DAILY DIGEST, 4/4: Sierra mountains blanketed in historic snowpack; Will there be more storms in April?; Costa introduces Bill to restore San Joaquin Valley Canals; A wet winter won’t stave off the Colorado River’s water cuts; and more …


On the calendar today …

  • MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include a drought update and current hydrologic conditions, quarterly lead scientist’s report, and an update on SGMA implementation. Click here for the full agenda.
  • MEETING: State Board of Food and Ag from 10am to 2pm. Agenda items include flood and winter storms update, USDA disaster assistance, and health care status in the Central Valley. Click here for full agenda and remote access instructions.

Snow survey …

California’s snowpack is among the deepest ever. Now get ready for the perilous ‘big melt’

“California’s wet and wintry start to the year has resulted in perhaps the deepest snowpack recorded in more than 70 years, officials said Monday.  The snowpack is so deep that it currently contains roughly 30 million acre-feet of water — or more water than Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, according to a Times analysis of snow sensor data.  But though the bounty has eased drought conditions, experts warn that the dense Sierra Nevada snowpack will soon melt, potentially unleashing torrents of water and creating considerable concern about spring flooding in valleys, foothills and communities below.  “All of that water is going to have to come downhill sooner rather than later,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. Incoming warmer weather is “good news for a lot of folks who need it, but it does mean that the ‘big melt’ is on the way.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.

California mountains blanketed in historic snowpack

“California received so much snow this winter it could be the biggest snow year on record since 1950, according to the results of the most crucial snow survey of the water year.  Monday’s survey measures the water content in the snowpack at the Phillips Station snow course, one of more than 260 courses across the Sierra Nevada measured every winter and spring to help determine the amount of water that will melt and run off into state reservoirs during warm months. April’s survey also marks the informal end of the wet season.  “This is the deepest snowpack I’ve ever measured here,” Department of Water Resources Water Supply Forecasting Unit manager Sean de Guzman told a crowd gathered for the survey. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

See what California’s record snowpack looks like, up close

“Up and down the high slopes of the Sierra Nevada, the barrage of heavy storms that deluged California this winter also left behind a giant frozen reservoir, one whose thawing will shape the next phase of what has already been a remarkably wet year for the drought-weary state.  Snow, huge imposing walls of it, has blanketed the Sierra’s majestic peaks and mountainsides, in quantities that parts of the area have never previously recorded.  It has fallen in totals that defy easy imagining: 654 inches at Mount Rose near Lake Tahoe, 702 inches at Mammoth Mountain. When converted into an equivalent depth of water, it is nearly double the historical average for this point in the year across the Sierra’s northern reaches, where the runoff feeds several major reservoirs. In the southern Sierra, it is around triple the average. … ”  Read more from the New York Times (gift article).

California’s historic snowpack and the runoff’s potential impact on farmland

“After historic snowpack levels in California, the concern now is for how fast the snow melts and the rate of runoff’s impact on farmland.  State officials say the real challenge now as we head into spring and summer, is significant flooding.  “The department is very focused on the entire Central Valley, including the Sacramento Valley,” Karla Nemeth, the director for the California Dept. of Water Resources said.  Already, Fresno and Tulare Counties have been impacted by flooding after a series storms.   The Department of Water Resources says currently there are two locations expected to reach flood stage within this next five days – both are within San Joaquin Valley. … ”  Read more from ABC 7.

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In other California water news …

Will California see more storms in April? Here’s what to expect this month

“What started as a rare September storm turned into a parade of storms this winter, each fueled by torrential atmospheric rivers ferrying moisture toward California. By January it was apparent that the state was experiencing a historic wet season, as wave after wave of low-pressure systems evolved into bomb cyclones and winter storms, lasting all the way into the end of March. So, what’s coming next? According to an ensemble of weather models, it looks as though California’s historic wet season finally is coming to an end. But not before another series of low-pressure systems brings more rounds of wind off the Pacific Ocean toward the West Coast. This pattern will come into conflict with April’s warm, dry air. And as moisture levels continue to fall, low-pressure systems will lose their ability to raise showers. Instead, they’ll be able to raise only low clouds, a sea breeze and mist — characteristics that coastal residents will recognize as the marine layer. The stage is set for a seasonal transition over the next couple of weeks. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).

