DAILY DIGEST: Gov. Newsom’s threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars; Rep. Cox’s bill may fund Friant-Kern Canal fix; House sinks Hetch Hetchy boating proposal; Andrew Wheeler says EPA doesn’t have a ‘war with California’; and more …

In California water news today, Gov. Newsom’s threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars; Rep. Cox’s bill may fund Friant-Kern Canal fix; House sinks Hetch Hetchy boating proposal; Providing safe drinking water in the face of disasters: lessons from Lake County; Snow surveying with DWR’s Sean de Guzman; Agriculture is huge story in California, but newsrooms around the state aren’t paying attention to the details; Andrew Wheeler says EPA doesn’t have a ‘war with California’; Microplastics million times more abundant in the ocean than previously thought; and more …

On the calendar today …

In the news today …

Gov. Newsom’s threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars:  “Even before he was sworn into office, Gov. Gavin Newsom threw his weight behind a series of tentative deals, brokered by his predecessor, that were intended to bring lasting peace to California’s never-ending battles over water and endangered fish.  The deals, designed to reallocate water from the state’s major rivers, have yet to be finalized a year later.  Now, one of the nation’s most powerful farm irrigation districts says it will back out of the agreements completely if Newsom follows through with a pledge to sue President Donald Trump over a federal plan to pump more water to farmers from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the fragile estuary on Sacramento’s doorstep. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Gov. Newsom’s threat to sue Trump upends peace talks on California water wars

Rep. Cox’s bill may fund Friant-Kern Canal fix:  “The request for federal funding to fix the Friant-Kern Canal got a new voice this month.  Congressman T.J. Cox (D-CA) has introduced new legislation that would provide $200 million in funds to “provide for the restoration of the original carrying capacity of canals impacted by land subsidence, and for other purposes.”  Known as the Move Water Now Act, H.R. 5316 does not specifically name Friant-Kern Canal but does identify the money is to repair a 33-mile section of a canal delivering surface water to a million acres of farmland in Central California. South Valley water manager Dan Vink says the canal is not named in the legislation because of federal rules that don’t allow specific earmarks. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun Gazette here: Rep. Cox’s bill may fund Friant-Kern Canal fix

House sinks Hetch Hetchy boating proposal:  “The House has torpedoed a proposal to allow limited boating on Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park.  Critics feared the plan could introduce contaminants to the reservoir that supplies famously pure drinking water for 2.7 million people in the Bay Area. Boating on its waters has been banned for nearly a century. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: House sinks Hetch Hetchy boating proposal

Providing safe drinking water in the face of disasters: lessons from Lake County:  “Climate change is already affecting water management across the state. Small rural communities with ongoing drinking water challenges are especially vulnerable to greater extremes brought on by a warming climate. We talked to Jan Coppinger, a special district administrator from Lake County, about how the county’s small water systems have dealt with an especially devastating string of natural disasters. … ”  Read more from the PPIC here: Providing safe drinking water in the face of disasters: lessons from Lake County

Snow surveying with DWR’s Sean de Guzman:  “Every year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducts multiple manual snow surveys at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Data collected from the monthly snow surveys help determine the amount of water that will melt and run off to state reservoirs during warmer months.  Sean de Guzman is the newly-appointed chief of the Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting section. We sat down with him to get his take on DWR’s annual snow surveys and how the information gathered impacts water management in California. … “  Read more from DWR News here: Snow surveying with DWR’s Sean de Guzman

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is huge story in California, but newsrooms around the state aren’t paying attention to the details:  “One of the big challenges for the news business is how to cover California agriculture during a time when there are fewer journalists in newsrooms around the state. Agriculture remains a top industry in California, but coverage mostly revolves around water, environment and immigration.  Those are big stories, of course, but there are many other significant farm-related stories that are going uncovered. … ”  Read more from Fresno State Institute for Media and Public Trust here: Agriculture is huge story in California, but newsrooms around the state aren’t paying attention to the details

Peracchi steps down, Errotabere will lead Westlands Board:  “Don Peracchi announced Tuesday that he is stepping down early as president of the Westlands Water District’s Board. His term was to end in 2022.  The district’s board of directors subsequently elevated Daniel Errotabere from vice president to president by unanimous vote.  Errotabere takes command on Jan. 1. … ”  Read more from GV Wire here: Peracchi steps down, Errotabere will lead Westlands Board

Safe Harbor on the Hart: Ranching family looks to past for future of conservation:  “In the shadow of Mt. Shasta lies the Butte Creek Ranch, its alpine meadows carpeted in lush green grass sprinkled with colorful wildflowers and bordered by a mature forest. Cows and calves peacefully doze in a clearing as an eagle soars overhead.  For over 160 years, this summer scene has played out for six generations of the Hart family. Their ranching legacy began in 1852 when Louisa Hart arrived in the Shasta Valley with her two toddler sons to start a new life working the land. Recently, the Harts guaranteed the continuation of this legacy by working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a plan that balances their land use with conserving the rich natural resources of Butte Creek. ... ”  Read more from the US FWS here: Safe Harbor on the Hart: Ranching family looks to past for future of conservation

