In California water news this weekend, Flood risk heightened for Mojave River dam; PG&E and Southern California Edison have turned off power to minimize fires. It hasn’t worked. What will?; Trump stymies California climate efforts even as state burns; Economic analysis could undermine Trump rule repeal; Mono – The Little Lake that Could … Save the Planet!; Local, rural water district to hold first election in 43 years; and more …
In the news this weekend …
Flood risk heightened for Mojave River dam: “A California dam could fail during an extreme storm and send water flooding into Mojave Desert communities that are home to about 300,000 people, authorities said Friday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it has changed its risk characterization of the Mojave River Dam from low to high urgency of action. The earthen dam was built in the 1970s near the San Bernardino Mountains northeast of Los Angeles. It was designed for flood control and is usually dry. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Flood risk heightened for California dam
PG&E and Southern California Edison have turned off power to minimize fires. It hasn’t worked. What will? “Pacific Gas & Electric may get to share the title of California’s Public Enemy No. 1. The embattled energy giant has been repeatedly castigated by the public and government leaders for its role in the state’s devastating wildfires the last three years, and for its clumsy attempt at preventing them this fall with mass power outages. But PG&E is not alone, and recent developments may shift some of the finger-pointing to its brethren downstate, especially Southern California Edison. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: PG&E and Southern California Edison have turned off power to minimize fires. It hasn’t worked. What will?
Trump stymies California climate efforts even as state burns: “For the past three years, countries and companies around the world have looked to California as a counterweight to the Trump administration’s aggressive dismantling of efforts to combat climate change. But this past week, as wildfires burned across the state — fires that scientists say have been made worse by a changing climate — and as at least five large carmakers sided with President Trump’s plan to roll back California’s climate pollution standards, the state’s status as the vanguard of environmental policy seemed at the very least diminished. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Trump stymies California climate efforts even as state burns
Clean Water Act: Economic analysis could undermine Trump rule repeal: “When the Trump administration finalized its repeal of the Obama-era Clean Water Rule last month, it also quietly updated an economic analysis of the repeal’s costs and benefits. The 195-page final analysis is nearly 10 times longer than the one that accompanied the Trump administration’s initial proposal in 2017 to repeal the rule and estimates different costs and benefits of repealing the regulation, which clarified which wetlands and waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act. The updated analysis — which the public did not have the chance to comment on — could leave the repeal vulnerable to legal challenges, experts say. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Economic analysis could undermine Trump rule repeal
Sunday podcasts …
Jared Blumenfeld: Mono – The Little Lake that Could … Save the Planet! “Mono Lake is a magical martian landscape twice the size of San Francisco that has tufa towers, salty water and millions of birds. It’s also the story of how scientists and advocates came together to save a national treasure threatened by water being taken by Los Angeles. I talk with Geoff McQuilkin and his daughter Ellery, and David Herbst who was part of the original student team that went to Mono Lake in 1976.”
Operation Unite: A River’s Worth- the Truckee River: Steve Baker writes, “Eighty percent of the Truckee River Meadows Authority’s water supply comes from Lake Tahoe. Snow, tributary creeks and springs and some groundwater ultimately provide the water supply that is needed for the district. The existing reservoirs are also a part of the water system. These storage areas facilitate management through the benefits of water banking in the reservoir and a source to send flows into the Truckee River. Complexities in managing the entire system are supported by the public more now than ever. The public has taken on a, “Let’s get involved with the river”, as a strong stewardship effort that protects the resource and provides recreational value. Knowing your source for drinking water really motivates the management of that source. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.”
In regional news and commentary this weekend …
Lake Oroville Community Update: Spillway Boat Ramp Area Holiday and Winter Access Hours, Spillway Construction Site Office Trailers to Remain at Upper Overlook; DWR Biologist Count Salmon Returning to the Feather River; Current Lake Operations Read it from DWR News here: Lake Oroville Community Update
Elk Grove: Local, rural water district to hold first election in 43 years: “A little-known, local water district – the Omochumne-Hartnell Water District – will hold their first board member election in 43 years on Nov. 5. Boundaries of this 30,000-acre district extend from Grant Line Road to Highway 99, and from the Jackson Highway to Dillard Road. There are about 1,200 parcels within those borders. The district was established in 1953, mainly to help supply surface water off the Cosumnes River to the landowners in this area. … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen here: Local, rural water district to hold first election in 43 years
Santa Cruz: Fifth-graders explore wonders of wetlands: “Twenty-five Mintie White Elementary School fifth-graders walked into a bigger-than-usual classroom Thursday morning: the sprawling fields and boggy marshes of West Branch Struve Slough. As they tromped about, they stopped to inspect every critter and plant they came across — in other words, they behaved like scientists. It’s the first trip of the year for students in the Wetland Wonders program, a partnership that began in 2016 between the Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Watsonville Wetlands Watch, an environmental restoration nonprofit. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Santa Cruz: Fifth-graders explore wonders of wetlands
Seaside golf course water can be diverted for new housing, judge rules: “All the water irrigating the golf courses at Bayonet & Black Horse in Seaside is of drinking quality. Using the standard measurement, it’s about 450 acre-feet of water per year going to keep the grass green. That amount would be enough to supply about 1,500 new residential units. And now, thanks to a judge’s order, the city of Seaside will have a chance to divert the flow and increase its allotment for new housing construction. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Seaside golf course water can be diverted for new housing, judge rules
Paso Robles: Ribbon-cutting celebrates completion of tertiary treatment plant: “The City of Paso Robles recently celebrated the completion of one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the city’s history, new Tertiary Treatment Facilities at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The city hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and facility tour. Many city officials, Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, and other interested persons attended the event. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: Paso Robles: Ribbon-cutting celebrates completion of tertiary treatment plant
Army Corps talks about big dredging project in Port of Long Beach: “Two meetings on Nov. 13 will be used to unveil a draft feasibility report and Environmental Impact Report for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work to deepen channels and add a new channel and turning basin in the Port of Long Beach. The Army Corps is considering deepening the main channel to 80 feet deep and widen it to 76 feet in places. The project also would deepen approach channels and turning basins, and improve the Pier J breakwaters. A total of 7.4 million cubic yards of sediment could be removed. ... ” Read more from the Long Beach Grunion here: Army Corps talks about big dredging project in Port of Long Beach
San Marcos kicking off $100 million Creek District improvements: “San Marcos will start construction of its Creek District this year, with a $100 million plan to reduce flooding and improve habitat and traffic flow, officials said at a public forum earlier this week. The plan will add bridges over the creek on Via Vera Cruz and Bent Avenue, widen Via Vera Cruz and Discovery Street, tame the flow of flood waters, remove invasive plants and build a linear park, officials said. San Marcos staff members, as well as members of the city council, were on hand to answer questions about the project and gather public input. ... ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: San Marcos kicking off $100 million Creek District improvements
Along the Colorado River …
Debate: Does watering Arizona’s suburbs promote affordable housing or urban sprawl? “To authors of a new, highly critical study, Arizona’s system of groundwater management encourages urban sprawl. But to an official and lobbyist for a homebuilders group, the system encourages construction of affordable housing. The affordability issue is a major reason that Spencer Kamps of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona supports the state’s groundwater management rules, which allow new suburban subdivisions to be served by pumped groundwater if they have no renewable water supplies from the Colorado River. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Debate: Does watering Arizona’s suburbs promote affordable housing or urban sprawl?
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
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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
