On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Clean Water, Complicated Laws: What To Do When You Receive a Clean Water Act 60-Day Notice from 10am to 10:30am. Join BB&K’s leading water quality attorneys for a webinar series as presenters provide practical guidance on water quality issues, laws and regulations. Click here to register.
- YOLO FLYWAY NIGHTS: Habitat Corridors in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area beginning at 7pm. The Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) has recently completed a pilot project with the Delta Conservancy to create several habitat corridors in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. When Putah Creek, Cache Creek and the Sacramento River exceed capacity and flow into the Yolo Bypass, wildlife are often stranded. As flood waters rise from east to west, wildlife including deer, furbearers and ground nesting birds lack adequate cover to move out of lower areas or to escape aerial predation. This collaboration with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Yolo Basin Foundation, regional agencies and local partners has resulted in five new miles of habitat on the wildlife area, an 18-acre conversion to native grassland species, and a repurposing of remnants of the Lisbon Trestles that were used for train travel into the 1950s. There is demonstration area showcasing several of the flood-adapted native plant species in ‘Parking Lot A’ that can be visited when the wildlife area is open to the public. Heather Nichols, Executive Director of the RCD, will discuss the details of this work. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
What to expect during the potential ‘super El Niño’
“The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a weather phenomenon in which “sea temperatures at the surface in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean become substantially warmer than normal,” according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). As a result, it causes “extreme heat, dangerous tropical cyclones, and a significant threat to fragile coral reefs,” along with overall warmer temperatures, CNN writes. ENSO is expected to make an appearance sometime this year, and the phenomenon typically lasts between nine and 12 months. “Right now, the atmosphere and the ocean are both in sync and screaming ‘El Niño rapid development’ over the next few months,” climate scientist Daniel Swain told CNN. The phenomenon is said to be “like a natural form of climate change,” Time describes. … ” Read more from Yahoo News.
SEE ALSO: El Nino likely to develop this summer, from NOAA
State water board weighs status of six aquifer plans
“Local agencies for six San Joaquin Valley subbasins, facing possible state intervention after their groundwater sustainability plans were deemed inadequate, learned more about next steps last week from California water officials. During a board meeting of the California State Water Resources Control Board, officials signaled a willingness to allow agencies to bring aquifer plans into compliance with state sustainability mandates. “The board’s role is intended to be temporary, so state intervention is not a replacement for a groundwater sustainability plan,” said Natalie Stork, state water board supervising engineering geologist of the groundwater management program. “Our goal is to help get basins back on track with DWR (California Department of Water Resources), so it’s a temporary process.” … ” Continue reading at Ag Alert.
California to squander record rains, snowpack in deluge of regulations, GOP lawmakers say
“California’s Central Valley constitutes 1 percent of the agricultural land in the United States yet it harvests nearly a quarter of the nation’s farmed products. The 50-mile wide, 450-mile-long breadbasket is irrigated by an intricate series of river impoundments and canals that are regulated by federal and state agencies. California, like much of the West, withered during a multi-decade drought that, over its past three years, featured the region’s driest span on record. Water was so scarce that Central Valley irrigation was often scaled back with farmers forced to rely on groundwater, where and when available. But now the valley, like much of California, is flooded after a three-month spasm of “atmospheric rivers” swamped previously parched farmlands, citrus orchards, nut groves, and livestock grazing pastures. With a record snowpack in the Sierra Madre Mountains looming to the east, a spring and summer of sustained snowmelt flooding await. As this “excess” water seeps into the sea, meanwhile, San Diego is paying $38 per acre foot to desalinize seawater. … ” Read more from the Epoch Times.
Snowmelt forecast highlights flood risks
“This winter’s massive Sierra Nevada snowpack could lead to devastating floods, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley and Tulare Lake Basin, as spring and summer snowmelt volumes pick up speed with the arrival of warm weather and sunshine, according to state water prognosticators. In its April to July snowmelt forecast, the California Department of Water Resources predicts river systems up and down the state will receive volumes of water well above average, sometimes dramatically so. The large amount of water isn’t unexpected given the incredibly wet winter conditions and dam operators, water system managers, flood control districts and emergency response officials are working to coordinate how much water to move through the state’s storage and delivery systems at specific times to capture as much as possible for urban, agricultural and environmental uses while also trying to reduce flood risks. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard.