NATIONAL

The Energy 202: Andrew Wheeler says EPA doesn’t have a ‘war with California’:  “The Trump administration has stripped away its regulatory authority, threatened to cut its highway funding and called its dirty waterways a “significant public health concern.”  But it isn’t picking a fight with California.  That’s what Andrew Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, claimed about actions his office has taken recently when it comes to air and water pollution in the big blue state. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post here: The Energy 202: Andrew Wheeler says EPA doesn’t have a ‘war with California’

Microplastics million times more abundant in the ocean than previously thought:  “Nothing seems safe from plastic contamination. A new study by NSF-funded researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography suggests there could be a million times more pieces of plastic in the ocean than previously estimated.  Biological oceanographer Jennifer Brandon found some of the tiniest microplastics in seawater at much higher concentrations than previously measured. Her method showed that the traditional way of counting marine microplastics is likely missing the smallest particles, suggesting that the number of microplastics in the ocean is off by five to seven orders of magnitude. … ”  Read more from Water Online here: Microplastics million times more abundant in the ocean than previously thought

In regional news and commentary today …

Klamath: A ‘wait and see’ world for water users:  “The mood on the current water year forecast at Oregon Water Resources Department’s open house on Tuesday in Chiloquin was one of ‘wait and see’ until more information is available as early as January 2020.  The informal gathering was held as an exchange of resources and a chance to ask officials about water regulation on the Klamath Project and Upper Klamath Basin.  Ken Stahr is the program manager of surface water hydrology for OWRD, chairs the state’s Water Supply Availability Committee, and co-chairs the Drought Readiness Council. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News here: Klamath: A ‘wait and see’ world for water users

Butte County explores Miocene Canal, Paradise pipeline and sustainability in water workshop:  “Ed Cox was prepared to chastise the Butte County Board of Supervisors at the panel’s meeting Tuesday (Dec. 17) for what he called months of inaction regarding the Camp Fire-damaged Miocene Canal system.  Instead, Cox, a spokesman for the Miocene Canal Coalition, left the meeting encouraged.  The supervisors—led by a motion by Bill Connelly—voted unanimously to send a letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that points out the environmental impacts of the dried-up, PG&E-owned canal system and asks the department to respond. ... ”  Read more from the Chico News & Review here: Butte County explores Miocene Canal, Paradise pipeline and sustainability in water workshop

Sacramento: Construction to begin on $1.8 billion levee project:  “Crews have been getting ready to work on the levees around the Sacramento area and the first stage of construction will start on the east levee of the Sacramento River.  It is right next to thousands of homes and neighbors and most were grateful to see crews are working to prevent their homes from flooding.  Russell Yoshikawa moved to Sacramento’s Pocket neighborhood 31 years ago. ... ”  Read more from Fox News here: Construction to begin on $1.8 billion levee project

Putah Creek salmon numbers way down after Yolo Bypass pump failure:  “Only 41 adult salmon had been counted in Putah Creek by mid-December – a sharp decline officials blame on a pump failure in the Yolo Bypass that caused a delay in releasing water into the creek through the Los Rios Check Dam.  The Los Rios dam is located within the bypass about 3 miles east of Davis.  Rich Marovich, the streamkeeper for the Solano County Water Agency and Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee, had actually hoped that the delay in opening the dam would benefit the creek since the fall season had been so dry. … ”  Read more from the Daily Republic here: Putah Creek salmon numbers way down after Yolo Bypass pump failure

The precarious future of Treasure Island: rising seas and sinking land:  “Treasure Island is a man-made polygon of 400 acres constructed by engineers on a shallow reef in the middle of San Francisco Bay.  The low-lying island, as well as neighboring Yerba Buena island, are also the site of  a multibillion-dollar neighborhood development. The project calls for 8,000 new homes and condos that could house more than 20,000 people, 500 new hotel rooms, and over 550,000 square feet of commercial space.  But how will climate change affect these plans? ... ”  Read more from KQED here: The precarious future of Treasure Island: rising seas and sinking land

Map in new study shows impact of 4-foot sea-level rise on San Francisco Bay Area:  “Rising ocean waters will inundate coastal land areas in the future. Scientific research has repeatedly shown this to be an inevitable result of a changing climate.  A new report takes a close look at the impact of swelling waters in California and projects the coast could see a rise of a half-foot by 2030 and up to seven feet by 2100. Severe storm events and high tides will produce even higher increases. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Map in new study shows impact of 4-foot sea-level rise on San Francisco Bay Area

