On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: California-Nevada Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar from 11am to 12pm. The California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System January 2023 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña). Click here to register.
In California water news today …
La Niña shows signs of ending. Is El Niño next?
“The long reign of La Niña may soon be over. According to the latest outlook released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, there’s an 82% chance that by springtime – sometime between March and May – La Niña will have faded away. In the spring, La Niña is most likely to be replaced by conditions meteorologists refer to as “ENSO neutral,” which is when neither La Niña nor El Niño is present. Looking further down the forecast into late summer and early fall and there are signs of something we haven’t seen in years: the return of El Niño. By the August through October timeframe, there’s about a 50% chance El Niño will take hold. Of course, that means there’s also about a 50% chance it won’t. … ” Read more from AOL News here: La Niña shows signs of ending. Is El Niño next?
Conservation groups criticize California water board’s side deals for Delta water
“The California State Water Board now says it will take another two years to finalize the San Francisco-San Joaquin Delta water management plan, and it is proceeding with voluntary agreements with water agencies in the meantime. Conservation groups spoke out at a workshop held by the board late last week – and some are asking the board to scrap the voluntary agreements. Ashley Overhouse – California water policy advisor with Defenders of Wildlife – said a new plan to put more water into the estuary is crucial since four species of native fish have made the federal endangered species list since 1992, bringing the total to six. “At this point, we’re trying to avoid extinction for most native fish populations that rely on the Bay-Delta,” said Overhouse. “We’re talking about not just delta smelt, we’re talking about all runs of salmon, longfin smelt, and sturgeon. They would be completely wiped out.”… ” Read more from the Public News Service here: Conservation groups criticize California water board’s side deals for Delta water
Oil wells guzzle precious California water. Next door, residents can’t use the tap
“Towering refineries and rusty pumpjacks greet visitors driving along the highways of Kern county, California. Oil wells sit in the middle of fields of grapevines and almond trees. The air is heavy with dust and the scent of petroleum. The energy fields here are some of the most productive in the US, generating billions of barrels of oil annually and more than two-thirds of the state’s natural gas. And in a drought-stricken state, they’re also some of the thirstiest, consuming vast quantities of fresh water to extract stubborn oil. But in the industry’s shadow, nearby communities can’t drink from the tap. One of those communities is Fuller Acres, a largely Latino town in Kern county where residents must drive to the nearest town to buy safe water. There is no proven link between the unsafe drinking water and the oil industry that surrounds the town, but there is a history of big businesses polluting the resources they share with their neighbors. … ” Read more from The Guardian here: Oil wells guzzle precious California water. Next door, residents can’t use the tap
‘Dry’ California got big rains. Was it really an epic weather forecasting fail?
“For decades, two climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean have loomed large in predicting weather in California and other parts of the globe. El Niño — a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific — seemed synonymous with wet winters for Southern California, while La Niña was a heralder of drought. But the would-be model didn’t hold up this winter. Despite La Niña’s presence, a robust series of 10 storms brought impressive precipitation across California, spurring floods and landslides, increasing reservoir levels and dumping eye-popping snowfall in the mountains. ... ” Read from the LA Times here: ‘Dry’ California got big rains. Was it really an epic weather forecasting fail?
