On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a drought update and board member reports. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: DWR’s Water Shortage Vulnerability Scoring and Tool Demo from 1pm to 3pm. In 2021, Senate Bill 552 (SB 552) was signed by Governor Newsom and enacted into law. SB 552 includes new responsibilities and requirements at both the state and local levels to help small water systems and rural communities reduce their risk of water shortage during droughts or other emergencies. As part of its technical assistance to support SB 552 implementation, DWR developed the Water Shortage Vulnerability Scoring and Tool to provide the foundational data and information statewide to counties for their water shortage risk assessment. DWR will provide an overview of information contained in the Water Shortage Vulnerability Scoring and Tool, and provide a demonstration for data and tool navigation and potential use by counties for their corresponding water shortage risk assessment. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions and discuss with DWR regarding the use of data and information. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Hydropower Reform from 1pm to 3pm. Conceptions of nature as separate from or in service to humans have influenced the designation, establishment and management of protected areas in the United States, including National Parks, Wilderness Areas, and rivers across the country. Some protected area designations have resulted in removal of Indigenous peoples or restrictions placed upon their access to place and resources. The licensing and management of hydropower projects across the country have also been influenced by these perspectives. The hydropower licensing process includes Tribal consultation, but separates cultural resource issues from environmental issues and is not designed to recognize the interconnectedness of culture and environment. Innovative co-management models for some hydropower projects and protected area management plans prioritize Tribal concerns and perspectives, providing lessons for more just and sustainable decision-making. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
California is bracing for back-to-back winter storms. These are the biggest impacts
“A series of winter storms will work together to usher in some of the coldest and windiest conditions of the season across California. These winds will be accompanied by waves of atmospheric moisture that will crash into Northern California from Wednesday to Friday morning. Widespread rain showers will impact most of the Bay Area on Wednesday through Friday, while periods of snow showers will be possible farther inland — including the Sierra Nevada and some foothills near the coast. These winter storms will also hoist thunderstorms onto the coastline, raising the chances for small hail and ice pellets in areas along Highways 101 and 1. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Winter storm to boost California’s snowpack at the right time
“A significant winter storm is expected to deliver heavy rain and snow to a wide swath of the United States this week, from the West Coast to the Northeast. Cold air from Canada will interact with a pair of fronts, causing “numerous weather hazards” and abnormal temperatures while “almost all of the country [experiences] some form of notable weather,” the National Weather Service said. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 feet is expected for most mountain ranges across the West, where the storm is arriving at an ideal time to lift the region’s already impressive snowpack. … ” Read more from KTLA.
Much of California could see snow this week, possibly in Santa Monica Mountains
“A powerful storm is expected to sweep across California this week, bringing cold temperatures, cutting winds and snowfall at remarkably low elevations nearly statewide. “This is shaping up to be a very unusual event,” UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said in a virtual briefing Tuesday morning. “We are going to see low-[elevation] snow all the way from the Oregon border to the Mexican border — it’s just a question of how low.” Though snow is not expected to accumulate in major cities, hills near the San Francisco Bay Area and the high desert around Los Angeles could see snow by Wednesday or Thursday, at elevations that don’t typically see much, if any, Swain said. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Farmers race to sink water into ground after storms
“Growers in the San Joaquin Valley are hurriedly building temporary groundwater sinking basins to take advantage of inexpensive, uncontrolled seasonal water. And they are racing to replenish underground water supplies that could carry them through drier years ahead. In Tulare County, farm manager Zack Stuller’s phone started ringing nonstop in late December, after a series of intense storms fueled by atmospheric rivers walloped California, dumping snow in the mountains and rain in the lowlands. Clients of Stuller’s farm management and land development business took note of conditions in the San Joaquin River and Kaweah River watersheds and anticipated an opportunity to conduct on-farm recharge—if they had a place to put it. “Everyone is scrambling,” Stuller said as he surveyed a recent project in Exeter. “We weren’t prepared for this much water, and we can’t build them fast enough.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Parched California misses a chance to store more rain underground
