On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board (Yolo Bypass Tour) from 8am to 2pm. The Delta Independent Science Board will tour the Yolo Bypass to learn how it works for flood management, and how it provides multiple other benefits (agriculture, ecosystem, recreation/hunting, etc.). The tour will include stops at Knaggs Ranch, Wallace Weir, Fremont Weir, and the Sacramento Weir. To help with planning, please email disb@deltacouncil.ca.gov if you plan to attend the tour by November 2. Click here for the full meeting notice.
In California water news today …
Zero Delta smelt found in Midwater Trawl Survey for seventh September in a row
“For the seventh September in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has caught zero Delta smelt during its Fall Midwater Trawl Survey of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The last September when Delta smelt, an indicator species that demonstrates the relative health of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary, were found in the survey was in 2015, when 5 were caught by CDFW biologists. The last year when any Delta smelt were caught during the entire four-month survey was in 2016, when a total of 8 Delta smelt were reported. The final results of the four month survey of pelagic (open water) fish species, from September through mid-December, won’t be available from the CDFW until late December or early January. … ” Continue reading from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos here: Zero Delta smelt found in Midwater Trawl Survey for seventh September in a row
California court blocks harmful dam project in Stanislaus County
“A judge has rejected plans to build a new dam in the Central Valley, ordering the Del Puerto Water District to vacate its approval of the project. The Stanislaus County Superior Court ruling stated that the district’s approval of the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir was based on an insufficient environmental study and violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The district failed to adequately address the relocation of Del Puerto Canyon Road, which was a key part of the project, according to Monday’s ruling. “Considering how much this dam would damage local wildlife and an already strained ecosystem, the court made the right call in denying this project,” said Peter Broderick, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Agencies are required to closely scrutinize major infrastructure projects before they’re built, and the Del Puerto Water District failed to do that.” … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity here: California court blocks harmful dam project in Stanislaus County
Del Puerto leader says court ruling on West Side reservoir is minor setback
“A court ruling on the proposed Del Puerto Reservoir is a minor setback, a leader on the project said Wednesday. The ruling involved only the environmental effects of relocating Del Puerto Canyon Road from the reservoir site, said Anthea Hansen, general manager of the Del Puerto Water District. The plaintiffs also had cited concerns about wildlife, recreation and excessive pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “I was very pleased with the ruling, actually,” Hansen said in a phone interview. She added that the need to reexamine the road issue would not interfere with the scheduled completion of the $500 million project by 2027. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Court orders more study on Del Puerto Reservoir proposal | Read via AOL News
Calif. cities are breaking the bank to buy water. S.F. gets Yosemite water for $30k. A new bill aims to raise its price.
“As California trudges through its second year of intense drought, forcing local communities to raid contingency funds to pay sky-high retail prices for water supplies, Federal lawmakers are revisiting a deal with the City of San Francisco deemed to be “too-good-to-be-true.” A new bill, introduced by Rep. Connie Conway (R-Tulare), seeks to bring some equity back to one of California’s oldest and biggest water storage deals between the Federal government and the state’s historic big city. For a century, Hetch Hetchy, a dammed up valley deep in Yosemite National Park, has served as a singular lifeline for San Francisco’s water and energy supplies. Thursday, Conway introduced the Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act, seeking to reorient the deal between the Feds and San Francisco when it comes to Hetch Hetchy. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun here: Calif. cities are breaking the bank to buy water. S.F. gets Yosemite water for $30k. A new bill aims to raise its price.
