On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP: The State Water Board will hold a public workshop beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board and, together with the Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Water Boards) will receive public comments on the draft proposed Resolution Condemning Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial Injustice and Strengthening Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (Racial Equity Resolution). Click here for the full workshop notice and remote access instructions.
- FREE WEBINAR: Multi-Agency Water Reuse Programs: Insights in Interagency Collaboration from 11am to 12pm. The webcast will cover the lessons learned by these practitioners as they worked with Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Trinity River Authority, Pima County, and Monterey One Water. The audience will learn about governance, regulations, economic and financial barriers, technical and operational issues and leadership. The panel will share the valuable insights and replicable strategies garnered from the work. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Drought-stricken Western districts plan new ways to store water
“Driving through the Sacramento valley an hour north of California’s capital, most travelers notice nothing but a few cows grazing on grass scorched brown by the heat. But Jerry Brown, the executive director of the Sites Reservoir Project, sees the future of California’s water system. “I believe scientists are correct and we are going to see wetter wet periods and drier dry spells. California’s current infrastructure is not built for those future conditions,” he said, “But Sites Reservoir is, and that’s why we need it.” … This current crisis has emptied massive reservoirs and is reopening a conversation about water storage in the West. Sites is just one of hundreds of new projects being urgently pushed by districts, whose officials see that climate change is irrevocably changing their water equation. … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: Drought-stricken Western districts plan new ways to store water
Western farmers fight for fairness, businesses amid drought ‘like Hurricane Katrina’
“As the western United States continues to face a months-long bout with extreme drought, American farmers are feeling catastrophic effects to their livelihoods. … John Moore, a fourth-generation crop farmer from Kern County, California, highlighted the misunderstanding lawmakers have toward the agricultural community. In his mind, heeding to some Trump-era water policies would’ve changed the entire landscape of how farmers face droughts like these. “We have this incredible infrastructure in California for water conveyance,” Moore told Fox News, outlining how water is collected from snowmelt in the Sierra Mountains and transported down into the delta region. But according to Moore, outdated state conservation policies have diminished water reservoir access for farmers below the delta. … ” Read more from Fox News here: Western farmers fight for fairness, businesses amid drought ‘like Hurricane Katrina’
2020 wildfires could be boon for water allocation
“Last summer’s catastrophic Creek Fire burned about 380,000 acres in the upper San Joaquin watershed, the largest fire in the Sierra Nevada’s history. The fire literally exploded, fed by strong gusty winds and 150 million dead trees the fire scorched 43% of the burned area “with high severity” said the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, a state agency. Altogether, about 36% of the upper San Joaquin watershed was burned—the same watershed that supplies nine dams and impounds water that feeds a million acres of farmland below, along the Madera and Friant Kern Canals. Experts explain besides tree loss, “fire removes the absorbent layers of fallen and decaying plant matter on the forest floor. These layers, called litter and duff, can store more moisture than soil can. Without these layers, heavy rain can provide more water than the ground can absorb. This contributes to surface runoff.” ... ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: 2020 wildfires could be boon for water allocation
California’s hydroelectric generation affected by historic drought
“Most of the western United States is experiencing intense and historic drought conditions. California is one of the most severely affected states. As of June 22, 2021, 100% of the state is experiencing some degree of drought. About 33% of the state has been categorized under exceptional drought, the most intense drought classification. The drought conditions have affected California’s water supply levels and hydropower plants. ... ” Read more from the US Energy Information Administration here: California’s hydroelectric generation affected by historic drought
Hydro energy reduced as California reservoirs shrink
“California’s reservoirs and rivers are startlingly low, forcing many of the state’s more than 270 hydropower facilities to generate less power. Lake Oroville, one of the state’s largest reservoirs, made headlines because its water levels have dropped so low the power plant may need to shut down for the first time. While most other hydropower plants aren’t at risk of shutting down, plants that rely on watersheds up and down the state are not able to generate normal amounts of power. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Hydro energy reduced as California reservoirs shrink
Yet another major heatwave for the California interior, though the coast will be spared (again!)
