DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Wet and cool November pattern coming up, with abundant mountain snowfall; Proposal to place solar panels over LA Aqueduct advances; Supreme Court will reconsider Navajos’ claim for more water from the Colorado River; Proposed Central Valley dam likely to move forward after judge’s ruling; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

Wet and cool November pattern coming up, with abundant mountain snowfall

“In recent days, much of California saw a pretty abrupt shift from dry and anomalously warm conditions to damp, windy, and much cooler conditions. Rainfall was fairly widespread in NorCal though not especially heavy; most of the Sierra Nevada has experienced some solid early season snowfall as well (though would not necessarily call it heavy…yet). … In the short term, this is really one of the best forecasts you could hope for if you don’t like drought and extreme autumn wildfires. The upcoming rain and mountain snowfall should deliver some much needed water to parched ecosystems, and effectively kill off fire season in northern and central California once and for all (absent another extraordinary mid-winter storm curtailment like last year). … ”  Read more from Weather West here:  Wet and cool November pattern coming up, with abundant mountain snowfall

How cold Bay Area weather will pave ‘moisture highway’ for upcoming rain

“Dark clouds, mist and rain showers are quickly enveloping the Northern California coast from Eureka to Cape Mendocino today as all the essential ingredients for the wet-weather pattern are laid out. A cold front will begin to sweep through the North Bay this morning and eventually march down to the rest of the Bay Area by the afternoon.  Cities like Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Oakland, Half Moon Bay and Redwood City are in for a rainy time today as showers follow the carved-out path for Pacific moisture into some of the driest valleys and basins in the region. This is the first in a series of rain showers that will follow this path in the coming days. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  How cold Bay Area weather will pave ‘moisture highway’ for upcoming rain

SEE ALSO:

• Snow heads to Northern California mountains as Sacramento waits for rain. Here’s the latest, from the Sacramento Bee
• ‘The first big wallop:’ Storm could drop up to 4 feet of snow in Tahoe region at higher elevations, from the San Francisco Chronicle
• Storm tracker map: When will rain begin falling in the Bay Area?, from the San Jose Mercury News
  
• CW3E AR Update: An early-season winter storm is forecast to bring precipitation to much of California, with heavy snow likely in the Sierra Nevada, from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes

Proposal to place solar panels over LA Aqueduct advances

“A proposal to place solar panels over the 370-mile Los Angeles Aqueduct in an attempt to reduce evaporation and add capacity for renewable energy for residents was approved by a council committee this week.  Around one-tenth of the water in the aqueduct is lost from evaporation each year due to the length of travel for water to make it through the aqueduct, according to the office of Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, who introduced the motion.  O’Farrell is the chair of the council’s Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River committee.  The aqueduct, which opened in 1913, provided nearly 40% of Los Angeles’ water supply each year between 2016 and 2019, but the city has lessened its reliance in recent years, according to the motion. … ”  Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: Proposal to place solar panels over LA Aqueduct advances

Supreme Court adds fight over Colorado River water rights to its docket

“The Supreme Court agreed Friday to wade into its second battle over water rights of the term, this time involving the Navajo Nation.  The tribe is suing the Biden administration and three states over the right to access water from the Colorado River. Running through multiple states in the drought-prone west, water in the Colorado River has long been at the center of legal fights.  “The dispute here between the Navajo Nation and the federal government concerns the federal government’s duty to assess the Nation’s water needs and develop a plan to meet them,” Shay Dvoretzky, an attorney with Meagher & Flom representing the tribe, wrote in a brief. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Supreme Court adds fight over Colorado River water rights to its docket

Supreme Court will reconsider Navajos’ claim for more water from the Colorado River

“With California and the Southwest facing a historic drought, the Supreme Court agreed Friday to review a 9th Circuit Court decision that held the Navajo Nation has a right to take more water from the Colorado River.  The appeals court had pointed to the 1868 treaty that gave the Navajos a “permanent home” on their reservation, and it ruled the treaty “necessarily implied rights” to an adequate amount of water to live and farm.  “It is clear that the reservation cannot exist as a viable homeland for the Nation without an adequate water supply,” wrote Judge Ronald Gould, yet “many homes on the reservation lack running water.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Supreme Court will reconsider Navajos’ claim for more water from the Colorado River

Proposed Central Valley dam likely to move forward after judge’s ruling

“Both sides of a controversial proposed Central Valley dam hailed a Nov. 3 court ruling kicking back the project’s environmental documents as a success.  A Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge ruled there was insufficient information about a road relocation that is part of the proposed Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir project, which would sit just above the town of Patterson in the Diablo Range on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.   More definitive information on the proposed realignment of Del Puerto Canyon Road will have to be provided in the Environmental Impact Report by project proponents, the Del Puerto Water District and the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor Authority.  But that’s the only redo required. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: Proposed Central Valley dam likely to move forward after judge’s ruling

Historic drought threatens water reserves at California’s Lake Shasta

“As the West Coast continues to experience historical droughts, one of California’s key water reserves, Lake Shasta, is at a criticially low level. CBS Bay Area’s Wilson Walker has the details.”

