DAILY DIGEST, 2/2: Despite an ‘incredible’ snowpack, drought not over; Water flushed to the Pacific during storms; Summer fire means winter melt; IID responds to six-state consensus on Colorado River; and more …

On the calendar today …

• WEBINAR: Flume Data Labs Household Water Use Index | 2022 Review from 10am to 11am.  Join Flume Data Labs, the company that brings connectivity and intelligence to residential water usage, as we present the Flume Household Water Data Index. During the hour, we will review indoor and outdoor residential water use patterns from our nationwide network of sensors throughout 2022.  We’re excited to welcome a special guest, Karen Guz, Vice President, Water Conservation with San Antonio Water System. Karen will discuss SAWS’ outdoor water use study which evaluated compliance with drought restrictions in 2022 and response to the mandatory watering rules.  Click here to register.
• WEBINAR: A Watershed Moment: Realizing Our Recharge Potential from 11am to 12pm.  Californians are accustomed to wet winters and the stress flooding brings along with this important replenishment cycle, despite several years of dry winters. Rain and snowpack totals are significant, but what does this all mean for our water future? Is it enough? How can we protect people when beneficial rain becomes a significant hazard?  As we feel the impacts of our recent storms and prepare for upcoming snowmelt, it’s natural to try and look on the bright side and wonder if the drought is finally over.  Join Sustainable Conservation for their first webinar of the year, A Watershed Moment: Realizing Our Recharge Potential, as we sit down with our water team leader, Daniel Mountjoy. Daniel will share what the recent storms mean for groundwater recharge in 2023 and beyond, and how we can better prepare for future wet and dry times to ensure a safe and sustainable water future for California.  Click here to register.
• WEBINAR: Flyway Nights – Joe Hobbs, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Updates from 7pm to 9pm.  Joe Hobbs will give updates on the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Habitat and Drainage Improvement projects by Ducks Unlimited, Infrastructure projects by California Waterfowl Association, drought updates, and future projects within the Wildlife Area.  Joe Hobbs has been the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Manager since 2018. Previously, he was the Statewide Elk and Pronghorn Coordinator. Joe started with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in January 2000.  He has worked in the wetlands program, timber harvest review, and the private lands management program. He also worked for the Department from 1992 to 1997 in Wildlife Management as a student assistant while going through undergrad and graduate school at California State University, Sacramento. Joe Hobbs completed his M.S. on the Fall and Winter Distribution and Habitat Use of the Tule Greater White-fronted Goose in the Sacramento Valley.  Click here to register.

In California water news today …

Despite an ‘incredible’ snowpack, drought not over in California

“California may celebrate having double the expected snowpack after a string of atmospheric river storms, but state water experts warn that more needs to come to offset years of record-breaking drought.  At the season’s second monthly snowpack survey conducted Wednesday at Phillips Station — at the intersection of Highway 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road — the California Department of Water Resources measured current snow depths and water content. Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Manager Sean de Guzman told the gathered crowd his team found snow with a 85.5” depth or 193% of the location’s average — already 137% of the expected average for April.  “Our snowpack is off to an incredible start, and it is exactly what California needs to really break from our ongoing drought,” he said. “However, every day it doesn’t rain or snow, we gradually return to drier conditions. California is such a large state and you really need to analyze those impacts on a regional scale.” … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service here: Despite an ‘incredible’ snowpack, drought not over in California

California has huge snowpack, but dry trend raises worries

“The mountain snowpack that supplies a significant amount of California’s water got an incredible boost from recent powerful storms and is outpacing the state’s wettest season on record, state water officials said Wednesday.  But its too soon to know if the winter will be a drought-buster, they said.  Water content in the state’s mountain snow is 205% of normal to date and 128% of the April 1 average, when the snow is at its historical peak, according to measurements taken by the California Department of Water Resources. Historically one-third of California’s water supply has come from melting snow.  “Our snowpack is off to an incredible start, and it’s exactly what California needs to really help break from our ongoing drought,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of the department’s snow surveys and water supply forecasting unit. ... ”  Read more from the Associated Press here: California has huge snowpack, but dry trend raises worries

EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:

• Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe snowpacks still well above normal, some areas at record levels, from South Tahoe Now
• California snowpack at an ‘incredible’ depth. But keep those sprinklers off, state urges, from the Sacramento Bee
• Epic California snowpack is now the deepest it’s been in decades, from the LA Times
• California’s Feb. 1 snowpack is at its highest point in nearly 30 years. But will it fill drought-depleted reservoirs?, from the SF Chronicle

