DAILY DIGEST: Measure to split California into three states removed from ballot by the state Supreme Court; Here’s how the largest dam removal project in the U.S. would work; White House ‘concerned’ that House bill doesn’t cut EPA funding enough; and more …

In California water news today, Measure to split California into three states removed from ballot by the state Supreme Court; State water regulator’s plan to impact New Melones; White House ‘concerned’ that House bill doesn’t cut EPA funding enough; Here’s how the largest dam removal project in the U.S. would work; Tempers flare at Hornbrook water meeting; Hoopa Valley Tribe warns of lawsuit over salmon fishing rules; and more …

On the calendar today …

• The Delta Design and Conveyance Authority meets at 2:00pm.  Click here for meeting materials and webcast link.
• The Delta Protection Commission meets from 5:30pm to 7:30 pm in Walnut Grove. Agenda items include an update from the Delta Protection Advistory Committee, report on crop evapotranspiration in the Delta, and Cal Water Fix supplemental EIR/EIS.  Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

In the news today …

Measure to split California into three states removed from ballot by the state Supreme Court:  “The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Wednesday to remove from the November ballot a measure aimed at dividing California into three states.  The decision was a defeat for Tim Draper, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist considered an eccentric entrepreneur who spent $1.2 million on the measure.  Four years ago, the wealthy Atherton resident spent $5.2 million promoting a measure that would have split California into six states. It did not qualify for the ballot. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Measure to split California into three states removed from ballot by the state Supreme Court

State water regulator’s plan to impact New Melones:  “The future of New Melones as a storage reservoir or recreation destination may well be in jeopardy, according to regional water officials.  This news comes as the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) attempts to finalize what many stakeholders consider recently released draconian plans that call for 30 to 60 percent unimpaired flows from February through June through the Lower San Joaquin River and its tributaries —- the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers. … ”  Read more from My Mother Lode here:  State water regulator’s plan to impact New Melones

White House ‘concerned’ that House bill doesn’t cut EPA funding enough:  “The White House is expressing concerns that a funding bill set for a vote Thursday in the House does not make deep enough cuts for agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The House is debating a package of two spending bills, one for Financial Services and the other for Interior and Environment.  The bills, which advanced through committees along partisan lines, conform to a bipartisan budget cap deal that President Trump signed into law earlier this year. … ”  Read more from The Hill here:  White House ‘concerned’ that House bill doesn’t cut EPA funding enough

In regional news and commentary today …

Here’s how the largest dam removal project in the U.S. would work:  “No one is popping the champagne corks just yet, but the process to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River just took a big step forward. On June 28, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation released the Definite Plan for the Lower Klamath Project, a 2,300-page detailed analysis of how the reservoirs would be drawn down, the dams removed, the materials disposed of and the formerly inundated land restored.  The document will be reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and an independent board of consultants. After any necessary revisions are made – and if no further regulatory hurdles emerge – removal of the dams would begin in 2021. ... ”  Read more from Water Deeply here:  Here’s how the largest dam removal project in the U.S. would work

Klamath dams removal plan now available:  “A copy of the plan proposed to remove four dams along the Klamath River is now available for the public to review at the Yreka Library.  The 2,300 page Definite Plan for the Lower Klamath Project details how the nonprofit Klamath River Renewal Corporation proposes to remove the J.C. Boyle, Copco 1, Copco 2 and Iron Gate dams.  KRRC Executive Director Mark Bransom and KRRC Community Liaison Dave Meurer spoke to the Siskiyou Daily News on Thursday about the significance of the definite plan filing and what happens next in the process to potentially remove the dams. ... ”  Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here:  Klamath dams removal plan now available

CalTrout calls definite plan ‘key milestone’ in dam removal:  “The Klamath River Renewal Corporation filed its “Definite Plan for the Lower Klamath Project” with the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission. This filing was a significant step in the effort to remove four major dams from the mainstem Klamath River, which runs through parts of southern Oregon and far northern California, according to a press release from California Trout. The Klamath dam removal project is slated to be the largest such effort in U.S. history.  In addition to providing economic benefit to the region, creating local jobs and boosting tourism and recreation, dam removal is projected to improve water quality and revive flagging salmon and steelhead fisheries on this major river system, CalTrout’s press release said. … ”  Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here:  CalTrout calls definite plan ‘key milestone’ in dam removal

