In California water news today, With ‘atmospheric river’ winding down, flooding risk peaks and snow removal proves tricky; Governor Newsom Takes A Fresh Look At WaterFix; Garamendi bill to protect Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta passes House; Solano supervisors commit another $70K in fight against Delta tunnels project; Solano supervisors weigh options to shape, limit Cache Slough, Delta restorations; California Senator proposes $400M bill to repair sinking Friant-Kern Canal; EPA defends enforcement record, despite drop in penalties; LA offers to supply water instead of IID to get Colorado River drought plan across the finish line; and more …
On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Preparedness, Relief, and Recovery: Regulatory Developments in Disaster Management for Water Providers from 12pm to 1pm. Presented by Nossaman, LLP. Click here to register.
- Salton Sea Community Meeting in Brawley from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Click here for more information.
- Financing the Future of Water at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco at 6pm. Click here for more information and to register.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Congress passes Garamendi’s Delta National Heritage Area Act; Good salmon forecast for 2019 suggests plentiful fishing; Reclamation increasing releases into Sacramento River for storage management
- BAY DELTA SCIENCE CONFERENCE: Monitoring and Managing Sea-Level Rise Impacts on Tidal Marshes in the San Francisco Estuary
- SCIENCE NEWS: Stream flow modeling tools inform environmental water policy; Phytophthora species linked to recent outbreaks in NorCal restoration sites; Recent drought may provide a glimpse of the future for birds in the Sierra Nevada; and more …
With ‘atmospheric river’ winding down, flooding risk peaks and snow removal proves tricky: “Northern California has been pounded by rain and snow over the past three days as the latest atmospheric river storm set rainfall records Tuesday in Sacramento, flooded roads and towns, and shut down Interstate 80 in the Sierra. Sacramento saw just over a half-inch of rain Wednesday, a stark departure from the record-shattering 2.52 inches recorded Tuesday. It didn’t set any records, but the half-inch is still about .4 inches above the average for Feb. 27, according to the NWS. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: With ‘atmospheric river’ winding down, flooding risk peaks and snow removal proves tricky
Scoring the storm: New scale for atmospheric rivers puts Bay Area deluge at nearly ‘Category 4’: “The series of storms that blasted Northern California this week is being classified as a borderline Category 3 or Category 4 atmospheric river — somewhere between strong and extreme, scientists said. The band of atmospheric moisture dumped as much as 20 inches of rain in parts of the North Bay, flooding roads, stranding at least 1,800 people and cutting off access to the low-lying communities of Guerneville and Monte Rio along the Russian River. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Scoring the storm: New scale for atmospheric rivers puts Bay Area deluge at nearly ‘Category 4’
Next Pacific storm to take aim at California this weekend: “Following devastating flooding at midweek, California residents will have a short window of time to prepare for the next storm, set to arrive late on Friday. “The first precipitation associated with the weekend storm should move onshore Friday night, with the bulk of the moisture streaming into the state on Saturday,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Next Pacific storm to take aim at California this weekend
Under the Delta’s domain: Attorneys for counties, DWR agree that downsized California WaterFix still calls for massive intakes, industrial construction zones along the Sacramento River: “Donis Whaley woke up one recent night and realized it was all happening again. Whaley was born and raised in Port Chicago, a shipping town on the banks of Suisun Bay just west of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Her grandfather’s family were Italian immigrants who owned the port’s coal and ice plants. Her grandmother’s family were Greek immigrants who farmed, baked and spun their clothes from wool. Whaley and her cousin Vesta Zwakenberg can still envision Port Chicago’s quaint cottages and Victorian homes along the water. But in 1965, the federal government decided Port Chicago could no longer exist because it needed to add a secured riverfront to the Concord Naval Weapons Station. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Under the Delta’s domain
Governor Newsom Takes A Fresh Look At WaterFix: “The fate of the Bay Delta continues to be in flux. In his state of the state message, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he doesn’t support the controversial twin tunnels project that the former administration was pushing so hard to accomplish. But he did say he’s open to building one tunnel to divert Sacramento River water under the Delta to the pumps that carry northern California water to Central Valley farms and Southern California cities. It could change the chemistry of creating sustainable water supply for the state’s consumers. For Delta advocates it created an opening to consider other options. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.”
