In California water news today …
California Drought: ‘A train wreck of dryness’ – The atmosphere is working against rain
California Drought: ABC10 meteorologist Brenden Mincheff explores the complex relationships between atmospheric oscillations and drought in California. Read the story here or watch video below.
A California city’s water supply is expected to run out in two months
“The residents of this sun-scorched city feel California’s endless drought when the dust lifts off the brown hills and flings grit into their living rooms. They see it when they drive past almond trees being ripped from the ground for lack of water and the new blinking sign at the corner of Elm and Cherry warning: “No watering front yard lawns.” The fire chief noticed it when he tested hydrants in August — a rare occurrence as Coalinga desperately seeks to conserve water — and the first one shot out a foot-long block of compacted dirt. The second one ejected a can of Axe body spray. But what lies ahead might be far worse for the 17,000 residents living amid the oil derricks and cattle farms on the western edge of the state’s Central Valley. Coalinga has only one source of water — a shrinking allotment from an aqueduct managed by the federal government — and officials are projecting the city will use up that amount before the end of the year. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: A California city’s water supply is expected to run out in two months
Remarkable piece of WWII history emerges from California’s Lake Shasta
“A surprising — and mysterious — piece of World War II history has emerged from Lake Shasta as the California drought unearths long-submerged relics from the water. Shasta-Trinity National Forest announced Sunday that a boat was found in the desiccating lake bed, hidden from view likely for decades. The “31-17” marking on it linked it back to the USS Monrovia, an attack transport ship used in both the European and Pacific theaters of WWII. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Remarkable piece of WWII history emerges from California’s Lake Shasta
SEE ALSO:
- World War II-era boat revealed as drought continues to shrink Northern California lake, from the Sacramento Bee
- World War II ‘ghost’ boat found in Lake Shasta. How did it get there?, from the San Francisco Chronicle
California’s drought withers tomatoes, pushing grocery prices higher
“A lack of rain and snow in central California and restricted water supplies from the Colorado River in the southernmost part of the state have withered summer crops like tomatoes and onions and threatened leafy greens grown in the winter. That has added pressure to grocery prices, putting a squeeze on wallets with no end in sight. The rise in food prices this year has helped drive U.S. inflation to its highest levels in 40 years. California’s drought conditions, on top of Hurricane Ian ravaging citrus and tomato crops in Florida, are likely to push food costs even higher. Drought in an area known as the U.S. salad bowl has not only impacted fresh produce, but also pantry staples like pasta sauce and premade dinners. … ” Read more from Reuters News here: California’s drought withers tomatoes, pushing grocery prices higher
California migration of millions of birds brings ‘unprecedented’ avian flu threat
“Ever year during the fall migration season, 5.4 million waterfowl descend on California, as birds from Canada and Alaska make their way south on an aerial transnational highway known as the Pacific Flyway. This year, the arrival of the birds also brings concern. A new avian influenza is circulating, and that means trouble for domestic chickens, wild birds and even mammals. “The prediction is we’re going to be hammered in the next several months,” said Maurice Pitesky, who monitors and forecasts bird viruses at the University of California, Davis. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: California migration of millions of birds brings ‘unprecedented’ avian flu threat
Endangered species found in Central Calif. creek for first time after dam removal
“It’s been just over a year since a century-old dam was removed from Mill Creek, a tributary that runs through the Santa Cruz Mountains in Central California. Now, scientists say the creek is already beginning to show signs of revitalization — including an unexpected discovery. Aquatic ecologists with the Sempervirens Fund, one of the conservation groups that co-owns the 8,532-acre forest known as San Vicente Redwoods, found 12 juvenile steelhead trout and 15 federally endangered coho salmon fry swimming in the creek last month. It was the first time the latter species had ever been recorded there. Previously, the deserted dam had been preventing the migratory fish from swimming upstream. It also trapped the granite sediment that provided spawning beds for salmon. … ” Read more from SF Gate here: Endangered species found in Central Calif. creek for first time after dam removal
To save California coasts, scientists turn to the humble oyster
