DAILY DIGEST, 12/20: Could the Sierra get 100 inches of snow by Christmas?; The dirty business of wetlands restoration; At the Salton Sea, signs of activity and cautious optimism; Current reservoir and snow conditions; and more …

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On the calendar today …

In California water news today …

Could the Sierra get 100 inches of snow by Christmas? Here’s the mountain forecast

“If you’re headed up to Tahoe this week and dreaming of a white Christmas, meteorologists say you’ll get your wish. But it might not be the smoothest trip through the Sierra Nevada.  The mountains are expected to get blanketed with snow from a series of storms that will bring rain to the Bay Area, with Donner Pass seeing possibly a total of 80 to 100 inches of snow Tuesday through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Could the Sierra get 100 inches of snow by Christmas? Here’s the mountain forecast

Storms headed to Northern California. Here’s how much rain is expected in Sacramento

“Weather forecasters are predicting several inches of rain in Sacramento and other areas in Northern California this week, as a series of storms are expected to hit the region, in addition to several feet of snow over the Sierra Nevada. The National Weather Service’s Sacramento office said Sunday that after rainstorms move in late Monday, Sacramento could see 3 to 4 inches of rain between Tuesday and Saturday. More stormy weather is possible through to the end of the year, and snow on mountain passes could pose a hazard to holiday travel plans. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Storms headed to Northern California. Here’s how much rain is expected in Sacramento

Rainy week on tap for the Bay Area; Sierra snow to complicate holiday mountain travel

“A one-two punch of storm systems is expected to drape the Bay Area in rainy weather for much of the upcoming week while potentially making holiday travel in the Sierra Nevada mountains “very challenging to impossible,” meteorologists say.  Sunny skies should give way to rain across the Bay Area on Monday evening as the first of two systems from the Gulf of Alaska move into the region. The storm is expected to kick off a week of soggy weather that could drop two or three inches of rain on the Bay Area’s three largest cities while further soaking the Santa Cruz mountains, National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Bingaman said.  “It’s going to be a wet Christmas week, and through the holiday weekend,” she said. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Rainy week on tap for the Bay Area; Sierra snow to complicate holiday mountain travel

SEE ALSO:

• Winter solstice to be welcomed by rain and snowstorm, from ABC 10
• Will a rainy December help NorCal’s drought?, Video from KCRA Channel 3

California likely to crack down on water waste with daily $500 fines

“After two years of drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom remains reluctant to put limits on statewide water use. His administration, however, is looking to take a first step.  Next month, the State Water Resources Control Board is expected to adopt temporary prohibitions on outdoor water practices, including hosing down driveways, filling up decorative fountains and watering lawns within 48 hours of rain.  A violation of these rules would carry the threat of a $500-a-day fine. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here:  California likely to crack down on water waste with daily $500 fines

The dirty business of wetlands restoration

“On Oct. 29, the waters of the Suisun Bay breached the levee along the northern shoreline of Martinez and flowed into the Pacheco Marsh. The breach was the culmination of a process that took 18 years, $24 million in funds, and dirt. Lots of dirt.  “Dirt is cheap,” said Paul Detjens, the project manager of the Pacheco Marsh restoration project, “but moving the dirt from one place to another is expensive.”  Wetland restoration in the Bay Area requires massive amounts of dirt – or sediment – to protect against rising sea levels. Like the Pacheco Marsh, many of the Bay Area’s coastal wetlands are degraded after decades of dredging, draining and construction activity. As sea levels rise, restoring them could be a long-term solution to build resilience against flooding, but acquiring enough sediment is proving to be an issue for some restoration teams. ... ”  Read more from SF Gate here: The dirty business of wetlands restoration

Snowless winters are already here: The consequences will go far beyond closed ski resorts

“Across the central Rockies, this year has been unseasonably warm and dry. Denver smashed the record for its latest first measurable winter snow. Colorado ski resorts delayed opening because temperatures were too high to even produce much fake snow. And Salt Lake City was entirely snowless through November, for only the second time since 1976.  These snowless scenarios, while still an exception, are set to become much more common as early as 2040, according to a paper published in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment. Drawing from years of snowpack observations, the researchers project that in 35 to 60 years, the Mountain West will be nearly snowless for years at a time if worldwide greenhouse-gas emissions are not rapidly reduced. This could impact everything from wildfires to drinking water. … ”  Read more from The Atlantic here: Snowless winters are already here: The consequences will go far beyond closed ski resorts

