In California water news today …
Pair of storms to drop significant rain, heavy snow on California
“Two storms will drop southward along the Pacific coast into this weekend and bring heavy rain and mountain snow to a large part of California, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The first storm already brought the first measurable snowfall of the season to Seattle on Tuesday with just under an inch falling into the afternoon hours. The storm, which was still ongoing in Washington and northern Oregon Cascades as of Wednesday morning, will end up dumping up to a few feet of snow over the high country in the region with difficult to dangerous travel conditions expected over the passes for a time as temperatures remain the teens and 20s F. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Pair of storms to drop significant rain, heavy snow on California
SEE ALSO:
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- Northern California bracing for much-needed rain, snow, from the Courthouse News
- Tahoe storm warning: Multiple feet of snow expected through weekend, from the Tahoe Daily Tribune
- Back-to-back winter storms will pound Northern California through week. Here’s what to know, from the Sacramento Bee
As storm hits CA, what about drought, wildfires?
“Many Californians will wake up this morning to a relatively rare phenomenon: Rain. Today, the freezing-cold temperatures and high-powered winds that have gripped much of the state this week are set to give way to a good old-fashioned winter storm: Both Northern and Southern California are expecting rain, strong winds and heavy mountain snow, with an avalanche warning in effect through Friday for backcountry areas in the Sierra Nevada. After tapering down on Friday, another storm is set to barrel through Northern California over the weekend. With California bracing for a fourth straight year of drought after experiencing its three driest years on record, any rain is welcome — but the state will need to experience sustained precipitation in December, January and February to really “make a difference in the drought,” Jan Null, a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services, told the Mercury News. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: As storm hits CA, what about drought, wildfires?
Western snow season 2022-23 preview: A look at water supplies and the winter outlook in 10 maps
“It’s hard to overstate how crucial this snow season is for the western United States. Regions such as the West that receive a great deal of their precipitation in the form of snow face a number of challenges when snow droughts occur, including shrinking water supplies. And western water supplies are truly shrinking as some states are facing their second or third drought year in a row and a large part of the region is stuck in a 20+ year megadrought. Hanging over all of this is climate change–influenced aridification in the Southwest that is increasing evaporative demand, causing water supplies to dwindle from rising temperatures even when there is adequate precipitation. … The maps included here show how previous La Niña winters have impacted precipitation and temperature across the U.S., the latest National Weather Service outlooks that are influenced by these past La Niña events, and the water supply issues in the West, which will be greatly exacerbated if the winter outlooks come to fruition. Lastly, the latest snow conditions in the West are included, although it’s very early to draw any conclusions from them. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: Western snow season 2022-23 preview: A look at water supplies and the winter outlook in 10 maps
Smart meter monitoring can help conserve water — but not without a fight, researchers find
“The use of smart meters to enforce water restrictions could encourage widespread conservation — but not without local backlash, a new study has found. Amid California’s ongoing drought, researchers partnered with the city of Fresno in summer 2018 to access and identify water violations via household meter data. While a resulting surge in fines brought a dramatic reduction in both water use and violations, a barrage of complaints thwarted the program’s survival, according to the study, released on Wednesday by the University of Chicago’s Energy & Environment Lab. “The urgency of the water challenge in the West requires such highly efficient tools,” co-author Michael Greenstone, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, said in a statement. Yet policymakers “will need to carefully balance improved monitoring with community expectations and enforcement efforts,” Greenstone acknowledged. … ” Read more from WNCT here: Smart meter monitoring can help conserve water — but not without a fight, researchers find
