DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: SB1: Who supports, who’s opposed; Five things to know about SB-200: The Clean Drinking Water Fund; State looks for alternatives for Franks Tract tidal marsh restoration; Massive oil spill in Kern County; Benefits of Marine Protected Areas; and more …

In California water news this weekend, SB1: Who Supports, Who’s Opposed; Bill would make levee encampments illegal; Five Things to Know About SB-200: The Clean Drinking Water Fund; State looks for alternatives for Franks Tract tidal marsh restoration; Chevron Reports Massive Oil Seep In Kern County; The Benefits of Marine Protected Areas Spill into Neighboring Waters; Border Wall: If people can’t get through, neither can the river; MegaDroughts And Desalination; Ridgecrest: Water district recognizes its crew, reflects on earthquake aftermath; and more …

In the news this weekend …

LEGISLATION

‘Job Killer’ Bill [SB 1] Nears Final Vote. Who Supports, Who’s Opposed:  “The California Chamber of Commerce calls it a ‘Job Killer’ bill. State water and agriculture interests have lined up solidly against it. Still, Senate Bill 1 is moving through the California Legislature despite concerns that it threatens water supplies and will result in a flurry of lawsuits. It passed the Senate in May and faces one more committee hearing in the Assembly before heading to the floor for a final vote. … ”  Read more from GV Wire here: ‘Job Killer’ Bill Nears Final Vote. Who Supports, Who’s Opposed.

California bill would make levee encampments illegal:  “A bill would enhance protections along levees and bypasses, as well as make it illegal to put up encampments on the structures, following a KCRA3 investigation.  Assembly member Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, authored AB 137, which would prohibit people from altering the stability of levees or bypasses, as well as prohibit people from living and camping on the structures. The legislation would make it a misdemeanor charge. ... ”  Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: California bill would make levee encampments illegal

Legal alert: Five Things You Need to Know About SB-200: California’s Proposed Clean Drinking Water Fund:  “The California Legislature recently passed SB-200 that will create an annual fund of $130 million to tackle the state’s drinking water problems. Approximately one million Californians do not have access to clean drinking water due to natural or man-made causes. SB-200 will give public agencies, nonprofits, public utilities, mutual water companies, tribes, and groundwater sustainability agencies the opportunity to apply for funding to remediate their drinking water problems. Governor Newsom is expected to sign the bill into law. Here are five things you need to know about SB-200 … ”  Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: Legal alert: Five Things You Need to Know About SB-200: California’s Proposed Clean Drinking Water Fund

California’s new wildfire plan: 5 things to know:  “You will be forgiven for having the impression that California lawmakers have been talking about comprehensive wildfire legislation forever, when it has only been days since the new fire bill ricocheted  from the Assembly to the Senate and back again. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it today, less than a week after the first elected official cleared his throat to introduce the package.  It didn’t set a legislative land-speed record, of course, but some lawmakers did complain that they lacked sufficient time to read and digest such a complex document. What’s the rush? Where to begin? … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: California’s new wildfire plan: 5 things to know

DELTA – FRANKS TRACT

State looks for alternatives for Franks Tract tidal marsh restoration:  “Faced with mounting opposition over a $315 million plan to restore the tidal marshland on Franks Tract in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, state officials have begun to seek input from residents, boaters, fishermen and others on alternatives.  To that end, officials from the project’s lead agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with the state Department of Water Resources, East Bay Parks and Recreation, consultants and others spent most of the day on Thursday speaking with an overflowing crowd of concerned residents on nearby Bethel Island about the project’s goals and alternative approaches to restoration. … ”  Read more from the East Bay Times here: State looks for alternatives for Franks Tract tidal marsh restoration

KERN COUNTY OIL SPILL

‘The Scale Of This Is Just So Shocking:’ Chevron Reports Massive Oil Seep In Kern County:  “Oil producing giant Chevron believes it has stopped a Kern County oil seep that had been quietly growing for two months.  Until this past Thursday, crude oil had been seeping out of the ground intermittently since May 10 in the Cymric oilfield. Roughly 35 miles west of Bakersfield, the oilfield is located just a few miles away from the unincorporated community of McKittrick with a population of just over 100 residents. … ”  Read more from Valley Public Radio here: ‘The Scale Of This Is Just So Shocking:’ Chevron Reports Massive Oil Seep In Kern County

