On the calendar today …
- TRAINING: Advancing Interdisciplinary Science from 10am to 12pm. This virtual training will provide fundamental background on disciplines and approaches to social-ecological challenges. It will highlight case studies presented by social scientists and is intended for all scientists, managers, and practitioners interested in integrating interdisciplinary approaches into their work. Attending the training is encouraged, but not required, to attend the workshop. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
The long haul to restore San Joaquin spring-run chinook
“When a team of fish biologists was tasked with restoring spring-run Chinook salmon in the San Joaquin River in 2006, none of them quite knew where to begin. The thirsty farms that crowd the river on both sides had taken almost all the water out of it most years since the mid-1900s, leaving a nearly 60-mile long stretch below Friant Dam near Fresno completely dry. The riverbed had been parched for so long that someone even built a house in it. The salmon that once thronged up-river by the hundreds of thousands had vanished, and there was no precedent for jumpstarting a population from scratch. Then one of the team members joked that they should just write a white paper saying it wasn’t going to work. “That broke the tension,” recalls Gerald Hatler, who manages the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Central Region Fisheries Program. “We all laughed—and then we sharpened our pencils and got to work.” That was shortly after a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)-led coalition prevailed in its 18-year lawsuit against the Friant Water Users and the U.S. Department of the Interior seeking to restore threatened spring-run Chinook and other fish in the San Joaquin River. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: The long haul to restore San Joaquin spring-run chinook
Rocky road to a fresh enough Delta
“Nothing reveals just how much the upper Estuary’s seesaw of tides and freshwater flows is micro-managed than prolonged drought, and the resulting fiddling with barriers, gates, and water quality standards to prevent the ocean tides and salinity from intruding too far upstream. Come summer, managers begin to talk fearfully of “losing control of the Delta” and the dreaded outcome: salt water too near the export pumps that supply tap water for millions of Californians. The ominous language is also reflected in the nickname of a new monitoring station at channel marker 42: “the point-of-no-return” station. Installed this August on the San Joaquin River just downstream of the Mokelumne River, the station joins a network of about 40 others at key Delta locations operated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Department of Water Resources (DWR, see map). These stations send real-time data on water velocities, flow rates, salinity movements, and other water quality constituents swirling around the Delta to a computer platform every worried water manager can’t help keeping an eye on. “It’s an early-warning location,” says USGS hydrologist Jon Burau. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: Rocky road to a fresh enough Delta
National media kick off ‘Running Out of Water’ season with vignette of Valley community on the brink
“California’s devastating drought is bringing on a wave of familiar, if entirely unwelcome, misery to communities up and down the Golden State. And, while literal floodgates are useless in these situations, the state’s drought is opening the media floodgates to any angle on the subject. Enter The Washington Post, with a portrait of the situation in the western Fresno County city of Coalinga: “The residents of this sun-scorched city feel California’s endless drought when the dust lifts off the brown hills and flings grit into their living rooms. They see it when they drive past almond trees being ripped from the ground for lack of water and the new blinking sign at the corner of Elm and Cherry warning: “No watering front yard lawns.” Since the Post’s initial missive on Coalinga, national media organs – desperate for any angle on faraway central California – have latched on. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: National media kick off ‘Running Out of Water’ season with vignette of Valley community on the brink
State Water Board approves $2.7 billion in financial assistance as California recognizes 10th anniversary of Human Right to Water
“The State Water Resources Control Board has approved major spending plans for the 2022–23 fiscal year totaling $2.7 billion that prioritizes disadvantaged communities and water resiliency projects. The approvals come as California this month recognizes the 10th anniversary of adopting the nation’s first Human Right to Water law. The plans include financial assistance to address inadequate infrastructure, which is often a barrier for communities trying to create resilient water supplies. Leveraging historic investments by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Legislature and the Biden administration, the board is expanding its capacity for grant and loan forgiveness to maximize a generational opportunity to reinvest in California’s outdated water infrastructure. Projected spending includes $609 million from recently appropriated federal dollars under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: State Water Board approves $2.7 billion in financial assistance as California recognizes 10th anniversary of Human Right to Water
State Water Project water rights assume augmentation of Sac River flows by 890,000 af/year
Deirdre Des Jardins writes, “One of the largest water rights hearings in the California State Water Resources Control Board’s history was the hearing on eight applications by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for the State Water Project. The then-called State Water Rights Board approved the permit for the State Water Project in Water Rights Decision 1275 on May 31st, 1967, after holding 40 days of hearings from July 26, 1966 to April 19, 1967. (SWRCB 1967, p. 4.) Water Rights Decision 1275 has a lot of relevant information on the State Water Project’s water rights. Notably, DWR’s permit applications included plans for three facilities that have never been built. The first was a Peripheral Canal “planned for completion in 1973″ which would “divert water from the Sacramento River near Hood along the eastern boundary of the Delta to Italian Slough, releasing water into Delta channels en route.” The second was a “substitute water distribution system” to serve the western islands of the Delta, since it was known that the water in the Western Delta would be too saline for agricultural use if water was diverted as planned from the North Delta. The third project was the Dos Rios Dam on the Eel River. … ” Read more from the California Water Research blog here: State Water Project water rights assume augmentation of Sac River flows by 890,000 af/year
