In California water news this weekend …
New push to shore up shrinking Colorado River could reduce water flow to California
“With the nation’s two largest reservoirs continuing to decline, federal officials announced plans Friday to revise their current rules for dealing with Colorado River shortages and pursue a new agreement to achieve larger reductions in water use throughout the Southwest. The Biden administration announcement represents a renewed push to scale back water use along a river that has shrunk significantly in the face of a 23-year megadrought worsened by global warming. With water levels dropping at Lake Powell, the Interior Department said operators of Glen Canyon Dam may need to release less water, which would affect flows in the Grand Canyon and accelerate the decline of Lake Mead. In order to protect public health and safety and the integrity of the system, the deparment said releases from Hoover Dam may also need to be reduced — which would shrink the amounts of water flowing to California, Arizona and Mexico. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: New push to shore up shrinking Colorado River could reduce water flow to California
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
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- Interior threatens Colorado River cuts, from E&E News
- Feds begin ‘expedited’ process to help save drought-stricken Colorado River, from CNN
- Feds start the clock on a plan that could deepen cuts on drought-stricken Colorado River, from the Arizona Republic
- Feds want the ability to cut back Colorado River reservoir releases, from Utah Public Radio
Bay Area rain, and the first significant Sierra Nevada snow is on the way. Here’s when it arrives.
“Tire chains. Winter coats. Gloves. Remember them? Snow is expected to fall across the Sierra Nevada early next week as a storm from the Gulf of Alaska pushes into California and the rest of the West Coast, bringing a likelihood of light rain to the Bay Area. Although details will become clearer in the next few days, forecasters said Friday that at least a foot of snow is expected to fall at higher elevations on Tuesday in the Sierra, potentially causing visibility issues and the need for motorists to carry tire chains if they are heading over mountain passes Tuesday and Wednesday as temperatures fall. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Bay Area rain, and the first significant Sierra Nevada snow is on the way. Here’s when it arrives.
Wintry conditions to sweep through western US in coming days
“Fall started off dry for many in the West, but as the wet season nears, a change in the weather is set to bring rain, mountain snow and cooler conditions. AccuWeather meteorologists say that a change in the weather pattern is forecast to bring an end to the abnormally dry conditions, starting with this next storm. A dip in the jet stream and a storm pushing into the Northwest on Monday will set the stage for wave after wave of storms to push through the area. Monday will be increasingly wet for parts of Washington and Oregon, before wet weather overspreads the region into Tuesday. ... ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Wintry conditions to sweep through western US in coming days
Warm, dry winter expected to complicate drought conditions
“After dismal amounts of rain and snow last year, California is expected to have another dry winter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) points out that drought conditions are projected to persist in parts of the West. A La Niña weather pattern is expected to appear for the third consecutive winter, again prompting warmer-than-average temperatures for the Southwest. “Drought conditions are now present across approximately 59% of the country, but parts of the Western U.S and southern Great Plains will continue to be the hardest hit this winter,” Chief of NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center Operational Prediction Branch, Jon Gottschalck said in a news release. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Warm, dry winter expected to complicate drought conditions
As climate change erodes western snowpacks, one watershed tries a ‘supershed approach’ to shield its water supply