Daniel Swain writes, “June 2021 was a month to remember in California…if you happen to live outside the densely populated coastal cities from the Bay Area south to Los Angeles. In marine-influenced zones, June was a relatively unremarkable month–with a robust marine layer bringing periods of cool temperatures and coastal drizzle. But in dramatic contrast with these near-average coastal temperatures, inland portions of California (including the Sierra Nevada & foothills as well as the SE deserts) suffered through what turned out to be the singularly hottest June in over 100 years of record keeping. … the recent pattern seems likely to continue: record heat inland, but remarkably unremarkable temperatures along and near the coast. … ” Read the full post at Weather West here: Yet another major heatwave for the California interior, though the coast will be spared (again!)
Video: New water chief takes control at MWD
“NBC4’s Conan Nolan talks with Adel Hagekhalil, the new head of Metropolitan of Water District. The MWD–the largest in the nation–provides water to 20 million customers all over Southern California. Nolan and Hagekhalil discuss the state of water supply and the controversial vote that got Hagekhalil to power.” NewsConference Extra: New Water Chief Takes Control at MWD
Study: Cannabis farms not as thirsty as previously thought
“A recent study from the University of California Berkley Cannabis Research Center found permitted cannabis farmers are consuming less water than previously thought. The Cannabis Research Center began researching water use on cannabis farms in 2017, shortly after cannabis was legalized for recreational use in California. Studies have focused on water use reports from farmers enrolled in the state’s cannabis cultivation program as well as anonymous farmer surveys. “There is growing concern over the impacts of cannabis farms on the environment and water resources in particular, yet data on cultivation practices and water use patterns have been limited,” according to the study. “… ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Study: Cannabis farms not as thirsty as previously thought
Mixed bag for California melon crop
“As people get back to backyard celebrations this summer, melon growers say demand for summer staples of watermelons, honeydews, cantaloupes and mixed melons remains high, though getting the crop to market has faced several hiccups this season. The statewide drought has led to a reduction in total melon acreage due to a lack of surface water. The state’s primary melon-growing regions—the San Joaquin Valley’s west side and the Imperial Valley—produce about 75% of the nation’s commercially grown melons. The annual melon harvest begins in the Imperial Valley and neighboring Yuma Valley in Arizona in early to mid-May, then progresses north through the San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Mixed bag for California melon crop
“Silver tsunami” could open doors to California’s top water jobs
“Job alert: The Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District, which serves nearly 30,000 acres of farms in Kern County, is hiring a new general manager. But what exactly does the general manager of an irrigation district do? It’s a question that isn’t easily answered, even by water executives themselves. “I found it very hard to describe what I do,” said Dale Brogan, interim general manager for the Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District. “My kids were convinced I must work for the CIA.” Brogan managed the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District in Tulare and Kern counties for 28 years. He’s helping to fill the role at Shafter-Wasco until someone is hired on permanently. But, unless districts “grow their own,” finding qualified candidates for executive water positions is proving difficult these days. Many of the most qualified people are starting to retire. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: “Silver tsunami” could open doors to California’s top water jobs
Huge supply of water is saved from evaporation when solar panels are built over canals
“In an interview with Joe Rogan, famed astronomer Neil DeGrasse Tyson explained we already have flying cars since tunnels and overpasses allow cars to access the third dimension. By that logic, first in India and now in California, we’ve invented “flying solar panels,” as they are being built suspended above irrigation canals. It’s a clever way to cut down on habitat loss due to the space the panels require, and evaporation as the shade they provide protects vital water droplets from the sun’s evaporating heat. With the world’s largest irrigation canal network, and years that can reach 290 days of sunshine, California is uniquely positioned to exploit this emerging innovation of canal-covering solar farms. … ” Read more from the Good News Network here: Huge supply of water is saved from evaporation when solar panels are built over canals
Wildfires threaten all of the West — and one group more than others
