DAILY DIGEST, 4/27: New water restrictions on tap for SoCal, Bay Area; Third year of drought pushes price of water to $2,000 an acre foot; With dwindling water supplies, the timing of rainfall matters; Why we need slow solutions to solve our water problems; and more …


On the calendar today …

  • WEBINAR: Briefing on state and federal efforts on orphan wells from 10am to 11:30am.  Our transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy will not only increase the health of our ecosystems, but our communities as well. Leaders at all levels of government are working to accelerate this transition amid growing threats from climate change. Join us for a discussion on April 27 between U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and Secretary Crowfoot about investments that state and federal governments are making to seal defunct oil wells safely and permanently across California.  Click here to register.
  • SoCAL WATER DIALOG: The 21st Century of Water in Southern California: Living Within Our Means from 12pm to 1:30pm.  Join us for a discussion with expert researchers on the opportunities and the institutional obstacles that prevent full utilization of our available local water resources in the region. Click here to register.
  • WEBINAR: An Update on DWR’s Statewide AEM Surveys from 12pm to 1pm.  The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is conducting airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys in California’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins to support drought preparedness and the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). During the webcast, DWR will introduce the Sustainable Groundwater Management Office’s technical assistance and basin characterization efforts, provide an update on the implementation of the Statewide Survey Project, and highlight the AEM data and related tools that will be available to support GSAs.  Click here to register.
  • EVENT: Mendocino Region Local Water Resilience Workshop from 12:30pm to 3:30pm in-person at the Little River Inn in Mendocino.  You are invited to the Mendocino Region Local Water Resilience Workshop to help the community reach water, fire, habitat and economic resilience. After three community meetings since September 2021, this next workshop will help accelerate an action plan for Mendocino region, and your watershed communities, for local opportunities and state funding that can help everyone where you live, work and play.  Click here to register.

Water restrictions for Southern California and the Bay Area …

SoCal: 6 million Southern Californians face unprecedented order to conserve water

Unprecedented water restrictions are in store for about 6 million Southern Californians, a sign of deepening drought in counties that depend on water piped from the state’s parched reservoirs.  The Metropolitan Water District’s board voted unanimously today to require six major water providers and the dozens of cities and local districts they supply to impose one of two options: limit residents to outdoor watering once a week or reduce total water use below a certain target.  The water providers must have plans to police their customers, and if they fail to impose the restrictions, they could face fines of $2,000 for every extra acre-foot of water that exceeds their monthly allocation limits, starting in June, according to Metropolitan. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: 6 million Southern Californians face unprecedented order to conserve water

SoCal: Millions must cut water use in drought-stricken California

Southern California’s gigantic water supplier took the unprecedented step Tuesday of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as drought continues to plague the state.  The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California declared a water shortage emergency and required the cities and water agencies it supplies to implement the cutback on June 1 and enforce it or face hefty fines.  “We don’t have enough water supplies right now to meet normal demand. The water is not there,” Metropolitan Water District spokesperson Rebecca Kimitch said. “This is unprecedented territory. We’ve never done anything like this before.” … ”  Read more from the Associated Press here: Millions must cut water use in drought-stricken California

SEE ALSO:

San Diego County Water Authority statement: MWD’s water-use mandates don’t impact San Diego Region

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Board of Directors today voted to implement a series of actions to address serious water shortages in parts of its service area that solely depend on the State Water Project. Those restrictions do not directly affect residents and businesses who receive water from the San Diego County Water Authority through their retail water provider because our region is not currently receiving water from the State Water Project.  The San Diego region continues to have reliable water supplies for 2022 and beyond due to a long-term commitment to conservation and investments in a diversified water supply portfolio, including drought-resilient sources like the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant. However, extreme drought conditions are felt widely across the West, and we strongly support agencies taking appropriate conservation actions where they are needed. …

Click here to read the rest of this statement from the San Diego County Water Authority.

The Water Authority’s Board of Directors has not enacted water-use mandates as we wait for the State Water Board’s direction and final emergency regulations in late May. In addition, Water Authority’s diversified supplies remain intact.  “We continue to support the Governor’s call for increased voluntary conservation at homes and businesses. We encourage actions such as taking shorter showers and fixing leaks immediately, along taking advantage of rebates for replacing turf with landscapes that are WaterSmart and climate-appropriate.”  — Sandra L. Kerl, General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority

New water restrictions coming to 1.4 million East Bay residents

Highlighting a growing trend as California’s severe drought extends into a third summer, 1.4 million East Bay residents will see new crackdowns on water use — the first since 2016 — under rules approved Tuesday.  The board of the East Bay Municipal Utility District, a government agency based in Oakland, voted 6-1 to declare a drought emergency, to seek a 10% reduction in water use from 2020 levels and to limit landscape watering to no more than three days a week in its service area, which extends from Hayward to Crockett and includes Oakland, Walnut Creek and Richmond.  The district also will consider at an upcoming meeting in May a drought surcharge of 2% to 8% on all customer bills. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: New water restrictions coming to 1.4 million East Bay residents

