On the calendar today …
- VIRTUAL MEETING: CDFW Salmon Information Meeting from 10am to 4pm. The meeting will feature the outlook for this year’s sport and commercial ocean salmon fisheries, in addition to a review of last year’s salmon fisheries and spawning escapement. Following the informational presentations, stakeholders are encouraged to offer testimony and recommendations for the 2023 fishing season regulations in advance of the upcoming Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meetings in March and April. Click here for Zoom meeting link.
- GRACAST: Nature and Potential Toxicity of Metabolites/OCOC Mixtures in Groundwater at Biodegrading Fuel Releases: Final Peer-Reviewed Study Results and Implications for Risk Management from 12pm to 1pm. Risk management at most petroleum release sites ultimately uses intrinsic biodegradation as a remediation solution for groundwater, consistent with USEPA guidance from early 1990s. In the early-mid 2000s, regulators began to question whether the mixture of oxygen-containing organics (OCOCs) from biodegradation was toxic. This webcast presents the final peer-reviewed results of a 10-year applied research Study into the nature and potential human and aquatic toxicity, and the Lifecycle Stages, of the complex mixture of metabolites/OCOCs in groundwater at biodegrading fuel release sites that are quantified as extractable “TPH” unless a silica gel cleanup is used prior to analysis. Click here for more information and to register.
- LUNCH-MAR: Potential MAR projects in Northern California from 12:30pm to 1:00pm. The potential for a substantial managed aquifer recharge (MAR) program in portions of Northern California will be discussed at the next Lunch-MAR webinar. A presentation by consulting hydrogeologist Rob Gailey will look at a how a MAR program could be set up in the groundwater basins of the American and Cosumnes rivers. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) Summit from 1pm to 4:30pm. Attend in person in Sacramento or watch online. The Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) Summit highlights and helps California policymakers connect with Sierra Cascade issues that resonate across the state. This year we will hear from regional leaders talking about the trajectory of the Sierra Cascade region, their work, and how they envision its future. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Salton Sea Management Program Community Meeting from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Please join the SSMP Team on March 1 at 5:30 pm for a virtual community meeting on the draft Salton Sea Long-Range Plan. At the meeting, the SSMP Team will provide an overview of the draft Long-Range Plan, answer questions, and also discuss next steps as the Long-Range Plan becomes part of a feasibility study led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additional to comments submitted via email or regular mail, participants can also voice their comments and provide input during this meeting as part of the 45-day public comment period that ends on March 17, 2023. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
82067469497 Teleconference Dial In: 360-209-5623 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 82067469497 - PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Army Corps Draft EIS for Delta Conveyance Project from 6pm to 7:30pm in Stockton. The 90-minute open house-style workshop will allow the public an opportunity to learn more about USACE’s review of the Delta Conveyance Project, including what the proposed project entails, USACE’s role on the proposed project, and the process USACE follows for assessing permit applications. Attendees will also be able to ask questions to USACE subject matter experts and provide public comments on the Draft EIS that is currently out for public review until March 16, 2023. No formal presentation will be given during the open house workshop. University Plaza Waterfront Hotel Ballroom, 110 W Fremont St, Stockton, CA, 95202
In California water news today …
A California tunnel could save stormwater for millions. Why is it so divisive?
“As drought-weary Californians watched trillions of gallons of runoff wash into the Pacific Ocean during recent storms, it underscored a nagging question: Why can’t we save more of that water for not-so-rainy days to come? But even the rare opportunity to stock up on the precious resource isn’t proving enough to unite a state divided on a contentious idea to siphon water from the north and tunnel it southward, an attempt to combat the Southwest’s worst drought in more than a millennium. The California Department of Water Resources said such a tunnel could have captured a year’s supply of water for more than 2 million people. “People are naturally focused on, are we doing everything we can to capture the water when we can?” said Karla Nemeth, the agency’s director. … ” Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).
After water town hall, Harder sends letter of community feedback opposing Delta Tunnel project to Army Corps of Engineers
“Today, Representative Josh Harder announced that he has sent a letter on behalf of concerned members of his community to the US Army Corps of Engineers opposing the Delta Tunnel project. More than 150 community members attended Rep. Harder’s recent Water Town Hall, to share their unanimous opposition to Sacramento’s latest water grab. Rep. Harder hosted this town hall after the Army Corps of Engineers refused to host an in-person town hall to discuss the Delta Tunnel project. “Sacramento has made it clear as day they don’t want to hear from our community when it comes to the Delta Tunnel water grab, but I refuse to let them off the hook,” said Rep. Harder. “Their failure to host a single in-person town hall on a project that will impact us for generations is inexcusable. Today, I’m sending them a letter from folks across San Joaquin County saying enough is enough. We will not let them take our water.” … ” Read more at Congressman Josh Harder’s website.
