In California water news today, Trump attacks California over water, fire management; Here’s what Trump gets wrong about California water; The West’s rivers are hot enough to cook salmon to death. Will this court ruling keep them cool?; Projects evaluate recharge on cropland; Contentious Campaign for Montecito’s Water Future Draws Big-Money Donations; Ventura County: Groundwater allocation between cities and agriculture up for discussion; Riverside County says its new Salton Sea plan could bring back tourism, generate $1 billion in tax revenue; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Stewardship Council will hold the appeal hearing on the consistency determination of the Cal Water Fix beginning at 9am. The hearing will continue on Thursday and Friday (if necessary). Click here for more information. Click here to watch on webcast.
- Webinar: The Developing El Niño and the On-going Drought in the Southwest from 9am to 10am. Click here to register.
- The Southern California Water Dialogue meets this afternoon from 12:00pm to 1:30pm in Los Angeles. Topic is Measure W. Click here for more information.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- Cal WaterFix appeal hearing begins at the Delta Stewardship Council
- DR. JEFF MOUNT: Making groundwater a centerpiece of managing the droughts of the future
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: SFPUC applauds passage of federal water workforce development program; New federal law allows for real progress in securing Valley water, increasing drought resilience; State Water Contractors release fact sheet on water management and efficiency
TRUMP AND CALIFORNIA WATER
Trump attacks California over water, fire management: “President Trump on Tuesday volleyed a number of attacks at California over the state’s water practices and fire management, going so far as to threaten withholding future federal aid. Speaking at an address to the White House State Leadership Day Conference, Trump warned California to “get on the ball” with how it manages its forests and regulates water releases from its dams, insinuating that both practices are responsible for a number of the state’s devastating forest fires. “They have lousy management,” Trump said. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Trump attacks California over water, fire management
Trump criticizes – and again mischaracterizes – California’s water management: “President Trump claimed Tuesday that California mismanages its water resources, dismissing the possibility of drought and accusing the state of sending water out to sea that could be used to help farmers in the Central Valley. Trump also threatened to withhold federal disaster dollars from California, which he incorrectly claimed is impeding firefighters’ access to water during wildfire. “We’re tired of giving California hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars all the time for their forest fires when you wouldn’t have them if they managed their forests properly,” Trump said. “They don’t. They have lousy management. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Trump criticizes – and again mischaracterizes – California’s water management
Trump: California has lots of water, so why are the lawns so brown?: “President Trump doubled down Tuesday on his criticism of California policies that he says are responsible for wildfires and misdirecting water that could be used to keep people’s lawns from turning brown. Speaking before a crowd of local officials at the White House that included dozens of officials from around California, Trump went into an extended riff about a state that he said he knows well. He included an ambiguous threat to cut off federal funding in the aftermath of a long summer of wildfires. “California, get on the ball because we’re not going to hand you any more money,” Trump told the crowd. “It’s ridiculous.” ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Trump: California has lots of water, so why are the lawns so brown?
