On the calendar today …
- The Delta Independent Science Board meets from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Agenda items include Monitoring Enterprise Review Discussion, and Introduction to Organizations that Conduct Science in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Emergency regulations allow curtailments in the Delta watershed
“Effective August 19, 2021, emergency regulations were approved for water curtailment orders and related reporting requirements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed, defined as Hydrologic Unit Code level 4 Sacramento and level 4 San Joaquin subregions (Delta Watershed). … Under the Delta Regulations, the Deputy Director of the Division of Water Rights (Deputy Director) is charged with issuing curtailment orders to holders of water rights, including riparian and pre-1914 rights, in order of priority, based on water unavailability. Riparian rights are not exempted, but are presumed senior to appropriative water rights absent evidence to the contrary. For water rights in the portion of the Delta Watershed referred to in Water Code section 12220 (Legal Delta), the Deputy Director must obtain the concurrence of the Delta Watermaster before issuing any curtailment order. … ” Read the full article from Buchalter here: Emergency regulations allow curtailments in the Delta watershed
Western drought will last into fall or longer
“The severe drought that has gripped much of the western half of the United States in spring and summer is likely to continue at least into late fall, government forecasters said Thursday. The outlook for September through November, prepared by meteorologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, suggests that above-average temperatures are likely across almost all of the West, except for Washington and parts of Idaho, Montana and North Dakota. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: Western drought will last into fall or longer
Climate change and droughts: What’s the connection?
“For tens of millions of Americans, drought has become an ever-present natural disaster. Events such as the moderate-to-extreme drought conditions that covered more than half of the mainland U.S. in 2012, the megadrought in the West that continues today, and summer 2021’s record-low water levels at Lake Mead have kept dry spells in the news spotlight and kept drought impacts – strict water conservation measures, crop failures, and fears that dried-up vegetation will spark dangerous wildfires – on people’s minds. That’s particularly true in the Western United States. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: Climate change and droughts: What’s the connection?
Hurtado pleads for more water investment as drought crisis continues
“Standing at the depleted San Luis Reservoir on Wednesday, State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger) called for additional funds to help California residents and businesses withstand the drought. Hurtado’s rallying cry came on the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to the reservoir 59 years ago. “I am frustrated that while we are seeing the warning signs of climate change, our agricultural and vulnerable communities are not being invested in equitably by our state and federal governments,” said Hurtado. “More funding is desperately needed by both state and federal governments.” … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Hurtado pleads for more water investment as drought crisis continues
SEE ALSO:
-
- Hurtado Calls for increased investment in water infrastructure, from the Hanford Sentinel
- Western Ag Producers Association Joins A Call for Action On Water, from Cal Ag Today
Water & weed: A complex California relationship
“In Northern California, the relationship between water, weed, money and the environment seems more complex than ever. But as legalization barrels onward, there are still high hopes of saving the legacy farms that have survived this far. However, as legal cultivators no longer fear the buzz of helicopters thanks to thick and expensive stacks of paperwork, many now find themselves in a new battle to provide their plants a basic necessity. The Emerald Triangle feels the brunt of that stress. Droughts and fire have complicated life worse than ever in recent years. Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties make up the triangle and comprise 7% (26,557 square kilometers) of the total land area of the state of California according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). CDFW works with legal cannabis cultivators to ensure proper steps are being taken to protect the environment and is a major stakeholder in water conservation as it looks to protect the biodiversity of Northern California from streams running dry. … ” Continue reading from LA Weekly here: Water & weed: A complex California relationship
NASA watches water to help grow our groceries
“Every day – up to thirty times a day, in fact – one of Mark Mason’s employees at Nature’s Reward Farms in Monterey County, California brings him the results of a soil test for discussion. Mason supervises fertilizer and irrigation for the farm’s 5,000 acres along California’s Central Coast, which is nicknamed “America’s Salad Bowl” and is one of the most productive and diverse agricultural regions in the world. Those soil test results are key inputs for one of his newest tools: CropManage, which is operated by the University of California Cooperative Extension and uses data from NASA and other sources to create customized irrigation and fertilizer recommendations. In addition to satellite measurements of crop development, it gauges local weather, soil characteristics, and irrigation system efficiency. … ” Read more from Space Reg here: NASA watches water to help grow our groceries