Photos show how Lake Shasta water levels changed in a year
“Photos have revealed how the water levels of California’s Lake Shasta have changed in just a year. The reservoir, located in Shasta County, California, is the biggest in the state and just a year ago it was in a dire situation due to the ongoing drought. But a particularly wet winter saw the state receive an influx of rainfall and precipitation. This has provided some much needed storage for the state’s reservoirs, and now the lake is about three-quarters full. Pictures shared by KRCR News Channel 7 show side by side photos of the lake in January 2022 and April 2023. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
California issues report outlining a future for state agriculture
“The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has released a document outlining its vision for the state’s farming industry over the next decade. It’s called Ag Vision for the Next Decade. “Ag Vision is not just a plan for farmers and ranchers,” says an introductory statement. “It’s 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. It’s a plan for those curious about their food, those who buy fresh California fruit at their local grocery store, and those who receive nutritious dairy foods from their local food bank or school. It’s also a plan for young people looking to apply technology and innovation in new ways.” … ” Read more from the Produce Blue Book.
Despite more water, most field crop plantings to drop
“Having more water this year has not necessarily boosted state plantings of field crops. Of the ones tracked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only three—corn, rice and dry beans—are projected to increase in acreage, according to the department’s prospective plantings report released on March 31. USDA made the acreage estimates based primarily on surveys conducted during the first two weeks of March. State corn acreage is expected to climb by 2.7%—from 370,000 last year to 380,000 this year. After water shortages forced vast swaths of Sacramento Valley rice ground to lay idle last year, the grain is expected to make a comeback this year, with 404,000 acres compared to 256,000 acres in 2022. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Growers learn about vineyard water management
“Learning on the road or in the field isn’t anything new for farmers. Those who grow things gain experience from others who have already walked that path – with one of the latest endeavors being a UCCE seminar on Vineyard Water Management. Several speakers from University of California, Davis and UC Cooperative Extension San Luis Obispo covered different aspects of the subject, a timely presentation that followed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to put the current abundance of floodwaters to positive use through groundwater recharge. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Wet orchard floors could cause phytophthora problems
“With all the rainfall in many parts of the state, standing water in orchards could be a problem to those trees as it could cause anaerobic situations. Katherine Jarvis-Shean is a UCANR farm advisor based in Yolo County with additional coverage in Solano and Sacramento counties. She noted problems if that water stays standing deep in orchards. “The danger zone comes after, say four days or so, in terms of having anaerobic responses. Certainly, if you’re sitting in moisture and saturated soil for more than 24 hours, you’re in the danger zone with phytophthora infections. Which is a serious fungal disease,” she said. … ” Read more from Cal Ag Today.
CDFW provides nearly $36 million for projects to save salmon and other California fish and wildlife species
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced nearly $36 million in projects to benefit salmon and their habitats, and to further support climate resiliency, wildlife corridors and wetlands restoration. Saving salmon and rebuilding their populations for future Californians involves many key actions including investing in and restoring salmon strongholds as climate refugia, increasing partnerships, working with Tribes, doing more large-scale restoration at a faster pace, modernizing old infrastructure and creating fish passage around migration barriers. Today’s awards invest in those types of salmon projects. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Swimming pools and lavish gardens of the rich are driving water shortages, study says
“Swimming pools, flower gardens, indoor fountains — and the urbanites who can afford them — are big factors behind the increasingly dire water crises plaguing cities, an international research team says. Published in the journal Nature Sustainability, a new study found socioeconomic disparity to be just as influential as climate change and population growth when it comes to explaining why the water supply in so many cities is shrinking. “There are certain individuals with the power to decide how to manage water who also use more water,” said lead researcher Elisa Savelli of Uppsala University in Sweden. “Even with something as simple as water, it’s unjust. Some social groups have access to too much, and some social groups have too little.” … ” Read moire from KVCR.
How the irrigation industry met and continues to meet challenges
“California has had a unique and increased responsibility to develop sustainable indoor and outdoor water management practices and standards since the early 1950s. As part of the state’s shift from an abundant agriculture industry to the post-war era, the region’s most attractive counties became saturated with master-planned communities, parks, schools and supporting infrastructure to keep up with a growing population and demand for a suburban lifestyle. … Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that water conservation principles, such as adopting new irrigation technology, selecting water-conscious plant material, properly installing irrigation systems and properly training maintenance personnel began to take root in the minds of city planners, large land development companies and landscape architects. … ” Read more from Landscape Management.
