DAILY DIGEST: Federal commission accepts MID, TID plan for river flows. Will state water board agree?; George Skelton: Brown was obsessed with twin-tunnel vision. Newsom has a more realistic view; Rare mega storm could overwhelm LA-area dam and flood dozens of cities, experts say; and more …

In California water news today, Federal commission accepts MID, TID plan for river flows. Will state water board agree?; George Skelton: Brown was obsessed with twin-tunnel vision. Newsom has a more realistic view; Rare mega storm could overwhelm LA-area dam and flood dozens of cities, experts say; Pacific storms continue to pile snow onto Sierra Nevada snowpack; For those living on the coast, ocean waves may be getting stronger; Public lands: Sweeping bill creates many winners; and more …

In the news today …

Federal commission accepts MID, TID plan for river flows. Will state water board agree?:  “A federal environmental analysis recommends relicensing the Don Pedro hydroelectric project and accepts a Modesto and Turlock irrigation district plan for well-timed flows to boost salmon in the Tuolumne River.  The flows, combined with other measures to assist spawning and outmigrating young salmon, would commit less water to the environment than a State Water Resources Control Board plan that’s unpopular in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.  But the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is considering a new license for Don Pedro, balanced the environmental measures with projected economic impacts to the region, district officials said. ... ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here:  Federal commission accepts MID, TID plan for river flows. Will state water board agree?

George Skelton:  Brown was obsessed with twin-tunnel vision. Newsom has a more realistic view: “A potential grand compromise to settle a decades-long water fight has been obvious for years but blown off. Now Gov. Gavin Newsom is forcing all combatants to consider it seriously.  California’s water future hinges on the ultimate deal.  The battle has been over whether to bore two monster water tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta or to build none at all. The solution: Duh. One tunnel. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Brown was obsessed with twin-tunnel vision. Newsom has a more realistic view

Rare mega storm could overwhelm LA-area dam and flood dozens of cities, experts say:  “Scientists call it California’s “other big one,” and they say it could cause three times as much damage as a major earthquake ripping along the San Andreas fault.  … In heavily populated areas of the Los Angeles Basin, epic runoff from the San Gabriel Mountains could rapidly overwhelm a flood control dam on the San Gabriel River and unleash floodwaters from Pico Rivera to Long Beach, says a recent analysis by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. … ”  Read more from the Gazette Extra here:  Rare mega storm could overwhelm LA-area dam and flood dozens of cities, experts say

Pacific storms continue to pile snow onto Sierra Nevada snowpack: “The snow piling onto the Sierra Nevada could be considered more of a snow pile-on at this point.  That’s because several feet of white powder have accumulated across the range since the beginning of the month, adding to what has become one of the most bountiful winters California has enjoyed in a decade.  The entire Sierra snowpack sits at 141% of its seasonal average and is already above its April 1 benchmark, which is considered the end of California’s rainy season and when plans for how to allocate the snowmelt to farmers through the summer kicks into high-gear. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Pacific storms continue to pile snow onto Sierra Nevada snowpack

The good and bad from recent storms:  Tom Stienstra writes, “From Del Valle Reservoir to the Sierra Crest, from the Russian River to Shasta Lake, conditions in the outdoors for this three-day weekend span from Nirvana to nightmare.  Del Valle floods: In the East Bay hills, high inflows from Arroyo Valle raised Del Valle Reservoir over its banks Friday and threatened the campground and recreation facilities. The park will be closed through March 3, said Jen Vanya at East Bay Parks. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  The good and bad from recent storms

For those living on the coast, ocean waves may be getting stronger:  “Many of us have heard that climate change is causing a rise in sea levels, higher ocean temperatures and a decline in sea ice. But stronger waves?  According to a new study from the UC Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Sciences, waves are crashing onto the coastline with more force than ever before — and this increase in wave strength is directly correlated to ocean warming. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  For those living on the coast, ocean waves may be getting stronger

Climate change means more floods, great and localized: “When he took the job 15 years ago, Horry County Emergency Manager Randy Webster figured his biggest disasters would be wind and surge rolling over his county’s beaches, South Carolina’s top tourist destination.   Instead, his worries have shifted inland, where rivers overflowing their banks have caused two massive floods in three years.  “We’re getting into this sort of unknown territory,” Webster said. “We typically in emergency management have some point of reference to work with. Two floods like this — it’s unheard of.” ... ”  Read more from the Chico Enteprise-Record here:  Climate change means more floods, great and localized

Public lands: Sweeping bill creates many winners: ‘This is a big deal’:  “Since 1994, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been fighting to protect 716,000 acres of desert in her home state of California, a landmass nearly half the size of Delaware.  Her 25-year effort is nearly over, after the Senate included the plan as part of a public lands bill that passed overwhelmingly on Tuesday. Final approval by the House is expected later this month, setting the stage for the largest expansion of U.S. wilderness in a decade.  Feinstein’s measure is just one of 110 separate bills sponsored by 50 senators included in the overall package.  … ”  Read more from E&E here:  Public lands: Sweeping bill creates many winners

