A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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This week’s featured articles …
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: How much habitat restoration has occurred in the Delta and Suisun Marsh since 2007
Study sets the baseline for meeting the Delta Plan’s ecosystem restoration targets
The Delta Reform Act of 2009 established the Delta Stewardship Council and directed the Council to develop the Delta Plan, a comprehensive, long-term, legally enforceable plan to guide the management of the Delta’s water and environmental resources. The legislation also required the Delta Plan to include measures to track the performance and implementation of the Plan.
The first Delta Plan, adopted in 2013, included a set of initial performance measures that were later refined and updated in 2018 to reflect the best available science and the amendments made in recent years. Currently, the Delta Plan has 154 performance measures that track output and outcomes in areas such as water supply, ecosystem, Delta as an evolving place, water quality, flood management, and administrative actions. You can view all the performance measures here: https://viewperformance.deltacouncil.ca.gov/
In June 2022, the Council adopted an amendment to Chapter 4, Protect, Restore, and Enhance the Delta Ecosystem, of the Delta Plan. The new amendment includes recommendations, updated regulations, problem statements, and performance measures. The amendment also identifies restoration targets of 60-80,000 acres above a 2007 baseline by 2050, with performance measures detailing acreages for specific ecosystem types.
To determine progress toward the targets, it’s important to understand how much restoration has occurred since 2007. So at the November meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Senior Environmental Scientist Dylan Chapple provided an overview of the draft ecosystem restoration progress report that sets the baseline for tracking restoration performance measures.
Click here to read this article.
DELTA LEAD SCIENTIST: The role of water quality in salmon predation
At the November meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Lead Scientist Laurel Larsen spotlighted research funded by the Council that examined whether water quality is a factor in juvenile salmon mortality with a somewhat surprising result. She also updated the Council on the discovery of nutria on Lower Sherman Island and a workshop scheduled for the spring of 2023 on the development of a ‘collaboratory.’
Click here to read this article.
In California water news this week …
Pair of storms to unleash heavy snow, rain across western US into the weekend
“Back-to-back storms from the Pacific will take aim at the West into the weekend, with the second and larger storm of the pairing expected to set the stage for severe weather and blizzard conditions in the nation’s midsection next week. The storms will continue to help grow the snowpack throughout the West and deliver needed rainfall as far south as Southern California. Winter weather advisories were in place across parts of Northern California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington Thursday. The first storm produced rain and high-elevation snow on Thursday and Thursday night in Washington, Oregon and Northern California, AccuWeather forecasters said. By Friday morning, the system will move southward, and snow will expand into the Sierra Nevada. Storm totals in both the Siskiyou Range and the Sierra Nevada could exceed a foot. … ” Read more from AccuWeather here: Pair of storms to unleash heavy snow, rain across western US into the weekend
CW3E AR update: Atmospheric River to Bring Impactful Winter Weather to California
“An initial weak AR associated with a shortwave trough will bring rain and snow to the Coast Ranges of Northern California Thursday evening into early Friday. A stronger AR will make landfall near the border of Oregon and California late Friday, bringing AR 1/AR 2 conditions (based on the Ralph et al. 2019 AR scale) to much of California through Sunday afternoon. Precipitation associated with this storm will fall primarily as snow in higher elevations, with freezing levels remaining between 3,500–5,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada. NWS Weather Forecast Offices have issued snowfall forecasts for between 48–60 inches the Northern Sierra and 36–48 inches for the southern Sierra. … ” Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes here: CW3E AR update: Atmospheric River to Bring Impactful Winter Weather to California
SEE ALSO: ‘Difficult to impossible mountain travel’ forecast for Tahoe, from SF Gate
La Nina forecast to fade by April, easing California drought
“The odds that the drought-enhancing La Nina will fade by the end of California’s rainy season are rising, offering some hope of an easing of parched conditions across the US West. The Pacific Ocean has a 71% chance of returning to normal temperatures between February and April, bringing an end the La Nina weather pattern that has persisted for three years, the Climate Prediction Center said in a Thursday forecast. La Nina has dominated global weather, prompting mild winters across the US South, drought in the West and parched crops in parts of Argentina and Brazil. More than 99% of California’s land is gripped in drought, according to the US Drought Monitor. The state gets almost all its annual rain and snow from November to April, with most falling between December and February. California is off to a good start this winter with snow piling up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, though the same thing happened last year until La Nina choked off precipitation for the rest of winter, leaving the state and the US West deep in drought. … ” Read more from Bloomberg here: La Nina forecast to fade by April, easing California drought
SEE ALSO: December 2022 La Niña update: the ENSO Blog investigates, part 1, from the ENSO blog
Sacramento River winter-run salmon face worst year ever
