On the calendar today …
- EVENT: California Financing Coordinating Committee Virtual Funding Fair from 9am to 2pm. The California Financing Coordination Committee (CFCC) conducts free funding fairs statewide each year to educate the public and offer potential customers the opportunity to meet with financial representatives from each agency to learn more about their available funding. CFCC members facilitate and expedite the completion of various types of infrastructure projects by helping customers combine the resources of different agencies. Project information is shared between members so additional resources can be identified. Presentations will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and participants can visit virtual booths from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. to meet with representatives. Click here to register.
- FLOOD MAR: DIY Approaches to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Comparative Perspective: Problems and Prospects from 9am to 10:30am. A conversation with Stephen Marr, Senior Lecturer, Malmö University – Department of Global Political Studies and Patience Mususa, Senior Researcher, the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala on the topic: DIY Approaches to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation in Comparative Perspective: Problems and Prospects. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9am to 5pm. The Delta ISB will meet from November 3 to 4. This will be the first public meeting of new Delta ISB members, Dr. Anna Michalak and Dr. Inge Werner. On November 3, the Delta Independent Science Board (Delta ISB) will meet to discuss its activities, including its review of the draft Environmental Impact Report for the Delta Conveyance Project. In addition, Dr. Dylan Chapple of the Delta Science Program will present an overview on Delta restoration progress and targets, while Dr. Stacy Sherman of the California Department of Wildlife will present on the Fish Restoration Program Tidal Wetland Monitoring Program. The meeting will continue on November 4 with a Yolo Bypass tour. Click here for the full meeting notice.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Salton Sea Management Plan Community Engagement Committee beginning at 10am. The SSMP Community Engagement Committee will meet for a virtual meeting on Zoom. Spanish Interpretation will be available. Habrá interpretación en español. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
89562922825 Dial: +1 719 359 4580 Webinar ID: 895 6292 2825 - WEBINAR: Flume Household Water Use Index: Q3 2022 from 10am to 10:45am. Join Flume and Flume Data Labs for the Q3 2022 Flume Household Water Data Index. This webcast will provide an analysis of water use in the top 15 US Metropolitan Areas during Q3 2022, as well as years past. In 45 minutes, we will review indoor and outdoor residential water use patterns from our nationwide network of sensors. Additionally, this in-depth analysis will cover drought response in the Colorado River Basin states and the impact of Flume on leaks in single family residences. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Delta Heritage Forum from 1pm to 8pm at the Jean Harvie Community Center at 14273 River Road, Walnut Grove. The Forum focuses on preserving and telling Delta stories and providing opportunities for partnerships, collaboration, and networking. This year’s theme is “Writing the Next Chapter in Delta Heritage.” The Forum will include an update on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area, interactive panels and discussion groups, and an evening workshop on the National Heritage Area Management Plan. A detailed schedule will be available by late October. Anyone with an interest in Delta heritage is invited to attend. Register for the Forum now. Visit the Delta Heritage Forum webpage for more information.
- WORKSHOP: Cache Slough Public Access Recreation Action Plan from 6pm to 8pm at Rio Vista Veterans Memorial Building in Rio Vista. Solano County, the California Department of Water Resources, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are seeking input on an Action Plan for enhancing public recreation opportunities within the Cache Slough region. The Action Plan will help guide future County and State investments in feasible recreation facilities within the Cache Slough region that are safe, inclusive, and respect local land uses and landowners. For more information on this effort, please visit the project website at https://www.solanocounty.com/
depts/rm/delta_and_water_ programs/cache_slough_ recreation.asp Please RSVP here if you plan to attend the workshop. - FLYWAY NIGHTS: Fins and Feathers: Conserving Salmon and Birds through Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Management from 7pm to 9pm. CalTrout launched the Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields project in 2017, working with farmers and water suppliers to pioneer new practices to help recover fish populations in the greater Sacramento Valley by reconnecting floodplain-derived wetland food webs to the Sacramento River. Cliff will present on results from the Fish Food on Farmlands Program, discuss the planned expansion to regions of the Delta, Suisun Marsh, and San Joaquin Valley, and planning efforts to incorporate bird conservation into salmon habitat projects from the rivers and estuaries of the north coast to southern California. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California’s water cops unprepared, overwhelmed in era of climate change, megadroughts
