In California water news today, Agencies dismiss concerns about Trump’s Calif. water plan; The fight to stop Nestlé from taking America’s water to sell in plastic bottles; California’s getting scorched again. Here’s how these fires compare to previous years; Jerry Brown to testify to Congress, rebutting Trump’s criticism of California; Can Climate Affect Earthquakes, Or Are the Connections Shaky?; Be Prepared: Planning for Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Requirements Under America’s Water Infrastructure Act; See Where Your Food Comes From on This Map; and more …
On the calendar today …
- A Groundwater Sustainability Plan Review Workshop from 5pm to 7pm in Goshen. Hosted by Self-Help Enterprises. Download the workshop flyer here.
In the news today …
Agencies dismiss concerns about Trump’s Calif. water plan: “California water projects have pushed winter-run chinook salmon into the single place that remains suitable for them to breed: the reservoir behind the Shasta Dam. Even that sanctuary fails during drought years as the same pressures that drove salmon into the reservoir — too little water and too much heat — take hold in their only breeding ground. Climate change is making those pressures worse, and the chinook population is closer than ever to extinction, according to NOAA Fisheries. Now, the Trump administration is moving to divert more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta through California’s massive system of pumps and dams, which sends it to millions of homes and farms. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Agencies dismiss concerns about Trump’s Calif. water plan
The fight to stop Nestlé from taking America’s water to sell in plastic bottles: “The network of clear streams comprising California’s Strawberry Creek run down the side of a steep, rocky mountain in a national forest two hours east of Los Angeles. Last year Nestlé siphoned 45m gallons of pristine spring water from the creek and bottled it under the Arrowhead Water label. Though it’s on federal land, the Swiss bottled water giant paid the US Forest Service and state practically nothing, and it profited handsomely: Nestlé Waters’ 2018 worldwide sales exceeded $7.8bn. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: The fight to stop Nestlé from taking America’s water to sell in plastic bottles
California’s getting scorched again. Here’s how these fires compare to previous years: “Wildfires are nothing new to California. In fact, they’re a natural part of the state’s landscape, officials say. So the state continues to take measures each year to combat the threats and devastation of flames. But in the past two years, California has experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in its history, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. … ” Read more from CNN here: California’s getting scorched again. Here’s how these fires compare to previous years
California’s Wildfires Are the Doom of Our Own Making: “Every generation claims an event that defines it more than any other—winning a World War, or landing humans on the moon, or tearing down the Berlin Wall. But at this very moment, we have the dubious honor of living through an event whose impact will span generations: climate change. Never before has our kind faced such omnipresent peril, from supercharged storms to rising seas to drought to crop failure to biodiversity crises. In California, the consequences of this species-defining peril are playing out with unprecedented drama before a populace in a state of downright disbelief. ... ” Read more from Wired here: California’s Wildfires Are the Doom of Our Own Making
Jerry Brown to testify to Congress, rebutting Trump’s criticism of California: “Former Gov. Jerry Brown will testify before Congress on Tuesday about the damage the Trump administration’s plans to roll back auto emission standards could do to California, setting up another confrontation between the state’s political leadership and the president. The hearing, called “Trump’s Wrong Turn on Clean Cars,” will address the possible effects of the decision to weaken car pollution and fuel efficiency standards put in place under the Obama administration, as well as plans to revoke California’s nearly half-century-old authority to impose stricter emission standards. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Jerry Brown to testify to Congress, rebutting Trump’s criticism of California
Ex-California governor: Wildfires ‘only a taste of the horror’ of climate change: “Former California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is warning that the wildfires ravaging his state could be “only the beginning” without drastic action on climate change. “I said it was the new normal a few years ago,’’ Brown told Politico. “This is serious …. but this is only the beginning. This is only a taste of the horror and the terror that will occur in decades.’ … ” Read more from The Hill here: Ex-California governor: Wildfires ‘only a taste of the horror’ of climate change
California’s blackouts could make fighting climate change even harder: “The state’s electric grid was experiencing rapid and unprecedented changes even before Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison began shutting off power to millions of people in a desperate scramble to prevent their transmission lines from sparking wildfires. Solar and wind power were booming. Gas-fired power plants were shutting down. Investor-owned utility companies such as PG&E and Edison were being replaced by city-run alternatives. And the falling cost of lithium-ion batteries was making some households less reliant on the grid than ever before. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: California’s blackouts could make fighting climate change even harder
Can Climate Affect Earthquakes, Or Are the Connections Shaky? “The twin magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes that struck the Ridgecrest area in California’s Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles on July 4 and 5, respectively, were felt by up to 30 million people in California, Nevada, Arizona and Baja California, resulting in loss of life, injuries, billions in damage and lots of frazzled nerves. While the remote location undoubtedly minimized impacts, the quakes did serve as a wake-up call for complacent Californians that they live in Earthquake Country and need to prepare for the inevitable “Big One” that scientists say is sure to come. They also got people talking about all aspects of earthquakes. … ” Read more from NASA here: Can Climate Affect Earthquakes, Or Are the Connections Shaky?