“It sounds like an obvious fix for California’s whipsawing cycles of deluge and drought: Capture the water from downpours so it can be used during dry spells. Pump it out of flood-engorged rivers and spread it in fields or sandy basins, where it can seep into the ground and replenish the region’s huge, badly depleted aquifers. The state’s roomiest place for storing water isn’t in its reservoirs or on mountaintops as snow, but underground, squeezed between soil particles. Yet even this winter, when the skies delivered bounties of water not seen in half a decade, large amounts of it surged down rivers and out into the ocean. Water agencies and experts say California bureaucracy is increasingly to blame — the state tightly regulates who gets to take water from streams and creeks to protect the rights of people downriver, and its rules don’t adjust nimbly even when storms are delivering a torrent of new supply. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
With all this rain and snow, can California really still be in a drought? Look deeper
“Only weeks after a series of atmospheric rivers deluged California, the state is once again bracing for powerful winter weather that could deliver heaps of rain and snow, including fresh powder at elevations as low as 1,500 feet. But as worsening climate extremes and water supply challenges continue to bedevil the state, officials cautioned residents Tuesday not to assume that the recent moisture signaled an end to the drought. The entire state remains under a drought emergency declaration that Gov. Gavin Newsom issued in 2021, with millions of residents still under strict watering restrictions. “I want to be clear that these storms — and the likely rain and snow we may get over the next few weeks — did not, nor will they fully, end the drought, at least not yet,” said Yana Garcia, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. “We’re in better shape than we were two months ago, but we’re not out of the woods.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
McCarthy slams Newsom’s California water policies: ‘All of his actions have been wrong’
“In an interview with Spectrum News, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water storage policies and accused him of driving half a million people out of the Golden State in the last two years. “All his actions have been wrong,” McCarthy said of Newsom, adding: “Just like they’ve been wrong in almost every single policy in this state.” McCarthy often says, “Whiskey’s for drinking, water’s for fighting,” and that’s certainly the case when it comes to the governor’s water policies in California’s agriculturally rich Central Valley. Under the state’s environmental rules, much stormwater in the region flows out to sea, rather than being pumped into reservoirs to help ease the state’s drought concerns. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
State Water Board approves Temporary Urgency Change Petition for the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project
“On February 21, 2023, the State Water Resources Control Board issued an order conditionally approving temporary changes to requirements included in the water right permits and license for the State Water Project and Central Valley Project for the period of February through March 2023. The order was issued in response to a Temporary Urgency Change Petition jointly filed by the California Department of Water Resources and the United States Bureau of Reclamation on February 13, 2023.” Read the State Water Board order.
Proposed legislation would grant the State Water Resources Control Board new authority over all surface water diversions
“A pair of bills introduced last week propose sweeping new authorities for the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) that would increase state oversight of surface water diversions. AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan) and SB 389 (Allen) would create new administrative enforcement processes that would allow the SWRCB to make binding determinations on water rights. Significantly, AB 460 in particular would grant interested parties the right to file petitions for the SWRCB to impose restrictions on water rights that could significantly limit or eliminate a diverter’s ability to exercise those rights. Collectively, both bills would undermine existing legal protections for pre-1914 and riparian water rights and result in significant changes to how California’s water rights system is administered. The discussion below provides background on existing law, the key changes to existing law proposed by each bill, and their respective impacts on water rights holders. … ” Read more from Harrison, Temblador, Hungerford, & Guernsey.
Podcast: California confronts monitoring challenges for microplastics in drinking water
“Researchers reported finding microplastics in drinking water nearly 5 years ago, prompting California lawmakers to require monitoring of the state’s drinking water for the tiny particles. But in 2018, there were no standard methods for analyzing microplastics. So California regulators reached out to chemists and toxicologists from all sectors to develop those methods. They also sought assistance in developing a health-based limit to help consumers understand what the monitoring results mean for their health. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we will hear from some of the scientists leading those groundbreaking efforts.” Listen or read transcript from Chemical and Engineering News.
Arsenic contaminates private drinking water wells across the western Great Basin
“In the arid and drought-stricken western Great Basin, sparse surface water means rural communities often rely on private groundwater wells. Unlike municipal water systems, well water quality in private wells is unregulated, and a new study shows that more than 49 thousand well users across the region may be at risk of exposure to unhealthy levels of arsenic in drinking water. Led by researchers at DRI and the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center and published February 16th in Environmental Science and Technology, the study used data from groundwater wells across the western Great Basin to build a model to predict the probability of elevated arsenic in groundwater, and the location and number of private well users at risk. … ” Read more from EurkeAlert.