“Jim Scala needed the water. So he took it. As the third devastating summer of drought dragged on, the Siskiyou County rancher knew his irrigation district could be fined up to $10,000 a day if he and his neighbors defied a state cutback order and pumped water from the Shasta River onto their lands east of Yreka. So in mid-August, they turned them on. For roughly a week, they sucked out nearly two-thirds of the water flowing down the Shasta, home to one of California’s few runs of coho salmon. … While the Shasta River rebellion might have been the most brazen, a Sacramento Bee investigation reveals that farmers and other water users frequently ignore state drought regulations. The Bee interviewed dozens of farmers, policy experts, American Indian tribal members, environmentalists and regulators. It reviewed hundreds of pages of court rulings, regulatory filings and other public records. The Bee’s findings reveal a state regulatory system dramatically unprepared to address chronic water shortages and an ecosystem collapse. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: California’s water cops unprepared, overwhelmed in era of climate change, megadroughts
‘100 years in the making.’ Northern California farmers say water regulations not working
Some Siskiyou County farmers and ranchers ignored an order to curtail water use, and others became entangled in regulations. All are affected by the state’s strategy, severe drought and other agricultural factors. Two speak on Sept. 30, 2022. (Link to video)
‘Death in the family.’ California tribe anguished as water, sacred fish vanish from rivers
“Carrying a pair of 20-foot wooden poles with a net strung between them, Ron Reed shimmied above the Klamath River across wooden boards perched between slippery boulders. He paused and stared into the white foam. With a lunge, Reed, a 60-year-old fisherman who belongs to the Karuk Tribe, thrust his dip net into the Klamath’s swirling current. His back and his ropey arms strained against the fir poles as he heaved up two Chinook salmon that thrashed and twisted inside the net. By the end of the morning, Reed and his son-in-law Asa Donahue caught seven salmon. … ” Read more from Sacramento Bee here: ‘Death in the family.’ California tribe anguished as water, sacred fish vanish from rivers
Why hasn’t a dam been built in more than 40 years?
“Today’s Why Guy question comes from Tricia Towne: “Why hasn’t a dam been built in over 50 years?” This is a popular question to the Why Guy. The short answer is all the best sites to build dams already have dams on them. Most were built in the 40s, 50s and 60s to prevent catastrophic local flooding. The last regional dam built, the New Melones Reservoir north of Sonora was completed in 1980, about 42 years ago. Now, with extreme drought, we need dams to store water. Well, guess what? Looks like we’re getting a new dam at the Sites Reservoir just west of Maxwell in Colusa County. President Joe Biden just dedicated $30 million to the project, which is targeted for a 2024 groundbreaking. ... ” Read more from ABC Channel 10 here: Why hasn’t a dam been built in more than 40 years?
New report highlights key factors affecting State Water Project deliveries
“As California enters a possible fourth dry year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released its biennial report to help water managers better understand how key factors, like climate change and regulatory and operational considerations, affect the operation of the State Water Project (SWP) under historical and future scenarios. The State Water Project provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland throughout the state. In the State Water Project Final Delivery Capability Report 2021, there are estimates on the SWP’s water delivery capability for current and future conditions based on three major factors: the effects of population growth on California’s balance of water supply and demand; state legislation intended to help maintain a reliable water supply; and impact of potential climate change-driven shifts in hydrologic conditions. ... ” Read more from DWR News here: New report highlights key factors affecting State Water Project deliveries
DWR provides funding to city of Coalinga for emergency water purchase
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today awarded $1.2 million to the City of Coalinga for an emergency water transfer to supply the community through the winter months. Though rain is in the forecast for some parts of the state, California remains in extreme drought. The City of Coalinga, located in Fresno County, had previously notified the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that it could run out of water by December without additional supplies. In coordination with Reclamation, which supplies water to the city via the Central Valley Project, Coalinga was able to purchase 600 acre-feet of water for approximately $1.1 million from the Patterson Irrigation District. … ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR provides funding to city of Coalinga for emergency water purchase
State Water Board adopts standards that would reduce water loss by nearly 35%
“The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted new performance standards for urban retail water suppliers—the utilities that provide water to people in California cities—that it estimates will save about 88,000 acre–feet of water per year, or enough to supply over 260,000 households, by requiring suppliers to monitor and reduce leakage in their distribution systems. “As climate change induces hotter and drier conditions, we must conserve water as much as possible and become more efficient on all fronts,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Board. “Water loss from distribution systems for drinking water is often out of sight. The new performance standards will not only reduce that water loss by over a third, they will also cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by lowering the amount of water needing to be treated and distributed.” … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: State Water Board adopts standards that would reduce water loss by nearly 35%
Reaching new levels in groundwater monitoring
