DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: State water agency wades into lawsuit to maintain its authority over groundwater plans; San Joaquin Valley residents, growers vying for water in fourth year of drought; Coastal Commission approves Cal Am’s desal plant in Marina, but many hurdles remain; Groundwater Authority hears plans on pipelines that will get water into Indian Wells Valley; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

State water agency wades into lawsuit to maintain its authority over groundwater plans

“A lawsuit over groundwater plans in the northern end of the San Joaquin Valley is being closely watched as it could have implications for how the state’s groundwater mandate moves forward, according to a recent briefing on the issue at the Kern Groundwater Authority.  At the Nov. 16 meeting, authority attorney Valerie Kincaid explained that the lawsuit, filed in 2020, seeks to have a court invalidate six groundwater plans in the Delta-Mendota Subbasin, which runs along the western edge of the valley from west of Fresno north to west of Modesto.  The Department of Water Resources filed an amicus brief in the suit, which was bought by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Kincaid explained. An amicus, or friend of the court brief, can be filed by a group that has a strong interest in a case. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: State water agency wades into lawsuit to maintain its authority over groundwater plans

San Joaquin Valley residents, growers vying for water in fourth year of drought

“Noemi Barrera has spent four months without running water for herself and her four children, and is among many people in California living without it as wells across the state run dry.  Like most in the 184-person agricultural community of Tooleville, nestled by the Tulare County foothills, Barrera can hear the county’s water truck arriving down the street to bring five-gallon jug rations every other week. She can see the newly snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains to the east, a sign of hope for a winter that could be as dry as the last.  Tooleville sits on a well that is now nearly unusable due to contamination from groundwater overdrilling. The state stepped in last year after the neighboring town Exeter refused to connect municipal water to the community’s residents.  Barrera’s family uses what tap water is left for showers, and relies on the county’s water, usually gone within one week, for cooking and laundry. ... ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: San Joaquin Valley residents, growers vying for water in fourth year of drought

Peyron testifies in front of Congress about Tule River Tribe’s water crisis

“The Tule River Tribe Chairman presented his case in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, continuing the decades long effort to enact federal legislation to provide water rights for the Tule River Reservation that would address a dire need.  Tule River Tribe Chairman Neil Peyron testified in front of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs concerning the proposed Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2022.  On September 15, California’s two Democratic U.S. Senators, Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein introduced the Tule River Tribe Reserved Rights Settlement Act. The legislation is a product of an effort that has lasted more than 50 years made by the Tule River Tribe to obtain recognition of their federal reserved Indian water rights. The settlement would ratify an agreement with downstrean state-based water users and fund infrastructure to store and deliver water for the Tribe without impacting downstream uses. … ”  Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Peyron testifies in front of Congress about Tule River Tribe’s water crisis

Coastal Commission approves Cal Am’s desal plant in Marina, but many hurdles remain

“After more than a decade in the trying, a major desalination plant to serve the Monterey Peninsula has cleared a significant hurdle—in theory, at least.  In a 13-hour meeting that adjourned just after 10pm, the California Coastal Commission approved a conditional coastal development permit for California American Water, the private water utility that serves the greater Monterey Peninsula, to build a desalination project in neighboring Marina, a city whose residents are vehemently opposed to it, and who would not be served by it.  One thing that was continually brought up during the meeting, and that was acknowledged in the Coastal Commission’s staff report that recommended approval (with many conditions, some potentially insurmountable) is that the project is rife with complexity, both from technical and environmental justice standpoints. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Coastal Commission approves Cal Am’s desal plant in Marina, but many hurdles remain

Marina desalination plant: Why it can’t replace the CEMEX plant

“The permit for a desalination plant was approved by the California Coastal Commission on Thursday after a long period of debate over the impact of the development.  Some people during the meeting pointed to the CEMEX sand mining plant as the possible location for California American Water’s desalination plant. The CEMEX plant, which opened in 1906, closed in 2020. The factory was the last remaining coastal sand mine in the United States.  Despite the now vacant factory, the soon-to-be-developed desalination plant will not take over the location. … ”  Read more from KSBY here: Marina desalination plant: Why it can’t replace the CEMEX plant

EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:

• Despite criticism, Coastal Commission approves Cal Am’s Marina desal application, from the Monterey Herald | Read via Santa Cruz Sentinel
• California greenlights 2nd desalination plant in a month, from E&E News
• New desalination plant approved by California Coastal Commission for Monterey Bay, from the San Jose Mercury News
• Monterey Bay desalination project is approved despite environmental injustice concerns, from the LA Times
• California Coastal Commission votes in favor of Marina desal plant, from KSBY
• California commission approves contentious desal plant in Monterey, from Center Square

The world’s largest dam removal will touch many lives in the Klamath River Basin

“Looking down at a pool filled with Klamath River salmon swimming back to their spawning grounds, Karuk Tribal Councilor Aaron “Troy” Hockaday says he can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.  “These fish right here give me hope,” he said. “They had a long journey from the mouth of the Klamath coming up here, so right now what they’re doing is resting a little bit.”  It’s a spot at the confluence of the Klamath and Scott rivers near the Northern California town of Yreka. Hockaday comes here often to check on the salmon that are vital to his people and their culture.  Right now, there aren’t many salmon for the Karuk and other area tribes to catch. That’s because hundreds of miles of salmon spawning habitat are blocked by four dams on the lower Klamath River. … ”  Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting here: The world’s largest dam removal will touch many lives in the Klamath River Basin

SEE ALSO:

• Congressmen LaMalfa and Bentz Oppose the Decommission of the Lower Klamath Hydroelectric Project, from Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s website

Advancing innovative water efficiency solutions at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference 2022

“Pacific Institute research and innovative solutions related to water efficiency and conservation were recently featured at the 2022 WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas.  From October 4 to 6, technical sessions covered a spectrum of water efficiency and conservation topics, including advancing the adoption of water-efficient products, alternative water supplies, and marketing and outreach.  Pacific Institute researchers presented three technical sessions on innovative water management approaches that save water and build long-term water resilience, while providing a range of related multi-benefits, including saving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting low-income communities. Below are summaries of the three Pacific Institute presentations and key takeaways. … ”  Read more from the Pacific Institute here: Advancing innovative water efficiency solutions at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference 2022

“Saves a lot of time”: Drones help California farmers cut down on costs

“Farmers fighting inflation are getting creative while looking for cheaper ways to get their food on your table. Drones are changing the game by helping farmers cut down on expensive things like fuel and water.  California farmers are used to looking to the sky for rain — but not for drones.  These drones aren’t taking pictures. They’re fertilizing crops.  “They’re like a bunch of Roombas. They fly on their own flight pattern, drop what they need and come back,” said Kurt George.  George is an agro-drone expert and Colusa County rice farmer who said the new technology is helping farmers fight inflation, especially when it comes to fuel as they’re entirely electric. … ”  Read more from CBS News here: “Saves a lot of time”: Drones help California farmers cut down on costs

Members of Congress demand answers from the Forest Service, following CapRadio/California Newsroom wildfire investigation

“Members of Congress are demanding answers after a recent CapRadio/California Newsroom investigation revealed how the U.S. Forest Service mishandled a plan that could have protected a California town from being destroyed in last year’s Caldor Fire.  More than a dozen lawmakers sent a letter to Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on Friday, calling the agency’s shortcomings “particularly egregious” and “unacceptable.”  The Forest Service did not respond to a request for comment before publication. … ”  Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Members of Congress demand answers from the Forest Service, following CapRadio/California Newsroom wildfire investigation

‘We got really lucky’: Why California escaped another destructive fire season in 2022

