On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: SAFER Report on Point-of-Use and Point of Entry beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board invites you to attend a public workshop to learn about the SAFER Drinking Water Program Report on Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Treatment.The State Water Board has conducted extensive research and stakeholder engagement to develop the Report on the installation of Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry systems in rural homes as a drinking water solution. The Report provides recommendations and actions that address challenges regarding successful implementation of Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry treatment as drinking water solutions and proposes specific pilot studies needed to close knowledge gaps. Click here for the meeting notice and remote access instructions.
- MEETING: California Environmental Flows Workgroup from 10am to 11am. Agenda items include an overview of the State Water Board and CDFW Califoria Enivornmental Flows Framework implementation diagrams, CABW Training Report, and report templates for case studies with a focus on the Little Shasta River. Access full agenda by clicking here.
In California water news today …
Rural ranchers face $4,000 proposed fine for violating state drought order
“California’s water officials plan to impose a $4,000 fine on Siskiyou County ranchers for violating orders to cut back their water use during a weeklong standoff last summer. State officials and the ranchers agree: A $4,000 fine isn’t much of a deterrent to prevent illegal water diversions during California’s droughts. The proposed fine would amount to about $50 per rancher. A rural water association serving about 80 ranchers and farmers — facing mounting costs from hauling water and purchasing hay to replace dried out pasture — turned on their pumps for eight days in August to divert water from the Shasta River. State and federal officials said the pumping, which violated an emergency state order, threatened the river’s water quality and its salmon and other rare species. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Rural ranchers face $4,000 proposed fine for violating state drought order
Congressman Valadao joins Conway to introduce Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act
“Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) joined Congresswoman Connie Conway (CA-22) to introduce the Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act. This bill amends the Raker Act and requires the city of San Francisco to pay a fair price for the water they obtain from Hetch Hetchy Valley, opens Hetch Hetchy for recreational activities, and requires the National Park Service to study a fair recreation and pricing structure for the use of Hetch Hetchy Valley. “For too many years, San Francisco has gotten away with paying a minuscule rental fee for the abundant water supply Hetch Hetchy provides the city and surrounding communities,” said Congressman Valadao. “I’m glad to join Congresswoman Conway in her efforts to get San Francisco to pay their fair share and allow all Californians to enjoy Hetch Hetchy’s natural beauty.” … ” Read more from Congressman Valadao’s office here: Congressman Valadao joins Conway to introduce Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act
SEE ALSO: Congress members seek to open up up Hetch Hetchy to water recreation, from the Manteca Bulletin
Disappearance of Chinook salmon devastates Native Californian tribes
“In Ishi Pishi Falls, Siskiyou County, California, along the Klamath River, a Karuk tribesman, Ron Reed, is on the tribe’s annual salmon run. He uses two twenty-foot wooden poles to ensnare the fish from the water below. The Karuk are the country’s second or third federally recognized largest tribes, with enrollment numbers at 4,000, according to ArcaMax. But by the end of the morning, Reed and his son-in-law, Asa Donahue, have only seven Chinook. Thirty years ago, it might have been seventy. “It’s been like a death in the family the last five, six years down here,” Reed said. The Chinook are more than something to eat for the Karuk tribe. The fish—both real and as a symbol—are woven into their history and culture so deeply that Reed can’t envision a world without them. “When the fish go,” Reed said, “that’s the end of the world.” ... ” Read more from LA Magazine here: Disappearance of Chinook salmon devastates Native Californian tribes
When dams come down, fish come home
“In October 2021, ecologists shattered the top of a dam on Mill Creek, near Davenport, California, with a hydraulic hammer. Within hours, the entire structure was down. For at least 110 years, the long-obsolete dam had kept threatened steelhead from reaching important spawning habitat just upstream.or the next three days, workers and scientists from Sempervirens Fund, the land trust that owns the 8,500-acre preserve around Mill Creek, moved granite and gravel, aiming to restore the creek to its natural state. Members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, stewardship partners working on their traditional lands, held ceremonies praying for salmon — an invaluable cultural resource — to return.“We were thinking it was going to take five, six years for them to come home,” said Valentin Lopez, chairman of the tribal band. Then, in September 2022, Rowbotham’s team spotted juvenile steelhead above the former dam site. To their surprise, they also found 15 juvenile coho salmon downstream. It was the first time coho, an endangered species, had ever been recorded in Mill Creek. … ” Read more from High Country News here: When dams come down, fish come home
