DAILY DIGEST: Proposed federal budget includes funds to raise Shasta Dam; Enforcing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act; California explores more groundwater recharge; Klamath River fish-kill preventive dam releases challenged by farmers, water districts; and more …

In California water news today, Proposed federal budget includes funds to raise Shasta Dam; Enforcing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act; A seat at the table for rural drinking water; Advocating for growers as SGMA moves forward; California explores more groundwater recharge; Klamath River fish-kill preventative dam releases challenged by farmers, water districts; and more …

On the calendar today …

  • The Delta Protection Commission meets from 5:30 to 7:30pm in Clarksburg. Agenda items include a report from the Delta Protection Advisory Committee (DPAC), an update on the activities of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, a report on CA WaterFix activities, and an update on Delta Community Action Planning (DCAP) efforts.  Click here for full agenda.

In the news today …

California doesn’t want this towering water project.  The Trump Administration may build it anyway:  “The Trump administration is pushing forward with a colossal public works project in Northern California — heightening the towering Shasta Dam the equivalent of nearly two stories.  The problem is that California is dead-set against the plan, and state law prohibits the 602-foot New Deal-era structure from getting any taller.  But in these times of unprecedented tension between Washington and California, the state’s objection to this $1.3-billion project near the Sacramento River is hardly proving a deterrent. The Trump administration is pursuing the project with gusto, even as it seeks to make deep cuts in popular conservation programs aimed at California’s water shortages. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  California doesn’t want this towering water project.  The Trump Administration may build it anyway

Proposed federal budget includes funds to raise Shasta Dam:  “The proposal to raise the height of Shasta Dam is back on the table, with a 2019 federal budget request of $20 million for pre-construction and design work on the structure.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and several other water agencies in the state have been interested in raising the height of the dam for decades. But in 2015 the effort stalled after the bureau said it would need nonfederal agencies to help pay the cost of the $1.3 billion project.  The bureau is interested in getting the project moving again and requested Congress include in the budget $20 million to begin design and pre-construction work, said Erin Curtis, a spokeswoman for the bureau. ... ”  Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here:  Proposed federal budget includes funds to raise Shasta Dam

Enforcing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act:  “The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) are the two state agencies overseeing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). They have distinct roles. In general, DWR acts as a facilitator and evaluator — for instance, assisting with groundwater data management, helping local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) to develop and follow plans that will lead to sustainable management, and evaluating plans once they are developed. SWRCB, by contrast, has more of an enforcement role. It is the agency authorized and empowered to ensure that basins comply with the law’s requirements. Sam Boland-Brien leads these efforts as chief of the SWRCB Groundwater Management Program.  Q: To start with, tell us about SWRCB’s role in implementing SGMA, and what work you’re doing leading up to the first deadline for groundwater sustainability plan submission in January 2020. … ”  Continue reading from California Agriculture here:  Enforcing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act  (The current issue of California Agriculture focuses exclusively on SGMA implementation.  Click here to view full issue.)

A seat at the table for rural drinking water:  “The Community Water Center (www.communitywatercenter.org) is a nonprofit organization that works through education, organizing and advocacy to increase access to clean water. Founded in 2006, it has offices in Visalia and Sacramento and focuses on domestic water issues in California’s rural agricultural areas. Adriana Renteria is the Community Water Center’s regional water management coordinator. She leads the group’s involvement in the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), working in particular to increase public participation in groundwater planning and management.  Tell us about CWC’s involvement in the GSA/GSP processes at the local level. … ”  Read more from California Agriculture here:  A seat at the table for rural drinking water  (The current issue of California Agriculture focuses exclusively on SGMA implementation.  Click here to view full issue.)

Advocating for growers as SGMA moves forward:  “Christina Beckstead is executive director of Madera County Farm Bureau. As an advocate for growers in her county, she has been closely involved in the formation of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in Madera County and the steps towards the development of groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). There are three subbasins in Madera County — the Madera subbasin, the Chowchilla subbasin and a small portion of the Delta-Mendota subbasin. All are classified by the state as critically overdrafted.  Tell us about the groundwater landscape in Madera County and where things stand with SGMA implementation. ... ”  Read more from California Agriculture here:  Advocating for growers as SGMA moves forward  (The current issue of California Agriculture focuses exclusively on SGMA implementation.  Click here to view full issue.)

