In California water news this weekend, Trump’s planned EPA cuts: Zero dollars for Bay Area program; Hyatt Power Plant, spillway flows off again after test; Riverbanks collapse after Oroville Dam spillway shutoff; Oroville Reservoir reaches ‘pivot point’, state water official says; Oroville Dam faces another risk: Earthquakes from rapid rise in water levels; The mission to capture storms’ water before it flows away; LaMalfa, Garamendi introduce bill boosting Sites Reservoir; Advocates say downstream flooding can be prevented by dam at Temperance Flat; Valley leaders ask Governor Brown to fund more water storage; America’s biggest water users – farmers – learn to use less of it; California set to regulate carcinogen in water for decades; and more …
In the news this weekend …
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
Trump’s planned EPA cuts: Zero dollars for Bay Area program: “The San Francisco Bay is emerging as a huge target for the Trump Administration as it plans to slash spending at the Environmental Protection Agency: A preliminary budget this week shows President Donald Trump plans to eliminate a $4.8 million federal program to protect the bay. The document, obtained by the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, outlines major cuts to estuaries around the country, as the administration aims to carve 3,000 jobs and $2 billion, or 25 percent of the current budget, from the EPA’s 2018 budget. … ” Read more from the Mercury News here: Trump’s planned EPA cuts: Zero dollars for Bay Area program
Lake Oroville spillway: Drag the slider to see the before and after, from the Chico Enterprise-Record
Hyatt Power Plant, spillway flows off again after test: “The Hyatt Powerplant at Oroville Dam was turned off again Saturday after a successful test Friday. The power plant was turned off at about 10 a.m. Saturday to allow further deepening of the water channel. The shut-down is expected to last 1-2 days, according to a press release from the Department of Water Resources. “We will dig deeper so we can fully ramp the plant up,” DWR acting director Bill Croyle said in the release. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Hyatt Power Plant, spillway flows off again after test
Riverbanks collapse after Oroville Dam spillway shutoff: “When state water officials scaled back their mass dumping of water from the damaged Oroville Dam this week, they knew the riverbed below would dry up enough to allow the removal of vast piles of debris from the fractured main spillway. But they apparently did not anticipate a side effect of their decision to stop feeding the gushing Feather River — a rapid drop in river level that, according to downstream landowners, caused miles of embankment to come crashing down. With high water no longer propping up the shores, the still-wet soil crashed under its own weight, sometimes dragging in trees, rural roads and farmland, they said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chroncile here: Riverbanks collapse after Oroville Dam spillway shutoff
Oroville Reservoir reaches ‘pivot point’, state water official says: “For the first time since a crisis at Oroville Reservoir forced the evacuation of more than 100,000 people almost three weeks ago, engineers reactivated a vital hydroelectric plant at the base of the towering dam on Friday. Renewed operation of the Hyatt Powerplant follows a frantic five-day race to remove tons of debris that posed a hazard to the facility’s massive turbines. Now that enough debris has been cleared, dam operators can safely release water into the Feather River without using the facility’s badly damaged main spillway. The water releases will also ensure the survival of millions of steelhead chinook salmon downstream, officials say. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Oroville Reservoir reaches ‘pivot point’, state water official says
Power plant restarted at troubled Oroville Dam: “Crews began restarting a power plant Friday at the base of Oroville Dam, allowing them to release water from the Northern California lake without having to send it over a badly damaged spillway, officials said. The move is a major milestone in the race to protect Oroville and downstream communities from the threat of flooding, said Bill Croyle, acting director of the California Department of Water Resources. Weekend rain is expected to raise the water level about five feet, but it will still be nearly 50 feet below capacity, he said. ... ” Read more from the AP via the OC Register here: Power plant restarted at troubled Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam faces another risk: Earthquakes from rapid rise in water levels: “The crisis over the last few weeks at Oroville Dam was about how to handle large amounts of water flowing into the lake with both of the reservoir’s spillways damaged. But there also was a seismic angle to the story. As Lake Oroville swung from being at 41% of capacity to 101% in just two months, scientists are asking whether the filling of the reservoir at the fastest rate in at least a generation can produce a damaging earthquake. No one knows for certain, but the question has been a source of debate since shortly after the nation’s tallest dam was built, and a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred that some believe was related to an unprecedented lowering and rise of reservoir levels. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Oroville Dam faces another risk: Earthquakes from rapid rise in water levels
