DAILY DIGEST, Christmas weekend edition: CA will be hit with 2 weather systems this holiday weekend; Congressman Valadao leads request for answers from Interior on biological opinions; Rethinking risk and responsibility in the western wildfire crisis; and more …

In California water news this weekend …

California will be hit with 2 weather systems this holiday weekend. Here’s a timeline of impacts

Bay Area residents from San Francisco to San Jose are waking up to a gloomy, but balmy Friday morning, with clouds set to slowly fizzle out by tonight as a warming trend takes hold of Northern California. This warmth will peak on Christmas Day and host some of the warmest temperatures not just in the Bay Area but in the entire country.  But this holiday warmth won’t last for too long. The ridge of high pressure responsible for this cozy holiday weekend is set to march out of California by Monday, introducing the potential for some travel concerns for residents heading back home during the early part of next week. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here (gift article): California will be hit with 2 weather systems this holiday weekend. Here’s a timeline of impacts

SEE ALSO: Here’s what weather pattern changes next week could mean Northern California rain, from KCRA

Sierra Nevada snow season off to best start in a decade, though experts heed caution

State water officials say the Sierra Nevada is experiencing its snowiest start to the winter season in a decade, thanks to a handful of storms that dropped several feet of snow. November rains helped saturate the soils and primed them for runoff in the future, and early December flurries gave some areas up to 2 to 4 feet of snow, with more to come through New Year’s Day, state officials predict.  The statewide snowpack is about 163 percent of average for this time of year, said Sean de Guzman, who manages the California Department of Water Resources’ annual snow surveys. … ”  Read more from KRON here: Sierra Nevada snow season off to best start in a decade, though experts heed caution

Congressman Valadao leads request for answers from Interior on biological opinions

Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) led Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and the entire California Republican delegation in a renewed request to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to provide answers about the Department of Interior’s (Department) reconsultation process on the 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps). The reconslutation of the 2019 BiOps has caused significant uncertainty for Central Valley farmers about the future of their water supply, and Congressman Valadao has led several efforts to obtain answers from Interior about their attempts to reverse them. All requests for information have gone unanswered.  In the letter, lawmakers raise concerns about political influence on the Department in its attempt to cancel the BiOps:  “We are concerned that this reconsultation process represents a departure from common practice, raising questions about whether outside entities may have exerted undue influence on the Department’s decisions,” the lawmakers wrote. … ”  Read more from Congressman Valadao’s website here: Congressman Valadao leads request for answers from Interior on biological opinions

Golden State Salmon Association/Public asks federal officials to intercede in new water operations rules in CA

In a petition written by GSSA, 1500 Californians have asked NMFS and the USFWS heads to step in to protect California’s Central Valley salmon runs.  The petition went to Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Martha Williams, Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  NMFS and the USFWS play a key role in making sure that species protections are included in new operation rules currently being written that govern the federal Central Valley Project. The CVP’s dams, canals, pipes and massive Delta pumps all harm salmon and other native species.   The rewrite is happening because the Biden Administration acknowledged that the last set of rules, written by the Trump administration, failed to adequately protect fish and wildlife. … ”  Read more from the Golden Gate Salmon Association here: GSSA/Public Asks Federal Officials to Intercede in New Water Operations Rules in CA

King Tides give us a preview of sea level rise

The year’s highest tides, known as “king tides,” will hit California shorelines December 23 and 24 and again January 21 and 22, providing a glimpse of what to expect as sea levels rise.  The public is asked to safely photograph the shoreline during king tides as part of an international community science project. King tides are one to two feet higher than an average high tide, which is approximately what daily tides will be in the next few decades due to human-caused sea level rise. Photographing these extreme high tides brings attention to the impact of climate change and helps California plan for a future when today’s king tide is an everyday occurrence.  Anyone can contribute to the California King Tides Project. Photos taken by the public are used by state and local officials as well as climate change researchers to validate sea level rise models and assess local flood vulnerabilities. … ”  Read more from the Mendocino Beacon here: King Tides give us a preview of sea level rise

Court finds site visits and reports taken before and after issuance of NOP adequate for establishing biological resources baseline, EIR’s emergency evacuation analysis upheld