Here’s what Trump gets wrong about California water: “On Tuesday, President Donald Trump fanned the flames of a long-standing debate in California between the state’s environmentalists and farmers. At the White House State Leadership Conference, Trump called California’s dry and fallow fields “one of the most ridiculous things” he saw on the campaign trail in 2016, when the state was still in the midst of a record-setting drought. At a campaign rally in Fresno that year, Trump claimed the government was “taking the water and shoving it out to sea,” and promised to deliver more water to Central Valley farmers. Last week, he made progress on that campaign promise, signing a presidential memorandum to speed up environmental reviews of water infrastructure projects in the West ... ” Continue reading at the Pacific Standard here: Here’s what Trump gets wrong about California water
Trump signs water infrastructure bill that will help the Central Valley: “President Donald Trump signed a wide-ranging bill Tuesday to improve the nation’s water infrastructure, including adding water storage in the San Joaquin Valley. America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 authorizes more than $6 billion in spending over 10 years for projects nationwide. The law also boosts projects to restore Gulf Coast wetlands damaged by Hurricane Harvey and improve harbors in Seattle, Savannah, Georgia, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The act passed the House of Representatives and the Senate on a bipartisan basis before going to Trump’s desk. … ” Read more from GV Wire here: Trump signs water infrastructure bill that will help the Central Valley
How Pres. Trump’s Water Resources Bill impacts close Denham, Harder race: “President Donald Trump signed a new Water Resources Bill into law on Tuesday written in part by California Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) who is in the midst of a hotly-contested campaign in the state’s 10th district. The water bill will authorize financing of new water storage projects as part of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. That piece of legislation was written by California Congressman Jeff Denham, R – Turlock, who was by Trump’s side at signing. … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: How Pres. Trump’s Water Resources Bill impacts close Denham, Harder race
President’s action aims to benefit water supplies: “A memorandum from President Trump intends to provide relief to farmers, cities, rural communities and wildlife refuges in the West that have struggled under water-supply regulations. President Trump’s memorandum—signed last Friday and addressed to the secretaries of the Interior, Commerce, Energy, the Army, and the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality—seeks to streamline regulatory processes for Western water projects. It also requires agencies to complete within 10 months a reconsultation of biological opinions for protected fish species that affect the long-term operation of existing facilities within the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. ... ” Read more from Ag Alert here: President’s action aims to benefit water supplies
Q&A: Here’s what we know about Trump’s water memo and California: “President Donald Trump’s memorandum on western water, which ordered federal agencies to look for ways to remove regulatory burdens on federal water projects, has caused waves in California. But what will it actually do? That’s not clear, even to federal bureaucrats. And is farm country in California really the desolate wasteland described by Congressional Republicans? The USA TODAY Network in California asked experts on California water, farming and environmental issues to break down what’s known at this point. Here’s what we know now … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Q&A: Here’s what we know about Trump’s water memo and California
OTHER STATEWIDE NEWS
The West’s rivers are hot enough to cook salmon to death. Will this court ruling keep them cool? “It might be the most gruesome element of the drought conditions that have gripped the West in recent years: salmon being cooked to death by the thousands in rivers that have become overheated as water flows dwindle. Now a federal judge in Seattle has directed the Environmental Protection Agency, in a ruling with implications for California and the Pacific Northwest, to find a way to keep river waters cool. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez, ruling in a case filed by environmental and fishermen’s groups, told the agency last week it must develop a plan to keep water temperatures low in the Columbia River and its main tributary, the Snake, to protect multiple varieties of salmon and steelhead that are covered by the Endangered Species Act. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: The West’s rivers are hot enough to cook salmon to death. Will this court ruling keep them cool?
Projects evaluate recharge on cropland: “Can water be spread onto active farmland to replenish underground aquifers without harming crops? That’s the question under study in a variety of California locations on land holding vineyards, nut orchards, alfalfa and other crops. These efforts, some of which have been ongoing for years, have become more important since the 2014 passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires local agencies and groundwater users to develop plans to manage aquifers within their jurisdictions. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Projects evaluate recharge on cropland
In commentary today …
