On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WEBINAR: Drinking Water Capacity Development Strategy Update from 11am to 12pm. The State Water Resources Control Board will hold a public webinar to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to review and discuss the proposed revisions to the state’s Capacity Development Strategy for public drinking water systems. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment Kick-Off Webinar from 12pm to 1pm. Building on the strong foundation set by previous Assessments, the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research is leading the implementation of California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment) in partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency, California Energy Commission, and California Strategic Growth Council. Join us on July 7th 12-1pm for the kick-off of the Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment) engagement process. The webinar will provide an introduction to the Fifth Assessment and timeline for new climate data and scenarios, original research that addresses California-specific priorities on climate change, a Tribal Research Program, a suite of regional, topical, and statewide synthesis reports, and tools and resources to ensure this information drives climate action on the ground. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan from 1pm to 3pm. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared the Draft Environmental Assessment to analyze and disclose the effects of implementing the Salton Sea Management Program. Stakeholders are invited to provide official comments that will help shape which projects are implemented, what community amenities are included, how potential environmental effects are addressed, and proposed alternatives. Join Zoom for the Public comments meeting for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan.
- SONOMA COUNTY DROUGHT TOWN HALL at 4pm. Hosted by Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, the town hall will feature a panel of experts reporting on current drought conditions, the latest long-range weather forecast, and the impact of the drought on Russian River water quality, recreation and the county’s regional park system. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan from 6pm to 8pm. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared the Draft Environmental Assessment to analyze and disclose the effects of implementing the Salton Sea Management Program. Stakeholders are invited to provide official comments that will help shape which projects are implemented, what community amenities are included, how potential environmental effects are addressed, and proposed alternatives. Join Zoom for the Public comments meeting for the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan.
In California water news today …
Balancing protein in your diet could improve water quality
“Balancing how much protein you eat with the amount your body needs could reduce nitrogen releases to aquatic systems in the U.S. by 12% and overall nitrogen losses to air and water by 4%, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. Protein consumption in the United States, from both plant and animal sources, ranks among the highest in the world. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, said that if Americans ate protein at recommended amounts, projected nitrogen excretion rates in 2055 would be 27% less than they are today despite population growth. The study is the first to estimate how much protein consumption contributes to excess nitrogen in the environment through human waste. It also indicates that coastal cities have the largest potential to reduce nitrogen excretions headed for their watersheds. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Balancing protein in your diet could improve water quality
Indigenous tribes and the environment pay the price for California’s new reservoirs
“Last year saw the hottest and driest year in California in over a century. Since 2000, many western U.S. states have endured what scientists refer to as a megadrought not seen since 1500. In May, California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the state’s top water agency to accelerate the approvals process for the proposed Sites Reservoir, a $4 billion project built on the west side of the Sacramento Valley that would pull water from the Sacramento and Trinity rivers. Newsom touted the project as a drought solution and a way to manage water levels in dry and wet seasons, but critics contend that the reservoir plan runs roughshod over the needs of Indigenous tribes and could potentially worsen the already alarming effects of the drought. A coalition led by Indigenous leaders from the Pit River, Hoopa Valley, Winnemem Wintu, Yurok, Karuk, Pomo, and Miwok Tribes, along with Indigenous scientists, and water protectors say that the Sites Reservoir is a continuation of the state’s original racist water policies, which prioritized dispossessing land from its Native stewards to fuel the economic interests of farmers and ranchers. ... ” Read more from Prism here: Indigenous tribes and the environment pay the price for California’s new reservoirs
CA Tribes, EJ Groups Respond to State Water Board on Delta Plan – Petition largely ignored; Coalition considers next move
“Today, California Tribes and environmental justice groups filed a formal response to the State Water Resources Control Board. At issue is the coalition’s request that the Water Board update the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (“Bay-Delta Plan”)—a duty of the board now more than a decade overdue. The letter calls the State’s response inadequate: “While Petitioners appreciate the Board’s statement that updating the Bay-Delta Plan is a “high priority” for the agency, the Board’s actions do not bear this out. The Decision fails to acknowledge that the Board has been in clear violation for nearly twelve years of its statutory duties under both the Clean Water Act and California’s Porter Cologne Act to review and update water quality standards for the Bay-Delta. Nor does the Board acknowledge the urgency of redressing these violations or suggest any intent to act with the speed that the law and the crisis in the Bay-Delta require. Rather, the Board falls back on the same tired narrative that it is ‘preparing a Staff Report’ with ‘options for updating the Bay-Delta Plan,’ which the agency has been suggesting since at least July 2018. The Board provides no greater reason now to believe that it will voluntarily follow the law than it did four years ago … ” Continue reading from Restore the Delta here: CA Tribes, EJ Groups Respond to State Water Board on Delta Plan – Petition largely ignored; Coalition considers next move
Epoch Times: Is California’s water crisis man-made?
