On the calendar today …
- EVENT: California Extreme Heat Symposium from 9am to 4pm. Extreme heat is a public health, climate resilience, and social equity problem that will impact every community in California for decades to come. Join the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Natural Resources Agency, and leaders across the state on October 18 to discuss critical topics related to extreme heat and innovative solutions available to address its wide-reaching impacts. Guests may attend the event in-person at the California Natural Resources Agency Headquarters (715 P Street, 1st Floor Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814) or virtually via Zoom. Click here to register.
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include a drought update and current hydrologic conditions, presentation by DWR and USBR of a draft report on harmful algal blooms and aquatic weeds, statewide cannabis program update, and a public hearing on amendments to regulations for on-site water treatment systems. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: California Water Plan – Draft Assumptions and Estimates Report Overview from 10am to 11:30am. The Water Plan Team will provide an in-depth overview of the Draft Assumptions and Estimates Report for Update 2023. The webinar will serve as a venue for clarifying questions on the report and information on the public comment process and how to submit comments.You can register/join the meeting here: https://ca-water-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vce-prjwpH9Qybqt-w6F73cRKGpP72nPq
- WEBINAR: Implementing a Green Infrastructure Project: The Elk Grove Nature Park from 1pm to 2pm. With funding from the National Recreation and Park Association’s Great Urban Parks Campaign, CivicWell supported the Cosumnes Community Services District and Urban Rain Design with community engagement and design review in their process of creating an accessible and inclusive park for community members of all abilities. The Elk Grove Nature Park will use green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, and promote environmental awareness. At this virtual roundtable, Cosumnes Community Services District Chief of Planning, Design, and Construction Paul Mewton and Urban Rain Design Principal Kevin Perry will dive into the planning, design, and construction of the park. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
The West’s biggest source of renewable energy depends on water. Will it survive the drought?
Photo courtesy of the Department of Water Resources
“Reports of low water levels at a few big hydropower plants in the West over the last few years have made it seem like hydropower is becoming less reliable. Last summer, officials in California were forced to shut down the Edward Hyatt Powerplant when water levels in Lake Oroville, the reservoir that feeds the plant, dropped below the intake pipes that send water into its turbines. In March, water levels dropped to historic lows in Lake Powell, the reservoir that supplies the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, bringing warnings of a potential plant shutdown in the near future. These reports are alarming, because hydropower is a major source of carbon-free energy for the West — during a wet year, it can meet 30 percent of the region’s annual electricity demand in the West. But a recent study by scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory challenges the idea that hydropower’s role as a backbone for the electric grid is fading. … ” Read more from Grist here: The West’s biggest source of renewable energy depends on water. Will it survive the drought?
Cities want more trees. Drought is complicating their efforts.
“On an overcast Thursday morning in September, a team of five people slowly makes its way down Broadway Avenue, a residential street in the city of Huntington Park, California. Every couple hundred feet they park their pickup trucks, loaded with 275 gallon water tanks, hop out, and fan out along the street, dousing the roots of young trees lining the strip between the sidewalk and the road. The watering team, from the nonprofit TreePeople, is responsible for thousands of newly planted trees in seven low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles County, including Watts, South Gate, and Lynwood; each tree comes with a guarantee that the nonprofit will provide water and other maintenance for at least 3 years. “Last week we were out in the heat wave and it was brutal,” says Eileen Garcia, senior manager of community forestry with TreePeople. ... ” Read more from Grist here: Cities want more trees. Drought is complicating their efforts.
