On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include extension of compliance dates for ocean cooling water intake structures and consideration of a proposed resolution readopting the Prohibited Wasteful Water Uses Emergency Regulation for Water Conservation. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- LUNCH-MAR: The Bring Back the Beaver Campaign from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. This webinar will feature a look at the Bring Back the Beaver Campaign. Kate Lundquist of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center’s WATER Institute will explain the effort to uncover obstacles, identify solutions, and implement beaver restoration treatments. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Reuse can affect water quality in unintended ways, study finds
“With its Mediterranean climate, Los Angeles generally receives most of its annual rainfall during the winter months. During other times of the year, the city can go long periods without precipitation. As a result of this hydrologic regime, the Los Angeles River, during dry periods, can consist largely of treated effluent from the three wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to it … As they seek to reduce their reliance on imported water supplies, the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and other local governments in the area are looking to increase the extent to which they engage in water reuse, a proven tactic for extending existing supplies in water-stressed regions. As a means of improving water quality, some local agencies also plan to divert dry weather urban runoff from storm sewers to best management practices, such as detention ponds, infiltration basins, or rain gardens, or treatment facilities. Significant increases in reuse and dry weather diversions would decrease the volume of treated effluent and untreated runoff entering the heavily managed LA River, raising questions about potential effects on water quantity and quality. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Reuse can affect water quality in unintended ways, study finds
As dam removals move forward, NOAA explores next steps for habitat restoration in Klamath watershed
“A decades-long effort to remove four dams on the lower Klamath River in California and Oregon would be the largest dam removal in the world. The dam removals would reopen access to more than 400 miles of habitat for threatened coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and other threatened native fish. … With dam removals expected to begin in early 2024, restoration of this historically inaccessible habitat is now more important than ever.NOAA and partners’ new report outlines priority habitat restoration projects in the Reservoir Reach. The project team assessed current habitat conditions and limiting factors for salmon along 63 miles of the mainstem Klamath River and 39 miles of tributaries. The result is a list of nearly 200 high, medium, and lower priority projects ... ” Read more from NOAA here: As dam removals move forward, NOAA explores next steps for habitat restoration in Klamath watershed
Weekend storm expected to bring as much as 5 feet of snow to Sierra and 1 inch of rain to Sacramento
“On the heels of two recent, wet storms that left several feet of snow in the Sierra and near-record rain in the valley, we’re in for another powerful storm later this week. The next storm is expected to arrive Thursday evening and will linger through Monday. Based on the preliminary forecast, the storm is expected to bring several feet of snow and multiple inches of rainfall. The storm will move into the region around 5 p.m. Thursday. Friday morning will be clear, and then another system will move in Friday night, lingering throughout Saturday and into Sunday. There will then be more opportunities for rain in the valley Monday. … ” Read more from CBS News here: Weekend storm expected to bring as much as 5 feet of snow to Sierra and 1 inch of rain to Sacramento
SEE ALSO: Atmospheric river heading to the Bay? Timeline for 2 winter storms here, from KGO
Atmospheric river reconnaissance flight season gets an early start this winter
“An expanded Atmospheric River Reconnaissance program began last month as a result of the unexpected “bomb cyclone” in October 2021 that hit North America’s West Coast, followed by another atmospheric river less than a month later that caused severe flooding in Washington. “Climatologically, November and December can bring some of the worst floods for that part of the world,” said research meteorologist Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Ralph leads the AR Recon program, along with Vijay Tallapragada, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at NOAA’s Environmental Modeling Center, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the California Dept. of Water Resources, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, and the U.S. Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters”. … ” Read more from Scripps Institute of Oceanography here: Atmospheric river reconnaissance flight season gets an early start this winter
California snowpack off to promising start, but drought concern remains