Be Prepared: Planning for Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Requirements Under America’s Water Infrastructure Act: “Even those of us who were not Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts can recite the Scouting motto: “Be Prepared,” originally meant to be watchful and ready for anything, which made Scouts invaluable for patrol and other service during World War I and World War II. On Oct. 23, 2018, America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018 was signed into law, essentially requiring water utilities to be better prepared for a wide range of threats. It requires water utilities to thoroughly assess their vulnerabilities to all types of natural hazards and man-made disasters and develop a detailed plan to address them. ... ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: Be Prepared: Planning for Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Requirements Under America’s Water Infrastructure Act
Is A Diet That’s Healthy For Us Also Better For The Planet? Most Of The Time, Yes: “Consider the almond. Almonds and other nuts are often touted as healthy snacks, because they can help you maintain a healthy weight and are linked to a lower risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. But almonds are grown in drought-stricken California, and the amount of water required to produce them has come under intense scrutiny in recent years. So if you’re an environmentally minded eater who also wants to embrace a healthy diet, are almonds a responsibly green snack? Relatively speaking, yes, says ecologist David Tilman of the University of Minnesota. ... ” Read more from NPR here: Is A Diet That’s Healthy For Us Also Better For The Planet? Most Of The Time, Yes
See Where Your Food Comes From on This Map: “My team at the University of Illinois just developed the first high-resolution map of the U.S. food supply chain. Our map is a comprehensive snapshot of all food flows between counties in the U.S. – grains, fruits and vegetables, animal feed, and processed food items. To build the map, we brought together information from eight databases, including the Freight Analysis Framework from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which tracks where items are shipped around the country, and Port Trade data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows the international ports through which goods are traded. … ” Read more from Route 50 here: See Where Your Food Comes From on This Map
World unprepared for impact of climate change on mountain water supplies: experts: “The world faces increased flooding, droughts and possible conflicts due to the effects of climate change on fresh water supplies drawn from mountains but is “woefully unprepared” to tackle these risks, experts said. Mountain-sourced water supplies, which provide about half of all drinking water worldwide, is becoming more unpredictable as warmer temperatures melt glaciers and change precipitation patterns and river levels, affecting countries unevenly. … ” Read more from Reuters here: World unprepared for impact of climate change on mountain water supplies: experts
In commentary today …
Californians should favor dam expansion plan, says Tom Campbell: He writes, “The Public Policy Institute of California, one of the most respected, neutral research institutes in our state, reports that more than a third of all the water that falls on California in the form of rain or snow flows to the Pacific Ocean. This constitutes a greater percentage of our water than agriculture, industrial and urban uses combined. The next largest destination for California’s water is environmental, which also exceeds all that is consumed by agriculture, industrial and urban use combined. Together, water going to environmental uses and water flowing to the ocean make up two-thirds of all California’s water. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Californians should favor dam expansion plan, says Tom Campbell
In regional news and commentary today …
Klamath River Compact Commission boosts visibility: “The Klamath River Compact Commission, which oversees a guiding document governing water uses in the Klamath River, has met three times during the last decade, including once last week in Klamath Falls. Prior to a commission meeting earlier this year, the Commission hadn’t met since 2010, according to Curtis Anderson, commission member representing the California side of the river. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath River Compact Commission boosts visibility
Fortuna: Fish passage improvements made on Rohner Creek: “Fish habitat improvement and flood control projects on two Fortuna creeks are almost complete, after a busy summer of activities that at times restricted traffic on both 12th Street and South Fortuna Boulevard. The fish passage improvement project on Rohner Creek included numerous improvements to the culvert and stream channel at 12th Street. … ” Read more from the Redwood Times here: Fish passage improvements made on Rohner Creek
California OK’s plan to cap, not remove, toxic soil from East Bay brownfield: “Going against environmental activists’ pleas, the state toxic substances authority is allowing an 86-acre brownfield to be capped over with concrete rather than requiring the soil be removed ahead of a proposal to build 4,000 apartments there. California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control announced Friday that it approved the final cleanup plan for the former AstraZeneca site, which includes removing some of the more “heavily contaminated” soil, treating the groundwater and installing a system to filter extract toxic soil vapor in addition to pouring concrete over the soil to prevent people from coming into contact with it and from stormwater from carrying contaminants. … ” Read more from the East Bay Times here: California OK’s plan to cap, not remove, toxic soil from East Bay brownfield