Calif.’s storms are gone. Here’s how much water we flushed to the Pacific

“California’s mandated first flush of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in January resulted in the vast majority of incoming Delta water being sent out into the San Francisco Bay.  Data from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the month of January revealed that more than 90 percent of all water that entered the Sacramento Delta was pumped out to the Bay and into the Pacific Ocean.  The backstory: In early January, following weeks of heavy rainfall throughout the Golden State, up to 95 percent of all incoming water to the Delta was being purposefully pumped into the ocean at points. … ”  Read more from the San Bernardino Sun here: Calif.’s storms are gone. Here’s how much water we flushed to the Pacific

Recent rains are ‘nowhere near’ what California might see in the future, climate expert says

“The atmospheric rivers that pummeled California are a far cry from what a series of extreme storms could potentially bring, climate scientist Daniel Swain said at a legislative hearing on Wednesday that explored the impacts of the recent storm sequence.  “We’re nowhere near the kinds of events that we think are possible in a warming climate,” said Swain, a researcher at UCLA and The Nature Conservancy.  Climate change is increasing the odds that severe storms, like what Californians encountered, will happen more frequently. A warmer atmosphere can hold onto more water, which can translate to stronger storms and heavier downpours.  “There’s about a two in three chance of seeing an event that is about 20 or 30% larger than what we just experienced over the next forty years or so,” Swain said, noting that there is still uncertainty with the numbers. The risk is an upgrade from a 50-50 chance that Swain and colleagues reported previously. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Recent rains are ‘nowhere near’ what California might see in the future, climate expert says

Wildfires are increasingly burning California’s snowy landscapes and colliding with winter droughts to shrink snowpack

“In a study published Jan. 20 in Geophysical Research Letters, a DRI-led research team examined what happens to mountain snowpacks when sunny, midwinter dry spells occur in forests impacted by severe wildfire. The researchers found a substantial increase in wildfires burning in California’s snowy landscapes throughout 2020 and 2021, when large blazes like the Dixie, Caldor, and Creek fires concentrated in snow zones. Using a 2013 midwinter dry spell as comparison, they found that similar weather in the winter of 2021-2022 led to 50% less snow cover. The compounding impacts of wildfire on snow melt include an increase in sun exposure due to loss of forest canopy, and a reduction in the snow’s ability to reflect sunlight.  “It’s already established that wildfires are increasing spring snow melt, but we wanted to know what happens when you add a long winter dry spell on top of that,” said Arielle Koshkin, M.S., a Ph.D. student now at the Colorado School of Mines who co-led the study as part of her master’s research at DRI and the University of Nevada, Reno. “The Caldor fire burned in our backyard, it was so close to where we live and work. So, the following winter, we wanted to investigate what it looked like.” … ”  Read more from DRI here: Wildfires are increasingly burning California’s snowy landscapes and colliding with winter droughts to shrink snowpack

SEE ALSO: Summer Fire Means Winter Melt, from EOS

California’s water crisis: why action is needed now

“California is the world’s fifth-largest economy, and poised to surpass Germany to become the fourth-largest economy in the near future, according to Bloomberg. More than a quarter of the United States’ food is grown in California’s Central Valley alone, according to the documentary and the U.S. Geological Survey. And in this mecca of agriculture, cannabis is California’s fifth-largest crop as of November 2021. For the first three quarters of 2022, California’s government reported nearly $853 million in cannabis tax revenue.  Yet, California is experiencing severe water scarcity. It is entering its fourth consecutive year of drought.  With the future of the agriculture industry on the line, it is essential for both growers and state and local governments to address water scarcity quickly. But this problem is neither new nor an easy fix. … ”  Read more from the Cannabis Business Times here:  California’s water crisis: why action is needed now