The climate crisis could make your grocery bill even higher
“Inflation in the U.S. is the highest in 40 years, partly because of a hike in food prices. But the climate crisis could force grocery bills even higher, as drought in California and Hurricane Ian in Florida have damaged crops of fruits and vegetables, Reuters reported Monday. “There’s just not enough water to grow everything that we normally grow,” California State Board of Food and Agriculture President Don Cameron told Reuters. The U.S. Southwest is currently in the midst of a megadrought that is considered the first known regional drought to be influenced by climate change, according to Axios. The persistent drought, which is the region’s worst in 1,200 years, was made 42 percent more extreme by warming temperatures caused by human activity, according to one study. … ” Read more from Eco Watch here: The climate crisis could make your grocery bill even higher
A pivot on desalination plants: California approves project in Orange County
“The California Coastal Commission today green-lit a $140 million desalination plant in south Orange County’s Dana Point, a pivot from its unanimous rejection in May of another controversial desalination project in the county. The decision indicates that state regulators see a place for new seawater desalination plants in California to bolster water supplies, particularly for coastal areas with few water sources of their own. “We believe that the project before you today, although not perfect, provides a solid example that we can use in planning for future desalination,” Kate Huckelbridge, a senior deputy director, told the Coastal Commission. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: A pivot on desalination plants: California approves project in Orange County
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- Drought-stricken California approves desalination plant, from SF Gate
- Coastal Commission approves ocean desalination plant off Orange County coast, from the OC Register
- California Coastal Commission OKs desalination plant in Orange County, from the LA Times
- State Clears Way for OC Desalination Plant That Could be Model ‘Up and Down Coast’, from the Times of San Diego
UC Davis unveils plans for new agricultural research ‘hub’ funded by $50 million gift
“The University of California, Davis, will build a $40 million agricultural innovation center later this decade, a “transformative” expansion to the school’s food science and sustainability programs, after the university on Thursday announced its largest gift ever bestowed by individual donors. Billionaire philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick are giving $50 million to UC Davis: $40 million toward the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Center for Agricultural Innovation, a 40,000-square-foot, LEED-certified “hub” that will include classrooms and research space; plus $10 million for competitive research grants in the field of agriculture. “This gift will extend our efforts to lead field-level research, analyze big data, rapidly breed plant varieties that can adapt to our changing climate and fine-tune existing crop varieties,” UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said at an event Thursday morning, unveiling the donation at the Mondavi Center. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: UC Davis unveils plans for new agricultural research ‘hub’ funded by $50 million gift
SEE ALSO: Lynda and Stewart Resnick Pledge $50M to UC Davis for Sustainability Research, press release from UC Davis
A herd of wild horses just moved into this iconic California destination. No one knows what comes next
“Beneath the distant peaks of California’s Sierra Nevada, just east of Yosemite National Park, a bicyclist was pushing through a 100-mile road race last month when the unthinkable happened. The 51-year-old rider ran, literally, into one of the biggest quandaries of the American West: wild horses. Traveling downhill at 40 mph, the bicyclist was unable to avoid a group of mustangs crossing the highway about a two-hour ride from the mountain town of Mammoth Lakes. His bike broke in half as he collided with a large, brown horse, sending the racer into the roadside sage with several broken ribs and a collapsed lung, according to a preliminary accident report. … The incident at the Mammoth Lakes bike race stands out because it marks a new outgrowth of wild horses in California, and it’s fueling a fresh round of debate about how to respond to the widely revered, yet sometimes nuisance animals. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: A herd of wild horses just moved into this iconic California destination. No one knows what comes next
Managing mudslide debris after fires
“Californians are no strangers to the struggle of managing big blazes and the damage they leave behind. But the state’s record-setting Thomas Fire of late 2017 and early 2018 didn’t end when the flames went out. Late one January night, a little more than a centimeter of rain fell in 5 minutes, drenching a charred landscape in Santa Barbara County and sparking a mudslide that killed 23 people and destroyed 130 structures. Among other cleanup efforts, local officials decided to scoop up mud, silt, and woody debris and deposit them at nearby Goleta Beach. “The county was sort of between a rock and a hard place,” said Heili Lowman, a coastal biogeochemist who studied the disaster’s aftermath while at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Lowman and her team examined the impact of speeding the transport of mud and debris to the ocean by analyzing sediment samples collected near the deposition site, both on land and up to 20 meters (66 feet) underwater. The study was published in Science of the Total Environment. … ” Read more at EOS here: Managing mudslide debris after fires
