DAILY DIGEST, 1/17: Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations are key to managing floods and water supplies; Billions approved for water storage, why hasn’t it gotten built?; Westlands told hands off excess river water; How atmospheric rivers impact fish communities; and more …

On the calendar today …

  • NOAA Science Seminar: Modelling the salinity response to freshwater pulses in estuaries from 10am to 11am.  Freshwater pulses (during which river discharge is much higher than average) occur in many estuaries and strongly impact estuarine functioning. To gain insight into the estuarine salinity response to freshwater pulses, an idealized model is presented. With respect to earlier models on the spatiotemporal behavior of salinity in estuaries, it includes additional processes that provide a more detailed vertical structure of salinity. Simulation of an observed salinity response to a freshwater pulse in the Guadalquivir Estuary (Spain) shows that this is important to adequately simulate the salinity structure. The model is used to determine the dependency of the estuarine salinity response to freshwater pulses for different background discharge, tides, and different intensities and durations of the pulses. Remote access: Connect with Google Meet meet.google.com/kti-ktaw-nes, Phone Numbers (‪US‬)‪ +1 414-856-5982‬ PIN: ‪248 179#‬

In California water news today …

California’s Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations are key to managing floods and water supplies

The New Bullards Bar Reservoir in Yuba County releases water into the Yuba River during an atmospheric river storm in Northern California. Photo taken February 27, 2019 by Kelly M. Grow / DWR

As California experiences more extreme swings between wet and dry periods, it is critical for the State to deploy innovative forecasting and water management strategies to adapt to our changing climate.  The Department of Water Resources along with federal and local water agencies, have developed a Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) program to take advantage of scientific improvements in forecasting atmospheric rivers to better anticipate and manage large storm events while maximizing opportunities to increase water supply. Atmospheric rivers like those we’ve seen in January 2023 have a profound impact on water management in California.  DWR, in coordination with Yuba Water Agency, UC San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are now working together on this critical public safety initiative at two locations: Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar. ... ”  Read more from DWR News here: California’s Forecast-Informed Reservoir Operations are key to managing floods and water supplies 

Californians approved billions for new water storage. Why hasn’t it gotten built?

In 2014, during the throes of last decade’s drought, California voters approved billions of dollars for infrastructure that would catch and store much-needed water from winter storms. The hope was to amass water in wet times and save it for dry times.  Nearly 10 years later, none of the major storage projects, which include new and expanded reservoirs, has gotten off the ground.  As the state experiences a historic bout of rain and snow this winter, amid another severe water shortage, critics are lamenting the missed opportunity to capture more of the extraordinary runoff that has been swelling rivers, flooding towns and pouring into the sea. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Californians approved billions for new water storage. Why hasn’t it gotten built?

SEE ALSO ‘Deep Trouble’: Water Levels at California’s Reservoirs Leaving Towns Dry, from Newsweek

Devastating storms might be over, but officials caution California to stay vigilant

As the skies begin to clear and a relentless series of atmospheric rivers starts to move out, Californians are finally catching a break as they assess the aftermath of weeks of downed trees, landslides and devastating flooding.  River levels are receding in some areas, top climate officials reported in a briefing Monday, and the worst of the rain appears to be over.  One more storm system is forecast to roll through California on Wednesday, said California State Climatologist Mike Anderson, but it won’t pack as much of a punch as the previous ones. The rain, which isn’t expected to hit farther south than Santa Barbara, appears barely strong enough to qualify as an atmospheric river. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Devastating storms might be over, but officials caution California to stay vigilant

The great soaking is almost over. Let the great dry-out begin

You’re probably ready for the Great Dry-Out of 2023 to begin. But it’s a little too early to declare an absolute end to the Great Soaking of ’22-23, which for three weeks beginning Dec. 26 has deluged Northern California with near-record volumes of rain and snow. The storm siege has triggered widespread flooding, knocked out power at least briefly to millions and killed as many as 21 people. Forecasters say that the entire state will see a long, precipitation-free period beginning later this week. Before that, though, we’re due for a brief encounter with a Wednesday evening storm that forecasters say will bring mostly light rain to the Bay Area.  That will give residents, local governments and state agencies a chance to take stock of the damage and begin to clean up. … ”  Read more from KQED here: The great soaking is almost over. Let the great dry-out begin

SEE ALSO:

‘Out of our control’: California farmers struggle after recent atmospheric rivers

