On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP: SAFER: 2022 Drinking Water Needs Assessment Results from 9am to 12pm. This workshop will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about: the 2022 Risk Assessment and Affordability Assessment results for public water systems, Risk Assessment results for State Small Water Systems and Domestic Wells, and a Cost Estimate for Senate Bill 552 infrastructure requirements. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Delta Science Program: Governance Brown Bag from 12pm to 1:30pm. This webinar will focus on Adaptive Governance, highlighting governance processes that are responsive to changing ecological and social conditions and that effectively support adaptive management. Speakers include Tanya Heikkila (University of Colorado Denver), Hannah Gosnell (Oregon State University), Harriet Ross (Delta Stewardship Council), and Newsha Ajami (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab). Click here to register.
- MEETING: Sustainable Groundwater Management Program (SGMP) SGMA Tribal Advisory Group from 1pm to 3pm. These meetings are specifically for Tribal Government Leaders, Tribal Representatives, and other Tribal Environmental and Cultural Resources Staff. Topics for Discussion: Updates and Participation in Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Development and Update on SGMP Activities. Click here to RSVP.
In California water news today …
April showers may bring May flowers, but winter snow is water in the bank
“The type of precipitation falling from the sky matters, especially for delicate mountain ecosystems. It’s really all about snow – mountain ecosystems across the western United States are helped the most by precipitation in the form of snowfall. When snow falls on higher elevations it accumulates as snowpack and becomes a water “savings account” for lower elevation landscapes across the country for later in the year. … Though some western states received periodic rainfall events this winter, much of it came as heavy or even torrential rain that quickly ran off of the landscape without giving the soil a chance to soak up the much needed moisture. Additionally, in this very dry year the soils are so dry that a large proportion of the snowmelt is filling up the voids in the soils and reducing the runoff to the reservoirs. Unless that water is captured in reservoirs, much of it would escape as runoff and not be available as a water supply later in the year. … ” Read the full story from the USGS here: April showers may bring May flowers, but winter snow is water in the bank
Dozens of water agencies meet to discuss drought
“Dry heat is already being felt at the beginning of May, and without rain, the drought continues across all of California. Experts said California is in its third consecutive year of drought. This week, some of the top water experts in the state were in Sacramento to think of solutions. Experts talked about the ongoing dry hydrology – the idea that this dry climate will be consistent up and down the state for the foreseeable future. Now, leaders are coming up with innovative ways to get water and to make the water California has last. … ” Read more from Fox News here: Dozens of water agencies meet to discuss drought
California dairy farmers concerned over water scarcity
“In the midst of a years-long drought, California is implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, creating even more concerns for the state’s dairy farmers. Signed in 2014, the law — known as SiGMA — requires local agencies to sustainably manage groundwater basins. A big part of what SiGMA can be is a way to provide certainty about water allocations in the future, said Michael McCollough, professor of agribusiness at California Polytechnical State University. “It’s really difficult to run a business when you have uncertainty and when one of your main inputs … how much you’re going to have on a year-to-year basis changes as much as it has over the last few years,” he said during a virtual session of the California Dairy Sustainability Summit. … ” Read more from the Capital Press here: California dairy farmers concerned over water scarcity
‘Torture Orchard’ pushes deficit-irrigation limits
“It comes as no surprise to anyone in California trying to grow something that a lot of problems stand in the way of success. “It’s a huge challenge for all farmers,” according to Almond Board of California chief scientific officer, Josette Lewis. Speaking to CalMatters, she noted: “People in California agriculture recognize that, with the need to manage groundwater more sustainably and the uncertainty of surface water supply, the overall footprint of agriculture may change.” … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: ‘Torture Orchard’ pushes deficit-irrigation limits
Webinar recap: A restored California is a resilient California