In commentary today …
Two Tulare County Supervisors have some advice for the State Water Control Board
Tulare County Supervisors Dennis Townsend and Larry Micari write, “It seems that everyone but the people at California’s State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) understands the gravity of the Central San Joaquin Valley drought emergency. Amid our constant advocacy to secure clean and reliable drinking water for our community members, we noticed that the State Board has released a draft of its “Racial Equity Action Plan” for public comment. When we talk to our constituents and the local Community Water Systems about their water needs, they talk about the need for adequate water storage and supply and highlight how the state is diverting water flows away from the Valley. They understand the need to ensure that their wells and infrastructure are up to date and that crumbling wells are replaced and properly capped. Not once has racism come up in the conversation. The State Board has recently been in the news for its poor handling of grant fund accountability, its slow application review processes, and its overreach of authority on water rights, as revealed by its loss in a significant court case regarding its ability to curtail river diversions during a drought. It is not racial inequity that has kept our communities in perpetual water insecurity, being served by hauled water deliveries for nearly a decade while their water projects linger in a limbo of government bureaucracy. The bureaucracy itself is the culprit. … ” Read the full commentary at Valley Voice here: Two Tulare County Supervisors have some advice for the State Water Control Board
California prioritizes fish over people during another drought
Zachary Faria, commentary writer, writes, “A California city is on the verge of running out of water, all thanks to the California Democratic Party’s unwavering commitment to environmentalism. The water supply for Coalinga (population: 17,252) will dry up in two months. The city’s only water source is an aqueduct managed by the federal government. With California in a drought, the “small Republican outpost” (as the Washington Postdescribes it) won’t make it until the end of the year without aid or buying water “on the open market at exorbitant prices.” The executive director of the city’s chamber of commerce feels that the city has been deprived of water in retaliation for defying state leadership on COVID restrictions, as Coalinga also wasn’t given any relief funds handed down by the state. The truth likely isn’t far off, as California’s mostly conservative (and mostly Hispanic) Central Valley has been given the short end of the stick on water allocation for years. … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: California prioritizes fish over people during another drought
ACWA Board approves ACWA Foundation, making aspirational goal a reality
ACWA Board President Pamela Tobin writes, “After years of discussion and several months of intense planning by a dedicated steering committee and multiple workgroups, my aspirational goal for ACWA of forming a new nonprofit foundation is finally becoming a reality. I’m proud to announce that on Sept. 23, the ACWA Board of Directors approved filing the necessary legal paperwork to form the nonprofit ACWA Foundation, which will advance the association’s efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the water industry. I can’t say enough about how thankful I am for the Board’s support, as well as the hard work and leadership of everyone who helped get us over the hurdles and toward the finish line. I’ve heard from so many people within our membership who agree that ACWA must be able to lead on this issue within California’s water industry. … ” Read more from ACWA News here: ACWA Board approves ACWA Foundation, making aspirational goal a reality
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
North Coast Water Board increases enforcement on cannabis growers, issues six–figure fines
“The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board reported last Friday that its enforcement actions against water quality violations have increased by 25% over the past two years, driven largely by its forceful response to the growing operations of cannabis cultivators whose activities threaten nearby waterways. The cultivators involved generally operate without permits and are alleged to be dumping trash into creeks and rivers or recklessly building illegal roads that create erosion hazards. Board staff informed that, in addition to formal enforcement cases, scores of potential violations are also currently under investigation. … ” Read more from the North Coast Regional Board here: North Coast Water Board increases enforcement on cannabis growers, issues six–figure fines
Pumpkin prices increase amid inflation, drought conditions
“The price of pumpkins may be a bit higher this spooky season as California’s drought and inflation have made farming operations more difficult for harvesters. For Huddie’s Harvest, an Arcata-based pumpkin patch, the inflated cost of diesel has made growing pumpkins more expensive. “It takes a lot of diesel to get the ground ready to plant the pumpkins, and then to cultivate the weeds out throughout the summertime,” Huddie’s Harvest Owner Jeff Mason said. “It’s like $2 to $3 a gallon. It went up, and we have my tractors. They’ll burn like six gallons an hour farming.” … ” Read more from KRCR here: Pumpkin prices increase amid inflation, drought conditions
Arcata: Wet weather, we hope, requires erosion control
“With the onset of wet weather season, the City of Arcata Environmental Services Department reminds builders that all construction activities causing soil disturbances are required to have appropriate erosion control Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) in place by Saturday, Oct. 15. State regulations require that BMPs are installed and properly maintained to prevent soil and sediment from leaving construction sites and to assure that only “rain goes down the drain.” Permitted construction projects may also have other special requirements pertaining to wet weather erosion control, and these measures help protect Arcata’s creeks, wetlands and Humboldt Bay from stormwater pollution. ... ” Read more from the Mad River Union here: Wet weather, we hope, requires erosion control
