DAILY DIGEST, 5/10: 2022 is CA’s driest year on record so far – an ominous sign; SGMA meeting brings varying interests together to work towards common action; Water Commission white paper on groundwater trading; “Water cops” likely this summer as Santa Clara County misses drought goal by large margin; and more …

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On the calendar today …

In California water news today …

2022 is California’s driest year on record so far – an ominous sign for summer and fall

“California had its driest start to a year since the late 19th century, raising drought and wildfire concerns heading into the summer.  In data released Monday, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information found January through April precipitation in the state was the lowest on record dating to 1895.  The statewide precipitation of 3.25 inches was only 25% of average, topping the previous record-dry January through April from 2013, according to NOAA statistics. … ”  Read more from the Weather Channel here: 2022 is California’s driest year on record so far – an ominous sign for summer and fall

Watch: Climate change and drought forcing hard choices across California

“Severe drought in California is creating major challenges for farmers in the state. Joe Del Bosque, who has operated his farm since 1985, says this year is one of the worst that he can recall. Water officials believe the past three years could end up as the driest in California’s history. At Lake Castaic near Los Angeles, Lester Holt witnesses the “dangerously low” water level – just 53 percent capacity. An official tells him that the measurements for the Sierra Nevada snowpack, critical for the state’s water supply, are “grim.” California provides two thirds of the U.S. supply of fruits and nuts, and farmers are now forced to make difficult choices. Bill Deitrich says he’s unable to grow tomatoes this year because the limited water supply needs to be diverted to other, more dependable crops. State officials are now under pressure to do more to capture the water from storms so it can be used on farms.”  Watch video below:

California’s drought is squeezing farmers and threatening food prices

“As California enters its third year of drought, farmers in the state’s agricultural Central Valley, which produces a quarter of the United States’ food, say it could jeopardize an already strained food system.  “There are a lot of empty fields that aren’t being planted — something I’ve never seen before,” said Don Cameron, vice president and general manager of Terranova Ranch in Helm, California.  Cameron, who’s also president of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture, told Marketplace’s David Brancaccio that farmers are also contending with supply chain bottlenecks and price increases for crucial goods.  “All of our tractors run on diesel. So not only the cost for us here on the farm, but to get our products to the facilities for processing or to the markets has just skyrocketed,” he said. ... ”  Read more and/or listen to podcast at Marketplace here: California’s drought is squeezing farmers and threatening food prices

It’s mighty dry out West

Mike Rankin writes, “I just returned from south central Missouri where repeated heavy rains have left hayfields and pastures in a bog-like condition. Such is not the case in many parts of the western U.S. where bogs are only dreamt about, and alfalfa fields are already parched with little relief in sight.  “Our normally wettest months of January through April were some of the driest on record for California in 2022, which does not bode well for alfalfa and other crops,” laments Dan Putnam in a recent blog post. The University of California Cooperative Extension forage specialist writes that many of his state’s alfalfa fields dried out well before the first cutting.  The most current drought monitor map has 77% of the Western region in a severe, extreme, or exceptional drought. Toss in another 14% for those “lucky” individuals who are only in a moderate drought. … ”  Read more from Hay & Forage here:  It’s mighty dry out West

SGMA meeting brings varying interests together to work towards common action

“A recent event in Visalia brought together a wide array of interests to discuss the impact of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). More than 400 people attended the SGMA meeting, entitled “Save Our Communities.” Several San Joaquin Valley mayors, lawmakers, sheriffs, and representatives from banking and educational institutions were all in attendance. The implementation of SGMA is expected to have far-reaching effects in various sectors of valley communities.  President and CEO of the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA), Roger Isom said these types of meetings are an important step in presenting a unified voice in seeking solutions. … ”  Read more from Ag Net West here: SGMA meeting brings varying interests together to work towards common action

Water Commission white paper on groundwater trading considers ways to protect vulnerable users and potential next steps for state agencies

“As part of the California Water Commission’s assessment of how to shape well-managed groundwater trading programs with appropriate safeguards for vulnerable water users, Commission staff will present a final draft of its white paper containing its findings and the potential next steps for State engagement at the May 18, 2022, meeting. The Commission will be asked to approve the paper. If the paper is approved, it will be shared with the Secretaries for Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, and Food and Agriculture, who requested the Commission’s engagement on this topic. ... ”