State Water Board not required to evaluate ‘reasonableness’ of locally-issued wastewater discharge permits
“The California State Water Resources Control Board can’t be forced to evaluate the “reasonableness” of locally issued permits to discharge treated wastewater, a state appeals court ruled, because state law doesn’t impose this obligation on the agency. The Los Angeles-based Second Appellate District on Monday overturned a trial judge’s order for the agency to evaluate the reasonableness of the permits that were renewed in 2017 by its regional board in LA, allowing four treatment plants to discharge millions of gallons of treated wastewater in the LA River and the Pacific Ocean every day. LA Waterkeeper, an environmental watchdog, had challenged the permits arguing the regional board and the state board should have considered better uses of the water, such as recycling, rather than dumping it in the ocean. … ” Continue reading at the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: California appeals court rules that State Water Board’s duty to prevent waste and unreasonable use of water is “highly discretionary”, from Downey Brand
WATER RIGHTS HEARING
Testimony: Adapting California’s water rights system to the 21st century climate
“The climate shifts that California is experiencing—with warmer temperatures, less reliable snowpack, and more intense droughts—have exposed critical weaknesses in the administration of our water rights system under conditions of scarcity. In particular, there are challenges curtailing diversions when supplies are inadequate. And on the flip side, this system also needs the capacity to better facilitate the management of abundance, by permitting the capture of more water from large storms to recharge groundwater basins. In our remarks today we recap some of the key challenges the changing climate is posing for California’s water rights system in both dry and wet times, illustrate how these issues are playing out in the state’s largest watershed, and offer some recommendations for how the legislature could help strengthen the water rights system to better respond to water scarcity and abundance. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Water Wrights coverage of the Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee on Climate Change and Water Rights
“The Assembly Committee on Water, Parks & Wildlife held a hearing on water rights and climate change on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 from Room 444 of the state capitol building in Sacramento. The hearing was scheduled to begin at 9:30am with Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan Chairing. This is an informational hearing titled “Adapting Water Rights to Our 21st Century Climate.” The agenda lists Bauer-Kahan as giving opening remarks then Ellen Hanak and Brian Gray of the Public Policy Institute of California will speak on “21st Century Climate, 19th Century System.” I have tremendous respect for Ms. Hanak but I would also have liked to hear a talk about “21st Century Climate, mid-20th Century Infrastructure,” but that’s just me. Following this first talk two State Water Resources Control Board employees, Erik Ekdahl and Yvonne West will speak on “How do we modernize the water rights administration?” … ” Read more from Water Wrights.
INCOMING STORMS
California’s Sierra Nevada sees blizzard warnings as up to 7 feet of snow expected by Thursday
“A pair of storms are pummeling the West Coast this week, bringing a little rain and snow to places like Portland and Seattle and feet of snow to California’s Sierra Nevada, leading to travel headaches. One resident on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe had trouble standing up outside while taking video during the Blizzard Warning. Already heavy snows from the first storm have plastered the Sierra Nevada Tuesday with Blizzard Warnings in effect, leading to major highway closures in the mountains, including Interstate 80. “The greater Lake Tahoe area (is) just getting blanketed in snow, sitting in the 20s today,” FOX Weather meteorologist Kendall Smith said. “(They’re) also under a Blizzard Warning as well, Rightfully so, because you just can’t hardly see very much.” … ” Read more from Fox Weather.
SEE ALSO: Sierra Snow Lab records 52.2″ of snow in 48-hours, from Fox 40
In like a lion: March to bring fresh snow and rain to California
“Already reeling from massive snowstorms in the last week, California is in for more rounds of heavy snow, rain and cold temperatures — leading forecasters to say this year “March starts with a roar.” The recent winter storms slamming much of the state have brought snowfall, flood warnings and even rare blizzard warnings to parts of Southern California. The storms also led to many school closures across the state Monday due to messy highways and roads. … ” Continue reading at the Courthouse News Service.
Winter storms brought fluffier snow than usual to the Sierra. Here’s why that’s dangerous
“As fierce winter storms continue to pile more snow onto the Sierra Nevada this week, residents and skiers may notice the powder is a little different than usual. Instead of the usual wet, dense blanket known as “Sierra cement,” the blizzard conditions have yielded lighter, fluffier snow. The snow in the Sierra now is akin to the type more frequently seen in the Rocky Mountains. Beloved by skiers, the less sticky powder is easier to turn in and kicks up like smoke as they wind down the slopes — hence its “cold smoke” nickname. But while the fluffy conditions mean good skiing, they also bring elevated danger to mountain slopes. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
THE DAILY QUESTION: ARE WE OUT OF THE DROUGHT YET?