CW3E kicks off the Water Year 2023 West-WRF forecast season
“The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography runs a weather prediction system called ‘West-WRF’ that has been optimized for predicting rainfall along the West Coast primarily from atmospheric rivers (AR). Forecast data from West-WRF is used by water managers to improve reservoir operations and to inform CW3E AR reconnaissance activities. The West-WRF forecast season kicked off on 1 October for water year (WY) 2023 with several new additions and enhancements. Starting the West-WRF forecast season in October is two months earlier than the previous year and is motivated by a collaboration with San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to capture more of the Southern California fire weather season. The WY2023 West-WRF weather prediction system consists of four sets of unique daily forecasts that are run on the Comet high-performance supercomputer that is managed by the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). … ” Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes here: CW3E kicks off the Water Year 2023 West-WRF forecast season
Water is essence of carbon sequestration
“Carbon sequestration garners a lot of attention from those interested in climate change and sustainable agriculture. The piece that should be added to much of the conversation, however, is the relationship of water and carbon. “We should be considering that carbon sequestration and plant growth doesn’t happen without water,” says Nick Goeser, Principal and co-founder of Carbon A List, a company offering strategic consulting, methodology development and design, and project development. The company was founded in 2016. “We should be placing more emphasis on water and agronomic systems— water quantity, water use efficiency, and water markets — to help farmers innovate in the ways they know best.” … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Water is essence of carbon sequestration
Purging plastics, polluted politics
“On land, Captain Charles Moore’s sea legs give way to his green thumb. His neighbors know him for his front yard farmers market – they come for the fruit, but they stay for the conversation. And he has a lot to say, as the oceanographer who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Since Moore’s discovery 25 years ago, marine plastic contamination has only gotten worse, but legislation has not matched the magnitude of the problem. On June 30, 2022, California governor Gavin Newsom signed a law to curb plastic waste, putting the responsibility on plastic manufacturers. Many environmentalists agree that while the bill was long overdue, it could serve as the bellwether to shift the pendulum in the right direction. But Moore has some concerns. … ” Read more from Annenberg Media here: Purging plastics, polluted politics
Rain, snowfall reduce risk of wildfires in California
“A turn to wet weather has blunted an already moderate wildfire season in California but some risk remains as changing climate has made a rainy fall no guarantee of a stormy winter. The latest Pacific storm brought bands of rain and snow to parts of the state on Monday and was predicted to last into midweek. It’s the second significant storm this month in drought-stricken California and follows earlier smaller weather systems. “My sense is it’s certainly going to help,” said Assistant Chief Tim Chavez, who works in wildfire forecasting and threat intelligence for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Rain, snowfall reduce risk of wildfires in California
Wildfire weapon: California aims to ignite 400,000 acres a year
“After a long dry summer, the Santa Cruz Mountains were cool and damp on Friday morning, signaling the perfect time for crews to gather in an open meadow, drip torches in hand. Their goal: fight fire with fire. The blaze at Soquel Demonstration State Forest, part of the state’s ambitious new plan to ignite more small fires to prevent large ones, was only four acres in size, or 0.15% of the 2,681-acre wilderness. It was extinguished by nightfall. But it’s taken 11 years to plan and 19 months to prepare, foreshadowing the challenge faced by the Golden State as it seeks to improve the health of forests and the safety of communities. … ” Read more from Lake County Record-Bee here: Wildfire weapon: California aims to ignite 400,000 acres a year
New report paints a grim picture of climate change accelerating in California
“California continues to break records of the wrong kind: record-high temperatures, record-low snowpack, historic drought and unprecedented wildfires. These are the fingerprints of climate change — and its impacts are hitting California faster and with greater intensity than previously expected. That’s according to a new report released by state scientists last week that painted a grim picture of climate change’s grip on the Golden State. The fourth edition of “Indicators of Climate Change in California,” from the state’s Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, comes as world leaders are gathering in the Egyptian resort town Sharm el-Sheikh this week for COP27, the UN’s global climate summit. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Examiner here: New report paints a grim picture of climate change accelerating in California
In commentary today …
The difference between farmers and water privateers