Dan Walters:  California crises abound, but they won’t be debated

“California voters will receive their mail ballots for the June 7 primary election this week and most will be surprised to learn that there are 25 candidates seeking to unseat Gov. Gavin Newsom.  …  Were California to have a real duel for the governorship, we might have a real debate about the state’s most pressing issues, including the nation’s highest poverty, its worst homelessness crisis, an immense shortage of housing, medicore — at best — public schools and looming shortfalls in water and electric energy supplies.  None of them is new. All have evolved over decades of inaction or counterproductive policymaking but the latter two — water and power — are biting particularly hard just as Californians decide who will occupy political positions for years to come.  Throughout the state, water agencies are telling Californians that they must seriously curtail lawn watering and other water uses. We can probably scrape through another dry year, but were drought to persist, its impacts would likely be widespread and permanent. And with climate change, longer dry periods are virtually certain. ... ”  Read more at Cal Matters here: Dan Walters:  California crises abound, but they won’t be debated

ICYMI: Federal and state agencies submit the 2022 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan

“After the driest January, February, and March ever recorded, state and federal agencies, water users, communities, and others are pulling together to make the most of extremely limited water supplies in one of the driest years on record in California. The Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan and efforts to manage water this year on the Sacramento River reflect unparalleled collaboration, sacrifice, and innovation to help fish, wildlife, and farms survive what may be the most difficult water year we have ever faced. Current drought conditions called for difficult decisions to be made this year with far reaching impacts. We are now joining together to implement innovative strategies for fish and wildlife to promote survival across different watersheds, as well as working together to address the unprecedented dry year impacts to farmers, water suppliers, and the communities in the Sacramento Valley dependent upon these water supplies.”  The joint efforts include the Bureau of Reclamation, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Sacramento River Settlement Contractors.

How much water is your selfie worth?

“Every cat video, every meme, every selfie costs water. The internet runs on servers. Huge buildings full of them, spread out all over the country. It’s a law of computing that those computers generate heat as they run, and they need to be cooled down or they’ll overheat and shut off. And for almost every data center, that takes water. “We all love the fact that we can store a lot of data,” Sarah Porter, Director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University said. “We don’t think much about the water footprint of every selfie.” … ”  Read more from Channel 12 here: How much water is your selfie worth?

Maximizing benefits of solar development in the San Joaquin Valley

“The implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) over the next two decades may require taking at least 500,000 acres of cropland in the San Joaquin Valley out of irrigated production (about 10%). To soften the blow on jobs and economic activity, it will be important to identify alternative land uses that generate income. Solar development is one of the most promising options.  California’s renewable energy goals, driven chiefly by the passage of SB 100, set the stage for an unprecedented build-out of solar in the next two decades—the same time period during which water users need to bring groundwater basins into balance under SGMA. The potential synergies are clear: much solar could be sited on transitioning agricultural lands. Done right, solar could also bring environmental and economic benefits to the valley. … ”  Read more from the PPIC here: Maximizing benefits of solar development in the San Joaquin Valley

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In blog commentary today …

Collaborative junk science is the core of the Delta voluntary agreements

Doug Obegi, Director of California River Restoration for the NRDC, writes, “After years of exclusionary backroom negotiations over Bay-Delta voluntary agreements, earlier this week the State made a ham-fisted attempt to greenwash these proposed voluntary agreements, sending this email inviting a handful of people who had participated in VA conversations years ago to participate in “two workshops to finalize the governance and decision-making process for the implementation of the VA program.”  (DWR subsequently sent a revised email to NRDC and several other organizations, while still excluding numerous Tribes, conservation groups, and other stakeholders.)  Inviting previously excluded groups to join a meeting to “finalize” the voluntary agreements is not a legitimate collaborative process. … ”  Read more from the NRDC here: Collaborative junk science is the core of the Delta voluntary agreements

On sowing doubt about extinction risks for Chinook salmon in 2022

Deirdre Des Jardins writes, “A decade ago, Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway wrote the seminal book, Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming. Oreskes and Conway documented how scientists paid by the tobacco industry sowed doubt about the links between smoking and lung cancer, and how the same strategy has been used with climate change, acid rain, the ozone hole, and asbestos.  Similar tactics have been used to sow doubt about the causes of the collapse of native fish populations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its watersheds. ... ”  Read more at the California Water Research blog here: On sowing doubt about extinction risks for Chinook salmon in 2022

