WEEKLY WATER NEWS DIGEST for Jan 3-6: Hyperactive Pacific storm train to keep slamming California; Is this the predicted ARkStorm?; How CA can save up its rain to ease future droughts; and more …

A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …

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In California water news this week …

Hyperactive Pacific storm train to keep slamming California

Deadly storms unleashed fierce back-to-back blows to California at the end of 2022 and the start of 2023, and AccuWeather meteorologists warn that a series of storms lining up across the Pacific Ocean will continue to aim for the Golden State with rounds of heavy rain and mountain snow. The dangers of flooding and mudslides will increase with each passing storm.  The atmosphere has flipped the switch to storm mode as the weather pattern through mid-month has the potential to unleash more than a foot of additional rain in some locations and many more yards of snow over the high country of the Sierra Nevada. … ”  Read more from AccuWeather here: Hyperactive Pacific storm train to keep slamming California

Lethal storms challenge California’s levees

A run of atmospheric rivers that have swollen California streams to record levels and breached some of the state’s crucial levees shows no sign of easing up, leaving farms and residences vulnerable for what could be another week or more.  Multiple deaths have already been linked to the series of storms, including that of a young Sonoma County child whose family’s doublewide trailer home was crushed Wednesday night by a falling tree.  An estimated 190,000 California residents had lost power Thursday morning, some heavily trafficked highway stretches have been closed and evacuation orders have been issued for several towns. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has declared a state of emergency.  “We anticipate that this may be one of the most challenging and impactful series of storms to touch down in California in the last five years,” Nancy Ward, who was appointed Dec. 31 as director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, said at a news briefing.  Ward added that the storms “may continue for the next seven to 10 days” and that if this happens as anticipated “we could see widespread flooding, mudslides and power outages in many communities.” … ”  Read more from E&E News here: Lethal storms challenge California’s levees

California ocean piers collapse, waves rise to 35 feet

California beach town residents woke up Thursday morning to collapsed ocean piers, massive 35-foot waves, tide surges, and widespread flooding.  Coastal chaos stretched from beaches in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties all the way up to San Francisco and Marin. An atmospheric river-powered rainstorm triggered evacuation orders for residents living closest to the beaches Wednesday night.  Emergency crews urged the public to stay away from the coast Thursday morning as the storm and high tide continued whipping up a monster swell.  Video footage showed the Capitola Wharf split in half from a section of the wharf collapsing into the sea. Water from the ocean and Soquel Creek surged back and forth carrying massive tree trunks. … ”  Read more from Fox 5 here: California ocean piers collapse, waves rise to 35 feet

CW3E AR Update: Atmospheric Rivers Forecast to Continue to Bring Additional Precipitation to Northern and Central California

A family of ARs (Fish et al. 2019) is forecast to make landfall beginning Friday, continuing into early next week.  The first AR is forecast to make landfall late in the day Friday 6 Jan and bring a period of IVT > 400 kg/ms into Northern and Central California. Before AR conditions from the first AR completely dissipate, a second AR associated with a surface low-pressure system is forecast to bring a stronger pulse of IVT > 600 kg/ms to the same areas, resulting in AR 2 conditions (based on the Ralph et al. 2019 AR Scale). The third and strongest AR is forecast to make landfall along the coast of Northern California with IVT exceeding 750 kg/ms resulting in AR 3/AR 4 conditions in the region, although considerable uncertainty remains in the exact timing, intensity, duration, and position of this system. … ”  Read the full update at the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes here: CW3E AR Update: Atmospheric Rivers Forecast to Continue to Bring Additional Precipitation to Northern and Central California

EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:

Atmospheric river by NASA’s Earth Observatory

US government predicted a devastating California ‘ARkStorm’ in 2010—is it happening now?

Over a decade ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and state agencies developed the idea of the ARkStorm, an extreme storm and flood scenario for California based on previous rain events. A USGS video—disconcertingly set to hard rock music—created in 2010 and recently uploaded to YouTube paints a Biblical picture of what the devastating storm could potentially look like: “a fury rivaling that of hurricanes, beginning a process of destruction that will last for weeks.” As heavy storms caused by atmospheric rivers hit California this week–many regions are under flood warning—many are worried about the possibility of such a catastrophic event occurring now. So what is it, and is it really something you need to worry about? … ”  Read more from Vice here: US government predicted a devastating California ‘ARkStorm’ in 2010—is it happening now?