“Monitoring subterranean aquifers is crucial to using their water efficiently—and ensuring the supply doesn’t run dry. But monitoring groundwater isn’t easy. Traditionally, an aquifer’s water levels are measured using wells: Hydrologists drill into the ground and measure the pore pressure at depth, a measurement from which they infer the amount of water trapped in sediments. But drilling is expensive, and the measurements produce at best a scattered, incomplete image of an aquifer. Alternatively, satellite data can be used to trace deformations of Earth’s surface, which swells up when the ground is waterlogged and subsides as water drains out, but surface data can’t provide insight into what’s underground. Now, a new method may sidestep these problems by exploiting another source of information: seismic data. … ” Read more from EOS here: Reaching new levels in groundwater monitoring
EPA awards California $609 million in historic federal funding to improve water quality
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced funding to the State of California for water infrastructure improvements under the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). California has been awarded more than $609 million in capitalization grants through the State Revolving Funds (SRFs) to supplement the state’s annual base SRF funding of $144 million. The announcement was made at the Keyes Community Services District (Keyes CSD), a community water system that was recently awarded $10.4 million in SRF loan forgiveness funding, to improve drinking water quality and compliance at four groundwater wells serving several small, disadvantaged communities in the area. … ” Read more from EPA here: EPA awards California $609 million in historic federal funding to improve water quality
Madera farmers march on Capitol, protest water fees
“A group of San Joaquin Valley farmers, led by a contingent of growers from the Sikh community in Madera County, marched on the state Capitol last week to call for increased allocations of surface water for agriculture. Farms in the valley received zero water deliveries this year from the federal Central Valley Project and faced severe cutbacks in diversions from the State Water Project. In addition, California water officials issued curtailment orders to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “We’re protesting against the policies…that are cutting water in the Central Valley and affecting a lot of people’s lives,” said Jaspir Singh Sidhu, founder of the Punjabi American Growers Group, which represents more than 450 farmers and 100,000 acres of farmland. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Madera farmers march on Capitol, protest water fees
Short supplies could hold up pima prices
“With water shortages limiting the amount of cotton farmers grew this year, those who planted acreage say they remain optimistic about the market outlook for the fiber, even as global prices have softened from their record highs last spring. Cotton harvest is well underway in the San Joaquin Valley, and dry conditions so far have been favorable to farmers. Weather for growing cotton also has been decent this year, even with the extended heat wave in September, said Roger Isom, president and CEO of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association. But the multiyear drought left some farmers in the state’s prime cotton-producing region with no surface-water supplies to grow the crop, even when prices soared and market signals told them to plant more cotton. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Short supplies could hold up pima prices
Plastic bags are supposed to be recyclable in California. The attorney general suspects they are not
“Nearly a decade ago, a California law required manufacturers of plastic bags to make their bags recyclable. The state’s top cop says this doesn’t appear to be happening. On Wednesday, Attorney General Rob Bonta sent letters to seven plastic bag producers that supply the bulk of California’s grocery stories, demanding they provide proof that their bags can really be recycled. The move is among the strictest enforcement actions yet for a major state recycling law aimed at tackling the scourge of plastic pollution in oceans, soils and skies. Petroleum-based plastic has surged in popularity in recent years, being used in everything from packaging to clothing to tires, and because it’s not biodegradable, it breaks down into small, toxic fragments that disseminate across the environment. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Plastic bags are supposed to be recyclable in California. The attorney general suspects they are not
California study reveals whales eat up to 10 million microplastics a day
“A new study from Stanford has revealed the staggering and concerning amount of microplastics whales eat every day. The biggest animals on Earth are forced to consume up to 10,000 of the tiniest man-made pollutants on a daily basis, a number far higher than previously thought, scientists found. The study, published in the Nature Communications journal this week, shows that the consumption of microplastics comes not from the mammal gulping them down directly in ocean water, but through one giant step down in the food chain as they eat their primary prey, krill. “There’s only one link,” study co-author Matthew Savoca told Stanford News. “The krill eat the plastic, and then the whale eats the krill.” … ” Read more from SF Gate here: California study reveals whales eat up to 10 million microplastics a day
Annual average air temps have increased about 2.5 degrees statewide, report says
“The effects of climate change are already quite prevalent in the state, as seen by the all-time record-high temperatures and devastating wildfires experienced in recent years. A new report, released by California state scientists, shows that the effects of climate change are rapidly accelerating in California. The report from the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment found that since 1895, annual average air temperatures have increased by about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit statewide and cases of heat illness have tripled in the past 30 years. ... ” Read from ABC Channel 10 here: Annual average air temps have increased about 2.5 degrees statewide, report says
