Well-known Salton Sea origin story questioned by new research, suggesting it wasn’t ‘accidental’: “The origin of California’s largest lake is a well-known tale. In an attempt to turn the desert into lush farmland more than a century ago, humans tried — and temporarily but dramatically failed — to exert control over nature. … Being born from an engineering miscalculation on the part of the California Development Company means the Salton Sea has been written off as an “accident” in histories inked on many pages, ranging from The Washington Post to the Daily Mail. But that framing is too simplistic, new research suggests, arguing that the sea’s formation was inevitable, regardless of the famous canal breach in 1905. … ” Read more from The Desert Sun here: Well-known Salton Sea origin story questioned by new research, suggesting it wasn’t ‘accidental’
It’s time to plan for drier Western rivers: “A strange thing happens during particularly wet winters in California: farmers flood their fields. Never mind that crops are dormant and soil is already saturated — these farmers are more concerned about what lies beneath their land. Aquifers are the last line of defense against drought conditions. By flooding their fields in January, farmers hope to fill these underground reservoirs with water they can use in August. If a trio of recent studies prove accurate, one can expect to see this method deployed more regularly. Combined, the reports paint a bleak picture: Amid one of the worst droughts of the last 1,200 years, we’re seeing less reliable snowfall, which could dramatically affect agriculture in three key Western basins. Warmer temperatures mean winter precipitation will come more often as rain than snow — a change our current irrigation regime wasn’t built to withstand. … ” Read more from Bitterroot Magazine here: It’s time to plan for drier Western rivers
Beneficial rain to quench parched Northern California: “An abnormally dry and warm spring has led to widespread drought across Northern California and Oregon, but beneficial rain is expected to help quench the parched area early this week. Much of Northern California is currently experiencing moderate-to-severe drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor. Two Californian counties—Siskiyou and Trinity—are even in the midst of extreme drought, which is the second highest category assigned by the Drought Monitor. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Beneficial rain to quench parched Northern Calif., Oregon
Reclamation seeks input on proposed Friant-Kern Canal capacity fixes: “The Bureau of Reclamation and Friant Water Authority seek public input on alternatives to repair a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal in California’s eastern San Joaquin Valley. This stretch of canal has lost over half of its original capacity to convey water due to subsidence—a sinking of the earth from groundwater extraction. Friant Water Authority, the non-federal operating entity for the canal, is working with Reclamation to meet state and federal environmental law requirements for the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation seeks input on proposed Friant-Kern Canal capacity fixes
Poop tests in sewage might predict coronavirus surge: “Scientists across nation are examining Southern California’s poop — maybe even yours — with the hope of more quickly identifying COVID-19 hotspots and better preparing for future surges. The information could also signal when stay-at-home orders can be safely eased in specific communities. Untreated sewage has been used for years to track viruses as well as to analyze opioid use by neighborhood. Now the race is on to determine whether it can serve as an early warning system for the new coronavirus, particularly since the small fraction of the population receiving swab tests cannot capture the breadth of asymptomatic infections. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Poop tests in sewage might predict coronavirus surge
Delta Science Fellows 2020: “The Delta Science Program and California Sea Grant are pleased to announce ten recipients of the 2020 Delta Science Fellowship. Each fellowship provides up to two years of support to awardees to pursue research on key topics related to water management and ecosystem health in the San Francisco Bay-Delta. The early-career scientists work collaboratively with academic and community mentors to address priority issues identified in the 2017-2021 Science Action Agenda. California Sea Grant administers the fellowship program on behalf of the Delta Science Program. State Water Contractors provides additional financial commitment to support three fellows. The recipients include eight University of California (UC) postdoctoral researchers and doctoral graduate students, one California State University (CSU) masters student, and one doctoral student from Stanford University. … ” Read more at the Sea Grant webpage here: Delta Science Fellows 2020
Chat with Environmental Scientist Nicole Kwan on the Delta’s Native Fish: “Nicole Kwan is an environmental scientist with DWR’s Division of Environmental Services. Her work focuses on the aquatic ecology of the Delta, with emphasis on fish communities and food web productivity in the Yolo Bypass floodplain. Earlier this week, Nicole gave a live chat on native fish species as part of DWR’s “Water Wednesdays”. Check out her chat on our YouTube Channel. Read on to learn more about Nicole’s work with native fish species in the Delta, her thoughts on salmon, and her advice for current students in her field. … ” Continue reading at DWR News here: Chat with Environmental Scientist Nicole Kwan on the Delta’s Native Fish
