On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9am. Agenda items include updates from the Delta Protection Commission and the Delta Conservancy on their agencies’ activities; Council staff on Delta Plan performance measures; Delta Science Program staff on scientific synthesis efforts; and California Department of Water Resources representatives on conveyance and habitat restoration. Additionally, Councilmembers will be presented with the 2022 Annual Report, which highlights work in pursuit of equitable, enduring, and science-based solutions to further the coequal goals for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR SERIES: Planning and Conservation League: Extreme Measures for Extreme Times, Week 2 from 9am to 12:15pm. The title of the 2023 Assembly is Extreme Measures for Extreme Times: What We Need to do Now. The sessions, held on successive Thursdays, will focus on the topics of water, land use, transportation, CEQA/ environmental litigation, habitat connectivity, and wildfire. Water will be the topic on February 9. This week’s panels: Extreme Measures for Extreme Times, Can Offshore Wind in Federal Waters be Responsible? Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: PFAS Implications for Water Reuse from 9:30am to 10:30am. Due to potential negative health consequences of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), this group of chemicals are being considered by USEPA for drinking water regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Regulations are expected to be promulgated in short order. Since PFAS compounds are widely observed in municipal wastewaters and are often not completely removed through the traditional wastewater treatment processes, water reuse applications are inevitably faced with the presence of these contaminants in the recycled water stream. This presentation will provide information about the background and treatment of PFAS compounds as well as will discuss potential implications of various treatment schemes being considered for direct potable reuse – in Arizona and in other communities in the United States. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Key CA Environmental Regulatory Developments that May Impact Your Real Estate Assets or Investment Opportunities from 10am to 11am. This presentation will focus on revised vapor intrusion guidelines and the proposed listing USEPA of PFAS (forever chemicals) as a CERCLA hazardous substance. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Hell or High Water: How Stockton Can Prepare for the Risk of Flood Disaster from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. This symposium will be led by panelists from local and state government entities, community leaders, flood experts and esteemed researchers who will provide insight on flood management issues, their solutions and will inform the public on what to expect from the capitol regarding investments in flood protection. This event will cover various topics that will explore Stockton’s Growing Flood Risk, Flood Risk from the Community Perspective, The View from the Capitol, and Planning and Building Solutions. With atmospheric storms on the rise, it is imperative that we talk through potential and projected risks, have transparency on flood infrastructure improvement challenges, and discuss the solutions on the local and state level. Panelists include Congressman Josh Harder, Stockton City Council Womxn Kimberly Warmsley, UCLA Climate Scientist Daniel Swain, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, Restore the Delta, River Partners, Little Manilla Rising, and Public Health Advocates. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California’s Delta water dilemma
“If you don’t understand the California water scene, you’re in a large company. Most of the state’s residents don’t either. Partly because it is almost impossibly complicated. … The torrential rains of the past few weeks (which delivered 15-25 inches of rain to various areas) have put an end to the “extreme” aspect of the drought. But they have resurrected a perennial issue in the fertile but semiarid state. It focuses on the Delta, which is fed not only by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, but other rivers coming down directly from the Sierras. The Delta is not only the center-point of California’s water system but of controversies about it. These have to do with how much water should be allowed to flow through the Delta into San Francisco Bay and how much should be diverted for agricultural use (especially in the San Joaquin Valley). Agricultural interests want more of the Delta water pumped south so they can grow crops without having to delve even further into their depleted groundwater supplies. Of course, they feel this need especially acutely now, after years of drought. Environmental interests want to keep the Delta flow-through high to maintain it as a wildlife habitat. … ” Continue reading from the Produce Blue Book here: California’s Delta water dilemma
Flooded California looks for new ways to deal with drought
“It’s early in the morning in the city of Fresno, central California, and water management expert Laura Ramos sounds relieved to hear the day’s weather forecast. “It’s still sprinkling a bit, but it looks like it’s going to pass quickly,” she told DW. The huge storms that soaked the US state over most of the last month have passed, leaving behind at least 20 dead, breached levees, destroyed homes and at least $1 billion (€918 million) in damage. … And yet, despite the mega floods, wide swaths of California are still in drought. Water levels at five out of 12 major reservoirs are under average, and groundwater levels in more than 60% of wells across the state are historically low after decades of overpumping to supply farms and a growing population. California is searching for ways to deal with its changing climate of longer, hotter dry periods followed by rarer bursts of intense rain and flooding. Can’t the state just capture and store excess flood water? It’s not so simple, said Caitlin Peterson, associate director of the PPIC Water Policy Center, a nonprofit think tank in San Francisco. … ” Read more from DW here: Flooded California looks for new ways to deal with drought
Video: Drought & Drilling: Valley water shortages force reckoning for farms
“Despite historic rainfall, California faces the prospect of a fourth-straight drought year. Why plunging into the ground may not head off an American food crisis.”