Finding predictability in the uncertainty of snow drought

“As climate change makes periods of record-low snow more frequent, researchers still disagree about how to measure snow depth and how to define snow drought.  Recognizing the critical link between snow and water security, Dartmouth’s Climate Modeling and Impacts Group is leading efforts to show how these uncertainties can actually be used to improve predictions of water availability.  “One-off years of low snowpack may have felt like a less pressing issue in the past,” says Justin Mankin, assistant professor of geography and head of the research group. “The current shift to less snow every year forces us to evolve the research to understand the implications of snow droughts.”  In a recent study published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Mankin and Alexander Gottlieb, Guarini ’24, used the lack of agreement in the research community to design an approach that improves the understanding of snow drought, its causes, and its consequences.... ”  Read more from Dartmouth College here:  Finding predictability in the uncertainty of snow drought

Tribal representatives express concerns over Sites Reservoir

“The Sites Project Authority received criticism Thursday as it conducted a public hearing and presentation on the history and variations of the Sites Reservoir project planned for Colusa County.  Environmental Planning Commissioner Ali Forsythe led the online meeting with a presentation on the project, how it came to be and what changes have been made over the years it has been in the works.  A half-hour was slotted for questions immediately after the presentation followed by an hour of public comment. A court reporter attended the zoom meeting to keep track of the comments in an official format. Once public questions and input began, almost all of the speakers shared criticism for the project with many asking that the group not go forward with the project in any capacity. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Tribal representatives express concerns over Sites Reservoir

How San Jose water uses asset management to keep the water flowing

“Numerous industries across the globe are beginning to recognize asset management as a critical and core function of their business operations. Some industries, such as those in oil and gas or nuclear, were early adopters of asset management due to the reliability and productivity it offers. But the water industry has yet to catch up. If clean water is the most precious resource on earth, shouldn’t water utilities also adopt the best asset management strategies and science to ensure safe, sustainable and reliable service?  The answer is, yes, of course.  To begin, let’s focus on what asset management is. It isn’t just asset maintenance or renewal – it is far more encompassing. … ”  Read more from Water Finance & Management here: How San Jose water uses asset management to keep the water flowing

Can we coordinate water sources to recover more water sustainably?

“In many places, including Southern California, climate change has increased the threat of drought and the need for new and continuous water resources. Higher salinity water streams, and sometimes seawater, come into consideration to alleviate such scarcity, but require higher energy investment due to the need to desalinate these streams. The proximity of some desalination facilities to wastewater reclamation facilities provides an opportunity to coordinate the two different water resources. Researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering explored such opportunities in order to recover more water, at a reduced cost. … ”  Continue reading at Techxplore here: Can we coordinate water sources to recover more water sustainably?

California Fish and Game Commission meets remotely

“At its December meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. The following are just a few items of interest from this week’s meeting.  The Commission voted unanimously to again extend two emergency regulations that were adopted in December 2020 to authorize conditional take of western Joshua tree under certain circumstances while protected under the California Endangered Species Act as a candidate species. The extensions are for an additional 90 days.  The Commission voted unanimously to extend the locations and expand low-flow closure periods for streams along the north and central coast. The changes will prohibit fishing in specific streams, due to drought conditions, to protect native fish populations through April 30 when flows fall below a certain level. … ”  Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here:  California Fish and Game Commission meets remotely

Griggs: King tides to return to California coast in January

“Two weeks ago we were exposed to several days of what have now become known as king tides. This is a relatively new term that was originally coined in Australia and New Zealand and used to describe extreme tides, both high and low, that occur several times each year.  These are very predictable events, and although there is a perception which media coverage is largely responsible for, that these are almost like tsunamis washing up on our beaches, they are really just the highest and lowest tides of each year.  While our typical high tides along the Santa Cruz shoreline range between perhaps 5.6 and 6.4 feet and the lowest from -0.0 to -1.0 feet, king tides are a bit more extreme. The highest of these king tides on Dec. 4 reached 6.9 feet and the lowest dropped to -1.65 feet on Dec. 5. If you missed these, however, you have another chance in early January to observe these annual extremes. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Griggs: King tides to return to California coast in January

