In California water news this weekend …
The path forward for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
“The legislation that launched the state’s comprehensive regulation of groundwater, commonly known as SGMA, was passed in 2014. One of the foundational principles of SGMA is that groundwater is to be managed locally, with the state providing support, guidance and backstop enforcement of the law. After nearly nine years, much progress has been made in organizing the governmental efforts to sustainably manage California’s groundwater. While the law sets 2040 as the year when the elimination of “undesirable results” is to occur, steady progress toward that objective is required. Paul Gosselin is the Department of Water Resources (DWR) official in charge of implementing SGMA for the state. At a water conference this week he explained what we can expect from DWR over the next couple of years. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
Water Board authorizes more than a million acre-feet of groundwater recharge
“Groundwater recharge efforts have been significantly bolstered by multiple storm systems beginning last December. As a result, the State Water Resources Control Board has authorized the diversion of 1.2 million acre-feet of water. The diverted water has been used for groundwater storage, wildlife refuge support, along with other purposes. A total of nine temporary permits for groundwater recharge have been issued this season, eight of which are located in the Central Valley. “This is the most water we have made available for groundwater recharge in such a short amount of time,” State Water Board Chair, E. Joaquin Esquivel said in a press release. “It speaks to how efficient our temporary permitting process has become since the state first prioritized capturing stormwater underground. However, the pace of extreme weather events challenges all of us to accelerate our recharge efforts.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Lake Oroville hits 100% capacity Friday, Department of Water Resources says
“Lake Oroville hit 100% capacity on Friday with a water elevation of 899 feet, according to the Department of Water Resources. This comes nearly two years after the lake hit its lowest level. When full, Lake Oroville holds 3.52 million acre-feet of water, which is 127% of the historical average. The DWR continues to release water from the main spillway to allow enough room for spring runoff from snowmelt after an extra wet winter in the Northstate. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Balancing aquatic habitat and human water supply in California: a Q&A with Doug Chalmers
“A new journal article published in PLOS Water highlights a novel tool by SEI called Aquatic Habitat Assessment (AHA), developed to assist a California water district in balancing the water supply needs of critical fish species and humans alike in the Silicon Valley technology hub. Co-lead author and SEI Scientist Doug Chalmers explains how AHA came to be and its potential for addressing human-versus-habitat water conflicts throughout the world. Q: The catalyst for this research began with a complaint against a California water district. Can you tell us about that? A: For a long time, the Santa Clara Valley Water District operated its reservoirs and water system to prioritize meeting local water supply for municipal and surrounding agriculture use, as well as to replenish local aquifers. … ” Read more from the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Second district “waters down” Los Angeles Waterkeeper waste discharge permit CEQA exemption opinion after rehearing at request of Water Boards, narrows and clarifies holding with no change in judgment or result
“In a March 27, 2023 post found here, we wrote about the Second District Court of Appeal’s (Div. 1) decision concerning the Water Code section 13389 CEQA exemption for Regional Water Quality Control Board (“RWQCB”) issuance of waste discharge permits, formerly published as Los Angeles Waterkeeper v. State Water Resources Control Board (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 874. After the Regional Board and State Board filed a request for modification of that opinion to clarify certain issues, the Court of Appeal vacated it, ordered rehearing, considered supplemental briefing, and filed a new, superseding published opinion in the case on June 2, 2023. In the Court’s words: “Having reviewed the additional briefing from the parties, we conclude our original holdings, as well as the reasoning in support of those holdings, were correct. We, however, have made certain modifications to clarify the scope of our holdings as set forth in our Discussion … ” Continue reading at Miller Starr Regalia.
ARkStorm data wins 2023 DesignSafe Dataset awards
“A dataset on ‘plausible worst-case scenario’ flooding in California has received a 2023 DesignSafe Dataset award, given in recognition of the dataset’s diverse contributions to natural hazards research. The dataset’s story begins in 2010, when the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a ‘what-if’ scenario of an extremely powerful rainstorm that strikes California, which they called ARkStorm (1.0), short for Atmospheric River (1k). … But one thing that ARkStorm 1.0 didn’t account for was climate change, which scientists predict increases atmospheric water vapor and therefore could increase the intensity of megastorms. Enter ARkStorm 2.0 — an update to ARkStorm 1.0 that takes climate change into account by embedding a high-resolution weather model inside of a climate model, using the climate model conditions as the boundary conditions. … ” Read more from EurkeAlert.