In Save North Petaluma River and Wetlands v. City of Petaluma (Nov. 14, 2022, A163192) __Cal.App.4th__ [2022 Cal. App. LEXIS 1009], the First District Court of Appeal held that the City of Petaluma (City) did not violate CEQA when it certified the EIR for a 180-unit apartment complex (Project) on roughly 15-acres of vacant land along the Petaluma River.  Although the City published the Notice of Preparation (NOP) in 2007, the City did not issue the Draft EIR (DEIR) for the Project until 2018. In response to the conclusions raised in the DEIR and public comments, the Project underwent a number of subsequent revisions, and a version of the Project, which included reductions to the Project’s overall footprint and number of proposed units, was approved by the City in 2020. A group called Save North Petaluma River and Wetlands, along with an individual (collectively, Petitioners), filed suit challenging the adequacy of the EIR on a number of grounds, including the EIR’s analysis of special status species and emergency evacuations. The trial court denied the petition, and Petitioners timely appealed. … ”  Read more from Downey Brand here: Court finds site visits and reports taken before and after issuance of NOP adequate for establishing biological resources baseline, EIR’s emergency evacuation analysis upheld

Rethinking risk and responsibility in the western wildfire crisis

The western United States is beginning to come to grips with the potential magnitude of the wildfire crisis. Increases in forest wildfire size, severity, and elevation have been linked to a 30-year pattern of increasing fuels in coniferous forests. Wildfire management is made even more challenging by changes in climate that have extended the fire season and increased the frequency of days that promote extreme wildfire (i.e., hot late dry season days with strong winds).   Recent media coverage of several large and deadly fires, alongside the federal and state wildlands management response, have focused public concern toward wildfire risks on public lands, and in particular coniferous forested lands. The US Forest Service, for example, has been frequently maligned for not better managing forest fuels on their mostly forested land. California has developed a Wildfire and Forest Resilience Plan that invests heavily in forest management in an effort to reduce fuels in coniferous forests.  Clearly there is broad consensus that society should manage wildlands to avoid severe wildfire impacts. But how else should a society invest in risk reduction? ... ”  Read more from Stanford Social Innovation Review here: Rethinking risk and responsibility in the western wildfire crisis

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In people news this weekend …

Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.

Clifford Lee: The passing of a respected water warrior

Clifford (Cliff) Lee, one of California’s most knowledgable and respected water law experts, died suddenly late last month. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the field of California water law and policy.  After earning his undergraduate degree from U.C. Berkeley, Cliff attended law school at U.C. Davis and quickly became entranced by water law. Upon receiving his law degree in 1976 and passing the California Bar, Cliff’s first legal job was serving as a staff attorney with then-California Governor Jerry Brown’s Commission to Review California Water Rights Law. The Commission, ably aided by its staff, developed a series of thoughtful reform proposals that–at least in the 1970’s–wound up being widely ignored by state policymakers. … ”  Read the full tribute at the Legal Planet here: Clifford Lee: The passing of a respected water warrior

NOTEBOOK FLASHBACK:  CLIFFORD LEE KEYNOTE: Federalism and Water under the Trump Administration: Has the Long Peace Come to an End?   At the 2020 California Water Law Symposium, the keynote speaker was Clifford Lee, who recently retired from the California Attorney General’s office where for the past three decades, he has played a lead role in litigation on behalf of the state of California and has been directly involved in most of the cases that have shaped the relationship between federal government and the state of California as it relates to water management issues.  In his keynote speech, he discussed some of the history surrounding federal-state relations with respect to California water rights issues and gave his insights for hhow the state could forward.   Read it here: CA WATER LAW SYMPOSIUM: Federalism and Water under the Trump Administration: Has the Long Peace Come to an End?

CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia wants to make sure California is at the forefront of climate tech

On October 18, Yana Garcia, the newly appointed Secretary of California’s Environmental Protection Agency, played musical chairs with me and our driver inside the cab of a 14-foot Class 8 hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric truck. Garcia slipped into the driving seat, a quick glance over her shoulder to confirm her minders were out of sight. “It’s private property, right?” she joked. She honked the horn, smiled, and accelerated. “It’s so smooth,” she marveled, “and it’s fast!” … Garcia is the first Latino to head CalEPA, an appointment that occurred at a pivotal time for the state, which has weathered an increasingly aggressive number of wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat events. Latinos, who account for 39% of California’s populace, have been disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. “These [events] have really impacted people’s ability to survive,” Garcia said. “Protecting people’s health is a key priority.” Put more simply: It’s climate crunch time, and there’s no room for halfway measures. … ”  Read more from Fast Company here:  CalEPA Secretary Yana Garcia wants to make sure California is at the forefront of climate tech

Yuba Water recognizes board director Brent Hastey for his dedicated service to the agency

The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors recognized Brent Hastey today for his dedicated service to the agency. Hastey served on Yuba Water’s board from 1993-2001 as a Yuba County supervisor and from 2015 as an elected representative of South Yuba County. His term will conclude at the board’s first meeting in January.  “Brent has been at the forefront of many transformative initiatives in Yuba County,” said Yuba Water Board Chairman Gary Bradford. “From advancing critical flood risk reduction work, to pushing for improved water and wastewater infrastructure in the south part of the county, championing the agency’s Water Education Program and so much more, he’s a tremendous asset to our community.” ... ”  Read more from Yuba Water here:  Yuba Water recognizes board director Brent Hastey for his dedicated service to the agency

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Podcasts …

SACTOWN TALKS: Interview with State Senator Melissa Hurtado

Today we welcome Senator Melissa Hurtado. Hurtado represents Senate District 16. We discuss water shortage, food scarcity, agriculture and other issues that pertain to the central valley.


VOICES OF THE VALLEY: Netafim’s President and CEO Mike Hemman discusses how growers can respond to California’s record drought

Mike Hemman, President and CEO of Netafim, joins Dennis Donohue and Candace Wilson on this week’s episode of Voices of the Valley to discuss the short- and long-term strategies for adapting to the nuanced water needs growers have amid the ongoing California drought. “I think that the opportunity to deliver water in a more efficient manner has never been more important, and I believe that the growth we’re going to see in adoption towards more precise ways of irrigation is going to be huge over the next couple of decades,” Mike says. ”For me, being a native of California, it’s important to me personally to have an opportunity to do that – and from a commercial perspective, it’s a very fast-growing segment of the industry, and there’s a lot of new technology that’s coming into it.” The key to this new technology, Hemman says, is precision. “Effectively what you’re doing is taking a very small amount of water putting it exactly where the plant needs it,” Mike says. “It’s almost like an IV.”


AROUND FARM PROGRESS: Maximizing water management

Irrigation is an important tool for a lot of farmers to take control of the weather. But there’s also growing attention to how that water gets used on the farm, creating challenges. However, in the past few years the amount of data collected by irrigators and researchers is bringing much higher precision to the industry. One organization, the Irrigation Innovation Consortium, is helping to bring that data together to create better ways to use water for creating food.  Amy Kremen is associate director of IIC, and she discusses the work of the organization, as well as how data is being put to use for agriculture. One topic she also explores is an attempt by several universities to work on creating a Master Irrigator program to boost knowledge and training for farmers who want to be even better stewards of the water they have available. She explores those topics in the latest episode of Around Farm Progress.


DIGGING INTO LAND USE LAW: Planning and funding climate resilient coastal infrastructure

According to California’s projections, the miles of highways susceptible to coastal flooding in a 100-year storm event will triple from current levels to 370 miles by 2100, with more than 3,750 miles exposed to temporary flooding. Coastal erosion and flooding also threatens California’s rail system and utility infrastructure. In this episode of Digging Into Land Use Law, Nossaman’s Shant Boyajian, Liz Klebaner, Ben Rubin and Mary Lynn Coffee discuss state climate resiliency and environmental justice policies relating to coastal transportation and water infrastructure projects and available funding for such projects under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.