“Salmon that spawn in the Sacramento River in the Redding area are enduring the lowest survival rate on record this year. About 149,000 young winter-run chinook salmon have made it from Redding to Red Bluff this year on their annual trek to the Pacific Ocean, according to data from the University of Washington’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. In an average year, about 1.3 million of the winter-run salmon would be counted near the former Red Bluff Diversion Dam. This is the second-straight year the number of winter-run salmon migrating down the Sacramento River to the ocean has been very low, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight here: Sacramento River winter-run salmon face worst year ever
These Imperial Valley farmers want to pay more for their Colorado River water
“Alex Jack says he’s not charged enough for the water he uses at his Imperial Valley farm. Because the Colorado River water shared by him and his neighboring farmers who make up the vast agricultural economy in the middle of the desert is so cheap, he says, farmers have little incentive to conserve. Jack, though, spends a lot of money to save water through a huge system of irrigation hoses that push water to the root of his Little Gem lettuce plants, drop by drop. The cost to run his 3,200-acre ranch is astronomical for the area, reaching upwards of $1 million a week during the busy season to power and pay for what functions like his own water district, circulating used water back to the top of his fields and storing excess in a private reservoir. “Everything I do is to be a better farmer,” Jack, 64, said. “If I happen to conserve water in the process, that’s great. But they’re subsidizing the people that aren’t conserving water … It’s like politicians giving away free ice cream to everybody, then everyone is happy.” … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: These Imperial Valley farmers want to pay more for their Colorado River water
Delta residents gather to protest Delta tunnel proposal
“Approximately 100 concerned Delta residents gathered at a public forum in the community of Hood Tuesday to express concern with the Delta Tunnel proposal. Among the speakers was State Senator Bill Dodd, Attorney Osha Meserve, State Assemblymember Lori Wilson and State Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua. The proposal reduces the original two tunnel plan, proposed by former Governor Jerry Brown, to a single tunnel by the Newsom Administration and the Department of Water Resources. The Department of Water Resources was invited to attend but declined. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Delta residents gather to protest Delta tunnel proposal
Court Grants Petition Challenging Delta Tunnel Soil Investigation Project
Central Delta Water Agency et al. v. State of California State Department of Water Resources(Superior Court of Sacramento County, Case No. 34-2020-80003457) “On December 5, 2022, the Sacramento County Superior Court ruled against the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in a case challenging DWR’s environmental review of hundreds of borings and other geotechnical explorations taking place on Delta lands and waterways. Information from these investigations is being used to help plan the controversial Delta Conveyance Project/Delta Tunnel. Central Delta Water Agency, South Delta Water Agency and Local Agencies of the North Delta challenged DWR’s adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration (a shortened form of review) for the investigatory activities. The Draft Environmental Impact Report for the larger Delta Tunnel project is currently being circulated for public review, with the formal comment period ending on December 16, 2022. The judge determined the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the investigatory activities for the Delta Tunnel project failed to include legally adequate mitigation for biological resources impacts. In particular, mitigation measures designed to protect wetlands and special status wildlife impacts failed to include required performance standards identifying how the measures would reduce these effects to less than significant levels. … ”
As Delta Tunnel plans move forward, CDFW midwater trawl survey reports zero Delta smelt in November
“For the sixth November in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has caught zero Delta smelt during its Fall Midwater Trawl Survey of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The Delta smelt, an indicator species for the broader ecological health of the estuary, is found only in the Delta. The smelt typically reach a length of 2 to 3 inches and have a steely blue sheen on their sides, giving the fish an almost translucent look. The last time Delta smelt were found in CDFW’s November survey was in 2016. Only 8 of these fish were caught by state biologists at the time. 2017 was the last year when any Delta smelt were discovered in the entire four month survey, when 2 smelt were reported in October. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos here: As Delta Tunnel plans move forward, CDFW midwater trawl survey reports zero Delta smelt in November
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
Tribal, federal leaders cheer Klamath River dam removals
“Tribal, state and federal officials on Thursday cheered a plan for the largest dam removal in U.S. history along the Klamath River near the California-Oregon line as a major step toward restoring a once-thriving watershed that tribal communities have long relied on. “Clean water, healthy forests and fertile land made the Klamath River Basin and its surrounding watershed a home to tribal communities, productive agriculture, and a place where abundant populations of migratory birds, suckers, salmon and other fish could thrive,” U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. “We must take urgent and necessary action to protect this special place.” … ” Read more from the Associated Press here: Tribal, federal leaders cheer Klamath River dam removals
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
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
