In California water news today, Salamanders face extinction from plans to raise Shasta Dam; To Clean Drinking Water, Just Add Microbes; Despite water levels, Oroville spillway release ‘unlikely’; Legislators Join In Nutria Battle; California was warned about climate change 30 years ago. Now it’s feeling the effects; Felt An Earthquake On The Colorado-Utah Border? It’s Probably This Federal Facility; and more …
On the calendar today …
- The Delta Stewardship Council will meet at the Big Break Shoreline in Oakley at 9:30am. The meeting will feature a workshop in review of the staff draft amendment of Chapter 4 of the Delta Plan. and a walking tour of Big Break Regional Shoreline led by representatives from East Bay Regional Parks District. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Click here for more information. Click here to watch on webcast.
- The County Drought Advisory Committee will meet from 10am to 4pm in Sacramento. Click here for more information.
- Webinar: Tap into Resilience: Efficiency & Reuse is the New Supply from 1pm to 2pm. Join Paula Kehoe, Director of Water Resources with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Doug Bennett, Conservation Manager at Southern Nevada Water Authority, along with WaterNow Alliance, for a practical conversation about financing and scaling up decentralized water solutions including turf rebates, on-site water reuse, and other efficiency investments. Click here to register.
- Sinking cities from 6pm to 8pm in Fresno. Join ValleyPBS and Fresno State for a special screening and community conversation. Click here to register.
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Rare California salamanders move closer to Endangered Species Act protection; California Invests $1.5 Million to support environmental justice projects statewide; Pesticide problem? There’s an app for that.
- SCIENCE NEWS: Sierra seedlings illustrate effects of climate change on next generation of forests; Does limited underground water storage make plants less susceptible to drought?; As the oceans acidify, these oyster farmers are fighting back; Podcast: The incredible shrinking hydraulic laboratory; and more …
- WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~Reactivating Floodplains~ Drought Group~ National Academies~ Delta Dashboard~ Infrastructure Projects~ Infrastructure Investment~ Sierra Meadows ~~
- ENVIRO DOCS: Lower American River Anadromous Fish Habitat Restoration Project documents available for review
Salamanders face extinction from plans to raise Shasta Dam: “Three species of Shasta Salamanders are being threatened by plans to raise the height of the Shasta Dam, which would result in flooding of their habitat. On Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity and Environmental Protection Information Center secured a new settlement that will speed up the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision on whether the salamanders warrant Endangered Species Act protection. ... ” Read more from KRCR here: Salamanders face extinction from plans to raise Shasta Dam
To Clean Drinking Water, Just Add Microbes: “Like many small water utilities in California, the Sunny Slope Water Company in Pasadena has a nitrate pollution problem. The chemical, a legacy of fertilizers used in the state’s huge agriculture industry, has been linked to birth defects and cancer at high levels. To meet California’s drinking water standards for nitrates, Sunny Slope had to blend water across its five wells, which serve 38,000 homes. But when one of those wells reached nitrate levels that forced its closure, the company had to tap into a more expensive reservoir, says its general manager Ken Tcheng. The experience sent Tcheng searching for a cheaper solution. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: To Clean Drinking Water, Just Add Microbes
Despite water levels, spillway release ‘unlikely’: “For those wondering if the gates to the Oroville Dam’s spillway will be opened this summer, the answer from the Department of Water Resources is “unlikely.” The DWR said Friday that levels for the reservoir are full, but stable. The current water elevation of Oroville reservoir is 895 feet. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register here: Despite water levels, spillway release ‘unlikely’
Legislators Join In Nutria Battle: “A cooperative effort among a foursome of Central Valley legislators is taking aim at nutria. On Friday, June 21 Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced legislation to eradicate and control the population growth of nutrias, colloquially referred to as “swamp rats,” in the Central Valley. Nutrias are an invasive species from South America that have caused millions in damage to swamplands in Maryland and Louisiana. They have been detected in large numbers in the Central Valley and rapidly reproduce. The bill is cosponsored by fellow Central Valley representatives Jim Costa, John Garamendi, and TJ Cox. ... ” Read more from the Escalon Times here: Legislators Join In Nutria Battle