DWR investments help strengthen drought resilience & prepare communities for future dry conditions
“Over $217 million of state funds will be invested back into 44 local projects that will help communities adapt to a hotter and drier future thanks to grant funding provided by the Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Urban Community Drought Relief Program. The funding, including $88 million for underrepresented communities, will support efforts like groundwater recharge, improved water supply reliability, recycled water and water conservation – all tactics that are outlined in Governor Newsom’s California’s Water Supply Strategy. “These investments will help our partners implement immediate and long-term water supply projects and water conservation programs to prepare our communities for the eventual return to dry conditions,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Our new climate reality means we all need to accelerate our ability to withstand extreme weather patterns like flood and drought.” … ” Read more from DWR News.
Rising groundwater threatens to spread toxic pollution on U.S. coastlines
“Hidden flows of water are poised to flush toxic contamination into U.S. coastal communities. Sea level rise from climate change won’t just force shorelines to retreat — in inland areas, it will guilefully lift groundwater into shallower soils. That rising water could infiltrate hundreds of U.S. Superfund sites — severely polluted locations identified by the Environmental Protection Agency for cleanup — researchers warn in a preliminary study posted May 25 to ESS Open Archive. These sites — and thousands of other polluted areas — could be at risk of releasing heavy metals, radioactive elements, pesticides and industrial chemicals associated with human health problems (SN: 4/26/23). People of color and low-income communities would be disproportionately affected. … ” Read more from Science News.
Water rights legislation …
‘Dangerous’ water rights legislation continues moving forward
“California lawmakers are continuing the progression of multiple pieces of water rights legislation. Three particular bills recently passed through their house of origin. Collectively, the bills would create fundamental changes in how the state manages water supplies. “All of them I think are dangerous in amending or upending the California water rights system. It’s a complicated system,” said Dave Puglia, President and CEO of Western Growers. “But it has accommodated growth in this state. It has accommodated water sharing and it increasingly accommodates environmental needs for water flows.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Dan Walters: California water rights at risk as three legislative proposals advance
“When California imposed its first-ever regulation on the extraction of water from underground aquifers in 2014, it gave environmental groups a landmark victory in their decades-long effort to overhaul water use laws. It was also a political setback for farmers, who are California’s major water users and have depended on wells to irrigate their crops as increasingly frequent droughts reduce surface water in rivers and reservoirs. However, while groundwater regulation ended one front in California’s never-ending political and legal battles over allocation of water, it merely set the stage for an even bigger conflict over surface water rights, particularly those pre-dating 1914, when the state first began controlling diversions. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Bad water legislation could upend California’s economy, domestic food supply
Don Wright of Water Wrights writes, “If the legislation coming out of Sacramento were graded on the criteria of harmful, unintended consequences, it would receive an “F” average – provided you believe harmful is bad for the citizens and not just the cost of doing government. That can be a big problem when elected officials attempt to shirk the responsibility of governing by handing off major decisions to unelected and largely unaccountable bureaucrats and appointed padishahs. This is not meant to disparage state employees, most of whom go to work to do their jobs and support their families. They have to deal with public unions, conflicting regulatory directives and budget shortfalls. … ” Read more at the California Globe.
Newsom’s infrastructure plan …
Top 4 takeaways: Governor Newsom’s proposals to build more, faster heard in the legislature
“This week, Governor Gavin Newsom’s ambitious infrastructure permitting and project review reforms to build California’s climate resilient future were heard by both the Assembly and Senate. The Administration made a clear case: without reforms, California will risk funding for critical infrastructure like safe drinking water and clean energy. Here’s U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in California yesterday discussing the need for permitting reform: “A lot of environmental activists have used these [environmental] laws, of course, to protect the environment, and used it for the purposes of delay. But now we know what has to happen… We spent $165 billion as a nation last year just cleaning up after these extreme weather events, it is on our doorstep, so we can no longer delay. The very environmental species that we are seeking to protect with these laws are going to be damaged by climate change if we do not act with alacrity. So, bottom line is: I think every state — including California — and the federal government, have to get our act together to realize that you will protect the environment if you act on climate.” Here are the top 4 takeaways from the four legislative hearings … ” Read more from the Office of the Governor.
