In California water news today, Nature: the next big thing in climate adaptation technology?; After at least 7 children diagnosed with cancer, parents eye chemical in city’s water; Key State Lawmakers to Call for Hearings Into Chevron Oil Spill; San Diego’s Water Portfolio Approach ‘Model for California’; Drinking responsibly could now mean drinking ‘Salmon-Safe’ beer; Trump’s USDA buried sweeping climate change response plan; Southwestern waterways emerge as latest climate change battlegrounds; Photos: Road Trip: Wildlife, Mystery and Hidden Treasures Along Pacific Coast Highway; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Nature: the next big thing in climate adaptation technology?: “The term infrastructure might conjures roads, pipes and walls — pretty much the antithesis of nature. But some scientists and engineers want to reverse that impression by harnessing nature as infrastructure. The idea that plants and soil can prevent flooding and purify water is gaining traction in an era of rising seas and severe storms. … One solution? Go green — as in green infrastructure. It’s time we “start to think of our natural systems as this incredibly valuable technology,” according to Letitia Grenier, a conservation biologist who directs the Resilient Landscapes Program at the nonprofit San Francisco Estuary Institute. She said vegetation can be a better flood barrier than hard infrastructure. … ” Read more from Marketplace Tech here: Nature: the next big thing in climate adaptation technology?
After at least 7 children diagnosed with cancer, parents eye chemical in city’s water: “Parents in one California community are fighting for answers after at least seven children were diagnosed with cancer in the past four years. Earlier this year, they fought to remove a cell phone tower from a local elementary school campus. Now, they’re focusing on a chemical in their drinking water supply that’s linked to cancer. And Ripon, California, is just one of dozens of cities across the country dealing with the possibly harmful chemical. “Until we figure out what is happening in this town, we won’t stop,” said Kellie Prime, a mother whose son, Kyle, is one of at least seven kids in Ripon who have been diagnosed with cancer in recent years. … ” Read more from CBS News here: After at least 7 children diagnosed with cancer, parents eye chemical in city’s water
After 800,000-gallon spill, Chevron site is still leaking oil: “On the same day Sen. Dianne Feinstein chastised Chevron Corp. for keeping an 800,000-gallon spill outside Bakersfield “under wraps,” California officials confirmed Thursday that the site was once again seeping a hazardous mix of oil and water. The new leakage occurred in a surface expression vent in the Cymric oil field, near the Kern County town of McKittrick, according to the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. The vent is one of the locations where three previous leaks released about 800,000 gallons of oil and water. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times here: After 800,000-gallon spill, Chevron site is still leaking oil
Key State Lawmakers to Call for Hearings Into Chevron Oil Spill: “The two top California lawmakers that oversee the state’s oil industry plan to call for hearings into a recent, massive oil spill in Kern County and revelations that officials at the agency that regulate oil wells held investments in the companies they were supposed to keep watch over. “I am absolutely committed to calling for an oversight hearing, once we have a new oil and gas supervisor, to look both at the spill and the response to the spill and to look at the conflict issues,” Assemblywoman Laura Friedman, D-Glendale, the chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, told KQED. … ” Read more from KQED here: Key State Lawmakers to Call for Hearings Into Chevron Oil Spill
San Diego’s Water Portfolio Approach ‘Model for California’: “State officials Thursday toured San Diego County water infrastructure to get a first-hand look at the region’s successful water portfolio approach for supply diversification. California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Natural Resources Secretary Thomas Gibson, State Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross, and State Water Resources Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel were here to assess the region’s water projects as part of their new role in developing a water portfolio strategy for the state. ... ” Read more from the Water News Network here: San Diego’s Water Portfolio Approach ‘Model for California’
State of California reconsiders changes in Franks Tract: “More than 100 people crowded into Scout Hall on Bethel Island last week as the (CDFW) held a meeting to collect public input on efforts to make changes to nearby Franks Tract. Just over a year ago, CDFW presented the final draft of the Franks Tract Futures Feasibility Study to the Delta Stewardship Council. The study concluded that the project to modify Franks Tract — as it was envisioned at the time — was viable, but local opposition to the plan has prompted a return to the drawing board. … ” Read more from The Press here: State of California reconsiders changes in Franks Tract