“Accelerating Restoration Senior Project Manager Katie Haldeman moderated an excellent panel of restoration professionals, including Trina Cunningham, Executive Director of the Maidu Summit Consortium, Jessica Law, Executive Director of the Water Forum, and Evyan Sloane, Deputy Regional Manager of the Coastal Conservancy’s Bay Program. From our mountain meadows to our critical rivers and our struggling coasts, California’s ecosystems need our help. Decades of human alterations to our waterways and dependent habitats mean we face unprecedented drought, flood and wildfire risks. The need is clear: more functional and resilient habitats and ecosystems that benefit nature and people. Sustainable Conservation helps expedite restoration permitting processes so more restoration can get done more quickly across California. Our partner organizations, landowners, Tribal members, species advocates and conservation-minded citizens are the people whose on-the-ground efforts and big-picture vision help make the work real, for the health of all. … ” Continue reading at Sustainable Conservation here: Webinar recap: A restored California is a resilient California
Watershed moment: Dams help us. Dams harm us. Now, longtime adversaries are coming together to bridge that uncomfortable divide
” … From its headwaters in the Sierra Nevada, the Feather River flows some 3,600 feet downhill, where, in Oroville, it meets the tallest dam in the nation. Its path shows exactly why California geology is ideal for the production of hydropower. It’s physics. The higher the mountains, the faster the water falls. Hydropower dams capture this power and divert it through spinning turbines in nearby powerhouses that activate generators to produce electricity. But all this hydropower comes at a cost. The river was once legendary for its salmon runs, but the dams blocked migration upstream, destroying the fish’s spawning grounds, Steindorf says. He still comes up here to fly-fish for trout, but the salmon are all gone. He notes the lack of fish ladders—step-up structures that help migrating fish surmount dams. And yet he also knows these dams are a permanent part of the landscape, bringing electricity into thousands of homes throughout the Sacramento Valley, including his own. ... ” Read more from Stanford Magazine here: Watershed moment: Dams help us. Dams harm us. Now, longtime adversaries are coming together to bridge that uncomfortable divide
State funding helps pay for valley groundwater projects
“Multiple San Joaquin Valley groundwater projects got a significant shot of state funding this week to kickstart recharge, and other, projects. On Monday, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced $150 million was awarded to 20 agencies through its first round of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program. That includes almost $84 million for 11 agencies in the San Joaquin Valley. The funding is intended to support projects prompted by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a 2014 law which aims to bring aquifers back into balance after decades of overpumping for agriculture. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: State funding helps pay for valley groundwater projects
AccuWeather’s 2022 US Wildfire Forecast: Drought to spur another intense season
“The number of wildfires and burned acreage across the western United States is already well above normal ahead of the unofficial start of the season, and AccuWeather forecasters say it’s just a precursor to another intense wildfire season ahead. By May 3, 2022, wildfires had already burned over 1.1 million acres, more than twice the number by that date in 2021. While there’s no official start to the wildfire season in the West, the unofficial season typically runs from May to October, with the Southwest monsoon kicking in around the end of August. To forecast wildfire seasons, Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather’s head long-range forecaster, and his team looked at the weather patterns of past fire seasons to get an idea of how the pattern may set up this year. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: AccuWeather’s 2022 US Wildfire Forecast: Drought to spur another intense season
California’s 2020 wildfire season: Report summarizes record-breaking fire year and calls for shift in strategy
“Just over 9,900 wildfires burned about 4.3 million acres in 2020. That’s more than twice the previous record of acres burned in California. Yet it is about average compared to burn rates likely experienced before Euro-American settlement, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, that summarizes the 2020 fire season and examines its drivers. The study, published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, said 2020 was the first year in recorded history that burned area in California came close to rates seen before the 1800s, when an estimated 3-4 million acres burned in an average year. Increased fire severity is the far greater concern, the study said. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: California’s 2020 wildfire season: Report summarizes record-breaking fire year and calls for shift in strategy
Why climate change makes it harder to fight fire with fire