Central Valley water leaders urge Newsom to improve the region’s water infrastructure with new solutions
“Last week, the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley sent Governor Newsom a letter regarding the recent storms California received and proposed projects to improve the state’s water systems to support fluctuations in rainfall after years of drought. The coalition commended the administration for tackling California’s water issues with the Governor’s Water Resilience Portfolio and Water Supply Strategy initiative. However, to secure improved water systems in the San Joaquin Valley, the group requests collaborative efforts with Newsom’s administration moving forward. The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley suggests a set of resiliency projects that would enhance the administration’s current water agenda and support the Governor’s Water Resilience Portfolio. The projects are innovative solutions to resolve critical water issues facing the region. Actions such as reliable delivery of surplus water through the Delta are among the proposed projects. ... ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian here: Central Valley water leaders urge Newsom to improve the region’s water infrastructure with new solutions
When the rain and snow could return to Northern California
“It has now been a week since the last rain in Sacramento. Sunny skies, cold morning temperatures, patchy fog, and the occasional gusty day have been the main weather stories since the storm door shut. These conditions will continue the rest of the work week. Temperatures in the lower 60s are expected Wednesday and Thursday before a cooling trend starts. Wednesday will be breezy due to the presence of a low pressure system to the east and high pressure to the west. Gusts of 25 mph are possible in the valley and 45 mph across the Sierra crest. The latest Climate Prediction Center 6-10 and 8-14 day outlooks favor cool and wet conditions for California. … ” Read more from Channel 10 here: When the rain and snow could return to Northern California
The other ‘big one’: How a megaflood could swamp California’s Central Valley
“When early settlers came to the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers before the California Gold Rush, Indigenous people warned them that the Sacramento Valley could become an inland sea when great winter rains came. The storytellers described water filling the valley from the Coast Range to the Sierra during these rare events. And their warnings became realized when Great Flood of 1861-62 hit. A six-week onslaught of at least 10 powerful Pacific storms in December and January carried mighty “atmospheric rivers” of subtropical moisture into California, dumping torrential rains in the valleys and prodigious snows in the mountains. When an unusually warm storm struck in January, heavy rains fell on the enormous Sierra snowpack, melting it. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections here: The other ‘big one’: How a megaflood could swamp California’s Central Valley
Some of California’s beloved, storm-struck parks and forests remain closed
“One of California’s biggest draws is the exquisite scenery in its state parks, national forests and other related natural sites. But because of the waves of storms that have dumped a year’s worth of water on drought-plagued lands in a matter of weeks in some spots, various outdoor recreational areas remain closed. Especially hard hit was Los Padres National Forest, which is almost 60 miles (97 kilometers) away from Santa Barbara by car. Damage there was so bad that a 60-day closure was ordered for four ranger districts (Monterey, Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara and Ojai). The Mt. Pinos District was not in the order. … ” Read more from CNN here: Some of California’s beloved, storm-struck parks and forests remain closed
Regulators nix proposal to delay closure of California’s last nuclear plant
“In pointed language, federal regulators rebuffed a request Tuesday from the operator of California’s last nuclear power plant that could have smoothed its pathway to securing a longer operating life for its twin reactors. The decision marks the latest skirmish in a long-running fight over the operation and safety of the decades-old Diablo Canyon plant, which Gov. Gavin Newsom says should keep running beyond a scheduled 2025 closure to ward off possible blackouts as the state transitions to solar and other renewable sources. In October, Pacific Gas & Electric asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to resume consideration of an application initially submitted in 2009 to extend the plant’s life, which later was withdrawn after PG&E in 2016 announced plans to shutter the reactors. Under existing rules, the operating licenses for the sister reactors expire in 2024 and 2025, at which time they would be forced to close. ... ” Continue reading at the Associated Press here: Regulators nix proposal to delay closure of California’s last nuclear plant
State Water Board issues new Drought and Conservation Reporting Order
“The State Water Resources Control Board on Jan. 1 issued a “Drought & Conservation Technical Reporting Order” that requires all water systems, including those operated by urban water suppliers, to report monthly information on sources, supply and demand, supply augmentation and demand reduction actions on a quarterly frequency. The complete submittal of monthly reports in 2023 will now satisfy the Electronic Annual Report’s supply and demand reporting, which is collected in 2024. The report covering January, February and March will be due April 30 and must be submitted using the new web-based reporting tool, SAFER Clearinghouse. The order also notes that there may be a change in reporting frequency and public water agencies may be required to provide addition drought reporting on a weekly or monthly basis. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News here: State Water Board issues new Drought and Conservation Reporting Order