Audio: Almond trees coming out due to drought
“Stuart Woolf is president and CEO of Woolf Farming, which produces almonds and many other crops. He took out some older acreage and will not plant 100 percent back. And he predicts other growers will do the same.” Listen at Ag Info here: Audio: Almond trees coming out due to drought
Gov. Newsom outlines billion-dollar plan to recycle water
“California should invest tens of billions of dollars in water recycling, storage and desalination over the next two decades to shore up its supply as the state gets drier and hotter, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a recently released proposal. It comes as drought continues to grip the U.S. West and the state prepares to lose 10 percent of its water supply by 2040, according to projections by the Department of Water Resources. The Democratic governor discussed the proposal at the construction site of a plant to remove salts from river water that should be fresh, the type of project he said the state needs more of in the coming years. … ” Read more from Construction Equipment Guide here: Gov. Newsom outlines billion-dollar plan to recycle water
Biden-Harris administration announces $210 million for drought resilience projects in the West
“The Department of the Interior today announced $210 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West through water storage and conveyance projects. The projects are expected to develop over 1.7 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, enough water to support 6.8 million people for a year. The funding will also invest in two feasibility studies that could advance water storage capacity further once completed. “In the wake of severe drought across the West, the Department is putting funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work to expand access to clean, reliable water and mitigate the impacts of this crisis,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. … ” Read more from the Department of the Interior here: Biden-Harris administration announces $210 million for drought resilience projects in the West
RELATED:
- Biden administration dedicates $30M for Sites Reservoir project, from KRCR
- Los Vaqueros Reservoir Receives $82 Million Allocation from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from the Los Vaqueros Expansion Project JPA
- B.F. Sisk Dam project gets funding from Biden administration, from Your Central Valley
50 years ago, the Clean Water Act promised to fix America’s water. Did it succeed?
“In the summer of 1969, a floating oil slick on the Cuyahoga River, which cuts straight through the city of Cleveland, caught on fire. The burn wasn’t large and wasn’t deadly or even extremely costly. It was also bound to happen: Nearby manufacturing industries had been polluting the river to the point where dead rats regularly floated in its waters. But this trivial fire did something far more significant: It became a status symbol for the state of America’s water — and triggered a massive outcry that led the U.S. to clean up its waterways. “The Cuyahoga River literally was on fire because of what was in the water,” Maria Lehman, Vice-Chair of the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council and President-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers, tells Inverse. Lehman is also the director of U.S. Infrastructure for GHD, an engineering and consulting firm. The result: the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which led to the passage of critical environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act in 1970 and the Clean Water Act in 1972. Millions of Americans can now safely turn on the tap every day. And that’s all thanks to the Clean Water Act, which turned 50 years old today. ... ” Read more from Inverse here: 50 years ago, the Clean Water Act promised to fix America’s water. Did it succeed?
EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:
- Clean Water Act Marks 50 Years as Lawyers Say Improvement Needed, from Bloomberg Law
- We Need 50 More Years of the Clean Water Act, from Scientific American
- Editorial: 50 years later, the Clean Water Act is under assault, from the LA Times
- EPA celebrates 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, press release from the EPA
Photos show retardant was dropped in Sespe Creek during Howard Fire
“A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleged that the US Forest Service has polluted waterways by firefighting air tankers inadvertently dropping fire retardant in or near waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act and a policy adopted by the Forest Service and other federal agencies in 2011. The policy requires that retardant not be dropped within 300 feet of a waterway on federal land.Fire Aviation has acquired photos and a video that reportedly show signs of retardant being dropped into Sespe Creek on the Los Padres National Forest 8 miles northeast of Ojai, California October 8, 2022. The photos were shot by Pete Deneen on October 12, 2022 at the 85-acre Howard Fire. The creek is designated a “wild and scenic river” and is in a wilderness area. ... ” Read more from Fire Aviation here: Photos show retardant was dropped in Sespe Creek during Howard Fire
DWR symposium highlights the need to prepare for flooding even during a drought
“With California in extreme drought and facing ongoing extreme climate events, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) gathered scientists, water policy experts, and members of communities impacted by drought and floods for a conversation about building climate resiliency, including in the state’s water and flood management systems. More than 500 people from around the world attended the symposium, which was conducted virtually and in person. As highlighted in Governor Newsom’s “Water Supply Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future,” California is experiencing large swings between drought and flood, and due to climate change those swings could become more severe, which will require new strategies and partnerships represented by today’s panelists and speaker. … ” Read more from DWR here: DWR symposium highlights the need to prepare for flooding even during a drought
Is there an ocean miracle in California’s future?
“Coming off another summer of soaring dry heat, California water agencies can no longer rely on snowpack in the High Sierras, delivered through an aging and over-extended State Water System, nor can they rely on an over-drafted Colorado River. So, what’s left beside the pitiful plea of “Pray for more rain”? What’s left is the giant natural reservoir known as the Pacific Ocean that covers more than 30% of the Earth’s surface. It is the largest water reservoir on the planet. Built for free by nature, it sits right on our front doorstep, covering more than 60 million square miles at an average depth of 14,040 feet. Rain or shine, the water in the Pacific Rim, minus its salt, represents an inexhaustible potential supply of potable water. Not since Charlton Heston posed as Moses in The Ten Commandments and parted the Red Sea, has this nation needed a similar miracle to deliver the people of California (and the Western United States) from the worst mega drought in California in the last 1,200 years. The solution may lie in the floating desalination system from Santa Barbara-based SeaWell, LLC. … ” Continue reading at the Montecito Journal here: Is there an ocean miracle in California’s future?