Another winter storm is about to hit California. Here’s a timeline of its impacts
“Northern California is in the midst of a wet weather pattern that shows no signs of slowing down. A cluster of rain showers swept through the Bay Area and Sacramento Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving behind a trail of rainfall totals ranging from a few tenths of an inch to almost 3 inches along some of the coastal mountains. These same showers then brought over a foot of snow to the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades. It goes without saying that this pattern has been nothing short of a fire suppressor. Now that another storm is coming in from the Pacific Northwest this weekend, it’s looking more likely that California will be tapping into some beneficial rains and snow. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Another winter storm is about to hit California. Here’s a timeline of its impacts
SEE ALSO: Northern California weather update: Region braces for more rain, snow and frost
Study details how devastating the drought has been on California agriculture
“The latest drought in California has been costly to agriculture. Twelve-thousand people have lost their jobs and economic losses total three billion dollars. Josue Medellin-Azuara is one of four educators from U.C. Merced who sized up California’s drought on agriculture for the past two years. “Every drought is different and we learned a lot from this drought. We realize the benefits groundwater brings in sustainable amounts to weather droughts.” … ” Read more from KMPH here: Study details how devastating the drought has been on California agriculture
Researchers share what they’ve learned in the aftermath of the Mosquito Fire
“All along a dirt road that snakes through Blodgett Forest are countless blackened trees. It’s the charred aftermath of September’s Mosquito Fire, which burned tens of thousands of acres throughout the El Dorado and Tahoe national forests. When the fire began edging into Blodgett Forest, which lies just west of Lake Tahoe, area researchers wondered what might happen. Blodgett, which is managed by Berkeley Forests, has long been a place where researchers can study different methods of managing land, in part to see how best to combat wildfire risks. One example is prescribed fire, which researchers started testing out at Blodgett almost two decades ago. Ariel Roughton, research forest manager at Blodgett, said she knew it was inevitable: one day, the forest would likely face severe fire like so much of California already has in recent years. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Researchers share what they’ve learned in the aftermath of the Mosquito Fire
In commentary today …
DWR’s risky prediction that CA’s future will be wetter
Doug Obegi, Director of California River Restoration at the NRDC, writes, “For years, scientists and State officials have warned of the need to prepare for a hotter, drier future as a result of climate change. Earlier this year, Governor Newsom released his water supply strategy for the State needs to adapt to a hotter, drier future with climate change, explaining that “DWR estimates a 10% reduction in water supply by 2040 … consider[ing] increased temperatures and decreased runoff due to a thirstier atmosphere, plants, and soil.” (Emphasis added) Despite these public statements, the California Department of Water Resources’ publicly available modeling predicts that by 2040, climate change will increase runoff and make California wetter. This modeling, which is being widely used by state and federal agencies, means agencies are assuming more water than there is today as a result of climate change, leaving us all dangerously unprepared if the climate is indeed drier in the future. … ” Read more from the NRDC here: DWR’s risky prediction that CA’s future will be wetter
California’s water strategy: A marvelous action plan for our climate future
Director of ByWater Institute at Tulane University, writes, “Too much climate change resource planning is rooted in the present — which means it’s not adaptive to the threats and (dare I say it?) opportunities of a future under climate change’s increasing extremes. But now California actually has a water supply plan that prepares for that future. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recently released California Water Supply Strategy reflects an adaptive approach that takes the state much closer to securing water in an age of climate extremes — not by managing for increasing water scarcity, but by exploiting the opportunities climate change gives us to create water abundance. It’s a marvelous action plan that’s future-forward, and it offers ideas that every other state should consider. … ” Read more from Forbes here: California’s water strategy: A marvelous action plan for our climate future
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
North Coast tribes get $750K for climate resiliency projects
“About three-quarters of $1 million in federal funds is headed to three North Coast tribes to help build climate resiliency. On Wednesday, the Department of Interior announced $45 million in investments to tribal climate resilience projects across the country, including $4.2 million to support nine tribes in California. The Yurok Tribe’s two projects received $259,773, the Karuk Tribe’s two projects received $353,461, and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation received $146,688 for one project. “On behalf of the Yurok Tribe, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, which will be invested in our first formal Marine Program and the Yurok Marine Ecosystems Climate Adaptation Plan,” Joseph L. James, the chairman of the Yurok Tribe, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: North Coast tribes get $750K for climate resiliency projects
City of Fort Bragg water meter replacement project begins
“In February of 2022, contractor Coleman Environmental Engineering, Inc. out of Upper Lake was given the Notice to Proceed with the City’s Water Meter Replacement Project. This project will replace the City’s aging water meters with more accurate and efficient meters that will provide digital readings several times per day. The procurement order for the most common size of 3/4” meters was placed in early March, and the order for the larger meters was placed in May. While shipments of the larger meters began in July, Badger Meter Company has been unable to ship a single ¾” meter, and is not able to provide information regarding proposed shipping dates, which has significantly delayed the installation. In order to keep the project moving forward, Coleman will soon begin installation of 1” meters or larger sized, which service approximately 270 customers. While there are some larger meters located within the City’s residential areas, most are serving businesses. … ” Read more from the Advocate-News here: City of Fort Bragg water meter replacement project begins