Heavy rainfall quenches California but won’t replenish water supplies
“Recent rains have distinguished this winter as one of the wettest to hit California in years. But experts say it won’t erase the damage of the many years of drought the state has suffered. Rains in the state have caused floods, forced road closures and initiated evacuation warnings. And the state has reached about 95% of its average water storage for February compared to the 70% range for the same month in each of the past two years. “Groundwater has been depleted for a number of years, and one wet winter, no matter how wet it is, is not going to make up for the extensive amount of water that has been withdrawn from groundwater storage.” said Jeanine Jones, interstate resources manager for the California Department of Water Resources. “Because California’s groundwater basins have been depleted for decades, not just years, it’s very unlikely you would refill them.” … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
SEE ALSO:
- Why California’s wet winter won’t be a drought-buster, from KTLA
- Drought busted? Why a historic rainy season and snowpack doesn’t quite cut it, from ABC 10
- Recent storms fill many CA reservoirs, but what does that mean for state’s ongoing drought?, from KABC
IF NOT DROUGHT, THEN FLOOD …
Yet more rain is expected to hit California in March. But warmer storms could melt snow
“Soggy, snow-capped California faces the likelihood of yet another month of wet weather, but what remains uncertain is whether this late winter precipitation will augment weeks of record-setting snowpack, or cause it to vanish should warmer rains arrive. Last week, a frigid storm transformed portions of the state into a white landscape while toppling trees, prompting power outages, spurring water rescues and leaving some residents trapped by heavy snow. Now, with forecasts calling for more rain and snow in March — including the potential for at least one more atmospheric river system — California is girding for what comes next. “If we were to get heavy rain with a warm system and a lot of tropical moisture feeding into it, that would melt all of the snow that just fell in the mountains,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
As storms nudge California out of a megadrought, is the state prepared for a megaflood?
“After this most recent round of storms, San Francisco has now received more rain (25.3 inches) than it typically does in an entire winter (23.65 inches). Reservoirs statewide are filling up, orange California poppies and invasive yellow oxalises are in bloom and snowboarders in Tahoe and Pacifica alike are happy. But even though a “bad” California winter—meaning cold and rainy—is actually a “good” winter in terms of helping us claw our way out of a prolonged drought, the specter of a different disaster looms. The IRS has already granted storm-ravaged Califorians two tax extensions, but beyond flood damage or even mudslides, the state’s hydrologic history points to a catastrophe far bigger than what January’s atmospheric rivers delivered: a megaflood in the Central Valley. It’s happened before—in the winter of 1861-62, in fact. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard.
AND WHAT TO DO WITH THAT STORMWATER …
Urban stormwater runoff: Waste or resource?
“Many persons have recently commented on water flowing through yards, streets, drains, and channels on to the ocean. They ask, rightfully, why we don’t catch and store more urban stormwater runoff for use as water supply? Additional imported water supplies from the Delta and Colorado River are unreliable and costly even if available. Desalination and wastewater recycling are usually even more expensive. In many cases, capturing and recharging urban stormwater runoff to groundwater makes sense and is cost-effective. The State has provided substantial funding through Proposition 1, IRWM programs, and the SGM Program for stormwater capture and groundwater recharge. Local agencies are also investing in such opportunities. The City of LA just recently announced an expanded stormwater program and other urban agencies are also pursuing more ambitious plans. Stormwater capture and storage for water supply is cost-effective for many urban situations. However, it can be expensive to build the facilities required to capture and utilize the large volume of water generated by large storms. … ” Continue reading at ERA Economics.
AG WATER
California’s rare snow-covered vineyards are a treat for some, test for others
“Snowboarding down the vineyard rows on Howell Mountain at CADE Estate. Skiing across the upper blocks at Thomas Fogarty Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Making snowmen on the usually desert-like ridges that rise above the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. These are just some of the social media-shared scenes happening across California since last week when a cold, wet storm dropped inches of snow on places that very rarely see it across the Golden State. Blizzard warnings were triggered in many regions, even around stereotypically sunny Los Angeles. “We saw significant snowfall in the range of four to five inches in the vineyard—the biggest snowfall here in decades,” says Karl Wittstrom, the co-owner of Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita. “It was quite a sight. The last time it snowed in the vineyard was in 2008, and that was more of a light dusting that just lasted for a few hours.” … ” Read more from Wine Enthusiast.
Precision irrigation helping save precious resource for this California vineyard
“Jonathan Walters knows he’s lucky as a grower, being able to farm 500 acres of vineyard at a high elevation above a scenic lake in Northern California. The General Manager of Brassfield Estate Winery in Clearlake Oaks also knows he’s facing difficulties, as the vineyards are on steep slopes, have a wide variety of soils, and include a total of 18 wine grape varieties.“It’s both a blessing and a curse — more of a challenge, really,” he says, gazing at the tremendous views above Clear Lake. … The land is located in the High Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). This is a highly unusual AVA in that it’s located in a transverse valley, which, unlike most valleys, has an east/west orientation and is a big advantage in producing great fruit because of its effect on the winery’s conditions. … ” Continue reading at Growing Produce.