The Ocean Ranch Restoration Project
“The California State Coastal Conservancy is restoring wetlands at Ocean Ranch along the Eel River with support from a $2 million grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wetlands Restoration Program. The Eel River was once one of the Pacific Coast’s greatest producers of salmon and steelhead. Over the years, extensive human activities have reduced the Eel River Delta. As the estuary shrank, so did populations of salmon and other native species, and carbon sequestration rates. At the same time, non-native species proliferated. To protect and enhance coastal wetland habitat, the State of California acquired a 2,600-acre property along the Eel River in Humboldt County in 1968 and designated it a Wildlife Area. Ocean Ranch, acquired in 1982, expanded the Wildlife Area by nearly 1,000-acres. This grant funding is supporting a project restoring wetlands at Ocean Ranch which will enhance healthy habitat for fish and wildlife, increase carbon storage, boost resilience to storm events and sea level rise, and support diverse native species. ... ” Read more from California Climate Investments here: The Ocean Ranch Restoration Project
Study: Harmful toxins from algal bloom are contaminating drinking water
“As climate change increases temperatures, harmful algal blooms, or HABs, caused by cyanobacteria are on the rise in lakes, rivers and reservoirs, posing a health threat to humans, domestic animals and wildlife. A study published this week by the Public Health Institute’s Dr. Gina Solomon and PHI’s Tracking California program revealed that microcystin, a toxin produced by cyanobacteria, contaminated private drinking water that many community members rely on in Lake County. Clear Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the state, and over 60% of residents in Lake County receive their drinking water from the lake. An estimated 500 homes around the lake have private drinking water supplies — either lake water intakes or near-shore wells. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Study: Harmful toxins from algal bloom are contaminating drinking water
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Cannabis crackdown: Officials raid, destroy illegal grow worth $15 million in Tuolumne County
“A crackdown in illegal cannabis earlier this month in Tuolumne County led to thousands of plants and cultivated flower being destroyed by members of California’s Unified Enforcement Task Force, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. Members of the Department of Cannabis Control’s Law Enforcement Division and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted the operation looking for unlicensed outdoor grow operations on Oct. 4 in the unincorporated town of Jupiter, authorities said. Nine search warrants were served during the operation in which officers eradicated 11,260 in illegal plants and approximately 5,237 lbs. of processed cannabis flower — worth an estimated retail value of $15 million, according to a Thursday press release. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Cannabis crackdown: Officials raid, destroy illegal grow worth $15 million in Tuolumne County
SEE ALSO: New State Cannabis Task Force Raids Illegal Grows In Tuolumne County, from My Mother Lode
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
“We had no choice”: A.C.I.D. agreed to water cuts during negotiations with federal officials
“Court documents and interviews with government officials indicate that the federal water cuts that have caused devastation within the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District (A.C.I.D.) weren’t a breach of the water district’s senior water rights contract. Instead, A.C.I.D. and other water contractors negotiated and agreed to the reduction in water allocations as part of an interagency effort to protect endangered salmon during California’s historic drought. … ” Read more at Shasta Scout here: “We had no choice”: A.C.I.D. agreed to water cuts during negotiations with federal officials
City of Folsom announces two new water rebate programs
“The city of Folsom launched two new programs designed to reduce water use among residents — the “Cash for Grass” rebate program and a smart home water monitoring system rebate. Folsom is under a Stage 3 water conservation warning and water customers are required to reduce water use by 20%, according to the city. “Cash for Grass” is a turf replacement rebate program in which water customers convert their water-thirsty lawns to water-efficient landscapes. The city will rebate customers $1 per sq. ft. of grass removed and replaced. It can add up to $2,000 per address. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: City of Folsom announces two new water rebate programs
Construction complete on Water Forum 2022 habitat projects
“Water Forum teams are in the final clean-up stages at the Water Forum’s Habitat Project at Nimbus Basin, signaling the successful on-time completion of the Water Forum’s 2022 Habitat Projects at the Basin and Lower Sailor Bar. Since August 1, teams have been working to enhance crucial habitat in the Lower American River for native fall-run Chinook salmon and steelhead trout, which return to the river to spawn during their annual migration from October through February. In the egg-laying process, females create a “nest” (called a redd) in loose gravel in flowing water, depositing their eggs and then covering them up with more gravel. Once hatched, young salmon move to the river’s shallow, slower-moving areas to find protection from predators and grow before eventually swimming out to the Pacific Ocean. To aid this natural process, Water Forum teams collectively laid approximately 41,000 cubic yards of clean gravel into the flowing river and carved side channels into existing gravel bars. … ” Read more from the Water Forum here: Construction Complete on Water Forum 2022 Habitat Projects
BAY AREA
Roller coaster weather patterns are coming to the Bay Area. Here’s where will see the biggest changes