State senators, public interest groups testify against Governor’s Plan to weaken environmental laws
“On June 8, the California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee held a 3-hour informational hearing about the proposed Infrastructure proposals gutting CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and other environmental laws that Governor Newsom wants to include as a package of trailer bills attached to the state budget that must be completed by June 15. The proposals have spurred outrage from over 100 conservation, environmental justice and fishing groups, along with opposition from both Democratic and Republican legislators. “The Governor’s strategy would avoid regular legislative process. Advocates for a healthy Bay-Delta have serious concerns about this attempt to jam through massive legal changes to permitting and public oversight of proposals like the Delta Conveyance Project (Delta tunnel),” according to Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, in a press statement. “The discussion was euphemistically described as ‘robust’ by one participant.” … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Editorial: Newsom’s plan to speed up construction is half-baked. California leaders can do better
The LA Times editorial board writes, “It’s hard to take Gov. Gavin Newsom’s construction streamlining proposals seriously. Last month, the governor convened a splashy news conference on the site of a future solar farm in the Central Valley to unveil the state’s “most ambitious permitting and project review reforms in a half-century.” He said his reforms would cut project timelines by more than three years, save hundreds of millions of dollars and reduce paperwork by many thousands of pages. It sounded promising. California absolutely needs to make it faster and cheaper to build transportation, clean energy and water infrastructure. Important projects can get bogged down in red tape and lengthy lawsuits, which wastes time and money. The Biden administration will be doling out billions of dollars for construction and climate-resiliency projects in the coming years, so the state should be looking for ways to remove unnecessary hurdles that slow approval and building to get the dollars to work sooner. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Editorial: Don’t let CEQA thwart California action on addressing climate emergency
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push for the state to comprehensively address the climate emergency — from preparing for chronic water shortages to phasing out the sale of new fossil-fuel vehicles in 2035 to using electricity only generated by carbon-free sources by 2045 — has been embraced, at least rhetorically, by most of his fellow elected Democrats. Echoing the consensus of climate experts, the governor has said for months that there’s an urgent need to start right away in building related transportation, clean energy and water infrastructure. He believes that much of the cost of a 10-year, $180 billion plan for such projects will be paid for by the massive federal funding approved in 2022 by Congress to help states prepare for a hotter, drier future. “The question is,” he said, “are we going to screw it up by being consumed by paralysis and process?” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Farmland trust founder, longtime water expert Vance Kennedy turns 100
“For those who care about water, or farmland preservation, or climate catastrophes, the name Vance Kennedy might ring a bell or two. After all, he has written dozens of letters, newspaper and magazine articles on those very subjects. But if you’re a scientist, Vance Kennedy’s name might ring 50 bells; maybe even a few hundred. Two decades ago, I had never heard of Kennedy when he walked into my office in Modesto to talk about groundwater. So, I called my sister – who taught college-level geology courses – to ask if she had. Her eventual response: “Whatever he says, it’s the truth.” … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
Podcasts …
GOOD FOOD: Mark Arax: The future of water in the Central Valley: Tulare Lake hits 150 year high
Water is power. Nowhere is that more true than in California’s Central Valley, which produces 250 crops valued at $17 billion. The Tulare Lake Basin, at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, is the largest body of fresh water west of the Mississippi. The terminus for four rivers that flowed from the Sierras and ran across the middle of California, the lake is where the Yokut tribe once fished along its shallow shores. After the Gold Rush, miners became farmers and began diverting water from the lake, which caused it to dry up. Journalist Mark Arax explains that every so often during a rainy year, “in spite of all the contrivances of man — dams, ditches, levees, canals, pumps that make the rivers run backwards — the water comes back and fills up Tulare Lake.” After this winter’s record-breaking rainfall, Tulare Lake is fuller than it has been in 150 years.
ON POINT: How California agriculture is the problem and solution to its Colorado River water crisis
Eighty percent of California’s water from the Colorado River is used for agriculture. So, as the river dries up, the first cuts tend to land on farmers. Agriculture economist Richard Howitt thinks to get out of this water crisis California’s farmers must make some major changes. “It will hurt some sectors,” he says. “We can’t disguise that we should face up to it. But when I say hurt, I’m talking about changing the size of the sector with compensation.” Today, On Point: Is targeting the country’s food supply the best way out of this Colorado River water crisis? Guests: Tina Shields, water department manager at the Imperial Irrigation District; Richard Howitt, professor emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis; and Mark McBroom, farmer in Imperial Valley, CA.
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Nature-based Solutions with Felicia Marcus
Our planet is changing drastically, but while nature is throwing a lot at us, it’s also an amazing source of solutions if we take the time to learn how natural processes can aid in climate-change mitigation. Plus, nature-based solutions are often cheaper and come with a whole host of benefits that traditional infrastructure lacks. We talk with climate expert Felicia Marcus, an attorney, consultant, and founding member of the Water Policy Group, a fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration, and the William C. Landreth visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West Program. CalTrout Associate Director of Policy Analise Rivero also joins the conversation as we discuss how crucial California water rights are, a topic that will impact us all, and we explore why California is so far behind other states in how we regulate water.
