In California water news today, What caused nearly 20,000 earthquakes at Oroville Dam? Scientists weigh in; High tides and storms could be California’s next costly calamity; Nonprofit continues battle to save Klamath Dams; Time is running short for Colorado River managers to hammer out drought plan; Long waited WOTUS rule addresses uncertainty, but may face litigation ahead; Huge barrier isn’t trapping plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean; Leading contenders emerge to replace Zinke as Secretary; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- CAL WATER FIX HEARINGS: Protestors write State Water Board, say hearing cannot be finalized
- BLOG ROUND-UP: State Water Board decision, Brown-Trump water agreements, Delta smelt, Beyond the drought contingency plan, WOTUS rollback, and more …
- MOUNTAIN COUNTIES SYMPOSIUM: Delta Watermaster Michael George and Jason Peltier discuss moving forward in the Delta
- SGMA IMPLEMENTATION: New Climate Change Data Tools Available
What caused nearly 20,000 earthquakes at Oroville Dam? Scientists weigh in: “The earthquakes hit just days after last year’s near-catastrophe at Oroville Dam, when the spillway cracked amid heavy rains and 188,000 people fled in fear of flooding. The timing of the two small tremors about 75 miles north of Sacramento was curious, and frightening. Were the quakes part of a seismic hot spot that caused the giant concrete spillway to tear? Was the weight of the water behind the dam triggering the quakes? Could all of Lake Oroville be prone to slipping? ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: What caused nearly 20,000 earthquakes at Oroville Dam? Scientists weigh in
High tides and storms could be California’s next costly calamity: “The highest tides of the winter are coming and if compounded by storms, vulnerable areas from Crescent City to San Diego could be devastated. This walkway along Capistrano Beach in Dana Point,above, could be a warning sign for all of California’s coastal regions. The structure was wiped out when a storm hit in early December, but the tides were several feet lower than they can be and the swells were about 6 feet. … ” Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: High tides and storms could be California’s next costly calamity
Major storms bearing down on Pacific Northwest, California: “A series of storms are slamming the West Coast with heavy rain, huge waves, strong winds and snow at higher elevations. In central and northern California on Monday waves were as high as 30 feet, with 40- to 50-foot breaks. Coastal flooding and erosion were reported. … ” Read more from ABC News here: Major storms bearing down on Pacific Northwest, California
Nonprofit continues battle to save Klamath Dams: “A Siskiyou County nonprofit is not stopping in its mission to keep the Klamath dams right where they are. The means by which they continue to fight dam removal is complicated, but the gist is this: The Siskiyou County Water Users Association filed a writ of mandamus with the U.S. Court of Appeals last month, asking it to compel the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to rule on a motion the SCWUA previously filed in attempt to stop the transfer of the dams’ ownership to the agency established to demolish them. … ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: Nonprofit continues battle to save Klamath Dams
Dutch Slough Project Creates Richer Habitat for Delta Fish and Wildlife: “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently broke ground on the Dutch Slough Tidal Restoration Project, the largest tidal wetlands restoration project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to date. Located on the Delta’s western edge in Contra Costa County, the Dutch Slough project will transform approximately 1,200 acres of former grazing and dairy lands into a rich habitat for fish and wildlife. Once completed, the project will utilize natural daily tides to allow water to flow in and out, creating a natural tidal wetland that provides a safer environment for salmon, splittail and other endangered fish species. … ” Read more from the DWR News here: Dutch Slough Project Creates Richer Habitat for Delta Fish and Wildlife
Podcast: What’s Up With Water – Cutbacks Ahead For The Clean Water Act: “I’m Eileen Wray-McCann, for Circle of Blue, and here’s What’s Up with Water, your “need-to-know news” of the world’s water. In the United States, the Trump administration last week proposed major cutbacks in federal protections for waterways. The proposal narrows the federal government’s jurisdiction by limiting the number of waterways protected under the Clean Water Act. Limiting the reach of the Clean Water Act has been a top priority of President Trump, and the proposed rule represents a significant win for developers, farmers, mining companies, and energy firms. Supporters say the rule reduces the regulatory burden on landowners and businesses. Critics contend that it will damage waterways and return the country to an era of pollution that will be magnified by climate change. … ” Continue reading or listen to podcast from Circle of Blue here: Podcast: What’s Up With Water – Cutbacks Ahead For The Clean Water Act
Long waited WOTUS rule addresses uncertainty, but may face litigation ahead: “The Trump Administration revealed the new and long-awaited “waters of the United States” or “WOTUS” rule last week, which is designed to clear confusion on one of the most hotly debated topics in environmental law today – the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This rule is the second and final step in a process that began with President Trump’s February 2017 Executive Order calling on the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to revise the definition of “waters of the United States.” The Administration sought to provide a “clear, understandable, and implementable” definition of WOTUS by clarifying the types and reducing the overall number of waterways regulated by the federal government. … ” Read more from the National Law Review here: Long waited WOTUS rule addresses uncertainty, but may face litigation ahead
Huge barrier isn’t trapping plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean: “A floating device sent to corral a swirling island of trash between California and Hawaii has not swept up any plastic waste — but the young innovator behind the project said Monday that a fix was in the works. Boyan Slat, 24, who launched the Pacific Ocean cleanup project, said the speed of the solar-powered barrier isn’t allowing it to hold on to the plastic it catches. “Sometimes the system actually moves slightly slower than the plastic, which of course you don’t want because then you have a chance of losing the plastic again,” Slat said in an interview with The Associated Press. ... ” Read more from the AP here: Huge barrier isn’t trapping plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean
Leading contenders emerge to replace Zinke as Secretary: “President Trump said he plans to announce this week his pick to replace Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who will be leaving the administration at the end of the year. The likely contenders have experience on congressional committees overseeing the Interior Department or hail from western states, an important factor considering Interior’s outsized influence in the West. Trump’s eventual pick will need to go through the Senate confirmation process. Here are some of the most-talked-about contenders. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Leading contenders emerge to replace Zinke as Secretary