“Summer is still more than a month and a half away, but enormous wildfires have already consumed landscapes and darkened skies in Arizona, New Mexico and Nebraska. Whipping winds threw flames across the terrain around Boulder, Colo., in December and March. … As deadly wildfires become a terrifying fixture of life for many Americans, more of the country is embracing an ancient tool to limit the devastation: careful, controlled burns that clear away vegetation and help prevent wildfires from exploding into catastrophes. But in many places, the changing climate is making intentional burns much more complicated to carry out. ... ” Read more from the New York Times here: Why climate change makes it harder to fight fire with fire
State scientists’ event highlights imperiled state programs
“On Friday, California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) members will deliver poster-sized petitions with thousands of signatures to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and several state departments to impress on political and policy leaders that the state’s global influence in avoiding the collapse of everything from climate to secure food is in peril. The reasons: Talented, experienced scientists are leaving state service for better-paying jobs. Meanwhile, prospective hires opt to go elsewhere. As a result, scientific programs intended to protect Californians’ health, environment, natural resources, and economy lack the staff to carry out those vital missions. And looking forward, inequitable pay for state scientists is undercutting California’s position as the 21st Century’s world leader in science-based public policy. … ” Read more from EIN here: State scientists’ event highlights imperiled state programs
In commentary today …
Newsom gets it right on desalination
The Southern California News Group editorial board writes, “Kudos to Gov. Gavin Newsom for increasing his support for the $1.4 billion Poseidon Water desalination in Huntington Beach. “We need more tools in the damn tool kit. We are as dumb as we want to be,” he said Friday in a meeting with the Bay Area News Group editorial board. “What more evidence do you need that you need to have more tools in the tool kit than what we’ve experienced? Seven out of the last 10 years have been severe drought.” California is thirsty. And another drought is making us thirstier. … ” Continue reading at the San Bernardino Sun here: Newsom gets it right on desalination
Desalination: California’s best hope to stave off water restrictions in the future
Evan V. Symon, Senior Editor for the California Globe, writes, “During the last few years, California’s drought situation has become more and more dire. While a large chunk of it is self-inflicted by the state, as they release an incredible amount of water from dams each year for environmental purposes instead of, you know, agriculture and people, part of it is also that rain and snowpack build have been well below averages in the past. Northern California still has restrictions going on, with Southern California, facing another hot summer, may face a scenario in some areas where water may run out if usage stays as high as it is now. … ” Continue reading at the California Globe here: Desalination: California’s best hope to stave off water restrictions in the future
State stormwater permit would stall housing, infrastructure
Joseph Cruz, executive director for the California State Council of Laborers, and Richard J. Lambros, managing director for Southern California Leadership Council, write, “Gov. Gavin Newsom has boldly promoted the goal of building more than 3 million new homes by 2025 to address the significant supply/demand imbalance and bring down the cost of housing. Given California’s challenging regulatory processes, we’re already falling woefully short of those ambitious goals. In spite of this, an excessive new proposal by the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) – comprised of gubernatorial appointees — will further stall new housing production, as well as the development of public infrastructure and economic development projects throughout California. The proposal will require unachievable standards for water quality compared to alternative enhanced and achievable approaches. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly here: State stormwater permit would stall housing, infrastructure
Doubling down on Diablo Canyon nuclear plant could ease energy, water woes
“California regularly struggles to meet power demands during the summer months, resulting in rolling blackouts that put our residents at risk. This issue is compounded by the goal of transitioning our entire automotive industry away from fossil fuels and onto renewable options. Simply put, we are far too behind in our production of energy to meet these lofty goals. It is for this reason, in my opinion, that Governor Newsom has come around on the issue of the closure of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which is set to shut down by 2025. … Droughts in California are nothing new, almost to the point of being commonplace. … ” Read more from The Business Journal here: Doubling down on Diablo Canyon nuclear plant could ease energy, water woes
Today’s featured article …
FEATURE: Wetland Responses to Restoration and Management
Dr. John Durand is a research scientist at UC Davis, where he studies estuarine food webs and fishes. He has conducted multiple studies throughout the Delta and currently helps run a long-term monitoring project, the Suisun Marsh fish study, which has been ongoing for over 40 years.
