DAILY DIGEST, 4/28: Valley’s ‘water blueprint’ pushes for $6.5bil in water funds; Is NorCal next for water conservation rules?; Megadrought threatens CA power blackouts; Climate change is pushing toxic chemicals into drinking wells; and more …

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On the calendar today …

• MEETING/PUBLIC HEARING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9am. At its regularly-scheduled meeting on April 28, 2022, the Delta Stewardship Council will receive comments and consider proposed findings (presented in a revised Staff Draft Determination) regarding appeals of the revised Certification of Consistency Number C202110 (Revised Certification) for the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project.  Following comments from the parties and the public, The Council will make findings pursuant to Water Code section 85225.25. Click here for more information.. Other agenda items for the Council include a Delta Lead Scientist report, Delta Independent Science Board update, and the Science Action Agenda. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
• WEBINAR: The Assessment Dashboard – An Interactive Exploration of Water Quality Data from 11am to 12pm.  States struggle to complete Clean Water Act Assessments due to the complexity of gathering and analyzing massive datasets. Arizona used free open-source software to reduce the time it takes to generate an assessment from 9 months to 15 minutes. In this webinar, Jason Jones, Senior Scientist at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, will demonstrate how Arizona’s publicly accessible interactive Water Quality Assessment Dashboard provides full transparency behind each decision and informs users of what additional data is needed to fill data gaps.  Click here to register.
• MEETING: Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessments Requirements from 1pm to 3pm.  DWR is convening the public, urban water suppliers, and other interested parties to present on the Preliminary Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report requirements, Tables in the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Guidance, and Submittal process for the preliminary reports (due June 1, 2022 per EO N-7-22).  DWR will be responding to questions during the workshop. Register: https://csus.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U8Ap5FefScCGnIflPccLdA.

In California water news today …

Valley’s ‘water blueprint’ makes splash with statewide push for $6.5bil in water funds

“A coalition of water stakeholder organizations from across California joined together to send a letter addressed to Gov. Gavin Newsom and six key legislators requesting action to address water issues.  The nine page document dated April 19, 2022 was signed by 18 organizations and entities including the San Joaquin Valley Water Blueprint and 10 Southern California, four Bay Area and three trade groups.  The letter laid out the need to include a $6.5 billion appropriation in the 2022-2023 General Fund budget to strengthen statewide drought and flood resilience.  The letter states, “The only way to avoid a calamitous water shortage and subsequent environmental and economic degradation is to improve the adaptive management capacity of our current water system . . .” … ”  Continue reading at the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Valley’s ‘water blueprint’ makes splash with statewide push for $6.5bil in water funds

Parts of SoCal face full outdoor watering ban by September if conditions don’t improve

“The Metropolitan Water District said Wednesday that the unprecedented decision to reduce outdoor watering to one day a week for about 6 million Southern Californians could be followed by even stricter actions in September if conditions don’t improve, including a total ban in some areas.  “If we don’t see cutbacks, or conditions do not get better, the Metropolitan board has given me the authority to ban all watering as soon as Sept. 1,” MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil said Wednesday. “We know what this means to communities, we know what we are requiring here, but we’re facing a challenge. We do not have the supply to meet the normal demands that we have.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Parts of SoCal face full outdoor watering ban by September if conditions don’t improve

SEE ALSO:

• Parts of Southern California don’t have enough water to meet demand, sparking sweeping cuts, from the LA Times
• ‘We cannot afford green lawns’: Southern California braces for less water and a browner landscape, from the LA Times
• Over 850,000 Inland Empire residents will have to limit outdoor watering to 1 day a week starting June 1st, from KVCR
• Lawn Watering Restricted for Millions in Southern California, But Not Yet in San Diego, from the Times of San Diego

Is Northern California next for water conservation rules?

“An unprecedented step was made in Southern California on Tuesday, as a water shortage emergency led to major restrictions being put in place that include outdoor water usage being limited to one day a week.  The new rules impact 6 million people in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties.  Are the restrictions a sign of what’s to come for Northern California?  Experts say it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to water restrictions statewide. Local districts make the call on what works for the area. ... ”  Read more from Channel 13 here: Is Northern California next for water conservation rules?

Northern Calif. not spared from irrigation cuts

“Northern California farmers have historically escaped the irrigation cutbacks and curtailments their San Joaquin Valley peers regularly experience. Not so this year as significant restrictions in federal Central Valley Project water will idle nearly 400,000 acres of farmland across the Sacramento Valley.  Much of the idled land will be on the Sacramento Valley’s west side as water availability from Shasta Lake, the cornerstone CVP facility, is too low for the Bureau of Reclamation to meet their contractual obligation to senior water rights holders known as the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors.  “This is certainly unprecedented,” said Northern California Water Association President David Guy of the drought and its impacts on people living in California. … ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Northern Calif. not spared from irrigation cuts

Ag well drilling still under a cloud of confusion from Gov. Newsom’s drought order