Sierra Club continues to fight the Doheny Desalination Project in OC

“In mid-October, less than six months after rejecting a proposal for a massive desalination plant in Huntington Beach (Poseidon), the California Coastal Commission approved—with conditions— the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project near the PCH and San Juan Creek in Dana Point.  The commission’s approval of a coastal development permit allows the local water utility to move forward with its plans to build the plant intended to provide even more water to a city that already uses too much water per capita per day – 142 GPD and at what cost? … ”  Continue reading at the Sierra Club here: Sierra Club continues to fight the Doheny Desalination Project in OC

California native fish species decline as drought continues and climate change impacts increase

“As California heads into the winter months, drought continues to envelop most of the state. Almost 17% of the state is in exceptional drought, the highest ratings associated with drought like conditions. Most of this area is located in the San Jouaquin Valley where the effects of drought are most pronounced. … As the west has become developed and climate change is threatening an already limited water supply, native fish species are rapidly declining. Trout Unlimited, the nation’s largest cold water conservation organization, is doing everything they can to protect the water ways these species live in an increasingly dry climate.  ... ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: California native fish species decline as drought continues and climate change impacts increase

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Supervisors approve emergency resolution on tree mortality across Mendocino County

“Tree mortality is now considered a local emergency in Mendocino County, after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 22-218 on Tuesday. The resolution focuses primarily on decline related to heightened bark beetle activity in several North Coast conifer species — but as detailed in a study from the UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), larger outbreaks can occur because of combined factors including wildfire, drought, fire suppression, and poor forest management practices.  Supervisor John Haschak spearheaded work on this resolution, collaborating with UCCE, various stakeholders, and supervisors from Lake and Napa counties. Both those counties have also declared tree mortality emergencies.  “The idea is, if we have a regional approach, we can really get the state to focus on this issue as a regional issue,” Haschak explained in Tuesday’s meeting. Sonoma County is also exploring a resolution. … ”  Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Supervisors approve emergency resolution on tree mortality across Mendocino County

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Eyes on the horizon: Deer Creek “Fire Flume” has potential to threaten Nevada City, Lake Wildwood and Cascade Shores – more than 7,400 residents

“Vicky Reeder never would have imagined the hyper-vigilance required to protect her life and property when she first moved from the Bay Area to her quiet forest home.  In the seven years since moving to Nevada City, she can count seven close calls with human-caused fires, four of them started by nearby illegal camps. It’s a concern echoed by many living in Nevada County.  “I think every year everyone has to hold their breath and cross their fingers that we’re not going to have a major fire,” Reeder said. Despite years of work on defensible space, the recent blaze was another reminder of the dangers posed by living in the Deer Creek watershed.  CAL FIRE identifies Nevada City and the Deer Creek Watershed as a “High Priority Target Area” because of the “high structure loss potential” in its annual 2022 Strategic Fire Plan. … ”  Read more from Yuba Net here: Eyes on the horizon: Deer Creek “Fire Flume” has potential to threaten Nevada City, Lake Wildwood and Cascade Shores – more than 7,400 residents

Tahoe National Forest reduces closure order surrounding Mosquito Fire

“Tahoe National Forest has reduced the closure area impacting roads and trails nearby the Mosquito Fire perimeter. The public is advised to remain cautious when recreating in fire-impacted areas. There continue to be many hazards in the burned area requiring ongoing assessment and repair before the area can be fully reopened. … ”  View closure map here: Tahoe National Forest reduces closure order surrounding Mosquito Fire

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Colusa water projects to begin in spring 2023

“The city of Colusa will begin several important and imperative infrastructure projects in early spring next year.  “These projects have been in the pipeline for several years, and as we hit the final milestone for the grants funding them, we are ready to begin,” said city officials. … ”  Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Colusa water projects to begin in spring 2023

