In California water news this weekend …
C-WIN: Why is the Bureau of Reclamation Driving Salmon to Extinction?
“An analysis sponsored by the California Water Impact Network confirms the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) – the federal agency that controls flows from Shasta Dam down the Sacramento River – is violating its own policies to maximize water deliveries to corporate farms at the expense of California’s once mighty salmon runs. The study by estuarine fisheries ecologist and biostatistician Tom Cannon shows that BoR consistently ignores its own plan and state and federal law requiring the release of salmon-sustaining cold water from Shasta Reservoir. The practice continues today, even though 2023 was one of California’s wettest years on record, with plenty of water available for the fish. While the agency has justified these actions during droughts as a needed water conservation measure, it has refused to increase fishery flows even during years of abundant precipitation and maximum reservoir storage. … ” Read more from C-WIN.
San Francisco’s aging infrastructure isn’t ready for its wetter future
“San Francisco’s future looks a whole lot wetter, thanks in part to human-caused climate change. That’s according to a new city-funded study that predicts that San Francisco will be hit by increasingly intense storms in the coming decades, and needs to dramatically update its stormwater infrastructure to try to handle the deluge. “We’re gonna see more areas that flood that have never flooded before,” said Kris May, founder of the Pathways Climate Institute, a San Francisco-based consulting firm, who helped lead the study. “I don’t think we have nomenclature anymore for what is coming with climate change.” The report, which was released weeks after KQED filed a public records request about it, predicts that storms in San Francisco, and throughout the Bay Area, could become 37% wetter by the end of this century. … ” Read more from KQED.
DWR gets hands-on with thiamine deficiency in spring-run salmon
“California’s Central Valley is home to four runs of Chinook salmon: spring, fall, late-fall, and winter. Spring-run and winter-run Chinook salmon are currently listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. From climate change to loss of habitat, salmon are faced with a number of threats, and one of the latest to emerge in recent years is a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is vitamin B1, and it is a crucial vitamin for neurons and immune systems in salmon. Evidence of a thiamine deficiency in spring-run salmon started showing up in 2020. According to Brett Harvey, Department of Water Resources (DWR) environmental program manager, salmon typically get adequate levels of thiamine from their food supply in the ocean, but for the last several years that hasn’t been happening due to changes in the ocean food web. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Tribes and conservation organizations host rally at California State Capitol
“On Wednesday, July 5, several northern California Tribes and conservation organizations hosted a rally at the California State Capitol grounds in Sacramento to demonstrate that they want a clean water future. More than 200 people attended the rally, asking California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) to include Tribal communities when decisions are made about allocating water. “We got the idea to put together a day of action to bring together all these communities, Tribal communities, environmental justice communities, conservation groups, fishing interest groups, to let the state, the governor, state agencies, federal agencies that we are all in this together,” said staff attorney for Save California Salmon, Kasil Willie, in an interview with Native News Online. “We’re working towards a common goal—restoring watersheds and ecosystems.” … ” Read more from Native News Online.
DWR awards $9.2 million in grants to protect communities from floods, support fish populations and restore streams
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced $9.2 million in grants to five projects that will restore streams and creeks to more natural environmental conditions and reduce flood risk across multiple communities in California. The projects are funded by DWR’s Riverine Stewardship Program and Urban Stream Restoration Program, which deliver technical and financial assistance for the protection of listed fish species in combination with flood risk reduction and ecosystem enhancement of urban streams. The awarded projects are designed to promote community participation in the planning process, encourage public support for long-term management and increase public awareness of project benefits to the community, the environment, and the sustainability of California’s water resources. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Scripps Oceanography scientist studies toxic algae bloom with plans to create prediction model
“As an algae bloom off the California coast creates a neurotoxin called domoic acid that has killed hundreds of sea lions and about 60 dolphins, a scientist at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla is studying the process so others can be better prepared for future blooms. As part of a study funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bradley Moore, a professor of marine biology, marine chemistry and geochemistry at Scripps Oceanography, is examining how domoic acid is produced and working to create a predictive model. … ” Read more from the La Jolla Light.