“Californians are very familiar with water preservation. But why exactly do we need to be so cautious with our water usage? Experts tell us enough water hits our state in a given year to comfortably supply everyone’s needs. That begs the next question: Then where does the water go? Darcy Burke, president of Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, explains why a court ruling is restricting the amount of water we capture and distribute, and how California struggles to find a balance between environmental, agricultural, and urban water distribution.”
A year’s worth of Northern California’s rainfall has gone missing since 2019
“Much of Northern California received only two-thirds of its normal rainfall for the last three years, according to meteorologist Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services. “It’s like working for three years and only getting paid for two,” he said. Some places, such as Ukiah, Santa Rosa and Mount Shasta City, did even worse, logging about half or less of their normal precipitation. Null compiled a summary of the three rainfall seasons from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022, and the figures starkly illustrate the severity of the drought in the state. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: A year’s worth of Northern California’s rainfall has gone missing since 2019 | Read via Yahoo News
Q/A: Going with the flow: Modern intake design goes easy on the fish
“The Delta Conveyance Deep Dive video series has explored a wide range of topics including climate change, financing the project, tunnel construction and Delta fisheries, among others. We return to the subject of fish again, this time with an in-depth look at the design of water intakes and fish screens. Preventing fish from getting caught up in the water diverted at the intakes – a situation known as “entrainment” – is a high priority and many innovative technologies have been developed to meet the challenge. We invited two of the project’s leading experts on intakes and fish screens, Phil Ryan and Darryl Hayes, to tell us about how the Delta Conveyance Project is addressing the challenges of intake design and siting for the project. Phil Ryan is the engineering design manager and intakes lead for the Delta Conveyance Design and Constructional Authority (DCA). He has over 35 years of experience with planning and design of major conveyance facilities, including large river and lake intakes throughout the United States. … ” Read more from DWR here: Q/A: Going with the flow: Modern intake design goes easy on the fish
Multiagency watershed protection task force gears up for summer
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) have aligned their cannabis enforcement teams for the 2022 watershed protection season. The multiagency task force is one of several coordinated efforts to tackle illicit cannabis cultivation that illegally diverts water resources, harms sensitive habitats and can exacerbate drought conditions. Since 2018, CDFW and their partners have eradicated over 19.2 million illegal cannabis plants and destroyed 918,591 pounds of illegally processed cannabis statewide. Tackling the illegal market across the entire supply chain requires coordination with various county, state and federal agencies, with CDFW taking the lead on illegal outdoor cultivation operations in conjunction with the SWRCB and local law enforcement teams. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: Multiagency watershed protection task force gears up for summer
Groundbreaking held for extensive Lookout Slough wetland project
“A groundbreaking ceremony for the extensive Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Management Project was recently held, nearly a year after the project was stalled due to public access concerns. The Lookout Slough Project is a $118.86 million, 3,000-acre habitat restoration and flood management project in the Cache Slough Complex in Solano County. The Department of Water Resources and Ecosystem Investment Partners are heading the project. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Groundbreaking held for extensive Lookout Slough wetland project
Drought continues to affect crops, diary in California
“More farmers’ markets are back up and running as customers are ready to pick up fresh produce and dairy products. But the supply isn’t there. For state dairy farmers the cost of production just keeps getting higher. Cattle feed and fertilizer costs are on the rise while supplies are becoming harder to find. As a result, some farmers are milking fewer cows or even moving toward raising bulls for beef instead of dairy. Central Valley farmers are raising prices to keep up with industry demand. … ” Read more from KERO here: Drought continues to affect crops, diary in California
More water evaporates from lakes than we thought
