Tuolumne River agencies, Contra Costa sign on to voluntary agreements …
San Francisco cuts deal with California water regulators to avoid severe restrictions
“Three of California’s biggest water suppliers, including the city of San Francisco, have reached a deal with the state that calls for reducing their immense consumption of river water but not as much as the state had initially demanded. The compromise, announced Thursday, is the latest breakthrough in a years-long effort by state regulators to protect flows in California’s once-grand but increasingly overdrawn rivers. The toll on the waterways, where as much as 90% of the water is pumped to cities and farms, has been exacerbated by drought, leaving fabled runs of salmon and other plants and animals at risk of perishing. Under the new agreement, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission joins two Central Valley water agencies, the Turlock and Modesto irrigation districts, in committing to scale back draws and restore wildlife habitat in the Tuolumne River, one of the state’s most depleted rivers. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: San Francisco cuts deal with California water regulators to avoid severe restrictions
Tuolumne River agencies, Contra Costa Water District sign on to voluntary agreements MOU
“Three water agencies that rely on the Tuolumne River watershed are the most recent signatories to an agreement to provide water flows and new habitat to help improve conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed, adding momentum to the state’s plan to adapt to a new climate reality. In March, leaders of state, federal and local agencies announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining terms for a transformational eight-year program to provide substantial new flows for the environment to help recover salmon and other native fish, create new and restored habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide significant funding for environmental improvements and water purchases. The three Tuolumne River signatories – San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and Modesto Irrigation District (MID) – signed onto the agreement this week and join dozens of local agencies that have signed the MOU committing to work with the state to develop enforceable agreements with actions and funding to integrate additional water flows with the physical landscape to help improve habitat for native fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed. Contra Costa Water District signed onto the agreement in September. ... ” Continue reading this press release from the Natural Resources Agency via Maven’s Notebook here: Tuolumne River agencies, Contra Costa Water District sign on to voluntary agreements MOU
Statement from Senator Dianne Feinstein: “By joining the proposed voluntary agreement between state and federal agencies and major water districts, San Francisco will help achieve the dual goals of maintaining sufficient water supply for the city while safeguarding fish populations. This agreement would provide San Francisco with the flexibility it needs during a multi-year drought to continue providing drinking water to 2.7 million people in the Bay Area. Voluntarily reducing water usage and funding habitat improvements is a reasonable compromise that will help bring about a more balanced use of water, and I support this agreement.”
Statement from John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association: “San Francisco and the other two big water districts that divert from the Tuolumne River take up to 90 percent of the river, leaving a trickle that is deadly to salmon. In 2018 they were ordered to leave an average of 40% of the water in the river, but they’ve dug in their heels and refused. This latest announcement is an effort to get out of having to meaningfully improve conditions for salmon and other native fish. This hurts not only salmon but also the thousands of people with jobs tied to the salmon industry. This agreement was struck in a backroom with insiders after they locked out those of us in the salmon industry, California’s native tribes, and communities downstream of the water diversions who suffer from polluted water, stagnant water. You can be sure this deal won’t force the reduced water diversions needed to protect salmon and salmon industry jobs.”
In California water news today …
California was in exceptional drought a year ago. After recent rains, where are we now?
“California’s drought situation is looking better this year compared with the same time last year. In November 2021, more than 80% of California was in extreme or worse drought, compared with about 43% this year, U.S. Drought Monitor data shows. The data is updated weekly and shows drought conditions across the country. Aside from the San Joaquin Valley, exceptional drought conditions have been stomped out across the majority of the state. This means East Bay and North Bay cities like Oakland, Napa and Walnut Creek are finally out of this most severe drought designation. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: California was in exceptional drought a year ago. After recent rains, where are we now?