2022 Sacramento River Operations – Temperature Management Plan

Tom Cannon writes, “So much is at stake in this water year 2022: water supplies, water quality, agricultural production, hydropower production, as well as the future of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, smelt, and other native fishes of the Klamath and Sacramento-San Joaquin watersheds. Despite the lessons of the 1976-1977, 1987-1992, 2007-2009, and 2013-2015 droughts, the choices and tradeoffs are more difficult, and effects more significant and consequential to the fish, in 2022, the third year of the 2020-2022 drought. The State Water Resources Control Board is about to approve 2022 water operation plans for Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP). Among the most immediate effects of these plans will be the fate of iconic fisheries resources of the Sacramento and Klamath Rivers, in 2022 and beyond. … ”  Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: 2022 Sacramento River Operations – Temperature Management Plan

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In regional water news and commentary today …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Invasive species removal resumes in Tahoe marshes

“Project work to eradicate invasive plants has resumed at Taylor Creek and Tallac Creek marshes in South Lake Tahoe.  The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, began the project in November by removing vegetation from the marsh in preparation to install underwater bottom barriers in the marshes adjacent to Baldwin and Kiva beaches this spring, TRPA officials stated when the project began. Bottom barriers are mats laid underwater to deprive weeds of sunlight they need to grow.  The barriers help control and eradicate invasive plant species such as Eurasian watermilfoil and will be in place through 2025. … ”  Read more from the Mountain Democrat here: Invasive species removal resumes in Tahoe marshes

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Divers pulled 25,000 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe. Now they want to clean more Sierra lakes

“A first-of-its-kind project to remove underwater litter and junk along Lake Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline concludes on Tuesday as scuba divers complete the final leg of their garbage-collecting circuit in the waters near Stateline, Nev., where they began a year ago.  The amount of trash collected: 25,200 pounds, which will increase slightly with the final haul today. And divers hope to repeat the feat for more lakes in the region, including Fallen Leaf, a small lake adjacent to Tahoe, and June Lake, a popular fishing and camping destination in the Eastern Sierra. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Divers pulled 25,000 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe. Now they want to clean more Sierra lakes

Sacramento to get rain — possible hail — this week. Here’s when and how much to expect

“Light rain showers, along with cooler temperatures, are predicted to pass through the Sacramento area Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service predicts rain Monday afternoon, mainly after 5 p.m., amounting to less than a tenth of an inch, and possible thunderstorms, which could mean a higher total amount of rain. Rain showers may occur again from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday night, and gusts could get as high as 22 mph. Temperatures may dip as low as 42 degrees, according to the weather service. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Sacramento to get rain — possible hail — this week. Here’s when and how much to expect

BAY AREA

“Water cops” likely this summer as Santa Clara County misses drought goal by large margin

“If you waste water in Santa Clara County, water cops could soon be on the way.  Since last summer, Santa Clara County residents have been asked to cut water use by 15% from 2019 levels to conserve as the state’s drought worsens. But they continue to miss that target — and by a growing amount.  In March, the county’s 2 million residents not only failed to conserve any water, but they increased use by 30% compared to March 2019, according to newly released data.  Now, faced with the alarming prospect of water shortages, the Santa Clara Valley Water District — a government agency and the county’s largest water provider — is proposing to hire water enforcement officials to issue fines of up to $500 for residents watering so much that it runs into the street or watering lawns too many times a week or wasting water in other ways. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here:  “Water cops” likely this summer as Santa Clara County misses drought goal by large margin

SEE ALSO: Santa Clara Valley Water District Aims to Crack Down on Water Wasters, from NBC Bay Area

The fight for clean energy pits San Francisco against the river rafting industry

“Standing at 6 feet, 3 inches and 190 pounds, Marty McDonnell, it could be said, was destined to be a river guide.  The Mill Valley native got his start in the whitewater rafting business in the 1970s for what he cites as a deep spiritual connection to nature and for the thrill of dodging boulders and ripping down rapids on the Tuolumne River watershed.  “To me, it is the magic of putting my paddle in and deflecting currents,” he said. “It’s like dancing with gravity.”  But after 5 decades of shepherding countless groups down some of the world’s most iconic and challenging runs, McDonnell never expected to find himself in a mounting battle against the changing climate, the solar industry and the City of San Francisco. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Examiner here: The fight for clean energy pits San Francisco against the river rafting industry