“The U.S. may be facing its worst wildfire season in a century, and a new analysis of census, insurance and wildfire data show Latino residents in western states face the greatest danger. That threat to Latinos has grown in the past decade, and they are twice as likely to live in areas most threatened by wildfires relative to the overall U.S. population, according to data compiled by climate services firm risQ, which analyzes financial sector climate risk. The Latino population makes up about 18 percent of the U.S. but represents 37 percent of the people who live in the areas that risk identified as facing the most extreme wildfire risks. … ” Read more from Politico here: Wildfires threaten all of the West — and one group more than others
Building capacity for long-term forest stewardship
“Faced with the prospect of another devastating wildfire year, California policymakers are seeking ways to accelerate the pace and scale of forest management. Urgency is warranted, especially in the dry mixed-conifer forests that dominate many headwater regions of the state. Decades of fire suppression have left California’s forests too dense and prone to disease. Two exceptional droughts over the past decade have turned these forests into tinderboxes, primed for extreme wildfires. Forest management can mitigate wildfire risk; we just have to act fast and over much larger areas to reap the benefits. … ” Continue reading at the PPIC here: Building capacity for long-term forest stewardship
Explainer: climate extremes increasing
“We all know how extreme the Bay Area weather seems to be the past few years. Most recently we’ve went from flooding winter rains to extreme drought and temperatures near all time record highs. You’ll see in the data below this trend of extreme weather has been steadily increasing since the 1970s and is reaching all time high levels. Across the United States it’s meant more frequent and intense heat waves, higher flooding risk, and stronger hurricanes. Over California the impacts have been exactly what we’ve seen over the past several years, heat, drought, poor air quality, sea level rise and wildfires. The main driver for many of these impacts is our steadily increasing temperatures. In fact, 2020 tied 2016 for the warmest global temperature. ... ” Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Explainer: climate extremes increasing
To beat climate change, rural towns and farms need to head north
” … Water is life, the saying goes, but snow is prosperity. California’s annual agricultural output is approximately $50 billion, or just 2 percent of the state’s GDP. Yet the state’s agricultural industry uses 80 percent of its annual water supply. Our agricultural brethren have fed a lot of people with crops grown with that water. But this whole venture presumes water supply stability courtesy of the Cascade-Sierra snowpack. But for how much longer? Our warmer and drier climate is reducing the snowpack’s historically ample “excess” water that trickles down to streams, lakes, and rivers each summer. Record low reservoir levels threaten to idle hydro-electric dams like Lake Oroville, and may contribute to rolling blackouts this summer. … ” Read more from Zocalo Public Square here: To beat climate change, rural towns and farms need to head north
In regional water news and commentary today …
Drought and bark beetle kill millions of trees, increase wildfire risk in North State forests
“The bark beetle infestation that decimated large swaths of forest in the southern Sierra Nevada has moved into the North State, killing millions of trees and adding fuel to an already dangerous fire season. And the problem isn’t likely to go away anytime soon, according to the U.S. Forest Service, the federal agency responsible for managing much of the forested land in California. While officials with the Redding-based Shasta-Trinity National Forest try to stem the growing threat of tree die-offs, they say it may be more of a challenge than they can handle. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: Drought and bark beetle kill millions of trees, increase wildfire risk in North State forests
A new heat wave is coming to Northern California
“Northern California is getting ready for a new heat wave after manageable weather during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Starting Thursday, most Valley locations will climb above 100 degrees and challenge daily high temperature records. The region is likely to see five days in a row of near record heat, with the peak of the heat to happen on Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11. Some locations could even approach 110 degrees. Highs in most Valley locations will vary from 104 – 110 degrees from Thursday to Monday. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: A new heat wave is coming to Northern California
Happy Valley residents protest water allocation cuts