SEE ALSO: Did this week’s big storm help with California drought? What about wildfire season?, from the Sacramento Bee
California sues over ‘forever chemicals’ that taint water
“A lawsuit filed Thursday by the state of California accuses 3M, Dupont and 16 smaller companies of covering up the harm caused to the environment and the public from chemicals manufactured by the firms that have over decades found their way into waterways and human bloodstreams. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit against the manufacturers of compounds that have been used in consumer goods and industry since the 1940s. The chemicals are found in firefighting foams, nonstick frying pans, cleaning sprays, water-repellent sports gear, stain-resistant rugs, cosmetics and countless other products. Bonta said these so-called forever chemicals are so strong that they do not degrade or do so only slowly in the environment and remain in a person’s bloodstream indefinitely. … ” Read more from ABC News here: California sues over ‘forever chemicals’ that taint water
SEE ALSO: Attorney General Bonta Sues Manufacturers of Toxic Forever Chemicals, press release from Attorney General Bonta’s Office
In commentary today …
Del Puerto Canyon dam ruling was more than just a “minor setback,” advocate says
Doug Maner, an environmental advocate and retired Modesto criminal lawyer, writes, “On Halloween, Stanislaus County Judge John Mayne gave nature lovers a small gift. The judge sent the proposed Del Puerto Reservoir west of Patterson back to the drawing board by ruling that the proposed relocation of Del Puerto Canyon Road violates the California Environmental Quality Act because it did not provide a location, leaving it up to future planners to decide. This will require that the Del Puerto Water District prepare a supplement to its Environmental Impact Report. Unfortunately, claims relating to the environment — including harm to the downstream riparian habitat, scenic and social impacts, water and air quality, pollution caused by construction, and potential damage to wildlife — were adequately addressed in the EIR, according to the court. … ” Continue reading from the Modesto Bee here: Del Puerto Canyon dam ruling was more than just a “minor setback,” advocate says
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Drought expected to persist but improve in Humboldt County this winter
“A historic drought impacting the West Coast is expected to persist through the winter, but Humboldt County is expected to see some improvement. On Tuesday, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors heard a report that another La Niña is expected this winter, which means the weather should be colder and wetter in the Pacific Northwest and warmer and drier in the southern part of the state. Humboldt County should expect above-average temperatures and equal chances of above- or below-average precipitation over the next three months, according to projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard here: Drought expected to persist but improve in Humboldt County this winter
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Snow will stick in Tahoe this weekend. Latest weather forecast shows freezing temps
“Winter is technically more than a month away, and yet Northern California is gearing up for snow, wind gusts and below-freezing temperatures this weekend. A weak system of westerly winds Saturday night, National Weather Service wrote on its Twitter page, will possibly bring light snow Saturday and Sunday “at all elevations.” The snowy weather mixed with below normal temperatures will make the area feel like it’s January. About an inch of snow is forecast to fall Saturday in both South Lake Tahoe and Reno. And because temperatures will be so low, the snow will stick, said meteorologist Dawn Johnson with the National Weather Service. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Snow will stick in Tahoe this weekend. Latest weather forecast shows freezing temps
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Placer County Conservation Program acquires over 1,400 acres for preservation
“More than 1,400 acres of land in the Sheridan area, boasting hundreds of acres of wetlands and vernal pools, have been acquired by the Placer County Conservation Program in the name of conserving lands that are critical to the survival of sensitive species and their habitat. “Preserving western Placer County’s wetlands and vernal pool grasslands protects some of the most ecologically important and distinctive areas in California,” Placer County District 2 Supervisor Robert Weygandt said. “It also benefits the residents of Placer County by preserving open spaces and grazing, maintaining floodways, and preserving water quality.” … ” Read more from Roseville Today here: Placer County Conservation Program acquires over 1,400 acres for preservation
Water service restored to Placer County residents after it abruptly shut off
“The water is back on for residents in the City of Colfax after it inexplicably shut off for nearly three hours Wednesday afternoon. The Placer County Water Authority said the issue centered around a water main near the AMPM convenience store off Auburn Street. Ross Branch, public affairs manager for the Placer County Water Authority, said in a statement that “Around 2:30 this afternoon, the cap on a water main serving the City of Colfax dislodged causing a loss of pressure and loss of service to the area. Once PCWA was notified, crews immediately responded, located and repaired the leak by replacing the cap.” … ” Read more from KCRA here: Water service restored to Placer County residents after it abruptly shut off