“The foundation of California’s water supply and the catalyst for the state’s 20th century population and economic growth is cracking. More exactly, it’s disappearing. Climate change is eroding the mountain snowpack that has traditionally melted in the spring and summer to fill rivers and reservoirs across the West. Now, with less precipitation falling as snow and that snow melting faster and earlier in parts of major mountain ranges like California’s Sierra Nevada and the Rockies in the West, managers of a major Sierra Nevada watershed east of Sacramento are replumbing their water systems to better handle bursts of rain instead of trickling snowmelt. Their “Supershed Approach” to replace the loss of the once-reliable snowmelt is being touted as a possible model for other Western watersheds that are expected to experience stronger, more frequent snow droughts. … ” Read more from Western Water here: As climate change erodes western snowpacks, one watershed tries a ‘supershed approach’ to shield its water supply
Dairy, drought and the drying of the American West
“California produces more milk and cheese than anywhere else, including Wisconsin, the second biggest producer. California is in the middle of a megadrought, and dairy cows need loads of water. Some of that water is for the animals to drink and wash, but most of the water consumed by dairy is connected to what cows eat, in the form of feed and forage. Much of the region is situated in arid or semi-arid lands, and with the effects of climate change it’s becoming drier and more susceptible to deep drought. The U.S. Southwest’s 22-year megadrought has been determined the driest in 1,200 years, and is contributing to the water crisis in the Colorado River Basin. With California the biggest agricultural producer in the arid West, it’s essential to understand what’s grown and fed to dairy cattle there, and the water required to grow that feed. … ” Read more from Salon Magazine here: Dairy, drought and the drying of the American West
Water woes continue to plague West Coast bass fisheries
“It’s been well documented that several states west of the Rocky Mountains are in a severe drought – now referred to as a “megadrought” in some states – and that lakes and reservoirs in California, Arizona and Utah are suffering from record low water levels. That includes some of the West’s most popular bass fisheries: Lake Mead in Nevada and Lakes Shasta and Oroville in Northern California, for example. It’s not unprecedented for water levels to fluctuate wildly in these fisheries, as they’re primarily used as water supply sources for nearby municipalities and agriculture. Some western reservoirs can rise and fall up to 100 feet yearly. But the dire situation currently facing West Coast water managers (and bass anglers) comes after scant annual precipitation the past two decades, which has failed to replace the water taken out of reservoirs like Mead, Shasta and Oroville by normal human usage. … ” Read more from Major League Fishing here: Water woes continue to plague West Coast bass fisheries
Could cloud seeding solve the water crisis?
“Drought has been the headlining story for the West in the last decade, prompting increased worry about the future of water. As the climate crisis worsens and water issues mount by the year, the topic of cloud seeding is on the mind of many. Some argue cloud seeding is the missing puzzle piece in solving water issues, while others argue “playing God” with the atmosphere will only cause more problems to arise. The process of cloud seeding is complex and some see it as a one-off fix for the water crisis in the West, but could it really be that simple? … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Could cloud seeding solve the water crisis?
Cannabis: Are water conflicts rising to the surface?
“The Western and Southwestern U.S. has been in a “megadrought,” a drought period spanning 20 years or more, since 2000. … With researchers estimating that 19% of the historically dry regional conditions in 2021 were attributable to man-made climate change impacts, it’s no wonder that local and state regulators have been taking a closer look at agricultural water usage— especially when it comes to oft-maligned cannabis farmers. “Cannabis is the perfect scapegoat,” says Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of the California-based Humboldt County Growers Alliance (HCGA). “It’s easy to point the finger at it because of prohibition.” … ” Read more from the Cannabis Business Times here: Cannabis: Are water conflicts rising to the surface?