Farmers expected to get increased water allocations
“Winter storms that bolstered the Sierra Nevada snowpack and added to California reservoirs prompted federal and state water managers to announce increases in anticipated water allocations for the 2023 growing season. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation last week announced an initial allocation of 35% of contracted water supplies for agricultural customers south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The announcement brought a measure of certainty for farmers, ranchers and agricultural water contractors, after officials provided zero water allocations for agriculture from the federal Central Valley Project in 2021 and 2022. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
State will pay some valley farmers not to farm in attempt to save groundwater
“More state money is flowing to the valley to take land out of production in an attempt to ease demand on groundwater. The state Department of Water Resources (DWR) is starting a new program called LandFlex which will pay up to $25 million in incentives to farmers to fallow crops. On February 23, DWR announced three grants from the program, all of which are going to San Joaquin Valley groundwater agencies. Madera County groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) will receive $9.3 million, Greater Kaweah GSA will receive $7 million and Eastern Tule GSA will receive $7 million. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Western water supply issues to be addressed in new USDA strategy
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is continuing efforts to address western water supplies through new approaches. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be working to mitigate challenges through the Western Water and Working Lands Framework for Conservation Action. The new framework is comprised of guidelines to identify vulnerable ag landscapes across 17 Western States, with 13 strategies to help respond to water and land management challenges. “Record breaking drought and exhausted water supplies are hurting agricultural operations and entire communities,” NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said in a news release. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
AND OTHER NEWS …
Sites Reservoir: a 1950s vision finally taking shape
“The Northstate has heard about the Sites Reservoir project for decades. This vision first brought forth in the 1950s to effectively serve as water availability insurance during dry years has long been a subject of attention, but has yet to be built. Active winter weather like January’s atmospheric rivers reinforced the need for water storage. An estimated 32 trillion gallons of rain and snow fell across the state with these systems, and yet much of it had nowhere to go but down swollen rivers. That’s where Sites comes in — a 1.5 million acre-foot reservoir filled by the otherwise uncaptured runoff from high precipitation events. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Low 2023 salmon forecast likely to lead to fishery shutdown
“Fishery managers, in a presentation given to the salmon industry in Oregon on February 27, estimate there are only 169,800 Sacrament Basin fall run salmon in the ocean now. This is likely too few to allow much, if any, fishing in 2023. The same information will be delivered to the California salmon industry on March 1. Normally fishery managers allow fishing that will still deliver a minimum of 122,000 salmon to spawn in the Sacramento Basin. In recent years they’ve increased that target number. In 2022, fishery managers limited fishing in order to see more than 180,000 fall run salmon return to spawn but less than 62,000 showed up. … ” Read more from the Golden State Salmon Association.
Now online: Delta Harmful Algal Blooms Workshop Summary
“In November 2022, the Delta Science Program hosted the Delta Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Workshop to discuss nexuses where collaborative monitoring and data collection can be optimized to create a strategy for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Over 200 in-person and online attendees participated in discussions on the history of HABs in the Delta, creating a coordinated partner monitoring strategy, the current monitoring infrastructure, data sharing and integration, and monitoring techniques, parameters, and gaps. A summary of the workshop’s presentations, panel sessions, and breakout discussions is now available on the Delta Science Program’s ResearchGate Independent Science Workshops profile alongside the Draft Delta HABs Monitoring Strategy and the pre-workshop materials.” Read the summary from the Delta Science Program.
Division of Boating and Waterways begins control efforts in the Delta for aquatic invasive plants
“California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) announced today its plans for this year’s Aquatic Invasive Plant Control Program in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its southern tributaries. Starting tomorrow, March 1, DBW will begin herbicide treatments to control water hyacinth, South American spongeplant, Uruguay water primrose, Alligator weed, Brazilian waterweed, curlyleaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, hornwort (aka coontail), and fanwort. These aquatic invasive plants have no known natural controls in the west coast’s largest estuary, the Delta. They negatively affect the Delta’s ecosystem as they displace native plants. Continued warm temperatures help the plants proliferate at high rates. Plants are also known to form dense mats of vegetation creating safety hazards for boaters, obstructing navigation channels, marinas, and irrigation systems. Due to their ability to rapidly spread to new areas, it is likely that the plants will never be eradicated from Delta waters. … ” Continue reading at the Division of Boating and Waterways.
‘I feel validated, gratified, proud’: All-female workshop discusses ideas on STEM inclusion
“Female leaders in California’s natural resource agencies are seeking ways to keep inclusion a priority for the next generation of leaders. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make up just 27% of the STEM fields despite filling half of the country’s workforce. Tuesday’s “Women and Girls in Science” seminar, hosted by California’s Department of Water Resources, was held with the hopes of lifting up women in prominent science roles to set an example for future leaders. Department of Water Resources Lead Scientist Louise Conrad credits her mother, a physician, with paving the way and serving as a guiding light for her own success. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3.
Drought attribution studies and water resources management
“Drs. Rolf Olsen (recently retired from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources), Mike Dettinger (CW3E) and Jason Giovannettone (Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Inc.) have published an essay titled “Drought Attribution Studies and Water Resources Management” in the 2021-and-2022 issue of the American Meteorological Society’s special report series Explaining Extreme Events from a Climate Perspective (EEE). This report series annually (in normal times) presents detailed assessments of whether, and how, human-caused climate change has affected the strength and likelihood of specific extreme events in the previous year(s). These assessments generally are highly technical statistical analyses of observations of the particular extreme weather events studied in the context of climate-model simulations of climate conditions under current atmospheric greenhouse-gas concentrations. … ” Continue reading at the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes.