Former contractor employee charged for hacking Discovery Bay water treatment facility
“A 53-year-old man from Tracy, California, has been charged for allegedly hacking into the systems of a water treatment facility in an attempt to delete critical software. The suspect, Rambler Gallo, has been charged with “transmitting a program, information, code, and command to cause damage to a protected computer”, but this is a case of unauthorized access rather than actual hacking. Gallo worked for a company contracted by the town of Discovery Bay in California to operate its water treatment facility, which serves 15,000 residents. … ” Read more from Security Week. | Read similar story from the Mercury News.
In commentary this weekend …
Climate change is making our water/energy conundrum much more complicated
Philippe Benoit, research director for Global Infrastructure Analytics and Sustainability 2050, and Anne-Sophie Corbeau, global research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, writes, “The Colorado River Basin has recently been wracked by an extended drought, which brought to the fore major concerns regarding hydroelectricity production. The iconic Hoover Dam sits on the Colorado, which transforms water into enough electricity to power 1.3 million people in Nevada, Arizona and California. Although an agreement was reached by the three dependent Western states to cut water use, it served as a reminder of how energy production is dependent on water — a dependency that is being subjected to greater uncertainties because of climate change. This phenomenon is not only impacting citizens dependent on the Colorado River but stretches across the United States and the world. … ” Read more from The Hill.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Meet the Colorado River’s newest – and youngest – power player: JB Hanby
“California’s Imperial Valley is one of the few places where a 95 degree day can be described as unseasonably cool. In the shade of a sissoo tree, with a dry breeze rustling its leaves, JB Hamby called the weather “pretty nice” for mid-June. Over his shoulder, sprinklers ticked away over a field of onions. Every few minutes, a tractor rumbled across the broiling asphalt of a nearby road. Hamby is a water policy bigwig, especially around these parts. He helps shape policies that define how water is used by arguably the most influential water users along the Colorado River. Hamby holds two jobs – he serves on the board of directors for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and was recently appointed to be California’s top water negotiator. And he’s only 27 years old. … ” Read more from KUNC.
Podcasts …
PARCHED: A river for the future
Across the U.S.-Mexico border, the Colorado River once flowed freely into the ocean. When the freshwater and saltwater met, it created an explosion of life in the desert. But most of that lushness dried up when people used up the river. We meet people who have worked for decades to restore parts of the delta’s lost wetlands. They created a historic agreement between the two countries that designates some river water for the environment. That means that sometimes, this dry delta flows with water again, and occasionally, the river meets the ocean.
NPR: THE BUZZ: Tracing the Colorado River’s problems back for more than a hundred years
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Washoe People and Water
The Elders of the Washoe People have said that the Washoe People have been here from the beginning of time. They lived from Honey Lake to the north and Sonora Pass to the south in California. Lake Tahoe marks the center of this area. The people’s appreciation of the value of water is very much recognized by the nearly 1,600 people living in California. 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
THE LANDSCAPE: What’s going on with old growth forests?