The mission to capture storms’ water before it flows away: “With winter rains filling California rivers and reservoirs in a dramatic display of drought-ending bluster, the rush is on to capture the overflow before the bounty is squandered, washed forever to sea. Numerous water agencies from the Central Valley to the Central Coast are busy stashing surplus water underground, a practice known as groundwater recharge in which excess from lakes and creeks is steered onto barren fields, where it soaks into the aquifer below. But as well-meaning as these efforts are, they often lack the land to bank as much water as they could, experts say. Committing property to the low-payoff endeavor doesn’t usually pencil out. And even when the investment is made, there’s typically no assurance that those putting water in the ground will benefit — instead of a neighbor with a well. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: The mission to capture storms’ water before it flows away
LaMalfa, Garamendi introduce bill boosting Sites Reservoir: “Two north state congressmen have introduced joint legislation to help get Sites Reservoir built. The proposed reservoir west of Maxwell in Colusa and Glenn counties has been under review for decades, and could get some state funding under Proposition 1, a $7.5 billion water bond approved by voters in 2014. But the status of necessary federal and state approvals will determine which projects actually get funds. … ” More from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: LaMalfa, Garamendi introduce bill boosting Sites Reservoir
Northern California representatives introduce bill to facilitate construction of Sites Reservoir: “On Friday, Northern California Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) announced the introduction of H.R. 1269, which will accelerate the federal review of Sites Reservoir and better position the project for funding under Proposition 1, the voter-approved California water bond designed to make the state’s water systems more resilient. The bill also authorizes the federal government to participate in construction of the project should it be found feasible. … ” Read more from Lake County News here: Northern California representatives introduce bill to facilitate construction of Sites Reservoir
Advocates say downstream flooding can be prevented by dam at Temperance Flat: “Advocates for increased water storage and a new dam gathered at a swollen Lost Lake in Fresno County on Friday to remind the community about the increased potential of flooding because of major releases of water from Friant Dam. The water coming from Friant is being released to make room for more runoff, causing flooding in portions of the county park. But advocates, who represent elected officials, farmers and the building trades, said the flooding could be prevented if the state and federal government invest in a dam at Temperance Flat. The dam is considered critical to the Valley’s water future. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Advocates say downstream flooding can be prevented by dam at Temperance Flat
Valley leaders ask Governor Brown to fund more water storage: “Local water organizations and elected officials representing five counties in California held a press conference Friday addressing water storage in the Central Valley. They say the time is now to start building Temperance Flat Reservoir. They are asking Governor Jerry Brown to approve and fund the proposed one million two-hundred thousand acre feet reservoir at the back of Millerton Lake. Madera County Supervisor David Rogers says the state has not had enough water storage for years. ... ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: Valley leaders ask Governor Brown to fund more water storage
America’s biggest water users – farmers – learn to use less of it: “Kevin Rogers, a fifth-generation farmer near Scottsdale, sees how technology is helping him use less water. Wearing an off-white cowboy hat while driving his silver truck around his farm, he points to a flood-irrigated field that uses laser-leveling technology. The sensor gathers a signal from satellites to ensure fields are cleared as smooth as possible, preventing water from pooling. Water efficiency is improving at farms across the West. That’s important because agriculture consumes 80 percent of the nation’s water – and actually more than 90 percent of what’s used in many Western states, according to the US Department of Agriculture. … ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor here: America’s biggest water users – farmers – learn to use less of it
California set to regulate carcinogen in water for decades: “Carlos Arias is asked by many residents in the small town of Del Rey, California, if the water is safe to drink. He is the district manager of Del Rey’s community services district, which is tasked with providing drinking water and other services to its 2,000 residents. You might think it would be an easy question to answer. But it’s not. “We’ve been told by the government that prolonged use of this water could cause cancer – that’s all I can tell them,” said Arias. Del Rey, in Fresno County, is one of dozens of communities in the San Joaquin Valley with wells that contain 1,2,3-trichloropropane. ... ” Read more from Water Deeply here: California set to regulate carcinogen in water for decades
In commentary this weekend …
