DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: Water usage is up, but officials focused on wrong problem, say advocates; Drought could mean ‘devastation across the board’ for fowl on Pacific Flyway; Newsom’s proposed budget includes funding for drought; Cal Am not fazed by rejection of SoCal desal project; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up. Officials are focused on the wrong problem, advocates say

“California is facing a crisis. Not only are its reservoirs already at critically low levels due to unrelenting drought, residents and businesses across the state are also using more water now than they have in seven years, despite Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to encourage just the opposite.  Newsom has pleaded with residents and businesses to reduce their water consumption by 15%. But in March, urban water usage was up by 19% compared to March 2020, the year the current drought began. It was the highest March water consumption since 2015, the State Water Resources Control Board reported earlier this week. …  But advocates say government officials are also focusing on the wrong approach. They say voluntary residential water cuts are not the solution, and that restrictions should be mandated for businesses and industries that use the vast majority of the state’s water. … ”  Read more from CNN here:  California is in a water crisis, yet usage is way up. Officials are focused on the wrong problem, advocates say

Inside Politics: CA Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot on drought, water crisis

“California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot joined Inside California Politics co-host Frank Buckley to discuss the ongoing drought and water crisis in California.  Crowfoot talks about the increase in water use in the state in March, how climate change is impacting the issue, and why there is reason to be optimistic.” (5:12)

California drought could mean ‘devastation across the board’ for fowl on Pacific Flyway

“California’s worsening drought is spreading misery among Sacramento Valley farmers, their workers and a host of businesses that revolve around Valley agriculture. Then there’s the potential environmental disaster. Rice fields provide critical food and habitat for millions of geese, mallards, wood ducks and other migratory waterfowl that traverse what is known as the Pacific Flyway. Shorebirds such as Western sandpipers and long-billed curlews also find temporary homes in rice fields. … This year, though, there will be a lot less rice for the waterfowl. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  California drought could mean ‘devastation across the board’ for fowl on Pacific Flyway

SEE ALSO: Rice is Sacramento Valley’s gift to the world. Can it withstand California’s epic drought?, from the Sacramento Bee

California’s $100 billion surplus: What to know about Newsom’s spending plan

““Simply without precedent.”  Gov. Gavin Newsom is a man of many superlatives, but even he seemed to struggle today to adequately describe just how much extra cash the state of California will have to spend in the coming year’s budget: $97.5 billion.  Speaking for more than two hours in a press conference in Sacramento, Newsom unveiled his latest record spending proposal for the coming fiscal year. Riding a superheating economy and drawing disproportionately from the state’s highest earners, the state is now projected to have a surplus bigger than California — or any state — has ever had, and significantly more than the $76 billion that the governor predicted in January. Roughly half of the surplus is required by law to be spent on education. That leaves “only” roughly $49 billion in discretionary money, and the governor wants to reserve 99% of that for one-time spending ... ”  Continue reading at Cal Matters here:  California’s $100 billion surplus: What to know about Newsom’s spending plan

Governor Newsom’s proposed budget includes funding for drought

“Gov. Gavin Newsom today unveiled his revised state budget for the 2022-’23 Fiscal Year. The $300.7 billion budget includes several priorities of interest to ACWA members, including funding for drought, climate change, forest management and more.  Building upon last year’s three-year, $5.2 billion allocation to support drought response and long-term water sustainability, the governor’s revised budget includes an additional $2 billion for drought response and water resilience. This is part of the governor’s larger $47.1 billion climate package.  The budget also includes $1.4 billion to help Californians pay utility bills, including $200 million dedicated to water bills.  Below are some of the highlights of the budget proposal that address ACWA priority issue areas.  The Legislature now has until June 15 to pass a state budget. … ”  Read more from ACWA’s Water News here:  Governor Newsom’s proposed budget includes funding for drought

State Water Board releases draft emergency water conservation regulation

“With intensifying drought causing the driest first quarter of the year in a century, the State Water Resources Control Board released an updated proposed emergency water conservation regulation today in response to the water conservation directives in Governor Newsom’s March 28 Executive Order. If the proposed regulation is adopted by the board on May 24, it would contribute to water savings starting in June.  “We know there is untapped potential for greater water savings across the state,” said Eileen Sobeck, executive director of the State Water Board. “Conservation is the quickest and least expensive way to stretch water supplies. This regulation empowers water systems and local authorities to respond more forcefully to the impacts of drought. There is no time for complacency; the severity of this new normal makes it imperative that all Californians save water in every way we can.” ... ”  Continue reading this press release via Maven’s Notebook here: State Water Board releases draft emergency water conservation regulation

