DAILY DIGEST, 3/25: Farms, feathers, and fins share water in CA; The Delta moves forward with National Heritage Area designation; While some have 5%, Oakdale ID has surplus to sell; Drought is back, but nobody wants to hear it from Newsom; and more …


On the calendar today …

MEETING: The Delta Stewardship Council will meet beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a recap of the recent Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee, the Delta Lead Scientist Report, an update on the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, and an update on the Recreation and Tourism Update to the Economic Sustainability Plan.  Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.

FREE WEBINAR: Fish passage restoration and permitting from 10am to 11:30am.  The California Fish Passage Advisory Committee is hosting a webinar 25 March from 10am to 11:30am on Restoration Permitting. The webinar will include an overview of permitting tools, important elements of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Habitat Restoration Program and Enhancement Act (including best practices), and restoration permitting for large projects, and State Water Resources Control Board’s Small Habitat Restoration Program. At the conclusion of the presentation, there will be time for questions and answers.  Click here to register.

WEBINAR: Incorporating Flood Resilience into Green Infrastructure Programs from 11am to 12:30pm.  This presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities for integrating water quality green infrastructure programs into water quantity climate and flood resiliency initiatives. By bringing together both green infrastructure and climate resiliency projects, this presentation will highlight commonalities to understand how different organizations are innovating on these initiatives and finding ways to foster integration across these related but often-separated sectors.  Click here for more information and to register.

FREE WEBINAR: Web development via the lens of data visualization from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.  Michelle Tang will introduce the world of web development (and programming with JavaScript) via the lens of data visualization.  Presented by the State Water Board’s College of Water InformaticsClick here to register.

In California water news today …

Farms, feathers, and fins share water in California

” … The rivalry between farms and wildlife for water and land was long seen as a zero-sum game, especially in California where water is such a precious commodity that the state’s water futures are traded on the stock exchange. That competition has been particularly sharp in the Central Valley: 95% of the region’s historic wetlands have transformed into farmland, and the region’s increasingly scarce water supply has been prioritized for farming. As a result, some of the migratory birds that rely on the Central Valley for habitat, food, and water sources have seen steep declines in the past century.  But a consortium of conservation groups has proven the farm-versus-wildlife dichotomy false. … ”  Read more from Grist here:  Farms, feathers, and fins share water in California

Toward Reclamation:  An imperiled region where five major waterways converge steps forward thanks to a new National Heritage Area designation

” … Covering an area the size of Rhode Island, the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta is an inland delta formed by the confluence of five major waterways, including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It stretches from just east of the San Francisco Bay north to Sacramento and south to Stockton and drains more than 50 percent of the state of California. It is also a highly engineered landscape, made up of winding canals, earthen levees, and terraced agricultural fields. Roads follow the sinuous levees, forming what, from the air, appears as a convoluted puzzle pieced together over eons by a deranged dissectologist.  The delta’s present-day morphology is the product of one of the largest land reclamation projects in U.S. history. … ”  Read more from Landscape Architecture here: Toward Reclamation

Some water suppliers have just 5% amid drought. Oakdale district has surplus to sell

The winter just ended has been especially dry, but the effects vary widely for farm water suppliers in and near Stanislaus County.  The Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts actually have surpluses to sell thanks to storage in New Melones Reservoir from 2020.  They have lined up buyers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, where some districts can expect just 5% allotments from the federal and state canal systems. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee here:  Some water suppliers have just 5% amid drought. Oakdale district has surplus to sell

California’s drought is back, but nobody wants to hear it from Newsom

“California’s drought conditions might normally prompt calls for shorter showers and shutting off sprinklers.  But Californians are in no mood to hear it after a year of pandemic deprivation. Especially from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is facing an almost certain recall election after imposing multiple rounds of business closures and constantly telling residents to stay home.  “The governor’s in a very tricky situation,” said Darry Sragow, a longtime California Democratic strategist. While Newsom may be considering drought controls, “I’m sure he’s hearing voices telling him that Californians can only tolerate so much pain and suffering.” … ”  Read more from Politico here: California’s drought is back, but nobody wants to hear it from Newsom

