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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Water Right Permit beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board is holding a multi-day public hearing on the Sites Project Authority’s application for a water right permit to store up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually in a proposed reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. View hearing on the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel.
- GRA SAC VALLEY: Water quality impacts of wildland-urban interface fires in northern California from 5:30pm – 8:00pm in Chico. Wildfire frequency and extent have greatly increased in northern California over the past decade, causing destructive burning at the wildland-urban interface (WUI). We investigated the water quality effects of WUI burning following the 2018 Camp Fire (18,000+ burned structures) and the 2020 North Complex Fire (2,400+ burned structures). The transport of contaminants from ash of burned homes and cars to surrounding waterways by storm runoff was a major concern due to the upper-watershed location of the fires. These two case studies advance understanding of post-fire contaminant transport following WUI fire in a region of California that provides drinking water for 25 million Californians through the State Water Project. Click here for more information and to register.
- GRA CENTRAL COAST: Water Quality Monitoring in the Central Coast: Monitoring Network Refinements in the Santa Maria Basin to Enhance AgOrder Compliance and Improved Water Quality from 6pm to 8pm in Paso Robles. Implementation of the Central Coast’s Ag Order 4.0, also called the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP), is in full swing, with the goal of addressing surface and groundwater quality impairments due to irrigated agricultural activities. After an introduction to the ILRP, Sarah will discuss Preservation, Inc’s monitoring and outreach programs. She will explain monitoring objectives and network design, ultimately to support long-term groundwater quality trend analysis. Sarah will also discuss ILRP efforts to approach management of Nitrate leaching to groundwater through N-loading targets for “groundwater protection areas,” in lieu of assessing compliance at the scale of individual fields. Water quality monitoring and management of agricultural discharges is critical for nearby communities and ecosystems and has a critical nexus with groundwater management efforts under SGMA. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
Water stakeholders discuss regulatory woes at hearing
“California’s role in U.S. food security took center stage last week at a congressional field hearing in the Central Valley, where lawmakers and industry experts discussed impacts of environmental regulations on agricultural water needs. U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., chairman of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, said the purpose of the Friday hearing in Santa Nella was to highlight the importance of San Joaquin Valley agriculture and discuss damage caused by political vs. scientific water management. Panel witness Jason Phillips, CEO of the Friant Water Authority, which operates and maintains the Friant-Kern Canal, said regulatory decisions and legislative inaction have forced the state away from water abundance. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Duarte brings House subcommittee on water to Valley location
“Six Republicans held an oversight field hearing Friday in the district of Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto), hoping to find out why water is in short supply in parts of the Central Valley despite above-average reservoir storage this year. … Duarte touted the Central Valley as a wonder of nature that has been compromised by politics and extremists. “You’ve got the largest precipitation bank in the world, the Pacific Ocean, right off the largest watershed in the world, that’s the Sierra-Nevada mountains,” said Duarte. “And below it, the most fertile valley in the world, with a Mediterranean climate. This should’ve been the Western Hemisphere’s Garden of Eden. And it has been … but it’s not doing everything it can do. And only the misguided environmental extremists and the politics of Washington D.C. and California could screw up this setting.” … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
C-WIN PRESS RELEASE: Proposed Central Valley Project operations plan: Time to undo Trump’s damage and put ratepayers, Tribes, communities, and the environment first
“A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on the continued operation of the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) favors corporate agricultural profits over the interests of ratepayers, tribes, and the environment and pointedly ignores state groundwater law. The CVP is a massive federal system of reservoirs, aqueducts and pumping stations that delivers water from the Trinity River in Northwest California and Central Valley rivers to San Joaquin Valley agricultural operations and some California cities. The CVP is operated in coordination with its state analogue, the State Water Project (SWP). The CVP and SWP annually provide a small number of corporate farmers a volume of water equal to the total water usage of California’s 40 million residents. Under the direction of President Biden, Reclamation conducted this draft analysis to reassess environmental determinations made during the Trump years. … ” Read more from the California Water Impact Network.
Fall X2: Some potential positive news on the waterfront
Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs for the Milk Producers Council, writes, “Two weeks ago, I wrote about a big water decision concerning a current endangered species act regulation that requires the release of significant amounts of fresh water to the ocean in the Fall (September and October) in certain types of water years. The 2024 water year is classified as “above normal” and therefore triggers the Fall X2 regulation, which is estimated to cost 350,000 acre feet of water. Recent scientific studies have shown that the Fall X2 action has very little benefit for the legally protected delta smelt. This past week, the regulatory agencies who were asked by the water users and stakeholders to make modifications to this regulation responded by letter saying in part … ” Continue reading from the Milk Producers Council.