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
First dam being removed on Klamath River
“The deconstruction of Copco No. 2, the smallest of the four hydroelectric dams being removed from the Klamath River, is underway. This week, crews removed the gates, walkway, and two of the five bays down to the spillway. This work was done to direct waters around the dam, rather than over it, allowing construction crews to do work through the summer months. “While this is just the first step, it certainly is an exciting moment,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. “Crews are making fast progress in these early stages of the project, and we are on track with our removal timeline.” … ” Continue reading from the Del Norte Triplicate.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A stubborn species of shrimp could be clouding Lake Tahoe’s crystal-clear waters
” … The researchers, hailing from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, plumb Tahoe’s depths on midnight missions every month for one simple and astounding reason: because they believe the fate of the lake’s famously crystal-clear water is tied to the life cycles of a species of small, stubborn shrimp. Since TERC scientists began measuring the lake’s clarity in 1968, they have observed a decades-long clouding trend. In the 1970s, the water was clear to depths between 85 and 99 feet. By the 1990s, it decreased to 72 feet, on average. Clarity has plateaued since the turn of the century, hovering at an 23-year average of 69.5 feet between 2000 and 2022, a victory attributed to smarter building and environmental regulations in the basin that have helped prevent harmful pollutants and sediment from entering the lake. Reversing the long-term trend and improving clarity hinges on the so-called “mysis” shrimp, according to TERC. The crustaceans feast on key species of microscopic zooplankton, called daphnia, that specialize in consuming tiny algae and silt particles that muck up Tahoe’s water column — operating like tiny Hoover vacuums. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Scientists: Lake Tahoe is regaining legendary clarity
“At midnight, researchers aboard the vessel John Le Conte — an old 37-foot diesel-powered salmon trawler — dropped a net into icy cold waters. What was surprising wasn’t what they caught. It’s what they didn’t: Invasive shrimp, which have long held sway over America’s most famous alpine lake, upsetting its balanced ecosystem. In a rare piece of environmental good news, the harmful predators are almost gone. In their place are helpful creatures who are safely returning to eat algae and other fine particles. Scientists say this mysterious shift may be restoring the lake’s legendary clarity. Lake Tahoe’s average visibility has increased from 52.8 feet deep to a stunning 71.7 feet in the past three years, although this summer’s runoff has created some temporary murkiness. That’s like seeing seven stories underwater. In the last five months of 2022, the visibility increased to 80.6 feet, a level not seen since 1988, when it was 81 feet. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Glenn County wells see moderate return
“Though the California drought may be far from over, high rainfall and snow melt have given some a reason to be hopeful for many well-water users in the valley. In recent years, the state’s ongoing drought has worsened considerably thanks to minimal rain and hot summers. Those relying on well water have taken major hits to their resource as residential wells began to dry up. The California Department of Water Resources began partnering with local organizations such as the North Valley Community Foundation to come up with solutions. In the case of Glenn County, specifically in and around Orland, a water delivery service was formed to deliver potable and non-potable water to those facing dry wells. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water begins resurfacing first of two large water tanks in $6.5 million project
“For nearly four decades a water tank big enough to hold 12 million gallons has stood on a hilltop above Highway 101, overlooking Petaluma. On Friday it sat empty, its vast insides holding not water but traces of mud, dust and remnants of its interior coal-tar coating. On the outside, paint covering the roof was flaking, and the surface was slightly bowed. All of that wear and tear is set to be fixed in a new multimillion-dollar restoration effort focused on this tank off Kastania Road and another in the network of 18 overseen by Sonoma Water, the region’s dominant drinking water supplier. Together, the network of tanks can store 129 million gallons, part of a drinking water distribution system for more than 600,000 consumers in nine cities and districts across Sonoma and northern Marin counties. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Radio: New study details the threat of groundwater rise
“Sea level rise is a significant environmental threat to coastal areas like the Bay. One of the ways we’ve been confronting it, is by building sea walls to protect coastal cities like San Francisco from higher ocean tides. But a recent study finds that the biggest threat doesn’t come from coastal flooding – it comes from groundwater rise, and those sea walls might not provide protection from rising groundwater levels — especially to local communities with decades of dangerous toxins in the soil. KALW News Editor Sunni Khalid spoke to Dr. Kristina Hill, associate professor at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design, and lead author of the study.” Listen at KALW.
