In California water news today, Could the feds bigfoot California over water?; DWR submits plans to address Oroville Dam forensic report; New fees proposed to pay for California’s contaminated water problem; About 100,000 San Joaquin Valley residents live without clean water; study suggests access is close; Infrastructure could improve unsafe drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley; Late winter storm piling up snow in the Sierra; In Sierra, snow storms evoke ‘March Miracle’; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Could the feds bigfoot California over water? “U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recent lawsuit against the State of California over immigration isn’t just about immigration, of course. More fundamentally, it’s about the limits of states’ rights. The move could be a harbinger of other attempts by the Trump administration to muscle obstreperous states that don’t conform to its agenda. And that begs the question: in what other areas could the feds trump, so to speak, California policies? Water is a strong candidate. … ” Read more from California Magazine here: Could the feds bigfoot California over water?
DWR submits plans to address Oroville Dam forensic report: “The state Department of Water Resources submitted its plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday to address findings in the independent forensic report. The extensive forensic report, released on Jan. 5, blamed “long-term systematic failure,” including faulty design and insufficient maintenance, for the Oroville Dam crisis in February 2017. It also had criticisms of DWR’s response to the spillways’ failure. To address flaws pointed out by the independent forensic team, one thing the department has done is hire two executive-level engineers — one to report to the directorate and one to report to the chief dam safety engineer, Joel Ledesma, deputy director for the State Water Project, told FERC in a letter. ... ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: DWR submits plans to address Oroville Dam forensic report
New fees proposed to pay for California’s contaminated water problem: “As part of his final budget proposal, Gov. Jerry Brown wants new fees on water to provide clean and affordable drinking water to the approximately 1 million Californians who are exposed to contaminated water in their homes and communities each year. The fund would pay for short- and long-term improvements to water infrastructure and help clean up contaminated drinking water systems that affect primarily rural, low-income regions. The fund would rely on fees paid by residential and commercial water users as well as fertilizer and dairy producers. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: New fees proposed to pay for California’s contaminated water problem
About 100,000 San Joaquin Valley residents live without clean water; study suggests access is close: “There are almost 100,000 San Joaquin Valley residents living without access to clean drinking water. This is according to a new UC Davis study, which suggests that permanent solutions aren’t that far away. These low-income communities, without city-government representation, live in eight San Joaquin Valley counties. But 66 percent of these people live within one mile of a system that could supply them clean water. “There’s a large number of people who could easily be hooked up to clean water at a fairly low cost to the state — that was pretty tremendous for all of us to find out,” said co-author Camille Pannu. ... ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: About 100,000 San Joaquin Valley residents live without clean water; study suggests access is close
Infrastructure could improve unsafe drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley: “Tens of thousands of people living in the San Joaquin Valley’s unincorporated, rural, low-income communities have unsafe drinking water pouring from their taps. That water is delivered from a patchwork of community water systems that often don’t meet state or federal standards for drinking water or from private wells that are not tested. However, a UC Davis study that assessed water systems throughout the valley found that safe water is often close at hand. Most people without safe water, or about 99,000 residents, live near a public water system with clean water. They could access that water if service extensions, piping and other infrastructure were implemented, the report found. … ” Read more from the Davis Enterprise here: Infrastructure could improve unsafe drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley
Late winter storm piling up snow in the Sierra: “Late-winter storms are piling up snow in the Sierra Nevada and scattering showers elsewhere around the state. The National Weather Service says there will be periods of heavy snow and strong winds Wednesday, and again Thursday afternoon into Saturday. Elevations above 3,000 feet (914 meters) can expect 1 to 3 feet (0.3 meter to 0.9 meter) of snow, while pass elevations could get up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) through late Friday. The weather service warns that drivers may experience whiteout conditions, chain controls and road closures. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Late winter storm piling up snow in the Sierra