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In commentary today …

CA Farm Bureau: California must capture water in wet years and expedite projects

CA Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson writes, “Now that the recent series of Pacific storms have abated and we are in a period of dry weather, we are reminded of the twin imperatives to operate our water infrastructure for sporadic flood threats while we store water against ever-present drought.  California’s hydrology is famously flashy. It is characterized by limited and inefficient opportunities for water capture despite major downpours. It has become increasingly evident that climate change will exacerbate this condition.  Recently reported estimates indicated that some 24.5 trillion gallons of water fell on California during the storm deluge, enough to fill California’s largest reservoir—Shasta Reservoir—more than 16 times over. But stunningly, the vast majority of that badly needed water has flowed directly to the Pacific Ocean, unable to help pull California out of its historic drought. At its peak, more than 1 million gallons of water flowed every second through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. That is a greater rate than the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest. … ”  Read more from Ag Alert here: CA Farm Bureau: California must capture water in wet years and expedite projects

NRDC: Proponents of CA water infrastructure cause permit delays

Doug Obegi, Director of California River Restoration for the NRDC, writes, “In addition to misleading attacks on environmental protections in the Bay-Delta, there has also been a lot of misinformation about permitting water infrastructure in California. It’s true that permitting water infrastructure takes time.  It’s important to get permitting right, because these projects cost billions of dollars to ratepayers, who need to ensure that these are smart investments; permitting is also critically important to ensure that these projects do not fail in an earthquake or flood, do not harm other water users, and protect salmon and the environment – and the fishing jobs, Tribes, and communities that depend on them.  But permitting of proposed new dams and water infrastructure in California’s Bay-Delta is taking significantly longer because the applicants for these projects have undermined and delayed the permitting process. … ”  Continue reading at the NRDC here:  Proponents of CA water infrastructure cause permit delays

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In regional water news and commentary today …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Winds, light snow to end work week at Tahoe followed by a more potent storm on Sunday

“A weak, quick-moving storm entering the Lake Tahoe region today will bring light snow and gusty winds and will be followed by a stronger system for the weekend that could drop more than a foot of snow.  The National Weather Service in Reno said in a special statement that southwest winds will begin to increase Thursday afternoon in higher terrain, peaking early Friday morning. Ridgetop gusts may hit triple digits and could result in some aviation and mountain recreation disruptions before the wind gusts begin to diminish Friday afternoon.  Light snow showers are also likely with 2 inches possible along the Sierra crest and a dusting for the basin. The service said even a couple inches of snow on highways could lead to slick and hazardous conditions. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune here: Winds, light snow to end work week at Tahoe followed by a more potent storm on Sunday

SEE ALSO: Heading to Tahoe this weekend? Here’s what’s on tap for the Sierra Nevada’s weather, from the San Francisco Chronicle

Clean Up The Lake has ambitious dive schedule for Lake Tahoe and other areas of the Sierra in 2023

“Clean Up the Lake (CUTL) completed a successful 72-mile clean-up of Lake Tahoe in 2022, and plans to return this year as well as dives at Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake, Boca and Stampede Reservoirs in   Truckee, California, and four different lakes in Mono County and the Mammoth Lakes Basin.  The non-profit organization is committed to fighting back against plastic and all forms of pollution both above and below the surface of its local waterways.  The CUTL dive team is already back in the water in Lake Tahoe, with plans to revisit 40 different dive sites around the lake in 2023. Three separate Tahoe-based projects will take place, focused on deep-dive litter accumulation studies at 35 and 70 feet and also looking into “terrain traps,” or how the lake’s bathymetry, wind, currents, and recreation affect litter accumulation trends throughout Lake Tahoe. … ”  Read more from South Tahoe Now here: Clean Up The Lake has ambitious dive schedule for Lake Tahoe and other areas of the Sierra in 2023

The fight over Olympic Valley’s future: ‘We don’t need an artificial amusement park’

“Olympic Valley has an embarrassment of natural riches: towering mountains, crisp air, a graceful meadow and easy access to crystalline Lake Tahoe.  But it lacks the kind of facilities that turn a ski mountain into a global destination resort.  A controversial 94–acre development proposal in the former Squaw Valley — now known as Palisades Tahoe — seeks to change that.  The plan calls for the construction of a 90,000-square-foot indoor recreation center with options for bowling, a movie theater, a rock climbing wall, an arcade, pools, an “action river” and water slides, as well as 1,493 condo and hotel rooms, shops and restaurants — a four-season draw that would help it compete with the more upscale resorts of Vail, Park City, Whistler, Val d’Isère in France or Zermatt in Switzerland.  The project would be the valley’s biggest overhaul since the 1960 Winter Olympics came to town — and add pressure on an area that opponents say is already imperiled by wildfire risk, drought and grueling traffic. ... ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News here: The fight over Olympic Valley’s future: ‘We don’t need an artificial amusement park’

