DAILY DIGEST, 9/3: Drought threatens access to clean water, study finds; Stricter water restrictions to come if winter stays dry, say experts; Marin utility seeks to cut water for endangered fish; Cuyama Valley groundwater basin to be adjudicated; and more …


In California water news today …

Drought threatens access to clean water in California farming communities, study finds

Researchers have suspected for years that drought conditions worsen groundwater quality, but a study published this week provides strong evidence proving the long-held assumption.  While previous studies have focused on the risk of wells being overdrawn and run dry during drought, the study from the United States Geological Survey and the California State Water Resources Control Board is the first to directly link drought to deteriorating water quality on a regional scale.  The study looked at 30 years of data from California’s Central Valley. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Drought threatens access to clean water in California farming communities, study finds

Scorched Earth: California’s growing water crisis

Drought is and always has been part of California’s climate. So, how does the state that provides the largest share of fruits and vegetables to the U.S. and parts of the world survive with less water?  Bruce Rominger is a fifth-generation farmer in Winters, part of the Sacramento Valley in Northern California. It’s the beginning of their tomato harvest, and they are already starting to think of next season as drought conditions grow.  He says California has so much valuable, productive ground, but without water, it’s virtually worthless. And if we have another dry winter, more and more farmers will be getting little to no surface water. If that’s the case, they’ll be in bad shape. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: Scorched Earth: California’s growing water crisis

Stricter water restrictions to come if winter stays dry: water experts

With the drought deepening almost daily, water experts are putting out the warning — if the winter stays dry, much more drastic water rationing might be needed to get through next year.  Calero Reservoir at the southern end of San Jose is at 45% capacity. It’s actually one of the healthier reservoirs, by far. The others are cause for real concern.  Kayakers still come out to Calero. They say it’s one of the few reservoirs in the valley that can still accommodate their water crafts. … ”  Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Stricter water restrictions to come if winter stays dry: water experts 

Here’s a drought-fighting idea: Cover canals with solar panels

As California battles drought and a water crisis, scientists at the University of California, Merced, propose building solar projects atop the state’s 3,946 miles of canals.  However, leaders from the Valley’s farming and solar industries say the idea will only work if the projects make “financial sense.”  As the state becomes increasingly hotter and its soils drier, there must be enough water storage to last the dry seasons to supply communities with drinking water and farms with irrigation. … ” Read more from GV Wire here: Here’s a drought-fighting idea: Cover canals with solar panels

Caldor fire smoke and ash are clouding Lake Tahoe’s famously clear water

The Caldor fire has triggered mass evacuations in two states, torched hundreds of homes, made the air hazardous to breathe and spurred President Biden to issue an emergency declaration.  But the erratic wildfire is also causing another problem for Lake Tahoe: Smoke and ash particles are entering the lake and clouding its world-famous crystal blue waters.  Burning for nearly three weeks now, the fire has scorched more than 210,000 acres and blanketed the region in a haze of smoke.  Readings in recent days show the lake’s clarity — which is tracked by lowering a white disk below the surface and measuring the depth at which it disappears from view — has dropped to below normal for this time of year. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here:  Caldor fire smoke and ash are clouding Lake Tahoe’s famously clear water

As California burns, anger and pointed questions for caretaker of its vast forests

Ivo Dachev was among the first to lose his home to the Caldor Fire — and wanted to know why the fire wasn’t smothered in its infancy in the Eldorado National Forest.  “I tell you what, the fire started one to two acres as a brush fire,” said the Grizzly Flats resident, shortly after learning his home had burned down. “It’s like a disease; you have to get it at the beginning.”  More than two weeks later, as the Caldor Fire spills into the Lake Tahoe basin and threatens one of America’s most breathtaking locales, some folks back in Grizzly Flats — tiny, rural Grizzly Flats, largely destroyed and still smoldering 40 miles to the west — are saying this disaster could have been prevented. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: As California burns, anger and pointed questions for caretaker of its vast forests

Reclamation awards $5.5 million to 82 water improvement projects in 16 western states