Press release: Snow survey shows December storms provided big snow totals with more systems, flooding in forecast

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 55.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 17.5 inches, which is 177 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide the snowpack is 174 percent of average for this date.  California is expected to see continued rain and snow over the next seven days, with the threat of flooding in parts of California. Conditions so far this season have proven to be strikingly similar to last year when California saw some early rainstorms and strong December snow totals only to have the driest January through March on record.  “The significant Sierra snowpack is good news but unfortunately these same storms are bringing flooding to parts of California,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This is a prime example of the threat of extreme flooding during a prolonged drought as California experiences more swings between wet and dry periods brought on by our changing climate.” ... ”  Continue reading this press release from DWR via Maven’s Notebook here: Press release: Snow survey shows December storms provided big snow totals with more systems, flooding in forecast

The promise of a wet January

Dr. Jeffrey Mount writes, “California is in an impressive wet period.  According to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, four powerful atmospheric rivers have hit California since Christmas. And their modeling suggests that at least three more significant storms are on their way. It looks like January is going to be a very wet month.  Right now, the focus is appropriately on protecting lives and property. These atmospheric rivers—with their intense low-pressure systems and warm, subtropical moisture—are California’s version of hurricanes. The combination of high rainfall rates and winds causes urban and river flooding, as well as landslides and debris flows (especially in areas that have recently burned), and routinely knocks out power to thousands.  But these storms also create an awful lot of benefit for Californians. ... ”  Read more from the PPIC here: The promise of a wet January

How California could save up its rain to ease future droughts — instead of watching epic atmospheric river rainfall drain into the Pacific

Andrew Fisher writes, “California has seen so much rain over the past few weeks that farm fields are inundated and normally dry creeks and drainage ditches have become torrents of water racing toward the ocean. Yet, most of the state remains in severe drought.  All that runoff in the middle of a drought begs the question — why can’t more rainwater be collected and stored for the long, dry spring and summer when it’s needed?  As a hydrogeologist at the University of California at Santa Cruz, I’m interested in what can be done to collect runoff from storms like this on a large scale. There are two primary sources of large-scale water storage that could help make a dent in the drought: holding that water behind dams and putting it in the ground. … ”  Read more from The Conversation here: How California could save up its rain to ease future droughts — instead of watching epic atmospheric river rainfall drain into the Pacific

Floods show California’s climate dilemma: Fight the water, or pull back?

As California battles a second week of lashing rain and snow that have flooded communities, broken levees and toppled power lines, the state is facing questions about whether its approach to handling crippling storms is suited to 21st-century climate threats. For decades, federal and state planners built dams and levees in California to store water and keep it at bay. But as climate change increases the risk of stronger and more destructive storms — like the one that was battering Northern California on Wednesday — experts and some policymakers are urging another approach: giving rivers room to overflow. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: Floods show California’s climate dilemma: Fight the water, or pull back?

Sites Reservoir awarded $80 million in federal funds

Officials said Wednesday that the Sites Reservoir project, which could provide 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity, was awarded $80 million in federal funding from the Bureau of Reclamation via the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. This federal initiative provides grants for water supply infrastructure that promotes drought resilience for rural communities and agriculture, urban areas, public health and the environment. The project, which has been in the works for more than 60 years, hopes to turn the Sites Valley, located 10 miles west of Maxwell where Colusa and Glenn counties meet, into a state-of-the-art off-stream water storage facility that captures and stores stormwater flows in the Sacramento River – after all other water rights and regulatory requirements are met – for release in dry and critical years for environmental use and for communities, farms and businesses statewide to utilize when needed, the Appeal previously reported. … ”  Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Sites Reservoir awarded $80 million in federal funds

How the LandFlex incentive program can assist dairy farmers

The LandFlex incentive program offers farmers financial support as part of the effort to address water availability. Producers in critically over drafted basins will have the opportunity to enroll in different incentive options. Chief Executive Officer of Western United Dairies, Anja Raudabaugh explained how the program would be beneficial for dairy farmers.  “If a farmer is double cropping wheat and corn, for example, you’re looking on average, depending on your basin, at about five acre-feet per acre of consumptive water use from the aquifer. If you wanted to transition to, for example, upcycling byproducts, nonhuman consumables like almond hulls, citrus pulp and peel, bakery waste,” Raudabaugh noted, “DWR will pay him by the acre approximately $2,200, and depending on what you’re transitioning to, the transition payment goes up or down.” … ”  Read more from Ag Net West here: How the LandFlex incentive program can assist dairy farmers