SEE ALSO:

In other California water news …

Third year of drought pushes price of water to $2,000 an acre foot

A sale of agricultural water within the Panoche Water District on the upper west side of the San Joaquin Valley hit the eye-popping price of $2,000 per acre foot recently.  The buyer bought 668 acre feet in a deal that was brokered by Nat DiBuduo with Alliance Ag Services. The buyer, whose name was withheld, was willing to pay that cost to assure the future of his crops this year, according to the brokerage company.  Last year, the same sellers, also unnamed, sold water for $1,648 and $1,800 per acre foot, indicating how a third year of drought is pushing up the price of water, according to the broker. ... ”  Read more from SJV Water here: Third year of drought pushes price of water to $2,000 an acre foot

Department of Water Resources aquifer surveys will help bolster groundwater supply

“For the past year, California’s Department of Water Resources has been taking measurements of aquifers in central and southern parts of the state. The same will be done for the Sacramento Valley over the next several weeks.  This project, which is known as an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey, is a direct result of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which calls for local and state water agencies to work together to better understand and manage groundwater supply.  AEM surveys are taken using a helicopter that carries a special set of instruments suspended on a large ring below the aircraft ... ”  Read more from KCRA here: Department of Water Resources aquifer surveys will help bolster groundwater supply

With dwindling water supplies, the timing of rainfall matters

A new UC Riverside study shows it’s not how much extra water you give your plants, but when you give it that counts.  This is especially true near Palm Springs, where the research team created artificial rainfall to examine the effects on plants over the course of two years. This region has both winter and summer growing seasons, both of which are increasingly impacted by drought and, occasionally, extreme rain events.  Normally, some desert wildflowers and grasses begin growing in December, and are dead by June. A second community of plants sprouts in July and flowers in August. These include the wildflowers that make for an extremely popular tourist attraction in “super bloom” years. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here: With dwindling water supplies, the timing of rainfall matters

Why we need slow solutions to solve our water problems

“… As we face a future of climate worsened droughts and floods, of continuing water pollution and crashing biodiversity, rethinking our relationship to water is central to thriving — and even surviving.  Science journalist Erica Gies found that many innovative projects working to solve our most challenging water problems all have a central premise in common: slowing water down. She explains how that’s done in her new book Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge (available to U.S. readers in June), which tracks the work of “water detectives” enacting these changes across the world.  The Revelator spoke with Gies about what’s required to make Slow Water projects successful, who benefits, and why we’ll need to rethink more than just our engineering. … ”  Read more from The Revelator here: Why we need slow solutions to solve our water problems

Video: Farming in a State of Extremes

California’s agricultural sector is the nation’s largest, generating more than $50 billion in annual revenue and employing more than 420,000 people. But water supply has always been an issue in the drought-prone state, and that’s growing more pressing with the warming, increasingly volatile climate.  “Although farmers have steadily improved productivity, water is an enduring concern….Chronic overpumping has dried up wells and damaged infrastructure,” noted PPIC Water Policy Center senior fellow Alvar Escriva-Bou at a virtual event last week. … ”  Read more and watch video from the PPIC here: Video: Farming in a State of Extremes

California bill would pay farmworkers $1,000 a month to help endure drought, climate crisis

As worsening drought conditions in California and the West take a heavy economic toll on agriculture, state legislators are considering a plan to pay farmworkers $1,000 a month to help them cover the cost of necessities.  The bill is meant to assist farmworkers who have fewer crops to tend as climate change limits the window for each growing season and cuts the Golden State’s water supply.  Introduced this month by state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), Senate Bill 1066 would establish the California Farmworkers Drought Resilience Pilot Project. Under the $20-million program, eligible workers would receive a $1,000 stipend for three years. It’s unclear how many farmworkers would qualify. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: California bill would pay farmworkers $1,000 a month to help endure drought, climate crisis

Responsible Flushing Alliance publishes new infographic educating the public on the strangest items found in California catch basins

Today, the Responsible Flushing Alliance (RFA) published a new infographic highlighting some of the strangest objects that have been pulled out of municipal wastewater treatment catch basins in three California areas. A Spanish version of the infographic is also available.  RFA partnered with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Orange County Sanitation District, and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to identify the foreign objects that are damaging our sewer systems. Using Earth Day as a launching pad, RFA and the wastewater industry are hoping the infographic brings greater awareness to the challenges caused by improper waste disposal.  Consumers are urged to look for the “Do Not Flush” symbol on the packaging of wipes that are not intended by the manufacturer to be flushable. ... ”  Read more from Business Wire here: Responsible Flushing Alliance publishes new infographic educating the public on the strangest items found in California catch basins