“A white mineral ring as tall as the Statue of Liberty creeps up the steep shoreline of Lake Mead, a Colorado River reservoir just east of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border. It is the country’s largest reservoir, and it’s draining rapidly. With much of the United States experiencing above-normal temperatures, below-average rainfall, and a changing climate, it’s vital that water management decision-makers have accurate information. Led by Huilin Gao, associate professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at Texas A&M University, researchers created the global lake evaporation volume (GLEV) dataset. It leverages modeling and remote sensing to provide the first long-term monthly time series for 1.42 million individual natural lakes and artificial reservoirs worldwide. … ” Read more from Futurity here: More water evaporates from lakes than we thought
Climate change is sapping Yosemite’s forests and waterfalls. A congressional delegation wants to do something about it
“Yosemite National Park, like much of the country’s most spectacular wilderness, is bearing the brunt of climate change. Forests are burning, glaciers are melting and waterfalls are drying up, a scenario that reflects the disproportionate vulnerability that scientists say national parks face as the climate warms. The toll was on extraordinary display last month with the catastrophic flooding of Yellowstone National Park. This week, in an effort to address the burden of climate change on the national park system, a delegation from Congress arrived in Yosemite to try to better understand the impacts. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Climate change is sapping Yosemite’s forests and waterfalls. A congressional delegation wants to do something about it
When wildfire smoke descends, Californians are told to close windows and run air purifiers. It may not work, study says
“It’s summer in California — which means hazy, smoky days are on the horizon, as wildfires scorch the drought-parched land. When the smoke descends, public health officials issue now-familiar warnings: close windows and outer doors and run air purifiers to avoid breathing in fine particles that can embed in your lungs and cause long-term damage. But this advice may not be widely followed, according to a new study from Stanford University researchers published in Nature Human Behavior on Thursday. And the disparity between wealthy and poorer neighborhoods is significant. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: When wildfire smoke descends, Californians are told to close windows and run air purifiers. It may not work, study says
Today’s featured article …
FEATURE: Good News on Nutria
Written exclusively for Maven’s Notebook by Robin Meadows
When California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Greg Gerstenberg saw the first nutria caught in a duck club pond near Los Banos in 2017, he had never even heard of these water-loving South American rodents. Today, as a lead on field operations to eradicate them from the state, Gerstenberg knows these two-foot, 20-pound invaders all too well. Nutria are prolific breeders and can be astonishingly destructive, burrowing up to 150 feet deep into levees and mudbanks, and laying waste to huge swaths of wetlands.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Fire season heating up in Klamath, Lake counties
“The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership is raising the Fire Danger Level to “High” on Friday, July 8, for all federal, state, county and private lands in Klamath and Lake counties that fall under its agencies’ protection. The raised level is the result of early season summer-like heat, dry weather, depleted snowpack and the rapid drying of forest fuels. Fires starting in these conditions have the potential to spread rapidly and cause significant damage. The increased Fire Danger Level adds fire restrictions to private, county and state wildlands in order to minimize the chances of fire. … ” Read more from the Herald & News here: Fire season heating up in Klamath, Lake counties
Dept. of Interior visits Klamath Basin
“Senior leaders from the Department of the Interior finished a two-day visit to the Klamath Basin this week to meet with Tribes, state and county officials, interagency partners, and water users to discuss near- and long-term solutions related to drought impacts and highlight how investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help protect and conserve species and their habitats in the region. Over the past 20 years, the Klamath Basin has met unprecedented challenges due to ongoing drought conditions, limited water supply and diverse needs. The Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have diligently sought collaborative solutions for water availability with partners and those intimately connected to land and water conditions. The Interior Department has held several engagement sessions, virtually and in-person, as part of its commitment to transparency and ongoing review of best practices as we continue to address climate change and work towards long term solutions in the Klamath Basin for current and future generations. ... ” Read more from Klamath Falls News here: Dept. of Interior visits Klamath Basin