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, 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 Stanford News.
SEE ALSO: The Forests of the Sierra Nevada are Full of Zombies, from the Sierra Club
In commentary today …
Editorial: Gov. Newsom takes page out of Trump’s water playbook
The San Jose Mercury News writes, “Clean water is California’s most vital need. Our lives and the lives of future generations depend on it. Yet when it comes to protecting the state’s supply, Gov. Gavin Newsom is failing California. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta provides drinking water to 27 million Californians, or roughly 70% of the state’s residents. On Feb. 15, the governor signed an executive order allowing the State Water Resources Control Board to ignore the state requirement of how much water needs to flow through the Delta to protect its health. It’s an outrageous move right out of Donald Trump’s playbook. Big Ag and its wealthy landowners, including some of Newsom’s political financial backers, will reap the benefits while the Delta suffers. The move is especially outrageous given the January storms that filled California’s reservoirs and created a massive Sierra snowpack. If the governor won’t adhere to the state regulations in what is clearly a wet year, when will he? … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News. | Read via Silicon Valley News
Holding firm on Colorado River water is right move
Craig William Morgan, a water resources engineer and author of “The Morality of Deceit” on the fight for Imperial Valley water, writes, “There is an old saying in the water world that it is better to be upstream with a shovel than downstream with a law book, which is the position California finds itself in as it stands apart from its neighbors on the Colorado River in negotiations over the use of the river’s water. On Jan. 31, representatives for the six other basin states submitted a proposal to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, describing the measures by which the supply deficit on the Colorado River should be closed in the near term. Not surprisingly, the other basin states have asked that California reduce its water use beyond what the state had proposed last fall. California was right to decline its neighbors’ new proposal, notwithstanding its position on the river. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Opinion: We should use technology to improve California’s ability to manage floods, water supplies
Sandra Kerl, the general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, and Margaret Leinen, the director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, write, “Torrential rains are periodically pounding California this winter and putting a dent in the most extreme drought conditions of the past 1,200 years. While that’s a relief for some 40 million residents, it’s also a reminder of the feast-or-famine climate that rules California and creates major challenges for water managers. These days, we rely heavily on expressways of water vapor known as atmospheric rivers. They provide about half the state’s annual precipitation and their share of water deliveries is increasing as climate change drives extreme swings in precipitation. Put simply, the 20th century concept of reliable winter snowpacks and orderly spring runoff filling reservoirs is giving way to all-or-nothing events epitomized by atmospheric rivers and increasingly severe droughts. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The climate is changing. How we manage water must change too
Dr. Liz Chamberlin, Director of Innovation with Point Blue Conservation Science, writes, “Water has long dominated California news cycles. This winter brought record breaking rainstorms with widespread flooding and devastating landslides – even while much of the state remains in moderate or severe drought. Then came news in January that the federal government might intervene in allocating water from the drier-every-year Colorado River, which supplies large amounts of water to California. And Californians are increasingly asking whether state leaders are doing enough to store rainfall in years when it finally falls in abundance. Flooding amidst persistent drought is indicative of the future of the arid West under climate change. Add in agriculture, growing populations, wildlife, and safe drinking water (particularly for historically disadvantaged communities), and it’s apparent there is a mosaic of complex needs to consider. One thing is clear: how we manage water in the West over the next hundred years must look different than how we’ve managed it for the last hundred. Let’s follow the path of water from some of the highest points in the state–the crest of the Sierra Nevada–to some of the lowest–our beautiful coastline. … ” Read more from Point Blue Conservation Science.
Today’s featured articles …
RESERVOIR REPORT for March 1, 2023
The past week has seen unprecedented weather across southern California, the Bay Area, and portions of the Sierra Nevada. While the storms have not matched the strength and immediate destruction of the New Year’s Atmospheric River, they have nevertheless resulted in record-breaking snow conditions throughout much of southern California and the Sierra Nevada as they head east, compounding problems across a wide swath of the midwestern and eastern U.S., still reeling from earlier storms.
Click here to read the reservoir report.
JEANINE JONES: Drought and lessons learned
At the January meeting of the California Water Commission, Jeanine Jones took the commissioners through the history of past droughts and the lessons learned. As Division Chief for Interstate Resources Management at the California Department of Water Resources, Ms. Jones provides insights on how the state tackles existing issues and future preparedness for drought.