California nixes plant, but says open to desalination

“California officials have nixed a proposal for a $1.4 billion desalination plant but say they’re open to growing the state’s capacity to turn Pacific Ocean seawater into drinking water to buffer against persistent drought. After an hours-long hearing, members of a state coastal panel on Thursday unanimously rejected a proposed desalination plant for Southern California over concerns the facility would kill marine life and drive up the cost of water.  The vote by the California Coastal Commission, which is tasked with protecting the state’s scenic shoreline, dealt a blow to the long-running proposal by Brookfield Infrastructure Partners-owned Poseidon Water.  The plan had the backing of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in his push to combat drought conditions plaguing the state, which are expected to worsen with climate change. … ”  Read more from KOB here: California nixes plant, but says open to desalination

Coalition celebrates Coastal Commission’s decision to deny permit for embattled Poseidon desal plant

“The California-based ‘Stop Poseidon’ coalition, made up of environmental justice, coastal and ocean conservation groups, stood before the California Coastal Commission today, alongside over 300 in-person attendees, in opposition to the proposed Brookfield-Poseidon Desalination Plant.  The California Coastal Commission, comprised of 12 voting members, one who recused themselves, whose mission is to uphold the California Coastal Act, made the unanimous decision to deny the proposed desalination plant’s permitting.  The vote follows the California Coastal Commission’s staff recommendation for denial. Mid-morning during the hearing, staff detailed the Commission’s own Coastal Act Environmental Justice policy, noting communities have not been meaningfully engaged because Poseidon does not have a water buyer and hasn’t communicated with the communities in 22 cities and two-thirds are “communities of concern”. … ”  Read more from the Daily Kos here: Coalition celebrates Coastal Commission’s decision to deny permit for embattled Poseidon desal plant

SEE ALSO: Letters to the Editor: Poseidon was rejected, but California still needs desalination, from the LA Times

Study sheds light on what influences water supplied by snowmelt

“Water often falls from the sky and is stored in mountains across the U.S. as snow before it melts and flows down to urban and rural communities. Knowing what factors influence when and how much of that snowmelt ultimately makes it to streams, rivers and reservoirs is crucial for water managers trying to make the most of limited water resources. A new study led by researchers at University of Nevada, Reno and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) published in Environmental Research Letters identifies three major factors that influence snowmelt-driven water supplies and identifies regions where mountain water supplies respond differently to climate change. The study used data from 537 watersheds across the U.S. ... ”  Read more from UNR Today here: Study sheds light on what influences water supplied by snowmelt

Nuclear power plant near Avila Beach faces uphill battle as Newsom flip-flops on closure

“The fate of California’s only nuclear power plant is in flux.  The uncertainty comes as the state contends with power shortages and struggles to meet a self-imposed 2045 deadline to achieve a power grid that is fully powered by renewables.  Diablo Canyon, a twin reactor operating in the hills overlooking California’s central coast, is set to close in 2025. While the power plant continues to see some local opposition, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently told the Los Angeles Times that he would like to see the plant’s life extended.  The apparent flip-flop comes as Newsom’s administration warned that rolling blackouts may return this summer as the state faces blazing heat and the threat of wildfires, a point that Newsom’s Republican rivals attacked him with in last year’s unsuccessful recall attempt. … ”  Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Nuclear power plant near Avila Beach faces uphill battle as Newsom flip-flops on closure

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In commentary this weekend …

Little room for optimism in our dire drought situation

Steven Greenhut, Western region director for the R Street Institute, writes, “Are California’s reservoirs half-full or half-empty? The state’s largest reservoirs — Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta — are exceedingly low for this time of year, with the former at 55% of capacity and the latter at 40% of capacity. However, my snarky question isn’t about water levels, but about policy makers’ attitudes toward our water crisis.  Do California officials see the current, dire drought situation as an opportunity or a unfixable crisis?  Most of the reporting has focused on the latter, for obvious reasons. Despite recent rainstorms, 60 % of California is experiencing extreme drought and 95 % experiencing severe drought. As a result, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the nation’s largest water provider, is mandating 35% reductions in household consumption. … ”  Read more from the LA Daily News here: Commentary: Little room for optimism in our dire drought situation | Read via Pasadena Star-News