New Mendocino Land Trust conservation easement preserves nearly 6,000 acres in Eel River watershed
“On June 24, Mendocino Land Trust completed its largest conservation easement to date which it said will preserve thousands of acres in the Eel River watershed, including the land around Lake Pillsbury. The group said the agreement will forever protect 5,620 acres from further development and habitat degradation. With the addition of these lands, the total acreage the Mendocino Land Trust, or MLT, has helped protect since 1976 is nearly 25,000 acres. The land remains privately owned but the completion of the conservation easement means that MLT can ensure the perpetual protection of this rich wildlife area that is home to a great diversity of species even if ownership changes. … ” Read more from the Lake County News here: New Mendocino Land Trust conservation easement preserves nearly 6,000 acres in Eel River watershed
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe Clarity Report for 2021: Past 20 years of data indicate evolving threats for Lake Tahoe
“The cobalt blue waters of Lake Tahoe were about as clear in 2021 as they were in 2020. But a broader look at clarity measurements shows there is no pattern of consistent clarity improvement over the past 20 years. The lake also has not fully recovered from a spike of fine particles that flowed into its waters after the extremely wet year of 2017. That’s according to the data collected through 2021 by the University of California, Davis, Tahoe Environmental Research Center. UC Davis has measured clarity and other health indicators at Lake Tahoe since 1968, helping to inform policymakers and stakeholders on strategies to protect the lake and stabilize the decline in clarity that dates back to the region’s development boom in the 1960s. … ” Read more from UC Davis here: Lake Tahoe Clarity Report for 2021: Past 20 years of data indicate evolving threats for Lake Tahoe
Can Lake Tahoe’s clear waters rebound from storms and fires? Report shows declining clarity
“Lake Tahoe’s water clarity declined slightly in 2021, reaching the second-lowest level since measurements began in the 1960s. UC Davis released its annual Lake Tahoe clarity report Wednesday, finding that the lake’s average clarity was 61 feet in 2021, compared to 63 feet in 2020. Scientists have long measured Lake Tahoe’s clarity by lowering a white Secchi disk into the water, and measuring how long it remains visible. Lake Tahoe historically had clarity upwards of 97 feet. But water clarity has been in stark decline in the past decades, and became especially hazy in 2017, when historic winter storms caused particles to enter the lake and drove clarity to an all-time low of 60.4 feet. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Can Lake Tahoe’s clear waters rebound from storms and fires? Report shows declining clarity
Lake Tahoe cove ‘blanketed’ in trash from July 4 crowd
“More than 300 volunteers, a dive team, and one beach-cleaning robot spread out across five Lake Tahoe beaches on July 5 to tackle trash left behind by holiday visitors. Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular places in Northern California for celebrating the Fourth of July holiday. Once the crowds left on Tuesday, volunteers with League to Save Lake Tahoe dedicated their own time and effort to join the annual Keep Tahoe Red, White, and Blue Beach Cleanup and pick up 3,450 pounds of trash. … ” Read more from KRON here: Lake Tahoe cove ‘blanketed’ in trash from July 4 crowd
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Moderate water shortage declared in Red Bluff; residents asked to cut back
“With the City Council passing an ordinance declaring a stage II moderate water shortage Tuesday night, Red Bluff residents will be asked to cut back on their water usage. City water customers must refrain from landscape watering except between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m., equip any hose with a shutoff nozzle and promptly repair all leaks in plumbing fixtures, water lines and sprinkler systems. Residents will be prohibited from hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes, washing vehicles with hoses not equipped with a shutoff nozzle, using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature, watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff or within 48 hours after measurable precipitation and irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News here: Moderate water shortage declared in Red Bluff; residents asked to cut back
Yuba City: Water project clears hurdle