“Gov. Newsom’s emergency drought order that singled out agricultural wells for extra scrutiny is continuing to cause confusion and angst in some parts of the San Joaquin Valley, while other areas are stutter-stepping forward.  Selma raisin farmer Tony Panoo was happy to finally have his well drilled on Monday after several tense weeks when his permit application was stuck between Fresno County and the Central Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), which covers his 20-acre vineyard.  “It relieves a lot of pressure,” said Panoo, who relies on the small farm as his only source of income and did not have an alternate source of water. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: Ag well drilling still under a cloud of confusion from Gov. Newsom’s drought order

New research explores how farmers can help California rebuild its groundwater supply

“During drought years, California relies heavily on its groundwater supply. As droughts become longer and more intense with climate change, it’s becoming more important than ever to “bank” excess surface water during stormy weather patterns in order to provide some long-term insurance.  “The amount of groundwater overdraft that we have accumulated over the last couple of decades is exceeding 160 million acre-feet, which is about 1.3 times Lake Tahoe,” Dr. Helen Dahlke, a hydrology expert at UC Davis, said.  Dahlke and a team of researchers recently shared findings from their study showing how California’s 8 million acres of farmland could be tapped as one way to help get water back into the ground through a process called ‘Ag-MAR.’ ... ”  Read more from KCRA here: New research explores how farmers can help California rebuild its groundwater supply

Megadrought threatens California power blackouts this summer

“The historic drought that’s choked off rivers and reservoirs from the Rocky Mountains to the California coast is threatening to strain power grids this summer, raising the specter of blackouts and forcing the region to rely on more fossil fuels.  Many reservoirs that should be brimming with spring snowmelt show bathtub rings of dry dirt instead, as the region faces a third straight year of drought. Hydropower dams feeding off those reservoirs won’t be able to pump out as much electricity as they should, if they keep operating at all. After the drought last summer shut down the hydro dam at Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir, for five months, officials warn that’s no longer a distant possibility. … ”  Read more from Bloomberg here: Megadrought threatens California power blackouts this summer

Climate change is pushing toxic chemicals into drinking wells

” … With climate change confronting communities across the West, people who rely on wells are at particular risk as wildfires grow in intensity and frequency. Without vegetation, fire-scarred land becomes more susceptible to mudslides that can damage watersheds. Drought can increase the concentration of pathogens and other contaminants in well water. And fires can damage the well equipment and piping, leaching toxic chemicals into drinking water and forcing property owners to consider costly repairs, upgrades and filtering systems even as they rebuild their homes and businesses. Beyond the West, heavier rains and floods threaten well water quality, too. ... ”  Read more from the Pew Charitable Trust here: Climate change is pushing toxic chemicals into drinking wells 

Researchers look at how biofilters can protect waterways

“Onja Davidson Raoelison, a doctoral candidate in environmental engineering at UCLA, has been working to keep waterways safe.  Her research and studies focus on green infrastructure and how wildfires impact water systems. … In her lab, which is overseen by assistant professor of engineering Sanjay Mohanty, she is working with biofilters — a collection of sand, compost, gravel and other naturally occurring materials that can help absorb pollution before it enters waterways.  Specifically, Raoelison has been looking at how biofilters can protect water from debris and toxic pollutants such as heavy metals. … ”  Read more from Spectrum 1 here: Researchers look at how biofilters can protect waterways

Microplastics in soil – small size, big impact on U.S. and Chinese agriculture

“Ocean plastic pollution looms large as a growing threat to both marine ecosystems and seafood safety. Sadly, microplastics polluting the soil is an even bigger, yet less visible, threat to food security that demands more attention and action. As much as 23 times more microplastics are dumped on agricultural soils than are disposed of in the ocean.  For decades, farmers in the United States and China have used plastic mulch to increase yield, reduce herbicide use, and conserve water. In the United States alone, 126 million pounds of plastic mulch covers the soil. China is now the largest user of plastic mulch film, which accounts for 10 percent of China’s cultivated farmland—an area of the state of Nebraska.   If not carefully collected for recycling or disposal, the plastic fragments left behind in farming can create a nuisance, be blown away or washed into ditches and waterways. … ”  Continue reading at New Security Beat here: Microplastics in soil – small size, big impact on U.S. and Chinese agriculture

What happens when our tiniest plastics reach the ocean? New UC Davis research tracks them

“Germs are hitching rides around the world’s waterways on the tiniest of rafts — microscopic plastic fibers from human clothing and fishing nets — and contaminate the shellfish that consume them, according to research published Tuesday by scientists at the University of California, Davis. These researchers hope to see further study on how the pathogens in these contaminated fish affect the humans and other animals eating them. “It’s easy for people to dismiss plastic problems as something that doesn’t matter for them, like, ‘I’m not a turtle in the ocean; I won’t choke on this thing,’” said infectious disease expert Karen Shapiro. “But once you start talking about disease and health, there’s more power to implement change. Microplastics can actually move germs around, and these germs end up in our water and our food.” … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: What happens when our tiniest plastics reach the ocean? New UC Davis research tracks them

Funding will help seal thousands of abandoned oil wells in SoCal and statewide

“California is home to thousands of oil and gas wells abandoned years ago and never  properly sealed — many of them sitting near homes, schools and businesses from the coast to the Inland Empire.  With no legally responsible party to clean them up, environmental leaders say that 5,356 abandoned and deserted wells now sprawl across Southern California and the state, polluting drinking water and leaking methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.  That is about to change as the state gets millions of dollars in state and federal funding to safely seal old wells. … ”  Read more from the LA Daily News here: Funding will help seal thousands of abandoned oil wells in SoCal and statewide