The Bureau of Reclamation selected 82 projects to share $5.5 million in WaterSMART Small Scale Water Efficiency Grants. These grants will help local communities make water efficiency improvements such as installing flow measurement, automating a water delivery system, or lining a canal section to reduce seepage.  “Through a relatively small investment, Reclamation can support western communities with grant funding to improve water conservation and reliability,” said Chief Engineer David Raff. “These small, community-driven projects help improve water resiliency in these communities as they seek to meet future water needs.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation awards $5.5 million to 82 water improvement projects in 16 western states

Reclamation awards $3.1 million in grants to develop water data, modeling and forecasting tools and information for water managers

The Bureau of Reclamation selected 20 projects to share $3.1 million in applied science grants to develop tools and information to support water management decisions. These projects in 11 western states include improved water data, modeling and forecasting capabilities.  “Water managers today need more accurate and reliable information to make the best water management decisions in a changing climate,” said Chief Engineer David Raff. “Applied Science Grants are an important tool to assist water managers getting the information they need so they can make those informed decisions.” … ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Reclamation awards $3.1 million in grants to develop water data, modeling and forecasting tools and information for water managers

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In commentary today …

Climate change is no excuse for California’s water issues

Zachary Faria, Commentary Fellow, writes, “California’s reservoir levels are at a record low as the state is once again in a drought. This is not due to climate change — feckless state leadership is to blame.  The state’s reservoirs are at their lowest levels since 1977, as the state has experienced a long dry stretch. The natural reaction from California Democrats is to throw their hands in the air, give some sanctimonious statement about how the country must fight climate change, and then tell California residents to cut back on their water. … ”  Read more from the Washington Examiner here: Climate change is no excuse for California’s water issues

We don’t have a water shortage; We have a water management problemh

Andrea León-Grossmann, the Director of Climate Action of Azul, writes, “We are in a drought, a mega drought. Many even claim that California is in a state of emergency, but drought and flooding is now the new normal. What we are experiencing is climate change, exacerbated by severe water management problems. Yet, few are stepping up to the plate to ensure a sustainable water supply and to protect the human right to water. Californians use an average of 102 gallons per capita per day (gpcd), with some districts like Rancho Santa Fe using a whopping 272 gpcd. In 2018, Assemblymember Laura Friedman championed AB 1668, which makes California agencies budget for 50 gpcd by 2030, but unfortunately the efficiency and conservation measures were not codified in that bill. … ”  Continue reading at the Voice of the OC here: We don’t have a water shortage; We have a water management problem

Lake Tahoe is California’s gem. Climate change could devastate it

The Los Angeles Times editorial board writes, “Across the West, megafires are no longer uncommon, and unprecedented fire behavior is no longer unexpected. Welcome to the California of climate change, where the new normal is extreme weather and terrifying consequences.  Already, the 2021 fire season has confounded expectations. Before this year, no fire was known to have burned from one side of the Sierra Nevada to the other. Now it’s happened twice — with the Dixie fire in the northern Sierra and now the Caldor fire near Lake Tahoe. The Dixie fire is the second largest in state history and still burning.  On the Caldor fire, more than 4,000 firefighters have been working night and day to try and save communities around Lake Tahoe. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Lake Tahoe is California’s gem. Climate change could devastate it

Forests burn, bureaucracy fiddles – let’s act now to save these national treasures

Greg Walcher, natural resources fellow at the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, writes, “The French historian François-René de Chateaubriand wrote that forests precede civilizations, and deserts follow them.   Looking out this summer at smoke that covered half the country, and mudslides that buried major highways like I-70 in Colorado, we should wonder if we really want that to be America’s legacy, too. It is not inevitable.  Professional foresters know how to manage forests to sustain their yield, their beauty and their health, forever. But professional foresters are not in charge. … ”  Read more from Fox News here: Forests burn, bureaucracy fiddles – let’s act now to save these national treasures

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In regional water news and commentary today …

Radio show: The Klamath River water crisis and its lessons on climate change

The Klamath River stretches 250 miles from southern Oregon to California. Along the entire length of that river, people are hurting.  From farmers:  “You’ve been given a promise by the United States government to provide you water,” Scott Seus, a third-generation farmer, says. “When they take that water off of that land, you have something that’s worth nothing. A piece of barren ground doesn’t mean a thing.” To the Klamath Tribes, who’ve relied on the river for hundreds of years.  “The tribes has to protect the few remaining adult fish that are left, and it puts everybody in a very difficult position,” Dr. Alex Gonyaw says.  Almost every natural thing is suffering.  “This is a clear signal that the arteries of the west, our wetland ecosystems, are failing,” John Alexander says.  Today, On Point: Drought, vanishing ways of life and lessons we must all learn from the Klamath River basin.”  Listen to the radio show from WBUR here: Radio show: The Klamath River water crisis and its lessons on climate change