Killer algae? California officials retesting river water after family found dead in Sierra
“Toxic algae in Sierra National Forest, now being considered in the mysterious deaths of a family this week, was being retested on Thursday by the California State Water Resources Control Board and Mariposa County. The state agency said it received the report of fatalities near the south fork of the Merced River, about 2.6 miles above the main stem, on Wednesday. Mariposa residents John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their daughter, Miju, and family dog, Oski, were found dead in this area on Tuesday after not returning from a day hike in the Hites Cove area of Devil’s Gulch, between Mariposa and Yosemite National Park. The family may have been exposed to cyanobacterial toxins, the water board said, which can form in algal blooms. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Killer algae? California officials retesting river water after family found dead in Sierra
Hydropower withers in drought, boosting fossil-fuel generation
Photo courtesy of the Department of Water Resources
“A drought worsened by climate change has caused hydropower supplies in California to reach their second-lowest level since 2001, leading electricity prices in the state to soar 150% in three months’ time. Yet some of the biggest beneficiaries of the price surge, according to a credit ratings agency report yesterday, are fossil fuel-fired power producers whose emissions only exacerbate global warming. California’s predicament — in which emissions-free hydropower is replaced by planet-warming power from natural gas plants — underscores the need to rapidly decarbonize the electric grid, according to sustainability experts. … ” Read more from Scientific American here: Hydropower withers in drought, boosting fossil-fuel generation
Press release: AWE industries develops water solution to address California’s water crisis
“Given the current water crisis in California and impact that it has on municipalities, farmland, and developers, people are looking for answers. AWE Industries has the solution. Based on years of development and testing, AWE (Atmospheric Water Extractor) Industries has developed a system capable of producing utility scale water for consumption and fertilization using the wind—and is looking for entities seeking to utilize these systems which can produce up to 300 million gallons a year. Says Allen Jones, the developer of The AWE, “By utilizing existing technologies we are able to harness mother nature to bring a lifesaving product in a very simplistic way. The technology can be used to address global distress and make a lasting contribution all over the world. Climate change has a direct effect on water supply which has a direct effect on global stability.” … ” Read more of this press release at EIN here: Press release: AWE industries develops water solution to address California’s water crisis
Fire crews get creative with water sources during drought conditions
“Crews are fighting the Caldor Fire in the middle of drought conditions that have sparked water restrictions in several cities. Water levels are extremely low at lakes and reservoirs crews depend on—sometimes forcing them to get creative. “It may require us to go further in some areas. If we know the area is remote and there’s not easily accessible water or city water that’s available,” said Daniel Berlant, a spokesperson for Cal Fire. Fire trucks and helicopters have been filling up at Jenkinson Lake to fight the Caldor Fire. The levels are very low there and they’ve dropped ten feet in just the last two months. But CALFIRE said it’s still enough to battle a wildfire. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: Fire crews get creative with water sources during drought conditions
When the toughest trees met the hottest fire
“A year ago, in the middle of the night, crashes of thunderbolts shook millions of people in the San Francisco Bay Area out of their sleep. They didn’t know history was about to happen. A storm swept over a region baking under record heat and dryness. Instead of rain, though, the storm sent thousands of lightning strikes, and by the time the sun came up, hundreds of wildfires crackled in the hills. They would combine into four major fires and consume more wildland than any event in state history, destroying over 4,000 structures and killing seven people. Amid the devastation, one blaze left an extraordinary mark. The CZU Lightning Complex, as it would come to be known, had immediate consequences, burning down almost 1,500 buildings, forcing the evacuation of 77,000 people and killing a 73-year-old recluse named Tad Jones. … This is the story of that fire. … ” Read more from E&E News here: When the toughest trees met the hottest fire
How should California confront the rising sea? These lawmakers have some bold ideas