After dropping to a 20-year low, western U.S. hydropower generation rose 13% last year
“After decreasing to a 20-year low for the 2020–21 water year, hydropower production in the western United States increased slightly during last year’s water year, rising 13% to reach 161 million megawatthours (MWh). Western hydro generation can vary significantly from year to year because it follows rain and snowpack patterns. A water year covers the 12-month period from October 1 through September 30. The water year follows the water cycle; precipitation in the fall or early winter does not affect stream and river flows until the following spring and summer. The western United States—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, California, Oregon, and Washington—produced 61% of the country’s hydroelectricity last water year (2021–22). … ” Read more from the US Energy Information Administration.
Farmers address House panel at Ag Expo
“The nation’s 2023 Farm Bill took center stage at the World Ag Expo in Tulare last week, as farmers engaged with members of the House Agriculture Committee and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield. McCarthy’s appearance at the largest farm show in the world marked the first time a House Speaker attended the event. He joined Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pennsylvania, and six other California representatives. The listening session focused on the omnibus legislation that contains an array of agricultural and food programs, including for nutrition, crop assistance and conservation. California farmers and farm associations, including the California Farm Bureau, highlighted challenges facing America’s largest agricultural economy, including supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, inflation and rising input costs. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
West Coast species on the move as climate change drives ecological shifts, analysis shows
“All but the most resilient marine species off the West Coast are likely to be vulnerable to climate change, according to a new NOAA Fisheries assessment. It will help inform fisheries management and species protections as the climate changes in the coming decades. The assessment found that nearly all commercial fish stocks overseen by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council are vulnerable to climate change. Species with complex life histories, long life spans, or of high commercial value are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change in the California Current. “We are looking forward, and we see that changes in these species may be the rule rather than the exception,” said Michelle McClure, lead author of the assessment who did much of the work while at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. “The goal is to anticipate the changes and make more climate-informed management decisions, and this assessment should help.” … ” Read more from NOAA.
Stanford-led study reveals a fifth of California’s Sierra Nevada conifer forests are stranded in habitats that have grown too warm for them
“Like an old man suddenly aware the world has moved on without him, the conifer tree native to lower elevations of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range finds itself in an unrecognizable climate. A new Stanford-led study reveals that about a fifth of all Sierra Nevada conifer forests – emblems of Western wilderness – are a “mismatch” for their regions’ warming weather. The paper, to be published Feb. 28 in PNAS Nexus, highlights how such “zombie forests” are temporarily cheating death, likely to be replaced with tree species better adapted to the climate after one of California’s increasingly frequent catastrophic wildfires. “Forest and fire managers need to know where their limited resources can have the most impact,” said study lead author Avery Hill, a graduate student in biology at Stanford’s School of Humanities & Sciences at the time of the research. “This study provides a strong foundation for understanding where forest transitions are likely to occur, and how that will affect future ecosystem processes like wildfire regimes.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
LAO Report: The 2023-24 Budget: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s major capital outlay proposals
“In this brief, we analyze the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s 2023-24 budget proposals related to two major capital outlay issues: a new training center and rebuilding an existing conservation camp.”
In commentary today …
How goes Mono Lake goes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta when it comes to LA water politics
Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin, writes, “You may not care about the fate of Mono Lake and its unique ecological system. But you should. It’s because the myopic water doctrine Los Angeles has been relentlessly pursuing so it could sustain its growth and wealth for well over a century will lay waste to Mono Lake if they are not stopped. Why care about a lake that’s a 160-mile drive from Manteca via Highway 120 when Tioga Pass isn’t closed by winter snow? The Save the Mono Lake Committee can rattle off a lot of reasons. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance: There’s less to NID’s Supreme Court Appeal than meets the eye
Chris Shutes, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, writes, “In a February 8, 2023 op-ed, the president of the Board of Directors of Nevada Irrigation District (NID) writes that an appeal to the US Supreme Court by NID could have “severe impacts” to NID and the community it serves. The op-ed omits the key facts on which the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled last August. It also exaggerates the impacts to NID and obscures the issues. In 2008, Nevada Irrigation District (NID) started “relicensing” its Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) first licensed the Project, for 50 years, in 1963. … ” Continue reading at YubaNet.