How drought along the Klamath River impacts migratory birds

The Klamath River flows some 250 miles from southern Oregon to Northern California. From its headwaters at Upper Klamath Lake, east of Medford, Oregon, the river rushes through trout habitat, forested mountains, farmland and salmon nurseries as it makes its way to the Pacific Ocean.  Rather, the river usually rushes. But now, drought is desiccating almost the entire Klamath River basin, some 12,000 to 15,000 square miles. That’s an area approaching the size of the entirety of Massachusetts and Connecticut combined. … ”  Listen/read story from WBUR here: How drought along the Klamath River impacts migratory birds

Northern California kelp forest shows signs of recovery after sea urchin removal

On the fishing dock in Noyo Harbor, two days’ haul of purple sea urchin barely filled a large plastic crate.  Hand-collected by commercial divers, the spiky invertebrates were destined for science, not sushi. On a table nearby, a crew from the conservation organization Reef Check cut through their shells to their gooey insides, collecting data for a state-funded project aiming to rescue California’s North Coast kelp forest by systematically removing the voracious purple urchin from the sea floor. … It’s starting to work. Reef Check’s pilot project to remove urchin from a specific underwater site is proving effective in bringing kelp back. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Northern California kelp forest shows signs of recovery after sea urchin removal

As surplus water sales evaporate, Mendocino Coast scrambles to keep from going dry

With private wells running dry on the Mendocino Coast and neighboring communities too tapped out to share, Mendocino County officials are racing to organize a giant bucket brigade over the hills from Ukiah.  The tiny unincorporated community of Westport, the last community that was still selling water, quit this week, leaving the town of Mendocino and neighboring coastal villages — along with families, restaurants, inns and other users — at risk of running out. ... ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: As surplus water sales evaporate, Mendocino Coast scrambles to keep from going dry

Butte Water Commission backs water district proposal

A proposed water district in northwestern Butte County Wednesday won a split-vote endorsement from the Butte County Water Commission, after a lengthy public hearing.  The commission voted 6-3 to recommend the Board of Supervisors support formation of the Tuscan Water District.  Even though the vote was just advisory, there were two hours of public comment. When the supervisors take up the matter Sept. 14, their action will also just be advisory, as the Local Agency Formation Commission is the entity that will determine whether the district is formed. … ”  Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: Butte Water Commission backs water district proposal

Roseville, PCWA double-down on a partnership to manage water supplies

In the spirit of regional collaboration, the City of Roseville and the Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) agreed to modify an existing water supply contract and credit Roseville 5,000 acre-feet of surface water in 2022. The revised agreement responds to Roseville’s efforts to reduce surface water use this year through mandated water conservation and groundwater pumping to address the current drought.  “Our partnership with PCWA spans decades, and we are thankful because it allows us to manage water supplies collectively and strategically,” said Sean Bigley, assistant director of water for Roseville. “The latest agreement acknowledges our community’s efforts to reduce reliance on Folsom Lake supplies but allows us to take advantage of the work our customers are doing to conserve by applying those water savings in the form of available water next year.” … ”  Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: Roseville, PCWA double-down on a partnership to manage water supplies

Sacramento considering a ballot measure to increase property owner stormwater fees

Sacramento city officials are considering a ballot measure that would increase the amount property owners pay for a stormwater system fee.  The City Council could consider whether to approve the ballot measure in January. It would increase the fee for most single-family homeowners by about $70 per year, from about $135 to $205 per year, based on the size of impervious surfaces, said Carlos Eliason, the city’s department of utilities spokesman. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Sacramento considering a ballot measure to increase property owner stormwater fees

