Happy Earth Day!
In California water news today, As California’s delta smelt spirals toward extinction, a future in captivity awaits; California has farmers growing weeds to capture carbon; Growing Awareness: Climate Change and California’s Crops; California growers say their new water rules mean safer romaine for everyone; AB 756 Would Require All California Water Systems to Test for PFOA and PFOS Chemicals; The 10 most (and least) eco-friendly cities in the US (6 of them are in California); For Earth Day, how Americans see climate change in 5 charts; and more …
On the calendar today …
- PPIC: Managing Wastewater in a Changing Climate from 12pm to 1:30pm. Click here to watch on webcast.
- Public Meeting: Russian River Habitat Enhancement Projects for Coho, Steelhead from 3pm to 5:30pm at the Lake Sonoma Visitors Center. Click here for more information.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for April 22, 2019
- DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: California and the West prepare to get by on less water from the Colorado River; Blumenfeld on pesticides, recycling reform, Trump; Birds and brews; Leonardo da Vinci and water; Sunday podcasts; NorCal Superbloom video; and more …
- AFTERNOON NEWS FLASH … Public Meetings on Permitting for Long-term Operations of the State Water Project Planned
As California’s delta smelt spirals toward extinction, a future in captivity awaits: “Time may be running out for California’s most infamous fish. Despite a decades-long rescue effort, the tiny delta smelt appears closer than ever to vanishing from its only natural home, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Now, some worry it won’t be long before the only place the once-abundant species exists is within the confines of an artificial tank. “If current trends continue, and we don’t get the numbers back up in the wild this year, we will be at a point where the only ones left will be in captivity,” said Peter Moyle, an expert on the species at UC Davis. … ” Read more at the LA Times here: As California’s delta smelt spirals toward extinction, a future in captivity awaits
California Has Farmers Growing Weeds. Why? To Capture Carbon: “California’s climate change efforts can be spotted all over the Bay Area in the growing number of electric cars and solar panels. But now, California is enlisting people from a more conservative part of the state — even if they don’t think climate change is much of a concern. California’s farmers are receiving millions of dollars to pull carbon out of the atmosphere, something the state says is crucial for meeting its ambitious climate goals. The state is paying them to grow plants, which absorb carbon and help move it into the soil where it can be stored long-term. That makes California home to some of the first official “carbon farmers” in the country. … ” Read more from KQED here: California Has Farmers Growing Weeds. Why? To Capture Carbon
Growing Awareness: Climate Change and California’s Crops: “Last month the U.S. Drought Monitor declared California drought-free for the first time since 2011, thanks to a series of winter storms. But the long-term prognosis is for more droughts and severe weather, which will profoundly affect state agriculture. While farmers and lawmakers are taking notice, few see an immediate threat. However, a 2018 report published by Agronomy, a peer-reviewed, open access scientific journal, laid out a stark future for California agriculture, predicting it will be vastly different. ... ” Read more from Capitol and Main here: Growing Awareness: Climate Change and California’s Crops
California growers say their new water rules mean safer romaine for everyone: “For the second time this year, romaine lettuce growers are imposing measures they hope will end the recent string of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that were associated with their products last year. This latest action to strengthen food safety practices that will be required by romaine lettuce farms came Friday in a vote by the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement Board of Directors. … ” Read more from Food Safety News here: California growers say their new water rules mean safer romaine for everyone
AB 756 Would Require All California Water Systems to Test for PFOA and PFOS Chemicals: “Testing of all public water systems for toxic fluorinated chemical compounds has been introduced by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-58th District-Bell Gardens) would require all public water systems – regardless of size — to monitor perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfate (PFOS) chemicals. AB 756 would also require that the public be informed of the results of the tests. … ” Read more from California Water News Daily here: AB 756 Would Require All California Water Systems to Test for PFOA and PFOS Chemicals
California fights for the rights of the ocean: “Introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-SF) and backed by a diverse array of environmental and business interests such as the Ocean Conservancy and the Pacific Shellfish Growers Association, SB 69, “The Ocean Resiliency Act,” tackles questions as big as the ocean itself. How much waste does California put in the ocean? How much more can our oceans take? And how will climate change amplify our mistreatment of our natural resources? … ” Read more from Bay City Beacon here: California fights for the rights of the ocean
Drop in air pollution led to decline in California’s tule fog: “The thick, dense “tule fog” that descends on the Central Valley – and sometimes drifts over to the San Francisco Bay Area – has been decreasing over the last few decades. And this decline in this type of fog matches the long-term downward trend in air pollution, according to a new study from scientists at UC Berkeley. Tule fog, which hugs the ground instead of floating higher up in the sky, forms when there are clear skies and cooler temperatures, usually after rain storms. It’s named after the sedge grass that is found in California’s wetlands. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Drop in air pollution led to decline in California’s tule fog
How to cut your water use in half: “California’s seven-year dry spell may be over, but there will be another drought somewhere in the country this year—and every year. In fact, water managers in 40 states say that even under normal weather conditions, they expect water shortages in some part of their state over the next decade. That’s according to WaterSense, the water conservation partner of the Environmental Protection Agency. There are lots of water-saving ideas floating around, but two of the best ways are to replace water-wasting appliances and fixtures and to modify your lifestyle and habits. … ” Read more from Consumer Reports here: How to cut your water use in half