Is the drought over? Reflections on California’s recent flood-drought combo
“Early January was an unusually wild ride of atmospheric rivers. Nine sizable systems produced a train of storms beginning about New Years and lasting for several weeks across almost all of California. After three years of drought, the storms reminded us that California has flood problems similar in magnitude to its drought problems, and that floods and droughts can occur in synchrony. As the dust begins to settle, let’s look at the impacts of these early January floods and examine if the recent three-year drought and its longer-term drought impacts might be ending. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog here: Is the Drought Over? Reflections on California’s Recent Flood-Drought Combo
More snow in the mountains may not lead to more water, study finds
“Mountains in the southwestern U.S. are welcoming record-breaking snowpacks this year, but new research shows they are melting at a record pace too. Winter storms have provided the Sierra Nevada snowpack with some of the highest preliminary snow levels in 40 years, according to federal resource managers. … Much of the excess moisture, however, is tied up in snowpacks and its effects on soil moisture, water runoff, and groundwater recharge remains to be seen. Snowpack is different from snow depth. It’s a measure of how much water is sitting in the snowpack, meaning that if the entire snowpack melted at once, that’s how much water would be running off a mountain. And while new snow could add to the West’s stockpile in some areas, there is no guarantee Nevada will avoid dry conditions this year. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current here: More snow in the mountains may not lead to more water, study finds
SEE ALSO: How Sierra Nevada Record Snowpack Will Impact California Drought, from Newsweek
Column: Uncaptured water isn’t wasted. But more could be stored for a non-rainy day
Columnist George Skelton writes, “A gazillion gallons of stormwater have been rampaging down rivers into the sea. But that uncaptured bounty hasn’t been “wasted.” “Wasted water” being dumped in the ocean is an old cliché that resurfaces whenever there’s a big storm in this weather-eccentric state — or during the inevitable dry periods when crops are thirsty and homeowners are told to shut off their lawn sprinklers. But “wasted water” is a myth. Uncaptured runoff flowing to the sea flushes pollutants out of rivers and bays, helping to cleanse water for local domestic use. It also saves many kinds of fish, including salmon, not only for recreationists but for the coastal fishing industry. And it deposits sand on beaches. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Column: Uncaptured water isn’t wasted. But more could be stored for a non-rainy day
Successive atmospheric rivers test California’s infrastructure
“In recent weeks, California has endured multiple storm events involving atmospheric rivers, the term for massive volumes of water vapor in the atmosphere that often produce large amounts of precipitation when they encounter land. Between late December and Jan. 16, California was walloped by nine such atmospheric river systems. Heavy rains from the recurring storms have caused flooding and landslides across the state, severely testing — and, in some cases, overwhelming — the infrastructure designed to accommodate such events. Although the deluge has boosted water levels within drought-weary California’s reservoirs, it remains too early to declare an end to the ongoing drought. … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source here: Successive atmospheric rivers test California’s infrastructure
A California town’s wastewater is helping it battle drought
“Standing under a shady tree drooping with pomegranates late last year, Brad Simmons, a retired metal fabricator who has lived in Healdsburg, California, for 57 years, showed off his backyard orchard. Along with the apple, cherry, and peach trees, he’s packed one pear tree, two lemon trees, and a century-old olive tree into his bungalow’s compact garden. Of course, the small grove requires plenty of water — an increasingly scarce resource in a state that continues grappling with a historic drought despite recent torrential rains. Yet Simmons, like many of his fellow 12,000 residents, has managed to keep much of this wine country community north of San Francisco looking verdant while slashing the city’s water use in half since 2020. … ” Read more from Grist here: A California town’s wastewater is helping it battle drought
How Arizona, California and other states are trying to generate a whole new water supply
“Underground storage may be a key for Western states navigating water shortages and extreme weather. Aquifers under the ground have served as a reliable source of water for years. During rainy years, the aquifers would fill up naturally, helping areas get by in the dry years. But growing demand for water coupled with climate change has resulted in shortages as states pump out water from aquifers faster than they can be replenished. The fallout can also lead to damaged vegetation and wildlife as streams run dry and damage to aqueducts and flood control structures from sinking land. Municipalities and researchers across the country are working on ways to more efficiently replenish emptied-out aquifers. ... ” Read more from Yahoo News here: How Arizona, California and other states are trying to generate a whole new water supply
