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DAILY DIGEST: Trump water rules erode protection for endangered salmon; New laws address safe drinking water, groundwater recharge, river health; CV-SALTS plan to bring new requirements; Imperial County declares Salton Sea emergency, demands CA take action; and more …

Maven
Daily Digest
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In California water news today, Trump Water Rules Erode Protection for Endangered Salmon; New Laws Address Safe Drinking Water, Groundwater Recharge, River Health; CV-SALTS plan to bring new requirements; Imperial County declares Salton Sea emergency, demands California take action; Here’s what you can (and can’t) do about PFAS contamination in your water; Notorious warm water ‘Blob’ in Pacific weakening, but will that save fish and ecosystems?; The World Can Make More Water From the Sea, but at What Cost?; EPA chief espouses benefits of agency’s environmental deregulation; and more …

On the calendar today …

In the news today …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS

California fights Trump on everything — except water:  “California is providing health care to undocumented immigrants while President Donald Trump wants to build a border wall, and Gov. Gavin Newsom circumvented the White House with a side deal on auto emissions standards.  But when it comes to water, Trump and California are closer than you might think.  About 90 minutes from the deep blue coast, the predictable political fault lines stop at the Central Valley, home to the state’s $70 billion agricultural industry. … ” Read more from Politico here: California fights Trump on everything — except water

Trump Water Rules Erode Protection for Endangered Salmon:  “The Trump Administration announced today that its new water plan would not kill off endangered salmon, contradicting federal biologists who found the plan would drive endangered salmon closer to extinction.  The Administration has been promising Central Valley farmers more water, but would not say in a press conference today whether the new plan will deliver on that campaign promise. Ernest Conant, regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation, says the plan will have to be in place for awhile before he could say whether it will give more water to farmers.  “It could very well in certain years decrease it,” he said. … ” Read more from KQED here: Trump Water Rules Erode Protection for Endangered Salmon

Trump rewrites Delta rules to pump more California water to Valley. Will Newsom fight him?:  “President Donald Trump’s administration rolled out an aggressive plan Tuesday to ship more water from the Delta to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, a move that’s certain to trigger lawsuits by environmentalists concerned about endangered fish species.  The move, fulfilling vows Trump made as a candidate and as president, potentially sets up another confrontation with California officials. State officials have previously warned that Trump’s plan would hurt the fish that ply the Delta — and force the state to cut back its own water deliveries through the Delta to make up for the feds’ actions. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Trump rewrites Delta rules to pump more California water to Valley. Will Newsom fight him?

Feds Roll Back Fish Protections to Send More Northern California Water South:  “The Trump administration on Tuesday weakened federal regulations aimed at protecting a variety of fish species that have seen their numbers dwindle as California continues to move millions of gallons of water from its water-rich north to the thirsty farms of the Central Valley.  The move angered environmentalists who view it as another instance of President Donald Trump placing politics over environmental law. But it likely gladdened California agribusinesses, which remain a bastion of support for the Republican president in the Golden State. … ”  Read more from Courthouse News Service here: Feds Roll Back Fish Protections to Send More Northern California Water South

Trump Plan Delivers More Water for Valley Farmers:  “The Trump administration unveiled a new plan Tuesday to govern California’s water usage that would deliver more irrigation water for Valley farmers.  But the proposal is ringing alarms from environmental groups that say it would have a negative impact on endangered species such as salmon and delta smelt.  An analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, however, says the plan “will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species.” … ”  Read more from GV Wire here: Trump Plan Delivers More Water for Valley Farmers

Federal officials rejigger rules on water deliveries — some say at expense of fish:  “The ongoing fight between environmentalists and agriculture over California’s scarce water supplies was renewed Tuesday after the federal government issued a comprehensive plan to boost water “flexibility” that opponents claim is a giveaway to farmers tantamount to killing off imperiled fish.  The proposal, contained in a review, or biological opinion, of the state and federal water distribution systems, loosens restrictions on water deliveries proposed in July by the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect chinook salmon, steelhead trout and delta smelt. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Federal officials rejigger rules on water deliveries — some say at expense of fish