Reservoirs are full, but let’s not celebrate just yet

“After three very dry years, California’s reservoirs will be full again this spring. That beats the alternative, but what will it mean for water supplies over the next few years?  We’ve been here before. Much of the state relies on water captured in the main Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) reservoirs for its water supply. In spring 2019, those reservoirs were full, with about 9 million acre-feet (maf) of water stored in Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom. But less than two years later, in early winter 2021, those same reservoirs were at dangerously low levels, leading to a drought emergency.  So, what happened last time, and will it happen again?  Speculation abounded in 2021 about why reservoirs were low. Some claimed that the full reservoirs in 2019 should have gotten the state through a seven-year drought, but the water was “wasted to the sea” for the environment. Others claimed that those full reservoirs had plenty of water for ecosystems, but they were drained to send water to “billionaire farmers.” … ”  Read more from the PPIC.

Soggy California winter set to charge up state’s hydropower sector

“California’s unusually stormy winter is promising good news for the state’s struggling hydropower industry.  After three years of extreme drought, winter weather has driven up the most populous U.S. state’s snow levels to 235% of normal, according to the latest figures from the California Department of Water Resources. That’s likely to fill up hydro reservoirs during the spring melt, which could lead to more of the cheap renewable energy source and less dependence on fossil fuels, public agencies and utilities said.  “We expect more hydroelectricity availability this year due to the historic precipitation levels, which will translate to less of a need for natural gas,” California Energy Commission spokesperson Lindsay Buckley said. … ”  Read more from Yahoo News.

Water agencies support inclusion of $31.5 million in proposed budget for Water Rights Modernization Continuation

”   We are writing to express our support for the inclusion of $31.5 million in the Governor’s proposed budget to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for Water Rights Modernization Continuation.  Enhanced water rights data and technologies are integral to the modernization of our water management system in California. This includes a combination of measurement (stream gages, snow survey) with data and technology (digitizing records, forecastinformed reservoir operations, improving the water right data management system) to improve the water unavailability methodology that provides the basis for implementing the water rights priority system and to verify water rights. (California’s Water Supply Strategy 4.1 and 4.3; Piloting a Water Rights Information System for California). Good data and information are foundational to implementing our water rights system, leading the State Legislature to invest more than $82 million over the past two years to help advance this important effort. … ”

Click here to view the letter.

Valadao’s top priorities in 2023? Boosting Valley water supplies, U.S. energy production

“California’s water has long been a contested issue in the Central Valley, and high gas prices have led to a national discussion on energy. Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) is pushing Congress to address both fronts.  Valadao joined The Sun in an upcoming interview on Sunrise FM to discuss a pair of bills he has introduced that target California’s water situation and the nation’s energy production industry, a bill that will be part of the larger GOP platform.  The big picture: Valadao initially introduced the Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act last year and brought it back this year ahead of the Republican-controlled House. It codifies the 2019 biological opinions in place that govern the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project. … ”  Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.

Costa introduces Bill to restore San Joaquin Valley Canals

“Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) introduced the Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, which would authorize more than $653 million to restore the capacity of three San Joaquin Valley canals, while also investing in restoration of the San Joaquin River.  Central Valley canals are critical tools in California’s water management, allowing for the movement of water to supply cities, farms, and groundwater recharge. Restoring these canals would improve California’s drought resilience and help farmers comply with limits on groundwater pumping under the California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.  “We must increase storage in wet years like this one to ensure we can withstand the next long dry spell,” said Costa. “My bill would provide federal funding to restore the Friant-Kern Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, and California Aqueduct to their full carrying capacity. Restoring this infrastructure is critical to delivering water to our farms and communities across the San Joaquin Valley.” … ”  Read more from Congressman Jim Costa.

Partnerships, adaptability key to climate and carbon solutions in agriculture

“California agriculture is the envy of the world. Despite challenges, the pandemic and other disruptors, farmers and ranchers are innovators and can be part of the climate solution. That was the theme of the keynote message from Karen Ross, California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, at the “What’s the Future of Agriculture” symposium, held March 30 at Fresno State’s Satellite Student Union.   But just as important, especially to local producers, is the need for increased flexibility and adaptability on the part of the state.   More than 700 individuals registered to attend the free, one-day in-person and virtual summit. … ”  Continue reading from Fresno State.

