DAILY DIGEST: Dam inspectors check for weak spots on Shasta Dam; Q&A with farmers Cannon Michael and Brandon Morris; Lawmakers pass bill on stormwater fees; Water Board releases new Supplemental Environmental Project Policy for review; Friday flight over Oroville; and more …

In California water news today, Shasta Dam inspectors check for weak spots on Shasta Dam; Q&A with California farmers Cannon Michael and Brandon Morris; California lawmakers pass bill on stormwater fees; Water Board unleashes new Supplemental Environmental Project Policy for public comment; ‘Instant wetlands’ may help solve water quality challenges; Record heat, lightning, fires, intense rain: California’s extreme weather gets wilder; and more …

In the news today …

Dam inspectors check for weak spots on Shasta Dam:  “A team of engineers were out this week with hammers banging on the face of Shasta Dam.  Hanging by ropes from the top of the 602-foot-tall dam, the group was inspecting the spillway, looking for weak spots in the concrete.  Don Bader, area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said they were using hammers to do “soundings,” that indicate weak spots. … ”  Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here:  Dam inspectors check for weak spots on Shasta Dam

Q&A with California farmers Cannon Michael and Brandon Morris:  “The scale of California’s agricultural production is staggering.  Farmers and ranchers in California generate ~$47 billion in direct annual revenue (roughly 2% of the state’s GDP) and produce over one third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts, including 99% of artichokes and walnuts, 71% of spinach, and 69% of carrots among others (depending on the year).  With the state’s population predicted to be 45 million by 2040, to say nothing of the predicted global population rise, agriculture’s ability to produce more food with less water—while maintaining productivity—is center stage. … We had the chance to visit with two farmers, Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming Company and Brandon Morris of B&D Morris Farms, about what it is like as farmers in California and what they wish the rest of us knew about water, food, and agriculture. ... ”  Continue reading at Stanford News here:  Q&A with California farmers Cannon Michael and Brandon Morris

California lawmakers pass bill on stormwater fees:  “Californians could see their water bills increase under a measure passed by lawmakers Thursday.  The legislative bill approved by the state Assembly would let local governments charge residents for storm water management systems without voter approval.  Supporters of the measure say it will help cities and counties prevent flooding and save water. Opponents say it violates Californians’ right to vote on taxes.  Gov. Jerry Brown must sign the legislation for it to become law. Under the bill, local governments could charge residents to construct storm water control facilities, which divert and store rain runoff. ... ”  Read more from SF Gate here:  California lawmakers pass bill on stormwater fees

Water Board releases new Supplemental Environmental Project Policy for public comment:  “The regulated community in California may soon have additional reasons to implement supplemental environmental projects (SEPs) when settling an administrative environmental enforcement action. Under a 2009 State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) policy, settling parties may voluntarily undertake an environmentally beneficial project in return for an offset of a portion of any civil penalty, provided that the project meets certain criteria. The Water Board has now released sweeping proposed amendments to its Policy on Supplemental Environmental Projects (draft SEP Policy) that will incentivize more projects. ... ”  Read more from Lexology here:  Water Board unleashes new Supplemental Environmental Project Policy for public comment

‘Instant wetlands’ may help solve water quality challenges:  “Wetlands are the kidneys of our coastal streams and ocean. Wetlands remove pollutants through absorption by plants and within sediments, degradation by the sun and metabolism by bacteria. In the pre-Columbian world, the balance between limited pollution and vast coastal wetlands ensured healthy coastal waters. Today that balance has been disrupted with pollution from our cities and farms increasing significantly while much of our coastal wetlands have been lost to these other land uses. Now, both cities and farmers are being asked to play a role in improving water quality; helping reduce shellfish contamination and toxic red tides. … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here:  ‘Instant wetlands’ may help solve water quality challenges

Record heat, lightning, fires, intense rain: California’s extreme weather gets wilder:  “The heat wave that has gripped California for a week took a dramatic turn Thursday as lightning storms sparked brush fires, knocked out power to thousands and caused downpours across the region.  Forecasters said the extreme weather will continue through the weekend, with some parts of Northern California flirting with all-time record high temperatures. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Record heat, lightning, fires, intense rain: California’s extreme weather gets wilder

In commentary today …

Sacramento sets eyes on taxing our drinking water:  Phillip Chen writes, “Sacramento is setting its eyes on the latest resource it can tax in California — drinking water.  For the first time in California’s history, lawmakers are proposing a 95-cent per month tax on your water bill. Senate Bill 623 would establish a new water connection tax, fertilizer tax and milk tax to raise about $200 million for a new “Safe and Affordable Water” fund.  While we all can all agree that all Californians should have access to safe and clean drinking water, there are ample general fund resources and many federal grants available to pay for those costs. The answer is to this problem is not imposing a new $200 million annual water tax. ... ”  Read more at the OC Register here:  Sacramento sets eyes on taxing our drinking water

