DAILY DIGEST: New Delta tunnel project takes shape; San Joaquin sues DWR over drilling for tunnel project; Appetite for almonds still growing, but farmers feel squeeze from new water rules; Overcoming technical and social barriers to stormwater use; and more …

In California water news today, New Delta tunnel project takes shape; San Joaquin sues state water agency over drilling for tunnel project; Appetite for California almonds still growing, but farmers feel squeeze from new water rules; Removing Tiny Shrimp May Help Climate-Proof Lake Tahoe’s Clarity; Overcoming Technical and Social Barriers to Stormwater Use; Feinstein Working on Bill to Speed Up Logging, Other Forest Projects to Head Off Wildfire Risks; What role will climate change play in the 2020 presidential election?; Klamath dam removal details sent to FERC; Sea Level Rise Could Flood Bay Area Homes, According To New Map; Fire and Rain: Together, Monsoons and Wildfires Can Ruin Arizona’s Water Supply; and more …

On the calendar today …

In the news today …

New Delta tunnel project takes shape:  “Opponents of the twin tunnels breathed a collective sigh of relief in April when Gov. Gavin Newsom put a formal end to the California WaterFix project, but that action also called for the assessment of a single-tunnel project in the Delta.  The first major step in that direction took place last week when the Department of Water Resources (DWR) initiated a series of negotiations with public water agencies that participate in the State Water Project (SWP), to amend SWP contracts to accommodate the construction and operation of a single Delta tunnel, referred to as the Delta Conveyance Project. Of the 29 state contractors, five agencies that operate north of the Delta are expected to opt out of participation in the project. … ”  Read more from The Press here: New Delta tunnel project takes shape

San Joaquin sues state water agency over drilling for tunnel project:  “San Joaquin County has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court asking the state Department of Water Resources to abide by local drilling permit requirements to protect wildlife and water quality in accordance with California law.  According to the county, DWR began geotechnical well drilling in San Joaquin and Sacramento counties in June to collect data the agency says it needs for a proposed Delta tunnel project. The controversial tunnel project would carry water diverted from the Sacramento River to the existing state and federal water pumps in the south Delta for export to points south. … ”  Read more from the Stockton Record here: San Joaquin sues state water agency over drilling for tunnel project

Appetite for California almonds still growing, but farmers feel squeeze from new water rules:  “The California almond has proved resilient under fire.  During the late years of California’s most recent drought, from 2015 through 2016, the almond came under attack from a variety of sources, including news outlets such as Mother Jones, Forbes and the New Republic, labeling it a horticultural vampire.  It was, they said, sucking California’s groundwater reserves dry, leaving behind brittle, drought-stricken trees and causing the dusty land in San Joaquin County to cave in. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Appetite for California almonds still growing, but farmers feel squeeze from new water rules

Removing Tiny Shrimp May Help Climate-Proof Lake Tahoe’s Clarity:  “Lake Tahoe, with its iconic blue waters straddling the borders of Nevada and California, continues to face a litany of threats related to climate change. But a promising new project to remove tiny, invasive shrimp could be a big step toward climate-proofing its famed lake clarity.  That’s according to the annual Tahoe: State of the Lake report, released today by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. The report presents data from 2018 regarding lake clarity, temperature, snowpack, invasive species, algae, nutrient loads and more, all in the context of the long-term record. … ”  Read more from UC Davis here: Removing Tiny Shrimp May Help Climate-Proof Lake Tahoe’s Clarity

Overcoming Technical and Social Barriers to Stormwater Use:  “Last winter was so wet for so long that we could hardly get rid of all that water fast enough, as jaw-dropping volumes of stormwater rushed along gutters, into stormdrains, and ultimately out to sea. Even so, people were hard-hit in flood-prone regions, particularly central Sonoma County. In late February, the Russian River ran high enough to turn the towns of Guerneville and Monte Vista into islands. Now that we’re deep into the dry season, though, it would be great to have some of that water back. The need to use stormwater as a resource will likely intensify with climate change, which is projected to trigger droughts that hit more often and last longer. … ”  Read more from the Bay Area Monitor here:  Overcoming Technical and Social Barriers to Stormwater Use