California wants to cover its canals with solar panels
“A new state-funded project in the San Joaquin Valley hopes to find a new way to build drought resilience. The idea is simple: Cover the state’s canals and aqueducts with solar panels to both limit evaporation and generate renewable energy. “If you drive up and down the state, you see a lot of open canals. And after year after year of drought it seemed an obvious question: How much are we losing to evaporation?” said Jordan Harris, co-founder and chief executive of Solar AquaGrid, a company based in the Bay Area that’s designing and overseeing the initiative. “It’s just common sense in our eyes.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Cities are rethinking what kinds of trees they’re planting
“After a series of winter storms pummeled California this winter, thousands of trees across the state lost their grip on the earth and crashed down into power lines, homes and highways. Sacramento alone lost more than 1,000 trees in less than a week. Stressed by years of drought, pests and extreme weather, urban trees are in trouble. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that cities are losing some 36 million trees every year, wiped out by development, disease and, increasingly, climate stressors, like drought. In a recent study published in Nature, researchers found that more than half of urban trees in 164 cities around the world were already experiencing temperature and precipitation conditions that were beyond their limits for survival. … ” Read more from Discover.
How California’s recent storms are changing wildfire predictions
“Moisture-laden storms have inundated California during the state’s wet season and will likely reduce the impacts of the 2023 wildfire season. California was subject to more than a dozen atmospheric rivers that dumped loads of rain and snow on the state and nearly wiped out the state’s drought for the first time in years. A higher than average snowpack is expected to continue saturating California streams, rivers and reservoirs through June, delaying the onset of the state’s wildfire season. However, a new wildfire prediction report from AccuWeather says that the excessive foliage growth from all the rain provides a substantial amount of “short-term fuels” such as grasses, brush and plants. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Could removing carbon from the ocean be a climate change solution?
Rosanna Xia, coastal reporter for the Los Angeles Times, writes, “When an email from UCLA landed in my inbox, inviting me to check out an ocean-based carbon-removal system that its engineering faculty had just developed, I was (to say the least) very intrigued. The ocean, after all, has long been a silent hero when it comes to climate change. It has absorbed almost one-third of the carbon dioxide released by humans since the Industrial Revolution — and more than 90% of the resulting heat. Talk long enough to anyone who works in marine science, and you’ll inevitably hear someone sigh and explain that this issue often flies so under the radar that it’s now dubbed “the other CO2 problem.” This excess heat from unchecked carbon emissions has unfolded in insidious ways underwater. Sea level rise. More intense marine heat waves. And when carbon dioxide mixes with seawater, it undergoes chemical reactions that increase the water’s acidity, which can discombobulate fish and wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
Commentary: How managing flood flows can help rescue aquifers
Thomas Harter, Mallika Nocco, Isaya Kisekka and Helen Dahlke write, “As a changing climate stresses water supplies, a key focus for California is on how to manage flood flows in ways that store more water for drought years while reducing risk to life and infrastructure. A potential solution to this question is to enhance groundwater recharge, a natural process in the water cycle that leaks water from rainfall, rivers or flooded areas into the subsurface. Natural recharge is no longer enough to refill our overtapped groundwater reserves. But intentional, managed aquifer recharge, or MAR, can help reduce flood risk and store more water for dry periods. Some MAR has been practiced in California for a hundred years by either injection of water directly into the aquifer or, more commonly, the diversion of stream water into percolation basins where water can seep into storage. To achieve rapid percolation of water from several inches up to several feet per day, managed recharge basins need to be situated over portions of the aquifer that ensure water is quickly distributed underground into the broader aquifer system to avoid water “traffic jams.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Commentary: Tulare Lake flap reveals the politics of water
Todd Fitchette, Western Farm Press, writes, “The politics of water and landowner disagreements in the Tulare Lake region of California is rising as fast as the flood flows inundating the area. A special meeting of the Kings County Board of Supervisors in late March allowed landowners to share concerns over how the lake bottom region, which is heavily farmed by a few large farming companies, will manage flood flows coming off the southern Sierra Nevada. SJV Water, a local non-profit news organization, continues to dig into accusations by farmers that the Boswell Company is cutting levees to protect their crops and facilities at the expense of other farmers. One of those farmers was our High Cotton winner from a few short years ago. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Inside Calif.’s Klamath River dam removal project, the largest in US history
“Northern California river advocates and tribal groups have been fighting for more than two decades for the removal of four dams on the Klamath River. Their victory late last year set the stage for the removal project to become the largest of its kind in U.S. history. Now is a particularly good time to learn about it, as preparations are already underway for the first dam to be removed starting in June. Here’s why this will be one for the history books. Running out of the Cascade Mountains through southern Oregon and northern California to the Pacific Ocean, the Klamath River has been part of the ancestral territory of the Karuk, Yurok and other Native American tribes since time immemorial. … ” Continue reading from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Undamming (and Restoring) the Klamath, from the North Coast Journal
Spring snowfall melt leading to cold water hazards across rivers and streams
“The record-breaking snowfall the North Coast saw over the last few months is now leading to higher water flows as it begins to melt. Hydrologist Kathleen Zontos with the National Weather Service in Eureka says the year’s snow melt is expected to be greater. “This was an incredibly active winter, especially after a few years of drought,” Zontos said. “Now that we’re seeing a higher than normal snowpack for not only us but across the state, there’s going to be more runoff.. most of the flood concerns are expected to be around the Sierras and so the good news for us in Northwest California is we’re not really expecting many flood impacts from the from the snowmelt.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
Will there be enough cold water?