Radio show: California explores more groundwater recharge: “Winter just hasn’t measured up in precipitation so far, raising drought concerns in both states. California, which grows so much of the country’s food, continues to look for new strategies to hedge against drought.  Among them: groundwater recharge, putting surface water into underground aquifers when there’s a storm or other surface-water surplus. The science is developing, but the legal framework lags a bit.  We discuss groundwater recharge with Helen Dahlke at University of California-Davis and Peter Nico at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. … ”  Listen at Jefferson Public Radio here:  Radio show: California explores more groundwater recharge

Microplastics contamination is found in most bottled water, a new study says:  “Drinking from a plastic water bottle likely means ingesting microplastic particles, a new study claims, prompting fresh concerns — and calls for scientific research — on the possible health implications of widespread plastics pollution.  A study carried out on more than 250 water bottles sourced from 11 brands in nine different countries revealed that Microplastic contamination was nearly universal, found in more than 90% of the samples. … ”  Read more from TIME Magazine here:  Microplastics contamination is found in most bottled water, a new study says

Should some species be allowed to die out? One day last spring, Lisa Crampton stood at the base of a tall ohia tree, deep in the forested interior of Kauai. That morning, Crampton and five other field biologists had spent two hours hiking to a narrow clearing, where a hovering helicopter airdropped a large aluminum ladder. Although the distance from the clearing to the tree was comparatively short, it took the team most of the morning to maneuver the ladder across a stream, through the brush and up a steep slope. During that time, it also started to rain. ... ”  Read more from the New York Times here:  Should some species be allowed to die out?

In regional news and commentary today …

Klamath River fish-kill preventive dam releases challenged by farmers, water districts:  “Local tribes’ say critically important dam water releases meant to protect threatened salmon on the Klamath River from deadly parasitic disease outbreaks are being contested by irrigators and water districts in the Klamath Basin as they face drought conditions.  Basin ranchers, farmers and water districts argue in a federal court filing this month that the potential for fish disease outbreaks this year is low, but that the drought conditions the basin faces could cause significant economic impacts to their region.  “The potential ruinous impacts for family farms and ranches in 2018 are real,” the six water districts, irrigators and organizations stated in a March 7 court filing to the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. ... ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here:  Klamath River fish-kill preventive dam releases challenged by farmers, water districts

El Dorado Irrigation District approves design work on Fresh Pond flume: “With a short agenda and no objections, the El Dorado Irrigation District board met for 10 minutes on Monday to approve a contract with Sage Engineering for $208,955 for design of the Flume 47C replacement project.  Located south of Highway 50 near Fresh Pond, the flume is approximately 150 feet of elevated wood that was originally constructed by PG&E in the 1950s to replace a section of canal that was destroyed due to a landslide. ... ”  Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: El Dorado Irrigation District approves design work on Fresh Pond flume

Twice as many birds at Putah Creek:  “A small, restored area is having a big effect on regional birds, fish and animals, according to a study published in the journal Ecological Restoration by UC Davis.  Just four miles west of UC Davis’ main campus sits a sliver of wildness called Putah Creek Riparian Reserve. On a recent spring day, below a canopy of valley oaks and eucalyptus trees came a twittering of chirps, trills and quacks. ... ”  Read more from the Daily Democrat here:  Twice as many birds at Putah Creek

Groundwater study costs Ripon $22,326:  “The City of Ripon is part of the South San Joaquin Groundwater Sustainable Agency.  According to City Administrator Kevin Werner, the City is participating in this endeavor along with the South San Joaquin Irrigation District and the City of Escalon, complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.  The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is a three-bill package that was enacted and signed by Gov. Brown in September 2014.  The purpose here is to ensure better local and regional management of groundwater use while seeking to have a sustainable groundwater management in California by 2042. ... ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here:  Groundwater study costs Ripon $22,326

Marin’s rare fish have off season as rains fluctuate:  “The start-stop nature of the rains this winter and a generally weak salmon population have not been good for Marin’s rare fish, which rely on steady flows to survive, biologists say.  Federally endangered coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout respond to the rains, which create runoff and are a natural invitation for the fish to begin swimming from the oceans upstream into creeks to spawn in the Lagunitas Creek watershed. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here:  Marin’s rare fish have off season as rains fluctuate

Bay Area mussel eater gets paralytic shellfish poisoning:  “A person who was collecting mussels over the weekend at Dillon Beach has been hospitalized for shellfish poisoning, according to the Marin County Public Health Department.  The health department confirmed Tuesday a case of paralytic shellfish poison, a naturally occurring toxin found in bivalves such as mussels, clams and oysters.  The victim — who county officials wouldn’t identify — consumed mussels harvested Sunday in Dillon Beach and was hospitalized after suffering from neurological symptoms. Public Health Officer Dr. Matthew Willis said the county’s public health staff was notified of the illness Tuesday. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  Bay Area mussel eater gets paralytic shellfish poisoning

Monterey: Deepwater Desal has long been out of the public eye, but expect that to change in 2018: “On March 5, Deepwater Desal – a proposed desal project in Moss Landing that would utilize an open-ocean intake 130 feet deep in the Monterey Canyon – announced the completion of part of a key study. It shows both the proposed point of intake for source water and the location for brine discharge do not support a rich marine habitat, a key concern for regulators.  To date, 33 of 35 studies have been completed for the project’s environmental review, Deepwater spokesman David Armanasco says. He says nearly $12 million has been spent on the project, and a draft environmental impact report is expected to be released this year. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here:  Deepwater Desal has long been out of the public eye, but expect that to change in 2018