California’s water woes: GOP hopes slate of new bills will finally solve crisis
“Republican lawmakers are blaming Congress and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for California’s water infrastructure mess that floods during rainstorms and sucks farmers dry during the rest of the drought-infused years. Recent rainstorms that have destroyed coastal towns, killed 22 people, and caused the collapse of interstate highways could have been mitigated if dozens of state and federal bills over the past decade had passed to build reservoirs, levees, and improve the state’s complex pumping system, officials told the Washington Examiner. Even a 2014 voter-approved reservoir with $2.7 billion in dedicated funding doesn’t have a prayer of being built any time soon because of excessive red tape. However, Newsom said recently that he is pushing for more water storage. “If history is any indicator, nothing will happen, but I hope I am wrong,” said California Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher. … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: California’s water woes: GOP hopes slate of new bills will finally solve crisis
The sound of water: Public utilities tell their stories through podcasts in growing trend
“Over one-third of Americans listen to podcasts regularly, so it’s no wonder that public utilities are turning to podcasts as another tool to aid their communication and public education efforts. As the way people receive information becomes more mobile, both agricultural and urban public agencies across the state are increasing how they distribute news and information.For many, that includes using podcasts to tell their story. For some, the podcasts tell the history of water in their service area. For others, the episodes are a way to highlight job opportunities for the next generation. No matter what story is being told, it is clear that people are listening. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: The sound of water: Public utilities tell their stories through podcasts in growing trend
Newsom budget would cut some money for flood protection
“Multiple flood protection projects in California are on hold after Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed cutting their funding to help cover a $22.5 billion budget deficit — a decision disappointing environmental advocates as weeks of powerful storms have caused widespread flooding that damaged homes and washed away roads. Newsom’s budget proposal, released last week, cuts $40 million that had been pledged for floodplain restoration projects along rivers in the San Joaquin Valley, an area at high risk of catastrophic flooding. Those projects would allow for rivers to flood in strategic places during winter storms or the spring Sierra Nevada snowmelt, reducing the risks for populated areas downstream while also benefiting environmental ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Washington Post here: Newsom budget would cut some money for flood protection
Role of constructed wetlands in managing the spread of microplastics
“Every year World Wetlands Day is celebrated on the 2 February to raise the profile of the value of wetlands in all their forms. In the run up to World Wetlands Day in 2023, the Global Water Forum is running several stories relating to wetlands. Here we focus on constructed wetlands. Constructed wetlands in urban spaces provide many of the features of natural wetlands, including the provision of habitat and water treatment. In recent years it’s been observed that constructed wetlands may be providing a valuable service of filtering out microplastics. Hsuan-Cheng Lu and colleagues investigated this by sampling five constructed wetlands and analysing the microplastics found. Here he discusses what they found.” Read the article at the Global Water Forum here: Role of constructed wetlands in managing the spread of microplastics
In commentary today …
Mark Arax: My state is 1,000 miles long, and not everyone living in it hates the rain
Mark Arax, author of “The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California,” writes, “Here in Fig Garden, a suburb that creeps up to the edge of the San Joaquin River, on land my neighbors prefer not to think of as a floodplain, the rain started falling in late December and didn’t stop for two weeks. My lawn turned into pond. Geese were honking like they haven’t honked in years. As the last big storm was nearing, I got a call from my aunt and uncle, California natives who high-tailed it to Cleveland a half century ago. “You guys all right?” they asked. The pond had yet to reach my front door. “I think we’re going to be OK,” I said. I reminded them that there are seven dams on the San Joaquin. I don’t know of any other river in America that has been more corralled by man. Over 90 percent of its flow is shunted via canals and ditches to farmland that produces almonds, pistachios, table grapes and mandarins. “Food Grows Where Water Flows,” shout the signs hanging from used-up cotton trailers along Route 99. … ” Continue reading at the New York Times here (gift article): Mark Arax: My state is 1,000 miles long, and not everyone living in it hates the rain
As Californians we inherit a dramatic, maybe doomed, relationship with water