Greener grass with less water? New batch of water-saving grasses showing great promise
“We are living through the driest 22-year period in at least 1,200 years across the western states. Many can see the effects simply by looking at their front yard and the results of water restrictions in place, which are especially tough on grass not meant for desert climates. “We’re using the wrong grasses so people equate their lawn as just being wasteful, just takes too much water, well it’s really the wrong kind of grass being used,” said Jim Baird, the director of UC Riverside’s Turfgrass & Extension program. ... ” Read more from ABC LA here: Greener grass with less water? New batch of water-saving grasses showing great promise
Hope for kelp restoration in California, as underwater forest returns to Monterey Bay
“Ever since kelp forests began to disappear from the California coast in the mid-2010s, when a marine heat wave and voracious native sea urchins decimated them, people have been trying to remedy the problem. Divers have spent thousands of hours collecting the urchins, and scientists are growing native kelp in labs to try to reestablish the massive underwater forests that create the basis of the coastal ecosystem. Now, one project is showing signs of success. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Hope for kelp restoration in California, as underwater forest returns to Monterey Bay
How grape farmers could slow the impact of climate change on Northern California’s wine industry
“California’s climate has always been one with extremes. Cool mornings regularly give way to sizzling afternoons during the summer growing season. That’s a weather challenge that farmers here have adapted to. But with climate change comes the risk for intensifying long-term extremes. Things like longer droughts, more intense heat waves, and more erratic rain patterns in the winter. All of those things will make the future of farming less predictable, especially for those that grow wine grapes. Michael Baldinelli and his family have owned Baldinelli Vineyards in Amador County for 50 years. He said that he’s noticed these changes in weather patterns and it affects how he makes decisions about the coming crop. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: How grape farmers could slow the impact of climate change on Northern California’s wine industry
A look into the GigaFire Project, the latest research in fire fuel mapping
“The wildfire season is winding down and California was relatively lucky in terms of fire impacts, but the last few years have proven wildfires will continue to increase as climate change worsens and forests lie overgrown. With eight of the ten largest and deadliest fires occurring in the past 5 years, authorities, governments and researchers are scrambling for solutions to this crisis. The Gigafire Project, led by Johnathon Greenberg and Erin Hanan in the University of Reno’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources, is technically three projects in conjunction with CalFire and the California Air Resources board. The name stems from the term “giga fire,” referring to a fire that reaches over 1 million acres, which happened for the first time in 2020 with the August fire complex. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: A look into the GigaFire Project, the latest research in fire fuel mapping
In commentary this weekend …
Editorial: Consolidate water boards across California
The Southern California News Group writes, “Why are there some 1,286 water districts and agencies in California, governed by elected and appointed officials, many hundreds of which are in the four counties covered by our newspapers in Southern California? A naif might say in order to provide local control over how agricultural, urban and suburban residents get access to the most precious resource in the West. Given recent news of malfeasance at astounding levels in these crucial and yet little-noticed and secretive bureaucracies, a cynic might say they exist in order to provide wildly high salaries for their electeds and their managers — and that’s before, even, the illegal corruption in which too many of these officials traffic. By our lights, the cynic would sadly be correct. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News here: Editorial: Consolidate water boards across California
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com
From the Office of the Governor:
Tyrone Bland, 51, of Altadena, has been appointed to the California Water Commission
Bland has been Head of Government Affairs at Creative Artists Agency since 2020. He was Vice President of State and Local Government Relations at Herbalife from 2016 to 2020, Managing Partner at Porter Tellus LLC from 2007 to 2016 and Managing Director of the Capitol Hill Consulting Group from 2005 to 2007. Bland was Director of Government Affairs, Western Region for Amtrak from 2003 to 2005, a Legislative Representative for the City of Los Angeles from 1998 to 2000 and Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Carl Washington in the California State Assembly from 1996 to 1998. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Bland is a Democrat.
Denise Kadara, 69, of Allensworth, has been reappointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2014. Kadara served in several positions for the City of San Mateo from 1997 to 2004, including as Senior Management Analyst and Economic Development Specialist. She was a Senior Planner for the City of Hesperia from 1990 to 1994 and served in several positions for the City of Fontana from 1986 to 1990, including as Senior Planner and Administrative Analyst. Kadara was a Project Coordinator for the City of Norwalk from 1984 to 1986 and served in several positions for the City of West Covina from 1978 to 1984, including as an Aide and Planning Intern. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Kadara is a Democrat.
Sean Yang, 44, of Sacramento, has been reappointed to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2021. Yang has been a Medical Imaging Specialist Engineer at Kaiser Permanente since 2016. He was a Medical Imaging Engineer at BC Technical from 2014 to 2016 and a Computerized Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Engineer at Consensys Imaging Service Inc. from 2011 to 2014. Yang was Manager and Owner of Weiberts Meats from 2005 to 2011 and Magnetic Resonance Engineer at Hitachi Medical Systems America from 2001 to 2011. Yang is a member of the board of the Elk Grove Unified School District and a member of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Yang is a Democrat.