New research confirms El Niño can have major economic impacts for California: “The core findings by Thomas W. Corringham and Daniel R. Cayan from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, confirm when it comes to flood claims and damages, El Niño is a force to be reckoned with.  Wading through 40 years of ocean temperatures confirmation of El Niño and La Niña events, the authors discovered flood damage claims can be ten times higher during an El Niño year. … ”  Read more from ABC 10 here: New research confirms El Niño can have major economic impacts for California

Contaminated Drinking Water Affects a Frightening Number of California Communities:  “As many as a million Californians can’t drink the water that comes out of their tap.  Most people have heard about the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where civic cost-cutting measures resulted in drinking water tainted with lead and other toxins. The problem isn’t limited to Flint, however.  A study this spring by Northeastern University’s Environmental Working Group found that there are places in 43 states whose water is contaminated with chemicals associated with such health issues as infertility, birth defects, and various cancers. In addition, the water may become harmful in some major centers of populations. A new report published by the non-profit food news and politics site Civil Eats suggests that the situation might be particularly dire in California. … ”  Read more from 24/7 Wall Street here: Contaminated Drinking Water Affects a Frightening Number of California Communities

Feinstein Working on Bill to Speed Up Logging, Other Forest Projects to Head Off Wildfire Risks:  “California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has joined with a Montana Republican to craft a bill that would expedite logging and other forest management projects near electrical transmission lines and roads in an effort to head off catastrophic wildfires.  The bill is also aimed at slowing or stopping lawsuits that block logging projects on federal land.  Feinstein, a five-term Democrat, and first-term Sen. Steve Daines told The Associated Press they are working with U.S. Forest Service officials on finalizing the bill’s text. They say they will introduce the bill after the Senate’s August recess, but wanted to announce their plans now as the western U.S. states enter their peak fire season. … ”  Read more from KQED here: Feinstein Working on Bill to Speed Up Logging, Other Forest Projects to Head Off Wildfire Risks

Newsom, Schwarzenegger unveil California’s new wildfire fighting tools:  “California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled the newest tools Cal Fire can use to battle wildfires.  The pair were at an event at McClellan Air Park in Sacramento County on Thursday.  It featured a C-130 air tanker, which is about to be added to Cal Fire’s fleet. It will be the only fire agency in the world with its own group of large air tankers. … ”  More from KCRA Channel 3 here: Newsom, Schwarzenegger unveil California’s new wildfire fighting tools

Seabirds eating plastic. Recyclers struggling. This is what California’s waste crisis looks like:  “It was more than a year after the seabird died and washed up on a California beach before Jessie Beck prepared to reveal its last meals. Holding its stomach over a laboratory sink, Beck snipped open the slick tissue. With a series of plinks, the stomach contents slumped out onto the metal sieve below.  Inside were the remains of seabird food, like hooked squid beaks the size of fingernail clippings. Mostly, though, Beck found hard shards of plastic, soggy cardboard, styrofoam, and a maroon hunk of mystery meat that looked like beef jerky—until Beck cracked it open. Its innards were pure white: more styrofoam. ... ”  Read more from CalMatters here: Seabirds eating plastic. Recyclers struggling. This is what California’s waste crisis looks like

NATIONAL

House Democrats have little to show on climate:  “House Democrats gathered on the steps of the Capitol last week to celebrate their achievements in the first 200 days of the 116th Congress — including legislation to combat high drug prices and foreign interference in elections — but they didn’t say a word about climate change.  Progressive activists have put it on the top of their agenda this year, and it has enjoyed a significant amount of air time in the mainstream media, more so than in recent years.  But nine months after Democrats won back the House, all they have to show for it heading into the August recess is a few appropriations amendments, a messaging bill that will never get a vote in the Senate and a plan to make a plan. … ”  Read more from E&E News here: House Democrats have little to show on climate

Trump campaign calls Democratic environmental plans ‘reckless and dangerous’:  “President Trump‘s reelection campaign released a statement Thursday in which campaign manager Brad Parscale called Democratic environmental plans “reckless and dangerous.”  The statement, released after two days of Democratic debates in which climate change was addressed by many candidates, did not name any particular candidate or plan.  “Democrats will destroy the economy and kill millions of jobs in states across the country with their vendetta against coal, oil, and natural gas,” Parscale said. “Their radical plan to eliminate those industries will devastate workers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico, Colorado, and elsewhere.” ... ”  Read more from The Hill here: Trump campaign calls Democratic environmental plans ‘reckless and dangerous’

What role will climate change play in the 2020 presidential election?  “Journalists and political wonks have spilled lots of ink, and more recently lots of gigabytes, in presidential election runups speculating that the environment and global warming could become significant issues in voters’ minds. Seldom have their expectations been realized.  Are there reasons to think things might turn out differently in the 2020 presidential elections? Again, we’re hearing the familiar drumbeat – this time will be different.  Supporting that view is an early July Washington Post-ABC News poll that asked Americans whether they approve or disapprove of the Trump administration’s handling of nine important issues – the economy, immigration, taxes, health care, gun violence, foreign policy, abortion, climate change, and what the poll called issues of “special concern to women.” ... ”  Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: What role will climate change play in the 2020 presidential election?