Drought persists in Central Sierra despite above-normal snowpack, precipitation

“Recent atmospheric river storms definitely dealt a blow to drought conditions in the Central Sierra, with the region’s precipitation for the water year at 172% of average and snowpack at 211% of normal for Jan. 30 — a 10-year or 20-year high by some estimates.  However, that trend is not showing up on U.S. Drought Monitor maps, which say Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are still in moderate drought and abnormally dry.   Recently updated drought monitor maps for California show improvements since the first week of January, but the last time Tuolumne County was 100% in “moderate” drought was less than two years ago in early March 2021. … ”  Read more from the Union Democrat here: Drought persists in Central Sierra despite above-normal snowpack, precipitation

Curtis Creek Elementary celebrates completion of $2.2 million water project

“Curtis Creek Elementary School in Standard now has a safer, more reliable water supply following the completion of a $2.2 million project in collaboration with Tuolumne Utilities District and California State Water Resources Control Board.  The project, completed in November and funded by a grant through the State Water Board, involved the construction of more than a mile-long water pipeline to connect the school with TUD’s public water system.  Previously, the school relied on a single groundwater well built in 1958 that lacked a backup power source and struggled to meet state standards for capacity and pressure. … ”  Read more from the Union-Democrat here: Curtis Creek Elementary celebrates completion of $2.2 million water project

Calaveras County commentary: It’s not the frog’s fault. Flooding is a result of poor planning

Muriel Zeller, member of the Calaveras Planning Coalition, writes, “It’s time to take a hard look at the repeated flooding of Cosgrove Creek, particularly in the La Contenta subdivision. The flooding isn’t because of potential red-legged frog habitat, 100-year rains or even because the creek isn’t properly maintained. These are after-the-fact issues. The repeated flooding of homes and businesses along Cosgrove Creek is the result of poor land use planning and the subsequent development approved in a known floodplain by the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors. At the time of the April 2006 flood, the late Betty Snyder of Snyder Ranch was 81 years old. As reported in the Record, Betty said she had been watching Cosgrove Creek flood for 63 years. Indeed, county officials have always been aware of the potential for the creek to overflow its banks, but, in spite of this, they permitted development in the Cosgrove Creek floodplain without proper mitigation for the adverse impacts. … ”  Read more from the Calaveras Enterprise here: Calaveras County Commentary: It’s not the frog’s fault. Flooding is a result of poor planning

Calaveras County commentary:  The article ‘Who Can Stop the Flooding?’ is confusing

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

FEMA outlines flood risk in Colusa, Williams and surrounding areas

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently delivered preliminary flood maps for the cities of Colusa and Williams as well as the unincorporated areas of Colusa County. According to a release issued by FEMA, the maps identify revised flood hazards along the Sacramento River, Stone Corral Creek near Maxwell, Salt Creek at Williams and two reaches of Elk Creek. “The new maps will help building officials, contractors and homeowners make effective mitigation decisions, thereby contributing to safer and more disaster resilient communities,” FEMA said. … ”  Read more from the Colusa Sun Herald here: FEMA outlines flood risk in Colusa, Williams and surrounding areas

BAY AREA

Study uncovers underground flood risk in Bay Area due to storms, climate change

“Powerful storms offer clear evidence of how vulnerable parts of the Bay Area are to flooding. But now, a new study is raising concerns about a kind of “double threat” right underneath our feet.  It’s being driven by sea level rise that’s literally pushing saltwater inland and raising the water table — and potentially threatening to undermine the system of levees and seawalls that protect our shoreline.  “They’re definitely vulnerable because they are, you know, the groundwater is running under them. So they’re not preventing the groundwater from — or sea level rise from — still causing groundwater rise in the inland areas. So even though you have a levee, you’re still gonna get flooded from below as the groundwater rises,” said Kris May with the Pathways Climate Institute. … ”  Read more from ABC 7 here: Study uncovers underground flood risk in Bay Area due to storms, climate change

Flyway Center gains key permits, eyes groundwork in coming months

“Organizers behind the proposed Pacific Flyway Center reported Wednesday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a provisional permit for the initial phase of the $75 million ecological and educational preserve in the Suisun Marsh.  The Pacific Flyway Fund has filed for grading and building permits from the city, and has applied for its Regional Water Quality Control Board permit. Project representatives were scheduled to meet this week with state officials.  There are still other permits in the works, including with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. … ”  Read more from the Daily Republic here: Flyway Center gains key permits, eyes groundwork in coming months

CENTRAL COAST

As floodwaters recede, the agriculture sector is taking stock of the damage – and how much it will cost.

