In California water news today, California Water Fix start dates raise red flag; State water board won’t vote next week on controversial flow plan; Firefighting mars the earth. California crews are fixing it; The red fire retardant used in California wildfires won’t hurt you. Here’s what’s in it; The Super Bowl of beekeeping; California farm baron offered to drop water lawsuit — if his family got a special exemption; How ranchers are getting by with less water across the West; Lake Mead water levels fine for now, but cutbacks could be coming as soon as 2019; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: Sustainable water management strategies for specialty crop expansion in the Sacramento Valley; Fish-friendly flood control; CA water managers vary in use of climate science; Does rain follow the plow?
- CA WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Conservation Legislation~ Russian River~ $395 Million~ WestFAST Newsletter~ CALFIRE Assessment~ Brown Bag ~~
California Water Fix start dates raise red flag: “An application submitted by the Delta Conveyance Finance Authority (DCFA) seeking $1.6 billion in federal funding to support the California WaterFix project has raised some eyebrows. The application indicates dates for the issuance of construction permits and the start of tunnel construction. “They emphatically state that they’re going to have the permit in their hand on Dec. 14 and construction begins Dec. 15,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta. “So either the permit in front of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) is a fait accompli or these guys are just straight out lying to the federal government and marching in with a lot of hubris.” ... ” Read more from The Press here: California Water Fix start dates raise red flag
State water board won’t vote next week on controversial flow plan: “The State Water Board is making it clear that it won’t vote next week on a much-disputed proposal to require higher river flows for improving water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta. Felicia Marcus, who chairs the water board, said in a letter Wednesday to the California Natural Resources Agency that final action will be taken at a board meeting later. Hearings Tuesday and Wednesday in Sacramento are still set for considering comments on the final amendments to the Bay-Delta plan, which would require dams in the Sierra to release 40 percent of flows in the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers from February through June to help young salmon swim downstream to the ocean. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: State water board won’t vote next week on controversial flow plan
Firefighting mars the earth. California crews are fixing it: “Jack Hattendorf steers his road grader back and forth across a dirt path cutting through blackened earth. With each pass, he smooths and tamps down the soil to remake a dirt road that fire crews tore apart days earlier to stop flames that would become part of the largest wildfire on record in California. Even as flames chew through forestland nearby, Hattendorf and others are working to repair the damage caused not by flames but by firefighters trying to stop them. They seek to restore private lands, protect the environment and water supply, and prevent erosion that can lead to mudslides like the one that tour though a community outside Santa Barbara in January, killing nearly two dozen people. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Firefighting mars the earth. California crews are fixing it
The red fire retardant used in California wildfires won’t hurt you. Here’s what’s in it: “Firefighters gained more control of the Holy Fire now burning in the Cleveland National Forest in Riverside County. Forest officials said the fire has held steady, burning 22,986 acres by Wednesday morning. But firefighters have 72 percent of the fire’s perimeter contained. … One reason for the daily successes in battling back the blaze is the red fire retardant captured in photos and videos as it is dropped on the flames and surrounding areas from jumbo jets following spotter planes. ... ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: The red fire retardant used in California wildfires won’t hurt you. Here’s what’s in it
The Super Bowl of beekeeping: “Every February, white petals blanket first the almond trees, then the floor of the central valley, an 18,000-square-mile expanse of California that begins at the stretch of highway known as the Grapevine just south of Bakersfield and reaches north to the foothills of the Cascades. The blooms represent the beginning of the valley’s growing season each year: Almond trees are first to bud, flower and fruit. At the base of the trunks sit splintered boxes — some marked with numbers, some with names, some with insignias — stacked two boxes high on a wooden pallet that fits four stacks. Inside the boxes are bees, dancing in circles and figure-eights and sometimes just waggling. With almond season comes bee season. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: The Super Bowl of beekeeping
California farm baron offered to drop water lawsuit — if his family got a special exemption: “A lawsuit in California’s Imperial Valley could determine who controls the single largest share of Colorado River water in the West — a few hundred landowning farmers, or the elected five-member board of the Imperial Irrigation District. But a newly obtained document shows that the farmer who filed the lawsuit, Mike Abatti, was willing to sidestep that explosive legal question — if he and his family got a special exemption from a plan that could have limited his access to Colorado River water. ... ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: California farm baron offered to drop water lawsuit — if his family got a special exemption