DWR completes scheduled removal of West False River Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has completed the removal of a drought salinity barrier from the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The barrier was installed in June 2021 to prevent saltwater intrusion with less fresh water from upstream reservoirs and streams flowing into the Delta during California’s ongoing extreme drought conditions. DWR was required to remove the structure by November 30 to comply with environmental permits. “In normal conditions, the release of fresh water from upstream reservoirs keeps the salty ocean water from pushing into the Delta, but in extreme drought conditions that doesn’t happen,” said Jacob McQuirk, DWR principal engineer. “The barrier changes the plumbing so we’re able to keep the Delta fresh while preserving upstream water supplies for other uses.” … ” Read more from DWR News here: DWR completes scheduled removal of West False River Emergency Drought Salinity Barrier
State drought funding will help valley communities fix water problems faster
“A handful of small valley communities will be able to move more rapidly on water projects thanks to millions in funding recently allocated by the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) as part of its water resilience program. DWR awarded $86 million throughout the state. About $44 million of that will go to small communities facing water insecurity through the department’s Small Community Drought Relief Program. The announcement of DWR’s ninth, and final, round of funding under this program comes as more than 1,400 wells have gone dry throughout the state this year, 369 of those in the San Joaquin Valley, according to the state’s dry well reporting system. ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: State drought funding will help valley communities fix water problems faster
Summers over, but water crisis still remains top concern for California producers
“Water was once taken for granted in western states, like California. But now the tides have changed, and dairy farmers understand all too well the need for water is vital but also one that is not always guaranteed. “As a dairy producer, this is an ever-growing challenge and is my top concern,” Ryan Junio, owner of Four J Jerseys in Pixley, Calif says. Geoff Vanden Heuvel, the director of regulatory and economic affairs with the California Milk Producer Council shared on a National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) podcast that the California water issue is complex and long-standing, and the state was developed without any regulations on groundwater. He also states that between 85-90% of California’s milk supply hails from the Central Valley. … ” Read more from Dairy Herd here: Summers over, but water crisis still remains top concern for California producers
Growers can take steps to manage limited water supplies
“When English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge penned the Rime of the Ancient Mariner in 1798, the line “water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” referred to an ocean with too much water. In California’s 21st century agriculture, that line requires a massive revision as water is now categorized as not enough of it and too expensive when you can find it. But find it they must in order for growers to keep tree nut orchards healthy and productive. Among the archives of David Doll [The Almond Doctor] are numerous references of the importance of slaking nut tree thirst. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Growers can take steps to manage limited water supplies
More than 70 water agencies in California could face water shortages in the coming months, state report shows
“Nearly 20% of California’s urban water agencies reported they could see significant water shortages in the coming months as the state braces for a potential fourth consecutive year of drought. After surveying urban water agencies representing roughly 90% of the state’s population, the California Department of Water Resources early this week released its first annual water supply and demand report that assesses how the state is faring with water supply amid unrelenting drought conditions. The assessment, which includes annual data through July 1, found that while a vast majority – 82% – of urban water suppliers who submitted reports say they have enough water to meet projected demand in the coming year, around 18% – 73 out of the 414 water suppliers – reported they will soon face potential shortages. … ” Read more from CNN here: More than 70 water agencies in California could face water shortages in the coming months, state report shows
A giant sea cow once roamed the Pacific Coast. Here’s how it changed California’s ecology
“An enormous marine mammal once roamed the California coast, floating along the ocean’s surface and grazing only on plants. It weighed twice as much as a hippo and had skin so rough and scaly that it was compared to tree bark. The extinct sea beast, called a Steller’s sea cow, helped the vital kelp forest thrive off the Pacific coast to thrive, a new report from the California Academy of Sciences says. Before disappearing in the 1700s, when Europeans hunted it to extinction, the sea cow inhabited the West Coast for millions of years, growing as large as 25 feet long and weighing 4 tons. The mega herbivore recently captured the attention of Cal Academy scientists looking into the causes and possible solutions of kelp forest decline in California and throughout the Pacific. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: A giant sea cow once roamed the Pacific Coast. Here’s how it changed California’s ecology
