DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: The ‘Blob’ is surging back in the Pacific; California’s chronic water overuse leads to sinking towns, arsenic pollution; Sinking Sacramento Delta puts Californians at risk; We need to track the world’s water like we track the weather; and more …

In California water news this weekend, The ‘Blob’ is surging back in the Pacific, leading to fears of mass die-offs of marine life and unusual weather patterns; California’s chronic water overuse leads to sinking towns, arsenic pollution; Climate change could mean less farming in the West; NOAA’s fall outlook: Above average temperatures everywhere; Inside the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency; Sinking Sacramento Delta puts Californians at risk; We need to track the world’s water like we track the weather; and more …

In the news this weekend …

The ‘Blob’ is surging back in the Pacific, leading to fears of mass die-offs of marine life and unusual weather patterns: “Across vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean extending from Hawaii north to the shores of Alaska, and southeast to near California, a new marine heat wave is underway. This event is widely referred to as “The Blob Part Two,” or just another “Blob,” after the first event, which took place 2014 through 2016, earned that odd moniker based on its bold red appearance on maps of ocean surface temperatures. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: The ‘Blob’ is surging back in the Pacific, leading to fears of mass die-offs of marine life and unusual weather patterns

• SEE ALSO: Near-record recent ocean warming along Pacific Coast, from the Del Norte Triplicate

California’s chronic water overuse leads to sinking towns, arsenic pollution: “When you walk through Jeannie Williams’s sunny orchard, you don’t notice anything wrong. But the problem’s there, underfoot. The land around her — about 250 square kilometres — is sinking. “It’s frightening,” Williams says. “Is the land going to come back up? I don’t know.” She points out the well from which she obtains all of the water she needs to grow organic fruits and vegetables. The well is small and shallow; she only has two acres of crops to water. But her neighbours are far more thirsty, and have been for a very long time. ... ” Read more from CBC here: California’s chronic water overuse leads to sinking towns, arsenic pollution

Climate change could mean less farming in the West: “Most years, ranchers in Wyoming irrigate their land with water from the Green River — a tributary of the Colorado — in the summer so they have forage to feed their cattle late in the season. In 2016, however, George Kahrl of Sarah Faith Ranch in Jackson, stop irrigating several of his fields in exchange for a check. Kahrl raises cattle on 5,000 acres, and he was one of several ranchers in the area who agreed to turn off the water in several of their paddocks in July — after they’d cut their hay. … ” Read more from Green Biz here: Climate change could mean less farming in the West

NOAA’s fall outlook: Above average temperatures everywhere: “Following one of the hottest summers on record, the fall looks to be exceptionally toasty as well. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fall outlook calls for above average temperatures across the entire Lower 48 and Alaska. The areas with the highest likelihood of warmer-than-average conditions this fall include the North Slope of Alaska, the Four Corners region, and New England. Ordinarily, sea ice would chill Alaska’s North Slope. But not this year. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: NOAA’s fall outlook: Above average temperatures everywhere

Inside the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency: “Early this month, workers at the Washington headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management gathered to discuss a Trump administration plan that would force some 200 people to uproot their lives or find other jobs. With a vague plan that keeps changing as officials describe it — and no guarantees that Congress would fully fund their relocations — the employees were being detailed to distant locations in the West like Grand Junction, Colorado, and Reno, Nevada. Many career staff saw the move as part of a wider Trump administration effort to drive federal employees out of their jobs. Acting White House chief of staff Mike Mulvaney has described that approach as a “wonderful way to streamline government.” … ” Read more from Pro Publica here: Inside the Trump Administration’s Chaotic Dismantling of the Federal Land Agency

In commentary this weekend …

Gov. Gavin Newsom should sign Senate Bill 1 into law. Without its environmental protections, Californians will suffer, says Jerry Butkiewicz: “At least 85 different federal laws and regulations affecting California have been weakened or undermined by the Trump administration since January 2017. Vital clean air, water, and endangered species standards have been weakened or eliminated, while federal agencies that are supposed to protect worker health and safety are now being run by people with strong industry backgrounds. That’s why I, along with many proponents, believe that Senate Bill 1 would safeguard our state from the anti-science, anti-environment and anti-worker deregulation derby taking place under the Trump administration. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Gov. Gavin Newsom should sign Senate Bill 1 into law

Vetoing SB 1 will help save the Central Valley way of life, says Senator Shannon Grove: She writes, “California’s Central Valley is one of the most agriculturally rich regions in the world. Farmers work hard to grow food for our families. In a day’s work, a farmer will run irrigation, plant or harvest crops, manage pests and diseases, follow food safety protocols, supervise employees, secure equipment from theft, monitor soil levels and work with processors and transporters. In addition to this, farmers must understand and comply with all new regulations imposed by several different government agencies. Our farmers are some of the hardest working individuals in the Central Valley. … ” Read more from Bakersfield.com here: Vetoing SB 1 will help save the Central Valley way of life

Farmers are living the facts of climate change. By focusing on soil, they can lead the way on climate adaptation, says Alan Sarno: “Most farmers haven’t heard about the recent report from the UN, even though it deals with climate change and land use and features agriculture prominently. But we don’t need to read the science — we are living it. Here in the San Joaquin Valley, there’s not much debate anymore about the fact that our climate is changing. The 2013-16 drought made it hard to ignore; we had no surface water for irrigation, and the groundwater was so depleted that land sank right under our feet. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Farmers are living the facts of climate change. By focusing on soil, they can lead the way on climate adaptation