In this presentation, part of the Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Conservation series, Dr. Durand discussed recent studies in Suisun Marsh of phytoplankton and zooplankton of different types of wetlands, and how managed wetlands could support tidal restoration projects.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Irrigation District says canals are in bad shape due to lack of water
“The ongoing drought conditions only continues to make matters worse for Klamath irrigators and farmers. The Klamath Irrigation District says the canals it operates and maintains, haven’t seen water in over 18 months. Executive Director Gene Souza, says that on March 1st it opened the valve for the A Canal, a primary diversion point for Upper Klamath Lake. That allowed water to go into the system very slowly. … ” Read more from KOBI 5 here: Klamath Irrigation District says canals are in bad shape due to lack of water
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada Irrigation District May snow survey: water conditions improve with recent storms
“The recent rain and snow flurries have boosted local water conditions, although the snowpack remains below average for this time of year. During the latest snow survey, Nevada Irrigation District (NID) hydrographers found the average water content in the snowpack was 17.5 inches, which is 64 percent of a 27.5-inch average for the District’s five high-elevation snow courses. By comparison, last month’s snow survey found water content to be 55 percent of average. Despite below-average numbers, there is good news to report: “Above-average precipitation in April increased reservoir storage levels while adding to the snowpack,” said Thor Larsen, NID’s Water Resources Superintendent. … ” Read more from the Nevada Irrigation District here: Nevada Irrigation District May snow survey: water conditions improve with recent storms
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Chico council takes final look at sewer connection to Paradise draft principles
“The major sewer connection between Paradise and Chico is moving forward with the draft principles of agreement close to becoming official. The Chico City Council had an opportunity to take one last look at the document Tuesday evening in a meeting agenda item led by Public Works Director of Operations and Maintenance Erik Gustafson. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Chico council takes final look at sewer connection to Paradise draft principles
NAPA/SONOMA
Here it comes again: Long-term forecast includes potential for dry lightning, continued drought next fall
“With more than 1.1 million acres across the drought-afflicted West already charred, 2022 is shaping up to be another year of extremely intense fire activity. But with the release Wednesday of its official 2022 Wildfire Season Forecast, AccuWeather forecasting company has added a couple of gut punches to this year’s outlook for flame-battered Northern California and the North Bay region. Chief among them is the prospect of dry lightning associated with tropical storms off the coast of Mexico in mid- to late-summer and continued dry La Niña conditions heading into fall and early winter — and perhaps beyond. That could mean a potential fourth year of abnormally low rainfall and the threat of lightning-sparked wildfires like those in August 2020 that ravaged the region and much of California. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Democrat here: Here it comes again: Long-term forecast includes potential for dry lightning, continued drought next fall
BAY AREA
Marin water supplier makes some drought rules permanent
“Some water use restrictions that were imposed on most Marin County residents during the drought last year are now set to become permanent. The Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to continue limiting sprinkler use to two days per week, which is down from three days it allowed before it adopted its drought restrictions in 2021. Drip irrigation will be allowed three days a week. All pool owners in the district must also have a pool cover. ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin water supplier makes some drought rules permanent
Livermore, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announce new partnership
“The city and scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are joining forces to create strategies they hope will eliminate the city’s carbon emissions by 2045. City and lab officials announced Monday that they have signed a non-binding partnership agreement — a “Memorandum of Understanding” — to help form a Climate Action Plan by this summer to work toward carbon neutrality in the city. “The opportunity to apply these initiatives right here at home is really important to us,” LLNL Director Kim Budil said. “We’re pleased to partner with our local community on projects that will help them adapt and become resilient when it comes to climate change.” … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent here: Livermore, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory announce new partnership
CENTRAL COAST
Salinas approves an increase for developer impact fees as infrastructure costs are rising
“Costs across many industries have climbed over the past year, and construction is no different. That includes costs for public infrastructure, and on April 26, Salinas City Council voted 4-1 to increase development impact fees the city charges by 8 percent. Impact fees cover services the city provides connected to new developments – things like water and sewage infrastructure, roads and more. For commercial projects, developers must pay impact fees before they can get a building permit; for residential, fees are paid before buildings are occupied. Salinas Finance Director Mark Roberts said anything under an 8-percent hike would mean a negative impact for the city when it comes to absorbing associated costs. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Salinas approves an increase for developer impact fees as infrastructure costs are rising
State awards SLO County $7.6 million to help stabilize Paso Robles groundwater basin