Environmental groups launch lawsuit against Trump’s border emergency declaration:  “Three environment and animal advocacy groups are throwing their weight behind a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to declare a national emergency in order to build a border wall.  The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Animal Legal Defense Fund submitted a joint lawsuit over the weekend arguing that the Trump administration lacked authority to use the emergency funding in such a manner and was unlawfully redirecting funds to build the U.S. Mexico Border wall. … ”  Read more from The Hill here:  Environmental groups launch lawsuit against Trump’s border emergency declaration

In regional news and commentary today …

Protecting our Napa Valley: Four key scientific facts on Napa Valley’s vineyard expansion:  Tiffany Yap writes, “Napa County supervisors deserve big credit for starting work on a new ordinance to protect streams, forests and hillsides as the wine industry continues to expand rapidly.  But what exactly should be in this ordinance?  As a scientist, I was pleased to hear so many people at a recent public forum urging county supervisors to base the new conservation measure on science.  Indeed, to truly safeguard Napa County’s environment, we have to understand the key facts. And then, of course, we have to accept those facts and take action, rather than engaging in further debate and delay.  I’d suggest starting with four major points grounded in solid science. ... ”  Read more from the Napa Valley Register here:  Protecting our Napa Valley: Four key scientific facts on Napa Valley’s vineyard expansion

Central Valley: This week: More rain. More snow. More freezing temperatures. Here’s what you need to know:  “The Central San Joaquin Valley will get a brief respite from the wet weather before freezing conditions give way to more rain on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford.  As for Sunday, cold temperatures and periodic showers were expected to round out the day from Merced to Kern County, with snow falling in the foothills and Sierra.  As cloud cover decreases, a freeze watch will take hold in the Valley from Monday night into Tuesday morning. Temperatures will dip to between 28 and 32 degrees, most likely between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. … ”  Read more from the Fresno Bee here:  Central Valley: This week: More rain. More snow. More freezing temperatures. Here’s what you need to know

Ventura: Protecting our water supply and securing our future together:  Matt LaVere writes, “The City of Ventura and its water customers have relied on the Ventura River as a primary source of drinking water for more than a century. Today, however, the region’s water supply is changing as the Ventura River watershed faces new, complex challenges. To protect our local water resources and safeguard the watershed for the future, we must change our approach to managing it now.  Statewide drought conditions and the impacts of climate change have created shifts in our watershed and a strain on our region’s already limited water supply.  … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here:  Ventura: Protecting our water supply and securing our future together

Southern California’s typically dry waterways turn lethal for some during Thursday’s storm:  “Along with the web of freeways and busy interchanges, Southern California’s cities are also tied together by a vast network of rivers, creeks and flood canals.  Most of the time, much of this network is bone dry, forming pencil-thin lines along the regional map. Though when heavy rains begin to fall, as they did Thursday in nearly record-breaking levels, the waterways can quickly swell into bulging limbs, grabbing people, vehicles, homes, debris — anything within their reach. In at least two cases Thursday, the flood waters claimed the lives of two people: a man in the rural Riverside County community of Sage and a 20 year old woman who was swept from Riverside into Corona along a flood canal. ... ”  Read more from the Riverside Press-Enterprise here:  Southern California’s typically dry waterways turn lethal for some during Thursday’s storm

San Diego:  Raise makes Helix Water District board members highest-paid in county:  “Members of the Helix Water District Board of Directors have given themselves a raise that now makes them the highest-paid water board members in San Diego County.  The five-member governing board last week voted 3-2 to hike its per-diem pay from $200 to $225.  The maximum number of meetings the directors can go to per month is 10 and they can earn no more than $27,000 a year. ... ”  Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here:  San Diego:  Raise makes Helix Water District board members highest-paid in county

San Diego’s infrastructure funding gap grows to $1.8B despite record spending: “San Diego’s inability to pay for many overdue infrastructure projects like sidewalk upgrades, bike lanes and building renovations continues to grow despite record-setting spending on such projects in recent years.  City officials blame a $261 million increase in San Diego’s infrastructure funding gap — $1.84 billion this winter versus $1.58 billion a year ago — on soaring construction costs and regulatory mandates to boost water quality and prevent floods. ... ”  Read more from San Diego Union Tribune here: San Diego’s infrastructure funding gap grows to $1.8B despite record spending

And lastly …

How A Tweet About The Mars Rover Dying Blew Up On The Internet And Made People Cry:  “My battery is low and it’s getting dark.”  That’s how I felt when I heard that NASA’s Opportunity rover mission was coming to an end after 15 years. That Oppy, the rover, was officially dead, and that it had sent back one last alarming communication to Earth before finding its final resting place in Perseverance Valley on the surface of Mars. … ”  Continue reading at LAist here:  How A Tweet About The Mars Rover Dying Blew Up On The Internet And Made People Cry

Precipitation watch …

A cold low pressure system dropping out of the Gulf of Alaska will bring mainly light snow to Norcal Wednesday and Thursday. About a half a foot of snow is forecast for the higher elevations of the northern Sierra. Otherwise…only light snow is expected.

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Metropolitan ready to support scaled-down Delta tunnel plan; Snow too thick to plow keeps skiers from resorts; Conserving water is still a priority for CA. How about other states?; Bold plan: Replace the Border Wall with an Energy–Water Corridor; and more …

https://mavensnotebook.com/2019/02/18/reservoir-and-water-conditions-for-february-18/

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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.

 

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