“Despite months of warnings fueled by extreme heat and drought-desiccated conditions, California’s deadly fire season ended with remarkably little area burned, with just 362,403 acres scorched in 2022, compared with more than 2.5 million acres the year prior.  Standing in a field of dry, brown grass in Napa this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and several state officials gathered to mark what they described as “the end of peak wildfire season” in most of California, attributing the year’s relatively small acreage to massive investments in forest health and resilience projects and an expansion of the state’s firefighting fleet.  But although the worst of the season may be behind us, experts noted that the remarkably reduced fire activity is probably less a factor of strategy than good fortune. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: ‘We got really lucky’: Why California escaped another destructive fire season in 2022

California governor touts wildfire prevention spending

“Behind Gov. Gavin Newsom as he stepped to the podium to address the media on Thursday, and the Cal Fire personnel arrayed at his back, and the shiny trucks and helicopters meant to symbolize the state’s investment in firefighting equipment, were hills that had been scorched by the deadly Atlas Fire in 2017.  Wildfire is never far from the conversation here in this flame-scarred region of Northern California, which made the Cal Fire station just east of Napa a natural setting for Newsom’s recap on all his administration has done to boost fire preparedness and resilience since he took office in 2019.  “Here we are near the end of peak fire season — not the end of fire season,” Newsom said after a quick briefing inside the station from Cal Fire Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit Chief Mike Marcucci. … ”  Read more from Gov Tech here: California governor touts wildfire prevention spending

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In commentary this weekend …

State Board to pay lawsuit fees

Don Wright writes, “There is a new development in the court case against the State Water Resources Control Board by districts with pre-1914 water rights. The State Board tried to curtail diversions of San Joaquin River water and presented itself as having authority over pre-1914 rights. The year 1914 is a major date in California water law as that was when the Water Commission Act established the permitting process. Rights held before then were grandfathered in.  The court ruled – no, the State Board does not have authority over these rights, more or less. California’s Sixth District Court of Appeals also ruled the State Board owes attorney fees to: Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, Central Delta Water Agency, South Delta WA, San Joaquin Tributaries Authority, Oakdale Id and South San Joaquin ID – the plaintiffs involved.  This is a very significant development. The State Board doesn’t pay for its own litigation expense. The Office of California’s Attorneys General bankrolls it and from the State Board’s budget  perspective it has carte blanche to spin the lawsuit wheel. … ”  Read more from Water Wrights here: State board to pay lawsuit fees

California water facts for legislators

Edward Ring, a contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “Everyone in California agrees that water policies need to adapt to changing times. There is even growing agreement that enforcing draconian reductions to farm water allocations (which will eliminate all but the most powerful corporate agribusinesses) and outlawing household outdoor watering will not only fail to solve the problem, but is a tough and undesirable solution. And so the debate over more rationing versus more water supply projects goes on.  Missing from the debate over water policy in California, however, especially among the state legislators who need to do something about it, are some basic overall metrics regarding how much water we need, what various types of water projects cost, how much potential capacity each type of project delivers, and how much energy is involved. Here’s a summary. … ”  Read more from the California Globe here: California water facts for legislators

Green bureaucrats are destroying California’s ecosystems

Edward Ring, a contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “California’s political elite consider themselves, and the state they control, to be the most environmentally enlightened in the world. They’re not. Well intentioned but misguided policies, combined with hidden agendas from special interests using environmentalism as cover, have resulted in “environmentalism” often causing more harm than good to the environment.  Some environmentalist policies that might otherwise be obviously suspect are justified in the name of combatting climate change. The prime example of this is the hundreds of billions Californians are spending to convert the electricity grid to “renewable” energy. If it weren’t for their zero emissions claim, nobody would endorse carpeting the land with thousands of square miles of wind turbines, or hundreds of square miles of photovoltaic arrays. … ”  Read more from the Epoch Times here: Green bureaucrats are destroying California’s ecosystems

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In regional water news this weekend …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Protecting the North Yuba landscape with thousands of forest acres thinned and restored in California

