On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a legislative update, Army Corps presentation on the Public Law 84-99 Rehabilitation Program, Sacramento River East Levee Contract 4 Hearing, North Area Streams Levee Improvement Project, and Lower San Joaquin River and Tributaries Project. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Major storm to bring blizzard, feet of snow and flooding rain to Southern California
“A large and disruptive storm system tracking south just offshore of the West Coast on Thursday was bringing some impacts to California. As the storm zeroes in on the Golden State, it is forecast to ramp up in intensity on Friday and produce heavy rain, snow and even rare blizzard conditions in the mountains around the Los Angeles area. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that this storm has the potential to be the most impactful storm of the winter, and perhaps in a number of years, for Southern California due to the risks of flooding, snow in low elevations and widespread travel disruptions. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Cold storm brings rain, blizzard warnings to California
“California and other parts of the West faced heavy snow and rain Friday from the latest winter storm to pound the U.S., while thousands of people in Michigan shivered through extended power outages wrought by one of the worst ice storms in decades. The National Weather Service warned of a “cold and dangerous winter storm” that would last through Saturday in California. Blizzard warnings were posted in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California mountain ranges, where as much as 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow was expected. Interstate 5, the West Coast’s major north-south highway, was shut down south of the Oregon border as snow fell to the floor of the Sacramento Valley and in a high mountain pass north of Los Angeles, where blizzard warnings were in effect. Smaller roads also closed. “You don’t want to be on the road,” weather forecaster Belen De Leon told NBC4 in Los Angeles. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
How the winter storm could impact California reservoirs
“Southern California is bracing for a cold winter storm this weekend that is expected to bring up to 5 feet of snow accumulation in certain areas. While this forecast might curtail your outdoor weekend plans, it is excellent news for the state’s recovering water reservoirs. “Snowpack provides 30 percent of California’s freshwater and plays a critical role in the replenishment of reservoir levels when it melts and increases streamflows in the spring and early summer,” Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist and manager at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, told Newsweek. “It’s particularly important because it acts as its own storage system on top of the mountains, which is why we often refer to the snowpack as being an additional reservoir or water tower.” … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Interactive map shows latest California drought conditions as winter storms persist
“California’s drought-stricken reservoirs have recovered due to January’s string of “atmospheric river” storms, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but don’t let what seems like copious amounts of water fool you. The storms were “likely insufficient to reverse” California’s drought, according to the NASA. Plus notoriously hot and dry California summers, which typically fuel worsening drought conditions and breed seasonal wildfires, is just around the corner. For now, drought statuses remain relatively the same, compared to one week ago. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
California invests in critical Central Valley water infrastructure projects
“California’s water authorities will spend $15 million in three crucial water management zones within the drought-ravaged southern Central Valley. The hub of agricultural production in the Golden State, the Central Valley has also faced the most dire impacts from another historic drought, as thousands of wells went dry last year and many communities faced a total lack of safe drinking water. The state’s authorities say they are releasing funds to begin projects to prevent such hardship in future droughts. The Department of Water Resources along with California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot came to the small city of Parlier on Thursday to announce three grants totaling $15 million to improve water infrastructure in the region. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: DWR Awards $25 Million in LandFlex Grants to Protect Drinking Water Wells, from DWR News
Water Board pauses Delta rules, boosting water supplies for storage
“After the first flush of the year saw as much as 95 percent of daily incoming water to the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta sent into the San Francisco Bay, a new decision by the state’s water board this week will reverse course and allow for more water to be stored throughout the state’s reservoirs. The State Water Resources Control Board has temporarily waived rules that required a certain amount of water to be flushed out to the bay, a decision that comes after the heavy rains California experienced to start the year. On Feb. 13 the California Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation jointly filed a Temporary Urgency Change Petition. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Growers encouraged by season’s first water allocations
“After a deluge of rain this winter, the first water allocations of the year were announced by the federal government this week. The Bureau of Reclamation announced that water users located south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta — which includes Westlands Water District — would receive 35% of their contracted allocation. The San Joaquin Exchange Contractors north of Madera would receive 100% of their contract supply. Westlands growers often turn to Exchange Contractors along the San Joaquin River for water deliveries later in the year. Friant Division Contractors received 100% of Class 1 allocation. This would be the highest allocation since 2019. … ” Read more from The Business Journal.