California will finally get a break from the parade of atmospheric river storms late week, but it might be too late for some crops. Some farmers are working to deal with the consequences of the excess rain.  “We didn’t get all the carrots planted quite where we wanted to,” said Derek Azevedo, Executive Vice President of Bowles Farming Company. “We’ve got a little bit of disruption in onions.”  But the executive with the 6th generation farm company in California’s Central Valley didn’t seem too concerned about the weather.  “Most farmers in California pay close attention to history. None of us are surprised by this,” Azevedo said. “California has a long, deep history of having extended periods of dry times and then extended periods of wet times.” ... ”  Read more from Fox News here: ‘Out of our control’: California farmers struggle after recent atmospheric rivers

Westlands told hands off excess river water

As flood flows and dam releases follow a series of atmospheric rivers in California, a sea of bureaucracy complicates the ability of water contractors to make use of runoff.  This month, the Bureau of Reclamation began releasing water from Friant Dam into the San Joaquin River. But unlike in 2017, when Californians also experienced a wet year, the Bureau of Reclamation and State Water Resources Control Board made excess water available to growers.  Even though the water passes through water infrastructure owned and operated by the federal government, permits to deliver that water are still granted by State Water Resources Control Board. Since 2017, the Control Board changed rules that flows from Friant Dam into Mendota Pool could only be delivered to Friant Division contractors. … ”  Read more from The Business Journal here:  Westlands told hands off excess river water

Storms force California to look harder at capturing rainfall to ease drought

After the driest three years in the state’s modern history, California suddenly has a different problem on its hands: too much water.  An ongoing series of storms drenching the state has forced officials to take measures unfathomable just a month ago, like releasing excess water from reservoirs and pumping surging river flows into storage. It’s also renewing interest in how to better capture rainfall for dry times — an idea long popular in agricultural areas, particularly among Republicans, and now increasingly embraced by Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democrats. “As you can see outside with some of the floods, it’s not that we don’t have water, it’s what are we doing with it when we get it,” Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) said in an interview. ... ”  Read more from Politico here: Storms force California to look harder at capturing rainfall to ease drought

SEE ALSO: Should CA save rainwater to aid future droughts?, from Your Central Valley

Column:  California has lots of catching up to do on flood management — with or without climate change

Columnist George Skelton writes, “When Leland Stanford became California’s governor in 1862, he needed a rowboat to carry him to the Capitol to be sworn in.  Sacramento’s streets were flooded. In fact, much of California was. A 300-mile-long lake was created in the Central Valley from near Bakersfield to Red Bluff. At least 4,000 people were killed.  It was the largest flood in the recorded history of California, Nevada and Oregon, dumping 10 feet of water on this state over a 43-day period.  The Great Flood of 1862 followed a 20-year drought.  And it occurred half a century before gasoline-burning automobiles began spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating human-caused global warming.  Gov. Gavin Newsom seems, in every other sentence, to blame the intensity of our current storms — or any drought or wildfire — on climate change. We’re getting drier and wetter and the cycles are becoming more frequent, he and experts warn.  OK, I’m no climatologist. But I do read history. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Column:  California has lots of catching up to do on flood management — with or without climate change | Read via the Appeal-Democrat

Floods’ worst ravages will be visited upon California’s poorest

California’s vulnerability to destructive flooding is anything but a secret. Meteorologists and climatologists have been warning of the enhanced risk for years, as climate change drives the state through cycles of extreme drought and then warms the winter air to produce violent downpours like the bomb cyclone and atmospheric river events of the past few weeks.  The effects are felt up and down the map, including in key agricultural areas and low-lying rural patches. But they are not felt equally — another reality experts have been speaking about for some time.  The worst of California’s flood woes, both this month and into the long future, will be visited upon the state’s poorest residents. These are the workers and families who often live in affordable housing units or lower-cost rentals placed in some of the highest-risk areas for flooding, housing that was often built poorly (or cheaply) in the first place. … ”  Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta here: Floods’ worst ravages will be visited upon California’s poorest

Rivers in the sky: How atmospheric rivers impact fish communities

Recent torrential rain and severe storms in California are due in part to massive storm systems known as atmospheric rivers. The consequences to human communities caused by atmospheric rivers are known all too well, and in the last few weeks, they have been clearly demonstrated. However, the impacts of these strong storms on fish are not discussed as frequently. There are both beneficial and adverse effects of atmospheric rivers on fish communities and it will become increasingly important to monitor the impacts as atmospheric rivers are predicted to grow larger and occur more frequently due to climate change. … ”  Read more from Fish Bio here: Rivers in the Sky: How Atmospheric Rivers Impact Fish Communities

