DAILY DIGEST: Oroville Dam phase 2 construction expected to start May 8; How California water suppliers are getting ready for an earthquake; Twin tunnels and Jerry Brown’s art of persuasion; Republicans, states alarmed about EPA action on groundwater; and more …

In California water news today, Oroville Dam phase 2 construction expected to start May 8; How California water suppliers are getting ready for an earthquake; Twin tunnels and Jerry Brown’s art of persuasion; Invasive nutria found in Delta sets off alarm bells; Proposed Sites Reservoir would benefit tree nut growers and the public; The food that goes bad in your fridge amounts to trillions of gallons of wasted water; Republicans, states alarmed about EPA action on groundwater; and more …

In the news today …

Oroville Dam phase 2 construction expected to start May 8:  “While some construction continues at Oroville Dam, the bulk of work under phase two is expected to begin May 8, state Department of Water Resources officials said Wednesday in a monthly media update call.  This comes as DWR submitted an updated 2017-2018 Lake Oroville operations plan on Tuesday to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the California Division of Safety of Dams for approval. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Oroville Dam phase 2 construction expected to start May 8

RELATED CONTENT: OROVILLE DAM SPILLWAYS Construction Update for April 18 (with photos and video)

How California water suppliers are getting ready for an earthquake:  “As is often said, it’s not a matter of if, but of when, a large earthquake strikes the heart of one of California’s most densely populated regions. State officials and local agencies know the clock is ticking, and mile by mile, pipe by pipe, work crews are replacing or retrofitting water lines throughout much of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. Upgrades have also been made in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the heart of the state’s water distribution system, where potential levee ruptures have made water officials uneasy for decades. … ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  How California water suppliers are getting ready for an earthquake

The Riggs Report: Twin tunnels and Jerry Brown’s art of persuasion:  “By now, we know about last week’s closely watched, dramatic vote by the giant Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to keep the controversial twin tunnel project alive with a massive infusion of financing.  Metropolitan agreed to spend nearly $11 billion of the $17 billion project, which has been dubbed the California WaterFix and is designed to facilitate deliveries of water from the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the agency’s customers in Southern California.  “This is a historic decision that is good for California — our people, our farms and our natural environment,” Gov. Jerry Brown said in a statement. … ”  Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here:  The Riggs Report: Twin tunnels and Jerry Brown’s art of persuasion

Invasive nutria found in Delta sets off alarm bells:  “Sometime after Tim Pelican arrived at work Monday, a farmer stopped by to deliver a package to San Joaquin County’s agricultural commissioner.  The farmer’s package contained a dead nutria, a 2½–foot-long, 20-pound beast that looks like a beaver but is smaller and has a round, ratlike tail and white whiskers.  The biggest problem with nutria is they destroy vegetation and undermine Delta levees by burrowing into them. … ”  Read more from the Stockton Record here:  Invasive nutria found in Delta sets off alarm bells

California officials declare emergency over invasive nutria:  “The state of California is declaring an emergency over a non-native species of rodent being seen with increasing frequency near the San Joaquin Delta.  Wildlife teams are being deployed to battle a type of giant river rat called nutria.  Originally from South America, the large, 20-pound rodents were first spotted in Central California about a year ago.  But now, for the first time, the animal has been found west of Stockton in the heart of the Delta. ... ”  Read more from CBS Bay Area here: California officials declare emergency over invasive nutria

Proposed Sites Reservoir would benefit tree nut growers and the public:  “Tree nut growers say the proposed Sites Reservoir would provide many public benefits, in addition to helping agriculture, by providing a reliable supply of irrigation water. “Public benefits” is the buzzword for getting the reservoir approved by state regulators, who are in the process of funding proposed water-storage projects.  Proponents of the Sites Reservoir, located west of Maxwell in Colusa County, are hoping that the California Water Commission will select it for Proposition 1 funding.The proposed reservoir was addressed at the Northern California Water Association’s recent annual meeting at Chico, attended by producers of tree nuts and other crops. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here:  Proposed Sites Reservoir would benefit tree nut growers and the public

California’s spectacular superbloom unlikely to blossom this year:  “Imagine seeds of dozens of flower species sitting there in the soil waiting for the perfect conditions to sprout, grow and produce an abundance of gorgeous colors. The spectacle only happens about once every decade when a California super bloom occurs, and the conditions aren’t looking promising this year.  The last California super bloom occurred during the spring of 2017, after the state experienced extreme drought for years. Last winter’s rainfall was enough to bust the several-year drought, and it also was enough to allow for widespread colorful blooms to emerge. … ”  Read more from Accu-Weather here:  California’s spectacular superbloom unlikely to blossom this year