Wild salmon sanctuaries
Tom Cannon writes, “In a 2014 blog post, Peter Moyle wrote about the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary on a large tributary of the lower Klamath River. The Blue Creek effort is one of the most important initiatives toward saving salmon in California, and also serves as a demonstration and an inspiration. California needs more salmon sanctuaries to preserve the state’s wild salmon heritage. There are many potential salmon sanctuaries throughout California. In this post, I list highly recommended rivers plus and few new ones. I include only those I personally know well, but there are likely more that fit the paradigm. My suggestions come from two major watersheds that deserve special mention and attention. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: Wild salmon sanctuaries
‘Bad precedent’ in allowing bumblebee species to be considered fish
“The California Supreme Court has denied a petition to prevent four bumblebee species from being classified as fish under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). President and CEO of the Western Agricultural Processors Association (WAPA), Roger Isom said the decision could set “a bad precedent.” Allowing bumblebees and other insects to be considered for protection under CESA leaves several questions for the future. “What are the areas that are going to be identified where these four species exist? Are we going to be able to be farming by those? Is it going to lead to further pesticide restrictions? Just how far-reaching is that impact going to be?” said Isom. “But more importantly, now you’ve opened the door. What other insects are going to be listed as endangered?” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: ‘Bad precedent’ in allowing bumblebee species to be considered fish
Today’s featured article …
METROPOLITAN’S IMPORTED WATER COMMITTEE: Southern California water supplies to be stretched thin if 2023 is dry
At the October meeting of Metropolitan’s Imported Water Committee, staff briefed committee members on available supplies and water demands, the Emergency Water Conservation Program for State Water Project-dependent areas, and the efforts to address the extreme drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin.
Main takeaways from the presentations:
- After three dry years, Metropolitan’s supplies are stretched thin;
- Stored water supplies are not evenly distributed throughout the region, and there are constraints on accessing some of those supplies;
- If the State Water Project allocation is 20% or lower, State Water Project-dependent areas won’t see any relief next year;
- As California agencies and other basin states work to leave water in the Colorado River, more restrictions are likely for the areas dependent on the Colorado River.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Humboldt County plans to use living shoreline to mitigate sea level rise between Brainard, Bracut
“The county is planning on mitigating the risks of sea level rise along a particularly vulnerable stretch of Highway 101 between Eureka and Arcata by restoring salt marsh. Restoring about 17 acres of salt marsh along a 1.25-mile stretch of Highway 101 between Brainard and Bracut would reduce the risk of flooding and the erosion of the shoreline for at least a century, Humboldt County Public Works Deputy Director Hank Seemann told the commissioners of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District on Thursday. “If sea level rise continues to accelerate, there would be some point in the future where the salt marsh could get flooded out, but our study concluded it would likely have benefits for several decades,” Seemann said. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Humboldt County plans to use living shoreline to mitigate sea level rise between Brainard, Bracut
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Public utilities issue drought warning
“The Union Public Utility District (UPUD), City of Angels Camp (COA), and Utica Water and Power Authority (UWPA) have issued a drought warning asking residents and businesses to voluntarily cut back on water usage by 15%. This comes at a time when the California Water Resources Control Board has issued mandatory orders for California residents to limit water usage to indoor usage. Residents of Calaveras County, however, are exempt from this order due to the county being under a water supply contract that dates back to the 1850s. … ” Read more from the Calaveras Enterprise here: Public utilities issue drought warning
NAPA/SONOMA
Drought likely to persist as forecasters expect ‘La Nina’ to linger through most of winter
“Water supplies are dipping and the outlook for the coming rainy season is iffy at best. That’s the main takeaways from Thursday’s online drought town hall held by Sonoma County. Officials say Lake Sonoma stands at forty-four percent capacity. Brian Garcia, with the National Weather Service, said precipitation dropped by last month’s early storm has mostly evaporated. “We are still very, very dry. One good offshore wind event and we could have a significant wildfire.” Garcia delivered a sobering forecast. He said La Nina conditions, which tend to mean drier than average winters locally, are expected to persist, likely into February. He said much depends on when it lifts. ... ” Read more from Northern California Public Media here: Drought likely to persist as forecasters expect ‘La Nina’ to linger through most of winter
BAY AREA
Removing nutrients from wastewater that goes into the bay could cost San Francisco up to $1.5 billion