By the numbers: California’s mild 2022 wildfire season
“As California emerges from its “peak” wildfire season, the state has managed to avoid its recent plague of catastrophic wildfires. So far in 2022, the fewest acres have burned since 2019. State Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci said California had “a bit of luck” with weather this summer. Although enduring yet another drought year, much of the state was spared the worst of the heat and dryness that can spark fires. And in some instances, well-timed rain came to the rescue. Cal Fire officials also attribute some of the mild wildfire season to their emphasis on clearing away vegetation that fuels fires. Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler said the $2.8 billion spent in the last two years on forest management made a difference, with the work “moderat(ing) fires approaching communities.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: By the numbers: California’s mild 2022 wildfire season
The burn scars of the Sierra Foothills tell a story — and offer lessons
“Blodgett Forest Research Station sits about 30 miles east of the southern tip of Lake Tahoe, amid commercial timber and U.S. Forest Service lands. A place for foresters and scientists to experiment with the care and management of forested lands, Blodgett is a prime study site because it’s representative of much of the forested Sierra — all the old growth trees were effectively logged out in the late 1800 and early 1900s. Mostly second growth exists now. Researchers have practiced varying harvesting, thinning and prescribed burning techniques in study plots here since the 1930s, when the land was gifted to the University of California by a private timber company. One focus area of study is how to manage forest lands to be resilient to wildfire. Some of this is “really cutting edge stuff,” says research scientist Brandon Collins. ... ” Read more from KQED here: The burn scars of the Sierra Foothills tell a story — and offer lessons
Wildfires often lead to dust storms – and they’re getting bigger
“Wildfires affect large areas of the Earth’s surface and many of their effects occur at an alarming speed. The fires that consumed half of Australia’s Kangaroo Island in 2019 left a trail of animal corpses in their wake. In 2021, wildfires burned over 2.5 million acres of land in California. But wildfires have other harmful effects that are slower to materialise. Wildfires reduce vegetation cover and can damage soil to the extent that it retains less moisture. As wind blows over the scarred landscape this can lead to the increased release of dust made from fine mineral grains (often less than 0.01 mm in diameter). The wind lifts the dust emissions into the air where they can find themselves suspended in a global atmospheric process that transfers them around the world. Dust events can therefore affect areas far from the land close to a wildfire. ... ” Read mroe from the World Economic Forum here: Wildfires often lead to dust storms – and they’re getting bigger
Satellites detect no real climate benefit from 10 years of forest carbon offsets in California
“Many of the companies promising “net-zero” emissions to protect the climate are relying on vast swaths of forests and what are known as carbon offsets to meet that goal. On paper, carbon offsets appear to balance out a company’s carbon emissions: The company pays to protect trees, which absorb carbon dioxide from the air. The company can then claim the absorbed carbon dioxide as an offset that reduces its net impact on the climate. However, our new satellite analysis reveals what researchers have suspected for years: Forest offsets might not actually be doing much for the climate. … ” Read more from The Conversation here: Satellites detect no real climate benefit from 10 years of forest carbon offsets in California
In commentary today …
Water shortages are pushing Calif. farms, communities to the brink. Pricey water sales aren’t the answer.
William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms, director of the Westlands Water District, and chairman of the Valley Future Foundation, writes, “Despite a smattering of storms, the San Joaquin Valley – and California as a whole – has come to another breaking point over its dwindling water supply during a critical drought. Thanks to limited planning, our water supplies continue to shrink, communities are being pushed to the brink, and little headway is being made to generate long-term solutions to our state’s water issues. The result for Californians of all stripes is clear: the only thing we have to be thankful for this season is that the collision of these woes hasn’t led us into a worse position. For me, I only have to look outside my doorstep to see the impact of California’s third year of intense drought. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Water shortages are pushing Calif. farms, communities to the brink. Pricey water sales aren’t the answer.