NRCS California awards federal funding for emergency levee repairs
“The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has awarded $1.5 million in federal funding to Reclamation District 800 to repair sections of levees in and around Wilton, California. The levees were damaged during this winter’s historical rainfall in Northern California. “We are very grateful for NRCS’s collaboration and support,” said Brain Takemori, president of RD800. “While there is still extensive work to be done in recovering from the recent storm event, this is an important first step in protecting and rehabilitating the Cosumnes River flood system.” The funding is made available through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). This is not the first time that NRCS in California has assisted RD800 with emergency watershed repairs. In 2017, NRCS awarded $750,000 for similar levee repairs due to heavy rainfall. Those repairs were successful and held up during the recent storms. … ” Continue reading from the NRCS.
In commentary today …
Governor’s action on water supply is welcome for the San Joaquin Valley
State Senator Anna Caballero writes, “One of California’s greatest attributes is its diversity. Throughout our history, we have welcomed people from all over the world, each contributing in their own way to make California a global leader in aerospace, entertainment, technology, and, of course, agriculture. California has also had a traditionally diverse water supply, from rain, and snow, to plentiful groundwater basins, and rivers flowing in from other states. Predictable weather patterns have now changed, making long-term water supply planning even more difficult. That is why I appreciate Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent effort to help protect the water in our reservoirs that was captured during the storms in December and January. It is more important now to capture water during the wet season to save for times when it will be dry. Today, those extremes can all happen within a one- or two-year time period. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
Investing in our communities’ clean water future
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Snow on the ground at sea level: Wild weather on Northern California coast
“Snow turned the Northern California coastal town of Ferndale into a winter wonderland on Thursday. Caroline Titus, the owner, publisher, editor and reporter at the Ferndale Enterprise in Humboldt County, said the snow wasn’t sticking on the asphalt, just blanketing the trees, houses, buildings and fields with photo-worthy precipitation. And Titus said people were out and enjoying it. “There’s lots of people building snowmen for men and women,” she said. “Everybody’s out and about and checking it out, taking photos. It’s very rare.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
A long history shadows new fight over California’s Shasta Dam
Judy Silber writes, “A few years ago, I stumbled onto the story of the Winnemem Wintu people, an indigenous people of Northern California. Theirs is an epic tale and it grabbed hold of me. For several years, I tagged along with them whenever I could. I was around so much, they started teasing me. The large fuzzy windscreens of my recording setup earned me a nickname. The Winnemem Wintu and their close friends call me and my microphone Gray Squirrel. Nickname aside, I never took it lightly that the Winnemem Wintu let me into their space. For good reasons, many Native people are suspicious of outsiders. I understood their openness was special and rare. My greatest hope is that you will hear their story of struggle and resilience, of betrayal and a willingness to still believe in the good things to come – and that it will change you as it did me. … ” Read more from Science Friday.
SEE ALSO: Industrialized water containment projects ignore the needs of Indigenous communities, from Prism
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Several rounds of snow storms in the Lake Tahoe forecast into March
“A cold and stormy period will continue through the end of February and into the beginning of March, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. They say to anticipate several rounds of snow at all elevations, leading to widespread travel difficulties in the Sierra. Periods of enhanced winds will make it feel that much colder. Bundle up and protect vulnerable populations and pets. The Winter Weather Advisory is in place until 4 a.m. Friday, then a Winter Weather Watch until Saturday, February 25 at 10 a.m. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
At least two Tahoe ski resorts extending season thanks to heavy snowpack
“With storm after storm hitting the Tahoe region, at least two Tahoe-area ski resorts are lengthening their seasons. Palisades Tahoe will stay open through Memorial Day, and possibly longer, weather and conditions permitting. “Depending on spring snowfall and snowpack, we will likely extend the season beyond May,” public relations manager Patrick Lacey said in an email. “Our plan is to go as long as conditions allow, and if that means skiing and riding into June and potentially through the Fourth of July.” The resort has received 413 inches of snow so far this year. … ” Read more from the Reno Gazette Journal.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama County man fined by EPA
“An error in paperwork proved to be a costly mistake for Justin Jenson, who was fined around $30,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the EPA, Jenson, in November 2021, conducted bank stabilization activities on his residence along the shoreline below the ordinary high water mark, impacting 90 linear feet of the Sacramento River without a CWA Section 404 permit. Jenson, who is the county’s public works deputy director, said when he bought the property, there was a big pile of riprap that was meant to be installed as bank reduction near his home. He read through all the documents from the previous landowner and believed it was completed for the planned work. After inspecting the property, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said that they gave him the green light, according to Jenson. … ” Read more from the Red Bluff Daily News.
