In California water news today, Friant Water Authority: ‘Valley in crisis’ from water imbalance; A rainy 2017 benefited the San Joaquin River’s salmon, but full restoration is yet to come; Bidding in secret: Officials quietly solicit contracts on ‘twin tunnels’ project despite lawsuits, lack of permits; Temperance Flat presentation heard by California Water Commission; Farmers look to rebuild after wildfire; After California’s most destructive fire season, a debate over where to rebuild homes; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Friant Water Authority: ‘Valley in crisis’ from water imbalance: “Friant Water Authority (FWA) released recently a brochure summarizing the water imbalance issue in the San Joaquin Valley, and it stated that even after a drought-ending wet season last year, the combined effects of prolonged drought and increasing regulations on water resources have placed the Valley in a severe state of overdraft — meaning groundwater is being pumped out faster than it can be replenished. The brochure states that groundwater overdraft in the San Joaquin Valley is estimated at 1.8 million acre feet (MAF) per year on average — nearly 22 Success Lakes at full capacity. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Friant Water Authority: ‘Valley in crisis’ from water imbalance
A rainy 2017 benefited the San Joaquin River’s salmon, but full restoration is yet to come: “The San Joaquin River is the second largest in California. Last year, it was listed by an environmental group as the second most endangered river in America. Recent years of drought haven’t taken their toll, but an exceptionally wet 2017 spelled optimism for many involved in the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. While significant obstacles to bring back the river’s salmon remain, there’s also progress swimming right below the surface. Nearly 40 years ago, back when Peter Moyle was a professor at Fresno State, the San Joaquin River was different. “My early memories of the river, when I first started working on it, was of a place that you wanted to avoid,” recounts Moyle. ... ” Read more from Valley Public Radio here: A rainy 2017 benefited the San Joaquin River’s salmon, but full restoration is yet to come
Bidding in secret: Officials quietly solicit contracts on ‘twin tunnels’ project despite lawsuits, lack of permits: “Opponents of the embattled “twin tunnels” project in the Delta were breathing a sigh of relief last fall when a $3 billion hole was suddenly blown into its financing scheme. Nevertheless, on December 7, California officials quietly opened a construction bidding process on the conveyance system—despite the missing funding, the project’s lack of permits, dozens of pending lawsuits, 90 percent of needed design work, a damning state auditor’s analysis, and the fact that environmental impact hearings on the tunnels haven’t taken place yet. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Bidding in secret: Officials quietly solicit contracts on ‘twin tunnels’ project despite lawsuits, lack of permits
Temperance Flat presentation heard by California Water Commission: “Some 12 proposed water storage projects shared the stage at a recent California Water Commission meeting with all vying for some share to be apportioned from the same $2.7 billion pot of money available through the Proposition 1 water bond. Kings County Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Pedersen attended the meeting and found the presentation by advocates of the Temperance Flat project above Fresno to be the most compelling. “It was just terrific “showing how the new dam’s benefits were widespread,” he said. “I know some environmental groups offered negative comments, but I would be very surprised if the project does not get commission funding.” ... ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Temperance Flat presentation heard by California Water Commission
Farmers look to rebuild after wildfire: “As the Thomas Fire continued to burn in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, farmers and ranchers have been counting their losses—and their blessings. “Everybody wants to rebuild,” said Jason Cole, a third-generation Ventura County farmer. “I haven’t heard any of my neighbors or anyone throwing in the towel.” Cole grows avocados and lemons and runs about 100 head of cattle at the northwest corner of Santa Paula. He said the fire started within a quarter-mile of his farm Dec. 4. As it spread, it torched all of his pastureland and damaged all of his ranches. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Farmers look to rebuild after wildfire
After California’s most destructive fire season, a debate over where to rebuild homes: “After a destructive wildfire swept from Calabasas to Malibu in 1993, the head of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy stood on a mountaintop on live TV and made a radical proposal. He called for a “three-strikes” rule to limit the number of times recovery funds could be spent to help rebuild a home destroyed by wildfire. Today, Joseph T. Edmiston is still wincing from the blowback. But he hasn’t backed down. Just the opposite. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: After California’s most destructive fire season, a debate over where to rebuild homes