How ranchers are getting by with less water across the West: “In the summer, all we talk about is rain. Walk into a diner or a barn, or just run into someone at the store, and the first question anyone asks – even before, “How are you?” – is, “Did you get any rain?” It’s the same in New Mexico as in Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and California. Everyone is concerned because, as ranchers, we know the health of our cattle depends on the amount of water that falls out of the sky. And this year, it hasn’t been a lot. Much of the American West is classified as either semi-arid or desert, so water is our most precious resource. We need to use water efficiently to protect what little we have in this climate, especially in drought years. … ” Read more from Water Deeply here: How ranchers are getting by with less water across the West
In commentary today …
Felicia’s fish are just red herrings, we know the real objective, says Assemblyman Adam Gray: “In a recent letter to The Sacramento Bee, Felicia Marcus, Chair of the State Water Resources Control Board, wrote “hundreds of thousands of Californians lack access to clean water for drinking, bathing, and cooking.” She goes on to say that it is her “job to champion the concerns of ordinary Californians and deliver life’s basic necessities.” She has failed. As chair of the state’s primary water regulatory body, Marcus oversees a staff of thousands and a budget of over $1 billion each year. Despite her promises to the contrary, she and her board have used their immense authority to jeopardize – not protect – the economy and drinking water supplies of the Northern San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more at the Modesto Bee here: Felicia’s fish are just red herrings, we know the real objective
In regional news and commentary today …
Chico: East Third and Orient water tanks to be preserved: “The old water tanks at East Third and Orient streets won’t be taken down as planned, the California Water Service Co. announced Wednesday. The elevated tanks, built in 1905 and 1913, are empty and not in use. Cal Water announced in June 2017 that they and two others in town did not meet earthquake standards and would be taken down. The East Third and Orient tanks are listed on the city of Chico’s historic registry, and preservationists pressed Cal Water to pursue alternatives. ... ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Chico: East Third and Orient water tanks to be preserved
One fish, two fish: Counting salmon on the Russian River: “Every summer fish biologists across the state suction snorkel masks onto their faces. With scuba diving flashlights in hand, they crawl, swim, and slither up the tributaries of rivers literally counting the number and species of salmon they see to measure the health of the population. This method to monitor the salmon and steelhead populations is effective and low tech and it hasn’t changed much over the years. But the salmon population in California has changed. KALW’s environment reporter, Angela Johnston has the story. … ” Read or listen from KALW here: One fish, two fish: Counting salmon on the Russian River
How one landowner is building better habitat for salmon along the Russian River: “One of the main reasons for the decline of the salmon population in the Russian River is the simple fact that humans live along it, work along it, growing marijuana, growing grapes, building houses . . . the list goes on. So, conservationists believe part of the solution is working with the people who live right along the water to create a better environment for the fish. KALW’s Angela Johnston walked along a small tributary of the Russian River called Grape Creek with Sally Weed, a landowner who’s working to be a better neighbor for the salmon ever since she first saw salmon spawning in her backyard. … ” Read more from KALW here: How one landowner is building better habitat for salmon along the Russian River
Blue-green algae blooms spreading in Discovery Bay: “Last week, the county informed the Town of Discovery Bay that cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are now blooming in Willow Lake. Prompted by a phone call from a resident who noticed algal blooms floating on the water, the Contra Costa County Department of Environment Health collected three samples from the lake July 24. “The (person who called) noticed algal blooms and was concerned that it might be the same type of algae detected in the general Discovery Bay waters,” explained Joe Doser, Contra Costa County Supervising Environmental Health Specialist. … ” Read more from The Press here: Blue-green algae blooms spreading in Discovery Bay
New pipelines to be installed under Mare Island Strait: “The city of Vallejo and wastewater district announced Wednesday that new pipelines will be installed 75 feet underneath the Mare Island Strait over the coming months in an effort to improve water and sewer services to Mare Island. The $16 million project calls for two new pipelines to be bored underneath the strait about 95 feet north of the Mare Island Causeway bridge. Both agencies said the project serves a dual purpose: increase the capacity of water flowing to the island, while also replacing aging sewer pipes which are difficult to repair and access since they run under the causeway. ... ” Read more from the Times Herald here: New pipelines to be installed under Mare Island Strait
El Dorado County: Honey sweetens ditch dispute: “What might have been yet another confrontation between the El Dorado Irrigation District and members of Save the Canal at Monday’s board meeting took a sweeter turn as Pollock Pines resident Leslie Sinclair presented Director George Osborne with a jar of honey and suggested that might be a better way to resolve what was turning into a “vinegary” dispute. At issue are plans by the district to pipe the Upper Main Ditch in Pollock Pines which conveys water from Forebay Reservoir to the Reservoir 1 Water Treatment Plant. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: Honey sweetens ditch dispute