“A howling delta breeze is brewing for this upcoming weekend, as the low-pressure system sitting off the coast of California churns up 20-25 mph gusts toward Solano and Contra Costa counties. These chilly winds will rush into cities like Fairfield, Vacaville and Walnut Creek, leaving a trail of fog, mist and cool temperatures in their wake. This cool weekend comes to the Bay Area right as the Pacific North American (PNA) oscillation is set to take the region on a weather-pattern roller coaster ride that could end with some beneficial rains later this month. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Roller coaster weather patterns are coming to the Bay Area. Here’s where will see the biggest changes
Tule elk receive supplemental water amid extreme drought: NPS
“The National Park Service is providing supplemental water for the second year in a row to the Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve, which is part of Point Reyes National Seashore, a spokesperson for the park service said Wednesday. The park service began providing more water to the area in June of 2021 for the tule elk due to “unprecedented and extreme drought conditions.” January through August of this year has proven to be the driest year for the region in 128 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. … ” Read more from The Patch here: Tule elk receive supplemental water amid extreme drought: NPS
The importance of wetlands: Coastal restoration in Point Reyes
“When asked about the most important habitats for biodiversity and carbon dioxide sequestration, most people will respond with the rainforest or coral reefs. However, very few recognize the immense benefits that wetlands provide for natural habitats, human utilization and climate change mitigation. Wetlands have been disrupted for centuries for agriculture and human urbanization, but we now need wetlands more than ever as a mitigation strategy against rising sea levels, increasing levels of greenhouse gases and decreasing biodiversity. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, wetlands contain a wide variety of species from microbes, amphibians, insects and fish to reptiles, birds and mammals. … In Northern California, the wetlands of Point Reyes are a prime example of a very biodiverse ecosystem that has been through challenges but is in the process of rehabilitation. … ” Read more from the Daily Californian here: The importance of wetlands: Coastal restoration in Point Reyes
Marin weighs zoning changes over sea-level threat
“Some property owners along the bay shoreline in unincorporated Marin would face new regulations for building on their land under a proposal reviewed by county supervisors and planning commissioners. The officials held a discussion Tuesday about changing the standards for properties that lie within the county’s Bayfront Conservation Combining District zone. If adopted, the changes would mark the first time that sea-level rise adaptation measures have been incorporated into the county’s development code. The regulations would implement policies contained in a new safety element for the county’s general plan, which is in the works. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin weighs zoning changes over sea-level threat
City of San Francisco wins award for efforts to reduce sources of ‘forever chemicals’
“The San Francisco Department of the Environment has been named the winner of the 2022 Dr. Teng–Chung Wu Pollution Prevention Award for its work to reduce sources of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the environment and set an example for others in the public and private sectors throughout California. The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board presents this award annually in memory of Dr. Teng–Chung Wu, a former employee and early advocate for pollution prevention. He believed many pollutants could be more effectively eliminated by controlling their sources rather than relying on end–of–pipe treatment. … ” Read mroe from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board here: City of San Francisco wins award for efforts to reduce sources of ‘forever chemicals’
Foul smell in Crockett to linger another 10 days
“A foul stench that has plagued Crockett for some time could linger for at least another week, officials said. The smell is a result of elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide coming from the Crockett Wastewater Treatment Plant. Recent air monitoring data from the county’s Hazardous Materials Program show concentrations of the chemical that can cause headaches, nausea and irritated eyes over long periods. County health officials said in a statement Wednesday they haven’t detected levels of hydrogen sulfide in Crockett’s air that would be considered immediately dangerous to public health. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Foul smell in Crockett to linger another 10 days
East Bay Municipal Utilities District completes $200 million in water infrastructure projects, kicks off major treatment plant upgrades
“The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has wrapped up $200 million in capital projects over the last two years, including construction of 53 miles of new pipelines, replacement an aging water storage tank in Berkeley, and development of a unique groundwater banking project in San Joaquin County to expand our water supplies during dry years. This month, EBMUD will begin construction on critical upgrades to the Orinda Water Treatment Plant – EBMUD’s largest water treatment plant that serves the most people. These infrastructure investments underscore EBMUD’s commitment to serving our diverse East Bay community, protecting natural resources, and investing in the water and wastewater systems of the future. “These past two years have challenged EBMUD and other water utilities in many ways, from public health and social justice issues to wildfires and the ongoing drought,” said EBMUD Board President Doug Linney. “By finishing these vital capital projects, EBMUD is improving the resilience of its water and wastewater systems to meet the challenges facing us. We appreciate every single ratepayer and consumer who supports our work.” … ” Read more from EBMUD here: EBMUD completes $200 million in water infrastructure projects, kicks off major treatment plant upgrades
South Bay fish fight