California vineyards prepare for 2021 drought conditions

With California facing drought conditions in 2021 following a 2020 growing season that was one of the driest and warmest in recent history, University of California (UC) crop water management and irrigation specialists provided advice to Lodi winegrape growers during two March workshops to help manage irrigation this season. Growers are advised to begin irrigation early for proper canopy growth and fruit set, use available technologies to monitor water status and efficiently apply irrigation, and monitor soils and irrigation water for salinity levels. … ”  Read more from Wine Business here: California vineyards prepare for 2021 drought conditions

The Ridiculously Resilient Ridge returns…again

Daniel Swain writes, “The 2020-2021 “rainy season” to date has, in fact, turned out to be exceptionally dry across portions of California. I think this probably slipped in under the radar, given everything else that has transpired in the world over the past few months, but some parts of northern California (including the SF North Bay, Mendocino County, and much of the central/northern Sacramento Valley) are currently experiencing their driest season since the 1976-1977 drought (and a few places are running behind even that infamous season). This is doubly concerning as these same regions experienced a top-5 driest winter on record just last year–so this is now year two of exceptionally low precipitation in these areas. All of this is amplified by the prolonged periods of record high temperatures and drying offshore winds last year–both of which reduced water availability beyond what would be expected from precipitation deficits alone. … ”  Read the article at Weather West here: The Ridiculously Resilient Ridge returns…again

SGMA video series now available in three languages

The Water and Land Use Series of videos is now available in Hmong as well as English and Spanish. The videos provide insight on how the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is taking shape. PhD Candidate at UC Merced, Vicky Espinoza has been working on the videos for several months. ... ”  Read more from Ag Net West here: SGMA video series now available in three languages

West Coast waters show evidence of improved productivity in 2020

A new report provides a snapshot of the health of the California Current ecosystem. With the system shifting from a warmer El Niño to a cooler La Niña-influenced system, the ecosystem may become more productive. COVID-19 made collecting this evidence and indicator data more difficult, so NOAA researchers teamed up with non-profit, university, state, and commercial partners. Together, we assembled data into a picture of the ecosystem’s current state. … ”  Read more from NOAA Fisheries here:  West Coast waters show evidence of improved productivity in 2020

Water war continues to affect salmon run

The upcoming salmon season doesn’t look promising for recreational and commercial fishermen on the Coastside. But environmentalists from the Central Valley are hoping to change that in the future by easing the movement of salmon between the Pacific Ocean and inland rivers. One of those rivers is the Tuolumne River. Its stewards at the Tuolumne River Trust are sounding the alarm over the river’s health and say that committing more water to this distant river will help the salmon populations more than 100 miles away in places like Coastside fisheries. … ”  Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review here: Water war continues to affect salmon run

2020 (mega) wildfire season

Nearly half of the 2020 Creek Fire, the largest in the modern history of the Sierra Nevada, burned at high severity. The amount, size, and arrangement of high-severity fire in 2020 appears to be unlike anything the region has experienced in the past.  Almost one million acres burned in the Sierra Nevada in 2020, which is more than double the previous record set in 2018. Although the amount of fire grabs headlines, more concerning is the type and distribution of these fires. The Creek, North Complex, and SQF fires were three of the five largest Sierra Nevada fires in the last 100 years, and each fire left behind large areas where all, or nearly all, vegetation was killed. … ”  Continue reading at the Sierra Nevada Conservancy here: 2020 (mega) wildfire season

Costa, colleagues urge Biden administration to utilize science to prevent & respond to wildfires

Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) along with colleagues, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, joined 47 members of Congress in urging the Biden Administration to “go big” on funding for science-based strategies to prevent and respond to destructive wildfires.  “Significant investment in research and development will greatly improve our ability to predict, plan, and rebuild from wildfires through the procurement of new scientific tools to enhance detection systems, development of new technologies, advancement of modeling capabilities, and improvement of understanding in fire behavior and the changing climate,” wrote the lawmakers. “We have seen promising evidence that improved forecasting will allow for increased warning times for evacuating communities and safer and more effective firefighting operations, improved fire risk models will reduce the frequency and limit the scope of public safety power shutoff events, and improved building and zoning standards in the wildland urban interface will mitigate property damage by wildfires.”  Continue reading at Congressman Jim Costa’s website here: Costa, colleagues urge Biden administration to utilize science to prevent & respond to wildfires