WHAT ABOUT WATER WITH JAY FAMIGLIETTI: Dirty laundry: Water and the world of fast fashion

Call the fashion police! In this special holiday edition of What About Water? we dive into the apparel industry’s dirty secret: its water use. Behind oil and gas, fashion is the single most polluting industry on the planet. It accounts for 8 per cent of all carbon emissions and 20 per cent of global wastewater.

We start by catching up with shoppers at the Picker’s Hullabaloo Flea Market in Charleston, South Carolina. They tell us about the clothes on their wish lists this year and why they choose to shop second-hand. Jay talks water overuse and about changes for garment designers and manufacturers with Andrea Kennedy, Vice-President of Sustainability for Material Exchange. From Shein to Patagonia, Jay and Andrea dive into the pollution “fast fashion” creates, as well as the certifications and brands you can look out for when you’re trying to shop more sustainably. … 


WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING:  A Very Merry Holiday Season to Everyone 

Nearly 2,000 years ago, the basic needs for life were very similar as they are today; food, water, shelter, the feeling of our value in this world and a vision of things to come. Whether your celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or the coming of the Winter Solstice, you may find yourself reliving the history of these events. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life.  Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

‘It means the world’: Legislation to return Karuk sacred lands awaiting President’s signature

North Coast Congressmember Jared Huffman announced today that legislation to place federal lands in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties into a trust for the Karuk Tribe has passed out of the House of Representatives and is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature to become law.  Under The Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act, 1,200 acres of U.S. Forest Service land will be transferred to the tribe, including a mountain known as á›uuyich to the Karuk people, for whom it is the center of the world, which sits at the confluence of the Klamath and Salmon rivers as well as the nearby historic village of Katimiîn, where the tribe’s annual world renewal ceremony to restore balance to the universe takes place, and Ameekyáaraam, site of the Jump Dance and First Salmon Ceremony. … ”  Read more from the North Coast Journal here: ‘It means the world’: Legislation to return Karuk sacred lands awaiting President’s signature

Hoopa Valley Tribe asks for injunction against Interior’s plan to set aside restoration agreement

On Dec. 16, the Hoopa Valley Tribe asked a federal district court in Fresno for an injunction against the Bureau of Reclamation, the Interior Department agency responsible for restoring Hoopa’s fishery on California’s Trinity River.  Reclamation plans to set aside a twenty-two year-old agreement with the United States to restore the Tribe’s fishery, which was devastated by Reclamation’s unlawful over-diversion of water to industrial agriculture and other uses in California’s Central Valley, according to a press statement from the Tribe.  The Tribe said the case is Hoopa’s “latest battle in an ongoing war to defend its sovereignty and fishing rights.” … ”  Read more from the Daily Kos here: Hoopa Valley Tribe asks for injunction against Interior’s plan to set aside restoration agreement

Cold-water refuge unlocked for South Fork Eel River steelhead and salmon

[Dam removal] will help more adult steelhead get into Cedar Creek, but it will also help juveniles from elsewhere get into Cedar Creek and have a better chance at living through the summer,” CalTrout North Coast Project Manager Matt Metheny said.  Cedar Creek is an important cold-water tributary to the South Fork Eel River, but since the late 1940s an old hatchery dam blocked fish access up the creek. CalTrout and our partners recently completed a project to remove this dam, opening up a cold-water refuge where steelhead can thrive throughout the summer.  The now removed dam was constructed in the 1940s to supply water for a CDFW hatchery and its rearing ponds. In the 1950s, the dam was damaged by a flood, and in 1964, another flood led CDFW to completely abandon hatchery operations. For 60 years, the dam remained. … ”  Read more from Cal Trout here:  Cold-water refuge unlocked for South Fork Eel River steelhead and salmon

SEE ALSODam removed restoring blocked tributary on South Fork Eel River, from KRCR

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Placer County Water agency blames PG&E for Mosquito Fire, sues for damages