Glaciers in Yosemite and Africa will disappear by 2050, U.N. warns
“Glaciers in at least one-third of World Heritage sites possessing them, including Yosemite National Park, will disappear by mid-century even if emissions are curbed, the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization warned in a new report Thursday. Even if global warming is limited to just 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), which now seems unlikely, all the glaciers in Yosemite and the ice patches in Yellowstone National Park, as well as the few glaciers left in Africa, will be lost. Other glaciers can be saved only if greenhouse gas emissions “are drastically cut” and global warming is capped at 1.5 degrees Celsius, the Paris-based UNESCO warned in its report. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Glaciers in Yosemite and Africa will disappear by 2050, U.N. warns | Read via Yahoo News
Report on California climate impacts ‘paints a pretty grim picture’
“California is experiencing more wildfires, illness and drought as the impacts of climate change accelerate, according to a report released Tuesday. The state’s fourth edition of “Indicators of Climate Change in California” finds that such impacts are hitting California sooner and more forcefully than previously expected. Published by the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the report says that half of the state’s 20 largest wildfires occurred in 2020 and 2021, heat waves have doubled in frequency in some areas, and glaciers are rapidly disappearing. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Report on California climate impacts ‘paints a pretty grim picture’
How unexpected California weather ‘decapitated’ fire season
“Remnants of an atmospheric river brought Northern California its first solid storm of the year – rain splattered across the Bay Area and Central Coast, while some parts of Tahoe saw snowfall boosted to above average levels for this time of year. Despite a historic heat wave in September, weather unexpectedly turned colder and wetter. A rare September storm came after the record temperatures and stopped the fire season in its tracks. October was marked by a deep marine layer that sent fog to all corners of the Bay Area. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: How unexpected California weather ‘decapitated’ fire season
In commentary today …
Advanced recycling is booming except in California. A new plastics law is to blame
Robert Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, writes, “In water-starved California, artificial turf is an environmental necessity, reducing the need for irrigation, mowing, pesticides and fertilizers. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation incentivizing lawn owners to make the switch as local governments across the state offer rebates that help make synthetic turf more affordable. While those programs are great for protecting California’s scarce natural resources, they do nothing for landscapers and sports venues looking to dispose of artificial grass worn out by years of heavy use. A new private-sector recycling partnership could be a path forward, but the state’s shortsighted policies prevent greater adoption. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Advanced recycling is booming except in California. A new plastics law is to blame
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Dams, drought and survival in the Klamath Basin
“A decades-long effort to remove four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River may soon come to fruition. In the Klamath Basin, salmon face an increasingly perilous journey to their spawning grounds. Extreme drought, low water levels, deadly parasites and algae plague the river. Although the significant barrier posed by the dams may soon be gone, fierce competition over water in the Klamath Basin will remain an ongoing challenge. ... ” Read more from Street Roots here: Dams, drought and survival in the Klamath Basin
‘Situation is dire’: Humboldt County supervisors send letter supporting drought relief for dairy farmers
“A historic drought and increasing feed costs may start driving the region’s dairies out of business if they don’t receive emergency relief. On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors unanimously decided to join a North Coast coalition seeking emergency relief for dairies and send a letter to Rep. Jared Huffman, state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood requesting a meeting to figure out how to mobilize state and federal funding “before the organic dairy industry faces a major catastrophe.” “The on-the-ground situation is dire,” the letter states. “Feed producers indicate that hay and grain supplies in the Western United States will be in dangerously short supply as the regional drought persists. Many organic dairy farmers predict that they will need to shut down their farming operations in the next 6 to 9 months if the financial status quo remains.” ... ” Read more from the Eureka Times Standard here: ‘Situation is dire’: Humboldt County supervisors send letter supporting drought relief for dairy farmers
SEE ALSO: North Coast organic dairies seeking financial relief from drought, from KRCR
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe ski season starts this month. Here’s a list of resort opening dates
“Tahoe ski resorts are opening — some as soon as mid November. The first real snowfall of the season was underway Wednesday, bringing in fresh powder to start the season. Last year, snow season started early and was steady — which allowed resorts to stay open longer than usual. Tahoe Ski resorts like Palisades stayed open until Memorial Day, extending the 2021-2022 ski season by about a month. Here’s a list of Tahoe ski resort opening dates, weather permitting … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Tahoe ski season starts this month. Here’s a list of resort opening dates
Prescribed burns may continue over next week at Lake Tahoe