Scientists nail climate links to extreme events

While a supermajority of Americans finally believe we are warming the world, a 2020 Yale Climate Opinion survey shows that most people still aren’t very worried about it. “Climate change is abstract to them,” says UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. “They don’t connect it to their personal lives.”  But Californians do. Reeling from a decade of record-shattering drought, heat waves, and wildfires, people in the Golden State overwhelmingly tell Public Policy Institute of California pollsters that the effects of global warming have already begun. Indeed, Swain confirms, researchers can now link climate change with some of today’s extreme events beyond a reasonable doubt. … ”  Read more from Estuary News here: Scientists nail climate links to extreme events

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In commentary today …

New priorities needed for California’s next drought

Darius Waiters, member of the Climate Water Team with Restore the Delta, and Brandon Dawson, policy advocate with Sierra Club California, write, “A series of key decisions await Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state heads back into a potential drought.  So this seems like the right moment to review what happened last time: Water was prioritized for big agriculture at the expense of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, endangered species and California communities. The State Water Board, in a review of the drought of 2014-15, found operations “not sustainable.” We hope Newsom will prevent a repeat of that disaster by setting new priorities for a prolonged drought: Protecting the human right to water for drinking and sanitation, protecting public health for those who live adjacent to our rivers, and protecting endangered species.  … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: New priorities needed for California’s next drought

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NorCal: Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes distinguished as a National Natural Landmark

Photo by Andrea Pickart / USFWS

After decades of hard work by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, volunteers, tribes and partners, and after two previous efforts in the ’80s and ’90s, the Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes were finally recognized as a National Natural Landmark on January 19, 2021.  Managed by the Service and the Bureau of Land Management, the dunes are located west of Arcata in northwestern California, within the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Ma-le’l Dunes Cooperative Management Area. The site includes a diverse array of native vegetation and is known for several species of rare flora.  “Being recognized nationally really validates all the restoration work we’ve been doing in the dunes,” said Andrea Pickart, Service coastal ecologist for the refuge, of the efforts to remove invasive European beach grass and other species. “It is really exciting.” … ”  Read more from the US FWS here: Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes distinguished as a National Natural Landmark

NorCal: Rebuilding Big Basin

At midnight on August 18, 2020, as the CZU Lightning Fire consumed Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Sara Barth’s phone rang. At the other end of the line came an appeal from an acquaintance: “Promise me you’ll make sure that they stay true to the iconic architecture and that they’ll rebuild Big Basin!” … In the aftermath of the devastation, conservation organizations, Indigenous leadership, outdoor equity activists, and California State Parks have agreed that there must be a new way forward. Big Basin was a pioneer as the first California State Park; now, the various groups working on rebuilding it hope it can be a pioneer again as a new model for the next century of state parks. ... ”  Read more from Bay Nature here: NorCal: Rebuilding Big Basin

NorCal: Beavers make good neighbors

Much like when tech money reshapes an historical neighborhood, a beaver’s move downtown can cause the locals to worry. In Napa, the animals’ sprawling waterfront complexes create worrying pools along the riverbank, while the native cottonwoods are whittled down and threaten landowners’ roofs. It seems destined that two species known for their environmental engineering would struggle to live in unison. However, municipalities like Napa and Martinez in Contra Costa County have learned to live with their beavers, and the upcoming California Beaver Summit aims to set the record straight. … ”  Read more from Estuary News here: Beavers make good neighbors

Point Reyes: Private tests show bad water quality near park ranches

Water quality testing commissioned by two groups lobbying for the end of ranching in the Point Reyes National Seashore shows fecal contamination exceeding federal recreational standards in several waterways feeding the Pacific Ocean. In response, seashore personnel point to their nearly finalized general management amendment, which requires water quality improvements. … ”  Read more from the Point Reyes Light here:  Private tests show bad water quality near park ranches