California was warned about climate change 30 years ago. Now it’s feeling the effects: “Droughts, floods, fires, and heat waves—that’s just some of what Californians could expect to see under climate change, warned a 1989 report by the state’s Energy Commission. In the thirty years since its publication, the report has proved remarkably prescient. “We’ve already observed some of the things we expected in 1989,” said Susan Fischer Wilhelm, a research manager at the California Energy Commission. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California was warned about climate change 30 years ago. Now it’s feeling the effects
Book review: “The State Of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource”: “Oakland-based Obi Kaufmann is a kind of data-based poetic naturalist. In his new book, he offers a guide to “The State Of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource” ($20 in hardcover from Heyday; also for Amazon Kindle). Replete with the author’s own water colors of birds and beasts and hand-painted maps of the state waterways, the book is a paean of praise to, in Kaufmann’s words, “Water, always the commodity, rarely the honored vehicle of all life.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Book review: “The State Of Water: Understanding California’s Most Precious Resource”
The Water Future of Earth’s ‘Third Pole’: “Himalaya. Karakoram. Hindu Kush. The names of Asia’s high mountain ranges conjure up adventure to those living far away, but for more than a billion people, these are the names of their most reliable water source. Snow and glaciers in these mountains contain the largest volume of fresh water outside of Earth’s polar ice sheets, leading hydrologists to nickname this region the Third Pole. One-seventh of the world’s population depends on rivers flowing from these mountains for water to drink and to irrigate crops. Rapid changes in the region’s climate, however, are affecting glacier melt and snowmelt. … ” Read more from NASA here: The Water Future of Earth’s ‘Third Pole’
In regional news and commentary today …
Dunsmuir doesn’t want chlorinated water: “The Dunsmuir City Council discussed UV disinfection as a way to avoid state mandated chlorination at its meeting last Thursday, June 20. The council authorized funding for the completion of planning and design for the downtown tank relocation and replacement project, spring improvements, water main replacement and the UV disinfection funding application. UV disinfection is a physical process that instantaneously neutralizes microorganisms as they pass by ultraviolet lamps submerged in the effluent. The process adds nothing to the water but UV light, and therefore, has no impact on the chemical composition or the dissolved oxygen content of the water, according to the website TrojanUV. ... ” Read more from the Mt. Shasta Herald here: Dunsmuir doesn’t want chlorinated water
Trinidad backs water study as Rancheria hotel project looms: “The Trinidad City Council on Wednesday afternoon unanimously approved a study of the city’s water needs, an effort the council framed as necessary preparation for the general future but which most in the public interpreted as a precautionary step ahead of a major hotel development that could rely on the city’s water supply. The study would include five separate tasks, including an assessment of the city’s current water source, the Luffenholtz Creek; a search for alternative sources of water supply; and developing new city policies to address potential draught. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Trinidad backs water study as Rancheria hotel project looms
Sonoma: River dam installations get under way this week: “Installation of Guerneville’s summer dams begins this week after a two-week delay owing to unseasonably high flows in the Russian River. Flow measurements at the Hacienda Bridge “have just reached 400 cubic feet per second (cfs.),” said Russian River Recreation & Park District Maintenance Supervisor John Condon in an email update this week on the installations. “In-water safety is first priority,” for the Rec and Park District installation crew, said Condon. … ” Read more from Sonoma West here: Sonoma: River dam installations get under way this week
Plumas County: Upgrading Project For Dam Sees New Fishing Options: “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are working together to offset effects anglers may experience as a result of dam upgrade work scheduled for the summer of 2020 at Lower Bucks Lake in Plumas County. The concrete dam at Lower Bucks Lake is owned by PG&E. Since its construction in the late 1920s, the downstream face of the dam has experienced gradual damage from repeated freezing and thawing, enlarging surface cracks in the dam. Although there are no immediate safety concerns, PG&E is going to install a water-resistant membrane on the upstream side of the dam to prevent future damage and will restore the downstream face of the dam. … ” Read more from the Oakdale Leader here: Upgrading Project For Dam Sees New Fishing Options
