In California water news this weekend, Delta smelt are dying: How this affects the state’s water; The Ups and Downs of Groundwater Levels after the July 2019 Ridgecrest, CA Earthquakes; California Families Are Hungry While a Third of Crops Rot in Fields; Newsom declared the state should spend more on climate change. It ignited a firestorm; Federal action plan focused on improving water prediction for Western U.S.; The water crisis cities don’t see coming; Rock glaciers and climate change; Another CA Wheat Farmer Being Sued By EPA; Sunday video: Can seawater desalination save the world?; and more …
In the news this weekend …
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
Delta smelt are dying: How this affects the state’s water: “The Delta smelt is such a small and translucent fish that it often disappears from view when it swims in the turbid waters of its home in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. However, it’s also been disappearing from the Delta entirely. “The Delta smelt has gone from being one of the more abundant fish in the Delta to being just on the verge of extinction today,” Peter Moyle, an Emeritus Professor of Fish Biology at UC Davis, said. … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: California’s Delta smelt are dying: How this affects the state’s water
The Ups and Downs of Groundwater Levels after the July 2019 Ridgecrest, CA Earthquakes: “The two large Ridgecrest, CA, area earthquakes were felt across much of the state over the July 4th holiday, and the seismic waves travelled across the entire United States, including Alaska. The first large earthquake was a magnitude 6.4 that occurred on July 4th at 10:33 AM PDT. The second, larger earthquake was a magnitude 7.1 that occurred on July 5th at 8:19 PM PDT. … Effects from the two earthquakes were observed in several USGS continuous groundwater-level monitoring sites in California, Nevada, and Arizona. … ” Read more from the USGS here: The Ups and Downs of Groundwater Levels after the July 2019 Ridgecrest, CA Earthquakes
California Families Are Hungry While a Third of Crops Rot in Fields: “Maximina Molina Sanchez is worried about going hungry this winter. She depends on a food bank in Huron to feed her husband and two kids. But with most agricultural workers out of jobs during the winter, demand is bound to increase, so she worries there won’t be enough food to feed everyone who needs it. The Sanchez family is among the 22% of people in Fresno County who couldn’t afford the groceries they needed in the past year. Fresno ranks third in the country for food insecurity, according to the Food Research and Action Center. … ” Read more from KQED here: California Families Are Hungry While a Third of Crops Rot in Fields
Newsom declared the state should spend more on climate change. It ignited a firestorm: “California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order on transportation spending — directing the state to put more money toward its climate goals — aimed to be bold, timely and environmentally conscious. But like other policy statements the governor has made on transportation, it caused an uproar. Fury and confusion unspooled for weeks among Democrats and Republicans, even as state officials tried to assuage everyone’s concerns. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Newsom declared the state should spend more on climate change. It ignited a firestorm
CA Weather blog: Fire season continues with dry conditions persisting. Plus: Davis tornado, power shut-offs, and a new earthquake warning system: “The second half of September, and the first half of October, have been quite dry over most of the state (except in some portions of far NorCal)–but relatively cool throughout. Several strong offshore wind events have already occurred this season (and more may be on the horizon), but to date these have been relatively cool autumn wind events. Generally speaking, the observed conditions over the past month are not terribly unusual for early autumn in California–a month that is typically pretty dry in this part of the world (with some notable exceptions). If the present dryness extends into November–which some models are currently suggesting–that will become a bit more unusual. ... ” Continue reading at the California Weather Blog here: Fire season continues with dry conditions persisting. Plus: Davis tornado, power shut-offs, and a new earthquake warning system
Federal action plan focused on improving water prediction for Western U.S. “In the Western United States, meeting water demands with available water supplies is becoming increasingly complex. … To promote reliable access to water, last year President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum on Promoting the Reliable Supply and Delivery of Water in the West. In that memo, the President directed the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to develop an action plan, in coordination with water experts and resource managers, to improve forecasts of water availability. In response to the President’s directive, today, the DOC and the DOI are releasing the Federal Action Plan for Improving Forecasts of Water Availability (Action Plan). … ” Read more from NOAA here: Federal action plan focused on improving water prediction for Western U.S.
The water crisis cities don’t see coming: “Aging water treatment systems, failing pipes and a slew of unregulated contaminants threaten to undermine water quality in U.S. cities of all sizes. Why it matters: There’s arguably nothing more important to human survival than access to clean drinking water. Still, with only a handful of exceptions, “water systems aren’t designed to focus on health, they’re focused on cost-containment,” says Seth Siegel, whose book “Troubled Water,” released this month, examines the precarious state of water infrastructure in the U.S. … ” Read more from Axios here: The water crisis cities don’t see coming
Winter Outlook: Warmer than average for many, wetter in the North: “Warmer-than-average temperatures are forecast for much of the U.S. this winter according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. Although below-average temperatures are not favored, cold weather is anticipated and some areas could still experience a colder-than-average winter. … While the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate pattern often influences the winter, neutral conditions are in place this year and expected to persist into the spring. In the absence of El Nino or La Nina, long-term trends become a key predictor for the outlook, while other climate patterns, such as the Madden-Julian Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation (AO), will likely play a larger role in determining winter weather. … ” Continue reading at NOAA here: Winter Outlook: Warmer than average for many, wetter in the North
In commentary this weekend …
Another CA Wheat Farmer Being Sued By EPA: The Pacific Legal Foundation writes, “When most people think about preventing water pollution, they probably picture sewage plants and factories, spilling gunk into a river or lake right? But according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA), overturned dirt in a farmer’s field is technically the same thing as that noxious gunk: pollution. Yet one major side effect of considering dirt a pollutant is that doing so allows the government to regulate a farmer’s field in the same way that it would regulate chemicals being dumped in a river. … For example, Northern California farmer Jack LaPant is currently being sued by the EPA for plowing his property to grow wheat on it. … ” Read more from California Ag Today here: Another CA Wheat Farmer Being Sued By EPA
Sunday podcasts …
Podship Earth: Rock Glaciers – Hidden in Plain Sight! Jared Blumenfeld writes, “With an all star team of scientists and advocates, I witness firsthand a few of the more than 500 rock glaciers in the Sierra Nevada mountains. To be honest, I had never heard of rock glaciers – it turns they are well kept secret. Led by Daniel Taillant, Dr. Connie Millar, Dr. David Herbst, Sara Aminzadeh and Adam Riffle, we discover that rock glaciers may help many streams keep flowing cold even during the worst climate change has to offer. As a bonus you’ll learn how to make a rock glacier in your home freezer!“
Fish in Palm Springs: Steve Baker writes, “One of the more pleasant surprises that I have found is fresh fish in the desert. Louis Pagano has had a passion for the watery landscapes of the planet and has probably visited every ocean of the world. He’s the fish guy and provides fish at his desert restaurants in the southern California desert. And when not at his restaurants, he is on the water, fishing and noticing some pretty unusual water conditions and aquatic behavior. Something is up in our oceans and he, in his 65 years, is seeing some pretty strange fish behavior. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Podcast by Steve Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems
Bold Predictions and Companies that will Change our Water Future: “In this episode, we are hunting water unicorns with Dr. Piers Clark. Piers is the founder and chairman of Isle Utilities. They have offices all over the world and what they do is help water utilities identify and adopt new technology and innovation.”