“Under the coordination of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District may conduct prescribed fire operations Nov. 7 – 11, conditions and weather permitting. Smoke will be present. Prescribed fires are a tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing excess vegetation (fuels) that can feed fires. Burning excess vegetation also benefits forest health by making room for new growth which provides forage for wildlife, recycles nutrients back into the soil and helps reduce the spread of insects and disease in forests. Fall and winter typically bring cooler temperatures and precipitation, which are ideal for conducting prescribed fires. Each operation follows a specialized burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions. All this information is used to decide when and where to burn. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Prescribed burns may continue over next week at Lake Tahoe
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Redding news roundup: PG&E warns high flows on McCloud River while crews work
“Through Nov. 21, people recreating near or in the lower McCloud River — the stretch between McCloud Dam and Lake Shasta — should watch for fast-flowing water and higher than normal water levels. Flows are about a foot higher on the lower McCloud River in northern Shasta County while Pacific Gas and Electric Company maintenance crews work on the James B. Black Powerhouse, the utility company said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: Redding news roundup: PG&E warns high flows on McCloud River while crews work
Yuba Water OKs $9M grant for levee improvements
“In an effort to help reduce the risks of flooding and the ongoing effects of climate change in south Yuba County, the Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors on Tuesday unanimously approved a $9 million grant to support a series of improvements. The funds, granted to the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority (TRLIA), are intended to be leveraged as a local match against state and federal funds for additional flood risk reduction efforts in the southern portion of the county. “As the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority (TRLIA) is scaling down its operation in South Yuba County, it has been working with Yuba Water, Yuba County and RD 784 to finalize and close the State of California Proposition 1E source funding that made the levee projects in South Yuba County possible,” according to a Yuba Water staff report. ... ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Yuba Water OKs $9M grant for levee improvements | Read via Yahoo News
How much rain fell in Sacramento and is there more coming? Here’s the latest forecast
“November kicked off on a slippery note, as rain scattered throughout the Sacramento area Tuesday afternoon for the first time since September. Less than half an inch or .18 inches of precipitation fell in downtown Sacramento, according to the National Weather Service’s 24 hour precipitation report. Placerville received the most droplets in Sacramento County at .71 inches. Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Fair Oaks and Orangevale all received around .32 to .42 inches of rainfall. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: How much rain fell in Sacramento and is there more coming? Here’s the latest forecast
BAY AREA
Richmond awarded $35 million state grant for climate, environmental justice projects
“Environmental justice projects in neighborhoods next to some of the city’s heaviest industrial areas have gotten an injection of financial support. The state has awarded Richmond $35 million to plan and implement nine different community initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health, specifically in the Iron Triangle, Santa Fe and Coronado neighborhoods. Richmond Rising — a collaboration of Trust for Public Land, Rich City Rides, GRID Alternatives, Urban Tilth and Groundwork Richmond nonprofits — will work with the city to provide residents more affordable options to walk, bike and get around town; renewable energy-powered homes; gray water systems; urban greening and cooling; and enhanced food security. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: Richmond awarded $35 million state grant for climate, environmental justice projects
EBMUD: Seeking the source
“Most of EBMUD’s drinking water makes an incredible journey to arrive at our taps. As drought and climate change generate renewed interest in where our water comes from, some people are taking extraordinary steps to seek the source. We’ve been following adventurers tracing the entire length of the Mokelumne River, EBMUD’s primary water supply, flowing from the Sierra Nevada. These “water walkers” seek a more personal connection with this life-giving resource that allows us to thrive back home. Through media coverage, social media posts and educational outreach, they are calling attention to the value of our water supplies, conservation and responsible watershed management. … ” Read more from EBMUD here: Seeking the source
San Jose Water cites ‘lessons learned’ from Los Gatos water main break
“When a water main ruptured during a routine replacement in Los Gatos last month, nearly 600 residents did not have water service for more than 24 hours and were put on a water boil notice for three more days. Several residents were frustrated by the lack of communication and inconvenience, and some reported residual leaks and damages to their homes caused by the incident. Representatives from San Jose Water, the utility responsible for the leak that occurred at the 100 block of Villa Avenue Oct. 20, attended Tuesday night’s Los Gatos Town Council meeting to debrief, answer questions and go over lessons learned. “This incident lasted several days,” town manager Laurel Prevetti said. “I think both of our agencies have learned quite a bit in terms of emergency communications and how we can better coordinate.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: San Jose Water cites ‘lessons learned’ from Los Gatos water main break
Half Moon Bay: Coastal Trail culverts sink into disrepair