“The state announced on Monday that it would provide $7.6 million for five projects to help bring the Paso Robles groundwater basin closer to sustainability so it remains a resource for future generations. The county of San Luis Obispo will receive the money from the California Department of Water Resources to fund wastewater treatment plant infrastructure expansions, additional groundwater monitoring, engineering studies and other programs, according to a news release by the state agency. The funding is part of $150 million total awarded to groundwater basins across the state deemed to be in critical overdraft. ... ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: State awards SLO County $7.6 million to help stabilize Paso Robles groundwater basin
Santa Barbara to address sea-level rise with $2m in grants
“Santa Barbara’s city leaders are looking toward the future and embarking on a decades-long plan to combat the inevitable encroachment of the ocean on the waterfront due to climate change, with three projects funded by over $2 million in grants from the California Coastal Commission. Planner Melissa Hetrick presented the “Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Plan” at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, laying out the 30-year plan and the three grant-funded “adaptation” projects that would lay the foundation for addressing what could be over six feet of sea-level rise in the next 80 years. “In the 30-year timeframe, it’s anticipated that around 1.5 to 2 feet of sea-level rise will occur,” Hetrick said. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Santa Barbara to address sea-level rise with $2m in grants
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
New water assistance program comes to Gustine
“The City of Gustine has been accepted to participate in a new federal water assistance program. The city applied for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in late March and are expected to begin accepting applications from Gustine residents in June. The program was passed by Congress in December of 2020, with the state of California having been allocated $116 million in one-time funding to provide program assistance. “We got notified of this program from the California Department of Community Services and Development,” said City of Gustine Finance Director Jas Birring. … ” Read more from the Westside Connect here: New water assistance program comes to Gustine
Judge rejects Kern’s oil lawsuit as ‘SLAPP’ case
“Kern County’s lawsuit challenging California’s de-facto ban on fracking has been thrown out of court after a Fresno judge ruled last month the filing was misdirected and improperly sought to limit Gov. Gavin Newsom’s speech or executive duties. The little-noticed order April 5 by Fresno Superior Court Judge Gabriel L. Brickey found the county’s suit qualified as a “SLAPP,” or strategic lawsuit against public participation, which is more often associated with efforts by developers or others trying to silence criticism. Kern’s petition for writ of mandate, authorized in August by a 4-1 vote of county supervisors, had accused Newsom of overstepping his authority by unjustifiably denying permit applications for fracking and other well stimulation treatments common in Kern oilfields. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Judge rejects Kern’s oil lawsuit as ‘SLAPP’ case
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Officials worry Southern California won’t have enough water to get through summer without unprecedented cuts
“As Southern Californians brace for unprecedented water restrictions, officials worry some communities won’t have enough water to get through the summer — at least not without residents and businesses significantly cutting back on their usage. The state’s top natural resources officer told CNN that California’s water emergency clearly shows the climate crisis in action. “Some would consider this a wake-up call. I disagree,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary for natural resources, told CNN. “The alarm’s already gone off.” … ” Read more from CNN here: Officials worry Southern California won’t have enough water to get through summer without unprecedented cuts
SEE ALSO: Will California’s New Water Conservation Measures Be Enough?, from the New York Times
Patrols, fines, altered landscapes: How severe SoCal water restrictions will roll out
“More than a week after the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California announced its harshest-ever water restrictions for millions of residents across the region, several of the affected water agencies are offering a preview of how life will change throughout Southland when the rules kick in June 1. The restrictions target areas that rely heavily or entirely on the State Water Project, a Northern California water supply that officials say is dangerously low after the state’s driest-ever start to the year. The plan was designed to achieve at least a 35% reduction in water consumption, shrinking usage to about 80 gallons per person per day, which can be done through volumetric allocations or one-day-a-week watering limitations. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Patrols, fines, altered landscapes: How severe SoCal water restrictions will roll out
SoCal drought: How will water restrictions change your life?
“Roughly 6 million Southern Californians will face water restrictions starting in June due to worsening drought. The Municipal Water District of Southern California is instituting mandatory water conservation measures. That means many residents will only be able to water their yards once per week. … With less than a month until the June water restrictions starts, KCRW wants to hear from Southern California residents: What questions do you have about the reduction that will impact your daily life and community? How do you plan to adapt to the new rules? Have you heard from your local water authority on its water allocation plans? … ” Read more from KCRW here: SoCal drought: How will water restrictions change your life?
