On the calendar today …
- EVENT: Hanford Water Town Hall from 6pm to 8pm. Are you concerned about the water situation in Kings County? Come listen to our speakers address the difficult issues and more. Please join us on June 16th and learn about water issues in Kings County. Featured Speakers: Doug Verboon, Kings County Supervisor; Allensworth Citizens; Water Governance Panel; and Mark Arax, Author Award-Winning Investigative Journalist and Author, The Dreamt Land: There will be a Spanish Interpreter and an ASL Interpreter. A Community Event Organized by Kings County Democrats. Click here to register.
On the calendar tomorrow …
- EVENT: Guided Paddle along the Cosumnes River from 8:45 to 11am. Join experienced naturalists for a leisurely paddle up the Cosumnes River and its peaceful sloughs. We’ll likely see forest birds, raptors, egrets, herons, cormorants, and maybe deer, a beaver, and/or an otter. We’ll talk about the flora and fauna found in this riparian corridor, and about the first people to live here, the Plains Miwoks. Bring your own boat (canoe, kayak, SUP), paddle, and PFD. Click here to register.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project from 10am to 12pm. Join the organizations behind the restoration of Topanga Lagoon for an overview and update on this important project. Discover why this project is important, the vision for a restored lagoon and beach, the project status and timeline, the organizations leading the restoration effort, and how to get involved. Join us and hear how past public feedback regarding this project has helped shape its future restoration. This public information meeting will be held at Las Virgenes Municipal Water District and event will also be available via live stream on YouTube. Light morning refreshments will be served. Parking is free and this location is accessible via Bus Route 161. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
West gets reprieve from drought, but forecasters predict change as El Niño approaches
“Much of the West Coast is experiencing a welcome break from years of historic drought due to an unexpected, remarkably wet winter, even as an extraordinary snowpack begins to melt. California was the first to receive a series of strong storms starting in December, defying predictions that the winter would be another dry one. According to a new report Thursday from the National Integrated Drought Information System, parts of the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, Utah, Arizona and western Colorado saw snow water equivalent levels reach 200% to 300% above normal – and they even set new records. During the winter, anomalously cold temperatures were persistent and widespread, with November to March temperatures measuring among the lowest third of all years since 1895 across much of the West. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Will Newsom’s Delta tunnel plan hold up the budget?
“As legislative leaders continue to negotiate a budget deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom ahead of the start of the fiscal year on July 1, expansive “trailer bills” proposed by the governor — essentially riders to the spending plan that provide an expedited path to changing policy — are the biggest remaining holdup to an agreement. A package of measures advanced by Newsom to streamline the permitting process for infrastructure projects has proved particularly contentious, with lawmakers increasingly speaking out publicly about their discomfort with rushing through the proposal, which was unveiled just last month, in the budget. A major concern for some legislators is the possibility that Newsom could use the permitting overhaul to fast-track the Delta tunnel, a controversial project that would carry more water to Southern California and is vehemently opposed by many residents of the north. … ” Continue reading from Cal Matters.
California legislators approve budget bill, will continue negotiations with Newsom
“California lawmakers voted Thursday to approve an amended version of the 2023 state budget bill but will continue discussing the final terms of the legislation with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). The $311.7 billion spending plan, which materialized earlier this week, is the result of extensive negotiations among state Assembly and state Senate Democrats. Per California’s state constitution, the lawmakers were required to pass a budget by midnight on June 15 to continue receiving their salaries. Newsom must sign a budget into law by July 1. The Democratic lawmakers said they will continue negotiating the final terms of the legislation with the governor ahead of that date. … ” Read more from The Hill.
California awards $10 million to help small communities prepare for long-term dry conditions
“Continuing California’s work to support small communities through extreme climate shifts, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced its tenth round of funding through the Small Community Drought Relief Program. In coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, the program identified 11 projects to benefit underserved communities in Fresno, Lake, Marin, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Tulare and Tuolumne counties, including one Tribe. The selected projects will implement solutions such as pipeline replacement, well rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrades. … ” Read more from DWR.
Why has California been so cloudy lately?