Kimberly Cox, 62, of Helendale, has been reappointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2013. Cox has been General Manager at the Helendale Community Services District since 2007. She was Senior Management Analyst for the City of Victorville Public Works Department from 2003 to 2007 and a Water Resources Specialist for the City of Hesperia Water Department from 1999 to 2003. Cox was a Customer Service Representative at Roadway Express from 1991 to 1999. Cox earned a Doctor of Public Administration degree from the California Baptist University and a Master of Public Administration degree in Water Resources Management from California State University, San Bernardino. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Cox is a Republican.
Amy Horne, 68, of Truckee, has been reappointed to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2003. She was an Intern at the Natural Resources Defense Council, in the Office of U.S. Senator Harry Reid, in 2015 and an Intern in the Office of the Delta Watermaster at the California State Water Resources Control Board in 2014. Horne was a Science Writer at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center from 2007 to 2009, Research Director at the Sierra Business Council from 1998 to 2005 and a Forest Researcher at the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station from 1993 to 1997. Horne earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Boyd School of Law, Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry and Master of Forest Science degrees from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and a Master of Public Administration degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Horne is a Democrat.
Michael Méndez, 44, of Long Beach, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2021. Méndez has been an Assistant Professor and Andrew Carnegie Fellow in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at the University of California, Irvine since 2019. He was a Faculty Fellow and Associate Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment from 2016 to 2019 and a Postdoctoral Scholar and Lecturer at the University of San Francisco’s Department of Environmental Science from 2015 to 2016. Méndez was Legislative Director at the University of California, Office of the President from 2008 to 2010, Senior Government Affairs Advocate at Blue Shield of California from 2006 to 2008 and Senior Legislative Aide in the Office of California State Assemblymember Cindy Montañez from 2003 to 2006. He is a member of the National Academies of Sciences’ Board on Environmental Change and Society and the Alliance for a Better Community. Méndez earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Public Policy degree in City and Environmental Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Méndez is a Democrat.
James Stahl, 79, of Rancho Palos Verdes, has been reappointed to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2018. Stahl has been President of JFS Environmental Engineering since 2015. He was Vice President at MWH Global, Stantec Engineering from 2007 to 2015 and held several positions at the Sanitation District of Los Angeles County from 1969 to 2007, including Chief Engineer and General Manager, Assistant Chief Engineer and General Manager, Director of the Solid Waste Division and Director of Treatment Plant Design. Stahl is a member of the Water Environment Federation, National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Stahl is a Democrat.
Kristine Murray, 54, of Anaheim, has been reappointed to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2018. Murray has been President and Chief Executive Officer at KLM Strategies since 2018. She was Senior Vice President at Willdan Group Inc. from 2010 to 2018. Murray served as Executive Director of Government Affairs at the Orange County Transportation Authority from 2008 to 2010, where she was Manager of Government Relations from 2004 to 2006. She was Vice President of Government Affairs at the Orange County Business Council from 2006 to 2008, Director of Government Relations at the San Bernardino Association of Governments from 2002 to 2004 and Director of Communications at Polar Air Cargo from 2000 to 2002. She was West Coast Government Affairs Director at the Air Transportation Association from 1998 to 2000, Director of Government Affairs at the City of Long Beach from 1996 to 1998 and a Legislative Assistant in the Office of U.S. Congressman Stephen Horn from 1992 to 1996. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Murray is registered without party preference.