California’s government started the Dust Bowl — and Trump might save it, says Tiana Lowe: She writes, “Between Silicon Valley and Hollywood lays California’s Central Valley, the oft-ignored and most fruitful base of agriculture in the country. For years, farmers along Interstate 5 have staked poster signs outside of blackened fields, proclaiming, “CONGRESS STARTED THE DUST BOWL.” This week, President Trump may have saved it. Because of the sheer magnitude of the San Francisco Bay area and the Los Angeles metropolitan area, California is the bluest state in the union, but the farmers in the state’s center have long warred with the environmental lobby over a species of tiny, three-inch fish: the delta smelt. To keep the state’s freshwater available to the long-diminishing population of delta smelt, environmentalists successfully lobbied Sacramento to massively restrict the state’s waterways, crippling California’s agricultural production and forcing billions of gallons of freshwater to be dumped into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta instead of using it for farming. ... ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: California’s government started the Dust Bowl — and Trump might save it
In regional news and commentary today …
North Coast: Environmental documents for salmon restoration projects available: “National Forest Service officials are seeking public comment on environmental documents for a project that focuses on the recovery of North Coast salmon and steelhead and enhances habitat for other aquatic species. The Six Rivers Aquatic Restoration Project Draft Environmental Assessment proposes reconnecting spawning and rearing habitats for steelhead and salmon and improving habitat complexity alongside streams, ponds and lakes by implementing a “suite of in-stream and riparian habitat restoration actions,” according to the press release. … ” Read more from the Del Norte Triplicate here: North Coast: Environmental documents for salmon restoration projects availabl
Nevada Irrigation District takes first step in raw water master plan update: “The Nevada Irrigation District has released the first details about its Raw Water Master Plan update, a two-year process that will project future water supply and demand conditions and develop alternatives to meet those needs for the next 50 years. The plan update is starting in the middle of a contentious debate over the district’s proposal to build the Centennial Dam on the Bear River between the Combie and Rollins reservoirs. In September, the district board approved an $811,000 contract to hire a consultant to facilitate the update process, despite some opposition to the expenditure and concern about the inclusion of stakeholders. ... ” Read more from The Union here: Nevada Irrigation District takes first step in raw water master plan update
Mokelumne River salmon counts may be higher than 2017: “Could this be another record year for salmon on the Mokelumne River? A record number of fall-run Chinook salmon, 19,904, went over Woodbridge Dam on the Mokelumne in the fall of 2017 – and this fall’s fish counts over the dam to date have been even better. “The run is awesome this year,” William Smith, manager of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery, said. “The fish count as of October 16 this year is 6051, compared to last year’s 5431.” ... ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Mokelumne River salmon counts may be higher than 2017
Belvedere mulls revenue sources for flood projects: “Preparing for what experts are calling an imminent threat, Belvedere officials are grappling with ways to pay for projects designed to safeguard the bayfront community from the forthcoming effects of sea-level rise. City Council members this month discussed possible revenue sources, ranging from parcel and property transfer taxes to grants and crowdsourcing campaigns, that could help pay for flood protection projects with an estimated price tag between $11.3 million and $27.1 million. ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Belvedere mulls revenue sources for flood projects
City of Marina Appeals Improper CPUC Approval of Key Environmental Document for Cal Am Desalination Project to California Supreme Court: “The City of Marina has petitioned the California Supreme Court to review the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Cal Am Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (Project) approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The City asserts that the EIR is factually, scientifically and legally inadequate and fails to adequately consider the impacts of a large industrial desalination project in a protected coastal setting within a disadvantaged community. “The CPUC approval not only violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), but it flies in the face of long held values that our state has embraced for generations,” said Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado. ... ” Read more from Business Wire here: City of Marina Appeals Improper CPUC Approval of Key Environmental Document for Cal Am Desalination Project to California Supreme Court
Eelgrass is vital for Morro Bay wildlife — and Cal Poly researchers are trying to save it: “A new Cal Poly study shows water quality conditions in some parts of the Morro Bay estuary could be the driving factor in preventing eelgrass recovery after the iconic beds experienced a massive die-off over the past decade. Although researchers have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the initial eelgrass collapse — having declined more than 90 percent since 2007 — environmental conditions likely limit growth in many parts of the bay, according to ecologist Jennifer O’Leary. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Eelgrass is vital for Morro Bay wildlife — and Cal Poly researchers are trying to save it