Wild weather swings are robbing California of its trees

Stressed by drought, whipped by wind and weakened at the roots by relentless rain and flooding, trees — tall and short, ancient and young, in mountain preserves and suburban yards — have toppled across California this week in breathtaking numbers, the most visible sign of a state veering between environmental extremes.  A procession of atmospheric rivers has interrupted an epic drought responsible for the driest three years on California record. The sudden swing from scarcity to excess with back-to-back storms is testing the state’s infrastructure broadly, straining the power grid, levees, drainage systems and roads from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada.  If the storm had a theme, it was in the uprooted and broken trees that seemed to blanket the rain-soaked landscape — a loss and a hazard that the director of the state water resources department, Karla Nemeth, had warned would be “the signature of this particular event.” … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: Wild weather swings are robbing California of its trees

Scientists dig deep and find a way to accurately predict snowmelt after droughts

Where does your water supply come from?  If you live near mountains, for instance in British Columbia, a lot of your water probably comes from mountain snowpack. Accurate predictions of this annual trend is critical for water supply planning. And forecasting models often rely on the historical relationship between mountain snowpack and the subsequent water supply.  However, in times of unprecedented drought and a changing climate, these forecasting models seem to no longer be reliable. Following an intense drought in California in 2021, snowmelt from mountain snowpack delivered significantly less water than historical models predicted, meaning that reservoirs remained drier than anticipated. For the first time in 100 years, water supply models were wrong.  In an attempt to address the gaps in the traditional model, we recently developed an updated water supply forecasting model that considers additional factors, like water storage deficits in the soil and bedrock. This new model significantly improves the accuracy of water supply forecasts following drought. … ”  Read more from the Lake County News here: Scientists dig deep and find a way to accurately predict snowmelt after droughts

California’s endangered salmon population plummets amid new threat

They’ve been pushed to the brink of extinction by dams, drought, extreme heat and even the flare of wildfires, but now California’s endangered winter-run Chinook salmon appear to be facing an entirely new threat — their own ravenous hunger for anchovies.  After the worst spawning season ever in 2022, scientists now suspect the species’ precipitous decline is being driven by its ocean diet.  Researchers hypothesize that the salmon are feasting too heavily on anchovies, a fish that is now swarming the California coast in record numbers. Unfortunately for the salmon, anchovies carry an enzyme called thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine — a vitamin that is essential to cell function in all living things. “These are fish that returned to the river early this year and then spawned in the spring and early summer. They had really low thiamine,” said Nate Mantua, a fisheries researcher with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Santa Cruz. Concentrations were “worse than last year.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: California’s endangered salmon population plummets amid new threat | Read via Yahoo News

Modifying a river channel to boost salmon productivity

Along the banks of the Sacramento River near Redding, the ancestral home of Chinook salmon, a major project is making the waters more hospitable for the juvenile fish as they begin their annual migration downstream toward the Pacific Ocean.  Crews have carved a side river channel and supplemented the main riverbed with gravel. From there, it’s a matter of watching the natural process unfold.  The results are “almost immediate,” said Aurelia Gonzalez, program manager with the Sacramento River Forum. “Fish come back,” she said. “You provide the habitat and they’re there.”  The Kapusta 1B Side Channel Project is one of many projects funded under a $10 million Central Valley Project Improvement Act competitive solicitation to restore fish habitat for critically endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. … ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation here: Modifying a river channel to boost salmon productivity

Fishing groups applaud return of Central Valley restoration funding, urge Secretary Haaland to rescind Trump-era water contracts as well

Fishing organizations thank Secretary of the Interior Debra Haaland for executing a December 15, 2022 Memorandum that ensures statutory funding to protect fish and wildlife as required under the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA). Secretary’s Haaland’s Memorandum voids the Orwellian declaration by the Trump Administration that restoration of fish and wildlife harmed by the federal Central Valley Project (CVP) was complete and summarily defunded.  The action by Secretary Haaland means that CVP water contractors will resume payment for projects to create and improve floodplain and other habitat for salmon, waterfowl, and other fish and wildlife. The payments are required by the CVPIA, passed in 1992 to require the CVP to put fish and wildlife protection on an equal footing with water supply. … ”