KPCC AIR TALK: A dried out Salton Sea could be delaying the ‘big one’ earthquake
New research published today in the journal Nature finds the ‘Big One’ earthquake could be delayed in part by modern, dry conditions of the Salton Sea in Southern California. Over the past 1,000 years, major earthquakes in the region correlated with times when Colorado River waters formed the prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. Using computer modeling, researchers at San Diego State University and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that the ancient lake’s weight bent the crust underneath, creating pressure along the fault that could trigger a major earthquake. It’s now been over 300 years since the last major earthquake along the San Andreas Fault, the longest time without an earthquake in the past millennium. Researchers say that could be partially due to Salton Sea’s dry conditions in recent years. And, the longer the area goes without an earthquake, the more that pressure builds – promoting the likelihood of a large rupture. Joining us to discuss his research is Matt Weingarten, co-author of the study and assistant professor of geological sciences at San Diego State University.
PARCHED: The cost of cheap water
What we pay for water doesn’t reflect how scarce it is with climate change. Could cities get people to use less water by charging more for it? Decades ago, Tucson did this, and it worked. But the political consequences may have scared off other cities. Now, in an increasingly dire situation along the Colorado River, what if a bunch of cities priced water differently, to change our behavior?
RIPPLE EFFECT: Remote Sensing – Step into the future
This week we are revisiting an earlier episode that is still highly relevant to today’s water discussion. We are looking back on episode 103: Remote Sensing – Step Into The Future.Derrek Houtz, CEO and Co-Founder of TerraRad gives a great overview of the history and applications of remote sensing technologies. He also discusses his company’s unique microwave sensing abilities to isolate groundwater moisture and review the efficiency of various irrigation technologies. An extremely useful tool for the future.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: A Bad Hair Day
I’m sure you’ll agree Mediterranean blood many times includes the hereditary characteristic of curly hair. My curly hair seems to act as a barometer for arriving weather. It takes one look in the mirror after a good night’s sleep and, oh boy, it looks like another bad hair day!! 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
Out and about on the weekend …
The Great Outdoors: Uncovering Truckee Tahoe’s breathtaking hiking trails and natural wonders
“In the serene setting of the Sierra Nevada, the quaint town of Truckee is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Its tranquillity belies the wealth of experiences it has to offer, most notably, its network of hiking trails. These Truckee hiking trails serve as gateways to a captivating world that oscillates between the past and the present, the tranquil and the exhilarating, the earthy and the ethereal. They beckon to the curious and the adventurous, promising a journey steeped in natural beauty and rich history. From gentle ascents through whispering pine forests to challenging climbs rewarding with stunning panoramic views, Truckee’s trails are an open invitation to delve deeper into the heart of this enchanting town. Join as we traverse the trails less traveled and uncover the beauty that lies within. … ” Continue reading at California.com.
Shot at, electrocuted, exhausted, exhilarated: What it’s like to kayak from Tulare Lake to San Francisco Bay
“Engulfing miles of prime farmland in California’s Central Valley is the growing mass of Tulare Lake, a rare phenomenon that remained dormant during California’s prolonged drought but recently reawakened as torrents of meltwater poured in from the state’s snow-loaded mountains. The lake’s captivating expansion gave Los Angeles journalist Brendan Borrell an idea: Would all that water make it possible to paddle a boat from the dusty agriculture capital of Bakersfield, up the fertile gut of farming country and through the delta to San Francisco Bay? It’d be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to glimpse how nature is overriding the nation’s most complex system for storing and moving water on its push to the ocean, hundreds of miles along an improbable path. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Hoopa Valley Tribe to buy 10,300 acres in the Klamath River watershed
“A purchase sale agreement is in place for the Hoopa Valley Tribe to buy 10,300 acres in the Klamath River watershed. The project is part of the tribe’s overall plan to reclaim ancestral territories and could connect the Lacks Creek Management Area with Redwood State and National Parks with a trail. The sale area, called the Pine Creek Track, is near the western edge of the 92,000-acre Hoopa Valley Reservation. Joe Davis, chairman of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, said the land parcel is historically within Hoopa territory. “It’s such a great opportunity to reclaim some of our historical territory and land. The ability to manage our fish spawning grounds and the cultural resources that come along with that property is just a huge benefit to the tribe. And it’ll be a blessing to future generations for years to come,” said Davis. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Water diversions and impacts at illegal marijuana grows on Bell Springs Road, says CDFW