Experts see much of Valley ag adapting to climate. And some spots where farming fades

“Central Valley farmers and academics gathered to discuss how to produce food amid a changing climate.  They talked March 30 about efforts already underway to capture carbon and other harmful emissions. And they acknowledged that farming might wither in some spots but other ventures could arise on the land.  The Maddy Institute and several partners sponsored the Future of Agriculture in California summit, held live at Fresno State University and online. About 700 people took part, including UC Merced and the state universities in Turlock and Bakersfield.  Experts agreed that Earth is generally warming, meaning more severe droughts in California, punctuated by heavy rainfall years like 2023. The problem is compounded by over-pumping of groundwater. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.

What’s the future of agriculture? It’s everyone working together, summit speakers say

“While UC Merced’s Experimental Smart Farm is focused on technology and automation, it’s also about machine-human collaboration.  That was among the messages UC Merced’s representatives shared in a panel discussion at the “What’s the Future of Agriculture in California?” symposium, held Thursday, March 30, at California State University, Fresno.  UC Merced’s panel introduced the university’s smart farm, which will serve as a hub for data gathering as well as projects researchers can try out before scaling to larger properties. And though much at the farm will be working toward automating some tasks, the goal is also to create better, more highly skilled jobs for the farm labor force. … ”  Read more from UC Merced.

Collaboration and strategic land repurposing: An interview with Julie Rentner, President of River Partners

Anna Schiller writes, “Most of California’s Central Valley is dedicated to productive and diverse farmland, helping make California the country’s fruit, nut, and vegetable basket. However, due in part to increasingly intense and variable climate conditions, we must manage agricultural landscapes to ensure productivity and reliance for future generations.  The 2,100-acre Dos Rios Ranch Preserve near Modesto is an inspiring example of how marginal farmland can be reimagined to support sustainable agriculture. It also serves as a model to create an abundance of new community and environmental benefits, similar to the types of projects that will be funded by California’s new Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program, a program that incentivizes landowners to voluntarily repurpose land to support long-term water sustainability in the Central Valley. … We asked Julie Rentner, President of River Partners, to sit down with EDF to discuss the Preserve’s beginnings and journey from irrigated cropland to one of the state’s most significant and largest private-public floodplain restoration projects. … ”  Continue reading from EDF’s On the Waterfront blog.

Companies that frack for oil and gas can keep a lot of information secret – but what they disclose shows widespread use of hazardous chemicals

“From rural Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, more than 17 million Americans live within a mile of at least one oil or gas well. Since 2014, most new oil and gas wells have been fracked.  Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a process in which workers inject fluids underground under high pressure. The fluids fracture coal beds and shale rock, allowing the gas and oil trapped within the rock to rise to the surface. Advances in fracking launched a huge expansion of U.S. oil and gas production starting in the early 2000s but also triggered intense debate over its health and environmental impacts.  Fracking fluids are up to 97% water, but they also contain a host of chemicals that perform functions such as dissolving minerals and killing bacteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies a number of these chemicals as toxic or potentially toxic.  The Safe Drinking Water Act, enacted in 1974, regulates underground injection of chemicals that can threaten drinking water supplies. However, Congress has exempted fracking from most federal regulation under the law. As a result, fracking is regulated at the state level, and requirements vary from state to state. … ”  Continue reading at The Conversation.

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In commentary today …

Will this rainy season overcome our CA pro-drought faux-environmentalist establishment?

Ken Alpern writes, “Human beings have the ability to create the best and worst impacts on the gifts that God and Mother Earth have to offer.  There are humanitarians, and there are misanthropes (in other words, people lovers and people haters). There are also animal lovers and animal haters, to boot, and as well, environmentalists who are scientists while other “environmentalists” are merely opportunists.  Call me whatever name you wish, but I always thought that available and affordable water, and water enough to feed plants and animals and humans alike, were GOOD things … ”  Continue reading at City Watch.