CDFW beaver management policies get a refresh

Thanks to funding approved in the state budget, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now in the process of building upon its existing beaver management policies and laying the groundwork for projects that harness beavers’ natural ability to improve California’s ecosystems.  The state budget approved $1.67 million in fiscal year 2022-23 and $1.44 million in fiscal year 2023-24 and ongoing for CDFW’s beaver restoration program.  CDFW is currently hiring five dedicated scientists to work on a comprehensive approach to beaver management. Once hired, staff will work on numerous projects and collaborations including developing a toolkit to help prevent property damage due to beaver activity and to foster co-existence with the keystone species. Staff will also collaborate with partners on ongoing and future restoration projects to relocate beavers into watersheds where their dams can help restore hydrologic connectivity and promote resiliency to climate change and wildfire. ... ”  Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: CDFW beaver management policies get a refresh

EPA finalizes water rule that repeals Trump-era changes

President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday finalized regulations that protect hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, repealing a Trump-era rule that federal courts had thrown out and that environmentalists said left waterways vulnerable to pollution.  The rule defines which “waters of the United States” are protected by the Clean Water Act. For decades, the term has been a flashpoint between environmental groups that want to broaden limits on pollution entering the nation’s waters and farmers, builders and industry groups that say extending regulations too far is onerous for business.  The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army said the reworked rule is based on definitions that were in place prior to 2015. Federal officials said they wrote a “durable definition” of waterways to reduce uncertainty.  In recent years, however, there has been a lot of uncertainty. … ”  Read more from the Associated Press here:  EPA finalizes water rule that repeals Trump-era changes

SEE ALSO: EPA Issues Revised Federal Waters Rule as Court Ruling Looms, from Bloomberg Law

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In commentary this week …

Delta tunnel EIS: California water wars now are framed by ‘situational environmentalism’

Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “There is a sound alternative to building the controversial Delta Tunnel, the latest reincarnation of the Peripheral Canal.  It accomplishes the same objectives the tunnel will do for the massive Metropolitan Water District in Southern California and big corporate farmers including a Beverly Hills billionaire in the extreme southwest portion of the San Joaquin Valley.  The objective is clear, reliable water supply to address concerns about rising sea levels, drought, and even earthquakes. And it can even address subsidence that has drastically reduced the capacity of the California Aqueduct in a number of locations.  Ironically, the latest just released Environmental Impact Study for the Delta tunnel lists the solution it in the “no project alternative.” … ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Delta tunnel EIS: California water wars now are framed by ‘situational environmentalism’

Dan Walters: What California can learn from wave of storms

California, particularly Northern California, was walloped by a major winter rain and snow storm last week and meteorologists expect that high levels of precipitation will continue for at least another week.  Despite some damage and at least one death from local flooding and tree-toppling high winds, the storm and the predictions of more to come are welcome relief from what had appeared to be a prolonged drought.  There are lessons to be learned from this watery wave, if Californians and the politicians they have elected pay attention, to wit ... ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: What California can learn from wave of storms

Editorial: The drought is over now, right? (Spoiler alert: No)

The LA Times editorial board writes, “The storms keep coming, one after another after another, like a series of fire-hose blasts so relentless that meteorologists use terms like “atmospheric river,” “bomb cyclone” and “bombogenesis.” What happened to our formerly gentle old winter visitor, the “pineapple express”? Cities and highways have flooded in Northern California, and the Sierra Nevada snowpack measured at 174% of the historical average for this point in the year. And that was even before the current storm.  And still, the experts insist that we remain in the midst of a record-breaking four-year drought. Are they just mean?  Unfortunately, the experts have data on their side. ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Editorial: The drought is over now, right? (Spoiler alert: No)

Editorial: Don’t count on a drought-buster

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat editorial board writes, “The storm door is open — at least for now. … Our advice is nothing profound: Don’t add to the challenges already facing first responders. Stay home if you can, but heed evacuation orders. Don’t park near a stream or drive into deep water — just 2 feet can render a car inoperable — and keep a respectful distance from crashing surf. … Finally, as much as we would welcome a return to normal precipitation patterns, don’t count on this storm being a drought-buster.  We have been here before. … ”  Read the full editorial at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Editorial: Don’t count on a drought-buster

How to save all that water from the ‘atmospheric river’