In commentary today …

Sites Reservoir needed for reliable water future, says Andrew Meredith:  He writes, “A flexible, reliable water supply is essential to California’s economy and to the job creation and job security goals of California’s working families. Reliability and flexibility in our water supply has become elusive in drought-prone California, thanks in large part to a changing climate and an obsolete water storage system that was designed to utilize a steady and massive Sierra snowpack.  It’s well past time to make critical investments in water infrastructure — particularly water storage — to sustain us through future droughts and help us adapt to our new normal, one which includes extended droughts, diminished snowpack, warmer winter storms and a need for a more flexible water storage portfolio. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Sites Reservoir needed for reliable water future

Yes, sea levels are rising. Here’s why you should care — even if you live in Fresno, says the San Luis Obispo Tribune:  They write, “Poor California.  As if wildfires, mudslides, droughts and the threat of the Big One aren’t enough, now sea level rise is on the list of California disasters that will make life more risky — and far more costly — in the future.  One example: Under the worst-worst-case scenario of a 10-foot rise, San Luis Obispo County could lose 1,178 homes, valued at $392 million, by 2100, according to Climate Central. ... ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Yes, sea levels are rising. Here’s why you should care — even if you live in Fresno

In regional news and commentary today …

Klamath dam removal details sent to FERC:  “This week, in a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) answered important, substantive questions FERC asked to evaluate KRRC’s capacity to become licensee for the Lower Klamath Project (Project) and remove the four dams on the Klamath River.  This submission to FERC is another concrete step toward fulfilling the terms of the Amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA), removing the dams and restoring a free-flowing Klamath River. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Klamath dam removal details sent to FERC

KRRC submits response to dam removal questions:  “Klamath River Renewal Corporation announced last week the selection of Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC to perform restoration work after the proposed removal of four Klamath dams, and on Monday, KRRC announced it had filed with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the answers to a plethora of questions brought forward by a Board of Consultants in December 2018.  Dam removal hinges on FERC’s approval of a license transfer from current owner PacifiCorp to the KRRC, as well as other regulatory permits. … ”  Read more from the Mount Shasta Herald here: KRRC submits response to dam removal questions

Federal agency stops killing beavers in Siskiyou County to protect Oregon spotted frogs:  “Beavers in Siskiyou County and the rest of California are getting a break.  Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture have agreed to stop trapping and killing beavers that are considered to be a nuisance.  The move by the department’s Wildlife Services program comes nearly two months after an environmental group threatened to sue the agency if it did not consult with other federal agencies whether the killings are affecting endangered species that live where there are beavers.  In Siskiyou, the beavers may provide a habitat for endangered Oregon spotted frogs. … ”  Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight here:  Federal agency stops killing beavers in Siskiyou County to protect Oregon spotted frogs

‘Protection for the entire river’: Yurok, fishermen sue to save Klamath salmon:  “A new federal management plan for the Klamath River is proving to be a disaster for salmon, a lawsuit alleges.  The Yurok Tribe and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Marine Fisheries Service on Wednesday because the new plan, which went into effect April 1, has led to drought-level flows in the lower Klamath River and an increase in salmon with a potentially lethal parasite known as Ceratonova shasta, or C. shasta. … ”  Read more from the Redwood Times here: ‘Protection for the entire river’: Yurok, fishermen sue to save Klamath salmon

Got water? Trinidad Rancheria testing new supply ahead of Coastal Commission meeting:  “A major hotel development stalled at the state level last month over its uncertain water supply, but now the project manager says the hotel may have struck blue — though it’s too soon to be certain.  The Trinidad Rancheria’s hotel project has met controversy at every step since its announcement last year. Its most recent hurdle: The state Coastal Commission objected to the project last month, taking issue with the Rancheria’s plans to rely on the city of Trinidad’s water — a setup the city had not yet agreed to support. … ”  Read more from the Redwood Times here: Got water? Trinidad Rancheria testing new supply ahead of Coastal Commission meeting