“Half Moon Bay and California State Parks are preparing to replace two aging culverts on the Coastal Trail, though ongoing permitting and studies will lengthen the construction timeline. The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission last week was prepared to issue a Coastal Development Permit to replace two deteriorating culverts with a single one in the Pullman watercourse. But before the Oct. 25 meeting, city staff received feedback and agreed with some of the concerns, namely the need for a new hydrological analysis and coastal access plan. It recommended the board continue the item to an unspecified date and hold a public hearing to get more feedback.… ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review here: Half Moon Bay: Coastal Trail culverts sink into disrepair
CENTRAL COAST
San Benito County steps up water-saving efforts
“After a slow start to conserving water in our community, residents started stepping up their efforts in late August. We need more of this effort, but it’s very encouraging news to see our community respond. The following data, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, was provided by Sunnyslope County Water District. Customers in the City of Hollister service area are using similar amounts of water: Total water usage in September/October 2022 was 15% less than the same period in 2020 and 11% less than that period in 2021. Year to date, total water usage in 2022 is 5% lower than in 2020 and 2021 and 12% lower than in 2013 despite the growth since then. … ” Read more from San Benito Free Lance here: San Benito County steps up water-saving efforts
Pure Water Monterey nets national engineering award
“Pure Water Monterey, the Monterey Peninsula’s recycled potable water project, was one of 11 projects receiving a national award for outstanding engineering achievement — a project heralded as a key part of the state’s portfolio of water supply projects. “To be recognized alongside high-profile national projects is truly a great honor,” said Mary Ann Carbone, the chair of Monterey One Water’s board of directors and the mayor of Sand City, in a news release. The Oct. 25 award was from the American Society of Civil Engineers, which has been recognizing nationwide projects with its Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement award for the past six decades. Pure Water Monterey, the first such project in Northern California, was the only project in the state to receive the award. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Pure Water Monterey nets national engineering award
SLO County Planning Commission recommends denial of Paso basin ordinance
“On Dec. 6, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors will consider a new ordinance for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin that’s fiercely opposed by the agricultural industry and, as of Oct. 27, all five county planning commissioners. The SLO County Planning Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 27 to recommend that supervisors deny the new planting ordinance and, instead, extend the existing rules for the basin until 2028. “This is just a bad idea,” 2nd District Commissioner Mike Multari said at the meeting. “This is an ordinance that doesn’t really achieve any public benefit that overrides the environmental impacts, particularly those impacts on the groundwater basin.” ... ” Read more from New Times SLO here: SLO County Planning Commission recommends denial of Paso basin ordinance
City hosting public hearing on water rate increases
“The City of Paso Robles is proposing to gradually phase in water rate increases over the next five years to support water system operating and maintenance expenses, fund the city’s share of debt service for the Nacimiento Water Project, and provide funding for capital improvements needed to support safe and reliable service.All city water customers are receiving notices in the mail to announce a public hearing that will be held on the proposed water rate increases on Dec. 20, at 6:30 p.m., at Paso Robles City Hall. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: City hosting public hearing on water rate increases
Santa Barbara County supervisors greenlight two cannabis projects, reject appeals
“Tuesday’s Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting wasn’t all about cannabis, but for much of its duration, it certainly felt like it was. While the debate at times got convoluted and contentious, the punch line of the day was short and simple. The supervisors gave their collective thumbs-up to two cannabis projects that had been previously approved by the county’s Planning Commission and subsequently appealed by their neighbors. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara County supervisors greenlight two cannabis projects, reject appeals
Santa Barbara County helping cities, towns adapt to extreme weather
“Santa Barbara County is looking to help towns and cities better adapt to extreme weather. Community resiliency centers are a new concept gaining traction in California. Three of these centers are now coming to Santa Barbara County. From wildfires and drought to torrential flooding–California is no stranger to a wide range of natural disasters. To help towns and cities better prepare– Santa Barbara County has chosen three locations for so-called community resilience hubs. … ” Read more from KSBY here: Santa Barbara County helping cities, towns adapt to extreme weather
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Rain brings farmers joy in Kern County, but not all crops need the extra water
““It’s like pennies from heaven, when it rains it’s a great thing,” said Murray. Since December 2020 California has been suffering from a drought and the little to no rain has been tough on kern county farmers. “You’re going to see it impact the dairy industry bc you’re not going to see it feed crops for dairy bc the water is still expensive,” said Steven Murray. The drought paved a different way for farming as some crops were unable to grow without the needed water. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now here: Rain brings farmers joy in Kern County, but not all crops need the extra water
