In California water news today, Newsom signs bill to provide $131.3 million in emergency relief, including safe water; DWR to try to strike ‘inflammatory’ portions of Oroville Dam lawsuits at hearing Friday in Sacramento; Atmospheric river storms pummel California with snow, rain and mud; Take two: Water Fix; The Rebirth of Harvard’s Divestment Movement; Appropriations: Negotiators release bipartisan spending package; and more …
On the calendar today …
- Webinar on the proposed Waters of the US Rule from 12:30 to 1:30pm: The EPA and the Army Corps are hosting this webcast to help explain the key elements of the proposal. Click here to register.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: BAWSCA joins lawsuit against Bay Delta Plan; Newsom signs emergency drinking water & fire recovery package; New report shows businesses can contribute to community and watershed resilience through sustainable landscapes; LAO: Improving CA’s forest and watershed management
- SCIENCE NEWS: The fish doctor; CDFW herring surveys; Lessons from a butterfly basket; Roaches of California; Diets of Baby Giants; and more …
- BAY DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: Restoration in the Cache Slough Complex: The Yolo Flyway Farms Restoration Project
- WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Drought Group~ Conservation Briefing~ Riverine Stewardship~ Watershed Report~ Wildfire Discussions~ Policy Conference~ CWEMF Meeting ~~
NEWSOM SIGNS EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER BILL
Newsom signs bill to provide $131.3 million in emergency relief, including safe water: “Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his first bill, which will provide $131.3 million in immediate relief from the state’s general fund for emergencies such as a lack of clean drinking water, while surrounded by children at a Parlier elementary school – all of whom must drink from water bottles due to unsafe drinking fountains. His signature on AB 72, which passed the Legislature unanimously, was briefly in jeopardy. Prior to signing, he polled the students at Riverview Elementary School on whether he should put pen to paper. One young man dissented. ... ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Newsom signs bill to provide $131.3 million in emergency relief, including safe water
Governor Newsom makes surprise visit to Central Valley. Here’s what he had to say: “A day after promising to unlock the Central Valley’s potential, Gov. Gavin Newsom made a surprise visit to rural California. While in Fresno County, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 72 into law. The bill provides immediate funding to aide in California’s unclean drinking water crisis, Newsom said. He signed the bill at Parlier’s Riverview Elementary School. Five-year-old student Daniel Rangel and state Senator Melissa Hurtado, who represents Parlier, stood by Newsom’s side as he signed the bill into law. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Governor Newsom makes surprise visit to Central Valley. Here’s what he had to say
OROVILLE DAM LAWSUIT
DWR to try to strike ‘inflammatory’ portions of Oroville Dam lawsuits at hearing Friday in Sacramento: “Lawyers representing the state Department of Water Resources will make their case Friday for striking portions of lawsuits over the spillway crisis filed by the city of Oroville, several farms, businesses and other plaintiffs. The state is arguing that certain “inflammatory and irrelevant” allegations should be removed from the lawsuits, including allegations about racist actions, sexual harassment and petty theft by DWR employees and conspiracy to cover up or destroy documents. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Sacramento County Superior Court, with Judge James McFetridge presiding. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: DWR to try to strike ‘inflammatory’ portions of Oroville Dam lawsuits at hearing Friday in Sacramento
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER STORMS
Atmospheric river storms pummel California with snow, rain and mud: “More rain, snow and wind hit America’s west on Wednesday, flooding roads, toppling trees and cutting power while raising threats of debris flows from wildfire scars. The tempest, aimed at California and southern Oregon and barreling toward Nevada, was feeding on a deep plume of moisture, known as an atmospheric river, stretching across the Pacific Ocean to near Hawaii, the National Weather Service said. The storm followed more than a week of severe weather in the Pacific north-west and was the latest in a series that has all but eliminated drought-level dryness in California this winter. ... ” Read more from the Guardian here: Atmospheric river storms pummel California with snow, rain and mud
‘It’s a mess.’ Atmospheric river brings record-setting rain to Sacramento, Northern California: “Wednesday’s atmospheric river storm brought painfully slow commutes across Northern California, some flooding in common trouble spots in Sacramento and a rare layer of thick snow in the northern Sacramento Valley. The wet weather broke a daily rainfall record in Sacramento, with 1.6 inches of rain recorded at the Sacramento Executive Airport over 24 hours. The last record for Feb. 13 was set in 1979 with 1.22 inches. But the state’s network of flood-control dams and levees appeared to handle the deluge without major problems. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: ‘It’s a mess.’ Atmospheric river brings record-setting rain to Sacramento, Northern California