The new water reporting deadline is now February 1
“SB 88, or the State Water Resource Control Board’s water measurement regulations moved its deadline from April and July up to February 1. The California Cattlemen Association’s podcast the Sorting Pen included some information on that. Here is a clip from that podcast of Noah Lopez with the Rancher Technical Assistance Program. “Reports were either due April 1st or July 1st, depending on the type of water right. Now all reports are going to be due February 1st, so regardless of your water right, the report is due February 1st. Also changing as the reporting period. … ” Read more from Ag Net West here: The new water reporting deadline is now February 1
Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
“At its Jan. 13, 2023 meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $70.14 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. The three approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife through funding mechanisms that support biodiversity, watershed restoration, climate resiliency and working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community. Funding for these projects comes from the General Fund, Budget Act of 2022 and supports the 30×30 Initiative (the goal to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030) and nature-based solutions. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife here: Wildlife Conservation Board funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects
Biden-Harris administration launches new efforts to address the wildfire crisis
“Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced expanded efforts to reduce wildfire risk across the western U.S. These investments, made possible through President Biden’s landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), will directly protect at-risk communities and critical infrastructure across 11 additional landscapes in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. “It is no longer a matter of if a wildfire will threaten many western communities in these landscapes, it is a matter of when,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The need to invest more and to move quickly is apparent. This is a crisis and President Biden is treating it as one. Today’s announcement will bring more than $490 million to 11 key landscapes across the western United States, and will be used to restore our national forests, including the restoration of resilient old-growth forest conditions.” ... ” Read more from Cal Ag Today here: Biden-Harris administration launches new efforts to address the wildfire crisis
In commentary today …
Valley politicians, farm leaders kid themselves — and us — on California water solutions
Columnist Marek Warszawski writes, “It doesn’t matter whether California is mired in historic drought or soaked from record-setting storms. The same dinosaur mentality about how the state should capture, store and allocate water never fails to resurface. In Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley, where irrigated farming is the primary economic driver, a certain regional hive mind has long prevailed: Any water that flows through the Delta and into San Francisco Bay — as opposed to some orchard or planted field — is said to be “flushed to the ocean” and considered “wasted.” Therefore, more “surface water storage” (i.e. reservoirs) must be constructed. Including the mothballed Temperance Flat proposal. … ” Continue reading from the Fresno Bee here: Valley politicians, farm leaders kid themselves — and us — on California water solutions | Read via AOL News
Gov. Newsom, please put back the money you just snatched from floodplains
Former Assemblyman Adam Gray writes, “What’s worse? Horrifying killer storms or slow death by drought? California’s climate can be extreme — drought or deluge. Both are deadly, each exacerbating damage caused by the other. Fortunately, some people are doing the necessary, innovative and difficult work to combat drought and deluge at the same time. Infuriatingly, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal abandons some of the most important flood-control, drought-fighting measures taking place in our state. He removed a $40 million allocation approved last year for floodplain restoration — work designed to reduce lethal flooding, store water underground, remove carbon from the atmosphere and create wildlife habitat. This comes on top of a decision two years ago to remove $60 million for other San Joaquin Valley floodplain projects. … ” Continue reading at the Modesto Bee here: Gov. Newsom, please put back the money you just snatched from floodplains
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. Mitigation must continue, but adaptation has become urgent as well. California should step up once again. … ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News here: There’s one big climate fight that California is losing
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Lake County to hold virtual forum on how to respond in case of invasive mussel introduction
“If invasive mussels were to get into Clear Lake, how would the county of Lake respond? The Lake County Water Resources Department, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and consultants at Creative Resource Strategies, invites the public to attend a virtual forum to discuss how the county will respond in the event invasive quagga or zebra mussels become introduced or established in Clear Lake. ... ” Read more from the Lake County News here: Lake County to hold virtual forum on how to respond in case of invasive mussel introduction