Marin water utilities report abundant rainfall volume for year
“Marin County water suppliers reported a flush year of rainfall that topped off local reservoirs and extracted the county from a significant drought. Both the Marin Municipal Water District and the North Marin Water District ended the fiscal year on June 30 with above-average rainfall counts. The Marin Municipal Water District recorded 77 inches of rain from July 2022 through June, or about 150% of the average of 52 inches. Heavy storms in December and January worked to refill reservoirs for the first time since the winter of 2018-2019. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Discovering the Bay Area’s hidden beaches from Half Moon Bay to Point Reyes
“The Bay Area’s Pacific coastline is one of our greatest attractions. The beaches that dot and dapple this rugged meeting of land and sea are why many of us live here. We love how our beaches, large or small, have moods that change with the weather and day of the week, and almost all of them offer a distinctive sense of solace and serenity that can only be found on a sandy, wave-lapped shore. Don’t like summer crowds? No worries, there are plenty of less-visited beaches in the Bay Area where amazing scenery can be discovered and enjoyed, even on weekends. And our epic wet winter has created a spectacular spring bloom on the coast that will last well into early summer, making a hidden beach adventure this year even more rewarding. Here are some of our favorite, lesser-known beaches to check out. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
Businesses affected by salmon season closure asked to report loss
“This year, a prolonged drought prompted the closure of recreational and commercial salmon fishing in California and put many fishermen out of a job. California submitted a request for a Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration to support the salmon fishing industry following the closure of the 2023 salmon season. “We miss not having California king salmon this year,” said Mark Tognazzini, owner of Dockside Restaurant in Morro Bay. “Our two main dishes are based on California king salmon.” To help qualify for the disaster declaration, the state is asking affected businesses to fill out a form regarding their losses. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Composting toilet pilot program moves closer to launch in San Lorenzo Valley
“A composting toilet pilot program appears headed for the San Lorenzo Valley after getting a recent vote of support from local leaders. GiveLove, a California-based nonprofit specializing in designing and implementing dry composting toilet programs commonly referred to as “container based sanitation,” is preparing to launch a pilot system for about 25 eligible CZU Lightning Complex Fire-impacted households as the families work to rebuild their homes. After sharing an initial presentation and potential pilot program overview last year with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors that was well received, the nonprofit filed another status report with the board at its meeting in late June as it refines program parameters. The supervisors asked its staff draw up a use agreement with the nonprofit and present a draft version in August which could put the pilot program on track to launch as soon as late summer or early fall. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
San Luis Opispo County groundwater supplies are in trouble after years of drought, reports show
“San Luis Obispo County reports show how the groundwater basins in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles suffered after years of continuous, severe droughts. The annual reports, which analyzed the 2022 water year running from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022, were submitted to the California Department of Water Resources in March. The plans must be sent per the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which aims to bring overdrafted basins into balance. The San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles groundwater basins have both been in critical condition for several years and need restorative efforts to ensure future generations have water, according to the Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Pressing pollution: Residents near the SLO airport with PFAS-contaminated wells ask for “full replacement” of water
“For more than 20 years, Marge Barinka has lived off Buckley Road in San Luis Obispo, using the groundwater beneath her property for livestock, gardening, and living. But the well she’s relied on for so long is polluted with chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) at levels that exceed drinking water standards, according to tests conducted in March/April of 2023. “Apparently, we have all been exposed to these ‘forever chemicals’ for decades without our knowledge. We use our well water for drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, and irrigation of fruits and vegetables,” Barinka told the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on June 23. “We demand that the responsible parties provide full replacement water to all of the PFAS-affected private property owners.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SEE ALSO: Commentary: The regional water board is good at the blame game, from News Times SLO
Nearly 100,000 property owners sued, must defend water rights
“All property owners whose land overlies two groundwater basins in the Oxnard, Ventura and Camarillo areas have been notified of a legal action that could have “a significant adverse effect on any right to pump or store groundwater that you may have.” The two basins are the “Santa Clara River Valley – Oxnard Groundwater Basin and the Pleasant Valley Groundwater Basin,” as described in thenotice sent to property owners. Property owners have until Aug. 30 to respond to the legal proceeding, called an adjudication, in order to defend their existing water rights. A case management conference is set for Sept. 29 and participating property owners must submit information about their groundwater use by Feb. 29, 2024. … ” Read more from the Ojai Valley News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Could a civil lawsuit be coming in Merced County over floods?
“Hundreds of Merced County residents joined together this week to file government claims against the county as a result of its flood response. Residents allege the county, the city of Merced and the local irrigation district did not adequately maintain the creeks and channels, which led to the severe flooding during the winter storms in January. Residents have also filed against the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, which they believe prevented local entities from performing essential maintenance work on levees and other flood control measures. The filing is on behalf of communities in the city of Merced and McSwain, Atwater and Planada – all of which suffered severe flooding, property damages and agricultural losses. The county has 45 days to respond to the complaint before residents can file a civil lawsuit. … ” Continue reading or listen at KVPR.