“Amid ongoing concerns over water and the state’s yearslong drought, the Yuba City City Council on Tuesday night approved a bid to start its first phase of a water project that could provide upwards of 2 million gallons per day to residents. Up for consideration before the council was the approval of a bid to begin phase one of the Second Groundwater Well Project. According to the city, this project, when completed, will allow the city to “provide additional water resources by securing access to groundwater” at Yuba City’s Water Treatment Plant. City Manager Diana Langley said after Tuesday’s meeting that the entire project won’t be operational until sometime next year. According to a staff report by the city, construction of the second well will occur in two phases. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Water project clears hurdle | Read via Yahoo News
NAPA/SONOMA
Oak Hill neighbors express concerns as Petaluma plans for new well
“Petaluma residents neighboring a planned groundwater well project in the Oak Hill Park area are asking city leaders for more transparency and review before approving its construction, following concerns that the area’s foundation may be too fragile. The Oak Hill Municipal Well Project would install a well on a 5.58-acre, city-owned property at 35 Park Avenue, as city officials look to offset the need for purchased water and increase the reliability and diversity of local water supplies during the ongoing drought. ... ” Read more from the Argus-Courier here: Oak Hill neighbors express concerns as Petaluma plans for new well
BAY AREA
Los Altos: Local water agency uses tech to limit water use
“With 2022 the driest year on record in more than a century, local residents, water agencies and city governments are taking steps to limit water consumption. The Mountain View City Council last week declared a Stage 2 water shortage emergency and imposed restrictions on outdoor water use. At the Los Altos City Council meeting last week, City Manager Gabriel Engeland gave an update on the city’s work so far to mitigate drought conditions, alerting council members to plans for the Environmental Commission to review “reach codes for water.” In Los Altos Hills, Purissima Hills Water District officials reported they succeeded in getting customers to reduce water use on their own by installing smart water meters for all customers in 2014. … ” Read more from the Los Altos Crier here: Local water agency uses tech to limit water use
Half Moon Bay: Pillar Point Harbor dredging project moves deeper
“Ever since Pillar Point Harbor’s eastern breakwater was constructed in 1961, two environmental factors have been at play. Sand hasn’t been able to sweep to the southern beaches, and that has caused rapid erosion at Surfer’s Beach. Instead, the sand has built up inside the harbor, effectively creating another beach at low tide. Half Moon Bay resident Thomas Lundgard, who has taught surf lessons nearly every summer day at the beach since 2018 as the co-owner of Tommy Tsunami Surf School, has witnessed firsthand how dangerous the lack of sand has become. Exposed clay and rocks have become the norm for him and many surfers at low tide. The issue is especially noticeable after large winter swells when waves undercut the concrete foundation of the stairs to the beach. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay here: Half Moon Bay: Pillar Point Harbor dredging project moves deeper
CENTRAL COAST
Construction of culvert at the San Lorenzo River mouth starts next week
“Construction of a culvert will begin next week on Santa Cruz Main Beach at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River to prevent seasonal flooding of the surrounding area and stop the catastrophic breaching of the lagoon that forms there. “After 3-4 years of design and environmental review, we’re very excited that this project is finally coming into fruition,” said Scott Ruble, principle analyst at Santa Cruz Public Works. After the construction of the Santa Cruz Harbor altered the coastline in 1964, the shoaling that began to occur near Main Beach subsequently created high river mouth water levels. For decades after, the flooding that occured at the river mouth in the summer and fall has caused substantial problems for the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, nearby neighborhoods, commuters and beachgoers. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel here: Construction of culvert at the San Lorenzo River mouth starts next week
New requirements call for significant investment into Santa Maria’s wastewater treatment plant
“The City of Santa Maria will have to make a substantial investment in its wastewater treatment plant to conform with new discharge requirements. The project will take nearly a decade to complete and early estimates put the price tag around $200 million. Last November, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board notified the city that it would need to enroll its wastewater treatment plant under the board’s general permit, which has stricter discharge requirements than the city’s current individual permit. With the application due Aug. 5, the city has already budgeted more than $1 million to study and develop the project. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Times here: New requirements call for significant investment into Santa Maria’s wastewater treatment plant
Carpinteria: Groundwater sustainability fee adopted