What about the pupfish? How the 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake impacted a critically endangered species: “When a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Mojave Desert on July 5, it rattled the town of Ridgecrest, causing injuries, igniting four fires and cracking roadways and home foundations. One hundred and sixty-four miles away inside Death Valley National Park, it also created 10- to 15-foot waves inside Devils Hole, the sole habitat for the critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish. Video cameras mounted underwater and at the mouth of the Devils Hole cavern captured the earthquake inside the protected area: the water rising and falling dramatically, splashing the rock walls and turning the clear aquatic landscape into a swirling cloud of debris. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: What about the pupfish? How the 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake impacted a critically endangered species
Drinking responsibly could now mean drinking ‘Salmon-Safe’ beer: “When Joel VandenBrink hiked Mount Rainier’s Wonderland Trail in 2012, the experience left him with a sense of awe and a desire to give back to the environment. …For inspiration, VandenBrink focused on the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, which has become a symbol of a struggling marine environment battling development and climate change. His team suggested numerous ingredients sourced from the Salish Sea, where the whales roam, but seaweed, algae and salt all seemed to be “too esoteric.” Then VandenBrink remembered a meeting he’d had a few years before with a nonprofit called Salmon Safe. … ” Read more from Crosscut here: Drinking responsibly could now mean drinking ‘Salmon-Safe’ beer
What’s the difference between weather and climate? “One day, you see a forecast calling for sun, so you don’t bother to pack an umbrella. But just your luck: Clouds tumble in and suddenly you’re stuck in a rainstorm. Now you’re soaking and looking for someone to blame. In this case, you’ve experienced the variability of weather. Weather is the mix of events that happen every day in our atmosphere. Meteorologists develop models to forecast atmospheric conditions based on past data. But weather isn’t the same thing as climate. Read on for critical points about the difference. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: What’s the difference between weather and climate?
Trump’s USDA buried sweeping climate change response plan: “The Agriculture Department quashed the release of a sweeping plan on how to respond to climate change that was finalized in the early days of the Trump administration, according to a USDA employee with knowledge of the decision. Staff members across several USDA agencies drafted the multiyear plan that outlines how the department should help agriculture understand, adapt to and minimize the effects of climate change. Top officials, however, decided not to release the plan and told staff members to keep it for internal use only, the employee told POLITICO. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. … ” Read more from Politco here: Trump’s USDA buried sweeping climate change response plan
In commentary today …
State Water Agreement is a Victory for Health Equity: Elva Yanez writes, “In a major victory for health equity, California lawmakers recently signed off on a state budget trailer bill that will fund improvements to the state’s drinking water system. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign the bill sometime next week. As the director of health equity at the Prevention Institute, I applaud the frontline communities and policy advocates like Community Water Center, Clean Water Action, and Leadership Counsel who fought to win this victory for health and human rights. I appreciate the action of our lawmakers. … ” Read more from California Health Report here: State Water Agreement is a Victory for Health Equity
Capital Press editorial: Legacy of the moon landing still benefits agriculture: “Fifty years ago the entire world turned its eyes to the heavens as astronauts from the United States landed on the moon. Those alive at the time remember the story. Younger readers may need a brief tutorial. The space program was as much a political operation as it was a scientific pursuit. In the midst of the Cold War, the Soviets launched the first satellite in 1957 and the Space Race was off and running. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: Legacy of the moon landing still benefits agriculture
SF Chronicle editorial: A coalition of water agencies and enviros want to take over aging Mendocino dam: They write, “While California contemplates new dams for its thirsty future, it’s also thinking about taking out old ones. Along with advancing plans to demolish three dams atop the Klamath River, there’s a movement to rethink and possibly take out a water and power dam in the Mendocino County back country. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is walking away from the Potter Valley project and Scott Dam, built east of Ukiah in 1922. A new federal license will be costly and the utility has plenty to do working its way out of wildfire-caused bankruptcy. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle here: SF Chronicle editorial: A coalition of water agencies and enviros want to take over aging Mendocino dam
In regional news and commentary today …
Twain Harte CSD installs raw-water draft point for firefighting: “Installing draft points to use untreated water that flows throughout Tuolumne County for fighting fires is an idea that’s been looked at for many years, but the Twain Harte Community Services District is the first to put one into service. The district installed a draft point at its Shadybrook Reservoir in May at a cost of about $10,000, of which about $6,500 was spent on the environmental permitting process. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat here: Twain Harte CSD installs raw-water draft point for firefighting