“Winter is off to a running start in California, after a pair of December storms dropped several feet of mountain snow and soaking low-elevation rains across much of the state. Parts of the Sierra Nevada have recorded more than double the expected snowpack for the time of year, and another significant storm could be on the way this weekend. However, officials are urging caution and conservation given the depth of the state’s water supply challenges. Longer range outlooks still point to a fourth consecutive drought year for the state. Statewide snow water equivalent — or the amount of water contained in snowpack — is currently 175 percent of normal for the date. The Central Sierra Snow Lab, located at Donner Pass northwest of Lake Tahoe, is now sitting at 253 percent of its average. Andrew Schwartz, lead research scientist at the lab, said that while these numbers are very good news, averages can be deceptive this early in the season. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: California snowpack off to promising start, but drought concern remains
Low water levels lead to Lake Oroville boat ramp closures
“With Lake Oroville at only 28% capacity, the California Department of Water Resources has closed the boat launches. According to the water level monitoring system on DWR’s website, the lake’s elevation is 660.75 feet. The first launch to close earlier this year was Lime Saddle. DWR issued a notice in its weekly Lake Oroville update that pointed at the severe California drought as the primary factor in the lake levels and subsequent closures. With help from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, DWR is providing a gravel-based temporary boat launch near the Spillway Boat Ramp until additional rain brings the lake levels back up. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Low water levels lead to Lake Oroville boat ramp closures
Early allocation by state signals a fourth dry year
“Storms that moistened parts of California last week were a drop in the bucket of what will be needed to build snowpack and fill reservoirs to reverse historic drought conditions. Predicting a fourth year of extreme drought conditions in 2023, the California Department of Water Resources on Dec. 1 announced an initial water allocation of 5% of requested supplies next year for the State Water Project, which supplies water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. DWR Director Karla Nemeth said allocations are typically low this time of year due to early-season uncertainty in hydrologic forecasting. She said, “The degree to which hotter and drier conditions are reducing runoff into rivers, streams and reservoirs means we have to be prepared for all possible outcomes.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Early allocation by state signals a fourth dry year
Shrinking wetlands have an impact on migratory birds in the Sacramento Valley, biologists say
“Every winter, millions of migrating birds come to the Sacramento Valley, but now these birds may find the marshes and flooded rice fields dry. The marshes and flooded rice fields here are a stopping point for the birds along the Pacific flyway, and scientists are now putting GPS trackers on birds to learn how they’re reacting to the dry environment. “A migratory pathway for waterfowl and shorebirds that are coming from northern areas, moving into the Central Valley and looking for spots to feed, to rest and continue on their journey farther south to warmer areas in the winter, and then heading back north again in the spring,” Samantha Arthur, Audubon California Working Lands Program Director, said. … ” Read more from Fox 40 here: Shrinking wetlands have an impact on migratory birds in the Sacramento Valley, biologists say
Israel has water expertise aplenty to offer California, says S.F.-based consul
“Citing Israel’s extraordinary success in meeting its agricultural and household water needs, Marco Sermoneta told a recent gathering of water industry professionals that his country has much to offer other regions facing the dire problem of water scarcity. “Global crises require global solutions,” said Israel’s San Francisco–based consul general, “so we must look far and wide for new innovations and new partnerships.” The event featured more than 40 programs, workshops and roundtable conversations examining topics such as water management, affordable drinking water and water supply. ACWA is a statewide coalition of public water agencies. … ” Read more from the Jewish News of Northern California here: Israel has water expertise aplenty to offer California, says S.F.-based consul
He was called the ‘Darth Vader’ of California water. Farmers now want a friendlier face
“When Sen. Dianne Feinstein weighed complex water policy decisions that stood to impact the livelihood of farmers and fish, she often dialed Tom Birmingham. On visits to Washington, the longtime head of the state’s most influential farmland water agency would meet in her office over glasses of chilled California chardonnay. Cultivating relationships with power is a hallmark of Birmingham’s 36-year career at the Westlands Water District, the nation’s largest farm water utility that serves a few hundred Central Valley families and corporations growing nearly $2 billion in nuts, fruit, and vegetables a year. Birmingham spearheaded the agency’s quest to keep water flowing as its longest serving general manager, largely through attempts to loosen environmental regulations. Known for his pugnacious approach backed by mountains of litigation, he is reviled by environmentalists and is perhaps the most polarizing figure in the turbulent world of California water politics. ... ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: He was called the ‘Darth Vader’ of California water. Farmers now want a friendlier face
SEE ALSO: Who is Thomas Birmingham? A quick guide to one of California’s most powerful water czars
California’s water and energy systems are inextricably linked