Editorial: Snapping out of drought fatigue

The Ventura County Star editorial board writes, “The evidence suggests that Californians are experiencing drought fatigue. If that’s the case, they’re about to get shaken out of it.  Some of the most vigorous shaking will take place in eastern Ventura County, a region of the state that is almost exclusively dependent on imports from the State Water Project, which this year will deliver just 5% of its annual allocations.  The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has ordered that outdoor watering be restricted to one day per week for areas that mostly rely on state water. Last week, the Simi Valley City Council codified that order, adopting a resolution to implement the policy citywide.  It is evident that, statewide, the message to gear up conservation hasn’t yet gotten through. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Editorial: Snapping out of drought fatigue

The abundance choice, Part 3:  The mechanics of ballot initiatives

Edward Ring, contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “By the spring of 2021, it was obvious the State Legislature was not going to change its inadequate approach to water policy. As the state faced another year of drought, restricting water use was the only solution being taken seriously in Sacramento. And at the same time as cities were being told to prepare to ration water, farmers faced new regulations restricting not only how much water they could divert from rivers, but also how much groundwater they could pump.  For this reason, and after talking with people all over California whose businesses and jobs depended on a reliable water supply, I decided to form a group of volunteers to promote a ballot initiative that would focus on funding projects to increase California’s supply of water. The tentative name for our campaign, which we eventually adopted, was More Water Now. … ”  Read more from the California Globe here: The abundance choice, Part 3:  The mechanics of ballot initiatives

Needed: Realism and entrepreneurialism for California water abundance

Wayne Lusvardi writes, “Recently, noted public policy analyst Ed Ring wrote an article at the American Greatness website that called for a new California state water policy of “abundance”, as opposed to the current water policy of “conservation” and planned scarcity (see The Abundance Choice – Or, Why California is Dying of Thirst, Ed Ring, May 12).   Ring says water conservation policy is focused on an ironic wasteful water policy of tightly allocating wholesale water to farms and cities while flushing any excess water to the sea. However, despite Ring’s astute numerical analyses, I am sorry to say I do not find his water abundance policy realistic.  … While I am in wholehearted agreement with this policy thrust, in my opinion it is entirely naïve and perhaps even utopian given the sociological reality of California’s water system.   What is needed first is a clear, hard-nosed sociological realism about California water policy and institutions. …

Clean drinking water should be a right, but now we must fight for it

Alex Masci, an undergraduate in environmental studies at UC Berkeley, writes, “As a young person growing up in Ventura County for the past 19 years, I am no stranger to droughts. Not watering the lawn and taking shorter showers is simply a part of life in Southern California. Although water is scarce in Ventura County, there is currently a direct threat to our drinking water.  Unfortunately, the oil industry wants to profit at the expense of our precious groundwater that supplies drinking water to over 400,000 Ventura County residents and irrigation water to our $2 billion agriculture economy. It is unacceptable for the oil industry to put our water supplies at risk for their own profit. Water is life, so we must do everything we can to prevent it from contamination. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Clean drinking water should be a right, but now we must fight for it

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

State announces $3.9 million grant for forest restoration and community protection near Redway

“Nearly $4 million has been awarded by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) to Redwood Community Action Agency for the Redway Forest Health Project. This project will improve the health and fire resiliency of 858 acres of forestland surrounding the town of Redway, CA. The areas slated for treatment include public lands managed by California State Parks and adjoining private properties. The project area includes slopes overlooking the South Fork Eel River and Holbrook Grove, located at the north end of town. The project will address legacy logging impacts and accelerate forest restoration on the 500+ acre parcel added to Whittemore Grove in 2003 as part of the local, grassroots “Stable Slopes Forever” campaign. … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: State announces $3.9 million grant for forest restoration and community protection near Redway

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

North Lake Tahoe Fire officials analyze available resources

“As fire agencies prepare for the potential of another significant fire season, officials are assuring residents that there are enough resources available, especially water.  Chief Ryan Sommers of the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District took an in-depth look at the resources and infrastructure around Incline Village/Crystal Bay when it comes to a catastrophic event such as a wildland fire.  According to NLTFPD’s website, the identified goals and objectives as outlined in Incline Village/Crystal Bay’s strategic plan will guide the community into a more prepared future, however, it is important to acknowledge there will be unforeseeable issues that will arise and impact how the district operates and provides service to the community. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here:  North Lake Tahoe Fire officials analyze available resources