After Oroville, a flood policy for both deluge and drought: The Sacramento Bee writes, “One hundred fifty-six years ago, on the night before Christmas, a wave of epic storms rushed in from the Pacific Ocean, pummeling Gold Rush California with great sheets of violent rain. For more than 40 days and 40 nights, the rivers of the Sierra Nevada raged, swollen with melted snow. Mining camps, bridges and saloons were swept away like toys. Levees crumbled. Thousands died. An entire Chinese mining community perished in the Yuba River. The Central Valley became an inland sea, submerging farms, villages and whole herds of livestock. In the Sacramento Valley, telegraph poles stood under water 30 feet deep. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: After Oroville, a flood policy for both deluge and drought
What are we supposed to do with all this water? asks the Modesto Bee: They write, “Danger could be headed our way. Again. Those living near the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers west of Modesto have already seen high water, and they’re going to see much more. A week of higher temperatures in the mountains could turn snow into runoff. That would be nice if we had some place to put the water, but we don’t. The state is dragging out the process of spending the $2.5 billion voters approved in 2014 for more storage. Our reservoirs are full, or close to it. That’s especially true of Don Pedro on the Tuolumne River. Built to hold 2,030,000 acre-feet, it had 1,980,360 as of Friday – leaving a 2 percent cushion. Knowing there’s 17 feet of snow in Tuolumne Meadows and an estimated 2 million acre-feet of frozen water in the watershed, dam managers would like to increase flows now to avoid an emergency later. ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: What are we supposed to do with all this water?
In regional news and commentary this weekend …
Klamath dam removal plan on track: “The plan to remove four hydroelectric dams to improve fish passage and water quality on the Klamath River is proceeding on schedule for a 2020 demolition time, according to plan proponents. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will ultimately have to approve or deny the plan, and the change in administration in Washington, D.C., has led to three of the five seats on the commission being vacated. President Donald Trump will be responsible for appointing the three new members, but plan proponents such as the dams’ owning company PacifiCorp, do not believe this will affect the project’s timeline. … ” Read more from the Herald and News here: Klamath dam removal plan on track
Floods bring fresh prospects, adventures in gold mining: “Now is not the time to quit your day job in hopes of striking it rich. However, people with a new or renewed interest in gold mining may be spending more of their summer weekends near rivers and streams. Joey Wilson owns Adventures in Prospecting in Oroville, where he says there’s been more excitement among his gold mining customers. “There’s always been gold in the Feather River,” he said. What’s new is that the recent floods have moved things around. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Floods bring fresh prospects, adventures in gold mining
Water: One topic, many views shared at 25th Northern California Water Association annual meeting: “The high and dry of the water world is swimming in Bill Croyle’s head these days. More than a decade ago he started with the Department of Water Resources working in flood management. Drought happened and his focus changed. This year he carries the title of acting director of the agency that manages much of the state’s water supply, and he’s back to floods, this time in a big way. In January and February, 4.5 million acre feet of water fell in the Feather River Watershed, which is about the same amount of water that would normally flow in an entire year. Croyle was among several speakers at the annual meeting of the Northern California Water Association, held at Sierra Nevada Brewery on Friday. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register here: Water: One topic, many views shared at 25th NCWA annual meeting
Winter storms cause massive sewage spills in Sacramento region: “Just as recent storms revealed weaknesses in Northern California’s dams and levees, they also exposed problems with Sacramento-area wastewater systems that failed to contain sewage. Record precipitation in the last two months created more pressure than some sewer lines and plants could handle. From Jan. 1 to March 2, more than 1 million gallons of wastewater spilled in the capital region, most into waterways, according to reports made by sewage districts to the State Water Resources Control Board. While spills occurred in several communities, most were in areas served by the Sacramento Area Sewer District and the city of Placerville. Sacramento-area and Placerville officials say they are studying what must be done to prevent future spills. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Winter storms cause massive sewage spills in Sacramento region
New round of lead testing starts for Sacramento State drinking water: “A second round of testing has begun at Sacramento State after elevated levels of lead were found in drinking water across campus in January. Now, a private consultant hired by the university is testing the water to make sure levels are safe. But the consultant is using a different method of testing and isn’t shutting down any water sources unless they exceed a certain amount of lead. The consultant, California Industrial Hygiene Services, is only looking for lead levels that exceed the EPA action level, which is 15 parts per billion. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: New round of lead testing starts for Sacramento State drinking water