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
The biggest threats to the Yuba watershed and what we can do
“The Yuba River watershed has seen its share of challenges over the last centuries. From resource extraction to damming, the landscape has been inexorably changed by the vicissitudes of human progress. Citizen activists have been at the forefront of trying to mitigate these effects. The South Yuba River Citizens League itself was founded in 1983 by grassroots activists determined to protect the South Yuba River from dams. Ultimately, SYRCL won permanent protection for 39 miles of the South Yuba River under California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Today, SYRCL is the central hub of community activism to protect, restore, and celebrate the Yuba River watershed. As 2022 draws to a close, we thought it would be insightful to talk to members of SYRCL’s Science and Policy departments to find out what they consider to be the biggest issues facing the Yuba River watershed now and what we can do to try to mitigate some of those threats. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League here: The biggest threats to the Yuba watershed and what we can do
Winter Storm Watch up again for Lake Tahoe: 1-3 ft possible at lake level, 2-4 ft above 7000 feet
“With lake-effect snow surprising many Thursday morning, the storm passed the Lake Tahoe Basin leaving about 8″ of snow at lake level over two days. But, don’t put away that shovel! A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin from noon on Sunday, November 6 until Wednesday, November 9 at 4 a.m. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno says heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of 1-3 feet at lake level, and 2-4 feet above 7,000 feet. It will also be windy – gusts possibly as high as 45 mph except along the ridges where wind gusts may reach 80 mph. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Winter Storm Watch up again for Lake Tahoe: 1-3 ft possible at lake level, 2-4 ft above 7000 feet
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Roseville’s water history: The city maintains a legacy of meeting the changing needs of its community
“When it comes to water, Roseville has a long history of proactive planning to ensure that residents and local businesses have access to reliable sources of H2O. In the early 1900s, the town of Roseville leaders faced a looming water shortage due to the influx of new residents born from the railroad boom. The town leaders realized that backyard pumps and a canal for water supply would never keep up with the growing water demand. So they selected a company, Hemphill & Leahy, for a water franchise, and in 1906, the Roseville Water Company was born. The company went to work setting up new mains and pipes and accessing water from two nearby reservoirs. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: Roseville’s water history: The city maintains a legacy of meeting the changing needs of its community
NAPA/SONOMA
Drought impact on Russian River watershed challenging fish survival
“As Northern California finds itself between two desperately needed rounds of rain, compounding years of drought have taken a toll across the state, and particularly on our watersheds. For several years now, researchers have been trying to understand more about how the Russian River watershed is responding to all of the dry years. It is a study focusing on the effects of a changing climate, and how fish might survive those conditions. “Survival is impacted by so many things,” explained Sarah Nossaman of the Russian River Monitoring Team. “But only the fish that are in wet, connected areas have a really solid chance of survival in these dry years.” ... ” Read more from CBS San Francisco here: Drought impact on Russian River watershed challenging fish survival
BAY AREA
San Francisco’s first approved onsite greywater reuse system operational
“San Francisco-based water reuse technology company Epic Cleantec announced that a luxury residential building in San Francisco now hosts the city’s first approved and operational onsite greywater reuse system. The system can recycle up to 7,500 gallons of greywater per day, or 2.5 million gallons per year. The building, Fifteen Fifty, is owned by Related California, an affiliate of Related Companies. “We’re thrilled to partner with Related on this crucial milestone for urban sustainability and resiliency,” says Aaron Tartakovsky, Epic co-founder and CEO. “We are seeing these periods of extended drought becoming more frequent and more prolonged, so the need to rethink our approach to water is more important than ever. As we grapple with the combined challenges of urban population growth, aging infrastructure, and a changing climate, onsite water reuse presents a more responsible and sustainable way to manage this limited resource.” … ” Read more from Water World here: San Francisco’s first approved onsite greywater reuse system operational
The beaver is back: Pair of the semiaquatic rodents spotted in Palo Alto
“More than 160 years ago, the sight and sound of beavers in local creeks was likely common, splashing their paddle-like tails with their brown bodies gliding through the water with noses just above the water line. Exterminated by hunting, the North American beaver, scientific name Castor canadensis, has not only been forgotten locally; it was long thought to never have existed in the here at all, according to scientists. But now, the beaver is back. In April, the first beaver was spotted in a remote stretch of Matadero Creek. Today, there are two of the chubby herbivores. If they successfully reinhabit local creeks, the presence of these large, semiaquatic rodents could herald a return of other long-disappeared species, including salmon, endangered amphibiasemins and birds, according to scientists. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online here: The beaver is back: Pair of the semiaquatic rodents spotted in Palo Alto
CENTRAL COAST
Septic solution in San Lorenzo Valley?