“On June 7, 2023, wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) served three search warrants in the 5900 block of Bell Springs Road in Laytonville. Support was provided by a CDFW Environmental Scientist, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force and the State Water Resources Control Board. Prior to serving the search warrants, a thorough records check was conducted on the properties to determine what steps may have been taken to secure a county permit or state license. In this case, no permit or state license on the sites to cultivate commercial cannabis were obtained. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Prescribed fire severely damages pair of iconic giant sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park
“A historic pair of giant sequoias known as “The Orphans” since at least the 1860s have been severely damaged during prescribed fire operations last fall near an edge of the North Grove in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a loss that’s being described as a tragedy. The Orphans are viewed as park icons in part because they are at least 500 years old and appear in a 1862 lithograph image by artist C.C. Kuchel that was first published in “The Mammoth Tree Grove, Calaveras County, California, and Its Avenues,” by Edward Vischer. Photos of the scorched Orphans have been on social media since at least mid-May. Knowing that prescribed fire intended to protect the ancient giants is responsible for killing two of the rare icons has raised concerns among advocates for Calaveras Big Trees and for fuels reduction efforts in the park. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Thunderstorms, rain and wind to hit Northern California. Here’s what is in the forecast
“Showers and thunderstorms will make their way into portions of Northern California beginning this weekend, with heavy rain, gusty winds and lighting in the forecast. Meteorologist Katrina Hand with the National Weather Service said the highest chance for thunderstorm development will be in the foothills and the Sierra Nevada, as well as the southern Cascades and coastal range. Thunderstorms were forecast to start in some areas by noon Saturday and stretch into Monday night. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Document available: Goal, Objectives, Principles and Constraints for the Sacramento Regional Water Bank
“The Regional Water Authority (RWA) is pleased to release a foundational document that describes the overall strategy, process, and considerations related to the development and implementation of the Sacramento Regional Water Bank. The Goal, Objectives, Principles, and Constraints (GOPC) document sets the direction for developing the Water Bank’s operations, governance, communication and engagement, environmental compliance, and more. While drafting the document, feedback and input was gathered from the public and interested parties during Stakeholder Forums, sharing sessions, and a public comment period, and was considered as the document evolved through several drafts. It is important to note that the Water Bank goals, objectives, principles, and constraints are intended to be a “living document,” open to periodic revisions as Water Bank implementation continues.” Access the document here.
Sacramento County raft rentals company to reopen as American River water flows decrease
“As summer is around the corner and warmer temperatures are forecast for the upcoming week, many people are looking to spend some time outside and near or on the water. American River Raft Rentals (ARRR) planned on reopening Friday, but with the American River water flowing at a fast pace, co-owner Kent Hansen says the reopen date has been pushed back a day to Saturday. “We have heard from the storage manager at the Bureau of Reclamation, that there is a chance that, this weekend the water will go down for safe rentals,” said Hansen. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Reclamation District 800 seeks 300% increase in levee assessment
“While drowning in debt after making emergency levee repairs to protect lives and properties after the New Year’s Eve storm, Reclamation District 800 is asking the local community to throw it a lifeline. Later this month, Sheldon, Wilton, and Sloughhouse property owners inside the district, will receive a mailed ballot asking them to approve a 300% rate increase. The RD800 trustees made the decision to seek a higher levy at their June 1 meeting. They hope to win approval for a new assessment base of $1.5 million. It would replace the current base of $500,000 that was approved by district property owners in 2018. … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen.