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Cold storm hits Southern California, bringing winds and mountain snow
“A storm moving across the state Wednesday brought cooler temperatures, strong wind and rain to much of Southern California, leading to slick freeways, some road closures and the possibility of snow at higher elevations. Three lanes of the westbound Santa Monica Freeway and South Hoover Street in downtown Los Angeles were closed for about two hours to clean up a car crash at around 1 a.m. Wewdnesday. Three of the southbound lanes and one northbound lane of the Golden State Freeway near San Fernando Mission Road in Sylmar were closed because a big rig hydroplaned and crashed into the center divider around 1:30 a.m. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Cold storm hits Southern California, bringing winds and mountain snow
Santa Clarita Valley Water invites community to treatment facility ribbon cutting
“SCV Water is inviting the community to a ribbon cutting for its Valley Center Well Groundwater Treatment Facility at 10 a.m. Wednesday. This new facility restores local groundwater affected by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and will provide a local, sustainable water supply equivalent to serve up to 1,000 families annually. Community members are invited to celebrate this milestone in local water reliability in person at the Valley Center Wells Treatment Facility, 26715 Valley Center Drive, or livestreamed on the agency’s Facebook page, @scvwater. Attendees are requested to register by Friday, Nov. 4, at bit.ly/vcwell. ... ” Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water invites community to treatment facility ribbon cutting
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Polluted drinking water is a persistent problem in eastern Coachella Valley
“Getting clean water from the tap is something many of us take for granted but for Nancy Bustillos, a farmworker who lives in eastern Coachella Valley, it’s a new luxury thanks to a water filter recently installed by a local nonprofit. For the past 15 years, Bustillos has lived at the Gonzalez Mobile Home Park in Thermal with her husband and four kids. They didn’t trust water from the tap and relied on bottled water for all of their daily needs. In Spanish, she told Spectrum News 1 that the water always looked hazy and they would never drink it. Bustillos was even more worried when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited the park last March for high arsenic in the drinking water, almost three times the federally approved limit. … In 2021 and 2022, the EPA has cited 10 mobile home parks in the east valley for drinking water with high levels of arsenic that exceed the federal limit.Getting clean water from the tap is something many of us take for granted but for Nancy Bustillos, a farmworker who lives in eastern Coachella Valley, it’s a new luxury thanks to a water filter recently installed by a local nonprofit. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Polluted drinking water is a persistent problem in eastern Coachella Valley
Imperial Valley experiences power outages and flooding
“The Imperial Valley is seeing a series of floods and power outages during this Saturday’s storm. In a Twitter post, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) said that 4696 customers in Imperial and El Centro have lost power. Crews are hard at work repairing the system. … ” Read more from KYMA here: Imperial Valley experiences power outages and flooding
SAN DIEGO
Wednesday’s rain has little impact on California drought conditions
“While any amount of rain is beneficial for the Southern California region, experts said the small amount that rained in San Diego will not make an impact in drought levels, especially because the ground was so dry. Current conditions show a moderate drought in San Diego. The rain caused slow-moving traffic across several areas in San Diego and a mess for Tracy Hanson, who woke up to a downed tree in her front yard in the Lemon Grove neighborhood. … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Wednesday’s rain has little impact on California drought conditions
Third consecutive dry, warm winter projected for San Diego amid statewide drought
“Even with the recent wet weather in San Diego County, climate change is rapidly accelerating in California, according to a new state report. Alex Tardy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, explained how that can affect the state’s water supply. “Our long term deficits are still significant in Southern California and especially in Northern California. And the overall water supply being at its lowest state on record for the Colorado system and near record lows even for California,” Tardy said. … ” Read more from KPBS here: Third consecutive dry, warm winter projected for San Diego amid statewide drought
Along the Colorado River …
When Saudi Arabia comes to town and buys all your water
“Over the past several years, Saudi Arabia has added eight new wells, increasing production to new heights and even leading to accusations of over-pumping. No, not at the Ghawar oil field, but in the groundwater of rural Arizona. Since 2014, the Saudi company Fondomonte has been pumping unlimited amounts of groundwater in the desert west of Phoenix to harvest thousands of acres of alfalfa crops. The alfalfa is then shipped back to Saudi Arabia to feed their cattle. But a recent investigation from Arizona Central has revealed that Fondomonte, a subsidiary of Riyadh-based Almarai, has the bargain of a lifetime: for only $25 per acre annually, it can pump as much water as it wants. Nearby farmers pay six times more than the Saudi company. … ” Read more from Responsible Statecraft here: When Saudi Arabia comes to town and buys all your water
Colorado River conditions are worsening quicker than expected. Feds prepare to step in.
