DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: What are the chances of a ‘miracle’ in March?; CA heading underground to explore its biggest water storage potential; California’s constitutional right to fish; State authorities present $19.25M Salton Sea North Lake project; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

California desperately needs rain. What are the chances of a ‘miracle’ in March?

The start of the wet season was promising in California, with a record-breaking atmospheric river in October and an onslaught of storms in December, but the weather forecast has remained persistently dry since the start of the year — with no hope for rain in the immediate future.  The lack of rain during what is usually the wettest time of the year is problematic in a drought-plagued state that needs to replenish its water supply and dampen a wildfire-prone landscape. The last hope that remains for winter is a surge of precipitation in late February and in March. What are the chances of that even happening? … ”  Read more from SF Gate here: California desperately needs rain. What are the chances of a ‘miracle’ in March?

A record dry January in some spots, with no precipitation currently on horizon for first half of February

Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “Well, I don’t need to tell most folks twice: January 2022 was an exceptionally dry month across most of California and Nevada. Some spots saw a bit of rain and snow during the first couple days of the month, but others saw nothing at all; the last 25 days of the month brought essentially zero precipitation to the entire region. As a result, January 2022 will go down in the record books as the driest January on record (since at least 1895) for most of the San Joaquin Valley, the Central and Southern Sierra, and pockets of the Sacramento Valley and western Nevada. Due to the clear and dry conditions, temperatures were (on average) warmer than usual for January, but with a wide diurnal spread: overnight minimum temperatures were actually slightly *colder* than usual, but daytime high temperatures were significantly above average (and, thus, won out on in the monthly average). … ”  Continue reading at Weather West here:  A record dry January in some spots, with no precipitation currently on horizon for first half of February

California is heading underground to explore its biggest water storage potential

The winter whiplash continues to challenge water managers and with climate trends showing more of this boom or bust pattern, the state is rethinking its water supply system.   Now the state wants to head underground to explore what could be its biggest water storage potential. Steve Springhorn is part of the California Department of Water Resources team analyzing where water can be stored underground. He says there are over 500 underground water basins in our state that are really important to the state’s water supply. Up until now, the mapping has been somewhat limited. But a new program called Aerial Electromagnetic Survey is helping to fill in the gaps. … ”  Continue reading at Channel 10 here: California is heading underground to explore its biggest water storage potential

DWR takes next steps towards groundwater sustainability

California has reached a major milestone in its implementation of the landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has completed the official assessments for the first-ever groundwater sustainability plans developed by local agencies and submitted in 2020 to set and achieve sustainability goals over a 20-year period. This milestone is the result of a lot of hard work by local agencies, backed by state investments to support local SGMA decision-making and implementation efforts.  The department has completed assessments for 20 groundwater basins, containing a total of 42 plans, including critically overdrafted basins that provide water supply for millions of Californians, agriculture and the environment. … ”  Continue reading from DWR here: DWR takes next steps towards groundwater sustainability

Kicking off 2022 with significant implications for agriculture and SGMA: GSP Assessments, Submittals and Alternative Five-Year Updates

January 2022 was a busy month for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued remaining assessments for groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) for critically overdrafted basins, except for GSPs covering the Madera Subbasin. GSPs for high- and medium-priority subbasins that are not critically overdrafted were due to DWR by Jan. 31, 2022. DWR published 15 of these GSPs to the SGMA Portal and is now accepting public comment. Additionally, the first five-year updates for GSP alternatives were submitted by Jan. 1, 2022, and are now open for public comment. ... ”  Continue reading from Brownstein here: Kicking off 2022 with significant implications for agriculture and SGMA: GSP Assessments, Submittals and Alternative Five-Year Updates

Finding use for fog: California farmers could benefit from using fog nets to buffer water supplies

For most of us, fog is a nuisance. It makes driving difficult and it tends to dampen the mood of the day.  But Dr. Daniel Fernandez at Cal State Monterey Bay has been working with fog for nearly 20 years, using nets to collect tiny fog water droplets on murky, breezy days.  The fog nets are one-square meter of mesh-mounted vertically on poles in regions that are prime for fog. Places like the central and southern California coast are perfect, but the Central Valley is another spot with more foggy days than rainy days. … ”  Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Finding use for fog: California farmers could benefit from using fog nets to buffer water supplies

Could solar development advance groundwater sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley?

