In California water news today, Water yield from forest thinning depends on how, where and how much; There’s a new way for investors to turn a profit while helping California prevent fires; Delta group critical of federal move to change water priorities; Conservationists sue to block federal oil and gas leases in California; Is your district’s website ready for January 1, 2020?; First-of-a-kind U.S. grid cyberattack hit wind, solar; Sea level rise: The dead can’t escape climate change; Clean Water Act: 2015 jurisdiction rule repeal set to take effect Dec. 23; Keeping a weather eye on earth’s climate instabilities; and more …
In the news today …
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
- DECISION SCALING: A risk management approach in Delta water supply vulnerability
- SCIENCE NEWS: What we can learn about the coast from sick sea otters; Saving the Vaquita: new promises and new threats; Insights from century-old salmon scales; and more … and more …
- NEWS WORTH NOTING: Castaic Dam modernization program begins; Appellate court grants filing of amicus briefs in Abatti v. IID case
Water yield from forest thinning depends on how, where and how much: “Even a little forest management significantly increases water runoff in the Central Sierra Nevada and other semi-arid regions, while drier forests need more extensive treatments, according to a new study published recently in the journal Ecohydrology. “The result is more runoff to downstream water users,” said UC Merced Professor Martha Conklin , who led the study. Founding faculty and School of Engineering professors Conklin and Roger Bales, recent Ph.D. graduate Philip Saksa, now the director of research at Blue Forest Conservation, and collaborators conducted the study. They looked at the fuel-treatment strategies — such as prescribed burns and thinning — applied across overstocked forests in California to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire, which also reduces the forests’ demand for water. … ” Read more from UC Merced here: Water yield from forest thinning depends on how, where and how much
There’s a new way for investors to turn a profit while helping California prevent fires: “As wildfires rage through western California, a new way to help prevent them is now being tested in nearby Tahoe National Forest. It is a first-of-its-kind financial tool, designed to help investors fund forest restoration in overgrown, highly combustible areas, which are becoming ever more dangerous due to climate change. The Forest Resilience Bond was developed by the non-profit investment firm Blue Forest Conservation, a Sacramento, CA-based start-up, in partnership with World Resources Institute. … ” Read more from CNBC here: There’s a new way for investors to turn a profit while helping California prevent fires
Delta group critical of federal move to change water priorities: “An environmental group, highly critical of a federal agency’s newly proposed recommendations to protect endangered species in the Delta, states that they would seriously harm those species and their habitat. The new recommendations, released Oct. 22 by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation, are to be used as guidelines for operating the federal pumping plant in the Delta. The state water project operates under the California Endangered Species rules, but will likely push for the same relaxation of standards, said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, spokeswoman for Restore the Delta (RTD). The non-profit group is headquartered in Stockton, but includes members all over the state, including the Tri-Valley. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent here: Delta group critical of federal move to change water priorities
Will it rain soon and end Bay Area’s fire season? It may be up to Russia: “Say what you will about Russian interference, it just might get us Northern Californians out of this year’s precarious fire season. Meteorologists are forecasting that around Nov. 10, a strong jet stream originating from Russia is likely to undercut the dominant high-pressure ridge sitting off the coast and provide much-needed moisture to the West Coast. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Will it rain soon and end Bay Area’s fire season? It may be up to Russia
Conservationists sue to block federal oil and gas leases in California: “California environmental groups sued the Trump administration Wednesday to thwart plans to auction over 700,000 acres to the fossil fuel industry, calling the potential of new fracking operations a threat to the San Francisco Bay Area’s wildlife and aquifers. Filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club, the lawsuit accuses the Trump administration of ignoring science when it decided to open up various dormant leases to bidders looking to drill for oil and gas in some of the state’s most scenic counties including Monterey, Alameda and Santa Cruz. ... ” Read more from the Courthouse News here: Conservationists Sue to Block Federal Oil and Gas Leases in California
Is your district’s website ready for January 1, 2020? “Beginning January 1, 2020, all special districts in California must maintain a website. Does your district have a website? If so, does it comply with the new statutory requirements? Keep reading to find out. Senate Bill 929 was enacted in 2018 and added section 53087.8 to the Government Code. The statute mandates that all independent special districts maintain a website beginning January 1, 2020 that clearly lists the district’s contact information, in addition to complying with all previous provisions of law applicable to special district websites. … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn here: Is your district’s website ready for January 1, 2020?