“There are no pearls growing on the oyster reefs in San Diego Bay, but scientists hope they will yield an even more valuable treasure: protection against coastal erosion wrought by rising sea levels. Thousands of the tiny mollusks have begun growing on the artificial reefs dropped in the bay as part of a plan to mitigate damage in California’s far south. “We look at numerous different ways to help combat sea-level rise, and these reef balls are one of the tools in our toolbox to do that,” Eileen Maher, director of environmental conservation at the Port of San Diego, told AFP. The port implanted 360 structures last December, along a peninsula wedged between the salt marshes of Southern California and the Coronado peninsula—home to the naval air base that inspired “Top Gun.” … ” Read more from PhysOrg here: To save California coasts, scientists turn to the humble oyster
Losing mussel mass – the silent extinction of freshwater mussels
“Throughout my career I’ve spent some time studying the fascinating ecology and conservation issues of freshwater mussels. For me, learning about mussels has fortified a recurring theme of the natural world – that everything is connected and that small changes in one part of a system can yield unexpected changes elsewhere, often many years later. More importantly, freshwater mussels are essentially threatened everywhere. And because we don’t often hear about them, it is hard to save them, because public will is so critical to generating change. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog here: Losing mussel mass – the silent extinction of freshwater mussels
California tribes will manage, protect state coastal areas
“Five California tribes will reclaim their right to manage coastal land significant to their history under a first-in-the-nation program backed with $3.6 million in state money. The tribes will rely on their traditional knowledge to protect more than 200 miles of coastline in the state, as climate change and human activity have impacted the vast area. Some of the tribes’ work will include monitoring salmon after the removal of a century-old defunct dam in the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz mountains and testing for toxins in shellfish, while also educating future generations on traditional practices. The partnership comes three years after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom apologized for the state’s previous violence and mistreatment against Indigenous peoples. Newsom said the state should allow for more co-management of tribes’ ancestral lands. … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: California tribes will manage, protect state coastal areas
Finding the toxic ‘needle in a haystack’
“The eternal afterlife of tiny trash. It’s not something most young girls think about. But Eunah Hoh did. “I always knew I’d be a scientist,” said the San Diego State University public health researcher. “I was good at math and I loved reading books about invisible things.”… Armed with a master’s in chemistry from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Hoh landed a job at a major electronics manufacturer. A few years later, she visited the company’s production facility and came face-to-face with a grim reality: “I was shocked to see hundreds of liters of toxic chemicals and solvents pouring from the enormous wastewater pipeline.” The discovery reignited Hoh’s childhood pursuit and launched her quest to expose hidden and invisible toxic chemicals. … ” Read the full story at San Diego State University here: Finding the toxic ‘needle in a haystack’
In regional water news and commentary today …
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
New Sacramento water restrictions take effect in November. Here’s what to know
“The city of Sacramento is reminding people that it is almost time for residents and businesses to reduce the number of days they water their lawns. The changes to the landscape watering schedule begin on Nov. 1 as part of the city’s water conservation ordinance, which was created in 2017. Here is what you need to know ... ” Read more from KCRA here: New Sacramento water restrictions take effect in November. Here’s what to know
NAPA/SONOMA
Winemaker sues Napa Valley in true scorched earth legal battle
“A Napa Valley, Calif., premium wine maker is accusing county planners of overreaching, erroneously interpreting planning codes and penalizing him for removing wildfire-scorched trees and an experimental vine planting. In a complaint filed Thursday at Napa County Superior Court, vintner Jayson Woodbridge’s Hundred Acre Wine Group Inc. says many landowners in the region “have been confronted with mountainous red tape and endless bureaucratic obstacles, when applying for permits to develop productive vineyards to which the land is ideally suited.” The winemaker’s removing “dead, charred remains of fire-killed trees and stumps was not vegetation clearing and did not involve excavation,” and thus didn’t trigger any code violations, according to the complaint. Nor did introducing the experimental dry farming vineyard involve “planting,” which is undefined in the county’s conservation regulations, a violation, the filing said. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law here: Winemaker sues Napa Valley in true scorched earth legal battle
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Officials investigating oil sheen spotted in Huntington Beach’s Talbert Channel
“Officials are investigating the cause of an oil sheen reported Thursday morning, Oct. 6, at a construction site in Huntington Beach’s Talbert Channel. Orange County Public Works crews spotted the sheen about 7 a.m., describing in a spill report a rainbow-colored slick that spanned about 200 yards long and 75 feet wide over the surface of the water.