“Two decades after the South Bay’s main water supplier agreed to restore aquatic habitat in the streams that flow from its reservoirs, fish in the region remain in dire straits, and local river advocates say it’s the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s fault. The agency, which serves the taps and toilets of 1.9 million Santa Clara County residents, has made some improvements on fish habitat along miles of stream and increased the amount of water it releases from its reservoirs. Yet Chinook salmon and steelhead in Coyote Creek, Stevens Creek, and the Guadalupe River remain about as scarce as ever. Several environmental organizations want Valley Water to do more, and last month one of them, San Francisco Baykeeper, sued the district, alleging it was neglecting its responsibilities to protect public-trust resources. Baykeeper accuses Valley Water of violating state laws and the California Constitution while making feeble effort to help restore ailing species. At the heart of the suit, filed September 27, is water: not enough, Baykeeper argues, is being allowed out of the district’s reservoirs to support healthy fish numbers, which state law requires that dam owners do. … ” Read more from Estuary News here: South Bay fish fight
Forest health in San Mateo County—A collaborative approach
“A $2.5 million grant from CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Program is supporting the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) and a network of regional partners in their efforts to improve forest resilience, increase carbon sequestration, and reduce wildfire risk to vulnerable communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The San Mateo County Forest Health project involves forest fuels reduction treatments across approximately 445 acres at two county parks and Camp Butano Creek, a property owned and managed by the Girl Scouts of Northern California. It also involves planning for future treatments at nearby Butano State Park. The forests in these parks have high fuel loads, rugged, inaccessible topography, and have experienced years of extreme drought, threatening nearby isolated mountain communities that have limited evacuation routes. … ” Read more from California Climate Investments here: Forest Health in San Mateo County—A Collaborative Approach
First San Mateo County ‘Climate Summit’ highlights community-level adaptations
“Attendees of the first-ever “Climate Summit” for San Mateo County discussed ways that “community-engaged scholarship” and a greater community role in shaping solutions could help alleviate the day-to-day impacts of climate change affecting some of California’s most vulnerable residents. The event, which took place on Oct. 3 at Stanford’s Redwood City campus, convened nearly 200 people from community-based organizations, academia, government, nonprofits, and elected office. The daylong gathering represented the first county-wide effort of community-based organizations to lead discussions on climate change adaptation. The event focused on reframing adaptation – from research to funding to policymaking decisions – around improving conditions for “frontline communities.” … ” Read more from Stanford News here: First San Mateo County ‘Climate Summit’ highlights community-level adaptations
CENTRAL COAST
San Luis Obispo: FEMA remaps county flood zones
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has proposed changes to the Flood Hazard Maps in specific areas of San Luis Obispo County. The County of San Luis Obispo has been working with FEMA by providing input throughout the mapping process. The proposed changes include adding and removing properties from the 1% chance annual flood area (aka the 100-year flood zone), providing depths of anticipated flooding, and introducing defined floodways for certain areas. These changes could impact property/home insurance and development. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: San Luis Obispo: FEMA remaps county flood zones
Ventura County: Cutting green tape to cut water-wasting weed
“Everyone agrees giant reed (Arundo donax) should be removed from our local rivers, but sometimes environmental regulations make good environmental projects more difficult. Each removal project requires extensive permitting. Now, that is about to change. To cut the green tape preventing the cutting of green reed stalks, a local conservancy, in partnership with the Ventura County Resource Conservation District, obtained grant funding from Cal Fire to create programmatic permits. Programmatic permits will enable the district to serve as a sponsoring agency, an umbrella organization, overseeing reed removal projects organized by the conservancy and others. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Reporter here: Ventura County: Cutting green tape to cut water-wasting weed
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Ceremony to announce $100 million for canals, including Friant-Kern, set
“A ceremony will be held Friday to recognize the continued funding for much needed repairs of much of the state’s water infrastructure. State Senator Melissa Hurtado will present a ceremonial check for $100 million during the ceremony to be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Friant Kern Canal at the intersection of Avenue 96 and Road 208 in Terra Bella. Hurtado will be joined by various members of local government, water, citrus and farm organizations. The $100 million was included in the 2022-2023 State Budget to help fund the repairs of much of the state’s infrastructure. The $100 million will go to the Friant-Kern Canal, the Delta-Mendota Canal, the San Luis Canal and the California Aqueduct. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Ceremony to announce $100 million for canals, including Friant-Kern, set
Photo gallery: Sandhills cranes’ fall return to the Central Valley
“Sandhill cranes fly in to roost for the night in a field near the Phil and Marilyn Isenberg Sandhill Crane Reserve in Woodbridge. Every fall thousands of cranes fly from their summer homes in Alaska and Canada to winter in the Central Valley where they stay until the spring when they make their way back north. The cranes stand 4-to 5-feet tall with a wingspan of about 6-feet. They are known for their unique trumpeting calls and graceful courtship dance. The gray-bodied, red-capped birds fly into the reserve each evening then out every morning. They can also be seen on Staten Island near Walnut Grove and the Cosumnes River preserve near Thornton. The best times to observe them is near sunset and sunrise.” View photos at the Stockton Record here: Photo gallery: Sandhills cranes’ fall return to the Central Valley