WATER FIX
Radio show: Take two: Water Fix: “In his first State of the State address, California Governor Gavin Newsom made a lot of proclamations that took a few of us by surprise. The Water Fix was Governor Jerry Brown’s big infrastructure idea — twin tunnels that would more efficiently deliver water from the Northern part of the state to Southern California. Newsom does NOT want to scrap the project entirely, but he would like to scale it down to one tunnel. Plus, we get reactions from the head of the Metropolitan Water District.” Listen to the radio show here: Radio show: Take two: Water Fix
Garamendi stops short of supporting Newsom’s modified Delta tunnels plans: “Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to downsize a controversial Delta waterway project is a step in the right direction, but more progress needs to be made to satisfy critics who say even the modified proposal does more harm than good, Rep. John Garamendi – whose district includes communities that would be affected by the project – said in a wide-ranging interview Wednesday with the Daily Republic. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Garamendi stops short of supporting Newsom’s modified Delta tunnels plans
OTHER STATEWIDE NEWS
The Rebirth of Harvard’s Divestment Movement: “Two Harvard University Police Department officers block the entrance to Massachusetts Hall, watching nearly fifty people amass behind a poster with the word “DIVEST” written in massive orange letters. The students are a few dozen feet from the office of University President Lawrence S. Bacow. Accompanied by the cheerful strumming of a ukulele, they sing: “We need to wake up, we need to wise up, / Come on Bacow, do it now, do it now, now, now.” … The rally called for Harvard to divest from, and resolve all conflicts associated with, farmland across the globe. GRAIN, an international nonprofit working to protect small farmers, published a report last year accusing Harvard of buying and deforesting indigenous lands in Brazil and overdrafting water in drought-stricken California, along with other claims of unethical land management. ... ” Continue reading at The Crimson here: The Rebirth of Harvard’s Divestment Movement
Study: Can fish evolve to handle climate change? Scientists tested it on these oddball fish: “The grunion is a weird little fish. Grunion are perhaps best known for washing up on California beaches — from Baja California all the way up to Monterey Bay — several times a year to spawn en masse for hours, starting on a night with a full or new moon, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The creatures travel as far up a beach as waves will carry them, and then females dig nests and lay thousands and thousands of eggs. Males come ashore, too, and fertilize the eggs — and then males and females alike return to the ocean, sometimes in less than a minute, the state fact page on the species says. ... ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Study: Can fish evolve to handle climate change? Scientists tested it on these oddball fish
NATIONAL
Appropriations: Negotiators release bipartisan spending package: “Several environmentally sensitive border areas would be protected and EPA would see a small funding boost in a bipartisan border security and spending package unveiled late last night in hopes of averting a government shutdown tomorrow. The Senate will go first in taking up the legislation today, and then the House will act later this evening to send the legislation to the president’s desk. If the funding deal is not in place by midnight tomorrow, parts of the government will be forced to shut down. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Appropriations: Negotiators release bipartisan spending package
In commentary today …
Good riddance to the Delta twin tunnels boondoggle: The San Jose Mercury News writes, “At long last, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta twin-tunnels boondoggle is dead. Good riddance. Gov. Gavin Newsom made that official Tuesday during his State of the State address, calling instead for a smaller, single-tunnel approach that would include a broad range of projects designed to increase the state’s water supply. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Good riddance to the Delta twin tunnels boondoggle
Is the glass half-empty or half-full? The Chico Enterprise-Record writes, “Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state of the state address Tuesday was on of those that makes it clear whether you’re a pessimist or an optimist. Whether the glass is half-empty or half-full? In considering any government, pessimism should probably be your default choice. But Newsom pulled the plug on a couple of his predecessor’s pet boondoggles. That would be encouraging, but Newsom only did it part way. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Is the glass half-empty or half-full?