““June Gloom” has long been part of the California lexicon, an almost-rhyming reminder that a few weeks of overcast skies typically precede a sunny, scalding summer. But perhaps you, like me, feel the gloom has gone a little overboard this year. Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, was dreary across most of the Golden State. Since then, I’ve heard of many beach trips canceled and sports games rescheduled because of surprisingly uncooperative weather. A friend who is getting married in Los Angeles this weekend has sent out an “in case of rain” memo. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
The original ecosystem engineers: beavers
“The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a keystone species vital in maintaining a healthy ecosystem by increasing local biodiversity. Beavers are ecosystem engineers and can drastically modify their surrounding environment by raising water levels, slowing water speed and changing water direction. Their population was once robust, with estimates of 100-200 million individuals throughout much of North America. Despite beavers’ critical role, they were hunted to near extinction for food, pelts and medicine in the early 20th century. Thanks to government officials, scientists and conservationists, the species is making a comeback, with estimates of 10-15 million beavers in North America today. Beavers are having a moment as we realize the essential benefits they offer in restoring natural landscapes and wetlands throughout California. … ” Read more from Defenders of Wildlife.
Science stories: Getting into the weeds
“If you’ve ever tried to take a boat across one of the large, flooded islands in the Delta, there is a good chance you’ve gotten your propeller snagged on water weeds. Submersed aquatic vegetation (which is the fancy, scientific term for ‘water weeds’) have been getting worse and worse in recent years, with invasive species taking over areas that were previously open water. Most of these weeds are introduced species from South America, but even some of our native species have been expanding rapidly. Weeds were the subject of several papers in the most recent State of Bay Delta Science, they were the subject of a recent paper synthesizing many years of herbicide data to look at weed control effectiveness at a landscape scale, and data on aquatic weeds in the Delta has been published in several different datasets. Classification maps are now available for all aquatic plants in the Delta for most of 2004-2022 (with 2023 in the works) and there is a new, integrated dataset made up of vegetation samples from four different programs. Together, these data and publications are increasing our understanding of where weeds are a problem and what to do about it. … ” Read more from the Interagency Ecological Program.
Water Whiplash: Why some see a ‘need to change’ after historic water flows from Sierra Nevada
“As snowmelt flows out of the Sierra Nevada, where the water settles in the Tulare Lake basin is determined by more than simply the elevation of the land. Levees, berms and other flood control infrastructure all play a role in shaping the current permutation of the lake. And, according to Trudy Wischemann, that infrastructure is an indication of a greater power imbalance in our region’s water governance. Wischemann is a long-time rural advocate in Tulare County and a columnist for the Exeter Sun-Gazette and other rural newspapers. Since March, she’s written extensively about Tulare Lake. For this installment of Water Whiplash, we discuss the region’s haves and have-nots. Listen to the interview in the player on this page, and read the transcript below. … ” Read more from KVPR.
How sensors could help catch wildfires before they spread
“Starting this month, 10 sensors placed in hilly areas east of Oakland, Calif., will be monitoring the air for signs of wildfires. The sensors, which can detect and measure gas, particulate matter and heat, are intended to help more quickly identify, locate and track blazes that could threaten the city. With wildfires expected to increase in frequency and intensity, officials in fire-prone areas such as California and Oregon are testing out early detecting systems that promise to catch fires before they turn into raging infernos that endanger lives, homes and critical infrastructure. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Where does fire retardant fall in a forest? Ask a satellite
“Here’s a photograph that’s all too familiar: A red cloud of fire retardant pours from the belly of a propeller plane onto a forest below. As climate change supercharges wildfires, fire crews are increasingly relying on fire retardants to create chemical breaks and contain fires. Knowing where the spray lands helps crews and scientists manage and study its effects. A new remote sensing tool may help crews and scientists pinpoint the exact location of fire retardant by taking advantage of satellite images. The tool “should be faster, cheaper, and better” than current methods, said Jerry Tagestad, a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory geographer who developed the technique. … ” Read more from EOS.
