DAILY DIGEST: DWR evolves after going by the book during the Oroville crisis; Farmer who faced $2.8 million fine over plowing his field says case nearly bankrupted him; Toxic ash from California’s record wildfires is clogging drinking water systems across the state; and more …

In California water news today, DWR evolves after going by the book during the Oroville crisis; Farmer who faced $2.8 million fine over plowing his field says case nearly bankrupted him; Toxic ash from California’s record wildfires is clogging drinking water systems across the state; California salmon lose way after ride downstream in drought; Largest fish hatchery on the Sacramento River faces severe salmon shortage; Hatchery fish often fail in the wild; now we might know why; EPA officials, disheartened by agency’s direction, are leaving in drones; and more …

In the news today …

DWR evolves after going by the book during the Oroville crisis:  “Since the Lake Oroville spillway crisis, some Yuba-Sutter residents have expressed concerns over the Department of Water Resources’ handling of the ordeal, calling for the state agency to accept some level of responsibility in what happened.   Though DWR maintains it did everything by the book, an official with the department acknowledged that the book might be a bit outdated and said there is plenty to learn from the situation by all of the nation’s dam safety community.  Erin Mellon, assistant director of Public Affairs, said DWR is committed to public safety and is focused on completing repairs at both of the lake’s spillways by the beginning of 2019. Once an independent forensic team – the group tasked with determining the cause of the February spillway incident – releases its findings in early January, Mellon said, DWR will take those results and learn from them. … ”  Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: DWR evolves after going by the book during the Oroville crisis

Farmer who faced $2.8 million fine over plowing his field says case nearly bankrupted him:  “It’s been six years since John Duarte set out to grow wheat on 500 acres south of Red Bluff.  But no crop has been harvested since he planted wheat in 2012. Only weeds grow on the 450-acre plot surrounded by a barbed wire fence and a dusty dirt road south of Red Bluff.  While the area looks inconspicuous, for a few months last summer it drew nationwide attention when it became the focal point of a courtroom battle between Duarte and government officials who sought to fine him $2.8 million for plowing his field. ... ”  Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here:  Farmer who faced $2.8 million fine over plowing his field says case nearly bankrupted him

Toxic ash from California’s record wildfires is clogging drinking water systems across the state:  “The Fourmile Canyon Fire, sparked by a backyard burn west of Boulder, Colorado, in 2010, caused $220 million in damage and destroyed 168 homes. It also scorched nearly a quarter of a watershed that supplies water to the nearby community of Pine Brook Hills. The problems didn’t end there: Long after the blaze was put out, intense rainstorms periodically washed sediment and other particles downstream, disrupting water treatment and forcing the local water district to stop pulling water from Fourmile Creek, leaving it reliant upon water already collected in its reservoir. ... ”  Read more from Mother Jones here:  Toxic ash from California’s record wildfires is clogging drinking water systems across the state

California salmon lose way after ride downstream in drought:  “A desperate decision to truck California’s native baby salmon toward the Pacific Ocean during the state’s drought may have resulted in generations of lost young salmon now hard-pressed to find their way back to their reproductive grounds.  With fewer native fall-run Chinook salmon able to make their way back home to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery outside Anderson – the leading salmon hatchery in the state – that hatchery could have only about half as many young salmon as usual to release next spring, the Sacramento Bee reported Tuesday. … ”  Read more from the Record Searchlight here:  California salmon lose way after ride downstream in drought

Largest fish hatchery on the Sacramento River faces severe salmon shortage:  “The state’s largest fish hatchery on the Sacramento River is facing a severe salmon shortage.  The Coleman National Fish Hatchery says it will release half the number of fish that it usually releases.  “Coleman Hatchery can produce basically 12 million smolts in a year,” said Vance Staplin, a board member with the Golden Gate Salmon Association. “This year, they only have enough eggs for 6 million.” … ”  Read more from CBS Sacramento here:  Largest fish hatchery on the Sacramento River faces severe salmon shortage

Hatchery fish often fail in the wild; now we might know why:  “Wild salmon are struggling to get their groove back. Along North America’s Pacific coast, salmon populations—already hit by overfishing—have been forced to dodge the Blob and hungry seals. For years, Canada has tried to help bolster the salmon population by releasing hatchery-raised juvenile fish, or smolts, into the wild.  Scientists know these hatchery smolts don’t do well in the wild—the fish tend to die younger than their wild brethren and reproduce less, but it’s unclear why.  In a recent study, however, researchers think they’ve hit upon a possible explanation. ... ”  Read more from Hakai Magazine here:  Hatchery fish often fail in the wild; now we might know why