“With the spillway gates remaining open on Scott Dam, likely causing a dramatic decrease in Lake Pillsbury, agencies are trying to determine if there will be enough cold water for salmonids. The plumbing of the Potter Valley Project is one of the most complicated on the west coast. A biological opinion from 2002 attempts to balance the needs of water users and endangered fish in the Eel River and Russian River watersheds, which are both key to the recovery of endangered California Chinook. Last month, PG&E, which owns and operates the project, announced that it would not close the spillway, or radial gates on Scott Dam after April first. That’s expected to reduce the levels of Lake Pillsbury by 20%. The reason stated was an initial engineering assessment that found seismic vulnerabilities in the dam. The gates remain open now, days after they would usually be closed. … ” Read more from KZYX.
A.C.I.D. working on diversion dam project to bring water to farmers in the Northstate
“After a year of being down, the flashboards are going back up on the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation District (A.C.I.D.) diversion dam at Lake Redding Park. On Wednesday, KRCR spoke with Scott Passmore, the A.C.I.D. maintenance supervisor. He says the flashboards are put in place to help divert water to farmers in Shasta and Tehama counties. … “The ultimate goal is to get the water backed up so we can deliver it to our customers in Shasta and Tehama counties and that way it keeps their pasture green and their cows happy and all the other things that it does for the area,” Passmore said. … ” Read more from KRCR.
NAPA/SONOMA
Storms leave vineyards ‘in pretty good shape’
“The wet winter in California should make for a better season for Sonoma County vineyards than last year, when drought and chilly spring weather led to a diminished crop, an industry leader says. “Mother Nature didn’t disappoint in her 2022 harvest dance,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the 1,800-member Sonoma County Winegrowers. “Although tonnage was down a bit, lighter by 9% over the previous year, that was expected because of chilly spring weather damage despite frost protection measures. “Drought and water conservation efforts contributed to the lighter yield because growers didn’t have the option of irrigation as a tool during harvest,” she added. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Groundwater Wells: Sonoma County Supes move to update permit process
“The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors gave initial approval Tuesday on changes to the county’s Well Ordinance that would create a new regulatory process for approving well permits. Under the amendments, before a well permit may be approved, potential adverse impacts on public trust resources in navigable waterways, such as the Russian River, would be analyzed and mitigated to the extent feasible. The amendments were created to reflect the county’s responsibilities under California’s public trust doctrine regarding natural resources such as waterways. … ” Read more from The Patch.
BAY AREA
Several Bay Area water districts end drought restrictions, charges
“California’s drought might not be officially, entirely over but water districts around the Bay Area are rescinding key provisions of their emergency drought rules. On Tuesday, the boards that govern the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Alameda County Water District voted to end many drought-related water restrictions. The votes follow similar actions taken by the East Bay Municipal Utility District in March and the Contra Costa Water District on April 5. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
San Francisco’s getting a water rate hike, even as the drought ends
“After one of the wettest winters on record, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will lift its nearly 1-year-old drought surcharge—but another proposed hike is in the works. With historic snowpack levels and reservoirs filling up around the state, the commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to lift the Water Shortage Emergency Declaration. Starting in May, retail and wastewater customers will stop paying a 5% surcharge that’s been in effect since April 2022. “While these storms may have ended the latest drought for much of California, climate change is resulting in weather whiplash,” Dennis Herrera, utilities commission general manager, said in a press release. “Rapid shifts between extreme weather mean long-term vulnerabilities for our water supply.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard.