BAY AREA
Winter rains good news for endangered Marin County salmon
“Biologists who study fish in the tributaries of West Marin said the winter’s heavy rain is fueling a healthy population of endangered coho salmon smolts as they make their way from the creeks of their birth out to the ocean. Researchers with the environmental group SPAWN said their daily counts have logged record daily numbers of salmon and steelhead smolts in the San Geronimo Creek – one of the last spawning grounds for the endangered fish in California. “We’ve seen over 150 fish in a single day,” said Preston Brown, Director of Watershed Conservation for SPAWN. “Our expectations have been exceeded, so we’re seeing the single highest day counts we’ve ever had.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Richardson Bay agency gains $2.78M for eelgrass restoration
“Richardson Bay ecological restoration efforts will receive a $2.78 million boost from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Richardson’s Bay Regional Agency board voted unanimously to accept the grant at a meeting on Thursday. The funding, accepted as a partnership between the agency, Audubon California and San Francisco State University, will fund the restoration and protection for 15 acres of eelgrass in the bay. Brad Gross, the agency’s executive director, called the grant a “transformational moment for the RBRA.” “These funds provide the next steps in the goal of restoration of eelgrass in Richardson Bay,” he said. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin Municipal Water District reports progress on supply projects
“Three months after adopting a plan to add new water supplies, the Marin Municipal Water District provided a progress update on a variety of projects. The report to the district board on Tuesday largely focused on projects that could be completed within the next two to four years. They include automating dam water releases; new interconnections between reservoirs; adding a pump station and potential hydropower capabilities to the district’s third-largest, but infrequently used, reservoir; and new conservation measures. Preliminary studies are also underway on more complicated projects such as a proposed brackish desalination plan on the Petaluma River, expanding reservoir capacity and pumping imported Russian River water into local reservoirs, staff said. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
The only marine science lab on San Francisco Bay is at risk of closing. Here’s what’s at stake
“For 45 years, on a mile-long stretch of Marin County bayfront, a small marine lab has been hatching big ideas for San Francisco Bay. Researchers at the Estuary and Ocean Science Center in Tiburon, run by San Francisco State University, have shown how endangered sea otters might return to Northern California, why algal blooms have proliferated in bay waters and how eelgrass beds can buffer sea-level rise. Now the center and its 15-resident faculty are at risk of losing the funding they need to operate, and the future of the lab and its work are in question. San Francisco State administrators say they can’t afford to keep the site running amid broader financial problems within the university system, and they want the institute to come up with a way to support itself. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz County granted $4.5M to improve water supply reliability
Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency breaks ground on new College Lake water supply project
“A major project to rebalance water levels in the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin is taking shape. Elected officials and members of the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency dug golden shovels into the soil of a vacant field along Holohan Road Friday to symbolize the start of construction of a new water supply system at College Lake that includes a new pump station, water treatment plant and a 6-mile pipeline. The $80 million is partially being funded through a $7.6 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources and would connect a pipeline to deliver treated water from the new treatment plant to more than 5,500 acres of farmland through Pajaro Valley Water’s Coastal Distribution System. According to Pajaro Valley Water officials, it would be the largest source of water in the Pajaro Valley since the opening of the Watsonville Area Water Recycling Facility in 2009. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
SEE ALSO: Groundbreaking held for new water treatment plant in Watsonville, from KSBY
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Fresno County Planning Commission approves CEMEX extension to mine the San Joaquin River; increased production for hydrogen generation facility
“At its Thursday meeting, the Fresno County Planning Commission approved a four-year extension for CEMEX to continue aggregate plant and quarry mining operations along North Friant Road despite receiving several letters in opposition, including one from the city of Fresno with concerns that the environmental impact report (EIR) done in 1986 is no longer adequate for the project. In the letter dated March 1, 2023, the letter states that “substantial changes” have occurred that “require major revisions to the EIR” and goes on to cite statistics about an increase in traffic and pedestrians. The city submitted additional comments in a March 15 letter including in the agenda packet, that states further issues with the EIR and permit extension. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
Flooding in Firebaugh has come in a slow, relentless creep as high San Joaquin River flows seep through levees into basements, ruin crops and leave land too sodden to farm
“The surging San Joaquin River is proving to be another tough water management problem. The raging waters from this year’s historic rain and snowpack are seeping through levees, destroying crops and threatening the city of Firebaugh. The small city of Firebaugh in Fresno County, sits right up against the river. Seepage is the major problem, said Ben Gallegos, Firebaugh City Manager. “It’s been wet so long that now it’s seeping through the ground,” said Gallegos. “We’re finding water in our basements.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kern River flows ramping down thanks to cool weather but will remain strong through the fall
“Cooler weather has slowed the anticipated snowmelt above Lake Isabella enough that outflows from the dam will ramp down to 6,500 cubic feet per second starting Sunday, according to Kern River Water Master Mark Mulkay. “We’ve been watching the snow surveys and weather up there and think we’re in really good shape to be able to manage the flows,” Mulkay said. “We’ll turn it down to 6,500 cfs and watch it for a while but we think we’ll be able to continue to reduce outflows down to our irrigation demand through summer.” That’s significantly lower than previously expected flows through Bakersfield, which had been predicted to exceed 9,000 cfs by mid-June. That amount of water could have caused a great deal of damage to homes and businesses in low-lying areas along the river east of Manor Street. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
What does record runoff mean for Mono Basin stream restoration?
