On the calendar tomorrow …
- SATURDAY EVENT: Guided Paddle Tour along the Cosumnes River & Sloughs from 9am to 1pm. Experienced volunteer naturalists invite you to explore the Cosumnes River with a guided paddle trip. From Middle Slough to Wood Duck Slough, the river offers plenty to see from a kayak or canoe. This roughly 3 to 4-hour trip is free and will take visitors through the heart of part of the Cosumnes River Preserve, all the while learning about its wildlife and natural history. Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak and PFDs are mandatory for all participants. During this time of year, and given our leisurely pace, paddling experience is not necessary. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Gov. Newsom’s drought order brings ag well activity to a standstill in some areas
“Valley groundwater agencies are mired in confusion and concern over Gov. Newsom’s March 28 executive drought order, which added new steps for permitting agricultural wells, according to agencies’ staff. As groundwater agency managers scramble to hash out exactly how to comply with the order, well permits in some areas are stuck in limbo leaving well drillers and small farmers without answers — or water. “We’re shut down. I have no permits that are approved right now,” said Kyle Brock, owner of KC Well Drilling in Kings County. “I can’t do anything. I have three well rigs parked.” ... ” Read more from SJV Water here: Gov. Newsom’s drought order brings ag well activity to a standstill in some areas
Controversial water pipeline takes center-stage in Kings Co. election
“The controversial Kings County water pipeline saga pitting two of the region’s largest water players has turned into a campaign issue for Kings County elections. Water giant Sandridge Partners, led by John Vidovich, began installing a sprawling water pipeline system that would be part of a larger interconnected conveyance system that will run from north of Highway 198, west of Lemoore, to the Blakeley Canal, south of Stratford. At the center of the controversy lies the Tulare Lake Canal Company, who has been entrenched in a legal battle with Sandridge Partners to prevent the pipeline from being built under the eponymous canal. Enter the Kings County Board of Supervisors and the race for District 1. … ” Read more from the San Bernadino Sun here: Controversial water pipeline takes center-stage in Kings Co. election
Ex-manager indicted in multi-million dollar water theft scheme in Fresno, Merced counties
“Dennis Falaschi, the embattled former manager of the Panoche Water District, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday and charged with conspiracy, theft of government property, and filing false tax returns. The indictment accuses the 75-year-old Falaschi of exploiting a leak in the Delta-Mendota Canal and engineering a way to steal more than $25 million in federally owned water. The 117-mile canal provides water to irrigate land on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. As general manager, Falaschi oversaw operations for the Panoche Water District, a public agency that delivers water to landowners for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses in western Merced and Fresno counties. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Ex-manager indicted in multi-million dollar water theft scheme in Fresno, Merced counties
SEE ALSO:
-
- Former Central California water manager stole $25 million in water over 23 years, prosecutors say, from the LA Times
- Former Water District General Manager Indicted for $25 Million Water Theft and Tax Violations, press release from the US Attorney’s office
As drought hammers Mono Lake, thirsty Los Angeles must look elsewhere for water
“With a third year of drought shrinking the creeks that cascade down the eastern Sierra Nevada, the level of Mono Lake has fallen so low it has triggered a 72% reduction in the amount of water Los Angeles can divert from area streams this year. On April 1, Mono Lake‘s level measured just under 6,380 feet above sea level — about 1 inch below a threshold set in the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s licenses for diverting alpine runoff from streams that feed the lake east of Yosemite National Park. The measurement, taken at the start of a new runoff year, triggered a requirement that the DWP reduce its annual water exports from 16,000 acre-feet, which is enough to supply 192,000 residents, to 4,500 acre-feet, enough to serve 54,000 residents. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: As drought hammers Mono Lake, thirsty Los Angeles must look elsewhere for water
Pumped storage is having a moment. Will it shift renewables?
“A massive clean energy project that doesn’t rely on wind or solar could help solve some of California’s electricity challenges — if it can get built. Nine years after first proposing the San Vicente Energy Storage Facility, the city of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority announced in January that they were in talks with a private developer to advance the hydroelectric pumped storage project, which would be constructed northeast of the city. The development is an example of what the hydropower industry hopes will be a tipping point for one of the oldest sources of renewable energy, even as some analysts and environmentalists remain skeptical of whether the challenges for water power can be overcome. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Pumped storage is having a moment. Will it shift renewables?