Megan Lim-Blair, 37, of San Diego, has been reappointed to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where she has served since 2018. Blair has been Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Rady Children’s Hospital since 2019. She was Chief Development Officer at the San Diego Public Library Foundation from 2008 to 2019. She was Capital Campaign and Major Gifts Manager at Girl Scouts, San Diego – Imperial Council from 2007 to 2008, where she was a Fund Development Associate from 2006 to 2007. Blair was a Development Associate and Environmental Analyst at Save the Harbor, Save the Bay from 2003 to 2005. She is a member of Women Give San Diego. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Blair is a Democrat.
Gary Strawn, 76, of Santee, has been reappointed to the to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board
… where he has served since 2010. Strawn was an Engineering Consultant at Gary Strawn Consulting from 2007 to 2012 and a Program Manager at United Technologies Hamilton Sundstrand from 1988 to 2006. He served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1988. Strawn is a member of the San Diego River Park Foundation, San Diego Fly Fishers, San Diego River Conservancy and the Mission Trails Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee. Strawn earned a Master of Science degree in Materiel Management from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $250 per diem. Strawn is registered without party preference.
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA PODCAST: How low can we go?
SACTOWN PODCAST: Interview with Alexandra Biering
Today we welcome Government Affairs and Communications Manager for Friant Water Authority, Alexandra Biering. Biering is a water expert with deep knowledge of water in California. We discuss the water crisis, what needs to change, saving water during wet years, fixing infrastructure, and more.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
During the last California drought, Porterville, California citizens were worried about losing their groundwater. Agriculture is digging bigger wells, deeper, large diameter irrigation wells that pump huge volumes of water out of the ground. You see, the farmers need the water to keep their crops healthy and create jobs and the urban areas need water to sustain themselves. The dilemma is the farmer’s needs and the needs of the people! So, what do you do? 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
ECONEWS REPORT: Grrrroovy Eel River Issues
This week on the EcoNews Report, your host Tom Wheeler chats with Friends of the Eel River’s Alicia Hamann about the fantastic news that the Grrrreat Redwood Trail is finally in the clear from threats to take the public right of way. It’s now full steam ahead on trail master planning – tune in to learn about how you can be involved, and check out greatredwoodtrailplan.org. And in other grrrroundbreaking news: Alicia shares information about the lawsuit just filed to protect public trust flows impacted by unregulated groundwater extraction in the Eel River.” Listen to the podcast at the Lost Coast Outpost here: ECONEWS REPORT: Grrrroovy Eel River Issues
THE SCUUP PODCAST: From HER perspective: Jen Aguirre’s in a world of poop
You probably haven’t even considered working in the sewer industry, but Jen Aguirre, Wastewater Superintendent, will convince you that it’s pretty exciting! Learn how Jen got her start in the wastewater industry, how her work in wastewater treatment benefits our communities, and how she gets past that smell.
RIPPLE EFFECT PODCAST: Addressing climate distress
Psychologist Ariana Moran talks through her practice of working with clients experiencing climate distress. We end with a much bigger discussion about what it means to be living in a society experiencing a changing and challenging world.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Friends of Eel River sues Humboldt County over groundwater pumping in lower Eel River
“A local environmental group is suing the county in order to get it to better regulate groundwater in the lower Eel River. Friends of the Eel River filed a civil suit against Humboldt County on Thursday in Humboldt County Superior Court “to secure protection for the public trust values at risk when groundwater pumping depletes surface flows in the Lower Eel River,” according to a release from the group. “As guardians of the public trust, our county leadership has the authority and the responsibility to enact an ordinance to curtail groundwater pumping in the Lower Eel when necessary,” Alicia Hamann, executive director of Friends of the Eel River, said in a statement. “Unfortunately what we’ve seen instead, under the guise of a grudging effort to comply with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, has been continued denial by the county that groundwater use in the Lower Eel ever affects river flows, including efforts to obscure the county’s own data revealing the impacts on pumping on surface flows during dry periods.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Friends of Eel River sues Humboldt County over groundwater pumping in lower Eel River
Algal bloom warning at Big Lagoon lifted