Marijuana wars: Violent Mexican drug cartels turn Northern California into ‘The Wild West’

“Mexican drug cartels are muscling in on America’s burgeoning multi-billion-dollar marijuana industry, illegally growing large crops in the hills and valleys of Northern California.  The state legalized marijuana in 2016 for adult recreational use, yet the black market continues to thrive with thousands of illegal grows. Criminal syndicates, in turn, are cashing in across the U.S. on the “green gold rush.”  They’re undercutting prices of legalized products offered by permitted farmers who follow the rules and pay taxes.  And they’re exploiting workers, robbing and shooting adversaries, poisoning wildlife and poaching water in a state fighting widespread drought and devastating wildfires. … ”  Read more from the USA Today here: Marijuana wars: Violent Mexican drug cartels turn Northern California into ‘The Wild West’

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

A river of secrets: How the battle over Reservation Ranch summoned a violent past

“Here in this forgotten corner of coastal California, nestled amid a curtain of redwoods so far north it feels otherworldly, the state’s most pristine river harbors more than a century of secrets.  Its emerald-green water once flowed red with Native American blood, its wetlands haunted by one of the largest massacres in U.S. history. Today, the Smith River is the last major waterway in California that runs freely without a single dam — a precious refuge for salmon, for steelhead and a bygone timber community still searching for a future.  Settlers came here for the gold, and then the trees, but this river is the true lifeline for Del Norte County, a coastal California outlier where farmers now call the shots and environmentalists are met with disdain. The politics lean red, and many here are inclined to secede from a state where most would pronounce Norte as “nor-tay.” (It’s “nort.”) … ” Continue reading from the LA Times here: A river of secrets: How the battle over Reservation Ranch summoned a violent past

Lake County Supervisors to discuss possible split of Public Works and Water Resources, spending plan for federal recovery funds

“In its last regular meeting of the year, the Board of Supervisors has a full agenda in which it will take up a number of important topics, including a discussion of separating the Public Works and Water Resources department, considering a plan for spending federal recovery funds and a resolution regarding environmental review for cannabis projects, and getting an update on COVID-19.  The‌ ‌board will meet beginning ‌at‌ ‌9‌ ‌a.m. ‌Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. ... ”  Read more from the Lake County News here: Supervisors to discuss possible split of Public Works and Water Resources, spending plan for federal recovery funds

BAY AREA

Storms restore Marin reservoirs to above-average levels

“In a stunning turnaround, Marin County water supplies that were once at risk of going dry next year have refilled to above-average levels following a series of unusually early downpours.  Marin water officials are reevaluating some drought restrictions and penalties that were adopted earlier this year, especially with more rain in the forecast this week.  The Marin Municipal Water District has recorded about 34 inches of rain since July, which is about 240% of normal by this time of year and about 14 inches more than it received in the entire winter of 2020-2021. The bulk of the rain came from three storms in late October, early November and this month. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Storms restore Marin reservoirs to above-average levels

Herring fishers sue Chevron for answers about spill in San Francisco Bay

“Amid the hum of the Bay Area’s cities, it is easy to forget that to live here is to live alongside a vast ecosystem. The biggest and most vital is the Pacific Ocean. And once a year, the ocean reveals its abundance to herring fishers.  “‘The water will be white, that’s when you know,” said Keith Nguyen, a kayak fisher from San Jose.  Nguyen is describing the herring spawn, an annual event from November to February, when adult herring migrate to reproduce in San Francisco Bay. It is a supernatural sight, transforming the water into a mosaic of shimmering silver fish bodies. Nguyen has been fishing herring for eight years and regularly fills two buckets with the little fish, which he records on his blog, The Lost Anchovy. … ”  Read more from the Richmond Standard here: Herring fishers sue Chevron for answers about spill in San Francisco Bay