Rounds of storms to prolong wet season in drought-ridden West
“Multiple storm systems are set to charge through the western United States leading up to and through the Easter weekend, AccuWeather forecasters say. This is welcome news for those hoping for any type of drought relief whether it’s in the form of rain or snow. “There is a huge deficit in rainfall across the West, and although the wet season started off strong in areas like Northern California and the Pacific Northwest, the overall precipitation amounts have been disappointing in regards to drought relief,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson explained. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Rounds of storms to prolong wet season in drought-ridden West
CW3E AR Update: Atmospheric Rivers to Bring Beneficial Precipitation to Northern portions of the US West Coast
“Ongoing atmospheric river (AR) is expected to continue to bring precipitation to Northern CA through this evening with additional AR activity forecasted over Oregon and Northern CA over the next 5 days. A quick-moving shortwave trough is forecast to bring additional precipitation to Northern CA on 16 Apr. A second AR is forecasted to make landfall on 18 Apr and bring AR 1-2 conditions (based on the Ralph et al. 2019 AR Scale) to coastal Northern California and Oregon, but there is uncertainty in the timing, location, and duration of AR conditions. Compared to the 00Z ECMWF, the 00Z GFS is forecasting higher precipitation totals over the Northern California Coast Ranges and over western Washington and Oregon. The sequence of weak ARs will bring beneficial late season precipitation to regions currently experiencing severe and prolonged drought, although it likely will not end the severe drought conditions across the region.” Read the full update here: CW3E AR Update: Atmospheric Rivers to Bring Beneficial Precipitation to Northern portions of the US West Coast
California water officials say 2022 driest winter on record
“State and local water agencies say this week’s wet weather is not enough to alleviate the severe drought conditions facing California. “This rainy weather that we’re experiencing across the Bay Area today is not going to make a difference in a bad drought that is worsening by the month,” said Wade Crowfoot, the California Secretary of Natural Resources, who issued a warning at an event in San Jose Thursday with the Santa Clara Valley Water District. “Since the January first, since the New Year, we have had the driest first three months of any year in the state’s history,” said Crowfoot. … ” Read more from KTVU here: California water officials say 2022 driest winter on record
SEE ALSO: Historically dry: Despite December’s historic snowfall, officials warn of drought, from the Sierra Sun
State expands save our water public awareness campaign as drought intensifies
“Over the past few months, the state has ramped up communications efforts around the Save Our Water campaign focused on encouraging Californians to reduce water use as drought conditions worsen. This week, the campaign rolled out new content across various multimedia platforms including social, digital and streaming platforms, out-of-home, and radio. The multilingual ads communicate the urgent need to save water and provide actionable steps Californians can take. Today, the state hosted a briefing with more than a dozen social media influencers and content creators calling on them to support the statewide education efforts. Governor Gavin Newsom joined State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel, Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth and Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham in highlighting the state’s severe drought conditions and calling on influencers to engage Californians on how to save water. … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor here: State expands save our water public awareness campaign as drought intensifies
Study maps financial risks for Calif.’s water resilience planning
“A new study warns that the benefits of California’s Water Resilience Portfolio Initiative might not be evenly distributed without proper structure to the agreements. Partnerships between water utilities, irrigation districts and other stakeholders in California will play a critical role in funding new infrastructure under the Water Resilience Portfolio Initiative announced in 2020 by the state’s governor, Gavin Newsom. California’s initiative is a multi-billion dollar effort to encourage different water utilities and irrigation districts to work together to build shared infrastructure to ameliorate the effects of droughts, but a number of questions remain regarding how best to structure these agreements. … ” Read more from Water World here: Study maps financial risks for Calif.’s water resilience planning
Drip irrigation cleans the air while saving water
“Under the blistering sun of Southern California’s Imperial Valley, it’s not surprising that subsurface drip irrigation is more effective and efficient than furrow (or flood) irrigation, a practice in which up to 50% of water is lost to evaporation. But a recent study also concludes that drip irrigation can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from soil – which contribute to climate change and unhealthy air quality in the region – without sacrificing yields of forage crops alfalfa and sudangrass. … ” Read more fromt he Western Farm Press here: Drip irrigation cleans the air while saving water
Central Valley jobs depend on Westlands Water District, study finds
“Kings County is suffering from severe drought conditions that are causing significant economic losses to farmers and workers, a recently-published report found. “The Economic Impact of Westlands Water District” study draws a negative correlation between reducing water flows into the Central Valley and providing jobs for people who work and live in agricultural communities throughout Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties — from Hanford to Visalia to Clovis. “One of the things we found in this trend is that Westlands Water District accounts for about 35,000 jobs in the region,” said Michael Shires, PhD., author of the report. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Central Valley jobs depend on Westlands Water District, study finds
Drought jeopardizing California’s $50B agricultural sector
