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California canals damaged by sinking soil, groundwater pumping. New bills aim to help: “Democratic congressman from Fresno introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to repair aging canals and water infrastructure in California that’s been damaged by sinking ground levels – called subsidence, caused by groundwater pumping. “The canals on the eastside and the westside are experiencing dramatic subsidence and therefore their capacity to move water has greatly diminished,” said Rep. Jim Costa during a news conference Monday before the backdrop of the central San Joaquin Valley’s Friant Dam, just outside Fresno. “What does my legislation do? It provides an authorization of $400 million for repairs to the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal on the westside.” ... ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: California canals damaged by sinking soil, groundwater pumping. New bills aim to help
Congressmen working to find ways to repair aging California canals: “Canals that move water through the state are showing signs of aging. The Delta-Mendota Canal was built in 1951, while the California Aqueduct was built in 1963. You can find cracks in the canal system due to subsidence. The land is sinking in some areas due to years of groundwater over-pumping. “I think we’ve fallen woefully behind when it comes to maintaining infrastructure as we’ve seen in growing populations,” says Cannon Michael. “We also have the continued climatic changes that we’re seeing. All the more reason to make these investments.” … ” Read more from KFSN here: 🔓 Congressmen working to find ways to repair aging California canals
Tribal members and youth ask for north state hearings and river protection at Sacramento: “Today Northern California Tribal members, supporters, and members of the Hoopa High School water protector club traveled to Sacramento to ask the state of California to protect the Trinity and Sacramento Rivers, and to schedule meetings in Northern California on the Governor’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project. The group said the fact that the Delta Tunnel hearings are only occurring in the Southern part of the state and started even before the comment period ended on the water portfolio demonstrates that the governor needs to take more public feedback before moving forward on large, environmentally damaging water projects. … ” Read more from IndyBay here: 🔓 Tribal members and youth ask for north state hearings and river protection at Sacramento
Fighting sea level rise the natural way: Lori Pottinger writes, “How will rising seas affect the state’s freshwater ecosystems, and what role do these systems play in managing the coming changes? We talked to Letitia Grenier—a member of the PPIC Water Policy Center research network and a senior scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute—about this issue. PPIC: How will sea level rise affect California’s freshwater systems? LETITIA GRENIER: We tend to think of climate change as causing a slow, linear rise in sea level, but it’s definitely not always gradual. Depending on a host of local and global factors, we could see quick changes and sudden jumps in sea level. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: 🔓 Fighting sea level rise the natural way
Some droughts are ‘perfect.’ here’s why: “A “perfect drought” happens when major sources of water all experience drought at the same time. It was behind California’s dry spell early last decade, and a new study shows they go back centuries. Connie Woodhouse and David Meko, professors at the University of Arizona’s Laboratory of Tree Ring Research, found the most recent span of 100 years, when five perfect droughts hit California, was not unusual compared to past centuries. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: 🔓 Some droughts are ‘perfect.’ here’s why
Experts tell California lawmakers carbon neutrality is feasible: “Experts told California lawmakers Monday the state’s lofty goal of carbon neutrality is attainable and affordable through a sweeping plan centered around converting trash to energy, trapping and burying carbon dioxide and restoring wetlands and forests. George Peridas of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory testified during an oversight hearing the state can meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045 for under $10 billion per year – less than 1% of the state’s gross domestic product. … ” Read more from Courthouse News Service here: 🔓 Experts tell California lawmakers carbon neutrality is feasible
Updated February Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center: “A few updates have been made to the February outlook from the previous forecast issued in the middle of January. The eastern third of the nation is now expected to see warmer than normal weather, along with the Southwest. Below average temperatures are forecast in the High Plains. … ” Read more from the Weather Nation here: 🔓 Updated February Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center
Indigenous tribes are at the forefront of climate change planning in the U.S. “Temperatures in Idaho’s Columbia, Snake, and Salmon rivers were so warm in 2015 that they cooked millions of salmon and steelhead to death. As climate change leads to consistently warmer temperatures and lower river flows, researchers expect that fish kills like this will become much more common. Tribal members living on the Nez Perce reservation are preparing for this new normal. “The biggest and most poignant impact for Nez Perce tribal members has been the loss of fishing and fish,” said Stephanie Krantz, the climate change coordinator for the tribe. “For tribal peoples, they are absolutely essential for survival.” … ” Read more from the Grist here: 🔓 Indigenous tribes are at the forefront of climate change planning in the U.S.
