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- Delta Science Needs virtual discussion from 9:15am to 10:15am: In preparation for the Delta Science Needs workshop, the Delta Independent Science Board (Delta ISB) and Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee are launching a four-part virtual discussion series via Webex highlighting workshop topics. The April 28 discussion will kickoff a with an overview of what we know about climate change and the Delta and Suisun Marsh by Delta Lead Scientist Dr. John Callaway. Click here to join the discussion.
- ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING: Perchlorate detection limit for the purposes of reporting beginning at 9:30am: The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will conduct a public hearing during which time any interested person or such person’s duly authorized representative may present statements, arguments, or contentions (all of which are hereinafter referred to as comments) relevant to the perchlorate detection limit for the purposes of reporting. Click here for the full agenda and webcast instructions. Click here for the program page.
- CA Data Collaborative Quarterly Webinar from 10am to 12pm: Hear about the latest research out of Stanford University finding differences in household responses to emergency drought regulations, and the implications for customer outreach. Learn how to use water system simulation tools to model the impact of a changing water supply mix. Plus, see how a free open source programming language is being used to forecast water demand for long range reliability planning. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Algal Toxins from 11am to 12pm. Presented by the EPA. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: EPA’s EnviroAtlas from 11am to 12:30pm. This webinar will provide in-depth training on using the Interactive Map and Eco-Health Browser, accessing and downloading data, and using built-in-analysis tools. The webinar will also provide a brief overview of EnviroAtlas resources in general, including educational modules and real-world examples of data use. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: California Water 101 from 2pm to 3pm. During this webinar, Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation’s Executive Director, will discuss California’s historic and increasingly variable weather, what we are learning from latest climate research, and how we can adapt for extremes to create a sustainable water future for agriculture, communities, and the environment. Click here to register.
- FREE WEBINAR: What We Know: Communicating about Recycled Water in the Age of COVID-19 from 2pm to 3:30pm. Researchers at the forefront of this issue will join us for an informative update on what we know about recycled water and COVID-19, ongoing efforts to test recycled water and build data, and the opportunities that exist for the water reuse sector to take a proactive role in environmental surveillance. Click here to register.
Trump opens floodgates, and acrimony swamps Calif.: “On the campaign trail in 2016, President Trump swung into California’s agricultural hub and vowed to deliver more water to the drought-ridden state’s farmers. “We’re going to solve your water problem,” he declared at a May 2016 rally in Fresno. Three years into his administration, Trump is now opening the floodgate to deliver on that promise, setting up the most intense water war between the federal government and California in the state’s history. “There isn’t precedent for this type of acrimony,” said Jerry Meral, who served as a top water aide to Gov. Jerry Brown (D) during his administrations in the 1970s-1980s and 2000s. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Trump opens floodgates, and acrimony swamps Calif.
Fair water: New research looks at farmers’ perception of fairness in SGMA implementation: “Fairness – or at least the perception of fairness – could play a determining role in the future of California’s groundwater, according to new research. The study, published in Society and Natural Resources, evaluated 137 surveys of Yolo County farmers to gauge their perceptions of fairness for groundwater allocation strategies and dispute resolution options. As required by the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in January of 2020, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) of critically over-drafted water basins submitted plans to sustainably manage groundwater pumping and allow for basin recharge within the next 20 years. These plans, which inevitably include stricter allocation of groundwater and pumping limits, directly impact farmers of the nation’s largest agricultural state. ... ” Read more from Stanford’s Water in the West here: Fair water: New research looks at farmers’ perception of fairness in SGMA implementation
Fishing and conservation groups send letter, say Westlands federal water contract deal is illegal: Restore the Delta writes, “Conservation and fishing organizations sent a letter today to the Department of the Interior regarding the awarding of a permanent contract for water Westlands Water District. A Final Modified Contract was executed on February 28, 2020, without public notice, will provide the Westlands with a base allocation of 12 million acre-feet over the first 10 years. This is the largest water services contract managed by Reclamation and will have major impacts on the environment. This Final Modified Contract is riddled with gaps and undisclosed provisions. Millions of dollars to be repaid by Westlands are deleted without explanation. Sections of the proposed contract are missing and others remain undisclosed. Attachments are identified and referenced, but withheld and undisclosed. The true amount of water to be provided is not disclosed to water users in the Delta, North of the Delta, South of the Delta, the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. True costs and subsidies are misrepresented or just omitted.” Read full letter.