This presentation was part of a series of panel discussions that the Commission has heard in recent months as part of their work on Action 26.3 of the Newsom Administration’s Water Resilience Portfolio, developing strategies to protect communities and fish and wildlife in the event of drought lasting at least six years.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
$15 million announced for habitat restoration projects in the Klamath Basin
“On Tuesday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a new batch of funding for ecosystem restoration in the Klamath Basin. The region along the Oregon-California border has been hit with multi-year droughts, and suffers from excess demand for water. The $15 million in funding will come from the federal government’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was passed by Congress in late 2021. “Anything that improves the ecological infrastructure of the Basin we’re interested in learning about,” said Matt Baun, the Klamath coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe snow: Massive blizzard wreaks havoc on the Sierra, burying vehicles and closing ski lifts
“A powerful winter storm smacked the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday, dumping up to 3 feet of snow and shutting roads and highways, ski resorts and schools in the Lake Tahoe area. The heavy snowfall even trapped several vehicles, including a Caltrans snowplow and a CHP car on Interstate 80. While the storm kept most people off of the highways and the ski slopes, it was the latest in a series of storms that’s dropped enough snow to alleviate fears of a dry start to the year and a small Sierra snowpack. California counts on its snowpack to supply as much as a third of its drinking and irrigation water. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Palisades Tahoe reaches 500 inches of snow this season as resorts close for blizzard conditions
“Ski resorts throughout the Lake Tahoe region are closed Tuesday due to the blizzard conditions, as well as high avalanche risk due to all the snow. The resort is expecting nearly three feet of snow Tuesday, after receiving nine feet over the last several days. “This is just a monumental snowfall, we’ve had 500 inches of snow this season,” Palisades’ PR Manager Patrick Lacey said. “We’re looking at extending our season all the way to memorial day, but possibly even further after that, we’ll make an announcement a little later this month.” … ” Read more from ABC 7.
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 Sierra Sun.
BAY AREA
‘Storm door’ will likely remain wide open in the Bay Area this March
“Anyone who plans on picnicking at Lake Merritt or Dolores Park in March should still pack an umbrella: Spring is coming, but the rain is here to stay, the Bay Area National Weather Service office said. Low-pressure systems — zones of rotating showers — will likely pass over the Bay Area this weekend and the week after, Brayden Murdock, an NWS meteorologist, told SFGATE. “What that means is we’re not getting those torrents of rain like we saw in January, but we see fairly long-lasting rain events with a bit more moderate to light rain,” Murdock said. “So kind of like what we saw today. We had that initial band but then scattered showers afterwards.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Marin environmental groups seek redo of Sausalito school creek plan
“Environmental groups and city leaders are questioning Sausalito Marin City School District’s effort to relocate an underground creek as part of a plan to build a new elementary school. The Sierra Club Marin Group, along with Friends of Willow Creek, the Marin Conservation League and the Sausalito City Council, are calling for a redesign of the district’s plan to unearth the now-subterranean Willow Creek, a process known as “daylighting.” The district said once construction of the school is complete it intends to move the creek to the perimeter of the Nevada Street campus, where it will be raised, rather than brought up in the center of the Sausalito school property. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Pollutants were released into San Jose rivers from construction firm, lawsuit claims
“A well-known Bay Area construction materials firm has unleashed harmful pollutants into Guadalupe River and Coyote Creek, threatening sensitive species of fish, frogs and salamanders, a newly filed lawsuit alleges. The Santa Clara County District Attorney claims that Graniterock, an over-century-old Watsonville-based corporation, has discharged stormwater from two of its San Jose facilities that contain above-level pH values, cement, sand, concrete, chemical additives and other heavy metals. Those pollutants have endangered steelhead trout, the California Tiger Salamander and the California Red Legged frog — animals that live in and around the South Bay waterways, the suit alleges. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
‘Things are looking great’: Checking in on South Bay reservoir levels
“South Bay reservoirs are handling the recent rain quite well due in part to a delicate dance water managers have been doing to make sure they catch as much water as possible. “Things are looking great,” Santa Clara Valley Water District spokesperson Matt Keller said. “Our local reservoirs, they look good.” To make room for future storms, Valley Water has been strategically releasing water from reservoirs, which is part of the reason why the county average for reservoir capacity right now is only 50%. “It’s a real balancing act,” Keller said. “We have to be aware of the potential for more storms. As we see these more storms come in, sometimes we do releases to make room in our reservoirs for that new water and that new runoff that’s coming in.” … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area.
CENTRAL COAST
Mudslides, threat of ‘wet vintage’ won’t dampen winemakers’ delight in record rainfall
“As Prudy Foxx walked through rows of ripening fruit at several vineyards nestled among the Santa Cruz Mountains last September, she cringed at the spindly shoots rising from the stocky grapevine trunks. “I was looking at the canes going into winter, and many of them were a little thin for my taste,” Foxx said. “They were the diameter of a No. 2 pencil and lacking in their protein component. I thought ‘that’s a real issue.’ “ A similar scene played out last fall at many vineyards around the Bay Area: years of drought taking a destructive toll on the vines, threatening a billion-dollar industry and putting more stress on California’s scant stored water resources. Then, like a “godsend,” the rains came. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Video: Integrated Water Management Program – Providing multi-benefit solutions in Ventura County
“2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the Integrated Water Management Program. The program has awarded more than $1.7 billion throughout California which has been matched by $5.6 billion in local investments to help implement over 1,300 projects that foster climate resilience by mitigating drought impacts, improving water supply reliability, reducing flood and fire risk, increasing water storage, and improving water quality. The IRWM program, which was established by AB 1672, the IRWM Planning Act, has been instrumental in strengthening collaboration between regional and state partners like Watersheds Coalition of Ventura County to identify local water challenges and projects to provide multi-benefit solutions.” Watch video from DWR.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bear Creek expected to rise again. What the city of Merced says in a new warning
“The waterway that runs through the middle of Merced, Bear Creek, wass expected to rise to the flood monitoring stage, according to Jennifer Flachman, the public information officer for the city of Merced. Officials say, though, that water is not expected to exit the sides of the creek or cause the kind of flooding seen in the region in early January. An atmospheric river in January caused flooding in Merced and led to evacuations and significant damage in Planada. Up to a half-inch of rain was expected late Tuesday in Merced and much of the San Joaquin Valley, including Fresno, according to the weather service. … ” Read more from the Merced Sun-Star.
