DAILY DIGEST: Lawmakers seek road map, justification for Interior reorganization; Whitewater rafting season in the West looking ‘epic’; Produce industry lines up behind new agriculture water standards; California has to learn to cope with wildfires and climate change; and more …

In California water news today, Lawmakers seek road map, justification for Interior reorganization; Whitewater rafting season in the West looking ‘epic’; Produce industry lines up behind new agriculture water standards; California has to learn to cope with wildfires and climate change; Dodd to head wildfire, climate change committee; Melting snow may have caused earthquakes in California, research shows; and more …

In the news today …

Lawmakers seek road map, justification for Interior reorganization:  “One of former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s top priorities was a massive management overhaul at the department that aimed to give regional offices and front-line employees more decisionmaking power.  But more than two years after the administration launched the ambitious plan and Zinke’s December 2018 departure, the proposed reorganization is still a mystery to Congress.  Lawmakers once again will try and elicit information during a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing tomorrow morning. … ”  Read more from E&E News here:  Lawmakers seek road map, justification for Interior reorganization

Whitewater rafting season in the West looking ‘epic’:  “One hundred fifty years ago one-armed explorer and Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell led his team of nine men in four wooden boats down the Green and Colorado rivers into the Grand Canyon on one of this country’s most famous whitewater adventures.  It took another century, more or less, before commercial outfitters began guiding clients in inflatable rafts, offering them thrills and watery spills in often deep river canyons. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Whitewater rafting season in the West looking ‘epic’

Produce industry lines up behind new agriculture water standards:  “The new auditable agriculture water standards adopted a week ago by California’s leafy greens industry were embraced Thursday by two powerful industry groups.  Testing water for pathogens has always been required by the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA). But in response to three consecutive E. coli outbreak associated with romaine lettuce, the LGMA last week adopted “additional safeguards” that require growers to categorize their water sources, consider when and how it is applied to crops, conduct testing to be sure the water is safe for its intended use, and sanitize the water if necessary and verify all precautions are taken. … ”  Read more from the Food Safety Network here: Produce industry lines up behind new agriculture water standards

California has to learn to cope with wildfires and climate change:  “One of the most important things we should do in preparing for an emergency is to have a checklist of things to take and a safe escape route. This advice is not new – after all, severe weather and evacuation warnings are part of life today.  The town of Paradise, California went through what can best be described as hell on Earth in 2018 when more than 27,000 residents trying to escape the Camp Fire got caught in a nightmare traffic jam. The catastrophe brought to light the reality that California’s highways are not designed to handle mass evacuations. … ”  Read more from the Digital Journal here: California has to learn to cope with wildfires and climate change

Dodd to head wildfire, climate change committee:  “State Sen. Bill Dodd has been appointed to lead the newly created Senate Select Committee to assess policy options in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wildfire and climate change report.  “California needs a holistic, well-rounded approach to wildfires that will help us adapt to climate change, mitigate risks and protect ratepayers,” Dodd, D-Napa, said in a statement released Thursday by his office. “I look forward to evaluating the options presented by Gov. Newsom as we work toward solutions to this complicated problem.” .. ”  Read more from the Daily Republic here: Dodd to head wildfire, climate change committee

Melting snow may have caused earthquakes in California, research shows:  “New research unveiled recently links a series of California earthquakes to heavy snowmelt during a wet winter.  Scientists involved in the work said they believe that water from the runoff flowed down to the groundwater, causing seismic movement. The research offers new geological insights into one of the most seismically active areas of California. … ”  Read  more from the LA Times here: Melting snow may have caused earthquakes in California, research shows

Thick and Viscous: California Oil Production Among the Dirtiest in the Country:  “One hundred and forty-three years after the first gusher spewed forth in California, it still comes as a surprise to people that the state produces as much oil as Alaska — and in some years even more. Oil production in California has been hidden on high school campuses, tucked in behind housing developments, surrounded by almond orchards. It pushes up against neighborhoods in Los Angeles, where heat, time and tectonic forces turned the remains of Miocene marine life into vast reserves of oil. It occupies the flatlands of the Central Valley, where in some places pumpjacks spread out for as far as the eye can see. ... ”  Read more from KCET here:  Thick and Viscous: California Oil Production Among the Dirtiest in the Country

Lake Wohlford Dam replacement hits a wetland snag:  “The city of Escondido thought it had finally figured out how to raise the $35 million to $50 million it needs to replace the Lake Wohlford Dam.  But then a complicated and prohibitively expensive problem arose.  In 2007, studies determined that the top portion of the 124-year-old dam could collapse in a major earthquake, flooding eastern Escondido. So the city, under orders from a federal agency, immediately reduced the amount of water in the lake by more than half. ... ”  Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here:  Lake Wohlford Dam replacement hits a wetland snag

In commentary today …

Salmon are back in the San Joaquin, but what did it cost us?  Wayne Western writes, “Reason to celebrate?  Threatened Central Valley Chinook adult salmon have returned and spawned to the San Joaquin River!  For some, it’s proof they have been able to avoid predators and multi-billion dollar infrastructure that keeps millions of humans alive. … ”  Read more from The Sun here: Salmon are back in the San Joaquin, but what did it cost us?

Salmon need all of us, says Laurel Sayer:  She writes, “Salmon have captivated our collective imaginations for generations and earned the reverence of many as they travel thousands of miles to the ocean and return to spawn. They nourish people, creatures, birds and ecosystems. They are central to the culture of many Native American Tribes and economies. They are a natural barometer for the health of our rivers and streams. And they’re protected under the Endangered Species Act. … ”  Read more from the Capital Press here: Salmon need all of us

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Harder water bill a bipartisan effort; UCLA researchers discover cost and time efficient method to recycle water; A Farmer Goes in Search of a Successor; Chico: Options sought for water users of destroyed canal; and more …

NEWS WORTH NOTING: Now available: Bay-Delta Plan Biological Goals Scientific Advisory Panel Final Report; Attorney General Becerra to Army Corps: Directive to weaken state oversight of water quality is unlawful

https://mavensnotebook.com/2019/04/29/reservoir-and-water-conditions-for-april-29-2019/

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.

 

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