Supreme Court: Climate change unleashes interstate water wars: “A looming Supreme Court showdown over water flows from the Pecos River may be the first in a rising swell of interstate water battles driven by climate change. The justices had been set to hear Texas v. New Mexico, a dispute over floodwaters that overwhelmed the Pecos River in 2014 and 2015, last month, but the court bumped oral arguments to next term in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Several other battles between states over water from rivers and aquifers could also soon make it to the nation’s highest bench, said Beveridge & Diamond PC principal John Cruden to an audience during a recent conference hosted by the Environmental Law Institute and American Law Institute. “Because of [climate change], we’re going to see more of these,” he said. “And they’re all going to be hard.” … ” Read more from E&E News here: Supreme Court: Climate change unleashes interstate water wars
Risk of COVID-19 transmission from wastewater higher than believed, study claims: “The novel coronavirus — which has infected over 3.9 million people worldwide — has been detected in wastewater, but researchers have been unclear about the transmission risks. Two water experts affiliated with Northwestern University have said the risks of waterborne transmission are higher than previously believed. They emphasize that the risks are only significant, however, in areas without adequate wastewater infrastructure. “New information on COVID-19 indicates that the virus infects the human GI tract and is excreted into sewage. Our assessments indicate that there is a risk of waterborne transmission of the coronavirus,” said Aaron Packman, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. ... ” Read more from Fox News here: Risk of COVID-19 transmission from wastewater higher than believed, study claims
Push for water infrastructure to be included in future COVID stimulus: “The $2.2 trillion COVID-19 stimulus packaged signed into law by President Trump in March conspicuously left out one thing we all depend on: water. No aid for the federal Bureau of Reclamation which manages water and infrastructure for water was provided in that stimulus package. It’s expected another stimulus package will be coming and there are those who are lobbying for water to be included in that stimulus package. ... ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Push for water infrastructure to be included in future COVID stimulus
The Trump Administration is reversing nearly 100 environmental rules. Here’s the full list. “After three years in office, the Trump administration has dismantled most of the major climate and environmental policies the president promised to undo. Calling the rules unnecessary and burdensome to the fossil fuel industry and other businesses, his administration has weakened Obama-era limits on planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and from cars and trucks, and rolled back many more rules governing clean air, water and toxic chemicals. Several major reversals have been finalized in recent weeks as the country has struggled to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. ... ” Read more from the New York Times here: The Trump Administration is reversing nearly 100 environmental rules. Here’s the full list.
Clean Water Act Update: SCOTUS’ new “functional equivalent” test and County of Maui vs. EPA’s new navigable waters protection rule: “The legal force of the federal Clean Water Act continues to move in unpredictable directions with as much frequency as the waters the Act regulates. On April 21 and 23, two waves of change crashed into each other when, respectively, EPA issued its Navigable Waters Protection Rule (85 Fed. Reg. 22250) stating the Act does not cover groundwater and then the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund (No. 18-260) that the Act does sometimes cover discharges to groundwater. ... ” Read more from Meyers Nave here: Clean Water Act Update: SCOTUS’ new “functional equivalent” test and County of Maui vs. EPA’s new navigable waters protection rule
A Delta Economy: Steve Baker writes, “California society leans heavily on the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to support life styles and the needs of the economy. Today, the focus is looking at commitment to a future that encourages a strengthened economy that maintains a resilient and healthy Delta. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.” Produced by Steven Baker, Operation Unite® Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Online at www.operationunite.co
Klamath: ‘A disaster on our hands’: “The Klamath Project had already been anticipating an extreme shortfall in available water in 2020 but is now facing a possible water shutoff by or before July. The water allocation of 140,000 acre feet for the Project announced in April will likely drop to a total 80,000 acre feet for the year, with an unofficial estimate of 55,000 acre feet left for the remainder of the irrigation season and potentially reaching the end of the water supply by or before July, according to Gene Souza, manager for the Klamath Irrigation District and Brad Kirby, manager and president of the Tulelake Irrigation District. For comparison, 350,000 acre feet is a full allocation for the Project. ... ” Read more from the Herald & News here: ‘A disaster on our hands’