Newsom rethinks costly rail, water projects: The Santa Rosa Press Democrat writes, “Gavin Newsom is the first Democrat to succeed a fellow Democrat as governor of California since 1887. But if anyone expected a seamless continuation of Jerry Brown’s priorities and style, Newsom signaled some big changes Tuesday in his first State of the State address, starting with two of his predecessor’s trademark projects. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Newsom rethinks costly rail, water projects
Jerry Brown’s legacy projects won’t happen as planned: Thomas Elias writes, “The farther four-term Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown gets from the state Capitol’s “horseshoe” office suite, the less anyone in power has seems to care about completing either of his two “legacy” projects. … The Twin Tunnels, planned to run beneath the Delta of the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers to the point near Tracy where giant pumps now send millions of gallons southward, now won’t happen as designed. Instead, Newsom indicated he’ll try for a single tunnel because, as he put it, “The status quo is not an option. We need to protect our water supply from earthquakes and rising sea levels, preserve Delta fisheries and meet the needs of cities and farms.” ... ” Continue reading at the LA Daily News here: Jerry Brown’s legacy projects won’t happen as planned
Newsom has no problem going bigger than Brown: Dan Walters writes, “When Gavin Newsom was running for governor, he adopted “courage for a change” as his slogan. It could be interpreted two ways: that he wanted to California’s direction, or that he was disparaging outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown’s reluctance to confront the state’s pithiest issues. Newsom embraced both versions Tuesday in his first State of the State address, a long and detailed laundry list of the state’s ills and how he intends to deal with them that directly and indirectly rebuffed Brown. Most starkly, Newsom downgraded two of his predecessor’s pet projects – the twin tunnels to carry water beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and a statewide bullet train system. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Newsom has no problem going bigger than Brown
In regional news and commentary today …
Eel River to hit flood stage Thursday: “Rain, hail, snow: It’s all in the forecast for this week. And, with the exception of a few lulls, for the for the next week as well, according to the National Weather Service Eureka office. “Rain will keep going through the weekend,” NWS meteorologist William Iwasko said Wednesday morning. “Really around Humboldt Bay, an additional 2-3 inches (is expected), across the interior up to 6 inches.” Asked if there was any clearing in the foreseeable forecast, he added, “Honestly, a good solid dry spell — no. We might have a little bit of a lull as we get into early next week. Then the rain returns.” ... ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Eel River to hit flood stage Thursday
Russian River forecast to rise six feet above flood stage Friday: “Amid a torrent of rain, the Russian River in the North Bay is swelling and forecasters project the waterway will swell above its flood stage point of 32 feet Thursday night. The river level at the Guerneville gauge is expected to peak at 8 a.m. Friday and rise more than six feet above flood stage to 38.8 feet, according to a projection released Wednesday afternoon by the California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC). ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Russian River forecast to rise six feet above flood stage Friday
Russian River set to flood as storm leads to heavy runoff in Sonoma County: “Round two of a potent storm lashed the North Coast Wednesday night, with strong winds and pounding rain swamping Sonoma County roads and pushing the lower Russian River above flood levels in Guerneville, where the water was set to rise through Friday morning. The forecast called for the heaviest rain to fall after 10 p.m. and taper by about dawn Thursday, with showers into Friday. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Russian River set to flood as storm leads to heavy runoff in Sonoma County
Bay Area roads washed out by floods, wind advisories in effect: “Intense rainfall and high winds early Thursday continued to cause flooding, mudslides and severe traffic alerts around the region to create havoc on the roads. Several areas of the Sonoma County experienced major flooding, shutting down lanes of traffic. The California Highway Patrol reported flooding on Highway 1 between Valley Ford Road and Middle Road in Petaluma and on the highway between between North Bay Hill Road and South Harbor Way in Bodega Bay. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Bay Area roads washed out by floods, wind advisories in effect
Mule Creek Prison water issues go before the Regional Water Quality Board: “The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has voted to require additional permitting for Mule Creek State Prison’s storm water runoff. Meeting on Friday, the regional board voted to designate Mule Creek as a Regulated Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (also known as a MS4). In the staff’s presentation to the regional board, it was stated that since the regional board first received a complaint in December of 2017, the prison has reported discharging some 20 million gallons from its storm water system into Mule Creek itself. … ” Read more from the Amador Ledger here: Mule Creek Prison water issues go before the Regional Water Quality Board
Manteca: Weak link in water system: “The weakest link in keeping water flowing to 56,000 acres of farmland and through the faucets used by 170,000 people in Manteca, Lathrop and Tracy is a 110-year-old, 3.6-mile precariously perched open canal hugging the Stanislaus River canyon below Goodwin Dam. The joint supply canal that carries all of the water used by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District and a portion of water that supplies Oakdale Irrigation District farmland has had four major disruptions since 1950 when landslides cut off water flow. The worst — in terms of disruption— delayed the start of the 1995 irrigation season for SSJID customers until April 29 of that year. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca: Weak link in water system