The food that goes bad in your fridge amounts to trillions of gallons of wasted water:  “You walk into the grocery store with the best intentions, filing your cart with kale, broccolini, tofu and Greek yogurt.  Then you get home, feel pressed for time and order a pizza.  Before you know it, the perishables are going bad at the back of the fridge. They’ll wind up in the trash, like so many other well-intentioned meals that never came to be.  Your efforts to eat better have flopped again. But that’s not your only fail. You’ve also squandered the natural resources used to produce that food and contributed to environmental degradation for nothing. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  The food that goes bad in your fridge amounts to trillions of gallons of wasted water

US rivers are getting saltier – and its not just from treating roads in the winter:  “The United States has made enormous progress in reducing water pollution since the Clean Water Act was passed nearly 50 years ago. Rivers no longer catch fire when oil slicks on their surfaces ignite. And many harbors that once were fouled with sewage now draw swimmers and boaters.  But as Earth Day approaches, it is important to realize that new, more complex challenges are emerging. In a study published earlier this year, we found that a cocktail of chemicals from many human activities is making U.S. rivers saltier and more alkaline across the nation. Surprisingly, road salt in winter is not the only source: construction, agriculture, and many other activities also play roles across regions. … ”  Read more from The Conversation here:  US rivers are getting saltier – and its not just from treating roads in the winter

Republicans, states alarmed about EPA action on groundwater:  “Battlefronts fell along party lines at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing yesterday about whether EPA should regulate pollutants that make it to surface water via groundwater.  Republicans on the committee argued that to regulate such pollutants would amount to government overreach, with Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) calling any potential oversight “a disturbing development” that could create duplicative permit requirements.  “Under the misguided theory, everyday activities including farming, ranching or having a septic tank in your backyard could require a federal discharge permit,” he said. “This is not what Congress intended when it passed the Clean Water Act.” … ”  Read more from E&E News here:  Republicans, states alarmed about EPA action on groundwater

In commentary today …

California is on track to invest in new water storage, say Armando Quintero and Carol Baker:  They write, “This summer, the state of California will make key investments in new water storage. Fulfilling the mandate of voters who overwhelmingly approved Proposition 1, the California Water Commission is on track to commit $2.7 billion in public dollars to water storage projects in July.  Investing in additional water storage is critical to California’s water future, not only to manage through inevitable droughts but also to prepare for the effects of climate change. That’s why Gov. Jerry Brown administration’s California Water Action Plan calls for investments in both above- and below-ground water storage as part of an “all-of-the-above” water management strategy. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  California is on track to invest in new water storage

Ellen Hanak and Sarge Green:  What needs to happen for the San Joaquin Valley to replenish its groundwater basins:  They write, “California’s biggest agricultural region also has the state’s biggest groundwater deficit, which has long-term consequences for the region’s economy and farming.  The San Joaquin Valley — where decades of unchecked pumping has depleted reserves, resulting in a long-term deficit of nearly 2 million acre-feet per year — has about a generation to bring its groundwater use into balance to comply with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Storing more water underground through “groundwater recharge” can help, reducing the deficit by as much as a quarter. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  What needs to happen for the San Joaquin Valley to replenish its groundwater basins

Delta tunnels aside, California’s approach on water is already ‘all of the above’, say Brent Hastey and Steve Lamar:  They write, “The Sacramento Bee’s editorial makes an important point about why California needs to embrace an “all-of-the-above” approach to a sustainable water future, resisting the impulse to focus entirely on Delta conveyance (“The Delta is dying. The planet is warming. Is California too focused on the tunnels?” Forum, April 6).  It’s a valid point, especially given the recent decision by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to fund the lion’s share of the Brown Administration’s California WaterFix plan. Without a doubt, Delta conveyance is a big and essential piece of the puzzle and likely to become even more important with a growing population and changing climate. But regardless of how one feels about the tunnels, we cannot lose sight of how to address the multitude of other interconnected challenges between our present and future water security. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Delta tunnels aside, California’s approach on water is already ‘all of the above’

Protecting fish will ultimately restore our rivers, improving water quality for all, says Sandra Jacobson:  She writes, “Locals who like to fish off the coast might be surprised to learn that Southern California steelhead were once prized catches along the coast. With dwindling population numbers, these fish are now federally endangered.  Their struggle is symbolic of a larger challenge: maintaining healthy waterways for people and wildlife in urbanized coastal California. But real progress is being made toward recovering this iconic species. Recent efforts provide hope that these native fish can coexist with people, even in this highly altered landscape.  As urbanization encroaches on natural areas, it’s a challenge to balance competing priorities like flood protection, clean water and environmental benefits. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Protecting fish will ultimately restore our rivers, improving water quality for all