In Sierra, snow storms evoke ‘March Miracle’: “At the Royal Gorge cross-country ski resort near Truckee, Bill Blaylock gratefully eyed Tuesday’s darkening skies and gusting winds. One of the driest Februaries on record had left a scant amount of snow scattered across the mountain terrain. While alpine ski resorts muddled through with manufactured snow, there wasn’t enough natural snow to keep many cross-country ski trails open. Royal Gorge had feared losing half its usual 75-day season, said Blaylock, assistant director at the resort. But happily, March began with a blizzard. With a series of new storms hitting the mountains this week — and possibly more to follow — Royal Gorge expects to remain open through mid-April. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: In Sierra, snow storms evoke ‘March Miracle’
Coastal commissioners face potentially huge fines under judge’s ruling: “California coastal commissioners have a nearly impossible job given the agency’s lack of support for its volunteer board. However, that doesn’t necessarily excuse five former and current members of the commission from potentially having to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines under a 2016 lawsuit alleging they hid private meetings with developers and other lobbyists from the public. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Coastal commissioners face potentially huge fines under judge’s ruling
California almonds are back after four years of brutal drought: “This year’s California almonds have had their share of turmoil. Frost and high winds at the end of February damaged parts of the crop, grown throughout the state’s Central Valley. Farmers tried to limit the losses, running water to heat the ground and, in some cases, flying helicopters over trees to keep cold air from settling. The full impact won’t be known until later this month. “It’s wait and see now,” said Ryan Jacobsen, chief executive officer of the Fresno County Farm Bureau in California’s San Joachin Valley. Almonds are the county’s biggest cash crop. These days, he’s checking his already bloomed trees and seeing whether there’s black or green at the bottom, the telltale sign of whether a nut is viable. … ” Read more from Bloomberg News here: California almonds are back after four years of brutal drought
Grower cultivates common ground on water issues: “From the moment John Garner took over his family’s walnut and rice farming operation in Colusa and Glenn counties, he made a point of remaining involved in California’s often contentious water issues. Garner, now 71, tells the story of when, as a 19-year-old in the late 1950s, he accompanied his father to a dedication of the Sacramento River levee system at Knights Landing. He remembers what his father told then-Gov. Edmond Gerald “Pat” Brown, Sr. “He said to the governor, ‘This could be the demise of Northern California. ’At that point in time, I thought to myself, ‘How important is this water situation?’” … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Grower cultivates common ground on water issues
In commentary today …
Water and the public health crisis: Bill Monning writes, “Many Californians know of the lead poisoning in the public water system in Detroit. Very few know of the contaminated water crisis impacting more than 1 million Californians. After years of trying to resolve the failure of the State of California to address this public health challenge, advocates have reached a historic negotiated agreement. “We’re finally at a point where we could actually solve this,” Laurel Firestone, Co-Founder of the Visalia-based environmental justice nonprofit Community Water Center told the Los Angeles Times last summer. … ” Continue reading at Capitol Weekly here: Water and the public health crisis
Don’t impose water tax, says Tim Shaw: “Safe and affordable drinking water is essential for all Californians, including those who live in the Rio Linda Elverta Community Water District in Sacramento County. The district has responded aggressively to hexavalent chromium in a small number of wells, dedicating more than $3.9 million. The same dilemma is playing out in some disadvantaged and rural communities, but a bill in the Legislature that proposes a drinking water tax on residential and commercial water users is the wrong approach. A similar trailer bill is being discussed in a budget subcommittee Wednesday and Thursday. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Don’t impose water tax
Five things companies can do to grow in a water-stressed world: Will Sarni and Paul Reig write, “In a water-stressed world, there’s a powerful business case for companies to manage this essential resource sustainably, engage in water stewardship and drive collective action. As a shared resource, water provides diminished benefits to all if each user acts only in their own self-interest. Addressing today’s wicked water problems – including droughts, dwindling groundwater and failing infrastructure – will require coordinated, collective responses. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Five things companies can do to grow in a water-stressed world
In regional news and commentary today …
Sierra Nevada Conservancy award is Butte Fire Safe’s largest grant yet: “The Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the State of California, has awarded the Butte Fire Safe Council the Butte Creek Forest Health Project, a $499,100 grant, the largest grant the Butte Council has ever received. “We have helped thin out a little more than 500 acres of overgrown forest in Maglia in partnership with Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service which has been over a million dollars in investment,” Butte County Fire Safe Executive Director Cali-Jane said. “This new grant is significant in being able to complete high priority areas for the Butte Creek watershed.” ... ” Read more from the Paradise Post here: Sierra Nevada Conservancy award is Butte Fire Safe’s largest grant yet