New trail looks to connect ‘Lost’ Sierra

“The Truckee and Lake Tahoe areas are linked to the history of the greater Sierra Nevada by hundreds of old trails and paths used by early miners, loggers and mail carriers.  That history will be made more available in the future as the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship inches closer to its ambitious plan of connecting 15 northern Sierra towns via a multi-use trail system.  “This is an economic driver,” said Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Marketing and Strategic Business Consultant Mark Pecotich. “Trails are really a tool for economic resiliency in these communities. There are so many amazing places and so many really neat things to see out there.” … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: New trail looks to connect ‘Lost’ Sierra

Tuolumne County elected officials support acquiring PG&E water rights and infrastructure, but questions remain

“The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors and Sonora City Council generally liked what they heard Tuesday from Tuolumne Utilities District staff in a special, non-action joint meeting Tuesday about TUD’s plan to acquire Pacific Gas and Electric Co.-owned water rights and infrastructure.  A county supervisor emphasized there may be urgent incentive for TUD to close the deal because other water agencies from the Central Valley expressed keen interest in PG&E’s assets in Tuolumne County back in June 2019.  Other city and county elected officials expressed frustration that some questions about financing of the acquisition — separate from a five-year plan to raise rates and revenues to generate $22.5 million over five years for operating and maintaining PG&E assets — remained undisclosed due to the exclusive nature of TUD’s negotiations with PG&E. … ”  Read more from the Union-Democrat here: Tuolumne County elected officials support acquiring PG&E water rights and infrastructure, but questions remain

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Rice is Sacramento Valley’s gift to the world. Can it withstand California’s epic drought?

“It’s spring in the Sacramento Valley, normally the season for planting rice. It’s the region’s most important crop, a $900 million-a-year business that employs thousands of workers and puts Valley agriculture on a global stage. Rice grown in Williams and Arbuckle and Richland and other Valley communities turns up on dinner plates and grocery shelves as far away as Japan, where it’s wrapped around sushi. Now the drought, in its third punishing year, is drying up wide swaths of California’s farm economy, and the rice industry is getting hit especially hard. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here:  Rice is Sacramento Valley’s gift to the world. Can it withstand California’s epic drought?

NAPA/SONOMA

Napa County’s big dams pose low risks

“Napa County has 58 dams from massive to small and none on a new Associated Press list of 2,200 dams nationwide that are in bad shape and threaten communities.  That’s good news for Napa Valley cities and wine country. Several local dams — Conn Creek Dam at Lake Hennessey, Milliken Dam at Milliken Reservoir and Rector Creek Dam at Rector Reservoir — could cause big-time damage if they failed.  Napa County’s 2020 multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, among other things, looked at local dams. …”  Read more from the Napa Register here: Napa County’s big dams pose low risks

BAY AREA

Bay Area landscaping business sees 300% increase in irrigation repairs as drought worsens

“California water officials say saving water is a must right now because of the drought.  But an owner of an East Bay landscaping company says his business has been booming with people working to fix their irrigation systems.  “Usually the first three months is pretty slow,” says Jon Meyers of Meyers Landscaping.  Meyers says that is not the case this year. The record dry weather has pushed his clients to start watering their lawns earlier and more often, and because of that, he’s been busy. ... ”  Read more from ABC 7 here:  Bay Area landscaping business sees 300% increase in irrigation repairs as drought worsens

Silicon Valley residents could face fines for wasting water

“Although Valley Water aims to educate the public on conservation, it might start issuing fines for water wasters.  Residents could see water enforcers in their neighborhoods this summer, and offenders being slapped with fines up to $500 after repeated warnings.  Valley Water board member John Varela said in a statement that if the statewide drought continues into 2023, Santa Clara County faces the possibility of wells going dry and land sinking from empty aquifers, which can rupture pipelines and crack home foundations, roads and bridges.  “For the first time in our history, Valley Water is considering adoption of an enforcement program that could fine those who waste water,” he said. “We do not take this lightly, but we want everyone to know that we are in a very serious drought emergency, and we must all take immediate action to protect what little water we have.” … ”  Read more from the San Jose Spotlight here: Silicon Valley residents could face fines for wasting water

CENTRAL COAST

Monterey: The California Coastal Commission rejected Poseidon’s desalination project in Huntington Beach. But it’s far from a death knell for desal.