And lastly … Humans have pumped enough groundwater to change the tilt of the earth
“By pumping groundwater, humans have shifted the distribution of the water on Earth enough to alter the planet’s tilt, a new study finds. Previous research estimated that, between 1993 to 2010, humans pumped more than 2 trillion tons of groundwater. That water flowed to cities and farms before emptying out to sea, raising global sea levels by around a quarter of an inch, the study suggested. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
In commentary today …
Overregulation won’t help California manage its water supply. Here’s what will
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “Regarding “Water is precious in the American West. California barely even tries to manage it” (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, June 13): While we agree with the opinion piece that water is precious, our agreement ends there. The authors want your readers to believe California’s Water Resources Control Board needs drastic new powers. What readers should first understand is that no matter who holds the water rights, both the California Constitution and the state water code protect all uses deemed beneficial by the state, require that those uses be balanced and protect against water being wasted. Beneficial uses include water for human use, environmental protection and food production. To that end, the water board has wide-ranging powers to protect all users, including referring matters to the state attorney general. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Project Irrigators “look forward to fair fight” on Upper Klamath Lake elevations and fish populations
“Klamath Project irrigators received good news on June 7. Judge Stephen Bushong, who is conducting the judicial phase of the Klamath Basin water rights adjudication, confirmed that the irrigation districts in the Project would be able to put on an evidentiary case opposing water rights claims for high Upper Klamath Lake elevations for the benefit of fish. The ruling implements one aspect of the 2010 Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA). Under that agreement, Project irrigators agreed to stand aside during the administrative phase of the water rights adjudication, allowing the Klamath Tribes and the United States to pursue whatever water right in Upper Klamath Lake they sought without opposition from Project interests. … ” Read more from the Klamath Falls News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Conservancy grants $1 million for South Lake Tahoe Greenbelt Project
“The California Tahoe Conservancy Board on Thursday awarded a $1 million grant to the city of South Lake Tahoe to continue constructing the Tahoe Valley Greenbelt and Stormwater Improvement Project. The city is improving water quality and wildlife habitat and upgrading trail connections for people walking and biking in the South Tahoe “Y” area. “The Tahoe Valley Greenbelt plays a central role in our efforts to rejuvenate the South Tahoe “Y,” said Conservancy Board Vice Chair and South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember Tamara Wallace. “We are grateful for the Conservancy’s support in an effort that will benefit locals and visitors alike.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Irrigated agriculture practices protective of aquatic life in the Sacramento Valley
Stephen Clark and Mike Trouchon write, “The latest water quality monitoring results from the Sacramento Valley Water Quality Coalition (Coalition) demonstrate once again that management practices used by the 8,600 farmers of irrigated agriculture continue to protect the aquatic ecosystem and the fish and wildlife in the region. These practices ensure water quality is favorable for fish and wildlife in the region, which includes bugs and other food sources as part of the ecosystem. Toxicity testing for sensitive algae, invertebrates, and fish is commonly used as a tool to assess the biological condition of waterbodies. Toxicity tests by certified laboratories are used in the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s regulatory programs as a tool to evaluate potential effects on aquatic life beneficial uses under the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
BAY AREA
Protesters hate the elk fence at this Bay Area national park. Now it might come down
“The National Park Service said last week it intends to remove a fence confining a herd of elk at Point Reyes National Seashore, a 2-mile barrier that has become a flash point in a broader debate over how to manage the storied animals. Removal of the fence would allow about 260 tule elk to move farther abroad in the rural Marin County park, ostensibly finding more water and forage. The elk’s numbers have dwindled during recent drought years, a decline that park critics blame on the animal’s inability to get sustenance outside their contained area. Protests seeking to “Free the Elk” have become frequent at the park. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Popular Bay Area beach rife with fecal bacteria
“An overwhelming majority of water tests from Linda Mar beach in Pacifica conducted since January have tested positive for enterococcus, a bacterium commonly found in fecal matter, a new report from the Surfrider Foundation shows. The popular beach that’s home to the world-famous Taco Bell, is a popular spot for surfing, surf lessons and beach goers looking to gaze upon and wade in the wonders of the Pacific Ocean. Whales and seals are common sightings at the beach as well. But Pacifica and its magnificence may be in jeopardy of becoming Poo-cifica due to high levels of enterococcus. … ” Read more from KTVU.
Palo Alto golf course hits into the rough with wetlands permits violations
“When the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course underwent a major overhaul a decade ago, the city wanted to ensure that the space reflected its location: the Baylands Nature Preserve. The city hired a golf course design firm that would celebrate the natural wonders of the Embarcadero Road location. Reopening as the Palo Alto Bayland Golf Links in 2018, the 169.8-acre course featured just over 8 acres of non-tidal brackish marsh, freshwater marsh, tidal salt marsh and a freshwater pond. But that juxtaposition of man and marsh has now gotten the city into hot water. On Wednesday morning, multiple golfers were spotted cutting through wetlands and grasslands along well-worn shortcut paths that they’ve created going from one green to another. … ” Read more from Palo Alto Online.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Joaquin River reopening in Fresno County for recreational use
“The San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the Merced County line is reopening for recreational use. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says it will open starting Friday. There are no more restrictions for water use. Parks that are currently closed along the San Joaquin River will remain closed. Officials had closed off access to the river in March due to the projected melting snowpack. While the San Joaquin River is reopening, the Kings River remains closed in Fresno County. … ” Read more from KFSN.
