production wells; planning and evaluating well workovers (rehabilitation) and abandonment; and, developing conceptual hydrogeologic site models. This presentation will also provide key points on the types of borehole geophysical logs and their function and limitations. Interesting examples of geophysical logs relative to the listed applications and topics covered will be provided. This includes examples predominantly from California and Nevada. This presentation is provided at the professional level. A background in drilling and logging operations isn’t necessary, but a general understanding of geology, hydrogeology, and drilling operations would be helpful. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Set it back: Moving levees to benefit rivers, wildlife, and communities
“A female duck rests in the water where Gibbons Creek meets the Columbia River in southwest Washington. The common merganser grooms her rust-colored head in a site that, until recently, didn’t flow freely. But now the fish ladder that blocked salmon from spawning for decades is gone, and so is the levee that had held the Columbia back from spilling onto its historic floodplain since 1966. In the largest restoration project on the lower Columbia River, crews spent nearly two years removing 2.2 miles of levee, reconfiguring Gibbons Creek, and realigning two new levees at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The new levees — which total 1.6 miles and serve as public trails — reconnect the river to 965 acres of floodplain. They sit perpendicular to the Columbia, rather than lining its banks, giving the river and Gibbons Creek room to flow messily across the refuge, which is located just east of Vancouver and northeast of Portland. … ” Read more from The Good Men Project here: Set it back: Moving levees to benefit rivers, wildlife, and communities
With water in the West scarce, some tomato farmers look to hydroponics
“On Scott Beylik’s 4-acre farm about 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles, rows of tomato vines climb wires strung from the beams of his greenhouses. There’s no soil, so the roots are submerged in little bags with water. Every drop of water he uses goes directly to the plant. As the drought in the West drags on, the future of water-loving crops like tomatoes hangs in the balance. Hydroponic farming — the technique Beylik farms with — uses as little as 10% of the water traditional systems use to grow tomatoes and other field crops. “We’re pretty precise. Our drippers are pressure-compensated, and they’re literally putting out half a gallon per hour,” Beylik said. … ” Read more from Marketplace here: With water in the West scarce, some tomato farmers look to hydroponics
Metropolitan Board elects Adán Ortega as new chairman
“Water policy and strategic communications consultant Adán Ortega today was elected chairman of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the primary water importer and wholesaler for nearly 19 million people in six counties. Ortega, who has served on Metropolitan’s 38-member board since 2019, is the first Latino chairman to be elected to the post and will serve a two-year term beginning Jan. 1. He began representing the city of San Fernando on the board in March 2021 after previously representing the city of Fullerton from February 2019 to February 2021. ““I pledge to my colleagues on the board, Metropolitan staff and our member agencies to work relentlessly to meet our water supply and environmental stewardship commitments to the cities and communities we serve throughout Southern California,” Chair-elect Ortega said. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District here: Metropolitan Board elects Adán Ortega as new chairman
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals holds Twitchell Dam agencies have discretion to consider unenumerated purposes in dam operation
“When Congress authorizes construction of a federal water project, the authorizing statute typically specifies the purposes for the project, such as irrigation or flood control. In considering whether agencies have the discretion to operate the Twitchell Dam on the Cuyama River so as to avoid take of fish listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), the Ninth Circuit found the statutory allowance to operate the dam “for other purposes” to be broader than the operating agencies argued. The Ninth Circuit remanded the case, San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper v. Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District, to the district court to determine issues of California water law and ESA compliance in the first instance. … ” Read more from Kronick here: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals holds Twitchell Dam agencies have discretion to consider unenumerated purposes in dam operation
California AG Rob Bonta announces new year-round campaign to crack down on illegal marijuana
“California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday announced an overhaul of his office’s Illegal marijuana enforcement program, with a new emphasis on issues like environmental damage, tax evasion and organized crime. Bonta, a Democrat who is running for election to his first full term next month, announced that the Department of Justice’s annual, summer-long “Campaign Against Marijuana Planting” (CAMP) is being upgraded to a year-round program and re-named “Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis,” or EPIC. He also announced the results of the 2022 CAMP action: more than 973,000 plants eradicated, more than 203,000 pounds of illegally processed cannabis and 184 weapons seized across 449 operations in 26 counties around the state. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: California AG Rob Bonta announces new year-round campaign to crack down on illegal marijuana
California passed a landmark law about plastic pollution. Why are some environmentalists still concerned?
