On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: The Wildfire-Stormwater Nexus from 4pm to 4:30pm. Presented by the UCLA Water Resource Group. Presenters are Dr. Sanjay Mohanty, Director of SEALab, an assistant provessor of environmental engineering and Onja Davidson-Raoelison, Doctoral Researcher at SEALab, a PhD candidate in Environmental Engineering at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. Click here to register.
In California water news this weekend …
California got all the snow and rain it needed. Now those could threaten a disaster.
“Across California’s long, flat, usually parched and dusty Central Valley, farmers and residents are used to waiting for water to come. But not like this. Blanketing the Sierra Nevada above them, a historic amount of snow is slowly beginning to melt. The snowpack, more than 230 percent of normal, is the result of an onslaught of atmospheric rivers and storms that deluged the state for weeks in January and March, damaging coastal cities, rural farming communities and mountain towns. As California’s brutal winter gives way to the warmth of spring, that deep snowpack will eventually melt, sending a massive amount of water into the vulnerable, low-lying valley below — and toward flood control systems that in many cases are woefully unprepared to handle it. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO: Sorry California, Melting Snowpacks to Unleash More Epic Floods, from Mother Jones
Animated map: Watch 30-plus atmospheric rivers slam into California
“Try as you might, you’ve probably lost track of the more than 30 atmospheric river storms that barreled into the the Golden State since Oct. 1. But we haven’t. The animation above shows every atmospheric river storm, which has hit the West Coast since the start of the water-year on Oct 1. The data used in this animation was provided by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). The color of each storm signifies its associated strength, with black being the strongest level. And this year has been a doozy: In Northern California, we’ve already had 7 strong or greater-strength storms hit the region, according to data from CW3E. That’s considerably above the average of 4.7 for this time of year based on data going back to 2012. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Historic Sierra winter will make for an epic but risky rafting season on California’s American River
“As much as Travis Hale loves snow — he is a Heavenly Ski Resort professional ski patroller, after all — there were more than a few times during this year’s record-breaking winter when he dreamed of bashing through white water rapids on one of the forks of the American River. “I can’t help but think that the same snow I’m making turns on will be melting and flowing down river canyons soon,” said Hale, who is a rafting guide during the warm-weather months for the Angels Camp-based OARS adventure travel company. The American and its sundry forks course through the foothills of the Sierra northeast of Sacramento and about 150 miles from San Francisco. The snow from the mountain range feeds into the river, and, following an unusual winter, the Sierra snowpack is the largest it’s been in decades. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Snow, floods and wildlife in peril: grueling winter leaves Yosemite scarred
“It’s been a winter few in Yosemite valley will ever forget. After wildfires left the national park’s dramatic views shrouded in smoke over the summer, winter brought a series of historic storms that left the region inundated with snow. The deluge buried homes, cars and fire hydrants, chewed into stretches of winding mountain roads and downed trees along the park’s slopes. As conditions intensified, officials opted to close the park, forced to turn away the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come from all over the world to take in its iconic scenery. Park personnel worked for weeks to dig the valley out of shoulder-high piles of snow, repair crucial infrastructure and prepare for the imminent threat of melt-off flooding. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Fishery council closes commercial and recreational salmon fishing off California Coast this year
“Commercial and recreational fishing for salmon will be banned this year in marine waters off California and most of Oregon due to historically low fall run Chinook salmon returns to the Sacramento and Klamath watersheds last year. On Thursday, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) unanimously voted to recommend a full closure of the recreational and commercial fishing season, based on the low abundance estimates and low returns to the rivers. It is expected that the National Marine Fisheries Service will follow with regulatory action to enact the closure, effective in mid-May, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The federal government in March already closed the recreational and commercial salmon fishing openers that were slated from early April to May 15. … ” Continue reading from the Daily Kos.
SEE ALSO:
- California seeks federal help for salmon fishers facing ban, from NBC News
- Salmon Season Closure: Huffman, Pelosi Pledge to Work to Fast Track Federal Aid, Cite Need for Long-Term Solutions, from the North Coast Journal
- ‘Fear and panic’ in California fishing community after salmon season closed, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Chinook Salmon Season Canceled for Much of U.S. West Coast as California Recovers From Drought, from EcoWatch
‘An issue of national food security’: Historic flooding leaves agriculture industry reeling
“George Wilgenburg, who operates a dairy between Hanford and Corcoran, had to move nearly 7,000 animals, 200 loads of hay and most of his grain inventory within a span of three days last month. In addition, 3,000 acres of wheat on his property were “completely submerged,” he said, adding that the crop would be a “complete loss.” The damage occurred when a levee breached in several places about three miles away from his facility and flooded the area as a result of this year’s unprecedented storms and record-breaking rain and snowfall. Wilgenburg was one of several farmers who shared their stories at a March 31 event at the Cowlifornia Dairy Farm in Hanford. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
California ag chief’s plan for future includes ‘with innovation, small farms can be viable’
“California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross is putting forward a five-fold plan intended to guide the direction of farming in the the state in the next decade. Ross called Ag Vision “a plan for every Californian, from those who care about the land and landscape and making it better for the future, to those who work with or live around farming communities.” To create Ag Vision, officials said they used one-on-one interviews with “a diverse set of agricultural stakeholders,” along with roundtable discussions with various segments of California agriculture, including dairy and livestock farmers, berry growers, and tree nut producers. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee.