Balancing the water needs of people and the environment: Water Forum brings diverse interests together to tackle tough issues on the Lower American River
“Come drought or deluge, how can we develop a lasting water agreement for the greater Sacramento area? That’s the challenging task before the Water Forum, a unique consortium of business and agricultural leaders, citizen groups, environmentalists, water managers and local governments, including the City of Roseville. With eyes particularly on Folsom Lake and the Lower American River, as well as weather, Water Forum members work on water issues both near- and long-term. Recent winter storms, following years of drought, added extra complexity to that job. “We’ve had weather whiplash,” says Jessica Law, Water Forum executive director. “It was super-super dry, then so much rain! We’re just one team of experts watching weather like this.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water to update public on challenges, opportunities facing North Bay water supply
“The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) Board of Directors will meet Monday, Feb. 27, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the region’s aging water, wastewater and flood protection systems in a changing climate. The Board will receive presentations on key issues impacting Sonoma Water’s drinking water supply and transmission system, regional flood management, initiatives to keep our water clean, and the water agency’s efforts to address the effects of climate change. Board members and the public will also be briefed on efforts to maintain and modernize systems that are 40 to 70 years old and their ability to withstand earthquakes, more frequent droughts and extreme storms. Some of the investments could require future increases in the wholesale price of water that Sonoma Water supplies to nine cities and special districts in Sonoma and Marin counties. … ” Read more from the County of Sonoma.
Column: Investing in our tap water
Chris Coursey and James Gore, members of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors, write, “Unlike our famous local wine, water pipes, valves and storage tanks do not age well with time. In fact, the infrastructure we use to deliver drinking water is similar to another famous local icon: the Golden Gate Bridge. Like the bridge, complex drinking water systems require continuous maintenance and large investments. Sonoma Water is responsible for that regional water system. Sonoma Water provides water to Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Sonoma, Cotati, Windsor and the North Marin, Marin Municipal and Valley of the Moon water districts (collectively “water contractors”), which in turn distribute that water to more than 600,000 people. Most of this drinking water comes from the Russian River water supply system. Water from this system is stored in two major reservoirs, Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino, then pumped from large wells on the banks of the Russian River near Forestville, treated and delivered to communities through nearly 80 miles of underground pipes. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Rivers have sustained vineyards for centuries, now it’s time to return the favor
“What do Bordeaux, Loire, Mosel, Rhine, Rhône, Douro, Napa, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Tokaj and the Wachau all have in common? If you said they are all major wine regions split by rivers or laced with tributaries, pour yourself a glass of wine. It may seem obvious, but wine wouldn’t exist without water. And rivers deliver it. For centuries that has meant soil, sediment, nutrients, warming and cooling influences and, of course, water, all traveling along riverbanks. … “The Napa River is the lifeblood of the Napa Valley,” says Will Drayton, director of technical viticulture, sustainability and research at Treasury Americas, a division of Treasury Wine Estates. … ” Read more from Wine Enthusiast.
