On the calendar today …
- MEETING: The State Water Resources Control Board meets at 9am. Agenda items include an update on the monthly water production and conservation data reported by urban retail water suppliers, and Consideration of a proposed Resolution to adopt an Emergency Regulation that provides curtailment authority in the Klamath River Watershed, and establishes minimum instream flow requirements and information order authority in the Scott River and Shasta River Watersheds. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- FREE WEBINAR: A Drought-Safe San Diego Region from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Climate change is increasing drought susceptibility across the world. San Diego County is better protected from dry-year challenges being felt elsewhere in California, thanks to investments made by the San Diego County Water Authority, its member agencies, and the region’s water ratepayers. The addition of desalinated seawater, increased reservoir storage, and conserved water from the Imperial Valley ensure our region is protected from economic and quality of life challenges during drought. Hear from experts, Sandra Kerl and Alex Tardy, who will speak on efforts that protect the region and what you can do to support a more drought-safe San Diego. Click here to register.
- WORKSHOP: Advancing 30×30: Conservation of Coastal Waters from 3pm to 6pm. Join the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for a topical workshop exploring opportunities for the state to define the conservation of coastal waters. The workshop will feature a presentation from an advisory panel and an opportunity for the public to share their perspectives and insights on the topic. Click here to register.
Shortage declaration on the Colorado River
Colorado River water shortage declared for first time; California could see cuts by 2024
“The federal government on Monday declared a first-ever shortage on the Colorado River, announcing mandatory water cutbacks next year for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. California will not be immediately affected, but U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials warned that more cuts would likely be necessary. The river supplies drinking water and irrigation for 40 million people. The declaration of a shortage was triggered by the spiraling decline of Lake Mead, which stores water used by California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. “What we’d hoped we’d never see is here,” said Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Camille Touton during a press conference announcing the declaration. “Additional actions will likely be necessary in the very near future.” … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Colorado River water shortage declared for first time; California could see cuts by 2024
First CAP shortage for Colorado River declared; more cuts may be coming soon
“As expected, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials on Monday declared the Colorado River’s first shortage in Central Arizona Project deliveries for 2022 — a shortage that will have the greatest impacts on Pinal County farmers and none on cities. But additional cuts affecting more people may be coming more quickly than anticipated until now, officials said at a news conference called to make the formal announcement of the river’s first shortage declaration. The shortage declaration by the bureau will reduce deliveries to the Central Arizona Project by roughly one-third, or 512,000 acre-feet. … ” Read more from the Arizona Star here: First CAP shortage for Colorado River declared; more cuts may be coming soon
Megadrought spurs first-ever federal Colorado River cutbacks
“The Biden administration today will declare a water shortage on the Colorado River for the first time ever, triggering cutbacks in the Southwest due to a decadeslong drought that experts say is a sign of what’s to come. Bureau of Reclamation officials will announce that water levels in the river’s main reservoirs have dropped so low they have triggered mandatory delivery reductions in Arizona and Nevada. The announcement comes as heat waves and wildfires are scorching the West, presenting the Biden administration with another crisis. A 20-year “megadrought” in the seven-state Colorado River Basin has caused Lake Mead and Lake Powell to drop to levels not seen since they were originally filled a half-century ago. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Megadrought spurs first-ever federal Colorado River cutbacks
Buy water as western shortages continue, attorneys tell clients
“Western water scarcity is prompting big law firms in the Colorado River Basin to advise their clients to pursue conservation measures — but also to buy more water. A projected shortage and first-ever water cuts announced Monday by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation means that cities, industry, and commercial businesses need to prepare for the likelihood the current 21-year megadrought in the region represents a “new normal.” “Large industrial and municipal water users have very limited ability to reduce their water needs,” said William Caile of Holland & Hart in Denver. “And they can’t suffer an interruption to their water supply. If you’re a large mine, you can’t just stop your operations because you’re out of water.” ... ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Buy water as western shortages continue, attorneys tell clients
Drought forces first water cuts on the Colorado River. They’re just the beginning.