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In regional water news and commentary today …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

How does wildfire smoke and ash impact Lake Tahoe?

“In the summer of 2021, flames from the history-making Caldor Fire spread eastward, threatening the Lake Tahoe Basin. Amidst the crisis, scientists saw an opportunity to answer a critical question: how does wildfire smoke and ash impact Lake Tahoe?  Kickstart funding from the League to Save Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Fund allowed scientists from the University of Nevada Reno, Utah State University, University of California Davis, Desert Research Institute and Miami University to mobilize quickly and launch a rapid response study.  “When we have extreme events like the Caldor Fire, we need to look at the short- and long-term impacts on the entire ecosystem,” said Laura Patten, senior science policy analyst for the League to Save Lake Tahoe. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Fund.

NAPA/SONOMA

Weather whiplash leads to dramatic turnaround of Lake Sonoma

“If you wanted to measure California’s change of water fortunes, the boat ramp at Lake Sonoma would be one place to do it.  The lake is the scene of an incredible four-month turnaround, for the very water system where the drought officially started.  “As you recall, three years ago, the governor literally was up at Lake Mendocino,” recalled Grant Davis with Sonoma Water. “Declaring the start of the drought basically, basically April 2021.”  And things only got worse from there as storage dwindled and restrictions mounted. Lake Sonoma would hit an all-time low in November of 2022 with concern mounting over what another dry year might mean. And then it started raining.  “It’s remarkable,” Grant Davis said of the turnaround. … ”  Read more from CBS San Francisco.

BAY AREA

Court orders South Bay construction company to stop dumping hazardous waste in Almaden Valley

“A Santa Clara County judge has ordered a San Jose-based construction company to stop dumping hazardous waste on protected agricultural land in rural Almaden Valley, county officials announced Monday.  The court decision issued March 30 came in response to a request from Santa Clara County, which conducted an investigation of United Concrete Cutting, Inc. after receiving an anonymous complaint that the company had been pouring liquid concrete into carved-out holes on remote agricultural property.  “All too often, we see that companies and people use protected agricultural land — land that is environmentally sensitive and important — for inappropriate industrial uses,” said Tony LoPresti, the chief assistant county counsel for Santa Clara County. “This case is not unique. But it’s a particularly egregious example of that.” … ”  Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.

Pacheco Marsh project is blooming as county eyes next phase

“The 31,000 new native plants are growing, freshly arrived shorebirds are starting to nest, and the tide is pushing and pulling water in and out of the 5.32 miles of new channels.  Seasonal ponds are full and flowers are blooming as Pacheco Marsh just survived one of the most frantic winters in recent memory.  The Lower Walnut Creek Restoration Project has taken root, literally.  Most of the natural work is done. The largest public works project ever undertaken by Contra Costa County is on schedule and ready for the John Muir Land Trust to begin shaping the 232 acres into a park that has been described as a future bird-watcher’s paradise. … ”  Read moire from Danville San Ramon.

CENTRAL COAST

Monterey Peninsula water announcing buy-out offer to Cal Am

“The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District will tonight announce its initial offer to purchase the California American Water system. The announcement is only the latest step in a years-long effort to purchase the private water company, a prospect that is still uncertain and will likely play out for years to come. The battle began four years ago with ballot Measure J, which passed with 56% of the vote. The measure directed the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) to create a plan to acquire all of California American Water’s local water assets. … ”  Read more from KAZU.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Fresno water officials nervous for warm temperatures and fast snowmelt

“The California Department of Water Resources measured the state’s snowpack for the month of April.  They’ve determined this snowpack is one of the largest ever recorded on record. 237% compared to the previous record of 227% for the month of April.   Now, the Fresno Irrigation District says this water year will go down as ​the biggest water year in modern history.  Some of the overflow from the San Joaquin River ends up in canals that goes to farmland. It all starts in the mountains, with a massive amount of snow, that could cause problems into the summer months. … ”  Read more from Your Central Valley.