“Removing nutrients from the wastewater that flows from San Francisco sewage plants into the bay — which likely encouraged the growth of a massive algae bloom this summer — could cost up to $1.5 billion, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The SFPUC reported its findings to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Monday at a hearing to discuss how the city and county can address the impacts of wastewater in red tides that are expected to be more frequent with climate change, such as the algae bloom that killed tens of thousands of fish in the San Francisco Bay in August. “An event like this has already changed things remarkably,” said Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who called the hearing. “So let’s talk about what we can do, and how San Francisco can be a leader and an early actor-adopter, and help lead the region sooner rather than later.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Removing nutrients from wastewater that goes into the bay could cost San Francisco up to $1.5 billion
Distant storm will set off chain reaction for Bay Area weather today
“This past weekend’s low-pressure system brought mist, drizzles and fog to the Bay Area’s doorsteps. Now that it’s fizzled away, a storm is forming in its wake. And like throwing a pebble in a pond, this new low will cause a ripple effect by dislodging a hot and dry high-pressure system a couple hundred miles away in the Pacific Northwest. This subtle shift will set the stage for Tuesday’s warm-up across the Bay Area. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Distant storm will set off chain reaction for Bay Area weather today
Marin tule elk herd gets emergency water supplies
“Amid historic drought conditions this year, the Point Reyes National Seashore has deployed emergency water supplies for the second year in a row to prevent a die-off of tule elk at the park’s Tomales Point reserve. Last year, the National Park Service made the unprecedented decision to place seven water troughs, tanks and mineral licks within the 2,900-acre reserve in response to the severe drought. The reserve has about 220 elk that are sequestered from the rest of the park by a 3-mile, 8-foot-tall fence along its southern border. The troughs were installed following a die-off in the reserve between the drought-stricken winters of 2019-20 and 2020-21, when the herd declined from 445 elk to 293. Before that, about 250 elk died during the 2013-2015 drought under similar conditions, according to park staff. The herd had 221 elk as of the latest count last winter. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin tule elk herd gets emergency water supplies
Contra Costa Health lifts Crockett advisory for elevated hydrogen sulfide levels
“The health advisory due to elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide in the community of Crockett was lifted on Monday, health officials say. Contra Costa Health says elevated levels of the toxin, that have left a stink in the air, have not been detected in the last two days. The emissions were coming from the Crockett wastewater treatment plant connected to and maintained in partnership with the C&H Sugar company. “The elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide were caused by an operational problem at the plant, which processes sewage from the community and wastewater from the C&H Sugar refinery. C&H owns the property and through a contractor operates the facility,” Contra Costa Health said in a statement. … ” Read more from KTVU here: Contra Costa Health lifts Crockett advisory for elevated hydrogen sulfide levels
CENTRAL COAST
Carmel River FREE aims to reconnect river with floodplains
“At first glance, it’s just a field. But to the Big Sur Land Trust, the 128-acre site at Palo Corona Regional Park represents more than 20 years of efforts to restore history. Located east of Highway 1 and south of the Carmel River, the site was formerly known as the Odello (East) Fields, where the Odello family transformed the floodplain into an agricultural field to grow artichokes. It was donated to the Big Sur Land Trust by Clint Eastwood and Margaret Eastwood and will serve as the construction site for the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement (Carmel River FREE) Project. The Big Sur Land Trust is leading the project, in partnership with Monterey County. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Carmel River FREE aims to reconnect river with floodplains
Steelhead trout win ‘huge’ victory at Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
“The federally endangered steelhead trout of Southern California and its champions — Los Padres Forest Watch and San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper — won a major legal victory at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month. According to the ruling, the operators of Twitchell Reservoir — which supplies much of Santa Maria’s drinking water — must release some small allotments downstream to create an environment in which the steelhead can reproduce. Dam Operators and the Bureau of Reclamation — which built Twitchell in 1958 — have argued that federal rules and regulations prohibit them from using any of its impounded water for anything but human consumption. The dam was built before the passage of the Endangered Species Act and the listing of the steelhead as a endangered species. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: Steelhead trout win ‘huge’ victory at Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
EASTERN SIERRA
History in the making: Clean Up The Lake expands to Eastern Sierra
“The Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) dive team that completed the 72 mile SCUBA cleanup of Lake Tahoe in 2021-2022, has just finished months of work establishing strategic partnerships in the Mammoth Lakes region with government, nonprofits, businesses and Mammoth Lake Tourism, all leading to the organization solidifying a successful expansion into the Eastern Sierra. With these partnerships now in place, the team has just completed its first round of clean ups and research in the region. … ” Read more from the Sierra Wave here: History in the making: Clean Up The Lake expands to Eastern Sierra