“Climate change impacts on California’s environment are evident, especially when it comes to our water cycle. The state’s natural climatic volatility is increasingly marked by hotter and drier droughts and less frequent but more intense wet periods. These shifts not only stress California’s water supplies, they also affect energy supplies in important ways. For instance, less water in reservoirs increases drought vulnerability, and it also hinders hydropower production. There’s also a relationship between water and energy on the demand side: the water system uses more energy than many realize for conveyance, pumping, and (especially) heating. This presents opportunities to save energy by saving water—helping to decarbonize the economy along the way. Our new fact sheet examines the points where California’s water and energy systems overlap and identifies pathways for reducing risks and promoting smart conservation. … ” Read more from the PPIC here: California’s water and energy systems are inextricably linked
Johansson calls for restoring farm bounty
“California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson on Monday urged lawmakers and society at large to adopt a new mindset in their approach to agriculture. Addressing the 104th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey, Johansson took issue with any notion that farmers facing historic challenges of drought and water shortages should just accept a sustained new era of limitations. He insisted California’s agricultural producers can do more than just survive—if only state policymakers reject their prevailing mindset and embrace one that is geared toward abundance. “The management of scarcity is failing,” he said. “It’s time now to reimplement the management of bounty.” … “” Read more from Ag Alert here: Johansson calls for restoring farm bounty
California’s drought is ongoing — and it’s taking a major toll on the state’s economy
“California’s economy is literally bone dry after an ongoing drought has sucked up entire bodies of water, and killed off thousands of acres of crops. The Golden State is currently facing the driest three-year period on record since the 19th century. And if things with the ongoing climate crisis continue as is, the economic impact of California’s drought could be devastating. This year alone, the state lost about $3.5 billion for crops that were lost to the drought. “Everything from the milk industry around to almonds has been affected,” UC Davis Agricultural Economics Professor Daniel Sumner stated via Yahoo!. “That has effects on the rest of the economy as well, it’s not just the farmers or the farm workers. It’s the grocery stores, all the way to the economy.” … ” Read more from Green Matters here: California’s drought is ongoing — and it’s taking a major toll on the state’s economy
Cal Fire encourages residents to create defensible space with more wet weather on the way
“Recent rains have been heaven-sent during California’s years-long drought, but concerns over flash flooding in wildfire burn scar areas have fire crews watching and working. Peter Enix owns five acres in Auburn. “After it dries up, we’re going to mow these leaves and turn them into mulch,” he said. Enix has created defensible space around his house with a little hard work. “We try to cut back at least 10-15-20 feet from the house,” he said. He also receives help from a small herd of goats in a ditch on his property. … ” Read more from CBS News here: Cal Fire encourages residents to create defensible space with more wet weather on the way
Here’s how new water cannons could help fight wildfires year-round
“Inventor Terry Raymond says he means business when it comes to stopping devastating wildfires. His water cannons deploy when a fire is already burning in an area and threatening towns, but they can also be used as a prevention strategy in areas with high fire danger to save communities year-round. Raymond said his patented gear creates a wall of water to stop flames and brings the water to the firefighters so they can do their job even when the power gets shut off. They also have large containers filled with water to refill choppers doing water drops and supplying water tenders and other fire apparatus. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3 here: Here’s how new water cannons could help fight wildfires year-round
When trees face drought and climate change, old age trumps youth
“Sometimes old age and gritty stamina trumps youth and resilience. It’s true for people. It turns out it’s true for trees as well. Old-growth trees can endure the battering of a drought better than their younger counterparts, scientists have learned. In the face of increasingly frequent and more intense droughts fueled by climate change, the new research underscores the importance of ancient trees to sustain forests. “Given their high resistance to drought and their exceptional carbon storage capacity, conservation of older trees in the upper canopy should be the top priority from a climate mitigation perspective,” said forest ecologist Tsun Fung Au, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan who helped lead the work. … ” Read more from the Anthropocene here: When trees face drought and climate change, old age trumps youth
In commentary today …
Environmentally friendly Delta diversions can increase water to California’s cities and farms