Oakland ship turning basins study released

“Additional expansion and modernization of the Port of Oakland (California) is now one step closer thanks to the release of Oakland ship turning basins study.  Integrated Feasibility Report and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (IFR/EA), as well as a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed Oakland Harbor Turning Basins Widening Navigation Study have been prepared jointly by the Army Corps’ San Francisco District and Port of Oakland.  I’m really excited to celebrate another major milestone with our partners at the Port of Oakland,” said San Francisco District Commander Lt. Col. Kevin Arnett. … ”  Read more from Dredging Today here: Oakland ship turning basins study released

CENTRAL COAST

Santa Barbara’s natural oil seeps help team test technology for spills

“Oil that naturally seeps from the seafloor to the surface of the ocean off the coast of Santa Barbara served as a laboratory of sorts as scientists worked to develop a new tools for use in a spill emergency.  The reliability of these seeps drew the Marine Oil Spill Thickness (MOST) project, a collaboration between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The MOST team has worked to develop a way for NOAA – the lead federal agency for detecting and tracking coastal oil spills – to use remote-sensing data to determine not just the source of the oil but also thickest parts. This critical detail can help as they direct response and remediation activities. … ”  Read more from Noozhawk here: Santa Barbara’s natural oil seeps help team test technology for spills

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Federal government will help clean up LA’s 1,300 oil wells

“Hollywood may be LA’s best-known industry, but a century ago, it was oil. In the 1920s, the city was home to thousands of wells producing a quarter of the world’s petroleum.  Today, 700 of those wells are still active, and another 600 have been abandoned within city limits, emitting climate-changing methane gas and polluting groundwater.  “LA County has one of the highest concentrations of oil and gas wells of any city in the entire country, with some recent estimates suggesting that 500,000 people in LA live within a half mile of a well,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said Friday during a visit to Vista Hermosa Natural Park in LA, where a pair of orphaned wells two blocks from the park are still leaking. … ”  Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Federal government will help clean up LA’s 1,300 oil wells

Controversial Lake Elsinore hydroelectric project blocked by federal government

“The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has blocked a controversial $2 billion hydroelectric plant near the Lake Elsinore shoreline after the developer failed to provide requested environmental studies and a construction plan, among other things.  Vista-based Nevada Hydro Co. has proposed building a 200-foot-high dam above the lake and a 500-megawatt, underground power plant with turbines on 845 acres of U.S. Forest Service. Water would be pumped from the lake to a man-made reservoir when demand for electricity is low, with water flowing back to the lake when demand is high. The project has been named the Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project, or LEAPS. … ”  Read more from the Riverside Press-Enterprise here: Controversial Lake Elsinore hydroelectric project blocked by federal government

Simply Stated: Does it really never rain in Southern California?

“For the first time since October, drought-plagued California was doused with heavy rain and snowfall from Dec. 12-15. Even Southern California got to join in the party, with Santa Barbara and the rest of the South Coast averaging 2 inches of rain at the water’s edge and upwards of 5 inches in the mountains. San Marcos Pass, traversed by Highway 154, received more than 8 inches of rain from the storm.  Such a downpour was a welcome contrast from a very dry November, wherein storms often bypassed the Golden State. Why now, though? ... ”  Continue reading at the Daily Nexus here: Simply Stated: Does it really never rain in Southern California?

Several hundred gallons of gas spill into LA County river

“An estimated several hundred gallons of gasoline spilled Sunday into the Alhambra Wash and was moving south toward San Marino.  Los Angeles County Hazmat and Los Angeles County Flood Control crews were at the scene as of around 8 p.m. Sunday, South Pasadena police said.  Pasadena and Los Angeles County Hazmat units arrived at the scene to handle the cleanup, she said. L.A. County Public Works crews will handle flood maintenance outside the city limits, according to the South Pasadena police. ... ”  Read more from Fox 5 San Diego here: Several hundred gallons of gas spill into LA County river