5 Takeaways on California 30×30 Report: Land and Freshwater

The state of California has released the final version of its Pathways to 30×30 report. Here are five things to know about the terrestrial conservation elements of this landmark effort ... ”  Read more at the NRDC here: 5 Takeaways on California 30×30 Report: Land and Freshwater

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In commentary today …

You can have a new showerhead, but you can’t have any new water

Opinion columnist Susan Shelley writes, “You can have a new showerhead, but you can’t have any new water.  That’s the policy in California, apparently. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and SoCalGas once sent out an “Energy and Water Efficiency Starter Kit” to every customer that included two low-flow showerheads and three faucet aerators “at no cost or obligation to you,” according to the package insert. Check your utility bills on that point. Nothing’s free. You may have paid more for those showerheads than some people pay for spa vacations.  There’s now a well entrenched bureaucracy devoted to lecturing Californians about the scarcity of water. Conservation rules that were ordered during drought “emergencies” have quietly become permanent, and long-held water rights have been disrupted by legislation that imposed regulations on groundwater for the first time in state history. ... ”  Read more from the LA Daily News here: You can have a new showerhead, but you can’t have any new water

Farm regions deserve a voice on protecting aquifers

Danny Merkley, director of water resources for the California Farm Bureau, writes, “California’s farmers and ranchers are under enormous stress entering a third year of unrelenting drought.  Family farms and ranches have seen their access to surface water severely curtailed. There isn’t enough water for irrigation. Water rights holders are denied diversions while state officials instead work to increase unimpaired river flows.  We are in the slow implementation of the Water Storage Improvement Program authorized by 2014’s Proposition 1, the voter-approved initiative that has yet to deliver the promised infrastructure to boost our water supply.  Meanwhile, state policies and regulations are now effectively closing our water checking accounts—by denying use of surface water—and restricting access to our water savings accounts—by imposing burdens on the pumping of groundwater. ... ”  Read more from Ag Alert here:  Farm regions deserve a voice on protecting aquifers

CEQA attacks come as our warming planet most needs the law

John Buse, senior counsel for the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “If the recent attacks on California’s landmark environmental law sound tired, that’s because they are. Ever since the California Environmental Quality Act went into effect in 1970, there have been calls to tweak, reform or completely throw it out.  The regulations stifle the economy, developers say. The environmental review is too cumbersome, politicians argue. As a longtime environmental attorney, I’ve heard them all. But as the climate crisis intensifies, opponents of the state’s premier environmental law are starting to sound tone deaf.  CEQA requires developers and decisionmakers to analyze and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of a project before approval. The law is effective at protecting public health, saving wildlife habitat and advancing environmental justice. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: CEQA attacks come as our warming planet most needs the law

Food security is national security

Dr. Michael Shires, associate dean for strategy and special projects and an associate professor of public policy at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, writes, “California is an agricultural giant, providing more than half of all domestically grown vegetables, fruits, and nuts. A quarter of the nation’s food is produced in the Central Valley, an agricultural singularity that boasts a unique combination of soil, climate, and weather that enables the Valley to feed millions around the country.  As California’s historic drought reaches its third year, many farms in the Central Valley will once again receive a zero percent allocation from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project. This lack of water has devastating implications not just for our country’s food supply but for our country’s national security as well. … ”  Read more from Real Clear Policy here: Food security is national security

Droughts are ravaging the US — it’s time to get serious about water recycling

Craig Lichty, client director and vice president for Black & Veatch and president of the WateReuse Association, and Patricia Sinicropi, executive director of the WateReuse Association, write, “Following the release of a dire new International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report this month, which warns of accelerating threats to our environment and society, community leaders from across the country are convening in Washington, D.C. for Water Week 2022. From today through Saturday, Water Week organizers will send a strong message to Congress and the administration about the need to secure our water future. Water recycling is a particularly critical tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change.  Water recycling can bring relief to communities ravaged by drought, provide flood control during periods of intense rain and produce water safe for any use. … ”  Read more from The Hill here: Droughts are ravaging the US — it’s time to get serious about water recycling

What the Supreme Court’s ruling on clean water means for rivers

Amy Souers Kober, Vice President of Communications for American Rivers, writes, “Clean water is essential to all life. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act this year, we should be moving forward – not backward – when it comes to safeguarding clean, accessible, safe, affordable water for all.  But the U.S. Supreme Court recently issued an unfortunate ruling on Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Kelly Catlett, director of hydropower reform at American Rivers, breaks down what the ruling means, and what’s next. ... ”  Continue reading at American Rivers here: What the Supreme Court’s ruling on clean water means for rivers

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Today’s featured article …

CA WATER LAW SYMPOSIUM: Voluntary agreements: Are the promises enough or is it just a signpost on the way to more litigation?