Marysville again recognized for state water saving efforts

“The California Water Service (Cal Water) announced that for the fifth month in a row, customers reduced their water use in September, including those in Marysville.  As the region and state dealt with a “record-breaking heat wave that began the month,” Marysville water customers were able to reduce usage by 20.7%, according to Cal Water. In fact, the city was one of seven Cal Water districts that surpassed the 15% mark of water use reductions. Across all of Cal Water’s users, water use was reduced by 10.6% when compared to September 2020. Cal Water serves about 2 million people through 494,500 service connections in California, officials said. … ”  Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Marysville again recognized for state water saving efforts

NAPA/SONOMA

Napa Valley agencies complete federal study on drought contingency

“In 2019, several Napa Valley agencies, along with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, joined together as the Napa Valley Drought Contingency Plan Task Force (DCP Task Force). The DCP Task Force members include Napa County, the cities of Napa, American Canyon, Calistoga, and St. Helena, the Town of Yountville, and the Napa Sanitation District. This group was charged with developing a Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) to mitigate drought risk and prepare the region to respond to drought and resulting water supply challenges. The DCP Task Force is pleased to announce the completion of the Napa Valley Drought Contingency Plan (NVDCP)– a living document that explores and brings understanding and action to the future of water in the region. … ”  Read more from The Patch here: Napa Valley agencies complete federal study on drought contingency

BAY AREA

Marin Headlands wetlands project seeks to reverse erosion

“The Marin Headlands’ unique offering of breathtaking landscapes mixed with former military bases dating back to World War II has been a draw for millions of visitors through the decades. But the combination has not been without downsides.  In the hills overlooking Rodeo Beach, the remnants of former U.S. Army buildings of Fort Cronkhite have slowly been eroding parts of the landscape, gouging deep trench-like gullies into the hillside that have drained natural wetlands.  The National Park Service is now working to reverse the damage and restore more than an acre of wetlands that can be used as home to species such as the endangered red-legged frog, said park service ecologist Darren Fong. ... ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin Headlands wetlands project seeks to reverse erosion

CENTRAL COAST

Airborne technology maps Santa Cruz County aquifers

“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s, well, it’s an airborne electromagnetic groundwater aquifer survey, actually.  Starting Sunday to Nov. 17, the California Department of Water Resources announced it will be conducting several surveys of groundwater basins along the state’s coastline – including regions in Santa Cruz County – using an innovative, helicopter-based technology.  The effort will create a map of coastal groundwater aquifers, many of which have become critically over-drafted, meaning, groundwater is being drawn out of the basin at a quicker rate than it is being replenished through natural rainfall. This can lead to a variety of water issues including seawater intrusion, which can seep into freshwater wells and contaminate them when water levels are low. … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Airborne technology maps Santa Cruz County aquifers

Press release:  California Coastal Commission staff recommend support of proposed desalination facility on the Monterey peninsula

“The California Coastal Commission staff released its report yesterday recommending that the Coastal Commission approve the California American Water Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project at a hearing on November 17, 2022.  The recommendation for approval comes with special conditions and modifications to the project that California American Water is looking forward to implementing collaboratively with the California Coastal Commission. The project, as recommended, will provide the region with the reliable, drought-proof water supply it urgently needs.  “The Coastal Commission staff completed a comprehensive review and thorough report on the project,” said Ian Crooks, vice president of engineering for California American Water. “The staff report recognizes that historic drought conditions are making additional water supplies critical in the coming years and that there are no alternatives to ensure a reliable supply of water except for the desalination project. The report also includes several conditions to ensure that the project’s potential impacts to coastal resources and low-income ratepayers are mitigated to the maximum extent feasible. … ”  Read more from Business Wire here: Press release:  California Coastal Commission staff recommend support of proposed desalination facility on the Monterey peninsula

Monterey commentary: The cost of new water

Dave Stoldt, the general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, writes, “We find ourselves two weeks away from the Coastal Commission’s possible approval of the Cal Am desalination plant, despite the unknown financial impact on environmental justice issues, ratepayer impacts and viable alternative projects. It has been over five years without an update on actual project costs. A deeper look at the potential costs for current ratepayers should convince you to stay far away from this wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing.  The last estimate for the Cal Am desal project was in September 2017 at $298.2 million, a year before they received permission to build the plant. As you can see by gas prices or any other measure, a lot has changed. Perhaps Cal Am owes everybody an update about the impacts on all of us. They haven’t, so we did our best to do it for you and we peg it at $426.0 million in today’s dollars.  No one really knows what the Cal Am project might cost today because they are not telling you. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Commentary: The cost of new water