LADWP Recognizes the Production Company, The Industry, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation for their artistic use of recycled water
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently honored both The State of California, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the production company, The Industry, for the production of “Sweet Land” held at the Los Angeles State Historic Park in Chinatown for their creative, first-of-its-kind use of recycled water. The State Parks and Recreation and The Industry designed an immersive experience by utilizing the Park’s recycled water irrigation system, instead of potable water, to create a water spray feature that served as a backdrop for the projected images at their outdoor stage. “Sweet Land” was performed at the park from February to March 2020. … ” Read more from the LADWP here: LADWP Recognizes the Production Company, The Industry, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation for their artistic use of recycled water
Long Beach Water Commission votes to cut rates to align with court ruling
“Long Beach Water Department customers will be seeing a small decrease in their monthly bills after the city’s water commission voted Wednesday to lower rates after the city’s legal defeat over transferring excess revenue from the department into its general fund. The 2.54% decrease will result in a savings of about $2 per month for most residential customers for the rest of the fiscal year that ends in September. Lauren Gold, the department’s public information officer, said the reduction will result in a loss of about $3 million for the department. The new rates are expected to go into effect starting June 1, after the City Council approves the rate change. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Long Beach Water Commission votes to cut rates to align with court ruling
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
La Quinta residents opposed to surf resort want commissioner to resign. Here’s why — and how the city responded
“A group of residents who oppose a proposed surf resort in La Quinta have called for the removal of a planning commissioner they say acted inappropriately and disrespectfully during the April 26 meeting regarding the Coral Mountain Resort. The complaint was filed with the City Council on Tuesday by Alena Callimanis, a representative of the citizens group La Quinta Residents for Responsible Development, also known as LQRRD, which has repeatedly voiced opposition to the Coral Mountain Resort. The complaint is against Commissioner Kevin McCune, who voted in favor of the 386-acre project that is planned at the southwest corner of Avenue 58 and Madison Street. It alleges that McCune used inflammatory rhetoric, made derogatory comments and was disrespectful of opponents’ opinions. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: La Quinta residents opposed to surf resort want commissioner to resign. Here’s why — and how the city responded
SAN DIEGO
Encinitas group, residents share concerns over Torrey Crest project
“A growing number of residents are expressing concerns about a proposed residential housing development project south of Cardiff that critics say lacks proper environmental safeguards, suffers from poor infrastructure design and poses potential hazards to human health. The project’s proposal, submitted by developer Torrey Pacific Corporation, is currently being reviewed by city officials and may come before the Encinitas City Council for approval later this year, according to Brian Staver, a manager at Torrey Pacific. The developer’s most recent pitch to the city marks the third proposal for the project since Jan. 2021. However, to some Encinitas residents living alongside the proposed project site, including those gathered over the weekend, the proposal as it currently stands prioritizes expediency and cost-cutting measures over environmental conscientiousness and poses potential threats to both ecological systems and human habitation. ... ” Read more from the Coast News Group here: Encinitas group, residents share concerns over Torrey Crest project
San Diego City wins appeal in state lead testing mandate case
“The city of San Diego has won an appeal in its suit challenging a state mandate that required local water districts to pay for mandatory lead testing at schools, the San Diego City Attorney’s Office said Wednesday. The ruling issued Friday finds that either the state’s Commission on State Mandates must reimburse San Diego for water testing or the city can impose fees, charges or assessments to cover testing costs. ... ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diego City wins appeal in state lead testing mandate case
Wags and Water Festival brings canines and water conservation together
“The Vallecitos Water District and the City of San Marcos will celebrate the installation of five new hydration stations at local parks while also supporting pet adoption. The “Wags & Water Festival” takes place at Woodland Park in San Marcos on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to Noon. San Marcos and Vallecitos partnered on the new project to encourage water conservation. Five hydration stations have been installed in San Marcos parks to facilitate easy refilling of reusable bottles during outdoor activities instead of using purchased bottled water. Both the City of San Marcos and the Vallecitos Water District are committed to reducing single-use plastics. Each station features a quick-fill mechanism to encourage reusable water bottle use alongside a regular water fountain spout. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Wags and Water Festival Brings Canines and Water Conservation Together
State agencies demand Navy clean up toxic ‘fiery marsh’ dump on North Island