Vegetated wall becomes flood barrier for reconstructed levee: “To meet federal requirements for flood mapping of levee-protected areas, a levee reconstruction project for the Indianapolis Southport Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) plant was planned along Little Buck Creek. The levee reconstruction was part of a more extensive Deep Rock Tunnel Connector project—one of the largest combined sewer overflow projects for the city of Indianapolis. To protect the Southport AWT plant and wastewater processing pond from a 500-year flood event from an adjacent creek and river, a vegetated retaining wall system allowed the city to maintain the levee elevation by opening up the creek’s water capacity. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions here: 🔓 Vegetated wall becomes flood barrier for reconstructed levee
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation: A joint commitment to the nation’s water infrastructure (press release, new report): “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation recently released The State of the Infrastructure: A Joint Report by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The two agencies have a long history of collaboration to construct, operate and maintain the nation’s crucial water-related infrastructure. National water-related infrastructure provides water supply, hydroelectric power generation, navigation, flood control, recreation and other benefits. Combined, the Army Corps and Reclamation oversee and manage more than 1,200 dams, 153 hydroelectric power plants, over 5,000 recreation areas, 25,000 miles of navigable waterways and tens of thousands of miles of canals and other water conveyance infrastructure. Those facilities provide enough water for 130 million people and irrigation for 10 million acres of farmland. And, combined hydroelectric power plants generate renewable electricity for 10 million homes. … ” Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers here: 🔓 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation: A joint commitment to the nation’s water infrastructure
Attorney General Becerra urges EPA to protect communities and water supplies from dangerous PFAS “forever chemicals” (press release): “California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, as part of an 18-state coalition, filed a comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to list per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (collectively, PFAS) on EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The TRI tracks toxic chemicals that pose a threat to human health and the environment and requires annual reporting of how much of each toxic chemical is released into the environment. PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals widely used in consumer products including nonstick cookware, water- and wrinkle-resistant clothing, and food packaging, as well as in firefighting foam. PFAS chemicals do not break down in the environment and as a result, these “forever chemicals” accumulate in human bodies. PFAS chemicals have been shown to cause adverse health effects including developmental defects, kidney cancer, liver damage, and impacts on the thyroid and immune system. … ” Read more from the Attorney General’s office here: 🔓 Attorney General Becerra urges EPA to protect communities and water supplies from dangerous PFAS “forever chemicals”
EPA at 50: EPA celebrates progress in protecting America’s waters (press release): “As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 50th anniversary commemoration, the agency is kicking off a month-long look at progress in protecting America’s waters. This month the agency will highlight its efforts related to protecting America’s waters, including clean water infrastructure, safe drinking water, surface water protection, and emerging challenges. “In honor of EPA’s 50th anniversary, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the progress we have made in protecting our nation’s waters to help support our health, our environment and our economy,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Dave Ross. “This week, we are highlighting the agency’s investment in water infrastructure projects that provide current and future generations with a healthier environment and stronger economy.” ...” Read more from EPA here: EPA at 50: 🔓 EPA celebrates progress in protecting America’s waters
Trump Administration eyes changes to environmental enforcement: “The White House issued a notice today seeking input on efforts to “reform enforcement” — a potential boon for the energy industry. The Office of Management and Budget notice follows the “transparency and fairness” executive order last fall that Trump administration officials described as a way to protect Americans from “secretive” bureaucratic interpretation or unjust penalties, particularly in environmental cases. They stressed extreme examples of landowners building on federally protected wetlands and being hit with steep fines. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: 🔓 Trump Administration eyes changes to environmental enforcement
New WOTUS rule clarifies Clean Water Act jurisdiction, awaits litigation: “On January 23, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized a long-awaited new rule redefining the term “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Agencies state that their so-called Navigable Waters Protection Rule will improve and streamline the regulatory definition of WOTUS. The Final Rule focuses on four specific categories of CWA-jurisdictional waters (compared to six in the December 2018 Proposed Rule) and clearly articulating the exclusions applicable to non-jurisdictional water features. Like the Proposed Rule, the Final Rule adheres to the Justice Scalia test from the Supreme Court’s 2006 non-decision in Rapanos, in lieu of that case’s far broader Justice Kennedy’s “significant nexus” test. The Final Rule will take effect 60 days after the Agencies publish it in the Federal Register for public comment, after which the latest string of WOTUS litigation is expected. … ” Read more from the National Law Review here: 🔓 New WOTUS rule clarifies Clean Water Act jurisdiction, awaits litigation