In commentary today …
Our future is all about water, says the Santa Maria Times: They write, “We’ve been writing about this for years, but now influential policy makers in neighboring states are coming to realize the potential, and the effects of an extended drought. “Extended” is an all-purpose word. It could mean two years, or 200 years. Climate experts reckon the drought potential is closer to that larger number than to the smaller one. What would a centuries-long drought mean? The fact is the the land-locked desert states neighboring California are closing in on three decades of subnormal rainfall — and the baseline for the desert’s subnormal is rainfall in the single-digit category in so-called normal years, and far less during drought. ... ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Our future is all about water
In regional news and commentary today …
Russian River mouth opens, easing flooding concerns: “Large, powerful waves pounded Sonoma County beaches on Monday as a large swell train arrived on the Northern California coast. The waves, reaching 20-25 feet high, led the National Weather Service to issue a high surf warning Sunday and Monday, downgraded to a high surf advisory Monday night. The high surf advisory is expected to remain in place throughout the week, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Walbrun, who said a swell set coming in mid-week will keep waves in the 15-20 foot range for at least several more days. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Russian River mouth opens, easing flooding concerns
Army Corps of Engineers starts work to replenish Port Hueneme’s eroding coastline: “When the Port of Hueneme was built in the late 1930s, it disrupted the flow of sand to beaches to the south. That means every two years and often less, depending on recent weather events, the coastline shrinks. “You get some severe erosion and we lose a good portion of our beach, especially at the far end of the promenade,” said Don Villafana, the public works director for the city of Port Hueneme. To beef it up, the Army Corps of Engineers recently began the process of moving 1.8 million cubic yards of sand from the Channel Islands Harbor canyon to Port Hueneme’s coastline. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Army Corps of Engineers starts work to replenish Port Hueneme’s eroding coastline
Water Leak Shuts Down Sunset In Beverly Hills, Prompts Water Conservation Warning: “A stretch of Sunset Boulevard was closed Monday after a pipe leak turned into a full-blown water main break over the weekend. The water line leak was first discovered at Sunset Boulevard and Alpine Drive Friday night. The leak grew into a water main break Sunday night, prompting crews to shut down the intersection and most of Sunset to Rexford Drive. ... ” Read more from CBS LA here: Water Leak Shuts Down Sunset In Beverly Hills, Prompts Water Conservation Warning
Imperial Beach mayor huddles with Mexican officials over cross-border sewage: “Imperial Beach’s mayor is meeting with Mexican officials Monday to discuss the ongoing cross-border sewage problem. Millions of gallons of sewage continue to flow into U.S. waters every day as Mexican officials work to fix a broken sewer line in Tijuana. Imperial Beach mayor Serge Dedina said the sewage has forced the closure of beaches in his community which is why he is working so hard to fix the problem. … ” Read more from KPBS here: Imperial Beach mayor huddles with Mexican officials over cross-border sewage
Along the Colorado River …
Time is running short for Colorado River managers to hammer out drought plan: “Coming to terms with the limits of the Colorado River is like losing a loved one, Keith Moses said. “It reminds me of the seven stages of grief, because I think we’ve been in denial for a long time,” Moses, vice chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, a group of four tribes near Parker, Arizona, told the annual Colorado River Water Users Association meeting last week. Denial turned to pain and guilt as it became clear just how big the gap between supply and demand is on a river that delivers water to 40 million people in the Southwest. … ” Read more from Cronkite News here: Time is running short for Colorado River managers to hammer out drought plan
Arizona has no choice but to act on the drought contingency plan, say : They write, “U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman has issued an edict to Arizona and the two other lower Colorado basin states: Come up with a drought contingency plan by Jan. 31 or she will step in and do it for us. Burman is right to throw down the gauntlet. The Colorado River is in trouble. A nearly two-decade drought and the ravages of climate change have reduced water levels in Lake Mead, the lower basin reservoir, to record lows. Hydrologists predict water levels in Lake Mead will likely drop below levels that, under the existing multistate agreement, trigger the first tier of mandatory cutbacks in Colorado River water deliveries to lower-basin states. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Arizona has no choice but to act on the drought contingency plan
Tribal communities to help on Colorado River drought deal: “Leaders from the Cocopah and Colorado River Indian Tribes in Yuma and La Paz counties met last week with water leaders from the seven states along the Colorado River for an annual water conference here. Native American tribal leaders attended the Colorado River Water Users Association conference and spoke on opportunities and challenges for tribal communities. … ” Read more from KAWC here: Tribal communities to help on Colorado River drought deal
Four years after water released into the Colorado River, benefits continue: “Four years after water was released from the Morelos Dam near Yuma into the bone-dry delta of the Colorado River in Mexico, scientists say the environmental benefits of the controlled flooding continue. The Colorado River used to flow into Mexico and connect with the Gulf of California. Along it was a ribbon of green vegetation that made it an important stop for birds in migration. That changed in the 1960s when damming and diversions upriver caused the river to dry up. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media here: Four years after water released into the Colorado River, benefits continue
Precipitation watch …
From NWS Sacramento: “A weak frontal band will be moving through northern California this afternoon and tonight bringing light rain and high elevation snow to parts of the north state. Any Precipitation should remain north of Sacramento. Slightly heavier more widespread precipitation is expected Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.”
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
CAL WATER FIX HEARINGS: Protestors write State Water Board, say hearing cannot be finalized
In announcements today …
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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.