“Since its formation in 2020, the Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency (CGSA) has been operating on loans and cannot continue without a revenue source to support ongoing operations and administration, according to the agency. The CGSA was formed by a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the Carpinteria Valley Water District, city of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County Water Agency and county of Ventura to ensure long-term sustainable use of the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin through monitoring, planning and oversight. A fee study initiated in 2021 was designed to recover costs of the agency while ensuring that the benefit received from sustainable management of the basin is proportional to the fees paid. … ” Read more from Coastal View here: Groundwater sustainability fee adopted
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Drought concerns deepen as snowpack melts away
“The snowpack on the far reaches of the Stanislaus River watershed in late June was as anemic as it gets in mid-August. Atop the 11,404-foot summit of Sonora Peak — the highest and eastern most point where water from melting snow makes its way into the middle fork of the Stanislaus River — the view was reminiscent of a typical precipitation year leading up to Labor Day and not the Fourth of July weekend. Small splotches and not wide swaths of snow were on the horizon looking south toward Yosemite. … ” Read more from Riverbank News here: Drought concerns deepen as snowpack melts away
East Valley farmers and cities may get more surface water this summer
“Farmers and cities on the east side of the Valley may get more water than they originally thought. Friant Water Authority, which operates the Friant-Kern Canal, said in a recent memo on its website it is confident its contractors will not only get the 15% allocation of surface water deliveries announced in February but that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will likely increase the amount to 20%, possibly as early as this week. The Bureau of Reclamation is the federal agency which oversees the Central Valley Project, a network of dams, reservoirs, canals, hydroelectric power plants and other facilities which supply water to the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley and parts of the Bay Area. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: East Valley farmers and cities may get more surface water this summer
Eastern Tule GSA election: Growers choose water of land fees
“After essentially being told trying to make an up front payment wouldn’t be any cheaper than making a payment over the long-term — and actually might even be a little more expensive — growers in Southeastern Tulare County overwhelmingly rejected a fee that would have financed that up front payment. Growers in Southeastern Tulare County have overwhelmingly rejected a fee on land that would have gone toward paying a settlement between the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency and the Friant Water Authority, SJV Water has reported. The growers have instead decided to stick with a water usage fee. ETGSA proposed a $140-per-acre fee on lands within its area, which essentially covers Southeastern Tulare County. The fee would have been assessed as part of the growers property taxes. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Eastern Tule GSA election: Growers choose water of land fees
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Listen: Amid drought, 2 LA cities find more ways to use stormwater and saltwater
“There are two ways to survive California’s drought: Conserve water or innovate to create more usable water. Santa Monica and Avalon are trying to do both. Marta Segura will create new early warning systems for heat waves throughout LA’s microclimates, and long-term strategies to reduce heat exposure, particularly for unhoused Angelenos. Sister Simone Campbell will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor this week. She’s an activist, lawyer, poet, and co-founder of the “Nuns on the Bus” movement.” Listen at KCRW here: Listen: Amid drought, 2 LA cities find more ways to use stormwater and saltwater
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
KESQ Palm Springs examines what happened to California’s largest lake
“Just a short drive south of Palm Springs, you’ll find California’s largest lake, the Salton Sea. Back in its heyday, hundreds of thousands of people visited the area, attracting more visitors than Yosemite Park at the time. Fishing, water-skiing and boat-racing reigned on high, earning the lake the nickname “the fastest body of water.” One area on the western part of the lake, Salton City, became a hot spot for luxury living development. These days, if you travel along the increasingly shrinking shorelines, you’ll see suffering communities dotted with abandoned homes and lined with silent streets. What happened to the Salton Sea? How did it go from a true desert oasis to California’s largest environmental calamity? … ” Read more from TV News Check here: KESQ Palm Springs examines what happened to California’s largest lake