Marin water suppliers nearing decision on drought measures

Following two dry winters in a row, the state and Marin County water agencies plan to take more drastic actions in the coming weeks in the face of what could be the second prolonged drought in a decade.  With rain levels at record lows in some areas, stirring thoughts of the 1976-1977 drought, Marin water suppliers plan to decide next month whether to enact mandatory conservation orders similar to those of the five-year drought in 2013-2017. ... ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here:  Marin water suppliers nearing decision on drought measures

Huge wetlands restoration project begins in Contra Costa County

A massive wetlands restoration project getting underway in the East Bay aims to fix a longtime problem in Martinez.  On Tuesday, Contra Costa County approved an $11 million contract to restore the wetlands at the mouth of Walnut Creek.  It’s the largest such project in the county’s history. Officials say this time, they intend to do it right. … ”  Read more from CBS San Francisco here:  Huge wetlands restoration project begins in Contra Costa County

East Bay: Nourishing Encinal Beach

Before the East Bay Regional Park District completed the Encinal Dune Restoration and Shoreline Stabilization Project in December 2020, this tucked-away beach frequented by locals and harbor seal enthusiasts needed some love. The ice plant that dominated the low-flung dune offered little sustenance to fauna; the beach required more sand; the washed-up creosote-treated timber was strewn about like a giant game of pick-up sticks; and the large, rusty barge that buttressed a short section of the San Francisco Bay Trail had become dangerous. … To improve this locally loved site, East Bay Parks came up with a plan to “nourish” the beach and dune into a more natural condition and to improve recreational access. … ”  Read more from Estuary News here: Nourishing Encinal Beach

Turlock Irrigation District sets reduced irrigation cap amid dry year

Local growers serviced by the Turlock Irrigation District will see a 34-inch water cap allotment this irrigation season, which began March 18.  The water cap is a decrease from last year’s 42-inch allotment and comes as the Tuolumne River Watershed experiences what has been a historically-dry water year — and a second consecutive year of below-average rainfall. Under a resolution approved by the TID Board of Directors on March 9, the 2021 irrigation season will last 223 days and run through Oct. 27. … ”  Read more from the Turlock Irrigation District here:  Turlock Irrigation District sets reduced irrigation cap amid dry year

Fresno: As drought warnings rise, will local water restrictions return?

California’s drought continues after a relatively dry winter failed to replenish the snowpack that is the state’s biggest source of fresh water, prompting water agencies to warn of tightened supplies and the need to impose restrictions.  But for this year anyway, home owners in Fresno and Clovis can keep watering their lawns three times a week, officials say.  The three-day watering rule starts April 1 and continues through Oct. 31. Both cities have been on single-day watering schedules over the late fall and winter.  Fresno and Clovis appear flush with water compared with other parts of the state where residents have already been asked to conserve. … ”  Read more from GV Wire here: Fresno: As drought warnings rise, will local water restrictions return?

Serendipitous study nets novel measurements of phytoplankton in Santa Barbara Channel

After learning in early 2017 that they had received research funding as members of a graduate student team, Sasha Kramer and Kelsey Bisson spent months planning the research cruise that would take place that December.  But their plans changed when the Thomas Fire, which would become the largest California wildfire in history at that time, spread from Ventura to Santa Barbara County. … ”  Read more from Noozhawk here:  Serendipitous study nets novel measurements of phytoplankton in Santa Barbara Channel

Los Angeles now has a road map for 100% renewable energy

Los Angeles is one of the last places in California still burning coal for electricity — and if all goes according to plan, it could become one of the country’s first major cities to nearly eliminate fossil fuels from its power supply.  In a first-of-its-kind study commissioned by the city and released Wednesday, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory concluded L.A. is capable of achieving 98% clean energy within the next decade and 100% by 2035, meeting one of President Biden’s most ambitious climate goals. And it can do so without causing blackouts or disrupting the economy, the federal research lab found, undercutting two of the most common arguments used by opponents of climate action. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Los Angeles now has a road map for 100% renewable energy