Patch of pink water spotted on California coast: “Visitors to the ocean in California captured footage of pink waves crashing against the shore amid efforts to fight wildfires in the state. ... ” Read more from UPI here: Patch of pink water spotted on California coast
NATIONAL
First-of-a-kind U.S. grid cyberattack hit wind, solar: “A Utah renewable energy developer was hit by a first-of-its-kind cyberattack that briefly cut contact to a dozen wind and solar farms this spring, according to documents obtained by E&E News under the Freedom of Information Act. Salt Lake City-based sPower suffered “denial of service” attacks on March 5 that left grid operators temporarily blinded to generation sites totaling 500 megawatts, the documents show. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: First-of-a-kind U.S. grid cyberattack hit wind, solar
Sea level rise: The dead can’t escape climate change: “The dead rise in Louisiana. All it takes is some floodwater. People in this low-lying state are typically buried in aboveground vaults — the bane of Charlie Hunter, chief investigator for the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office, who has to hunt down the caskets that get washed away during floods. It’s become a serious part of his job over the past decade. The caskets and their surface vaults are sealed airtight, so pressure builds inside them when a hurricane or flash flood covers them in water. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Sea level rise: The dead can’t escape climate change
Democrats’ Bernhardt probe has California’s Cox in a tough spot: “A draft report by the National Marine Fisheries Service concluded in July that giving farmers in California’s Central Valley more water would harm salmon, steelhead trout and killer whales. But after the Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service intervened, the final report, released on Oct. 22, reached a new conclusion: The government could maximize water deliveries and protect the fish at the same time. What happened in between is the subject of an investigation by Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee who say Interior Secretary David Bernhardt may have influenced the reversal of that scientific assessment to help Westlands Water District, a former lobbying client that provides water to those farmers. The probe also puts one of those Democrats in a tough spot. … ” Read more from Roll Call here: Democrats’ Bernhardt probe has California’s Cox in a tough spot
Clean Water Act: 2015 jurisdiction rule repeal set to take effect Dec. 23: “The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers published a final rule in the Federal Register that repeals their 2015 Clean Water Rule defining the scope of jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The repeal, published Oct. 22, is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 23. It will cause the “Waters of the United States” definition to revert to where it stood before the 2015 rule. These changes affect whether water infrastructure and wetlands may be subject to regulation under the Clean Water Act. ... ” Read more from Best Best & Krieger here: Clean Water Act: 2015 jurisdiction rule repeal set to take effect Dec. 23
Documentary a call to action to preserve wild salmon: “There are lots of pressing environmental issues to focus on, from water shortages to deforestation to climate change. Fish hatcheries and farms wouldn’t necessarily come immediately to mind. That’s a problem, says Josh “Bones” Murphy. “What we’ve done is totally industrialized this process of salmon, this icon of what it was to be wild,” the Tam Valley resident says. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Documentary a call to action to preserve wild salmon
Keeping a weather eye on earth’s climate instabilities: ““I wouldn’t describe Earth’s atmosphere as fragile so much as I’d say our climate system is unstable,” said atmospheric scientist Eric Fetzer of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “Climate is being changed by the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.” Fetzer said humanity has pushed climate instability well away from where it has been for many millennia. “We’ve had 8,000 years of pretty much the same climate, and only about a century where things have really started to change,” he says. … ” Read more from NASA here: Keeping a weather eye on earth’s climate instabilities
In commentary today …
Gov. Newsom must counter President Trump’s attack on bay and delta species protection, say Jon Rosenfield and Gary Bobker: They write, “In a devastating blow to the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta estuary last week, the Trump administration eliminated science-based protections for five of this ecosystem’s endangered fish species. An effort to revise safeguards for Chinook salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and delta smelt began under the Obama administration specifically because recent science demonstrated the need for stronger protections to prevent extinction of these unique populations. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Gov. Newsom must counter President Trump’s attack on bay and delta species protection
A new lake in west Stanislaus County? That sounds good, says the Modesto Bee: They write, “In a few years, a new 4-mile-long lake amid cliff-framed hills could be visible for about 15 seconds to people driving 60 mph as they pass Patterson on Interstate 5, 25 miles southwest of Modesto. At a time when building anything large and important — like roads, dams and bridges — can be tied up in red tape and take forever, the optimism of this reservoir’s supporters is audacious. And unless opponents emerge with impressive arguments, the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir deserves the area’s support. ... ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: A new lake in west Stanislaus County? That sounds good
In regional news and commentary today …
Corning: Public invited to local groundwater management meeting: “The public will have an opportunity to learn about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and local implementation of this law at a public meeting from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Corning Senior Center, 1015 Fourth Ave. The Act, signed into law two years ago, defines sustainable groundwater management as the “management and use of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained without causing undesirable results.” … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat here: Public invited to local groundwater management meeting