“Our San Lorenzo River watershed includes the communities of Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Ben Lomond, Felton, Lompico, Zayante, Mount Hermon and Scotts Valley. Our watershed has the highest septic system density of any comparable area in the state of California. Within the 138 square miles of the watershed are more than 13,000 individual on-site private septic systems. We live in Ben Lomond. We greatly appreciate and value the natural beauty of our forests, streams, creeks and the San Lorenzo River that flows through our valley. We all want clean, pure drinking water. We all want our San Lorenzo River to be clean and safe for people, wildlife and fish. The state of California tells us that they want the same things that we do. Nevertheless, the state’s answer for solving local problems often makes the problems worse. ... ” Read more from the Times Publishing Group here: Septic solution in San Lorenzo Valley?
Does rain mean fire season is over? Experts say, “no”
“As a result of colder temperatures and recent rain and snowfall across California, people may be wondering if this year’s fire season is coming to an end. But due to ongoing strong winds and drought conditions, experts tell us we’re still not in the clear. “I want people to be vigilant as we go into the end of the year here. That with the lack of rain, increased sundowner winds, fire can move quite fast,” explained Capt. Scott Safechuck, Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer. … ” Read mroe from KSBY here: Does rain mean fire season is over? Experts say, “no”
Bridge replacement project creates pathway for Matilija Dam removal
“Removing dams begins with building bridges — across rivers and between diverse stakeholder interests. The Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project is a great example of this important stakeholder collaboration and a critical step towards the complete removal of Matilija Dam. Ventura County Public Works hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 17, 2022 to celebrate the Santa Ana Boulevard Bridge replacement. This new bridge brings us one step closer to a restored Ventura River watershed. CalTrout, as a part of the Matilija Coalition, along with Surfrider, Patagonia, Resources Legacy Fund, and Ojai Valley Land Conservancy worked together to help Ventura County Public Works secure $13 million to replace the Santa Ana Boulevard bridge. … ” Read more from Cal Trout here: Bridge replacement project creates pathway for Matilija Dam removal
City Council amends water waste ordinance
“The Oxnard City Council approved an emergency ordinance that amends Chapter 22, Article VIII of the Oxnard City Code regarding water waste on November 1. Assistant City Attorney Elma McCarron presented the item and said the City Attorney recommends introducing for first reading by title only and adopting an emergency ordinance pursuant to government code section 36 937b, amending certain sections of article eight, chapter 22, of the Oxnard City Code and implement water conservation measures. … ” Read more from the Tri-County Sentinel here: City Council amends water waste ordinance
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
The birds are back: Sandhill Crane Festival returns this weekend
“Lodi’s Sandhill Crane Festival returns to Hutchins Street Square this weekend for the first in-person event in two years, and organizers filled the two days with educational programs, art exhibits and the ever-popular habitat tours. Canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sand Hill Crane Association only offered self-guided tours last year. But the program for the 24th festival this year features a packed schedule that marks a return to form. … ” Read more from the Lodi News-Sentinel here: The birds are back: Sandhill Crane Festival returns this weekend
Manteca water use rises 1.4% in September
“The message is clear. California jurisdictions need to reduce water use by 20 percent as the state heads into a fourth year of drought. If not, state officials may start imposing draconian measures including water rationing on per capita use as is currently happening in a handful of hard-hit areas in California. The message, though, is not registering with Manteca as a whole. Water use in September shot up 1.4 percent over September 2021 levels. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Manteca water use rises 1.4% in September
Friant Water Authority not concerned with low water levels
“While the water year began with one of the lowest storage amounts ever, the Friant Water Authority believes low water allocations will leave them largely unaffected. The Friant Water Authority contended with several factors when it came to water allocation last year. Chief among them was “water debt” owed to the State Water Project. This year, despite a deepening drought, the authority will no longer have that burden. “[Last water year] we were not building the Central Valley Project supply until the beginning of January. We had a big debt [of water] that we were paying back from last year…compared to this time, we have no debt, [so] we’re actually in a positive position,” water resources manager for Friant Water Authority Ian Buck-Mcleod, said. “So every drop of water that’s developing now, moving into the next calendar year is all going towards next year’s supply.” … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Friant Water Authority not concerned with low water levels