Charles G. Thompson, a Glendale-based fiction writer, writes, “Californians are used to seeing end-times headlines about our dwindling water supply. A recent one reported that Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S., could be a “dead pool” in two years. It’s a frightening prospect even with our recent slate of winter storms. While those add to our shrinking reservoirs, groundwater and snowpack, it won’t be enough to solve our drought problem — and it comes with disaster. As a fourth-generation Californian, I’ve learned that worrying over water is a generational inheritance. My great-grandmother, Ora Goodman, used to say: “There isn’t enough water for all these people.” This was her obsession. Over the decades, with more and more people inhabiting the state, I’ve picked up her mantle of worry — often thinking there won’t be enough water for all these people. Lake Mead’s dismal prospects do not help my anxiety. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: As Californians we inherit a dramatic, maybe doomed, relationship with water
Weather extremes drive home the case for water infrastructure
ACWA’s Cindy Tuck writes, “As if we needed more proof, the long series of atmospheric rivers that have soaked California not only provided a deadly and destructive reminder of how our climate is changing, they also drove home the fact that the planning for, and investment in, water infrastructure are critical to securing California’s water future. California’s existing water infrastructure was not designed to sustain our cities, communities, farms and environment through the intense drought and flood patterns brought on by climate change. Successfully adapting to this new reality requires continued and increased investment in water infrastructure, including above- and below-ground storage. Nothing expresses this critical need more clearly than California simultaneously being in declared drought and flood emergencies. This call to action is being heard, and ACWA advocacy in collaboration with our member agencies has had a lot to do with getting this message across. ... ” Read more from ACWA’s Voices on Water here: Weather extremes drive home the case for water infrastructure
California: Atmospheric river and misguided climate fear
Steve Goreham, a speaker on the environment, business, and public policy and author of the book Outside the Green Box: Rethinking Sustainable Development, writes, “For more than three weeks, California has been pummeled by a series of storms arriving one after another from the Pacific Ocean. Torrential rains, mudslides, power outages, and floods plague state residents from north of San Francisco down to Los Angeles, 400 miles to the south. Scientists attribute this event to an “atmospheric river” condition in the Pacific Ocean. Many also claim that this phenomenon is due to human-caused climate change. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that can transport large amounts of water vapor, roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When atmospheric rivers make landfall, they release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow. An atmospheric river that forms in the tropics near Hawaii, sometimes called the Pineapple Express, can deliver large amounts of water to the U.S. West Coast. … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner here: California: Atmospheric river and misguided climate fear | Read via MSN News
Commentary: There’s one big climate fight that California is losing
Michael W. Beck, a professor and the director of the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience at UC Santa Cruz, writes, “It has been demoralizing to witness in Santa Cruz, my hometown, the destructive power of waves and water on our beaches, piers, roads, homes, businesses, rivers and levees. But we knew this was coming, and we’re overdue to adapt to the new realities of our climate. In 2015, global leaders resolved to cut carbon emissions in an effort to keep the planet from heating more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. California has played a significant role in that campaign, with world-leading policies and innovations on technologies such as solar power and electric vehicles and in the development of carbon markets, which reduce emissions through caps and tradeable credits. All of this has been aimed at averting a future climate challenge. That challenge is here now. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Commentary: There’s one big climate fight that California is losing
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Purple Pipe/Phase 4 and other good news
“As the much-needed rainstorms have filled the rivers and reservoirs throughout our drought-stricken state, so have they quenched our parched spirits with the promise of a glorious spring and water-enough everywhere for everyone. “Even though our wells never had any significant draw down, even last year, underscoring what a phenomenal resource that is, all of this rain, of course, is most welcome,” says Sean White, Director of Water and Sewer Utilities for the City of Ukiah. “The lake is full, great for our community and water supply, both a tourist attraction and a reprieve from hot summer days.” With all this, however, White is most excited that The California State Water Resources Control Board recently awarded the City of Ukiah $53.7 million to complete the final phase of its Water Recycling Program. … ” Read more from Ukiah Daily Journal here: Purple Pipe/Phase 4 and other good news