The San Joaquin Valley is facing a monumental shift in land use over the next two decades. Two important but seemingly unrelated laws are driving the change: the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to bring groundwater basins into balance by the early 2040s, and SB 100, which intends to help California achieve 100% clean power statewide by 2045. SGMA may require fallowing at least 500,000 acres of cropland in the San Joaquin Valley (10%) by 2040. A significant expansion of solar energy production to meet SB 100 goals, on the other hand, will demand a large amount of land. Promoting solar expansion on fallowed farmland in the San Joaquin Valley could support two major objectives at once: supporting the state’s clean energy goals while easing the economic pain of transitioning some land away from agriculture. … ”  Read more from the PPIC here: Could solar development advance groundwater sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley?

Smart from start to finish

On a windy, bright day in Lemoore, California another 250 megawatts of clean power was added to California’s energy mix with the dedication of the Aquamarine Solar Project. There are many new solar projects coming online across the country these days, but the Aquamarine project is notable for its innovative development model – it’s part of a 20,000-acre master-planned solar park on fallowed and salt-contaminated agricultural lands in the Westlands Water District in California’s Central Valley.  Disturbed lands farmed for years with no residual habitat value are the perfect place to locate utility scale solar projects. In 2016 these lands, among many others, were identified as suitable for development by a diverse group of stakeholders through the San Joaquin Valley Least Conflict Solar Planning exercise. … ”  Continue reading from the NRDC here: Smart from start to finish

Legal journal: California’s Constitutional Right to Fish

“Many states recognize public rights to use public and private property for recreation, hunting, fishing, and navigation, challenging contemporary views of the right to exclude. These public use rights are enshrined in state constitutions, statutes, or the common law. Public use rights are similar to public trust rights, but use rights are generally broader and are not constrained by the public trust’s weaknesses. Analysis of public use rights often conflates these rights with public trust rights, resulting in confusion and reduced protection for public use rights. Recognizing public use rights as something apart from the public trust doctrine is key to protecting them, but little scholarship addresses the issue. This Article demonstrates that California’s constitutional right to fish is a public use right distinct from the public trust doctrine, and mistaking California’s constitutional right to fish for a traditional public trust fishing protection has weakened the fishing right. This work has broad ramifications for efforts to vindicate public use rights. … ”  Read the article at Lewis & Clark Law School Environmental Law Review here:  California’s Constitutional Right to Fish

Emergency regulations allow CDFW to extend angling restrictions in coastal waters experiencing prolonged, low-flow conditions from drought

The California Fish and Game Commission has adopted emergency regulations allowing the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to extend low-flow related fishing restrictions on portions of the Smith, Eel and Russian rivers and a number of other coastal rivers and streams through April 30 if needed to protect runs of salmon and steelhead.  “We’ve observed extended periods of drought and warming climate trends over the past decade,” said Jonathan Nelson, environmental program manager for CDFW’s Anadromous Fishes Conservation and Management Program. “The added flexibility to manage the health of our fisheries through extended angling restrictions on coastal waters when low flows create potentially lethal conditions is paramount to the long-term survival of our salmon and steelhead populations.” … ”  Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Emergency regulations allow CDFW to extend angling restrictions in coastal waters experiencing prolonged, low-flow conditions from drought

Delta Conveyance Project public engagement outlook for 2022

The upcoming year will mark an important milestone in the proposed Delta Conveyance Project planning process, with the anticipated release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for public review and comment in mid-2022. What follows are the public outreach and engagement activities planned for 2022 that are intended to improve public access to information and participation in the public review process, which are detailed in this public outreach and engagement plan for the next year. … ”  Read more from DWR here: Delta Conveyance Project public engagement outlook for 2022

LAO calls for more drought dollars for agriculture

The governor’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year offers an additional $750 million for drought response, building on the $880 million being allocated as the second half of a two-year drought package.  Of the $200 million for water conservation efforts within the package, just $20 million would focus on agricultural water use efficiency through a CDFA grant program. … ” Continue reading at Agri-Pulse here: LAO calls for more drought dollars for agriculture