North Coast illegal cannabis farms siphoning water amid drought

A bust of an illegal cannabis grow site within Sonoma Coast State Park has weeded out an even bigger problem for the North Bay suffering from a drought year — water theft.  “Cannabis plants require so much water to grow,” California State Parks Cannabis Watershed Protection Program Assistant Chief Jeremy Stinson told the Business Journal, following his team uncovering the illegal grow site in Bodega Bay that netted two arrests, 1,500 plants, 1,000 pounds of trash, pollutants and water diversion lines. State law enforcement officials reported the incident on Aug. 17. … ”  Read more from North Bay Business Journal here: North Coast illegal cannabis farms siphoning water amid drought

Marin utility seeks to cut water for endangered fish

In an effort to preserve more water as its reservoirs evaporate, the Marin Municipal Water District is requesting emergency state approval to take water away from endangered fish in one of the last coho salmon strongholds in the Bay Area.  District officials said the request to reduce dam water releases into Lagunitas Creek this winter is not taken lightly but is a necessary precaution amid a historic drought that threatens the water supply for 191,000 residents in central and southern Marin.  “We’re talking about listed species, populations that are crashing and threatened with extinction,” said Monty Schmitt, a member of the utility’s board, said at its meeting on Monday. “And so we really shouldn’t be looking at that in any other way than something that we are not contributing to extinction but we are trying to make it through this year — both fish and people.” … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin utility seeks to cut water for endangered fish

Dry conditions sending wildlife into East Bay neighborhoods

The drought emergency in the Bay Area is not only affecting humans, but also wildlife.  From turkeys strolling along streets, to wild pigs appearing on surveillance video digging up yards, bone dry conditions in the hills has sent thirsty wildlife into neighborhoods, particularly in the East Bay. Other creatures spotted in neighborhoods recently include mountain lions and even the occasional bear. … ”  Read more from KTLA here: Dry conditions sending wildlife into East Bay neighborhoods

Livermore: Zone 7 declares drought emergency; mandatory 15% water use reduction

Dry conditions combined with low water storage this year prompted the Zone 7 Water Agency Board of Directors to unanimously declare a drought emergency on Wednesday night, including mandatory 15% water use reduction for all Zone 7 retailers.  “This is an important step in ensuring long-term water reliability for the Tri-Valley area,” said Board President Angela Ramirez Holmes in a statement. “We need to take this action now to make sure our community has enough water in the immediate future.” … ”  Read more from Pleasanton Weekly here: Zone 7 declares drought emergency; mandatory 15% water use reduction

San Jose submits plans for mandatory household water rationing

“In theme with the extreme weather being experienced nationwide, California is once again facing a familiar environmental obstacle: severe drought.  As the low rainfall continues to dry out much of California, Santa Clara County is in worse shape than many other parts of the state. The Anderson reservoir, the county’s largest, was drained last year in order to rebuild the dam for improved earthquake safety. At the end of August, the 10 reservoirs in the county were collectively just 13% full. … ”  Read more from Cupertino Today here: San Jose submits plans for mandatory household water rationing

Local 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.  That’s according to Jerry Rutiz, owner of Rutiz Family Farms outside of Arroyo Grande. Rutiz said that the water he irrigates from groundwater pumping is of lower quality during droughts, and so he has to irrigate his crops more often to keep them healthy.  “You’d think in a drought that you would be watering less often, but we find ourselves having to keep the ground wet even more,” Rutiz said. … ”  Continue reading from KCBX here: Local farms switch to water-conserving irrigation systems during drought

Families in Parlier could pay almost twice as much on their water bill by 2025

Families in Parlier could start paying more for their water usage starting next month. The proposed rates would continue increasing through October 2025.  “We’re trying to increase it gradually for our residents so they don’t feel such a hit really hard, especially through Covid,” said Mayor Alma Beltran, who points to state regulations as the reason behind the new rates.  In 2014, the State of California adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to help manage its groundwater. By 2040, urban water suppliers are prohibited from pumping more groundwater than it can replenish, meaning water levels must stay level compared to previous years. ... ”  Read more from Your Central Valley here: Families in Parlier could pay almost twice as much on their water bill by 2025

Cuyama Valley groundwater basin joins growing list of post-SGMA comprehensive groundwater adjudications