Carolee Krieger, Executive Director of the California Water Impact Network, writes, “Productive agriculture is essential to civilization, but water privateering – the seizure of public trust water for exorbitant private profit – is not. California’s water privateers often present themselves as farmers. But while they may use the water they’ve commandeered from state and federal water conveyance projects for industrial-scale agribusiness initiatives, they’re not farmers. They’re water brokers. If there’s money to be made in irrigating almonds or pistachios, they’ll do that. If there’s more money to be made by selling their allocated water to cities or other agribusiness operations, they’ll choose that option instead. It’s not about a devotion to agriculture – and certainly not about food security or land stewardship. It’s about maximum profit derived by gaming flawed water policies that favor the rich, the powerful and the few over the general public. … ” Continue reading at the California Water Impact Network here: The difference between farmers and water privateers
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Dealing with drought
“As California is facing increasing drought conditions, there is serious concern as to how the lack of water will affect our food supply in the near and distant future. Farmers and ranchers throughout the state have been vocal in their dissatisfaction of conservation measures for many years as government officials seek to ensure that there is enough water to supply everyone’s needs. Here in Nevada County, we have several farms and ranches that are trying to find ways to keep their operations afloat as the water table diminishes. Nevada Irrigation District, which manages the majority of our local water supply, has been undergoing a public collaboration process titled “The Plan for Water” to determine the best ways to meet the community’s demand for water over the coming decades. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Dealing with drought
NAPA/SONOMA
Santa Rosa looks to shore up strategy to keep Eel River water available for use
“PG&E has begun relinquishing its control of the Potter Valley Project. Concerned that this will reduce water supplies, Santa Rosa is exploring options. Mendocino County’s century old Potter Valley Project consists of two Eel River dams, a tunnel diverting some of the Eel into the East Fork of the Russian River, and an inoperable powerhouse in need of expensive repairs. Outgoing Santa Rosa council member Tom Schwedhelm said one thing is certain. “This is going be challenging,” Schwedhelm said. “It’s going to be years ahead of us, but we just need to be supported being on the same team because Santa Rosa, this isn’t our main source, but we are some of the big players in this.” ... ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Santa Rosa looks to shore up strategy to keep Eel River water available for use
Lake Sonoma at lowest level in history, but there’s still enough to get us through another year
“Lake Sonoma, the region’s largest water storage reservoir, has reached the lowest level in its history after three years of punishing drought with no end in sight. But there remains plenty of water to get regional users through this winter and even into next, said Sonoma Water Deputy Chief Engineer Don Seymour. “There’s no imminent risk of Lake Sonoma going dry, and that would only be if we really had another very dry year,” he said. Lake Sonoma currently holds less than 42% of its water storage capacity after falling continuously since Jan. 21, when it held 152,474 acre feet of water. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: Lake Sonoma at lowest level in history, but there’s still enough to get us through another year
BAY AREA
Thunderstorms will hit the Bay Area today — here’s how much rain to expect
“Another winter storm comes ashore today and will ramp up winds and heavy rain showers across the Bay Area. This storm is part of an ongoing weather pattern that’s brought rain, snow and strong winds to large swaths of California over the past couple of days. It’s showing no signs of slowing down. And it’s also reeling in a lot of unstable air to the coast. The stage is set for isolated thunderstorms to bubble up off the coast today. Some of these thunderstorms are likely to move inland during the afternoon, bringing with them lightning, gusty winds and even a slight chance for brief, weak tornadoes off the coast. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Thunderstorms will hit the Bay Area today — here’s how much rain to expect
SEE ALSO: Rain pounds away at the SF Bay Area, bringing minor flooding, from SF Gate
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Wet weather to continue in Fresno early this week. But is this storm a drought buster?
“A wet weather front that moved into Fresno on Sunday evening is expected to depart the region by early Wednesday after leaving behind about an inch of rain, the National Weather Service reported Monday evening. In the Sierra Nevada, the storm was making conditions difficult for drivers, and prompted a Winter Storm Watch through Wednesday. The storm was a fair start to the wet weather season in the central San Joaquin Valley, said meteorologist David Spector in Hanford, But he cautioned it is likely to be followed by a couple of weeks of dry weather. So there is no indication that things are moving away from the drought conditions that have besieged the region for the past several years. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Wet weather to continue in Fresno early this week. But is this storm a drought buster?