San Jose: Valley Water adopts new policy to address encroachment concerns: “Two important elements of Valley Water’s mission are to keep residents and businesses safe through our flood protection programs and to protect our natural environment. In Santa Clara County, Valley Water owns and manages about 275 miles of streams, many of which are located next to neighborhoods. These public lands are entrusted to Valley Water to ensure public health and safety, maintain healthy creeks and protect the environment. … ” Read more from Valley Water News here: Valley Water adopts new policy to address encroachment concerns
Selma: New laws may result in water rate increases: “In order to keep up with the State’s underground water recharge laws, sooner or later, local water rates will likely need to increase. That was the message local water management officials gave in a joint presentation at the Oct. 21 Selma City Council. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: New laws may result in water rate increases
San Luis Obispo County drinking water wells contain cancer-linked chemicals — here’s how to protect yourself: “Drinking water wells in two areas of San Luis Obispo County are contaminated with potentially toxic “forever chemicals,” according to recently released results of state water testing. The local testing found that 15 wells in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero had levels high enough to require notification to water system governing boards. ... ” Read more from the SLO Tribune here: San Luis Obispo County drinking water wells contain cancer-linked chemicals — here’s how to protect yourself
Antelope Valley: Water agencies stress need for disaster plan: “In case of an emergency such as an earthquake or wildfire, one key element that could be disrupted, and for an extended period, is water. As such, it is important to include planning for water needs for emergency scenarios, whether for public agencies or individuals. To that end, area water agencies and government officials gathered Wednesday in Lancaster as the Greater Antelope Valley Water Emergency Coalition to discuss preparations and resources available in case of water disruptions in an emergency. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: Water agencies stress need for disaster plan
San Diego: Nursery fined for contaminating nearby creek: “The California State Water Resources Control Board announced Wednesday that a Fallbrook commercial nursery was fined $18,132 for violating local wastewater discharge requirements for commercial agriculture businesses. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, a regional partner agency of the state board, inspected Hines Growers Inc. in February, during which staff members observed waste with high quantities of nitrogen and phosphorous discharged into Rainbow Creek from a malfunctioning water recycling system. ... ” Read more from Channel 5 here: San Diego: Nursery fined for contaminating nearby creek
Mexico pledges to fight cross-border sewage spills: “Mexico says it will rehabilitate five pumping stations in the border city of Tijuana to prevent cross-border sewage spills that have angered U.S. communities in the San Diego area. The Foreign Relations Department said Wednesday the two countries “are in talks to sign a bilateral agreement that will establish commitments” on the issue. The department said both countries “will commit resources to address the issue in a coordinated manner.” … ” Read more from the AP here: Mexico pledges to fight cross-border sewage spills
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona’s rural counties should take charge of groundwater, former Gov. Bruce Babbitt warns: “Nearly four decades ago, Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt enacted major changes in the state’s system of water regulation when he signed the Groundwater Management Act of 1980 into law. Now, the 81-year-old former governor is speaking out about water again, this time making his case that it’s time for Arizona to update how it manages groundwater. Babbitt spoke at a conference of county supervisors from across the state Tuesday, calling for new legislation that would give county officials the authority to manage groundwater. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Arizona’s rural counties should take charge of groundwater, former Gov. Bruce Babbitt warns
Why does Arizona force people to live where the water is? It’s time to think bigger, says Robert Robb: He writes, “The people who discuss and decide water policy in Arizona are a small and tight circle. For most of us, if the water flows when the spigot is turned, we assume someone somewhere is taking care of things. The insularity of water policy decision-making, however, causes certain suspect premises to go unquestioned or challenged. One of the most significant is this: People should be required to live where there is water, rather than figuring out how to get water to where people want to live. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Why does Arizona force people to live where the water is? It’s time to think bigger
‘The project is going to move forward’; Bureau of Reclamation to head Lake Powell Pipeline review: “State water officials announced Tuesday that federal oversight of the Lake Powell Pipeline review process has been handed over to the Bureau of Reclamation. In a statement issued from the Utah Division of Water Resources Tuesday morning, the agency said the Department of the Interior notified the Utah Board of Water Resources that the National Environmental Policy Act compliance for the pipeline project would be handled by the bureau. … ” Read more from St. George News here: ‘The project is going to move forward’; Bureau of Reclamation to head Lake Powell Pipeline review
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DECISION SCALING: A risk management approach in Delta water supply vulnerability
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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.