Facing depleting groundwater supplies, a group of landowners in the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin, which overlies parts of Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties, filed a complaint for a comprehensive adjudication of all the groundwater rights in the basin. In the wake of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Act (“SGMA”), which requires regulation of groundwater for long-term sustainability, and as drought affects water supplies throughout California, a growing number of adjudications are being filed under the Comprehensive Groundwater Adjudication Statute, California Code of Civil Procedure sections 830 et seq. This is the fifth such adjudication filed since 2015, when the California Legislature revised the process for comprehensive groundwater adjudications. These adjudications resolve all water rights in a given groundwater basin. … ”  Read more from O’Melveny here: Cuyama Valley groundwater basin joins growing list of post-SGMA comprehensive groundwater adjudications

City stops pumping water from Ventura River amid long-running lawsuit

The shut off came as a result of legal action.  Water is flowing – albeit gently – in the Ventura River here at Foster Park in Ventura County.  Many may not realize the river is here but it has been central to a lawsuit over pumping and diversion of water, for over 5 years.  This is now the first time that wells on the river have been switched off by the City of Ventura, as part of an interim legal settlement agreement. … ”  Read more from KCLU here: City stops pumping water from Ventura River amid long-running lawsuit 

Non-native quagga mussels reach Castaic Lake

The California Department of Water Resources announced Monday that for the first time it spotted quagga mussels, a non-native species, in Castaic Lake.  Staff from DWR and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife found two quagga mussels shells in Castaic Lake on Aug. 17. DWR has monitored the lake since 2008, according to Maggie Macias, a representative for the agency.  “The pathway of introduction and the time of introduction is currently under investigation,” she said in a statement to The Signal. … ”  Read more from The Signal here: Non-native quagga mussels reach Castaic Lake

SCV Water announces plans for ensuring safe drinking water from the Saugus Formation Aquifer

In January 2021, The Santa Clarita Water Agency, (SCV Water) announced that they would be seeking public opinion and comments on how to remove hazardous materials from local water wells.  After an initial 30-day period of public comment, SCV Water has come to a conclusion for a short-term plan for solving the issue of pollutants in four production wells under active pumping conditions. “SCV Water’s top priority is to ensure the Santa Clarita Valley has reliable supplies of wholesome, high-quality water. The Agency is keeping its water safe for drinking water consumption through minimizing and mitigating the public health and environmental effects of hazardous substances that have been identified in the Saugus Formation Aquifer,” stated SCV Water officials. … ”  Read more from KHTS here:  SCV Water announces plans for ensuring safe drinking water from the Saugus Formation Aquifer

South Coast Water District digs into desalination costs

Households within the South Coast Water District could expect their monthly water bills to increase between $2.38 and $7.20 if the agency builds the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, according to a cost analysis released this week.  South Coast Water’s Board of Directors reviewed their consultants’ findings on the project’s cost during a special meeting on Thursday night. … ”  Read more from the Laguna Beach Independent here: South Coast Water District digs into desalination costs

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Along the Colorado River …

Should the lawns in Vegas, stay in Vegas?

” … Almost everyone in that desert gets their water from pretty much a single source – the Colorado River, which is stretched thin these days.  That river is where Lake Mead gets all of its water. It’s the critical water source for millions of people living in seven states, in cities like Phoenix, San Diego and Las Vegas. But since the 1980s, Lake Mead and the Colorado River are drying up because – big reveal – this is a desert.  A hot-as-hell desert, right? And climate change is definitely not helping things, I mean, nor is the continued growth. Hordes of people are moving out West, and that’s sucking Lake Mead dry. And all this worries Kyle Roerink. He is executive director of the Great Basin Water Network. He focuses on water issues in the West. … ”  Read or listen at NPR here:  Should The Lawns In Vegas, Stay In Vegas?

Drought-hit blue mesa reservoir losing 8 feet of water to save Lake Powell. A Western Slope marina feels the pain.

Climate change is leading to less snowpack, and warmer temperatures mean less water is making it into the Colorado River. Blue Mesa is Colorado’s largest reservoir, and it hit its second-lowest level on record for the end of August. … A 20-year, climate change-fueled megadrought has dealt a double blow to Blue Mesa this summer. The dry conditions have led to lower levels directly, but the lake is also hurting from drought problems in other states. For the first time, the federal government is taking emergency action by taking water from Blue Mesa to help out another reservoir — Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border. Loken said the withdrawals hurt more given Blue Mesa’s low water levels. … ”  Continue reading at Colorado Public Radio here: Drought-hit blue mesa reservoir losing 8 feet of water to save Lake Powell. A Western Slope marina feels the pain.