These are challenges the Bay Area faces in eliminating ‘forever chemicals’ in water, experts say
“Scientist Rebecca Sutton, Ph.D. and her colleagues at the San Francisco Estuary Institute have spent more than a decade tracking chemicals known as PFAS, which have been linked to a variety of environmental problems. “So they can harm a lot of different organ systems in the body. They can harm the kidneys, the liver, our blood, our reproductive and immune function. So, there’s a lot of different things that can go wrong in the human body when we’re exposed to PFAS,” Sutton said. PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are now in the crosshairs since the Environmental Protection Agency proposed tight new standards to protect the nation’s drinking water. But Sutton says the situation here in Bay Area is different than some other parts of the country, where the pollution is still driven by heavy manufacturing. … ” Read more from KABC.
How will Benicia’s water line get fixed?
“The mud on the highway wasn’t a worry for Fairfield’s Michael Hester, but the emerging cracks on the road proved to be reason for concern. Record breaking rainfall this winter saturated the hills around the cities of Fairfield and Benicia, resulting in debris falling onto the road in mid-March. The cracking, however, indicated that something bigger may be at-hand. Hester said this week that cracks in the road could be a sign of slope creeping, although it can initially be difficult to recognize it as a precursor to anything more. Public Works personnel mobilized to clean up the roads as “significant” cracking continued, Hester said, and moved to shut down the section of Lopes Road near I-680 and Gold Hill Road. There wasn’t any issue at hand yet, but Hester said he gave Benicia’s Public Works director a heads up: “Hey, the road is being closed because the hill is moving.” … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald.
CENTRAL COAST
Work to repair, modernize Pajaro River levee now on fast track
“Work to repair and modernize the Pajaro River levee after a major flood is now on the fast track. Federal lawmakers visited the levee on Wednesday along with the U.S Army Corp of Engineers who gave their first timeline of when repairs will begin on the levee that breached and flooded the town of Pajaro on March 11. “Our goal as the Army Corps and partners is to make sure that before it rains again, this fall this next winter, all of the weak spots and breaches are repaired that’s our near-term goal,” said Tommy Williams with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Atascadero water company seeking 25% rate increase
“In an attempt to deal with rising costs and the need for capital improvements, the Atascadero Mutual Water Company is proposing a 25% increase in water rates for 2024 and then 4% each year after that. At its meeting on the afternoon of April 12, the water company’s board is scheduled to discuss the proposed rate increase. A portion of the increase is slated to be used to offset increased costs for electricity, natural gas and health insurance. … ” Read more from Cal Coast News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin Valley farmers dig in for the next battle: an epic Sierra snowmelt
“Tom Barcellos has farmed the reclaimed soil of the Tulare Lake Basin for nearly five decades, and he’s rarely witnessed a winter like 2023. A slew of drenching storms, funneled across the Pacific Ocean as atmospheric rivers, have prompted prolonged flooding in large swaths of the San Joaquin Valley. For the first time in decades, Tulare Lake is reemerging from the valley floor, as rivers swollen with runoff from heavy rains and snow spill down from the Sierra Nevada into the valley, overwhelming canals and levees. The lake’s return has engulfed thousands of acres of cropland, orchards, highways and homes, upending the region’s economy, possibly for years. And even as blue skies return, the flood-weary farmers have only to look east, to the towering Sierra mantled in historic layers of snow, to know there is worse to come. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
‘Extremely dangerous’ water levels keep Kings & San Joaquin Rivers closed
“The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office still has the San Joaquin and Kings Rivers closed, but that’s not stopping some people from hopping into the water.”This is for your safety and it’s also for the safety of our personnel,” said Tony Botti, Public Information Officer for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. The Kings River from Pine Flat Dam to the Tulare and Kings County lines, as well as the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the Merced County line, has been closed since March 14. “It’s just extremely dangerous to be on the water right now,” said Botti. “It’s reaching levels it never has before so you’re going to get hazards that were never there in the past and it just presents a lot of dangers to your life.” … ” Read more from Fox 26.