“Residents from Happy Valley stood shoulder to shoulder at Clear Creek holding signs with “Happy Valley Needs Water” and “Free the Farmer” written on them. Their water district has used up all of the water allocated to them by the Bureau of Reclamation and is relying on well water. The Clear Creek Community Services District usually uses over 5000-acre feet of water a year– however with cutbacks, this year they were allocated only 425. What drew the protesters out to Clear Creek Tuesday morning is a method called pulse flow which uses more water in a day than their district does in a year. ... ” Read more from KRCR here: Happy Valley residents protest water allocation cuts
Truckee River Watershed vital to humans, wildlife
“Our future depends on the watershed. Its future depends on us. The 435-square-mile Middle Truckee River Watershed is vital to all life in our area. The watershed provides habitat for hundreds of species: fish, including the famous Lahontan cutthroat trout; amphibians such as the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and birds, notably the sandhill crane and willow flycatcher. The watershed also supports a sizeable human population: more than half a million people receive their drinking water either from the Martis Valley Aquifer in Truckee and its surrounding areas or directly from the river to Reno and Sparks, Nev. … ” Continue reading at Tahoe Weekly here: Truckee River Watershed vital to humans, wildlife
Volunteers remove nearly 1,500 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe beaches at July 5 event
“Tahoe’s beaches were still blanketed in morning shadows when volunteers began plucking cigarette butts, bottle caps and beach toys out of the sand early on July 5. By noon, 235 enthusiastic volunteers had removed 1,456 pounds of litter from ten Tahoe beaches and their surrounding areas as part of the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s annual July 5 Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue Beach Cleanup. … ” Read more from YubaNet here: Volunteers remove nearly 1,500 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe beaches at July 5 event
Sacramento-area leaders urge public to conserve water
“Sacramento-area leaders across the region’s major municipalities—including the Cities of Sacramento, Roseville and Folsom and the County of Sacramento—are urging the public to increase their conservation efforts as severe drought conditions continue to unfold, impacting the environment of the Lower American River this summer and potentially next year’s water supplies. The Sacramento region is experiencing the most severe drought of this century. What started as a near-normal snowpack, soaked into the soil or evaporated rather than flowing into lakes, reservoirs and rivers. By May, the snowpack was functionally gone, two months earlier than average, and Folsom Reservoir water levels were 68 feet lower than 2020. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Sacramento-area leaders urge public to conserve water
Tracy City Council votes to increase water restrictions due to drought
“Tracy City Council voted unanimously to increase water restrictions as many parts of the state are experiencing drought conditions. There are five stages of water restrictions for the city of Tracy. The city council voted Tuesday to move into the third stage, which includes but is not limited to residents being able to wash their car with a bucket on Fridays and not being able to refill their swimming pool unless it has a separation tank and water recovery system. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Tracy City Council votes to increase water restrictions due to drought
‘Long overdue’ Russian River revitalization project launches
“Officials with Sonoma County announced on Tuesday the launch of the Russian River Revitalization project this summer, aimed at improving the river’s health in spite of recent wildfires and ongoing drought conditions. The project is being carried out via a collaboration with Russian River Confluence, a collation of more than 22 organizations, and will engage businesses, residents and visitors in stewardship of the river — a critical natural resource in western Sonoma County. The project will also identify solutions to the environmental challenges threatening the river, country officials said. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: ‘Long overdue’ Russian River revitalization project launches
Drought putting bay area trees under stress; ‘Give them water’ says water district
“It’s easy to see the beauty and benefits of large, mature trees. What’s harder to see is that the drought is already putting many of them under stress. “If you notice things that for this time of year look a little different,” said John Chapman, an arborist for the Santa Clara Valley Water District. “Like, a lot of our trees will start to turn color in the fall as just part of their natural progression. We’re seeing plants starting to do that already.” ... ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Drought putting bay area trees under stress; ‘Give them water’ says water district
State facing worsening drought; San Mateo County experts go over water supply, conservation efforts