Garamendi bill to protect Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta passes House: “A bill by Rep. John Garamendi, D-Solano, to preserve the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s cultural heritage and historical landmarks passed in Congress 363-62, according to a news release. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Act, which aims to provide $10 million in federal funding over 15 years to support cultural and historical preservation as well as environmental conservation projects under a locally developed management plan, coordinated by California’s Delta Protection Commission. … ” Read more from The Reporter here: Garamendi bill to protect Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta passes House
Solano supervisors commit another $70K in fight against Delta tunnels project: “Solano County is now fighting the California WaterFix tunnel project on three legal fronts – joining the opposition in a second “validation action” against the state Department of Water Resources. The unanimous decision to join most of the Delta counties, and several others outside the immediate region, was announced by County Counsel Dennis Bunting after a morning closed session Tuesday of the Board of Supervisors. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Solano supervisors commit another $70K in fight against Delta tunnels project
Solano supervisors weigh options to shape, limit Cache Slough, Delta restorations: “Solano County supervisors directed staff this week to develop General Plan policies and Zoning Ordinance changes to protect agricultural interests in the Cache Slough Complex. “We know there’s a lot of uncertainty about the (California) WaterFix, but what we do know about it is that there is continued efforts by the state and federal government to . . . do more ecosystem restoration in the Delta to try to improve the quality of the Delta in terms of habitat, etc.,” Bill Emlen, director of the Department of Resource Management, said at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Solano supervisors weigh options to shape, limit Cache Slough, Delta restorations
California Senator proposes $400M bill to repair sinking Friant-Kern Canal: “State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) is proposing a $400 million bill to lift the sinking Friant-Kern Canal. On Wednesday, Hurtado said Senate Bill 559, will “help secure California’s water supply by investing $400 million toward restoring lost (delivery) capacity on the Friant-Kern Canal, one of the San Joaquin Valley’s most critical water delivery facilities.” The Friant-Kern Canal delivers on average one million acre-feet of water to more than 18,000 acres of farmland annually, according to Friant spokeswoman Alexandra Biering. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: California Senator proposes $400M bill to repair sinking Friant-Kern Canal (corrected link)
EPA defends enforcement record, despite drop in penalties: “The Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement chief is defending the Trump administration’s work, despite a report by her own agency showing that civil and criminal crackdowns on polluters have dropped sharply in the past two years. Assistant administrator Susan Bodine says the idea that EPA is soft on enforcement is “absolutely not true,” adding that the agency is giving states a greater role in regulation and enforcement and stressing education and voluntary compliance by companies. ... ” Read more from the Capital Press here: EPA defends enforcement record, despite drop in penalties
In regional news and commentary today …
Groundwater in Siskiyou County: Understanding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act: “The Groundwater Sustainability Agency of Siskiyou County, in association with the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District will host a public workship regarding groundwater and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act on Thursday, March 14, from 2–6 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Best Western Miner’s Inn Convention Center in Yreka and will include a review of what SGMA is; the role of Department of Water Resources; Siskiyou County’s roles and responsibilities; current status of SGMA implementation and on-going matters related to groundwater and SGMA both locally and statewide. ... ” Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: Groundwater in Siskiyou County: Understanding the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
Work being done to reinforce the J levee on the Sacramento River near Hamilton City: “According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, work is being done Wednesday to reinforce the existing J levee on the Sacramento River near Hamilton City. Officials said the levee will be temporarily reinforced to support against the high water levels expected with this current storm. The river is forecasted to reach a height of 149.5 feet, surpassing flood stage. … ” Read more from KRCR here: Work being done to reinforce the J levee on the Sacramento River near Hamilton City
Crews fix levee leak after historic Cache Creek flooding: “Crews worked Wednesday night to fix a leak in a levee along Cache Creek. The creek rose to historic flood levels earlier in the day, prompting evacuations. “I’m thinking we need to pack. It’s not safe,” said Kimberly Dollhouse, who lives along the creek. “It’s sobering to see that nature is going to do what it’s going to do regardless.” … ” Read more from the KCRA 3 here: Crews fix levee leak after historic Cache Creek flooding
Russian River rises to 45 feet, turning California town into an island: “The Northern California town of Guerneville has been turned into an island as the Russian River has risen to more than 45 feet. The river crested at 45.31 feet Wednesday night, Sonoma County Emergency Operation Center spokesman Barry Dugan said, after rising steadily from 9 feet on Monday and leaving the community with 4,500 residents isolated. Their homes surrounded by flood waters, they have been moving around on kayaks and canoes. “The roadways leading into the town along the river and across the river have been cut off by the rising floodwaters,” Sonoma County emergency manager Chris Godley said. ... ” Read more from CNN here: Russian River rises to 45 feet, turning California town into an island