Tulare citrus farmers battle mud, debris
“Growers in Tulare County normally would be enjoying harvest and fragrant orange blossoms this time of year. But last month’s flooding is requiring an extensive cleanup operation and is a major challenge for the state’s top citrus-growing region. Flooding from multiple levee breaks in the east county Yokohl Creek carried away newly planted trees, ripped out irrigation systems, washed away valuable topsoil and scattered debris across the farming landscape. Tulare County produces California’s largest share of navel and Valencia oranges and mandarins. Now farmers there are dealing with standing water in groves, mucky sediment several inches deep and chunks of driftwood strewn across their ranches. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Crews work to raise Corcoran Levee to prevent more flooding in Kings County
“Crews are rushing to reinforce the Corcoran Levee in Kings County before major snowmelt in the coming months. Thousands of acres of farmland in Kings County remain under water after recent storms. Officials say with warmer days ahead, the concern now is how quickly snowmelt will rush down rivers and canals, which will only increase the amount of water surrounding Corcoran. “There are days that we are afraid, we are nervous and I think it’s only natural,” said Mary Gonzales, a resident of Corcoran. … ” Read more from Channel 30.
Kings County officials urging safety amid historic flooding
“Twelve days after a local emergency was declared in Kings County, areas of Hanford and Corcoran remain underwater. An emergency center was activated this week as roads and farmlands face flooding. Corcoran remains of highest concern — shocking video shows the water levels near the city rising over roads and near homes. In the late 1800s, Tulare Lake was the largest body of fresh water in the western US. Dams were later built and the lakebed was turned into farmland. Following several months of winter storms, that land is now filling with water and farmers are being forced from their homes. … ” Read more from Channel 30.
SJ Valley grower challenged on levee breaches
“Kings County, Calif. officials voted in closed session in late March to cut a levee near the lowest point of the old Tulare Lakebed after the damage was done to homes, farmland, and farm shops south of Corcoran. The move was meant to alleviate pressure in other parts of the lakebed and spread what could be over one million acre feet of runoff aimed at the lowest point in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The decision in a declared emergency session came after public testimony by officials with J.G. Boswell Company, who were asked by supervisors to defend their decision to unilaterally breach levees in an area of the lakebed that spared their farmland and infrastructure from flooding. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
“To say that California’s winter and early spring has been wet, is an understatement. There have been anywhere from 11-14 atmospheric events since December with the number varying depending on who you ask. As such, major flooding has occurred across the state. One interesting outcome of all this weather to many of us in agriculture, is the flooding and re-emergence of Tulare Lake. This was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. The history around the lake, its infrastructure and subsequent farming on the land has a long and varied past. Since the dried lake basin is now mostly farmed and many farming communities have grown in the areas near and around the lake, the flooding is having devastating consequences. We’d thought we’d put our remote sensing skills to use to track the flooding via satellite imagery. … ” Read more from Bountiful.
EASTERN SIERRA
Water woes and wins: Managing the valley’s scarce and vital resource
“As water levels in Indian Wells Valley drop, the cost of water is rising. What is driving increases in cost? The IWV’s water supply is dropping at a rate of roughly 20,000 acre feet per year, according to the most agreed upon studies paid for by the Navy. Some may dispute the specifics of that number, but the reality is that the IWV Groundwater Authority is already hearing cases of wells running dry. This is the exact issue that led to the formation of the IWVGA in 2016, following California’s passing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014. Nearly all of IWV’s water supply comes from the groundwater basin directly under the ground. That basin holds a large storage of water, but that storage is in critical overdraft and has been for decades. There are two unavoidable controversies that come with managing a scarce yet vital resource like water: costs and allotment. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Record snowpack dramatically improves water supply outlook for Los Angeles
“After completing the final snow surveys for the 2022-2023 winter season, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) announced a record snowpack of 296% of normal for the Eastern Sierra on April 1. The snowpack created by this year’s epic winter season surpassed the 1969 historic record estimated at 270% of normal. “Los Angeles will continue to do all we can to ensure that we are turning record snow and rain into record water capture,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. “We will continue to expand and secure a local sustainable water supply, and continue to use water wisely.” “It has been a phenomenally wet year, bringing a dramatic 180-degree turn-around for our city’s water supply,” said Martin Adams, LADWP General Manager and Chief Engineer. “But while we can breathe a little easier the extreme shift in weather patterns demonstrates the unpredictability of our snow and water levels each year. It’s crucial we continue to expand and secure a local sustainable water supply, and continue to use water wisely.” … ” Read more from LADWP.