Monterey commentary: Wrong water project, wrong place

Ron Weitzman, president of the Water Ratepayers Association, writes, “On Nov. 17 when county supervisors meet in Salinas, the Coastal Commission will consider a modified Cal Am application for a coastal development permit for the desal plant certified by the Public Utilities Commission in 2018. The modification will consist most notably of the reduction of the proposed size of the plant from 7,174 acre-feet per year to 5,389. Cal Am has recently been promoting the idea in several venues that it’s reducing the plant size may finally reverse the prior disapprovals of its application to the Coastal Commission.  Likely, the reason Cal Am has been promoting that idea is that it has worked with the PUC. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Monterey commentary: Wrong water project, wrong place

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Stockton students brainstorm solutions to deal with city’s hyacinth problem

“An invasive issue has once again blanketed Stockton’s rivers and lakes in green and now local college students are brainstorming solutions to fix it. Water hyacinth, which thrives in drought conditions growing on shallow, slow-moving waterways, crowds out native plants, blocks water intakes, shades out shallow-water fish habitats and obstructs navigational channels.  The invasive, leafy green plant, not native to California, shows up and rapidly spreads each year in San Joaquin County waterways from the McLeod Lake in downtown Stockton to the Calaveras and San Joaquin Rivers. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here:  Stockton students brainstorm solutions to deal with city’s hyacinth problem

New Melones at 24% capacity as storms arrive

“Manteca was still flirting with 100-degree temperatures five weeks ago.  By Thursday, the temperatures could drop overnight to 35 degrees — just three degrees above freezing.  And in between today and Wednesday upwards of 2 inches of rain could fall in Manteca, Lathrop, and Ripon according to the National Weather Service.  It is part of the what could end up being the first  significant series of storms to hit Northern California since December of last year. … ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: New Melones at 24% capacity as storms arrive

Exeter flooded with water delinquencies after pandemic

“Water shut offs are finally back after years of being prohibited due to COVID-19, and now the city hopes to get residents back on track with their unpaid utility bills.  On Nov. 1, Exeter resumed water shut-offs for residents whose utility balances are more than 60 days delinquent. The city put water shut offs on hold during the pandemic after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on April 2, 2020, that placed a hold on shut offs for water services due to unpaid balances. However, without requiring residents to pay their dues, delinquencies went up significantly, according to city manager Adam Ennis.  “[Delinquencies] are up. Mostly from what we can tell is folks that typically run delinquent just went more delinquent,” Ennis said. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Exeter flooded with water delinquencies after pandemic

Kern judge allows oil companies to resume oilfield permitting

“A Kern County Superior Court judge’s ruling this week allows the County of Kern to resume oilfield permitting.  In the decision issued Wednesday, Judge Gregory Pulskamp ruled the County’s revised oil and gas permitting ordinance now complies with the California Environmental Quality Act and the County may resume its streamlined permitting process.  This is the latest round in a seven-year-old court fight over the ordinance passed in 2015.  Environmental groups challenged the ordinance in court, saying it failed to provide adequate protections to communities, air and groundwater resources, and agricultural land disrupted by oil and gas drilling operations. … ”  Read more from KGET here: Kern judge allows oil companies to resume oilfield permitting

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

What you need to know about all those water agencies on your ballot

“Water in California is complicated…and governing water use is arguably even more complicated. Local water agencies are as diverse as the communities and landscapes of California. There are thousands of agencies across the state, both public and private, that provide water. They range from a system serving a single mobile home park to huge agencies serving millions of people and businesses and thousands of acres of farmland.  Some water agencies’ governing boards are appointed by a county board of supervisors or city council. The five-member board that oversees the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is appointed by the L.A. mayor and serve for five-year terms, for example. Others are directly elected by voters. Those are the ones you’ll see on your ballot. … ”  Read more from the LAist here: What you need to know about all those water agencies on your ballot