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Folsom Lake expected to fill this summer, according to Bureau of Reclamation
“Drought conditions continue to fade statewide thanks to one of the wettest starts to the winter season in California history. A massive snowpack sits in the Sierra thanks to the onslaught of storms. Statewide the snowpack is at 240% of average, higher at this date than the record snowiest winter of 1982-83. The snowpack acts as California’s frozen reservoir and will help replenish low reservoir levels. Although dry weather has set in for the foreseeable forecast, it has been cold enough and will stay that way to prevent snowmelt. This week’s drought monitor shows continued improvement, along with a patch of Northern California completely drought-free. The rest of the state exists in severe or moderate drought along with a few areas of abnormally dry conditions. These figures will likely continue to improve as the winter wears on. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: Folsom Lake expected to fill this summer, according to Bureau of Reclamation
NAPA/SONOMA
The drought remaining beneath the surface in Sonoma Valley soil
“On the surface, rainstorms have helped replenish Sonoma County’s reservoirs after years of drought. But down below, Sonoma Valley’s aquifers show a more complex conservation. The absorption of rainfall in Sonoma Valley’s groundwater basin has been uneven across the Valley due to semi-impermeable clay layers that prevent absorption into the aquifer, according to Sonoma Water Hydrogeologist Marcus Trotta “Less intensive storms, less flashy storms are generally going to be better for recharging our groundwater system,” Trotta said. “One of the challenges with managing groundwater resources in the Sonoma Valley groundwater basin is that the geology is very, very complicated.” … ” Read more from the Sonoma Index-Tribune here: The drought remaining beneath the surface in Sonoma Valley soil
BAY AREA
When the Bay Area flooded, these places didn’t. Here’s why
“When San Francisco’s new Southeast Community Center opened in December, the three acres of parkland included an expansive landscaped bioswale that, in theory, would handle the water running off even the most extensive storm. Less than a month later, the theory was put to the test — and it passed with flying colors. The amount of runoff from the overall site was 45% below what it would have been before the project converted a former office site; on New Year’s eve, water cascaded through the site and filled the retention basin, but it never surged over its banks. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: When the Bay Area flooded, these places didn’t. Here’s why
How climate change may impact Marin
“In September 2020, the Marin County Civil Grand Jury published a report called “Climate Change: How Will Marin Adapt?” Global warming has had a significant impact on sea level rise. In the past 100 years, water levels have risen 8 inches in the bay. In Marin, if the sea level rise was 10 inches, 700 buildings and 8 miles of bay roads would be affected. From 1895 to 2018, the average temperature increase was 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit. These changes affect drought, water, wildfires, our landscape, our gardens and public health. This report discusses what the county, cities and towns of Marin can do to address climate change. Mitigation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation, such as the construction of sea walls, will guard against the consequences of climate change. Enter the complete title in your browser to see the full comprehensive report. ... ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: How climate change may impact Marin
Commentary: Marin Municipal Water District can do more to prevent fires on watershed land
Tom McAfee of Fairfax, a videographer who has worked with the 350Marin and Green Chautauqua climate change action organizations, writes, “Lest we forget about the wildland fire last June at Bon Tempe Lake — despite the recent deluges, communities adjacent to the Mount Tamalpais watershed must not become complacent with regard to the fire danger that will surely reemerge a few months from now. The trees that were dead then are still dead, and all it will take is a few days of triple-digit temperatures to dry things out and put us right back where we were with even more fuel to burn at the drop of a careless cigarette butt. Recently, the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors voted to raise the fines for visitors who are caught smoking in the watershed from $35 to $75 for the first offense. But that is a pitifully small penalty for an offense that could have such major consequences. As was pointed out in the article about the vote in the Marin Independent Journal (“Marin water agency doubles Mt. Tamalpais fire fines,” Dec. 27), Chief Ranger Don Wick agrees that the chances of actually catching and prosecuting offenders are “about nil,” and everyone knows that. I would therefore suggest the following … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal here: Commentary: Marin Municipal Water District can do more to prevent fires on watershed land
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Radio: Surveying water districts in Southern California after heavy rainfall. A look into water districts across the region.