“The seasonal runoff (April through September) in the Mono Basin this year is forecasted to be 243% of the long-term (1971–2020) mean runoff, which will make it the single wettest seasonal runoff period in more than a century. While this impressive percentage provides us with a general sense of what kind of runoff will occur this year, the stream restoration benefits associated with an exceptionally wet runoff year are best understood in terms of three factors: magnitude, timing, and frequency. Runoff magnitude is perhaps the most exciting consideration in a wet year like this. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
Restoration milestone for Mill Creek
“The Mono Lake Committee is dedicated to protecting and restoring Mono Lake and its tributary streams, but while protection and restoration were afforded to four of Mono Lake’s major creeks (Rush, Lee Vining, Parker, and Walker) in 1994 by the California State Water Resources Control Board, Mono Lake’s third largest tributary, Mill Creek, has remained excessively diverted for decades. That officially changed in November 2022 with the signing of the First Amendment to the Lundy Hydroelectric Project Settlement, which guarantees water will be delivered to Mill Creek as required by established water rights. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Advocates remain skeptical after state announces final cleanup plan for Santa Susana Field Lab
“Behind the fence of the Santa Susana Field Lab are 2,800 acres of land that remain largely contaminated with radioactive and chemical waste. It was back in 2015 that the I-Team’s LA’s Nuclear Secret investigation revealed how nuclear accidents since the 1950s, and thousands of rocket tests that occurred until 2006, left a stew of toxins in the ground and groundwater. On Thursday, the State Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, released an environmental impact report, detailing a final cleanup plan that’s been debated for decades. “This is a major milestone because it opens the door to a full and final cleanup,” said Meredith Williams, the Director of the DTSC during an online forum attended by the I-Team. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
Santa Clarita: Water agency, developer wrangle over $25 million in fees
“An 11th-hour letter submitted by The Newhall Land and Farming Co. questioning the developer’s responsibility for $25 million in connection fees for more than 20,000 future hookups in burgeoning FivePoint Valencia — formerly known as Newhall Ranch — prompted the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s board to take a beat Tuesday and check with its lawyers. The decision followed a nearly 80-minute discussion that shared some board members’ surprise the fees weren’t already being collected, as well as a look at what’s considered “contributed capital” — a key part of the discussion — and whether the developer should have to pay hookup fees that reflect the cost of infrastructure the developer previously sold to SCV Water. … ” Read more from The Signal.
El Niño has officially formed and it could mean another year of heavy rain in SoCal
“An early bird El Niño has officially formed. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday issued an El Niño advisory, announcing the arrival of the climatic condition and it could mean another year of heavy rain in Southern California. “So historically, El Niño has brought more significant rainfall totals to Southern California. Not every El Nino has measured up to that,” said Eric Boldt with the National Weather Service. An El Niño is a natural, temporary and occasional warming of part of the Pacific that shifts weather patterns across the globe, often by moving the airborne paths for storms. … ” Read more from KABC.
Local water projects get funding boost from state to ease growing flood risks
“The Southland is getting a boost in funding from the state for local drought-resilience projects, including money to remove debris buildup in dams and an increase in grass replacement rebates for businesses and public agencies. For L.A. County, some of the funding will go toward mitigating sediment flowing into dams. The climate crisis is helping spark more wildfires, and when it rains, the mud in those burn scars flows into our dams, making it harder to store water during wet years and also increasing flood risk in communities downstream. As the climate crisis drives more extreme swings from fire to flood, dealing with that increase in sediment is one of the biggest challenges the county faces to boosting our local water supply and managing flood risk. … ” Read more from LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
In search of answers at the Salton Sea
“As the temperature on an early April afternoon crept above 80 degrees, Cruz Marquez, a member of the Salton Sea Community Science Program, stood at a folding table under a blue tent, scrubbing a small glass vial with the cloth of his T-shirt. The vial, which held 20 milliliters of water from the nearby Salton Sea, had to be clean before he inserted it into a photometer to identify the water’s contaminant levels. Less than a decade earlier, the beach where Marquez stood lay under the Salton Sea, California’s largest lake. Over the last 25 years, the Salton Sea has lost a third of its water due to an over-allocated Colorado River. As it shrinks, the sea’s salts plus pollutants from agricultural runoff reach higher concentrations. All those extra nutrients fuel algae blooms that then decay in the sulfate-rich sea, resulting in a rotten-egg smell that can extend for miles. As temperatures rise and the water retreats further, locals suspect that the contaminated sediments in the exposed lakebed are worsening air quality; the area’s childhood asthma rate is one of the highest in the state. … ” Read more from High Country News.