“Established in the Sierra Nevada during the Gold Rush of 1849, communities like Downieville and Sierra City in California offer visitors a glimpse back in time and serve as major launchpads for recreation opportunities. Hikers, anglers, and weekend warriors travel from far and wide to enjoy the world-class recreation opportunities afforded to those who frequent the Tahoe National Forest and the Yuba River corridor.  The area includes thousands of acres of forest habitat and is an important source of water to downstream farmers and residents in Yuba County and the Sacramento Valley. While scenic, these and neighboring Sierra gateway communities are surrounded by forest stands that have become overly dense and susceptible to catastrophic wildfire, insects, disease, and drought.  To address the challenge, the USDA Forest Service and a collaborative group of eight partners within the North Yuba River watershed have been working at an unprecedented scale to plan, analyze and implement what is now the largest “green forest” project in California. … ”  Read more from the USFS here: Protecting the North Yuba landscape with thousands of forest acres thinned and restored in California

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Soil, groundwater contaminated after Sacramento gas station fuel tank leak, county says

“Sacramento County officials on Friday said that two fuel tanks at a Sacramento gas station have leaked gasoline into soil and groundwater, though the risk to the general public is “very low.”  The county said the leak happened with two underground fuel tanks at Bonfare Market and Gas Station, which is located at 2600 Rio Linda Boulevard. A third underground tank was not found to be faulty.  The tanks have since been emptied and are offline, the county said. … ”  Read more from KCRA here: Soil, groundwater contaminated after Sacramento gas station fuel tank leak, county says

BAY AREA

Santa Clara County cement facility shuttering for good

“A massive cement plant near Cupertino that has run afoul of regulators thousands of times will be shuttered permanently.  Lehigh Southwest Cement Company said it will not restart its cement kiln at its 3,510-acre Permanente Quarry and Cement Plant. The company’s property is located largely in the hills of unincorporated Santa Clara County, with portions of the site in Cupertino and Palo Alto.  Though the kiln has been shut down since April 2020, other operations will continue at the facility, the company said in a statement Monday. The cement plant opened in 1958, although limestone mining has been part of the site dating back to around 1939, according to the county and the company. … ”  Read more from the Mountainview Voice here: Santa Clara County cement facility shuttering for good

EASTERN SIERRA

Ridgecrest: Groundwater Authority hears plans on pipelines that will get water into Indian Wells Valley

“Plans are advancing for importing water into the Indian Wells Valley. At its Nov. 9 board meeting, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority heard a presentation on three proposed pipeline paths to get that water into IWV.  The presentation was given by Provost & Pritchard, a consulting group IWVGA contracted to perform this imported water pipeline alignment study. Jeff Davis–principal engineer with Provost & Pritchard–presented the study to the IWVGA board.  Davis told the board that while there were many paths they investigated for the pipeline, they’ve narrowed it down to three proposed paths which each carry their own positive and negative aspects. These three paths cross different regions of IWV, and are therefore titled the West Alignment, the Central Alignment, and the East Alignment. … ”   Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Groundwater Authority hears plans on pipelines that will get water into Indian Wells Valley

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Palmdale Water District directors OK new budget

“The Palmdale Water District Board of Directors approved, on Monday, a $29.8 million budget for 2023, which is calculated on less revenue from reduced water sales, thanks to mandatory water use restrictions. Finance Manager Dennis Hoffmeyer said “(20)23 is significantly less on water sales.” The budget, effective Jan. 1, projects $32.6 million in operating revenue, based on selling 14,500 acre-feet of water in the coming year, he said. Last year’s budget was based on selling 17,000 acre-feet of water. … ”  Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Palmdale Water District directors OK new budget

New educational video highlights SoCal’s water supplies

“The Southern California Water Coalition has teamed up with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to produce a new informative video series that highlights Southern California water systems and underscores the need to protect and expand water resources during the drought. Watch the video HERE.  Protecting Every Source: Southern California’s Water Story highlights the work that Southern California’s water agencies are doing to transform the regions’ water systems amidst a record drought. The video demonstrates how Southern California has become one of the most water-efficient regions in the world — diversifying our water supply portfolios to expand local water resources while protecting the health of our imported supplies. … ”  Read more from the Southern California Water Coalition here: New educational video highlights SoCal’s water supplies