Ridgecrest: Water District appoints Ron Kicinski to board of directors, filling vacancy
“At its board meeting on Monday, the Indian Wells Valley Water District board of directors appointed Ron Kicinski to fill its vacancy, bringing the board back to a full five members. Kicinski had previously served on the board from 2016 to 2020. The vacancy on the Water District board came when Charles (Chuck) Cordell died on Sept. 8. His term on the Water District’s board would have expired in 2024, and now Kicinski will serve the remainder of that term. After their board meeting in September, the Water District began sending out notifications that they were accepting applications to fill the vacancy. Kicinski’s was the only application they received, according to Water District general manager Don Zdeba. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent here: Water District appoints Ron Kicinski to board of directors, filling vacancy
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Metropolitan board calls for banning non-functional turf on commercial, industrial, public properties
“With drought and climate change stressing water availability, the Metropolitan Water District is taking steps to eliminate an all-too-common sight in Southern California that uses up valuable water resources – ornamental grass that serves no recreational or community purpose – grass known as non-functional turf. Metropolitan’s Board of Directors last Tuesday (Oct. 11) adopted a resolution that strongly recommends cities and water agencies across Southern California pass ordinances permanently prohibiting the installation and irrigation of non-functional turf. The board’s call is largely directed at both existing and new commercial, industrial and public properties, as well as HOAs, rather than residential properties. It does, however, call for local regulations that don’t allow installation of non-functional turf in new home construction. … ” Read more from Business Wire here: Metropolitan board calls for banning non-functional turf on commercial, industrial, public properties
Coastal Commission approves permit for Strand Beach protections
“In an effort to protect 60 homes in the Niguel Shores Community and prevent the further disappearance of the coastline, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to approve repairs to a revetment at Strand Beach during its Oct. 13 meeting. The repairs aim to shore up a bluff at risk of land sliding, atop which the Niguel Shores Community was built. As part of the approval, OC Parks committed to repairing stairs and ramps leading down to Strand Beach. … ” Read more from the Dana Point Times here: Coastal Commission Approves Permit for Strand Beach Protections
Synagro ordered to stop taking sewage in Hinkley as 3-month waste fire fuels 2nd lawsuit
“San Bernardino County’s composting regulator may force Synagro Technologies Inc. to stop accepting all forms of waste at its open-air pit of sewage sludge in Hinkley after a more than three-month fire that’s now central to two “mass action” lawsuits by rural High Desert residents. The county’s Environmental Health Services Division issued a cease-and-desist order with the potential for new fines against Synagro, a Maryland firm owned by a private-equity arm of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., in a Sept. 29 letter signed by EHS inspector Sarah Cunningham. The letter to site manager Venny Vasquez says Synagro’s officially-dubbed Nursery Products Hawes Composting Facility has been breaking multiple sections of California code; “threatens to cause odor and nuisance,”; and “poses a potential threat of fires or significant smoldering to the public health, safety, and the environment.” ... ” Read more from the Victorville Daily Press here: Synagro ordered to stop taking sewage in Hinkley as 3-month waste fire fuels 2nd lawsuit
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Safe Drinking water resources are underway for tribes in the Coachella Valley
“Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and local tribes celebrate the passage of Safe and affordable drinking water for Native American tribes, also known as AB 2877. “One of the goals is to help prevent future situations like what occurred at oasis mobile home park but ensure tribal lands, specifically underserved tribal areas, can receive and be prioritized to receive state water infrastructure grants,” says An official from the office of Assemblymember Garcia’s office. State officials and local tribes pushed to improve infrastructure in the eastern Coachella Valley and address the drinking water crisis many families encounter. “Coachella Valley water district has been working with us to address this and will attend to discuss their work,” says Aurora Saldivar. ... ” Read more from KESQ here: Safe Drinking water resources are underway for tribes in the Coachella Valley
Study suggests source for Salton Sea’s rapid decline
“In the past 25 years, California’s Salton Sea has grown more polluted and hazardous as it has lost one-third of its water. Shrinkage of similar lakes elsewhere mainly stems from warming trends and water diversion. But a new paper in the journal Water Resources Research suggests that might not be the case with California’s most polluted inland lake. Before it was created in 1905 — when an irrigation canal feeding the Imperial Valley overtopped its banks — the Salton Sea was just a deep trough along the San Andreas Fault that the Colorado River had been alternately filling and emptying for thousands of years. After it was created, it only staved off total evaporation thanks to runoff from surrounding farms using flood irrigation. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Study suggests source for Salton Sea’s rapid decline
SAN DIEGO
What do La Nina conditions mean for precipitation in San Diego and California?