Officials Praise New Biological Opinions for the SWP and CVP:  “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service have released new biological opinions that will have a significant impact on the administration of California water supplies.  The new documents relate to salmon, Delta smelt and other native fish species that are affected by the management of the State Water Project (SWP), as well as the Central Valley Project (CVP).  “The new Biological Opinions mean that for farms, fish, and people, this is the dawn of a new science-based approach to water and ecosystem management,” California Farm Water Coalition Executive Director Mike Wade said in a news release.  “The biological opinions being replaced were based on an arbitrary, calendar-based approach, and have not delivered the successful recovery of salmon and Delta smelt populations.” … ”  Read more from Ag Net West here: Officials Praise New Biological Opinions for the SWP and CVP

Feds’ water proposal faces an obstacle named Trump, state’s new anti-vaping ads:  “In a proposal that cuts to the core of California’s economy and environment, the Trump administration on Tuesday proposed significant changes to the state water system’s operation intended to boost water deliveries from the Delta to farms and cities. … Earnest though they were, Trump’s record and rhetoric constitute an obstacle. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: Feds’ water proposal faces an obstacle named Trump, state’s new anti-vaping ads

New Trump Administration Rules Will Boost Delta Water Exports, Imperil Salmon:  “The Trump administration, under former Westlands Water District and oil industry lobbyist and now Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, today released a new set of rules allowing much greater water exports from the Delta to San Joaquin Valley agribusiness interests that will imperil Chinook salmon and other endangered fish species in California.  Public trust advocates say the set of new Endangered Species Act permits (biological opinions) will significantly weaken existing federal protections for salmon and other endangered species in California’s Bay-Delta watershed. These biological opinions determine the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project and set the allowed levels for water exports to Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, according to a statement from Restore the Delta (RTD).  … ”  Read more from the Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos here: New Trump Administration Rules Will Boost Delta Water Exports, Imperil Salmon

Trump Administration Moves to Lift Protections for Fish and Divert Water to Farms:  “The Trump administration on Tuesday moved to weaken protections for a threatened California fish, a change that would allow large amounts of water to be diverted from the San Francisco Bay Delta to irrigate arid farmland and could harm the region’s fragile ecosystem.  The plan, which administration officials expect to be finalized in January, is a major victory for a wealthy group of California farmers that had lobbied to weaken protections on the fish, the delta smelt. It also might intensify ethics questions about Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who was the lobbyist for those farmers until just months before he joined the Trump administration. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: Trump Administration Moves to Lift Protections for Fish and Divert Water to Farms

Native American and Salmon Activists asks Governor, AG to Stand Against Trump Water Plan:  “Today the Trump administration released the new Biological Opinion for Long Term Operations for the Central Valley Water Project. … Even though the new water project operations also impacts the Trinity River, the largest tributary of the Klamath River, this Biological Opinion does not disclose impacts or solutions for ailing Klamath-Trinity River salmon.  “This fisheries review replaces the one that concluded Trump’s Water Plan to maximize water deliveries for Central Valley agriculture jeopardizes every ESA listed fish species in the Delta and San Joaquin and Sacramento River systems. The plan could also harm the state’s drinking water supply and harm Trinity and Lower Klamath River Salmon.” said Morning Star Gali, the Tribal Water Organizer from Save California Salmon. ... ”  Read more from IndyBay here: Native American and Salmon Activists asks Governor, AG to Stand Against Trump Water Plan

RELATED CONTENT ON MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK

OTHER STATEWIDE NEWS

New Laws Address Safe Drinking Water, Groundwater Recharge, River Health:  “It’s been an eventful year for California water policy. A milestone law to address the state’s drinking water challenges, which was signed by Governor Newsom earlier this year, established a $1.3 billion Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. In line with its broader policy focus on climate resilience, the administration is also creating a Water Resilience Portfolio Initiative, a collaborative effort by various state agencies to ensure water resilience in the face of a changing climate. A number of bills recently signed into law build on the progress made in this area. Here are some highlights … ”  Read more from PPIC here: New Laws Address Safe Drinking Water, Groundwater Recharge, River Health