” … The Commission said this rejection should not be seen as the nail in desalination’s coffin. Chair Donne Brownsey said the hearing represented a “microcosm of the challenging, complex issues facing us as humans in this moment.” She called for the state to develop a statewide plan on desalination that outlines some ground rules so that “businesses and government have clear expectations about what is going to be required so it’s not an ambiguous, extremely time-consuming process.”  Desalination in Monterey County has been a polarizing issue for decades. And despite Poseidon’s warning, this denial does not mean the end of the desalination conversation here, despite the progress of water conservation and the planned expansion of Pure Water Monterey—a project that is under review with the California Public Utilities Commission. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: The California Coastal Commission rejected Poseidon’s desalination project in Huntington Beach. But it’s far from a death knell for desal.

Cal Am not fazed by rejection of SoCal desal project

“A Thursday ruling by the California Coastal Commission denying a Southern California desalination project appears as if it could impact the prospects of California American Water Co.’s plan to construct a desal plant along the Monterey Peninsula.  But Cal Am says the Commission’s decision to deny Poseidon Water Co.’s Huntington Beach project and any impacts on Cal Am’s long-proposed desal project on the Monterey Peninsula is comparing apples to oranges.  … Evan Jacobs, director of external affairs for Cal Am, said the local desal project, called the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, has an entirely different engineering system that would not impact marine wildlife, principally by having its intake system take brackish water from underground instead of directly from the ocean. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Cal Am not fazed by rejection of SoCal desal project

Drought conditions are getting worse in SLO County by the day. Here’s how bad it is now

“Much of San Luis Obispo County is now experiencing some of the worst drought conditions in California. That’s according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Nearly all areas of the county except the coastal regions are experiencing “extreme” drought conditions, the Drought Monitor reports. The coast and the areas west of Highway 101 north of San Luis Obispo are experiencing “severe” drought conditions. … ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here:  Drought conditions are getting worse in SLO County by the day. Here’s how bad it is now

Lopez Lake boat ramp is closing before the summer season: ‘There’s just no water’

“If you were hoping to go boating on Lopez Lake after Memorial Day, there might be a small kink to your plans. The San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation Department has announced it is closing the popular South County lake’s boat launch ramp on Monday, May 16, due to low lake levels. Park Ranger Miles Tuinstra told The Tribune on Friday the closure was due to the lake’s dropping water levels.  “We’ve kept it open as long as we can,” he said. “There’s just no water.” ... ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune here: Lopez Lake boat ramp is closing before the summer season: ‘There’s just no water’

SEE ALSO: Video: Lopez Lake Level falls to 28% due to drought, from the San Luis Obispo Tribune

Thousand Oaks: Drought action: Providers trying to coordinate restrictions

“First it was Metropolitan Water. Then it was Calleguas. Now it’s up to Thousand Oaks’ three water purveyors to decide how they want to respond to the news that Southern California’s supply of water is dangerously low.  The three agencies—California Water Service, California American Water Co. and the City of Thousand Oaks—are in discussions to try to coordinate their message and guidelines, including which day of the week customers will be allowed to water their lawns.  At its April 26 board of directors meeting, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California declared a water shortage emergency and called on all water suppliers to limit outdoor irrigation to one day per week starting June 1. … ”  Read more from the Thousand Oaks Acorn here: Drought action: Providers trying to coordinate restrictions

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Tooleville water connection project expected to take eight years to complete

“The process of connecting Tooleville’s water system to Exeter’s, which would relieve the small community of longtime water supply and contamination issues, is expected to take eight years.  Information from the feasibility study needed to start planning the project has been unfolding bit by bit, mainly through biweekly meetings held between Exeter city officials, representatives from Tooleville, staff from Self Help Enterprises and Provost and Pritchard, the consultants in charge of the study.  “The schedule was new information we got that the consultants developed,” said Exeter City Manager Adam Ennis. “That was the eight-year timeframe for actually being able to go through a process to get improvements in place.” … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Tooleville water connection project expected to take eight years to complete

