In California water news this weekend, Lawmakers ask Interior Department to recover ‘misspent’ funds on Cal Water Fix; California Supreme Court fails to resolve conflict over groundwater fees, charges; Compliance expert: Local agencies still face groundwater extraction fee guidelines; Hyatt Power Plant penstock back online; How dry is it? Scientist says California only has slim chance of normal rainfall this winter; Is the US heading for a giant drought? Climate history offers valued clues about the next century; and more …
In the news this weekend …
Lawmakers ask Interior Department to recover ‘misspent’ funds on Cal Water Fix: “Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) has sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, urging him to recover $84.8 million in taxpayer money that was identified in a recent inspector general report detailing how the funds were misspent, according to information released Friday by Huffman’s office. The funds were to benefit a select few California water districts participating in the “WaterFix” planning process, according to a report titled “The Bureau of Reclamation Was Not Transparent in Its Participation in the [San Francisco] Bay Delta Conservation Plan.” ... ” Continue reading at the Ukiah Daily Journal here: Lawmakers ask Interior Department to recover ‘misspent’ funds on Cal Water Fix
California Supreme Court fails to resolve conflict over groundwater fees, charges: “Despite hopes for a resolution after two appeals courts issued conflicting rulings over whether groundwater extraction fees violate the state’s constitution, the California Supreme Court decided to send part of that question back to the district court. “The court affirmed part of the ruling and reversed part for further consideration at the appellate court,” Robert J. Saperstein, a shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck Santa Barbara office who focuses on water law and policy issues, told the Northern California Record. “So no, it is not settled.” … ” Read more from the Northern California Record here: California Supreme Court fails to resolve conflict over groundwater fees, charges
Compliance expert: Local agencies still face groundwater extraction fee guidelines: “A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to remand much of the question about whether groundwater extraction fees violate California’s constitution has local agencies still wondering but there are existing guidelines to consider, a compliance legal expert said during a recent interview. “Under Proposition 26, local agency fees and charges are defined to be taxes unless they qualify under one of seven exceptions,” said Kelly J. Salt, a partner in Best, Best & Krieger’s San Diego office and a legal authority on Prop 218 and 26 compliance, during a Northern California email interview. “Two of these exceptions are charges imposed for a specific benefit conferred or privilege granted, or a government service or product provided directly to the payer that is not provided to those not charged.” … ” Read more from the Northern California Record here: Compliance expert: Local agencies still face groundwater extraction fee guidelines
Hyatt Power Plant penstock back online: “One of Hyatt Powerplant’s two penstocks went back online on Thursday, meaning a higher capacity for releasing water from Lake Oroville without using the dam’s spillway. The penstock back in service was taken out for routine maintenance on Oct. 15. Erin Mellon, state Department of Water Resources assistant director of public affairs, said that five of six turbines were available. Penstocks are pipes that convey water from the lake to the turbines. Each penstock drives three turbines. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Hyatt Power Plant penstock back online
How dry is it? Scientist says California only has slim chance of normal rainfall this winter: “This is how dry it has been so far this season: California’s chances of having a normal “water year” have fallen to around 33 percent in much of the state, according to a federal scientist. Michael Dettinger, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, said those dismal odds are based on the amount of rain and snow that has fallen so far this year – and the history of how much precipitation California traditionally gets in the remaining months of the rainy season. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: How dry is it? Scientist says California only has slim chance of normal rainfall this winter
Is the US heading for a giant drought? Climate history offers valued clues about the next century: “Understanding the past could help us unravel what could happen in the future—and that includes pinpointing the odds of a megadrought. Water management during droughts in the western and southwestern U.S. is already a top concern. Should a megadrought occur, understanding how many states it could spread across is a key factor in preparation. To try and predict the likelihood of a megadrought in our near future, Toby Ault, an earth and atmospheric sciences professor at Cornell University, set out to explain a 500-year period of the past that had an unusually high number of widespread droughts. The period, from 800 to 1300 A.D., experienced one every century—which was unprecedented considering they typically occur once ever 1,000 years. Ault and his colleagues wanted to know was this a fluke—or linked to the particular climate conditions of that period? … ” Read more from Newsweek here: Is the US heading for a giant drought? Climate history offers valued clues about the next century
In commentary this weekend …
Six ways Californians can prevent devastating floods, says Steve Westly: He writes, “Despite its infamous droughts, California is at serious risk of a devastating flood. According to UC Berkeley scientists, Sacramento recently surpassed New Orleans as the American city most in danger of flooding. After the destruction wreaked by hurricanes on Texas and Florida, Californians would be well served to prepare for massive floods. Large-scale floods are significantly worsened by climate change, whether you are in a hurricane zone or not. Warmer air holds more water vapor, leading to dramatically increased rainfall, while higher sea levels from a warming climate intensify storm surges. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Six ways Californians can prevent devastating floods
Large new reservoirs threaten Trinity River water gains, says Regina Chichizola: She writes, “A new $4.7 billion proposal from the Sites Project Authority to build up to 11 new dams and two reservoirs in the Sacramento Valley presents a threat to the salmon on the Trinity and Klamath Rivers, and years of decisions to provide them water. The new proposed Sites and Holthouse Reservoirs in Northern California could store up to 1.8 million acre feet of water, making them almost half the size of Shasta Reservoir and twice the size of Folsom Reservoir. They would be owned by the Sites Project Authority, which is made up mainly of state and federal water contractors and irrigation districts, and could be partially funded with Proposition 1 money. ... ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Large new reservoirs threaten Trinity River water gains