“As of October 1st, the rain calendar was reset and we are officially in the rainy season now through April. But La Nina is still in place for the third year in a row with its cooler sea surface temperatures, something that rarely happens. While we are entering what’s considered our rainy season, San Diego is also potentially heading into its third year of the drought, the state of California is in its fourth year of the drought and it’s the third year in a row of La Nina. “2020 to 2021, 21 – 22… two back-to-back years, water years that were about 60% of average,” said Alex Tardy a Meteorologist with NOAA National Weather Service, who added 2018 to 2019 was even drier. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: What do La Nina conditions mean for precipitation in San Diego and California?
SeaWorld San Diego halts bird rescue program as bird flu reaches Southern California
“News that a highly contagious bird flu has reached Southern California prompted SeaWorld San Diego to halt its bird rescue work and has Project Wildlife implementing extra precautions as they treat sick or injured birds. The virus, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1, affects the respiratory and neurological systems of birds that are sickened. It was first detected in wild birds in the U.S. in late December and early January in North Carolina and South Carolina, and has since spread across the country. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: SeaWorld San Diego halts bird rescue program as bird flu reaches Southern California
Along the Colorado River …
Hydropower production down 20% as the Upper Colorado River system finished water year 2022
“Hydropower production on the Upper Colorado River system for water year 2022, which ended on Sept. 30, was down about 20% compared with the previous year and about 30% compared with the yearly average since 2000, according to a Bureau of Reclamation official who oversees hydroelectric generation. “The outlook is likely for pretty low generation years,” said Nick Williams, the Bureau’s Upper Colorado River Basin power manager. The last time hydropower generation from the Colorado River Storage Project, or CRSP system — the federal dams and reservoirs that move water around the Upper Basin states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico — was this low was in 1967, Williams said. That’s significant, because not all of the CRSP dams were producing energy at that point, he said. ... ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Hydropower production down 20% as the Upper Colorado River system finished water year 2022
To keep the water in the rivers, Biden’s plan is All-American: Capitalism
“This one of those things that the Biden Administration is doing now that is unnoticed and important, and is going to be so critical in a few years that people will shake their heads and say, “Damn, when did that happen? What a break.” The Colorado River is perhaps the country’s most important waterway. It is a big part of the reason why we have Arizona, Nevada, and California at all—why we don’t have an empty quarter between Des Moines and Los Angeles—and the Colorado is too damn close to being exhausted. The country’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead (created by dropping the Hoover Dam onto the Colorado), has dropped two inches a day since February, exposing all kinds of long-forgotten detritus—most recently, prehistoric volcanic ash. None of which can be poured into a glass to consume on a hot Nevada day. Try dropping prehistoric volcanic ash on your alfalfa field and see what grows. … ” Read more from Esquire here: To keep the water in the rivers, Biden’s plan is All-American: Capitalism
The Gila River Indian Community renews its commitment to conserve Colorado River water
“The Gila River Indian Nation announced Monday that it will continue to conserve a significant portion of its share of Colorado River water, leaving a significant amount in Lake Mead. In August, the Gila River Indian Nation said it was going to take its allotment and store it because of concerns other stakeholders were not doing enough to conserve. “We have to act responsibly as water users, as protectors. Especially with this critical resource that we have. We have to respect the water,” Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis said. … ” Read more from Channel 15 here: The Gila River Indian Community renews its commitment to conserve Colorado River water
Water woes could spell end of lawns in Tucson
“As the Colorado River dries up and the levels at Lake Mead plummet, the city of Tucson and Department of Interior are putting plans together to strengthen the water supply. The Bureau of Reclamation has issued a new report asking states and communities to store the excess water it doesn’t need. The bureau, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, will provide up to $8 billion for reclamation projects including drought mitigation in the Southwest. But city council member Steve Kozachik believes the bureau will not be able to “buy its way” out of the water crisis. “It doesn’t solve the long-term problem though,” he said. “The long-term issue is supply and you can’t buy your way out of that.” That is why the city will discuss its water solutions during a study session on Tuesday, Oct. 18. On the agenda are five items the council will discuss and one of those could spell the end of grass-covered front yards in Tucson. ... ” Read more from Channel 13 here: Water woes could spell end of lawns in Tucson