“Teams of students from across San Joaquin County competed in the Sixth Annual H2O Hackathon coding competition at the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) on Saturday, Nov. 5, racing to design apps to help communities reduce their water use as part of the year’s “Hack the Drought” theme. And for the first time, the H2O Hackathon also included a multimedia competition, calling on teams to create an engaging social media campaign to promote water conservation. In all, more than 150 middle school, high school, and college students and their coaches on 33 teams competed. Cash prizes totaling $13,500 were awarded to eight winning teams. Team Tigres Del Sol from University of the Pacific was awarded the grand prize: the $5,000 Cal Water Golden Spigot Award. Winners were selected by a panel of judges consisting of water experts and coding professionals. … ” Read more from San Joaquin County here:
VIDEO: Understanding the Kern River, east to west
“Water on the Kern River works hard from start to finish. In this Law of the River video, we continue our journey down the river starting at Truxtun Avenue and Coffee Road in the heart of Bakersfield.” Watch the video at SJV Water here: VIDEO: Understanding the Kern River, east to west
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Legacy of dust: How Owens Valley air pollution increases L.A. water bills
“Even as worsening drought and aridification force Los Angeles to end its overwhelming dependence on imported water, Angelenos may soon realize that weaning themselves off supplies from the rugged eastern Sierra Nevada doesn’t mean they will stop paying for the city’s long, complicated history there. That’s because, even if the city is able to make good on a pledge by Mayor Eric Garcetti to recycle 100% of its water by 2035 and increase its ability to capture storm water, Los Angeles will still have to pay millions of dollars to control the region’s hazardous dust pollution — an environmental consequence of L.A.’s draining of Owens Lake more than a century ago, as well as recent diversions that have lowered the level of Mono Lake farther north. Recently, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power accused Owens Valley air pollution authorities of “regulatory overreach” when they fined the utility $21 million for ignoring an order to control dust on a 5-acre patch of dry lake bed. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Legacy of dust: How Owens Valley air pollution increases L.A. water bills
L.A. water use plummets during hot summer amid calls to conserve during drought
“Amid a record-breaking drought and calls to drastically reduce water use across California, Los Angeles residents saved a staggering 6 billion gallons during the hottest months of the summer, officials announced Monday. From June through September, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers used 6 billion gallons of water less than during the same period last year. The usage is the overall lowest among the city’s nearly 4 million residents during those summer months since record keeping at the agency began in the early 1970s, said Marty Adams, the DWP’s general manager. “We’ve notched a 9% year-over-year reduction on top of what we had done in the years before,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference at the L.A. County Natural History Museum, touting the water conservation numbers. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: L.A. water use plummets during hot summer amid calls to conserve during drought
Homeowners prepare for mudslides, debris flows with socal facing three days of rain
“Southern California residents already know from the impacts on traffic and the rain falling in the San Gabriel Valley overnight that the region is going to see some wet weather this week. While most people in the area can focus on safe driving practices and making sure their sprinklers are turned off, residents who live near recent burn scars are preparing for possible debris flows that could take place after the oncoming storm. Homeowners there are bracing for possible flooding and mudslides, especially in Monrovia on Oak Lane Drive, where they’ve already seen how big a mess can be left behind once they have a powerful storm. … ” Read more from NBC LA here: Homeowners prepare for mudslides, debris flows with socal facing three days of rain
How well could your community withstand a major flood? It could be riskier than you think
“In a state severely hobbled by drought and wildfires, flood concerns may not seem top-of-mind. But a new study out of UC Irvine found that Los Angeles County’s aging flood systems may not be ready for a major flood. “Right now, our research suggests that our infrastructure and the way we’ve built it out is much more vulnerable to this type of event than I think anyone would have guessed,” said Brett Sanders, a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UCI and one of the authors of the paper. The study expands on federal flood risk maps that do not include flooding from rainstorms, only coastal and river flooding, according to Sanders. “For any Angeleno that drives around [in a] Southern California rainstorm, you know that you quickly find yourself in a street corner filled with water. And those risks aren’t mapped,” said Sanders. … ” Read more from ABC LA here: How well could your community withstand a major flood? It could be riskier than you think
LA suit over Monsanto PCB water contamination clears first legal hurdle
“A Los Angeles County judge on Monday advanced LA’s lawsuit against Monsanto over chemicals the city says have contaminated its water supply. Monsanto filed a demurrer — essentially a series of objections to the city’s complaint — arguing, among other things, that the city filed a public nuisance claim “for property located outside the city’s jurisdictional boundaries.” Los Angeles, Monsanto attorney Jad Davis said at a hearing Monday, was “asserting nuisance on property they don’t own.” Matthew Pawa, the lawyer representing the city of LA, responded: “This is a common feature of suits against Monsanto. You have this issue, you do have a property interest in the stormwater, and that stormwater causes a nuisance both inside and outside the city.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: LA suit over Monsanto PCB water contamination clears first legal hurdle
An artist’s quest to decolonize Southern California’s water supply