Historical photos of California’s biggest floods dating back to 1862

Though California has been in a drought for years, the state has also gotten its share of flooding and weather – like we’re getting now.  But flooding and torrential rains is nothing new.  The Department of Water Resources in California, which is responsible for the state’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, has been tracking this flooding for more than 160 years.  In fact, the agency has kept pictorial archives of California’s biggest floods dating back to 1862.  Floods have hit Sacramento, Orovile, the Yuba River, Ventura County and the Andrus Islands in Isleton, Calif., among other cities. … ”  Read more from KTVU here:  Historical photos of California’s biggest floods dating back to 1862

Valadao urges Biden, Newsom to prioritize water conservation efforts

Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) has led several members of the California Republican congressional delegation in writing a letter to President Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The lawmakers are urging that impediments to the Delta pump operations to ensure the conservation of rain water across the state be waived, and are demanding that Biden and Newsom prioritize water storage projects that would help the state better prepare for future storms. The Congressman was joined by fellow California Reps Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), John Duarte (CA-13), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Jay Obernolte (CA-23) and Tom McClintock (CA-05). … ”  Read more from the Hanford Sentinel here: Valadao urges Biden, Newsom to prioritize water conservation efforts

A course correction in managing drying rivers

Historic drought in the west and water diversion for human use are causing stretches of the Colorado and Mississippi Rivers to run dry. The Colorado River’s declining flows can be seen at Lake Mead, where precipitous drops in water levels have left chalky stains on the mountains surrounding the United States’s largest reservoir (by volume). And in October of last year, weak currents on the Mississippi River caused a backup of thousands of barges carrying the equivalent of 210,000 container trucks of corn and soy beans.  “We would have had a drought anyhow, but it’s human impact that has pushed it over the edge,” says Laurence Smith, a professor of environmental studies and earth sciences at Brown University. “The American West is going to have to need to learn how to do more with less.” ... ”  Read more from NPR here: A course correction in managing drying rivers

California shows why ‘climate chaos’ describes the climate problem better

““Global warming” morphed into “climate change” which now seems inadequate to describe the weather chaos we are experiencing on planet Earth.* The recent “atmospheric rivers” which have drenched California have been a catastrophe causing an estimated $1 billion in property damage and at least 17 deaths. As of this writing, overflowing river waters could cut the Monterey Peninsula off from the rest of the mainland.The terrible rains that have hit California since December 26 have also been a bit of a blessing to the drought-ravaged state. Just as the storms began, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that 28 percent of the state was considered to be in “extreme drought” and 45 percent was considered to be in “severe drought.” But, even after an estimated 24.5 trillion gallons of water have dropped on California since December 26, 46 percent of California remains in “severe drought” and 49 percent is considered to be in “moderate drought. … ”California faces extreme rainfall and serious drought at the same time. That’s chaos. … ”  Read more from Resilience here: California shows why ‘climate chaos’ describes the climate problem better

Want to solve climate change? This California farm kingdom holds a key

The barren dirt is littered with petrified carrots, blackened and barely recognizable after four years baking in the Imperial Valley’s legendary heat. The August sun is starting to set, but it’s still 113 degrees in California’s hottest, driest county.  Ralph Strahm tried his best to make money off this ground. In addition to carrots, the soft-spoken 66-year-old grew alfalfa and Sudan grass, using Colorado River water that originated as Rocky Mountain snowpack hundreds of miles away.  But the sandy, gravelly soil refused to cooperate. The economics were no good.  So the third-generation Imperial Valley farmer decided to sell — to a solar energy developer.  “You have to be willing to accept the future,” he says.  By year’s end, a field of solar panels should cover this land, sending clean electricity to San Diego. A giant battery will help the coastal city keep the lights on after dark. None of the infrastructure will destroy pristine wildlife habitat. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: Want to solve climate change? This California farm kingdom holds a key

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In commentary today …

Dan Walters: Storms tell California to upgrade its plumbing

Dan Walters writes, “The rain and snow storms that have pummeled California for weeks have taken nearly two dozen lives and caused billions of dollars in damages to public and private property.  The flip side, however, is that they dropped immense amounts of water on a state that has suffered through severe drought for several years. At one point this month, an astonishing 160,000 cubic feet of water – 1.2 million gallons – was flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta every second. That’s enough water to fill a reservoir the size of Folsom Lake, about 1 million acre-feet, in three days and doesn’t count water falling on other regions, such as Southern California.   Whether the storms have ended the drought, however, depends on California’s ability to capture enough water to fill its badly depleted reservoirs and at least begin to recharge underground aquifers that have been terribly overdrafted by desperate farmers. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: Dan Walters: Storms tell California to upgrade its plumbing