BAY AREA
How low will the Bay Area’s snow line go? Here’s where will see the worst wintry weather
“Bay Area residents will wake up to a mix of wintry weather this morning, as the winter storm that’s chilled the Bay Area over the last 36 hours ushers in one final wave of strong winds, rain showers, thunderstorms and snow across Northern California. The storm will bring the snow line down to 500 feet before 9 a.m., allowing for a dusting of snow to fall across the Marin Headlands, Oakland Hills and even some of the highest peaks in San Francisco. Residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains, North Bay highlands and the Diablo Range will likely see additional snow today, straining areas still recovering from yesterday’s storm impacts, including road closures on Highways 17 and 138. Winds will also pick up across the Bay Area this morning and into the early afternoon, as thunderstorms roll onto the coast. The stage is set for another day of wintry weather. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Bay Area storm: Snow falls below 1,000 feet overnight, from the San Jose Mercury News
Marin Municipal Water District details drought surcharge proposal
“Marin Municipal Water District officials are proposing rate increases during drought periods to prevent financial shortfalls, but say ratepayers shouldn’t expect their bills to spike if they meet their conservation targets. “Almost 95% of our costs are fixed and that is just inescapable,” Monty Schmitt, president of the district board, said during a meeting this week. “The only way to address this is to recover our revenue in some way. There is no cutting back when our revenue goes down because then we’re no longer providing water for people or taking care of our system.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Valley Water and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invest in water infrastructure in Silicon Valley
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced Valley Water is the recipient of the 100th loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The EPA will commit $727 million in low-cost loans to Valley Water through WIFIA to help pay for critical water supply and flood control projects in Santa Clara County. Two of the largest projects benefiting from the federal loans include the Anderson Dam Seismic Retrofit Project and the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project. These projects provide environmental justice benefits, such as flood protection for disadvantaged communities and local water supply reliability. “We know making smart investments in water infrastructure and technology today remains the most cost-efficient way to ensure Santa Clara County has enough safe, clean water now and into the future,” said John L. Varela, Valley Water Board Chair. “Thanks to WIFIA, we can do this in a cost-effective manner that will benefit our rate and taxpayers.” … ” Read more from Valley Water.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey County’s latest seawater intrusion maps reveal an intractable problem that’s getting worse.
“In the story of the lower Salinas Valley’s groundwater – which is the sole source of water for agriculture and residents – history repeats itself: groundwater levels continue to get lower, and seawater intrusion in that water continues its inexorable march inland. On Feb. 21, hydrologists from the Monterey County Water Resources Agency presented the county’s 2022 seawater intrusion maps to the agency’s board, and they came bearing bad news. The valley’s main aquifers – the 180-foot, 400-foot and deep aquifers, named for their depths – saw varying degrees of groundwater level decline. The worst was in the 400-foot aquifer, on account that many wells in the 180 have been taken offline due to seawater intrusion. … ” Read more from Monterey County Weekly.
Nacimiento water management committee questions proposed interlake tunnel
“The Nacimiento Regional Water Management Advisory Committee (NRWMAC) has challenged Monterey County and its agencies over the alleged mismanagement of Lake Nacimiento, which has led to the erosion of recreational rights on the lake and surrounding areas. The committee has recently begun engaging with Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) over the alignment of the proposed Interlake Tunnel Project. NRWMAC’s primary objectives are improving water management and resolving tunnel issues that affect boaters, sports enthusiasts, anglers, agriculture, property owners, and the conservation of lake species. … ” Read more from Paso Robles Daily Press.