Tulare County’s agriculture community struggles to cope with devastation from recent storms

“In Tulare County – the Agriculture Community is feeling the impact of recent storms.  The Tule Rivers stretches for miles from Porterville and passes under Highway 99 into areas near Tipton, Allensworth, and others.  Local farmer, Brandon Mendonsa, says everyone tried to prepare as best they could and are now saving what they can.  “The devastation is indescribable,” Mendonsa says. “We haven’t had to evacuate our farm, but my neighbors have been evacuated and anyone who is not flooded is helping the ones who are.” … ” Read more from KFSN.

Initial ag damage estimates put price tag at $60M in Tulare County

“The $60 million estimate in damage to ag land in Tulare County from Gov. Gavin Newsom does not surprise real estate agent Jonathan Verhoeven, co-owner of Schuil Ag Real Estate.  “That would not shock me,” Verhoeven said.  On Mar. 28, Newsom penned a letter to President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting additional resources to California counties affected by flooding.  Newsom requested FEMA to take on 100% cost share for private and public entities in Tulare and Monterey counties to remove debris and institute emergency protective measures. Other counties named in the letter were requested to be eligible for either public or private entities. … ”  Read more from The Business Journal.

Tulare County floods with evacuation warnings, preps for future storms

“After months of rainstorms and heavy snow melt, local agencies briefed residents on current damages within the county, as well as current evacuation orders and warnings.On April 3, local agencies and CAL FIRE held a press conference, and said the county is experiencing an increase of damaged homes and structures due to recent flooding. In the same breath, most of the cities within the county were issued with an evacuation warning. This all comes after the most recent deluge. Officials are saying that more storms are set to hit the county, and local lakes, including the once phantom Tulare Lake Basin, will continue to fill. Local and state officials are continuing to monitor the situation and will be giving regular updates. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.

EASTERN SIERRA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Mapping LA’s flood risk at unprecedented detail reveals hidden risks

“In recent months, Californians have endured a relentless barrage of atmospheric river systems, the massive volumes of water vapor that snake across the Pacific and unleash copious precipitation when they reach land. …  One recent study of flood exposure in Los Angeles suggests that the population exposed to dangerous flooding, or a flooding event with 1 percent annual probability, is between 10 and 40 times greater than US government maps show.  The study, published in November in Nature Sustainability, estimates that 425,000 people and $36 billion of assets would be exposed to dangerous floods rising to a height over 30 cm within the 100-year flood zone. The study also shows that the current 1 percent annual probability flood cannot be contained by existing flood infrastructure like levees.  The numbers of at-risk Angelenos surprised even the researchers. “We double- and triple-checked our models and tried to figure out, Did we make a mistake?” said Brett Sanders, director of the Flood Lab at the University of California, Irvine. … ”  Read more from the ESRI blog.

LA faces potential $21.7 million fine for Hyperion sewage spill

“Los Angeles may have to pay the city’s water quality watchdog $21.7 million for a sewage spill that occurred nearly two years ago at the Hyperion wastewater treatment plant, officials have announced.  The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board proposed the hefty fine on Monday, April 3, against Los Angeles, which operates Hyperion, accusing the plant of violating its waste discharge permit and releasing millions of gallons of raw sewage into the ocean in July 2021.  The penalty is the largest ever proposed for such violations.  The state water board will decide within three months, at a to-be-scheduled hearing, whether to issue the penalty, according to a press release. Both parties, though, could waive that requirement. … ”  Read more from the Long Beach Telegram.

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Along the Colorado River …

A wet winter won’t stave off the Colorado River’s water cuts

“The abundant snow in the Rocky Mountains this year has been a welcome relief but is not enough to overcome two decades of drought that has pushed major reservoirs along the Colorado River down to dangerous levels, Camille Calimlim Touton, the commissioner for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said on Monday at the outset of a three-day trip along the river with a bipartisan delegation of senators to push for an agreement on how to conserve an unprecedented amount of water. The snowpack that feeds the Colorado River — which 40 million people rely on in the West — is currently at 154 percent of average for this time of year, Touton said. “This is great thing for this year. But it doesn’t solve a 23-year drought,” she said. “We’re here to find a solution together.” … ”  Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).