Monterey: CPUC pushes back Cal Am desal project deadline, acknowledges possible delay:  “A new California Public Utilities Commission ruling extending the deadline for completing the permitting process for California American Water’s desalination project until the end of the year appears to acknowledge further delays are possible and a CPUC permit may not be issued by the Carmel River pumping cutback order’s Sept. 30 deadline.  That could leave the door slightly ajar for the commission to consider project alternatives such as a potential expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here:  CPUC pushes back Cal Am desal project deadline, acknowledges possible delay

Cachuma Lake levels inch up following recent storms:  “Water levels at Cachuma Lake are on the rise, but it isn’t easy to notice.  While the dam capacity is at 38 percent, the reservoir is at 39.1 percent.  Santa Barbara County’s Rainfall and Reservoir Summary posted online shows Cachuma Lake could hold another 50 ft. of water. … ”  Read more from KEYT here:  Cachuma Lake levels inch up following recent storms

County offers guidance to Montecito property owners rebuilding after Jan. 9 debris flow:  “Montecito residents repairing damaged properties after the Jan. 9 debris flows are advised to delay making significant expenditures on rebuilding plans for the next three months.  Santa Barbara County staff is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on a flood hazard and recovery mapping survey, and private consultants to conduct land analysis and engineering studies to reflect the topography changes, flood areas and creeks. ... ” Read more from Noozhawk here:  County offers guidance to Montecito property owners rebuilding after Jan. 9 debris flow

Santa Clarita Valley water heads ask LAFCO for three years to carry out ‘review of services’:  “Officials heard comments Wednesday about the formation of Santa Clarita Valley’s new water agency, including a request by the agency’s general manager for more time to define its sphere of influence.  The Local Agency Formation Commission for Los Angeles – or L.A.’s LAFCO, the group mandated to review proposed annexations such as the recent water boards’ – held a public hearing in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room in Los Angeles to begin reviewing a plan drawn up by the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency to deliver water throughout the SCV in three defined areas, called divisions. … ”  Read more from the Santa Clarita Signal here:  Santa Clarita Valley water heads ask LAFCO for three years to carry out ‘review of services’

Environmental and consumer groups call for LA to replace its consumer watchdog:  “Environmental and consumer groups urged the city Wednesday to pick a new watchdog to monitor the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, arguing that Fred Pickel had failed to fight for the interests of local ratepayers.  Pickel was appointed six years ago to serve as a ratepayer advocate monitoring the DWP, a job that was created by voters after a City Hall clash over rate hikes. His term ended more than a year ago, but he has continued to work on an interim basis while an appointed committee decides who should hold the job. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Environmental and consumer groups call for LA to replace its consumer watchdog

Along the Colorado River …

Senator Heller introduces bill to reauthorize Colorado River program:  “Legislation has been introduced in the Senate to reauthorize the Colorado River System Conservation Program critical to water supplies for Southern Nevada.  Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., filed the bill to reauthorize for four years the conservation program, first passed by Congress in 2015 to conserve water and mitigate impacts of drought in the Colorado River Basin. … ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal here:  Senator Heller introduces bill to reauthorize Colorado River program

Moving Colorado River water to central Arizona isn’t a scam – it’s smart water policy, say Connie Wilhelm and David Godlewski:  They write, “The Republic’s Linda Valdez has done a genuine disservice to readers with her recent opinion piece (“Why central Arizona can raid everyone else’s water – and it’s all legal“).  Not only was her column disappointingly inaccurate, it was irresponsibly peppered with emotional words purposely chosen to scare those unfamiliar with Arizona water law.  If you’re part of the anti-growth crowd, you too probably have a negative opinion of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District. After all, the CAGRD is responsible for much of Arizona’s economic growth over the last 20 years. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here:  Moving Colorado River water to central Arizona isn’t a scam – it’s smart water policy

This is what the West without water will look like:  “The Southwest United States is wrapping up an abnormally dry winter. Nearly all of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California are facing drought conditions in 2018. About a quarter of the West’s drinking water relies on melting snow, which has been in short supply this year, to fill up reservoirs.  While it’s unlikely that the Southwest United States is headed for a full-scale disaster like in Cape Town, South Africa, where residents have severely restricted water usage after three years of drought. But thanks to climate-changed linked droughts in the Southwest, water will become a precious commodity in this part of the US. “There’s a general sense that there will be less water in the future,” says Michael Cohen, a senior research associate at the Pacific Institute, a global water think tank. … ”  Read more from Mother Jones here:  This is what the West without water will look like

Precipitation watch …

From the National Weather Service:Heavy snow is likely to continue into the weekend as a series of cold storm systems moves through the region. The period of heaviest snow across the Sierra are likely to be this afternoon through Friday afternoon. Up to an inch of rain will be possible across the Central Valley today through Saturday.

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.

 

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