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
An ‘abnormal,’ monsoon-like weather pattern hits Southern California
“An “abnormal” weather pattern blowing around Southern California is sprinkling the coast with rain and lightning, and it’s looking a lot like a monsoon, according to weather experts. Following Southern California’s usual mid-July to September monsoon season, the area generally transitions into Santa Ana winds season. But this year, the monsoon season looks to the naked eye like it is extending, though experts say it’s a mirage. “It’s not an extension of our monsoon season. The end result is the same but the reason for it is different. So it’s not a classic monsoon by any stretch,” said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: An ‘abnormal,’ monsoon-like weather pattern hits Southern California
As drought continues, Los Angeles water waste calls soar
“In August, 618 complaints about water waste flowed to the MyLA311 system. It was a record number of calls to the phone number and website where Los Angeles residents can report problems or place requests for municipal services. Perhaps even more notable: It marked the fifth time this year that a monthly record has been set for MyLA311 water waste calls (the publicly available data goes back to 2016). In 2021, an average of 146 complaints were fielded each month. This January, a new high of 191 was registered. The record was broken again in March and May, before soaring to 589 calls in June. … ” Read more from Crosstown here: As drought continues, Los Angeles water waste calls soar
Malibu Creek Watershed
“Malibu Creek watershed in Southern California drains just over 100 square miles of land into Santa Monica Bay. Over 90,000 human residents call this watershed home, as do countless plant and animal species such as the endangered Southern California steelhead and tidewater goby. The watershed also hosts the popular Malibu Creek State Park with many hiking and biking trails, and spectacular scenery spanning from the ocean to the mountains. Protecting this watershed is important not only for residential quality of life, but also to ensure the long-term health of the ecosystem. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Malibu Creek Watershed
LA business uses social media to educate on CA native plants’ impact to help with drought, wildlife
“A Los Angeles-based business, Urban Farms LA, is using social media to educate followers on the importance of planting California native plants and their positive impact to help the drought. Sophie Pennes is the founder of Urban Farms LA and said she hopes to inspire others. “Inspire people to see how beautiful it can be if you actually remove your turf or your plastic turf and embrace native plants and edible gardens,” Pennes said. “The great thing about California native plants is that they actually rely on the annual rainfall we get every year and the fluctuations with that.” Urban Farms LA designs, installs and maintains edible gardens and California native plant gardens. One of their most recent projects was installing new gardens to Kyna Payawal’s home in Highland Park. … ” Read more from ABC LA here: LA business uses social media to educate on CA native plants’ impact to help with drought, wildlife
Desert composting facility plagued by odor complaints ordered to cease and desist
“Citing odor issues, fire dangers and apparent violations of state law, San Bernardino County’s public health department has ordered a High Desert composting facility that processes sewage sludge and green waste from residents across Southern California to stop doing business. The 80-acre Nursery Products facility, which is owned by the Maryland-based firm Synagro, started drawing headlines this summer as workers spent months trying to quash a fire that blanketed residents in the nearby communities of Hinkley, Helendale and Barstow with a stench of burning plastic mixed with smoldering sewage. Residents reported health complaints and layers of gunk settling over their homes. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Desert composting facility plagued by odor complaints ordered to cease and desist
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Commentary: Heads up to Palm Springs-area folks who want Mississippi River water: We’re in drought, too
John Connerton writes, “Hi Palm Springs, Minnesota here once again. It’s been a while since we wrote to you, sorry about that. I know many of you are eager to continue our discussion about water. Recent events have been a little distracting though; my wife and I used to live in Foresthill, California, and the harrowing ordeal that little town has been through in the massive Mosquito Fire has been much on our minds. Okay, enough seriousness, back to sarcasm and incisive social commentary. Regarding the water situation, I have some great news. … ” Continue reading at the Desert Sun here: Heads up to Palm Springs-area folks who want Mississippi River water: We’re in drought, too
SAN DIEGO
‘Water batteries’ could store solar and wind power for when it’s needed
“The San Diego County Water Authority has an unusual plan to use the city’s scenic San Vicente Reservoir to store solar power so it’s available after sunset. The project, and others like it, could help unlock America’s clean energy future. Perhaps a decade from now, if all goes smoothly, large underground pipes will connect this lake to a new reservoir, a much smaller one, built in a nearby canyon about 1100 feet higher in elevation. When the sun is high in the sky, California’s abundant solar power will pump water into that upper reservoir. It’s a way to store the electricity. When the sun goes down and solar power disappears, operators would open a valve and the force of 8 million tons of water, falling back downhill through those same pipes, would drive turbines capable of generating 500 megawatts of electricity for up to eight hours. That’s enough to power 130,000 typical homes. … ” Read more from National Public Radio here: ‘Water batteries’ could store solar and wind power for when it’s needed
Along the Colorado River …
Rebalancing the Colorado River basin: How much must be cut and what will it cost?