“As Californians tally the damage from recent storms, some are taking stock of the rainwater captured by cisterns, catches, wells and underground basins — many built in recent years to provide relief to a state locked in decades of drought. The vast majority of rainwater in California’s cities eventually flows into the ocean. In Los Angeles, a complex system of dams and paved flood control channels steer water away from roads and buildings and out to sea as fast as possible. How have local water regulators across Southern California fared with the latest weather? Was the downpour a boon for water resources, or did the unexpected rainfall hinder the development of drought austerity measures? What are local water districts planning for the rest of the winter as they wait for the snowpack to melt? Here to give us the latest on the state of their water districts are Michael McNutt, Public Affairs Manager for the Las Virgenes municipal water district and Craig Miller, General Manager for the Western Municipal Water District.” Listen at KPCC here: Radio: Surveying water districts in Southern California after heavy rainfall. A look into water districts across the region.
LA’s drought outlook: Death by a thousand cuts
“This winter has been a wet one for Los Angeles. With the first large storm rolling in on Election Day to three big storms in a row this January, Southern California has been inundated with rain. But experts caution Angelenos not to not grow too optimistic that recent rains will bring an end to the ongoing drought.“Most of California is going to get a substantial break about six or seven days out lasting indefinitely. So it does look like this very wet pattern … does have a relative expiration date,” UCLA climatologist Daniel Swain said. The wet season in California usually lasts from December through February, but there is nothing to guarantee these storms will continue. Although LA has been seeing lots of weather, experts warn that if the stormy weather abates, rainfall totals could end up simply at average levels. … ” Read more from Downtown LA News here: LA’s drought outlook: Death by a thousand cuts
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside to advance contentious beach groin plan with $2.5 million contract
“A controversial plan to keep sand on Oceanside beaches by building rock groins or an artificial reef returns to the City Council on Wednesday for the approval of more planning expected to cost $2.6 million. “Anything we do to introduce more sand and help out our down-coast neighbors is a win,” Oceanside Councilmember Ryan Keim said Thursday. “Beaches are regional issues … we want to get everybody on board with it.” An Oceanside study in 2020 determined that a consistent source of high-quality sand coupled with the construction of retention structures such as rock groins or an artificial reef were needed to preserve the city’s eroding beaches. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune here: Oceanside to advance contentious beach groin plan with $2.5 million contract
Along the Colorado River …
Why heavy winter rain and snow won’t be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought
“This winter, the West has been slammed by wet weather. Heavy rains have pummeled California, and the Rocky Mountains are getting buried with snow. That’s good news for the Colorado River, where that moisture hints at a possible springtime boost for massive reservoirs that have been crippled by drought. Climate scientists, though, say the 40 million people who use the river’s water should take the good news with a grain of salt. Snow piled high in the Rockies is crucial for the Colorado River — a water lifeline for people from Wyoming to Mexico in an area commonly referred to as the Colorado River Basin. Before water flows through rivers, pipelines and canals to cities and farms across the region, it starts as high-altitude snow. In fact, more than two-thirds of the river begins as snow in Colorado. This year, snowfall totals are well above average, but climate scientists say the winter is far from over and conditions could change bringing less precipitation. … ” Read more from NPR here: Why heavy winter rain and snow won’t be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought
Leaving Lake Mead: Water for California, Arizona a drain on stressed supply