The Placer County Water Agency filed a lawsuit against PG&E over damages caused by the Mosquito Fire, which started Sept. 6 and burned 77,000 acres in the Sierra foothills before it was contained Oct. 27. In the complaint, filed Tuesday in Placer County Superior Court, the water agency blamed PG&E for the wildfire and said the blaze caused numerous problems for its operations. In September, PCWA had to evacuate its workers from the wildfire zone; additionally, the fire damaged PCWA electricity transmission infrastructure and stopped energy production at the Middle Fork American River Project, costing tens of millions of dollars in power production sales. The Middle Fork Project supplies water in western Placer County and sends hydroelectric power to the state grid. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Placer County Water agency blames PG&E for Mosquito Fire, sues for damages

Santa should have smooth sailing over Lake Tahoe, but wet week follows the holiday

Santa shouldn’t have any trouble with the weather over Lake Tahoe this weekend, but there will be changes after his appointed rounds.  A weak storm system will bring a little chance for light rain and snow showers and increased winds in higher elevations tonight and early Friday morning. Otherwise, dry and mild conditions will prevail through the Christmas holiday weekend.  More active weather returns next week through the start of 2023, with the potential for valley rain and mountain snow, along with plenty of wind. … ”  Read more from South Tahoe Now here:  Santa should have smooth sailing over Lake Tahoe, but wet week follows the holiday

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

What is essential: Thinking about population health and wellness in our communities

As we all gather with family and friends for the holidays, this is a nice time of the year to reflect on what is essential in our lives. The past several years have revealed many vulnerabilities in our society as we have all come to a deeper appreciation for both our health and related wellness. As we look to 2023 and our future, this appreciation naturally leads to an increased desire and focus to enhance our communities so people can live healthier and more fulfilling lives. … In thinking about this in daily life and bringing the concept closer to the world where we live, work and play, long-term population health seems tied to climate resiliency and ecological health. Our amazing rivers, soils, trees, the air, watersheds and floodplains all coalesce and function together and you quickly realize that our precious water resources are central to our economic, social, and ecological well-being. … ”  Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: What is essential: Thinking about population health and wellness in our communities

BAY AREA

7-foot tides expected to bring flooding to San Francisco Bay Area

You may want to put on a pair of galoshes if you’re planning a walk along San Francisco’s Embarcadero in coming days — or bring a boat if you’re planning to travel the Mill Valley-Sausalito pathway.  Exceptionally high tides — known as king tides — are coming to the San Francisco Bay Area from Dec. 22 to 24, and minor flooding is expected along the bay’s shoreline and along the coast, especially on Friday and Saturday mornings, the National Weather Service said. Flooded water may block access to entries and exits to coves, narrow beaches and sloughs, as well as along coastal trails, sidewalks and underpasses, the agency said in an advisory. … ”  Read more from SF Gate here: 7-foot tides expected to bring flooding to San Francisco Bay Area

Marin water agency affirms supply capacity for Northgate housing project

The Marin Municipal Water District affirmed this month that it has enough water supply to serve a proposed 1,300-apartment development at the Northgate mall in San Rafael without significant impacts on local supplies — even during droughts.  The district Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the findings of the water supply study requested by the city of San Rafael as part of its review of the Northgate Town Square project. Up to 1,422 apartments could be built on the 45-acre parcel at 5800 Northgate Drive, though the property owner, Merlone Geier Partners, states it only plans to build 1,320.  The water district had not included this project in its latest supply and demand projections submitted to the state in 2020. Given the size of the project, the district was mandated by state law to determine whether its water supplies would be sufficient to serve the new housing. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin water agency affirms supply capacity for Northgate housing project

Marin group celebrates bill to phase out fishing ‘curtains of death’

A West Marin group is celebrating the advancement of new regulations that will end the use of giant ocean fishing nets — blamed for inadvertently killing turtles, mammals and dolphins — in federal waters off the state’s coast.  For the past two decades, Marin’s Turtle Island Restoration Network has been supporting efforts to phase out the use of gillnets in favor of other methods that better target swordfish, the intended catch.  The state passed a four-year phase out of these large mesh gillnets in state waters to protect marine life in 2018. The new Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act — a bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Diane Feinstein and Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from West Virginia — will extend the ban to federal waters. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin group celebrates bill to phase out fishing ‘curtains of death’

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Feds grant Kern water districts $11M for drought resiliency work