“California has a new environmental law that’s described as either a major milestone on the road to tackling the scourge of plastic pollution—or a future failure with a loophole big enough to accommodate a fleet of garbage trucks. The law, which seeks to make the producers and sellers of plastic packaging responsible for their waste, divided California’s sizable environmental community during its development over the last few years. Key environmental organizations eventually came around to supporting it. But more than three months after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed what’s known as SB 54, the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act is still stirring controversy. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News here: California passed a landmark law about plastic pollution. Why are some environmentalists still concerned?
Four elements of a healthy forest
“When you close your eyes and think of a healthy forest, you may picture one that’s thick with trees. But a healthy forest is complex, just like the plant and animal species that live there. Rick Kuyper, Sierra-Cascades division supervisor in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, has visited many of California’s forests. Kuyper and his team work alongside federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, to recover listed species living in the Sierra Nevada. “We work closely with public land management agencies and private landowners to ensure we have healthy forests for the species in the Sierras,” said Kuyper. “Restoring and conserving good forest habitat is a key component to successfully recovering species like the southern Sierra Nevada fisher and Yosemite toad.” While the forests of California’s Sierra Nevada may not look like the forests near you, there are some things all healthy forests have in common. Here are four features of healthy forests that you can look for on your next journey into the outdoors. … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service here: Four elements of a healthy forest
How does wildfire impact wildlife and forests?
“Seeing a forest recently burned in a wildfire can be jarring. Green is replaced by shades of gray. The land is quiet. The sunshine feels hotter. However, it’s not long before the forest comes back to life. “Wildlife is incredibly resilient,” said Stephanie Eyes, a senior wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. “California has a long history with wildfire, and many species adapted to endure it.” Eyes has evaluated the impacts of wildfire on wildlife for more than a decade. Before joining the Service, she worked for Yosemite National Park, surveying the impacts of fire on California spotted owl. Today, she uses data collected on wildfires to determine the impact on habitat for endangered, threatened and at-risk species living in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service here: How does wildfire impact wildlife and forests?
Today’s featured article …
DELTA LEAD SCIENTIST: Climate change impacts on species, Harmful algal blooms, and activities of the Delta Science Program
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Mendocino County water districts preparing for another year of drought
“With Oct. 1 marking the beginning of a new water year, Mendocino County officials reported recently that local water districts are preparing for what could be another dry year. In the latest update from the Mendocino County Water Agency, local water managers are quoted as describing their current status and outlook: District Superintendent Ryan Rhoades is quoted as saying that “the Mendocino City Community Services District will ‘continue to promote strong conservation and increased individual water storage. We are moving ahead with an emergency community water storage tank project, but completion is a couple of years out.” It is also noted that “water supplies have improved and the MCCSD Board moved into a Stage 2 Water Shortage on Sept. 26, 2022.” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Mendocino County water districts preparing for another year of drought
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tuolumne Utilities District optimistic negotiations will proceed with PG&E over water infrastructure