SEE ALSO: A Day at the Beach on a Disappearing Sea, from Mel Magazine
SAN DIEGO
Carlsbad to award $600K in grants for coastal zone mitigation projects
“The city of Carlsbad is accepting applications for about $600,000 in grants to support certain agricultural, coastal or wetland restoration projects that enhance quality of life in Carlsbad. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on July 20. Funding for the grants comes from fees paid by developers when agricultural land in the city’s coastal zone is used for development. … ” Read more from the North Coast Current here: Carlsbad to award $600K in grants for coastal zone mitigation projects
San Diegans taste and smell something in the water
“Banker’s Hill resident Jean Diedrich first noticed her water tasted funny last Wednesday. She told KPBS it tasted “like dirt or must,” adding that it didn’t look or feel any different, but it smelled bad. She said while neighbors discussed it among themselves and asked the property manager about it, all they could do was guess what could be wrong with their water and whether it was safe. “Our property manager seems to think there was some issue with the water intake line from the city, but I never received anything official about that,” said Diedrich. … ” Read more from KPBS here: San Diegans taste and smell something in the water
SEE ALSO: Residents complain San Diego drinking water is ‘stinky’ and ‘smells like mold’, from the San Diego Union-Tribune
Along the Colorado River …
Invasive species concerns confirmed on the lower Colorado River
“For National Park Service fisheries biologist Jeff Arnold, it was a moment he’d been dreading. Bare-legged in sandals, he was pulling in a net in a shallow backwater of the lower Colorado River last week, when he spotted three young fish that didn’t belong there. “Give me a call when you get this!” he messaged a colleague, snapping photos. Minutes later, the park service confirmed their worst fear: smallmouth bass had in fact been found and were likely reproducing in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. They may be a beloved sport fish, but smallmouth bass feast on humpback chub, an ancient, threatened fish that’s native to the river, and that biologists like Arnold have been working hard to recover. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Invasive species concerns confirmed on the lower Colorado River
Colorado tells Lower Basin states to cut water use to meet federal demand to conserve
“Colorado has no plans to make additional cuts to water use next year to meet the Bureau of Reclamation’s demand to conserve millions of acre-feet of water, a step needed to preserve power production in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Instead, Colorado officials insist that other states should do the cutting. “I think that at this point, we stand ready to hear what the Lower Basin has in mind,” said Amy Ostdiek, a section chief with the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Ostdiek told The Gazette the Upper Basin states — Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah — dramatically reduced their water use in 2021 because of drought conditions. Specifically, they cut 1 million acre-feet in use in 2021 compared with 2020, bringing it down to 3.5 million acre-feet. … ” Read more from the Gazette here: Colorado tells Lower Basin states to cut water use to meet federal demand to conserve
As the Colorado River falls, projects for new diversions remain
“As snowpack from the Colorado River decreases, Arizona’s major reservoirs are at all-time lows. But that hasn’t stopped projects to divert more water from the river’s flow. Although estimates of the Colorado River’s flow point to a drier future, there are still a number of projects on the drawing board for new dams, diversions or pipelines in Upper Basin states. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: As the Colorado River falls, projects for new diversions remain
Governor Ducey signs legislation to secure Arizona’s water future
“Governor Doug Ducey today signed historic legislation that makes an unprecedented $1 billion investment to secure Arizona’s water future, fulfilling a promise outlined during his State of the State address in January. “Today, we are taking a bold step to do what the men and women of Arizona hired us to do — position our state for success today, tomorrow and for generations to come,” said Governor Ducey. “This legislation is crucial for our continued growth and prosperity. It will ensure Arizona remains a land of opportunity for families and for businesses large and small. As we’ve done over the past seven and a half years, we came together, brought everyone to the table and delivered for the people of this great state. … ” Read more from the Arizona Governor’s Office here: Governor Ducey signs legislation to secure Arizona’s water future
SEE ALSO: Governor signs $1.2B water plan as Arizona faces cutbacks, from KTAR