Fresno County agriculture hits $8 billion milestone
“According to the latest crop report, Fresno County agriculture has hit a new milestone for production value. “For the first time ever Fresno County went over the $8 billion mark, which was a big deal for us,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO, Ryan Jacobsen. The 2021 Fresno County Crop and Livestock Report shows that the total gross production value was $8,085,567,000. “It was pretty remarkable all things considered, with the extraordinarily difficult year,” said Jacobsen. “Most likely, it would have been one of those years where we could have had probably $500 million to $1 billion more in productivity if it wasn’t for the water situation that we found ourselves in. But our farmers are innovators, they find ways to maximize every drop and still try to do something in years when we have those tight times.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: Fresno County agriculture hits $8 billion milestone
Assemblyman Gray: Bear Cree to get $6 million facelift
“State Assemblyman Adam Gray and Mayor Matthew Serratto shook hands at a picturesque press conference on the bank of Bear Creek on Tuesday morning, kicking off plans to renovate the waterway to a tune of $6 million.The project will cover a 6-mile stretch of Bear Creek, from the bridge at McKee Road to the bridge at 16th Street. Teams will remove trash and invasive plants and overgrowth that are dominating the area and crowding out the Creek’s natural habitat. “There is no more important issue than water in the valley,” Gray said in a statement. “The Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin rivers that flow through our district provide the lifeline for farms, jobs, and food production. Restoring and preserving the creek will significantly enhance its natural functions and create recreational opportunities for walkers, runners, and bike riders.” ... ” Read more from the Merced County Times here: Assemblyman Gray: Bear Cree to get $6 million facelift
Conservation group president praises floodplain investment
“At a gathering on the banks of the Tuolumne River in what is projected to become California’s newest state park, Assemblymember Adam Gray was honored by the organization that made the park’s creation possible.“When Adam learned about this project, he called me up one day and said, ‘We need to do more; how much do you need?’” said Julie Rentner, President of River Partners, which hosted a luncheon for 300 state, regional and local dignitaries on Friday, Oct. 14. While funding for the park will come from other parts of the budget, Gray secured $40 million to help fund River Partners’ programs to restore floodplains across the entire San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from the Merced County Times here: Conservation group president praises floodplain investment
Keyes gets $20.4 million for better drinking water, and praise from EPA leaders
“Keyes is getting $20.4 million of the $609 million announced Wednesday for clean-water projects in California. The money comes from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed nearly a year ago by President Joe Biden. It will go to projects that remove pollutants from water, many of them in largely low-income places like Keyes. Officials gathered at a plant that already filters arsenic from wells supplying the 1,500 or so customers of the Keyes Community Services District. The new funding includes a $10.4 million grant that pays off a state loan that had funded the project, completed in 2019. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee here: Keyes gets $20.4 million for better drinking water, and praise from EPA leaders
Column: Pay farmers not to plant?
Columnist John Lindt writes, “All over the Valley and right here, local water agencies are struggling with a state mandate to reduce pumping to reverse plunging groundwater levels and move toward “sustainability.” The Kaweah subbasin has four groundwater sustainability agencies in charge of coming up with solutions to overpumping. “No one doubts we have an overdraft,” says King’s farmer Dino Giacomazzi, who sits on the Delta View Water Association board. The name comes from the Delta View area between Hanford and Highway 99, on both sides of 198. Delta View is part of one GSA – the Greater Kaweah GSA that is the largest of the four by acreage. The overdraft Giacomazzi is referring to is reflected in a Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District annual chart showing the depth to groundwater at about 140 feet down in 2021 from just 50 feet in the 1970s .... ” Read the full story at the Hanford Sentinel here: Column: Pay farmers not to plant?