New study says repurposing retired farmland around disadvantaged communities in California’s Central Valley would benefit the economy and environment
“As historic overuse of water resources and persistent drought forces more farmland retirement in California’s Central Valley, a new study finds that strategic land repurposing would preserve landowners’ revenue and create better-paying jobs in rural communities while decreasing pollution and overall water use. In the region known as the nation’s food basket, many low-income residents who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods also breathe dirty air and lack vital services such as sewage, health care and clean drinking water. The study examines the benefits of creating one-mile buffer zones in and around 154 disadvantaged rural communities that could be used for solar energy and other clean industries, managed aquifer recharge projects, and parks and wildlife corridors to help restore degraded ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists here: New study says repurposing retired farmland around disadvantaged communities in California’s Central Valley would benefit the economy and environment
California’s almond groves shrink as water supply dwindles
“California farms that supply 80% of the world’s almonds are shrinking for the first time in more than a quarter century as the state’s historic drought leads farmers to abandon orchards or forgo new plantings altogether. The state had an estimated 1.64 million acres at the end of August, down slightly from a year earlier, according to the Almond Board of California. Further, the number of new trees planted from 2020 but are not yet bearing almonds fell 17%. California’s driest three-year period on record has spurred unprecedented cuts to usual water supplies, driving up costs. That’s forcing some producers to tear out orchards in favor of other crops, or simply stop watering trees. Production in the 2022-2023 season is expected to drop 11%, according to the US Department of Agriculture. … “ Read more from Bloomberg here: California’s almond groves shrink as water supply dwindles
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
Tom Birmingham: Reflections on Westlands
Don Wright writes, “Formed in 1952 the largest water district in the nation is more than 600,000 acre Westlands Water District on the westside of the San Joaquin Valley. The longest serving General Manager at WWD has been Tom Birmingham, who is retiring at the end of December after 22-years in that position. I had the opportunity to sit and have an online talk with Birmingham on a recent, dark Friday afternoon as the rain began to fall.What struck me most was how relaxed Birmingham was away from the often high pressured public view of a public agency trying to supply water to its constituents. The interview was supposed to be for a half hour but went on for an hour and a half. It’s often observed those who depend on irrigation love the rain as much as ducks, so the rain brought about an improved mood for all of us. … ” Read more from Water Wrights here: Tom Birmingham; Reflections on Westlands
Desalination: Cal Am faces tough road ahead to meet Coastal Commission conditions
“While California American Water Co. and its supporters certainly won a major victory when the California Coastal Commission recently green-lighted its desalination project, it might be a bit early for the company to start popping champagne corks. There are numerous challenges ahead. Lawsuits, other regulatory hurdles and significant conditions the Coastal Commission placed on its approval could take years for Cal Am to wade through before a single shovel of dirt is turned – not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars it will take before the project reaches fruition. The legal hurdles themselves will be hard to overcome and one or more could doom the project should Cal Am lose in court. Perhaps the most closely watched is a pending lawsuit entitled City of Marina v. RMC Lonestar. … ” Continue reading at the Monterey Herald here: Desalination: Cal Am faces tough road ahead to meet Coastal Commission conditions | Read via MSN News
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
In commentary this week …
Creating water abundance in California
Edward Ring, contributing editor and senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “Water is Life. For as long as there has been civilization, access to water has been an unyielding prerequisite. California is no exception. As its population grew, the state built one of the most remarkable systems of interbasin water transfers in the world. Every year, nearly 40 million acre feet of water is diverted from remote rivers and transported to magnificent coastal cities or used to irrigate rich farmland. But the whole system needs to be upgraded for the 21st century. Here are some water projects that ought to be moving forward in California … “ Read more from the Epoch Times here: Creating water abundance in California
Greenhouse gaslighting and California’s water crisis
Jon Rosenfield, Ph.D. Senior Scientist at San Francisco Baykeeper, writes, “On Sunday August 28th, my phone blew up with reports of dead fish lining the shores of San Francisco Bay. San Francisco Baykeeper had been tracking a harmful “red tide” algae bloom since late-July. … Following the proliferation of algae and dying fish, Baykeeper staff spoke with journalists from California, around the country, and the world. Each reporter asked whether climate change caused the algae bloom. Representatives of regional and national regulatory agencies fed this narrative, speculating that the dead fish and reddish water were direct evidence of rising global temperatures. Although we’re still studying what specifically triggered this bloom, the data reveal no obvious connection to rising global temperatures or any of its side effects. The instinct to link natural disasters to climate change is understandable. Rising air temperature will increase water temperatures and dramatically alter global patterns of precipitation and evaporation. But political leaders, captains of industry, and regulatory agencies increasingly invoke climate change as a way of dodging responsibility for disasters that they could prevent. I call this “greenhouse gaslighting.” … ” Read the full post at the MCJ Climate Voices here: Greenhouse gaslighting and California’s water crisis