Edward Ring, contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “When it comes to cost-effective ways to increase the supply of water to California’s cities and farms, every idea should be considered. The residential, commercial and industrial water requirements of California’s 40 million people add up to about 8 million acre feet of water per year. The nine million acres of irrigated farmland that produces the food they eat, requires another 30 million acre feet of water per year. With droughts and increasing priority given to letting water stay in the rivers to maintain ecosystem health, this water supply is threatened. Water scarcity and water rationing, along with fallowing millions of acres of farmland, is the only answer California’s legislature seems to support. Efforts to increase the water supply have been incremental at best. … A new proposal, the “Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley,” is a work-in-progress, authored by a coalition of San Joaquin Valley community leaders. The centerpiece of this proposal is to construct what are essentially gigantic French Drains within channels created inside Delta Islands. By drawing fresh water from perforated pipes situated beneath a gravel bed in these channels, flood water could be safely harvested from the Delta during periods of excess storm runoff. … ” Read more from the California Globe here: Environmentally friendly Delta diversions can increase water to California’s cities and farms
Editorial: ‘My Job Depends on Oil’ is a distraction from the real issue of protecting Fresno’s farming
The Fresno Bee editorial board writes, “New research on climate change has found that worldwide carbon emissions in 2022 will reach an all-time high. Climate change is considered a key driver of the droughts that dry up California’s water supplies. Among those most affected by lingering droughts are farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. So there is definite irony in a new local campaign to support California oil producers and their related industries. The “My Job Depends on Oil” campaign launched last week by the Central Valley Business Federation is modeled after the better-known crusade, “My Job Depends on Ag.” … ” Continue reading at the Fresno Bee here: ‘My Job Depends on Oil’ is a distraction from the real issue of protecting Fresno’s farming
We must save fresh water to save ourselves
Nicole Silk, Global Director for Freshwater Outcomes for The Nature Conservancy, writes, “As the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss come to a head this decade, the fate of our fresh water lies in the balance. Extreme weather is becoming increasingly common, bringing massive rainfall and flooding in some regions and widespread heat and drought in others, with disastrous impacts on both humans and nature. At the same time, we have lost nearly a third of the world’s freshwater ecosystems and 83% of monitored freshwater species since 1970, a rate that is significantly higher than that of terrestrial and marine species in the same timeframe. Freshwater ecosystems deliver the water on which all life depends. The urgency to better protect them is now. … ” Read more from The Nature Conservancy here: We must save fresh water to save ourselves
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Dam removal: A key step in freshwater restoration and protection goals
“The Klamath River Dam removal, slated for early 2024, is a significant milestone in the journey towards bringing back healthy rivers in the United States. This action will restore nearly 300 miles of river habitat in the Klamath and its tributaries across Southern Oregon and Northern California, allowing salmon, a critical source of economic and nutritional value for the local communities, to return. As the world’s largest dam removal and river restoration project in history, this project will have lasting impacts on the health of this river and represents an opportunity for building momentum to continue global river protection and restoration. … ” Read more from New Security Beat here: Klamath Dam removal: A key step in freshwater restoration and protection goals
Native youths train with Aspen-based nonprofit to be the first to kayak the Klamath River after dam removal
“The largest dam-removal and river-restoration project in history was approved last month for the Klamath River along the California-Oregon border. U.S. regulators approved the plan to demolish four of the six hydroelectric dams on the river by 2024 in order to open up hundreds of miles of salmon habitat and sacred lands. Environmentalists and local tribes who rely on the Klamath and its salmon have been working for years to have the dams removed — and a group of native youths are training with Aspen-based nonprofit Ríos to Rivers to be the first to kayak down the free-flowing river. The Ríos to Rivers’ youth expedition is called Paddle Tribal Waters. Weston Boyles, who was born and raised in Aspen, founded the environmental justice organization, which works with Indigenous youths to protect river basins around the world. … ” Read more from Aspen Public Radio here: Native youths train with Aspen-based nonprofit to be the first to kayak the Klamath River after dam removal
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Storms could dump 3 feet of snow through Sunday at Lake Tahoe
“Officials are advising against mountain travel this weekend with a major snowstorm headed to Lake Tahoe that will likely be measured in feet. After a couple of quiet and seasonably cool days, active winter weather returns Thursday with a pair of storms through Sunday. The National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon issued a special statement for a pair of winter storms to end the week, a fairly mild storm on Thursday into Friday and a possible major snow dump on the weekend.