Tempers flare at Hornbrook water meeting:  “Arguing, cursing and citizens loudly talking over one another accounted for a good portion of the special meeting of the Hornbrook Community Services District Board of Directors Monday morning, which dealt with the repair of the town’s water system damaged in the Klamathon Fire.  The meeting was chaotic and contentious, with everyone being reminded at one point that Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey was on standby, should people continue to be disorderly. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here:  Tempers flare at Hornbrook water meeting

Hoopa Valley Tribe warns of lawsuit over salmon fishing rules:  “The Hoopa Valley Tribe notified federal agencies Wednesday of its intent to file a lawsuit claiming the agencies failed to follow their own protocols that are meant to protect Endangered Species Act-listed coho salmon when they approved this year’s salmon fishing regulations.  “Whether it’s in the ocean or in the river, we’re going to hold the federal agencies accountable,” Hoopa Valley Fisheries Director Mike Orcutt said Wednesday. “If it’s affecting these species that are [on] the brink of being extirpated, then we’re concerned about it and I think you need to reconsult, you need to have dialogue directly with the tribe so we understand the overall effects that it’s going to have on the fish that we’re dependent upon.” … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here:  Hoopa Valley Tribe warns of lawsuit over salmon fishing rules

SF Bay water quality showing improvement, watchdogs report:  “The quality of the water in San Francisco Bay is showing improvement after decades of aggressive ongoing environmental initiatives.  SF Baykeeper is one of several bay water watchdogs reporting an improvement.  “In the 1960’s it was really bad before clean water acts,” said Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director of SF Baykeeper, a nonprofit organization that monitors the quality of the bay water. … ”  Read more from KRON here:  SF Bay water quality showing improvement, watchdogs report

Protecting the East Bay’s water:  “Dams will never be built on almost 40 undeveloped miles of the Mokelumne River, the foothills tributary of the San Joaquin River that provides 1.4 million East Bay residents with most of their water. The river — five segments amounting to more than one-third of its length — has been permanently protected under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The protected status was granted on June 27, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 854, making the Mokelumne the state’s 12th river to be designated under the law. …. ”  Read more from the East Bay Express here:  Protecting the East Bay’s water

Water supply can support growth in Scotts Valley – if used wisely:  “With the City of Scotts Valley anticipating several new housing and commercial projects in the coming years, a question among many is, can the water supply support the future of the town.  In short—yes.  At least according to the Piret Harmon, General Manager of Scotts Valley Water District.  “There seems to be a notion that we do not do any planning,” Harmon said. “We, as a water district, have planned for growth and we keep our eyes on it all the time, working with the city, etc.” ... ”  Read more from the Press-Banner here:  Water supply can support growth in Scotts Valley – if used wisely

Lodi: Phase 7 of water metering project finished; 2 more to go:  “The city is nearing completion of the water metering project after recently wrapping up work on the seventh of nine phases, according to Lodi Public Works Director Charlie Swimley.  In 2004 the State of California mandated that all water suppliers install water meters on all customer connections by Jan. 1, 2025.  Including the seventh phase, a little over 90 percent of the project has been completed with 15,300 meters installed. After the eighth phase, the city will have 1,200 meters left to install. … ”  Read more from the Lodi News Sentinel here:  Lodi: Phase 7 of water metering project finished; 2 more to go

Ojai rejects private water company:  “Water rates have dropped by as much as 65 percent in Ojai after Golden State Water Company was essentially fired by its customers in a 2013 election vote that raised a $60 million bond to buy it out via eminent domain. But the road between then and now was paved with lawsuits and appeals, culminating in a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Monique Limón that officially took Golden State off the governing board of the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency on July 9. It’s now up to the board to find a replacement boardmember, who must be from the area formerly served by Golden State. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here:  Ojai rejects private water company