Column: Don’t waste a good drought crisis
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “Last week, California announced initial allocations of just 5 percent of requested supplies from the State Water Project in the coming year. That was actually an improvement from last December, when the state called for zero allocations for 2022. The eventual allotment for this year eventually rose to 5 percent. Those announcements were among the constant reminders in recent years that drought conditions exacerbated by climate change are ongoing and likely to get worse. For decades, California has done an admirable job of conserving, despite its outdated water system. But an even more aggressive approach is needed to gain savings through reducing urban and suburban outdoor watering, increasing efficiency in agricultural fields and shifting away from certain water-intensive crops, such as alfalfa. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Column: Don’t waste a good drought crisis
Sierra Club says once again: EPA must obey the law on regulating ballast discharges
Andrew Cohen and Chance Cutrano write, “This past October, the Sierra Club and 159 other organizations — environmental and fishing groups, public health organizations, Native American tribes, water agencies and others — asked President Joe Biden to direct the EPA to establish discharge standards for ships’ ballast water that comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA). For 50 years, the agency has refused to do so. Ships take up, transport and discharge ballast water to adjust for changes in cargo loads. This ballast water distributes between distant ports a wide variety of marine and freshwater organisms as well as human and animal pathogens, which have damaged ecosystems and fisheries, harmed economic activities, and sickened and killed people. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club here: Sierra Club says once again: EPA must obey the law on regulating ballast discharges
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 this week …
Klamath water leaders craft plans to fill Upper Klamath Lake
“The Klamath Water Users Association says its created a plan to fill Upper Klamath Lake, amid the ongoing drought. The plan is outlined in a letter to the federal government. It says taking action now would result in a significant reduction in river flows compared to current levels. The KWUA says that means reducing one-third of the current flow. The organization says there are a lot of competing demands on Upper Klamath Lake in the spring and summer months for fish and farms. “We believe that that reduction in river flows can occur, should occur and needs to occur because the impacts to doing otherwise and not filling up upper Klamath Lake are so severe that’s an outcome we can’t afford to repeat,” said Moss Driscoll with the KWUA. … ” Read more from Fox 26 here: Klamath water leaders craft plans to fill Upper Klamath Lake
Fort Bragg considering wave energy-powered desalination in latest novel water move
“Fort Bragg, long powered by timber, fishing and tourist economies, is getting notice statewide for its push to create monetary green out of the Blue Economy, state officials said. Blue Economy is the term coined for a nationwide trend seeking revenue from the ocean without extracting its resources or doing things that cause serious environmental harm. For Fort Bragg, Blue Economy leadership is also helping to create innovative solutions to the ever-worsening water shortage the city faces. The City of Fort Bragg is ground zero for Oneka Technologies, a Canadian company working all over the world with wave energy to make freshwater. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice here: Fort Bragg considering wave energy-powered desalination in latest novel water move
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
Madera County farmers won’t pay $246 per acre, for now
“On September 13, 2022 the Valley Groundwater Coalition, led by president and longtime Madera County landowner Ralph Pistoresi, represented by law firm Wild, Carter & Tipton, filed a petition for writ of mandate and complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against the County of Madera; Madera County Superior Court case number MCV087677: Valley Groundwater Coalition vs. County of Madera. The main issue at hand is whether or not farmers within the Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (“Madera County GSA”) must pay the $246 per acre “GSP Project Fee” imposed by the Madera County GSA. … On Tuesday, December 6th, at 10:30 AM approximately 30 to 40 landowners, farmers and interested parties filed into the courtroom at Department 40 in the Madera County Courthouse. Judge Collet heard arguments for and against issuing the preliminary injunction. … ” Read more from Water Wrights here: Madera County farmers won’t pay $246 per acre, for now
Environmental Review Process begins for Friant-Kern water guidelines
“The Friant Water Authority, FWA, which oversees the Friant-Kern Canal, on Tuesday released a Notice of Preparation announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Report, EIR, for the proposed Guidelines for Accepting Water into the canal. The Guidelines will define the water quality thresholds and other requirements for bringing water into the canal from a source other than Millerton Lake. FWA, the lead aggency under the California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, invites agencies and the public to provide input on the potential scope and content of the EIR. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Environmental Review Process begins for Friant-Kern water guidelines
Supervisors approve new Paso Basin planting ordinance