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Georgetown Divide Public Utilities District hears storm impact update
“The Board of Directors of the Georgetown Divide Public Utility District held its first meeting of 2023 Jan. 10, led by new Board President Mitch MacDonald. General Manager Nicholas Schneider reported recent storms have allowed the district to fulfill obligations in the refill agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation related to the temporary water transfer of 2,000 acre-feet to the Westlands Water District. A water transfer is a voluntary sale of water proposed and initiated by willing sellers who have legal rights to a supply of water to an interested buyer. This water transfer sale agreement was approved by the board May 12, 2020, at a market price of $350 per acre-foot for a gross revenue of $700,000. … ” Read more from the Georgetown Gazette here: Georgetown Divide Public Utilities District hears storm impact update
Quick-hitting storm could drop a foot of snow at Tahoe; Frigid temps to follow
“A quick-hitting storm to cap the weekend at Lake Tahoe will bring gusty winds, up to a foot of snow and possible sub-zero temperatures. Ahead of the snow, southwest winds will increase Saturday night into Sunday morning. Winds will gust up to 30 mph and up to 80 mph on Sierra ridge tops which may result in some mountain recreational impacts, the National Weather Service said in a special statement. Conditions on Lake Tahoe will be rough, especially for smaller boats and kayaks. Snow is expected to start falling early Sunday and the cold nature of the storm will likely bring snowfall to all elevations. “While snow accumulations are expected to be light by Sierra standards, winter driving conditions along with associated delays could impact mountain travel on Sunday,” the statement said. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Quick-hitting storm could drop a foot of snow at Tahoe; Frigid temps to follow
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
CDFW is partnering on experimental programs to aid listed chinook salmon recovery during the drought and help ensure long-term resiliency
“Climate change including multi-year droughts, extreme flooding, and extreme weather swings negatively impact California. Aridification of our ecosystem, and multi-year droughts are damaging to cold-water-dependent species such as Chinook salmon. Such is the case with the current drought we are experiencing, which has exacerbated the stressors impacting the Sacramento River’s threatened spring-run Chinook salmon and endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. These stressors include the inability to maintain suitable water temperatures, increased predation, and diminished habitat quantity and quality. Coupled with drought impacts in freshwater is the recently discovered thiamine deficiency in adult Chinook returning from the ocean which impacts the health of their offspring. The current drought situation is brought into clear focus when lake levels in Shasta Reservoir are considered. Sufficient cold-water pool storage in Shasta Reservoir is critical for maintaining suitable water temperatures in the Sacramento River downstream of Shasta Dam for all life stages of Chinook salmon. A dearth of precipitation the last two rainy seasons has led to critically low storage in Shasta Reservoir: a precarious situation for managing water temperatures downstream in the Sacramento River. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association here: CDFW is partnering on experimental programs to aid listed chinook salmon recovery during the drought and help ensure long-term resiliency
FEMA surveying levee repairs in Sacramento County area impacted by major flooding
“The federal government has boots on the ground and up in the air assessing the damage and flood mitigation efforts across the region. “I thought it would be better to show them from the air than on the ground so they can connect the dots on what we’ve really saved out here, besides just farm ground and houses,” said Leland Schneider with Reclamation District 800. Schneider put together a tour after emergency officials called and said FEMA was in town. He wanted to show them the levees along the Cosumnes River and emergency temporary repairs made after several breaches in their district earlier this month. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento here: FEMA surveying levee repairs in Sacramento County area impacted by major flooding
Taking stock after the storm
“Our region is in clean-up mode after a series of storms. According to a CalMatters story we published last week, climate experts and state officials are taking stock of flood protection systems and our ability to take advantage of the rainfall. The good news, they report, is “the ongoing rains are already boosting California’s water storage system.” The bad news, they warn, is “it would be hasty, though, to assume the ongoing storms and wet forecast mark an end to the drought.” … ” Continue reading at Comstock’s here: Taking stock after the storm
After recent weeks of rain, will Lake Berryessa’s ‘Glory Hole’ be used?
“With all the recent wet weather, the question arising for some is when will Lake Berryessa use its famous Glory Hole? The Glory Hole at Lake Berryessa is a unique drainage feature that is the overflow valve for that reservoir. When the lake rises to 440 feet, water begins to spill into the Glory Hole and into Putah Creek below. As of Wednesday, the lake stands at about 412 feet and is rising slowly. There is no guarantee that the Glory Hole will be used this year. It has not been used since the spring of 2019, when levels rose to just over 444 feet. … ” Read more from KCRA here: After recent weeks of rain, will Lake Berryessa’s ‘Glory Hole’ be used?