CV-SALTS plan to bring new requirements:  “Action by the state water board sets in motion a 35-year program of activity and research to address nitrate and salt content in Central Valley groundwater, in order to achieve water-quality objectives.  The plan adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board last week addresses elevated salinity in surface water and groundwater and nitrates in groundwater, and requires farmers and others to develop plans to prevent fertilizer and irrigation runoff from entering groundwater supplies. … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here: CV-SALTS plan to bring new requirements

Imperial County declares Salton Sea emergency, demands California take action:  “Imperial County has had enough. That was the message from the county board of supervisors on Tuesday as they voted unanimously to declare a local state of emergency at the Salton Sea.   And that may not be all: In addition to the action on the state’s largest lake, supervisors said they will likely seek another emergency declaration on the badly polluted New River — which flows into the Salton Sea — in two weeks. ... ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Imperial County declares Salton Sea emergency, demands California take action

Massive California Kelp Decline Linked to Ocean Heat Wave, Voracious Sea Urchins:  “Envision California’s lush forests from San Francisco to the Oregon border. Now imagine that 90 percent of those forests has disappeared within two years. Laura Rogers-Bennett, senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says that’s exactly what happened to underwater kelp forests off Northern California’s coastline from 2014-16.  An analysis published this week in Scientific Reports documents the rapid decline of California’s bull kelp. The study links the reduction in the seaweed’s population to a confluence of environmental and ecological stressors, including a marine heat wave, a sea star die-off and the emergence of an “urchin barrens,” large swaths of subtidal zones overtaken by kelp-hungry purple sea urchins. … ”  Read more from KQED here: Massive California Kelp Decline Linked to Ocean Heat Wave, Voracious Sea Urchins

NATIONAL

Less water, more green: “Clients of landscape and irrigation contractors often ask them for help in saving water. At the same time, clients also want their landscapes kept lush and green. The contractor must figure out just how much water can be cut without stressing the turf and the plants. In severe drought situations, this matter becomes much more serious.  There are many techniques and tools available to contractors to decrease water use without killing off every green thing in a landscape. Some of them you may already be using; others you may not have tried yet. Here are some of them. … ”  Read more from Irrigation & Green Industry here: Less water, more green

Here’s what you can (and can’t) do about PFAS contamination in your water:  “After The Times reported last week that nearly 300 drinking water wells and other water sources in California had been contaminated with toxic chemicals linked to cancer, readers wanted to know what they could do. For many, it was the first time they had read about this class of chemicals, called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances — or PFAS. We talked to industry experts, and the following are their best answers to some of the most often-asked questions we received. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Here’s what you can (and can’t) do about PFAS contamination in your water

An environmental group found arsenic and chromium in tap water in all 50 US states:  “In 2017, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a database of all the known contaminants lurking in US drinking water. After compiling data from 50,000 public water utilities across the country from 2010 to 2015, the group found 267 chemicals that they dubbed concerning to human health. … ” Read more from Business Insider here: An environmental group found arsenic and chromium in tap water in all 50 US states

How a dead whale gave new life to the debate over dams in the Pacific Northwest:  “One image was clear — a dead orca calf being carried across the ocean by its apparently grief-stricken mother. The calf may well have died from malnutrition. The Southern Resident Killer Whales in its pod are facing a critical shortage of their main food source: fat, juicy salmon.  The distressing scene repeated itself again and again over the course of more than two weeks in the summer of 2018 as the mother orca refused to let her baby go. But the bigger picture of how to help the whales get more salmon is far more complex and has opened new battles as well as old wounds. ... ”  Read more from CNN here: How a dead whale gave new life to the debate over dams in the Pacific Northwest

Notorious warm water ‘Blob’ in Pacific weakening, but will that save fish and ecosystems?  “… The latest version of the Blob has weakened somewhat, with sea temperatures cooling as much as 5 degrees off the coast, according to a blog post by Cliff Mass, a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington.  That’s a positive sign, and could signal a reduction in size and impact from the current Blob. But let’s not put on party hats just yet, said Andrew Leising, a research scientist at the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Science Center. … ”  Continue reading from the Statesman Journal here: Notorious warm water ‘Blob’ in Pacific weakening, but will that save fish and ecosystems?