“Assemblymember Marc Berman met with experts July 1 to discuss California’s drought in an online town hall going over updates on the decreasing water supply and water conservation efforts. “Climate change is here. It is impacting our lives in a very real way. And it’s not going to get better unless we do something about it,” Berman, D-Palo Alto, said. Jeanine Jones, interstate resources manager and drought manager at the California Department of Water Resources, emphasized the dryness of this year. ... ” Read more from the San Mateo Daily Journal here: State facing worsening drought; San Mateo County experts go over water supply, conservation efforts
Major renovations begin on Anderson Dam tunnel project; reservoir can’t be used for 10 years
“Major renovations will begin Wednesday on the Anderson Dam tunnel project in Santa Clara County. The project will require the reservoir to be drained – and it will be unable to be used for 10 years. The timing is not great as California remains in a drought but water officials say this is a vital project for flood protection that will protect the public for years to come. The reservoir, which can hold 90,000 acre-feet, is the water district’s largest drinking water reservoir. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Major renovations begin on Anderson Dam tunnel project; reservoir can’t be used for 10 years
Bay Area: Water suppliers, conservationists outline challenges of state’s drought
“Gary Kremen has taken to comparing California’s drought conditions to a plane with a stalled engine: The vehicle is quickly losing altitude. At what point does the pilot radio for help? Early last month, Kremen and other members of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors pronounced a water shortage emergency for Santa Clara County and imposed mandatory water use reductions of 15% compared to 2019 levels. The county’s Board of Supervisors made a similar emergency declaration June 22. “It’s actually not just problematic,” Kremen said Thursday during a virtual town hall hosted by State Assemblymember Marc Berman. “It’s a horrible situation. And we’re really worried.” … ” Read more from the Los Altos Town Crier here: Water suppliers, conservationists outline challenges of state’s drought
Group formed in Central Valley to address drought concerns
“Residents in the small community of Teviston in Tulare County lost access to running water due to a failed well. A temporary pump has been installed. During a meeting of the state Food and Agriculture board, panelists talked of the need to protect drinking water as more wells start to run dry during the drought. “We just have to accelerate and intensify our efforts to build resiliency in rural communities and households,” says Jessi Snyder. “They simply just aren’t resilient right now.” ... ” Read more from KFSN here: Group formed in Central Valley to address drought concerns
Lemoore well passes state tests; water restrictions may be lifted by week’s end
“The City of Lemoore has cleared a major hurdle in the process of getting the damaged Well Site 7 up and running, and may be able to lift watering restrictions for the public by the end of this week. City Manager Nathan Olson said Tuesday that the Station 7 Water Facility Complex (or Well Site 7) has restored power and passed the state’s bacteria testing, giving them approval for release. He said they were working on finalizing the automated chlorination process and adding the right amount of chlorine to disinfect the water. “So we’re working on that,” Olson said. “Once we get that done, then we’ll start putting that water into the system.” … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Lemoore well passes state tests; water restrictions may be lifted by week’s end
Tulare kicks off fiscal year with water restrictions
“As Tulare steps into the new fiscal year hoping to put the pandemic in the past, the city is now facing another existential menace threatening the West: extreme drought during the worst heat wave on record. The city of Tulare’s Board of Public Utilities declared that the city is in stage 3 of its water conservation ordinance during their June 3 board meeting. Tulare’s residents will be limited to outdoor irrigation two days a week, and outdoor irrigation is completely prohibited from November to February. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tulare kicks off fiscal year with water restrictions
Kern County interview: Rep. Kevin McCarthy: “Well, this drought is devastating.”
“Kern County is known for its exports like agriculture but it’s not known for getting a lot of rain. 23ABC spoke to Rep. Kevin McCarthy about how he’s working to make sure farmers have enough water as drought conditions worsen in the state. “Well, this drought is devastating. We haven’t seen something like this in decades, and really what you do during a drought is that you had to prepare for this prior to the drought. Many times we’ve worked for more water storage but Democrats, unfortunately, have stopped many of our bills that would let us store more water and build more dams, more underground storage to prepare for the time when the drought comes.” … ” Read more from Channel 23 here: Kern County interview: Rep. Kevin McCarthy: “Well, this drought is devastating.”