Attorneys Richard Roos-Collins, Doug Obegi, Jennifer Buckman, and Peter Prows discuss the pros and cons of the voluntary agreements

Voluntary agreements offer a potential alternative to flow standards imposed unilaterally by state agencies on water users.  In theory, the agreements are voluntary commitments to both restore habitat and provide certain levels of flows in vulnerable waterways to support aquatic habitat and instream beneficial uses.

Many organizations have spent countless hours working together to craft such voluntary agreements in ways that protect fish and other wildlife and have less negative social and economic impacts than regulatory requirements.  But in practice, the voluntary agreements have been contentious, and some question whether they can provide the benefits they promise.

Are the promises in the MOU enough?  What does it mean if only half of the watershed is covered by the MOU?  Would voluntary agreements speed things up or slow things down?  At the 2022 California Water Law Symposium, a panel of lawyers with various viewpoints discussed the voluntary agreements.

Click here to read this article.

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

Press release: State again threatens Scott Valley’s ag wells despite coho salmon success

All ag well use in Scott Valley is being threatened again for 2022-2023 as the State Water Board considers re-adopting its current “emergency” regulations. The Scott Valley is the only place in the state where all ag wells are being threatened, an unprecedented action by the Board. The Board has announced it will be taking public comments on a zoom call May 4th (2 pm – 4 pm) as it considers the re-adoption of curtailments for the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance will be participating, pointing out that the State is not using its own fish data, which are very positive in the Scott River and do not justify curtailments.  “Re-adoption of the regulations for the Scott River is unfair, unreasonable, and unneeded,” says Theodora Johnson, spokesman for the Alliance. … ”  Read more from the Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance here:  State again threatens Scott Valley’s ag wells despite coho salmon success

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

2022 wildfire outlook for the Lake Tahoe Basin

What began as a promising winter fizzled out in early 2022, leading to the driest January and February recorded across California and Nevada since record keeping began. Closer to home, Tahoe City, which has weather records dating back to 1910, set a record for the driest January through March.  On March 31, 2022, the National Weather Service (NWS) drought monitor noted that 40 percent of California and 36 percent of Nevada is suffering from extreme drought, with severe drought conditions evident in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  “I’ve been with the National Weather Service for over 20 years, and I’ve never seen the winter storm door just slam shut like that,” said NWS Reno’s, Chris Smallcomb. “It’s very unsettling.” … ”  Read more from YubaNet here:  2022 wildfire outlook for the Lake Tahoe Basin

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Butte farmers propose new water district

A group of Butte County farmers, who rely solely on groundwater to farm mostly tree crops north of Chico, are one step closer to finalizing formation of a new water district. They say the new district will help future generations comply with a state regulation to bring groundwater supplies into balance in 20 years.  “Water is our lifeblood, and we have to manage it and be able to fight for our future,” said Butte County farmer Darren Rice, who grows almonds north of Chico. “And to do that, you have to be on an even playing field with the other players that are already in the game managing water.”  Rice said California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act puts “a challenge in front of us to manage our aquifer responsibly.” It was a challenge they were determined to address.  Local farmers consulted with water districts, Rice said, and they “got a sense of how they were empowered” in order to create a local agency that could “meet the challenges that SGMA demanded.” … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here: Butte farmers propose new water district

April showers add slight impact to north valley drought

Over the past two weeks, the north valley was hit with a fair amount of rain giving some vegetation in the area a chance to grow and aquifers a chance to refill.  Along the West Branch Feather River, burn scar slowly recovers from the Camp Fire with some vegetation filling the gaps between charred trees.  As California carries into its third year of drought, the last few storm systems since April 12 blessed the north valley with some water.  Paradise received 2.54 inches of rain between April 12 and April 26. Its normal amount for this time frame is 2.19 inches, according to National Weather Service Sacramento. … ”  Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register here: April showers add slight impact to north valley drought

Application deadline approaching – Delayed Wheat Harvest Incentive Program

The California Waterfowl Association (CWA) is still soliciting applications for their Delayed Wheat Harvest Incentive Program, which incentivizes the delayed harvest of winter planted cereal grains like wheat and triticale for the benefit of nesting waterfowl. The application deadline is Monday, May 2, 2022.  In the Sacramento Valley, cultivated Ricelands act much like brood-rearing wetlands. Similarly, cereal grains provide vegetative cover for nesting ducks in lieu of natural upland habitat. But cereal grains can act as a source – or a sink – for waterfowl production, depending on timing of harvest. In most years, the wildlife-agriculture conflict occurs in May and June, when the harvest of small grains takes place simultaneously with peak waterfowl hatch, resulting in complete destruction of active nests and/or mortality of hens struck by farm implements while on the nest. … ”  Continue reading from California Rice News here:  Application deadline approaching – Delayed Wheat Harvest Incentive Program

Recent wet weather has led to rising Folsom Lake level, but will it last?