North SLO county groundwater management plan goes to state:  “San Luis Obispo County officials adopted a management plan for a portion of the county’s groundwater Tuesday. It’s a plan required under California’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act—or SGMA—a law that, for the first time in California’s history, placed rules on the use of groundwater, which supplies up to two-thirds of the state’s fresh water. The Paso Robles subbasin is one of the state’s most depleted underground water sources, after decades of overuse and mismanagement. … ”  Read more from KCBX here: North SLO county groundwater management plan goes to state

GSP workshop prompts insight, more questions:  “With the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority nearly a month away from approving a sustainability plan that will reshape groundwater production in the basin, the public was invited to a workshop Thursday to hear what exactly the plan will do.  The workshop was proctored by IWVGA acting general manager Don Zdeba, with Steve Johnson, president of Stetson Engineers and the authority’s water resources manager and Stetson’s Jeff Helsley providing information. … ”  Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here:  GSP workshop prompts insight, more questions

Kern’s groundwater agreement is just cover for the “pump club”:  “A coordination agreement approved Wednesday by the Kern Groundwater Authority is just cover for continued overpumping, according to the Buena Vista Groundwater Sustainability Agency, which has refused to sign on to the document.  That refusal could put the entire Kern subbasin into probationary status under the state’s new Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Probation comes with serious consequences, including a pumping plan imposed by the state and fees of $300 per well and $40 per acre foot pumped. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: Kern’s groundwater agreement is just cover for the “pump club”

Santa Clarita Valley Water addresses chemical concerns:  “Water workers responding to new state guidelines for a non-stick chemical explained to Santa Clarita Valley Water officials this week how they made necessary pipe connections recently to meet those guidelines and protect drinking water.  Mike Alvord, the agency’s director of operations and maintenance, updated agency board members Tuesday night on how the agency is dealing with a family of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, for short. … ”  Read more from The Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water addresses chemical concerns

Inland Empire: New leader selected at the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District:  “San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District did not have to look far to find its new General Manager. At its Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, after a statewide search for the best candidate to lead the regional water resource agency, Valley District’s Board of Directors announced the selection of Heather Dyer as its new General Manager. Ms. Dyer, who joined Valley District in 2014, is an experienced regional environmental planner who has been leading the District’s Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), a landscape-level planning effort that includes 11 water agencies in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The District’s current General Manager, Douglas D. Headrick, ends his ten-year run at the helm of Valley District, effective December 30, 2019. ... ”  Read more from Inland Empire here: New leader selected at the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

Imperial Beach presses forward on climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies:  “The state of New York may have suffered an emphatic defeat in a legal battle against ExxonMobil last week, but that has not deterred the city of Imperial Beach from pursuing its own lawsuit looking to force 18 energy companies in the oil and coal sectors to pay for damages associated with rising sea levels.  “We’re going full-speed ahead,” Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina said Monday. “The reality is the fossil fuel industry has caused climate change and they need to pay for it.” … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here:  Imperial Beach presses forward on climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies

Along the Colorado River …

The Colorado River is overcommitted.  This is how it all started.  “In the very early years of the 20th century, Western leaders had big dreams for growth, dreams tied to bringing water from the Colorado River across mountains and deserts.  In dividing up the river, they assigned more water to users than the system actually produces. The consequences of the so-called “structural deficit” are being felt today, as states sweat through difficult river diplomacy to prop up water levels in reservoirs. The Colorado River basin states have acknowledged this “structural deficit” for a while, but why did it happen in the first place?  … ”  Read more from KJZZ here:  The Colorado River is overcommitted.  This is how it all started.

Commentary: Can Arizona move past its crippling inaction on groundwater? Yes. Here’s how: The Arizona Republic writes, “Arizona is barreling toward a groundwater crisis – if it isn’t already facing one.  Aquifers across the state that took thousands of years to fill are depleting. An Arizona Republic analysis found that nearly 1 in 4 wells in the state’s groundwater monitoring program have dropped by at least 100 feet – a massive loss of water that experts say will likely never be replenished.  That has consequences. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Republic here: Commentary: Can Arizona move past its crippling inaction on groundwater? Yes. Here’s how

Precipitation watch …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

LETTER: Feinstein to California, Trump Administration: Work Together on California Water

STATE OF ESTUARY: Vital signs of the San Francisco Estuary fish community

SCIENCE NEWS: Bringing sea otters back to San Francisco Bay; 100 years of tiny seashells reveal alarming trend threatening West Coast seafood; Earthquake early warning system sends first public alert to smartphones in California; and more …

CA WATER PLAN eNEWS: ~~ Experts Needed~ GSP Workshops~ BOOST Program~ Restoration EIR~ Splash ~~

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Reclamation announces funding opportunity for small-scale water efficiency projects

THIS JUST IN … DWR Completes Prioritization of Groundwater Basins Under SGMA

THIS JUST IN … DWR Completes Prioritization of Groundwater Basins Under SGMA

NOTICE: Urban Water Supplier Monthly Water Conservation Report rulemaking: revised regulatory documents

 

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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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