Four Kern water districts will receive a total of more than $11 million to bolster the county’s resilience to drought under a series of grants awarded Thursday by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Five separate local grants, among more than two dozen being distributed across eight Western states, will help fund groundwater recharge, produced-water reclamation and conveyance projects in and around Arvin, Bakersfield, Delano and the Shafter-Wasco area. “This will be really great for the whole county, that we’ve got several large projects that will help all the large districts,” said General Manager David Ansolabehere of the Cawelo Water District. His agency scored the largest of the five: a $5 million award that will help pay for the expansion of an existing system that puts oilfield produced water to use in local crop irrigation. … ”  Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Feds grant Kern water districts $11M for drought resiliency work

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Christmas in Southern California: Forecast predicts warmest in the country

While most of the rest of the country shivers, summer-like weather will be hitting Southern California for the holiday weekend.  Forecasts are showing the region could be the warmest spot celebrating Christmas Day, with temperatures in the 70s across the region and some areas could even hit upward of 80 degrees.  “It will be borderline summery for some spots here,” said Brian Adams, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “Potentially, it’s looking like the warmest spot in the country is going to be here in Southern California. It’s going to be great.”  It could be a good weekend to hit the beach and snap selfies on the sand, with plenty of places along the coast decked out for the holidays. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Christmas in Southern California: Forecast predicts warmest in the country

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District’s new project aims to turn waste water into drinking water

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District could eventually turn waste water into pure drinking water for customers in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village through its “Pure Water Project.”  The full scale water treatment system will be completed in five years and will produce 20% of the district’s water supply. Right now, the water district gets all of its water from the Metropolitan Water District.  “How do we create a local water supply to ensure that we’re more resilient to droughts and future droughts. And one of the things that we decided to do is look at water reuse,” said Mike McNutt, the public affairs officer for the water district. … ”  Read more from Channel 7 here: Las Virgenes Municipal Water District’s new project aims to turn waste water into drinking water

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Palm Desert: Water district to pay $175,000 to resolve discharge violations

The Mission Springs Water District, owner and operator of the Alan Horton Wastewater Treatment Plant, has agreed to pay a penalty of $175,000 in connection with a spill at the treatment plant in October 2020; the penalty will be used to fund a project connecting the disadvantaged community of Desert Hot Springs, where the spill occurred, to a centralized sewer system.  The Colorado River Water Board fined the district for discharging 943,753 gallons of secondary treated wastewater that flowed through a community stormwater retention basin, onto local streets, and into a drainage channel that is a tributary to the Whitewater River, threatening water quality and impacting surface and groundwater uses in the Coachella Hydrologic Unit. At the time of the spill the wastewater had only undergone secondary treatment to reduce organic matter, but not final treatment for proper disposal. … ”  Read more from the State Water Board here: Palm Desert: Water district to pay $175,000 to resolve discharge violations

Corps, partners sign agreement to move forward on study to aid Salton Sea

On a sunny December day near the shores of the Salton Sea, three agencies signed an agreement to collaborate on ways to aid the ailing lake.  Representatives with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, California Department of Water Resources and the Salton Sea Authority signed a cost-share agreement during a Dec. 16 outdoor ceremony at the North Shore Yacht Club in Mecca.  The agreement launches the “Imperial Streams Salton Sea and Tributaries Feasibility Study,” a $3-million, three-year study aimed at identifying potential ecosystem, flood-risk management or other land- and water-resource projects and actions for the long-term restoration of the sea.  “This is an opportunity to develop viable and innovative solutions, in collaboration with our partners, for the Salton Sea community and its surrounding area,” said Col. Julie Balten, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District. “We are excited to sign the agreement as it solidifies our commitment to this community and its people to gather information, define problems and opportunities, and potentially recommend federal restoration projects at the Salton Sea.” … ”  Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers here: Corps, partners sign agreement to move forward on study to aid Salton Sea

SAN DIEGO

King tides for the holidays: Exceptionally high tides may bring flooding to San Diego