Water release from San Antonio Dam causes flooding in Stone Canyon neighborhood of Claremont
“What began as a mysterious water leak in Claremont turned into full-on flooding Wednesday night after water was released from the San Antonio Dam. In a letter from the city of Claremont sent to residents on Tuesday, city staff was initially notified of “abnormal groundwater seepage” in the Appalachian and Nashotah areas of the Stone Canyon development. A few days later, the city began getting calls about more groundwater seepage from homeowners on New Hampshire and Moody Place. “In response, staff was informed that the Six Basins Water Master is conducting spreading operations to recharge the groundwater levels from what appears to be water released from the San Antonio Dam,” read the letter. “Army Corps of Engineers records for the San Antonio Dam show a water level decrease of 20 feet within the last 15 days.” … ” Read more from KABC.
SoCal can expect more birds, rabbits, rats and snakes in wildlife surge after record rain
“After years of dusty, dry hillsides, much of Southern California has turned green from record-breaking rain and snow this winter, which wildlife experts say has already started to improve habitats and populations for certain species — a trend they expect to reverberate through the entire landscape. That is likely to mean the region will be populated with more squirrels, rabbits, rats and snakes — although, in some cases, it could take several months or longer to see the resulting surge in wildlife. “This year had just been transformative throughout the region, just the amount of growth of everything,” said Daniel Cooper, a senior conservation biologist at the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains. “Everything is just exploding right now.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Students’ 1976 bicentennial mural on California dam being replaced
“A giant mural that students painted on a California dam for the U.S. bicentennial in 1976 is being recreated after years of controversy over a decision to remove the original. Workers following the original design began painting the new mural on the spillway of Prado Dam this month, Southern California News Group reported. The dam is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control project on the Santa Ana River, about 36 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. … ” Read more from NBC LA.
SAN DIEGO
Potential water cuts from the Colorado River could impact farmers
“The very real threat of losing water from the Colorado River is the potential cuts to California’s agriculture. The Imperial Valley alone has 500 thousand acres of farmland at the lower basin of the Colorado River. Farms like Bear Valley Organic Farm in Valley Center run on water. “We have wine grapes,” said Alex Kallus, an agriculture expert. “We have varieties of Greek olive oil.” Kallas has been working in the agriculture industry for 25 years. He manages several agricultural operations in North San Diego County. “Here in valley center specific and San Diego County, we get a mixture of delta conveyance from San Joaquin Valley, and we also get from San Diego Water Authority’s attachment to the Colorado River,” he said. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Carlsbad declines Oceanside’s invite to join sand project
“Carlsbad this week declined Oceanside’s invitation to participate in a jury that will judge proposals for sand retention structures to be built on Oceanside’s eroding beaches. In August 2021, the Oceanside council agreed to spend $1 million on plans and permits for the program. However, the proposal at the time was to build a pilot project with four 600-foot-long groins, 1,000 feet apart. That approach generated outrage among coastal communities to the south that feared the structures would starve their beaches of sand. “Sand is not just a one-city issue,” Carlsbad Councilmember Teresa Acosta said Wednesday. She and her City Council colleagues have said repeatedly that a regional effort is the best solution. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Encinitas opens new water pipeline reducing drinking water demand by 27 million gallons per year
“A new water pipeline project recently finished construction in Encinitas. On Tuesday local and congressional leaders held a ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the pipeline. The Manchester Avenue Recycled Water Pipeline Project involved the construction of approximately 1.4 miles of six-inch diameter recycled water pipeline. According to a press release, customers connecting to this new pipeline will now irrigate with recycled water, reducing the demand for imported drinking water by more than 27 million gallons per year. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Video: Kimberly Hunt looks into sustainable water programs in San Diego County
“After two decades of drier conditions in the west, the concern for the Federal Government is how to keep the Colorado River flowing in the long term. Kimberly Hunt is live in Oceanside at the Pure Water Facility. The facility opened last year and is a first of its kind water treatment plant that turns waste water into drinking water. It’s one of several new sustainable methods being used to provide a reliable local water supply, even during a drought.” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River: Can feds legally cut IID, other rural water district allotments?