“Upon entering Bending the River: Lauren Bon and The Metabolic Studio at Pitzer College Art Galleries, visitors have to sidestep a large stack of papers. The papers, all legal documents, are printouts of the 73 city, state, and federal permits The Metabolic Studio has had to obtain to produce the artwork in the show. Artist Lauren Bon started working with the Los Angeles River roughly 17 years ago, when she diverted some of its water into an irrigation system that sprouted a 32-acre cornfield for one agricultural cycle in Downtown Los Angeles. In 2006, she established The Metabolic Studio alongside the concrete-encased waterway and, with the help of those permits, began to physically uproot asphalt and concrete that had paved over native wetland. This project is called Undevelopment One (2006–present) and most of the work in the Bending the River revolves around it. … ” Read more from Hyperallergic here: An artist’s quest to decolonize Southern California’s water supply
Sewage spill forces closure of Newport Beach bay channel waters
“The water in several Newport Beach bay channels was closed to swimmers Sunday and remained closed Monday due to a sewage spill, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. The nature and origin of the spill were not immediately disclosed. According to OCHCA, the closure affects the water in all west Newport Bay channels between 33rd and 43rd streets, as well as the bay water area east of the Newport Boulevard Bridge to the Lido Isle bridge, along with the projection of Pacific Coast Highway and Tustin Avenue. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Sewage spill forces closure of Newport Beach bay channel waters
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Surprise bird-rich wetlands emerge on dry lakebed of shrinking Salton Sea
“In February 2020, Andrea Jones scrambled up Obsidian Butte, a lava dome on the southeastern corner of Salton Sea. Amid the expanse of dry, exposed lakebed, the result of decades of water diversions and ongoing drought, she also saw a glimmer of green—unexpected reeds and cattails taking hold around the edge of the sea, signs of budding wetlands. Birds, including dowitchers, American Avocets, Common Yellowthroats, and Black-necked Stilts, flitted about. “It seemed like a sanctuary to me,” recalls Jones, director of bird conservation at Audubon California. … ” Read more from Audubon here: Surprise bird-rich wetlands emerge on dry lakebed of shrinking Salton Sea
Along the Colorado River …
Drought looms over midterm elections in the arid West
“Mark Kelly, the incumbent Democratic senator from Arizona, is facing a strong reelection challenge from far-right Republican nominee Blake Masters, in a race that could be key for control of the Senate. Last month, during a televised debate between the two candidates, Masters went on the attack, criticizing Kelly’s positions on several issues. Toward the end of the debate, after skewering Kelly on inflation and the border, Masters hit him on a more niche issue: federal water cuts on the Colorado River. “A few weeks ago the federal government cut Arizona’s water allocation 592,000 acre-feet,” Masters began. “For all you water nerds out there, that’s a lot of water. Guess how much water California had to cut? Zero. Guess what Mark Kelly did about it? Nothing.” The attack was disingenuous — there was nothing Kelly could have done to stop the cuts, since they were negotiated well before he entered the Senate — but a few weeks later, as the election approached, the incumbent senator made a similar plea. … ” Read more from The Grist here: Drought looms over midterm elections in the arid West
Southeast Arizona voters to decide how their groundwater supply will be managed
“Arizona’s water supply has been national news as water levels at Lake Powell drop. But the state’s largest reservoirs are only part of the story, because in rural Arizona, groundwater remains unregulated. The fate of a number of statewide propositions will be decided after the polls close. But in southeast Arizona, voters will also decide on propositions that would create management districts for groundwater. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Southeast Arizona voters to decide how their groundwater supply will be managed
Commentary: Arizona’s water crisis needs more political attention
Mia Osmonbekov writes, “Arizona is facing its worst drought in 1,200 years, but the state’s water crisis isn’t receiving the urgent political coverage and care it deserves. After water levels in Lake Mead reached a historic low, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that it would cut Arizona’s river allotment by 21 percent, increasing water loss by 80,000 acre-feet from 2022. A study published in February notes that these extreme drought conditions will likely persist through 2023, with human-induced climate change single-handedly putting the Southwest on a megadrought trajectory. Although Arizona has implemented many water conservation efforts, it still needs policy reform and attention. … ” Read more from the State Press here: Commentary: Arizona’s water crisis needs more political attention
As drought worsens, Colorado turns to major direct potable reuse expansion
“The national battle against source water scarcity has pushed water systems around the country to innovate and invest at rapid rates. California is volunteering to make record cuts to its Colorado River consumption, Texas is pursuing a trailblazing desalination project, and the Las Vegas Strip is instituting a range of unprecedented conservation measures. The latest such change can be found in Colorado, where water managers are exploring the adoption of direct potable reuse (DPR) to ensure source water remains plentiful. … ” Read more from Water Online here: As drought worsens, Colorado turns to major direct potable reuse expansion
In national water news today …
Warm, dry October intensifies U.S. drought
“Below-normal rainfall and above-average temperatures intensified drought conditions, broadening the geographic areas of drought across the U.S. in October 2022. Those dry conditions were also felt along the Mississippi River, where some locations reported their lowest water levels in 10 years. Here are more highlights from NOAA’s latest monthly U.S. climate report … ” Read more from NOAA here: Warm, dry October intensifies U.S. drought
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