Feds, state to spend hundreds of millions to plug ‘orphan’ oil wells

“Big money is on the way to supercharge California’s efforts to plug so-called orphan oil wells, which pollute the environment but have no legal owner.  In recent years, California has spent $9 million to plug 70 of the more than 5,300 aging, abandoned wells littering the state.  Wade Crowfoot, secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, said the bipartisan infrastructure law is expected to add another $165 million to the cleanup.  “Our folks are identifying where orphan wells present the biggest health and safety risk and will prioritize communities that face the largest environmental burden,” Crowfoot explained. … ”  Read more from the Public News Service here: Feds, state to spend hundreds of millions to plug ‘orphan’ oil wells

Calif. cap-and-trade revenues fund corporate upgrades

“California’s carbon cap-and-trade program generates billions of dollars each year for state projects that advance zero-emission vehicles, fund housing near transit and invest in other climate-focused actions.  The revenues also help well-known corporations.  PepsiCo Inc., Anheuser-Busch Cos., Saputo Cheese USA Inc., E&J Gallo Winery, Sun-Maid, Foster Farms, Frito-Lay Inc. and the Campbell Soup Co. are among the companies that have received funds to upgrade their facilities and factories. The dollars flow through the Food Production Investment Program, which offers California food producers revenues from cap-and-trade auctions to upgrade their equipment or add energy-efficient technologies. ... ”  Read more from E&E News here: Calif. cap-and-trade revenues fund corporate upgrades

Lower cost, slower gains: California prepares controversial new climate strategy

“California air-quality officials have endorsed an updated blueprint for battling climate change, choosing a plan that aims to minimize job losses and costs while slashing greenhouse gases and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.  California has long been a global leader in addressing the climate crisis, enacting aggressive laws and policies to reduce its carbon footprint. But the state has recently come under fire from activists and some legislators for failing to act quickly enough and relying too much on carbon-trading programs.  The strategy that the staff of the state Air Resources Board plans to unveil in May requires a massive shift away from California’s reliance on fossil fuels and more emphasis on renewable energy sources. The plan, which aims for an 80% reduction of greenhouse gases below 1990 levels by 2050, would cost an estimated $18 billion in 2035 and $27 billion in 2045. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: Lower cost, slower gains: California prepares controversial new climate strategy

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

Huffman introduces bill to return land to the Yurok Tribe

“North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman on Tuesday introduced legislation known as the “Yurok Lands Act,” a bill that seeks clear the way for the transfer of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral lands back to the tribe from the U.S. Forest Service and redraws the reservation boundary line to encompass that area and others acquired by the tribe in recent years.  “The Yurok lands act will help us reclaim our role as the steward of our land,” Yurok Tribal Chair Joseph L. James said in a release. “The bill will also strengthen our sovereignty as well as our ability to self-govern within our ancestral territory. I would like to thank Congressman Huffman for introducing this important piece of legislation. If passed, the bill will be a game-changer for the Yurok Tribe.” … ”  Read more from the North Coast Journal here:  Huffman introduces bill to return land to the Yurok Tribe

Northern California farmers facing water cutbacks band together

“Farmers and ranchers in the rural Scott Valley of Northern California are banding together to advocate for farms as the area faces the potential loss of 100% of its irrigation water this summer. Farmers call their new group the Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance, or Scott Valley AgWA. The group formed to educate the public about what it calls “unfair” water regulations issued by the State Water Resources Control Board — drought emergency regulations for the Scott River, a tributary of the Klamath River, that would halt all irrigation if the river dips below new minimum levels. … ”  Read more from the Capital Press here: Northern California farmers facing water cutbacks band together

Continuing drought is bad news for upcoming fire season

“This year has started off as the driest in recorded memory across most of Northern California, including Humboldt County. That spells bad news for water availability and the upcoming fire season.  The Eureka area has only accumulated 8 inches of precipitation since the beginning of the year; the area has usually accumulated 21 inches by this point in the year. The last time the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded precipitation levels that low in Eureka it was 1923.  The rainfall in the middle of the month did help the situation a bit; it led the U.S. Drought Monitor to reduce the severity of the drought across the county from extreme to severe in the span of a week, County Emergency Services Manager Ryan Derby told the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. … ”  Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Continuing drought is bad news for upcoming fire season

‘Long Overdue’: Student advocates push for Indigenous curriculum countywide

“In an effort to reshape the way schools teach about Indigenous issues, two local student activists are pushing to get a new Native American-focused curriculum in schools throughout the region.  In 2020, local Indigenous leaders and educators from Cal Poly Humboldt and local nonprofit Save California Salmon released a curriculum called the Advocacy and Water Protection in Native California High School Curriculum. The 93-page curriculum, which comes complete with lesson plans and a companion teachers guide to additional resources, is aligned to state Common Core Standards and provides teachers a framework for adding Indigenous history and knowledge to existing courses and lessons. … ”  Read more from the North Coast Journal here: ‘Long Overdue’: Student advocates push for Indigenous curriculum countywide