“In a year marked by record-breaking wildfires, extreme heat and unprecedented water shortages, California lawmakers say there’s another — seemingly distant, but just as urgent — climate catastrophe the state cannot afford to ignore: sea level rise. This oft-overlooked threat is the focus of more than a dozen new bills and resolutions this year — a remarkable political awakening mobilized by years of research and piecemeal efforts across the state to keep the California coast above water. … These proposals are a paradigm shift in the way officials are now addressing the social, economic and environmental pressures looming over the state’s eroding coastline. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: How should California confront the rising sea? These lawmakers have some bold ideas
In commentary today …
Needed now: safe drinking water for all Californians
Sophie James, director of water quality at the California Water Service, writes, “While nobody disputes that everyone should have safe, clean drinking water, not every Californian does. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, more than 250 water systems serving 900,000 Californians were out of compliance with drinking water standards in 2020. Even more alarming, this is a chronic issue for some systems; more than 170 have been out of compliance for three or more years, and small rural, low-income communities of color are more likely to be among those with chronic water quality issues. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly here: Needed now: safe drinking water for all Californians
Water crisis and more water restrictions
Roseville resident Brain Parry writes, “Here we go again. More mandatory water restrictions in Roseville and other communities. Do you remember the last time we were forced to conserve water? I think it was 2015. We did so well that the Roseville water district did not have enough money to cover the maintenance costs of the system so how did they reward us for our conservation efforts? They raised our rates. I fully expect another rate increase in the near future. Volumes have been written about the drought and the shortage of water. The politicians and government officials act as if we, the public, are the culprits. But do not be fooled. The blame falls squarely on our short-sighted elected officials. And you don’t have to look any further than Roseville City Hall, the state Capitol and Washington D.C. … ” Read more from Gold Rush Media here: Water crisis and more water restrictions
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
The effort to save Upper Klamath Lake’s endangered fish before they disappear
“C’waam and koptu fish usually arrive in early spring to spawn in the creeks and rivers around Upper Klamath Lake, in southern Oregon. But this year, the fish didn’t turn up as expected. The two dwindling species are found only in this basin, and Klamath Tribes biologists thought that maybe, for the first time, the worst had happened — that they would not show up at all. But, finally, they appeared. On a morning in May, a c’waam swam into view, its thick, speckled body around two feet long. Faryn Case, a biologist at the Klamath Tribes’ research facility and a Klamath tribal member, stood waiting in the shallows of the lake, ready to collect the c’waam’s eggs, which are the size of BB gun pellets. … ” Read more from High Country News here: The effort to save Upper Klamath Lake’s endangered fish before they disappear
Enhancing flows and fish passage for Shasta River tributary
“Parks Creek is a critical tributary to the Shasta River in the Mid-Klamath Basin. The Shasta River was historically one of the most productive salmon streams in California. Groundwater from cold, nutrient-rich springs provided nearly ideal aquatic habitat conditions that supported large Chinook and coho salmon populations. But more than a century of aquatic and riparian habitat degradation along the Shasta River and its tributaries—including Parks Creek—has resulted in dramatic declines in wild salmon populations. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Enhancing flows and fish passage for Shasta River tributary
Grant program to boost water quality in areas hurt by illicit cannabis grows
“In an effort to address longstanding water quality issues related to cannabis cultivation sites, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a grant program aimed at benefiting the environment. The four-year grant program is the product of a 2019 settlement agreement between the county and Friends of the Eel River regarding the county’s commercial cannabis land use ordinance. “The funding of this program comes from penalty fees that have been paid as a result of a cannabis violation. What this then does is turn turns those fees around and uses them to allow cannabis cultivators to fix roads in areas of heavy sediment discharge to protect water quality,” said Humboldt County Planning and Building director John Ford. “It’s a way of taking some of the enforcement fees and using them for an environmental benefit.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Grant program to boost water quality in areas hurt by illicit cannabis grows
Local environmental groups ask for emergency protections for Gualala River; halt to water drafting
“Friends of Gualala River, along with Forest Unlimited in Forestville, on Monday sent a request to state and local officials asking that a regional state of emergency for the Gualala River watershed be proclaimed. In a letter to State Sen. Mike McGuire, Assembly member Jim Woods, Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Mendocino County Supervisor Ted Williams and officials at Cal Fire, the Water Resources Control Board and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, the groups ask that all timber harvest plan water drafting and all other nonessential water diversions be halted until healthy flows resume. … ” Read more from the Friends of the Gualala River here: Local environmental groups ask for emergency protections for Gualala River; halt to water drafting