Why you’ll probably be paying more for produce this season
“Thanks to devastating storms in California this winter, shoppers everywhere will be paying higher prices on groceries this spring and summer. At least 16 atmospheric rivers unloaded torrential rain and wind on California between December and March, flooding the state’s growing region and affecting strawberries, lettuce, broccoli, cherries, tomatoes and more. It is illegal in California to harvest flooded farmland because floodwaters can bring dangerous bacteria or contamination — as a result, some farmers have to abandon their crops. Less produce to harvest will drive prices up in late spring and summer, and possibly for the rest of the year, Sreedevi Rajagopalan, a postdoctoral researcher studying supply chains at MIT, told CBS News. “For the farmers, this catastrophe hit at the worst possible time,” Rajagopalan said. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Perspectives on DairyMAR
“Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) to not only store water but also to prevent unwanted flooding. In the recent executive order (N-4-23), governor Newsom provided a near-blanket permit for water managers to divert surface water from flooded streams toward groundwater recharge, an operation referred to as “managed aquifer recharge” (MAR or “FloodMAR”, Levintal et al. 2022), without the usual regulations and paperwork. The order comes on the heels of a record snowpack in California’s mountains, which is destined to melt off into roaring streams over the coming months. … The evolving potential for flooding this year, however, poses a two-fold dilemma: some dairy land application areas are, or will likely be, subjected to unmanaged (and unwanted) flooding; and the categorical prohibition of DairyMAR may take a significant fraction of land otherwise very suitable for FloodMAR out of the water management portfolio of local agencies. Two urgent questions arise out of these dilemmas: (A) What are the groundwater quality consequences of incidental flooding on dairyland application areas and (B) Are there conditions, this year or in the future, under which DairyMAR may be a reasonable and important part of the state’s and local GSAs’ MAR portfolio. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
From drought to deluge: What’s next for California? UCR water expert helps readers calibrate their water worries
“Headlines about California’s water situation are awash with numbers. Following the worst drought in 1,200 years, the Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides 30% of the state’s water, is now among the biggest ones in 70 years. State reservoirs are at 73% capacity and more than half of CA is now officially out of drought. What to make of all these statistics? Despite the welcome rainfall, the Colorado River, a key source of water for the state, is shrinking fast. Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which lie outside state borders, but hold a lot of the river water used in Southern California, are at less than 30%. Cities like Los Angeles receive around 50% of their water from the river. Intense negotiations are underway to decide how Western states will divide the reductions in water use needed to stabilize the river. We asked a faculty expert on municipal water to help readers make sense of the seemingly conflicting headlines. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
How worried are Californians about access to water? A new study breaks that down
“When you turn on the tap, how confident are you that clean water will flow? Are you that certain about water access in five years? In 10? How about 20? Perhaps the most consequential impact of the climate crisis is how it will affect our access to reliable, clean drinking water. California has been through the wringer in the last decade with extreme heat, record drought, historic wildfires and, most recently, devastating flooding — all of which can and have affected some residents’ access to water. But to what extent do Californians perceive the risks that events like those pose to their water supplies? And how will perceptions and personal experiences affect public support for strategies to address the changing climate and ensure future Californians have water to drink? … ” Read more from the LA Times.
A common way to fix pipes is making people sick, investigation finds
“On this edition of Your Call’s media roundtable, we discuss a USA Today investigation exposing why a popular and cost-effective method for repairing broken pipes that has been around since the 1970s is making people sick. Cured-in-place pipe lining is an increasingly popular method of repairing old and damaged sewer and stormwater pipes without having to dig up streets, reroute traffic or haul away debris, but noxious fumes created during the process can escape the job site and sicken people in their homes, schools and businesses. Inside the chemical plume released from cured-in-place pipe projects lurk compounds like styrene, benzene, methylene chloride and phenol, along with bits of uncured resin, partially cured plastic and hazardous air pollutants, according to scientific research funded by the US National Science Foundation and cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The industry has downplayed and government regulators have all but ignored the risk to public health, even as the list of exposures continues to grow, a USA Today investigation found.” Listen at KALW.
Thousands of blue, jellyfish-looking blobs are washing up on California shores
“Blue jellyfish-like creatures known as by-the-wind sailors are beginning to dot the coastlines of California and are reaching as far south as Orange County. On Friday, Dana Wharf Whale Watching, which operates off the coast of Dana Point, California, said that they had seen “hundreds” of the sailors in the water, and displayed two on one of their whale watching boats. “Watch for them on the beaches,” Nona Reimer, a science teacher who goes by Nona the Naturalist, said in an Instagram video for Dana Wharf Whale Watching. “They’re gonna be washing on the shore pretty soon.” … ” Read more from Yahoo News.
Legislation would protect retardant amid litigation
“Representatives Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) have introduced a bill to Congress that would create Clean Water Act exemptions for federal, state and local firefighting agencies to continue using fire retardant to fight wildfires while its environmental impacts are considered in a federal lawsuit. Fire retardant, which is dropped from firefighting aircraft onto forests, structures and grassland, is used to contain or slow the spread of wildfires, but its use is currently being challenged by the Forest Service Employees For Environmental Ethics in a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service. The suit was filed Oct. 11, 2022, in the Federal District Court of Montana. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat.