“California’s farms are the largest food producers in the nation, but ongoing drought conditions are wreaking havoc on this $50 billion sector. Crop revenue losses, combined with groundwater over-pumping and upstream supply-chain impacts, may have slashed the state’s agricultural revenue as much as $1.7 billion in 2021, according to a new brief published by the Public Policy Institute of California. Drought conditions last year also contributed to the loss of 14,600 related jobs, amounting to about 3 percent of a sector that employs more than 420,000 people, the authors stated. While the economic effects of the 2021 drought may have only been “modest statewide,” the authors warned that persistent dry conditions in 2022 will likely exacerbate such impacts. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Drought jeopardizing California’s $50B agricultural sector
Newsom issues executive order N-7-22 outlining California’s new drought strategies
“As part of a busy few weeks that revealed the severity of the drought California is currently facing, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22. The executive order is the latest in a series of orders aimed at addressing the impacts of the drought and could impact water users throughout the state. Governor Newsom gives the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) much of the responsibility for carrying out Executive Order N-7-22, including for the two ”headline” actions – the possibility that urban water suppliers may be required to adopt more stringent water conservation strategies and the ban on irrigating “non-functional turf.” … ” Read more from Nossaman LLP here: Newsom issues executive order N-7-22 outlining California’s new drought strategies
Past, present and future: California provides insight on the severity of the drought and 2022 guidance
“The past few weeks have been active ones for California in assessing the severity of its current drought and how it plans to manage its water during the third year of that drought. On top of other, more localized action, California released its report on 2021 groundwater conditions, evaluated current snowpack conditions and Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing action affecting 2022 water usage. … ” Read more from Nossaman LLP here: Past, present and future: California provides insight on the severity of the drought and 2022 guidance
Emerging issues in evaluating wildfire impacts under CEQA: A resource guide
“California’s wildfire season now spans nearly the full calendar year. For California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) practitioners, this means the enhanced scrutiny of wildfire and evacuation impact discussions in CEQA documents is an emerging issue that compels more robust CEQA evaluation than has traditionally been afforded to this topic. This new emphasis comes from revisions to the CEQA Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), trial court filings, and appellate court decisions. This article is devoted to identifying useful resource documents that can assist local agency planners and CEQA consultants in addressing project review and impact analysis. This blog reviews the CEQA Guidelines and recent caselaw evaluating wildfire impact analyses, and includes additional planning resources for CEQA practitioners. … ” Read the full post at the Land Use Law Blog here: Emerging issues in evaluating wildfire impacts under CEQA: A resource guide
In commentary today …
Drought in California is intensifying. It’s time to rise to the challenge.
Ann Hayden, Associate Vice President, Climate Resilient Water Systems with the Environmental Defense Fund, writes, “Record-setting high temperatures in the 90s — in April. The driest first three months of the year in California history. Another drought executive order from the governor calling for more water conservation and requiring protection of existing groundwater wells. These are all signs that the drought is continuing to rear its ugly head in our Golden State and indeed much of the West. On top of that, the recently released climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that if we don’t get serious about making “immediate and deep” cuts in emissions everywhere, the impacts — including droughts — will become even more severe. But that report also offered hope, noting we still have the tools and sufficient capital and liquidity to limit warming and its impacts. … ” Continue reading at EDF’s Growing Return here: Drought in California is intensifying. It’s time to rise to the challenge.
The good news in California’s growing water crisis
Peter H. Gleick, Heather Cooley and Amanda Bielawski from the Pacific Institute write, “Severe drought. Dying fish. Fallowed farmland. Disappearing groundwater. Failing wells. Communities without safe drinking water. Even longtime observers of California’s water challenges are increasingly distressed by the problems that are piling up. Despite a promising start to our water year with last December’s storms, drought has come roaring back, a drought that we now know is being intensified by human-caused climate change. The first three months of 2022 have been the driest in the state’s recorded history, and the winter snowpack is vanishing fast. The state’s major reservoirs have nowhere near enough stored water, and deliveries of water to many farms, cities and industries this year will be deeply curtailed. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Examiner here: The good news in California’s growing water crisis
Column: Desalination plant intakes/outflows impact sealife
, writes, “… Many communities need to be in implementation phase like… now! Santa Barbara is not alone. Coastal communities all along the coast -everywhere this prolonged drought is drying out the land –are considering or already implementing the desal solution. How big of a solution is this? Based upon my reading (one reference is, “Proposed Seawater Desalination Facilities in California” by Heather Cooley and Krinstina Donnelly of Pacific Institute in Oakland), if every single one of the proposed plants were built and operational, they may (no guarantees) be able to produce as much as 10% of our urban freshwater demand in California. Is a 10 percent solution worth the cost, disruption of the seafloor and potential loss of marine life? … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Column: Desalination plant intakes/outflows impact sealife
Today’s featured article …
RISING VOICES: Envisioning Central Valley 2040
ESTUARY PEARLS: Possible futures for a Delta island; Ag and urban water use; Estimating freshwater flows; fish monitoring; and more …
Click here to read this article.