‘Waters of the U.S.’ rule unworkable for family farms
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, writes, “Last month, the American Farm Bureau Federation filed a new lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s latest “waters of the United States” rule. We were joined by more than a dozen other organizations representing agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and housing. Even though farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting our nation’s waterways, they deserve better than this rule, which requires a team of lawyers and consultants just to identify “navigable waters” on their land. The EPA’s new WOTUS rule is a giant step in the wrong direction. Instead of making federal regulations more clear, it reinstates confusing standards that have already caused decades of uncertainty. Most importantly, the rule gives the government sweeping authority over private lands. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Emergency drought permits unlikely for Klamath Basin farmers
“The Oregon Water Resources Department is unlikely to issue emergency drought permits for Klamath Basin irrigators in 2023 due to declining groundwater levels that have caused hundreds of domestic wells to run dry. Emergency permits are one tool the agency may use to mitigate drought impacts for farmers and ranchers, allowing them to temporarily replace water not available under an existing water right from another source. The most common drought permit allows water users to pump groundwater as an alternative to surface water when streams and rivers are running low. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Storms taking aim at Lake Tahoe; Advisories in place through weekend
“Roads are icy and chain controls are in effect Wednesday morning at Lake Tahoe from an appetizer storm that dropped several inches of snow, with much more on the way. The mild storm was an introduction to a cold and stormy period that will continue through the end of February and into the beginning of March, said the National Weather Service in Reno. Several rounds of snow at all elevations will lead to widespread travel difficulties, especially in the Sierra. Chains are required Wednesday on every mountain pass and highway in the basin except on U.S. Highway 50 from Meyers through South Lake Tahoe and from the “Y” through Camp Richardson on State Route 89. As one storm exits the region, several more are on its heels. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Heading to Tahoe? Bundle up for slopes, and expect a windy, wintry blast, from the SF Chronicle
League to Save Lake Tahoe reveals plans for environment, education center
“The League to Save Lake Tahoe on Tuesday announced it is building a new environment and education center designed around opportunities for the public to learn, appreciate and take part in protecting Lake Tahoe. The 65-year-old environmental nonprofit’s future home will be the Tahoe Basin’s premiere environmental facility and a hub for collaboration, volunteering and community engagement focused on the League’s mission to Keep Tahoe Blue. The site will feature an outdoor amphitheater, native plant educational garden, citizen science laboratory, and environmental center open to the public, located at the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Al Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Forest treatment completed to better protect Truckee from wildfire
“The Glenshire-Brockway project, a 1,175-acre project to reduce hazardous fuels between Glenshire and Brockway summits has been completed. The project is a collaboration of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the National Forest Foundation (NFF), and the Truckee Fire Protection District (TFPD). The area is full of dense forest stands across both public and private lands. Crews thinned brush and small trees for wildfire mitigation while maintaining the more fire-resilient trees. With the project now complete, this buffer could provide a critical advantage for firefighters trying to slow or stop an approaching wildfire as well as improve overall forest health and wildlife habitat across this important ecological area. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama County Groundwater Commission to go over well registration program
“The Tehama County Groundwater Sustainability Agency Groundwater Commission will hear an update on the well registration program and a recent workshop about it on Wednesday morning. The Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District adopted a resolution requiring all wells in the county to be registered and all qualified APNs to pay $0.29 per acre/year to cover the cost of the registration program. California, in 2014, passed rules that required groundwater to be regulated for long-term sustainability. This legislation allowed local municipalities to form groundwater sustainability agencies to oversee the program. If an agency were not created, control would be in the hands of the state. The fee will initially be used to set up a good registration program. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Repairs planned for Oroville Wildlife Area
“Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) is continuing efforts to curb flood risk along the Feather River. Executive Director Michael Bessette presented a report to the Oroville City Council Tuesday that, in part, highlights details to the agency’s Robinson’s Riffle Restoration Project in the Oroville Wildlife Area. The project recently secured $1.4 million in funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to assist with planning. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Butte County OEM applies for $17M grant for drought mitigation
“The Butte County Office of Emergency Management applied for a $17 million grant from the state to help fund projects and mitigate the impact of the drought in Northern California. The money will go towards long-term projects to help the community be more drought resistant. Butte County Office of Emergency Services Deputy Administrative Officer Josh Jimerfield said it’s put together a plan with three different components, including immediate action on programs like water hauling, temporary tank programs and bottled water, as well as education and outreach. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Sutter County eligible for FEMA public assistance
“Nearly a month after a series of severe winter storms impacted parts of the northern and ce… ntral valley, additional counties in California – including Sutter County – are now eligible to apply for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance program. Other eligible counties include Amador, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Napa, Nevada, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, Stanislaus, Tehama and Tuolumne. According to officials, these counties experienced flooding, landslides and mudslides during the storms that took place between Dec. 27, 2022, and Jan. 31. Throughout the first few weeks of January, Sutter County experienced significant flooding within some of its backroads. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat. | Read via Yahoo News.