Is Amazon’s ‘water conservation’ plan a drain on California farmland?
“In the Central Valley of California, Amazon warehouses have been popping up, seemingly overnight. California even tops the charts with the most warehouses of any state. However, this is highly strategic in such a populous state, as the online retail giant’s expansion has been occurring for years. For example, in 2022, Amazon purchased 60 acres of farmland in Gilroy, California, to build a delivery center and warehouse. While Gilroy falls within the “Silicon Valley” boundaries, and Google has a presence there, the purchase was met with pushback due to environmental impacts. … However, there’s another reason for a growing concern about Amazon among the farming community. In 2024, Amazon touted that it was purchasing land under the guise of conserving water. The goal, the retailer said, is to aide in its plan to be “water-positive” by 2030 — mean it would return more water to freshwater sources than is taken out. The project isn’t limited to the United States, as it has similar projects in China, Chile, and Brazil as well. … ” Read more from Ag Daily.
California aims to improve ability to measure how much water is flowing throughout the state
“The California Department of Natural Resources (DWR) announced on August 15, 2024, a new partnership opportunity to support the state’s ability to measure stream and river flows through the California Stream Gage Improvement Program (CalSIP) as climate extremes continue to impact the state’s water supply. As part of the approximately $7 million program, DWR is seeking to partner with public agencies to install, upgrade and/or reactivate existing stream gage stations. This effort will expand California’s ability to access critical data that can inform important water management decisions during both flood and drought conditions. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
Patagonia’s nonprofit arm just gave $1 million to help revolutionize California’s farms
“Ventura County, California is a scenic region in the southern part of the state, full of coastal views, rolling green hills, and thousands of farms. More than 2,000 farms occupy over 260,000 acres of land there, making Ventura one of the largest agricultural-producing counties in California—a state that itself produces more than a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts. All that beauty has made Ventura County one of the most desirable places to live. But it’s also home to some of the nation’s, and the world’s, highest concentrations of pesticide use—pesticides that have been linked to health issues like cancer, respiratory problems, and developmental delays. Such pesticides also pollute drinking water, contaminate soil, and lead to poor air quality. … Rodale Institute helps farmers transition from that conventional system to regenerative organic agriculture, which has benefits for soil health, the climate, and human welfare. Recently, it has turned a special focus to Ventura County. … ” Read more from Fast Company.
Regenerative agriculture is sold as a climate solution. Can it do all it says?
“Will Tipton’s farm, not far from the Mississippi River, has been in his family since 1836. For the past eight generations, his family mostly planted one crop per field per year — and that was it. “Straight soybean, soybean, soybean,” Tipton says. In recent years, Tipton’s been trying something new. He leans over the field and picks up a mass of green leaves. “This is definitely a turnip,” he says, and then picks up a white flowering vegetable. “Daikon radish out here as well.” These are cover crops. … Tipton’s farm is part of something bigger. A push by businesses and governments into something called “regenerative agriculture.” That’s a term used for farming practices, like cover crops, that proponents say are good for the environment and the climate. … ” Read more from KCLU.
Empowering decision-making and water data access
“If sharing water data is fundamental to making better decisions for people and planet, what’s holding us back from that? It’s a question Sara Larsen, the new Associate Director of Internet of Water Services at CGS, has been asking for over two decades. Through work with state water agencies, research and development labs, and even as an original member of the Internet of Water (IoW) steering committee, Sara has championed water data access and used her first-hand experience to craft solutions that address the challenges of doing so. It’s no wonder that her new position, focused on helping state agencies address technological and capacity barriers to water data sharing, feels “like coming home.” Here, Sara reflects on her experience in the water sector and how the IoW has grown over the years. … ” Continue reading at the Internet of Water.