CENTRAL COAST

Pajaro Valley Water awarded $7.6 Million for College Lake Project

“Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) received a Big Check for $7.6 million in first-round funding through the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program to support the College Lake Integrated Resources Management Project. “PV Water is committed to competing for grants to secure funding for critical water supply projects in an ongoing effort to keep costs low for our customers,” General Manager Brian Lockwood said. “PV Water has a strong track record of winning state and federal funding. The receipt of this award shows that the College Lake Project is important both on the local and state levels.” ... ”  Read more from Pajaro Valley Water here: Pajaro Valley Water awarded $7.6 Million for College Lake Project

Ventura agrees to 20-year deal to lease its state water supply. Here’s why

“Ventura has struck a 20-year deal with a Riverside County water wholesaler that would save the city millions of dollars in costs to maintain its rights to imported state water.  Under the agreement approved last month, the city would lease its share of imported water to the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in Beaumont, an arrangement that would reap $1.1 million this year and cover nearly half of the $2.27 million it will owe to keep its state water entitlement. San Gorgonio would increase its share of the costs starting next year.  Ventura has had rights to State Water Project supplies since the early 1970s, paying up to $1.5 million annually, but it has no inter-tie to access the project, a network of dams, pumps and aqueducts that draws snow and rain runoff from Northern California. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here:  Ventura agrees to 20-year deal to lease its state water supply. Here’s why

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Allensworth groundwater storage project receives funding from DWR

“A plan has been put in place to help replenish groundwater supplies in Allensworth, a community historically affected by water supply issues.  Led by the Tri-County Water Authority, the Allensworth Project is a multi-component plan aimed at replenishing groundwater supplies and mitigating emergency flood water damage by constructing two gravity-fed basins to catch flood runoff from the White River. The basins will divert water from the river for direct use and recharge, and will be used as a recreational park during dry seasons. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here:  Allensworth groundwater storage project receives funding from DWR

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Radio: Local water providers explain how they’ll be handling their water supply with new water restrictions coming next month

“Late last month, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) told member agencies that buy and distribute the water they wholesale in certain areas dependent on the State Water Project (SWP) that harsh water use restrictions were coming on June 1 because the SWP supply is critically low following a record dry start to the year.   The new restrictions will impact about 6 million Southern Californians, but what it will mean for each of them depends on where you live and how your water supplier is planning to implement MWD’s new rules.  Today on AirTalk, we’ll speak with a panel of representatives from some of the local water districts whose customers will be affected, including Inland Empire Utility Agency General Manager Shivaji Deshmukh,  Las Virgenes Municipal Water District General Manager Dave Pedersen, and Tom Love, general manager of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District about how they plan to implement and enforce these restrictions on June 1 and what that means for their customers.”  Listen at KPCC here:  Local water providers explain how they’ll be handling their water supply with new water restrictions coming next month

Amid drought crisis, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to make water conservation announcement

“Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Tuesday is set to make an announcement on water conservation as the region contends with a historic drought.  The announcement is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. in the front yard of an Eagle Rock home.  This comes after Southern California’s largest water provider last month announced that it will restrict outdoor watering to just one day a week starting June 1 for some of its member agencies, including the L.A. Department of Water and Power.  The unprecedented decision will affect about 6 million people in parts of L.A., Ventura and San Bernardino counties. … ”  Read more from CBS LA here: Amid drought crisis, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to make water conservation announcement

Water district threatens to severely limit water to overusing residents in western L.A. County

“The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which covers Calabasas, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills and Hidden Hills, says for the first time, they will begin installing water flow restrictors on homes that don’t reduce usage.  “I don’t have an issue cutting back for the drought, I want to be conservative with my water usage, I want to be respectful of the planet,” said Fleiner. “But my yard won’t survive a one-day a week watering. It just won’t.”  The Water District is calling for customers to reduce usage to 80 gallons a day or face fines and have their water restricted to just a trickle.  Ricki Clark of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District says this is uncharted territory. ... ”  Read more from KTLA here: Water district threatens to severely limit water to overusing residents in western L.A. County

California holds Boeing accountable for cleanup at toxic Santa Susana Field Laboratory