EPA officials, disheartened by agency’s direction, are leaving in drones:  “More than 700 people have left the Environmental Protection Agency since President Trump took office, a wave of departures that puts the administration nearly a quarter of the way toward its goal of shrinking the agency to levels last seen during the Reagan administration.  Of the employees who have quit, retired or taken a buyout package since the beginning of the year, more than 200 are scientists. An additional 96 are environmental protection specialists, a broad category that includes scientists as well as others experienced in investigating and analyzing pollution levels. Nine department directors have departed the agency as well as dozens of attorneys and program managers. Most of the employees who have left are not being replaced. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here:  EPA officials, disheartened by agency’s direction, are leaving in drones

In regional news and commentary today …

Sonoma County: Map identifies areas at risk from flooding, mudflows in aftermath of wildfires:  “The devastating October wildfires that swept through Sonoma County created a significant flood risk for people living in and nearby the burned areas until vegetation is restored. In order to help residents assess their risk and prepare for flooding, a post-fire hazard map is now available at www.SonomaCountyRecovers.org.    The post-fire hazard assessment map was created using a multi-agency analysis of the burn areas and identifies areas that have a high, moderate or low hazard estimate for flash floods, mudflows and debris flows.  … ”  Read more from KRCB here:  Sonoma County: Map identifies areas at risk from flooding, mudflows in aftermath of wildfires

Bone dry December does not make a drought, experts say:  “A bone-dry December in Santa Rosa and minimal rain anticipated in January may be conjuring up concerns of a renewed drought in a state short on precipitation since fall and with a skimpy Sierra snowpack.  But no worries so far, meteorologists and water managers said Tuesday, citing above- average water supplies in California’s major reservoirs and two typically wet winter months ahead. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here:  Bone dry December does not make a drought, experts say

Lake Tahoe: Making headway battling invasive aquatic plants:  “After four years of treatment, Emerald Bay remains free of aquatic invasive plants.  In 2010, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, in collaboration with California State Parks and the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program, began treating 6 acres of Emerald Bay to remove Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant that alters the aquatic ecosystem by raising the pH of the water, decreasing oxygen, and increasing water temperature. Dense mats of vegetation can also interfere with boat navigation and recreational activities such as paddling and swimming.  The Emerald Bay project was a model for success that is being replicated at other locations. ... ”  Read more from Lake Tahoe News here:  Lake Tahoe: Making headway battling invasive aquatic plants

Tuolumne County:  Deal aims to restore forests, support jobs:  “District 1 Supervisor Sherri Brennan could barely contain her emotion while praising a recently signed 10-year deal between the U.S. Forest Service and Tuolumne County that has potential to increase the pace and scale of restoration projects in the Stanislaus National Forest.  The chairwoman of the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors fought back tears while explaining how the master stewardship agreement approved Dec. 19 was one of the most gratifying accomplishments of her five-year tenure on the board.  “It’s hard to state in words the importance of what this is going to do,” Brennan said. ... ”  Read more from the Union Democrat here:  Tuolumne County:  Deal aims to restore forests, support jobs

San Diego went from worrying about having enough water to what’s in it:  “In 2017, San Diego stopped worrying so much about whether it would have enough water and started worrying about what was in the water.  Just as record snows fell across the West, ending a drought that had once seemed to spell tough times ahead for arid cities like San Diego, the region began dealing with sewage-filled rivers and lead in school drinking water.  In late January, the San Ysidro School District notified parents it had found lead in water coming from several faucets at one of its elementary schools. … ”  Read more from the Voice of San Diego here:  San Diego went from worrying about having enough water to what’s in it

Along the Colorado Basin …

Why water conservation efforts are complicating a fuel spill cleanup:  “What started as good news for water managers in New Mexico’s largest urban area has led to a headache for the Air Force and state environmental officials in charge of cleaning up a decades-old jet fuel spill that contaminates part of Albuquerque’s aquifer.  Earlier this year, conservation efforts by the local water authority led to a surprisingly quick rise in the aquifer beneath Albuquerque – normally a good thing. But that quick rise ended up submerging dozens of well screens used to monitor the top of the fuel spill that started at Kirtland Air Force Base on the southern edge of the city. ... ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  Why water conservation efforts are complicating a fuel spill cleanup

An elusive Colorado River drought plan fails to materialize – until now:  “When you’ve held on to something valuable for a long time, it can be hard to choose to give it up. When that something is water, it’s even harder — especially in the desert southwest.  But that’s the reality facing water managers in the lower stretches of the Colorado River, a lifeline for farms and cities in the country’s driest regions. Drought and population growth are forcing tough conversations and negotiations about who gets water and who must cut back. The future of agriculture, urban development and the environment in the seven states that rely on the river’s water — Arizona and California in particular — hinges on one measurement: How full is Lake Mead, the country’s largest human-made lake? … ”  Read more from KUNC here:  An elusive Colorado River drought plan fails to materialize – until now

Precipitation watch …

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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.

 

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