“The following is a press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services: The harmful algal bloom advisory for Big Lagoon has been lifted after water quality results from recent sampling showed cyanobacterial toxin concentrations below health advisory thresholds according to the State Water Resource Control Board. The original advisory was placed on the lagoon in August after samples from Big Lagoon tested high for toxins produced by cyanobacteria. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Algal bloom warning at Big Lagoon lifted
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
South Lake Tahoe 6th graders spend day planting trees, learning about watershed and fire
“South Tahoe Middle School 6th grade students spent the day with environmental educators and learned about watershed health as they helped to replant in Caldor Fire burn scar. Members from the South Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition (STEEC) put on their “most popular” field trip for the students at Echo Lakes Sno-Park on October 21. STEEC is a collaborative network of over 25 local agencies and non-profits that work together to bring environmental programs to the South Lake Tahoe schools. They run at least one field trip per grade per year. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: South Lake Tahoe 6th graders spend day planting trees, learning about watershed and fire
NAPA/SONOMA
Prescribed fire – medicine for nature
“With September’s record heat behind us, and fire risks fading, firefighters and conservation groups are wasting little time, conducting controlled burns ahead of winter. Thursday, October 27th, firefighters intentionally set alight part of Pepperwood Preserve northeast of Santa Rosa—fighting fire, with fire. Aiming, as the experts say, to ‘treat’, 105 acres of grassland and oak forest perched high atop the Mark West Springs Area. A dozen engines were among the assets on hand. The controlled burn serves multiple purposes, according to Devyn Friedfel, Pepperwood’s assistant preserve manager. “This is really about fuel loading to reduce the fuels of when a wildfire does come, we’ll see less severe intensity of the fire,” Friedfel said. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Prescribed fire – medicine for nature
CENTRAL COAST
Commentary: Desalination is a critical component of Monterey Peninsula’s water supply
“The Monterey Peninsula is facing a serious water shortage that is growing worse due to drought and climate change. While attempts at conservation have been largely successful, residents have exhausted those efforts and more must be done. The good news is that we have a solution in the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP), part of a three-pronged approach that will capture winter stormwater, recycle existing water, and bring a new state-of-the-art desalination plant to the region to turn seawater into drinking water, providing a reliable and drought-proof water supply. This multifaced approach will develop a sustainable water supply strategy for the Monterey Peninsula that will not only alleviate current burdens the water shortage has created but will give our community the means necessary to grow and thrive once again. ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Commentary: Desalination is a critical component of Monterey Peninsula’s water supply
Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency to remind well owners of requirement to install meters
“Managers of Ojai’s groundwater basin want to more accurately measure the amount of water being taken out of the basin each year. At the regular board meeting of the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency on Sept. 29, directors approved a letter updating well owners on the agency’s groundwater-extraction metering program. For years, the agency has charged well owners and pumpers an extraction fee, which helps cover the cost of operating the agency by paying administrative costs and the costs of monitoring the basin for water levels and water quality, according to OBGMA General Manager John Mundy. … ” Read more from the Ojai Valley News here: Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency to remind well owners of requirement to install meters
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
South L.A. among communities awarded state grants for climate projects
“South Los Angeles is among 10 communities across California that will be awarded financial support to help combat the effects of climate change. On Thursday, the state approved $96.2 million in grants to support community-led projects in tribal, disadvantaged and unincorporated neighborhoods that would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide economic opportunities for residents, and improve the environment and public health. “California is empowering communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to tackle pollution and build resilience in their own neighborhoods,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a press release. “This innovative support for community-led projects across the state will bring environmental, health and economic benefits to Californians for decades to come.” … ” Read more from the LA Times here: South L.A. among communities awarded state grants for climate projects