Fixing $21 million in storm damage continues at Hetch Hetchy’s Moccasin dam and reservoir: “More than four-and-a-half months after a March 22 megastorm unleashed heavy rains on Moccasin and Groveland, creating runoff and erosion that damaged millions of dollars worth of public infrastructure and utility-owned water works, Hetch Hetchy Water & Power contractors are still fixing $21 million in storm damage at Moccasin Dam and Reservoir. Officials at the state fish hatchery just below Moccasin Dam and Moccasin Reservoir hope Hetch Hetchy, the utility giant based in San Francisco, will have the work done no later than March 1 so that they can begin raising more trout at Moccasin Creek Hatchery. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: Fixing $21 million in storm damage continues at Hetch Hetchy’s Moccasin dam and reservoir
US Ag Secretary visits in Oakdale: “In a rare visit to the Central Valley, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made stops in Modesto and Oakdale on Tuesday, Aug. 14. On Tuesday morning, the Cowboy Capital of the World welcomed Perdue as part of a visit with U.S. Representative Jeff Denham, touching on agriculture and water issues. … Welcoming Denham and Perdue were the Brichetto family, members of the Oakdale Irrigation District board, local farmers and other agriculture enthusiasts. … ” Read more from the Oakdale Leader here: US Ag Secretary visits in Oakdale
Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority meets Thursday: “The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board of directors may face a light agenda as it meets Thursday morning. According to the agenda packet, the Groundwater Authority board will hear from Steve Johnson of Stetson Engineers, who acts as the agency’s water resources manager. Johnson will also report on the status of the agency’s Proposition 1 grant that it was awarded from the state, reports on the status and schedule of the groundwater extraction fee adopted in July and the first draft of a GSP outline. ... ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority meets Thursday
Water, cannabis: Casino MSA amendment before the Ridgecrest City Council: “One of the more controversial topics facing the City of Ridgecrest will be back at the city council meeting today. On the agenda is a request for council to approve a first amendment to the municipal services agreement between the Timbisha Shoshone tribe and the city regarding a casino inside city limits. … According to the amendment attached to the agenda, while the tribe currently has no plans to use groundwater from the trust lands, the parties nonetheless want to address the possibility. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Water, cannabis: Casino MSA amendment before the Ridgecrest City Council
Lucerne Valley: Water, fire major issues: “The Mojave Water Agency has created an ad hoc well committee to form a link between the agency that doles out water/pumping rights and San Bernardino County, which issues the well permits. Creation of the committee was borne of concern that some residents may be pumping and exceeding their allowable annual water usage of 10 acre-feet per year, and not paying for the overage (adjudicated water rights) as required, said Richard Selby, vice president of LVEDA and California Rural Water Association field specialist for the agency. Conservation of water is especially important when it is not replenished adequately by natural sources. ... ” Read more from the Daily Press here: Water, fire major issues
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead water levels fine for now, but cutbacks could be coming as soon as 2019: “Officials say they’re not concerned about water levels on a key Colorado River reservoir for the next 13 months, but an expected shortage could force cutbacks as soon as late 2019. An extended forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, paired with previous warnings, all point to the same reality for Lake Mead: prolonged dry periods and rising demand could drain so much water from the reservoir that mandatory cutbacks might become necessary. … ” Read more from The Weather Channel here: Lake Mead water levels fine for now, but cutbacks could be coming as soon as 2019
Environmentalists want Glen Canyon Dam removed, but is that even possible? “The Bureau of Reclamation finished Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, obliterating one of the most spectacular red-rock canyons in the Southwest and altering the flow of the mighty Colorado River. The concrete-arch dam, just south of the Arizona-Utah line, was first proposed in the 1940s to store water and produce electricity for Western states. Initial plans were to dam the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado, but that would have flooded Dinosaur National Monument in Utah, so planners turned to little-known Glen Canyon. ... ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Environmentalists want Glen Canyon Dam removed, but is that even possible?
And lastly …
Hearst Castle finally starts refilling its extravagant Neptune Pool after massive $10million renovations: “California‘s historic Hearst Castle has finally started refilling its extravagant and iconic Neptune Pool following a lengthy hiatus and a whopping $10million renovation. The 345,000-gallon pool at the landmark site on the central California coast has been without water for the past five years. State Parks officials revealed on Tuesday that they had started refilling the pool. It is expected to take take two to three days for the water to reach the top. … ” Read more and view pictures from the Daily Mail here: Hearst Castle finally starts refilling its extravagant Neptune Pool after massive $10million renovations
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- SCIENCE NEWS: Sustainable water management strategies for specialty crop expansion in the Sacramento Valley; Fish-friendly flood control; CA water managers vary in use of climate science; Does rain follow the plow?
- CA WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Conservation Legislation~ Russian River~ $395 Million~ WestFAST Newsletter~ CALFIRE Assessment~ Brown Bag ~~
Sign up for daily email service and you’ll never miss a post …
Sign up for free daily email service and you’ll get all the Notebook’s aggregated and original water news content delivered to your email box by 9AM. And with breaking news alerts, you’ll always be one of the first to know …
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.