“San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved the adoption of a new Paso Basin Planting Ordinance. The new ordinance was greatly opposed by the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, SLO County Cattleman’s Association, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, and SLO County Planning Commission, among others. Three years in the making, the new ordinance comes forth to rectify the current ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance was to bring the county into Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) compliance in 2013 and then was semi-permanently adopted in 2015. ... ” Read more from the Paso Robles Press here: Supervisors approve new Paso Basin planting ordinance
SEE ALSO: SLO County supervisors adopt controversial new Paso Robles basin ordinance, from New Times SLO
Ventura water lawsuit mediation continues; trial set for March 30
“Major parties in the Ventura River Watershed Adjudication lawsuit say they plan to meet again next week with a mediator in the 8-year-old case. In a joint report filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Nov. 29, parties said mediator David Ceppos of California State University Sacramento “has continued to conduct a structured mediation in this case … to work toward a comprehensive settlement.” On Nov. 15-16, Ceppos held a two-day mediation session, the first day consisting of a full-day session attended by the initial mediation parties — representatives and elected officials from the city of Ventura, the city of Ojai, Casitas Municipal Water District and the East End Group. … ” Read more from the Ojai Valley News here: Ventura water lawsuit mediation continues; trial set for March 30
New plan to reduce copper in Newport Bay approved by Santa Ana Regional Water Control Board
“The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board recently passed a plan to regulate the amount of copper in Newport Bay, but officials with the city of Newport Beach contend that the path forward to address the issue is murkier than it seems. In 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established thresholds of toxic substances for both Newport Bay and San Diego Creek, the latter being the primary tributary into the bay. The total maximum daily loads — known as TMDLs — define the amount of a pollutant that can enter a body of water without resulting in violations of water quality standards set forth by the U.S. Clean Water Act. The TMDLs included copper, which the federal agency determined was impairing Newport Bay, and have been on the books for years, but there has never been an implementation plan formally put into place. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: New plan to reduce copper in Newport Bay approved by Santa Ana Regional Water Control Board
USGS geonarrative investigates geohazards of the Salton Sea
“California’s Salton Sea is shrinking. As drought worsens with climate change and water supplies dwindle, this area will change and the people, wildlife, and industry of this area will be significantly impacted. Changes to the water supply have direct impacts on the Sea and its wetland ecosystems, which support tens of thousands of migratory birds and rare pupfish. The valleys around it support small cities, extensive agriculture, and renewable energy infrastructure. USGS science contributes combined expertise to inform the planning and designs of this restoration approach and management plan. From understanding geohazards and monitoring water resources to understanding climate change impacts on ecosystem health, USGS supports partners in creating sustainable infrastructure that is resilient to climate change and natural hazards. The geonarrative, “A Desert on the Move”, addresses the geohazards present in the area. … ” Read more from the USGS here: USGS geonarrative investigates geohazards of the Salton Sea | View geonarrative here
Commentary: One solution to the Salton Sea crisis: Build an underground tunnel to the Pacific Ocean
John Treichler, a retired aerospace engineer based in Banning, writes, “Due to the western U.S. drought and increased water use, there is a declining amount of water available in the Colorado River to maintain agriculture, enable the lithium recovery industry, or to restore the Salton Sea. … Importation of water from a new source is needed to maintain the valuable agriculture in the area, enable the lithium industry and restore the Salton Sea to its previous recreational status. … the Pacific Ocean, 70 air miles distant is the only feasible source of new water: Via underground tunnel. No pumping required. The only roadblock: Coastal Commission permitting. It can be done! … ” Read more from the Salton Sea here: Commentary: One solution to the Salton Sea crisis: Build an underground tunnel to the Pacific Ocean
Commentary: San Diego is not protected from California’s severe water supply crisis
“California’s water supply crisis has hit a tipping point, with impacts spreading far and wide, reaching local communities and critical industries, putting us once again in jeopardy. This is a pivotal moment in the state’s future – one in which bold political leadership will emerge, or future generations will suffer. … San Diego water agencies have instituted conservation programs and improved local infrastructure and operations, reducing our water use by 30 percent from 1990 to 2020. But despite the tremendous local conservation efforts and investments in our regional water resources and infrastructure, climate change and radical changes in critical State Water Project and Colorado River water supplies have put our region at risk and potentially subject to mandatory water supply cutbacks.. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego here: Commentary: San Diego is not protected from California’s severe water supply crisis
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE: Temporary Suspension of Some Curtailments in the Delta Watershed
NOTICE of lifting of curtailments under standard water right Term 91
ANNOUNCEMENT: Coming Soon: The Delta Residents Survey
NOTICE of 180-Day Temporary Permit Applications in Imperial County
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