BAY AREA
Following storms, San Francisco’s water reservoirs see helpful increases in levels
“Water storage levels for San Francisco residents are at significantly high levels thanks to heavy rainfall in December and January, according to data from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Yosemite Valley’s Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which serves 2.7 million San Francisco customers, is likely to fill to the brim, said Steven Ritchie, SFPUC assistant general manager of water enterprise, during a Tuesday commission meeting. Its precipitation levels is above those of 1983, which was its wettest year on record. … ” Read more from The Patch here: Following storms, San Francisco’s water reservoirs see helpful increases in levels
Water being released from Anderson Dam to maintain 3.7% storage level
“In February 2020, Valley Water received an order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to lower Anderson Reservoir to the lowest level possible, around 3.7% of the reservoir’s total storage capacity. This FERC order was given to reduce the risk to the public should Anderson Dam fail during a major earthquake while Valley Water builds a new, larger outlet tunnel. Consequently, Valley Water began draining Anderson shortly after and has maintained water levels at 3.7% since December 2020. The recent series of atmospheric river storms – described by the Mercury News as the second wettest 21-day stretch in the Bay Area since 1849 – filled many of Valley Water’s 10 reservoirs. Rainfall was significant across Santa Clara County, including watersheds around Anderson Dam in Morgan Hill, where between 13 and 17 inches of rain fell. … ” Read more Valley Water News here: Water being released from Anderson Dam to maintain 3.7% storage level
Pleasanton commentary: Shadow Cliffs: A microcosm of California’s water complexities
Olivia Sanwong, current EBRPD director and former Zone 7 director, writes, “Growing up in Pleasanton in the 1980s, I felt fortunate to have a fun place like Shadow Cliffs in my hometown. Today I am driven by a sense of responsibility to ensure Shadow Cliffs remains a place for all to enjoy and cherish. Shadow Cliffs Lake is an example of California’s challenges in managing water resources. Our state is affected by long-term droughts and unpredictable weather patterns, making water management difficult. Climate change has made this even more challenging, as historical models for forecasting are less reliable. As a result, there is a need for innovative and adaptive approaches to water management to ensure adequate water supply for California’s population and economy. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly here: Pleasanton commentary: Shadow Cliffs: A microcosm of California’s water complexities
Lake Lag is full, but California’s drought rages on
“Biking through the rain from EVGR to NVIDIA Auditorium, taking a stroll around a filled Lake Lagunita or forgetting an umbrella were a new normal for the start of winter quarter. Campus was cold, wet and inconvenient for many students, but outside the Stanford bubble, last week’s rain storms brought far more problems than getting rained on while heading to class. For Isaiah Davies ’26, who grew up on Stanford Campus, this winter was clearly different from the past. “I don’t really remember a time where I’ve seen a full week of rain,” Davies said. … ” Continue reading from Stanford Daily here: Lake Lag is full, but California’s drought rages on
CENTRAL COAST
Salinas commentary: A cautious smile after our Salad Bowl ‘storm watch’
Norm Groot, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau, writes, “After three long years of drought impacts, California has shifted climate gears into a monumental precipitation cycle that has brought deluges to many parts of our state. Here on the Central Coast, many areas have experienced significant rainfall totaling up to nearly a full year’s worth of water. It is such a dramatic change from just a few months ago. Preliminary estimates put our farmland flooding at 20,000 acres in the Salinas Valley area, with $40 million in losses. We will know more as the water recedes. As I’ve stated to many in the media who seek stories on storm damages, we are still smiling here even with all the rain coming in significant atmospheric rivers. The water is recharging our groundwater basins and filling our reservoirs. Amazingly, one of our reservoirs has gained over 40 feet of elevation in just the first 10 days of January. … ” Read more from Ag Alert here: Salinas commentary: A cautious smile after our Salad Bowl ‘storm watch’
Monterey commentary: More than ever, floods show why we need to invest in our water infrastructure.
Cathy Alameda, George Fontes and Gary Tanimura, members of the Salinas Basin Water Alliance, write, “As evacuation notices lift and Monterey County residents breathe a collective sigh of relief, growers across the county face months of cleanup from flooding. Early estimates show 20,000 acres were affected. Floods are catastrophic for crops. Each flooded acre has to be evaluated for food safety. When the waters finally recede, many growers will destroy crops. Other flooded fields will have to lay fallow for 30-60 days, pushing back planting schedules. Floods are not new. Devastation from flooding events has been recorded since 1862 and growers have called for measures to increase flood control for more than 100 years. In the 1950s, not leaving it to chance, growers in the Salinas Valley paid for the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to build the reservoirs at Lakes Nacimiento and San Antonio. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly here: Monterey commentary: More than ever, floods show why we need to invest in our water infrastructure.