Sutter County plans to fix drinking water in Robbins:  “The village of Robbins in south Sutter County has had a problem with its water treatment system for over a decade, particularly with a high amount of arsenic found in drinking water.  Last October, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a notice that the county was in violation of federal Safe Drinking Water Act regulations. The county, which owns, operates and maintains the Sutter County Water Works District No. 1 public water system in Robbins, has been working with state and federal agencies ever since to come into compliance. … ”  Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Sutter County plans to fix drinking water in Robbins

Grass Valley OKs contract for Peabody Creek project:  “The main phase of a creek restoration project got a green light recently when the Grass Valley City Council approved a nearly $400,000 contract to reconnect Peabody Creek to its natural floodplain.  Initial work on the tributary, which cuts through Condon Park and eventually feeds into Wolf Creek, began in 2016. Late that year volunteers from Wolf Creek Community Alliance, American Rivers and the Sierra Native Alliance, along with students from the Nevada Union Key Club, cleared invasive species like blackberry from the site and planted over 100 native plants.  Peabody Creek’s headwaters are located on the property off Alta and East Main streets that is proposed to become the Gilded Springs development. On the other side of East Main Street, its natural course was channelized and diverted from its original floodplain when Scotia Pines was built. … ”  Read more from The Union here: Grass Valley OKs contract for Peabody Creek project

Silicon Valley’s Rhys Vineyards to pay $3.7M to settle regulatory action on Mendocino County irrigation ponds:  “Rhys Vineyards LLC, based on the California Central Coast but with vines in Mendocino County’s prime pinot noir region of Anderson Valley, has agreed to pay $3.76 million to settle enforcement actions brought by state wildlife and water regulators for unpermitted diversion of rainwater runoff on property of a planned small vineyard in a northern part of the county.  It’s part of increased enforcement of water rights permits on North Coast tributaries in the past decade. … ”  Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: Silicon Valley’s Rhys Vineyards to pay $3.7M to settle regulatory action on Mendocino County irrigation ponds

Russian River: The long journey water pollutants take and how to prevent it: “August is the last official month of the summer, and the time to celebrate National Water Quality Month.  The 110-mile Russian River and all its tributaries move through many active communities and working lands which can affect water quality. Some of the main categories of water quality impacts can include chemicals, bacteria, sediment, and temperature. Rain water that lands on our rooftops, driveways and streets ultimately reach our tributary creeks, river and ocean, carrying with it remnants of the long journey. … ”  Read more from Sonoma West here: Russian River: The long journey water pollutants take and how to prevent it

Napa’s water quality scores high, amid struggles in other California regions:  “Where Napa’s water quality is concerned, no news may be good news.  A three-year analysis of the city’s water sources showed reservoirs meeting all federal and state limits on a variety of contaminants, a recently released report states.  Monitoring at Napa’s water sources from 2016 to 2018 – covering Lake Hennessey, Milliken Reservoir and Sierra Nevada-sourced supplies from the State Water Project – showed the city complying with limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its state peer, known as CalEPA, according to the report, which was shared with the City Council last month. … ”  Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa’s water quality scores high, amid struggles in other California regions

Marin County to start revising streamside ordinance:  “How do you assess and mitigate the cumulative environmental impacts of future development? That’s the question that Marin’s environmental planners and contracted scientists have been analyzing in the San Geronimo Valley over the past decade, particularly related to the area’s threatened fish populations.  The effort was the result of a lawsuit brought by the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network in 2012. This week, Marin’s planning commission approved the final version of the document that details the findings—a supplemental environmental impact report to the 2007 countywide plan—and forwarded it to the Board of Supervisors for certification. … ”  Read more from the Point Reyes Light here: Marin County to start revising streamside ordinance

Marin water supplies higher than normal as summer winds down:  “Marin County’s water supplies are far more ample than usual for this time of year, but water districts are urging continued conservation in the face of unpredictable rainfall this winter.  “Even with above average reservoir levels, MMWD has two years of storage,” said Marin Municipal Water District principal engineer Carl Gowan. “We are always dependent on the upcoming rainy season and we rely on continued efforts by our customers to conserve water.” … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here:  Marin water supplies higher than normal as summer winds down