In regional news and commentary this weekend …
Yurok Tribe’s Connection to Klamath River Weakens as Ecosystem Declines: “Last Thursday Yurok Tribe member Keith Parker, a Humboldt State alumnus and fisheries and molecular biologist, gave a presentation on campus about the Klamath River, his work on Lamprey eels and the local ecosystem. As a tribal scientist, Parker gets to use his traditional knowledge from his Yurok heritage combined with his master’s degree from HSU to conduct field and lab work. The Klamath River is significant to the Yurok Tribe, as Yurok translates to “downriver people.” “I have a spiritual and innate connection to the land,” Parker said. “It’s not just a study subject for me, it’s not just empirical data. I have skin in the game, literally.” ... ” Read more from The Lumberjack here: Yurok Tribe’s Connection to Klamath River Weakens as Ecosystem Declines
Marin salmon run expected to dwindle this year: “Following the robust runs of endangered coho salmon in Marin last winter, researchers expect a smaller run to return this year, though to a much-improved watershed. “I personally have never seen so much work being done to restore salmon habitat,” said Eric Ettlinger, aquatic ecologist for the Marin Municipal Water District. “There were major projects constructed this year by MMWD, by SPAWN (the Salmon Protection and Watershed Network) and Marin Resource Conservation District. Those projects all were intended to increase the survival of young salmon through the winter as well as during drought conditions and during low-flow conditions.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin salmon run expected to dwindle this year
Residents – and Wildlife – Eager for Revitalized Lower LA River: “Elizabeth Castillo looks on as her daughter Reynata plays with children at a playground near the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, California, in mid-October, hoping one day the river will be clean enough to kayak on. From its headwaters in the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles River journeys for 51 miles through LA County before meeting the Pacific Ocean at the Long Beach waterfront. For thousands of years, indigenous people including the Tongva inhabited the area the city now occupies, establishing a coastal village called Puvungna where a state university now sits. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Residents – and Wildlife – Eager for Revitalized Lower LA River
Coastal Commission blasts Del Mar for stance on sea level rise: “Two top officials at the California Coastal Commission blasted Del Mar this week for continuing to reject “managed retreat” as an option to deal with sea level rise, saying they hope the city will reconsider its stance. Commission Executive Director Jack Ainsworth said he initially was inclined to deny Del Mar’s request to postpone a hearing Wednesday, Oct. 16, on the city’s proposed plan for adapting to higher water. However, he granted the delay after the city manager indicated Del Mar remains open to negotiations. … ” Read more from the Del Mar Times here: Coastal Commission blasts Del Mar for stance on sea level rise
San Diego County Water Authority celebrates 75 years with member agencies: “Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD) is among the San Diego County Water Authority’s (CWA) 24 member agencies that are recognizing CWA’s 75th anniversary. Denise Vedder, director of public outreach and conservation for CWA, announced the milestone and thanked the RMWD representatives for their support at Oct. 8 district board meeting. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: San Diego County Water Authority celebrates 75 years with member agencies
Imperial County seeks to declare Salton Sea crisis a health emergency; wants state, federal disaster funds: “Imperial County is seeking to declare a public health emergency at the Salton Sea, The Desert Sun has learned, aiming to force Gov. Gavin Newsom and federal officials to free up emergency funds and take immediate action to tamp down dangerous dust. County supervisors will vote Tuesday on an urgent action item to proclaim a local air pollution emergency due to airpollution at the state’s largest lake, which is rapidly shrinking and exposing shoreline that is potentially loaded with contaminants from decades of agricultural runoff and military testing. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Imperial County seeks to declare Salton Sea crisis a health emergency; wants state, federal disaster funds
Sunday video …
Can seawater desalination save the world? “Today, one out of three people don’t have access to safe drinking water. And that’s the result of many things, but one of them is that 96.5% of that water is found in our oceans. It’s saturated with salt, and undrinkable. Most of the freshwater is locked away in glaciers or deep underground. Less than one percent of it is available to us. So why can’t we just take all that seawater, filter out the salt, and have a nearly unlimited supply of clean, drinkable water?”
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE OF PREPARATION: Large Habitat Restoration General Order
PUBLIC HEARING: 2019 Ocean Plan Review Staff Report and Work Plan
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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