State Orders Chevron to Stop Massive Crude Oil Release From Kern County Well:  “Saying that Chevron has failed to do all it should have to stop a massive release of crude oil at a Kern County well site, state regulators have ordered the company “to take all measures” to stop the flow and prevent a recurrence.  The incident, in an oil field near the town of McKittrick and 35 miles west of Bakersfield, has spilled an estimated 800,000 gallons of water and crude oil into a dry creek bed. Regulators estimate about one-third of the flow, or about 265,000 gallons, is oil. … ”  Read more from KQED here: State Orders Chevron to Stop Massive Crude Oil Release From Kern County Well

Chevron spills 800,000 gallons of oil, water in California:  “Officials began to clean up a massive oil spill Friday that dumped nearly 800,000 gallons of oil and water into a California canyon, making it larger — if less devastating — than the state’s last two major oil spills.  The newly revealed spill has been flowing off and on since May and has again stopped, Chevron spokeswoman Veronica Flores-Paniagua said. She and California officials said the spill is not near any waterway and has not significantly affected wildlife. The last flow was Tuesday. ... ”  Read more from the Associated Press here:  Chevron spills 800,000 gallons of oil, water in California

ICYMI: FRIDAY’S BREAKING NEWS

Administration Sidelines Federal Biologists Who Could Stand in Way of More Water for California Farmers:  ““After rushing forward on a plan to send more water to California’s Central Valley, the Trump Administration has unexpectedly hit the brakes and ordered the work already done by federal scientists to be completed by a different team.  Just days before federal biologists were set to release new rules governing the future of endangered salmon and drinking water for two-thirds of Californians, the administration replaced them with an almost entirely new group of lawyers, administrators and biologists to “refine” and “improve” the rules, according to an email obtained by KQED. … ”  Read more from KQED here: Administration Sidelines Federal Biologists Who Could Stand in Way of More Water for California Farmers

OTHER STATEWIDE NEWS

Report: How to make California more resilient through collaborative governance:  “As California communities seek to grow and thrive, they face dramatic new disruptions: a range of increasingly frequent natural disasters associated with climate change, and the social and economic dislocations caused by rising costs and changes in the workplace. To achieve lasting prosperity, California must build more sustainable, more resilient communities that can withstand these emerging challenges.   In a new report, CA Fwd and the California Economic Summit captured some of the ambitious efforts undertaken after the North Bay fires and offers key recommendations for improving resiliency and set a new standard for recovery. … ”  Read more from the California Economic Summit here: Report: How to make California more resilient through collaborative governance

The Benefits of Marine Protected Areas Spill into Neighboring Waters:  “When California implemented a string of marine protected areas (MPAs) about a decade ago, one of its goals was to bolster the number of fish available to recreational and commercial fishers. The state created a network of protected reserves, occupying about 18 percent of the state’s waters, that are close enough together that fish born in one no-fishing area can readily relocate to another reserve or adjacent waters where fishing remains legal.  Known as the spillover effect, this long-assumed consequence of marine protected areas has proven incredibly difficult to verify. … ”  Read more from Hakai Magazine here: The Benefits of Marine Protected Areas Spill into Neighboring Waters

NATIONAL

Border Wall: If people can’t get through, neither can the river:  “Driving on the road between his cattle ranch and the U.S.-Mexico border, John Ladd slowed his red pickup truck when he saw a Border Patrol agent pacing next to a barbed wire fence.  “He’s looking for tracks to tell his partner what kinds of shoes they are wearing,” he said. “They must have come through my place after crossing at the river.” Ladd’s ranch runs parallel to the border for 10 miles and is just 2 miles away from the San Pedro River.  He supports President Trump and wants to see more Border Patrol agents down here. Over the past 30 years, he says, more than half a million immigrants have been apprehended on his property after illegally crossing the border. Fourteen have died of the heat.  But Ladd is skeptical about the Department of Homeland Security’s plans to build “the wall” through the San Pedro River itself. ... ”  Read more from E&E News here: Border Wall: If people can’t get through, neither can the river