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Despite third dry year, water managers say Reno-Sparks supply is prepared for drought

“Three back-to-back dry years have crunched water supplies for many cities and farms across Nevada and throughout the West. The past two decades, according to a report released earlier this year, represent the most extreme drought in the last 1,200 years. As the West continues to warm, officials expect more uncertainty, driven largely by changes in precipitation and aridity.  Headlines paint a sobering picture. But officials at the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, the regional water purveyor for the Reno-Sparks area, struck a different message during a water update last week: We have analyzed the numbers, and we are prepared for prolonged drought.  “We’re actually ending up having a better year than last year, which all things considered, is a good place to be,” Bill Hauck, a senior hydrologist for the agency, said in an interview this week. ... ”  Read more from the Nevada Independent here: Despite third dry year, water managers say Reno-Sparks supply is prepared for drought

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Supervisors approve election by mail for Tuscan Water District

“Butte County supervisors approved a ballot by mail election for the formation of the Tuscan Water District.  Every landowner in the farm-rich district will vote, with votes weighted for every acre owned.  Backers say it will help manage groundwater supplies, as required by state law. ... ”  Red more from KRCR here: Supervisors approve election by mail for Tuscan Water District

Butte County working to understand the impacts of the drought

“During Tuesday’s Butte County Board of Supervisors Meeting, the board heard from Luhdorff and Scalmanaini Consulting Engineers, who they hired in December 2021 to do a drought impact analysis study.  The results found that for agriculture:Areas that utilize surface water in normal years pump more in drought years, as is expected. Total cost of water compared to total cost of production remains low but may increase in the future.  Agricultural transfers are limited to 20% of acreage in a district (California Water Code 1745.05(b)).  Butte County Chapter 33 requires a permit for groundwater substitution transfer – none have ever been applied for.  Drought plays a small part in total revenue per acre ... ”  Continue reading from KRCR here: Butte County working to understand the impacts of the drought

Cal Water applies to enter stage two of its water shortage contingency plan

“With the continuing drought and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent Executive Order, California Water Services (Cal Water) announced they have submitted an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to enter into stage two of its water shortage contingency plan in the Chico and Oroville districts.  They hope to reduce water usage by 20% by implementing water use restrictions for residents. … ”  Read more from KRCR here: Cal Water applies to enter stage two of its water shortage contingency plan

SEE ALSO: Cal Water entering second phase of drought contingency plan, from the Chico Enterprise-Record

AEM groundwater surveys help water resources managers prepare for dry years

“With the dry year placing additional pressure on the groundwater resources in the Sacramento Valley, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) this week hosted an event to highlight the availability of DWR’s Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Surveys. The data from this innovative helicopter-based technology provides a picture of the aquifer structure beneath our feet so water resources managers can better understand and manage the resource for long-term drought resiliency. The information and data gathered supports Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) as they implement SGMA for long-term groundwater sustainability.  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. … ”  Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: AEM groundwater surveys help water resources managers prepare for dry years

NAPA/SONOMA

Desperate for water, Wine Country grape growers build expensive pipelines to cities’ recycled sewage

“Justin Seidenfeld’s vineyard ran out of water last year. The area of Petaluma where his Parliament Hills Vineyard is located received just 4.5 inches of rain throughout 2021, not nearly enough sustenance for his vines of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  “We ended up trucking water in at a very, very high cost,” Seidenfeld said, “and even with that trucking, we had barely enough to get by.” This year, however, Seidenfeld’s grapevines are healthy and happy, with plenty of water to drink. It’s not because of rainfall, but rather because of a newly constructed pipeline bringing recycled water from Petaluma’s water treatment plant to vineyards along Lakeville Highway. ... ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Desperate for water, Wine Country grape growers build expensive pipelines to cities’ recycled sewage

BAY AREA

San Francisco building brings water efficiency to low-income tenants

“With the pressure from drought and climate change increasing, conserving water is now a driving goal in the Bay Area. Whether it’s a suburban lawn under your feet, or a high-rise apartment hundreds of feet above you.  Mark Puchalski is the director of facilities with the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation. The nonprofit is integrating a wide range of water-saving technologies into its buildings, which serve low-income residents in San Francisco. And so far, the results are impressive. … ”  Read more from ABC 7 here: San Francisco building brings water efficiency to low-income tenants

Coyote Valley restoration project recharging South Bay’s groundwater amid CA’s drought

“Flying over the sweeping green hills, Coyote Valley can seem a world away from the urban core of Santa Clara County. But when it comes to water, it’s connected in ways that are becoming increasingly important in the face of drought and climate change.  “Absolutely. Coyote Valley is a great model for what can be done around the state,” says Marc Landgraf of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.  The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority helped secure land in the northern part of the valley for restoration. Landgraf says the area is a key resource for both natural flood control, and recharging the area’s critical groundwater aquifers, which connect to basins in the Santa Clara Valley. The watershed gathers at the valley’s low point, Laguna Seca, during the rainy season. … ”  Read more from ABC 7 here: Coyote Valley restoration project recharging South Bay’s groundwater amid CA’s drought

CENTRAL COAST

Long-needed Pajaro levee upgrade gets funding, but there is one more step.