A better solution for drought resilience

The California Farm Water Coalition writes, “The highly respected Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) released a report this week that provides guidance and recommendations on water-related spending by the Governor and the State Legislature. The report cites drought-related spending priorities from the past as well as current proposals, and makes a number of recommendations contrary to the current direction of California’s executive and legislative leadership.  In short, the LAO says that the current, $750 million drought response spending proposal does not address the immediate needs of the drought because it won’t result in an immediate increase in the water supply or in a reduction in water use. … ”  Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition here: A better solution for drought resilience

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In people news this weekend …

Professor Indrani Pal recieves ‘Moonshot Award’ for her water work in California

When Professor Indrani Pal is not teaching sustainability management students about water resources and climate, she’s designing solutions for real-world problems. Most recently, she received the Moonshot Award for her project, “Where’s My Water?: Predicting Renewable Freshwater Resource & Filling in Crucial Data Gaps.” The award—administered by California’s State Water Resources Control Board and the West Big Data Innovation Hub—celebrates the most ambitious projects with the highest potential for impact. … ”  Continue reading at Columbia’s State of the Planet here: Professor Indrani Pal recieves ‘Moonshot Award’ for her water work in California

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Podcasts …

WEST COAST WATER JUSTICE: From the Bay to the Winnemem Waywayket (McCloud River)

We follow up with hereditary Chief Caleen Sisk about the expansive watershed of the Sacramento River from the headwaters of the Winnemem Waywayket all the way to the Bay-Delta and the Pacific Ocean. We learn about the history of this once epic fishery and what it will take to bring the Salmon back home over the Shasta rim dam, and how New Zealand can help.


THE LANDSCAPE PODCAST: Reporter Luke Runyon on his Colorado River road trip

This year is the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact, an agreement between seven western states that determines how the river’s water is shared. To celebrate, we talked to reporter Luke Runyon, who covered the Colorado River extensively as a reporter for KUNC, a public radio station based in Greeley, Colorado.  Luke takes us behind the scenes of his 1,400 mile trip from a cattle ranch in western Colorado to the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation in southwest Arizona—completed in 10 days—and reflects on what he saw as well as the future of the Colorado River. He also touches on negotiations over how the river’s water is shared between states and tribes that began in 2021 and are set to conclude in an update to the Colorado River Compact in 2026.


WHAT ABOUT WATER PODCAST: The Sea Also Rises

On this episode of What About Water? we take a look at the state of our rising seas from space, and learn what coastal communities on the ground are doing to adapt.  Jay Famiglietti speaks with long-time colleague Steve Nerem, a principal investigator on NASA’s Sea Level Change team.  We learn that by 2100, we could see around one meter of global sea level rise, but there is still time to stop the worst-case scenarios for future generations.  We also hear from Matt Osler about the City of Surrey’s Coastal Adaptation Strategy and how researchers, First Nations, and municipalities in Southwest British Columbia are working together through the Living with Water project. 


WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Giving a Bridge Its Purpose

Steve Baker writes, “I grew up along the edge of the Appalachian Mountains of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Due to the type of geologic history of this area, you find parallel ridges and valleys next to one and other sweeping across the countryside. If I wanted to go anywhere outside a two-to-three-mile radius, I needed a bridge to help me on my way. It has become clear to me that it was water’s presence that created the need to build a bridge in a natural setting.  Giving a bridge its purpose requires water beneath every bridge or at least the remanence of water. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.”  Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, Email: water@operationunite.co

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

Snowpack levels drop in 2022, melting hopes for calm Siskiyou County wildfire season

Western Siskiyou County’s 2022 fire season could be worse than average.  The Klamath National Forest’s snow survey of the Scott River sub-basin, completed on Tuesday found snowpack is two-thirds of the historic average. The water content of the snow is 58% of the historic average.  That means the forest could be drier than average and brush more easily ignited in summer.  Low levels were found at all survey points in Klamath — much lower than expected, Forest Service spokeswoman Kimberly DeVall said. … ”  Read more from the Siskiyou Daily News here: Snowpack levels drop in 2022, melting hopes for calm Siskiyou County wildfire season

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Over 5,200 acres treated by French Meadows partnership in third season of work