“It’s aptly described as “The Fiery Marsh,” covering 95 acres on the southwest side of Naval Air Station North Island. The “fiery” part of the name refers to six pits in the marshy areas of the island that were used to burn off chemicals used on the Navy base. A letter sent in February by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board’s executive officer, David Gibson, to the commanding officer at North Island, Capt. Dwight Clemons, asks the Navy”to initiate a formal dispute process in response to the environmental and water quality concerns at the ‘Fiery Marsh.’” Simply put, the regional board feels it’s time for the Navy to finish cleaning up the remains from the fire pits, where hazardous materials were dumped and set on fire. This began in the 1950s and lasted until 1971. ... ” Read more from the Times of San Diego here: State agencies demand Navy clean up toxic ‘fiery marsh’ dump on North Island
Along the Colorado River …
As Colorado River shrinks, pain of drought to spread
“Rolf Schmidt-Petersen knows what can happen when a water shortage hits: Reservoirs shrink and tempers flare. “We had people literally throwing rocks, tomatoes when Elephant Butte went down,” recalled Schmidt-Petersen, director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. He was talking about a 2003 deal to release water from a reservoir in southern New Mexico and drop the lake by about 33 feet to assist farmers in the state and neighboring Texas. … But more than 20 years into a relentless drought that has gripped the western United States — shrinking both Lake Powell and Lake Mead to record lows — Schmidt-Petersen doesn’t predict a similar backlash in the Colorado River Basin. “The reality is after that first reaction or those sets of reactions, people adapt and they do pretty well,” he said at a recent event on water law at the University of Denver. … ” Read more from E&E News here: As Colorado River shrinks, pain of drought to spread
Drought expands in the Southwest, worsening the region’s fire risk and water crisis
“Drought conditions worsened in much of the Southwest over the past week, according to the latest update from the US Drought Monitor, deepening the region’s water crisis and fueling record-setting wildfires across multiple states. More than 98% of the Southwest is in drought this week, according to the monitor, which noted that reservoir storage levels were below-normal in all Western states except for Washington. The Colorado River irrigates farms, powers electric grids and provides drinking water for 40 million people. As its supply dwindles, a crisis looms. In California, which is entirely in drought conditions, two of the state’s largest reservoirs — Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville — are at “critically low levels,” according to the monitor. … ” Read more from CNN here: Drought expands in the Southwest, worsening the region’s fire risk and water crisis
Will Colorado River shortages limit water use? Arizona cities seek ‘culture change’ first
“Arizona’s cities should consider imposing unprecedented restrictions on outdoor water use if the Colorado River’s flow continues to decline as expected this year, the state’s water resources director says. Scottsdale and Tucson already have declared themselves to be in the first stage of their respective drought plans, and are reducing government water uses. Phoenix plans to take payments from the state in lieu of some of its Colorado River deliveries next year, part of the state’s latest drought mitigation effort. But these and other Arizona cities are not hiring water cops like those who patrol Las Vegas streets watching for waste. Should they? Arizona’s top water official can’t order it, but he suggests the time for cities to enforce their own urban water savings outside the home is fast approaching. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: Will Colorado River shortages limit water use? Arizona cities seek ‘culture change’ first
Long drought taking toll on CAP water system that supplies Tucson and Phoenix
“The Central Arizona Project is an engineering marvel. It brings water from the Colorado River through the Phoenix and Tucson areas. It allowed for many years of population growth, but a long drought on the river system is taking its toll. “The near-term outlook is caution and the reservoirs are in a declining state,” said CAP Assistant General Manager Darrin Francom. 2022 is the first year a Tier 1 shortage has ever been declared on the Colorado River. The biggest impact right now is on farmers in Pinal County. Francom says more shortages could be just around the bend. ... ” Read more from Channel 9 here: Long drought taking toll on CAP water system that supplies Tucson and Phoenix
‘Doomsday is not around the corner’
“The current water situation in Page is a cause for “concern” but not for “panic,” according to Page Utility Enterprises general manager Bryan Hill. Hill was speaking at the Page City Council meeting on April 27, during which he provided a comprehensive explanation of how Page currently gets its water from the Colorado River, the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and ongoing drought conditions, and short-term and long-term plans to ensure a reliable supply of water to the city. The discussion was in response to inaccurate rumors on social media that the water supply in Page and nearby LeChee could soon be “cut off” because of falling water levels in Lake Powell. … ” Read more from the Lake Powell Chronicle here: ‘Doomsday is not around the corner’
SEE ALSO: Watch: There is no water. See what Lake Powell looks like today, from CNN
Warming is making the West thirstier, researchers say. And it’s stressing water supplies.
“Over the past four decades, the Western U.S. has demanded more water. And the landscapes — the valleys and mountains and lakes — that make up the region’s arid ecosystems have borne the impacts of increasing water needs in more ways than one. It’s not only fast-growing cities, searching for faraway supplies, that have affected these landscapes. The atmosphere itself has become thirstier, using up, and potentially evaporating, more water from the land beneath it. Researchers describe this as increased evaporative demand, and it is an active area of study with major implications for water supply and increased fire risk. … ” Continue reading from the Nevada Independent here: Warming is making the West thirstier, researchers say. And it’s stressing water supplies.