“A two-decade-long megadrought along the Colorado River is pushing seven Western states and parts of Mexico into a formal shortage declaration, forcing water delivery cuts to the Southwest that are just the beginning of the pain climate change promises to bring to the region. Climate scientists and water managers have long seen this declaration coming, but what’s alarming them is the speed with which the hot and dry conditions over the past four years have shrunk the river’s two main reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, to levels not seen since they were first filled. … ” Read more from Politico here: Drought forces first water cuts on the Colorado River. They’re just the beginning.
Statement from Metropolitan Water District
General Manager Adel Hagekhalil statement: “The Colorado River is sending us a clear message: conserve, reuse and recycle. The river has been a lifeline for Southern California for more than 80 years. This shortage announcement moves the river into a new era and reinforces the need for Southern Californians to use less water to preserve this critical supply. We have delayed this moment on the Colorado River thanks to our partnerships, conservation programs and investments in local supplies and storage – taking advantage of wet winters when they come. Similar efforts on a larger scale will be required going forward to bring river supplies and demands into balance. ...
SEE ALSO:
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- Reclamation announces 2022 operating conditions for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, press release from Bureau of Reclamation, includes 24-month study
- US declares water shortage from Colorado River reservoirs, from the AP via the Daily Press
- Feds confirm Colorado River shortage, water allocation cuts coming in 2022, from the Courthouse News Service
- Shortage Declaration in the Colorado River Basin Takeaways, from the Pacific Institute
- A Historic Shortage On The Colorado River Is Triggering Water Cuts In Western States, from NPR
- Colorado River Water Rationed for First Time Amid Drought, from Bloomberg Law
In California water news today …
Drought has California farms destroying crops, rather than pay for water
“When Stuart Woolf was growing up on his dad’s ranch in Huron, California, he never liked working the tomato harvest. “I thought, ‘I am never going to do this.’ Everything was kind of wet, hot and stinky,” Woolf said. These days, though, now as president of the 20,000-acre ranch, Woolf is prioritizing tomatoes over some of his other crops, like cotton and almonds, since they’re relatively less water-intensive. With the drought desiccating California’s Central Valley, farmers like Woolf are having to reevaluate their business models based on how much water they can afford. … ” Read more from the Marketplace here: Drought has California farms destroying crops, rather than pay for water
Water curtailments brought on by drought in effect for California farmers
“Valley farmers will have to make some tough decisions as less water is made available to them. Earlier this month, the Water Resources Control Board approved an emergency resolution stopping water from being diverted from California’s two largest river systems in the California Delta. The restrictions are expected to take effect Monday. The resolution is meant to protect the state’s depleting reservoirs and wildlife amid the worsening drought. … ” Read more from KFSN here: Water curtailments brought on by drought in effect for California farmers
California drought takes toll on world’s top almond producer
“As temperatures recently reached triple digits, farmer Joe Del Bosque inspected the almonds in his parched orchard in California’s agriculture-rich San Joaquin Valley, where a deepening drought threatens one of the state’s most profitable crops. Del Bosque doesn’t have enough water to properly irrigate his almond orchards, so he’s practicing “deficit irrigation” — providing less water than the trees need. He left a third of his farmland unplanted to save water for the nuts. And he may pull out 100 of his 600 acres of almond trees after the late summer harvest — years earlier than planned. “We may have to sacrifice one of them at the end of the year if we feel that we don’t have enough water next year,” said Del Bosque, who also grows melons, cherries and asparagus. “That means that our huge investment that we put in these trees is gone.” ... ” Read more from the AP here: California drought takes toll on world’s top almond producer
Mark Arax: The well fixer’s warning
“The well fixer and I were standing at the edge of an almond orchard in the exhausted middle of California. It was late July, and so many wells on the farms of Madera County were coming up dry that he was running out of parts to fix them. In this latest round of western drought, desperate voices were calling him at six in the morning and again at midnight. They were puzzled why their pumps were coughing up sand, the water’s flow to their orchards now a trickle. It occurred to him that these same farmers had endured at least five droughts since the mid-1970s and that drought, like the sun, was an eternal condition of California. But he also understood that their ability to shrug off nature—no one forgot the last drought faster than the farmer, Steinbeck wrote—was part of their genius. … ” Read more from The Atlantic here: Mark Arax: The well fixer’s warning
The face of California’s water world is changing
“In California’s water world, long dominated almost exclusively by men, women are blazing a path — sometimes straight to the top. “I think water is changing,” said Karla Nemeth, director of California’s Department of Water Resources. “There’s more and more of an understanding that as a society and even politically, we’re not going to get very far if litigation and leverage is how we manage our water resources.” Nemeth said law and engineering backgrounds used to be strictly prioritized in water, but the field is opening up to other disciplines and collaborative skills. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: The face of California’s water world is changing