SACRAMENTO VALLEY/MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
East Park Reservoir to temporarily close for dam maintenance
“The Bureau of Reclamation’s East Park Reservoir and surrounding parklands will temporarily close on August 20 for dam inspection and maintenance. Work on the 111-year-old dam is scheduled when the reservoir level is lowest due to drought conditions and the infrastructure is more accessible. East Park Dam and Reservoir are located in Colusa County, about 33 miles southwest of the town of Orland. Completed in 1910, the 139-feet-high dam and reservoir are part of the Orland Project, Reclamation’s oldest and smallest water delivery project constructed in California. … ” Read more from the Tehama Daily News here: East Park Reservoir to temporarily close for dam maintenance
Lake Tahoe records its ninth record high temperature since mid-June as the Sierra bakes
“Another heat record has fallen at a resort town on Lake Tahoe, marking the 13th time since mid-June that the community has tied or set a new high. The temperature reached 90 degrees Thursday in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., which sits at an elevation of 6,237 feet on the Nevada line. That topped the previous record of 89 degrees set in 1990, the National Weather Service in Reno said Friday. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Lake Tahoe records its ninth record high temperature since mid-June as the Sierra bakes
Bi-state report: Less sediment, pollution in Lake Tahoe
“Today, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, announced that efforts to reduce pollution and restore Lake Tahoe’s world-famous water clarity remain on track despite some impacts from climate change. The latest clarity data from the bi-state Lake Tahoe Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program’s 2021 performance report found that pollution from fine sediment particles in urban stormwater was reduced by over 523,000 pounds per year in 2020. The data indicates that a partnership between local governments and California and Nevada transportation agencies is successfully achieving annual goals established to reduce urban stormwater pollution and improve lake clarity. … ” Read more of this press release from Cal EPA here: Bi-state report: Less sediment, pollution in Lake Tahoe
Need a break? Habitats, endangered species, birds just a car ride away from Sacramento
“Sacramento is more suburban jungle than actual jungle, but there are plenty of ways to get your nature fix without leaving the metro area. In fact, about 35 minutes south of Downtown Sacramento sits the Cosumnes River Preserve, which protects the only free-flowing river on the western side of the Sierra Nevada. With over 50,000 acres of wildlife habitat and agricultural lands, the Cosumnes River Preserve’s mission is to protect floodplains, wetlands, valley oak riparian forests, vernal pool grasslands and agricultural lands within the lower Cosumnes River watershed and the upper California Delta. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Need a break? Habitats, endangered species, birds just a car ride away from Sacramento
Manteca needs to get serious about ‘purple water’
“Declaring a local drought emergency is not the answer to assuring Manteca has water to weather what Mayor Ben Cantu believes is a new norm for California. Such a declaration, from Cantu’s perspective, would simply be window dressing. He believes mandating people to reduce water “for an emergency” would give a false sense that water shortages due to lack of additional storage and the changing climate are still the exception … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca needs to get serious about ‘purple water’
BAY AREA
Gilroy to meet with County Water District to discuss drought
“The city of Gilroy will take part in a joint meeting with the Santa Clara Valley Water District and city of Morgan Hill on Monday to discuss the water shortage emergency in Santa Clara County. The water district, county and state have all declared water shortage emergencies in Santa Clara County, calling for a reduction of water use of 15 percent compared to 2019 levels. Earlier this month, Gilroy declared a Level 2 water supply shortage due to worsening drought conditions and placed limits on watering hours, days and duration with a goal of achieving 33 percent reduction in water use compared to 2013 levels. … ” Read more from The Patch here: Gilroy to meet with County Water District to discuss drought
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey One Water to pay $800,000 fine for discharging 3-million gallons of untreated water
“On Aug. 13, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board approved an $800,000 settlement agreement with Monterey One Water for unauthorized discharges of approximately three million gallons of untreated domestic and municipal wastewater to Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean. On Jan. 19 and 20 of 2018, Monterey One Water’s wastewater treatment plant headworks overflowed, causing a discharge of approximately 2,869,230 gallons of untreated wastewater through an ocean outfall two miles offshore. On Feb. 20, 2017 and Oct. 17, 2019, two of Monterey One Water’s sanitary sewer system pump stations in Pacific Grove overflowed, causing unauthorized discharges of approximately 167,107 gallons of untreated wastewater. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News here: Monterey One Water to pay $800,000 fine for discharging 3-million gallons of untreated water