Sacramento Valley could see low-elevation snow as cold winter storm hits Northern California
“A cold winter storm is forecast to hit the Sacramento Valley, bringing with it near-freezing temperatures, rain and the possibility of snow at low elevations this week. Though the Sacramento area saw “seasonably warm” days on Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are expected to drop into the mid- to upper-30s Tuesday night and extend through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. Rain is forecast to return to the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys Wednesday night through Friday afternoon, according to the weather service, with the heaviest precipitation expected Thursday night and Friday morning. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
SEE ALSO: Snow in Sacramento? There’s a slim chance, but it’s complicated, from ABC 10
BAY AREA
Bay Area set to see very unusual snow event. Will San Francisco see flakes?
“An unusual burst of winter weather is on tap for California later this week as two powerful back-to-back storms drop strong winds and a wintry mix of rain and snow along the entire length of the state. This includes the chance for brief snow showers in parts of San Francisco and Oakland by Thursday morning. “Just about everybody who lives in California will probably be able to see snow, at least in the nearby hills,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA and the Nature Conservancy, during an online presentation on Tuesday morning. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Stanford proposes improvements to Searsville Dam and Reservoir
“In the foothills above the Stanford campus, on university land within the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, lies the Searsville Reservoir and Dam. The dam was originally built in 1891 by the Spring Valley Water Company to provide drinking water for the region. However, the reservoir never proved to be a good source of drinking water due to the high concentration of sediment in the Corte Madera Creek that feeds the reservoir. Searsville was acquired by Stanford in 1919 to provide irrigation water for the campus, and it became a popular recreational destination for local residents until the mid-1970s when the biological preserve was established. In more recent years, Searsville has posed a difficult challenge: How to address 132 years of gradually accumulating sediment that now fills 90 percent of the reservoir’s capacity? … ” Read more from Stanford News.
CENTRAL COAST
Critical Carmel River fish rescue facility damaged in flood
“Among the homes and businesses severely damaged by flooding along the Carmel River on Jan. 9 was a critical steelhead trout facility protecting the endangered fish that have suffered because of over-pumping of the river to provide drinking water for the Monterey Peninsula. Operated by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility in Carmel Valley was designed in the early 1990s and came online in 1996 to rescue federally listed endangered steelhead trout that have been cut off from upstream spawning grounds. The over-pumping has turned parts of the river into ponds that trap the steelhead. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
There’s a vacancy on California’s powerful Coastal Commission. Could it be filled by a Monterey County representative?
“Sara Rubin here, grateful for public access to California’s coast—and recalling that the idea that California’s coast should be a public resource was not always a given. Amid concerns that private development would cut off public access, citizen-led Proposition 20 appeared on Californians’ 1972 ballots. “It is the policy of the state to preserve, protect, and where possible, restore the resources of the coastal zone for the enjoyment of the current and succeeding generations,” the initiative stated. It passed, creating the California Coastal Commission, later codified by the State Legislature with the Coastal Act of 1976. It would be the job of the Coastal Commission to enforce its principles. The Central Coast region—comprising Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties—has not had a Monterey County representative since 2009 when Dave Potter, now mayor of Carmel, was ousted. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Radio: Fresno: ‘Debacle in the hills’: A conversation with the reporters behind the story of Mira Bella’s water
“You see them all over the San Joaquin Valley: Sparkling new housing developments promising luxury living outside the big cities. But a recent investigation from our non-profit reporting partners shows the risks of building communities in areas with unreliable access to drinking water. Back in the 1980s, county officials knew the risks of building homes in the Mira Bella development near Millerton Lake in the foothills of Fresno County, but they greenlit the project anyway—and now residents and taxpayers are paying the price. In this interview, KVPR’s Kerry Klein talks with the reporters who produced this story, Jesse Vad of SJV Water and Gregory Weaver of Fresnoland, about the lengths Mira Bella residents are going to to solve their water problems, and what it demonstrates about who does and does not have access to drinking water in California.” Listen at KVPR.