Struggle to manage future wildfires as climate grows more unpredictable: “California’s recent wildfires have been nearly unprecedented in terms of their destructiveness and size and the season in which they burned. The Thomas Fire, for example, has grown into one of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, devouring thousands of acres daily as it moves from Ventura to Santa Barbara at a time of year more prone to gray skies and cold rain than burning forests. “The fact that one of California’s biggest wildfires is burning in December is mind-blowing,” said Jens Stevens, a postdoctoral researcher of forest ecology at the University of California, Berkeley. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Struggle to manage future wildfires as climate grows more unpredictable
Study finds California’s seaside cliffs crumbling without discernible pattern: “Thinking about building a new home on a bluff overlooking the sea? You may want to think again. A new report out of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography finds that methods of tracking coastal cliff erosion using historical data to predict the impacts of sea-level rise may be unreliable. “Using those old rates could significantly under predict what’s going to happen at a particular location,” said the study’s author and Scripps researcher Adam Young. “You could see very high rates of retreat in the future in areas that have so far seen very little.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Study finds California’s seaside cliffs crumbling without discernible pattern
Researchers hope to improve atmospheric river forecasts: “The Department Of Water Resources, NOAA, and SCRIPPS Institute Of Oceanography-UC San Diego have been working on the first ever atmospheric river study over the past decade. They collectively spent over $40 million constructing a network of 75 sensors across Northern California. The instruments gather data on wind speed & direction and moisture content from the lower parts of the atmosphere. ... ” Read more from CBS 13 here: Researchers hope to improve atmospheric river forecasts
In commentary today …
California is still dry and December is almost over. Is it too soon for the D word? Jeffrey Mount and Ellen Hanak write, “Is California back in drought? The unusually warm, dry start to this winter – along with intense wildfires in southern California – has many Californians experiencing “drought deja vu.” Despite this uneasy feeling, we are not in drought. The state’s reservoirs – the traditional measure of vulnerability during drought – are in good shape thanks to last year’s near-record precipitation. And for a change, more water was stored in the state’s underground water basins this past year than was taken out. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: California is still dry and December is almost over. Is it too soon for the D word?
In regional news and commentary today …
Marysville City Council approves study for Ellis Lake: “Marysville City Council members Tuesday approved an agreement for an environmental engineering services company to study ways of improving the water quality in Ellis Lake. The issue with the lake is that it has a surplus of algae blooms that are contributing to its poor water quality, said Jim Bermudez, director of the Community Development and Services Department for Marysville, in a staff report. The council unanimously approved a professional services agreement with EKI Environment and Water worth $44,400 to study the lake’s water quality and evaluate ways of mitigating the algae issue. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Marysville City Council approves study for Ellis Lake
With Cal Am’s proposed desal plant beset with obstacles, a new plan rises to the forefront: “Residents of the Monterey Peninsula, rest assured: No matter what happens with California American Water’s proposed desalination plant in Marina, there will be water. “The sky’s not going to fall,” says Dave Stoldt, general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. That was the key takeaway from hearings the California Public Utilities Commission held in October and November with respect to Cal Am’s proposed project, which has faced vehement opposition from the Marina Coast Water District and the city of Marina over perceived impacts to the region’s groundwater supply. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: With Cal Am’s proposed desal plant beset with obstacles, a new plan rises to the forefront
Commentary: Cal Am: The cost of desal more than meets the headlines, says Jeff Linam: He writes, “The cost of our community’s future water supply is undoubtedly a concern to many. While the total price tag of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project may sound intimidating, it’s important to know California American Water is pursuing multiple avenues to reduce the cost of this critically needed project, while building a secure water supply that will protect our community from drought and meet environmental and regulatory orders to curtail pumping from the Carmel River and Seaside Groundwater Basin. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Cal Am: The cost of desal more than meets the headlines
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: Fish to benefit if large dams adopt new operating approach; Salmon help their offspring by dying on the spawning grounds; ‘The fish will always fool you’; The fish nerd’s holiday book list; and more …
- It’s not too late to support Maven’s Notebook – and get a tax deduction for 2017
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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.