Most beaches closed by 14 million gallon sewage spill in Ventura County now reopened
“It was a massive sewage spill in Ventura County, triggered by the huge January 9th storm. Now, some of the beaches closed by the spill have reopened. An estimated 14 million gallons of sewage ended up in the Ventura River, after two Ojai Valley Sanitary District sewage pipes were damaged. It took two days to stop the flow of sewage. … ” Read more from KCLU here: Most beaches closed by 14 million gallon sewage spill in Ventura County now reopened
Damaging storm temporarily stops diversions to Lake Casitas. Here’s why
“January storms gave a boost to drought-stressed Lake Casitas but also caused millions of dollars in damages and stopped diversions from the Ventura River for several days. The Casitas Municipal Water District, which manages the reservoir, supplies drinking water for the Ojai Valley and parts of Ventura. As of Monday, the reservoir had climbed to 102,000 acre-feet or 43% of capacity, up from 31% or 73,500 acre-feet three weeks ago. That’s the good news. But the storm that pummeled Ventura County Jan. 9 and the following day brought more than water down the river. Casitas General Manager Mike Flood compared a deluge of rocks and debris to a “gigantic landslide.” In a matter of hours, boulders, mud and debris over-topped a 5-acre debris basin at the district’s Robles diversion – where equipment diverts river water into a canal – and battered a timber wall. ... ” Read more from the Ventura County Star here: Damaging storm temporarily stops diversions to Lake Casitas. Here’s why
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Audio: Farmers keep eye on water allocations after wet January
“What do you get when you combine historic rains, and farms that are thirsty for water? KVPR’s Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado spoke with the Fresno County Farm Bureau to look into what the mood is out on the farms after wet January storms.” Listen at KVPR here: Audio: Farmers keep eye on water allocations after wet January
Farmers’ crops and cattle impacted by wet weather and heavy rain
“The rain has been a welcomed sight for farmers across Central California. In Tulare County, one farmer says although the rain is mostly good, there are some challenges for the cows and for the crops. Tom Barcellos is a third generation dairy farmer and operator of his family farm. The farm has been in Tulare County’s Tipton area since 1944. The rain and cool temperatures hitting California has been mostly positive for the farm. Tom says in cooler weather- components such as protein and butter fat in a cow’s milk are higher. ... ” Read more from KFSN here: Farmers’ crops and cattle impacted by wet weather and heavy rain
Porterville provides water to county residents on provisional basis
“At its January 17 meeting the Porterville City Council unanimously agreed on a provisional basis to provide water for 389 homes throughout Tulare County who faced being without water last week. Self-Help Enterprises, which provides resources for low-income families, has been providing weekly water deliveries to the 389 homes. The 389 homes serviced by Self-Help Enterprises have wells that have run dry. But the source of that water – a well at the Bob Wiley Detention Facility was made inaccessible due to the recent storms. Due to a road closure caused by flooding on Avenue 368 in Visalia, Self-Help water haulers were unable to access the well. Self-Help provides the water to the 389 homes through its Emergency Tank program that’s funded by the state. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder here: Porterville provides water to county residents on provisional basis
Bakersfield, Kern River Valley makes Cal Water’s top water-saving districts for Dec. 2022
“Bakersfield and the Kern River Valley made the list of Cal Water’s top water-saving districts for December 2022. California Water Service, Cal Water, said customers surpassed the state’s conservation target of 15% in December 2022, saving 16.5% company-wide over December 2020. In a release it said, “This is the eighth month in a row Cal Water customers reduced their water use, with 11 districts saving more than 15%.” … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now here: Bakersfield, Kern River Valley makes Cal Water’s top water-saving districts for Dec. 2022
VIDEO: From India to Selma, farming has been a way of life for the Brar family
“This is the first in a series of videos highlighting family farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, how they came to this area from all over the world and what the future holds as water becomes a key factor in their ability to survive.” Watch at SJV Water here: VIDEO: From India to Selma, farming has been a way of life for the Brar family
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Release of 64,000 gallons of untreated sewage prompts beach closures in L.A. County
“The release of 64,000 gallons of untreated sewage prompted the closures of several Los Angeles County beaches Wednesday, public health officials said. A blocked main line led to the sewage entering the storm drain system near Admiralty and Palawan ways in Marina del Rey, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a news release. The blockage was cleared by Wednesday afternoon, but Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey, Venice City Beach and Dockweiler State Beach were ordered closed. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Release of 64,000 gallons of untreated sewage prompts beach closures in L.A. County | Read similar story from Fox 11
Climate grade: Orange County and all of its cities are failing