Central Coast farms switch to water-conserving irrigation systems during drought
“According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, all of San Luis Obispo County is currently experiencing severe drought and 17% of San Luis Obispo County is experiencing exceptional drought. In California, irrigation systems are a common alternative to relying on rainfall for agriculture. Since many crops require a certain amount of water, farms simply can’t depend on rainwater alone in California’s dry climate. … ” Read more from KCBX here: Central Coast farms switch to water-conserving irrigation systems during drought
Central Coast residents urged to conserve water due to California’s worsening drought
“Water resource managers on the Central Coast are urging everyone to cut back on water use as California’s drought worsens. Local and state reservoir levels are falling and in some cases are at all-time lows. Lake Oroville in Northern California’s Butte County has reached an historic low, forcing the shutdown of its hydroelectric generation plant for the first time ever. Lake Oroville also happens to be the largest source of water for the state water project which supplies districts and cities on the Central Coast. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Central Coast residents urged to conserve water due to California’s worsening drought
Paso Robles: Public comment period underway for plans to restore Centennial Creek
“Caltrans District 5 is accepting public comments on a proposal to restore a 6,300-foot span of Centennial Creek to mitigate impacts to aquatic resources due to construction of the Highway 46 East Corridor Improvement Project. This project would include approximately four acres of restoration, repair or replacement of culvert crossings and extensive riparian planting. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily Press here: Paso Robles: Public comment period underway for plans to restore Centennial Creek
EPA chief visits Ventura, talks drought, water infrastructure
“The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s top official visited the city of Ventura‘s wastewater operations on Aug. 18 to get a first-hand look at water systems and discuss the upcoming investments in the nation’s infrastructure. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, a Democrat who represents most of Ventura County, were led on a tour of the facility by Wastewater Utility Manager Vince Ines. Attendees also included Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, City Councilman Joe Schroeder and City Manager Alex McIntyre. “It’s important to get out from behind the desk in Washington, D.C., and see what’s happening on the ground,” Regan said. “And looking at the innovation and the creativity it takes to develop these aged facilities in a way that can withstand some of the pressures we’re facing today.” … ” Read more from the Pacific Coast Business Times here: EPA chief visits Ventura, talks drought, water infrastructure
SEE ALSO: Federal Officials Tour South Coast Water, Wastewater Facility Which Needs Major Upgrades, from KCLU
EASTERN SIERRA
Harmful algal blooms reported at Mono County’s Crowley Lake; Caution urged for all water users
“The recent discovery of harmful algal blooms at multiple locations in Crowley Lake in Mono County has prompted the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) and Mono County Environmental Health to urge
recreational water users to exercise caution when in the lake. Testing in localized areas of the lake, a popular destination for trout fishing located 45 miles southeast of Yosemite National Park, confirmed the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). These areas now have posted warning and danger advisories to alert lake visitors of the elevated health risk. Although the blooms did not extend across the entire lake, caution should be exercised lake–wide due to rapidly changing conditions. The warning and danger advisories will remain in place until further notice. … ” Read more from the State Water Board here: Harmful algal blooms reported at Mono County’s Crowley Lake; Caution urged for all water users
LOS ANGELES/ORANGE COUNTY
Drought conditions in Santa Monica Mountains are ‘canary in the coalmine’
“The rustling and snap of dry brush and brittle twigs is constant when walking through the Cold Creek Preserve, but it is an emergency siren for Kevin Gaston — the deputy director of TreePeople Land Trust. “I’ve been working in the Santa Monica Mountains for over 10 years now, and I’ve just never seen anything like this,” he said. He is referring to the lack of growth at a site that TreePeople has been rehabilitating for years. Each year they come out to do vegetation monitoring and chart the growth of both native and nonnative species. The red flag went off when he saw a spring, he said. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Drought conditions in Santa Monica Mountains are ‘canary in the coalmine’
“Keep It Up IE”: New partnership leads in drought status communication