Andrew Fisher, professor in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Department at UC Santa Cruz, writes, “California has seen so much rain in the last few weeks that farm fields are inundated and normally dry creeks and drainage ditches have become torrents of water racing toward the ocean. At the same time, most of the state is still in severe drought.  All that runoff begs the question — why can’t more rainwater be collected and stored for the long, dry spring and summer when it’s needed?   As a hydrogeologist, I’m interested in what can be done to collect runoff from storms like this on a large scale. There are two primary sources for large-scale water storage that could help make a dent in the drought: storing it behind dams and in the ground. … ”  Continue reading at the LA Times here: How to save all that water from the ‘atmospheric river’

Editorial: Let’s take action on water supply

The Chico Enterprise-Record editorial board writes, “As Californians struggled to deal with a grueling drought that has led to water rationing and other extreme water-conservation measures, Mother Nature has this week intervened with an atmospheric river that has led to massive rainfalls and flooding — especially up in our end of the state.  This cycle of drought and flooding is nothing new.  “California summers were characterized by the coughing in the pipes that meant the well was dry, and California winters by all-night watches on rivers about to crest,” wrote Joan Didion in her 1977 essay, “Holy Water.”  Unfortunately, California has left itself dependent on the weather (or climate, if you prefer) because it hasn’t built significant water infrastructure since the time that essay was published — when the state had roughly 18 million fewer residents. … ”  Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record here: Editorial: Let’s take action on water supply

Those who forget California water history are doomed to repeat it

Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “High winds. The potential for up to 3 inches of rain in 48 hours.  Heavy storms in the past three weeks that have saturated the ground.  Nobody is thinking about the drought.  Go back a few months.  No rain for months. A dismal Sierra snowpack on April 1 that was 38 percent of the historic average.  Groundwater tables dropping farther. In some areas, wells drying up.  Reservoirs with water rings that are going downhill from being classified as lakes to puddle status.  Water restrictions.  Dying or dead lawns.  Fallow farmland. Orchards dying.  Rest assured no one was worried about flooding in mid-August.  But here we are — again. … ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: Those who forget California water history are doomed to repeat it

Recent flooding shows the need for water storage

The Southern California News Group editorial board writes, “As Californians struggled to deal with a grueling drought that has led to water rationing and other extreme water-conservation measures, Mother Nature has this week intervened with an atmospheric river that has led to massive rainfalls and flooding — especially up north.  This cycle of drought and flooding is nothing new. “California summers were characterized by the coughing in the pipes that meant the well was dry, and California winters by all-night watches on rivers about to crest,” wrote Joan Didion in her 1977 essay, “Holy Water.”  Unfortunately, California has left itself dependent on the weather (or climate, if you prefer) because it hasn’t built significant water infrastructure since the time that essay was published — when the state had roughly 18 million fewer residents. … ”  Read more from the OC Register here: Recent flooding shows the need for water storage

We agree: Time for California to embrace beavers

Charlton H. Bonham, Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, writes, “Beavers are having a well-deserved moment in the discussion around climate solutions.  Healthy beaver populations improve their environment in so many ways – from reducing wildfire risks, to making water conditions more hospitable for our native salmon and trout.  In fact, humans have so admired the skilled work of beavers they have spent millions of dollars trying to replicate the benefits they create. As managers of the state’s natural resources, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is embracing the opportunity to elevate beaver restoration as part of a larger effort to help mitigate the impacts of wildfires, climate change and drought. Thanks to Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership and the State Legislature, funding for beaver restoration is now part of our playbook, with funds approved in this year’s budget. ... ”  Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife here: We agree: Time for California to embrace beavers

From years of drought in the west to water, water, everywhere? We can do it — with interstate pipelines.

Joseph D. Schulman, M.D., a scientist, former professor, and Chairman of Genetics & IVF Institute; John P. Schaefer, Ph.D, a chemist, former President of the University of Arizona, and a director of Research Corporation Technologies; and Henry I. Miller, a physician, molecular biologist, and the Glenn Swogger Distinguished Fellow at the American Council on Science and Health, write, “The situation in California — with its outsized population, massive agriculture, and recurrent droughts over much of the past decade — is particularly tenuous because of a severe deficit of groundwater. …  As described by the EPA, stress on water supplies and the nation’s aging water treatment systems can lead to a variety of consequences for communities, including astronomical water prices, increased watering restrictions to manage shortages, seasonal loss of aquatic recreational areas, and expensive water treatment projects when local demand overcomes available capacity.  With wise public policy, all these needs for water could be accommodated because America does not have a water supply problem; it has a water distribution problem.  There is plenty of water, but not where it’s needed.  We suggest a remedy for the maldistribution that dovetails nicely with congressional and White House initiatives to improve and expand the nation’s infrastructure. … ”  Read more from the American Council on Science and Health here: From years of drought in the west to water, water, everywhere? We can do it — with interstate pipelines.