“Southern Nevada residents are laser-focused on Lake Mead as worries over water supplies grow. And rightfully so — that’s the source of almost all of the Las Vegas valley’s water. But as Lake Mead shrinks even more over the next two years, a reality will come clearly into focus: There’s more demand for the water flowing out of Hoover Dam than there is for the water that stays in Lake Mead. Water supplies for California and Arizona are pulled out of the Colorado River as it flows out of Lake Havasu. Both states have rights to amounts of water that dwarf Nevada’s allocation. ... ” Read more from KLAS here: Leaving Lake Mead: Water for California, Arizona a drain on stressed supply
Judge sides with City of Scottsdale in lawsuit for Rio Verde Foothills water loss
“A judge with the Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County has denied the residents in Rio Verde Foothills a temporary stay in their lawsuit with the City of Scottsdale regarding the community’s water loss. For years the City of Scottsdale has provided water to Rio Verde Foothills by hauling water from the Scottsdale Standpipe. However, as of Jan. 1, the community was cut off from the water due to Scottsdale’s current drought conditions. As a result, residents in Rio Verde Foothills filed a lawsuit against the city requesting a temporary stay requiring the City of Scottsdale to provide water to the community. In the lawsuit, Rio Verde Foothills claimed that the city hauling water was a “utility service.” The city denied this claim saying that even if commercial water haulers or Rio Verde Foothills residents got water from the Scottsdale Standpipe, that doesn’t means that the city provided a utility service as those in Rio Verde Foothills are not residents of Scottsdale. … ” Read from Arizona Family here: Judge sides with City of Scottsdale in lawsuit for Rio Verde Foothills water loss
Are trees ‘the enemy?’ Some Utah lawmakers claim overgrown forests suck too much water
“Do trees suck? You bet they do, and it’s time we do something about it, according to a group of conservative Utah lawmakers. Claiming “overgrown” forests are guzzling Utah’s water resources dry, rural members are now calling for a major logging initiative as the best hope for saving the shrinking Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell, despite a lack of scientific evidence that tree removal would make a big difference. Water conservation and efficiency are fine, but such measures are not enough to replenish Utah’s drought-depleted reservoirs and avert the ecological disaster unfolding at the Great Salt Lake, according to presentations Thursday before the Legislature’s “Yellow Cake Caucus,” a group of conservative lawmakers organized by Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune here: Are trees ‘the enemy?’ Some Utah lawmakers claim overgrown forests suck too much water
How to save the Colorado River? Use less water
“The massive dams on the Colorado River were supposed to protect us. At the dedication of Hoover Dam, the colossus just outside of Las Vegas created Lake Mead, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt celebrated “its contribution to the health and comfort of the people of America who live in the Southwest.” The Glen Canyon Dam was built in the 1960’s into the red rocks of Glen Canyon to form Lake Powell. Floyd Dominy, the Reclamation Commissioner who presided over its construction extolled that “you wouldn’t have anywhere near the number of people living comfortably in the West if you hadn’t developed the projects, if you hadn’t managed the water.” ... ” Read more from Audubon here: How to save the Colorado River? Use less water
In national water news today …
Water stock breaks out on acquisition news, as the West’s wells run dry
“Water technologies provider Xylem (XYL) announced Monday morning it will buy Evoqua Water Technologies (AQUA) in a $7.5 billion all-stock deal. The first major water-company acquisition against the recent ramp up of water-supply tension as a megadrought grips U.S. regions dependent upon water from the Colorado river. XYL stock fell about 8% premarket while AQUA stock spiked 16% following the announcement. Per the terms of the deal, shareholders of Pittsburgh-based water treatment company Evoqua shareholders will receive 0.48 XYL stock for each AQUA stock they own. That works out to $52.89 per share with a 29% premium based on Jan. 20 closing prices. ... ” Read more from Investor’s Business Daily here: Water stock breaks out on acquisition news, as the West’s wells run dry
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WORKSHOP: Integrated Water Flow Model (IWFM) Ver 2015 Training
NOTICE of Opportunity to Comment and Public Hearing Concerning Proposed Exemption Resolution for Upper Feather River Watershed Irrigated Pasture in the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program
NOTICE: Update to Resources Related to the Water Unavailability Methodology for the Delta Watershed