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

What about my Koi pond? A wealthy L.A. enclave copes with water restrictions

“The questions came fast and furious for nearly five hours Wednesday night, offering a glimpse into the world of wealth, worry and water.  “We have a few large koi pond [sic] with over 100 fish,” one person said during an angst-filled town hall meeting of the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. “Is there a special exemption for them?”  “How long can we run water to top off our pools?”  “If we are always under water budget, can we wash our cars once a week?”  Those were among 600 questions posed by some of the more than 1,000 residents who tuned in to the Zoom meeting. Many reside in communities served by Las Virgenes, including Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and the celebrity enclave of Calabasas. Yes, one of the most severe droughts in California history even hits Kardashian country.  … ”  Read more from LA Times here: What about my Koi pond? A wealthy L.A. enclave copes with water restrictions

Hot and dry: Weekend weather may give rise to dangerous fire conditions

“A warming trend will continue across Southern California on Friday and into the weekend, and the skyrocketing temperatures are bringing dangerous fire conditions, forecasters warned.  Although winds are much weaker than during the middle of the week, gusts of 20 to 30 mph are expected in the valleys and 40 to 45 mph in the mountains, officials said. And humidity levels are continuing to drop, the National Weather Service reported.  “What we’re seeing is elevated to brief critical fire weather conditions for a couple days, mainly in the inland, foothill areas, mountains and Santa Clarita valleys, with some gusty winds at times,” said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the weather service based in Oxnard. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Hot and dry: Weekend weather may give rise to dangerous fire conditions

8.5 million gallon Carson sewage spill caused by corroded pipe, sewer cover, report says

“Five months after 8.5 million gallons of raw sewage spilled from a ruptured mainline in Carson, an independent engineer’s report has pinpointed its cause and offered practical advice for the county agency responsible.  The 96-page report from GHD Group, released this week, examined the causes of the Dec. 30 incident, during which raw sewage emptied into the Dominguez Channel that feeds into Los Angeles Harbor. The spill caused seven beach closures, from Rancho Palos Verdes to Orange County, over the New Year’s holiday weekend. … ”  Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram here: 8.5 million gallon Carson sewage spill caused by corroded pipe, sewer cover, report says

Long Beach: Outdoor watering limited to 2 days as water commission declares new stage of shortage

“Amid ongoing drought conditions that have shown no signs of letting up, the Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners voted Thursday to move to the next level of water restrictions that limit outdoor watering to two days per week. The last time Long Beach was in Stage 2 of the department’s water shortage plan was May 2015. Starting June 1, residents in Long Beach will be restricted to outdoor irrigation on Tuesdays and Saturdays through Sept. 30. The rules also require residents to water before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to limit the amount of water that’s lost to evaporation. … ”  Read more from the Long Beach Post here: Long Beach: Outdoor watering limited to 2 days as water commission declares new stage of shortage

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Commentary: There’s no such thing as a responsible surfing resort in the desert

Sydney Hayes, a student majoring in environmental studies and economics at Bowdoin College, writes, “John Gamlin’s recent defense of his Coral Mountain wave basin resort in The Desert Sun (guest column, May 8) fails to address the main issue. Planning development according to historic water levels is extremely naive in the desert, and we have seen this story pan out before.  In 1959, the North Shore Beach and Yacht Club opened on the shore of the Salton Sea — a massive lake created in the early 1900s when engineers accidentally flooded the ancient basin with diverted Colorado River water intended to irrigate the dry, fertile Imperial Valley.  Today, we still use Colorado River water to supplement the valley’s need for water. The resort development built on this “sea” attracted many big names in entertainment, including the Beach Boys and Jerry Lewis, to swim, boat, and waterski. Today, the lake has shrunk and continues to shrink as it evaporates, leaving a toxic expanse in its wake. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Commentary: There’s no such thing as a responsible surfing resort in the desert

Lithium Valley: A look at the major players near the Salton Sea seeking billions in funding

“Imperial Valley has a new nickname these days: Lithium Valley. Or as California Gov. Gavin Newsom likes to call it, “the Saudi Arabia of lithium.”  The monikers are a nod to vast reserves of the white-hot mineral deep below the Earth’s surface in California’s hot, southeast corner, near the Salton Sea. While likely one of the world’s largest lithium deposits, it will be at least two years before major tonnage will be produced. … Three companies, Controlled Thermal Resources, EnergySource and Berkshire Hathaway Renewables, are testing or scaling up pilot technologies at the Salton Sea, running the gauntlet of environmental approvals and permits, and seeking billions of dollars in private and public funding for construction of up to half a dozen facilities in the next decade. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun here: Lithium Valley: A look at the major players near the Salton Sea seeking billions in funding