Rising Drought Risk Spurs Most Cash Into Water Funds in a Decade:  “Investors are starting to pay more attention to water shortages and how to turn them into long-term investments.  Water-related exchange-traded funds attracted more money in the nine months through September than in any full year since 2007, data compiled by Bloomberg show. These funds have continued to add cash this month, with products run by Invesco Ltd. and First Trust Advisors leading inflows. ... ”  Read more from Bloomberg News here: Rising Drought Risk Spurs Most Cash Into Water Funds in a Decade

The World Can Make More Water From the Sea, but at What Cost?  “Desalinated seawater is the lifeblood of Saudi Arabia, no more so than at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, an international research center that rose from the dry, empty desert a decade ago.  Produced from water from the adjacent Red Sea that is forced through salt-separating membranes, it is piped into the campus’s gleaming lab buildings and the shops, restaurants and cookie-cutter homes of the surrounding planned neighborhoods. It irrigates the palm trees that line the immaculate streets and the grass field at the 5,000-seat sports stadium. Even the community swimming pools are filled with hundreds of thousands of gallons of it. ... ”  Read more from the New York Times here: The World Can Make More Water From the Sea, but at What Cost? 

EPA chief espouses benefits of agency’s environmental deregulation:  “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Andrew Wheeler took to the microphone Tuesday to espouse the benefits of deregulation.Wheeler, speaking to the Detroit Economic Club, said he is often asked how the agency can protect the environment by rolling back regulations.  “This question assumes that regulation is the only path to environmental protection,” Wheeler said. “Innovation and technology have lead to remarkable environmental progress and often deregulation is necessary to spur on that innovation. Furthermore, deregulation does not always mean rolling back rules. More often than not it means modernizing or simplifying or streamlining regulations.” … ”  Read more from The Hill here: EPA chief espouses benefits of agency’s environmental deregulation

In commentary today …

Newsom must not cave to Trump on Delta water safeguards, says the San Jose Mercury News:  They write, “The Trump administration this week continued its assault on the California environment, this time undermining decade-old protections for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.  New politically driven environmental findings announced Tuesday are designed to enable the shipping of more water to Southern California farmers, endangering the health of the Delta and threatening native fish that are on the brink of extinction.  The question now is whether Gavin Newsom will respond by standing up for protection of California’s waterways with the vigor that he opposes Trump’s attack on the state’s auto emissions standards. Or will the governor capitulate to the same lobbying pressure from farmers and water agencies that are pushing the president’s Delta policies? … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Newsom must not cave to Trump on Delta water safeguards

In regional news and commentary today …

Yurok vice chairman touts tribal forestry practices at congressional hearing:  “Prescribed burns have to become a central component of forest management if humans want to effectively battle the climate crisis, the vice chairman of the Yurok Tribe told members of Congress on Tuesday.  “The tool that we have found, have seen to be the most effective to protect the forest is the use of cultural burning,” Frankie Myers said, “but also making sure that we use proper logging techniques to create uneven-aged stands of forest that go back to more of a traditional forest landscape.” … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Yurok vice chairman touts tribal forestry practices at congressional hearing

A year after the Camp Fire, Paradise wonders: Will it ever be the same?:  “It was a bright, unusually hot September day on Skyway Road, and there was a distinct heaviness in the air that residents here knew all too well.  Smoke.  The smell, and the sight of the eerily beautiful, slightly hazy sunrise, were enough to put locals on edge, with some complaining on Facebook of an uneasiness that kept them up all night. Never mind that the smoke has a way of hanging over this town nestled between two canyons, and never mind that this particular fire, some 80 miles away, wasn’t a threat. … ”  Read more from Vox here: A year after the Camp Fire, Paradise wonders: Will it ever be the same?