“Orange County is the largest county by population in California that hasn’t committed to a comprehensive climate action plan. And, on a municipal level, just six of Orange County’s 34 cities have plans in place that offer clear strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing to deal with the effects of a changing climate. Those cities are Fullerton, Laguna Beach, La Habra, Huntington Beach, San Clemente and Santa Ana. But even among those six cities, none have clear plans to get to 100% clean energy, to achieve zero waste, to address environmental equity issues or hit other major targets that environmental advocates say are needed to stave off the worst impacts of global warming. ... ” Read more from the OC Register here: Climate grade: Orange County and all of its cities are failing
SAN DIEGO
How golf courses are adapting to a changing world
“Tens of thousands of golf fans are watching the world’s top golfers tee off at the Farmers Insurance Open. The tournament sits on towering cliffs that stand starkly against the picturesque backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. But in that backdrop sits a worrying reminder of the tremendous power of Mother Nature — one that has forced the golf community to reevaluate its relationship with the environment. “Golf long ago understood that to be viable in California, we had to be a leader in playing that part,” said Craig Kessler, public affairs director for the Southern California Golf Association. … ” Read more from Channel 8 here: How golf courses are adapting to a changing world
Tijuana running out of water, turns to California for help
“As of Friday morning, more than 600 colonias were without running water in Tijuana and Rosarito, where residents say service has been spotty since last year. Facing the possibility of running out of water, Tijuana’s State Commission for Public Services, CESPT, turned to the San Diego County Water Authority for help. Agreements in place between Mexico and the United States allow for water deliveries in times of emergency or severe drought. So last week, the San Diego-based agency began sending water to Tijuana. … ” Read more from News 3 here: Tijuana running out of water, turns to California for help
Along the Colorado River …
The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest
“The Colorado River begins as melting snow, trickling from forested peaks and coursing in streams that gather in the meadows and valleys of the Rocky Mountains. Like arteries, its major tributaries take shape across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, coming together in a great river like no other — a river that travels more than 1,400 miles and has defined the rise of the American Southwest over the last century. Water diverted from the river has enabled agriculture to spread across 5 million acres of farmland and has fed the growth of cities from Denver to Los Angeles, supplying about 40 million people. Harnessing the river’s bounty has provided the foundation for life and the economy across seven states and northern Mexico. But the region has for years depended too heavily on the river, taking more than its flows can support. And in recent years, the river’s water-generating heart in the Rocky Mountains has begun to fail. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest | Read via Yahoo News
MORE FROM THE LA TIMES:
Colorado River basin: Machine learning approach may aid water conservation push
“The Colorado River basin, which supplies water to 40 million people in the Western United States, is threatened by historic drought, a changing climate and water demands from growing cities. One potential response involves encouraging individuals to conserve water, and a new study may help identify those most likely to change their behaviors to contribute, according to scientists. … The scientists tapped into survey data from 3,000 residents of three western cities — Phoenix, Las Vegas and Denver — part of a 2018 project to gauge attitudes toward climate change. The team ran the responses through a state-of-the-art clustering algorithm and were able to identify distinct groups of water consumers across the cities.“What our study is trying to do is develop archetypes of attitudes toward conservation,” Obringer said. “That information can then be used to better understand the populations and potentially to develop targeted interventions that might actually aim to change attitudes.” … ” Read more from Penn State here: Colorado River basin: Machine learning approach may aid water conservation push
Lake Mead water levels before and after drought is sobering shot of future
“A comparison of Lake Mead’s water levels before and after the drought hit that part of the U.S. points to a sobering future. Lake Mead is the largest man-made reservoir in the U.S., spread between Nevada and California on the Colorado River. It made national headlines in 2022 as its water levels hit the lowest they have ever been due to the ongoing megadrought gripping the western United States. Water levels were the highest they have ever been in the 1980s, reaching 1,225 feet, but since then they have steadily fallen. After the drought hit, the decline got steeper and in 2015, it hit 1,074 feet, before dropping further. Jennifer Pitt, the Colorado River program director with the National Audubon Society, an environmental organization, told Newsweek: “Today Lake Mead is only 28% full – its water level is down about 170 feet, and you can see a giant “bathtub ring” where the water is missing.” ... ” Read more from Newsweek here: Lake Mead water levels before and after drought is sobering shot of future
Drought threatens hydropower produced by Colorado River
“The seven U.S. states along the Colorado River — Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California — are up against yet another deadline to curb their water use amid extreme drought. They have until Tuesday to agree on massive voluntary cuts or the Bureau of Reclamation, a Department of the Interior agency, has said it will impose cuts on them. The basin states have called the federal government’s bluff before, but whatever happens next week, millions of westerners and their livelihoods will be affected. This isn’t just about water users, though: The river also supplies hydroelectric power across the West. But as the Colorado’s water levels dwindle, it’s becoming harder and more expensive to maintain energy consumption at the levels we’re used to. … ” Read more from Marketplace here: Drought threatens hydropower produced by Colorado River