Explosion of Delta weeds brings out spraying crews earlier than expected: “State crews this week made their earliest start on their annual spraying to control water hyacinth and other weeds that clog waterways and create boating hazards in the Delta. Crews began spraying herbicides on the invasive water plants Wednesday, the earliest their permit allows, in several places around the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta, the state Department of Boating and Waterways reported. The state applies herbicides through Nov. 1. The state also mechanically removes the weeds in some places. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Explosion of Delta weeds brings out spraying crews earlier than expected
Some Delta boating restrictions lifted: “Officials relaxed boating restrictions in the south Delta a little on Thursday, announcing that they will allow boaters to use some channels under certain conditions. The change will help Discovery Bay boaters, in particular. The previous closure of Old River cut them off from much of the Delta. The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services announced that boats can now use Old River and some other nearby channels as long as they obey a 5 mph speed limit for two hours before and two hours after high tide. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Some Delta boating restrictions lifted
Lodi: Large wastewater spill at local winery now under control: “Woodbridge Winery has been able to stop the discharge of wastewater into the Mokelumne River. The company began pumping wastewater on Feb. 7 and reportedly spilled more than 5 million gallons into the river before the discharge was stopped on Feb. 15. Another 2.3 million gallons was transported to be disposed of or stored elsewhere. Despite the large quantities, local state agencies say the wastewater release does not pose any immediate harm to life and communities along the river. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here: Lodi: Large wastewater spill at local winery now under control
San Jose flooding: Feds refused to fund project that would have saved Rock Springs neighborhood: “More than a decade ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considered a $7.4 million project that would have protected the Rock Springs neighborhood from last month’s devastating floods. But it concluded the project was too costly — and refused to fund it. The Corps had worked for five years with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to design flood walls, levees and other improvements for the low-lying San Jose neighborhood, but in the end, Corps officials said they had no way to proceed because of a harsh calculus: They are not allowed by federal law to build projects whose cost exceeds whatever damage would occur in a major flood. And the projected damage from a flood in that area was relatively minor, the Corps concluded. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: San Jose flooding: Feds refused to fund project that would have saved Rock Springs neighborhood
Sinking ground near El Nido could impact flood fighting: “Land in the El Nido area sank an additional 16 inches from spring 2015 to fall 2016, a report from NASA shows, and the subsidence may affect flood-control measures after the first wet year in five years. The report released earlier this month found that a subsidence bowl about 25 miles in diameter centered on El Nido continued to sink near the East Side Bypass canal from May 2015 to September 2016. The bypass carries floodwater off the San Joaquin River in Fresno. That could complicate flood-fighting efforts later this spring, when snowmelt occurs and the water flows down the San Joaquin River system through small channels, said Jeanine Jones, interstate resources manager with the state Department of Water Resources. ... ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Sinking ground near El Nido could impact flood fighting
It’s really wet, so why is Santa Barbara still mired in drought: “More than four inches of rain pounded the red-tiled roofs of this coastal enclave one day last month. Waves damaged a scenic pier. Historic pine trees fell, crashing into vehicles. The airport closed. The county jail relocated 200 inmates. Residents evacuated three apartment buildings. Six vacation cabins and 15 vehicles were swept down a river in a nearby canyon. And yet, Santa Barbara remains one of the last, and perhaps worst, remnants of California’s historic drought. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: It’s really wet, so why is Santa Barbara still mired in drought
Mexican sewage spill flares US noses and tempers: “For more than two weeks, a stench of feces, ammonium and laundry detergent wafted through the air in the southwestern corner of the continental United States. Residents who contacted government offices got no answers. Finally, a U.S. official released a report that sparked a furious reaction: sewer repair work in Tijuana, Mexico, caused an estimated 143 million gallons to spill into the United States and the Pacific Ocean for 18 days. A Mexican official challenged those findings on Friday after a week of public uproar. The city of Imperial Beach was most affected by what Mayor Serge Dedina called “the tsunami of sewage spills.” ... ” Read more rom the AP here: Mexican sewage spill flares US noses and tempers
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
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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