“In a major development to strengthen the cleanup of contaminated soil, groundwater, and stormwater runoff at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) in southeastern Ventura County, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) today announced a comprehensive framework that establishes strict cleanup protocols and timelines for The Boeing Company.  The framework involves two agencies within CalEPA: the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Los Angeles Water Board) which has jurisdiction over Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The framework ensures that Boeing’s areas of responsibility will be cleaned up to a stringent standard.  “Santa Susana Field Lab is one of our nation’s most high-profile and contentious toxic cleanup sites. For decades, there have been too many disputes and not enough cleanup. Today’s settlement prioritizes human health and the environment and holds Boeing to account for its cleanup,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. … ”  Continue reading this press release from Cal EPA here: California holds Boeing accountable for cleanup at toxic Santa Susana Field Laboratory

Questions and answers about the Santa Susana Field Lab

“Hidden away in the sunny hills of Southern California is a dangerous secret: one of the most contaminated sites in the United States. The Santa Susana Field Laboratory was once the site of testing rockets for space and nuclear reactors for energy. Decades of carelessness in carrying out these heavy industrial activities left acres of soil and water radioactively and chemically contaminated.  It’s amazing that, while everyone knows the names of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, so few people are familiar with Santa Susana—even though it experienced a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959 that scientists estimate released more radioactivity than the Three Mile Island accident. It’s well past time for this secret to be fully unearthed and, more vitally, remedied.  Here’s what you need to know ... ”  Read more from the NRDC here: Questions and answers about the Santa Susana Field Lab

Water Replenishment District breaks ground on drought resiliency project

“The Water Replenishment District (WRD) celebrated the groundbreaking of its Inland Injection Well Project at the WRD Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility in the City of Long Beach Friday May 6th.  As California weathers another drought cycle and faces water restrictions in certain counties, the importance of local groundwater projects is clear. When the WRD Inland Injection Well Project is complete, it will yield up to 2 million gallons of purified recycled water per day from the WRD Leo J. Vander Lans Advanced Water Treatment Facility (LVL AWTF) and inject it into the groundwater aquifers for storage and future use. … ”  Read more from Cision PR here:  Water Replenishment District breaks ground on drought resiliency project

Proposal for Huntington Beach desalination plant to receive final vote Thursday

“Poseidon Water, the company that runs the seawater desalination facility in Carlsbad, is pushing to build another desalination plant in Huntington Beach.  “We developed the project in Carlsbad and have been operating that facility since we came online in 2015. In that time, we have produced almost 90 billion gallons of fresh water for San Diego County residents,” said Jessica Jones, director of communications for Poseidon Water. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Proposal for Huntington Beach desalination plant to receive final vote Thursday

Statement from Orange County Water District President Steve Sheldon Regarding Huntington Beach Desalination Project

“The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) joins Governor Gavin Newsom and Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins in calling on the California Coastal Commission to approve without delay the Huntington Beach Desalination Project on May 12, 2022.  With Southern California’s water reserves dropping lower every day and this seawater desalination project the only new, large water supply project in the entire state of California that can be shovel ready in the immediate future, we call upon the Coastal Commissioners to approve the permit.  The Coastal Commission staff report and recommendation reek of bias. Parts of the report are false and misleading, other parts are contradictory, scientifically unsound, defy common sense, and conflict with the findings of other environmental regulatory agencies that have approved the project.   It is the Orange County Water District’s statutory authority to determine the best sources and uses of water. We call upon the commissioners to respect our statutory authority and professional judgement as water professionals. Please approve the project and give OCWD the tools to help make Orange County and the Southern California region more drought resilient.”

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

California desert water agencies win $100 million in U.S. funding for aging dams, canals

“Southern California desert water districts with aging or failing infrastructure won big federal funding Monday, with more than $100 million allocated for major dam and irrigation canal upgrades that will benefit the Coachella Valley and Imperial County.  The projects are part of $240 million awarded from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds by the U.S. Department of the Interior on Monday.  Among the biggest beneficiaries is the Coachella Valley Water District, which will get $60 million for lateral replacement irrigation pipelines and more for work on the Coachella Canal. Nearly 60,000 irrigated acres of fruits and vegetables and forage crops with a value of $574 million were produced last year in the region, according to CVWD’s annual agricultural report. Clean, reliable water piped in from the Colorado River system is essential for those crops. ... ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: California desert water agencies win $100 million in U.S. funding for aging dams, canals