A quick hitting storm on Thursday into Friday could dump up to 10 inches of snow along the Sierra crest. The snow will bring periods of travel difficulties and a few light showers may make it into western Nevada. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Storms could dump 3 feet of snow through Sunday at Lake Tahoe
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Record low number of winter chinook baby salmon reported at Sacramento River’s Red Bluff
“A record low number of endangered winter-run Chinook salmon fry migrated downriver from Redding to Red Bluff on the Sacramento River this year, according to preliminary data collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at Red Bluff Diversion Dam. An estimated 158,764 fry (baby salmon) have made it from below Keswick Dam to Red Bluff this drought year, compared to an average number of 1.3 million winter Chinook salmon. This is the second consecutive year that the service reported alarmingly low numbers of Chinooks. Last year, an estimated 557,652 winter Chinook made it downriver to Red Bluff, a year when low, warm water, spurred by water diversions to irrigators, caused massive mortality in the fry. These numbers contrast with 2020, when 2.08 million fish made it to Red Bluff and 2019 when 3.67 million made it to the dam site. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record here: Record low number of winter chinook baby salmon reported at Sacramento River’s Red Bluff
New drought relief program for agricultural businesses
“A coalition of agricultural associations and the Northern California Water Association have launched the CA Drought Grant Website – a portal for information on the CA Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant Program. The site, agdroughtrelief.org, provides key information about the $75 million program, grant eligibility and the ability to sign up to receive instant program updates as it becomes available in the upcoming months. When applications are available, they can be accessed from the site as well.With the unprecedented dry year in the Sacramento River watershed, this program will be very helpful to the small businesses throughout the region who are vital to our communities and farming, which supports the essential economy and the environment in the Sacramento Valley. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: New drought relief program for agricultural businesses
Grant to fund Tehama, Glenn counties drought relief programs
“The Tehama County Board of Supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding with North Valley Community Foundation for the provision of a reimbursement grant for drought relief service costs accrued by the county with a maximum funding in the amount of $2,350,600. North Valley Community Foundation applied for and was awarded a $5 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ Small Community Drought Relief Program of behalf of Tehama and Glenn counties. The term of the funding is November 2022 through December 2024 to cover costs of the Tehama and Glenn counties Emergency Water Hauling Project. … ” Read more from the Colusa Sun Herald here: Grant to fund Tehama, Glenn counties drought relief programs
Yuba Water approves grants for water supply improvements, watershed resilience and more
“The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors today committed more than $1 million in grant funding to support water supply reliability, watershed resilience, flood risk reduction and first responder agencies in Yuba County. A summary of each grant is below. … ” Read more from Yuba Water here: Yuba Water approves grants for water supply improvements, watershed resilience and more
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa Valley landfill faces $619,400 Water Board fine
“A family-owned landfill serving Napa County is facing a $619,400 fine for allegedly polluting a nearby creek in 2019. A proposed settlement agreement, announced by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board in late November, is based on five alleged violations of Calistoga’s Clover Flat Landfill’s use permit. The problems include allowing tainted and acidic stormwater to flow into a nearby stream. The company also allegedly failed to properly stabilize erodible areas on the hillside facility and fix leaking equipment quickly. … ” Read more from the North Bay Bohemian here: Napa Valley landfill faces $619,400 Water Board fine
BAY AREA
Despite rain, Bay Area utilities are cracking down on water waste. One is even shutting off service.
“Just because the rainy season has arrived doesn’t mean California’s water cops are off the job. With a fourth year of drought looming, some of the Bay Area’s biggest utilities continue to crack down on excessive outdoor watering. Most are responding to heavy sprinkler use or power-washing with a courtesy note, advising customers to stop what they’re doing with the threat of a fine. One city, though, has gone as far as shutting off water service to repeat offenders. State regulators, meanwhile, are expected this week to enact a second straight year of California-wide prohibitions on outdoor water waste, continuing the ban on such actions as watering lawns to the point of creating runoff, washing a car without a shut-off nozzle on the hose and filling up decorative fountains. Violators could face $500-a-day fines. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Despite rain, Bay Area utilities are cracking down on water waste. One is even shutting off service.