Excessive heat bearing down on Southern California
“After a broiling Fourth of July holiday weekend, temperatures are expected to keep climbing across Southern California. The heat is expected to build throughout the week, with highs soaring into the triple digits in some parts this weekend. The National Weather Service predicts excessive heat will be possible Friday through Sunday, with temperatures reaching highs of 100 to 112 degrees in the Antelope Valley and the interior of San Luis Obispo County. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Excessive heat bearing down on Southern California
Eastern Municipal Water District projects receive federal funding
“Two Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) projects have received preliminary federal funding allocations in appropriations legislation, thanks to the diligence of Representatives Ken Calvert and Mark Takano. In the House Appropriations Committee’s FY2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies legislation, EMWD’s Quail Valley Septic to Sewer program is slated to receive $2.5 million from Congressman Ken Calvert’s (CA-42nd) request, and its Mead Valley Booster Station project received $1 million from Congressman Mark Takano’s (CA-41st) request. ... ” Read more from the Eastern Municipal Water District website here: Eastern Municipal Water District projects receive federal funding
Orange County launches first water plant to remove PFAS toxins
“A year-and-a-half after Orange County began shutting down groundwater wells because of PFAS contamination, the first treatment plant to remove the carcinogens is up and operating in Fullerton, with two dozen more to be built throughout the north and central parts of the county. Miniscule quantities of PFAS, a family of chemicals used for waterproofing and stain-proofing among other uses, have been found to be toxic, with much of Orange County’s contamination believed to have come from treated wastewater in the Inland Empire that was released into the Santa Ana River before settling into the county’s groundwater aquifer. Other business may also have released contaminants into the watershed. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Orange County launches first water plant to remove PFAS toxins
EV deal shows ‘Lithium Valley’ could be for real
“If all goes to plan, General Motors Co.’s future electric cars will rely on batteries made from a broiling-hot, brownish fluid that gushes from the California desert. The contours of that future emerged on Friday, when GM struck a deal with a little-known company called Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) to supply the country’s largest domestic automaker with tons of lithium from a desolate area called the Salton Sea. The arrangement is the first concrete sign that “Lithium Valley,” as its boosters call it — a green industrial ecosystem that produces zero-carbon electricity, battery-grade lithium and lots of jobs — could actually become a thing. … ” Read more from E&E News here: EV deal shows ‘Lithium Valley’ could be for real
From the air, drone footage of Salton Sea shows California drought impact
“Drone footage taken at the Salton Sea, California’s largest inland lake, shows the dramatic effects of the state’s worst drought since 1977. Its receding shoreline has caused an ecological crisis as exposed silt is carried into surrounding areas. From the air, brown furrowed fields stretch as far as the eye can see and the sun beats down on an almost evaporated canal that looks like a gaping wound. … ” Read more from the Reuters News here: From the air, drone footage of Salton Sea shows California drought impact
Along the Colorado River …
US proposes removing Colorado River fish’s endangered status
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Tuesday it plans to propose reclassifying a rare Colorado River Basin fish called the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened status after a multiyear and multistate effort throughout the Southwestern U.S. to replenish its populations. A proposed formal relisting, to be published Wednesday in the Federal Register, would classify the fish as no longer on the brink of extinction. But it would require continued management of the razorback’s survival in the Colorado River and several key tributaries. The Fish and Wildlife Service first said it would recommend the change in 2018. … ” Read more from the AP here: US proposes removing Colorado River fish’s endangered status
Data centers consume millions of gallons of Arizona water daily
“Massive buildings are sprouting from our desert landscapes, their footprints normally more than a million square feet. The structures are filled with computer servers processing and storing huge amounts of data. “This recent one is on 196 acres, it’s going to be divided into three phases,” said Mesa Vice Mayor Jenn Duff. Duff is the only city council member to vote no on a recently approved $800 million data center – rumored to be for Facebook – after discovering the facility would eventually use 1.75 million gallons of water every day for cooling their rows of servers once fully operational. … ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Data centers consume millions of gallons of Arizona water daily
Beetle declines plant’s population along Colorado River
“Millions of small beetles are crawling their way around the Colorado River this Summer. Their food of choice? The Tamarisk tree. People near the river have noticed the normally green shrubs are brown and withering, but ‘RiversEdge West’ says there is nothing to worry about. Tamarisk is an invasive plant. So invasive, in fact, that the USDA decided to find a ‘predator’ to eat them. Out of 300 organisms tested – one beetle came out on top: now known as the tamarisk beetle. … ” Read more from Western Slope Now here: Beetle declines plant’s population along Colorado River
Reclamation urges public to exercise caution below Glen Canyon Dam due to potential for rapid river fluctuations