DWR approves nine alternatives to groundwater sustainability plans, denies plan for Big Valley Basin: “The California Department of Water Resources announced this week the approval of nine alternatives to groundwater sustainability plans submitted by water agencies to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The agency also reported that the existing groundwater management plan for Lake County’s Big Valley Basin is not recommended for approval. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, requires local agencies throughout the state to sustainably manage groundwater basins. Basins ranked as medium- or high-priority are required to develop groundwater sustainability plans or submit an alternative. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: DWR approves nine alternatives to groundwater sustainability plans, denies plan for Big Valley Basin
State dissatisfied with Napa wine country groundwater plan: “California isn’t convinced that Napa County is adequately managing groundwater that sustains the area’s vineyards, wineries, rural residents and Napa River fish. State Department of Water Resources officials emphasized they aren’t claiming well water use is harming the subterranean reservoir beneath the Napa Valley floor. Rather, they said a more than 1,000-page basin report submitted by Napa County doesn’t allow them to make a judgement. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: State dissatisfied with Napa wine country groundwater plan
Solano commission recommends supervisors protect Cache Slough ag: “The Solano County Planning Commission on Thursday was told that a proposal to more stringently protect agricultural uses in the Cache Slough area could negatively affect the goals of the Delta Plan. Jeff Henderson, a representative for the Delta Stewardship Council, said a lot of what the county is trying to do is a positive for the area, but also warned that some measures could conflict with the state-approved Delta Plan by reducing the size and features of potential eco-restoration projects. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Solano commission recommends supervisors protect Cache Slough ag
Patterson: West Main road work to facilitate future farming: “Due to recent road work on West Main, some of us may have started to dread the usually calm drive up and down the road that Pattersonites rely so heavily upon. The road work has often taken two lanes near West Main and Jennings and turned them into one, making commuters sit idly in their cars for minutes at a time. One minute of waiting often turns into two minutes, and sometimes, even three minutes can turn into four, and this can often incite feelings of discomfort, annoyance and irritation. However, this is all to ensure that the rich agricultural farmland that makes this community what it is can thrive during a time when water conservation has turned from conversation, to actual conservation. … ” Read more from the Patterson Irrigator here: Patterson: West Main road work to facilitate future farming
Swimmers and Fishermen Beware: Toxic Algae Pollutes San Luis Reservoir: “Even with gusty winds pushing around and mixing up the water at the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County, it was still easy to make out the tint of blue-green algae on the water’s surface Thursday. State water officials say the algae has become toxic, urging everyone not to touch it or eat fish caught there. It was a warning that came just in time for a Modesto couple who caught a fish at the reservoir Wednesday. They were planning to cook it Thursday night. “If the fish is no good, I would advise people not to eat it,” said fisherman Asunción Olviedo. ... ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Swimmers and Fishermen Beware: Toxic Algae Pollutes San Luis Reservoir
Nacimiento Dam needs expensive upgrades, audit report shows: “Rust in pipes and overworked staff, these are just some of the many things outlined in a new audit report of Nacimiento Dam. The report shows that expensive upgrades are needed. Fortunately, the dam is not at a critical failure point and the county said that it won’t get there anytime soon. However, the laundry list of upgrades need to be fixed in a timely manner, and that money might be coming from residents’ pockets. “It’s not just going to be us pushing it from the top down,” said Chris Lopez, District 3 Monterey County Supervisor. … ” Read more from KSBW here: Nacimiento Dam needs expensive upgrades, audit report shows
Santa Barbara County Reaches Settlement With Water Company Over Creek Water Diversion: “Santa Barbara County prosecutors say they’ve reached a settlement with a small private water district over claims it was diverting water from a creek without proper permits. The action involved the Montecito Creek Water Company. It has limited water rights for Hot Springs Creek. But, State Fish and Wildlife officials say the water company didn’t have a permit to divert water. And, they say they found broken and abandoned pipes in the creek bed. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Santa Barbara County Reaches Settlement With Water Company Over Creek Water Diversion
Montecito Water Rate Study on Desal Deal with Santa Barbara Gets Delayed: “A long-awaited Montecito Water District rate study, planned for release this May, will not be finished until later this year, officials said this week. The study can’t proceed until the district finishes negotiating the terms of an agreement for buying into Santa Barbara’s desalination plant, said Nick Turner, the district general manager. Still to be determined, he said, are the quantity and cost of a potential city supply for Montecito: it could be enough water to meet as much as 35 percent of Montecito’s demand, with a price tag of up to $4 million, every year for the next 50 years. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Montecito Water Rate Study on Desal Deal with Santa Barbara Gets Delayed