How a new BLM rule could make conservation a higher priority in the West
“The U.S. Department of the Interior proposed a new rule last week that would give conservation priorities equal weight in public land use decision-making — a change experts say constitutes one of the most significant land management policy moves in decades. The proposed Public Lands Rule represents the culmination of decades of efforts to push the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) toward prioritizing conservation, as the organization’s ethos has traditionally focused on facilitating economic development on the vast amount of land it manages in the West. … Under the proposed rule, the BLM would elevate conservation to be on equal footing with other permitted uses for federal land — such as mining, grazing, or oil and gas permitting — that have historically taken precedence. It defines conservation as pertaining to both the protection and restoration of public lands. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent.
Today’s featured article …
RESERVOIR AND WATER CONDITIONS for April 10
Click here to check out the latest reservoir and water conditions.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Former Director for Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Region elected Board President of Water Education Foundation
“Terry Fulp, who served as the Bureau of Reclamation’s regional director for the Lower Colorado River Basin and played a lead role in negotiating drought contingency plans, operating guidelines and binational agreements with Mexico, was elected president of the Water Education Foundation’s board of directors. “I believe the best solutions to the complex challenges we face in Western water management result from an approach based on collaboration, partnerships, transparency and sound technical information. Education and outreach are critical aspects of this approach, and the Foundation has a proven track record of success in these areas,” said Fulp, who retired from his position in October 2020. “Furthermore, I believe we all have a mandate to leave a legacy of next-generation leaders and the Foundation plays an integral part in achieving this goal,” he said, referring to the Foundation’s Water Leaders professional development programs in California and the Colorado River Basin. … ” Read more from the Water Education Foundation.
Ara Azhderian appointed General Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency
“The Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors and Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Ara Azhderian as the new Monterey County Water Resources Agency General Manager. Mr. Azhderian will lead the Monterey County Water Resources Agency having previously served as the General Manager of the Panoche Water District, which serves portions of Fresno and Merced counties. Mr. Azhderian has a wealth of experience in managing water systems, public agency administration, finance, water resource regulations as well as the science, litigation, and the legislative complexities of water management. In addition to Azhderian’s water management experience, his original vocation was farming. His farming background gave him an uncommon perspective on the work he does now and a deep understanding of California’s unparalleled, irrigated agricultural community. Prior to his most recent role, Mr. Azhderian previously served as the Water Policy Administrator for San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority. … ” Read more from the County of Monterey.
A family legacy of conservation: Father and son pursue U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service careers at national wildlife refuges in California
When Jesus Jimenez first immigrated to the United States from Mexico at 17-years-old, he could have never anticipated the ripple effects his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have on his future family. Nearly 45 years later, three of his four children now work as federal employees. Recently, his youngest, Miguel, was selected as the project leader for the Kern National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Jesus spent his youth tending to land and managing his family’s farm. In the late 1970s, he relocated to Santa Ana, California, where his uncle was residing at the time. Jesus found a temporary job on a potato farm during the fall, but opportunities for work were limited during the winter. … ” Continue reading from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Podcasts …
FISH WATER PEOPLE: California’s North Coast with Congressman Huffman
Fish Water People podcast host and CalTrout Executive Director Curtis Knight sits down with Congressman Jared Huffman to talk Governor Newsom’s Executive Order in the delta, the Potter Valley hydroelectric project, restoration work at Redwood Creek, the Yurok Tribe, California condors, and so much more. How do all of these topics intertwine with CalTrout’s work? We journey through the redwoods to find out. Congressman Huffman weighs in with his district’s perspective, and CalTrout Regional Director Darren Mierau also joins the conversation.
SoCAL WATER COALITION: WHAT MATTERS: Cultivating a secure water future for California
Wherever you live in California, cultivating a secure and abundant water future is a goal we can all support. But taking the necessary steps to get there can be hard to do. Especially as we watch our state whipsaw through weather extremes. In just twelve months the state has gone from a historic and severe drought to above average rainfall and snow. Many people are asking, is the drought over? It’s the wrong question. In episode #11, host Charley Wilson talks to two water leaders who are trying to push the conversation about California water beyond the drought. What they want to know is what will California and its water supply look like in ten years? What about in thirty? Guests: Heather Dyer, the CEO and general manager of the San Bernadino Valley Municipal Water District, and Craig Miller, general manager of Western Municipal Water District.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Planning a Delta
California communities have benefited greatly by past successes having resulted in economic gains and the California lifestyle. Through these times, the California population have grown a dependence on the current waters of the state and the manner of its statewide distribution. Man induced conditions and behavior have carried a weight that has affected the Delta with diminished health and restricted processes that characterize how a delta operates in the world. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
WATER TALK: Regulating nitrogen
A conversation with Claire Bjork (Central Coast Regional Water Board) about groundwater nitrogen policy, water quality compliance, and the Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: America loves tomatoes!