Conservation groups press Congress to restore migratory bird protections
“Conservation groups are pushing for passage of a bill in Congress that would revive migratory bird protections dropped during the Trump administration. Last year, Trump’s Fish and Wildlife Service lifted a rule, which said companies that kill birds in the course of business, called an incidental take, would have to change their practices and/or pay for habitat restoration somewhere else. Jason Rylander, senior endangered species counsel for Defenders of Wildlife, said the Migratory Bird Protection Act of 2021 would reinstate those requirements, and not a moment too soon. … ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Conservation groups press Congress to restore migratory bird protections
Local officials are reportedly worried chlorine suppliers are prioritizing swimming pools over drinking water in several US states
“Oceanside Water Utilities in California was days away from running out of bleach for its waste- and drinking-water treatment plants last month, Bloomberg Law reported on Monday. If chemical shipments didn’t return in time, the water supply for 170,000 people would be at risk. The Oceanside plant was one of 10 local systems from California, Utah, New Mexico, and New York that requested help from the US Environmental Protection Agency this week, according to Bloomberg. This led both private and public water plants to apply for federal assistance as their chemical shipments dwindled amid regional chlorine shortages. Requests were filed through section 1441 of the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, something the EPA said they’ve never seen before. … ” Read more from The Insider here: Local officials are reportedly worried chlorine suppliers are prioritizing swimming pools over drinking water in several US states
SEE ALSO: Chlorine Shortage Spurs Unprecedented Requests for EPA Help, from Bloomberg Law
Delta Protection Commission, Water Board express support for restoring funding to the Delta ISB
“Both the Delta Protection Commission and the Water Board expressed strong support for restoring funding for the Delta Independent Science Board at their meetings this month. At the August 5, 2021 Delta Protection Commission meeting, the Commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter of support for Senate Bill 821, which restores compensation for the Delta Independent Science Board. Delta Protection Commission members spoke about the importance of the Delta Independent Science Board to the Delta, including review of the Delta tunnel project. … ” Read the full post at the California Water Research blog here: Delta Protection Commission, Water Board express support for restoring funding to the Delta ISB
Advancing ecosystem restoration with smarter permitting: Case studies from California
“California’s ecosystems form the bedrock of the state’s wellbeing and prosperity. Yet many of these ecosystems—which are vitally important to the state’s water supply, agriculture, wildlife, and economy—are in dire health. Climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss threaten to further disrupt these natural systems and the benefits they provide. While the state urgently needs to speed the pace of ecosystem restoration, such projects often find themselves mired in regulations that were originally intended to prevent environmental destruction. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: Advancing ecosystem restoration with smarter permitting: Case studies from California
Calif. adapts to wildfire by urging people to flee
“California resident Mark Brown knows too well the danger that climate change poses to the West. A former fire team chief, Brown in 2018 responded to the Camp Fire blaze, California’s deadliest wildfire. At least 85 people were killed in the multibillion-dollar disaster, including four victims who died in their cars trying to escape and a fifth person who perished in a desperate run for safety. Brown’s now working to ensure that horror doesn’t repeat itself. As an executive officer with the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, Brown is helping to reduce the risk of wildfire and plan for survival if one erupts. Of note are agency efforts to develop evacuation maps and remove flammable vegetation alongside key routes — all to prevent residents from dying as they try and get away. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Calif. adapts to wildfire by urging people to flee
In commentary today …
Commentary: To restore California’s ecosystems, we must adopt smarter permitting
Letitia Grenier, program director at the San Francisco Estuary Institute, and Jeff Mount, senior fellow at PPIC’s Water Policy Center, write, “California’s ecosystems underpin the state’s economy: They nurture and protect the state’s water supply, shorelines, agriculture, fisheries and wildlife. But many of these ecosystems are in dire health, and climate change is now accelerating the loss of biodiversity already underway. Ecosystem degradation is having ripple effects across the state. Severe problems with water supply dwindling populations of native wildlife, and the critical need to better manage and store carbon require urgent and large-scale action. There is a solution: The state enjoys a vibrant, growing restoration movement that has seen some tremendous successes. … ” Read more from Cal Matters here: Commentary: To restore California’s ecosystems, we must adopt smarter permitting
In regional water news and commentary today …
Will Klamath salmon outlast the dam removal process?