Montebello to unload its water system for nearly $18 million: “The Montebello City Council agreed Wednesday to sell the city’s tiny water system to San Gabriel Valley Water Co. for about $17.8 million, four years after its voters rejected the idea. With the passage of a new law, the council no longer needs voter permission. The law, passed last year, specifically allows the cities of Montebello, El Monte and Willows, a small city in Northern California, to sell their systems without a vote. Montebello’s system serves 1,647 properties, or 8% of the of the community. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Montebello to unload its water system for nearly $18 million
Along the Colorado River …
Southwestern waterways emerge as latest climate change battlegrounds: “Standing beside his pickup truck on the crest of a slight hill, Anthony Gutierrez surveyed the Cliff-Gila Valley in southwest New Mexico. Around him, a patchwork of fields spread from the meandering Gila River, its water a shimmering gold as it flowed through the irrigation ditches that sustain farms. “Growing up here, what I saw was an agricultural economy. All of these fields were planted,” he said, waving a hand toward pastures that now support only grass and alfalfa for cow feed. Gutierrez is the executive director of the New Mexico Central Arizona Project (CAP) Entity, the organization in charge of planning a controversial project to divert more water from the river for agriculture. ... ” Read more from the Center for Public Integrity here: Southwestern waterways emerge as latest climate change battlegrounds
Monsoon Watch: Southwest Thunderstorm Season Kicks Into Gear Next Week: “A pattern change across the Lower 48 will kick the Southwest monsoon into gear for at least a few days next week. The driving factor of the monsoon in the United States is a ridge of high pressure that typically parks itself over the Rockies during the late-summer and early-fall months. The weather pattern will gradually become favorable for an influx of moisture from Mexico and the Pacific this weekend into early next week as a ridge of high pressure shifts from the Southeast to the Rockies. ... ” Read more from The Weather Channel here: Monsoon Watch: Southwest Thunderstorm Season Kicks Into Gear Next Week
For a while in 1983, sheets of plywood were all that kept the mighty Glen Canyon Dam from overflowing: “The first public sign that something was up came in the form of a short story in the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff. It was only six paragraphs, but it appeared on the front page above the fold: “Glen Canyon Dam Water Releases to Increase,” the headline read. It was June 2, 1983, and the story didn’t even begin to hint at the drama that was about to unfold. “PAGE — Early snowmelt due to higher than normal temperatures is forcing the earlier than normal release of water from Glen Canyon Dam here, authorities said Thursday.” Almost every word was an understatement. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: For a while in 1983, sheets of plywood were all that kept the mighty Glen Canyon Dam from overflowing
Gila River diversion plan divides state: “Norman Gaume remembers three attempts to create a large diversion dam on the Gila River in southwest New Mexico. All three plans promised more water and more revenue for farmers. All three failed. Gaume, a former director of the Interstate Stream Commission and former water resources manager for the city of Albuquerque, says the latest diversion effort may be doomed to follow the same path. On July 2, the New Mexico Central Arizona Project (CAP) entity that oversees projects using federal money in the New Mexico Unit Fund slashed several components from the proposed Gila River diversion. The cuts reduced the project’s price tag by about $83 million, but also the amount of water that could be diverted and used for irrigation. … ” Read more from Sun News here: Gila River diversion plan divides state
And lastly …
Photos: Road Trip: Wildlife, Mystery and Hidden Treasures Along Pacific Coast Highway: ” Built more than 80 years ago to connect California’s coastal towns, the Pacific Coast Highway hugs the edge of the Golden State as it passes through busy cities, beaches and abandoned relics of the past. The road is officially known as State Route 1 and runs from the bottom of Orange County to Leggett in northern California. You can find haunted mansions, hot springs, obscure museums, impressive architecture and sparkling pools hidden between redwood trees. Start your journey in San Diego and travel north to Crescent City by scrolling down our list, which includes bonus stops for anyone who wants to extend their trip further along the state. … ” (Maven note: I actually recommend traveling from north to south on the Pacific Coast Highway so you can take advantage of the turnouts and lookout points.) Check it out from NBC LA here: Photos: Road Trip: Wildlife, Mystery and Hidden Treasures Along Pacific Coast Highway
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
Sign up for daily email service and you’ll never miss a post …
Sign up for free daily email service and you’ll get all the Notebook’s aggregated and original water news content delivered to your email box by 9AM. And with breaking news alerts, you’ll always be one of the first to know …
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.