“Surveying the flood damage at his family’s farm outside of Castroville, Mike Scattini is relieved things weren’t any worse. The Scattinis have farmed their land near the Salinas River Lagoon for more than 100 years and have seen their share of severe weather – but when it comes to the recent storms that coupled rising river levels with king tides from the Pacific, even Scattini’s dad and uncle “haven’t seen it this bad before,” he says.  Debris coats the fields closest to where the lagoon meets Monterey Bay, including pieces of a concrete levee perched on the seawall that was dismantled by massive storm swells. It will likely take months to clear the fields of detritus and ensure the soil is decontaminated enough to safely plant row crops like lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. In fact, Scattini won’t be surprised if they don’t plant the damaged fields for the rest of this year. “It’s too expensive to farm nowadays and not know that you’re going to have a successful crop,” he notes. “We’re not doing anything until we get the all-clear.” ... ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: As floodwaters recede, the agriculture sector is taking stock of the damage – and how much it will cost.

Commentary: The storm damage tally brings up questions about funding climate resiliency projects

“David Schmalz here, thinking about natural disasters. That phrase has now become a loaded term, because the so-called “natural” disasters we’re experiencing are often exacerbated, and made more frequent, by humans burning fossil fuels.  I suppose one could argue that humans are in fact animals that evolved on Earth among other animals, and that anything we do is “natural.” But it’s also true that historical weather patterns don’t have much predictive value for the future we are hurtling into—they are more just data points that reflect how much different the world is becoming.  And the reason this is all on my mind is because the Central Coast, and much of California, got battered by a series of atmospheric rivers over the turn of the new year, where it seemed like it didn’t stop raining for two weeks straight. And when that happens, communities flood, roads get closed and various pieces of our infrastructure are often damaged. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly here: The storm damage tally brings up questions about funding climate resiliency projects

Commentary: Is Cal Am starving the Peninsula of water to justify desal?

Melodie Chrislock, director of Public Water Now, writes, “Cal Am’s refusal to sign the CPUC-approved Water Purchase Agreement (WPA) for the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is unreasonable and irresponsible. Its demand for more infrastructure money has already been reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and determined invalid. It appears Cal Am is purposely asking for funds that cannot be authorized as part of this project to stall the Pure Water Monterey Expansion further and shift blame for the delay to the CPUC.  Cal Am’s refusal is not only blocking 2,250 acre-feet of urgently needed new water supply from the PWM Expansion. It’s also limiting Aquifer Storage and Recovery production. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald here: Commentary: Is Cal Am starving the Peninsula of water to justify desal?

Santa Barbara County Cachuma Lake at 99% capacity; remains closed to all vessels

“Less than half full before a series of bomb cyclone storm systems paraded through the Central Coast in early January, Cachuma Lake reservoir as of Tuesday morning is holding at 99% capacity, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Works daily report.  While more water means more fun for water enthusiasts, the lake remains closed to all vessel launching while lake clearing is underway, Park officials reminded the public Thursday via social media. The lake has been closed since Jan. 10.  Due to the heavy storms, more than 500 tons of debris have been removed from the lake, an amount they estimate to be “equivalent to three blue whales or two statues of Liberty.”  “And there is still a lot more debris in the water,” officials noted. … ”  Read more from the Santa Ynez Valley News here: Santa Barbara County Cachuma Lake at 99% capacity; remains closed to all vessels

Montecito: Groundwater monitoring well installation begins in Lower Manning parking lot

“The Montecito Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (Montecito GSA) is installing monitoring wells to collect data on the Montecito Groundwater Basin.  The grant-funded monitoring wells are representative of the type of information-gathering projects facilitated by the Montecito GSA as it takes on the task of ensuring that local groundwater supplies remain sustainable long-term.  Agency staff and consultant Dudek worked together to determine the most valuable well locations for securing missing information.  The goal is to gain reliable regular data sources in strategic locations for crucial indicators such as local groundwater levels and quality, seasonal groundwater flow, and potential seawater intrusion. … ”  Read more from Noozhawk here: Groundwater monitoring well installation begins in Lower Manning parking lot