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In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Reclamation initiating Klamath River flushing flow to promote salmon health
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans to increase water flows below Iron Gate Dam to reduce the risk of disease for salmon in the Klamath River. Beginning Friday, flows below Iron Gate Dam will increase from approximately 1,325 cubic feet per second up to 4,500 cfs. Increased releases out of Upper Klamath Lake through the Link River Dam will occur simultaneously. The highest releases, of up to approximately 4,500 cfs, will be reduced to about 3,200 cfs Saturday. A high peak of 4,200 cfs will occur Sunday. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Reclamation initiating Klamath River flushing flow to promote salmon health
SEE ALSO: Reclamation initiates Klamath River flushing flow to promote salmon health, from the Bureau of Reclamation
Klamath: Water users recap worst year on record at annual meeting, but still hold hope for federal change
“On Tuesday, the Klamath Water Users Association held its annual meeting at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. Several hundred people attended the meeting which included dinner and social hour. The main focus of the event was on current water deliveries, the future of irrigation in the Klamath Basin, and an overall message of hope for basin farmers. The event featured several updates from key individuals; including US Representative Cliff Bentz as the event’s featured speaker. ... ” Read more from the Klamath Falls News here: Water users recap worst year on record at annual meeting, but still hold hope for federal change
Another difficult summer: Bureau of Reclamation announces limited water supply for Klamath Basin irrigators
“Heading into another irrigation season with little to no water, Klamath Basin farmer Justin Grant said he is facing an increasingly dire situation. Grant, 32, and his girlfriend, Morgan Barnes, farm 300 acres near Midland, Ore., about 10 miles south of Klamath Falls, where they grow alfalfa, pasture grass and raise cattle. Last year was immensely difficult, Grant said, as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation shut off water deliveries to the Klamath Project, which includes 170,000 acres of farmland in Southern Oregon and Northern California. … ” Continue reading at the Capital Press here: Another difficult summer: Bureau of Reclamation announces limited water supply for Klamath Basin irrigators
‘Beginning of the end’: Potter Valley Project license expires
“It appears more changes are on the way for the state’s aging water infrastructure on the North Coast, but it could take several years for them to manifest. Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s license for the Potter Valley Project — a hydroelectric project near Ukiah that includes the Scott and Cape Horn dams, a powerhouse, and a tunnel that diverts water from the Eel River to the Russian River — expired on Thursday. Alicia Hamann, executive director of Friends of the Eel River, told The Times-Standard that the only path left for PG&E is to surrender the license and open the way for the dams to be removed. “The expiration of the license is really the first step to dam removal,” Hamann said. “I’ve been lovingly referring to it as the beginning of the end of the Potter Valley Project because license expiration does not mean license surrender or decommission or dam removal, but it’s the first step that takes us down the path for all of those processes.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: ‘Beginning of the end’: Potter Valley Project license expires
The Potter Valley Project’s license expires April 14
“PG&E’s license to operate the Potter Valley Project [expired yesterday]. The license expiration marks the first step in the decommissioning process of the project, and the likely removal of the Scott and Cape Horn dams. PG&E has been looking to rid itself of the Potter Valley Project — a hydroelectric system that diverts thousands of acre-feet of water each year from the Eel River into the headwaters of the Russian River — and the costs associated with it for years. PG&E submitted a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in January 2019 to provide notice that it would not submit an application to relicense the project once the license lapses on April 14, 2022. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost here: The Potter Valley Project’s license expires April 14
California’s Clear Lake Hitch back on track for endangered species protections
“In a legal victory for the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed today to again consider Endangered Species Act protections for the Clear Lake hitch. This large minnow is found only in Northern California’s Clear Lake. In 2020 the agency wrongly denied the hitch protection despite severe declines in spawning fish and a near complete loss of tributary spawning habitat due to drought and water withdrawal. “I’m so glad the Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to reconsider protections for the severely endangered Clear Lake hitch,” said Meg Townsend, freshwater attorney at the Center. “Vital to the Clear Lake ecosystem and the cultural legacy of the Pomo people, the hitch is California’s most imperiled native fish. These fish should never have been denied protection in the first place.” ... ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity here: California’s Clear Lake Hitch back on track for endangered species protections
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tuolumne Utilities District to encourage water conservation despite lack of shortage
“Despite not facing the threat of a water shortage this year, Tuolumne Utilities District will begin doing public outreach next month to encourage voluntary conservation as required by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order related to the ongoing California drought. The TUD Board of Directors got a water-supply update from Associate District Engineer Glen Nunnelley on Tuesday at a public meeting where the water and sewer agency’s requirements under Newsom’s statewide measures were also discussed. … ” Read more from the Union-Democrat here: Tuolumne Utilities District to encourage water conservation despite lack of shortage