For the third consecutive year, partners of the French Meadows Forest Restoration Project have wrapped up another season of forest treatments in the Tahoe National Forest. Despite the challenges of an extremely dangerous fire season in 2021, the French Meadows Partnership safely treated roughly 1,000 acres using a combination of mastication, mechanical thinning, hand thinning and prescribed fires. A portion of this acreage is on private land owned by the American River Conservancy, which has independently raised funds and treated 1,345 acres over several years. Combined, this all-lands collaborative watershed management project has treated in excess of 5,200 acres over the past three seasons. ... ”  Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Over 5,200 acres treated by French Meadows partnership in third season of work

Central Sierra snowpack back to below average after dry January

The Central Sierra’s driest January since 1913 helped wipe out some snowpack gains measured in the wake of the record-setting start to the current winter season, returning snowpack levels to below average, a manual snow survey conducted Tuesday about 60 miles northeast of Sonora and snowpack sensors on Thursday showed.  As of Thursday, Central Sierra sensors showed snow-water equivalents at 88% of normal for the date Feb. 3, and 57% of average for April 1, a key date water agency managers use to monitor each year’s water supply.  Five weeks ago, snowpack sensors showed Central Sierra snow-water equivalents at 164% of normal for the date Dec. 30. … ”  Continue reading at the Union Democrat here: Central Sierra snowpack back to below average after dry January

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Bella Vista Water District gets $2 million in federal funding

As California enters another year of potential drought, the Bella Vista Water District is getting some State help.  The Bureau of Reclamation chose Bella Vista as one of their 13 resource management projects in 2022. As such, they are granting Bella Vista $2 million, all of which will be spent on a new, three-million-gallon, storage tank. … ”  Continue reading from ABC 7 here: Bella Vista Water District gets $2 million in federal funding

‘Been going on a couple months’: unknown stench makes its way through Knights Landing

An unwelcome stench is making a not-so-soft landing in Knights Landing.  But what’s causing the smell in this quiet corner of Yolo County, and what can you do if your town suddenly becomes a nuisance to your nose?  “It’s been going on a couple months,” said Knights Landing resident Brett Archer.  Archer has lived in the small Yolo County town for years but says lately, there’s been a strong overwhelming stench. … ”  Continue reading at CBS Sacramento here: ‘Been going on a couple months’: unknown stench makes its way through Knights Landing

NAPA/SONOMA

PD Editorial: A two-basin plan is still best bet for North Coast water

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board writes, “The clock is winding down on the Potter Valley Project. PG&E wants to abandon the century-old power plant in Mendocino County, and a coalition of North Coast water interests has now abandoned their long-shot takeover bid.  But football games don’t end after three quarters, and the Potter Valley saga isn’t over either.  It’s now a near certainty that the money-losing power plant will be decommissioned and dismantled. But keeping the plant open was only an ancillary consideration, a means to an end. As is so often the case in California, this is really about water. … ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: PD Editorial: A two-basin plan is still best bet for North Coast water

BAY AREA

As Valley Water makes progress at Anderson Dam, the project increases in size and cost

The seismic retrofit of Anderson Dam is Valley Water’s top priority. It will help us protect our regional water supply, ensure public safety, and provide environmental benefits.  Since conducting a groundbreaking ceremony in the summer of 2021, great strides have been made in phase one of the project. As of January 2022, almost 9% of the Anderson Dam Tunnel Project work has been completed.  A new tunnel will allow Valley Water to better maintain water levels in Santa Clara County’s largest reservoir. Excavation work and improvements to make the ground around the tunnel more stable are currently underway. Work in recent months has also established project site offices, staging areas, security fencing, lighting, temporary utilities, and the installation of devices that monitor the ground around the tunnel itself. … ”  Read more from Valley Water News here: As Valley Water makes progress at Anderson Dam, the project increases in size and cost

Feral pigs putting environment, drinking water at risk in the East Bay

The East Bay is facing a very serious problem, the growing population of feral pigs.  Unlike other species with which it coexists in the region, these are considered a risk to the environment, properties, but above all, to drinking water.  Gardens have been destroyed in the city of Lafayette, a problem the city has been facing since 2019.  “This is a problem that the city has been dragging to a greater extent since 2019,” said Lafayette spokeswoman Suzanne Larla. … ”  Read more from NBC Bay Area here: Feral pigs putting environment, drinking water at risk in the East Bay