Colorado River Basin reservoirs still face grim outlook despite healthy snowpack

“The healthy snowpack whitening Colorado’s mountain peaks has given water officials some breathing room to manage the Colorado River Basin’s ongoing drought. The challenge will be not to squander it.  As winter storms wind down, water managers and policymakers are mulling over decisions about how to release and retain water in shrunken reservoirs across the basin, which supports 40 million people across the West. This year, many Colorado reservoirs will have the chance to refill, but the situation is still grim for the two largest reservoirs in the system, Lake Mead and Lake Powell.  “While having a decent year of snowpack doesn’t solve all of our problems, it does give us a little bit of breathing room to focus on longer-term issues,” said Amy Ostdiek, chief of the interstate, federal and water information section at the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the state’s leading water agency. … ”  Read more from the Colorado Sun.

SNWA: Lake Mead 80 feet higher because of water conservation efforts

“As of Monday, the water level at Lake Mead was about 1046 feet, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. But according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, had major water conservation efforts not been taking place among Colorado River water users over the years, the level might be around 966 feet. That is only 71 feet from Deadpool elevation, where water would no longer flow through Hoover Dam.  “In fact, over the past 15 years the collective effort of those states has Lake Mead 80 feet higher in elevation today than it would be if those actions hadn’t been taken,” said Bronson Mack with the Southern Nevada Water Authority.  Mack says the 80 feet from water conservation efforts is what’s been saved by Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada. He says Southern Nevada’s share of that water equates to more than four years of water supply at our current usage. … ”  Read more from Channel 5.

How Nevada uses more than its tiny share of the Colorado River each year

“Nevada gets less than a 2 percent cut from the Colorado River’s waters, but the state actually uses far more water than that each year, all while staying well within its century-old legal water rights.  It’s all thanks to an extensive water recycling program in the Las Vegas Valley and something called “return flow credits,” which allow the state to pull extra water out of Lake Mead for every gallon of wastewater treated and returned to the reservoir via the Las Vegas Wash.  “In any given year, we divert more from the Colorado River than we actually deplete from the river because nearly all of our water that is used indoors and hits a drain is returned back to Lake Mead,” said Colby Pellegrino, deputy general manager of resources for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. … ”  Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Arizona:  8 things to know about West Valley’s water situation

“The West Valley is at the center of a conversation about water in Arizona. In January, Gov. Katie Hobbs called for the state Department of Water Resources to release a report showing the Hassayampa sub-basin didn’t have as much water as previously thought.  Local leaders and water experts discussed the future of West Valley water last Thursday at an event hosted by Leadership West.  Here are eight things you should know about the state’s water crisis and how it will impact the West Valley. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central.

If Colorado River option dries up, Cheyenne may have to look elsewhere for 70% of its water

“Cheyenne might be a long way from the Wyoming headwaters of the Colorado River, but the city is linked to the river’s shrinking supply against ever-more-pressing downstream demands, and the resulting conflicts.  For decades, Cheyenne has sourced up to 70% of its total water supply from the Colorado River drainage, albeit indirectly. That could start drying up, possibly by 2028. That potential has the city is looking for alternatives.  “Who would have thought that 70 years ago we’d be in this situation, but we are,” Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins told Cowboy State Daily. “We’re looking for drainages in this area that could compliment those (Colorado River) waters.” … ”  Read more from the Cowboy State Daily.

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In national water news today …

How will the US deal with its water crisis?

“Jackson, Miss; Benton Harbor and Flint, Mich; Baltimore, Md. These locales and others serve as stark illustrations of the water crisis facing the nation. Poor access to water, contamination and decaying infrastructure impinge upon the health, safety and quality of life of those residing in those communities.  Global warming, climate change and increased natural disasters have triggered water crises across the globe. To cite a few examples, Somalia is suffering a decade-long drought, while monsoons in India and Bangladesh are becoming increasingly more severe. Deforestation is creating “heat islands” around the surrounding lands, hot and arid regions where previously lush green forests occupied the lands.  The U.S. is no exception to severe changes brought about by the crisis over water. For example, Lake Mead, shared by Nevada and Arizona, and Lake Powell, between Utah and Arizona, have been deemed “dead pools.” … ”  Continue reading at The Hill.