How California can prepare for future floods before a megastorm hits

Gerald Meral, director of the California Water Program at the Natural Heritage Institute, former deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources, and deputy secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency writes, “Californians have suddenly turned their attention from drought to flooding.  The future likelihood of a series of huge atmospheric rivers in California, a so-called ARk storm scenario, seems to be a certainty. … These megastorms occur about once every 150 years. Climate change will intensify them.  Flood control reservoirs already line the Sierra Nevada foothills, including Shasta, Oroville, Folsom, New Melones and others. … But Sierra Nevada and similar Southern California flood control reservoirs like Prado and Seven Oaks cannot store enough floodwater to sufficiently reduce the effects of atmospheric river megastorms. The reservoirs will fill, but continuous flood flows will pass through as if the reservoirs were not there. ... ”  Read more from Cal Matters here: How California can prepare for future floods before a megastorm hits

California’s anti-racist water plan

Thomas Buckley, former Mayor of Lake Elsinore and a former newspaper reporter, writes, “As of this coming Wednesday, water will no longer be racist because that’s when the California State Water Resources Control Board will discuss its 2023-2025 Racial Equity Action Plan.  On the 18th, the Board will discuss – but will not vote to disapprove nor approve as the Action Plan is a “living document” and they passed a resolution calling for it to be created in November of 2021, it seems – the plan as presented.  The epitome of bureaucratic diversity-speak, the plan lays out a number of tasks for itself, its nine regional sub-boards, and the water industry in general in order to best eliminate systemic racism in water delivery and to address the numerous putative past problems.  To wit, this grounding construct for the plan:  “Racial equity is a Water Boards’ priority. We are working toward a future where race no longer predicts a person’s access to water or the quality of water resources they receive, where race does not predict professional outcomes for our employees, and where we consistently consider racial equity impacts before we make decisions.” … ”  Read more from the California Globe here: California’s anti-racist water plan

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RESERVOIR/SNOW CONDITIONS: What do reservoir levels and the snowpack look like now?

Click here to take a look.

In regional water news and commentary today …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Caboose of Lake Tahoe storm train in sight

The caboose of the Lake Tahoe storm train is in sight.  Schools are back in session Tuesday with a delayed start and the sun is expected to fight through the clouds and make an appearance ahead of what could be the final snowstorm of the month.  The ninth atmospheric river in a three-week series of major winter storms churned through Lake Tahoe on Monday leaving more than a foot of snow in its wake and icy, slick roads in the basin. Chain controls are in effect on many roads in the basin and over all mountain passes. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Caboose of Lake Tahoe storm train in sight

Lake Tahoe snowpack levels nearly 250% above normal

After California was hit by several atmospheric rivers, the snowpack levels in the Lake Tahoe region have increased to almost 250% above normal.  According to the California Department of Water Resources, the central Sierra, which encompasses Lake Tahoe, is 246% over the normal snow water equivalent for Jan. 16.  The Central Sierra is also 121% of its April 1 average.  The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab saw 49.6 inches, a little more than 4 feet, of snow since Friday which added to the snowpack. … ”  Read more from Fox 40 here: Lake Tahoe snowpack levels nearly 250% above normal

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Folsom lake water levels are bucking California drought trend—here’s why

As torrential rain continues to batter California, water levels in the Golden State’s drought-stricken reservoirs are finally on the rise. Folsom Lake has seen particularly promising improvements, with water levels climbing above historical averages.  “The Folsom dam has been doing really well, to the point where we’ve had to make what are referred to as flood control releases,” Ernest Conant, regional director of the California branch of the U.S Bureau for Reclamation, told Newsweek. “The other reservoirs are doing well too, but not to the degree that we are at Folsom and on the American River.” … ”  Read more from Newsweek here: Folsom lake water levels are bucking California drought trend—here’s why

Sacramento gets break from storms but flooding, road closures, snow persist

The latest in a three-week-long series of atmospheric rivers pummeled California on Monday, prompting new flood advisories and road closures, causing fresh evacuation orders and dropping heavy snow on the Sierra Nevada. But the sun came out Monday in Sacramento, where 17.79 inches of rain has fallen at the downtown gauge since Oct. 1, when California typically begins recording rainfall for the year. The average value through Jan. 16 is 8.14 inches, according to the weather service. Two more inches of rain fell Sunday across the soaked Valley, where residents of Wilton and surrounding communities were warned to prepare to leave if the Cosumnes River rose further, but only a half-inch had fallen in the 24 hours ending at 3 p.m. Monday in downtown Sacramento, the National Weather Service said. ... ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Sacramento gets break from storms but flooding, road closures, snow persist

NAPA/SONOMA

Making room for more: For the first time in nearly four years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a series of high-flow releases from Lake Mendocino