This Bay Area man’s water bill suddenly spiked to $1,300. He just wants to know why
“Kenji Hayashi knows California is in a drought. He’s scrupulous about his four-person household’s water use in Berkeley. Two years ago he insulated his house to make it more energy efficient and added drought-resistant plants to his front yard. Which is why he was astonished to open his water bill in October to find charges more than 300% above what he normally pays. “This is ridiculous,” he recalled saying to himself. “I don’t think we use water excessively.” The East Bay Municipal Utility District claimed that Hayashi, who lives in a single-family home with his wife and two children, had used 1,614 gallons of water per day over a two-month period — a 736% increase from his previous bill. Over the next two months, Hayashi’s shock was blunted by the Kafkaesque journey he embarked on to protest what he insists was a mistake by EBMUD, one that highlights the lengths some homeowners are compelled to get an excessive utility charge reduced. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: This Bay Area man’s water bill suddenly spiked to $1,300. He just wants to know why
The elusive quest for environmental justice at Hunters Point
“In the long-running battle for environmental justice, the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco is a crucial beachhead. The Navy and EPA have been trying to clean up the radioactive site for decades, so that it can be handed over to the city for lucrative real estate development by the shipyard’s master developer, Lennar Corp. But a series of remediation scandals and controversies have plagued the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, which has been called “a textbook case of environmental injustice.” If the Navy and EPA can get away with a subpar cleanup at one of the Navy’s most hazardous sites, in one of the nation’s most historically progressive cities, environmental justice advocates fear a cascade of similar losses around the country. … ” Read more from Earth Island Journal here: The elusive quest for environmental justice at Hunters Point
Fire burns old red barn pier, ignites history lesson on Belden’s Landing
“An old red barn used to stand along a nearby Suisun Marsh shoreline, across the Montezuma Slough from what is now the Belden’s Landing Water Access Facility. A wooden pier is all that really remained at the site, and now it is all but gone – lost to a recent fire. “I went out there to see if some of my old friends were out there,” said Bob Cummings, who instead found the pier had been burned to the point he could not take his wheelchair out there. That was a couple of weeks ago. He went out, again, Sunday to see if there had been any repairs done, and nothing has changed. It was not immediately clear who owns that property. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic here: Fire burns old red barn pier, ignites history lesson on Belden’s Landing
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Prolonged drought creates tsunami of dry wells in San Joaquin Valley
“A wave of dry wells has hit the San Joaquin Valley hard this year putting the valley on track to see the most dry wells since the state began tracking that information in 2013. And while wells have dried up throughout the state, the valley is the epicenter of dry wells. As of the end of November, the valley had 1,017 wells go dry. That represents 72% of all dry wells reported statewide, according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) dry well database. These numbers only include wells that are reported to the state, meaning the issue could be more widespread. … ” Read more from SJV Water here: Prolonged drought creates tsunami of dry wells in San Joaquin Valley
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles County seeks flood control improvements in face of climate change
“Catastrophic flooding prompted civic leaders and engineers a century ago to begin taming the Los Angeles Basin’s rambunctious rivers with dams, storm drains and concrete. Now, scientists warn that, in a warming world, the region can expect an increase in epic downpours that could rapidly overwhelm its aging flood control system, unleashing floodwaters across low-lying working-class communities. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion calling on the Department of Public Works to prepare a report on the viability of existing flood control infrastructure, as well as plans for reducing flood risks and making disadvantaged communities more resilient. ... ” Read more from the LA Times here: Los Angeles County seeks flood control improvements in face of climate change
Perris Dam’s seismic retrofit project is “killing us” say local businesses
” “I don’t want a dam failure to wipe us out,” said one businessperson near the Lake Perris Fairgrounds who quickly added that “the construction is killing us.” The dam, which sits near the fairgrounds, has been undergoing much needed seismic retrofitting that was supposed to end in 2018. The agency overseeing the project, California’s Department of Water Resources, said the delays have been caused by the complexity of the project, which involves the City of Perris, the County of Riverside, several landowners and seven utility providers. But it’s the businesses and residents in and around the Perris Fairgrounds that have formed the #saveperris coalition, accusing the agency of not being responsive, and offering less than adequate compensation, especially now that the project may go for another eight to nine years, with hundreds of trucks coming in and out of the one road that goes in the area, Lake Perris Drive. … ” Continue reading at Fox Channel 11 here: Perris Dam’s seismic retrofit project is “killing us” say local businesses
SAN DIEGO
Wildcoast brings conservation efforts to Del Mar community