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

At California’s dying Salton Sea, signs of activity and cautious optimism

“By October 2017, a handful of desert residents — including two Mecca high school students — were so fed up with a dearth of government progress on efforts to save the shrinking Salton Sea that they took matters into their own hands. They tried to hand-shovel a ditch to keep water flowing from the dwindling lake into the once beautiful harbor in front of the North Shore Yacht Club.   “We figured we could keep water in there for another six months at least,” said Tom Sephton, a longtime Brawley resident and local businessman, who like many is captivated by California’s largest water body.  The Sisyphean task failed. But as 2021 draws to a close, Sephton’s despair has been tempered by some encouraging developments. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: At California’s dying Salton Sea, signs of activity and cautious optimism

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Along the Colorado River …

Water managers grapple with a smaller Colorado River as the climate changes

“For years, scientists have warned that climate change would have significant ramifications for the Colorado River. But it took two back-to-back dry years and dramatic declines in Lake Mead to drive home the point: The Southwest needs to plan for a world where water scarcity is the reality.  What that planning process looks like — and exactly how it takes shape — was a primary topic of conversation at an annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas over the past week. At Caesars Palace, water managers listened to speeches, milled about the hallways and convened closed-door side meetings. Their focus: how to move forward, what kind of future the region should prepare for, and how to overcome serious political challenges. … ”  Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Water managers grapple with a smaller Colorado River as the climate changes

‘What we need is multiple solutions’ to solve water crisis

“A major conference on Colorado River water issues last week in Las Vegas revealed signs of progress in protecting the West’s dwindling water supply, notably a new agreement between Nevada, Arizona and California that will ease the burden on Lake Mead.  But the gathering of water officials, conservationists, tribal leaders, state and local officials and others also pointed out the depth of the developing crisis, with even the headlining multistate pact raising questions about whether it was a Band-Aid over a gouging wound, and pointed to the complexities involved in a long-term solution. … ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Sun here: ‘What we need is multiple solutions’ to solve water crisis

Commentary: Looming water cuts call for solutions

Linda Stout, retired educator and climate activist, writes, “Lake Mead is shrinking. Last seen full in 1983, a 157 foot “bathtub ring” of salty white mineral deposits is the visible record of a slowly unfolding crisis. For the first time ever, federal officials have declared an emergency water shortage for the Colorado River. Nevada’s water cuts will take effect on January 1, 2022. Extended droughts, extreme temperatures, and chronic overuse of the Colorado river basin require our attention. It’s a wakeup call to change the country’s reckless relationship with desert water. Policymakers, farmers, and 40 million residents who depend on the Colorado River must find ways to use less.  A common thread throughout history is the persistent belief that nature can be conquered. … ”  Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Commentary: Looming water cuts call for solutions

Commentary: Leasing Colorado River water to Queen Creek would be a step in the right direction

Robert Robb writes, “A small proposal that would nevertheless move water policy considerably in the right direction is pending before the federal Bureau of Reclamation.  An investment company, Greenstone, purchased some farm land along the Colorado River. It proposes to sell the Colorado River water rights associated with the land to the town of Queen Creek, which would use the Central Arizona Project distribution system to transport it. It would be enough water to support an estimated 6,000 households. The Arizona Department of Water Resources has approved the transaction, but it awaits a decision by the bureau. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Central here: Commentary: Leasing Colorado River water to Queen Creek would be a step in the right direction

The Water Tap: Remembering a year of water, or lack thereof

“In 2021, southwestern Utah weathered record-breaking drought as well as some of the worst flooding events in the region’s history. Meanwhile, two pipeline projects meant to rescue the region from its skyrocketing water use stalled out in the federal permitting process. And conflict over river flow allocations throughout the Colorado River Basin, which includes Utah, heated up, casting the future availability of water for the fast-growing communities of St. George and Cedar City into a whole new storm cloud of uncertainty.  Let’s take a look back at the year. … ”  Read more from the St. George Spectrum here: The Water Tap: Remembering a year of water, or lack thereof

Colorado: Amid drought, snowmaking operations statewide use about 2.2 billion gallons of water, but it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to other industries

“With the abnormally dry, warmer weather this year, some ski areas have really felt the pinch, not being able to open as many runs as early as usual. So, CBS4 Investigates took a closer look at how that’s affecting the amount of water ski areas are using to make snow in the middle of a drought.  According to state data, snowmaking operations statewide use, on average, about 2.2 billon gallons of water every year, that’s about 3,455 Olympic swimming pools.  While that might seem like a lot, the snow-making industry uses only 0.05% of the state’s water that’s diverted to human uses. ... ”  Read more from CBS 4 Denver here: Colorado: Amid drought, snowmaking operations statewide use about 2.2 billion gallons of water, but it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to other industries

Meager snowpack hints at grim future for winters in Western U.S.