California needs better water supply reliability – including improved conveyance systems
Tom Coleman, General Manager at Rowland Water District, and Federico Barajas, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, write, “As California confronts another extended drought and its impacts, it is more obvious than ever that the state has failed to address its water supply and management challenges for far too long. The immediate fallout of the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in is frightening: local residents with wells running dry; urban water rationing and critical shortages; massive fallowing of some of the nation’s most productive agricultural land and the resulting impacts on food prices; and significant uncertainty about our ability to adapt to the future. The long-term effects are even more dire. The viability of California’s $3.4 trillion economy is at stake. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: California needs better water supply reliability – including improved conveyance systems
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The largest-ever dam demolition will restore salmon habitat
“Four aging dams will be destroyed along the Klamath River in California and Oregon, restoring hundreds of miles of historical salmon habitat and improving the health of the river. Native American tribes and environmentalists have been fighting for the $500 million demolition proposal for years, and in November, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved it, Gillian Flaccus reports for the Associated Press (AP). The project is slated to begin next year, and the biggest removals will likely take place in 2024. “The Klamath River has been Exhibit A for how dams, drought, imbalanced water management and climate change can strangle a river,” Chrysten Rivard, Oregon director for Trout Unlimited, says in a statement. “Now, the Klamath is poised to become a prime example of how an entire river system, and the people and wildlife that depend on it, can be renewed.” … ” Read more from Smithsonian here: The largest-ever dam demolition will restore salmon habitat
Eel River fall Chinook run well underway, says ERRP
“Despite sparse rainfall so far this fall, several thousand Eel River fall Chinook salmon have disbursed throughout the watershed. While some are holding and waiting for rain, others have commenced spawning in main Eel River channels. The early portion of the run is not robust, but late run Chinook salmon may enter the river, if flows increase. This article is based in data available from agencies and non-profit groups, but also observations of Eel River Recovery Project volunteers throughout the watershed. Historically, Chinook salmon entered the Eel River in late August and could hold in the deep estuary and pools in the lower river. Today the fish need rainfall to move up out of the ocean and migration was triggered in late September by a mild rain event and a rise in flow to 250 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the U.S. Geologic Survey Scotia gage at Scotia. … ” Continue reading at the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Eel River fall Chinook run well underway, says ERRP
SEE ALSO: Spawning season underway in the Eel River, from the Eureka Times-Standard
Fort Bragg City Council unanimously approves plan for 3 reservoirs on 582-acre parcel
“Fort Bragg City Council unanimously approved a plan Monday night to purchase a 582-acre parcel of land from Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District for $2,420,579, to build three reservoirs on around 30 acres. The city hopes to establish a community forest on the remaining 550 acres of land, preserving the habitat there through a deed restriction or conservation easement. This vision would ensure the property is “utilized to every inch of its capacity,” councilmember Marcia Rafanan said ahead of the approval. Fort Bragg hopes to install three reservoirs to store a potential total of 44 million gallons of water, in a location that connects conveniently to treatment plant infrastructure and high-power PG&E transmission lines. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Fort Bragg City Council unanimously approves plan for 3 reservoirs on 582-acre parcel
Inside the fight for a disappearing fish in California’s most polluted lake
“This spring, in response to reports of dead and dying fish, teams of government wildlife staff and Tribal environmental specialists grabbed their backpack electrofishers, dip nets, buckets, aerated coolers and rubber gloves. For weeks they searched along drought-stressed creeks to save what fish they could find. One by one, they gently stunned and netted 360 adults and fry (juveniles) in rapidly diminishing pools before transporting them for release into a nearby lake. This was not the first such rescue — similar efforts to save the rare and rapidly declining Clear Lake hitch (Lavinia exilicaulda chi) took place in 2014, 2016 and 2018. … ” Continue reading at KCET here: Inside the fight for a disappearing fish in California’s most polluted lake
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Informational forum being held for Battle Creek project
“The Resource Conservation District of Tehama County is hosting a public informational meeting for those interested in learning more about the South Fork Battle Creek Sediment Reduction and Water Quality Enhancement Project on Thursday. The informational meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to Noon in the RCDTC Conference Room: 2 Sutter St., Suite D, Red Bluff, according to a press release issued by RCDTC. RCDTC and Pacific Watershed Associates representatives will present project information and address questions. Funded by the State Water Resources Control Board and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the project was designed to mitigate sediment delivery to the South Fork of Battle Creek. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Informational forum being held for Battle Creek project