“Running out of time and options to save water along the drying Colorado River, federal officials said they’re considering whether to release less water from the country’s two largest reservoirs downstream to Arizona, California and Nevada. Without enough snow this winter, the water level at Lake Powell — the country’s second-largest reservoir — will drop below a critical level by next November, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Below that point, the Glen Canyon Dam will no longer be able to generate electricity and experts worry whether conditions will worsen to the point that the structure will no longer be able to send water downstream at all. … ” Read more from the Denver Post via the Burlington Record here: Colorado River conditions are worsening quicker than expected. Feds prepare to step in. | Read via the Mercury News
Forecast – a fragile climate: lowering water levels spell deep trouble for drought-plagued Southwest
“The driest metropolitan city in the country is supplied by the largest reservoir in the nation, and it’s in deep trouble. But this is a story of innovation, and how one community went to great depths to adapt to our changing climate. Lake Mead is located 40 miles from Las Vegas. Captain Ray Poulin guides visitors hoping to hook a striped bass from the basin. He’s been fishing Lake Mead waters for 27 years. In the last five, his business has nearly dried up. It’s not easy to get out on the water. There’s just one remaining launch point, and it’s a dusty extension where water once stood. … ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Forecast – a fragile climate: lowering water levels spell deep trouble for drought-plagued Southwest
Restoration efforts in the Colorado River delta are working
“Until recently, a visit to the Colorado River’s delta, below Morelos Dam, would be met with a mostly dry barren desert sprinkled with salt cedar and other undesirable invasive plant species. Today, that arid landscape is broken up with large areas of healthy riparian habitat filled with cottonwood, willow, and mesquite trees. These are restoration sites which are stewarded through binational agreements between the United States and Mexico, and implemented by Raise the River—a coalition of NGOs including Audubon. The restoration efforts are done with support and partnership from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Conagua (Mexico’s national water agency), and both the United States’ and Mexican sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC). … ” Read more from Audubon here: Restoration efforts in the Colorado River delta are working
Commentary: Finally, the feds may force action to save the Colorado River. What if it comes too late?
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Finally, the ball is rolling to force action on a plan to save the Colorado River. But will it come in time to make a difference? The seven states that rely on the river have been unable to voluntarily stop using enough water to keep a rapidly tanking Lake Mead and Lake Powell on life support. The feds stepped back from a threat this summer to force action if states couldn’t agree, preferring to rely on voluntary actions instead. Now, at least, it looks like they are putting a contingency plan in their back pocket, should those efforts fail to produce enough water in 2023 and 2024 (which is likely). But don’t get too excited. ... ” Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Commentary: Finally, the feds may force action to save the Colorado River. What if it comes too late?
Editorial: California needs to cut back water usage
The Grand Junction Sentinel editorial board writes, “The general manager of the West Slope’s Colorado River District is calling out California for its meager water conservation plan, and he is right on. Andy Mueller made his comments in a memo to his district’s board of directors and during the board’s meeting earlier this month, according to reporting by The Daily Sentinel’s Dennis Webb. This was in response to an Oct. 5 letter by officials with California water entities using Colorado River water, which proposed conserving up to an additional 400,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead annually. Mueller said in his memo, “California continues to take the position that it will do so only on a voluntary, temporary, compensated basis and that their participation is contingent upon the federal government paying their water users an acceptable level of compensation and the implementation of additional conservation measures from the other Basin States (including Colorado). “It is important to recognize that California’s offer is less than a 9% cut in its water use and a far cry from what is needed from the system’s biggest consumptive users.” … ” Read the full editorial at the Grand Junction Sentinel here: Editorial: California needs to cut back water usage
EXPLORE MORE COLORADO RIVER COVERAGE:
- Tensions rise over drought-stricken Colorado River water use: Lawmakers look to must-pass legislation as Interior considers smaller allocations, from Roll Call
- Colorado River water shortage: How we can overcome this challenge, from Arizona Big Media
- Flume Data Labs Household Water Use Index Identifies Outdoor Use Reductions in the Colorado River Basin, from PR Newswire
In national water news today …
Ripple effect: As global freshwater basins dry up, the threat to ecosystems and communities grows
“When people use freshwater beyond a physically sustainable rate, it sets off a cascade of impacts on ecosystems, people and the planet. These impacts include groundwater wells running dry, fish populations becoming stranded before they are able to spawn and protected wetland ecosystems turning into dry landscapes. Developments in computer models and satellites have fostered a new understanding of how freshwater is being redistributed around the planet and have made clear the central role that people play in this change. This human impact is so significant that organizations like the United States Geological Survey are redrawing their water cycle diagram to include the impacts of human actions. Equally important to understanding how people affect freshwater availability, is understanding how people and ecosystems will respond to amplified freshwater challenges including drought, water stress and groundwater depletion. ... ” Read more from The Conversation here: Ripple effect: As global freshwater basins dry up, the threat to ecosystems and communities grows