Sites Reservoir being adjusted for efficiency: “The Sites Project Authority plans to recirculate an environmental document for the proposed Sites Reservoir after project leaders modified plans recently to right size the project proposed for Colusa and Glenn counties. The reservoir capacity will be reduced from 1.8 million acre feet capacity to from 1.3 to 1.5 million acre feet. … ” Read more from the Glenn County Transcript here: Sites Reservoir being adjusted for efficiency
One way to monitor a community’s coronavirus infections: raw sewage: “Ten Bay Area counties, coordinated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, are giving samples of sewage water to researchers at Stanford for testing. The scientists have received samples once a week for about the past two months, and results are expected soon. The virus begins to show up in feces soon after infection, and according to some studies, well before the development of symptoms. That’s a pretty early warning compared to one given by, say, a diagnostic test. … ” Read more from KQED here: One way to monitor a community’s coronavirus infections: raw sewage
Dangerous choice: Swelter in quarantine or risk contagion: “Summer arrived early for parts of the Southwest last weekend, as a heat wave sizzled across Southern California and into neighboring states. Temperatures in downtown Los Angeles climbed into the 90s. And Phoenix broke 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, a record for daily heat on April 26. Both cities made the decision to open up cooling centers around town — air-conditioned public buildings where residents without AC can shelter from the heat. It’s a common public health service across the country during the summer. But this year, it’s a risky business. Congregating in cool public spaces may reduce the risk of heatstroke — but it may also put people at risk of spreading the new coronavirus. ... ” Read more from E&E News here: Dangerous choice: Swelter in quarantine or risk contagion
Some Klamath Project irrigators protest Reclamation’s use of water: “Some Klamath Project water users on Sunday and Monday protested the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s use of water at the Link River Dam, at one point voicing plans to stay near the dam until Reclamation followed Oregon water law. Irrigators took their personal property and belongings from the area by Monday afternoon, following the ramp down of flows on the Link River Dam by Bureau of Reclamation officials. The protest started Sunday evening with upwards of 30 irrigators gathering near the entrance to the dam, which is owned by Reclamation and used to regulate Upper Klamath Lake levels and Klamath River flows at the direction of Reclamation. At issue was whether Reclamation is following Oregon water law in doing so. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Some Klamath Project irrigators protest Reclamation’s use of water
In effort to save money, many Napans not paying water bills: “A growing number of Napa residents are leaving their water bills unpaid, a trend city officials say is a likely indicator of the economic uncertainty sparked by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “Like most economic data points, you never want to read into one single point too deep,” Finance Director Bret Prebula said. “That said, with the unemployment rate continuing to rise it is safe to say that has a general impact on individuals’ ability to pay their bills, which includes their water bill.” … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: In effort to save money, many Napans not paying water bills
Work to protect Sonoma beaver lodge begins: “To prevent flooding and manage water levels in a Sonoma creek, a pond leveler will be installed where a family of beavers is living, Sonoma County Water Agency officials said. The pond leveler will help water transfer through the beaver dam so that the pond doesn’t cause flooding. It will also assist with maintaining the habitat for the beavers, said David Cook, senior environmental specialist at Sonoma County Water Agency. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: Work to protect Sonoma beaver lodge begins
Redondo Beach: State Water Board urged to not extend once-through-cooling deadline: “Elected officials from the Redondo Beach area and others urged California water control officials to not adopt a staff proposal to extend the compliance deadline for once-through-cooling regulations for AES’ Redondo Beach plant, which is being considered along with three other natural gas-fired plants and the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. “There is no more wrong location for this site,” Mary Campbell, mayor of nearby Hermosa Beach, told the State Water Resources Control Board during a workshop held via videoconference on April 21. She called the nearly 70-year-old power plant, which looms near the sands of the beach community, “total blight.” ... ” Read more from California Energy Markets here: State Water Board urged to not extend once-through-cooling deadline
South Orange County water reservoir, dam project still moving forward: “A water dam and reservoir under construction on land acquired from Rancho Mission Viejo has not been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Deputy General Manager Don Bunts. Recent rainfall, however, has affected the Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir project, which intends to store recycled water. Work on the project restarted on Monday, April 27, after being delayed for a few weeks, Bunts said. ... ” Read more from the Capistrano Dispatch here: South Orange County water reservoir, dam project still moving forward
Arizona groundwater pumping a serious concern for water association: “Spring rains have helped increase water reserves in Maricopa County. But long-term concerns about preserving the state’s most precious resource are still top of mind for conservationists and public policy influencers such as the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA). … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Arizona groundwater pumping a serious concern for water association
BLOG ROUND-UP: Exports and salvage at the pumps; Water policy and agriculture; Tunnel planning marches forward; Striped bass; Beaver dams; and more …
NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: Draft Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Consultation Period Opens for the 2020 Public Access Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN)
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.