THE LANDSCAPE: Making conservation more inclusive
Kate and Aaron are joined by the co-chairs of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, a new group that came together to ensure conservation benefits marginalized and overly burdened communities. Nse Witherspoon, executive director of the Children’s Environmental Health Network, and Mark Magaña, founder and CEO of GreenLatinos, talk about their coalition’s 2023 policy agenda.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Last ride in Hell’s Corner: Rafters savor final season on Upper Klamath before dam removal
“It’s last call for one of the West Coast’s most unique whitewater rafting trips this summer. The Upper Klamath River, located southwest of Klamath Falls, has taken rafters on thrill rides for the past four decades thanks to a system of dams that supplies dependable summertime water through the Class IV rapids of Hell’s Corner Canyon. But the same dams that have made this rafting experience possible have also wrought havoc on the Klamath River’s salmon runs and ecosystem. They’re scheduled for removal beginning later this year in the largest dam removal project in United States history. Without the water stored behind the dams and released at a specific time each day, river levels won’t be high enough for commercial trips through Hell’s Corner Canyon in summers after dam removal, local outfitters say. … ” Read more from the Statesmans Journal.
North Coast Water Board approves new fish hatchery, part of historic renewal of Klamath River
“The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board approved a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit yesterday that will allow the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to operate an upgraded fish hatchery on Fall Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River in Siskiyou County. “California continues to make important progress to restore the health and vitality of the Klamath River, an ecological and cultural treasure that many tribal nations, communities and livelihoods in our state depend on,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “This new hatchery will support natural salmon runs that have been blocked for more than a century, righting a historical wrong and revitalizing the environment and local economy for generations to come.” Once upgrades are constructed, the Fall Creek Hatchery will replace the Iron Gate Hatchery, which is being decommissioned as part of the Klamath River Renewal Project that will remove four hydroelectric dams and restore a free–flowing river. PacifiCorp, the operator of the dams and owner of both hatcheries, jointly applied for and received the permit with CDFW. … ” Read more from the North Coast Water Board.
Is water safe to drink from the Smith River?
“At the Tuesday, March 28, Board of Supervisors meeting, 5th District Supervisor Dean Wilson pulled several items off the consent agenda for additional discussion. One of the items pulled called for a letter of support to the Six Rivers National Forest supervisor expressing concerns about legacy mines within the Smith River National Recreation Area, as requested by the Natural Resources Goal committee and the Smith River Collaborative. The proposed letter identified arsenic and copper leeching from an estimated 90 vacated mines, ending up in the Smith River. The term remediation was generously used in the discussion. 2nd District Supervisor Valerie Starkey spoke of lack of full understanding and intent of the word remediation. Smith River Alliance co-chair Grant Werschkull approached the public speaker’s platform and explained remediation is the corrective effort to remove debris and potential hazardous material from the legacy mines sites that may compromise our drinking water from the Smith. … ” Read more from the Del Norte Triplicate.
High releases from Trinity Lake concern residents
“As the wet season drags on into April, water management has been of particular concern in Trinity County. The focus of these concerns center around the Trinity River Restoration Program (TRRP), a longstanding agency who oversees releases from Trinity Lake in pursuit of restoring the river habitat. In water year 2023, they have implemented a new Winter Flow Project that has seen significant releases from the lake since February. Right now, those releases aren’t making sense to many. The high volumes persist despite Trinity Lake having the lowest percentage of its historical average of any major reservoir in the state. KRCR spoke with the Trinity Fly Shop who sees and lives the issue firsthand to better understand what this has meant. … ” Read more from KRCR.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada Irrigation District April snow survey: 198 percent of average
“The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) has conducted its April snow survey, and reports the snow water equivalent is nearly double on the District’s five snow courses that provide water to raw- and treated water customers. During the survey, NID hydrographers found the average water content in the snowpack was 66 inches, which is 198 percent of the 33.3-inch average for this time of year. Snow water equivalent is an indicator of how much water the snowpack contains. This helps water managers plan for water use. … ” Read more from the Nevada Irrigation District.