“The Bureau of Reclamation urges those recreating on or along the Colorado River through Glen and Grand canyons to exercise increased caution as summer energy demands may cause rapid changes to the river’s flow. Unscheduled fluctuations in water releases may occur without notice. Vessels should be secured to withstand potential changes in water levels and campers should avoid setting camp where a sudden river rise could reach tents or other camping supplies. The Western Area Power Administration has alerted Reclamation to an increased possibility that Glen Canyon Dam’s power plant will need to augment power supplies in the event of a potential power system emergency. Glen Canyon Dam operations remain flexible, as described in the 2017 Operating Criteria for Glen Canyon Dam, to adjust for power system emergencies when existing power generation resources cannot meet electricity demands. Increased water releases usually last one or two hours but could last longer. ... ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation urges public to exercise caution below Glen Canyon Dam due to potential for rapid river fluctuations
Authors say plan for the worst on Colorado River
“The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people around the West, including New Mexico, but the historic drought gripping our region has prompted a 20 percent drop in flows in the river. Reservoirs are drying, with Lake Mead at its lowest levels since it was filled in the 1930s. As scientists incorporate these changes into future projections, an article in Science magazine urges them to plan for even greater declines in the river. Co-author John Fleck says there are important lessons to learn from a hydrologist who studied the river a century ago. Fleck is director of the Water Resources Program at the University of New Mexico. His co-author is Brad Udall, senior water and climate research scientist in the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University. … ” Read more from KUNM here: Authors say plan for the worst on Colorado River
In national water news today …
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A summary of the act and its major requirements
“This report provides a summary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It reviews revisions to the Act since its enactment in 1974, including the drinking water security provisions added to SDWA by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188), and provisions to further reduce lead in plumbing materials and drinking water (P.L. 111-380, P.L. 113-64, and P.L. 114-322). It also identifies changes made to the act in P.L. 114-45, regarding algal toxins in public water supplies; the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act (P.L. 114-98); the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (P.L. 114-322); and America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA; P.L. 115-270), which constituted the most comprehensive revisions to SDWA since 1996. It also discusses SDWA-related provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92) regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Table 1 identifies a complete list of acts that amended the Safe Drinking Water Act. … ” Read the report from the Congressional Research Service here: Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A summary of the act and its major requirements
Dealing with the soup of chemicals that can get into your drinking water
“All the things that go down the drain and end up at the waste water treatment plant are not removed there. Some of the industrial byproducts that end up in sewers, the agricultural chemicals that runoff farmland, and pharmaceuticals that pass through our bodies all can end up in our streams and lakes. It’s a soup of chemicals. They’re difficult to keep out of drinking water. Water treatment plants do a good job of killing the viruses and bacteria that cause waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and dysentery. There are some rare reports of pathogens such as cryptosporidium and legionella making people sick- or worse. But dealing with chemicals seems more complicated for regulators. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: Dealing with the soup of chemicals that can get into your drinking water
A massive water recycling proposal could help ease drought
“Lake Mead, which provides water for 25 million people in the American West, has shrunk to 36 percent of its capacity. One rural California community has run out of water entirely after its well broke in early June. Fields are sitting fallow, as farmers sell their water allotments instead of growing crops, putting the nation’s food supply in peril. As the West withers under extreme drought, legislators in the US House of Representatives have introduced HR 4099, a bill that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to create a program to fund $750 million worth of water recycling projects in the 17 western states through the year 2027. ... ” Read more from Wired Magazine here: A massive water recycling proposal could help ease drought
Q&A: EPA’s top water official on Biden’s climate, equity goals
“Radhika Fox vividly remembers growing up in rural India without running water or flushing toilets. The newly confirmed head of EPA’s Office of Water lived with her grandmother while her parents finished their medical training in New York City. “When the monsoon season came, the roads flooded because they were mud,” Fox said in a recent interview. “At least our little village was an oasis unto its own.” Fox said it’s an “incredible dream and honor” to serve as the first woman of color in the role of assistant administrator at EPA’s Office of Water after such “humble beginnings.” Fox is a well-known name in water and equity circles. After earning a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley, she spent a decade as the federal policy director at PolicyLink, a nonprofit based in Oakland, Calif., focused on policies affecting low-income communities and communities of color. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Q&A: EPA’s top water official on Biden’s climate, equity goals
New study models users’ trust in drought forecasts
“Effective use of drought forecasts is critical for farmers to make proactive, well-informed decisions. Forecasts are especially important in rainfed agriculture, since without irrigation, little can be done to protect against droughts once a crop is planted. A key factor that determines how decision makers respond to and use drought forecasts is the extent to which they trust those forecasts. However, modeling studies of forecast valuation have rarely considered the role of user trust in a forecast’s value. To help integrate user trust into forecast valuation, a new NIDIS-funded study proposes a framework to model trust in drought forecast information that captures how users’ trust forms and evolves over time and shows how trust influences users’ decisions. … ” Read more from NIDIS here: New study models users’ trust in drought forecasts
No soil. No growing seasons. Just add water and technology.