Indian Wells Valley: Pump fee adoption on the table at next Groundwater Authority meeting:  “Major pumpers in the Indian Wells Valley groundwater basin will likely face an extraction fee following Thursday’s IWV Groundwater Authority board meeting, set for 10 a.m. at Ridgecrest City Hall, 100 W.California Ave.  The board will consider and vote on formally adopting the groundwater authority extraction fee, which assesses a monthly volumetric fee of $30 per acre-foot pumped. The fee aims to fill a $930,000 budget gap in the development of a groundwater sustainability plan required by the Department of Water Resources by Jan. 31, 2020. … ”  Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here:  Indian Wells Valley: Pump fee adoption on the table at next Groundwater Authority meeting

Paramount environmental lab owner pleads guilty to falsifying results — veracity of 100s of tests now questioned: “In a case that calls into question the veracity of testing conducted in hundreds of investigations, the owner of an environmental laboratory in Paramount pleaded guilty to felony charges of falsifying lab results and overcharging taxpayers for services, the State Water Resources Control Board announced Wednesday.  Operating for nearly 20 years, Roobik Yaghoubi, owner of Cal Tech Environmental Laboratories LLC, was sentenced to 30 days of community service and was ordered to pay $190,000 in restitution to the state water board. ... ”  Read more from the Daily News here:  Paramount environmental lab owner pleads guilty to falsifying results — veracity of 100s of tests now questioned

LA County voters to decide on new stormwater tax in November:  “Eligible Los Angeles County voters will get to decide on a new land tax to fund projects that catch, clean and percolate stormwater underground where it can increase the region’s future water supply.  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to place the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot. If two-thirds of voters in the Los Angeles County Flood Control District agree, property owners would be charged a new tax of 2.5 cents for every square foot of land shedding water. That includes roofs, patios, driveways and other hard surfaces. ... ” Read more from KPCC here:  LA County voters to decide on new stormwater tax in November

Huntington Beach: Poseidon desalination plant OK’d for preliminary contract terms: “Concerns over the cost and environmental impacts of desalinated water were overridden by the desire to fortify water supplies when the Orange County Water District board voted 6-2 Wednesday to approve non-binding contract terms with Poseidon, which has spent 20 years on the desalination plant proposal for Huntington Beach.  The plan for the $1 billion plant and water distribution infrastructure would increase the monthly bill for the average residential customer receiving the water by an estimated $3 to $6. It would help ensure the area has water during droughts when supplies from Northern California and the Colorado River are curtailed. ... ”  Read more from the OC Register here:  Poseidon desalination plant OK’d for preliminary contract terms

Along the Colorado River …

The water wars of Arizona:  “Early one morning in July 2014, Lori Paup awoke in her new home in the Sulphur Springs Valley of Arizona and began unpacking boxes of clothes, hanging photographs and prepping the day’s home-schooling lessons for her two teenage children. Paup, who until a few days earlier had never been to Arizona, was exhilarated to have finally arrived at the house on East Hopi Drive — a blue two-bedroom trailer on two acres of land — but also exhausted. The move from Fallentimber, Pa., where the family lived for 15 years, required a cross-country trip in the semi-truck that Lori’s husband, Craig, drove for work, and now a long list of chores awaited. Outside, the day was already north of 80 degrees. Lori was just beginning to fill a glass of water when she noticed the stream from the faucet was cloudy and brown. “The water looked like the desert surrounding the house,” she said. “The same color.” Running her hand under the stream, she found what appeared to be small grains of sand. … ” Read more from the New York Times Magazine here:  The water wars of Arizona

And lastly …

An ‘And lastly’ followup:  Remember that ghost town that was for sale a few months ago?  It has been sold:  Cerro Gordo set to come back to life

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• SCIENCE NEWS: Delta drought review; Financial incentives create critical waterbird habitat in extreme drought; Grasslands store carbon more reliably than forests; Reducing mercury loads in the Cosumnes River; and more …
• NEWS WORTH NOTING: Restore the Delta responds to Secretary Laird’s letter of opposition against Calvert and Valadao riders; DWR convenes inaugural community-led meeting for Oroville Dam Safety comprehensive needs assessment
• WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Flood-MAR Webinar~ Soil Problems~ Wetlands~ New Date~ Conditional Funding~ Coastal Restoration ~~

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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.