You’ll be able to ski this summer in California after historic snow
“Summer tourists normally pack swimsuits and sunscreen to visit California’s sandy beaches, but many may be loading ski coats and snow boots this year. Ski resorts across Central and Northern California are now extending their season late into the summer months in the wake of historic winter snowfall. Many locations in the Sierra Nevada range have now accumulated over 700 inches of snow this season — cementing this year as one of the top two snowiest winters on record. Mammoth Mountain, a resort in the eastern Sierra Nevada, has been continuously blanketed by heaps of heavy snow. The ski resort, which is open until at least the end of May each year, plans to keep its slopes open until the end of July. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Cold snap was record breaking at Tahoe
“The cold snap this week was record breaking at Lake Tahoe, but, except for a quick-hitting storm on Friday, temperatures are warming and skies will be mostly sunny into next week. The National Weather Service in Reno reported that both South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe City on Monday and Tuesday recorded record low temperatures, with Tahoe City also recording the lowest daytime high on record. The thermometer at Lake Tahoe Airport on the South Shore hit a record low 9 degrees on Monday, dropped to 7 on Tuesday and was at 11 Wednesday morning, which also broke the mark of 15 set 20 years ago in 2003. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Explosions, crushed buildings and flood fears. Mammoth Lakes thrown into chaos by snowfall
“Worry and fear are running high in this snowbound Sierra Nevada ski town. Buildings groan and crack under the strain of accumulated snowpack, forcing occupants to flee. Slabs of snow and ice plummet from rooftops with the force of falling pianos. Columns of smoke rise from homes whose gas lines have become fouled by snow, causing them to explode. “We’re afraid of all the ways we could die here on any given day,” lamented Stacy Bardfield, a broker at Mammoth Sierra Properties and local resident of 47 years. “Will it be a roof caving in? A propane line blast? Fallen electric transmission lines?” For a community whose economic livelihood has long relied on skiable powder, a winter of record snowfall has suddenly transformed the white stuff into an oppressive, occupying force. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Outflows continue from Lake Oroville
“Since the beginning of December, Lake Oroville’s elevation has shot up by around 200 feet thanks to a constant stream of winter storms. The lake reached a level that has prompted the California Department of Water Resources to let water out over the course of the past month in what the department claims is an effort to control flooding downstream. Its new spillway gate has been utilized to do this with outflows up to 35,000 cfs. Now, as the storms settle down, only 7,500 cfs is being released from the lake, with 1,000 cfs routed into the low flow area of the Feather River through the city of Oroville and the remainder being sent through the Termalito Afterbay River Outlet roughly five miles down stream, according to an announcement by DWR. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
The Bay Area’s economy of mud: Dredging concerns threaten jobs, $100 billion in assets
“At the Port of Oakland on a recent weekday, trucks, cranes and container-laden ships moved goods across the sprawling 1,300-acre complex with the precarious precision of a Rube Goldberg machine. Mere blocks from downtown Oakland, the port operates essentially as a city within a city. It’s the ninth biggest port in the country and the first stop for 99% percent of containerized goods moving through Northern California. In the whir of logistics and machinery, it’s easy to forget that everything happening here is made possible by one unsung, unglamorous and Sisyphean task: hauling mud from San Francisco Bay. That dredging process has enormous implications for the future of shipping and transportation in the Bay Area, and may hold the key to protecting local shorelines. “The bottom line is that if we don’t dredge, none of this happens,” said port spokesperson Robert Bernardo, looking out over stacks of containers. “Period.” … ” Continue reading from the Marin Independent Journal (gift article).
Inside one man’s hunt to rediscover lost animal species
“When Dr. Richard Lanman purchased his Los Altos home in the 1980s, Adobe Creek, which snaked behind his backyard, was at best a rivulet of trickling water in the summer. In good winters, a rushing torrent carried logs, leaves, silt and debris out to San Francisco Bay. But his neighborhood’s old-timers remembered Adobe Creek as a year-round fly-fishing paradise until the 1950s. His 80-year-old neighbor Herb Bickell told Lanman in 1987 that he’d caught fish from his backyard. “So too, did Sen. Alan Cranston, who lived just a little bit upstream from us,” Lanman said. But now Adobe Creek is dry for half the year, and there are no fish. Bickell wondered why the creek had undergone such a drastic change. … ” Read more from the Mountain View Voice.
New pipeline could protect Alameda’s water supply in event of earthquake
“In Alameda, East Bay Mud is installing a new massive water pipeline that engineers say will withstand the next big earthquake. It will replace an existing 80-year-old pipe officials feared would fail in a large shaker. As it stands now, a large earthquake could have devastating effects on the City of Alameda’s water resources. That’s why a more than a half-mile-long high-density water pipeline is going underground. It replaces the existing pipe currently bringing water from Oakland to the island which is eight decades old. … ” Read more from KRON.
A new push to move San Jose homeless from Coyote Creek
“Valley Water is shelling out millions for San Jose to clear out homeless residents living along Coyote Creek.The $4.8 million contract with the city comes as the water agency prepares to build out mandated flood protection measures along a nine-mile stretch of the creek following the devastating 2017 floods. The nearly 120 to 200 homeless people living along the waterway will have to move before construction starts on June 5 for safety reasons, city officials said. The contract, approved unanimously by the San Jose City Council on Tuesday, will fund clearing people out, cleaning up blight and supportive services to help unhoused residents move into housing. San Jose officials said they’ve struck a deal with Valley Water because the city doesn’t have the money, but has the know-how — and the water agency doesn’t have the manpower, but has the dollars. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey County declares Pajaro water supply safe to drink
“The water in the storm-ravaged Pajaro River area of Monterey County is now safe to drink again, it was announced Friday afternoon. Officials with the Pajaro Water System, in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Monterey County Health Department, has determined that water quality in the region is back to normal, following abatement of the health hazards and comprehensive testing of the water. On March 25, water officials notified area residents that it was unsafe to drink or consume water and to use bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes following the devastating March rainstorms, which caused flooding in the Pajaro River area. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
‘Maintenance issues on the river’: Monterey County Ag leaders are calling for change
“Monterey County agriculture leaders are calling for change regarding maintenance along the Salinas River. Many say the river hasn’t been properly maintained for decades, and following severe flooding, there’s a strong consensus to find a solution. “We have a maintenance issue on the river,” says Norm Groot, the executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau. Experts say flooding from recent storms was made worse because farmers were unable to properly maintain the Salinas River. “I think there needs to be a plan to better prepare and minimize the impact that can happen when there isn’t maintenance of rivers … When you see images of the river, and you have trees and shrubs growing down the middle of it, all of that has an impact on the water and its ability to flow downstream,” says Juan Hidalgo, the Monterey County agricultural commissioner. … ” Read more from KSBY.