“There have been some new developments related to TUD’s desire to purchase PG&E water infrastructure such as Pinecrest Lake, Lyons Reservoir and the Tuolumne Main Canal. We reported in June that TUD was in negotiations to acquire the assets, but discussions were halted because PG&E wanted to “re-evaluate its long-term strategy.” PG&E has now announced that it has formed a new subsidiary company, Pacific Generation, LLC, and has filed with the California Public Utilities Commission to sell a minority stake in that subsidiary. Pacific Generation is planning to own the company’s “non-nuclear power generation assets.” … ” Read more from The Union here: Tuolumne Utilities District optimistic negotiations will proceed with PG&E over water infrastructure
Nevada Irrigation District irrigation season comes to an end
“October brings cooler weather and changing leaves as fall takes hold. It also means that the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) irrigation season is coming to an end. On Oct. 14, NID will begin shutting down water service to summer irrigation customers. Customers should expect canal water to stop on Saturday, Oct. 14 through Sunday, Oct. 15, as crews ramp the system down. Be aware: canals will experience fluctuating flows as this change takes place. Since the 1920s, NID has brought pure water from the high mountains to the ranches and farms of the drier Sierra foothills. Today, about 5,600 raw water customers irrigate more than 32,000 acres in Nevada and Placer counties. … ” Read more from Yuba Net here: Nevada Irrigation District irrigation season comes to an end
Investigation shows Forest Service mismanagement contributed to Caldor Fire devastation
“The brave firefighters battling the dangerous and fast-moving fires in Northern California put their lives on the line to protect local communities from the historic flames recently seen in the region. But there’s now question as to how forest service management is handling these fires and whether strategies implemented during the Caldor Fire actually slowed containment efforts and added to the devastation. 60 Minutes recently released a damning investigation that showed how the U.S. Forest Service mismanaged the response at the beginning of the Caldor Fire, which allowed the flames to devastate the community of Grizzly Flats, along with other communities in the Sierra. “In our opinion, they did nothing to put the fire out,” said Candace Tyler, who lost her home in the fire, in an interview with 60 Minutes. … ” Read more from Active NorCal here: Investigation shows Forest Service mismanagement contributed to Caldor Fire devastation
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New water restrictions in Sacramento start next month. Here’s what this means for you
“The fall season is settling into Sacramento, which means watering rules for the city will change soon. As a part of a water conservation ordinance from 2017, the city of Sacramento set up restrictions on when businesses and residents water their lawns. From Nov. 1 to Feb. 28, individuals can only water their landscape one day per week, on Saturday or Sunday, at any time of day. Watering on a weekday is not allowed. These rules are less stringent compared to the guidelines for March 1 to Oct. 31, in which individuals must follow a schedule based on even and odd numbered addresses. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: New water restrictions in Sacramento start next month. Here’s what this means for you
Why is sod being planted during a drought?
“Today’s Why Guy question from Rebecca Allen on Facebook: “Why is so much sod being planted during a drought? I know of a local sod company that just installed sod the size of a football field at a private home.” There isn’t a law against people spending a lot of money on sod and then having to spend even more money watering it and keeping it pristine. It’s your land, therefore it’s your lawn. You may get dirty looks from your neighbor about your giant sod spread while they’re letting their lawn die based on the state drought. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Why is sod being planted during a drought?
NAPA/SONOMA.