As California’s wildfire season nears amid another year of drought, Folsom Lake looks much different than it did a year ago when a low water level left an exposed lakebed. Now, splashing, swimming and boats have returned—but will it last?  “We couldn’t do anything at all. We couldn’t go swimming or anything like that. The water was really, really low,” lake visitor Robert Morpanini said of last year’s levels. … ”  Read more from Channel 13 here: Recent wet weather has led to rising Folsom Lake level, but will it last?

Folsom Lake rises to 103% of average

With the help of a few spring storms, the dismal outlook on the state’s water supply is splashing with a bit more positivity this week as the Folsom Lake levels have made a significant rise.  As of Tuesday, Folsom Lake had risen to 75 percent of capacity and 103 percent of average for this time of year. In addition to the current rise in the lake level, several feet of fresh snow in the Sierra have brought additional snowpack to the region, where levels had dropped to 30 percent the first week of April.  “The particular storm of this past week increased the rain and snow over northern California by about five to 10 percent,” said Jim Mathews with the National Weather Service. … ”  Read more from Gold Country Media here:  Folsom Lake rises to 103% of average

NAPA/SONOMA

North Bay cities implement drought restrictions and plan for the future

With lower water levels in Lake Sonoma and elsewhere across the Russian River Watershed beginning to strain resources, many municipalities that depend on this water are beginning to reintroduce drought restrictions. Windsor, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa are requiring residents, businesses and public agencies to reduce water use by 20% from 2020 levels. In Marin, where some towns receive water from Lake Sonoma, the Marin Municipal Water District has mandated a 40% reduction of water use across the county.  North Bay governments aren’t the only ones implementing new constraints. … ”  Read more from the Bohemian here: North Bay cities implement drought restrictions and plan for the future

How Petaluma is tackling this drought – and the next one

Despite a glut of recent rain descending on Sonoma County in late spring and ratcheting rainfall totals to more than double last winter’s paltry numbers, the region remains locked in drought, and local water experts say residents should prepare for ongoing restrictions.  Since last September, Petaluma has sought to curb the city’s overall water usage by 30% compared to 2020 numbers, implementing restrictions on water use to help the city meet mandatory cutback targets set by Sonoma Water, the region’s primary supplier. … ”  Read more from the Petaluma Argus-Courier here: How Petaluma is tackling this drought – and the next one

BAY AREA

First-of-its-kind project prepares SF park for drier times amid state’s continued drought

You could say that Orange Memorial Park in South San Francisco is about to turn deep green. Engineers Bianca Liu and Rob Dusenbury say the key to the eco-friendly transformation is underneath the dirt.  The project is actually harnessing the flow of the adjacent Colma Creek. It’s an historic, natural waterway that was heavily cemented for flood control in the early days of the area’s development. For decades, the creek has carried runoff from the surrounding watershed straight into San Francisco Bay, along with a significant amount of trash. But that’s about to change.  “And so part of green infrastructure, and this is a green infrastructure project, is to restore and mimic some of the natural hydrologic processes that had been lost through development,” said Dusenbury. … ”  Read more from ABC 7 here: First-of-its-kind project prepares SF park for drier times amid state’s continued drought

CENTRAL COAST

San Benito: Update on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan

The local GSP was completed in November 2021 and is still in review at the state level. The GSP provides the basic information, analytical tools, and projects and management actions for continued groundwater management, guided by SGMA and by locally defined sustainability goals, objectives, and metrics.  The levels of our groundwater is not a straight forward answer. The levels differ throughout the basin. I can’t tell you we have “x” amount of water in the entire basin right now. Some areas showed larger declines than others. In general, in 2021 groundwater elevations declined slightly throughout most of the basin. This is the second year of groundwater declines after a three-year period of groundwater recovery after the last major drought. With continued drought conditions; groundwater levels will decline further, especially with zero CVP allocations. That’s why Sunnyslope, Hollister and San Juan will all be implementing Stage II of our Water Shortage Contingency Plan the first week in May. This will be mandatory water conservation measures aimed mainly at outdoor water use. … ”  Read more from Benito Link here:  Update on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan

Solvang to invest $10M into wastewater treatment plant

Solvang will invest another $10 million into its wastewater treatment plant, including tooling that could support future wastewater recycling, after the council voted unanimously Monday to support the least expensive of four potential options.  “I’d rather do the minimum until we’re forced. I like Phase 2, and it’s a step in the right direction. I don’t want to go into debt and I don’t want to just feel good about using nonpotable water from a recycled source just because it makes me feel good,” Councilman Robert Clarke said. … ”  Read more from the Santa Ynez Valley News here: Solvang to invest $10M into wastewater treatment plant

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Madera County farmers feel the pain of groundwater rules

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is not a new topic, but it is new territory for some. In Madera County, the harsh consequences of this new California regulation have been reality for the last couple of years, and now the pain is starting to set in.  Madera County is groundwater-dependent. Some may argue that we have access to surface water, but for those of us in the water world, we know that surface-water deliveries are not nearly as reliable as they were many years ago. As surface-water supplies vanish in drought years, as in the last two, what we have left to irrigate our crops comes from the aquifer.  Last summer, the Madera County Board of Supervisors adopted an allocation for acreage under the County Groundwater Sustainability Agency within Madera, Chowchilla and Delta-Mendota subbasins, much of which has no access to surface water. … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here:  Valley farmers feel the pain of groundwater rules

Pixley to install free clean water filling station

Pixley residents have had questionable water to drink for the last four years but will soon have access to free water from a vending machine.  The Pixley Public Utility District recently published a public notice that says they will offer free drinking water at water fill stations in town. The notice says the plan “will consist of the installation of two water vending machines and shade cover for the machines, which will be attached to the Pixley Public Utility District building. This will provide the community of Pixley with clean drinking water at no cost due to the community’s issue with contaminated water.” … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Pixley to install free clean water filling station

EASTERN SIERRA

Mono County: Traditional burn in the works at Parker Creek

The Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe is currently working on a number of projects aimed at reviving the uses of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of the Indigenous peoples of the Mono Basin. These efforts confront the dispossession of Indigenous peoples from their land and the loss of cultural practices. The Mono Lake Committee is supporting efforts to further the growth of TEK in sustaining the Mono Basin now and in the future.  One of these efforts is the Tribe’s plan to conduct a traditional, prescribed burn in the Parker Meadows area on Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) land adjacent to Parker Creek, one of Mono Lake’s tributary streams. ... ”  Read more from the Mono Lake Committee here: Mono County: Traditional burn in the works at Parker Creek

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Red tide in Orange County could impact marine wildlife

A red tide bloom can be seen in the ocean near Orange County.  “In this case it’s A. sanguinea and that has a particular bloom that’s happening right now. The water temperature, the air temperature is all a factor in that,” said Debbie McGuire, the executive director at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.  McGuire says birds can be affected by the red ride. … ”  Read more from Channel 7 here: Red tide in Orange County could impact marine wildlife

SEE ALSO: A red tide off OC and the South Bay has experts worried for sea birds, from the OC Register

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

La Quinta planning commission OKs proposed surf resort; project heads to city council

A proposed La Quinta resort with a hotel, homes and a wave basin — which has brought loud opposition from people saying it is a poor use of water during a drought — narrowly won the planning commission’s endorsement Tuesday and will now move to the city council for final consideration.  The vote for the Coral Mountain project came in two motions: The first was for certification of the environmental impact report, which passed 5-2 with Vice Chairperson Loretta Currie and Commissioner Michael Proctor voting no. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: La Quinta planning commission OKs proposed surf resort; project heads to city council

$29 million obtained for clean water projects in eastern Coachella Valley

Nearly $30 million has been allocated in the past week for major infrastructure to start to bring safe, reliable water to residents in the east Coachella Valley, where thousands of residents live in scores of mobile home parks with toxic water wells and open sewage pits.  But at least $180 million more is needed to build out a Coachella Valley Water District master plan to connect more than 100 mobile home parks and worker camps to reliable plumbing systems, many on Torres Martinez tribal lands. And a leading environmental justice advocate says there are hundreds more east valley parks not included in the plan that likely have serious water contamination too. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: $29 million obtained for clean water projects in eastern Coachella Valley

The Salton Sea: An introduction to an evolving system and the role of science

The Salton Sea, located in Southern California, is a saline terminal lake that has had many identities over the past century or so. Since its reincarnation in 1905 due to lower Colorado River flooding that partially refilled the Salton Sink, it has been California’s largest lake by surface area, covering approximately 350 square miles.  In the second half of the 20th century, it was referred to as one of the most productive fisheries in the world, drawing more than 1.5 million annual visitors in the 1960s — more than visited Yosemite National Park at the time — the majority of whom were there for fishing. Throughout the 20th century, with a habitat that supported over 400 species of migratory and resident birds and served as an important stopover along the Pacific Flyway, the Sea warranted recognition as one of the premier bird watching locations in the United States, if not the world. … ”  Read more from California Agriculture here:  The Salton Sea: An introduction to an evolving system and the role of science