SEE ALSO:

• Lithium Valley: Imperial County big winner in California budget revision, from the Desert Sun
• Lithium Valley Commission backs Imperial County, from the Holtville Tribune

Column: With the Colorado River in decline, even the New River looks inviting

Columnist Brian McNeece writes, ” … Our water steward, the Imperial Irrigation District, may soon be cut, too, but luckily for the Imperial Valley, the IID has the most senior water rights on the river. While those large policy matters are being worked out, we should turn our attention to preserving another source of water to the Valley: The New River. … Here’s the bad news. Even when Mexicali’s treatment system is working properly, the New River is still contaminated. The other bad news is that Mexicali wants to recycle New River water and reduce the cross-border flow to zero. Despite the New River being contaminated, we should now see its water as a resource to pursue. … ”  Read the full commentary at the Imperial Valley Press here: Column: With the Colorado River in decline, even the New River looks inviting

SEE ALSO: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Our Ebullient, Can-do Leader on New River Matters, from the Holtville Tribune

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Along the Colorado River …

Washington Post interactive: The Colorado River is in crisis, and it’s getting worse every day

“The Colorado River is in crisis — one deepening by the day. It is a powerhouse: a 1,450-mile waterway that stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez, serving 40 million people in seven U.S. states, 30 federally recognized tribes and Mexico. It hydrates 5 million acres of agricultural land and provides critical habitat for rare fish, birds and plants.  But the Colorado’s water was overpromised when it was first allocated a century ago. Demand in the fast-growing Southwest exceeds supply, and it is growing even as supply drops amid a climate change-driven megadrought and rising temperatures. … ”  Continue reading at the Washington Post here: Washington Post interactive: The Colorado River is in crisis, and it’s getting worse every day

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.  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

Drought threatens hydropower

“Amid extreme drought and record low water levels in the Colorado Basin, the federal government has decided to retain more water in Lake Powell and release less to Lake Mead and beyond. The action preserves hydropower generation for the short term, but as reporter Luke Runyon explains to Host Steve Curwood, the Colorado River basin still faces a long-term water shortage that imperils the future of cities and farms in the Southwest. ... ”  Listen to radio show or read transcript at The Living Earth here: Drought threatens hydropower

Radio: Climate experts worry about water supplies in Colorado River; a conversation with ‘Life on the Grocery Line’ author Adam Kaat

“Warmer days are here, and the snow that supplies most of the water to the Colorado River is melting. Certainly, our drought-stricken region needs all the water it can get. With just a few weeks left in spring, KUNC’s Alex Hager tells us what we can expect for water this summer in the Colorado River basin.  The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a lot of uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our society. One of those things was just how undervalued many essential workers are, especially those in lower-paid service-industry jobs. According to an analysis from the Bell Policy Center, around 20% of Colorado’s workforce are considered essential workers — in fields ranging from healthcare to transportation to stocking the shelves of grocery stores. … ”  Read more and listen at KUNC here: Radio: Climate experts worry about water supplies in Colorado River; a conversation with ‘Life on the Grocery Line’ author Adam Kaat

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In national water news this weekend …

EPA, Corps moving forward on WOTUS rules update

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to continue to press forward with new rules defining the types of rivers, streams and wetlands that fall under Clean Water Act protections, despite a looming Supreme Court case that will weigh in on the same issue, EPA’s top official said at a congressional appropriations hearing April 29.  EPA Administrator Michael Regan, speaking before the House’s appropriations subcommittee on interior and the environment, said EPA officials have been meeting with farmers and other groups to get their perspective and “will continue to move forward.” However, he noted that the second part of the proposal that has not yet been released may not be finalized until after the court hands down a decision sometime next year. ... ”  Read more from Engineering News & Record here: EPA, Corps moving forward on WOTUS rules update

PFAS/CERCLA Liability: Ten water sector associations request exemption

“Ten water sector associations sent an April 28th joint letter to key United States Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chairmen and Ranking Members seeking an exemption from the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) if PFAS chemicals are designated as hazardous substances.  The 10 water sector associations jointly executing the letter include … ”  Continue reading at JD Supra here: PFAS/CERCLA Liability: Ten water sector associations request exemption