Impacts, competing interests vie for attention as county revises well rules as suit proceeds
“Following hours of deliberations last week, Sonoma County supervisors decided to not issue any new permits for water well drilling, at least until next April. The moratorium comes as the California Coastkeeper Alliance continues legal action against the county, accusing officials of environmental mismanagement by allowing too many people to tap into aquifers for water. The temporary prohibition has exemptions—any existing well that dries up or fails can still be replaced. Permit applications already submitted will still be processed. But, those rules will soon change. County officials approved creation of a technical advisory commission to study, advise and draw up a draft permanent ordinance. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Impacts, competing interests vie for attention as county revises well rules as suit proceeds
New simulation predicts devastating floodwaters far inland in major tsunami
“A wall of water walloping Doran Spit. Estero Americano changing course, channeling the pacific upstream, nearly to Valley Ford, water lapping at the edges of the Rocky Memorial Dog Park in Petaluma. The disaster scenario comes courtesy of the California Geological Survey, which Friday released updated tsunami evacuation maps for many counties, including Sonoma. Nick Graehl is an engineering geologist with the survey. “The maximum tsunami flood elevation is about 19 to 26 feet.” On much of San Francisco Bay, the same event would produce about a five foot rise, Graehl said. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: New simulation predicts devastating floodwaters far inland in major tsunami
Paradise lost: the flame out of Napa Valley’s iconic wine country
“Framed by the Vaca and Mayacamas mountains—30 miles long and five miles across at its widest point—Napa Valley is a place of uncommon beauty: Wooded knolls and forested mountain slopes contrast with tracts of vines sprawling across the valley floor and flowing up the hillsides. The vineyards glow sun-bright with mustard flowers in springtime, turn lush green in summer, blaze yellow and red in autumn as the leaves turn and the promising perfume of fermentation fills the air. That perfume is also the scent of international acclaim—of legendary status, Olympian prestige. Wine is made in all 50 states and wine grapes are grown in 49 of California’s 58 counties, but Napa Valley is heraldic, not just a wine region but an icon, one of America’s most valuable and illustrious brands. It’s also a kind of paradise, bucolic but sophisticated, bathed in a golden light both atmospheric and metaphorical. If Napa Valley is a paradise, though, it’s also a troubled one. ... ” Read more from LA Magazine here: Paradise lost: the flame out of Napa Valley’s iconic wine country
BAY AREA
Today’s foggy weather is creating a path for future storms in the Bay Area — here’s how
“It seems like the fog machine was left running on high this month, as wave after wave of low clouds ebbs and flows through the Bay Area’s valleys and passes. So much fog has filtered into the region that residents flying in and out of SFO have been seeing nothing but a sea of gray where the city normally stands. And while fog is about as San Franciscan as it gets, October fog is unusual. This unseasonable fog has kept the region cool and misty, keeping the worst of the dry, hot air that normally roars into the Bay Area during fire season out of sight and out of mind. It’s also creating a path for future storms from the Pacific Ocean to take to California by November. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Today’s foggy weather is creating a path for future storms in the Bay Area — here’s how
Marin Municipal Water District to preview new supply options
“As part of its study of new water supplies, the Marin Municipal Water District is planning a public workshop later this month to review how it will rate and compare the various options it is considering. The online meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 25 will provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions of district staff and its consultants who are drafting the water supply report. The rating system was presented to the board in late September. It reviewed supply options such as desalinization plants, increasing local reservoir storage, expanding recycled water distribution, new imported water from Sonoma County, interties to Central Valley water agencies and conservation measures. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin Municipal Water District to preview new supply options
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey Peninsula: Cal Am announces it will pursue Marina desal plant in phases
“California American Water has shifted its plans for a desalination plant on the shores of Marina, announcing it will now seek to build the project in multiple phases. “Phasing the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project strikes the right balance to meet the critical need for sufficient and reliable drought-proof water supply to meet demands in the near term while allowing for additional supply as it becomes needed over the next 30 years,” said Josh Stratton, a Cal Am spokesman, in an email. “In addition, as we heard from the community, phasing the project with the possibility of expanding the project to accommodate future regional water supply needs through public participation is important. This is a win-win for the region that provides an opportunity to help the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project be part of future water supply solutions for our customers and nearby communities.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey Peninsula: Cal Am announces it will pursue Marina desal plant in phases