Central Coast: Expiration date extended to 2021 for Regional Water Board’s Ag Order 3.0:  “A stipulated judgment in a lawsuit over a regulation to control pollution in runoff from agricultural irrigation systems has extended the expiration date for Agricultural Order 3.0 to Jan. 31, 2021.  The new expiration date will give the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board a longer period to develop and adopt replacement Ag Order 4.0, giving farmers extra time before the more restrictive regulations become effective. … ”  Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: Central Coast: Expiration date extended to 2021 for Regional Water Board’s Ag Order 3.0

Study Not Optimistic About Groundwater Injection for Montecito Basin:  “There are limited opportunities for groundwater augmentation in the Montecito basin, consultants told the Montecito Water District board of directors on Tuesday.  GSI Water Solutions and Geosyntec studied indirect potable reuse feasibility in the district, which involves treating wastewater to a potable standard and injecting it into the groundwater basin.  Tim Thompson of GSI talked about the hydrology of the Montecito basin and specific storage areas studied for potential indirect potable reuse injection wells. ... ”  Read more from Noozhawk here: Study Not Optimistic About Groundwater Injection for Montecito Basin

Sea gulls love In-N-Out. But their diet may be changing their Channel Islands home:  “Thirty minutes after setting sail for the Channel Islands National Park, Ana Sofia Guerra spotted a creamy white sea gull soaring majestically against the slate gray sky.  The other passengers on the 64-foot catamaran were captivated by a pod of dolphins leaping playfully from the water, but Guerra kept her eyes trained on the solitary gull.  The ecologist pointed a large camera skyward and snapped a picture of the seabird gliding on the strong ocean breeze. Then a smile spread across her face.  “It’s probably heading back from a trip to McDonald’s,” she said. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Sea gulls love In-N-Out. But their diet may be changing their Channel Islands home

Corps of Engineers speak on next phase of Isabella Dam construction: “Now that vehicle traffic has been diverted onto the Highway 155 detour, construction can get underway on the next phase of the Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project: a 17-foot-tall wall that will be built at the crest of the Main Dam.  The Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project (DSMP) will raise both the Main and Auxiliary Dams by 16 feet. In order to accommodate the increased height of the Main Dam, a 17-foot tall wall will be constructed at the Main Dam’s right abutment to stabilize and support the material that will be needed for the height increase. … ”  Read more from the Kern Valley Sun here: Corps of Engineers speak on next phase of dam construction

Santa Clarita: Meeting called to review SCV Water’s sphere of influence:  “The consultant hired to map out the sphere of influence of the SCV Water Agency has scheduled a community meeting two weeks from now, hoping to hear from the public about water distribution in the SCV.  The public meeting is slated for Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. in the Century Room at Santa Clarita City Hall, on Valencia Boulevard at Citrus Street.  The consultant wants to review the municipal services the agency provides to the SCV — in a word, water. … ”  Read more from the Signal here: Meeting called to review SCV Water’s sphere of influence

On water sustainability, L.A. County earns C+ from UCLA environmental report card: “Los Angeles County’s grades are in, and UCLA’s latest environmental report card gives the region an overall passing C+ mark for water sustainability.  Dismal grades for polluted groundwater and water bodies like the Los Angeles River brought down the overall average grade in the 2019 Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Environmental Report Card for Los Angeles County on Water.  But with the county’s Measure W expected to generate $300 million annually for stormwater capture and cleaning projects starting in 2020, the UCLA researchers see reason to believe that there will be improvement in a few of the most problematic areas. … ”  Read more from UCLA here: On water sustainability, L.A. County earns C+ from UCLA environmental report card

‘Big Ideas’ Diversify San Diego Region’s Reliable Water Supply:  “Ensuring water for future generations requires investing and investigating big ideas, according to Sandy Kerl.  Kerl, acting general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, shared some of those ideas today in San Diego, as she delivered the opening remarks at the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association annual fall conference, which runs through Thursday at the Town and Country Hotel Convention Center. ... ”  Read more from the Water News Network here: ‘Big Ideas’ Diversify San Diego Region’s Reliable Water Supply

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

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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.

 

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