Save water, save energy, save California, says the Los Angeles Times:  They write, “California’s lengthy drought has prompted state, regional and local officials to take a series of steps in recent years to restrict water use. One of the first measures lawmakers adopted was an urban conservation plan to ensure that future consumption in California’s cities would not outstrip a dwindling supply. Modeled on tough goals that had been passed to reduce energy use and limit the release of greenhouse gasses, the 20 x 2020 Water Conservation Plan aims for a 20% per capita reduction by 2020.  That’s not as big a leap as it might sound. With a little planning and some modest lifestyle changes, most residents ought to be able to do just fine on 100 gallons a day, well below the target of the 2020 plan. Many Californians get by on less than 60 gallons a day already with no obvious hardship. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Save water, save energy, save California, says the Los Angeles Times

Water manager insomnia: What keeps Gary Arant up at night:  He writes: “A standard question often asked people in charge of important things (such as being responsible for the water and wastewater needs of 26,000 people as well as hundreds of businesses and farms in our service area), is “What Keeps You Awake at Night.”  My answer: The literal army of state legislators and bureaucrats working hard to dream up ways to micro-manage anything and everything your water agency does, how much water you can use on a daily basis and take your money to solve other people’s problems making your monthly water bill more expensive without providing you or our community any benefit. … ”  Read more from the Valley Roadrunner here:  What keeps me awake at night: Water manager insomnia

In regional news and commentary today …

Bill could increase taxes, but provide safe water in Tulare County:  “Supporters of a water bill making its way through the legislature are calling for complete backing for the proposed legislation as it nears a full vote in the Assembly.  As proposed, SB 623 would establish a fund to finance projects for communities and school districts dealing with unsafe drinking water.  “SB 623 is a good faith effort to help poor families get access to water and to help small water systems clean-up contaminated water sources,” said California Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford). ... ”  Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here:  Bill could increase taxes, but provide safe water in Tulare County

Huntington Beach desalination plant one step closer to reality:  “A desalination plant planned for Huntington Beach and more than a decade in the making got a small step closer toward opening, this week, after its application with the regional water district was determined to be ready for consideration.  The agency also has enough information to make a decision about whether the project complies with the state’s ocean plan.  The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board now must review Poseidon’s plans for a desalination plant by April at the latest, giving the company — and its numerous opponents — a firm timeline, according to the project’s Vice President of Project Management Scott Maloni. ... ”  Read more from the OC Register here:  Huntington Beach desalination plant one step closer to reality

Is Arrowhead bottled water really spring water?  Nestle confronts questions as officials investigate:  “Nestled in thick brush high in the San Bernardino Mountains, bunker-like structures protrude from the rocky slopes. Built with stone and concrete and secured with metal doors and padlocks, these vaults are connected to a series of stainless steel pipelines that run down the mountainside like veins.  The food and beverage giant Nestle uses this system, which includes boreholes and tunnels drilled deep into the mountainside, to collect water and pipe it out of the San Bernardino National Forest. The water is bottled and sold as Arrowhead 100% Mountain Springs Water. ... ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here:  Is Arrowhead bottled water really spring water?  Nestle confronts questions as officials investigate

San Diego has more water than it needs, an ongoing series:  “In the latest episode of San Diego Actually Has More Water Than It Needs (and Has for a While), the San Diego County Water Authority is trying to come up with incentives to get more of its clients — which include water departments across the region — to use more water.  Demand for water is so low that it could end up sitting in the main pipeline. If it sits there too long, it will become undrinkable.  Water officials are eager for a short-term solution while they try to figure out what to do. They need to do something quickly. ... ”  Read more from the Voice of San Diego here:  San Diego has more water than it needs, an ongoing series

Minute 323: Federal Officials Release Summary of New Agreement with Mexico Regarding the 1944 Colorado River Treaty: “The United States and Mexico are very close to entering a formal decision that will continue the two nations’ cooperative efforts to manage water resources under the “United States-Mexico Treaty on Utilization of Water of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande” (1944 Treaty). The 1944 Treaty renamed and updated the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC or Commission), which is a joint Mexican and United States’ diplomatic commission, charged with applying the 1944 Treaty, exercise of rights and obligations under the 1944 Treaty for both countries, and the settlement of any disputes regarding water from the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and the Rio Grande, which forms the border between Mexico and the United States. The Commission uses “minutes” to describe operational aspects associated with the 1944 Treaty’s implementation and to record the Commission’s decisions. … ”  Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here:  Minute 323: Federal Officials Release Summary of New Agreement with Mexico Regarding the 1944 Colorado River Treaty

Friday flight over Oroville …

Work continues around the clock on the Oroville spillway, with concrete taking center stage during the night. Structural concrete is poured for the lower spillway, roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is laid to fill the void in the middle chute, and leveling concrete goes in on the upper spillway. The crew carries on during the day, installing forms for the upper spillway walls, and laying more RCC in the middle chute.

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• NEWS WORTH NOTING: Public warned to be aware of harmful algal blooms this holiday weekend; Reclamation highlights Yolo Bypass tools used to evaluate improvements for fish; Proposed north Natomas flood risk reduction project out for public review; Weekly Water and Climate Update
• THIS JUST IN … State Water Board sets date to start Part 2 of California Water Fix hearings; issues ruling letter

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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.