SAN DIEGO

Surfrider appeals Oceanside’s approval of beachfront rock seawall

“The Surfrider Foundation has filed an appeal with the California Coastal Commission challenging Oceanside’s approval of the restoration of a two-block-long rock revetment that protects beachfront homes along South Pacific Street.  The repairs to the degraded seawall need a coastal development permit from the Coastal Commission, states the appeal filed May 6 by the environmental nonprofit. Also, the property owners should be required to mitigate for beach sand lost because of the revetment. Coastal Commission staffer Toni Ross raised similar concerns in a Feb. 23 email to the project applicant, Mark Dillon, a South Pacific Street property owner for more than 20 years.  … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Surfrider appeals Oceanside’s approval of beachfront rock seawall

State lawmakers target trash in Tijuana River Valley

“A handful of state lawmakers gathered last week on the side of the Tijuana River Estuary that’s not visibly clogged by plastics and tires spilling from Mexico down canyon gullies or down the river itself to ask the governor for money to, well, stop trash from spilling over the border.  Southern California lawmakers hope Gov. Gavin Newsom will put $100 million in next year’s budget to be split equally between the Tijuana River and the Mexicali-to-Salton-Sea-flowing New River, both sewage-plagued water bodies. … ”  Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: State lawmakers target trash in Tijuana River Valley 

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Along the Colorado River …

Havasu Water Co. fined for leaving residents without drinkable water

“State regulators have fined a Havasu Lake water company that has failed to provide potable water to its customers for more than a month and been accused of allowing its equipment to fall into a state of disrepair.  The California State Water Resources Control Board issued the $1,500 fine on Friday, May 6, after the Havasu Water Co. failed to meet state-imposed directives and deadlines. The state has given a new list of directives and deadlines for the water company to meet by May 20 or it could face additional penalties.  The state also plans to bill the water company in August for the time it has spent on the enforcement actions, according to the latest compliance order. … ”  Read more from the Riverside Press-Enterprise here: Havasu Water Co. fined for leaving residents without drinkable water

The Colorado River needs a big moisture boost. Runoff forecasts suggest it won’t come from spring snowmelt

“Spring snowmelt likely won’t deliver the big water supply bump the drought-stricken Colorado River and its reservoirs need, data from the latest federal river forecast shows.  The May to July season is a crucial time for the river, which is replenished by snowmelt running off the mountains on the Western Slope, and the system is in need of a major moisture boost amid a 20-year drought fueled by climate change.  Lake Powell is expected to get only 59 percent of the amount of water that usually flows into the reservoir between May and July, according to the National Weather Service’s Colorado River Basin Forecast Center. That’s not great for the vital reservoir and hydropower source, which is sitting at its lowest level on record. … ”  Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: The Colorado River needs a big moisture boost. Runoff forecasts suggest it won’t come from spring snowmelt

Even less water is now forecast to flow into Lake Powell this year, report says

“The amount of water predicted to flow into Lake Powell this year is down slightly from the previous month, according to the May report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center.  “The last couple months have steadied out a little bit,” Cody Moser, a senior hydrologist with NOAA forecast center, said during a recent web briefing to review the most recent report. “But generally below-normal precipitation the last several months after a very wet December.” … ”  Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Even less water is now forecast to flow into Lake Powell this year, report says

Listen: Phil Boas: Arizona is facing a critical moment for its water supply

“The Show regularly checks in with the editorial board of the Arizona Republic to talk about current issues facing the state and the region — featured in columns on the newspaper’s op-ed pages.  As the drought continues and climate change’s impact is felt even more deeply, dealing with Arizona’s water challenges has taken on a dramatic immediacy. And that will include conservation — possibly required conservation in the next couple of years.  The Show spoke with Phil Boas of the Republic about a weekend column featuring Tom Buschatzke of the Arizona Department of Water Resources and Ted Cooke of Central Arizona Project. Boas talked about how dire the situation has become.”  Listen at KJZZ here: Listen: Phil Boas: Arizona is facing a critical moment for its water supply

PHOTOS: Spearfishers Shoot Thousands of Pounds of Carp from Lake Powell

“Dozens of the best spearfishers from around the country dove into Lake Powell to shoot more than 19,000 thousand pounds of fish in two days during the freshwater nationals tournament last month.  The spearfishing teams battled incredibly low water levels due to drought. The reservoir’s last tournament in 2018 saw water levels nearly 90 feet higher. That wasn’t the case this year, and some teams arrived a week early to scout the lake. Even teams who have hunted the lake previously found themselves in unfamiliar territory. ... ”  Read more from Outdoor Life here: PHOTOS: Spearfishers Shoot Thousands of Pounds of Carp from Lake Powell

Climate data: How much have Utah’s spring storms helped the state’s drought?