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

South San Joaquin Irrigation District campaign touts what sustains communities

“It is water – or more precisely developing secured adjudicated rights on the Stanislaus River – that allowed the seeds pioneers planted more than 114 years ago for the communities of Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon to grow.  That is the message being conveyed by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s latest public awareness campaign: “Water = Food = Life”.  “Even with the recent rains we are still in a multiple-year drought,” noted Katie Patterson, who serves as SSJID’s public and government relations manager. … ”  Read more from the Escalon Times here: South San Joaquin Irrigation District campaign touts what sustains communities 

State and federal agencies want fish ladder restored on Merced River

“Two powerful state and federal agencies have stuck their toes, so to speak, into an ongoing lawsuit against Merced Irrigation District demanding the district reopen a long defunct fish ladder.  The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Service both sent letters to Merced Irrigation District after Water Audit California sued the district over the fish ladder on the Crocker-Huffman Dam, about 30 miles northeast of the City of Merced.  It wasn’t the first time the agencies had sought to have Merced Irrigation District get the fish ladder running again. They had both sent letters in 2009 and 2010, directing the district to reopen the fish ladder, which had been closed since the 1970s to see if a “spawning channel” next to the dam would work better for the salmon, steelhead and other fish. … ”  Read more from SJV Water here: State and federal agencies want fish ladder restored on Merced River

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Palmdale: First season of dam sediment removal concludes

“The Palmdale Water District’s multi-year effort to remove sediment from behind Littlerock Dam and increase the reservoir’s storage capacity completed its first season of removal, in November, due to rainfall, General Manager Dennis LaMoreaux reported, on Monday. The project removed some 58,000 cubic yards of sediment, between Sept. 12 and November, he reported, adding 36 acre-feet of capacity. An acre-foot is equal to 326,000 gallons. The reservoir collects rain and snow melt from the watershed in the San Gabriel Mountains and is one of three sources of water for the District. The others are groundwater pumped from wells and State Water Project water carried through the California Aqueduct. ... ”  Read more from the Antelope Valley Press here: First season of dam sediment removal concludes

SAN DIEGO

San Diego’s infrastructure funding gap surges past $5 billion

“San Diego’s funding shortfall for infrastructure projects surpassed $5 billion this winter for the first time — a nearly 20 percent jump driven by sharply increasing needs for parks projects, streetlight upgrades and flood prevention.  The city’s infrastructure backlog — the gap between projected infrastructure needs over the next five years and the funding available for them — climbed from $4.32 billion last winter to $5.17 billion now.  “A very deep hole has been dug by past decisions,” said City Councilman Joe LaCava. “I think we’re really stepping up to try to address this in a very transparent way. We’ve got a long way to go.” … ”  Read more from the Del Mar Times here: San Diego’s infrastructure funding gap surges past $5 billion

January was San Diego’s wettest month since Feb. 2005: NWS

“If you thought San Diego County was off to a particularly wet start to the new year, you’re absolutely right. The National Weather Service (NWS) said with January, the region experienced its wettest month since February 2005.  Winter storms brought measurable rain to the county last month, bringing a rain total of 5.14 inches, according to the agency. The average January rainfall in San Diego is 1.98 inches, to give you a better idea of how wet conditions have been. … ”  Read more from Channel 7 here: January was San Diego’s wettest month since Feb. 2005: NWS

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Along the Colorado River …

California bucks a united front as region grapples with Colorado River water cuts

“With the recent expiration of a federal deadline, California now finds itself sharply at odds with six other states over how to take less water from the shrinking Colorado River.  After rejecting a plan offered by the rest of the region, California has entered a political tug-of-war with high stakes. So why has the state that uses the most Colorado River water decided to go it alone?  California appears to be banking on its high-priority senior water rights, while the other states are presenting a united front to show the federal government they support a plan that would have California give up more water.  “The strongest thing that the other basin states have going for them is some relative level of consensus. And the strongest thing California has going for it is the law,” said Rhett Larson, a professor of water law at Arizona State University. “California is trying to play its best card, which is, ‘The law is on our side.’ And the other six states are trying to play their best card: ‘We are on each other’s side.’” … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: California bucks a united front as region grapples with Colorado River water cuts | Read via Yahoo News