BAY AREA
Most of the Bay Area could see up to .75 inches of rain Thursday
“The start of December could be a wet one, with the Bay Area expected to see its first major rainstorm in three weeks, according to National Weather Service forecasts Thursday morning. From San Jose to San Francisco and across the bay in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, forecasters expect between .5 inches and .75 inches of rainfall Thursday, with most of the downpour coming before 4 p.m. The storm originated in the Pacific Northwest and pushed south early Thursday, first sweeping through the North Bay around 5 a.m. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Most of the Bay Area could see up to .75 inches of rain Thursday
Approaching storm unlikely to help North Bay reservoir levels
“The rain arriving in Northern California is certainly welcome news, but it’s not likely to deliver much in the way of water to be stored in North Bay reservoirs. After another dry stretch, it will take more than this round of rain just to re-prime the pump. “I was trying to find some kind of screen for this,” Healdsburg resident Penny said of her new water tanks. “But I ended up getting a pizza pan because they didn’t have one for 18 inches. So we’ll see how it works. This is all kind of a work in progress.” … ” Read more from CBS News here: Approaching storm unlikely to help North Bay reservoir levels
August algal bloom causes concern for future of Bay Area’s sturgeon
“When thousands of dead fish began washing up on Bay Area shores last August, the result of a harmful algae bloom, researchers were alarmed to see hundreds of sturgeon carcasses among the dead. The Bay Area’s population of the long, spiny fish which date back to the dinosaurs have already had a rough run of late in the state’s prolonged drought, and the die-off sparked fears for their already tenuous future. “What we’re very concerned about,” said Andrea Schreier, assistant professor at U.C. Davis’ Dept. of Animal Sciences, “is the carcasses that we saw only represent a small portion of the sturgeon that perished in that event.” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: August algal bloom causes concern for future of Bay Area’s sturgeon
Valley Water and partners making progress to protect San Francisco Bay from sea level rise
“In December 2021, Valley Water and its partners broke ground on the first portion of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Phase 1 Project. This critical project is designed to protect communities along the southern end of San Francisco Bay from coastal flooding and sea-level rise due to climate change. Since then, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor has worked on the first section of the project, a new, 15.2-foot-tall levee that will stretch from Alviso Marina County Park to the Artesian Slough. Their efforts to date have primarily consisted of removing water from the work area, demolishing the existing berm and replacing it with more suitable material to form a strong and firm foundation for a new levee. ... ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water and partners making progress to protect San Francisco Bay from sea level rise
Popular California park that abruptly closed last spring will reopen in December
“One of the most popular places to boat, fish and camp in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is finally reopening after abruptly closing last spring. Brannan Island State Park, a 336-acre jut of scrubby land across the water from Antioch, shut down in April nearly overnight after its longtime concessionaire ended its month-to-month lease with the state Department of Parks and Recreation to operate the park. On Wednesday, the department announced that it had secured an agreement with a new concessionaire and that Brannan Island will reopen fully on Thursday, Dec. 1. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Popular California park that abruptly closed last spring will reopen in December | Read via MSN News | Read similar story at the Brentwood Press
San Jose: A successful flood protection project
Director Nai Hsueh, Valley Water Board of Directors, writes, “Each winter, thousands of homes, businesses and schools in Sunnyvale are susceptible to flooding from the Sunnyvale East and West channels overtopping during major storms. These channels were constructed in the 1960s as local storm drains, but a combination of heavy storm events, land subsidence and inadequate drainage has caused the area to flood five times in the last 60 years. That’s why Valley Water is embarking on the Sunnyvale East and West Channels Flood Protection Project to provide enhanced flood protection to more than 1,600 neighboring properties and approximately 47 acres of valuable industrial and government lands. Construction is set to begin in 2024. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: San Jose: A successful flood protection project
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bakersfield sued over “dewatering” of Kern River
“Several public interest groups sued the City of Bakersfield Nov. 30 alleging the city has been derelict in its operation of the Kern River by diverting most of its flows to agriculture and other uses leaving a dry riverbed through the heart of town. “The river is dry, but not because of a lack of water,” said Stephen Montgomery, president of the Kern Kaweah Chapter Sierra Club, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “The river is entirely diverted into canals with no prioritization å people or the environment.” Even though the city operates the river per a century of agreements and judicial decrees, the lawsuit states, the city still has an obligation to study the harm those diversions may cause to the environment, fisheries and even the recreational value of a flowing river. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Bakersfield sued over “dewatering” of Kern River