In regional news and commentary this weekend …

McCloud Lake low despite high rain totals: “The lake level for mid-September is the lowest that anybody in McCloud can remember it since the reservoir was created in 1965. The water has been dropped so low that the U.S. Forest Service had to remove the boat ramp in early September. … ” Read more from Mt. Shasta News here: McCloud Lake low despite high rain totals

Osprey Does Its Part to Reduce Pikeminnow Population in the Eel River: “Ten days ago, Southern Humboldt wildlife photographer, Ann Constantino, captured extraordinary images of an osprey with a pikeminnow grasped in its claws. That fish species is an invasive non-native which is considered one of the most significant obstacles to salmon recovery in our local waterway as they not only compete with the salmon for food but are suspected of eating their eggs. … ” Read more and view pictures at the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Osprey Does Its Part to Reduce Pikeminnow Population in the Eel River

Lake Oroville Community Update: September 20: Inaugural Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting, salmon festival, more: “A new commission tasked with providing public feedback related to the Oroville Dam and its facilities will hold its inaugural meeting on Monday, September 30. The meeting, which is open to the public, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to Noon at the Southside Oroville Community Center, 2959 Lower Wyandotte Road, Oroville, CA 95966, in the community center’s Multipurpose Room. The Oroville Dam Citizens Advisory Commission, created by Senate Bill 955 (Nielsen) in 2018, establishes a new forum for discussing issues related to the Oroville Dam facilities. The goal of the Commission is to act as a unified voice for the communities surrounding Oroville Dam. ... ” Read more from DWR News here: Lake Oroville Community Update: September 20

Nevada County officials issue no-swim advisory after South Yuba River turns yellow: “Nevada County officials have warned people not to swim or use the water in the South Yuba River after it turned yellow Friday. It is unknown what caused the water to turn, but Nevada County officials are saying that the apparent “high levels of sediment” make for potentially unsafe conditions and have issued a no-swim advisory for the river. The affected stretch of river is from Washington to Lake Englebright. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Nevada County officials issue no-swim advisory after South Yuba River turns yellow

Scientists Rebuilding Habitat for Salmon in American River: “Local Scientists are using tractors to move around rocks and carve out new channels in the American River. All of September, crews have been dumping rocks into the bed of the river to create an ideal habitat for salmon to spawn. Dams along the American River cut off access to the salmon’s natural breeding ground. ... ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Scientists Rebuilding Habitat for Salmon in American River

• SEE ALSO: Gravel project aims to replenish critical nursing areas of the American River for fish, from the Sacramento Bee

See how much trash was cleaned up by volunteers at the American River Parkway on Saturday: “On Saturday morning, thousands of volunteers canvassed the American River Parkway, the region’s vast forested waterfront, to collect trash and other debris, as part of the 35th annual California Coastal Cleanup. The event, which takes place along beaches and watersheds around the state, attracts tens of thousands of volunteers who collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of debris. This year was no different in Sacramento. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: See how much trash was cleaned up by volunteers at the American River Parkway on Saturday

Restoration of Brentwood’s Marsh Creek gets boost from EPA: “A project to restore a portion of Brentwood’s Marsh Creek got a big boost with a new $1.4 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant. A collaborative effort between the Contra Costa County Flood Control District and American Rivers, the Three Creeks Parkway Restoration project aims to improve the creek’s floodplain, provide quality habitat for Chinook salmon and Swainson’s Hawk as well as expand recreational opportunities in the area. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: Restoration of Brentwood’s Marsh Creek gets boost from EPA

Monterey: South County stakeholders mull how to raise $150 million for dam repairs: “In February 2017, the Oroville Dam’s spillways failed. It prompted the California Department of Water Resources’ Division of Dam Safety to reevaluated the condition of aging spillways across the state. After inspecting the Nacimiento and San Antonio dams in South Monterey County, the department sent a letter to the Monterey County Water Resources Agency requiring that major repairs to both dams be completed by Nov. 1, 2024. ... ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: South County stakeholders mull how to raise $150 million for dam repairs

Ridgecrest: Current Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority projections look grim: “The future budget looks grim for the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority, according to a report given by its acting general manager Don Zdeba. Zdeba provided the IWV board of directors with an update on the finances at the Thursday meeting. He noted that while the state has approved a reimbursement check under the Proposition 1 grant it received, and the IWVGA currently has a positive balance, projections aren’t good. The IWVGA’s 2019 budget was approved with $1.71 million in projected revenue and $3.57 million in expenses. ... ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Current Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority projections look grim

Judge dismisses challenge to Western’s water rate structure: “On Friday, Sept. 13, a Riverside Superior Court judge dismissed a legal challenge against Western Municipal Water District’s water rate structure. “This is a good day for Western’s retail water customers – more than 85 percent of whom conserve water, keeping their monthly water costs as low as possible,” said Craig Miller, Western’s general manager. “Had Western lost this challenge, customers who proactively stay within their monthly water allocation would have seen an increase in their monthly water bill to offset the excess use of other customers.” … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Judge dismisses challenge to Western’s water rate structure

Sunday video …

TED Talk: We need to track the world’s water like we track the weather: “We need a global weather service for water, says entrepreneur and TED Fellow Sonaar Luthra. In a talk about environmental accountability, Luthra shows how we could forecast water shortages and risks with a global data collection effort — just like we monitor the movement of storms — and better listen to what the earth is telling us.”

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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