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Managing groundwater in a dry year in the Sacramento Valley
Jim Mayer, Chair, NCWA Groundwater Management Task Force; and Board Member, Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, writes, “With the Sacramento Valley facing an unprecedented dry year – particularly on the west side where little or no surface water is available – concerted efforts are being made to carefully manage groundwater resources for communities and farms this summer, while keeping an eye toward longer-term regional sustainability of water resources. This is not an accident. Last fall, the Northern California Water Association convened three scenario planning sessions working with state and federal agencies and conservation partners to identify early actions, cooperative approaches, and creative partnerships that could help mitigate the economic, social and environmental impacts should 2022 turn out to be another dry year. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: Managing groundwater in a dry year in the Sacramento Valley
Corning to restart water shutoffs for delinquent accounts
“Those with back due water and sewer bills should be aware Corning is planning to restart water shutoffs Tuesday, April 19 after a pandemic pause. If a customer applies for the utility payment assistance grant program, their water will not be shut off while the application is being processed. Those interested in applying for the program can visit https://www.corning.org/documents/cdbg-cv-emergency-utility-assistance/. City Manager Kristina Miller said some residential water users would receive a credit on their past due amounts for their water bills because the city received funding from the California Water Arrearage Grant Program. Some will still owe back due amounts. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Corning to restart water shutoffs for delinquent accounts
Butte County: Report to supervisors: Local groundwater saw high use in 2021
“Thanks to the drought, weather conditions and surface water usage cutbacks, groundwater in the Butte and Vina subbasins saw considerably more use than in previous years. Each year, the Butte County Board of Supervisors receives various updates regarding the county’s water supply, and in recent years, the state-wide drought. An update on the county’s water activities was given by Water and Resource Conservation Director Kamie Loeser and Assistant Director Christina Buck. “As you know, 2021 was a critically dry year,” Buck said. “(We had a) dry and warm spring. This leads to increased water demands and also reduced surface water of course. We ended up with 45% of the average precipitation.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Report to supervisors: Local groundwater saw high use in 2021
Sacramento’s Natomas Basin is dangerously prone to flooding. How Washington aims to help
“Hundreds of millions of new federal dollars are headed to the region to help fund the massive Natomas levee project. President Joe Biden has signed legislation that includes $157 million for an existing project in the Natomas Basin, as well as $17.9 million to begin construction in West Sacramento. In addition, Biden’s budget proposal for fiscal 2023, the 12 month period that begins Oct. 1, includes another $172 million for the levee project and $79.7 million to help the West Sacramento project. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee here: Sacramento’s Natomas Basin is dangerously prone to flooding. How Washington aims to help
Yolo County working to implement new process for well permits
” … In response to the statewide drought, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 28. The order created a new review process for the permits for wells in medium and high-priority groundwater basins. Yolo County is in a high-priority basin. “The biggest thing for us is that counties may not approve a permit for a new or replacement groundwater well or alteration of an existing well without a written verification from the affected groundwater sustainability agency which in our case is the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency,” explained April Meneghetti, director of the environmental health division. … ” Read more from the Daily Democrat here: Yolo County working to implement new process for well permits
NAPA/SONOMA
State Water Board gearing up for curtailments on Russian River water diversions
“State water regulators are gearing up for another summer of reduced supplies in the Russian River watershed and may adopt a framework for water diversion curtailments as early as May 10. But unlike last year, stakeholders are working on an alternative that would allow senior water rights holders to share access with junior claimants, and they say the proposal appears to have potential for success. The state must still approve the plan, and enough participants with senior water rights would have to join in for the scheme to work, proponents said. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: State Water Board gearing up for curtailments on Russian River water diversions
The city of Napa’s long-dormant South Jefferson park plan could be revived after dredging project
“An essentially abandoned, early 2000s plan to build a city of Napa park in the 58-acre natural space at the southern end of South Jefferson Street might soon be revived. The Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District is currently proposing a plan to truck dredged material from the Napa River to that location later this year. Though the plan isn’t yet official — the Napa City Council will need to formally approve an agreement with the district, and the district needs to obtain necessary permitting — it would be the first step. Even so, pretty much the entire lengthy process of developing the park still needs to happen before it could be built. … ” Read more from the Napa Register here: The city of Napa’s long-dormant South Jefferson park plan could be revived after dredging project