MegaDroughts And Desalination — Another Pressing Need For Nuclear Power:  “About 20% of the world’s population has no access to safe drinking water, and this number will increase as the population continues to grow and global freshwater sources continue to decline. The worst-affected areas are the arid and semiarid regions of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.  UNESCO has reported that the freshwater shortfall worldwide will rise to 500 trillion gallons/yr by 2025. They expect water wars to break out in the near-future. The World Economic Forum says that shortage of fresh water may be the primary global threat in the next decade. … ”  Read more from Forbes Magazine here: MegaDroughts And Desalination — Another Pressing Need For Nuclear Power

In commentary this weekend …

Open Forum: The generation that ruined the world:  Mark Lauden Crosley writes, “My generation invented Earth Day — and went on to wreck the planet.  This is an uncomfortable contradiction. In our youth, many of us baby boomers cared about ending a war and saving the environment. But few of us did much to preserve Mother Earth. Sure, we got upset when the Cuyahoga River caught fire, and Three Mile Island was scary. We drove 55 miles an hour for a while and went to “No Nukes” concerts. But all the while, we were consuming things at a rate unimaginable to our parents’ generation.  Oops. ... ”  Read more from the SF Chronicle here: Open Forum: The generation that ruined the world

Climate Change and Capitalism: A Political Marxist View:  Simon Mair writes, “Viewed from the perspective of geological history, our current climatic and economic conditions are unusual. For most of the last 60 million years, the climate has been wildly unstable. It was only 10,000 years ago that it settled into its current stable state, and within this period that the Holocene emerged, during which human societies shifted their relationship with nature though agriculture, and then creating complex settled socio-economic forms, including capitalism. … ”  Read more from Resilience.org here: Climate Change and Capitalism: A Political Marxist View

In regional news and commentary this weekend …

Humboldt Bay is retaking the land as the sea level rises:  “Humboldt Bay is reclaiming its former territory, and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.  Between 1890 and 1910, almost 90% of Humboldt Bay’s salt marshes, about 8,100 acres, were “diked and drained for agricultural uses or walled off from tidal inundation with the construction of the Northwest Pacific Railroad,” according to the “Humboldt Bay Shoreline Inventory, Mapping and Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment” completed in 2013 by local sea level rise expert Aldaron Laird. Now only 4% of the land is salt marsh. … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt Bay is retaking the land as the sea level rises

Lake Oroville Community Update – July 12 2019:  “Water releases from Hyatt Powerplant are approximately 7,495 cubic feet per second (cfs). The current elevation of Oroville reservoir is 888 feet. As we continue through summer, DWR will increase releases to the river from Lake Oroville to supplement the natural flows of the Feather River to meet environmental needs, salinity standards, and south of Delta State Water Project exports. Coordinated releases from the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project from Lake Oroville help balance conditions throughout the Sacramento Valley watershed. Current weather forecasts and expected inflow will not require the use of Oroville’s main spillway. If DWR determines that it is necessary to use the main spillway, in addition to Hyatt Powerplant, DWR will notify the public and media. ... ”  Continue reading at DWR News here: Lake Oroville Community Update – July 12 2019

Where did the beach go? Lake Tahoe fills to the top as massive winter snows melt:  “If you visit Lake Tahoe this summer, the beaches might seem a little smaller than they were a few years ago.  It’s not an optical illusion. Large sections of them really are underwater.  Dozens of feet of snow that blanked the Sierra Nevada this winter, generated by blizzards from raging atmospheric river storms, have been steadily melting all spring and summer, sending billions of gallons of water rushing downhill and steadily raising the water level at Lake Tahoe. ... ”  Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald here: Where did the beach go? Lake Tahoe fills to the top as massive winter snows melt

Sonoma: Septic Systems Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): How this Rule Impacts Us:  “In mid-June, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors took action to meet State mandated septic system regulations that protect water quality and public health.  “Our Local Agency Management Program balances state regulations with local septic policy,” said Board Chair David Rabbitt. “In some areas we are providing more flexibility to homeowners. For example, the new policy no longer requires septic system review for certain building improvements to existing structures.” … ”  Read more from Sonoma West here: Septic Systems Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