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Southern California mountains get hit with snow, raising hopes for upcoming ski season
“Southern California’s mountain communities woke up to a coating of snow Thursday morning, providing a taste of what the upcoming winter season could hold. Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear received a dose of snow mixed with hail in some areas. The first sleet of the season is a promising sign for ski lovers who hope more snow is coming so ski season can begin. An official opening day for the Big Bear winter season has yet to be announced, but Snow Summit says it could open Friday, Nov. 18, depending on weather conditions. … ” Read more from ABC LA here: Southern California mountains get hit with snow, raising hopes for upcoming ski season
Tear out your lawn, get more free cash. LADWP ups rebates for customers
“Los Angeles residents, now is a great time to pull out your lawn. With water supplies continuing to tighten, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Thursday that the city’s Department of Water and Power will pay homeowners and businesses significantly more to remove their grassy turf. Approved applications will receive $5 per square foot, a 67% increase from the previous $3-per-square-foot incentive. The payment is capped at $25,000 per residential property. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Tear out your lawn, get more free cash. LADWP ups rebates for customers
California American Water acquires Bellflower’s Municipal Water System
“California American Water announced the company’s acquisition of the City of Bellflower’s municipal water system. Approximately 1,800 homes and businesses who are customers of the Bellflower municipal water system will now be served by California American Water’s Los Angeles County District. Today, the $17 million transfer of the system was completed in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission’s recent decision approving the sale. The Bellflower municipal water system is located approximately 20 miles from California American Water’s Los Angeles County operations located in Rosemead. … ” Read more from Business Wire here: California American Water acquires Bellflower’s Municipal Water System
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Calipatria gets $3.9M for storm drainage upgrades
“In 2012, residents of Calipatria’s east side woke up to water either all the way up to their doorstep or already inside their homes. A nearby canal had overflowed, sending water toward the Salton Sea due to what was being call a “100-year storm” that hit the Imperial Valley at the time. City Manager Ron Medina had woken up to side of town and see the damage. Medina found widespread flooding, with water levels high enough to get into homes. To help stop the flooding from happening again, the city of Calipatria received $3.9 million in state Proposition 68 grand funds for the East Side Stormwater Drainage Improvement Project. … ” Read more from the Holtville Tribune here: Calipatria gets $3.9M for storm drainage upgrades
Along the Colorado River …
Following the Colorado River story: A primer on water terminology
“The crisis on the Colorado River System is capturing the attention of the world. News accounts filled with mouth-drying terms such as “dead pool” and “system crash” have reached readers in Berlin, Mumbai, Tokyo and elsewhere. The image of a speedboat sitting upright in what used to be Lake Mead with its stern buried in the mud has illustrated literally hundreds of news accounts. And, then, there are the countless reports of the discovery of human remains revealed in the receding waters of Lake Mead. The eyes of the world literally are upon Lake Powell and Lake Mead. It is a story rife with complexity. Few subjects are as complex as that of water and the means by which it is divided up among its users. To assist the rapidly growing audience of people around the world who are following the Colorado River story, ADWR has prepared the following primer on many of the terms that inevitably populate the discussions about water in the Southwest, and, especially, discussions about the fragile state of the Colorado River … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources here: Following the Colorado River story: A primer on water terminology
Water Woes: Utah’s population growth and the shrinking Colorado River
“With the population booming across Utah and Colorado and levels lowering in the Colorado River, Utah is facing a water crisis. One that’ll take years to remedy. Almost a third of all water in Utah comes from the Colorado River. Around 60% of Utahns benefit from it, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources, who also said with the low water levels in lakes and reservoirs across the great basin, we’re at risk of losing our state’s most reliable water source. The Colorado River is a sprawling natural resource states across the great basin rely on for water. But days are getting hotter, the river is getting drier and the demand only continues to grow. … ” Read more from ABC 4 here: Water Woes: Utah’s population growth and the shrinking Colorado River
Gov. Cox suspends new water rights applications in the Great Salt Lake Basin