BAY AREA
San Jose: $545 million project breaks ground to improve flood protection along south San Francisco Bay shoreline
“San Francisco Bay is famous worldwide for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and many of the tech companies that ring its edges. But increasingly, scientists and political leaders are realizing the bay is more than a scenic wonder: It’s also an increasingly serious threat to millions of residents and hundreds of billions of dollars of bay front property — from neighborhoods to freeways to airports — as seas continue their slow but relentless rise. On Thursday, state, federal and local leaders broke ground on the latest effort to reduce that risk, kicking off a $545 million project to protect San Jose’s shoreline against winter flooding and rising sea levels from climate change. ... ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: San Jose: $545 million project breaks ground to improve flood protection along south San Francisco Bay shoreline
CENTRAL COAST
Unusually low rain prompts water officials to reconsider dam releases for growers
“Since January, the Salinas Valley has cried a dry song, accumulating only 0.8 inches of rain – 11 percent of its average for that time. Salinas Valley growers rely on groundwater to irrigate their crops, but no rain on the surface spells trouble. It means a dry Salinas River and no natural recharge of the aquifers the wells tap into. This is usually where the county’s largest reservoirs – lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento – come in for relief. The Monterey County Water Resources Agency releases water from the lakes into the Salinas River, recharging the groundwater levels during the height of irrigation season – April 1 to Oct. 1 – and supplying growers in Castroville, where historic overpumping and seawater intrusion have compromised many wells. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Unusually low rain prompts water officials to reconsider dam releases for growers
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tuolumne will rise near Modesto to help salmon out to sea. How visitors can stay safe
“Flows will ramp up on the Tuolumne River over several days to help newly hatched salmon reach the Pacific Ocean. The river will rise as much as 6 feet as measured at the Ninth Street Bridge in Modesto, the Turlock Irrigation District said in a news release Wednesday. The water will be released from Don Pedro Reservoir near La Grange starting Saturday, April 16. It will peak in the middle of next week and ramp back down by Monday, April 25. The water takes about 24 hours to reach Modesto and continues on to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Tuolumne will rise near Modesto to help salmon out to sea. How visitors can stay safe
California school district files lawsuit over contaminated drinking water
“SL Environmental Law Group recently announced that its client, Ballico-Cressey School District in Ballico, California, has filed a lawsuit against Dow Chemical and Shell Oil, sellers of pesticides that contained the chemical 1,2,3 trichloropropane, known as “TCP.” The lawsuit claims that these products have contaminated a well that the district uses to supply drinking water at Cressey School, where special drinking fountains have been installed to remove TCP from the water so it is safe to drink. The district plans on installing a specialized water treatment system to remove TCP from the entire water supply at the school. TCP is a toxic and carcinogenic chemical that the State of California bans in drinking water except at very low levels. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management here: California school district files lawsuit over contaminated drinking water
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
LADWP urges customers to conserve water after unusually early, rapid snowmelt in Eastern Sierra
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is urging L.A. customers to conserve more water after an unusually early, and rapid, snowmelt in the Eastern Sierra. Officials say that at the beginning of April, the snowpack was 41% of normal. Less than two weeks later, the level dropped to 22%, which is equivalent to almost five inches of water. “We’ve had three consecutive record-dry months during the third year of dry conditions,” DWP General Manager and Chief Engineer Martin Adams said. “That, combined with the early-season snowmelt and the anticipated limited availability of State Water Project supplies, has put the city’s water supply in a critical situation. This is a time for all of us to be vigilant in saving water wherever possible.” … ” Read more from KABC here: LADWP urges customers to conserve water after unusually early, rapid snowmelt in Eastern Sierra
The California island town with no stoplights and no water
“Lisa Lavelle’s city is completely surrounded by water. But to the Avalon city councilwoman, it’s the lack of fresh water that troubles her, and she hopes the next member of Congress representing Avalon and all of Catalina Island will make it a defining issue. With new congressional maps in California this year, Lavelle and her islander constituents aren’t the only ones wondering who their new representative will be and whether he or she will address longstanding but critical issues. “It used to make me laugh to see people with lawns in more affluent neighborhoods on the mainland, and they would be like, ‘Well, I can’t water my grass,’” said Lavelle, who moved to the island when she was five in 1986. “And I was like, I can’t make spaghetti tonight.” … ” Read more from USC Annenberg Media here: The California island town with no stoplights and no water
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Toxic shower water. Sewage pits. ‘Infuriating’ woes in east Coachella Valley mobile parks