SAN DIEGO

Repair work on Hodges Dam to begin

As part of continuing efforts to maintain and invest in City of San Diego infrastructure, repair work starts within the next two weeks on Hodges Dam, at the Hodges Reservoir north of Rancho Bernardo.  “It’s been over a century since Hodges Dam was constructed, and we are making significant investments to maintain this vital asset,” said Alia Khouri, Deputy Chief Operating Officer. “Projects like this one are crucial for the City’s aging infrastructure system in order to maintain the safe and efficient delivery of City services.”  During a recent inspection, staff identified areas in the dam wall that require repair and need to be sealed. To access these areas, the water level of the reservoir needs to be lowered by approximately 18 feet from its current level to an elevation of 275 feet. The reservoir may need to be lowered below 275 feet if additional areas needing repair are identified during the project. The repair project is expected to continue for an estimated five months. … ”  Read more from the Water News Network here:  Repair Work on Hodges Dam to Begin

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Along the Colorado River …

Water intake pipe pokes above surface at Lake Mead

The top of a water intake pipe at Lake Mead is now sticking up above the water’s surface as the lake level continues to drop.  A photo posted by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) shows the newest evidence of the megadrought gripping the West.  “It’s official – the top of Intake No. 1 is now visible and the low lake level pumping station is now operational,” according to an SNWA tweet. “The new low lake pumping station was completed in 2020 to ensure the delivery of high-quality water in Southern Nevada. … ”  Read more from Channel 8 here: Water intake pipe pokes above surface at Lake Mead

Las Vegas turns on low-level Lake Mead pumps designed to avoid a ‘Day Zero’

The country’s largest man-made reservoir, Lake Mead, has dropped to such a historically low level that Las Vegas water officials have completed the process of turning on a pump station that will allow Southern Nevada to retrieve water, even under extreme conditions.  The move — to turn on the pump station full bore — is an indication of how low Lake Mead has fallen over the past decade and serves as a bulwark against the possibility of Las Vegas losing physical access to its water as regional issues on the Colorado River become increasingly dire.  Without Las Vegas’ roughly $1.5 billion Lake Mead infrastructure in place, some water experts say the seven U.S. states that rely on the Colorado River would be facing even harder choices and an even more nerve-wracking situation than the shortage crisis that is playing out. … ”  Read more from the Nevada Independent here:  Las Vegas turns on low-level Lake Mead pumps designed to avoid a ‘Day Zero’

As Lake Powell dries up, the US turns to creative accounting for a short-term fix

Earlier this month, as water levels in the Lake Powell reservoir fell to record lows amid the ongoing Western drought, the federal government asked seven states that rely on the Colorado River to work out an emergency conservation deal. …  Late last week, the states agreed to forfeit their water from Lake Powell in order to ensure that the reservoir can still produce power. The deal puts a finger in the metaphorical dike, postponing an inevitable reckoning with the years-long drought that has parched the Colorado River — and a wrenching tradeoff between power access and water access for millions. It does so, in part, through an unusual act of hydrological accounting. … ”  Read more from Grist here:  As Lake Powell dries up, the US turns to creative accounting for a short-term fix

Rural Arizona groundwater bill languishes in the Legislature

A bill to help rural Arizona manage its groundwater has stalled in the Arizona House.  For most of rural Arizona, groundwater use remains much as it did in the frontier — unmanaged, a race to the bottom in which the person who drills the deepest well wins.  But a number of communities are seeing the effects of this lack of regulation and have asked the state for help. … ”  Read more from KJZZ here: Rural Arizona groundwater bill languishes in the Legislature

Groundwater pollution may be an overlooked aspect of Arizona water issues

You can’t see it, but how we live impacts it and plays a vital role in almost everything that happens in Arizona.  About 40% of the state’s water supply is underground, with that number likely to increase due to reductions in available water from the Colorado River.  Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, said the reliance on the resource stems from Arizona’s geography.  “A lot of Arizona does not have a convenient surface water supply, but we did have water in the ground,” Porter said.  An ongoing concern is what would happen if the valuable resource got contaminated. … ”  Read more from KTAR here: Groundwater pollution may be an overlooked aspect of Arizona water issues

Study shows groundwater flowing into Colorado River could decrease by a third in next 30 years

