DAILY DIGEST: California ecologists strike back against invasive green crabs; 2.4 million trees are dead in Yosemite National Park; House approves bill to expand hydropower; Trump ignores climate change. That’s very bad for disaster planners; and more …

In California water news today, California ecologists strike back against invasive green crabs; New Salton Sea plan won’t stop environmental disaster, Redlands expert says; House approves bill to expand hydropower; Trump ignores climate change. That’s very bad for disaster planners; U.S. household water use continues to decline; and more …

In the news today …

California ecologists strike back against invasive green crabs:  “As far as crabs go, the European green crab might not look like much. They’re small — only about 4 inches wide — and lack the giant claws of fiddler crabs or spindly limbs of king crabs. But don’t be fooled. Green crabs are voracious predators that rank among the world’s worst invasive species.  Scientists estimate green crabs cost the fishing industry close to $19 million annually on the East Coast alone. And in recent years, they have been spotted along the West Coast from Monterey Bay to British Columbia. … ”  Read more from KQED here:  California ecologists strike back against invasive green crabs

California’s new Salton Sea plan won’t stop environmental disaster, Redlands expert says:  “California’s Water Resources Control Board described its new Salton Sea plan as a landmark agreement, but at least one expert is questioning the modified approach, calling it “Band-Aids to a very serious environmental disaster.”  With water deliveries from the Colorado River coming to a halt at the end of this year, the shrinking lake will be reduced at an even faster rate, which the state says poses a public health risk due to particulate air pollution by dust blown from the exposed lake bed.  The rapidly declining water levels will also increase the lake’s salinity, threatening fish that are essential for migrating birds, including several threatened and endangered species, the state said in a statement. ... ”  Read more from the Redlands Daily Facts here:  California’s new Salton Sea plan won’t stop environmental disaster, Redlands expert says

House approves bill to expand hydropower:  “The Republican-controlled House has approved a bill aimed at expanding hydroelectric power, an action supporters said would boost a clean source of renewable energy but opponents denounced as a giveaway to large power companies.  The bill, sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, would define hydropower as a renewable energy source and streamline the way projects are licensed, with primary authority granted to a single federal agency. Lawmakers approved the bill Wednesday, 257-166. ... ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  House approves bill to expand hydropower

Trump ignores climate change.  That’s very bad for disaster planners:  “When Hurricane Irma swept through the Florida Keys in September, it brought a vivid preview of the damage that climate change could inflict on the region in the decades ahead.  The storm washed out two sections of the highway connecting the Keys, leaving residents stranded for days. With ocean levels rising around these low-lying islands, however, that interruption could end up seeming minor: By 2030, almost half the county’s roads could be affected by flooding.  “We know that the water isn’t going away,” said Rhonda Haag, the sustainability director for Monroe County, which is preparing to elevate vulnerable roadways in the Keys. But the task is so costly, up to $7 million per mile of road, that the county may ultimately require outside help. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here:  Trump ignores climate change.  That’s very bad for disaster planners

U.S. household water use continues to decline:  “Continuing a trend that began in the early 1990s with tighter federal plumbing standards, U.S. household water use dropped again in 2015.  When assessing national figures, there are two main ways to gauge water use at home: the amount used per person and total water use, which incorporates changes in population. By both measures, water use is declining, according to the latest report from the U.S. Geological Survey, the agency that gathers national data every five years.  For people served by public and private utilities, water use for cooking, drinking, showering, lawn watering, car washing, and other household tasks dropped to an average of 83 gallons per person per day in 2015, down seven percent compared to 2010. Household use was 105 gallons per person per day in 1990. ... ”  Read more from the Circle of Blue here:  U.S. household water use continues to decline

In commentary today …

One tunnel would still devastate the Delta, say Osha Meserve and Barbara Barrigan-Parilla:  They write, “California WaterFix is at an impasse, or so it seems. In a perfect world, the project’s gaping hole in funding from State Water Project contractors, embarrassing outcomes from state and federal audits, and vehement opposition from the general public and environmental groups would have killed the tunnels.  But the real world functions on compromise and profit. This view is echoed by those, including Jay Lund of UC Davis’s Center for Watershed Sciences, who say there is “no perfect solution” to California’s water crisis and suggest that tunnel opponents consider a single tunnel in the Delta. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  One tunnel would still devastate the Delta

California needs to rethink urban fire risk after Wine Country tragedy, says Max Moritz:  He writes, “We recently witnessed the wind-driven Tubbs fire blast its way through densely urbanized neighborhoods in Northern California, causing dozens of fatalities and thousands of home losses. This tragic event easily ranks as the most catastrophic fire in modern California history. Stories of how fast the fire spread and how little time people had to evacuate are stunning.  Despite how unusual the devastation appears, we need to recognize that these structure-to-structure “urban conflagrations” have happened in the past and will happen again. Yet these fires revealed that we have key gaps in our policy and planning related to assessing risk in fire-prone environments. … ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  California needs to rethink urban fire risk after Wine Country tragedy