Arizona lawmakers take new steps on state’s water problem
“State lawmakers lined up the votes June 24 to look for long-term sources of new water for Arizona – but only after they concluded they need to do something more. And soon. With only token dissent, both the House and Senate agreed on the last day of the 2022 legislative session to empower a revamped Water Infrastructure Finance Agency to come up with and fund new ways to deal with the fact that the amount of water being used in the state is more than what is currently available. … ” Read more from the East Valley Times here: Arizona lawmakers take new steps on state’s water problem
Desert farming is tough – and getting tougher
“Third generation Central Arizona farmer Nancy Caywood is of the school of thought that if you don’t talk about a problem, you can’t find ways to solve it. And she’s got a lot to talk about after she and other Pinal County growers have had to labor under Tier 1 water restrictions implemented at the start of the year when Arizona’s share of the Colorado River was cut. The Bureau of Reclamation estimated the reduction meant that Central Arizona Project farmers there would lose access to nearly half the water on which they had been reliant. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press here: Desert farming is tough – and getting tougher
The Colorado stream case that could revolutionize river access
“The first rock hurtled past Roger Hill’s head and plunked into the Arkansas River on a summer day in 2012. Hill, then 71, stood hip-deep in the flow, clad in waders, and clutching his fly rod. Atop a steep bluff, a woman — whose name, Hill later learned, was Linda Joseph — glowered down at him. Hill was trespassing on private property, Joseph shouted, and flung another rock. “If she’d hit me with a baseball-sized rock from 50 feet up, honest to God, it would have killed me,” Hill recalled. Hill retreated, but the dispute was only beginning. The next time he waded to his favorite spot, some 20 miles upstream of Cañon City, Colorado, Joseph’s husband, Mark Warsewa, left a note on Hill’s car that threatened him with arrest. Hill stayed away, but in 2015, two of his buddies returned to fish. Warsewa emerged from his riverfront home with a handgun and fired a shot in their direction. The bullet struck the surface a mere 15 feet from the anglers. Although Warsewa got 30 days in jail for his stunt, the issue that sparked the conflict remains unresolved: Who owns the beds of Colorado’s rivers? … ” Read more from Grist here: The Colorado stream case that could revolutionize river access
Colorado outlines its plan for how the state will deal with water shortages worsened by climate change and population growth
“Colorado’s water leaders have released an updated blueprint detailing how the state will manage and conserve water supplies as climate change and population growth strain the system in unprecedented ways. The first Colorado Water Plan was released in 2015 after back-to-back years of historic drought and sought to address the possibility that the state might not have enough water in the next few decades. In the years since, continued warming, poor snowpack and low river flows have devastated available water supplies for farmers and ranchers. The reservoirs on the Colorado River, which starts in the mountains of Colorado and supplies more than 40 million people in the West with water, have hit critically low levels in the last year. The emergency has prompted the federal government to step in and demand the use of less Colorado River water. ... ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio here: Colorado outlines its plan for how the state will deal with water shortages worsened by climate change and population growth
In national water news today …
Revealed: US water likely contains more ‘forever chemicals’ than EPA tests show
“A Guardian analysis of water samples from around the United States shows that the type of water testing relied on by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is so limited in scope that it is probably missing significant levels of PFAS pollutants. The undercount leaves regulators with an incomplete picture of the extent of PFAS contamination and reveals how millions of people may be facing an unknown health risk in their drinking water. The analysis checked water samples from PFAS hot spots around the country with two types of tests: an EPA-developed method that detects 30 types of the approximately 9,000 PFAS compounds, and another that checks for a marker of all PFAS. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: Revealed: US water likely contains more ‘forever chemicals’ than EPA tests show
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: July 6 Weekly Update on Curtailment Status of Water Rights and Claims in the Delta Watershed
NOTICE: Notice of Public Hearing and Pre-Hearing Conference (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
CORRECTED Draft Emergency Regulation for the Delta Watershed Available