First meeting of Owens Valley Groundwater Authority with fully constituted board: “The fully constituted 11-member board of the Owens Valley Groundwater Authority sort of looks like the early days of a marriage—an arranged marriage in which the partners really don’t know each other or what to expect from the relationship. The Authority held its fifth meeting last Thursday. It took the first four before the members were comfortable committing to funding levels and the corresponding voting power. Now the OVGA has to establish itself as the sole agency for the Owens Valley groundwater basin, at least that part not under land owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, hire a plan consultant, bring in two levels of participants—identified as associates and interested parties and figure out a process to reimburse members as the state grant funding becomes available. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: First meeting of Owens Valley Groundwater Authority with fully constituted board
Ridgecrest: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority to discuss new groundwater pumping fee: “The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board of directors will discuss starting a new water pumping fee schedule at its March 15 meeting. According to the agenda meeting packet, the board will not be able to approve of the fee just yet, but a discussion is on the agenda and it’s possible the board may vote on action that would get the ball rolling towards the new water pumping fee. The groundwater authority’s state-mandated mission is to create a Groundwater Sustainability Plan by early 2020, and then to implement that plan by sometime around 2040. In order to make sure they can continue working on this mission, IWVGA is planning to fund itself the way public agencies so often do: by introducing a new fee. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority to discuss new groundwater pumping fee
Kern County: Supervisors hear plan to clear trees killed by drought, beetles: “Kern County Fire Chief Brian Marshall and fire department forester Jeff Gletne laid out the status of the county’s efforts to remove thousands of dead wildland pine trees killed by bark beetles in a report to the Kern County Board of Supervisors Tuesday morning. So far the county has cleared trees in Bear Valley Springs and Alta Vista using a number of different resources and in cooperation with utility companies. But the effort got a serious shot in the arm recently. … ” Read more from Bakersfield.com here: Supervisors hear plan to clear trees killed by drought, beetles
Montecito Water District corrects facts on January 9 debris flow incidents: “Since the debris flow that occurred on January 9th, widespread reporting of inaccurate information has occurred. In advance of last week’s rain, Montecito Water District (MWD) responded to numerous customer inquiries about the functionality and condition of District infrastructure. The District provides this press release in an effort to alleviate concerns and disseminate accurate information. ... ” Read more from the ACWA’s Water News here: Montecito Water District corrects facts on January 9 debris flow incidents
Along the Colorado River …
Dust deposition more influential on snowmelt than warming temperatures, study finds: “According to a recent study, increasing temperatures are not the only factors contributing to spring snowmelt. “So people see temperatures increasing in the spring and summer and then they also see snow starting to melt from the mountain so there’s this assumption that increasing air temperatures forces snowmelt, but there’s actually more energy contained in the sunlight, than there is increasing temperatures,” said Dr. Mckenzie Skiles, a snow hydrologist and assistant profession in the geography department at University of Utah. ... ” Read more from Utah Public Radio here: Dust deposition more influential on snowmelt than warming temperatures, study finds
Scarce Rocky Mountain snowpack deepens Southwest water supply concerns: “How bad is 2018 snowpack in the southern Rocky Mountains, you ask? Let me count the ways. Currently, snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin, which supplies the vast majority of water for what is arguably the southwest’s most important river system, sits at 69 percent of median. In 2002, the watershed’s driest year on record, there was more snow on the ground at this point in March than there is now. ... ” Read more from KUNC here: Scarce Rocky Mountain snowpack deepens Southwest water supply concerns
Precipitation watch …
From the National Weather Service: “A series cold storm systems will continue to bring Valley rain and mountain snow through Saturday. Locally over an inch of additional rain is expected across the Valley, with 2 to 4 inches of liquid equivalent precipitation over the mountains. Heavy snow is likely to continue into the weekend as a series of cold storm systems moves through the region. The periods of heaviest snow across the Sierra are likely to be Wednesday afternoon, and again Thursday through Thursday night.”
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
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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.