Environmental groups sue Bakersfield over Kern River diversion
“Five environmental groups sued the city of Bakersfield on Wednesday over the diversion of the Kern River to water districts controlled by agricultural businesses growing almonds, pistachios, grapes and other crops. “Bakersfield has created a public nuisance by diverting water from the Kern River and its tributary streams without any analysis of the impacts,” reads the complaint, filed in Kern County Superior Court. The diversion reduces the surface flow of the river to such a point where “the river flows through the city only on very rare occasions.” In other words, Bakersfield is bisected by long, dry gully on nearly every day of the year. … ” Read more from Courthouse News Service here: Environmental groups sue Bakersfield over Kern River diversion
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Light rain coming to Southern California after winter storm brings snow to Sierra Nevada
“A winter storm hit the Sierra Nevada overnight and will continue pounding the region throughout Thursday, bringing heavy mountain snow, rainfall, strong winds and dangerous driving conditions as it moves toward Southern California. The National Weather Service in Sacramento issued a winter storm warning through midnight Friday for western Plumas County and Lassen National Park and the western slope of the northern Sierra Nevada counties. The snow report was not available early Thursday morning, said Katrina Hand, a meteorologist with the bureau. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Light rain coming to Southern California after winter storm brings snow to Sierra Nevada
State grants could help Palmdale Water District projects
“The Palmdale Water District could see financial help for several pending projects, should all or part of its application for $42 million in state grants be awarded. The Board of Directors, on Monday, unanimously approved the application for the grant under the state’s 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Grant Program. The funding would go toward the following District projects: drilling and equipping two new wells, the Pure Water AV demonstration and learning facility, a recycled water line on Avenue Q to supply water to the Pure Water AV facility for advanced treatment and the District’s turf reduction program, which pays for customers to remove water-hungry turf. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: State grants could help Palmdale Water District projects
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District Board approves $250M Salton Sea plan
“A split Imperial Irrigation District board narrowly approved a multiagency deal that calls for the additional conservation of a million acre-feet of Colorado River water in exchange for $250 million in federal funds. The agreement’s approval by the IID Board of Directors came during a special meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 29, a day after the U.S. Department of the Interior disclosed details of the historic plan. The board’s approval of the agreement was preceded by about two hours of discussion, where a couple of board members and several members of the public had spoken out against it. One concern was that the community wasn’t provided an adequate opportunity to review the plan prior to it being presented to the IID board. Another concern suggested that the current board’s two departing members were making a decision that should’ve been left to the newly elected board members who will be sworn in on Friday, Dec. 2. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Imperial Irrigation District Board approves $250M Salton Sea plan
General Motors invests $500,000 in Salton Sea restoration
“Audubon California has received $500,000 from General Motors to help support its work on the fast-dwindling Salton Sea. Audubon will use the funds toward the design of public recreational facilities at its 900-acre Bombay Beach wetland restoration site; to conduct research into the lake’s biofilm, or bacterial species; to assess its overall ecosystem health; and to engage local communities on the future of the huge water body. The announcement comes on the heels of an announcement late Monday by the U.S. Department of Interior that $250 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds will go toward Salton Sea habitat restoration and dust suppression projects in exchange for Colorado River conservation projects by two desert water agencies. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: General Motors invests $500,000 in Salton Sea restoration
Editorial: Keeping Salton Sea from becoming toxic dust bowl is crucial
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “It’s been seven years since the Little Hoover Commission — a state watchdog agency — warned of disaster ahead because of deteriorating conditions at the Salton Sea. This intensely salty 300-plus-square-mile lake in Imperial and Riverside counties was created by Colorado River flooding in 1905-1907, which filled up the below-sea-level Salton Trough. Yet only now is the scope of the problem and the need to act crystallizing for federal officials. The 2015 report came during the 16th year of a megadrought in the Southwest. With that megadrought now in its 23rd year, the problems have only grown worse. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Editorial: Keeping Salton Sea from becoming toxic dust bowl is crucial
SAN DIEGO
Work begins on Water Authority’s historic first aqueduct