The Talbert and Huntington Beach channels are the sites of a flood control maintenance project being performed by contractors with the public works department, agency spokesman Shannon Widor said. The work consists of lining the channels with large steel sheet piles to strengthen its walls for better flood protection. … ” Read more from the OC Register here: Officials investigating oil sheen spotted in Huntington Beach’s Talbert Channel
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
After Coral Mountain vote, where do other water, surf projects in the valley stand?
“Plans for a large, high-tech wave pool in La Quinta were recently rejected by its city council, but a handful of other water-centric attractions — including a trio that would feature artificial wave technology — are moving forward in the Coachella Valley. The projects, which range from Palm Springs in the west to Thermal in the east, have gained approval from elected bodies to move forward. But some say more needs to be done to reduce the parks’ water usage, particularly as California just saw its driest three-year period on record. Last month, when the Coral Mountain Resort in La Quinta — including its 16.7-acre wave basin — was rejected by the city council, several residents cited the wave basin’s water usage as a reason for their opposition. Some on the council, though, said the zoning overhaul required by the project was a bigger concern for them. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun here: After Coral Mountain vote, where do other water, surf projects in the valley stand?
Why the Salton Sea is turning into toxic dust
“The Salton Sea, California’s most polluted inland lake, has lost a third of its water in the last 25 years. New research has determined a decline in Colorado River flow is the reason for that shrinking. As the lake dries up, the concentration of salt and chemicals in the remaining water has increased dramatically, causing a mass die-off of fish and birds, including endangered species. The dry lakebed, coated in the salty, toxic water, becomes dust that causes respiratory problems for nearby residents. “It is an environmental catastrophe,” said Juan S. Acero Triana, UCR hydrologist and lead author of a new study focused on understanding water movement on and below Earth’s surface near the Salton Sea, a research field called hydrology. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation’s Innovation at the Nexus of Food, Energy and Water Systems, or INFEWS, program. … ” Read more from UC Riverside here: Why the Salton Sea is turning into toxic dust
SAN DIEGO
Column: Climate change forces California to make long-term adjustments, immediate water cuts
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “Locally, it could be the avocado. The fruit so identified with San Diego County agriculture has been on the decline for years. Severe weather, water availability and rising water prices — at least in part attributed to climate change — have reduced the yield of the crop and the revenue it generates. Last week, the county reported that revenue from avocados last year dropped 46 percent from 2020 and that trees produced an average of 2 tons an acre, down from 4 tons the previous year, according to Joshua Emerson Smith of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The county attributed much of the reductions to drought and heatwaves. There were other notable markers last week about how drought and shrinking water supplies exacerbated by climate change are forcing adjustments in California. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Column: Climate change forces California to make long-term adjustments, immediate water cuts
Along the Colorado River …
Crisis on the Colorado River
“Colorado River Basin states and water users this summer have been both posturing and scrambling to find ways to respond to Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton’s June 2022 message to a Senate committee: The seven states must come up with an emergency deal by mid-August to conserve between at least 2 million acre-feet of water in the next year just to keep Lake Mead functioning and physically capable of delivering drinking water, irrigation and power to millions of people. In the Lower Colorado River Basin, 4.4 MAF of water is available to California. Arizona gets about 2.8 MAF, the country of Mexico receives 1.5 MAF and Southern Nevada gets 300,000 AF. Patrick O’Toole, Wyoming rancher and Family Farm Alliance president, told the Senate committee that farmers and ranchers are always the first ones asked to make sacrifices. … ” Read more from Irrigation Today here: Crisis on the Colorado River
The saline lakes of the Great Basin — including our Great Salt Lake — and why they are in trouble
“The Great Salt Lake is a time capsule. It can tell us where the Earth has been, and where it is going. Like its sister lakes in the sprawling Great Basin, Utah’s Great Salt Lake appears to be on a collision course with nature plagued by diversions, drought and climate change. It has lost close to half its volume, and more than 800 square miles of lakebed are now exposed, vulnerable to wind-whipped storms that spread toxic dust along the Wasatch Front. “These lakes are relics of the past, and they hold a lot of answers to the way Mother Earth changes,” said Kyle Roerink, executive director of the Great Basin Water Network, “and I think we need to use them as a barometer about the future — where we have been and where we are now.” … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: The saline lakes of the Great Basin — including our Great Salt Lake — and why they are in trouble