Love of the Land draws large crowd to Sonoma County Farm Bureau party:  “Bountiful, it was.  When a large crowd of Sonoma County people who work in agriculture — or appreciate those who do — gathered Thursday alongside Russian River vineyards, there was no shortage of food, drink, neighborliness or generosity.  The occasion at the private park created by late ag champions Richard and Saralee Kunde was Love of the Land, the feast and showcase of local foods, wines and more by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here:  Love of the Land draws large crowd to Sonoma County Farm Bureau party

Monterey: Desal project appeals proceeding at Coastal Commission, county:  “A series of appeals involving California American Water’s desalination project will move forward at the Coastal Commission even as the Board of Supervisors is set to consider a separate set of appeals during a special meeting on Monday.  Just before midnight on Thursday, the Coastal Commission unanimously agreed to accept appeals filed by Cal Am and others regarding the Marina city Planning Commission’s denial of a coastal development permit for the $329 million desal project’s feeder water intake system, including its proposed slant wells at the CEMEX sand mining plant. ... ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Desal project appeals proceeding at Coastal Commission, county

After years of fighting, Morro Bay sewer gets final OK by Coastal Commission:  “Factions of Morro Bay residents have lobbied on both sides of an effort to build a new sewer for years, and now — finally — the last approval has been granted.  The Coastal Commission approved a proposed new wastewater treatment and water reclamation facility at the intersection of Highway 1 and South Bay Boulevard on Thursday after a decade of planning.  The project is envisioned to go in on about 15 acres of a 396-acre site, which is slated to be annexed into the city. … ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: After years of fighting, Morro Bay sewer gets final OK by Coastal Commission

Stockton biofuel firm fined $401K for dumping industrial wastewater into city sewers:  “A federal judge this week fined and sanctioned a biodiesel firm based in the Port of Stockton for discharging industrial wastewater into the city’s sewer system, violating the federal Clean Water Act.  Judge Kimberly J. Mueller levied a $401,000 fine against American Biodiesel, Inc., and ordered the company to pay a total of $256,206 in restitution to the city and the port.  Privately held American Biodiesel, based in the San Diego area, operates at the Port of Stockton under the name of Community Fuels. … ”  Read more from the Stockton Record here: Stockton biofuel firm fined $401K for dumping industrial wastewater into city sewers

Work continues to reinforce Lathrop levees:  “While elected officials in Sacramento work to secure funding to ensure that the levees along the San Joaquin River are reinforced to be able to withstand a 200-year flood, the City of Lathrop has been performing the work necessary to continue development within the floodplain while that work is completed.  While the main levees that protect the new development on the west side of I-5 has been the focus of RD-17 and the City of Lathrop — a levee break in that area during a 200-year event could potentially flood the entire city — the levees in River Islands that haven’t already received certification for a 200-year urban level of flood protection have met the adequate progress criteria that will allow development to continue in that area for another year. ... ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Work continues to reinforce Lathrop levees

Tule River is open for recreation, but officials warn caution:  “Valley temperatures are expected to hit the triple digits, according to meteorologists.  Tulare County residents looking to cool off can now pay a visit to the Tule River.  The river’s flow has returned “closer to normal,” and officials with the Sequoia National Forest have ended the closure of the river that extended from below Camp Nelson to the Forest entrance above Springville.  However, visitors who travel near rivers and lakes across the forest are asked to use extreme caution, especially anyone with children, said Denise Alonzo, with the U.S. Forest Service. … ”  Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here:  Tule River is open for recreation, but officials warn caution

Ridgecrest: Water district recognizes its crew, reflects on earthquake aftermath:  “The Indian Wells Valley Water District board of directors reflected on its luck at its July meeting on Monday night in light of the recent 6.4 and 7.1 magnitude earthquakes that struck the area on July 4 and July 5.  According to IWVWD General Manager Don Zdeba, the district sustained no significant disruption to its water delivery or damage to its infrastructure. He did note there were isolated cases of water leaks and there was a need to shut off water to some ratepayers. … ”  Read more from the Taft Midway Driller here: Ridgecrest: Water district recognizes its crew, reflects on earthquake aftermath