SAN DIEGO
These two San Diego reservoirs are almost 100% full
“Two reservoirs in San Diego County are almost 100% full, according to data released Monday. The City of San Diego updated its water levels information page on June 5, showing the Barrett Reservoir in Jamul and the Lower Otay Reservoir in Chula Vista are both over 96% filled. At its max capacity, the Barrett Reservoir would have a depth of 160.40 feet. The most recent measurements show it’s 96.5% full, according to the city. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
Wyoming rancher says stop blaming agriculture for Colorado River crisis
“During his opening remarks Friday about the condition of the Colorado River, a Colorado law professor referenced a graphic from The New York Times indicating that most of the water used from the river goes to agriculture, particularly for growing livestock feed. But after getting pushback from Wyoming rancher Pat O’Toole, University of Colorado law professor Mark Squillace admitted that perhaps using a “graphic from The New York Times” wasn’t the best way to kick off a discussion over so controversial a subject as water rights to the shrinking river. O’Toole also balked at the suggestion that farmers and ranchers should stop growing alfalfa, as well as earlier remarks from former U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt about “retiring” farmland. “Oh my God, it (alfalfa) is the baseline, it’s at the bottom of the food pyramid,” O’Toole said. … ” Read more from Cowboy State Daily.
Arizona, low on water, weighs taking it from the sea. In Mexico.
“Fifty miles south of the U.S. border, at the edge of a city on the Gulf of California, a few acres of dusty shrubs could determine the future of Arizona. As the state’s two major sources of water, groundwater and the Colorado River, dwindle from drought, climate change and overuse, officials are considering a hydrological Hail Mary: the construction of a plant in Mexico to suck salt out of seawater, then pipe that water hundreds of miles, much of it uphill, to Phoenix. The idea of building a desalination plant in Mexico has been discussed in Arizona for years. But now, a $5 billion project proposed by an Israeli company is under serious consideration, an indication of how worries about water shortages are rattling policymakers in Arizona and across the American West. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
Could the Central Arizona Project canal be the solution to our water problems?
“Along the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal, just beyond the city of Buckeye, is a place being considered for a project that could double the amount of water in the canal. “It’s a game changer for the state if it works,” said Chuck Podolak with the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. On the Gulf of Mexico, an Israeli company wants to build the biggest desalination plant in the world. It would remove salt from seawater and pump water up over Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and let gravity get it to the CAP canal. Sandy Bahr with the Sierra Club calls it, “ludicrous”. “The reason that it’s a national monument is because it’s a special place,” she said. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Limiting Las Vegas water use: Lombardo signs law putting teeth into SNWA conservation push
“The Southern Nevada Water Authority has new power to limit how much water you can use at home. On Tuesday, when all the news out of Carson City was swirling around a special session to finish the state budget, Gov. Joe Lombardo signed Assembly Bill 220. It wasn’t a surprise, but AB220 wasn’t the biggest story of the day. And it likely won’t be a hot topic of conversation this year as Lake Mead is expected to refill to 26% capacity on the strength of a heavy snowpack that’s feeding the Colorado River. … ” Read more from KLAS.
Groups working toward Outstanding Waters designations on Western Slope creeks
“Environmental groups in western Colorado are working to designate more reaches of high-elevation tributaries as Outstanding Waters, the state health department’s highest water-quality rating. The Outstanding Waters designation can be awarded to streams with high water quality and exceptional recreational or ecological attributes, and the intent is to protect the water quality from future degradation. The program, established as part of the federal Clean Water Act, is administered through the state’s water quality control commission. To get the OW designation, a steam’s water quality must meet 12 different standards for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, E. coli and ammonia, and be under a threshold for seven dissolved metals: cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, selenium, silver and zinc. The designation is the highest level of three anti-degradation classifications awarded by the state. The OW designation does not affect current uses on streams; it only protects against activities with new or increased water quality impacts. … ” Read more from KUNC.
In national water news this weekend …
Yes, flesh-eating bacteria can hitch rides on seaweed and plastic (no, don’t cancel your summer vacation)
“Disease-causing bacteria, including the type behind flesh-eating infections, can colonize rafts of seaweed and plastic pollution in the ocean, raising concerns about the risks to humans if they wash up on beaches. But experts say there’s no need to cancel your beach vacation — yet. A recent study, published last month in the journal Water Research, analyzed the genomes of Vibrio bacteria — of which there are more than 100 species, including about a dozen that can cause human illness — found on plastic marine debris and giant blooms of seaweed called sargassum in the North Atlantic Ocean. The scientists found that Vibrio bacteria found in the open ocean share similar genetic characteristics to Vibrio species known to be “pathogenic,” meaning they can cause disease in humans. … ” Read more from NBC News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOW AVAILABLE: Final 2023 Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan
SF BAY NOTICE of Public Workshop & CEQA Scoping Meeting for a Basin Plan Amendment to Address NPDES Permitting Needs
FEATURE: El Niño is back – that’s good news or bad news, depending on where you live
FEATURE: Las Vegas Needs to Save Water. It Won’t Find It in Lawns.