The Bay Area’s natural habitats have vanished. We’re a microcosm of a global die-off

Rebecca Shaw, chief scientist at World Wildlife Fund, writes, “When my son was younger, we often visited San Francisco’s Baylands Preserve to bike, hike and pull up invasive weed species that were crowding out native plants and animals — our small way of helping to restore a massive wetland system in California that only 150 years ago rivaled the splendor of Africa’s world-famous Okavango Delta.  Not anymore.  More than 90% of California’s coastal and inland wetlands have vanished, replaced by cropland, airports, housing, highways and industrial parks. Our state has reaped a great many short-term economic benefits from this activity, but we’ve also undermined long-term growth and security through the concomitant destruction of nature. … ”  Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle here: The Bay Area’s natural habitats have vanished. We’re a microcosm of a global die-off

Missing an opportunity downstream of Shasta Lake

Tom Cannon writes, “Juvenile winter-run, spring-run, fall-run, and late-fall-run salmon need a flow boost in the fall and winter to help them emigrate 300 miles down the Sacramento River from their spawning area below Shasta Lake to and through the Bay-Delta.1 Yet while winter storms have now caused massive runoff downstream, the spawning reach of Sacramento River remains at its minimum flow. Even small pulse releases from Shasta and Keswick reservoirs during storms would start hundreds of thousands of juvenile salmon on their way to the ocean. … ”  Read more from the California Fisheries blog here: Missing an opportunity downstream of Shasta Lake

Lisa Beutler Opines: ‘Connecting the dots – humans and the water cycle’

AWRA Past President and Stantec Executive Facilitator Lisa Beutler writes, “Educators around the Nation now have access to a new tool to explain the Earth’s water cycle. Developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in consultation with more than 100 educators and more than 30 hydrologic experts, a new water cycle diagram replaces the one in use since 2000. Released in October 2022, the revised depiction brings humans into the picture and shows the water cycle as a complex interplay of small, interconnected cycles that people interact with and influence. Importantly it also shows how multiple ecosystems—including a coastal plain, dry basin, wet basin, and agricultural basin—are connected across watersheds and at continental scales.  The earlier water cycle diagram, developed by Howard Pearlman and John Evans, introduced more than two decades of students, as well as readers of thousands of water publications, to the natural aspects of the water cycle. The 2022 version depicts how the Earth’s water moves and is stored, both naturally and because of human actions. … ”  Continue reading at Water Wired here: Lisa Beutler Opines: ‘Connecting the dots – humans and the water cycle’

In praise of the monthly water bill

Kathryn Sorensen, current director of research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University; Bidtah Becker, director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources, and Manny Teodoro, associate professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, write, “The cost of delivering safe, clean tap water to every household and business in a community is massive. In fact, it may be among the most expensive of all human undertakings. That is why only the wealthiest countries have achieved it at high rates and why 2 billion people on our planet still lack it.  Paying the monthly bill that comes with good tap water service is unpleasant, but it beats the alternatives. While it would be nice if some benevolent entity would bear the cost of delivering safe, clean tap water, the reality is that communities that rely on someone else to pay for their water systems often have inadequate or failing service. Indeed, there are plenty of people who would love to pay a water bill because it would mean that they have access to a functioning community water system. Instead, many Americans must haul their own water, depend on contaminated household wells or rely on bottled water handouts on the street. ... ”  Read more from The Hill here: In praise of the monthly water bill

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In regional water news this week …

Lawsuit filed against Klamath River dam removal project

A board member of the Siskiyou County Water Users Association has filed a lawsuit against the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. The lawsuit claims the secretary is illegally using taxpayer money to fund the historic dam removal project.  “The secretary of natural resources has authority over the implementation of anything that affects wild and scenic rivers. He’s also… in charge of the bond money,” said Anthony Intiso, who filed the lawsuit.  Intiso is personally suing Wade Crowfoot, the secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency. Intiso says his primary concern with the removal project is how it’s being funded by the state of California. His lawsuit cites California’s Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, claiming the project funding is illegal expenditure of tax money. … ”  Read more from Channel 12 here: Lawsuit filed against Klamath River dam removal project