Carmel Man Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Illegal Dumping In Protected Waters: “A Carmel man was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison for the illegal dumping of pollutants into U.S. waters, including wetlands, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. James Lucero, 59, was convicted by a federal jury on Feb. 21, 2018, of violating the Clean Water Act. Evidence showed that Lucero, a self-described “dirt broker,” orchestrated the illegal discharge of pollutants into waters adjacent to Mowry Slough, part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newark, prosecutors said. ... ” Read more from SF Gate here: Carmel Man Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Illegal Dumping In Protected Waters
Future Uncertain for Montecito’s Jameson Lake Water Supply: “Montecito’s Jameson Lake recently spilled for the first time since 2011, but the water-quality impacts from the 2017 Thomas Fire have rendered the reservoir unusable as a water supply. Rain runoff is depositing more debris and ash into Jameson Lake, and the increased contaminants make treatment difficult at the Doulton Tunnel and Bella Vista Water treatment plants, according to Montecito Water District public information officer Laura Camp. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Future Uncertain for Montecito’s Jameson Lake Water Supply
Ventura board appeals to council, calls key water projects ‘drastically behind schedule’: “Ventura’s water commission appealed to the City Council this week for help, citing a list of concerns ranging from stalled projects to a lack of financial information. In a four-page letter, the commission described a lack of progress on key Ventura Water priorities over the past year and a half, saying residents were left to pay the price for delays. “It is fiscally irresponsible for the city to continue to pay interest expense on bond funds sitting idle due to lack of progress on CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) projects funded by these same bonds,” commission Chair Gerhardt Hubner wrote in a letter to the City Council. ... ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Ventura board appeals to council, calls key water projects ‘drastically behind schedule’
Santa Clarita sewer officials say litigation costs derailed recycled water plan: “Facing the threat of stiff fines from state water officials several years ago, Santa Clarita Valley sewage treatment officials approved a multimillion-dollar plan to desalinate water sent downstream from the SCV to Ventura County. Now, SCV Sanitation District engineers say the costs from lawsuits over their approved plans are forcing leaders to scuttle a recycled water project on top of the delays to a chloride-compliance project. The Sanitation District, an L.A. County entity with two local representatives which is responsible for regulating local effluence, was mandated to reduce the amount of chloride, or salt, that discharges from SCV treatment plants into the Santa Clara River. ... ” Read more from the Santa Clarita Signal here: Santa Clarita sewer officials say litigation costs derailed recycled water plan
Along the Colorado River …
LA offers to supply water instead of IID to get Colorado River drought plan across the finish line: “With a Monday deadline looming, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has offered to break an impasse on a seven-state Colorado River drought contingency package by contributing necessary water from its own reserves on behalf of the Imperial Irrigation District. It’s not help that IID is seeking, but Metropolitan general manager Jeffrey Kightlinger said he had no choice. He informed IID and federal, Arizona and Nevada officials at meetings in Las Vegas on Monday of the offer. “I told them Metropolitan would be willing to go ahead and sign off for California, in the absence of the Imperial Irrigation District being willing to do that. We would make both IID’s and Metropolitan’s water contributions,” Kightlinger said. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: LA offers to supply water instead of IID to get Colorado River drought plan across the finish line
Metropolitan may agree to more Colorado River cuts to seal drought pact: “Frustrated by delays in agreeing to plans for coping with looming shortages on the Colorado River, the head of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California wants to move the deal forward by agreeing to shoulder additional supply cuts. If the proposal is approved by the Metropolitan board, California would join a multi-state drought contingency plan and the water district would ensure its access to reserves stored in Lake Mead. “I believe the pros outweigh the cons,” said Metropolitan General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger, whose agency supplies Los Angeles and the rest of the urban Southland. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Metropolitan may agree to more Colorado River cuts to seal drought pact
Mountain snow still not enough to end Colorado River drought: “Winter storms have blanketed the mountains on the upper Colorado River with snow. But even this year’s above-average snowpack won’t be nearly enough to make up for the river’s chronic overallocation, compounded by 19 years of drought and the worsening effects of climate change. Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the country’s two largest reservoirs, are now at just 40 percent of full capacity. The reservoirs have together been at their lowest levels since Glen Canyon Dam was built and Lake Powell was filled in the 1960s. A shortage could be declared at Lake Mead starting next year, leading to water cutbacks in parts of the Southwest. ... ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Mountain snow still not enough to end Colorado River drought
Precipitation watch …
Also on Maven’s Notebook 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.