Salton Sea: Good vs. good shouldn’t be such a hard choice, says the Desert Sun: They write, “The Salton Sea is at the center of a relatively small, but still tragic, struggle of good versus good. As reported recently by The Desert Sun’s Ian James, the Coachella Valley Water District is seeking permission from the state to recycle water from another of its wastewater treatment facilities in the Coachella Valley. CVWD already recycles water from three other sewage treatment facilities, using it for purposes such as irrigating golf courses, parks and large housing developments. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Good vs. good shouldn’t be such a hard choice
In regional news and commentary this weekend …
Oroville: Traffic during evacuation a concern for many: “There were many takeaways from last February’s Lake Oroville spillway incident, but one very alarming one: a large number of Yuba-Sutter residents who evacuated said they experienced issues with leaving the area, mainly due to traffic congestion. And a startling number of residents reported that they stayed home instead of fleeing, risking their lives in the event the emergency spillway did collapse. Local officials were asked to recount the experience and to weigh in on the events of that day when nearly 180,000 residents from Butte, Sutter and Yuba counties packed up and headed for safety following the announcement that there was a chance a wall of water more than 30 feet high was headed downstream. ... ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Oroville: Traffic during evacuation a concern for many
Tapping the ditch system to fight fires: “Earlier this week about a half-dozen members of the Tuolumne County Natural Resource Committee talked about modifying the Tuolumne Main Canal and other parts of the local ditch system to allow firefighters to draw water at more locations. Creating more fire water draft points can improve community fire protection and could prevent a giant megablaze in the South Fork Stanislaus watershed, said Ron Ringen, a Tuolumne Utilities District board member who brought the issue up at a previous county Board of Supervisors meeting. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: Tapping the ditch system to fight fires
Sunny skies, climate science, and a dry December in Stanislaus County: “The Northern San Joaquin Valley is dry this month. While there is no reason to panic about the dry conditions, water experts are paying attention to the lack of rain. Modesto has received zero inches of rain for the month and may not get any sprinkles from meager storms that move down the coast of California later this week. It’s still possible residents will have no need for umbrellas the rest of December. According to historical records, a rain-free December has never happened before in Modesto. ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Sunny skies, climate science, and a dry December in Stanislaus County
Owens Valley Groundwater Authority fails to launch: “This story was supposed to describe a fairly complete picture of what the Owens Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency was going to look like, based on the respective financial commitment and voting power of each of the 11 participating agencies. But the group hedged. Instead of taking the necessary step to become a GSA, it’s still the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority, governed by a Joint Powers Agreement, will little ability to do anything but talk. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Owens Valley Groundwater Authority fails to launch
Coachella Valley: Let’s all demand higher quality water management, says Jeff Grubbe: “The Coachella Valley has been home to my ancestors and tribe for thousands of years. We have always had a deep commitment to the long-term health of the valley’s aquifer. We filed a federal lawsuit, which recently confirmed we have rights to groundwater in the aquifer, because we have grave concerns about how the water districts — Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency — are managing this critical natural resource. The districts try to paint the tribe as the bad guy, even though the tribe attempted to negotiate a settlement with the districts in 2012 before filing its lawsuit. The districts steadfastly refused to talk. ... ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: Let’s all demand higher quality water management
San Diego researchers digging for information on sand berms: “San Diego researchers are studying the Navy’s sand berms on Coronado’s Silver Strand beach, hoping to learn how the ocean affects the protective structures. Sand berms have protected the Navy’s Amphibious Base on the Silver Strand for years. Navy crews build the mounds of sand each fall to keep winter ocean waves and tides from bashing the base’s buildings and flooding the rest of the facility. Storm-driven waves have already torn away park of a concrete parking lot. ... ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diego researchers digging for information on sand berms
Along the Colorado River …
Should we freak out over water supply, drought? “The main focus of water managers up and down the Colorado River is keeping Lake Mead high enough that emergency drought measures do not have to kick in. And at this year’s conference of managers at Caesars Palace, the theme seems to be “don’t freak out.” But should they be freaking out, and working faster on water solutions? ... ” Read more from Nevada Public Radio here: Should we freak out over water supply, drought?
Despite obstacles, Colorado River managers reaffirm commitment to drought plan: “Colorado River managers find themselves in an odd position. They are at once moving closer to and farther away from sealing a drought contingency plan they’ve been negotiating since 2015. In a packed room Thursday morning at Caesars Palace, about 45 minutes from a more-than-half empty Lake Mead, Arizona, California and Nevada water managers affirmed their commitment to the drought plan. Nevada is ready to sign the plan. But California is working through a few issues, and in Arizona, several in-state agencies are arguing over how to manage the river. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Despite obstacles, Colorado River managers reaffirm commitment to drought plan
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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
Maven’s Notebook
where California water news never goes home for the weekend