Bay Sediment for Bay Restoration: “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) maintains federal navigation channels in the Bay for shipping, which require periodic dredging of accumulated sediment. Typically, this sediment is disposed of at In-Bay disposal sites or miles offshore at Deep Ocean Disposal Sites. In early 2019, USACE and the Coastal Conservancy signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) allowing the sediment to be placed at beneficial use sites around the Bay, and this month, the first contract to conduct this work was awarded. … ” Read more from Dredging Today here: Bay Sediment for Bay Restoration
Visalia residents concerned with Tulare County spraying controversial pesticide to control grape pest known as glassy-winged sharpshooter: “Tulare County has started spraying pesticides in residential areas in Visalia and Lindsay to combat glassy-winged sharpshooters, a non-native pest that carries a deadly grapevine disease. The sharpshooter also attacks residential and urban landscaping. The Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office will be treating residential areas and urban landscapes within 200 meters of detection. Residents can opt out of the spray. The pesticide, an insecticide with imidacloprid as the main ingredient, will be applied through a “drench” method, which means the pesticide is directly applied to the soil instead of the plant. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun Gazette here: Visalia residents concerned with Tulare County spraying controversial pesticide to control grape pest known as glassy-winged sharpshooter
Sen. Hurtado visits Sanger and discusses Friant-Kern Canal: “State Sen. Melissa Hurtado and staffer Jacob Villagomez arrived at the room Sager Rotary uses in the city’s community center for its weekly luncheon prepared to give an update on her legislative activity and just listen to what members had to say. After all, the site was familiar territory. Not all that long ago, Hurtado, a Democrat, was a member of the Sanger council and a long shot to unseat the established Republican incumbent. “It feels good to be home,” Hurtado said. … ” Read more from the Sanger Herald here: Sen. Hurtado visits Sanger and discusses Friant-Kern Canal
Kern County: State water regulators see role for Kern’s oil industry in groundwater sustainability planning: “Contrary to what you may have heard, oil and water apparently mix just fine, especially with regard to California’s landmark efforts to bring Central Valley groundwater pumping under control. Kern oil companies are, by all accounts, working closely with local and state authorities, sharing data and hydrological expertise, to help make sure the county’s groundwater users comply with the controversial Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, better known as SGMA. … ” Read more from Bakersfield.com here: Kern County: State water regulators see role for Kern’s oil industry in groundwater sustainability planning
SoCal: Beach pollution surges after massive wildfires and heavy rains, report finds: “If there was one upside to the severe drought that plagued California for seven years, it was how the lack of rain and dirty runoff improved beach water quality. But ocean pollution has surged once again at some Southern California beaches because of an unusually wet winter and the effects of the massive Woolsey fire, which added pollutants and worsened runoff. The findings, contained the annual Heal the Bay report card, underscore how much ocean water quality is tied to other environmental factors. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: SoCal: Beach pollution surges after massive wildfires and heavy rains, report finds
Along the Colorado River …
Felt An Earthquake On The Colorado-Utah Border? It’s Probably This Federal Facility: ” … Earthquakes can feel like a freak of nature, something that strikes at random. But not this one. There’s no question where it came from and that human activity caused it. Since the turn of the 20th century, the Colorado River and its tributaries have been dammed and diverted to sustain the growth of massive cities and large-scale farming in the American Southwest. Attempts to bend the river system to humanity’s will have also led to all kinds of unintended consequences. In Colorado’s Paradox Valley, those unintended consequences take the form of earthquakes. … ” Read more from KUNC here: Felt An Earthquake On The Colorado-Utah Border? It’s Probably This Federal Facility
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.