City of Willits invites public input on Groundwater Management Plan: “The public is invited to provide input on the Little Lake Valley Groundwater Basin Management Plan during a workshop held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Willits City Hall. The goal of the plan is to collect information and compile a comprehensive summary regarding the groundwater in the Little Lake Valley in order to manage the City’s resources for generations to come. According to the City of Willits website, “The preparation of a Groundwater Management Plan is required as part of the conditions of the half million-dollar Proposition 1 grant funding that the City will receive from California Department of Water Resources to construct the next phase of the groundwater project.” … ” Read more from the Willits News here: City of Willits invites public input on Groundwater Management Plan
Marin officials hopeful for state climate funding infusion: “Californians might be asked to decide on a multi-billion dollar bond measure in November to bolster the state’s defenses against wildfires, drought, sea level rise, habitat loss and other climate-related impacts. Marin County officials are tracking the various versions of measures proposed in the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget as they could provide an infusion of cash for local climate and fire projects. “All of them are extremely necessary,” Jack Liebster, a planning manager for the Marin County Community Development Agency, said of the bond funds. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin officials hopeful for state climate funding infusion
Paso Robles: Groundwater sustainability plan, first annual report available for review: “The Paso Robles Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) has been posted to the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Portal. The public comment period for the GSP is open until April 15, 2020. Access the posted GSP and submit public comments here: https://sgma.water.ca.gov/portal/gsp/preview/35 … ” Read more from Paso Robles Daily News here: 🔓 Groundwater sustainability plan, first annual report available for review
Navy breaks ground on $154 million project at Seal Beach to reconfigure Anaheim Bay, replace ammunition pier: “The U.S. Navy recently broke ground on the first phase of a $154 million construction project to reconfigure Anaheim Bay and replace a World War II-era ammunition pier at Naval Weapon Station Seal Beach. For the first time, the planned pier and causeway will be able to accommodate 844-foot-long amphibious assault ships or simultaneously service two guided-missile destroyers. “That’s very important if you need to move a lot of ships overseas,” Navy spokesperson Gregg Smith said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Navy breaks ground on $154 million project at Seal Beach to reconfigure Anaheim Bay, replace ammunition pier
Poway might reimburse residents, businesses for week of water restrictions: “The Poway City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to issue rebates on water bills to compensate residents and business for losses stemming from the contamination crisis late last year. In late November, stormwater contaminated the city’s water supply and people were told not to drink water for nearly a week. Now the city is looking to reimburse residents and businesses for the interruption. ... ” Read more from KPBS here: Poway might reimburse residents, businesses for week of water restrictions
Maybe the old Lake Wohlford Dam isn’t so bad, after all? “Plans to replace the Lake Wohlford dam are now on hold as Escondido investigates other, less expensive options because the projected cost of the project has escalated to more than $50 million. It was nearly 13 years ago when state inspectors determined that the top quarter of the dam might liquefy in the event of a major earthquake and potentially flood eastern Escondido. ... ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune here: Maybe the old Lake Wohlford Dam isn’t so bad, after all?
Imperial Valley conservation efforts benefit San Diego, Southwest: “The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors visited the Imperial Valley January 30 for a day-long tour that highlighted areas critical to the agency’s Regional Conveyance System Study. Board members approved a study in July 2019, to evaluate a new regional water conveyance system that would deliver water from the Colorado River to San Diego County and provide multiple benefits across the Southwest. The Board will hear results from the first phase of the study this spring before deciding whether to move ahead with Phase B. ... ” Read more from the Water News Network here: 🔓 Imperial Valley Conservation Efforts Benefit San Diego, Southwest
- GUEST COMMENTARY (REBUTTAL): Ecologists see little difference between unimpaired and (truly) functional approaches to flow
- BLOG ROUND-UP: Water policy direct from Governor Newsom; Defining “resilience principles”; Hatchery steelhead smolts released just in time to chow down on baby salmon; The ecology of truth, trust, and hope; and more …
- FREE WEBINARS: Storm Water Solutions 2020 Spring Webinar Fest
Image credit: CA streamflow assessment map, courtesy of Belize Lane. From this paper: Lane, B. A., Dahlke, H. E., Pasternack, G. B., & Sandoval‐Solis, S. (2017). Revealing the diversity of natural hydrologic regimes in California with relevance for environmental flows applications. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 53(2), 411-430.