Poll shows widespread voter support for bipartisan investment in water: “Earlier this month the Value of Water Campaign released the results from its fourth annual national poll to gauge U.S. voter opinions on water infrastructure. The poll found continual, significant bipartisan support for water infrastructure investments: 85 percent of American voters support increasing federal water infrastructure investment. The need for capital water infrastructure improvements in the United States continues to rise, but federal investment is not keeping pace putting both local communities and the greater economy at risk. The poll found most voters are willing to pay more for improved water service, but overwhelmingly want the federal government to step up and address the issue. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Poll shows widespread voter support for bipartisan investment in water
The 10 most (and least) eco-friendly cities in the US (6 of them are in California): “You might try to live an eco-friendly lifestyle at home. But how green is your community? According to a Pew Research Center survey, roughly 59 percent of U.S. adults say climate change is affecting their community in some way — through weather, temperature changes, etc. And that point of view is even stronger in those who live near a coastline. Plus, according to another Pew survey, the majority of respondents think the U.S. government isn’t doing enough to protect the environment, including preventing water pollution, ensuring safe air quality and protecting animals and their habitats. But not all communities are equal when it comes to being environmentally friendly. ... ” Read more from Care2 here: The 10 most (and least) eco-friendly cities in the US
For Earth Day, how Americans see climate change in 5 charts: “The degree to which climate change threatens the ecosystems of the Earth and societies around the world has been an ongoing subject of debate – and sometimes protest. As Earth Day nears, we take stock of U.S. public opinion about climate change, based on recent Pew Research Center surveys. For more on how people globally see climate change, see our companion post, “For Earth Day, a look at how people around the world view climate change.” ... ” Read more from Pew Research here: For Earth Day, how Americans see climate change in 5 charts
In regional news and commentary today …
Organization plans ‘State of the Yuba’ address: “Members of the South Yuba River Citizens League will give community members an update on the organization’s goals and vision for the future of the Yuba River watershed during a “State of the Yuba” address on Wednesday. The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley. The annual event sees SYRCL staff give attendees a rundown of volunteer opportunities revolved around helping protect and restore the watershed. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Organization plans ‘State of the Yuba’ address
Bay Area’s massive marsh restoration project takes root: “It’s hard to imagine it now, given the stranglehold of Silicon Valley’s tech industry on the region, but 100 years ago the predominant south Bay Area business was salt. When Spanish missionaries sailed into the San Francisco Bay in 1776, they saw Ohlone tribe members scraping natural salt off of rocks and dipping willow branches into briny pools to collect the precious mineral. As gold fever swept across northern California in the 1850s, immigrant settlers had already begun to carve the species-rich wetlands into large commercial salt evaporation ponds. By the 1930s, the Leslie Salt Company had consolidated over a dozen small producers into the world’s largest industrial salt production company, and half of the South Bay’s extensive marshes, whose ducks and salmon once far outnumbered humans, were gone. … ” Read more from Sierra Magazine here: Bay Area’s massive marsh restoration project takes root
Owens Valley Groundwater Authority one step away from adding board seats: ““Fast paced” and “Owens Valley Groundwater Authority meeting” have never appeared in the same sentence in the year-and-a-half since the Authority was formed. But, Thursday’s session was different, in large part due to the hours of wrangling, discussion and closed sessions that preceded it. The board members approved agreements with entities’ staff and consulting services from Bob Harrington. In addition, hold onto your hats, the board came to a consensus on how to allow additional board seats. The final vote will come at its May 23 meeting. So, it’s not a done deal, but it’s very close. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: Owens Valley Groundwater Authority one step away from adding board seats
Long Beach: Drought will become the norm by mid-century as the planet warms: “In a sea of grassy lawns in Long Beach’s Rose Park neighborhood, Susan Moffett’s yard is a drought-tolerant retreat dotted with lavender, rosemary and pink-flowered abutilon plants. Originally from the Midwest, Moffett grew up with suburban green lawns, but as a landscape designer, she said drought tolerant plants are the necessity in Southern California. “A lot of people don’t realize the magnitude of our water shortage,” she said. “We all have a responsibility to conserve water.” … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Long Beach: Drought will become the norm by mid-century as the planet warms
Leaders commemorate long term success on the Santa Ana River: “In Riverside County, right along the Santa Ana River, local leaders and community members came together to commemorate 50 years of peace along the River. On April 12, nearly 100 people celebrated two 1969 court judgments for the water rights of the Santa Ana River that are still in place today. In 1963, two major lawsuits were filed regarding surface water and groundwater pumping rights across the Santa Ana River Watershed that included more than 4,000 litigants. One lawsuit was filed by the Western Municipal Water District and the other by the Orange County Water District. To simplify the process, it was agreed there would be four representative parties: Orange County Water District, Western Municipal Water District, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and Inland Empire Utilities Agency (formerly known as the Chino Basin Municipal Water District). On April 17, 1969, both lawsuits came to an end. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Leaders commemorate long term success on the Santa Ana River
Madaffer Says He’s the New Sheriff in the San Diego Water World: “Jim Madaffer says he’s the new sheriff in town at the San Diego County Water Authority. For anyone who doesn’t follow the intricacies or intrigues of what seems like it should be an agency with a straightforward mission – providing water for San Diego – this may sound like a bit of pabulum. But Madaffer, the colorful former San Diego city councilman who has had numerous other roles on obscure but important agencies, is serious. ... ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Madaffer Says He’s the New Sheriff in the San Diego Water World
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
https://mavensnotebook.com/2019/04/22/reservoir-and-water-conditions-for-april-22-2019/
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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.