Water Whiplash: How the Valley’s floods brought forth ‘inconvenient truths’ about preparation
“Why were local flood agencies caught so unprepared for this winter’s floods, despite so many similarities to a statewide flood model published back in 2010? And what could be left behind if the state budget doesn’t allocate more money toward this year’s flood response? These are some of the questions investigated by Deirdre Des Jardins, an independent climate researcher and advocate who professes to speak “inconvenient truths” to authorities. She also directs the advocacy organization California Water Research, where she has written about shortcomings of this year’s flood response from local and statewide water authorities. She sat down with KVPR’s Kerry Klein to discuss her research, as well as how wet winters are likely to be in the future.” Listen to the segment or read the transcript at KVPR.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
State releases final Santa Susana Field Lab impact report
“California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control issued its final report last week detailing possible 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 near Simi Valley, the agency said. 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 radioactive material. … ” Read more from the Thousand Oaks Acorn.
Toxic algae hitting sea lions hard along Southern California coast
“San Diego sea lions continue to be affected by neurotoxins from an unusually large algae bloom. The bloom that created the domoic acid appears to have occurred in the open ocean off the Santa Barbara and Ventura County coasts. The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute had more than 1000 reports of sickened or dead sea lions in that region in early June. Locally, SeaWorld’s marine mammal rescue team has taken in more than 20 sea lions suffering after ingesting the toxin. … ” Read more from KPBS.
SAN DIEGO
Urban runoff blamed for Oceanside beach
“Urban runoff probably caused the high bacteria levels that led San Diego County to issue a water quality advisory this week for the beach 300 feet south of the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside. Almost anything that goes into a storm drain could be responsible, said Donna Durckel, group communications officer for the county’s Land Use and Environmental group, on Thursday. The beach is near an outfall that collects runoff from several neighborhood storm drains. “It could be someone washing their car,” she said. Other possibilities include garbage, pet waste, and improperly discarded chemicals. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
County leaders rally against water ‘divorce’ with Fallbrook and Rainbow
“A coalition of county, city and labor officials held a news conference Friday morning to make their case against two North County rural water districts leaving the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA). In updated numbers released this week, the SDCWA reported that it would cost San Diegans nearly $200 million over a decade if Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District were allowed to leave the 24-member agency. La Mesa Vice Mayor Colin Parent said that was unfair to his constituents. The Helix Water District, which services La Mesa, was projected to pay an additional more than $1.2 million if those two agencies leave. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
‘The fight for our lives’: Arizona’s water regime limits the Hopi Tribe’s future
“In September 2020, the Hopi Tribe’s four-decade effort to secure its right to water culminated in a court proceeding. The outcome would determine how much water the arid reservation would receive over the next century and whether that amount would be enough for the tribe to pursue its economic ambitions. Under rules unique to Arizona, the tribe would have to justify how it would use every drop it wanted. The monthslong ordeal in Arizona’s Superior Court unfolded in video calls over shaky internet connections. Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma called it “the fight of our lives.” … ” Read more at High Country News.
In national water news this weekend …
Environmental takeaways from a transformative Supreme Court term
“Nearly one year after the nation’s highest bench stunned the world by overturning 50 years of abortion rights, the nine most powerful jurists in the United States toppled environmental precedent in a ruling that wiped out protections for wetlands across the country. And it appears they’re still just getting started. “We’re not clarifying when we muck with over 50 years of understanding of how things work,” said Robin Kundis Craig, a law professor at the University of Southern California, of the court’s May ruling in Sackett v. EPA. “It portends a court that is willing to revisit everything.” Sackett was a unanimous victory for Idaho landowners Chantell and Michael Sackett who have fought a 20-year battle to remove their property from Clean Water Act permitting requirements. Five of the court’s six conservative justices went even further by voting to confine the 1972 statute’s application for wetlands that are adjacent to navigable waters. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: Public Comment Period Opens for Groundwater Sustainability Plans for basins in Ventura and Santa Barbara County
NOTICE of Water Right Permit Application in Glenn County