Turlock Irrigation District farmers will get full water allotments, and then some, thanks to wet weather
“Farmers in the Turlock Irrigation District will get full water allotments after three years of drought cutbacks. The 5-0 board vote Tuesday morning followed a staff report on the impressive rain and snow in the Tuolumne River watershed. There’s even enough to allow extra deliveries at season’s end to help with groundwater recharge, irrigation distribution manager Mike Kavarian told the board. That practice can bolster aquifers stressed during dry times. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Video: Rooted in the Valley: Liset Garcia was set on leaving the valley, but came back to her roots
“Liset Garcia grew up helping her folks sell freshly grown produce from the San Joaquin Valley in Los Angeles neighborhoods and dreamed of becoming a doctor. Somehow, along the way, the medical student found herself running a stand at her parent’s Reedley farm and becoming somewhat of a social media hit. She still wants to become a doctor but, for now, agriculture has a hold on her heart. Find out why in the second video in our series getting to know small farmers and the challenges they face called: Rooted in the Valley.” Read more from SJV Water.
Tule River Tribal Rights bill reintroduced in Congress
“An effort that has lasted more than 50 years to secure water rights for the Tule River Indian Reservation continues. And it’s hoped the passage of a bill that has been reintroduced can prevent litigation happening between the Tribe and the U.S. Government. U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein both of California have re-introduced legislation to formally recognize the Tule River Tribe’s reserved water rights to 5,828 acre-feet/year of surface water from the South Fork of the Tule River, the Tule River Water Rights Settlement Act. For decades, the Tule River Tribe has worked with the federal government and downstream water users to enact the settlement agreement. In introducing the bill, Padilla’s office stated the legislation would avoid costly and adversarial litigation for the tribe and the U.S. government. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Bakersfield to take a deep dive on the Kern River – supplies, demands and rights
“The Bakersfield City Council at its meeting Wednesday will likely approve a $288,350 contract to conduct a detailed study of the city’s water supplies and demands with a strong focus on Kern River operations. Though the proposed study, on the consent agenda, isn’t in direct response to a lawsuit filed last year against the city by Water Audit of California over the river, the study could answer some questions posed in the lawsuit. The Water Audit suit alleges the city has been derelict by not considering the public in how it operates the river. The lawsuit doesn’t demand money. Rather it seeks to stop water diversions from the river temporarily while the court orders the city to study how river operations have affected fisheries, the environment and recreational uses. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Department of Water Resources provides facilitation follow up to Water District
“At the regular board meeting for the Indian Wells Valley Water District on Feb. 13, the board discussed the ongoing facilitation support services which they requested from the Department of Water Resources. The discussion centered around a presentation given by Lisa Beutler of Stantec, the company DWR partnered with to manage much of the facilitation process. … Considering the goals of discussion and public collaboration, Beutler noted that there were primary successful outcomes from the facilitation process thus far. … ” Read the full story at the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Biggest storm of winter brewing for Southern California
“A potent storm will drop southward along the Pacific coast and hit California hard with torrential rain, heavy snow and widespread travel disruptions late this week, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Impacts will be felt statewide, but the most significant impacts are forecast for Southern California. The leftovers of the massive cross-country storm that began in the West on Monday will continue to affect California into Wednesday with sporadic low-elevation rain showers and areas of mountain snow. This could result in slippery road conditions over the passes in Southern California from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Notoriously strict Agoura Hills water district scales back response
“Known for its strict drought restrictions, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District walked back regulations after recent storms provided much needed water to California reserves. The State Water Project announced additional water allocations to a number of Southern California water districts, including Las Virgenes, delivering 30 percent of requested water supplies. Las Virgenes was previously expecting only 5 percent of its requested water. The district will move from stage three drought response — where it’s been for over a year — to stage two, which would mean no more flow restrictors for residents who overshoot their water budgets. … ” Read more from The Patch.