Extreme Yosemite rain eases drought but disrupts wildlife habitats
“After a winter of epic storms in California, Yosemite National Park’s famous waterfalls are in full flow, its reservoirs are brimming, and the snowpack in the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains is well above average. In drought-stricken California, that is cause for celebration, but wildlife experts warn that weather extremes driven by climate change can also change habitats too quickly for wildlife to adapt. “These extremes really take a toll on both the landscape, the wildlife and us,” Beth Pratt, California regional director for the National Wildlife Federation, told Reuters. … ” Read more from Reuters.
SEE ALSO: Yosemite breaks snow record; park closed indefinitely, from the San Francisco Chronicle
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Groundwater Authority board approves spending $7.8 million to plan importing water project
“At the regular board meeting for the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority on February 8, the IWVGA board approved the authorization of three contracts to prepare for the water importation system they plan to use for bringing the IWV groundwater basin into sustainability. The three contracts total to $7,867,312. These contracts are largely made possible by a $7.6 million dollar grant which IWVGA secured from the California Department of Water Resources in May of 2022. The grant is for the implementation of projects to help achieve a sustainable groundwater supply for the region, and work on these projects must be complete by June 30, 2025 unless agencies are successful in extending the deadline. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
What winter weather means for California’s drought—or flooding in L.A.
“After a record-shattering weekend of heavy snowfall in Los Angeles County, and more winter weather on the way, Angelenos may be asking just what else is coming as these conditions persist and how it relates to the climate change crisis. For a sunny and temperate state, extreme weather commonly takes the form of drought or intense rainfall, with snow often occurring substantially above sea level in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada has been accumulating at a markedly pronounced rate, according to recent reporting; as of earlier this month, it stood at 193% of its historic average. It’s notable that this measurement was taken before the storms that are buffeting the Southland. Andrew Schwartz is the lead scientist at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, located 7,000 feet above ground in the Donner Pass. “If we get 15 feet over the next month, we’re going to be looking really pretty good for resolving not just short-term drought, but some of our longer-term droughts as well,” Schwartz tells LAMag. … ” Read the full story at LA Magazine.
Floods, fires, drought and…hope? How L.A. will survive the coming apocalypse
“You didn’t need to be one of the 8 million Californians under flood watch recently to feel like adding a life jacket to your disaster “go bag.” Nine atmospheric rivers in two weeks dumped nearly 12 inches of rain, twice the normal amount, on California in the first two weeks of January. Some areas of the state received 50 percent to 70 percent of their annual rainfall in 16 days. Avalanches, mudslides, and waterlogged basements and streets turned the Golden State into a soggy disaster movie. … As we wait for the next lashing by water or fire, climate change denial is wearing thin. We can turn away from pictures of India’s deadly heat wave or Pakistan’s apocalyptic floods. But we have entered the era in which we can’t ignore our own wildfires, drought, and deluges. What we don’t yet know is how and how much our lives will have to change with the climate. … ” Read the full story at LA Magazine.
Metropolitan hires Brown and Caldwell for drought study
“The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan or MWD) has hired Brown and Caldwell to study alternative water conveyance options to provide supply diversity to the region during severe droughts. MWD’s mission is to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the 19 million people in Southern California in the face of climate change and extended drought. In response to drought action planning by Metropolitan in collaboration with its 26 member agencies, the study will identify and evaluate potential conveyance options to move primarily Colorado River water and regional storage supplies from the eastern portion of Metropolitan’s service area to the western portion. … ” Read more from Water Finance and Management.
Palmdale: Storms help shore up local reservoirs
“The winter storms that have hit the state in the past week are helping to shore up the state’s depleted water stores, adding to the rain and snowpack that will help residents get through the dry months ahead. Reservoirs across the state are at levels not seen for several years. Lake Oroville, the second-largest in the state system, stands at 116% of the historic average as of Monday, and at 72% of its total capacity. A second reservoir important to local water supplies is San Luis Reservoir, which stands at 94% of the historic average and 76% of total capacity. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press.