Cooler temps and rain expected in California to close out hot September
“So far, September has been hot and dry. That’s about to change. The latest multi-week outlook from the Climate Prediction Center calls for significantly cooler temperatures and higher chances of precipitation across the entire western third of the country, with some of the biggest changes centered on California. “The pattern has shifted and now we’re seeing cooler air moving southward from Alaska into the western U.S.,” said Dan Collins, a forecaster with the Climate Prediction Center. Over the next six to 10 days in California, the interior regions, where daily temperatures have consistently reached triple digits, will feel a lot more comfortable as temperatures drop into the 70s and 80s. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California droughts may help valley fever spread
“Long dry spells can give a lethal fungal disease a lift. While California droughts can temporarily keep cases of valley fever — a sometimes deadly illness caused by Coccidioides fungi — relatively low, cases skyrocket when rain clouds move back in, researchers report in the October Lancet Regional Health — Americas. Valley fever is on the rise across parts of the western United States, spreading through fungal spores kicked up in airborne dust (SN: 1/4/23). Though most people who breathe in spores won’t get sick, those that do develop respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. In severe cases, the fungus can cause long-term lung problems or invade other parts of the body. … ” Read more from Science News.
Forest Service funding 3 more wildfire projects in California national forests. Here’s where
“Three California projects that will thin forests and prescribe burns to reduce the impact of wildfires on communities will launch with millions of dollars from Washington, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday. The federal-local projects target areas in the Sequoia, Eldorado and Tahoe National Forests where forest restoration efforts will aim to shield neighboring communities from wildfire harms. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Tuesday the Biden administration was spending another $100 million on reducing wildfire risks across the country as part of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy. The U.S. Forest Service is housed in the Department of Agriculture. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In commentary today …
Public schools: a lost opportunity for stormwater capture
Bruce Reznik, executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper, writes, “Temperatures typically hover in the 90-degree range into September in parts of LA County and many other parts of the state. Warm fall temperatures might be pleasant if you work in an air-conditioned office and can enjoy early morning walks with your dog. But if you’re a student in the Los Angeles Unified School District, chances are those hot days are harming your ability to learn. School districts should rapidly ramp up investments in greening schoolyards. Many schoolyards are dominated by asphalt, particularly in the most impacted and underserved neighborhoods. Some LAUSD schoolyard temperatures have hit 145 degrees during heat waves in recent years, presenting significant health and safety issues. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
Editorial: California’s $10 billion Prop. 4 favors politics over sound policy
The Mercury News & East Bay Times editorial board writes, “Proposition 4 on California’s November ballot calls for borrowing $10 billion to fund scores of environmental proposals that unfortunately are more the product of politics than good policy. Voters should reject the measure. After this year’s state budget debacle, elected leaders should not be eyeing new bonds and more debt for an unfocused spending plan. Less than three months ago, to close a $47 billion budget shortfall, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers agreed to withdraw $12 billion over two years from the state’s rainy-day fund. That’s roughly 35% of the money in the state’s reserves. That money was supposed to be set aside for a major economic downturn, not a gross miscalculation of state revenues. The state now is in a weaker position to navigate a future recession. With that in mind, the last thing California should do is run up the credit card and increase installment payments, especially not for a hodgepodge of programs. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Impact of thinning treatments on fire-resilient redwood forests
“Cal Poly Humboldt Forestry Professor Jeff Kane, along with graduate student Megan Joyce, is working in collaboration with Redwood National Park and the United States Geological Survey to study the effects of the 2023 Lost Fire in redwood forests that received restoration thinning treatments. The research aims to assess changes in surface fuels, tree mortality, regeneration, and the general health of secondary redwood forests. This research is not only significant for its contribution to understanding fire ecology in redwood forests but also for its potential to guide future management practices. The findings could inform decisions on the use of restoration thinning and controlled burns as tools to enhance forest resilience to wildfires, ultimately supporting the long-term goal of promoting old-growth conditions in Redwood National Park. … ” Continue reading at Yuba Net.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake County residents have been angry with Yolo County’s rights to the water in Clear Lake for many years
“As we move into the fall months a number of people are curious about how far down Yolo County can draw the lake. The lake level is currently at 3.6 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Clear Lake historically reaches its lowest level during the months of October and November. Yolo County can take the lake level down to a plus-1 foot on the Rumsey Gauge. The Rumsey Gauge is a measurement of the lake level that was established back in 1872 when Capt. Rumsey created a gauge to measure the various lake levels. He came up with a standard that is still used today. Rumsey decided that when water ceased to flow over the Grigsby Riffle, the lake would be at zero on his gauge. Zero Rumsey is equal to a height of 1318.256 feet above sea level. When water was above the riffle it would be called plus Rumsey, such as 1 foot, 2 feet and so on. Below the riffle, the lake level would be measured as minus Rumsey. … ” Read more from the Lake County Record-Bee.