Monthly water bills could increase over 150% for Catalina residents

Catalina Island residents could see their monthly water bills will rise more than 150% over the next five years if a state commission approves a proposal by Southern California Edison.  The utility company, which acquired the electric, water and gas utilities on the island in 1962, filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission in late October seeking approval for rate increases to offset increased operating expenses and other costs, some of which are related to past drought conditions, according to a public notice issued by SCE. … ”  Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Monthly water bills could increase over 150% for Catalina residents

Helix, Padre Dam Municipal water districts use lawsuit win to help customers

Two East County water agencies plan to reduce future water rates by using millions of dollars they received from the County Water Authority as part of a legal settlement.  The Water Authority announced a plan Feb. 25 to distribute $44.4 million to its 24-member agencies — including the Helix Water District and Padre Dam Municipal Water District — after receiving a check for that amount from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. A San Francisco Superior Court ruled in favor of the Water Authority in January in two lawsuits against Metro challenging rates and charges. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Helix, Padre Dam Municipal water districts use lawsuit win to help customers

California’s water worries may not affect San Diego

California could be facing a dry summer after two dry winters, but there shouldn’t be a huge impact on local supplies.  California water officials have already cut in half the amount of water they expect to deliver from the state water project.  That could be a major cut for central valley farmers and other water users that rely heavily on the Sacramento Delta for their water.  “Planting crops and other decisions that are dictated by water supply are made early in the year, so early warnings are vital,” said Erik Ekdahl, deputy director for the Water Board’s Division of Water Rights. … ”  Read more from KPBS here:  California’s water worries may not affect San Diego

Radio: San Diego audit of wastewater program reveals shortcomings in identifying industrial polluters

The city of San Diego’s Industrial Wastewater Control Program program, which is tasked with preventing the flow of toxic sewer water into the Pacific Ocean, is failing to adequately identify industrial polluters.  That’s according to a new audit which underlines outdated methods and staffing concerns as part of the program’s systemic issues in recent years.  The audit also indicates that the failures within the program could affect the city’s chances of being granted federal waivers to upgrade the Point Loma sewer plant — a project that could total more that $2 billion.  San Diego Union-Tribune city hall reporter David Garrick joined Midday Edition on Wednesday to discuss the findings of the audit.”  Listen to the radio spot here: Radio: San Diego audit of wastewater program reveals shortcomings in identifying industrial polluters

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Along the Colorado River …

Tribal leaders ask for more funding, less meddling for water projects

Arizona tribal officials told a Senate committee Wednesday that the federal government can help address a crisis with water infrastructure on their lands through more funding, and less meddling.  Navajo Department of Water Resources Director Jason John and Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores made the comments during a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on water infrastructure for Native communities. Leaders of Oregon and Alaska tribes also testified at the hearing. … ”  Read more from Cronkite News here: Tribal leaders ask for more funding, less meddling for water projects

Commentary: Too many in Arizona lack water security. It’s time to rethink how we manage it

Chris Kuzdas with the Environmental Defense Fund and Haley Paul with the National Audubon Society write, “The past year has shown Arizonans how critical water is to all we hold dear. It’s a pillar of public health, a precious and finite resource, and the lifeblood of our economy and food production.  Water is essential for life, and climate change is shrinking already scarce supplies. Fortunately, we also know what we can do now to help safeguard our water.  As we build back better post-COVID-19, we cannot take water for granted. Water security for all must become a foundational principle in planning and policy making as Arizona builds more resilient, healthy and equitable communities.  Here’s how to get started. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Commentary: Too many in Arizona lack water security. It’s time to rethink how we manage it

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In national water news today …

Water utilities eye more permanent aid after temporary relief

Water and sewer utilities are eligible to access a pot of $350 billion in the coronavirus relief package signed into law earlier this month, buoying an underfunded and overlooked sector whose services have become indispensable during the pandemic.  The ability to tap into aid from the state and local coronavirus recovery funds included in the new law could be transformational for a sector shouldering more than $8 billion in debt from customers’ unpaid bills over the past year, advocates said. Even more important than the infusion of federal dollars, however, is Washington’s renewed interest in water affordability and accessibility because of the Covid-19 crisis, they said. … ”  Read more from Bloomberg Government here: Water utilities eye more permanent aid after temporary relief