Commit to Conservation Part 1: Setting the stage – Aridity in California

“Roughly 80% of LA’s water is imported from hundreds of miles away in the Northern Sierra Nevada mountain range and San Francisco Bay Delta via the CA Aqueduct, the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley via the LA Aqueduct, and the Rocky Mountains via the Colorado River Aqueduct. Most of this imported water starts as snowpack in the mountains. In fact, California’s water system was designed so that the snowpack would be our biggest reservoir, with the Sierra Nevada (which translates to snow-covered mountains in Spanish) alone holding 30% of California’s water. The snow would build up in the winter, and then slowly melt over the spring to fill reservoirs, recharge groundwater aquifers, and flow through our aqueducts so that we have water supply when we need it most in the summer and fall, at which time the cycle would start all over again.  While we continue to take water from critical ecosystems like the Bay Delta, Owens Valley, and Colorado River Delta, which also need that snowmelt, we flush away the water that is available to us locally. ... ”  Read more from Heal the Bay here: Commit to Conservation Part 1: Setting the stage – Aridity in California

Simi Valley reclaimed water project back on tap

“The City Council last week agreed to explore recycled water options in response to the area’s continued drought and the complaints of residents tired of watching their lawns wither under the once-a-week irrigation mandate.  On Oct. 24, the council unanimously voted to explore loans and grants to restart the city’s stalled recycled water project.  Officials also agreed to research a citywide potable water reuse system, and develop a plan for the public to access recycled water from the Simi Water Quality Control Plant, a treatment facility located on 33 acres at the western end of the city.  “At this point we should kind of be investigating all of our options, because this drought has continued so long, we know water is one of our scarcest resources, and we’re being mandated to build more (housing),” Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Litster said. … ”  Read more from the Acorn here: Simi Valley reclaimed water project back on tap

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Along the Colorado River …

Future water cuts are expected to hit the Colorado River. Here’s how Arizona is responding

“Arizona cities, businesses and farms are gearing up for a significant cut to Colorado River water taking effect in 2023. Along with a 21% river water cut coming 2023, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is expected to soon demand basin states cut between two to four million acre-feet of water. The Bureau of Reclamation said these cuts would be “challenging, but necessary.” For clarification, Arizona is currently allotted 2.8 million acre-feet of the river’s water. The Arizona Reconsultation Committee, a group of water officials that make decisions on how Arizona manages Colorado River water, met Friday to discuss the state’s response after DOI signaled it would soon take action if basin states’ plans to cut water aren’t sufficient.  Here are three things you should know about the meeting … ”  Read more from Channel 12 here: Future water cuts are expected to hit the Colorado River. Here’s how Arizona is responding

Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle overseas

“Workers with the water district in Wenden, Arizona, saw something remarkable last year as they slowly lowered a camera into the drought-stricken town’s well: The water was moving.  But the aquifer which sits below the small desert town in the southwestern part of the state is not a river; it’s a massive, underground reservoir which stores water built up over thousands of years. And that water is almost always still.  Gary Saiter, a longtime resident and head of the Wenden Water Improvement District, said the water was moving because it was being pumped rapidly out of the ground by a neighboring well belonging to Al Dahra, a United Arab Emirates-based company farming alfalfa in the Southwest.  Al Dahra did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.  “The well guys and I have never seen anything like this before,” Saiter told CNN. The farm was “pumping and it was sucking the water through the aquifer.” … ”  Read more from CNN here: Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle overseas

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In national water news this weekend …

Water, hospitals and intellectual property…the cyber risk surges, particularly for U.S. Critical infrastructure

“In a recent report, Microsoft cataloged the past year’s cybersecurity threats they saw plaguing the U.S. What they found is as disturbing as it is unsurprising. China, Russia, Iran and affiliated groups are all becoming far more aggressive in the cyber arena, relentlessly threatening our infrastructure, our healthcare and our intellectual property. For example, the company noted that 54% of all Chinese cyberattacks targeted the United States, with particular emphasis on economic cyber-espionage operations intended to steal intellectual property.  The report also revealed increasingly aggressive and dangerous attacks coming from Russia, with particular concentration on critical infrastructure systems. Ninety percent of all Russian cyberattacks aimed at critical infrastructure were directed at NATO countries, with the U.S. as its primary target. … ”  Read more from Nossaman here: Water, hospitals and intellectual property…the cyber risk surges, particularly for U.S. Critical infrastructure

‘It was like an apocalyptic movie’: 20 climate photographs that changed the world

“They are the images that made us sit up and take notice. As world leaders gather for Cop27, these pictures prove that global heating isn’t a distant possibility – it’s already here … ”  Check out the pictures at The Guardian here:  ‘It was like an apocalyptic movie’: 20 climate photographs that changed the world

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Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

NOTICE: Temporary Suspension of Some Curtailments in the Delta Watershed

NOTICE: Oil & Gas Groundwater Monitoring Update

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