“For over 50 years, since 1966, the Pajaro River levee has been on the radar of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ reconstruction list as a needed upgrade to protect the community from flooding, yet it has remained undone. The $400 million project is now one step closer to reality, thanks to $67 million in federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for its first construction phase. (It’s currently in its design and environmental phase.) … But before breaking the ground, there is one more step the project has to achieve: Proof that the PRFMA can maintain the levee to tune of $3.8 million per year. There is a $1.2 million annual shortfall. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Long-needed Pajaro levee upgrade gets funding, but there is one more step.

Monterey: The state says the Peninsula must build, but also holds back on water

“Right on time, the Monterey Peninsula, along with the rest of the region, learned on April 21 how many new housing units the state not only expects, but will require, it to plan to build between 2023 and 2031.  Historically, for the Peninsula, this has been as awkward as a relationship between local and state government can get. The local governments here agree they need to add housing, yet the region, served by water utility California American Water, remains under a cease and desist order from the state that has, for years, barred adding new water connections. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here:  The state says the Peninsula must build, but also holds back on water

Forest ‘thinning’ project on Pine Mountain in Ventura County challenged

“Conservationists filed three lawsuits in federal court Wednesday to stop a proposed logging project on Pine Mountain in Ventura County, roughly 30 miles north of Ojai in Southern California.  The U.S. Forest Service wants to “thin” 755 acres of land, mostly within Los Padres National Forest, to reduce wildfire risk. But seven environmental groups, the city of Ojai and Ventura County say the agency violated federal law — namely the National Environmental Policy Act — by using an expedited environmental review process.  The project, said Jeff Kuyper, executive director of Los Padres ForestWatch, would “significantly transform the Pine Mountain area” by allowing “an unlimited number of trees to be cut.”  A spokesman for the Forest Service declined to comment. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Forest ‘thinning’ project on Pine Mountain in Ventura County challenged

Carpinteria: Water District to raise rates in upcoming fiscal year

“Because of an increase in the Carpinteria Valley Water District’s operating budget and due to the ongoing drought, many local customers will see an increase in their water bills beginning July 1, 2022.  Carpinteria Valley Water District General Manager Robert McDonald told CVN that expenses for the district are going up approximately 10% for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, due to both inflation and water issues with Lake Cachuma. Disregarding the one-time drought expenses, McDonald said the operating budget this year is projected at $8.35 million, compared to last year’s $7.9 million.  “This is a big jump this year,” McDonald said, noting that the district has to put in a pump barge in Lake Cachuma due to the lake’s low levels. ... ”  Read more from Coast News here: Carpinteria: Water District to raise rates in upcoming fiscal year

State Lands Commissioners approve Goleta Beach Oil Pier Decommissioning Project

“The State Lands Commission approved the first part of a decommissioning project Tuesday that will remove the oil pier infrastructure at Haskell’s Beach in Goleta, and staff hosted a tour of the site for local residents.  The Commission approved the first component of the project at Tuesday’s meeting: removing the caisson and pier structures in the tidal zone.  Exxon is responsible for paying for this portion of the project on public land and will be selecting a contractor to start work later this year, said Joe Fabel, a SLC attorney. ... ”  Read more from Noozhawk here: State Lands Commissioners approve Goleta Beach Oil Pier Decommissioning Project

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Metropolitan Water District, which supplies most of Pasadena’s water, issues substantial new water restrictions to some Southland agencies but not Pasadena

“One day after approving a restriction that will limit outdoor watering to once a week for millions of Southern California residents and businesses, leaders of the region’s water wholesaler said Wednesday they needed to take unprecedented steps to respond to what they call an unprecedented drought, and even tougher rules could soon follow.  Tuesday’s announcement from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California primarily impacts “dependent” areas (those agencies that rely solely on State Project water deliveries) and establishes a health and safety allocation for those agencies.  The City of Pasadena is not in a “dependent” MWD service area, but acknowledged that it does continue to receive imported water from the Colorado River system through MWD. The City also pumps local groundwater from the Raymond Basin. … ”  Read more from Pasadena Now here: Water Officials: Unprecedented Drought Requires Unprecedented Action

The heated debate over desalination in Huntington Beach

“Growing up in Anaheim, the beach and the ocean served as a place of solace for Orange County Coastkeeper Founder and President Garry Brown, who created the nonprofit to help protect the place he loves most. … In their mission to protect water in Orange County, they’ve taken a stance on a divisive issue affecting their community — whether the region needs desalination, a costly, energy-intensive process that uses reverse osmosis technology to remove salt from seawater to make drinking water.  Garry opposes the proposed Poseidon Desalination plant in Huntington Beach because of the region’s large groundwater basin and a water recycling program, that costs about a third of what desalination costs. … ”  Read more from Spectrum 1 here: The heated debate over desalination in Huntington Beach

Prado Dam patriotic mural near Corona loses legal protection, but could be repainted