For the first time in nearly four years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a series of high-flow releases Monday from the Coyote Valley Dam at Lake Mendocino near Ukiah.  Officials said the releases will reduce reservoir levels that had “significantly increased … well into the flood control pool at Lake Mendocino for the first time since 2020” due to the series of moisture-laden atmospheric rivers that drenched the North Bay region at an almost daily pace for more than three weeks — since Dec. 26.  The high-flow release, officials said, will get rid of the excess water so the reservoir can accommodate additional rainfall this season. … ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat here: Making room for more: For the first time in nearly four years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a series of high-flow releases from Lake Mendocino

SEE ALSO:

BAY AREA

Muir Woods’ mystery: Straying chinook, climate change, and salmon survival

National Park Service fisheries biologist Michael Reichmuth was stunned just over a year ago to see Chinook salmon showing up in Redwood Creek, a tiny stream that meanders amid the towering coast redwood trees — some of the giants nearly 1,000 years old — in Muir Woods National Monument.  It wasn’t that this stream in Marin County north of San Francisco had no history of any salmon. It is home to two keystone species: endangered coho and steelhead, a threatened species. But Chinook, also called king salmon, are considerably larger — growing up to the three-foot range — and they tend to prefer comparatively larger waterways, notably making their home-base in rivers flowing from the Sierra down through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific beyond.  And since salmon return to their natal waters to spawn — meaning where they were hatched and reared — their appearance beneath the redwood canopy counted as a mystery. They’d never been seen in Redwood Creek, said Reichmuth, who overseas coho monitoring at Redwood Creek nearby streams. … ”  Read more from the National Parks Traveler here: Muir Woods’ mystery: Straying chinook, climate change, and salmon survival

Bottlenose dolphins migrate to Bay Area for first time as water temperatures rise in North, Central California

As water temperatures rise in northern and central California, bottlenose dolphins migrate to the Bay Area, as confirmed by scientists for the first time.  After spending their entire lives in Southern California and Baja, Mexico, bottlenose dolphins have made the Bay Area their permanent home.  At all different times of the year, they have explored the boundaries of San Francisco Bay, joined surfers in catching waves at Ocean Beach, and been spotted by hikers with their gray-mottled backs at Stinson and Montara Beach.  The animals’ intelligence may be assisting them in modifying their behavior to climate change.  They are a part of a population known as California coastal bottlenose dolphins. A new study has for the first time documented their decades-long migration north, which started when water temperatures in Central and Northern California increased. They might end up being a success story in the midst of global warming due to their capacity for adaptation and the discovery of new habitats. … ”  Read more from Nature World News here: Bottlenose dolphins migrate to Bay Area for first time as water temperatures rise in North, Central California

Bay Area Storms: Clear skies Tuesday give way to drier, colder week

More than two weeks after ringing in 2023 with a series of historic, disruptive and at times, frightening atmospheric river storms in the Bay Area, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for most of the upcoming week with a “normal” winter forecast of bitterly cold air, light breezes and a beaming sun in the sky throughout the region.  National Weather Service predictions showed calm, chilly air Tuesday in the Bay Area. Highs in the mid 50s were consistent throughout, with San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland each expected to top out at 55 degrees. Overnight temperatures could drop to the mid 30s however, accompanied by calm winds and a dry, rainless night. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Bay Area Storms: Clear skies Tuesday give way to drier, colder week

Marin dries out, assesses damage after storms

Marin is expected to see relief this week after more than two weeks of powerful storms, with forecasts showing mostly dry skies through January.  Sunday’s downpour marked the last of a series of atmospheric river storms beginning in late December that brought the drought-stricken state rain snow, hail and strong winds. The storms likely caused billions of dollars’ worth of damage throughout California and killed at least 20 people, according to the governor’s office.  Tens of millions of dollars in damage occurred throughout Marin as surging waves pummeled the shore of Stinson Beach, toppled trees and electrical wires, triggered landslides, damaged roads and flooded homes.  The last rain to fall in Marin — possibly for weeks — is expected Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Marin dries out, assesses damage after storms

New mapping study shows rising groundwater a major climate risk for the S.F. Bay Area

Recent storms have highlighted the Bay Area’s vulnerability to lowland flooding. A report with maps released today by Pathways Climate Institute (Pathways) and San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), identifies rising groundwater as a key contributor to the flooding challenge in the region’s shoreline communities. The companion StoryMaps provide a high-level overview of this challenge.  The groundwater table varies seasonally in response to dry summers and winter seasons with significant precipitation. This study mapped groundwater elevations representative of wet winter conditions, which typically occur in response to large precipitation events. The maps are representative of where the groundwater table is right now in response to the recent series of atmospheric rivers impacting the region. As sea levels rise, the level of overlying and adjacent groundwater rises too, further increasing the elevation of the groundwater table. Shoreline flood projections not accounting for groundwater rise in response to rising seas are missing a key component of flood risk. … ”  Continue reading the press release here: New mapping study shows rising groundwater a major climate risk for the S.F. Bay Area