Redwood Creek restoration in Muir Woods begins:  “As part of an environmental overhaul of Muir Woods National Monument, crews have started work on a half-mile segment of Redwood Creek to restore habitat for endangered coho salmon and rainbow trout. And park visitors will get to witness it.  “A big decision for us was to keep the park open during this period of time because we think a really important part of our story is for the public to see restoration in action,” said Mia Monroe, a spokeswoman for Golden Gate National Recreation Area. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Redwood Creek restoration in Muir Woods begins

Report: 10,000 Marin homes at risk of coastal flooding by 2100:  “By the end of the century, nearly 10,000 homes in Marin could face risk of persistent flooding as a result of sea-level rise, a new report says.  The value of those homes exceeds $13 billion, according to the report released this week by the real estate firm Zillow, which analyzed housing data and climate prediction models with Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization.  But the impacts of rising seas could be felt much sooner in Marin, according to the report’s authors. Nearly 5,000 homes in the county have been built in areas susceptible to a 10-year flood event by 2050. The value of those homes exceeds $6 billion. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Report: 10,000 Marin homes at risk of coastal flooding by 2100

Sea Level Rise Could Flood Bay Area Homes, According To New Map:  “A new interactive map predicts where seal level rise will be in thirty years, and if it’s right many homes in the Bay Area could be under water – literally.  Zillow Senior Economist, Cheryl Young says a lot of Bay Area houses may be in peril. “Over 30,000 homes are at risk in those flood zone areas of a major flood event and.  The total value of those homes is nearly $50 billion. … ”  Read more from Channel 5 here: Sea Level Rise Could Flood Bay Area Homes, According To New Map

Water Developer Cadiz and Local Cannabis Company JV to Grow Hemp:  “Los Angeles water developer Cadiz Inc. has entered into a joint venture with a division of Long Beach-based California Cannabis Enterprises Inc. to grow hemp on Cadiz land that sits atop a Mojave Desert aquifer.  The two companies would evenly split proceeds from hemp sales, according to an Aug. 1 announcement.  Downtown-based Cadiz signed the joint venture with Glass House Farms, the hemp and marijuana cultivation division of California Cannabis Enterprises, a vertically integrated cannabis and hemp company that includes both production and retail operations. … ”  Read more from the LA Business Journal here: Water Developer Cadiz and Local Cannabis Company JV to Grow Hemp

How Sea-Level Rise Will Change Orange County:  “If you want to see how rising sea levels will change Orange County over the course of this century, you have to go to Balboa Island. For much of the 19th century, what we now call Balboa Island was just a sandbar in Newport Bay—an obstacle to navigation in what then-owner James McFadden thought of as an ideal commercial port, according to the Balboa Island Museum. In the first years of the 20th century, McFadden finally dropped the port idea and sold the sandbar to Riverside land developer William Collins. Soon after, Collins began dredging the bay for silt to ensure his new island would be dry at low tide. He later constructed a series of walls—first out of wood, then concrete—around the island to keep out the high tide. Though Collins succeeded in constructing an island stable enough to support colorful bungalows (some of which are still there) and, later, multistory mansions, he failed to keep out the high tide. … ”  Read more from OC Weekly here: How Sea-Level Rise Will Change Orange County

Along the Colorado River …

Fire and Rain: Together, Monsoons and Wildfires Can Ruin Arizona’s Water Supply:  “The southern bank of the Salt River rises out of Apache Lake in a palette of tans and browns dotted with green stubble. Partway up the slope, the summer desert hues stop abruptly at a horizontal fire line. Above it, the land converts to a purplish-black — summer desert, singed by wildfire.  The Woodbury Fire, which began in early June in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, was fully contained as of July 16, when the U.S. Forest Service delivered its final update on the fire.  But while the most-immediate threats died down with the fire, the lasting consequences have yet to set in.  ... ”  Read more from New Times here: Fire and Rain: Together, Monsoons and Wildfires Can Ruin Arizona’s Water Supply

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NEWS WORTH NOTING: San Joaquin County Sues Department of Water Resources to Protect Groundwater and Wildlife

DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Algal Bloom~ YBFP Approved~ Delta Groundwater~ Seeking Scientist~ Digital Inclusion~ Delta Grandeur~~

Sign up for daily email service and you’ll never miss a post …

Daily emailsSign 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.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email