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Along the Colorado River …

Arguments over action: Four Southern California agencies agree to voluntary Colorado River water cutbacks—while other western officials point fingers

“Coachella Valley residents are doing their best to cope with a disastrous drought.  “Through August, no other three-year period in California history has been this dry—even during the last historic drought from 2012 through 2016,” reports CalMatters, a California nonprofit news organization.  Because of the ongoing drought, the Colorado River is shrinking rapidly. As a result, the seven states (and part of Mexico) which rely heavily on the Colorado River to provide water to citizens and businesses—including the agricultural industry, which delivers fresh produce to much of the nation—find themselves teetering on the edge of drastic consequences.  But instead of coming together to come up with a reasonable, fair plan to deal with the crisis, water agencies, state water administrators and political representatives have been sniping at one another. … ”  Read more from the Coachella Valley Independent here: Arguments over action: Four Southern California agencies agree to voluntary Colorado River water cutbacks—while other western officials point fingers

Hoover Dam brings electricity to 1.3 million—it’s at risk of shutting down

“What experts are calling an “on-again, off-again” drought for the past two decades is depleting the Colorado River and its two main reservoirs. If the situation continues, the millions of Americans receiving water and electricity from the Hoover Dam could be effected.  The Colorado River feeds two reservoirs––Lake Mead and Lake Powell––which supply the water that powers the Hoover Dam’s capability to create electricity for 1.3 million people. The Hoover Dam also provides water to 25 million people, but if water falls another 150 feet, the reservoirs won’t be full enough to power the Hoover Dam. … ”  Read more from Newsweek here: Hoover Dam brings electricity to 1.3 million—it’s at risk of shutting down

Arizona town looks for solutions amid Western water crisis

“Drive just North of Scottsdale, Arizona, and you’ll find a loose grid of dirt roads known as the Rio Verde Foothills. It’s home to around 2,000 families drawn to rustic desert beauty and the freedom of living outside the city limits, but the town is about to become a symbol of the West’s growing water crisis.  John Hornewer moved to the area 23 years ago. When he discovered his new community didn’t have water service, he began hauling water for himself, along with some of his neighbors.  “As my neighbor saw me coming up the road with the trailer, they were like, ‘Hey, could you stop and drop off a load for me?'” Hornewer said.  … ”  Read more from CBS News here: Arizona town looks for solutions amid Western water crisis

After long fight, tribal water bills get primary OK; still far from final

“A trio of bills affecting water rights and infrastructure for Arizona tribes took a step closer to becoming law Wednesday, a move one official said his tribe has been waiting for since being forced onto the reservation.  The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, without debate, approved bills granting water rights to the Hualapai, letting the Colorado River Indian Tribes lease their water, and adding funding and extending the deadline for review of a water system for the White Mountain Apache.  Tribal leaders welcomed the votes, which they called the culmination of hard-fought struggles by their tribes. … ”  Read more from Arizona Public Media here: After long fight, tribal water bills get primary OK; still far from final

Utahns are often knocked as the most wasteful water users in the U.S. Are the numbers misleading?

“Utah is often ribbed and, at times, outright rebuked for the amount of water its residents use.  But some of the state’s resources managers claim the data used to make comparisons across states is flawed and unfair, making Utahns’ water habits look much worse than they really are. A draft bill dropped last week during legislative interim hearings that supporters say would collect data about per-person water use that’s more comparable to other arid states in the West.  “When we talk about per capita water use, what are we really talking about?” Mark Stratford, an attorney for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, told lawmakers in recent hearings. “Because there’s more than one way of having this discussion, but I think it’s not always fully understood.” … ”  Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here:  Utahns are often knocked as the most wasteful water users in the U.S. Are the numbers misleading?

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Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT: Climate change basin plan amendment for San Francisco Bay Basin Plan

NOTICE: Notice of Petition for Temporary Transfer per Yuba County Water Agency Permit 15026

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