“Green algae blobs choke handmade gill nets that should be filled with salmon. The Klamath River is warming, heated by drought and dams, and that allows the algae to thrive, making it harder and harder to catch fish. Some days, Yurok tribal members capture nothing but green goop. And some algae is toxic; one microscopic blue-green variety has made the water hazardous to the public. Warming conditions have also encouraged the spread of Ceratonova shasta, which infected 97% of juvenile salmon in the Klamath last spring, killing 70%. The crisis extends to the communities that depend on the fish for sustenance. “We’re not able to catch enough fish to feed our people anymore,” said Barry McCovey, Yurok tribal citizen and director of the Yurok Fisheries Department. ... ” Read more from High Country News here: Will Klamath salmon outlast the dam removal process?
Hoopa advises Secretary Haaland that Trump policies remain threat to Tribe’s Fishery, CA environment
Dan Bacher writes, “At Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland’s August 10 Tribal Leaders Roundtable in Eureka, Hoopa Chairman Joe Davis thanked Haaland for her commitment to uphold the government’s trust responsibility for federally recognized Tribes but asked that she commit to addressing Trump Administration policies still held over in the Bureau of Reclamation. “Hoopa’s ability to harvest salmon, feed our families, and continue our traditions is paramount to who we are as Hupa People”, said Vice Chairman Everett Colegrove, Jr. But the 1950s construction of the Central Valley Project’s Trinity River Division has nearly destroyed Hoopa’s fishery by damming and diverting Trinity River water to California’s Central Valley 400 miles from the Hoopa Valley Reservation where Hoopa has resided since time immemorial. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: Hoopa advises Secretary Haaland that Trump policies remain threat to Tribe’s Fishery, CA environment
Water diversions: hard times getting harder for life on the Shasta and Scott rivers
“Farmers, ranchers and others drawing water from the Shasta and Scott rivers may soon have to cut back because of the combination of drought and excessive diversions. If an emergency regulation is approved this week by the state’s Water Resources Control Board, the taking of water would be curtailed to ensure “sufficient flows” for the salmon migrating upriver for fall spawning. The drought regulation amounts to a last resort for protecting the migrations this year after two of the worst years on record for precipitation, and the still-unsuccessful voluntary measures that have been taken, according to a draft of the regulation made available on Aug. 6. … ” Read more from Mt. Shasta News here: Water diversions: hard times getting harder for life on the Shasta and Scott rivers
A drought defying description: How California North Coast businesses are stepping up to the challenge
“Call it either “severe” or “exceptional” drought grips three quarters of the West. And the North Bay suffers. Well drilling is up, water trucks are in high demand and one community offers regular trucked in supplies to its residents to meet conservation targets. In the four-county area, here are ways the drought is having an impact on business and its customers. … ” Read more from the North Bay Business Journal here: A drought defying description: How California North Coast businesses are stepping up to the challenge
Water regulators investigating illegal siphoning of Russian River
“As farms and communities along the Russian River feel the brunt of the worsening drought, state regulators suspect that some people have been siphoning off water illegally. … It seems that some of the water released is not getting all the way down to Healdsburg, and state regulators think some people up river might be cheating. “There’s probably still some surface water diversions going on that shouldn’t be,” said Seymour, “based on looking at the stream-flow gauges along the Russian River.” … ” Read more from Channel 5 here: Water regulators investigating illegal siphoning of Russian River
City of Folsom requiring people to cut water use by 20% as drought worsens
“The City of Folsom announced Monday it will require residents to reduce water use by 20%. The water-use restriction will go into effect Aug. 30. This comes as the water supply across the state continues to dwindle amid a crippling drought. Folsom itself draws water from the American River at Folsom Lake, which has lower levels than it did during the 2014-15 drought. This is the second driest year on record since 1977. City officials in June asked residents to voluntarily cut water usage by 10% but conditions have not improved. … ” Read more from KCRA here: City of Folsom requiring people to cut water use by 20% as drought worsens