As Arizona data center is still under construction, Meta announces expansion to Mesa location
“Online social media giant Meta Platforms, parent of Facebook, announced an expansion of its Mesa Data Center, with plans to add three new buildings that will increase the campus to five buildings with more than 2.5 million square feet of space. This expansion announced Wednesday will raise Meta’s investment in Arizona to more than $1 billion and eventually will be home to more than 200 jobs, along with 2,000 construction workers, an increase from 500 construction jobs announced previously. Plans for the campus were unveiled last August. The complex is scheduled for completion in 2026. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: As Arizona data center is still under construction, Meta announces expansion to Mesa location
Rosemont returns clean water permit
“Hudbay, the Canadian mining company trying to dig the Rosemont mine south of Tucson, notified a federal court on Tuesday that it is returning its 404 Clean Water permit. In April, the Tohono O’odham, Pascua Yaqui, and Hopi tribes asked a federal judge in Tucson to issue a temporary restraining order to stop Hudbay from clearing land, which they said is in violation of the clean water permit. Attorneys for Hudbay told the court it is returning the permit because it is the crux of the lawsuit and if there is no permit the lawsuits are moot. In a statement to AZPM, Hudbay wrote, “We never believed there were jurisdictional waters in the area and still don’t. Our 404 permitting effort was based on us voluntarily consenting to the Corps’ jurisdiction and accepting a permit for the project rather than contesting jurisdiction. ... ” Continue reading at Arizona Public Media here: Rosemont returns clean water permit
To refine water forecasts, Western cities map snow by plane
“At a tiny airport surrounded by mountains, a three-person crew takes off for the inaugural flight above the headwaters of the Colorado River to measure the region’s snow by air. Under the plane is a device that uses lasers, cameras and sensors to map snow and help drought-prone communities improve forecasts of how much water will later fill reservoirs. The method, developed nearly a decade ago at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, “is the gold standard of snow measurement,” said Emily Carbone of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, one of Colorado’s largest water providers and the primary funder for the flight. ... ” Read more from Your Central Valley here: To refine water forecasts, Western cities map snow by plane’
Commentary: Big Pivots: Colorado River’s confounding math problem should worry us
Allen Best, publisher of Big Pivots, a reader-supported e-journal, writes, “Spring runoff last year in the Colorado River Basin was a bust, a snowpack almost 90% of average reduced to a 30% inflow at Lake Powell. Nobody yet predicts another bust this year. Maybe a meteorological March Madness will yet compensate for last year. While we wait, water managers talk about “the math problem.” The gap between water flows and demands in the Colorado River is enormous and likely to widen. The dysfunctional equation begins with 20 million acre-feet, the average annual flows assumed by the Colorado River Compact that was crafted 100 years ago by delegates from the seven basin states. … ” Read more from the Steamboat Pilot here: Commentary: Big Pivots: Colorado River’s confounding math problem should worry us
In national water news today …
AP analysis finds growing number of poor, high-hazard dams
“More than 2,200 dams built upstream from homes or communities are in poor condition across the U.S., likely endangering lives if they were to fail, according to an Associated Press analysis. The number of high-hazard dams in need of repairs is up substantially from a similar AP review conducted just three years ago. There are several reasons for the increased risk. Long-deferred maintenance has added more dams to the troubled list. A changing climate has subjected some dams to greater strain from intense rainstorms. Homes, businesses and highways also have cropped up below dams that were originally built in remote locations. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: AP analysis finds growing number of poor, high-hazard dams
Condition of some US dams kept secret in national database
“Americans wondering whether a nearby dam could be dangerous can look up the condition and hazard ratings of tens of thousands of dams nationwide using an online database run by the federal government. But they won’t find the condition of Hoover Dam, which impounds one the nation’s largest reservoirs on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Nor is there any condition listed for California’s Oroville Dam, the country’s tallest, which underwent a $1 billion makeover after its spillway failed. Details about the conditions of these and other prominent dams are kept secret from the public, listed as “not available” in the National Inventory of Dams. The lack of publicly available data about potentially hazardous dams has raised concern among some experts. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Condition of some US dams kept secret in national database
Polluters are using forests as ‘carbon offsets.’ Climate change has other plans.
“On July 6, 2021, lightning ignited a fire in the Fremont-Winema National Forest of southern Oregon, in an area packed with dead trees from a mountain pine-beetle outbreak. Fueled by drought, the Bootleg fire exploded, at one point consuming 1,000 acres per hour. Flames pushed out of the national forest, racing through white fir, ponderosa, and lodgepole pine owned by timber company Green Diamond. Hundreds of miles north, in a Seattle suburb, Elizabeth Willmott was tracking events closely. As the carbon program director for technology giant Microsoft, she had a special interest in Green Diamond’s Klamath East forests: They were storing some of her company’s carbon. ... ” Read more from National Geographic here: Polluters are using forests as ‘carbon offsets.’ Climate change has other plans.