San Luis Obispo County agencies get more control over Lake Nacimiento water. Here’s what is changing
“The California State Water Board has lifted some water use restrictions for Lake Nacimiento, giving local agencies more control over the reservoir’s water than they’ve had in decades. San Luis Obispo County Public Works Director John Diodati called the decision “monumental” in a news release Friday. “This new order from the State Water Board is a monumental day for water resources in San Luis Obispo County and the culmination of years of hard work,” Diodati said in the release. “I look forward to seeing how water agencies use this opportunity to balance the (Paso Robles groundwater) basin and enhance both the residential and economic needs in our county.” … ” Read more from Yahoo News. | Read press release from San Luis Obispo County.
Julia Aranda’s responsibilities expand to Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency
“The agency that manages Ojai’s groundwater basin has a new interim general manager. Julia Aranda, engineering manager for Casitas Municipal Water District, is stepping into the position left vacant by the April 1 retirement of Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency General Manager John Mundy. Aranda, who was temporarily promoted to assistant general manager at Casitas, will continue her full-time duties in the district’s engineering department, while also serving as general manager for OBGMA for at least six months. … ” Read more from Ojai Valley News.
Emergency dredging starting in April at Carpinteria Salt Marsh
“Due to the increased flooding risk to adjacent properties and the city of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County is beginning an emergency dredging operation at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh in April. The work will continue until June. Dredging equipment may be delivered to the marsh through Carpinteria area streets and beach access points. … After the creek flows receded following the extreme rains from January, and following the storms over the past two months, the Carpinteria Salt Marsh revealed an extreme amount of sedimentation. The sedimentation obstructs Santa Monica and Franklin creeks, and when these channels are obstructed, there is increased risk for flooding throughout Carpinteria. Obstructed channels also interrupt the tidal cycle in the marsh, which reduces habitat for fish and wildlife that rely on open water channels for habitat and foraging. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Millerton Lake anticipates more people with warmer weather
“With the warmest temperatures of the year, in the forecast, some will be looking to beat the heat. Millerton Lake is one of the only places to dip your toes in the water after the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office closed the Kings and San Joaquin Rivers last month because of dangerous conditions. “With the rivers being closed there is not gonna be a lot of aquatic recreation available folks we’re expecting a lot of people on the shoreline there will be some boaters out there,” said Steve Barber a Park Ranger at Millerton Lake. Steve Barber and his team of park rangers are expecting a busy weekend. While many will be having fun, they will be working to make sure everyone stays safe. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Corcoran to raise levee ahead of expected snowmelt; work to start immediately
“The horseshoe-shaped levee that stands between Corcoran and the 1 million acre-feet of snowmelt expected to fill the Tulare lakebed this spring will be raised by 3.5 feet starting immediately, the city and Cross Creek Flood Control District announced Friday. Work on the elevation change will be handled by the city and flood control district using reserve funds and an emergency construction authorization, even as they continue to seek state or federal funding. The cost of the project was not available. “We need to find some money, and we’re hoping that they [the California Department of Water Resources] can step in and help us out with some of that funding,” said Gary Cramer, deputy chief of the Corcoran Police Department. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
An entire California city could be submerged by Tulare Lake. Now it’s scrambling to ward off disaster
“With California’s Sierra Nevada buried in historic snow, shattering a century of records at peaks and passes, the emerging melt-off is raising widespread fears of flooding. Nowhere is the concern greater than Corcoran. In this San Joaquin Valley city of 22,500, where already the famously dry Tulare Lake is being revived by mountain runoff, water is lapping against the levees that stand between the farm town and flooding. Some say it’s only a matter of time before the water spills over, submerging Corcoran as well as the state prison there. To ward off disaster, the community has set out to do what even in the best of times can be tough: raise its roughly 15 miles of levee by about 4 feet. Not only do local leaders not have the money to do this, they want the project done in a matter of weeks. “If it’s not worked on now, I hate to say it, but it may be too late,” said Corcoran City Manager Greg Gatzka. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
‘It’s got a memory.’ Tulare Lake’s return tests human changes to the land
“Halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield in California’s central San Joaquin Valley, a creek runs through a once-dry field of patchy grass in Allensworth. This patch of land belongs to the family of Kiara Rendon. She’s lived and worked in Allensworth for the past five years. She never expected to see flooding. But on March 20, water started gushing onto her family’s property, and Rendon rushed home to help her sister. “All of that was full of water and it was coming inside the property,” Rendon said, while surveying the soggy grass days later. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Compost facility holding human waste in cross hairs of Tulare Lake flooding
“Every day, truckloads of LA County sewage sludge end up in the southern San Joaquin Valley. A facility called Tulare Lake Compost transforms human waste from the Southland into nutrient-rich fertilizer. But now, the lake’s once-in-a-generation return is threatening to flood its namesake operation. If that happens, partially treated human waste could contaminate the lake water and surrounding farmland. As a precaution, plant managers have reduced sewage shipments by half. Beginning next week, shipments will cease altogether. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Preparations underway for historic snowmelt expected to rush down Kern River
“A historic snowpack looming above the upper Kern River has raised concerns that runoff this spring and early summer will overwhelm local flood control systems, potentially damaging bridges and inundating areas in and around Bakersfield. Local, state and federal agencies are partnering with water storage districts in a race against time to safely divert flows expected to rise to a magnitude unseen locally for generations. As modeling ramps up and construction crews clear away debris that could clog designated flow channels, the urgency of the situation is magnified by warming temperatures that some involved in the effort worry will require dangerously large releases of water from Isabella Lake. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Lancaster, Rhode Island firm OK deal on wastewater
“A Rhode Island company seeks to build its first recycled wastewater plant in the City of Lancaster using a portion of the city’s recycled water for their process. The City of Lancaster and Clean Water Ventures Inc. will work together for the company to develop, own and operate a plant that processes recycled water waste using their modular hydro-thermal technology to produce green hydrogen, clean water and clean co-products. The company’s technology exploits aluminum-water oxidation, according to its website. The technology converts recycled water into several byproducts including green hydrogen, clean water, aluminum hydroxide, steam electricity and salt, according to a staff report. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press.