“With its main office in Del Mar, the nonprofit Wildcoast wants to bring the community into its conservation work. “Because Del Mar is really the backyard of the work that we’re doing, we’ve decided to move all our operations to Del Mar,” said Mary Liesegang, blue carbon conservation manager. “We’ve had that office for about two years, and it will now be our main office in California. We’re really excited because we have restoration sites walking distance away from our office and are really able to take advantage of all the projects that we’re doing in North County.” Last month, Wildcoast worked with several local organizations and community volunteers to restore blue carbon habitat at the River Path Del Mar. Blue carbon is carbon captured by ocean and coastal ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Del Mar Times here: Wildcoast brings conservation efforts to Del Mar community
Lake San Marcos HOA landscape makeovers benefit from county watershed restoration program
“Lake San Marcos area homeowners associations are conserving water and helping restore the area’s watershed with support from the County of San Diego’s Watershed Rebate program. The rebate program is part of the County’s Watershed Protection Program.Through a partnership between the program and the San Diego County Water Authority, residences and businesses in unincorporated areas of San Diego County are eligible for enhanced water-use efficiency rebates. The Waterscape Rebate Program saves money for residential, commercial, and agricultural customers who make landscape upgrades to improve the region’s climate resilience and reduce the flow of pollutants into waterways. … ” Read more from the Water News Network here: Lake San Marcos HOA Landscape Makeovers Benefit From County Watershed Restoration Program
Along the Colorado River …
Cocopah Tribe working to restore native plants, landscape on Colorado River
“The Colorado River runs more than 1,400 miles starting as a trickle of snowmelt in northern Colorado. It becomes a roaring torrent as it cuts through canyons and five Western states. Now after more than a century of dam building and development along the river, it ends as a trickle again at the Arizona-Mexico border. The river was once the lifeblood of the Cocopah, or River People. The Cocopah Tribe has begun trying to return a sliver of that landscape to what it once was. On this day you hear the wind blowing and the traffic from Interstate 8 as cars and trucks cross the Arizona-California border less than a mile away. The Colorado River, or what’s left of it, meanders south to Mexico with hardly any sound. This small stretch of the river winds through part of the Cocopah Reservation near Yuma. It’s the last tribal land the river touches before it flows into Mexico. For hundreds of years, the river provided food and other resources to the Cocopah and other river tribes. … ” Read more from KJZZ here: Cocopah Tribe working to restore native plants, landscape on Colorado River
In national water news today …
Researchers propose new structures to harvest untapped source of freshwater
“An almost limitless supply of fresh water exists in the form of water vapor above Earth’s oceans, yet remains untapped, researchers said. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is the first to suggest an investment in new infrastructure capable of harvesting oceanic water vapor as a solution to limited supplies of fresh water in various locations around the world. The study, led by civil and environmental engineering professor and Prairie Research Institute executive director Praveen Kumar, evaluated 14 water-stressed locations across the globe for the feasibility of a hypothetical structure capable of capturing water vapor from above the ocean and condensing it into fresh water — and do so in a manner that will remain feasible in the face of continued climate change. … ” Read more from Science Daily here: Researchers propose new structures to harvest untapped source of freshwater
Senators urge Agriculture secretary to help Western states in ’22-year mega-drought’
“Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is leading a letter signed by 14 other senators urging Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to help Western states survive what they are calling a “22-year mega-drought” that is threatening farms and ranches across the West. “The American West is in crisis. Across the major basins of the American West … farm and ranch families hang in the balance as they grapple with a 22-year mega-drought,” they warned. “The acute shortage of water for Western growers threatens productive farmland across our states, which are both a pillar of our rural economies and drivers of America’s food production.” … ” Read more from The Hill here: Senators urge Agriculture secretary to help Western states in ’22-year mega-drought’
Ten ways infrastructure investments are helping the USGS build resilient ecosystems
“What kind of infrastructure do you need to build resilient ecosystems? The first things that comes to mind might be greenways and wildlife corridors, such as a wildlife overpass across a highway or a fish ladder around a dam. But not all infrastructure is made of concrete. From computer code to networks of people, all types of infrastructure are important for supporting resilient ecosystems. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in November 2021, allocated to the Department of the Interior $905 million for Ecosystem Restoration and $1.5 billion for managing Wildland Fire. These investments aim to improve the functioning, resilience, and ecological adaptability of ecosystems. …USGS scientists are working on a variety of ecosystems projects supported by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, covering issues including wildland fire, invasive species, resilient recreation, restoration of mined lands, and revegetation of ecosystems across the nation. Here are ten USGS ecosystems projects that will enhance our Nation’s infrastructure ... ” Read more from the USGS here: Ten ways infrastructure investments are helping the USGS build resilient ecosystems
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: December 6 Weekly Update – Temporary Suspension of Curtailments in the Delta Watershed
NOTICE of Public Availability of Changes to Proposed Regulations Modifying Water Right Ownership Notice Requirements and Reporting Dates
NOTICE: Environmental Review Process Begins for Friant-Kern Canal Draft Water Quality Guidelines