Hundreds of Valley homes will have their water cut off at years end. So far, their only solution has restrictive caveats
“Residents of an East Valley rural community have been dealing with an impending water crisis for nearly a year. Last November, the city of Scottsdale sent a letter to residents that said the City would be cutting off water hauling services, the main way hundreds of the area’s homes get water, at the end of 2022. Approaching the letter’s anniversary, the community’s seemingly only solution promises a water price spike, exclusivity, and a years-long timeline before water flows again. ... ” Read more from Channel 12 here: Hundreds of Valley homes will have their water cut off at years end. So far, their only solution has restrictive caveats
In national water news today …
Can the world learn to live on less water?
“This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve the world’s most pressing policy challenges. It has been edited for length and clarity. Sarah Green Carmichael: The 2022 drought continues to affect worldwide shipping, food production, hydropower and nuclear generation. Dwindling snowpacks mean water scarcity is likely to continue as global warming increases. You’re the Charles Dyer Norton Professor of Regional Planning and Urbanism at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, and previously head of the International Development Group in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT. Some of your earlier work looked at urban transport, violence, political leadership, and housing. How did you become interested in water? Diane Davis, professor of regional planning and urbanism, Harvard Graduate School of Design: Almost every major city is on a body of water, whether it’s a river, a lake, or the ocean. And it’s a global problem: there’s either too much water, or not enough water; there’s water in places it’s not supposed to be, and water not in places it’s supposed to be. This is one of the most important issues on the planet. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Can the world learn to live on less water?
Waterfowl numbers are up while most bird species are in decline, and birders should pay attention to why
“Bird populations are declining in nearly every habitat on the continent, but the science points to one silver lining. Released last week by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative, the 2022 State of the Birds Report indicates that more than 50 percent of all bird species have declined over the last half century, with roughly 70 of those species currently teetering on the brink of collapse. The one beaming exception among all these species is waterfowl, which have increased in number since 1970—thanks in part to continued investments in wetland conservation.“While a majority of bird species are declining, many waterbird populations remain healthy, thanks to decades of collaborative investments from hunters, landowners, state and federal agencies, and corporations,” Ducks Unlimited chief conservation officer Karen Waldrop said in a recent press release. “This is good news not only for birds, but for the thousands of other species that rely on wetlands.” … ” Read more from Outdoor Life here: Waterfowl numbers are up while most bird species are in decline, and birders should pay attention to why
Trees help protect the planet from climate change. But the world isn’t doing enough to protect forests
“People breathe out carbon dioxide, trees breathe in carbon dioxide. It’s one of the first things children learn about the carbon cycle, the paths carbon takes as it moves among the living and nonliving things that make up the planet. That might be part of the reason trees and forests have long been a focal point of the carbon sequestration conversation. Dozens of companies have committed to planting and protecting trees as part of their efforts to counteract greenhouse gas emissions, and by 2030 the Trillion Trees Campaign is aiming to increase the number of trees in the world by one third. Tree planting sounds great and makes for striking photo-ops of CEOs and presidents turning soil with golden shovels—and there’s compelling evidence that both new trees and existing forests can help bring down the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But trees’ and forests’ role in global warming is more complex than it may seem. Anyone hoping to harness the power of trees in the fight against global warming needs to appreciate that complexity. … ” Read more from Time Magazine here: Trees help protect the planet from climate change. But the world isn’t doing enough to protect forests
Latest reservoir conditions …
DWR Reservoirs 10-18