North Coast resource partnership secures $13.6 million for 26 local projects: “A variety of integrated projects were approved by the North Coast Resource Partnership Policy Review Panel; a collaborative group comprised of county supervisors and Tribal leaders representing the tribal territories and seven counties of the North Coast region. Projects were selected based on their ability to provide multi-benefits to rural, economically disadvantaged communities with a focus on watershed function, forest health, public health, economic development, jobs and local revenue. Seven of the projects provide improved water storage and drought resiliency, 9 projects improve water system infrastructure, and 10 projects enhance watersheds, fisheries, forest health and protect communities from wildfire risk. ... ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: North Coast resource partnership secures $13.6 million for 26 local projects
Yuba Water Agency provides $2.2 million in funds for fish habitat, infrastructure and water supply reliability improvements: “The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors approved today more than $2.2 million for local and regional improvement projects. The funding will contribute to repairs at Ellis Lake and roads around New Bullards Bar Dam and Reservoir, support local irrigation districts with environmental planning, design and permitting costs, and advance fish habitat restoration while reducing flood risk on the Yuba River. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Yuba Water Agency provides $2.2 million in funds for fish habitat, infrastructure and water supply reliability improvements
West Marin nonprofit buys site for salmon habitat: “An Olema-based environmental group has purchased a Forest Knolls property for nearly $1 million, saying it could add a critical section of habitat for endangered coho salmon in the San Geronimo Creek watershed. The 4-acre property at 259 Castro St., purchased from Patricia Tompkins by the Turtle Island Restoration Network, has frontage to about a third of a mile to San Geronimo Creek and access to the confluence with Arroyo Creek. ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: West Marin nonprofit buys site for salmon habitat
Water project underway in Mission Trails Park: “The Water Authority is building a new flow regulatory structure to upgrade the untreated water system in the northwest area of Mission Trails Regional Park. When complete, the project will upgrade the untreated water system that delivers water to treatment plants that serve the central and southern areas of San Diego County. Construction is taking place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and will close some trails in the western portion of the park. Trail closure signs, including a park map showing alternate trails are posted to help park users navigate the trails. ... ” Read more from the Mission Times Courier here: Water project underway in Mission Trails Park
Desert mystery: Why have pronghorn antelope returned to Death Valley? “More than a century after railroads, ranchers and hunters vanquished their ancestors, pronghorn antelope are returning to this unforgiving expanse of desert along the California-Nevada border. A photo of a lone male and a harem of five does shared on Death Valley’s Facebook page in late April was only the latest indication that the American pronghorn, North America’s land speed champion, may be extending its migratory range into the Mojave Desert once again from cooler seas of sage nearly 100 miles to the north and east. “It’s not all gloom and doom, woohoo!” the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Assn. announced to wildlife advocates nationwide. “If nothing else, enjoy the feel-good photo and I hope you’re doing well.” ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Desert mystery: Why have pronghorn antelope returned to Death Valley?
Kyle Roerink and Steve Erickson: The tale of two pipelines for desert cities: “Nevadans and Utahns won a major economic and environmental victory in mid-April that will help protect air quality along the Wasatch Front and the Great Basin’s fragile water supply –– including Great Salt Lake. After weeks of deliberation, the Southern Nevada Water Authority declined to appeal a resounding rejection of its Las Vegas pipeline project by a Nevada District Court – essentially ending the 14-year legal fight over water applications in Nevada’s Spring, Cave, Dry Lake and Delamar Valleys (Spring Valley’s water ultimately flows into Great Salt Lake). ... ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Kyle Roerink and Steve Erickson: The tale of two pipelines for desert cities
- INPUT WANTED: Voluntary information request to inform proposed water loss performance standards
- FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Release of Draft Recommended Funding Lists for Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grants for Public Comment (Central Coast, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Joaquin River)
- NOTICE: Resources and Information on Water Shutoffs from the State Water Board
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.