“Gov. Spencer Cox issued a proclamation Thursday that puts new water rights applications on hold in the Great Salt Lake Basin for the time being. A news release stated the temporary suspension allowed existing water rights and applications to use the current water supply more efficiently. This comes as the state is spending millions of dollars on programs to save the Great Salt Lake with water levels dropping to record low levels. The Great Salt Lake Basin includes the Bear, Weber, and Jordan River basins and the body of the Great Salt Lake. “Extreme drought, climate change and increased demand continue to threaten the Great Salt Lake,” Gov. Cox said. “We are united in our efforts to protect this critical resource and are taking action to ensure existing flows continue to benefit the lake. When conditions improve, the suspension can be lifted.” … ” Read more from KSL here: Gov. Cox suspends new water rights applications in the Great Salt Lake Basin
DRIED UP: Threats to Colorado snowpack pose risks far downslope
“As unseasonable fall warmth bakes the Rocky Mountain hillsides, veteran snowmaker Tony Wrone has come to terms with the fact that these are no longer the winters of his youth. “Last year, we had a real hard time because it was so warm in November,” Wrone, who began making snow in Keystone, Colo., in 1996, told The Hill. “Back then, I think we opened one year there around Oct. 18 or something like that,” said Wrone, a snowmaking manager at the Aspen Snowmass resort. “Now, we seem to be struggling for temps in November.” Wrone said he is concerned that these conditions may repeat themselves, particularly because meteorologists have once again predicted a hot, dry fall. And what will happen this winter is anyone’s guess. … ” Continue reading at The Hill here: DRIED UP: Threats to Colorado snowpack pose risks far downslope
In national water news today …
Slow to start, federal water bill assistance program ramps up
“It wasn’t expected to be quick and easy. And it hasn’t been, not with the staffing and technical challenges inherent to starting a new government benefit program. But the rollout of the first federally funded program to assist low-income households with their water bills is gaining speed, observers say. Still, it is agonizingly slow for a program that was marketed as an emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic. States, tribes, and territories have received the $1.1 billion that Congress allocated 20 months ago to the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, or LIHWAP. Now the challenge is ensuring that the funds reach people in need. It is difficult to get excited by the numbers shown on the Department of Health and Human Services data dashboard. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue here: Slow to start, federal water bill assistance program ramps up
Water recycling and reuse is growing as a tool to combat drought and climate change as the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program approaches 30 years old
“Foresight 30 years ago is today providing an option for a new source of water in the parched American West. Water scarcity across the West has been heightened with more than 20 years of a long-term drought. The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program was created in 1992. Public Law 102-575, the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, was signed by President George H.W. Bush on October 30, 1992. Title XVI of the Act authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to identify and investigate opportunities to reclaim and reuse wastewater and impaired ground and surface water in the 17 Western States and Hawaii. Reclamation provides cost-shared grants for planning, designing and constructing non-federal water recycling and reuse projects in partnership with local government entities. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Water recycling and reuse is growing as a tool to combat drought and climate change as the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program approaches 30 years old
As drought drops water level in the Mississippi, shipwrecks surface and worries rise
“Along the drought-stricken Mississippi River, a world usually hidden beneath the waves has been basking under the sun. In recent weeks, new islands have breached the surface, as have the hulls of sunken ships and a vast array of lost marine equipment. The diminished waterway that remains has been clogged with barges, stuck in the mud or waiting their turn to press ahead down a narrowed channel. Many who live along the river have ventured out, on foot and by boat, to marvel at the unsettling spectacle. The river has long commanded a sober respect, if not fear, with its swift currents and capacity to not only sustain the communities that have sprouted beside it for centuries, but also devastate them by swelling over its banks. But lately it has provoked a different sort of apprehension, as the consequences of the drought affecting much of the Midwest, High Plains and South reach far beyond the surreal landscape. … ” Read more from the New York Times here: As drought drops water level in the Mississippi, shipwrecks surface and worries rise
National climate and water update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20221103Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
PUBLIC WORKSHOP/COMMENT: SAFER Drinking Water Program Report on Point-of-Use and Point-of-Entry Treatment
NOTICE: Issuance of Water Quality Certification Amendment for Lower Klamath Project License Surrender