“The San Diego County Water Authority’s First Aqueduct will be shut down periodically over the next four months for maintenance projects to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. A series of three shutdowns on the First Aqueduct is scheduled from December through March, when portions of the aqueduct will be relined, along with other maintenance. The Water Authority and its member agencies are coordinating to minimize impacts to residents and businesses, while servicing pipelines that are more than 65 years old. Customers of these affected retail agencies during the Dec. 5-14 shutdown should check with their local water utility if they have questions about localized impacts: Fallbrook Public Utility District, Rainbow Municipal Water District, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, Vallecitos Water District, Valley Center Municipal Water District, Vista Irrigation District, and the Yuima Municipal Water District. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Work begins on Water Authority’s historic first aqueduct
San Diego, not SDG&E, must pay to move gas pipelines for Pure Water project, judge rules
“Four years ago, when the San Diego City Council approved paying tens of millions of dollars to relocate utility pipes and other equipment to make room for the ambitious Pure Water project, city officials insisted they would recover the money from San Diego Gas & Electric. That didn’t happen. The city sued San Diego Gas & Electric in 2020, saying that the company violated its franchise agreement by refusing to pay to move its equipment. Now a Superior Court judge has ruled that San Diego taxpayers are responsible for those costs, which already total more than $35 million and could add $65 million or more to the price tag. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: San Diego, not SDG&E, must pay to move gas pipelines for Pure Water project, judge rules
Nonprofit group sues to stop Ocean Beach Pier replacement project
“The end may be near for OB Pier, but how to rectify its 56-year-old deteriorating structure could be further delayed as a lawsuit seeks to block the replacement of the pier, alleging it is being done without proper environmental review. “This case concerns the City’s attempt to sidestep the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in approving an $8 million project involving horizontal drilling and boring, sand excavation, and other changes to the environment around the Ocean Beach Pier, disguised as merely a ‘study’ to facilitate rebuilding the pier,” states the lawsuit filed Nov. 15 in San Diego Superior Court by attorney Bryan Pease on behalf of the nonprofit Animal Protection and Rescue League, Inc. … ” Read more from San Diego News here: Nonprofit group sues to stop Ocean Beach Pier replacement project
Environmental study released for projects to mitigate San Diego – Tijuana transborder water pollution
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Section, (USIBWC) release the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) for a set of proposed projects that comprise the Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution to mitigate transborder water pollution. The Final PEIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, involves the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure to reduce transborder flows from Tijuana, Mexico, that carry treated and untreated wastewater, trash, and sediments into the U.S. These transborder flows impact public health and the environment and have been linked to beach closures in southern San Diego County, California. … ” Read more from Water Online here: Environmental study released for projects to mitigate San Diego – Tijuana transborder water pollution
Along the Colorado River …
Whirlpools, blackouts, predator fish: What happens on the Colorado River’s descent to ‘dead pool’
“The first sign of serious trouble for the drought-stricken American Southwest could be a whirlpool. It could happen if the surface of Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir along the Colorado River that’s already a quarter of its former size, drops another 38 feet down the concrete face of the 710-foot Glen Canyon Dam here. At that point, the surface would be approaching the tops of eight underwater openings that allow river water to pass through the hydroelectric dam. The normally placid Lake Powell, the nation’s second-largest reservoir, could suddenly transform into something resembling a funnel, with water circling the openings, the dam’s operators say. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Whirlpools, blackouts, predator fish: What happens on the Colorado River’s descent to ‘dead pool’
Pliocene-like monsoons are returning to the American Southwest
“For researchers seeking to understand the effects of climate change on the weather of the North American Southwest, the answer lies in traveling millions of years back in time on wings of wax—leaf wax. Plants make waxes on their leaves composed of carbon and the hydrogen drawn from rainwater. When the plant dies, those waxes turn into dust that floats on the wind, then drifts down to form layers preserved in marine and terrestrial sediments. Trapped within those sediments is a timeline tracing pictures from prehistoric times: which vegetation flourished, or the intensity of the rainfall. “Plants lock in the environments that existed when they were growing,” says Tripti Bhattacharya, a professor in Syracuse University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences who led a recent study examining the Southwestern monsoon season in the Pliocene, 3 million years ago. The story of what happened then is the story of what will happen to a warming world. … ” Read more from Wired Magazine here: Pliocene-like monsoons are returning to the American Southwest
Arizona: Colorado River water scarcity will affect farmers — somewhat
“Today, anyone can drive around the corners of the Valley and find farmland still in use. This is especially true in the Southwest Valley, near Buckeye, Goodyear and communities along the Gila River. How much longer there will continue to be farming in the Valley is unclear considering how much scrutiny is being placed on water use with the Colorado River’s storage levels — from which Arizona draws a large portion of farmland irrigation — at the most visibly low level in recorded history. What is clear is changes to the amount of Colorado River water moved into central Arizona won’t impact all farming right away, considering how dependent Valley faming is on groundwater. … ” Read more from the Daily Independent here: Arizona: Colorado River water scarcity will affect farmers — somewhat