“After a long day picking peaches in heat near 90 degrees, farmworker Jose Castellanos sat sweating and drinking a beer outside his dilapidated but tidy mobile home in Thermal. Taking a shower wasn’t a safe option: A notice he got from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in late March warned his family that their tap water should not be used for cooking and was bad for their teeth and hair. Arellano Mobile Home Park, where the Castellanos live, is one of seven east Coachella Valley trailer parks where since November EPA inspectors have found water containing arsenic levels above federal legal limits — even from a faucet equipped with a filter — and thousands of times above state public health guidelines. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: Toxic shower water. Sewage pits. ‘Infuriating’ woes in east Coachella Valley mobile parks
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside Harbor dredging begins with warning to stay clear of machinery
“The annual dredging of the harbor in Oceanside has started, and city officials are reminding people to steer clear of the heavy machinery on the beach. It’s an event where sand from the harbor’s mouth is used to replenish the city’s beaches. Residents welcome this project every year, said Oceanside Lifeguard Capt. Bill Curtis. “It’s to maintain the harbor entrance, to maintain, keep it open,” he said. “So the Army Corps and the Navy cooperate together to keep that happening. And then, with cooperation, they then place it back on our beach rather than discharging it back out into the ocean.” ... ” Read more from KPBS here: Oceanside Harbor dredging begins with warning to stay clear of machinery
Ramona water district committee to negotiate future water sales with Barona tribe
“Negotiations to arrange water sales to the Barona Band of Mission Indians will soon get underway by a committee of the Ramona Municipal Water District. Water district directors unanimously agreed April 12 to authorize the negotiations and hire an engineering firm to review facilities associated with connecting the tribe to the district’s drinking water and recycled water systems. However, Director Jim Piva recused himself from voting as a resident of San Diego Country Estates and part owner of the San Vicente Golf Course as an Estates homeowner’s association member. The golf course uses about half the district’s available recycled water. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Ramona water district committee to negotiate future water sales with Barona tribe
Hope Elementary parents pressing Carlsbad Unified to test kids who drank contaminated water
“It’s been more than a month since contaminated drinking water was discovered at Hope Elementary School in Carlsbad, but parents are still pressing the Carlsbad Unified School District board for answers to their questions and tests for their children. The school district reported there may have been four times the acceptable amount of copper, and nearly 10 times the acceptable level of chloroform running through drinking water pipes for months while students were back on campus. ... ” Read more from Channel 7 here: Hope Elementary parents pressing Carlsbad Unified to test kids who drank contaminated water
Along the Colorado River …
Listen: Department of Interior considering cutbacks to Colorado River water for Arizona, California, Nevada
“The U.S. Interior Department is considering emergency cutbacks to the water supplies for Arizona, California and Nevada. The goal is to prevent the water levels in Lake Powell from dropping even further, which could lead to a halt in hydropower generation at the Glen Canyon Dam. To explain the situation, The Show spoke with Alex Hager, who covers the Colorado River Basin and water in the West for KUNC.” Read more from KJZZ here: Listen: Department of Interior considering cutbacks to Colorado River water for Arizona, California, Nevada
Federal agency weighs emergency action as Colorado River demand outpaces supply
“It comes down to a math problem gone wrong. The Colorado River is in a crisis. There is less water coming into the watershed, which supports about 40 million people across the Southwest, than there is water diverted away to farms, cities and businesses, from Colorado to Nevada to California. The river’s two main storage reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, are at historically low levels and operating in uncharted territory. The reservoirs, stocked with water that originates as snowpack, are not expected to refill soon. Forecasters predict a lackluster runoff, the amount of snow that melts away, drains into the river and eventually reaches the reservoirs. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Federal agency weighs emergency action as Colorado River demand outpaces supply
Commentary: Lake Powell is tanking, and Interior’s proposed response may only buy us time
Columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “If Lake Powell isn’t already doomed, it may soon be. Insufficient runoff has put the reservoir on a quick and dangerous descent to 3,490 feet of elevation – a water level so low that Glen Canyon Dam’s hydropower turbines can no longer operate. A key part of the Western power grid would be lost. The city of Page and the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation also would lose their drinking water because the infrastructure that supplies them could no longer function. Not to mention that if Powell falls to 3,490 feet, the only way millions of acre-feet of Colorado River water can flow past the dam and downstream to sustain Lake Mead – the reservoir on which Arizona relies – is through four bypass tubes, which have never handled that kind of volume, particularly for an extended period. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Commentary: Lake Powell is tanking, and Interior’s proposed response may only buy us time
Despite spring snow, experts say a 40% decrease in river flows could be in our future
“According to data from the Utah Division of Water Resources, 28 of the state’s 45 largest reservoirs are currently below 55% capacity. This time last year, Utah’s reservoirs were around 65% capacity. In a desert state like Utah, a steady flow of water from reservoirs is crucial for many communities – especially in rural parts of the state. The decrease in reservoir levels has a lot to do with Utah’s winters. 95% of the state’s water supply comes from melted snow, which Utah didn’t get much of this past season. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah has only received 70% of its average snowfall as of April 14th. … ” Read more from KPCW here: Despite spring snow, experts say a 40% decrease in river flows could be in our future