Climate change is destabilizing the Colorado River Basin. Where do we go from here?

In June, a portion of my neighborhood in Flagstaff, Arizona, was put on pre-evacuation notice due to a nearby wildfire. A few weeks later, storms dumped heavy rains over a burn scar from a 2019 fire that caused destructive floods through parts of town. So far, this summer has been our third-wettest monsoon season on record, a complete contrast from our two driest monsoon seasons on record in 2019 and 2020.  These extremes are just a few local examples of the havoc that climate change is causing around the world. Here in the West, we are now in uncharted territory with the first-ever shortage declaration on the Colorado River. … ”  Read more from EDF’s Growing Returns here: Climate change is destabilizing the Colorado River Basin. Where do we go from here?

Powell and Mead reservoirs dangerously low: Historic lows trigger water cuts; activists say managers aren’t doing enough

The two largest reservoirs in the country, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have dropped to historic lows this summer. Boat ramps are dry and huge “bathtub rings” circle the canyons of the reservoirs. Managers fear the water in Lake Mead could drop low enough to force the shut-down of the hydroelectric power plant powered by the reservoir, which serves close to 8 million people in Nevada, Arizona and California.  Those low reservoir levels are one indicator of a major problem: the Colorado River, which feeds those lakes, is overallocated. … ”  Read more from the Moab Sun here: Powell and Mead reservoirs dangerously low: Historic lows trigger water cuts; activists say managers aren’t doing enough

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In national water news today …

Hurricane Ida destruction could lift infrastructure bill hopes

The monumental destruction wreaked this week by Hurricane Ida, one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall in the U.S., has become a new catalyst on Capitol Hill for lawmakers pushing a $1 trillion bill to rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.  Ida struck Louisiana on Sunday as a Category 4 hurricane, destroying buildings and knocking out power to all of New Orleans, leaving millions without air conditioning or refrigeration in the sweltering summer heat. Days later, remnants of the storm dumped historic rain over New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with at least 14 deaths tied to the storm. … ” Continue reading at MSN here: Hurricane Ida destruction could lift infrastructure bill hopes

Bankruptcies fueling environmental crisis at abandoned oil wells

A tide of failing energy companies has government regulators racing to address the nation’s stockpile of abandoned, methane-leaking oil wells as environmental liabilities come to a head in oil and gas bankruptcy proceedings.  More than 260 domestic oil producers filed Chapter 11 over a six-year period marked by depressed commodity prices and the global economic shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Many distressed fossil fuel companies are passing environmental obligations on to government bodies amid the worst crude crash in history. Some of those companies use bankruptcy to shift multimillion or even multibillion-dollar decommissioning burdens to predecessors and joint interest holders. … ”  Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Bankruptcies fueling environmental crisis at abandoned oil wells

NASA: New online visualization tool will enable anyone to see what sea levels will look like anywhere in the world in the decades to come

NASA’s Sea Level Change Team has created a sea level projection tool that makes extensive data on future sea level rise from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) easily accessible to the public – and to everyone with a stake in planning for the changes to come.  Pull up the tool’s layers of maps, click anywhere on the global ocean and coastlines, and pick any decade between 2020 and 2150: The tool, hosted on NASA’s Sea Level Portal, will deliver a detailed report for the location based on the projections in the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, released on Aug. 9, which addresses the most updated physical understanding of the climate system and climate change. ... ”  Read more from YubaNet here:  NASA: New online visualization tool will enable anyone to see what sea levels will look like anywhere in the world in the decades to come

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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-20210902

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: Emergency Regulation for Klamath River Watershed – Approved and Now in Effect

NOTICE: Lower Russian River Curtailment Announcement – updated curtailment status and new informational tools

STATUS CONFERENCE RULING, PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE, PUBLIC HEARING: Phase 1A Kern River Applications

NOTICE of AVAILABILITY: Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Draft Strategic Plan

DELTA eNEWS: ~~ Webinar Series~ Virtual Tour~ Social Science~ Waterway Cleanup~~

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.

 

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