Along the Colorado River …
The water wars of the future are here today
“Once hailed as the “American Nile,” the Colorado River spans 1,450 miles and supplies nearly 40 million people across seven states plus northern Mexico with drinking water, irrigation for farmland and hydroelectric power. But after decades of drought and overuse, major reservoirs along the river are drying up. As the Colorado River levels drop to historic lows, tensions are rising between the seven states that depend on its flow — Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Their original agreement for distributing the river water lacked foresight and failed to account for dire circumstances like long-term drought. The American Southwest now faces a crisis it knew was coming. The fate of the Colorado now depends on the states’ ability — and willingness — to agree on a plan to slash water consumption and equitably distribute what’s left. … ” Continue reading from USC News.
Radio: How market-based pricing could ease the water crisis in the West
“Arizona and the six other Colorado River Basin states are trying to figure out a plan to conserve more of the river’s dwindling water supplies. At the same time, there are efforts to find more sources of water — including the possibility of building a desalination plant on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. But Bryan Leonard says there are easier and more cost-effective solutions to deal with the ongoing water crisis. Leonard is an associate professor in Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability and studies the economics of natural resources and environmental problems. He advocates looking at how water is priced — and specifically, moving to a more market-based system to buy and sell it. If water were to be priced based on the market, how might that change the situation we’re currently in? Leonard joined The Show to explain. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
‘Weather chaos’ brings enough snow to fill Verde River reservoirs, ease drought conditions
“Meteorologist Bo Svoma hopped down into the 4-foot-deep pit he had shoveled and grinned like a school kid on a snow day. “Bo is happy!” shouted one of his Salt River Project colleagues working snow survey duty on Tuesday. There’s a lot for the metro Phoenix water supplier to be happy about this winter. What was supposed to be an unusually dry winter because of the return of the ocean and atmospheric phenomenon known as La Nińa has instead shaped up as the Arizona rim country’s second-snowiest season in 30 years. The ocean conditions that usually would push the jet stream and its storms toward the Pacific Northwest instead have driven storm after storm into the Southwest. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
Arizona’s Salt River Project plans to expand Bartlett Dam to fix water supply issues
“SRP wants to make Bartlett Dam and, by extension the lake, bigger. The plan would be to add 97 feet of concrete to the top of the already-constructed dam, as well as expanding it on either side. A bigger dam would mean SRP could store more water, thereby making the lake three times bigger than it is now. “That’s a very important study that’s ongoing and would certainly aid with water supply issues,” SRP meteorologist Jesus Haro said. … ” Continue reading at Channel 12.
Utah: The fastest growing metro in the US is looking to a shrinking reservoir to keep the boom going
“In a bright-red county in a state allergic to regulations, there is a ban on growing grass outside new businesses. Only 8% of a home’s landscaping can have a grass lawn in this booming corner of Utah, about a hundred miles northeast of Las Vegas. And if any developers want to add another country club to this golfing mecca, “I don’t know where they would get the water from,” said Zach Renstrom, general manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District. “And I’m telling you, I know where every drop of water is.” Like lots of spots in the West, the combination of more people and less water makes for an uncertain future around St. George, Utah. While this winter’s generous snowpack could buy precious time, the entire Colorado River system remains in danger of crashing if water gets too low at Lakes Powell and Mead. … ” Read more from CNN.
Upper Colorado River Basin to suspend downstream releases from Flaming Gorge
“Utah and three other states have agreed to suspend additional water releases from Flaming Gorge, ending a program that began last year as an effort to boost Lake Powell reservoir levels. The Upper Colorado River Basin states — Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming — voted Monday to suspend the releases beginning Wednesday. The four states had approved a plan in April 2022 to release 500,000 acre-feet of water from Flaming Gorge Dam into Green River, which dumps into the Colorado River before reaching Lake Powell by the Utah-Arizona border. … ” Read more from KSL.
In national water news today …
Waters lawsuits will roll on even as high court weighs in
“At least five federal lawsuits challenging the EPA’s new waters of the US rule are expected to continue even if the US Supreme Court undermines the basis for the rule in an opinion coming this term. The ruling could fuel states’ legal challenges to the Environmental Protection Agency’s waters of the US, or WOTUS, definition, attorneys say. Twenty-six states and a slate of agricultural and industry groups have joined the lawsuits seeking to vacate the EPA’s latest WOTUS rule defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act. The lawsuits claim the EPA is exceeding its authority and that the rule is overly vague and premature because it was finalized in January ahead of the high court’s future ruling in Sackett v. EPA, expected by June. … ” Read more from Bloomberg.
US coastal wetlands are rapidly disappearing. Here’s what it’ll take to save them
“As the effects of heat-trapping pollution continue to raise sea levels, wetlands dotting American coastlines could drown — or they could flourish. Their fate will depend upon rates of sea-level rise, how quickly the plants can grow, and whether there’s space inland into which they can migrate. Climate Central modeled how American coastal wetlands will respond to sea level rise in an array of potential scenarios. It found that conserving land for wetlands to migrate into is a decisive factor in whether wetlands will survive or drown. Wetlands and development have long been in conflict, with ecological values weighed against waterfront economic opportunities. As seas rise, benefits of conserving areas inland for wetland migration are creating new tensions. And as climate change intensifies storms and elevate high tides and storm surges, the economic values of wetlands are growing. … ” Read more from Quartz.