Fitch Ratings: Debt for utilities would increase under proposed PFAS rules

“According to Fitch Ratings, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently proposed rule setting limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water would increase public water utilities’ debt burden as a result of the added costs of compliance.  A recent press release from Fitch says the strong rate flexibility and capacity for additional debt exhibited by water systems is expected to limit the impact on credit quality, but will depend on the final scope of rule. EPA expects to finalize the rule by the end of 2023. … ”  Read more from Water Finance & Management.

An overview on PFAS developments: From legislation and litigation to municipal and industry responses

“Federal and state legislatures and agencies have increasingly focused action to address concerns about the significant risks to human health and the environment from so-called “forever chemicals” known more widely as PFAS.  Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals resistant to heat, water, and oil that are used in many industrial and consumer applications. For instance, PFAS are used in carpets, water-proof clothing, food paper wrappings, non-stick products, cleaning products, fire-fighting foams, and metal plating (e.g., cookware). Chemists initially created PFAS in the 1930s and large-scale manufacturing of PFAS-containing products began in the 1950s. There are over 5,000 different PFAS chemicals in existence, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). … ”  Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.

Former official claims Oldsmar drinking water hack was really operator error

“According to a local official with direct knowledge, an alarming drinking water contamination event thought to be the result of cyberattack was actually just an operations flub.  “In 2021, news broke of a cyberattack at the Oldsmar, Florida, water treatment plant, an event that sparked fears about the cyber vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure,” GCN reported. “But according to one official who was with the city at the time, the incident was not a hack at all, just a case of an employee mistakenly clicking on the wrong buttons, before alerting his superiors to his error.” … ”  Read more from Water Online.

Crop irrigation has changed, according to a new study

“Crop irrigation — watering the plants that make our food — is one of the most intensive uses of water in the world. This year, at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference, the biggest water conference in 50 years, water for agriculture topped many countries’ lists of concerns.  Every five years the United States Geological Survey (USGS) calculates our national water use across all water sectors. In 2015 (the most recent year for which data is available), the U.S. withdrew 118,000 Mgal/d for irrigation, which represented 42% of all our freshwater withdrawals.  The majority of our irrigation withdrawals go to irrigating agricultural crops (rather than things like front lawns), but Americans don’t directly eat a lot of those crops as food. Instead, most of our irrigated food crops (like corn and soy) are fed in large quantities to livestock (which become our burgers and rotisserie chickens), thereby compounding the amount of water it takes to produce food in this country. … ”  Read more from Salon.

With the Ogallala Aquifer drying up, Kansas ponders limits to irrigation

“The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem.  It’s easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great reservoirs of the Southwest. Bathtub rings paint the red rock walls surrounding Lake Powell as it shrinks, sounding alarm bells loud and clear.  What about a body of water that’s locked away in a subterranean labyrinth of gravel and rock reaching more than 300 feet underground?  The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we can’t see it. And, problematically, that means we can’t see it disappear.  That hasn’t stopped people like Brownie Wilson from trying to bring the aquifer’s decline into focus. … ”  Read more from KCUR.

The Endangered Species Act at 50: From popular to polarizing

“The Endangered Species Act came together almost 50 years ago during a bipartisan moment that now seems impossibly remote and almost poignant.  With the environmental movement ascendant, boosted by the success of the first Earth Day in 1970, the popular appeal of wildlife protection was shown on Capitol Hill as the Senate twice approved the ESA without dissent while the House passed the measure by margins of 390-12 and, in its final form, 355-4. Remarkably, not a single House member rose to speak against the bill or even offer cautionary words.  Since then, the Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries, the two federal agencies responsible for managing the endangered species program, have spent billions of dollars directly on putting the ESA into practice. Home builders, farmers, loggers and oil and gas companies, among others, have factored the ESA into their planning and their budgets. Attorneys have racked up countless billable hours, and politicians of all stripes have made hay of the law — some with praise, others with fear and loathing. … ”  Read more from E&E News.

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Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

NOTICE: Public Comment Period Opens for Resubmitted Madera Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plans with ‘Incomplete’ Determinations

NOTICE: Order Rescinding Curtailment and Reporting Orders for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.

 

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