A recent study shows that groundwater could decrease by a third in the Colorado River Basin in the next 30 years due to climate change. That’s a big deal since baseflow – or water flowing out of the ground into streams – accounts for over half of the streamflow in the upper Colorado River, supplying ecosystems and people across eight states.  Olivia Miller, the lead researcher on the study,csaid they examined three possible scenarios: one in which the future becomes hotter and drier, another where it becomes hotter but wetter, and a third that’s in between. In all cases, she said, the models show steep declines. … ”  Read more from Wyoming Public Radio here: Study shows groundwater flowing into Colorado River could decrease by a third in next 30 years

Punished by drought, some southwest Colorado farmers survived 2021 on 10% of their normal water supply

With his hands stuffed deep into his pockets, Landan Wilson looks down at the ground and scuffs his boot back and forth against the loose blades of alfalfa hay scattered on the dirt.   It’s early March, and Wilson is standing inside a massive storage shed on his family’s farm a few miles west of Pleasant View, in an often-forgotten corner of southwestern Colorado. … In 2021, the persistent drought that scientists believe is the driest 22-year stretch in the past 1,200 years hit this part of the state harder than just about anywhere else. Farmers and ranchers with junior water rights along the Dolores River, the region’s main source of water, got around 10% or less of what they’re used to receiving. What’s more, last year’s difficult conditions piled onto an equally dry 2020 — and the outlook heading further into spring and summer has many in the local agricultural community deeply concerned. … ”  Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Punished by drought, some southwest Colorado farmers survived 2021 on 10% of their normal water supply

Attempt to stop Colorado water speculation is circling the drain

A move to dry up water speculation once and for all in Colorado ended at the legislature despite intense supply pressures from drought and water developers, as lawmakers said they’re loath to hurt farmers’ ability to sell their most valuable asset.  The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee tabled the anti-speculation bill after first accepting an amendment to turn it into a between-sessions study of the problem. Technically, the measure could be revived, but the bill’s sponsors say the issue is over for this year. ... ”  Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Attempt to stop Colorado water speculation is circling the drain

Unprecedented solutions coming to the Lake Powell crisis

Lake Powell, on the Utah-Arizona state line, is part of a river system that supplies water to 40 million people. Much of that water originates in the mountains of Colorado and another portion comes from the Green River headwaters in Wyoming. With an ongoing drought in the west this year, Lake Powell is forecast to drop below a level that’s set for absolute minimum operation.  The Upper Basin Drought Response Operations Agreement (DROA) identifies an elevation of 3,525 feet as a target level to take action because a level of 3,490 feet would threaten the infrastructure and hydropower resources at Glen Canyon Dam. … ”  Read more from Channel 9 here: Unprecedented solutions coming to the Lake Powell crisis

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In national water news today …

INFO SHEET: 2022 Value of Water Index

On an annual basis, the Value of Water Campaign polls American voters to better understand their opinions about the state of our nation’s water infrastructure and what they view as priorities for action and potential solutions.  The Value of Water Campaign is pleased to share the results of our seventh annual national poll of over 1,000 American voters, conducted by the bipartisan research team of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz, and Associates (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R).  The poll was conducted between March 27 and April 7, 2022. While in previous years, we wanted to gauge the public’s support for investing in infrastructure and water infrastructure specifically, this year we were able to probe for insights into how American’s felt about the recently passed federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation among other water issues.”  Read the full information sheet from the US Water Alliance here: INFO SHEET: 2022 Value of Water Index

Annual poll reveals voter confidence in water infrastructure diminishing

The Value of Water Campaign released the results of its seventh annual national poll: The Value of Water Index. The poll annually tracks voters’ opinions and concerns around water infrastructure, climate, the environment and other water issues. This year, the poll also asked questions about the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or IIJA.  When asked how familiar they were with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed last year, only 11 percent said very familiar and 37 percent said somewhat familiar, for a total of 48 percent having some confidence that they knew the bill. Forty-nine percent said they were not familiar with the bill. … ”  Read more from Water Finance & Management here:  Annual poll reveals voter confidence in water infrastructure diminishing

New NEPA rule restores demanding environmental review practices for major federal projects

On April 19, 2022, the Biden administration finalized a new rule (“Final Rule”) rolling back the Trump administration’s 2020 changes limiting the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Final Rule re-establishes the prior broader scope of NEPA review, restores key provisions of NEPA that existed prior to 2020, and requires a more rigorous environmental review of major federal projects like pipelines and highways, including the projects authorized in the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill that President Biden signed in November 2021, commonly referred to as the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act”.  In 2020, the Trump administration, citing a desire to create jobs and accelerate infrastructure projects, made a variety of substantive and procedural changes to NEPA, including narrowing the scope of required review to the “direct effects” of the proposed project. This resulted in downplaying certain cumulative effects of a project, including climate change. ... ”  Read more from Downey Brand’s CEQA Chronicles here: New NEPA rule restores demanding environmental review practices for major federal projects

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: April 26 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed

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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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