In regional news and commentary today …

Woodland: Sparks fly over newly formed energy alliance:  “An otherwise routine report — and approval — of a plan to save Yolo County ratepayers money on their energy costs could be shorted out by Woodland in a dispute with Davis over water.  The action took place Tuesday night even as Woodland residents were receiving information in their mail boxes and on their emails explaining the Valley Clean Energy Alliance — an agency championed by the city of Davis for at least the past three years.  If it goes into effect, the plan will allow those now receiving electricity and gas from Pacific, Gas & Electric to switch over to the Energy Alliance and see a 2.5 percent rate reduction. … ”  Read more from the Daily Democrat here:  Woodland: Sparks fly over newly formed energy alliance

Monterey: Public Water Now, Cal Am take public ownership fight to FPPC: “After an unusually contentious petition effort aimed at getting a public takeover of the local water system on the November ballot, Public Water Now and California American Water are facing off at the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission.  Last week, Public Water Now managing director George Riley filed a nine-page complaint with the FPPC alleging Cal Am violated several sections of the Political Reform Act and state election code by failing to properly disclose who was really behind an effort to dissuade voters from signing the petition using hired staff and then to rescind their signatures, a failure to file as a campaign committee, and the misuse of voter registration lists. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here:  Monterey: Public Water Now, Cal Am take public ownership fight to FPPC

Neverending H2O story: Experts, officials debate water supply in Western Ventura County:  “On the last day of February this year, the meeting room at Casitas Municipal Water District in Oak View was filled to capacity, with dozens of residents and local officials buzzing in anticipation of a new proposal — dubbed the “Three Sisters” plan — to be offered to connect Lake Casitas with the State Water Project.  If implemented, this would be the first time in the history of the region that Ojai — and Casitas which supplies the town and the west side of Ventura with water from outside of Ventura County — has moved to connect its water supply to the rest of California. ... ”  Read more from the Ventura Reporter here:  Neverending H2O story: Experts, officials debate water supply in Western Ventura County

‘Retreat’ stymies Del Mar’s vote on sea-level rise plan:  “The Del Mar City Council has postponed by a month its landmark vote on the city’s plan for adapting to sea-level rise, deciding after a three-hour hearing on April 16 to form a special panel to work out the exact wording needed to give “managed retreat” enough weight to satisfy the California Coastal Commission, but without instituting the strategy outright.  Managed retreat — also called planned retreat, in which property and infrastructure are removed to make way for receding beaches — has over the past nine months become the bane of Del Mar’s “beach colony,” where residents fear its mere mention will decimate property values in the hyper-luxurious enclave. … ”  Read more from the Del Mar Times here:  ‘Retreat’ stymies Del Mar’s vote on sea-level rise plan

Along the Colorado River …

Robert Glennon: Two ‘not-so-smart’ things Arizona has done in the name of water:  He writes, “Gov. Doug Ducey proclaimed in 2016: “If there’s one thing Arizona is best in the nation at, it’s water.”  The governor has good reason to boast about his state’s surprisingly robust record in innovative water policy. Yet the state has stumbled in proposing seawater desalination as a way to obtain additional potable water and failed by allowing our rivers to suffer horrible degradation. Plans to import new sources of water face practical, financial and environmental challenges. ... ”  Read more from Arizona Central here:  Two ‘not-so-smart’ things Arizona has done in the name of water

Colorado’s Colorado River Managers Cry Foul Over Arizona’s Attempted Water Shuffle: “Civil discourse and collaboration among Colorado River water managers has been a hallmark for years. But there was a break in the normally staid diplomacy this April when Denver Water issued a stern warning to the Central Arizona Project.  Denver Water raised concerns in an April 16 letter over perceived “manipulation of water demands” by the Central Arizona Water Conservancy District, which manages the Central Arizona Project. CAP’s system of canals feeds Colorado River Water to Arizona farms and the cities of Phoenix and Tucson. … ”  Read more from Colorado Public Radio here:  Colorado’s Colorado River Managers Cry Foul Over Arizona’s Attempted Water Shuffle

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• NEWS WORTH NOTING: PPIC Report: Replenishing groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley; Legal analysis: Ninth Circuit addresses injunctive relief under the Endangered Species Act; CNRA recommends adding Mokelumne River segments to state’s Wild and Scenic Rivers system
• CAL WATER FIX: Ruling letter on motions to stay the hearing and other procedural requests
• SCIENCE NEWS: Record number of steelhead return to spawn at Coleman hatchery; Long-term monitoring aids scientists studying sea star wasting mystery; Coho salmon die, chum salmon survive in stormwater research; and more …
• OROVILLE DAM SPILLWAYS Construction Update for April 18 (with photos and video)
• SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY & WATERSHED SCIENCE: Water ‘wasted to sea’, multi-objective ecological flow management, Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon data, and more …

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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.