New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater

Amid dramatic ocean swells and drenching atmospheric rivers, a new report lays bare a hidden aspect of sea level rise that has been exacerbating flooding in the Bay Area.  The report, which was released Tuesday, maps areas that could flood from groundwater hovering just a few feet, or even inches below ground. This layer of water gets pushed upward as denser water from the ocean moves inland from rising tides. On its way up, even before the water breaks the surface, it can seep into the cracks of basements, infiltrate plumbing, or, even more insidiously, re-mobilize toxic chemicals buried underground.  Communities that consider themselves “safe” from sea level rise might need to think otherwise, said Kris May, a lead author of the report and founder of Pathways Climate Institute, a research-based consulting firm in San Francisco that helps cities adapt to climate change. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater

Storms send sewage pouring into streets, creeks, San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean

January’s storms are offering an unsettling glimpse into one of the Bay Area’s dirtiest environmental secrets: Heavy rain overwhelms our region’s vast plumbing system and flushes  wastewater into places where it doesn’t belong.  Downpours triggered the release of millions of gallons of raw sewage mixed with rainwater across the region in just two weeks, spilling contaminated water into dozens of rivers, creeks and ultimately into the ocean and San Francisco Bay, according to a Bay Area News Group analysis of 88 reports to the state’s Office of Emergency Services.  “Flooded waters contain pathogens,” warned Eileen White, executive officer for the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. “If you touch flood waters, you want to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to make sure that you don’t get yourself exposed.” … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: Storms send sewage pouring into streets, creeks, San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean

‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Saratoga’s tree canopy faces several threats

In the aftermath of the storms that surged through the Bay Area, downing trees and branches, Saratoga officials want to take a closer look at the health of the city’s beloved trees.  Saratoga has a rich agricultural history and has been named a Tree City USA every year since 2006. The designation gives communities a four-step framework to maintain and grow their tree cover.  But Saratoga’s award-winning tree canopy is likely being threatened by the effects of climate change, the California drought and other environmental stressors.  Saratoga City Council is set to receive a report on the state of the city’s tree canopy and options on how to move forward at its Feb. 1 meeting. ... ”  Read more from the East Bay Times here: ‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Saratoga’s tree canopy faces several threats

Four reservoirs in Santa Clara County are over 100% full

Torrential atmospheric rivers dropped so much water into California’s drought-parched, thirsty reservoirs that four reservoirs in Santa Clara County are now over 100 percent full. These reservoirs are so full that spillways activated at all four locations on Monday releasing rainwater downstream. “They are designed to spill,” Valley Water Communication Manager Linh Hoang told KRON4. … ”  Read more from KRON here:  Four reservoirs in Santa Clara County are over 100% full

CENTRAL COAST

In this California mountain town, multiple storms deal multiple blows

It was around 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning when Bennett Williamson heard strong winds outside his bedroom window. Then he heard cracking, which quickly turned to crashing, then to car alarms blaring down his narrow mountain street.  A massive Douglas fir had uprooted from his front yard, toppled his shed and landed atop several of his neighbors’ cars, smashing their windows on impact. “It somehow didn’t hit any houses, which was amazing,” said Mr. Williamson, 37, a graduate student who, with his partner had bought a house in Felton a year ago. Nearby, the hood of one SUV was crushed like a soda can.   On Saturday in Felton, a town in the San Lorenzo Valley in hard-hit Santa Cruz County, residents were still feeling the impact from Tuesday’s storm when Saturday’s rains hit. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: In this California mountain town, multiple storms deal multiple blows

Does SLO County’s future water supply depend on a very fragile concept?

Daniel Blackburn writes, “Fifty years ago, my one-of-a-kind job was to promote the construction of a California water project then known as the Peripheral Canal. My efforts were spectacularly unsuccessful, as the object of my labors has yet to materialize.  And therein lies an unpleasant truth.  The idea of a huge public works project that would impact a considerable swath of the state – one that has been mired in a controversial and suspended state of planning for half a century — might fairly be viewed with some skepticism. But like a stubborn blood stain, this is a project that is not going away. As a concept it has morphed and evolved and clung to survival over the years, doggedly remaining at the forefront of California’s long term water resources planning.  There’s a reason for that, too. … ”  Read more from Cal Coast News here: Does SLO County’s future water supply depend on a very fragile concept?