Santa Clarita Valley Water testing treatments to remove toxic chemicals:  “The SCV Water Board of Directors approved expedited testing of treatment options for toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS which were recently found in groundwater in SCV’s service area.  This proactive measure is in response to the State Water Resources Control Board – Division of Drinking Water’s interim notification and response level monitoring requirements. ... ”  Read more from SCV News here:  SCV Water Testing Treatments to Remove Toxic Chemicals

Santa Clarita: Whittaker-Bermite soil cleanup complete, officials report:  “After more than a decade, the Whittaker-Bermite cleanup reached a significant milestone this month as soil remediation efforts in contaminated areas are now complete, according to officials close to the matter.  The nearly 1,000 acres in the Santa Clarita Valley’s center core is clear of toxic material known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, trapped in the soil, said Jose Diaz, senior project manager with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which supervises the site cleanup performed by the Whittaker Corp. … ”  Read more from The Signal here: Whittaker-Bermite soil cleanup complete, officials report

Santa Clarita: Public Health raises septic tank costs in unincorporated areas, sends ‘confusing’ letter:  “In a letter recently distributed to a number of residents in the unincorporated areas of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced a new fee on septic tank users, leaving some confused and others surprised.  “Recently, the Department of Public Health sent out a confusing letter to residents about a new ordinance concerning septic systems,” said Tony Bell, 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s assistant chief deputy communications director. “However, many residents without septic systems also received the letter.” ... ”  Read more from The Signal here: Public Health raises septic tank costs in unincorporated areas, sends ‘confusing’ letter

How Angelenos use their river:  “Like many who move to Los Angeles, photographer Mathew Scott was not really aware of the Los Angeles River beyond what he’d seen in movies like Grease, which used the concrete flood channel as a racing strip.  But five years ago, when he moved to Northeast Los Angeles, he started seeing all the different ways residents who lived around the 51-mile-long, mostly concrete-covered channel interacted with the river. He became fascinated. … ”  Read more from LA Curbed here: How Angelenos use their river

San Diego: City to Hire Third Party to Take Over Smart Water Meter Program:  “After years of delays, and millions in cost overruns, San Diego will hire a third-party company to take over the city’s troubled conversion to smart water meters.  The announcement was made after the city auditor released a new report highlighting management and staffing issues inside the city’s water department. The City of San Diego launched its conversion to smart water meters in July of 2012 with a completion date of December 2017. But shortly after launching, numerous delays occurred due to a lack of oversight, staffing shortages, and performance issues with the meters. … ”  Read more from NBC San Diego here: City to Hire Third Party to Take Over Smart Water Meter Program

Report: High Tide Flooding Will Increase Along San Diego Coast:  “Federal scientists warn sea level rise is already boosting the number of flooding incidents during high tides in Southern California.  High tide flooding is expected to become much more common in the coming years as sea levels rise.  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists are out with a new report that found the San Diego region is expected to have five to nine days of high tide flooding this year. … ”  Read more from USA Today here: Report: High Tide Flooding Will Increase Along San Diego Coast

Along the Colorado River …

Arizona’s national wildlife refuges add millions to the economy, according to study:  “Arizona’s national wildlife refuges add millions to the economy, according to a new study from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Four of Arizona’s nine wildlife refuges were included in the economic study, which the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service called its most comprehensive to date.  Those four Arizona refuges are: the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge; the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge; the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge; and the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, which includes land in Arizona and California. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central here: Arizona’s national wildlife refuges add millions to the economy, according to study

The Illusion of Limitless Water:  “In black and white, John Trotter documents the use of water from the Colorado River, tackling the social, political, and environmental impact of the way it’s dealt with. Spanning over years and kilometres, his ongoing essay is a dire political outcry. … ”  Continue reading and view pictures from the Photographic Museum of Humanity here: The Illusion of Limitless Water

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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.

Maven’s Notebook
where California water news never goes home for the weekend