Historic river restoration provides Hamilton City new home for flood protection
“With a population approaching 2,200, the town of Hamilton City has one four-way traffic light at the corner of its one high school, a railroad crossing on the east side of town, and acres and acres of agriculture, its main industry. It’s a town that people drive through on their way to or from Interstate 5. And the Sacramento River, California’s largest waterway, flows near the town. This river provides water for agriculture, a rich and complex habitat for river life, and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. However, during seasonal rains and high-water events, it’s prone to flooding Hamilton City—located within a historic floodplain. Its residents have had to evacuate the town six times over the last 30 years. In 1904, a levee was built to protect the town (and a new sugar factory) from flooding when the Sacramento River swelled. But over the decades, repeated flooding, erosion, and time had all weakened the levee, leaving it unreliable in keeping water out of Hamilton City. River Partners Field Foreman Chris Carrizales, a lifelong Hamilton City resident, experienced each evacuation—and every time was as upsetting as the last. … ” Read more from River Partners.
BAY AREA
Berkeley to investigate if radioactive material was buried under waterfront park
“Old records have emerged indicating that potentially dangerous substances, including radioactive materials, may have been buried under a Berkeley waterfront park. Now, the State of California is ordering the city to begin testing. It started in January when the City of Berkeley got a letter from the State’s San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The letter said that archive records had turned up about the now-defunct Stauffer Chemical Company’s dumping of industrial waste in five local landfills. One of them is now Cesar Chavez Park at the Berkeley waterfront. The records show that, between 1960 and 1971, more than 11,000 tons of material were sent to the Berkeley site, including something called “alum mud,” a waste product of aluminum processing that often contains radioactive elements. The question is…is that what’s under the ground at the park? … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
NetworkOcean plans underwater data center test in San Francisco Bay
“A San Francisco startup is the latest company to pursue the dream of an underwater data center, but could fall foul of regulators concerned about the facility’s environmental impact. NetworkOcean plans to sink a 500kW data center contained in a capsule designed by the company into San Francisco Bay as part of a test of its technology. Backed by the Y Combinator accelerator program, the company says it can eliminate water consumption and cut energy use by 30 percent. It claims to have 2,048 Nvidia H100 GPUs available to reserve. However, according to Wired, which first reported on NetworkOcean’s plans, the company has not sought permission from the authorities to sink its data center. … ” Read more from Data Center Dynamics.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Parts of Central Valley show abnormally dry on U.S. Drought Monitor
“While many are enjoying some slight relief from the heat this summer, scorching temperatures have caused parts of Central Valley and Sierra to be upgraded to the abnormally dry category on the U.S. drought monitor. The newest update shows parts of Fresno Kings, Madera, Merced, and Tulare counties now in the abnormally dry category, which is the lowest in the system. It’s the first time since March of 2023 that a county in the Central Valley has appeared on the monitor. Carlos Molina with the National Weather Service in Hanford says this summer’s above-average temperatures combined with long stretches of triple-digit heat is the reason the Valley is once again on the monitor. … ” Read more from KSEE.
Lindsay council raises water rate in face of $1 million deficit
“The Lindsay City Council have tapped into a solution to keep their water fund from capsizing under the weight of a million-dollar deficit. Unfortunately that means residents will have to give up some liquidity in their monthly budget. The decision was made at the Lindsay City Council meeting where they reviewed necessary updates to the city’s water system on Aug. 27. The council voted unanimously to increase water rates over the next five years to address the necessary changes. “I definitely know that this is a need …to keep our water is a vital resource,” Councilmember Misty Villareal said. “But if we look at the community, we want to make sure that we’re reaching them and that they can afford it.” … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
EASTERN SIERRA
Indian Wells Valley Water District states opposition to IWVGA pipeline project
“The Indian Wells Valley Water District (District) Board of Directors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 24-05 opposing the proposed Imported Water Pipeline Project following receipt of the final report by Clean Energy Capital during the Sept. 9 Board meeting. This decision builds on previous evaluations of the project’s costs and a presentation to the Board on July 8, which underscored the significant financial impact the project would impose on District customers. The proposed Imported Water Pipeline, as outlined in the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority’s (IWVGA) Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) plans to transport treated water from the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency (AVEK) pipeline in California City to a new terminus tank near Ridgecrest. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles City Council approves sewer rate hike of 22%, sending measure to Bass
“Property owners in Los Angeles can expect a 22% sewer service rate hike starting in October, after the City Council approved new rates Tuesday, with smaller fee hikes planned through 2028. In a 11-3 vote, council members gave final approval for an ordinance that will establish a new rate schedule for sewer services, which officials say is needed to maintain operations and improve aging infrastructure. To effectuate the new rates, the ordinance must also be approved by Mayor Karen Bass. Prior to this proposal, the city had not raised sewer rates since 2020 due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Los Angeles residents. … ” Read more from KABC.