“The powerful Imperial Irrigation District and others with historic first dibs to Colorado River water are once again facing possible threats to their jealously guarded supply. At a press conference at the Hoover Dam on Tuesday, federal officials announced possible unprecedented, across-the-board cuts to all water contractors in three states if levels in its massive reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, fall so low that they might no longer function. Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has clear legal authority to take actions to protect public health and safety, and to ensure drinking water and other beneficial uses can be provided. But western water law is inordinately complicated, and while public officials do have broad emergency powers, a seminal 1922 Colorado River compact, varying state laws and other agreements and even court decisions since then that together comprise the “Law of the River” also tend to protect historic rights like those held by IID. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Biden administration considers unprecedented solution to Colorado River crisis
“A 23-year-long drought exacerbated by climate change has taken a toll on the Colorado River. From 2000 to 2014, the flow of the lifeblood of the American West declined to only 81% of its 20th-century average, and water levels in the river’s two main reservoirs have sunk to record lows. The concern is that in the future, levels could sink enough to reach “dead pool”—the critical point at which the river can no longer provide water and electricity to Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California.In the fall of 2022, in response to the crisis, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation set an end-of-January-2023 deadline for the seven Colorado River Basin states to reach a consensus on water use reductions. Six of the seven states together submitted a last-minute proposal, but California, user of the greatest amount of Colorado River water, submitted its own separate proposal. … ” Read more from EOS.
Colorado River water: Is fallowing farmland a fair way to conserve?
“What’s a farmer’s favorite vegetable to eat? “The one that’s making the most money,” Craig Elmore says. Crops bring profit. But this year, as before, Mr. Elmore isn’t farming some fields. These more than 2,000 idled acres – roughly a quarter of his terrain, he says – could have sprouted plumes of Sudan grass or wheat. But he’s wary of running out of water allocated to him from the drought-stressed Colorado River. California’s Imperial Irrigation District, which serves growers like him, has the single largest entitlement to the river. The Colorado is also its only source of water. Mr. Elmore isn’t the only one worried. Seven basin states, including large metro areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, as well as 30 tribal nations, and part of Mexico depend on the river to sustain not only livelihoods but life itself. … ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor.
Feds propose options for managing Colorado River water shortage: ‘Failure is not an option’
“The Biden administration on Tuesday released a document exploring potential solutions for managing the ongoing drought in the Colorado River Basin, which could be a step forward to imposing water delivery cuts from the Colorado River. The draft supplemental environmental impact statement published by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is the result of months of discussions and collaboration with stakeholders, including Basin states, water commissioners, water managers, farmers, irrigators and municipalities, among others. The government is aiming to make a final decision about how to manage the water shortage in August, to go into effect in 2024. … ” Read more from CNBC.
Water rights: Feds could place burden on Las Vegas to protect California farms
“The federal government laid out a pair of options Tuesday to drastically cut water use along the Colorado River and keep Lake Mead and Lake Powell from crashing any further in the coming years. One of the proposals would impose hefty cuts following a strict priority system, which would protect the California agricultural sector’s water rights while placing the heaviest burden on cities like Las Vegas and Phoenix, while the other proposal would share those reductions more proportionally across Nevada, Arizona and California. Both alternatives would impose cuts of nearly 2.1 million acre-feet in total at the most in 2024, with the steepest cuts triggered the lower Lake Mead falls. Larger cuts also would be imposed in 2025 and 2026 under both scenarios, totaling up to 4 million acre-feet in reductions if needed, or roughly 25 percent of the river’s annual allocation. The government also will consider a “no action alternative,” which looks at what would happen if no further cuts are made. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Southern Nevada Water Authority says Nevada prepared for looming water cuts
“According to Biden administration plans released yesterday, Southern Nevada may face cuts of up to 30% of our water use. Depending on which (or which combination) of the three plans they published, Southern Nevada will either maintain a 10% reduction in water allotment or answer to additional cuts up to 30%. Two of those plans are causing further tension among Colorado River stakeholders. The first is what they called strict priority—2 million acre-feet of water cuts prioritized according to state water rights. California has the highest priority and would basically be unaffected; of course, Nevada and Arizona would face larger cuts. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
Lake Mead’s unexpected April water level rise continues
“In a surprising move, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is releasing much more water from Lake Powell in an effort to shore up Lake Mead’s water level. But how much it will help and how long this will last is not known at this time. Beginning on April 1, 2023, Reclamation began the process of releasing more than twice the previously scheduled amount of water downriver through the Glen Canyon Dam. “The release volume from Glen Canyon Dam for April 2023 will be increased to 910,000 acre-feet because of the increased snowpack throughout March,” Reclamation Public Affairs Officer Becki Bryant told 8 News Now. … ” Read more from KLAS.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE OF SCOPING MEETING: Possible Amendment of the Bay-Delta Plan to Incorporate Voluntary Agreement for the Tuolumne River