“A colorful, widely visible, but graffiti-marred mural on a flood-control dam near Corona that celebrated the nation’s bicentennial no longer enjoys the protection of a court order.  But officials say a plan is in the works to replace the patriotic image on Prado Dam, which was originally created with toxic lead paint.  The fate of the mural near the 91 and 71 freeways has been uncertain since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which controls the dam, announced plans to begin removing the gigantic painting in spring 2015. … ”  Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Prado Dam patriotic mural near Corona loses legal protection, but could be repainted

Wildlife experts fear seabird deaths as red tide washes up near Newport Pier

“An algal bloom, also known as red tide for the coloration the water sometimes takes on, washed into the area near Newport Pier on Monday, worrying wildlife experts who fear it will cause feather fouling in local seabirds.  Such blooms occur when algae grows out of control due to nutrient-rich environments and favorable water and wind conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  OC Coastkeeper marine restoration director Claire Arre said algal blooms tend to happen between early spring and late summer but don’t occur annually.  It’s hard to even call them seasonal, Arre said. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Wildlife experts fear seabird deaths as red tide washes up near Newport Pier

Push to limit California offshore oil after O.C. spill threatened by high taxpayers costs

“An ambitious legislative effort to shut down three offshore oil rigs along the Orange County coast, where beaches and fragile wetlands were soiled after a major spill in October, could be hobbled by concerns over the eventual cost to California taxpayers.  The complexities of removing even a handful of oil platforms off California shores were the focus of a hearing Tuesday in Sacramento, a reminder of why the state’s billion-dollar oil industry has remained resilient for generations — even in an era when prominent California Democrats are aggressively pushing for a transition to a renewable-energy-based economy that reduces oil and gas consumption and production.  Senate Bill 953, a proposal that cleared its first hurdle Tuesday, would allow the State Lands Commission to terminate offshore oil leases by the end of 2024 if purchase agreements with oil companies cannot be negotiated beforehand. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Push to limit California offshore oil after O.C. spill threatened by high taxpayers costs

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Coachillin’ Business Park violated wastewater requirements, regional water board says

“The Coachillin’ Business Park in Desert Hot Springs has received multiple notices of violation from the regional water quality board for constructing a wastewater treatment facility in an unauthorized location, discharging wastewater with higher-than-allowed levels of nitrogen and dissolved solids, and using cannabis wastewater for landscaping and dust control efforts.   The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board issued two notice of violation letters to the cannabis park on Friday and Monday, based on an inspection report from investigators with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Office of Enforcement inspected the facility in February.  “Coachillin takes both violation notices very seriously, and will work with the Board to resolve any open items,” Coachillin’ Chief Operating Officer Katherine Beneteau wrote in an emailed statement to The Desert Sun. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Coachillin’ Business Park violated wastewater requirements, regional water board says

SAN DIEGO

L.A.’s historic water shortage won’t affect San Diegans

“Los Angeles did something Tuesday it’s never done before: it prohibited about 6 million Angelenos from watering outdoor landscapes except for one day a week.  San Diego is spared from mandatory cuts or changes to its water use, because San Diego doesn’t currently take any water from northern California through the State Water Project.   One reason is San Diego doesn’t have any pipelines that connect directly to the State Water Project’s 444-mile-long aqueduct. ... ”  Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: L.A.’s historic water shortage won’t affect San Diegans

San Diego County to seek out federal money for stormwater improvements

“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to seek out federal money to fix stormwater infrastructure as a way to better protect beaches, creeks and rivers from pollutants.  Supervisors directed Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer to pursue funding for management and better infrastructure in unincorporated areas and also work with regional partners. The item passed on consent.  Officials say more than $2 billion is available to protect bodies of water, courtesy of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congress passed in November. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: San Diego County to seek out federal money for stormwater improvements

The Water Conservation Garden explains benefits of drought tolerant plants

“It’s Springtime and if you’re thinking of sprucing up your garden you might want to do something drought tolerant. Which is exactly what they have at The Water Conservation Garden here in Rancho San Diego, but they say you’re not just limited to succulents and cactus. “Not only can you have color in your garden you can have color year-round,” said Pam Meisner is the Director of Operation and Programs at The Garden. “If you come to The Garden and see this landscape with the correct use of mulch and irrigation you can save 40% of your outdoor water bill.” … ”  Read more from Channel 8 here: The Water Conservation Garden explains benefits of drought tolerant plants

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Along the Colorado River …

Lake Mead falls to an unprecedented low, exposing one of the reservoir’s original water intake valves

“The West is in the grips of a climate change-fueled megadrought, and Lake Mead — the largest manmade reservoir in the country and a source of water for millions of people — has fallen to an unprecedented low.  The lake’s plummeting water level has exposed one of the reservoir’s original water intake valves for the first time, officials say.  The valve had been in service since 1971 but can no longer draw water, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is responsible for managing water resources for 2.2 million people in Southern Nevada, including Las Vegas.  Across the West, extreme drought is already taking a toll this year and summertime heat hasn’t even arrived yet. … ”  Read more from CNN here: Lake Mead falls to an unprecedented low, exposing one of the reservoir’s original water intake valves