Trump signs law giving Merced County more water storage: “New legislation pushed by Central San Joaquin Valley lawmakers was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, increasing the storage capacity at Lake McClure, according to leaders. The Water Resources Development Act/America’s Water Infrastructure Act, a plan to store up to an additional 57,000-acre feet of water in Lake McClure, was a a bipartisan act pushed by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock. Costa said the storage is vital for the Central Valley. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Trump signs law giving Merced County more water storage
Gibraltar reservoir resources continue to be a concern due to increasing silt: “Issues involving the capacity of Gibraltar Reservoir continue to be a concern when South Coast water reserves are evaluated. The dam along the Santa Ynez River between the Montecito back country hills and the Santa Ynez Valley has significant capacity loss due to silt. The runoff dirt has been increased in part due to the burnt hills from the Zaca, Rey and Thomas fires. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Gibraltar reservoir resources continue to be a concern due to increasing silt
Contentious Campaign for Montecito’s Water Future Draws Big-Money Donations: “In an extraordinary $120,000 campaign, a slate of five candidates is wielding free-swinging fierce attacks against incumbents in a bid for control over the Montecito Water District and Montecito Sanitary District boards. Fueled by tens of thousands of dollars from just eight Montecito residents, this “Water Security Team” wants to drought-proof the wealthy, water-guzzling community by buying into Santa Barbara’s desalination plant and recycling water at the sanitary district. The recycled water would keep the grass green at the exclusive Valley Club of Montecito and Birnam Wood Golf Club, where some of the slate’s big contributors are influential members. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Contentious Campaign for Montecito’s Water Future Draws Big-Money Donations
$8.9 billion water bond promises $80 million to fund removal of Matilija Dam: “An $8.9 billion state bond measure on the Nov. 6 ballot authorizes $80 million for the removal of the Matilija Dam plus billions for water projects around California. Proposition 3 would provide the largest amount of money that’s ever come forward to take down the dam near Ojai, an official overseeing the dam removal project said. “Eighty million wouldn’t go all the way, but it would get a very substantial portion of it done,” said Peter Sheydayi, who manages the project for the Ventura County Watershed Protection District. ... ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: $8.9 billion water bond promises $80 million to fund removal of Matilija Dam
Ventura County: Groundwater allocation between cities and agriculture up for discussion: “A state water management agency will consider a new pumping allocation formula on Wednesday that city officials fear will lead to higher water rates. The Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency board is expected to vote on an ordinance that sets pumping allocation for agricultural and municipal users. The proposal calls for municipal and industrial users to pump no more than 35,000 acre-feet of groundwater a year, representing less than 40 percent of the total allocation. There are two groups that pump water from the Oxnard and Pleasant Valley basins — agricultural and municipal and industrial. Negotiations have been taking place for years with the groundwater management agency as it prepares a sustainability plan under state conservation mandates. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Ventura County: Groundwater allocation between cities and agriculture up for discussion
Riverside County says its new Salton Sea plan could bring back tourism, generate $1 billion in tax revenue: “Riverside County is moving forward with a Salton Sea restoration plan that officials say could generate more than $1 billion in tax revenue, which would help fund construction of a permanent, horseshoe-shaped lake at the north end of the dying sea. The board of supervisors voted Tuesday to create an enhanced infrastructure financing district, or EIFD, that encompasses Mecca, North Shore, Oasis, Thermal and other unincorporated communities near the Salton Sea. If voters in the newly created district approve the plan, the county would issue bonds to fund construction of a so-called North Lake. ... ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: Riverside County says its new Salton Sea plan could bring back tourism, generate $1 billion in tax revenue
Along the Colorado River …
CAP looking to Gila River Indian Community for water deal: “Central Arizona Ground Replenishment District has reached a proposed agreement with Gila River Indian Community and Gila River Water Storage LLC for the acquisition of an annual renewable water supply of 33,185 acre-feet for 25 years beginning in 2020. “We’re really pleased with what CAGRD has done in looking for alternatives for groundwater,” Lois Wakimoto, Mohave County District 5 supervisor and Mohave County Water Authority chairwoman, told the Daily News. … ” Read more from the Mohave Daily News here: CAP looking to Gila River Indian Community for water deal
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Cal WaterFix Appeal hearing begins at the Delta Stewardship Council
DR. JEFF MOUNT: Making groundwater a centerpiece of managing the droughts of the future
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.