Pumping stormwater into South Sacramento park combats flooding, officials say

Munger’s Lake in South Sacramento was partially filled after the California Gold Rush of the 1800s to create a neighborhood park, but Sacramento officials also found a new use for the lake — flood control. One way to keep the city’s water system from flooding during heavy rain is by moving stormwater into Munger’s Lake, now part of Reichmuth Park on 6135 Gloria Drive.  “There are nearby pump stations and pipes that move stormwater within our systems and in the case of a large storm, Reichmuth Park is designed to fill with stormwater, which adds extra capacity to the nearby system,” said Eliason.  The stored rainwater can be moved right back into the system. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: Pumping stormwater into South Sacramento park combats flooding, officials say

The American River Basin Study: Diversifying where we get our water is key to combating climate change

We don’t always treat water like the life-sustaining resource it is. Instead, we take it for granted: With the turn of a tap, it’s at our fingertips to drink, grow our food and keep our communities clean. But according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, it’s time for changes if we want that to continue. Their recently released American River Basin study highlights the growing imbalance between water supply and consumer demand. With the stresses of population growth, regulatory updates, and the effects of climate change, this disparity will only get worse without new strategies and approaches to keep water flowing.  “Without adaptation strategies, we project an increase in supply-demand imbalances across all users within the Basin and by the end of the 21st century,” says Dr. Ian Ferguson, hydrologic engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento News & Review here: The American River Basin Study: Diversifying where we get our water is key to combating climate change

California American Water files an application for rehearing with the CPUC

On Friday, December 30, California American Water filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) its application for rehearing of the recent decision regarding the Pure Water Monterey Expansion agreement. California American Water is requesting recovery of infrastructure costs needed to extract, distribute, and deliver water from the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project. California American Water supports the project as a critical component of the future water supply portfolio for its Monterey Peninsula customers and urges the CPUC to approve the funds for the infrastructure needed for the project.  “California American Water has built new infrastructure and advanced funding to our partner agency because we support the expansion of the Pure Water Monterey project. This project is needed to reduce pumping from the Carmel River, and this infrastructure is needed for the project,” said Kevin Tilden, president of California American Water. “We encourage the CPUC to grant a rapid rehearing to address the problems and allow us to move forward with the water purchase agreement.” … ”  Read more from Yahoo Finance here: California American Water files an application for rehearing with the CPUC

Legal brief: Marina files lawsuit against Monterey Desal Project

The Monterey Bay city of Marina claims the California Coastal Commission’s approval of a desalination plant will actually harm the environment and take water from an already critically overdrafted watershedRead the complaint via Courthouse News Service here.

Too much water? Fresno Irrigation District using recharge basins for conservation

What happens to all the runoff water from the rain once the ponding basins in Fresno and Clovis reach capacity?  Fox26 News followed the water that streams west of Highway 99 to see where it ends up.  Fresno Irrigation District is making sure runoff water from Fresno and Clovis doesn’t go to waste. It created a number of recharging basins west of HWY 99.   They’re not big bodies of water but FID General Manager, Bill Stretch, says these recharge basins make a difference.  “We’ll take that stormwater from the cities then will route it out here and recharge the groundwater aquifer which is beneficial to growers around here and some of the communities.” … ”  Read more from KMPH here: Too much water? Fresno Irrigation District using recharge basins for conservation

Deer Creek siphon averts overflow from Friant-Kern Canal

The project to address flooding and subsidence in the Friant-Kern Canal hit a milestone with the recent completion of a critical siphon structure, sparing surrounding areas of flood damage in the event of heavy rainfall.  In November, the Friant Water Authority (FWA) made a key accomplishment on their 33-mile middle reach project that has plagued conveyance on the Friant-Kern Canal (FKC). Aptly named the Deer Creek siphon, the siphon ensures the FKC can handle high flows in the event of potential winter storms or flood events by allowing water from the canal to pass under the creek. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette here: Deer Creek siphon averts overflow from Friant-Kern Canal