When the desert runs dry:  It’s time to talk about the future of Glen Canyon

” … Under the pressures of overuse and climate change, the fate of the entire Colorado River system is being redetermined in real time, amid what scientists think is the worst drought in over 1,200 years.  Now that the reservoir is below 3,525 feet, it has officially crossed the “hydropower buffer” — which forces policymakers to start working on a solution. Every option seems to have immense challenges, with seven states invested in the matter and 40 million people who are directly affected by the Colorado River system’s water. But given the hydrologic outlook of what’s to come for the parched West, we can’t do nothing.   And at the physical and metaphorical heart of this issue is Glen Canyon, home to one of the most contentious dams in the world. … ”  Read more from Deseret News here: When the desert runs dry:  It’s time to talk about the future of Glen Canyon

U.S. Interior to make unprecedented change for Colorado River water supplies

“As pervasive source water scarcity in the American West continues to set records and force unprecedented changes, recent emergency action taken by the seven states that use Colorado River water is one of the starkest reminders yet of just how severe the problem has grown.  “The U.S. Department of Interior asked the states to consider a deviation from the existing operating rules — to hold back 480,000 acre-feet in Lake Powell,” The Nevada Independent reported. “While such a move would bolster the water elevations at Lake Powell, curbing an immediate risk of hydropower losses, it would accelerate the physical decline of Lake Mead by about 7 feet. Over the past two decades of drought, the country’s largest manmade reservoir has dropped, with a notable bathtub ring marking where the water line once stood when the lake was full.” … ”  Read more from Water Online here:  U.S. Interior to make unprecedented change for Colorado River water supplies

The Colorado River is getting closer to tanking. Can we free ourselves from the long arc of depletion?

Christopher Kuzdas writes, “Lake Powell, our nation’s second-largest reservoir, dropped 40 feet in just the last year to a new record low, triggering an unprecedented set of emergency actions. The changes underway at Powell provide a striking illustration of how a new era of aridification in the West is pushing a river management culture steeped in assumptions of the past to the brink. It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Lake Powell, so two weeks ago I went back to see how it’s changed with my own eyes.  I have great memories of fishing with my dad and grandpa at Lake Powell north of the Arizona-Utah border, and of camping with my family at Lone Rock Beach on the lake’s Utah side. My dad would tell me proudly that Lake Powell had more shoreline than the entire U.S. West Coast. … ”  Continue reading at EDF’s Growing Returns here: The Colorado River is getting closer to tanking. Can we free ourselves from the long arc of depletion?

Fire threat to remain high in tinder-dry Southwest

“A dry winter and early spring have left the Southwest in need of moisture, but AccuWeather forecasters say none is on the horizon through the rest of the month.  “This does not bode well for a region facing levels of extreme and exceptional drought,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Smithmyer said.  The United States Drought Monitor has nearly the entire region categorized in some level of drought. New Mexico and West Texas are where the largest expanse of extreme and exceptional drought is located, the worst drought levels on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale. … ”  Read more from AccuWeather here: Fire threat to remain high in tinder-dry Southwest

New method can predict summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance

“As reservoir levels dwindle in the arid southwestern United States, scientists have developed a method to estimate summer rainfall in the region months in advance. Such seasonal predictions can help state and local officials make key reservoir storage and water allocation decisions earlier in the season and support more efficient water management.  Current seasonal forecasts are not able to accurately predict summer rains across Arizona and New Mexico. However, a team of scientists found that a variable in those same forecasts — the amount of water vapor in the lower atmosphere — could, starting in April, predict precipitation trends between the months of June and October across a large part of the region, performing especially well in Arizona. They detailed their findings in a study in Geophysical Research Letters. ... ”  Read more from NCAR here: New method can predict summer rainfall in the Southwest months in advance

Arizona and local leaders to hold roundtable in Yuma on Colorado River needs and shortages

“Leaders in the Yuma area are hosting a roundtable Thursday afternoon to discuss how drought and cuts in Colorado River output will affect water infrastructure and needs going forward.   State Rep. Brian Fernandez and Yuma County Supervisor Martín Porchas will highlight bills moving through Congress to address drought and water shortages.  Amy Karvorski with the Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association says discussions like that are picking up across Arizona. … ”  Read more from KJZZ here: Arizona and local leaders to hold roundtable in Yuma on Colorado River needs and shortages

Arizona: Water conservation and habitat restoration collide at the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project

“Just south of downtown Tucson, residents can visit a flowing river that’s become a vibrant green habitat home to fish, birds and insects.  The Santa Cruz River was historically used for irrigation and by Indigenous people in the area for centuries. But as Natalie DeRoock, Tucson Water’s public information officer explained, at the turn of the 20th century, the river dried up as the water was drawn out of the river and out of the aquifer underneath Tucson. The river, once home to a flourishing riparian ecosystem, has been nothing more than an empty stream bed for decades.  In recent years, water has returned to some portions of the river. Where there is water, there is life, leaving green brushstrokes in downtown Tucson and other areas where water has returned to the river. The water has been brought back by Tucson Water, which provides water to the city of Tucson. … ”  Read more from the Daily Wildcat here: Arizona: Water conservation and habitat restoration collide at the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project

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In national water news today …

