In California water news today, Imperial Valley farmers are embroiled in a fight over water rights — and it could decide who controls Colorado River water; Updates on Cal Water Fix: State Water Resources Control Board continues hearings; Californians are embracing recycled drinking water, so why isn’t Sacramento?; Sensor, drone research will paint a more accurate picture of California’s water; California’s wet March was no miracle, but the state didn’t need one; California farmland values decline in 2017; California looks to Saudi Arabia for desalination expertise; How to invest in water: A long-term bet on an essential commodity with limited supply; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Imperial Valley farmers are embroiled in a fight over water rights — and it could decide who controls Colorado River water: “A legal fight over water rights is heating up in the Imperial Valley, pitting farmers against their own irrigation district in a struggle for control of the biggest water entitlement along the Colorado River. A judge’s ruling has forced the Imperial Irrigation District to repeal its plan for apportioning water, which had set limits on how much water individual growers could use on their fields. The case has also touched off heated arguments at meetings — and sharply worded letters between lawyers — about landowners’ water rights and the role the district should play as a “trustee” in divvying up and delivering water. ... ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Imperial Valley farmers are embroiled in a fight over water rights — and it could decide who controls Colorado River water
Updates on Cal Water Fix: State Water Resources Control Board continues hearings: “Anyone baffled about the status of the California WaterFix project should not feel alone in their confusion. Despite the protests and motions lodged by opponents to WaterFix, the State Water Resources Control Board continues to hold Part 2 hearings on the Department of Water Resource’s (DWR) petition for water rights related to the California WaterFix project based on the assumption that the project will be comprised of two tunnels. The hearings continue even though it appears that all other parties involved are operating under the assumption that the initial stage of the project will include a single, higher-capacity tunnel. Referring to the project as a single-tunnel initiative is, however, a misnomer as this approach still calls for the construction of a second tunnel at some yet to be determined point in the future when or if sufficient funding becomes available. ... ” Read more from the Brentwood Press here: Updates on Cal Water Fix: State Water Resources Control Board continues hearings
Californians are embracing recycled drinking water, so why isn’t Sacramento? “New state rules adopted last month allow purified water to be sent right from sewage treatment plants to drinking water reservoirs, but Sacramento area residents shouldn’t expect to be swimming in or drinking water that recently swirled through local sewers any time soon. Though the Sacramento area traditionally has among the highest per capita water use in California, there has been little interest among local water districts in using recycled water to augment local drinking water supplies. The reason? … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Californians are embracing recycled drinking water, so why isn’t Sacramento?
Sensor, drone research will paint a more accurate picture of California’s water: “The University of California Natural Reserve System has received a more than $2 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to monitor water moving through wild areas of the California landscape and its resultant effect on plant life. Called the California Heartbeat Initiative, a team od scientists will monitor ten native reserves across the state with drones and sensors placed to track climate change. ... ” Read more from GovTech here: Sensor, drone research will paint a more accurate picture of California’s water
California’s wet March was no miracle, but the state didn’t need one: “Much of California, very dry at the end of February, had a welcome wet March. But it wasn’t a March miracle. Fortunately for both state and local water supplies, a miracle wasn’t needed. Both are in good shape, authorities say. “We have sufficient supplies through 2018 and into the foreseeable future, regardless of weather conditions,” said Alexi Schnell, water resources specialist for the San Diego County Water Authority. “Our local water storage is at 50 percent of capacity. That’s not considered low by any means. We’re in a good place.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: California’s wet March was no miracle, but the state didn’t need one
California farmland values decline in 2017: “California agricultural land sales values were mostly softer in 2017 as the gap narrowed between highs and lows commanded for some properties. This year’s much-anticipated annual trends report, published by the California chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, showed some highs — wine grape properties in Napa, for instance — and some predictable lows as dairy values declined to levels not seen since 2000. In all, says Janie Gatzman, agricultural appraiser with Gatzman Appraisal in Oakdale, there were no surprises in this year’s report. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: California farmland values decline in 2017
California looks to Saudi Arabia for desalination expertise: “As water shortages become a reality across the globe, authorities in drought-prone areas are looking to Saudi Arabia’s desalination industry for inspiration. The Kingdom produces more desalinated water than any other nation, with 27 plants transforming sea brine into five million cubic meters of fresh water a day. … ” Read more from Arab News here: California looks to Saudi Arabia for desalination expertise
How to invest in water: A long-term bet on an essential commodity with limited supply: “With global demand for water expected to explode in the coming years, fund managers are recommending investing in the space as a long-term bet on an essential commodity whose supplies are limited. World Water Day has triggered a flurry of reports on and analyses of the challenge facing many countries as incidents of drought increase and climate change makes dry regions even drier. The United Nations World Water Development report for 2018, published earlier this week, warns that almost 6 billion people are likely to live in areas that suffer water shortages for at least one month a year by 2050, up from 3.6 billion today. ... ” Read more from MarketWatch here: How to invest in water: A long-term bet on an essential commodity with limited supply
In commentary today …