Imperial Irrigation District responds to six-state consensus on Colorado River

“Responding to an Associated Press (AP) article titled “California lone holdout in consensus for Colorado River cuts,” Imperial Irrigation District Division 2 Director and Chairman of the Colorado River Board of Directors J.B. Hamby said the six-state consensus is inconsistent with the “Law of the River.”  The AP article appeared in the Tuesday, January 31 edition of the Imperial Valley Press, where the article accused California of not joining a plan created by the other six Colorado Basin States to see more than 2-million-acre feet of water cut from most the lower basin.  In an email on Tuesday, January 31, Hamby responded that the six-state proposal was developed without input from California, and does not address the concerns of the state of California or Imperial County, who controls the largest portion of water from the Colorado River. ... ”  Read more from the Imperial Valley Press here: Imperial Irrigation District responds to six-state consensus on Colorado River

Biden administration is caught between California and its neighbors in Colorado River fight

“After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, California has an answer to six other western states sharing the Colorado River: Get lost.  The proposal California offered Tuesday makes no significant concessions to demands from its neighbors — asserting higher priority senior water rights to the largest share of the river that have been enshrined in an agreement dating back decades. That leaves it to the federal government to try to find a resolution. “The states are not going to reach an agreement. We are just too far apart,” said Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), who represents the Phoenix area. “Now is the time that we need this administration to come up with a solution to this dilemma, and we need it now.” … ”  Read more from Politico here: Biden administration is caught between California and its neighbors in Colorado River fight

Feinstein, Padilla statement on California water agencies’ Colorado River proposal

“Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) released the following statement after the California water agencies that rely on the Colorado River submitted their proposed modeling framework to reduce water usage to the Bureau of Reclamation in response to ongoing, severe drought conditions:  “We know that drought caused by climate change will require changes to Colorado River water use and that no state will be spared from water reductions. That’s why last fall, California was the first state to come forward with a plan to voluntarily reduce water use.  But six other Western states dictating how much water California must give up simply isn’t a genuine consensus solution – especially coming from states that haven’t offered any new cuts to their own water usage. The proposal further fails to recognize California’s senior legal water rights.   The plan California released today proposes the same level of water cuts across the Colorado Basin as the plan released yesterday by the other six states, including significant cuts for California. To be successful, it’s critical that any agreement has the support of all seven states and the Bureau of Reclamation to protect the long-term sustainability of our region.”

California water cuts plan sets up Colorado River conflict

“California proposed its own plan for Colorado River cuts late Tuesday, setting up a possible conflict with the river basin’s six other states a day after they submitted a consensus plan for water conservation amid the West’s 23-year drought.  The California plan increases water cutbacks from Lake Mead if reservoir elevations decline and aims to prioritize water supplies for human health and safety. It says the six-states proposal violates the law of the Colorado River.  The state said it attempted to work with the six upstream states on a solution to the water shortage, but they couldn’t reach a consensus “despite numerous meetings and intensive good-faith efforts.” California’s proposal says it makes an attempt to “uphold the Law of the River” while making voluntary water use reductions beyond what’s legally necessary. … ”  Read more from Bloomberg here: California water cuts plan sets up Colorado River conflict

EXPLORE MORE COVERAGE:

• States file duelling Colorado River plans as water resources rapidly dwindle, from The Guardian
• California’s water plan ignores evaporation, honors letter of ‘Law of the River’, from Channel 8
• California’s Colorado River plan would hit Arizona hard, from the Arizona Daily Star
• Commentary: California wants to strong-arm its neighbors into water usage cuts, by Zachary Faria at the Washington Examiner

Commentary: It snowed – is the Colorado River saved?

Sinjin Eberle writes, “With the substantial amount of snow that has fallen across the Colorado River basin over the past couple of months, I have been asked many questions about the state of the drought, and whether all this precipitation will reverse the severe declines in both Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Will all this snow “save” the Colorado River basin from further declines and cutbacks? Can we all just go back to normal now and not worry about conservation so much?  Spoiler alert – Not likely.  Certainly, all this snow will help quench the basin’s immediate thirst.  It may also serve to have much of the basin delay confronting what has been shaping up to be a real emergency, with real consequences for everyone who relies on the Colorado River – but not for long. … ”  Read more from American Rivers here: It snowed – is the Colorado River saved?