Where’s the rain? Up to 36 consecutive dry days recorded in parts of Bay Area

Lulls in our Bay Area storm pattern are not unusual during winter’s wettest months, January and February. Concern, however, continues to grow as the length of our current dry spell shows no sign of stopping.  The mounting dry days are adding up to 27 to 36 consecutive days across Bay Area neighborhoods. … ”  Continue reading at ABC 7 here: Where’s the rain? Up to 36 consecutive dry days recorded in parts of Bay Area

Water supplier relaxes West Marin drought restrictions

After nearly two years of being under mandatory water use restrictions because of the drought, West Marin residents are finally getting some relief following last year’s rainfall.  The North Marin Water District voted this week to relax water use restrictions that have been in place since early 2020 for Point Reyes Station, Inverness Park, Paradise Ranch Estates, Bear Valley and Olema.  Residents will be asked to voluntarily conserve by 15% compared to the last normal water year of 2013. Previously, these residents were required to cut back water use by 25%. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Water supplier relaxes West Marin drought restrictions

East Bay residents could see higher water bills soon

Residents and business owners in Fremont, Newark and Union City could be facing increased water bills soon, if the Alameda County Water District board of directors approves hiking service charges and starting drought water price surcharges.  The water district, which serves about 350,000 people, charges customers both a fixed service charge on their bimonthly bills, as well as a charge based on how much water each customer uses. … ”  Read more from the East Bay Times here: East Bay residents could see higher water bills soon

CENTRAL COAST

January was ‘a complete bust’ for rain — here’s what that means for SLO County residents

After heavy December rains refreshed thirsty reservoirs, rivers and wells, January proved to be quite the opposite for San Luis Obispo County. No area of the county received more than a half-inch of rain during what has historically been one of the wettest months in the Central Coast’s rainy season. The lack of precipitation leaves some water purveyors on the edge of their seats, hoping for rain to come soon so they do not have to impose stricter water restrictions on residents. ... ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: January was ‘a complete bust’ for rain — here’s what that means for SLO County residents

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Tulare County to fight endangered species status for frog

As part of its consent calendar the Tulare County Board of Supervisors are expected to officially express their opposition to the designation of the foothill yellow-legged frog as an endangered species at their next meeting.  The board should approve a letter in opposition to the designation that states better management of the forest in preventing wildfires can help protect the yellow-legged frog. The letter also states releasing more water to protect the frog could be “catastrophic” to the county. … ”  Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Tulare County to fight endangered species status for frog

Despite uphill battle, Kern River Conservancy continues to fight graffiti along the river

Sometimes visitors find it hard to believe that people would take the time to drive up into the Kern River Canyon to enjoy the beauty and peace of the mountain stream, only to leave it scarred and defaced by paint tags, graffiti and trash. But Gary Ananian has no problem believing it — not more than eight years after founding the Kern River Conservancy, a nonprofit organization based in the Kern River Valley whose volunteers have been picking up trash and cleaning up graffiti along the river since its founding. … ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Despite uphill battle, Kern River Conservancy continues to fight graffiti along the river

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Local water district awarded $4.5 million in funding for desalination program

In late January, the EMWD (Eastern Municipal Water District) was awarded nearly $4.5 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The funds will go towards the water district’s desalination infrastructure. Kevin Pearson is a spokesperson with the EMWD. “EMWD has a portion of its service area that has a salty groundwater basin, it’s naturally occurring, it has a higher salt contents than drinking water standards,” said Pearson. … ”  Read more from KVCR here: Local water district awarded $4.5 million in funding for desalination program

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Riverside County, state authorities present $19.25M Salton Sea North Lake project

State Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and several other local leaders revealed a plan Saturday for a recreation and restoration project at the Salton Sea utilizing $19.25 million in state funds.  The Salton Sea North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project is slated to be an approximately 156-acre marina that will be located near the current North Shore Beach and Yacht Club Community Center in the community of North Shore.  “The North Lake Pilot Demonstration Project is an important habitat and dust suppression project and a major investment in state funding to revitalize the northern end of the Salton Sea as well as the community of North Shore,” said Supervisor Perez in a released statement. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Riverside County, state authorities present $19.25M Salton Sea North Lake project