A perfect combination of cosmic events will occur this holiday season to bring astronomically high tides known as king tides to San Diego just before Christmas, forecasters say.  The phenomenon, which describes what are typically some of the highest tides of the year, are scheduled to occur on Dec. 23 and 24. A second round is predicted to happen on Jan. 21 and 22.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that this winter season’s tides may cause coastal flooding in low-lying areas of San Diego.  Here’s what to know ... Read more from NBC 7 here: King tides for the holidays: Exceptionally high tides may bring flooding to San Diego 

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Along the Colorado River …

Arizona battles for better billing in Colorado River fight

As leaders from seven Western states negotiate new reductions from the Colorado River — in an effort to derail looming catastrophes at Lake Powell and Lake Mead — Arizona’s top water official is arguing his state should no longer be first to go dry.  In other words, stop calling Arizona “junior.”  In remarks at the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference last week, Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, seized on a 1968 law to argue that despite common perception, provisions that would force Arizona to give up its share of Colorado River water before other states have yet to be triggered.  “One thing I want people to know: If you go back and read the act, the ‘68 act about the priority, it basically says: ‘’When there is not 7.5 million acre-feet available to the Secretary [of Interior] for delivery to the three Lower Basin states, that’s when Arizona’s junior priority kicks in,’” Buschatzke said.  He added: “Even though the system is not healthy, there’s way more than 7.5 million acre-feet in the system right now. So I would question whether or not the priority system really has kicked in.” ... ”  Read more from E&E News here: Arizona battles for better billing in Colorado River fight

Commentary: Arizona’s water crisis is manageable – if we actually do these 3 things

Grady Gammage, Jr., practicing lawyer and author, writes, “Those of us who talk about Arizona’s water situation often point out that the challenge we face is less daunting than other dilemmas of climate change like sea level rise or an increasing frequency of hurricanes. A dramatic decline in water resources, we say, is manageable, and Arizona has a strong history of water management.  But there’s a catch: We have to actually manage it.  There are a lot of seemingly disconnected ideas floating around. It is important to fit these ideas into a context, and to give Arizonans a way to talk about how we will manage our way through. Here are some thoughts on such a framework. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central here: Commentary: Arizona’s water crisis is manageable – if we actually do these 3 things

Commentary:  Arizona must work twice as hard now to prove the fix is not in to buy water

Columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Is Arizona pursuing an “all of the above” approach, as elected leaders claim, to find new sources of water for the state?  Or have we already thrown most of our stock behind a proposal to buy water from a privately financed desalination plant on Mexico’s Sea of Cortez – one that, if it were built, would rank among the largest desalination plants in the world?  The next few months should tell the tale, now that the state board tasked with financing water augmentation deals has agreed to discuss the possibility with a nebulous set of investors. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central here: Commentary:  Arizona must work twice as hard now to prove the fix is not in to buy water

The water wranglers of the West are struggling to save the Colorado River

Rachel Monroe writes, “In mid-December, I drove to Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, to see its infamous bathtub ring. The bathtub, in this metaphor, is Lake Mead, on the border between Nevada and Arizona; the ring is a chalk-white coating of minerals that its receding waters have left behind. The Southwest, which includes the Colorado River Basin, has been in a protracted drought since 2000; climate change has made it worse. “You go to Los Angeles or Denver or Las Vegas, and it doesn’t seem like an emergency, compared to when a hurricane slams into Florida,” John Entsminger, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, told me recently. “Our emergency is more akin to sea-level rise, something that takes decades to manifest, so it almost normalizes itself.” The bathtub ring may be the emergency’s most visible manifestation—the drought equivalent of Don Lemon in a rain slicker, weathering gale-force winds in a megastorm. It serves as a daily reminder of the hundred and fifty-eight feet of water that is no longer there. According to Bob Gripentog, one of the owners of the Lake Mead Marina, where swarms of ducks like to overwinter, the docks keep needing to be moved farther out as the lake’s level drops. … ”  Read more from the New Yorker here: The water wranglers of the West are struggling to save the Colorado River

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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-20221222

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Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …

UPDATE: All Curtailments in the Delta Watershed Remain Temporarily Suspended through January 4, 2023

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Delta Conservancy Announces Availability of $42M in Grant Funding

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.