BAY AREA
Cold weekend and a dash of light rain ahead for these Bay Area cities
“A low-pressure system that’s setting its sights on Central California will carry with it rounds of cold, moist air that will march into the Bay Area this weekend. All of this comes to the region right at the tail end of this week’s heavy rain and snow showers that ended with a brief tornado in the Sacramento Valley. So, what’s in store from this weekend’s weather-maker? The cold air coming into California this weekend is streaming down from the Arctic. This means that the air will hoist subfreezing temperatures over the summits surrounding the Lake Tahoe area and most of the Sierra Nevada, but it will also bring a whiff of those temperatures down into some of the inland valleys that make up the North Bay and East Bay. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Cold weekend and a dash of light rain ahead for these Bay Area cities
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Barbara County plans to apply for grants to help disadvantaged communities
“Seven towns in Santa Barbara County currently fit the state’s definition of disadvantaged unincorporated communities (DUCs), according to a recent analysis. The label refers to low-income communities with unmet, critical infrastructure needs, planner Zoe Carlson explained during a summary of the countywide analysis at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission’s Nov. 2 hearing. All seven of the identified towns—Casmalia, Cuyama, New Cuyama, Garey, Los Alamos, Sisquoc, and Ventucopa—were previously defined as DUCs in a 2015 analysis, and reappraised in 2022. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Santa Barbara County plans to apply for grants to help disadvantaged communities
Local reservoir levels remain low following recent storm in Santa Barbara County
“While most areas in Santa Barbara County got at least a half-inch of rain with the most recent storm, it did not do much to help local reservoirs. Cachuma Lake’s water level increased slightly, with the reservoir recorded at 31.7% of capacity on Monday and 31.8% full on Wednesday morning, after the storm, according to the county’s rainfall and reservoir summaries. The Gibraltar Reservoir increased from 19.7% full on Monday to 20.1% full Wednesday morning, and the Jameson Reservoir also increased slightly to 53.5% of capacity on Wednesday morning. … ” Read more from Noozhawk here: Local reservoir levels remain low following recent storm in Santa Barbara County
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Kern County ag water district looks for ways to bolster its influence after post-midterms
“After an election night marked by statewide victories for moderate Democrats, one of the San Joaquin Valley’s biggest agricultural water districts assessed how best to maintain its influence. During the Nov. 9 Board of Directors meeting of the Semitropic Water Storage District, former Democratic state senator Dean Florez, now a lobbyist for Semitropic, updated the district’s leaders on election results. The night proved a victory for moderate Democrats running at the state level who often support business or agricultural interests, Florez said. “At least in the assembly, where the bills to protect us live or die, that’s going to be a marked sea change, probably one for the better,” Florez said during the meeting. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Kern County ag water district looks for ways to bolster its influence after post-midterms
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Clarita Valley Water introduces new facility to restore contaminated groundwater
“They are everywhere — in toothpaste, on pizza boxes and non-stick cookware, and in area groundwater — and these manmade chemicals, according to Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency officials, have been known to cause adverse health effects. On Wednesday morning, SCV Water formally introduced the community to a new groundwater treatment facility on Valley Center Drive in Canyon Country that’s now restoring local groundwater at a well there that’s been affected by PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. … ” Read more from the Santa Clarita Valley Signal here: Santa Clarita Valley Water introduces new facility to restore contaminated groundwater
Commentary: Elsinore Valley’s local water supply resiliency
Greg Thomas, general manager of Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, writes, “One of the most important things we can do as your water supplier is ensure our region has a diverse, resilient supply of water sources. At any given time, drought, water quality issues, infrastructure challenges, new regulatory constraints – and more, can limit any one supply. It‘s in the best interest of our ratepayers to make sure we aren’t completely dependent on one source. Which is why Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District works tirelessly to shore up our local water supplies, invest in new technologies to treat our water and urge our state and federal leaders to increase the reliability of our imported supplies. Simply put, we do everything in our power to ensure clean and reliable supplies. … ” Continue reading at Valley News here: Commentary: Elsinore Valley’s local water supply resiliency