LA needs the Delta tunnels: That talk of self-sufficiency is just fantasy, says Joe Mathews: He writes, ““Chinatown” is fooling itself. Los Angeles has a long history of water deceptions, a point made famously by Roman Polanski’s 1974 film. But the self-sabotage of the city’s latest scheme is a real doozy. L.A. has convinced itself of the hokum that it has all the water it needs. Let me be clear: L.A. must produce more of its own water for its long-term security. And leading Angelenos are right to ramp up stormwater capture, groundwater clean-up, recycling and conservation so that more L.A. water is local. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: LA needs the Delta tunnels: That talk of self-sufficiency is just fantasy
Want to fix California’s water data problems? Get to the root causes, says Jay Lund: He writes, “In 2016, California’s legislature passed AB 1755, the Open and Transparent Water Data Act, requiring that state agencies provide water data online, including existing datasets, with open-data protocols for data sharing, transparency, documentation and quality control. That any legislative body, composed mostly of lawyers, would show interest in the wonkish topic of data and pass legislation on data management, is a testament to the failures of state agencies on the subject. (Imagine state engineers suggesting changes in legislative rules.) … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: Want to fix California’s water data problems? Get to the root causes
In regional news and commentary today …
Yreka setting nationwide example for flood concerns, reviving urban ecosystem: “Yreka’s landscaping along the Yreka Creek has been decades in the making – all separate parts of a plan to solve flooding issues in town that is finally coming together. “Most urban stream restoration is focused on working with the existing channel,” Tom Hesseldenz, the landscape architect heading up this project, said. “This is a very aggressive approach of doing a lot of earth moving to reestablish an accessible flood plain along with the channel.” … ” Read more from ABC News 10 here: Yreka setting nationwide example for flood concerns, reviving urban ecosystem
Fire and water: Thermalito Power Plant getting ready to run again: “The Thermalito Powerplant, which has been out of commission since a fire broke out inside in 2012, will look different when it is fully restored next year. The powerplant is one component in the Oroville-Thermalito Complex, which also includes Lake Oroville, the Oroville Dam, Hyatt Powerplant, the Thermalito Diversion Dam and Powerplant, the Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay and the Feather River Fish Hatchery. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Fire and water: Thermalito Power Plant getting ready to run again
Monterey: Final environmental impact report for Cal Am desal project released: “Finally, a final environmental review document for California American Water’s Monterey Peninsula water supply project, including a much-debated desalination plant, has been released. A joint endeavor between the state Public Utilities Commission and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the combined environmental impact report and environmental impact statement’s release this week triggers a months-long review process aimed at seeking formal approval of the proposed project by both oversight agencies, perhaps by the end of September. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Final environmental impact report for Cal Am desal project released
Ridgecrest: Gleason explains what’s up with water: “Kern County first district supervisor Mick Gleason spoke at the Ridgecrest Republican Women, Federated luncheon on Friday. His hour or so long talk covered two topics: the redrawing of the Kern County district lines and the significant changes happening in California concerning groundwater. To read about Gleason’s comments on the redrawing of the Kern County district lines, check the Daily Independent’s March 24 issue for the article ”‘‘I will vociferously argue:’ Gleason defends eastern Kern County representation.” ... ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Gleason explains what’s up with water
Recent rains help drop Kern County drought severity: “Kern County is no longer in severe drought after last week’s three-day storm. The majority of the county is now in a Moderate Drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. A small portion of northeast Kern County in the Ridgecrest area is now under the Abnormally Dry classification, one of the lowest classifications. ... ” Read more from Bakersfield.com here: Recent rains help drop Kern County drought severity
Long Beach Water Commission supports utilities consolidation: “Long Beach’s Board of Water Commissioners voted today (Thursday) to support the consolidation of city-operated utilities. Commissioners unanimously supported placing the Water Department’s water and sewer services under the same umbrella as the Gas & Oil Department’s natural gas services so that the utilities can be managed and regulated the same way. … ” Read more from the Grunion Gazette here: Long Beach Water Commission supports utilities consolidation
Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s recycled water expansion continues: “Olivenhain Municipal Water District recently began serving locally produced recycled water to the Village Park Recreation Club 2 and Villanitas Homeowner Association in Encinitas. The conversion to recycled water enables each HOA to save money on its monthly water bill, while decreasing imported water demand by 21 acre-feet annually. An acre-foot is enough to serve two typical families of four for a year. … ” Read more from the Del Mar Times here: Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s recycled water expansion continues
Along the Colorado River …
Drought expands across Southwestern US: “Drought is tightening its grip across a wide swath of the American Southwest as farmers, ranchers and water managers throughout the region brace for what’s expected to be more warm and dry weather through the spring. A federal drought map released Thursday shows dry conditions intensifying across northern New Mexico and into southwestern Arizona. Every square mile of Nevada and Utah also are affected by at least some level of dryness. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: Drought expands across Southwestern US
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MGT PGM NEWS: SGMA assistance workshops, Alternative submittals, GSP notification system; Stakeholder engagement; DAC tool; and more …
- ANNOUNCEMENT: Reclamation schedules public information meeting for 2018 Trinity River flows and gravel augmentation
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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.