Summer rains boost soil moisture to 8-year high, but Colorado water forecast “tenuous”
“Soil moisture levels are the highest they’ve been since 2014, and that could improve next year’s spring runoff season, water officials said at a meeting of the state’s Water Availability Task Force. Since May, the summer rainy season increased precipitation dramatically, with river basins across the state measuring precipitation that ranged from 110% to 160% of normal, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “The big thing is how much better the summer precipitation has been and even coming into fall,” said Karl Wetlaufer, assistant snow survey supervisor for the NRCS. “That is going to make a huge difference in the soil moisture statewide. The last two to three years we’ve started winter with such dry soil moisture. But we got a really strong monsoon season and it should really, really help boost soil moisture values and that will boost runoff next spring.” … ” Read more from The Gazette here: Summer rains boost soil moisture to 8-year high, but Colorado water forecast “tenuous”
In national water news today …
How to steer money for drinking water and sewer upgrades to the communities that need it most
“When storms like Hurricane Ian strike, many people have to cope afterward with losing water service. Power outages mean that pumps can’t process and treat drinking water or sewage, and heavy stormwater flows can damage water mains. Ian’s effects echoed a similar disaster in Jackson, Mississippi, where rising river water overwhelmed pumps at the main water treatment plant on Aug. 29, 2022, following record-setting rain. The city had little to no running water for a week, and more than 180,000 residents were forced to find bottled water for drinking and cooking. Even after water pressure returned, many Jackson residents continued to boil their water, questioning whether it was really safe to drink. We study water policy with a focus on providing equitable access to clean water. Our research shows that disadvantaged communities have suffered disproportionately from underinvestment in clean and affordable water. ... ” Read more from The Conversation here: How to steer money for drinking water and sewer upgrades to the communities that need it most
Soil carbon monitoring efforts to expand with $8 million investment
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be enhancing soil carbon monitoring efforts with an $8 million investment. Building on the carbon monitoring network is part of USDA’s overall plan to increase the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices. The investment is meant to expand monitoring efforts on working agricultural lands and evaluate how certain ag practices impact carbon sequestration. “Healthy soils are a powerful tool when it comes to sequestering carbon. We want to enhance our measurement tools and integrate them into program delivery to advance quantification efforts of the effects that climate-smart agricultural practices have on carbon sequestration,” Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby said in a news release. “Soil health management practices and activities are a tremendous part of our strategy when it comes to climate-smart agriculture and forestry.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Soil carbon monitoring efforts to expand with $8 million investment
They’re ‘world champions’ of banishing water. Now, the Dutch need to keep it.
“The story of the Netherlands’ centuries of struggle against water is written all over its boggy, low-lying landscape. Windmills pumped water out of sodden farmland and canals whisked it away. Dikes stopped more from flooding in. Now, climate change is drying out great stretches of Europe, and, once again, the Dutch are hoping to engineer their way to safety — only this time, by figuring out how to hold onto more water instead of flushing it out. “We are world champions in making land dry,” said Peter van Dijk, a blueberry grower based in the country’s south. “Now we are trying to turn that system around, because we overshot.” … ” Read more at the New York Times here: They’re ‘world champions’ of banishing water. Now, the Dutch need to keep it.
Reservoir conditions …
DWR Reservoirs 10-10More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
State collaborates with farmers to conserve water, provide critical habitat for migratory birds in the Delta- These historic California sites are at risk of flooding
- Where water and electricity meet: Solar panels over canals
- Algae signs at Tahoe beaches – what they mean, what you should know
- Marin water suppliers hope for luck in rain cycle
- Trendsetting urban wildlife refuge in South Bay celebrates its 50th anniversary
- Eastern Tule GSA sets extraction fee at $10.87 per acre-foot
- Imperial County’s lithium may bring big bucks. But will its impoverished residents benefit?
- And lastly … Washington’s salmon memes have the internet laughing: ‘Lay eggs and die’
- And more …