New underground basins planned to help SoCal store water for next drought
“With all the rain Southern California had this winter, local water agencies are working harder to capture and keep all that water for when the drier years return. In San Bernardino, you might not notice the latest project because much of it will be underground. The Santa Ana River flows from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in Orange County. While much of that water does end up in the ocean, plenty is stored in aquifers and reservoirs. Funding has recently been provided for another project to store a massive amount of water underground. … ” Read more from KABC.
Water conservation project near Highland gets $2.5 million federal funding boost
“Help is on the way for the often parched Inland Empire. Armed with $2.5 million in federal funding announced Friday, April 7, several San Bernardino water agencies are working on a new mission for the Seven Oaks Dam near Highland, which has traditionally supported flood-control efforts. Soon, the dam will be used to help conserve water as part of the Santa Ana River Enhanced Stormwater Recharge Project. “With recent storms, we know, statistically, California’s drought may be cut in half,” Congressman Pete Aguilar said Friday. “But that’s not the full story. We have so much work to do.” … ” Read more from the Redlands Daily Facts.
New replenishment project expected to bring more sand to Orange County beaches
“Sand at the beach is guaranteed when visiting the coastline in Orange County but now, beachgoers can expect more of it as a sand replenishment project is set to begin next year. “The purpose of it is to replenish sand up and down the coastline from Surfside Beach all the way down to Newport Beach,” said Huntington Beach Public Affairs Manager Jennifer Carey. Carey said the project is supposed to take place every five to seven years. However, due to lack of federal funding, the last time it happened was in 2010. Carey said Rep. Michelle Steel of Orange County helped secure the funding necessary to restart the project. … ” Read more from KABC.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District awarded $9.5 million in federal funds for Upstream Reservoir Storage Project
“The U.S. Department of the Interior notified the Imperial Irrigation District Friday, April 6, that the District has been awarded $9.5 million in grant funding for fiscal year 2023 for its Upstream Reservoir Storage Project, according to a recent IID press release. The District will use the federal funds for the new operational storage reservoir which will be located upstream of IID’s water delivery system near the All-American and East Highline Canals, according to the release. Its primary purpose is to maximize IID’s water management efficiency within the Imperial Valley. “This is a critical project for the district,” said IID Board President Alex Cardenas, in the release, who thanked the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation. “Once complete, this reservoir will assist the district’s water operational needs, help our water team accommodate additional water user flexibility and facilitate significant system and on-farm conservation.” … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Oswit Land Trust and Trust for Public Land announces Agricultural Conservation Easement
“Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Oswit Land Trust (OLT) announced on Wednesday, April 5, the acquisition of an Agricultural Conservation Easement (ACE) on Alphabet Farms Ranch A – 1,888.07 acres of productive farmland in Imperial County. According to a press release from Oswit Land Trust (OLT), ACE protects this precious agricultural land from future development or destruction in perpetuity. OLT will carry out the long-term management of the ACE in a historic move by the land trust to advocate for new ways to preserve sensitive lands and wildlife habitat, the release reads.
The acquired ACE on Ranch A is part of a larger TPL and OLT effort to place agricultural conservation easements on additional ranches which when completed will total approximately 7,600 acres in the Imperial Valley, the release reads. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Column: Is the San Diego-Imperial model part of the solution for Colorado River woes?
Columnist Michael Smolens writes, “In a sense, the record string of storms that hit California created two lakes — one real and one hypothetical. The deluges re-established Tulare Lake, once the largest lake west of the Mississippi River that was drained long ago for agriculture and municipal water demands. Too bad for San Diego, which gets much of its water from the Colorado River via a long-term deal with the Imperial Irrigation District. The Colorado River Basin snowpack may not be a record like California’s, but it is well above average this year, and that could ease pressure on the stressed river that is a major source of water for California and six other states, along with Mexico. There has long been the question, at least locally, of why the agreement between the San Diego County Water Authority and the IID isn’t being used as a model for the states fed by the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In heated Alpine meeting, Sweetwater officials pledge to restore some damage, reopen Loveland Reservoir—but won’t rule out future extreme draining
“A crowd of more than angry residents turned out at the Alpine Community Planning Group hearing on March 23, where Sweetwater Water Authority officials addressed concerns over damage at Loveland Reservoir after SWA drained it to dead pool status. Audience members and planning group members peppered SWA officials with questions in the at times contentious session. Sweetwater officials pledged to restore the fishing dock, which is insured, but said erosion from recent rains has been so severe that a bridge needs to be built before some trails can be reopened. The district is also awaiting a report on repairs needed to the 80-year-old dam. As for restoring fish killed by the draining, the district indicated it plans to restore the fishing program, but that state and federal wildlife officials may not allow non-native species to be restocked. … ” Read more from the East County Magazine.