How regenerative farming could help the Paso Robles wine industry reach sustainability
“Paso Robles has successfully transformed itself into a major wine hub over the last few decades, but the future of that status is uncertain. Housing, labor and environmental issues are threatening the foundations of the industry both now and in the future. One winemaker is helping the Paso Robles wine industry move towards sustainability — not just for the vines, but for the community as a whole. 12 miles west of downtown Paso Robles is a hilly vineyard and winery called Tablas Creek, owned by proprietor Jason Haas. A hill on the property offers a panoramic view of the entire Adelaida District, one of the 11 distinct wine grape-growing areas in Paso Robles. It’s a mountainous area covered in green grapevines, close enough to the coast for visitors to feel a cool Pacific breeze. … ” Read more from KCBX here: How regenerative farming could help the Paso Robles wine industry reach sustainability
State sued over deal allegedly weakening Boeing’s cleanup at toxic site near Simi
“Several environmental groups have sued the state and Boeing over what they allege is a “backroom deal” that significantly weakens the aerospace giant’s cleanup standards at the contaminated Santa Susana Field Lab site near Simi Valley. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Ventura County Superior Court, charges that the “secret” negotiations that produced the agreement violate the public involvement and transparency requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. But Allison Wescott, spokeswoman for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, a defendant in the suit, said in a statement Monday that while the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation, “we are confident in our legal position on the comprehensive settlement agreement with Boeing.” … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: State sued over deal allegedly weakening Boeing’s cleanup at toxic site near Simi
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Merced Irrigation District sued over defunct fish ladder
“A long defunct fish ladder on an historic dam on the Merced River is the focus of a public trust lawsuit by advocacy group Water Audit California. The lawsuit, filed in late September, demands the Merced Irrigation District repair and properly maintain a fish ladder on the Crocker-Huffman Dam, about 30 miles northeast of the City of Merced. The fish ladder was possibly built around the same time as the dam back in the 1910s. A photo showing a man standing alongside what is labeled as a fish ladder on the dam in 1920 can be found on a Mariposa County genealogy website. But sometime in the 1970s, the Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended closing the fish ladder and instead trying to move native Chinook salmon, steelhead and other fish around the dam in an experimental “spawning channel,” according to a 2009 letter from Fish and Wildlife that is included in exhibits attached to the lawsuit. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Merced Irrigation District sued over defunct fish ladder
Kern County crop value sets new record
“Farming output in Kern County, Calif. grossed its highest-ever figure in 2021, beating its previous record set just a year earlier by 9%. The value of all crops produced last year in Kern County grossed more than $8.34 billion. The county’s top 5 commodities remained unchanged, though there was a trading of places between pistachios and almonds as the value of the latter continues to languish. Grapes and citrus continue to rank one and two, respectively, in gross receipts. Each of the top four commodities – grapes, citrus, pistachios, and almonds – grossed over $1 billion in cash receipts, according to the annual crop and livestock report from the Kern County Department of Agriculture. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Kern County crop value sets new record
Webinar: How warring parties on the Putah Creek found detente
“The Kern River isn’t special. Rivers and streams throughout California are fought over with just as much passion and vehemence as the Kern River has seen from the 1880s to the present. But opposing parties on some of those rivers have found their way to compromise. The Putah Creek in northern California is one such stream. Bakersfield group, Bring Back the Kern, will host a roundtable discussion on how the Putah Creek parties found, if not harmony, at least detente, and whether there are any lessons for those fighting over the Kern River. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Webinar: How warring parties on the Putah Creek found detente
EASTERN SIERRA
What’s up with water? Department of Water Resources shares findings on community involvement in water sustainability
“After conducting interviews and surveys in Indian Wells Valley, found a few consistent concerns shared by the community in this valley when it comes to water sustainability. The concerns revolve around clear communication, transparency, equity, sound science, the needs of small mutuals, and the projects that will bring this valley into water sustainability. These findings were disclosed and explained during a public meeting held Oct. 4 at the Ridgecrest City Council Chambers, where facilitators and members spent two hours discussing these concerns about water sustainability in IWV. This was the second meeting DWR has held in Ridgecrest, and more may come in the future. The process for these meetings began when the Indian Wells Valley Water District requested DWR’s facilitation support services. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: What’s up with water? Department of Water Resources shares findings on community involvement in water sustainability