Along the Colorado River …
The Colorado River is imperiled; why it matters to you
“Hit by years of drought exacerbated by a warming planet, the great reservoirs of the Colorado River are at historic lows. The dramatic shrinking of Lake Mead near Las Vegas and Lake Powell above the Grand Canyon has prompted the Biden administration to call for the river basin states to cut their river water use by 25 percent next year or face federally mandated cuts. While the greatest proportion of California’s share goes to the Imperial Valley to irrigate crops, the river is also an important water source for 19 million people in Southern California. We asked UCR water experts from UCR’s School of Public Policy – professors Bruce Babcock, Ariel Dinar, Mehdi Nemati and Kurt Schwabe – to discuss the impacts of the decline of this invaluable resource. … ” Read more from UC Riverside here: The Colorado River is imperiled; why it matters to you
On its 100th birthday, the Colorado River Compact shows its age
“A century ago this month, representatives from the seven states in the Colorado River Basin came together at Bishop’s Lodge, north of Santa Fe, and signed the Colorado River Compact. It was and still is a momentous occasion. The nation’s first interstate treaty involving more than two states brought an apparent end to acrimony and litigation between the states over who gets how much water. It formed the foundation that undergirds the “Law of the River” — which governs the Colorado River to this day. And it opened the door to damming the Colorado River to moderate its wildly fluctuating flows and curtail flooding along the lower stretches of the river. “The big thing about the Colorado River Compact is that it breaks the blockade on development of the whole river,” wrote then-Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, who oversaw the negotiations. “The worst thing about the compact is that it will destroy much oratory. It makes for growing spuds, not glowing speech.” If Hoover were alive now, he might have second thoughts about that assessment. … ” Read more from High Country News here: On its 100th birthday, the Colorado River Compact shows its age
Arizona’s Colorado River leaders provide update on discussions to save the system
“Arizona’s water leaders on Friday, Nov. 4, outlined the state of negotiations over delivery cutbacks to stabilize the Colorado River system. Even as the days tick ever closer to the start of the 2023 water year, they reported, the Colorado River States and the Department of the Interior appear to have made scant progress toward an outcome that would leave between the 2-4 million acre-feet that the system needs to keep from descending to unstable levels. … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources here: Arizona’s Colorado River leaders provide update on discussions to save the system
Equilibrium/Sustainability — A rainy future for the desert Southwest
“Prehistoric patterns of climate change suggest the desert Southwest faces a future of more powerful monsoons, a new study has found. “Summer rainfall and flooding will likely increase in the future in southwestern North America,” Tripti Bhattacharya, an environmental sciences professor at the University of Syracuse, said in a statement. That’s a mixed blessing for desert regions like Arizona and Southern California, according to the study published on Thursday in AGU Advances. ... ” Read more from The Hill here: Equilibrium/Sustainability — A rainy future for the desert Southwest
Early-season snow off to good start in Colorado’s high country
“Snowpack on the Western Slope is off to a good start, but experts caution it’s difficult to draw many meaningful conclusions from snow-covered, high country peaks this early in the season. “It’s kind of like leading a football game by a field goal halfway through the first quarter,” Jeff Lukas, an independent climate researcher, wrote in an email. As of Thursday, the statewide snowpack was 140% of the median from 1991 to 2020, and 142% in the Colorado River headwaters area specifically, according to SNOTEL data compiled by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The averages were slightly higher elsewhere on the Western Slope. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun here: Early-season snow off to good start in Colorado’s high country
And lastly …
Weird weather: How to tell a williwaw from a haboob
“Extreme weather is increasingly in the news these days. We’re accustomed to hearing about unusually strong hurricanes, tornadoes and even the polar vortex, but atmospheric events can get a lot weirder—as can the names we give them. Check out these bizarre weather phenomena and their intriguing monikers. ... ” Read more from Scientific American here: Weird weather: How to tell a williwaw from a haboob
National water and climate 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-20221110Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Petitions for Temporary Urgency Change in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