Small waterworks navigate ‘once in a generation’ flood of money

“One of three drinking water wells for Llano Quemado, N.M, began pumping sand instead of water a few years ago.  Normally the $350,000 repair on top of other needed upgrades would be a fortune in the rural, largely Hispanic part of Taos County, a community of 800 people tucked between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande River gorge.  But the federal government is handing out $11.7 billion earmarked for drinking water system improvements under the new infrastructure law, and it’s prioritizing such underserved, drought-stricken areas.  It’s a “once in a generation” opportunity to “cure nagging problems that many of our rural water systems are trying to address,” said Mike Hamman, former water adviser to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D). ... ”  Read mroe from Bloomberg here: Small waterworks navigate ‘once in a generation’ flood of money

Seizing the water infrastructure moment nationally and locally

“Aging and undersized sewers, contaminated drinking water, and lead-tainted pipes imperil millions of households and communities nationally. At the same time, more severe flooding and drought conditions have exacerbated the nation’s water infrastructure deficit. Decades of inaction and underinvestment — particularly at a federal level — have multiplied these and other water infrastructure challenges, but the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) holds promise to address them via an infusion of more than $57 billion to states and localities over the next five years. Extra federal funding will not only accelerate necessary system upgrades (think fewer leaking pipes and burst water mains) and reduce the total rate burden, but will also provide much-needed support for new plans and programs into the future. ... ”  Read more from Water Online here: Seizing the water infrastructure moment nationally and locally

Privatization, poverty threaten water affordability

“While paying more for food and gas, low-income Americans may be squeezed by another rising cost, Cornell research suggests: tap water at home.  Many aging urban water systems need to invest in expensive upgrades, and some may opt to privatize – both factors likely to increase water rates, said Mildred Warner, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’97, professor of global development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and of city and regional planning in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP).  Water costs already pose a challenge for many low-income households, particularly in places with older infrastructure, Warner said. And with more than 30 states ending pandemic moratoriums on water shut-offs, she said, policymakers and water utilities should prioritize affordability programs to assist the neediest customers. … ”  Read more from Cornell University here: Privatization, poverty threaten water affordability

EPA ag adviser offers update on WOTUS, pesticides

“Rod Snyder, Environmental Protection Agency agricultural adviser, offered important updates on how the agency plans to address issues impacting the ag sector including pesticide reviews, the waters of the U.S. rule and making decisions based on science while speaking to the North American Agricultural Journalists on April 25.  Snyder, who hasn’t previously worked in the government but rather representing farmers and commodity groups, explains it’s been an interesting experience being on the other side giving farmers a voice. In the past year, pesticide issues have taken up a considerable amount of his attention. ... ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here: EPA ag adviser offers update on WOTUS, pesticides

EPA’s Science Advisory Board may know a lot about hydrology but it may need a civics lesson!

Jeffrey R. Porter writes, “Inside EPA’s water policy maven, Lara Beaven, is reporting on the EPA’s Science Advisory Board’s judgment that “EPA could benefit from SAB review of the science supporting [EPA’s] proposed definition of Waters of the United States.”  That definition determines the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act.  The SAB goes on to say that, among other things, it will consider whether “EPA’s continued exclusion of sub-surface waters from the [definition of Waters of the United States] is supported by sound science” and will also consider how the Clean Water Act should apply to “waters” other than Waters of the United States.  What the SAB doesn’t explain, perhaps because its members are scientists but not lawyers, is how “sound science” authorizes EPA to do something not yet authorized by Congress.   … ”  Read more from Mondaq here: EPA’s Science Advisory Board may know a lot about hydrology but it may need a civics lesson! 

Cyber incident reporting to be required of infrastructure owners

“Amid heightened fears of cyberattacks on infrastructure in the United States, in March Congress passed — and President Joe Biden signed into law — legislation mandating that critical infrastructure owners and operators report specified cyber incidents to the federal government. During a subsequent hearing, members of a key congressional committee indicated that they remain particularly concerned about certain infrastructure sectors, including drinking water.  In remarks made Feb. 24, the day that Russia invaded Ukraine, Biden noted the possibility that U.S. interests could be the target of Russian cyberattacks. “If Russia pursues cyberattacks against our companies, our critical infrastructure, we are prepared to respond,” he said, according to the transcript from the White House. “For months, we have been working closely … with the private sector to harden their cyber defenses (and) sharpen our ability to respond to Russian cyberattacks.” … ”  Read more from Civil Engineering Source here:  Cyber incident reporting to be required of infrastructure owners

How Israel used innovation to beat its water crisis

“How did Israel, a country that is more than half desert, frequently hit with drought, and historically cursed by chronic water shortages, become a nation that now produces 20 percent more water than it needs?  Water demand from Israel’s rapidly growing population outpaced the supply and natural replenishment of potable water so much that by 2015, the gap between demand and available natural water supplies reached 1 billion cubic meters (BCM).  Recovering from such a scenario seems highly unlikely, yet Israel managed it by pioneering an unprecedented wealth of technological innovation and infrastructure to prevent the country from drying up. … ”  Read more from Israel 21C here: How Israel used innovation to beat its water crisis

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NASA Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Report …

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