“A storm system that rolled past the Wasatch Mountains dumped as much as a foot of snow in the Alta area over the weekend, equating to at least a half-inch of new water for many parts of the range.  But for as stormy as the last few weeks have been in Utah, they haven’t produced as much as spring storms have in the past — and that’s fueling the return of serious drought categories in the state, says KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson.  “The reason it may feel like a wet spring is because we’ve had a lot of small storms and days and months where we’ve seen clouds or cooler weather, but they haven’t been delivering a ton of water with them,” Johnson said on KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic Monday. … ”  Read more from KSL here: Climate data: How much have Utah’s spring storms helped the state’s drought?

Utah water restrictions vary based on rights and state history

“Why are Utah water restrictions so confusing and seemingly unfair to residents in one city yet generous to citizens of another?  For example, different cities in the Weber Water Basin District have different restrictions:  In West Haven, a homeowner is allowed — beginning in mid-May — to water outside once a week. But in Roy, homeowners can water their lawns and plants twice a week.  Do the state’s and the West’s ongoing, historic drought play a major part in today’s water restrictions?  “There are a lot of different water users and water providers that leverage water off of the Weber River and the Weber River basin drainage,” said the Assistant General Manager of the Weber Water Basin Conservancy District, Jon Parry. He discussed cities’ varying water restrictions with KSL NewsRadio’s Debbie Dujanovic. … ”  Read more from KSL here: Utah water restrictions vary based on rights and state history

Why the 2022 Southwest fire season is so early and intense

“New Mexico and Arizona are facing a dangerously early fire season. It has left neighborhoods in ashes and is having such devastating effects that President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for New Mexico. Over 600 fires had broken out in the two states by early May, and large wildfires had burned through hundreds of homes near Ruidoso and Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Flagstaff, Arizona.  We asked wildfire scientist Molly Hunter at the University of Arizona to explain what’s fueling the extreme fire conditions and why risky seasons like this are becoming more common. … ”  Read more from Scientific American here: Why the 2022 Southwest fire season is so early and intense

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In national water news today …

Biden-Harris administration announces over $240 million from bipartisan infrastructure law to repair aging water infrastructure

“The Department of the Interior today announced an investment of $240.4 million for infrastructure repairs in fiscal year 2022 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program, facilitated through the Bureau of Reclamation, includes significant repairs on canal linings, dam spillways and water pipeline replacements.  “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a historic investment in drought resilience and water infrastructure,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “As western communities face growing challenges accessing water in the wake of record drought, these investments in our aging water infrastructure will safeguard community water supplies and revitalize water delivery systems.”  President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes one of the largest investments in drought resilience in American history, including $8.3 billion for water infrastructure programs and $1.4 billion for ecosystem restoration and resilience, dramatically expanding Reclamation’s ability to use existing program authorities to serve communities through infrastructure improvements that fundamentally impact their quality of life. ... ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Biden-Harris administration announces over $240 million from bipartisan infrastructure law to repair aging water infrastructure

Salt scourge: the dual threat of warming and rising salinity

“The Mekong Delta is under a chemical threat arguably more deadly for the long term than the Agent Orange deployed across it during the Vietnam War half a century ago. By the middle of this century, it could be engulfed by a toxic onslaught from which there is no recovery — salt.  As sea levels rise, salty ocean water is pushing ever further into the delta, one of Southeast Asia’s most densely populated and productive rice-growing regions. During this year’s spring dry season, the salinity boundary — where salt levels exceed 4 grams per liter — reached up to 40 miles upstream, more than 10 miles further than it has historically. … There is a surge in saltiness across all inhabited continents today. Climate change is far from the only cause. Deltas are left wide open to incursions of seawater by dams upstream, by pumps that remove freshwater from underground for faucets and irrigation, and by sand mines that lower river beds. And in dry regions, irrigation systems delivering water to crops bring salt onto fields, which is left behind in soils as the crops absorb the water. ... ”  Read more from Yale e360 here: Salt scourge: the dual threat of warming and rising salinity

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: Order Denying Reconsideration of the August 2021 Emergency Regulation and Curtailment Orders for the Delta Watershed

NOTICE of petition for temporary change involving the proposed transfer from Tudor Mutual Water Company to various State Water Project contractors

YOUR INPUT WANTED: Water management survey

BULLETIN 120 and Water Supply Index Forecast – May 1, 2022

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