“On a cool December day at Colorado’s Boulder Reservoir, glints of sunlight fracture through the clouds and sparkle across the reservoir, which provides the city with 20% of its drinking water.  This is where Boulder stores its Colorado River water, explains Brad Udall, a climate scientist with Colorado State University. He is sitting on a dock overlooking the turquoise water as birds bob on the surface.  “Most people don’t appreciate that on the Front Range of Colorado, half of the water we use here is actually imported into this basin, the South Platte Basin, from the Colorado River by a series of tunnels under the Continental Divide,” Udall says. … ”  Read more from KUNC here: Meager snowpack hints at grim future for winters in Western U.S.

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In national water news today …

In 2021, water crises took center stage. Here’s how we can adapt

“Too much. Too little. Too polluted. For years these compact phrases, mantra-like in their repetition, have come to define the world’s water problems. Now add a fourth: too frequent. If nothing else, the last 12 months of floods, fires, droughts, and other meteorological torments delivered an uncomfortable message. Extreme events are happening more often. And they are happening almost everywhere.  Communities rich and poor bore witness to horrific devastation in 2021. In July, floods in China’s Henan province trapped commuters in subway tunnels in the city of Zhengzhou, which received a year’s rainfall in just three days. That same month, raging waters in Germany’s Ahr Valley scoured farmland into canyons and submerged riverside towns. Herders in northern Kenya today are lamenting the decimation of their livestock as seasonal rains failed yet again to nourish the ochre earth. … ”  Read more from the World Economic Forum here: In 2021, water crises took center stage. Here’s how we can adapt

FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration celebrates expansion of locally-led conservation efforts in first year of “America the Beautiful” Initiative

“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration issued its first annual progress report on the America the Beautiful initiative, highlighting steps the Administration has taken over the past year to support locally-led and voluntary efforts to conserve, connect, and restore lands and waters across the nation that sustain the health of our communities, power local economies, and help combat climate change.  Released by the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the report outlines the collective work to pursue the first-ever national conservation goal established by a President – a goal of conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. … ”  Read more from the White House here: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration celebrates expansion of locally-led conservation efforts in first year of “America the Beautiful” Initiative

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Current reservoir and snow conditions …

Lake Mendocino

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More news and commentary in the weekend edition …

This weekend in California water news …

• California snow drought ends in dramatic fashion, while other states still deal with shortage
• Atmospheric river could snarl travel in the West as Christmas approaches
• 4 to 8.5 feet of snow jump-start Lake Tahoe’s winter season just before the holidays
• Californians have a lot of ideas for how to get more water. Most of them are really bad
• As water officials repair damage from subsidence, they demand prevention from groundwater agencies
• DWR offers $350 million in financial assistance for groundwater sustainability projects
• State and feds release first captively produced Delta smelt into wild for the first time
• The warning shot the US is ignoring: Climate change impacts on California’s Central Valley
• Senate Republicans call for full funding of water projects amidst massive state budget surplus
• Environmentalists sound alarm over proposed water initiative
• Tribal representatives voice opposition to sites reservoir, lack of consultation
• Press release: California’s rivers suffer major setback at important Water Commission meeting
• Feinstein, Padilla to interior: Prioritize California drought projects when disbursing bipartisan infrastructure bill funds
• As climate-driven drought slams farms in U.S. West, water solutions loom
• Climate change is making nights warmer—and crops may never be the same
• ‘Fuel for the next fire.’ Why California can’t unload the trees that worsen its wildfires
• And more …

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

• FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: SGM Grant Program’s 2021 SGMA Implementation Funding Documents
• CA VOLUNTARY DROUGHT INITIATIVE: Your Help is Needed to Save California’s Native Salmon and Steelhead
• NOTICE of Consideration of Adoption of California’s 2020-2022 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List, Proposed Final Documents, Responses to Comments

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