Ballona Wetlands: Court rules against restoration opponents
“On February 21, 2023, Superior Court Judge Hon. Mary H. Strobel denied a petition brought by Ballona Wetlands Restoration opponents attempting to stop restoration work by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). This means the work may proceed for the time being. At issue is $1.7 million in Proposition 12 bond funds allocated by the California Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) to CDFW for restoration work at the Ballona Wetlands, in the area south of Culver Blvd. The work, to be performed by CDFW’s contractor ESA and others, involves preliminary planning and engineering for the enhancement of tidal channels and removal of non-native, invasive plants. … ” Read more from The Patch.
SAN DIEGO
Padre Dam water rates stable for now, still highest in San Diego County
“Customers of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District are getting some relief on their usually hefty bills, thanks to a vote last year by its board to freeze rate increases over five years. But that freeze only applies to internal rate increases, not those imposed by outside agencies such as the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE), both of which are charging more for their services. Aware that those entities were imposing price hikes, Padre Dam’s five-member board decided in June to use funds it received from a big legal settlement from a prolonged legal battle between the CWA and the Metropolitan Water Authority, headquartered in Los Angeles. … ” Read more from the East County Magazine.
How is cross-border water contamination impacting San Diego county long term?
“Raw sewage is flowing into the Tijuana River Valley. A private developer inadvertently damaged a 60-inch pipe on Feb. 10 which led to the spillage, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. Most of the sewage is spilling into Smuggler’s Gulch and Goat Canyon. “In the wastewater sewage you have bacteria, it’s basically waste from residential units and industrial units. So, it could be heavy metals, it could be pollutants, bacteria and everything that is most impactful to our environment,” said San Diego State University Professor Hassan Davani, Ph.D. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Nevada uses 8% less Colorado River water in 2022; states continue working toward massive cuts
“Figures from the federal government show Nevada used 8% less water from the Colorado River in 2022 as conservation ramped up during one of the drought’s worst years.Southern Nevada continues to make “tremendous progress” in water savings, according to John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority.Actual water use dropped from 242,168 acre-feet in 2021 down to 222,797 acre-feet in 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation data. The totals are for “water year” periods that begin on Oct. 1 and end on Sept. 30. … ” Read more from KLAS via MSN News.
Bills to manage Arizona groundwater fails to get out of legislative committee
“Climate change has forced policymakers to adapt to less Colorado River water. The condition of Arizona’s largest reservoirs has also called attention to the state’s falling groundwater supply. Groundwater is unregulated in most of rural Arizona. A pair of Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to create groundwater stewardship areas, which would give local communities funding and expertise to help monitor their water supply. … ” Read more from Fronteras.
Scottsdale approves proposal to discuss reopening water supply for Rio Verde Foothills
“There was a sigh of relief for the nearly 1,000 residents in the Rio Verde Foothills community after being without water since the beginning of the year. “Right now we’re without most of our water supply. We have less than 40% of water for all the homes. So right now I’m using rainwater to flush my toilet,” said Karen Nabity, who lives in the unincorporated community. On Tuesday, Scottsdale City Council members authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Maricopa County. The agreement is contingent on the city getting additional water resources, but Scottsdale agrees to treat the water and make it available for delivery by Maricopa County. “I know even with this temporary solution, the cost of our water will go up. But knowing the haulers can get to it when we need it will be huge peace of mind,” said Jessica Nehlman, a resident. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
In national water news today …
Ninth Circuit restores Trump-era gut of Clean Water Act rule
“A Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday revived a Trump-era Clean Water Act regulation, finding the lower court lacked authority to vacate the rule without finding it unlawful. In 2021, U.S. District Judge William Alsup vacated a Trump administration revision of the “Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule,” which narrows what issues state and tribal governments can consider when determining whether a project, particularly one discharging pollution into a waterway, complies with state water quality standards. The rule affected the permitting and relicensing process for thousands of industrial projects, including natural gas pipelines, hydroelectric plants, wastewater treatment facilities and construction sites near sensitive wetlands. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: Court refuses to halt Trump era rule limiting states’ abilities to regulate water pollution, from the SF Chronicle