SEE ALSO: Wet winter won’t fix Colorado River woes, from Yale Climate Connections

A tale of two shortages: Reconciling demand for water and microchips in Arizona

“Semiconductor chips are vital to modern existence: they allow us to drive to work, call our mothers, and much, much more. Unfortunately, demand has far outstripped supply. Manufacturers produced more than one trillion chips in 2021, and yet, shortages abounded. In Arizona, semiconductors have a surprisingly long history, dating back to the mid-1950s. As Steven Zylsta, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council aptly observed to a local NPR reporter, “We have no floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes––all those things that could really upset semiconductor manufacturing.”  Most recently represented by Intel, the semiconductor industry’s presence in the Phoenix metropolitan area is only growing. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (“TSMC”), the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, broke ground on a new facility in North Phoenix in January 2022. Yet another semiconductor component manufacturer is set to build a factory in Chandler. Unfortunately, while a great boon for economic vigor, this explosion should give Arizonans pause: semiconductor manufacturing has a massive water footprint. … ”  Read more from the American Bar Association here: A tale of two shortages: Reconciling demand for water and microchips in Arizona

Sonora accuses desalination company of lack of ethics; governor says it has made no commitments

“The government of Sonora is criticizing a company proposing the construction of a desalination plant in Rocky Point that would send massive amounts of water to Arizona.  IDE Technologies, an Israeli desalination firm, hopes to send fresh water north of the border. But it was criticized by the Sonoran governor, raising questions about its future relationship with the state.  The government of Sonora took to Twitter on Tuesday to accuse the firm of a lack of ethics. It said the company tried to turn a courtesy meeting into a negotiation over the purchase of water, and described the whole proposal as a shared project of former governors Doug Ducey and Claudia Pavlovich.  Later that day, Gov. Alfonso Durazo said he would “never meet with the company again.” … ”  Read more from Fronteras here: Sonora accuses desalination company of lack of ethics; governor says it has made no commitments

Verde River snowpack is in great shape, which is good news for Arizona reservoirs

“The wet winter is unlikely to recharge the state’s largest reservoirs.  But it’s good news for water storage on the Verde River.  The Verde snowpack is higher than it has been in more than a decade and the second highest in 30 years.  That’s the watershed that fills Bartlett and Horseshoe lakes, which have been hard-hit at times in the last couple of decades. Bo Svoma is a meteorologist with SRP. He says in high elevations, the ground is completely covered in snow. … ”  Read more from KJZZ here: Verde River snowpack is in great shape, which is good news for Arizona reservoirs

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In national water news today …

Cleaning up ‘forever chemicals’ is costly and messy — just ask this Wisconsin town

“It’s late October in the northeast corner of Wisconsin. Trees have started to change colors and a colder wind whips across Lake Michigan. Gas station marquees welcome back fall hunters on their annual pilgrimage.   Tucked away at a technical college, citizens of the rural town of Peshtigo, population 4,006, try to get comfortable in plastic chairs, ready to hear from state officials, once again, about ways they may one day safely drink their home’s well water. … If a clear solution was sought by those in attendance at the state’s most recent in-person Peshtigo PFAS meeting, residents walked away empty handed. Officials told residents that plans to provide new groundwater wells are coming from the company responsible for the pollution, but not everyone gets a well.  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, employees spoke at length about new data from water testing, but, without clear guidance from both the state and the federal government, and the mounting costs of providing alternative drinking water, officials’ hands are tied. Boyle, the town supervisor, said the DNR was doing everything in their limited power to help, but the company responsible is “uncooperative.” ... ”  Continue reading at Grist here: Cleaning up ‘forever chemicals’ is costly and messy — just ask this Wisconsin town

Engineers examine drinking water management strategies

“While residents in California are still dealing with damage from last month’s floods — after years of devastating droughts — UBC Okanagan engineers are looking at better ways to manage the delivery of safe drinking water to homes.  Things to consider include a changing climate, costs and sustainability.  Dr. Haroon Mian, a Postdoctoral Research Associate with UBCO’s School of Engineering, says municipalities and water utilities all have drinking water management strategies to ensure the water they provide is safe and plentiful. However, a natural disaster, a breach in the supply or contamination at the treatment plant can put water supplies — and human health — at risk. … ”  Read more from Science Daily here: Engineers examine drinking water management strategies

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Dept. of Conservation Accepting Applications for Round 2 of Land Repurposing Program

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