Tulare County prepares for drier future
“Despite the return of Tulare Lake – fed now by rivers swollen with meltwater from a record snowpack that could last into late autumn thanks to unusual periods of cool weather – Tulare County is making plans for when Mother Nature is less generous. Things are already returning to the usual dry pattern. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rainfall in May was 0.4 inches below normal. That makes last month the 54th driest May recorded in the last 129 years, despite 2023 so far being the seventh wettest year for the county record keeping began in 1894. … ” Continue reading at the Valley Voice.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Final EIR ready for Santa Susana Field Lab remediation
“California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control issued its final report last week detailing the various environmental impacts of cleaning up the contaminated soil and groundwater at the Santa Susana Field Lab. Released June 8, the document—officially known as the Final Program Environmental Impact Report—paves the way in the coming years for the long-anticipated, large-scale cleanup of the former rocket engine test site north of Oak Park near Simi Valley, the agency said. Extensive research conducted at the field lab from 1947 to 2006 played an important role in advancing America’s space program, but that work—which triggered a partial nuclear meltdown in 1959—left behind a toxic stew of radioactive material on the ground. To clean it up, the state has proposed a 15-year project that includes removal of an estimated 2.5-million cubic yards of contaminated soil, radiologic waste and building demolition debris from the field lab. … ” Read more from The Acorn.
Los Angeles gets some of its water from Mono Lake, but there’s a push to change how much
“Mono Lake is just one of the sources Los Angeles uses to meet its water demands. But those who oversee it want a better plan to keep more of the water in the basin. As the snow in the Sierras continues to melt at a faster and faster pace, the water level at Mono Lake, located north of Mammoth, is also rising. That’s good news for the L.A. Department of Water and Power, which holds rights to draw from it. “When you look at the overall number and impact to Angelenos, it’s enough water to supply 200,000 in the city of Los Angeles, so it’s quite a considerable amount of water,” said Adam Perez, manager of the L.A. Aqueduct, which is the route the water takes down into the city. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
Waters surrounding Santa Monica Pier ranked most polluted in California
“According to environmental non-profit organization Heal the Bay’s 2022-2023 Annual Beach & River Report, both Santa Monica Pier and Playa Blanca, on the southern city limits of Tijuana, tied for the top spot as both faced significant water quality challenges. A crowd of reporters, photographers and television news crews gathered on the beach, just north of the Pier as the team from Heal the Bay, together with members of the Water Resources Management Team from the City of Santa Monica, gave a presentation and took questions. “We are fortunate to have beaches that are beautiful and clean most days of the year, but unfortunately, there are times and conditions when the water at the beach makes folks sick,” said Tracy Quinn, President and CEO of Heal the Bay. … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press.
LA County’s nascent stormwater capture program brings benefits to Long Beach
Bruce Reznik, LA Coastkeeper, writes, “An urban open space in the works just south of the 405 in the City of Long Beach will transform six acres of protected land with stormwater capture and outdoor recreation and education opportunities. The Willow Springs Park Wetland Restoration and Expansion Project will add four acres of new wetland habitat, one and half miles of new trails, and more than 200 trees and other native vegetation, along with educational signage. These features will add value to this city park while also reducing local summer heat extremes (known as the urban heat island effect), enhancing local water quality, and contributing to groundwater recharge. The project has risen through the Safe Clean Water Program, awarded first a $300K technical assistance grant in Round 1, then returning in Round 3 to be awarded $1.2M for design. This model project demonstrates what’s possible through the program, which has launched to marked success in less than four years. The program raises $280 million annually, in perpetuity, to reduce stormwater pollution and improve regional water self-sufficiency. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram.