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Metropolitan board approves landmark project labor agreement for construction contracts
“The majority of Metropolitan Water District’s construction projects over the next five years will now be covered by a landmark collective bargaining agreement with labor unions and construction contractors – known as a Project Labor Agreement – following a vote today by the agency’s board of directors. Project Labor Agreements require all contractors – union and non-union – to follow certain labor requirements such as paying prevailing wages, hiring locally, ensuring worker training, using a dispute resolution process, and supporting apprenticeship programs. PLAs promote the hiring of skilled, reliable workers and help avoid labor disputes and work stoppages to ensure projects are done on-time, safely and within budget, Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil said. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District here: Metropolitan board approves landmark project labor agreement for construction contracts
Four PFAS treatment facilities in Orange begin operation, treating up to 7,500 gallons of water per minute
“The Orange County Water District (OCWD) and the city of Orange began operating four treatment plants constructed in Orange to remove per–and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from local well water. PFAS are a group of thousands of manmade, heat–resistant chemicals that are prevalent in the environment and are commonly used in consumer products to repel water, grease and oil. Due to their prolonged use, PFAS are being detected in water sources throughout the United States, including the Orange County Groundwater Basin, which supplies 77% of the water supply to 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County. Despite playing no role in releasing PFAS into the environment, water providers must find ways to remove it from their local water supplies. Construction of the Orange facilities took about a year to complete and are among 36 PFAS treatment facilities being designed and constructed in Orange County over the next two years. OCWD is funding 100% of design and construction costs and 50% of operation and maintenance costs for all facilities. … ” Read more from the Orange County Water District here: Four PFAS treatment facilities in Orange begin operation, treating up to 7,500 gallons of water per minute
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
The West’s hottest county is also its most Latino
“For much of the West, the record-breaking summer heat has finally given way to comfortable fall temperatures. But in Imperial County, California, the early October days still surpassed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Though every county in the Western U.S. is experiencing rising temperatures, Hazardous Heat, a report published in August by the First Street Foundation, revealed that Imperial County is by far the region’s most extreme case. El Centro, the county seat, had already experienced 117 days over 100 degrees this year by Oct. 3. (Only one other Western county — Yuma, Arizona — cracked the report’s list of the 20 hottest counties, meaning those with the most days above 100 degrees; in California, only one other county, Riverside, currently experiences even 30 days above 100 degrees.) … ” Read more from High Country News here: The West’s hottest county is also its most Latino
SAN DIEGO
Should San Diego taxpayers chip in hundreds of millions for seaport renovation?
“A multi-billion-dollar redevelopment plan could bring new life to Seaport Village on San Diego’s bayfront, but some residents are fading the idea now that the developer behind the potential revamp is asking for hundreds of millions in public funding. At a meeting Tuesday, developer 1HWY1 told the Port of San Diego it will ask for up to $550 million in public money to fund its $3.5-billion Seaport San Diego project, which includes Seaport Village and central Embarcadero. In a statement sent to NBC 7, the developer’s CEO, Yehudi “Gaf” Gaffen, said rising sea levels inflated the cost projections for the project, and said public investment strategies should be considered for public infrastructure and public space. … ” Read more from NBC San Diego here: Should San Diego taxpayers chip in hundreds of millions for seaport renovation?
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona State University center helps policymakers make critical decisions on water
“Greg Stanton didn’t need a historic drought and near collapse of the Colorado River to understand the importance of water security. As a member of the Phoenix City Council and later as mayor, Stanton guided one of the largest utilities in the country. Today, as a member of Congress, and with water levels at Lakes Mead and Powell declining to record lows, Stanton continues to push to protect Arizona’s water. “All of the work we are doing to create jobs, continue to grow our semiconductor industry and lead the way on innovation doesn’t matter unless we have water,” he said. “It’s the foundation for everything — and we’re in the midst of a crisis. We have to get it right.” Stanton says one of his most valuable resources is Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, which works to advance research, analysis and collaboration around building consensus on water stewardship for Arizona and the western United States. … ” Read more from Arizona State University here: Arizona State University center helps policymakers make critical decisions on water
Lake Mead water crisis is exposing volcanic rock from eruptions 12 million years ago
The public trust doctrine prevented Mono Lake from drying up. Could it be used to save the Great Salt Lake?