“As this season gears up to be one of the warmest and driest in recent memory, millions of Californians are reacquainting themselves with the trappings of summer: sunscreen, sunny mornings, and drought. Intentional or not, the word drought has become synonymous with summer to millions in California, due in part to water agencies like ours whose outreach efforts flood social media and mailboxes this time of year. The good news is Southern California residents have been here before and know what to do. … ” Read more from ACWA Water News here: “Keep It Up IE”: New partnership leads in drought status communication
COACHELLA/IMPERIAL VALLEY
Lawsuit to stop destruction of endangered Amargosa vole’s California habitat launched
“The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice today of its intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to protect critical habitat for Amargosa voles. The small, endangered mammals live only in marshes near increasingly popular desert hot springs in the Mojave Desert near Tecopa, Calif. “These desert hot springs are this little vole’s only home in the world, but the federal government is ignoring the fact that tourists are running amok here,” said Ileene Anderson, deserts director and a senior scientist at the Center. “We’re in the midst of a wildlife extinction crisis, and the Amargosa vole is one of the most endangered small mammals on the continent. The voles need more protection or they’ll be driven extinct.” … ” Read more from Sierra Nevada Ally here: Lawsuit to stop destruction of endangered Amargosa vole’s California habitat launched
Thermal: One side of a CA desert community lacks clean drinking water. The other is building a surfing resort
“Poorer neighborhoods are, on average, four degrees hotter than wealthier neighborhoods in the same town. That’s according to researchers at UC Davis who studied 20 urban areas across the Southwest. In California, that number is closer to seven degrees. One reason: Wealthier neighborhoods usually have more trees (and more shade), plus less paved surfaces. At the eastern end of the Coachella Valley, a town called Thermal has largely Latino and undocumented full-time residents. … ” Read more from KCRW here: Thermal: One side of a CA desert community lacks clean drinking water. The other is building a surfing resort
Company ready to fix the Salton Sea, but it’s waiting on the state
“The Salton Sea’s marina, Johnson’s Landing in Salton City, once had enough water to exist as a recreational area where boats roamed. It’s the area where Sea To Sea Canal Company partner Rod Smith walked recently. It was dry, cracked earth that water once covered. “If this is decades ago, we’d be water skiing,” Smith said. The state’s largest lake has been declining for decades, and that decline is accelerating. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Company ready to fix the Salton Sea, but it’s waiting on the state
SAN DIEGO
Reconnecting the people, plants and animals of the Kendall-Frost Marsh
“The University of California San Diego’s Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve has received an $85,000 grant from Honda to create integrated research and public engagement program centered on bringing Native American perspectives and cutting-edge science into the management and access decisions needed to ensure the marsh’s survival as a community asset. The significance of the grant is not just in the amount, but that it will reconnect humans to the marsh while supporting the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan, improving ecosystem resiliency, and fortifying wildlife habitats on the marsh. The project is a collaboration between the San Diego Audubon Society, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, Native Like Water, and Renascence—a non-profit led by local archeologists and also a member of the Mesa Grande Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. … ” Read more from the San Diego Center for International Trade Development here: Reconnecting the people, plants and animals of the Kendall-Frost Marsh
Along the Colorado River …
Water shortages run risk of dividing states using Colorado River
“Diminishing water supplies in the Colorado River Basin have led the basin’s seven states to adopt a “we’re all in this together” approach as they deal with climate change, intense drought, and increasing growth. But water officials wonder whether states will now act in their own self-interest, worsening tensions and sparking conflicts between the lower and upper basin. Fueling those concerns are the water reductions announced Aug. 16 by the Bureau of Reclamation, and the likelihood of deeper cuts in the near future for a basin that supplies water to about 40 million people. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Water shortages run risk of dividing states using Colorado River
SEE ALSO:
-
- As Colorado River Basin States Face Water Shortages, it’s Time to Focus on Demand, from Earth Island Journal
- Colorado River cutbacks set stage for decade of drought politics, from The Hill
The IPCC report has a chapter on the Southwest, and it’s brutal
“Drought, wildfires, declining water supplies, threats to human health made even more dangerous by urban design flaws and socioeconomic inequities — the climate crisis has already hit the Southwest hard. And it’s only going to get worse. That’s the message in the chapter on the U.S. Southwest in the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which anticipates global temperatures will pass the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold needed to avert permanent climate disaster as soon as the early 2030s. That means more drought, more fire, more heat, more illness and more trouble for the Southwest. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current here: The IPCC report has a chapter on the Southwest, and it’s brutal