Vallejo lifts ‘water emergency’ after PG&E brings in powerful generator: “The city of Vallejo lifted a mandatory water conservation notice on Monday morning after PG&E brought in a powerful generator to power the city’s water pump. In a video message, Joanna Altman, assistant to the city manager, said residents no longer had to reduce their showers or toilet flushing and they could resume watering their outside plants. … ” Read more from Channel 4 here: Vallejo lifts ‘water emergency’ after PG&E brings in powerful generator
Orinda park gets $4M in state funds for largest creek daylighting project in Bay Area: “Working with the East Bay Regional Park District, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan has secured $4 million in state funding to daylight and restore an over 2,000-foot culverted section of creek in the upper San Leandro watershed. On Oct 21, Bauer-Kahan held a press conference at the park and handed over an oversized check to park district officials. The perennial creek, known as McCosker Creek, is located in Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Orinda. The park, established in 1936, is one of the first three of the East Bay Regional Park District. According to district director Beverly Lane, the park has almost doubled in size in the last couple of years. The area where McCosker Creek is located was donated in 2010 by the McCosker family. ... ” Read more from the Lamorinda Weekly here: Orinda park gets $4M in state funds for largest creek daylighting project in Bay Area
Coastal Commission staff recommends denial of permit for Cal Am’s desalination plant: “The staff of the California Coastal Commission is recommending that commissioners deny a critical coastal development permit for wells that would supply California American Water’s proposed desalination plant near Marina. The recommendation, published Monday, Oct. 28, is a major blow to Cal Am ahead of the next commission meeting scheduled for Nov. 13-15 in Half Moon Bay. The vote on the wells will take place on Nov. 14, and hundreds of residents of Monterey County are expected to arrive and voice their support for or opposition to the permit. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Coastal Commission staff recommends denial of permit for Cal Am’s desalination plant
Here’s how $500M new reservoir planned near Patterson would work: “A proposed reservoir in Del Puerto Canyon, just west of Patterson, promises reliable water deliveries for farms in western Stanislaus County and nearby counties. It could serve to recharge groundwater for Patterson, a city of 23,750 residents, while other proposed benefits are water deliveries for wildlife refuges and flood control on occasions when storms threaten flash floods on Del Puerto Creek. ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Here’s how $500M new reservoir planned near Patterson would work
Santa Monica Meets the ‘Living Building Challenge’ By Designing the Greenest Municipal Building in the World: “The Living Building Challenge is the most rigorous sustainable building certification attainable, going beyond the design-based approach of LEED and requiring beginning-to-end operational compliance with strict, regenerative triple net-zero standards. TPR spoke to Amber Richane, Project Manager for the City of Santa Monica’s new City Services Building, on the city’s commitment to building the world’s most sustainable public building. Richane walks readers through the innovative technology and design behind the $1,500/square foot ‘living’ City Hall Annex that will not import or export any water, energy, or waste. … ” Read more from The Planning Report here: Santa Monica Meets the ‘Living Building Challenge’ By Designing the Greenest Municipal Building in the World
Consultant for beleaguered Rialto water district orchestrated federal grant scam: “Despite damning state and local audits revealing questionable hiring practices at the embattled West Valley Water District in Rialto, the agency continues to employ a consultant the government found to have operated a federal grant scam. Under scrutiny is the district’s contract with M.H.M. and Associates, a Glendora-based grant-writing company headed by CEO Luvina Beckley-Knight. The district entered into a one-year, $25,000 contract with M.H.M. in August 2018 to create a federal grant program. Another one-year contract was awarded in June for the same amount to implement the program and begin pursuing grants. ... ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Consultant for beleaguered Rialto water district orchestrated federal grant scam:
Southern California Will Experience Strongest Santa Ana Winds Yet in New Round of Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions: “Parts of California will experience their third round of dangerous fire weather conditions in seven days beginning on Tuesday. The setup includes what could be one of the most powerful windstorms in years for the Los Angeles area. The new round of high fire danger commences Tuesday in Northern California and then spreads toward Southern California Tuesday night into Wednesday. Red flag warnings for the fire danger have been posted by the National Weather Service in these areas. … ” Read more from The Weather Channel here: Southern California Will Experience Strongest Santa Ana Winds Yet in New Round of Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions
Salton Sea Authority Honors Bruce Wilcox for Years of Service: “The Salton Sea Authority honored out-going Assistant Secretary of Salton Sea Policy Bruce Wilcox during the Authority’s October 24 board meeting. Wilcox was at the meeting when the Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution recognizing his efforts to improve the Salton Sea. He was appointed to serve as assistant secretary within the California Natural Resources Agency in 2015 and assigned to work on Salton Sea restoration efforts. His appointment followed the formation of the Salton Sea Task Force. ... ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Salton Sea Authority Honors Bruce Wilcox for Years of Service
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.