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

San Joaquin River level rises 15.04 feet in 30 days

Credit the drought for allowing the area south of Manteca that has flooded 11 times since 1929 being sparred from suffering its 12th flood.  The San Joaquin River 30 days ago on Dec. 26 was at 8.13 feet at the Vernalis measurement station just north of the Airport Way bridge.  As of Monday, at 9 p.m., it was at 23.17 feet. That reflects water rising 15.04 feet in 30 days. … ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here: San Joaquin River level rises 15.04 feet in 30 days

Merced officials renew pleas to stay away from Bear Creek, as rain brings more rising water

Merced city officials renewed their pleas for residents to stay away from Bear Creek and its bike paths, as the waters are expected to rise Monday afternoon due to rain. Jim Bagnall, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, said the creek is expected to reach a depth of 21.8 feet Monday afternoon, just barely under the flood stage threshold of 23 feet. As of Monday around 9 a.m., the McKee Road gauge at the creek measured at a depth of around 15 feet. … ”  Read more from the Merced Sun-Star here: Merced officials renew pleas to stay away from Bear Creek, as rain brings more rising water

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Dry weather is on the way to Southern California

The brunt of the last in a string of storm systems that have deluged Southern California made its way through the region on Monday, Jan. 16, with lingering showers expected to make way for sustained dry weather beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 17.  The tail end of the lesser of two storms that brought yet another round of record rainfall over the weekend to a rain-battered stretch continued to lead to some hazardous driving conditions and weather-related issues early Monday, along with a continued high-surf advisory.  It was a far cry from the torrential rains early Saturday. ... ”  Read more from the OC Register here: Dry weather is on the way to Southern California

Los Angeles County collects 33 billion gallons of rainwater in recent storms

Good news has surfaced in Los Angeles County’s ongoing battle with water scarcity.  The Los Angeles County Public Works Department announced Monday that more than 33 billion gallons of stormwater have been captured in the early months of the California winter storm season.  It will be used as drinking water and is enough to supply 816,000 people with enough water for an entire year, according to Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.  “This is great news for the county and the region,” Pestrella said in a news release. “We’re working with our water partners to increase the region’s capacity to capture, clean and conserve stormwater runoff, while investing with equity in communities through the Safe Clean Water Program.” ... ”  Read more from KTLA here: Los Angeles County collects 33 billion gallons of rainwater in recent storms | Read similar story from the Long Beach Press Telegram

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Along the Colorado River …

Water managers across drought-stricken West agree on one thing: ‘This is going to be painful’

Water authorities in the Western U.S. don’t have a crystal ball, but rapidly receding reservoirs uncovering sunken boats and other debris lost in their depths decades ago give a clear view of the hard choices ahead.  If western states do not agree on a plan to safeguard the Colorado River — the source of the region’s vitality — there won’t be enough water for anyone.  Water managers, researchers, agricultural producers and others from across the drought-stricken river basin met in Las Vegas last month for the Colorado River Water Users Association annual convention to face hard truths about the state of the river and historically-low levels of its biggest reservoirs.  Two decades of drought and poor planning have caused the river’s biggest reservoirs — Lakes Mead and Powell — to drop to their lowest collective volume since they were filled.  “Time is not on our side. Hydrology is not on our side. That’s the frightening reality,” said Rebecca Mitchell, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. … ”  Read more from the Arizona Mirror here: Water managers across drought-stricken West agree on one thing: ‘This is going to be painful’

Arizona’s new governor takes on water conservation and promises to revise the state’s groundwater management act

A top water expert at Arizona State University began the year with a demand in a newspaper Op-Ed column directed at incoming Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs: Immediately release a state report on groundwater in Buckeye, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.  Buckeye, about 35 miles west of Phoenix, currently has a little over 100,000 residents, with communities planned that would nearly triple that population in the coming decades.   “Nearly all this development would be located on pristine desert land without a history of water use,” the water expert, Kathleen Ferris, wrote in The Arizona Republic. “And if developers get their way and are allowed to move forward, the massive new growth they’re proposing would seriously threaten the entire region’s groundwater.”  Ferris, a senior research fellow at Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy and the former director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, which prepared the report, got her wish. Last week, Hobbs released the department’s analysis of the Lower Hassayampa sub-basin, which showed that without new sources of water, the region cannot add more development.  … ”  Read more from Inside Climate News here: Arizona’s new governor takes on water conservation and promises to revise the state’s groundwater management act

Are recent winter storms helping with Arizona’s drought conditions?