New Salinas Valley water fee would fund groundwater management agency: “Salinas Valley farmers would cover the bulk of administrative costs for a state-mandated groundwater sustainability agency charged with balancing use and recharge in the agriculture-rich region under a proposal to be considered Thursday. Farmers would pay about 90 percent of the Salinas Valley Basin groundwater sustainability agency’s proposed $1.2 million annual budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year or about $1.08 million through a $4.79 per acre annual “regulatory” fee under the proposal, while public water system customers would contribute about $120,000 per year through a $2.26 annual fee. ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: New Salinas Valley water fee would fund groundwater management agency
Cal Am desal project heads to Marina Planning Commission: “Already at odds with the city of Marina, California American Water’s proposed desalination project will get its first full hearing before the Marina Planning Commission on Thursday, which will include a city planning staff recommendation for denial. The Planning Commission is set to consider at Thursday’s public hearing a coastal development permit for key aspects of the company’s proposed Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, including a series of desal plant feeder slant wells at the CEMEX sand mining plant in north Marina. ... ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Cal Am desal project heads to Marina Planning Commission
Oceano is finally close to fixing this flooding problem. Unless the government shuts down: “It happens almost every time it rains in Oceano: Stormwater with nowhere else to go floods Highway 1 at 13th Street. After years of planning, San Luis Obispo County in early February finally completed on-the-ground work that slightly improved drainage in the area. Still, water is pooling at the intersection adjacent to the railroad — and a major fix won’t come until summer at the earliest. A construction project to prevent the flooding could be delayed if the federal government shuts down on Feb. 15, project manager Genaro Diaz of San Luis Obispo County Public Works told The Tribune on Wednesday. ... ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Oceano is finally close to fixing this flooding problem. Unless the government shuts down
Epic run-off for Owens Valley? ‘Too early to tell’: “Consecutive days of precipitation in the Owens Valley could be the definition of anomaly. Check out the National Weather Service website—rain/snow as far as the eye is allowed to see. So, is this another winter of 2016-17? Is it time to start work on an Ark, prepare for another even more epic run-off? According to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Aqueduct Manager Clarence Martin, it’s too early to tell. ... ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Epic run-off for Owens Valley? ‘Too early to tell’
Delta water project downsize could raise Kern County taxes: “Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to downsize the Delta Tunnel Project, an infrastructure upgrade to California’s water delivery system. He proposes the project be re-engineered to use one tunnel instead of two. “I do not support the water fix as currently configured,” Newsom said in his State of the State address Tuesday. “We can, however, build on the important work that’s already been done.” This announcement means the water fix could possibly require new environmental reviews before it can move forward. ... ” Read more from Bakersfield Now here: Delta water project downsize could raise Kern County taxes
Why L.A. is having such a wet winter after years of drought conditions: “With every storm this winter, climatologists and water managers have crossed their fingers, hoping for continued rain and snowfall to cushion the state’s water supply. So far, the streak has held. This week is expected to bring the heaviest rainfall of the season to date, adding to an already wet winter that has replenished reservoirs and created a healthy snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, a major source of California’s water supply. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Why L.A. is having such a wet winter after years of drought conditions
Banned pesticides and industrial chemicals found flowing from Tijuana into San Diego: “There may be more in the sewage-tainted water that regularly spills over the border from Tijuana than many San Diegans realize. The cross-border pollution also contains potentially dangerous industrial and agricultural chemicals, according to a draft report compiled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that was circulated to officials throughout the region on Wednesday. ... ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Banned pesticides and industrial chemicals found flowing from Tijuana into San Diego
Along the Colorado River …
Restoring the Colorado: Bringing New Life to a Stressed River: “From the air, the last gasp of the Colorado River is sudden and dramatic. The pale green river flows smack into the Morelos Dam on the U.S.-Mexico border, and virtually all of it is immediately diverted into a large irrigation canal that waters a mosaic of hundreds of fields — alfalfa, asparagus, lettuce, and other vegetables, their vivid green color clashing against the sere desert. The slender thread of water that remains in the Colorado’s channel continues to flow south, but is soon swallowed up by a sea of sand, far short of its delta, which lies 100 miles farther on. ... ” Read more from Yale 360 here: Restoring the Colorado: Bringing New Life to a Stressed River
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Today’s announcements …
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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.