North County water district seeks seat on Paso Robles Basin Cooperative Committee
“Five years after it was “sidelined” from discussions about the future of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, the Estrella-El Pomar-Creston (EPC) Water District is taking a second crack at joining the committee that’s implementing the policies and projects to balance the basin. On Feb. 8, the EPC Water District’s board of directors sent a formal letter to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors asking it to transfer a portion of its basin representative duties to the district—which would allow the EPC to take a seat on the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee. “We want to be able to sit there,” EPC Water District President Dana Merrill told New Times. “I don’t see why we should have any less of an opportunity.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Feds sent zero water last year to parts of Stanislaus’ West Side. See what’s changed
“Farmers on the West Side of Stanislaus County can expect 35% to 100% of the water in their contracts with the federal government. The Central Valley Project announced the tentative allocations Wednesday, late in a wet winter that followed three years of drought. Some irrigation districts had zero federal water in 2021 and 2022 due to weaker rights to the system. They welcomed the latest news while urging that California capture more storm runoff in years like this. The 100% deliveries will go to four districts with senior rights, stretching from Crows Landing to Mendota. The announcement drew protest from the salmon industry. It argues that fish hatched on Valley rivers need higher flows to get out to the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via AOL News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Blizzards, thunderstorms, flash flooding: Southern California bracing for a wild weather weekend
“California is in for a wild weather weekend complete with heavy snow, flooding rain, blizzard conditions and hurricane-force wind gusts. A storm is strengthening off of the Golden State, pulling in moisture and getting primed for the main event Friday and Saturday. It will skirt the coast and then head inland across Southern California. The NWS San Diego office issued its first-ever Blizzard Warning. The Los Angeles Office issued its first in 34 years, hoping residents will heed the warnings and stay off the roads. The wind-blown snow could create near-white-out conditions. The NWS expects less than a quarter-mile of visibility above 4,000 feet. … ” Read more from Fox Weather.
SEE ALSO: Snowballs at the Hollywood sign: Does it signal the biggest SoCal snow event in decades?, from the LA Times
San Bernardino County mountains brace for first blizzard warning on record
“Residents of the San Bernardino County mountains are bracing for potential blizzard conditions Friday and Saturday, joining their western neighbors preparing for extreme winter weather as a massive storm moves into Southern California. The National Weather Service office in San Diego issued its first-ever blizzard warning, it said Thursday, putting the San Bernardino County mountains on alert following a similar warning for the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties earlier this week. The blizzard warnings for the three counties will be in effect from 4 a.m. Friday through 4 p.m. Saturday, when the brunt of the storm is expected to hit the region. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Orange County Water District looks to replenish groundwater basin for the 2nd time this year
“The Orange County Water District said it’s grateful for all the rain this year. Adam Hutchinson, recharge planning manager for OCWD said in the past, there’s been years when they’ve had almost no storm water to collect. He said it is crucial to retain as much of it as possible when we have it. While some communities in California find ways to better retain water from recent storms to help in their fight against the ongoing drought, Hutchinson said OCWD has been able to capture the bulk of it. “This storm water capture in Orange County is responsible for almost 20% of our groundwater supply in an average year,” he said. … ” Read more from KABC.
Startups turning to the ocean to capture more carbon off Southern California’s coast
“Picture a can of Coke. When you first pop the top, carbon dioxide pumped into the sugary liquid delivers that beloved effervescent fizz. But soon, the soda starts to go flat. That’s because gases tend to move from areas of high to low concentration. And since our atmosphere is only 0.04% carbon, the concentrated carbon dioxide in the Coke will bubble out until it’s more balanced with the non-effervescent air around it. The process also works in reverse. If the liquid has less carbon than the air, it’ll draw carbon from the atmosphere. That principle is the basis for a nascent industry bubbling up in Southern California that aims to use the ocean itself as a tool to fight climate change. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
Along the Colorado River …
EPA proposal would stop SRP from dumping coal ash into existing evaporation pond at Coronado Generating Station
“The Environmental Protection Agency has notified Salt River Project that it plans to deny the utility’s request to continue dumping coal ash into an unlined pond at its Coronado Generating Station coal-fired plant in eastern Arizona. It is one of six plants across the country targeted by the EPA for not complying with new environmental standards for disposing of coal ash, which is waste from coal-fired power plants. An additional plant, the Apache Generating Station in Benson, withdrew its application. “EPA is holding facilities accountable and protecting our precious water resources from harmful contamination, all while ensuring a reliable supply of electricity to our communities,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a news release on the action. … ” Read more from Cronkite News.