Experts say with all the rain and snow that Arizona has received recently, the state’s drought conditions are actually improving.  A comparison of drought maps from a year ago and from recent days show the difference the winter storms have made. The map from early 2022 shows the entire state was under a drought, with the northwestern part of the state suffering from extreme drought.  The map from recent days shows most of the state either has no drought, or is abnormally dry. Some parts of Mohave and Coconino Counties, however, remain under a severe drought.  Overall, state meteorologists say it is a positive step in the right direction. … ”  Read more from Channel 10 here: Are recent winter storms helping with Arizona’s drought conditions?

Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off

Joe McCue thought he had found a desert paradise when he bought one of the new stucco houses sprouting in the granite foothills of Rio Verde, Ariz. There were good schools, mountain views and cactus-spangled hiking trails out the back door.  Then the water got cut off.  Earlier this month, the community’s longtime water supplier, the neighboring city of Scottsdale, turned off the tap for Rio Verde Foothills, blaming a grinding drought that is threatening the future of the West. Scottsdale said it had to focus on conserving water for its own residents, and could no longer sell water to roughly 500 to 700 homes — or around 1,000 people.  That meant the unincorporated swath of $500,000 stucco houses, mansions and horse ranches outside Scottsdale’s borders would have to fend for itself and buy water from other suppliers — if homeowners could find them, and afford to pay much higher prices. … ”  Read more from the New York Times here: Skipped showers, paper plates: An Arizona suburb’s water is cut off

SEE ALSO:

New water intake system installed at Glen Canyon Dam as Lake Powell nears record low

Construction crews have installed a new water intake connection at the Glen Canyon Dam to help deliver water to nearby communities even if Lake Powell reaches its “dead pool” level, according to federal reclamation officials.  Crews completed the project last month after a few months of work. The new system will allow for water to be provided to residents of Page and parts of the Navajo Nation even if the reservoir falls to an elevation of 3,362 feet. That’s 8 feet below the level where Lake Powell is considered a “dead pool,” officials with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Thursday.  It’s the second backup collection system below the main intake collection at 3,480 feet elevation. There’s another backup located 100 feet above the new system. … ”  Read more from the Deseret News here: New water intake system installed at Glen Canyon Dam as Lake Powell nears record low

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In national water news today …

Federal government advances big water projects

While much of the country was relaxing over the winter holidays, federal lawmakers remained busy.  Before ending its session and swearing in new members, Congress passed a fiscal year 2023 budget with key provisions for water infrastructure and disaster recovery. That’s in addition to approving legislation that authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects for flood protection, navigation, and environmental restoration.  Combined, the two bills run to more than 8,000 pages. Water sector advocates, though confounded by how some infrastructure funds are being allocated, were generally pleased with what the bills contain.  “Anybody who cares about water should be excited about what we accomplished at the end of last year,” Mae Stevens told Circle of Blue. Stevens, who works with environmental groups and utilities, is chair of the water practice at Banner Public Affairs, a lobby group. … ”  Read more from Circle of Blue here: Federal government advances big water projects

New WOTUS definition to face legal test

On Dec. 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a final rule establishing their version of a more “durable” definition of “waters of the United States” in an attempt to reduce regulatory uncertainty regarding the agencies’ jurisdiction over water bodies protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The final rule outlines the agencies’ intentions to apply both the “relatively permanent” or “significant nexus” tests derived from the Supreme Court’s 4-1-4 decision in Rapanos to be used in determining the agencies’ jurisdiction over waterbodies and codifies eight exclusions from the definition of WOTUS.  The continued use of the “significant nexus” test from the Supreme Court’s Rapanos decision in determining WOTUS is a concern. ... ”  Read more from the Western Farm Press here: New WOTUS definition to face legal test

Plastics pose a problem in waterways. Could chemical recycling be a solution?

On a cloudy Saturday morning this past September, Emily Sutton ventured out into Durham’s Third Fork Creek in her waders. Standing in the creek’s waist-high murky water, Sutton, using a canoe paddle, began pushing plastic waste and other litter toward volunteers who, also in the water, placed the debris into trash bags.  Since January, Sutton, the Haw River riverkeeper, and other riverkeepers across the state have been conducting bi-weekly cleanups in urban waterways. Sutton said this effort is funded through an environmental enhancement grant and is administered through the North Carolina Department of Justice, which, she said, provided one trash-catching trap for each of the state’s 15 watersheds.  “All 15 of us will take samples upstream and downstream of one watershed, and most of us are looking at an urban watershed,” she said.”We can get upstream samples from a location that’s not so heavily impacted by the urban development, and then the same creek downstream, we’ll get microplastic samples, so we can really understand what the loading is from an urban area.” … ”  Read more from the Good Men Project here: Plastics pose a problem in waterways. Could chemical recycling be a solution?

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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.
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