SAN DIEGO
Padre Dam Municipal Water customers fed up with high bills as rates set to rise July 1
“Padre Dam customers in East San Diego County are fed up, saying their water bills are way too high. This comes as rates are set to go up on July 1. Right now, Padre Dam customers pay more for water than anyone else in the county. Their bills are also among the highest in the nation. “Why are we paying so much? It doesn’t add up,” said customer, Kim Hart. When Hart moved to Santee seven years ago, one of the first things she noticed is how high her water bills are. “For water alone….$37. But to get it to my house, it’s $53,” said Hart. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
San Diego’s June gloom not just depressing, it’s costly for some
“With just days until the official start of summer, overcast skies and cooler temperatures are still lingering. On Wednesday, National Weather Service San Diego reported that all areas across Southern California, including San Diego, have had below average temperatures this month. While you might not see the impacts from gray skies now, one solar energy expert says they could be just around the corner. “I don’t think we’ve even seen the sun for a full day this whole year,” Patrick Barrett told NBC 7 Wednesday. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Feds announce start of public process to reshape key rules on Colorado River water use by 2027
“A public process started Thursday to reshape the way Colorado River water is distributed, with federal officials promising to collect comments about updating and enacting rules in 2027 to continue providing hydropower, drinking water and irrigation to farms, cities and tribes in seven Western U.S. states and Mexico. The U.S. Interior Department said it will publish in the Federal Register on Friday a call for replacing guidelines that expire in 2026, including pacts enacted in 2007 for states to share cutbacks in water drawn from a river diminished by drought and climate change, as well as operating plans for the key Lake Powell and Lake Mead reservoirs. An agreement between the United States and Mexico on use of Colorado River water also is set to expire at that time. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
SEE ALSO: Interior Department Initiates Process to Develop Future Guidelines and Strategies for Protecting the Colorado River, press release from the Bureau of Reclamation
Don’t be fooled by rain and snow, the Colorado River is still in serious trouble, experts say
“Water is rushing from Colorado’s Western Slope and into the tributaries of the Colorado River, restoring reservoirs across the American West to perhaps a semblance of their former glory. Cities, farmers, ranchers and water managers are breathing a sigh of relief at the crisis avoided this summer thanks to the robust snowfall this winter. A major crisis appears to have been avoided, for now anyway, water experts say. But the winter snow and spring rains aren’t enough to wash away the bigger picture that the Colorado River is still drying year after year. One good water year can be followed by several dry ones, Jennifer Gimbel, a senior water policy scholar at Colorado State University, said. The drying trend has been so strong over the last two decades that scientists no longer call it a drought. Instead they say this is the drier future to which the West must become accustomed. And state, federal and tribal officials must continue seeking new ways to use less water from the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News. | Read via the East Bay Times.
Fixing the flawed Colorado River Compact
“On 24 November 1922, the Colorado River Commission officially allocated water rights to the seven U.S. states of the Colorado River Basin. The Colorado River Compact and subsequent agreements, collectively known as the Law of the River, eased years of dispute among these states, and they constitute a milestone in the history of the American West. The 1922 compact provided regulatory certainty for water management. It called for water to be stored and released as needed (most notably with the construction of Hoover Dam), thus supporting a robust era of reservoir building. The reservoirs, in turn, unleashed huge potential for electric power generation and stimulated economic growth throughout the West. The terms of the compact, however, were largely the product of development aspirations and political dealmaking, and they relied on optimistic estimations of the amount of water the river could supply that were not supported by existing surveys or science. … ” Read more from EOS.
Tribes seek greater involvement in talks on Colorado River water crisis
“As the federal government starts negotiations on long-term plans for the overtapped Colorado River, leaders of tribes are pushing for more involvement in the talks, saying they want to be at the table in high-level discussions among the seven states that rely on the river. The 30 tribes in the Colorado River Basin have rights to use roughly one-fourth of the river’s average supply. But over the past century, leaders of tribal nations were largely excluded from regional talks about river management, and only in recent years have they begun to play a larger role. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
The price of river water may be going up
“It sounds like an advertisement for bottled water: The flowing Colorado River emerges high in the Rocky Mountains, from snows untouched by man. It tumbles down through seven states and the two largest reservoirs in the country, lakes Powell and Mead, crossing some 1,450 miles. Along the way, it winds through the Grand Canyon, a project 6 million years in the making. But the storied river’s final flourish, to empty into the Gulf of California, doesn’t happen anymore. The once vibrant Colorado River Delta is now just a dried-up riverbed on most days. What’s left of the mighty river sits hemmed in by the Morelos Dam on the U.S.-Mexico border, which releases only a small stream. … ” Read more from Discover.
In national water news today …
Supreme Court water ruling could transform NEPA, ESA
“In its blockbuster Clean Water Act ruling last month, the Supreme Court did more than ratchet back EPA oversight of the nation’s wetlands — the justices may have also removed key pathways to endangered species protections and climate reviews of major federal projects. Sackett v. EPA, a case about whether an Idaho couple illegally filled in a wetland while building their dream home, set forth a massive cutback of federal safeguards for wetlands without a clear surface connection to traditionally navigable waters like lakes and streams — going further to restrict the Clean Water Act’s scope than even the Trump administration had proposed. Removing the need for many projects to obtain permits under Section 404 of the statute, which governs dredge-and-fill discharges, would also erase important triggers for National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act reviews, said Robert Glicksman, a law professor at George Washington University. … ” Read more from E&E News.