Water treatment plant to be built in Chino
“A $20 million water treatment facility, called the State Street Water Treatment Facility, will be built at 10762 Benson Ave. in an unincorporated county area between Montclair and Chino to remove harmful chemicals from the groundwater. Construction is expected to be completed in approximately 18 months, according to Civil Engineer Manager Maria Fraser. The plant, approved by the Chino City Council on Oct. 18, will treat for nitrates, perchlorate, and 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), which have been detected at concentrations above the maximum levels set by the state, according to a staff report. … ” Read more from the Chino Champion here: Water treatment plant to be built in Chino
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coachella Valley Water District water fines cutting water waste as customers seek to conserve and save money
“Fines for excessive outdoor watering appear to be working for the Coachella Valley Water District as the state requires water agencies up and down California to reduce water use during the drought. But in an I-Team report, Jeff Stahl finds some higher-than-expected Coachella Valley Water District monthly bills are still taking customers by surprise. Many people are taking measures to reduce their water usage while avoiding overuse penalty fines which have been imposed on Coachella Valley Water District customers since August. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Coachella Valley Water District water fines cutting water waste as customers seek to conserve and save money
Shorebirds flock to the Salton Sea
“If it wasn’t for the sun low on the horizon or the sparrows singing quickly from nearby shrubs, one would barely realize it was morning. The heat along the Salton Sea, with some added humidity, already felt slightly oppressive. Our shorebird survey route included the shoreline along the State of California’s Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) 4,100 acre wetland remediation project on the southwest corner of the Sea, near the New River mouth. We found ourselves in a construction site, and after asking for access permission, were given hard hats and sent along our way to navigate a series of levees and dirt roads and look for birds. It’s been 30 years since the last region-wide surveys for shorebirds in the Intermountain West, the mostly arid region between the Rockies and the Sierra, home to large, saline bodies of water including Great Salt Lake. … ” Read more from Audubon here: Shorebirds flock to the Salton Sea
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona: A 100-year water supply?
“Whether its groundwater or river water in danger of running dry first, the biggest potential impact from Arizona’s continuing water issues is it will stall growth. Developers in Arizona, whose land is not connected to a designated municipal water system, must furnish certificates to show a 100 years of assured water supply, sufficient for the number of homes or types of businesses planned. With federal restrictions recently imposed cutting the amount of Colorado River water that Arizona can use, that will likely turn up the pressure on groundwater supplies and the developments dependent on them. … ” Read more from the Daily Independent here: Arizona: A 100-year water supply?
In national water news this weekend …
Meta ups server room temperatures to 90 degrees F, in effort to reduce water usage
“Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, has increased the temperature it runs its server rooms at in an effort to cut water usage. The company detailed its water conservation efforts at the 7×24 Exchange Fall Conference, which were reported on by Data Center Frontier. Meta has increased the temperature it runs its data halls by five degrees to 90°F (32.2°C). Over the summer, it increased the temperature in one half of a data center and compared failure rates and other changes to the other half. Now it is confident that it can start rolling out the increase. … ” Read more from Data Center Dynamics here: Meta ups server room temperatures to 90 degrees F, in effort to reduce water usage
World headed in wrong direction on five key measures of climate progress, report finds
“To halt warming at 1.5 degrees C, countries must slash emissions from power plants, heavy industry, cars, trucks, agriculture, and forest loss, among other sectors. But in some key areas, according to a new report, the world is seeing emissions continue to rise. The State of Climate Action 2022 report, assembled by a coalition of environmental organizations, gauged global performance on 40 indicators of progress toward the 1.5 degree goal. On 27 indicators, progress is being made, but with insufficient speed. These include curbing deforestation, building out renewable energy and electric vehicles, and ramping up climate finance. On five other indicators, the world is clearly moving in the wrong direction … ” Read more from Yale E360 here: World headed in wrong direction on five key measures of climate progress, report finds
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
ANNOUNCEMENT: DWR Drought Preparedness & Response Workshops
UPCOMING EVENT: Delta Island Adaptations 2nd Public Workshop