Colorado’s snowpack is starting to melt. Warmer temperatures and drought likely mean another year of struggling water supplies
“The amount of snow that’s collected in Colorado’s mountains over the winter is nearly normal for this time of year, according to the Colorado Snow Survey Program. But while statewide snowpack levels are about 91 percent of average, USDA officials say that number is starting to drop as snow in some areas starts to melt early with warmer-than-average spring temperatures. Colorado’s runoff season is vital to replenishing the state’s rivers and reservoirs, most of which are currently sitting at below-normal levels after multiple years of climate change-driven drought. Colorado will likely face another year of below-normal water supplies despite nearly normal snowpack totals. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Colorado’s snowpack is starting to melt. Warmer temperatures and drought likely mean another year of struggling water supplies
Colorado’s spring runoff forecast looks better than past two years
“Colorado’s predictions for spring runoff are looking better than the past two years, but streamflows are still expected to be below normal. And the lingering effects of the two previous drought years mean reservoirs remain depleted and may not fill. According to the April 2022 Water Supply Outlook from the National Resources Conservation Service, snowpack across the state was slightly below normal at 90% of median, precipitation was 96% of median and the streamflow forecast for the coming months is for 82% of median. Locally, the numbers are a bit better. As of April 1, snowpack for the Roaring Fork River basin was at 98% of median. The streamflow forecast is close behind at a predicted 94% of median. … ” Read more from Steamboat Pilot & Today here: Colorado’s spring runoff forecast looks better than past two years
In national water news today …
Federal funding provides some wins for water conservation and birds in the west
“In March, Congress passed and President Biden signed a federal spending bill that will fund the government through September 30, 2022. Overall, the funding is a win for conservation and provides helpful increases for programs that address climate change, build community resilience, and protect birds and wildlife. Compared with four years of drastic funding cuts implemented from 2016-2020, this bill sets the stage for a positive trend in federal funding for the environment. … ” Read more from Audubon here: Federal funding provides some wins for water conservation and birds in the west
White House eyes water security strategy
“National Security Council officials are discussing releasing a first-ever White House action plan for global water security, a source with direct knowledge of the plan tells Axios. Why it matters: Climate change, border conflicts, cyber threats and inefficient agricultural practices threaten humanity’s future supply. External conflicts over water pose a threat to national security, as well as international relations. A proposed White House action plan would link global water security with national security for the first time. … ” Read more from Axios here: White House eyes water security strategy
Radio segment: Addressing water contamination with indigenous science
“Ranalda Tsosie grew up in the Navajo Nation, close to a number of abandoned uranium mines. The uranium from those mines leached into the groundwater, contaminating some of the unregulated wells that Ranalda and many others relied on for cooking, cleaning and drinking water. Today on the show, Ranalda talks to host Aaron Scott about her path to becoming an environmental chemist to study the extent of contamination in her home community using a blend of western and Diné science methods.” Listen to the radio segment from NPR here: Radio segment: Addressing water contamination with indigenous science
Rainwater harvesting as an infrastructure solution
“Rainwater harvesting can be a powerful tool to reduce the strain on aging water supply and storm water infrastructure, but to fully utilize this tool, we need to begin to take it more seriously as infrastructure. When a city looks for new water supply options, they often consider new reservoirs, reclaimed water, a new groundwater well and other centralized structures. When combatting storm water runoff, decentralized solutions like rainwater harvesting are given more attention in new construction. Requirements for on-site storm water management are incorporated into overall municipal planning for storm water, and municipalities often offer financial incentives for on-site storm water management. However, many municipalities still turn to large centralized approaches to combat combined sewer overflows and address overall challenges to the storm water system. ... ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions here: Rainwater harvesting as an infrastructure solution
PFAS: The ‘forever chemicals’ you couldn’t escape if you tried
“Based on nothing more than their name, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances certainly don’t sound like something you’d want to find in your burger wrapper. But according to a recent investigation by Consumer Reports, they’re very much there — as well as in your salad bowl, fry bag and sandwich wrap. So what are these virtually indestructible compounds, created in a lab in 1938 by a 27-year-old chemist? And how worried do you need to be about them? This is what you should know about PFAS. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: PFAS: The ‘forever chemicals’ you couldn’t escape if you tried
NASA SWE Report…
20220410_RT_SWE_ReportAlso on Maven’s Notebook today …
BULLETIN 120: April 12, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENT: New Drought-Related Features Added to Domestic and Irrigation Well Dashboards on California’s Groundwater Live