Here’s how much the drought has weakened so far this winter for Utah, the West
“The vast majority of Utah remains in drought, but the severity has started to weaken as a result of several major storms that have slammed the state this winter, state water officials say. While almost one-fifth of Utah remains in at least extreme drought status, no parts of the state are listed in exceptional drought — the worst drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. About 56% of the state was in extreme drought, including nearly 4% in exceptional drought, at the start of the water year on Oct. 1. “This is good news, but we have a long road ahead to recover from this prolonged drought,” Candice Hasenyager, director at the Division of Water Resources, said in a statement Wednesday. “We must continue to use our water wisely to see the full benefits of the new snow added to our snowpack.” ... ” Read more from KSL here: Here’s how much the drought has weakened so far this winter for Utah, the West
Commentary: Chopping trees won’t save the Great Salt Lake — but it may cause larger problems
Dr. Brian Moench, the president of the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, writes, “A few vociferous Utah lawmakers are pushing a theory that the Great Salt Lake can be “saved” by unleashing bull dozers and chain saws on Utah’s forests. The idea is not new, and just about all its assumptions are wrong. Massive logging in the Sierra Nevada was proposed years ago as a solution to the California drought, but was judged to be minimally and only transiently effective, with even less efficacy during droughts. Unless logging of valuable, mature trees is followed by frequent removal of “understory vegetation,” the increase in stream flow will not be maintained. The 2008 National Academy of Sciences consensus panel report on forest hydrology concluded: “cutting trees for water gains is not sustainable: increases in flow rate and volume are typically short-lived, and the practice can ultimately degrade water quality and increase vulnerability to flooding,” like what has been happening throughout California. … ” Continue reading at Deseret News here: Commentary: Chopping trees won’t save the Great Salt Lake — but it may cause larger problems
How a productive spate of winter moisture may (or may not) impact drought in the Southwest
“The news in recent weeks has included a deluge of headlines reflecting what millions of people across the country are wondering about (and hoping for): Have the astonishing storms that have swept across the West since mid-December vanquished the drought at last? The answer, of course, is complex. Yes and no. But, in fact, it is far more “no” than “yes.” Drought is a long-term condition that doesn’t… ahem… evaporate in a matter of a few very wet weeks. For some well-informed perspective on the recent spate of “atmospheric rivers” that have pounded the West Coast and contributed to record snowfall in places like Flagstaff, ADWR Water News turned to two of the Southwest’s most reputable experts on weather conditions and forecasting. … ” Read more from Arizona Department of Water Resources here: How a productive spate of winter moisture may (or may not) impact drought in the Southwest
Why the snowfall in Colorado Rockies isn’t likely to alleviate the drought
“A string of winter storms that brought heavier than average snow and rain across the west increased snowpack in the Western Rockies to 146 percent of average, a gain that holds the potential to boost reservoir levels in the coming months. Despite the extra snowpack, experts say it’s too early to tell what things will look like in the spring, and that much more steady precipitation is needed to make any significant dents in the dwindling water supply of the Colorado River. Over the past couple decades, a mega-drought in the Western United States has slowly dried up the region and significantly reduced the river’s levels, threatening the nation’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead. These reservoirs are fed by the Colorado River, which relies in large part on melting snowpack from the Colorado Rockies. ... ” Continue reading at The Hill here: Why the snowfall in Colorado Rockies isn’t likely to alleviate the drought
In national water news today …
Farmers, ranchers slam Biden ‘attack on farmers’ with EPA water rule: ‘Complete example of govt. overreach’
“Farmers and ranchers are sounding off about environmental regulations President Biden signed off on that create “real uncertainty” and “an administrative nightmare” for their industry. The Waters of the United States (“WOTUS”) rule finalized earlier this month reinstated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations from the pre-Trump era, that protected small streams, wetlands and waterways as part of the Clean Water Act. The Biden administration put forward their rule before the Supreme Court is set to hand down their ruling on a WOTUS-related case in Sackett v. EPA this spring. In that case the court will determine “whether the Ninth Circuit set forth the proper test for determining whether wetlands are ‘waters of the United States’ under the Clean Water Act.” … ” Read more from Fox News here: Farmers, ranchers slam Biden ‘attack on farmers’ with EPA water rule: ‘Complete example of govt. overreach’
By the numbers report …
By the Numbers JanuaryAlso on Maven’s Notebook today …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Biden-Harris Administration makes $80 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available for projects that conserve water and improve watershed health