“A set of laws and agreements collectively known as the Law of the River allocate water among users and uses: among the Upper Basin, Lower Basin, and Mexico; among states within each basin; and according to priorities based on seniority of use and other state and federal laws, agreements, and court decisions. Agreements negotiated among the parties in 2007 and 2019 define how cuts would be assigned under defined shortage conditions, though these agreements expire and must be renegotiated by the end of 2026. It is now clear that these negotiated cuts will be insufficient to bring the system back in balance, so two questions are foremost. Where can the states find additional cuts? And what will it cost to induce further voluntary cuts? … Several announcements in recent weeks highlight the expenditures of taxpayer money that are at stake. The federal government has established billions of dollars for western drought relief funding that could be used in part to pay growers to reduce water use. So, what is a reasonable expectation for reducing water use further, at what cost, and to whom? … ” Read more from ESA Economics here: Rebalancing the Colorado River basin: How much must be cut and what will it cost?
Surviving megadrought, Southwest citrus growers manage water wisely
“Growing fruit in the arid Southwest will keep you on your toes. Not only do California and Arizona citrus growers face the challenge of growing fruit profitably in shifting markets, but drought conditions in the southwestern U.S. continue to worsen and affect irrigation. Compounded with the recent account of fellow citrus growers in Florida suffering devastating crop loss due to Hurricane Ian, it’s reasonable to assume that there are many questions weighing heavy in growers’ minds at the start of this winter citrus season. … ” Read more from The Packer here: Surviving megadrought, Southwest citrus growers manage water wisely
How the megadrought exposed dangers of distant volcanoes
“Visitors to the Las Vegas Valley know that the only nearby volcano is at The Mirage hotel, so why did University of Nevada researchers find volcanic ash recently in Lake Mead? The ongoing-drought caused record-low water levels in the country’s largest reservoir, which uncovered rock embedded with volcanic ash from distant volcanoes. “For the western US, there were two large eruptions in the last million years, just yesterday for geologists, that deposited ash over most of the western part of North America,” Vulcanologist Eugene Smith said. “If another eruption of this magnitude were to occur again, most of the western US would be affected.” … ” Read more from Fox News here: How the megadrought exposed dangers of distant volcanoes
In national water news today …
Not your childhood water cycle: The USGS just debuted a complete remaking of the water cycle diagram—with humans as headliners
“It’s a sight most remember from childhood: a drawing showing the path of water from oceans to clouds to rivers. Long, lavish words like “evapotranspiration” and “precipitation” likely come to mind. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) water cycle diagram is still used by hundreds of thousands of students in the United States and worldwide. It’s also the basis for many, many spin-off diagrams. Today, the agency released a new diagram for the first time in more than 20 years, this time with humans as showrunners. Although people have long siphoned water from groundwater and diverted rivers into farm fields and industrial plants, the new diagram is the first time humans have been included in what was presented until now as a “natural” cycle. … ” Continue reading from EOS here: Not your childhood water cycle: The USGS just debuted a complete remaking of the water cycle diagram—with humans as headliners
How harsh will winter be? Six organizations issue forecasts.
“While it is still several weeks until the official start of winter on Dec. 21, several organizations are already unveiling their nationwide Winter 2022-2023 forecasts. Note that even the most scientifically advanced seasonal outlooks cannot pinpoint what the weather will be in a particular place at a particular time this far in advance. But, with varying levels of success, they can paint a broad picture of how hot or cold or wet or dry different parts of the country may be compared to average. Whether you are a fan of snow, here is the latest roundup of what meteorologists are saying about the weather in the coming months. For entertainment purposes, we also summarize the outlooks from the Farmers’ Almanac and its rival, the Old Farmer’s almanac — but meteorologists put little stock in those predictions. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: How harsh will winter be? Six organizations issue forecasts.
Feinstein, Gillibrand, colleagues call on EPA to further address toxic PFAS pollution in upcoming guidance
“Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and a group of their colleagues to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to increase its efforts to stop the flow of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances?(PFAS) into our communities. Ahead of the EPA’s upcoming guidance to state permitting authorities on how to address PFAS in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, the senators are urging Administrator Michael S. Regan to take further steps to limit industrial PFAS discharges. NPDES permits are an important tool under the Clean Water Act that, if used properly, can promptly rein in harmful PFAS pollution. In the letter, the senators explain that the NPDES guidance should supports the goal of eliminating PFAS discharges into the environment, clarify that all known or suspected sources have an obligation to monitor and disclose PFAS in their effluent, and recognizes that Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) have the authority to require pretreatment of indirect discharges they receive. … ” Read more from the Office of Senator Feinstein here: Feinstein, Gillibrand, colleagues call on EPA to further address toxic PFAS pollution in upcoming guidance
National water and climate report …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20221013Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE for Water Quality Certification Application for Lower Klamath Project License Surrender
NOW AVAILABLE: Revised Draft Amendments to Delta Plan’s Administrative Procedures Governing Appeals