“Amid climate change and growing water demands that are withering terminal lakes away, Mono Lake carries a rare hopeful message. Owens Lake was one of the first cautionary tales about a salty lake with no outlet, when it dried completely from human water consumption in Los Angeles. Lake Urmia in Iran and the Aral Sea in Central Asia followed, drained by scaled-up agriculture. All have since become sites of major dust storms. The Great Salt Lake finds itself heading down a similar path, overtapped by agriculture, cities and industry. But Mono (pronounced “moan-oh”) Lake has emerged as a success story of sorts. Alarmed by the lake’s decline when its tributary rivers were diverted away to L.A., environmental advocates fought back. … ” Read more from Deseret News here: The public trust doctrine prevented Mono Lake from drying up. Could it be used to save the Great Salt Lake?
SEE ALSO: Why the courts could have the final say on the Great Salt Lake’s future, from the Salt Lake Tribune
In national water news today …
The US government just updated its plan for combating water insecurity
“In the coming decades, water insecurity will be one of the biggest problems facing the world. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, communities are considered water insecure when they cannot meet their basic water needs for things like agriculture and hygiene. Considering how essential water is, it’s shocking to see that, per the United Nations (U.N.), as of 2021, almost 2.3 billion people live in countries that are water-stressed, with billions more experiencing severe insecurity during at least one month each year. These shortages come from a mix of increasing demand, poor infrastructure, and ecological transformations due to climate change. The problem of water insecurity is only expected to get worse as populations grow, groundwater gets used up, and climate change accelerates. The World Bank notes that regions that are already water scarce, like the Middle East, are likely to face worsening conditions, while even some places where water is more plentiful, like central Africa, could begin to experience shortages. This is a problem not only for the rest of the world but also for the U.S. … ” Read more from The Tasting Table here: The US government just updated its plan for combating water insecurity
How tribal co-managing movements are transforming the conservation of public lands
“Before the creation of national parks and monuments, designated wildlife refuges, and the United States government, the Indigenous peoples who lived on the land cared for it based on intimate knowledge of local ecosystems. A powerful push in the last couple decades by many of those original inhabitants reasserting their claim to those lands have led to more “co-management” structures, where official management procedures include soliciting tribal input. Returning stewardship of the land to tribes would mark a culturally significant change—their knowledge, retained through generations, would be invaluable in the midst of a global biodiversity crisis. Every example of co-management in the US looks slightly different. Legislation transferred stewardship of the National Bison Range in western Montana to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 2020, and presidential decree re-established the Bears Ears Commission this summer, giving five tribes input in decision making for Bears Ears National Monument. ... ” Read more from Popular Science here: How tribal co-managing movements are transforming the conservation of public lands
Biden’s promise to Tribes faces test in Great Lakes
“Rows of neon green shoots of native rice jut out of the Kakagon River, evidence of a local tribe’s protection despite facing climate change and increased pollution, flooding, pipelines and mining. The Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa has for millennia used its own knowledge and practices to protect the Kakagon River and the internationally recognized wetland it feeds — the largest remaining natural bed of wild rice or “manoomin” in the Great Lakes. The Biden administration has promised to protect and incorporate those methods in its overhaul of the nation’s regulatory and permitting regime. The unprecedented White House effort, experts say, would address hundreds of years of federal resource management practices that have essentially shut out tribal input, sometimes with disastrous consequences — from cratering caribou populations in Alaska that fueled famine to deadly wildfires in California. But the government’s work also faces challenges: There are more than 574 federally recognized tribes across the nation with different perceptions of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and economic conditions, not to mention conflicting internal opinions about resource management (Energywire, Dec. 6, 2021). … ” Read more from E&E News here: Biden’s promise to Tribes faces test in Great Lakes
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Staff Workshop on Proposed Refined Watershed Analysis and Friant Priority Date Adjustments in the Water Unavailability Methodology for the Delta Watershed
UPDATE: October 11 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