New climate report wasn’t surprising to Indigenous peoples, who see change up close
“Prickly pear cactuses used by Indigenous peoples to make the popular Mexican and Southwestern nopales are shriveling in an increasingly hot and dry southern Sonoran Desert. Ancestral lands along the California coast may soon be underwater, rendering them worthless to many Native peoples,including the Salinan, Chumash, Tongva and Ajechemem, even as other lands burn in ever-larger wildfires. … Indigenous peoples across the globe, confronting the realities of climate change from the front lines, have long warned of these and other effects of a rapidly-heating world. None of them were surprised last week by the stark messages conveyed by the United Nations in the latest Intergovernmental Report on Climate Change. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: New climate report wasn’t surprising to Indigenous peoples, who see change up close
Pima County considers building costly desalination plant
“Think of it as a conversation piece. That’s how a Pima County, Ariz., official, Eric Wieduwilt, describes a new proposal for a $4.1 billion desalination project that would start with a plant to remove salt from seawater in the Sea of Cortez in Sonora. Then, the water would be shipped 196 miles by underground pipeline to the Tucson area, says a county study of the project. The cost could add up to $60 to $90 per month to the typical Tucson-area homeowner’s water bill, said the County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department’s study. … ” Read more from Governing here: Pima County considers building costly desalination plant
In national water news today …
Regulatory foot-dragging over PVC spurs court challenge
“An environmental group sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday for not regulating a common plastic said to shed carcinogens at every stage of its life cycle. Polyvinyl chloride — often referred to as PVC — is deeply ingrained in American life, cropping up not only in construction products but toys, packaging, electronics, household goods and hundreds of other goods. “PVC is a toxic time bomb,” Emily Jeffers, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement Thursday, announcing the group’s filing of a federal complaint in Washington against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. … ” Continue reading at the Courthouse News Service here: Regulatory foot-dragging over plastic waste spurs court challenge
Municipalities look to clay pipe amidst ongoing PVC shortage
“The Texas winter storm of 2021 was the first toppling domino that triggered a series of changes throughout the municipal industry’s supply chain. When power was lost along the Texas Gulf Coast in February 2021, chemical plants in the area were forced to shut down slowing the production of PVC. Then, combined with manufacturing setbacks that resulted from COVID-19 closures and hurricanes pelting the coast of Louisiana, the past year was the perfect storm of disruption for plastic producers, and in the business of laying pipe, that disturbance is being felt full-force. … ” Read more from Municipal Sewer & Water Magazine here: Municipalities look to clay pipe amidst ongoing PVC shortage
Q&A: Can green infrastructure keep microplastics out of the environment?
“You may have heard of the Great Pacific garbage patch, but the majority of plastic waste in the environment is more subtle: tiny particles ranging from the size of a pea to the thickness of a human hair — and even smaller. A team of U of T Engineering researchers — including Professor Elodie Passeport (CivMin, ChemE), Professor Jennifer Drake (CivMin) and CivMin PhD student Kelsey Smyth — studies what happens to these microplastics as they make their way into ditches, streams, rivers and lakes, especially during heavy rainstorms. In a paper published earlier this year, they show that human-engineered structures known as bioretention cells are a useful strategy for controlling microplastics in the environment. Writer Tyler Irving sat down with Passeport to talk about some of her recent research. … ” Read more from the University of Toronto here: Q&A: Can green infrastructure keep microplastics out of the environment?
Fracking linked to surface water quality for first time in new study
“The effects of fracking on nearby water sources may be worse than previously thought, according to a new study that found hydraulic fracturing can alter the composition of surface water and not just groundwater. The study, published Thursday in Science, is the first to link fracking to small increases in salt concentrations in surface water, particularly during the early stages of production. While the highest salt levels were well below what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers harmful, researchers identified a robust association between new wells and water quality changes, triggering public health concerns. … ” Read more from The Hill here: Fracking linked to surface water quality for first time in new study
National water and climate report …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20210819Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Emergency Regulation For Sacramento-san Joaquin Delta Watershed Approved By Office Of Administrative Law
DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Delta Voice~ Climate Webinar~ DSC Meeting~ Grants Available ~~