Southern California is suddenly besieged by fire. Experts say fall will be worse
“For the first time in years, Southern California has found itself once again besieged by wildfire. In recent days, multiple blazes have exploded across heat-seared hillsides, blanketing the region in ash and smoke, threatening homes and communication towers and sending thousands of residents fleeing for their lives. But as crews struggle to contain the 35,000-acre Line fire in San Bernardino County, the 22,000-acre Airport fire in Orange County, and the 48,000-acre Bridge fire in Los Angeles County, experts warn the season is just getting started. The impending arrival of hot Santa Ana winds — combined with two years of overgrown vegetation — all but ensure that this fall will be fraught with danger. “The odds definitely favor a continuation — and maybe even an escalation — of Southern California fire season over the next couple of months,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN DIEGO
Listen: San Diego farmers tackle climate change challenges
“San Diego County is home to more than 214,000 acres of agricultural land. Avocados, lemons, oranges and a variety of vegetables are grown in the county. This week, during NPR’s Climate Solutions Week, we look at how San Diego County farmers are adapting to climate change with local growers Daniel and Paula Coxe, who grow avocados in Fallbrook, along with Amy Quandt, a San Diego State University professor who has surveyed farmers on the subject.” Listen at KPBS.
County sends hazmat team to investigate report of new toxic gas in Tijuana River Valley
“Discovery of a second, potentially lethal gas in the Tijuana River Valley where sewage from Mexico routinely spills over the border into south San Diego communities prompted South County school districts to cancel outdoor activities Monday and officials to reiterate calls for emergency assistance. The preliminary findings, which showed continued high levels of hydrogen sulfide and the presence of an even deadlier gas, hydrogen cyanide, also prompted the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District to issue what is believed to be its first advisory related to the noxious odors stemming from the cross-border crisis. “Residents near the affected areas who notice strong odors are advised to limit outdoor physical activity,” the notice said. “Whenever possible, remain indoors, especially if you have respiratory or heart conditions, are elderly, or have young children in your household.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Supervisor Vargas: There’s no toxic gas concern in Tijuana River Valley
“The county is downplaying university researchers’ reports of toxic or lethal gases spreading into South Bay communities from the polluted Tijuana River that triggered widespread panic. County hazardous waste experts say instruments used by San Diego State University researchers likely delivered falsely high positive results for the presence of the toxic gas hydrogen cyanide, a byproduct of plastics, nylon and fumigants manufacturing, around the Tijuana River Valley. When news of high hydrogen cyanide levels was first reported, it triggered some South Bay schools to cancel outdoor activities and San Diego Congressional delegates to call again for a federal state of emergency due to the pollution. But the county says: There’s no reason to be alarmed right now. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Reps. Calvert and Napolitano introduce bill to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
“Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) along with Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-31) introduced legislation to support Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) activities. The bill would establish an interest-bearing account at the Department of Treasury to hold the funds contributed by the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada for the LCR MSCP. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Rep. Dina Titus (NV-1) and Rep. Susie Lee (NV-3) are original cosponsors of the bill. “Providing additional resources for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program at no cost to taxpayers will support one of our most important natural resources in the Southwest,” said Rep. Calvert. “This bill is a common-sense step that allows excess funds in the LCR MSCP to earn interest and maintain their effectiveness. I’m thankful for the support of California water agencies, as well as Senator Padilla, and my House colleagues in this effort.” … ” Read more from Congressman Ken Calvert.
Arizona: In the ‘Wild West’ of groundwater use, Hobbs hears about dry wells, ground fissures
“Residents and city officials have no legal tools to stop the intensive groundwater extraction that is drying up their wells and depleting the aquifer, and even with a state active management area, they fear it won’t do enough to stop the overdraft. They delivered that message to Gov. Katie Hobbs, who traveled the community on Thursday as she visited with water users across southeastern Arizona. Hobbs pushed lawmakers to address the groundwater crisis earlier this year, but despite months of negotiations, there was no agreement by the end of the session. Meanwhile, wells are going dry across the basin to the distress of residents who must haul water or spend tens of thousands of dollars — an alternative few can afford — to drill new ones, they told Hobbs. In May, Willcox’s main city well, which serves almost 4,000 residents, went dry. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