‘Buyer beware’: Ads hide PFAS cookware risks

Consumers trying to avoid toxic chemicals in their nonstick cookware face convoluted advertising claims that can confuse even the most well-informed buyers.  Take Diana Zuckerman, who, as president of the National Center for Health Research, is more familiar than the average person with chemistry and toxicology. Still, she said, trying to determine which pans and cookware did not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of toxic substances linked to cancer and other health problems, was no easy task.  “I, like many consumers, was fooled by all the promotional statements made about many types of cookware,” she said. “You shouldn’t need a doctorate to figure out what cookware is safe.” … ”  Read more from E&E News here:  ‘Buyer beware’: Ads hide PFAS cookware risks

In what is hailed as a conservation success story, bald eagle numbers have soared

The number of bald eagles — a species that once came dangerously close to extinction — in the United States has more than quadrupled over the last dozen years despite massive declines in overall bird populations, government scientists announced Tuesday.  A new survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that since 2009, when the last count was taken, the number of eagles had soared to an estimated 316,700 in the lower 48 states. At the species’ lowest point in the 1960s, there were fewer than 500 nesting pairs in those states. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: In what is hailed as a conservation success story, bald eagle numbers have soared

Democrats target Trump methane rule with Congressional Review Act

Senate Democrats have introduced a resolution to roll back a Trump-era rule that limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate methane.  The Hill first reported Wednesday that the lawmakers had drafted the legislation to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to nix any regulations finalized in the previous 60 legislative days, against the methane rule. … ”  Read more from The Hill here: Democrats target Trump methane rule with Congressional Review Act

NASA: Direct observations confirm that humans are throwing earth’s energy budget off balance

Earth is on a budget – an energy budget. Our planet is constantly trying to balance the flow of energy in and out of Earth’s system. But human activities are throwing that off balance, causing our planet to warm in response.  Radiative energy enters Earth’s system from the sunlight that shines on our planet. Some of this energy reflects off of Earth’s surface or atmosphere back into space. The rest gets absorbed, heats the planet, and is then emitted as thermal radiative energy the same way that black asphalt gets hot and radiates heat on a sunny day. Eventually this energy also heads toward space, but some of it gets re-absorbed by clouds and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The absorbed energy may also be emitted back toward Earth, where it will warm the surface even more. … ”  Read more from NASA here: NASA: Direct observations confirm that humans are throwing earth’s energy budget off balance

Sea goddess, air force C-130s called upon to fight Taiwan drought

Taiwan is drilling wells, seeding clouds and beseeching a gold-faced sea goddess to help the sub-tropical island ride out its most serious drought in about half a century, after rain-soaking typhoons failed to make landfall last year.  The drought is worst across a band of western Taiwan, including the major metropolises of Hsinchu, home to many of Taiwan’s renowned tech firms, Taichung in the centre of the island, and Tainan and Kaohsiung to the south.  Water levels in four major reservoirs have fallen to around or below one-tenth of capacity. Some chipmakers are buying water by the truckload for their foundries, though supplies so far are generally continuing uninterrupted for households. … ”  Read more from Reuters News here: Sea goddess, air force C-130s called upon to fight Taiwan drought

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Today’s featured articles …

CA WATER COMMISSION: Update on implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Last year was a milestone year for SGMA, with the critically-overdrafted basins required to submit their first groundwater sustainability plans to DWR by January 31st of 2020. The Department is currently reviewing these groundwater sustainability plans and will release assessments of them this year.  By statute, the Department has two years to complete an evaluation of the plans.

At the California Water Commission’s March meeting, the commissioners received an update on how the implementation of SGMA is going from staff from the DWR’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Office.  Their presentation included the approach and timeline for releasing assessments of groundwater sustainability plans and the state’s planning technical and financial assistance supporting local SGMA implementation.

Click here to read this article.

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: Agenda and Webinar Participation Options for SWP Contract Amendment for Delta Conveyance Negotiations

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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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