SAN DIEGO

County environmental meetings look for Spring Valley feedback

The County Board of Supervisors decided to hold off on approving the county’s 2018 Climate Action Plan on Sept. 30, 2020, as the Final Environmental Impact Report was found out of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. County staff is preparing an action plan update to revise the 2018 plan, correcting noncompliant items identified by the court in the Climate Action Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Report in partnerships with residents, businesses and environmental groups.At a Jan. 24 Spring Valley community meeting, Sustainability Planning Division Land Use/Environmental Planner Claire Moss said the object of the meeting was to find out about the Spring Valley community, climate change, the CAP update, and strategies to consider reducing the effect of climate change. … ”  Continue reading at the East County Californian here: County environmental meetings look for Spring Valley feedback

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Along the Colorado River …

As Rio Verde residents deal with end-of-the-year water shutoff, Maricopa County officials offer alternatives

Rio Verde residents remain concerned over water, after officials with the City of Scottsdale announced they were going to stop supplying water there at the end of the year.   Residents in the Rio Verde Foothills area received a notice in late 2021 from the City of Scottsdale, which states that Scottsdale Water will be restricting water hauling to only residents within city limits, due to the water supply shortage on the Colorado River and the activation of Stage One of the city’s drought management plan.  On Feb. 4, two meetings were held to discuss ideas for the future. … ”  Continue reading at Fox 10 here: As Rio Verde residents deal with end-of-the-year water shutoff, Maricopa County officials offer alternatives

Legislation introduced to help regulate rural groundwater supply

Most of Arizona’s groundwater remains unregulated, which is putting the livelihood of many rural communities at risk. However, new legislation is looking to change that.  House Bill 2661, which is co-sponsored by Arizona House Representatives Regina Cobb and Leo Biasiucci, would allow city and county leadership the opportunity to manage their groundwater for basins at-risk of losing their water supply. ... ”  Read more from Channel 15 here: Legislation introduced to help regulate rural groundwater supply

Conservation activists say a proposed mine threatens water source in Arizona’s Sky Islands

Carolyn Shafer walked along a winding creek bed in the Patagonia Mountains, where oak trees and junipers dotted the grassy slopes of the canyon.  The creek was mostly dry, except for a puddle in the rocky stream bed.  Shafer said she’s deeply concerned about what would happen to this creek, and surrounding water sources, if the Australian mining company South32 is allowed to conduct an exploratory operation nearby called the Hermosa Project.  South32, acting through its U.S. subsidiary Arizona Minerals, aims to extract silver, lead, zinc and manganese. The company says these minerals will feed the United States’ growing demand for base metals as the country moves toward producing more electric vehicles. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central here: Conservation activists say a proposed mine threatens water source in Arizona’s Sky Islands

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In national water news this weekend …

Water Council launches WAVE to support water stewardship

Yesterday, the Water Council today announced a new program to recognize good corporate water stewardship.  WAVE – Water Stewardship Verified – aims to provide an onramp for companies to develop thoughtful strategies across the water sector, concluding with independent verification that the company has built a credible foundation of knowledge on which to base its water stewardship work.  “No longer are Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)-related performance improvements and reporting optional for businesses. While attention has largely been directed at carbon when tackling environmental issues, water is right around the corner,” said Dean Amhaus, The Water Council President and CEO. “WAVE offers companies a blueprint to create a water stewardship strategy and begin the critical work of improving water-related outcomes.” … ”  Continue reading at Water World here: Water Council launches WAVE to support water stewardship

And lastly …

Campground review: Brannan Island, California

The late afternoon sun shining through tree branches highlighted parts of the camp host’s scraggly white beard as he chuckled, sighed, and said the campground manager at California’s Brannan Island State Recreation Area had something bad to say about every camper.  This is not a negative review. Quite the opposite, for the most part.  With more than 140 sites in five separate camping areas spread out over 329 acres, a 10-lane boat launch ramp, a three-mile paved walking trail and easy access to historic Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta towns, Brannan Island is a fine campground. With a few changes — some hopefully in the works — it could be a grand one. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Campground review: Brannan Island, California

Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT Updates: Planning and New Materials

NOTICE: Consideration of revised draft Order on Petitions for Reconsideration of 2021 TUCP and TMP

NEPA DOCS: 2022 Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority In-Basin Water Transfers

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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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