There will be (bad) blood over Toro Creek oil spill

First responders in Santa Barbara County celebrated New Year’s Day by working to contain an oil spill oozing from an abandoned open-pit oil-mining operation dating back to the 19th century up Toro Creek high in the foothills overlooking Montecito and Summerland. This year’s drenching winter rains appear to have overwhelmed the carrying capacity of an improvised pipeline and catch-basin created 25 years ago to keep the oil from dribbling out of that unpluggable pit — at a rate of 30 gallons a day — and creeping into the nearby creek and washing downstream with the rushing rains.  As of this writing, it remains uncertain just how much oil got into the creek. But reportedly none has been observed south of Highway 192 along Toro Canyon Road. … ”  Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent here: There will be (bad) blood over Toro Creek oil spill

Conservationists fight to end Los Angeles water imports from Eastern Sierra’s Mono Lake

Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash

As California enters what is expected to be a fourth year of drought, the State Water Resources Control Board is reviewing a request from environmentalists to suspend Los Angeles Department of Water and Power diversions from Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.  In its request, the nonprofit Mono Lake Committee argues that the combination of drought and diversions from streams that feed the lake are exposing the lake bottom near islands that host one of the world’s largest nesting gull populations. Unless this is addressed, they say coyotes will be able to access the islands and feast on the eggs of 50,000 California gulls.  “We do not submit this request lightly,” said Geoffrey McQuilkin, executive director of the committee. “The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power can help by contributing something only it can: water.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Conservationists fight to end Los Angeles water imports from Eastern Sierra’s Mono Lake | Read via UK News

Why is drought-weary Los Angeles letting stormwater flow into the Pacific Ocean?

The Los Angeles River roared to life this week as a series of powerful storms moved through the Southland. In Long Beach, 3 feet of water shut down the 710 Freeway in both directions, while flooding in the San Fernando Valley forced the closure of the Sepulveda Basin.  It was by all accounts a washout, but despite heaps of water pouring into the area, drought-weary Los Angeles won’t be able to save even half of it.  Voters in 2018 approved Measure W, which is aimed at improving L.A.’s aging stormwater capture system. Officials are making progress, but experts say there’s a long way to go. Of an estimated 5 billion to 10 billion gallons pouring into the Los Angeles Basin from current storms, only about 20% will be captured by the county.  “In a region that imports 60% of our water, it’s just a huge untapped potential for a local water supply,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of L.A. Waterkeeper. “We passed the Safe Clean Water Program to get us there, but we’re just not there yet. It’s going to take us some years.” ... ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Why is drought-weary Los Angeles letting stormwater flow into the Pacific Ocean?

Draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan released for public review

From the Water Plan eNews: “The draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan has been released and is ready for public review. The goal of the plan is to improve air quality, water quality, and wildlife habitats in order to reduce consequences brought on by the recession of the sea. A Spanish version of the draft plan will be available on the Salton Sea Management Program website later this month. After it is posted the 45-day public comment period will begin. Instructions for submitting comments are on the first page of the draft document.”    Click on the cover on the right to access the document.  Click here for the Salton Sea Management Plan website.

Why can’t the West just pipe in water from the Mississippi or Missouri rivers to save the Colorado River?

Engineers and water experts knew for decades that growth in the Colorado River Basin would eventually hit a tipping point. That is, unless the states depending on the river found a new source of water.  One way to do that, civil engineer Royce J. Tipton wrote in 1965, would be to pipe water in from somewhere else, also referred to as “importing” water. One scheme considered in the 50s and 60s (but never developed), the North American Water and Power Alliance, proposed to pipe water from rivers in Alaska and Canada south into the Colorado River’s headwaters, among other places.  Water transfers like this are already in use across the world and have been for millennia (think of the Roman aqueducts). An example in the Colorado River Basin would be the Central Arizona Project, a canal system transporting river water across hundreds of miles of desert and into the heart of Arizona for cities like Phoenix and Tucson.  These canals and pipelines are expensive to build, though, and take years. … ”  Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: Why can’t the West just pipe in water from the Mississippi or Missouri rivers to save the Colorado River? | Read via the Denver Post

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Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …

NOTICE of opportunity to comment and public workshop – draft scientific basis report supplement for voluntary agreements

NOTICE: Reclamation announces increased flows from Friant Dam into the San Joaquin River

NOTICE: All Curtailments in the Delta Watershed Remain Temporarily Suspended

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW Grants: 2023 Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Public Solicitation Notice Open

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: CDFW’s Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Program: Proposal Solicitation Notice

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