“In this pretty town on the edge of coal country, a high-tech greenhouse so large it could cover 50 football fields glows with the pinks and yellows of 30,600 LED and high-pressure sodium lights. Inside, without a teaspoon of soil, nearly 3 million pounds of beefsteak tomatoes grow on 45-feet-high vines whose roots are bathed in nutrient-enhanced rainwater. Other vines hold thousands of small, juicy snacking tomatoes with enough tang to impress Martha Stewart, who is on the board of AppHarvest, a start-up that harvested its first crop here in January and plans to open 11 more indoor farms in Appalachia by 2025. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: No soil. No growing seasons. Just add water and technology.
New coalition calls on Congress to promote digital technologies in infrastructure
“With the White House and congressional leaders of both major parties engaged in extensive negotiations on a major infrastructure funding package, a new coalition has been formed to promote greater use of digital technologies in the United States. Such technologies improve and streamline the processes of planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining infrastructure. Announced earlier this year, the Coalition for Smarter Infrastructure Investments was founded by Bentley Systems, a software development company; Greenroads International, a nonprofit corporation that promotes sustainability in transportation; HaulHub Technologies, a provider of digital construction management solutions; HeadLight, which offers visual-based inspection technology; and Mott MacDonald, a global engineering, management, and consultancy firm. The CSII was formed to lobby Congress to advocate for the adoption or promotion of digital technologies within the sectors dedicated to the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: New coalition calls on Congress to promote digital technologies in infrastructure
Study: Is global plastic pollution nearing an irreversible tipping point?
“Current rates of plastic emissions globally may trigger effects that we will not be able to reverse, argues a new study by researchers from Sweden, Norway and Germany published on July 2nd in Science. According to the authors, plastic pollution is a global threat, and actions to drastically reduce emissions of plastic to the environment are ”the rational policy response. Plastic is found everywhere on the planet: from deserts and mountaintops to deep oceans and Arctic snow. As of 2016, estimates of global emissions of plastic to the world’s lakes, rivers and oceans ranged from 9 to 23 million metric tons per year, with a similar amount emitted onto land yearly. These estimates are expected to almost double by 2025 if business-as-usual scenarios apply. … ” Read more from YubaNet here: Study: Is global plastic pollution nearing an irreversible tipping point?
And lastly …
Methamphetamine in waterways may be turning trout into addicts
“Brown trout can become addicted to the illegal drug methamphetamine when it accumulates in waterways, according to new research. Researchers led by Pavel Horky, a behavioral ecologist from the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, set out to investigate whether illicit drugs alter fish behavior at levels found in bodies of water, according to the study published Tuesday. The team put 40 brown trout in a tank of water, containing a level of methamphetamine that has been found in freshwater rivers, for a period of eight weeks, before transferring them to a clean tank. Then every other day the researchers checked whether the trout were suffering from methamphetamine withdrawal by giving them a choice between water containing the drug or water without. A further 40 trout were used as a control group. ... ” Read more from CNN here: Methamphetamine in waterways may be turning trout into addicts
Today’s featured articles …
ACWA CONFERENCE PANEL: Reconciling the Regulatory Overlap of Groundwater Programs
Several regulatory programs have been created and evolved over time to address various issues, such as SGMA, CV-SALTS, and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program. However, some program requirements have begun to look similar, with a lot of potential overlap among them. At the spring ACWA Conference, a panel discussed how agencies are reconciling and navigating the complex web of requirements they have to comply with.
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: SPK-2021-00088, Public Notice of Permit Application, Los Vaqueros Reservoir Phase 2 AJD, Contra Costa County, CA
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