Bay Area Drought Map & Tracker
Track the water shortage status, reservoir levels and restrictions for the Bay Area’s largest water districts with this interactive map from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Bay Area Drought Map & Tracker
Metropolitan Water District, source of most of Pasadena’s water, considers declaring water supply alert as drought worsens
“In response to worsening drought conditions, the board of Southern California’s regional water wholesaler will consider declaring a Water Supply Alert tomorrow that calls upon residents to voluntarily conserve the precious resource. According to officials with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), Southern California’s water supply has been severely impacted by extreme drought in both the Northern Sierra and the Colorado River, saying crucial storage reservoirs have never been lower. … ” Read more from Pasadena Now here: Metropolitan Water District, source of most of Pasadena’s water, considers declaring water supply alert as drought worsens
LA County-area regional water board considers declaring drought-spurred alert
“In response to worsening drought conditions, the board of Southern California’s regional water wholesaler will consider declaring a Water Supply Alert on Tuesday, Aug. 16, that calls upon residents to voluntarily conserve the precious resource. According to Metropolitan Water District officials, Southern California’s water supply has been severely impacted by extreme drought in both the Northern Sierra and the Colorado River, saying crucial storage reservoirs have never been lower. As a way to safeguard storage reserves, the board will consider declaring a Water Supply Alert to stress the urgency of the region’s need to save as many drops as possible. The action calls for water agencies and consumers in Southern California to voluntarily reduce usage. … ” Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: LA County-area regional water board considers declaring drought-spurred alert
Southern California: Drought and other supply chain issues impact school lunches
“The Santa Ana Unified School District hopes to make big changes this year to school lunches while simultaneously adjusting to environmental issues. Wildfires, drought, climate change and the pandemic all affect the general food supply and so, in turn, school lunches. A lot goes on behind the scenes when you go from serving 8,000 to-go meals per day to 30,000 meals in cafeterias for the fall 2021 semester. ... ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Southern California: Drought and other supply chain issues impact school lunches
NOAA predicts 70% chance of La Niña winter: Here’s what that means for drought-stricken SoCal
“It’s looking increasingly likely the U.S. will see La Niña conditions this winter, something that could spell bad news for an already parched Southern California. As of Thursday, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says there’s a 70% chance that La Niña returns for a second straight winter, this time between the period of November 2021 and January 2022. As such, a La Niña Watch has been issued by the agency. So what does that mean for winter weather? … ” Read more from KTLA here: NOAA predicts 70% chance of La Niña winter: Here’s what that means for drought-stricken SoCal
Law firms target Hyperion over foul smells, sewage release
“Several law firms are moving to sue Los Angeles and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant over the foul smells and water pollution caused by the emergency release of 17 million gallons of raw sewage into the ocean last month. The Bloom Law and Parris Law firms jointly filed a claim for damages — the first step toward a potential class-action lawsuit — in early August on behalf of at least a dozen residents. A second group of about 20 families, represented separately by attorney Abraham Sandoval, is expected to submit its claims within the next week. The city has 45 days to accept or deny the claims before the matters can proceed to court. … ” Read more from the Whittier Daily News here: Law firms target Hyperion over foul smells, sewage release
Along the Colorado River …
Top water users in the Las Vegas valley revealed
“The I-Team has learned a federal water shortage declaration on the Colorado River is expected on Monday. That would trigger some mandatory cutbacks. Lake Mead, where we get 90% of our water, is at record low levels right now. Valley residents are urged to conserve water. Now, the I-Team is taking a look at residents who are considered to use the most. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Top water users in the Las Vegas valley revealed