Carlsbad considers joining other coastal cities in yet another sand replenishment project
“Carlsbad could be the next coastal North County city to join the San Diego Association of Governments’ proposal to launch a third regional beach sand replenishment project. So far, the Oceanside, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Imperial Beach city councils have agreed to help fund the analysis, SANDAG regional planner Courtney Pesce said Tuesday in a presentation to Carlsbad’s Beach Preservation Commission. Del Mar and Coronado have scheduled discussions for upcoming council meetings. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Drought-ravaged Colorado River gets relief from snow. But long-term water crisis remains
“Four months ago, the outlook for the Colorado River was so dire that federal projections showed imminent risks of reservoirs dropping to dangerously low levels. But after this winter’s major storms, the river’s depleted reservoirs are set to rise substantially with runoff from the largest snowpack in the watershed since 1997. The heavy snow blanketing the Rocky Mountains offers some limited relief as water managers representing seven states and the federal government continue to weigh options for cutting water use. Despite the reprieve, officials are still grappling with how to address the river’s chronic water deficit, which has deepened during 23 years of drought intensified by climate change. “It’s a great snowpack,” said Bill Hasencamp, manager of Colorado River resources for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “It gives us breathing room. It gives us a little bit of space to negotiate.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Snowy, wet winter brings drought reprieve, but it won’t solve Colorado River water woes
“Snowy and cool conditions that persisted across the West through last month will likely create a gush of water unlike any the Colorado River has seen since 2011, river forecasters say. The expected snowmelt should protect hydroelectric power production at Glen Canyon Dam and prevent immediate losses to already depleted reservoirs serving the Southwest, regional and federal officials say. But it won’t break a 23-year megadrought’s threat to water supplies in coming years. “Even with this winter’s weather, conservation is more important now than ever,” Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said during a Thursday news conference celebrating federal funding for water savings by the Gila River Indian Community. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
SEE ALSO: Wet winter improves Colorado River forecast; big cuts still coming, from the Las Vegas Review-Journal
In saga of water scarcity, she found earnest players in a crucial role
“California’s governor recently lifted emergency water restrictions, and there has been some positive near-term news about drought in the U.S. West (though major Colorado River reservoirs remain low). Still, water issues are global climate issues, and they persist. Entitlement to water from the imperiled Colorado River remains a pressing issue for seven basin states and Mexico. Nowhere is that truer than in California’s Imperial Valley, a major source of agricultural produce. When writer Sarah Matusek set out to explore the issue, she found an angle that highlighted agency and good stewardship. “I think it’s safe to say that all up and down the Colorado River there’s the shared understanding that more needs to happen to conserve more water,” she says on the Monitor’s “Why We Wrote This” podcast. Sarah drilled into the work – much of it manual and low-tech – of the “zanjeros” (or “ditch riders”) employed by the Imperial Irrigation District. Their job, getting water to farmers, is performed with a sense of responsibility. … ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor.
Arizona tribe to get millions in federal payouts for water conservation
“The Gila River Indian Community could get up to $233 million in federal funding for water conservation, one of the first to get the money under a program aimed at encouraging water cutbacks in Arizona, California and Nevada. The tribe will get $50 million from the Inflation Reduction Act this year in exchange for agreeing to leave 125,000 acre feet of water in Lake Mead that it would otherwise be entitled to. There is an option for the tribe to do so again in 2024 and 2025, receiving $50 million for each year it conserves that much water in the lake, which is at dangerously low levels. The tribe will get another $83 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand water reuse efforts. It will fund a reclaimed water pipeline that, when completed, will add up to 20,000 acre-feet annually for system conservation, with a minimum of 78,000 acre-feet committed to remain Lake Mead. … ” Read more from Cronkite News.
In national water news this weekend …
Disappointment in Biden Veto of WOTUS Resolution
“President Joe Biden vetoed the Congressional effort to overturn the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The bipartisan Congressional Review Act joint resolution had been approved by both houses of Congress. Several agricultural groups had expressed support for the WOTUS resolution and had encouraged Biden to follow through with the will of Congress.“Both the House and Senate voted in a bipartisan manner to vacate this Administration’s disastrous WOTUS rule,” Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and cosponsor of the resolution, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson said in a press release. “America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners have made it clear this WOTUS definition is overly burdensome and unworkable, only exacerbating the regulatory uncertainty rural communities currently face. By vetoing this resolution, President Biden has once again turned his back on rural America.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: Department of Water Resources Releases ‘Drinking Water Well Impacts’ Guidance and ‘Water Shortage Planning’ Brochure
