DAILY DIGEST: In a battle over rivers, court case could clobber farmers; Oroville Dam lawsuits against DWR moving along in court; Gavin Newsom, John Cox a world apart on environmental issues; CA had its own climate summit. Now what?; and more …

In California water news today, In a battle over rivers, court case could clobber farmers; Oroville Dam lawsuits against DWR moving along in court; Gavin Newsom, John Cox a world apart on environmental issues; California had its own climate summit. Now what?; House of Representatives passes bills that could rescue California desert hydropower project; and more …

On the calendar today …

• State Water Board public meeting on water loss performance standards from 10am to 3:30pm at Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles.  Click here for more information.

In the news today …

In a battle over rivers, court case could clobber farmers:  “California farmers are laboring under a daunting edict: They must stop over-pumping groundwater from beneath their ranches. The saving grace is that state law gives them more than 20 years to do it.  Now, however, a landmark court ruling could force many farmers to curb their groundwater consumption much sooner than that, landing like a bombshell in the contentious world of California water.  For the first time, a California court has said state and county governments have a duty to regulate groundwater usage when it’s clear that the pumping drains water from adjacent rivers. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  In a battle over rivers, court case could clobber farmers

Oroville Dam lawsuits against DWR moving along in court:  “A case management conference was held in Sacramento County Superior Court on Friday to consider several lawsuits brought against the state Department of Water Resources over the Oroville Dam crisis.  Included in the coordinated proceeding are several parties with separate suits, including individuals, entities and proposed classes.  The word “proposed” is necessary because lawsuits have not been certified as a “class action” ones yet, though Judge James McFetridge reportedly said that was a priority. No ruling was made at the case management conference, where parties met to discuss the pending cases, but dates for additional conferences were scheduled, according to attorneys present. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here:  Oroville Dam lawsuits against DWR moving along in court

Gavin Newsom, John Cox a world apart on environmental issues:  “Gavin Newsom and John Cox both drive zero-emission Teslas. That’s about where the common ground ends between California’s candidates for governor when it comes to the environment.  Until recently, Cox said he wasn’t sure how much humans contribute to climate change. “I’m not a climatologist,” the Republican candidate would say.  As the Global Climate Action Summit wrapped up in San Francisco, however, Cox clarified his views, telling The Chronicle that “climate change is real, and humans contribute to it.” … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  Gavin Newsom, John Cox a world apart on environmental issues

California had its own climate summit.  Now what?  “For years, presidents and prime ministers have been the public face of the fight against climate change, gathering at United Nations summit meetings and pressuring each other to reduce emissions.  The results have often been lackluster.  A climate conference in California this week tried something different. The meeting, organized by the state’s governor, Jerry Brown, had far fewer national leaders present. Instead, an array of governors, mayors and business executives from around the globe met to promote their successes in cutting greenhouse gas emissions locally and to encourage one another to do more. … ” Read more from the New York Times here:  California had its own climate summit.  Now what?

In commentary today …

California’s boondoggles threaten property owners and tax payers:  Jon Coupal writes, “One would hope that with the profound foolishness associated with California’s infamous High Speed Rail (HSR) project that our elected leadership would have learned a thing or two.  But this is California. Because we do things bigger and better than anyone else, it’s apparent that one massive boondoggle isn’t enough — we need two.  Let’s recap what we’ll call Boondoggle, Senior. ... ”  Read more from the OC Register here:  California’s boondoggles threaten property owners and tax payers

In regional news and commentary today …

Cal Am’s Monterey district appraised at $1.044 billion:  “California American Water has released an appraisal indicating its Monterey district is worth an estimated $1.044 billion as of the end of June, essentially setting the company’s own perceived value of the local system subject to a public buyout effort.  On Friday, the local water provider issued a summary fair market valuation from independent expert MR Valuation Consulting that outlined the rationale for establishing a value for the local system’s assets, and which made it clear that the appraisal was being done “in anticipation of a potential condemnation action.” ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here:  Cal Am’s Monterey district appraised at $1.044 billion

House of Representatives passes bills that could rescue California desert hydropower project:  “The companies trying to build a massive hydroelectric power plant on the doorstep of Joshua Tree National Park got one step closer to their objective last week.  The House of Representatives unanimously approved America’s Water Infrastructure Act, a sprawling bill that would authorize and fund projects across the country, from bridge repairs to school drinking fountain replacements. The bill includes a provision that would allow federal regulators to throw a lifeline to the Eagle Mountain hydropower plant, which would be built in the open desert near Interstate 10, about an hour east of Palm Springs, on a property as close as 1.5 miles to Joshua Tree National Park. ... ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here:  House of Representatives passes bills that could rescue California desert hydropower project

New proposition could benefit the Imperial Valley:  “Progress is being made to improve the conditions of the Salton Sea.  In the most recent election, voters approved $200 million in water bonds to begin restoring the sea with another possible $200 million coming if Prop 3 passes in November.  If voters decide yes on Prop 3, the ten-year plan to restore the Salton Sea is fully financed.  … ”  Read more from KYMA here:  New proposition could benefit the Imperial Valley

Along the Colorado River …

Colorado rolls with climate shift, grappling with low river flows and complicated debate over reservoirs:  “Colorado’s ongoing climate shift toward lower flows in river headwaters is spurring countless quick adaptations, most recently a gubernatorial intervention to allow taller stacks of hay on trucks rolling into the state.  But this shift since the start of the century toward greater aridity also is forcing, out of public view in government meetings and science labs, an unprecedented scramble to determine how much climbing temperatures — compared with Colorado’s near-record low rain and mountain snowpack — are driving that change. … ”  Read more from the Denver Post here:  Colorado rolls with climate shift, grappling with low river flows and complicated debate over reservoirs

More news and commentary in the weekend edition …

• DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Brown announces CA plan to launch satellite to track climate change; ‘Walking conflict of interest’ Deputy Interior Secretary creates headaches for the agency; The environmental legal ramifications of dam decommissioning on the Colorado River; and more …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for September 17
• NEWS WORTH NOTING: Gov. Brown closes climate summit: “We’re launching our own damn satellite”; CA and WA team up on forest health, climate change; McNerney’s WaterSense legislation included in infrastructure bill; LADWP water projects save 730M gallons of water/year

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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.