Your water bill is going to go up. Arizona can’t keep ignoring this fact
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Water is going to get more expensive. It’s a matter of supply and demand: Clean, easily accessible water is dwindling across Arizona, while those who rely on it aren’t going anywhere. That means we’ll all pay more for the thing that no desert dweller can live without. But how much might that be? It’s tough to find projections. Nationally, researchers have found that water and wastewater costs are rising three times faster than inflation. But the factors that influence what we pay also vary widely by location, and they are changing so rapidly that few experts are willing to guess what our bills might look like in, say, five or 10 years. … ” Continue reading from the Arizona Republic.
Lake Mead: Where does it get its water and is it filling up?
“Lake Mead is North America’s largest man-made reservoir. It can hold up to 28,945,000 acre-feet of water at one time, and is formed by the legendary Hoover Dam. The reservoir is integral to the surrounding areas, with some 25 million people relying on water from Lake Mead. So where does it get its water from? Lake Mead lies on the Colorado River, between Nevada and Arizona.It also gets its water from three smaller tributaries, the Virgin and Muddy rivers and the Las Vegas Wash. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
In national water news today …
Climate change heating up water wars: Clashes across the US
“Water wars—fought for centuries in the American West—are now raging across the country, as states and water users battle over diminishing supplies. In 2022, 85% of the nation suffered abnormally dry or drought conditions. Climate change is at least part of the reason, raising the specter of even worse shortages in the future. Not only are droughts more frequent and more severe, but higher temperatures are also reducing snow fall, increasing evaporation, and generating greater demand even as supplies decline. Almost no part of the country has been spared in recent years. California endured the driest three years in its recorded history from 2020-22. … ” Continue reading at O’Melveny.
Chicken and salmon have equivalent—and surprisingly far-reaching—environmental impacts
“Many people choose fish instead of meat to offset their environmental footprints. But if the choice is farmed salmon instead of chicken, then researchers have some unsettling results to share: the environmental impact of these two foods is about the same. The reason for that is their feed, which is remarkably similar for chicken and salmon, and accounts for the majority of impacts—which are spread across land and sea for both animals. Chicken and farmed salmon are two of the most widely-consumed foods in western countries, and so the University of California, Santa Barbara-based researchers wanted to understand the full scope of their impacts. This involved calculating the ‘cumulative environmental pressure’ of each species—a calculation that incorporates the greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient pollution, freshwater use and spatial disturbance involved in farming each one, and then maps these geographically. Crucially, the researchers looked beyond the farm gate to include the impacts of feed production for both animals. … ” Continue reading from The Anthropocene.
How innovative technologies are battling PFAS in water systems
“Clean freshwater is one of our most valuable natural resources, especially in the parched West. What if there were a “blue bin” that could be used to recycle industrial wastewater laden with pollutants into clean potable water? Widescale capture and treatment of wastewater so it can be reused for drinking, irrigation and industry would be a boon to municipal water supplies. New technologies hold the promise of making water recycling safe and cost-effective. There is a lot of buzz surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) these days. The rising concern stems from the fact that PFAS are ubiquitous, hazardous and so environmentally persistent that they are called “forever chemicals.” PFAS can harm human health, having been linked to various cancers, hormone disruption, weakened immunity and reproductive problems. The “forever chemicals” also harm the environment, especially aquatic ecosystems downstream of industrial and wastewater treatment plants. … ” Read more from Waste 360.
A look at all 173 of NOAA’s new global temperature maps
“Last week, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information released a major update to the agency’s global surface temperature dataset. The new product tracks temperatures back to 1850, adding 30 additional years to the historical record, and it has complete geographic coverage over data-sparse areas at the poles. In honor of the new release, Climate.gov has made a poster-size image showing global temperature patterns for every year in the new data set. Each year’s annual average temperature is compared to the 1991-2020 average, which makes it clear how long-term global warming has affected Earth’s temperature. The farther back in time you look, the colder the temperatures were (darker blues over larger areas) compared today. … ” Continue reading from NOAA.
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National water and climate update …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.Precipitation watch.
dmrpt-20230223Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Staff Workshop on Potential Legal Delta and Return Flow Water Supply Refinements to the Water Unavailability Methodology for the Delta Watershed
DELTA STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Delta Plan Performance Measure Dashboard Updates: New and Revised Ecosystem Targets and a 2022 Year in Review