Exceptional Drought: Why the Western United States is rooting for Lake Powell (Part 1)
“The power grid, water supply, food, livestock, and life as we know it are all in the grip of a near historic drought this year. The impact of this summer’s heat extends across the U.S but is most severely felt in Western states. Lake Powell is critical for supplying drinking water to the Western United States and could soon drop to its lowest levels ever. This is part one of a three-part series in which reporter Jeff Zevely went to Lake Powell to see first-hand how extreme heat will affect millions of families. Lake Powell sits on the Utah and Arizona border. Take one look at America’s second-largest man-made reservoir and you can see what’s wrong. “Well, we call it the bathtub ring. You can see the top of the white behind me, that’s when the lake is full,” said Bryan Hill, General Manager of Page Utility Enterprises. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: Exceptional Drought: Why the Western United States is rooting for Lake Powell (Part 1)
SEE ALSO:
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- Part 2: Lake Powell then and now, family revisits 2014 houseboat trip, from Channel 8
- Part 3: How conserving water could save a town, from Channel 8
In national water news today …
Western state governors push Biden admin to declare federal drought disaster
“Several Western state governors sent a letter on Sunday to President Joe Biden’s administration requesting he declare a federal drought disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) drought disaster declaration would shore up additional funding in the states currently experiencing severe drought conditions. The letter was signed by the governors of Utah, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Washington. … ” Read more from The Center Square here: Western state governors push Biden admin to declare federal drought disaster
Interactive map flags locations of tap water contamination
“Drinking water safety, especially for children, has become an issue of heightened concern since the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, in 2014. The National Drinking Water Alliance map has recently been updated to add over 235 new points linking to news reports of tap water contamination, with nearly half of the incidents emerging since 2019. “We created the map to help community members, advocates and decision-makers visualize the tap water contamination landscape, particularly for incidents of lead that exceed state action levels,” said Christina Hecht, UC Nutrition Policy Institute senior policy advisor and National Drinking Water Alliance coordinator. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Interactive map flags locations of tap water contamination
Today’s featured articles …
CA WATER COMMISSION: Water Trading & the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
In March of this year, the Secretaries of the Natural Resources Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Food and Ag tasked the California Water Commission with initiating a thorough and inclusive public dialogue to frame state considerations around shaping well-managed groundwater trading programs.
At the June meeting of the California Water Commission, Steven Springhorn, the Acting Deputy Director of Statewide Groundwater Management at the Department of Water Resources, highlighted how the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and related activities provide a framework and foundation to build off of to develop efficient and equitable markets and how those markets can help to collectively and successfully implement SGMA. He also discussed the assistance available from the Department for SGMA implementation that can facilitate local agencies working towards developing allocations and markets.
Click here to read this article.
BLOG ROUND-UP: Depleted reservoirs threaten hydro power, agriculture, drinking water; Investing in California’s water supply infrastructure; Restore the Delta: Delta Conveyance Project update; and more …
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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Russian River Curtailment Compliance Assistance Workshop
NOTICE of second Pre-Hearing Conference and a Public Hearing on proposed cease-and-desist order to BlueTriton Brands, Inc. (successor by name change to Nestlé Waters North America, Inc.)
NOTICE: Notice of Public Hearing and Pre-Hearing Conference – City of Stockton