In regional news and commentary today …

Public invited to ask questions about Klamath Dam removal at Eureka open house:  “The public is being invited by proponents of a plan to remove four Klamath River dams starting in 2020 to come learn about the proposed project at the Adorni Center in Eureka on Thursday evening.  The Klamath River Renewal Corporation, a private nonprofit created to take control of the hydroelectric dams from the Oregon-based energy company PacifiCorp as part of the dam removal process, has been hosting a series of open house meetings in California and Oregon this week to give the public a chance to learn more about the project and to ask questions. The final open house will take place in Eureka on Thursday. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here:  Public invited to ask questions about Klamath Dam removal at Eureka open house

Ukiah hires firm to build recycled water system:  “At its last meeting, the Ukiah City Council awarded a $22.3 million contract to build the first three phases of a long-planned Recycled Water System, also known as the Purple Pipe Project.  “This is the culmination of seven years of (working on an alternative) to putting treated wastewater into the river, which we will not be doing any longer,” said Public Works Director Tim Eriksen, who also serves as the city’s engineer.  The contract approved at the Nov. 1 meeting was to Ghilotti Construction of Santa Rosa for the first three phases of the recycled water project. … ”  Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here:  Ukiah hires firm to build recycled water system

Flood-prone Pajaro River levee may see improvements with $248 million proposal:  “A historically wet winter that saw the Pajaro River surge to levels not seen in decades has energized an effort to improve its flood-prone levee — improvements that residents and local leaders say are long overdue.  Coming just as the first raindrops of a new season have begun to fall, the Army Corps of Engineers released of a draft report at the end of October, the first major step toward making those improvements a reality. … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here:  Flood-prone Pajaro River levee may see improvements with $248 million proposal

2.4 million trees are dead in Yosemite National Park:  “Among Yosemite’s emerald forests, parched brown timber poke out like matchsticks waiting for a spark.  There are 2.4 million dead trees within about 131,000 acres of the national park, according the latest fall count, says park spokesperson Scott Gediman.  “As long as these things have been tracked, it’s the most dead trees we’ve seen in the park,” Gediman says.  Dead trees can pose a danger to humans; a falling pine killed a Yosemite employee in March. They also can fall on roads, hotels, cabins and tents. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here:  2.4 million trees are dead in Yosemite National Park

Calabasas tries underground storage:  “Los Angeles County is designing a novel way to help Calabasas treat and reuse stormwater that carries pollutants into the Pacific Ocean.  County officials hosted a community forum Nov. 3 at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center to answer questions and address concerns about the $8-million drainage system and underground storage cistern that would be installed beneath Gates Canyon Park. City officials are working with Los Angeles County to design a stormwater treatment facility that will be installed beneath Gates Canyon Park next year, and Alex Farassati, environmental services supervisor for Calabasas, said the project will save more than $15,000 in annual irrigation costs. … ”  Read more from the Acorn here:  Calabasas tries underground storage

Scope of Devil’s Gate Dam sediment removal downgraded by county supervisors’ vote:  “The Los Angeles County Public Works Department’s plan to remove 2.4 million cubic yards of sediment from behind Devil’s Gate Dam at Hahamongna Watershed Park was downgraded Tuesday, after county supervisors voted to cap removal at 1.7 million cubic yards.  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was to decide whether portions of an environmental review for the project should be recertified, after a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge deemed the county’s document insufficient while considering a lawsuit brought against the agency by environmental groups the Arroyo Seco Foundation and Pasadena Audubon Society. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Scope of Devil’s Gate Dam sediment removal downgraded by county supervisors’ vote

Long Beach settles lawsuit that could result in reduced water, sewer rates:  “Water and sewer rates may be going down for Long Beach customers after the city reached a settlement in a lawsuit that claimed officials illegally hiked rates while assessing millions of dollars in fees to its own water department.  In the past decade, the city has collected approximately $91 million in so-called pipeline permit fees from its own water department, according to city figures. The revenue from the fees, which are tacked onto the water and sewer utility funds, wound up in the city’s general fund, a pot of money used for basic city services as well as employee salaries and pension costs. … ”  Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here:  Long Beach settles lawsuit that could result in reduced water, sewer rates

Precipitation watch …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• SCIENCE NEWS: Coming together in the name of salmon; Who’s eating who: Trees eat fish too; Trees tell us much about fire: What will we do about it?; Technology week: Exploring the wide range of technologies NOAA uses in its mission; and more …
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Sustainable Groundwater Management Program Updates: New draft BMPs, guidance documents for engagement and communication released
• ANNOUNCEMENT: California Water Fix Ruling Letter, November 8th

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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.