Utah’s Coordinated Action Plan for Water released this week
“Gov. Spencer Cox and several state agencies released Utah’s Coordinated Action Plan for Water on Wednesday. It’s being referred to as a groundbreaking effort to tackle water issues through bold action. State agencies hope this plan will secure a sustainable and prosperous future for the state and its residents. The finished effort contains a compilation of past recommendations, negotiated trade-offs among competing objectives, and will serve as a plan of action to protect the future of water and its usage moving forward, according to a release on Wednesday from the Governor’s office. Some actions in the plan include continued investment in Utah’s water infrastructure, such as upgrading aging facilities in need of improvements to meet the needs of future generations. … ” Read more from KSL here: Utah’s Coordinated Action Plan for Water released this week
Lake Powell ramp closed to large vessels, houseboats again as water levels drop back down
“Glen Canyon National Recreation Area park officials closed another boat ramp to houseboats and other larger vessels last week as Lake Powell’s water levels continue to fall back toward record-level lows. Park officials closed the Bullfrog North Boat Ramp on Nov. 21, after water levels fell to 3,529 feet elevation above sea level. It will remain open to smaller vessels unless levels fall another 4 feet. Per the park’s website, the closure once again leaves the Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary Launch Ramp as the only available ramp for large vessels. … ” Read more from KSL here: Lake Powell ramp closed to large vessels, houseboats again as water levels drop back down
Colorado is forcing a group of farmers to reduce irrigation but won’t stop watering their own fields
“For a very long time, Kenny Helling’s family history has been rooted in the outskirts of Idalia, on Colorado’s eastern plains, in the region surrounding the south fork of the Republican River. Driving around these dusty county roads with Helling is like stepping into a time warp. His plains are the same plains where his great-grandfather claimed his first quarter section under the Homestead Act in 1886. … Those first two generations of Hellings made their mark on the land as dryland farmers. Like pretty much everyone else back then, their crops made do with whatever water the clouds blew in. That’s no easy proposition on the wind-swept high desert plains and those early Hellings eked a meager living out of winter wheat and dryland corn. … ” Read more at KUNC here: Colorado is forcing a group of farmers to reduce irrigation but won’t stop watering their own fields
In national water news today …
What are carbon sinks? How do they impact climate change?
“A carbon sink is any natural system that absorbs and stores more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. The largest carbon sinks on Earth are forests, soil, and the ocean, with the latter already accumulating roughly 30% of the atmosphere’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Why are they so important? Carbon dioxide (CO2) is released through natural processes, like when animals breathe and during volcanic eruptions, and human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and chopping down trees. Carbon sinks are nature’s way of closing the gap between what carbon is released and what is stored. … ” Read more from Tree Hugger here: What are carbon sinks? How do they impact climate change?
EPA announces proposal to protect Tribal reserved rights in water quality standards and best practices for Tribal treaty and reserved rights
“Today, during the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan announced a proposal to revise the federal water quality standards regulations to better protect Tribal rights under the Clean Water Act (CWA). With this action, EPA is working to ensure that state and federal water quality standards will protect tribal rights such as the right to fish or gather aquatic plants—that are reserved through treaties, statutes, executive orders, or other sources of federal law. “We know that our shared goal of protecting water resources for Tribes is strongest – and most effective – when it’s informed by the lived experiences of those impacted by pollution,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “By explicitly recognizing Tribal reserved rights in water quality standards, this proposal will help EPA ensure Tribal aquatic resources are abundant and safe to consume and reaffirms the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to our Nation-to-Nation partnership.” … ” Read more from the EPA here: EPA announces proposal to protect Tribal reserved rights in water quality standards and best practices for Tribal treaty and reserved rights
Senators eye funding breakthrough for wildlife bill
“Senators are closing in on a way to pay for a $12.7 billion conservation bill, a long-sought breakthrough for the historic legislation. Their solution? Cryptocurrency. For months, the bipartisan “Recovering America’s Wildlife Act” — H.R. 2773 and S. 2372 — has been stalled over how it would be paid for. But people close to negotiations told E&E News on Wednesday that they were considering closing a tax loophole on cryptocurrency as the funding mechanism. Specifically, the pay-for would involve clarifying cryptocurrency assets, according to three people familiar with negotiations who were given anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive conversations. That change would make it clear that the wash sale rules apply to cryptocurrency assets, as they do to securities today. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Senators eye funding breakthrough for wildlife bill
