On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. Click here for the agenda and remote access links.
- WORKSHOP: California Water Plan Update 2023 – Agriculture Water Use Efficiency RMS from 10am to 12pm. The California Water Plan describes and updates a broad set of resource management strategies (RMSs) that help local agencies and governments manage their water and related resources. Every RMS can be a technique, program, or policy that can be used to meet water-related management needs of a region and the state as a whole. During this workshop, the Water Plan Team will gather comments on the draft Agriculture Water Use Efficiency RMS. This will be an online only workshop, please register to receive a copy of the draft RMS and other information. Join Teams Meeting
- IN-PERSON SCOPING MEETING: Little Egbert Multi-Benefit Project from 6pm to 8pm at the Rio Vista Veterans Memorial Hall. DWR is the Lead Agency under CEQA and will prepare an EIR for the Little Egbert Multi-Benefit Project (proposed Project). The NOP is available for download. Comments regarding the issues that should be addressed in the EIR, including potential alternatives to the proposed Project and the scope of the analysis, are invited.
In California water news today …
A racist past and hotter future are testing Western water like never before
“As droughts strain water supplies across Western states, some cities and farmers have struggled with mandatory cutbacks. Determining who gets cut is decided by the foundational pecking order of Western water: the older your claim to water, created as the country expanded westward, the better protected it is. When there’s a shortage, those with newer water rights have to cut back first, sometimes giving up their water completely before older claims lose a single drop. It’s known as “first in time, first in right.” But “first” is a relative term. “First in time, first in right is kind of laughable, because the ones that were here first were the indigenous people,” says Gary Mulcahy, government liaison for the Winnemem Wintu tribe in Northern California. … ” Read moire from NPR.
SEE ALSO: Some say the century-old water rights system in the West is unfair and racist, from NPR
What happened to California’s salmon season this year?
“On the steps of the state Capitol in Sacramento last week, beneath the grand white dome, Sarah Bates called out the absence of salmon from July 4th holiday celebrations. There had been parades and fireworks, said Bates, who commercially fishes out of San Francisco. “But when I sat down for dinner with my family, what was missing? Where’s the fish?” she shouted with disdain, presumably within earshot of some lawmakers. “Where’s the salmon? Where’s my fresh, local salmon? Today’s my baby’s first birthday. She’s not eating salmon tonight.” The next generation was also on the mind of Jason Jackson-Reed, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. He addressed the crowd as he cradled his 1-month-old son in a carrier. “Our [tribe’s] social well-being, physical, our cultural, our spiritual well-being, it all runs parallel to the salmon,” he said. “If the salmon aren’t doing good, we’re not doing good.” … ” Read more from KQED.
Governor Newsom signs infrastructure & budget legislation to build more, faster
“Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a slate of bills to accelerate critical infrastructure projects across California that help build our 100% clean electric grid, ensure safe drinking water and boost the state’s water supply and modernize our transportation system. The legislation represents an urgent push by Governor Newsom to take full advantage of an unprecedented $180 billion in state, local, and federal infrastructure funds over the next ten years – critical to achieving California’s world-leading climate and clean energy goals while also creating up to 400,000 good-paying jobs. By streamlining permitting, cutting red tape, and allowing state agencies to use new project delivery methods, this legislation will maximize taxpayer dollars and accelerate timelines of projects throughout the state, while ensuring appropriate environmental review and community engagement. … ” Continue reading from the Office of the Governor.
Newsom signs bills to speed up infrastructure projects
“California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills Monday aimed at streamlining the construction of solar and wind farms, reservoirs, bridges, railways and other infrastructure projects in the Golden State. Lawmakers approved the five-bill package, which promises to accelerate clean energy and infrastructure projects while tackling climate change. Newsom introduced the bills as his strategy to streamline project approval, saying that California must speed up construction, clear delayed construction procurement processes and expedite judicial review for projects that have passed environmental reviews. … ” Continue reading from Courthouse News Service.
Sites Reservoir on a regulatory fast track with state’s permitting reforms
“The Sites Project Authority would like to commend and thank Governor Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature for working together to pass a critically important infrastructure streamlining package that will allow eligible projects certified by the Governor to use a streamlined approval process to get essential infrastructure into construction and operation for the benefit of all Californians. All seven of the Proposition 1 water storage projects are eligible, including the Sites Reservoir Project. In May, Governor Newsom introduced proposals to streamline permitting and project review for critical infrastructure projects, like Sites Reservoir, that would help meet the state’s needs to provide new, climate-resilient water supplies. “We are grateful to Governor Newsom and the State Legislature for their leadership on such a challenging aspect of our regulatory process,” said Jerry Brown, Executive Director of the Sites Project Authority. “Their actions to incorporate these policy changes will expedite securing our water supplies to become more resilient to a changing climate. These actions strike the right balance—time saved and costs reduced for delivery of critically important water projects like Sites, while still providing our communities and environments proper safeguards.” … ” Read more from the Sites Project Authority.
- SEE ALSO: Newsom signs budget with bills to streamline environmental approval for clean energy, from the Mercury News
REACTIONS
Association of California Water Agencies
“ACWA applauds Governor Newsom and the Legislature’s leadership in successfully enacting budget trailer bills that include reforms to help streamline the approval processes for building critical water infrastructure projects at the pace and scale needed to respond to the growing impacts of climate change. ACWA also applauds the Governor and Legislature for approving a budget that maintains funding for projects that improve environmental conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, including habitat restoration projects, multi-benefit projects that promote native species improvements, and projects that enable water users to make additional flows available for environmental purposes. Given the extreme climate swings within the past year, it’s abundantly clear that we need every tool in the toolbox in answering this challenge on behalf of all Californians. This budget provides public water agencies across the state resources to help address the effects of climate change in their communities. ACWA encourages the Legislature and Administration to consider additional state funding assistance for water infrastructure for climate resilience in the context of a general obligation bond on the ballot in 2024.”
Southern California Water Coalition
“We applaud the work of the State Assembly and Senate in passing this important package put forward by Governor Newsom,” said SCWC Executive Director Charley Wilson. “These reforms are critical for our state to build a climate resilient future.” The new laws will benefit water projects in three key ways: expedited California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) judicial review process and administrative clean up, streamlining of fully protected species permitting, and allowing California Department of Water Resources to use design/build in constructing new projects. Combined, these reforms will streamline permitting, cut red tape, reduce time-consuming litigation, and make other changes that will shorten project timelines while saving taxpayers, state and local governments and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The reality is that hundreds of critical water projects statewide will go through these processes,” continued Wilson. “This package of laws will help us achieve our goals of a drought resilient state. While it is disappointing that the Delta Conveyance project was specifically removed from the package, it is still undergoing its environmental review and nothing otherwise has changed in its status. SCWC looks forward to the completion of this important process which will provide 27 million Californians with access to safe drinking water. We are excited about how this package can help us build a better future for our state,” concluded Wilson. “We look forward to seeing these reforms implemented as soon as possible and we thank Governor Newsom and the State Legislature for making them a reality.”
The problem with boating’s high-fiberglass diet
“Oysters first alerted marine biologist Corina Ciocan to an overlooked global marine pollution crisis. Ciocan, a marine biologist at the University of Brighton in England, has worked since 2018 on an ongoing study of plastics pollution in Chichester Harbour, an outwardly idyllic boat-dotted inlet a two-hour drive southwest of London. … Since 1971, the Chichester Harbour Conservancy has overseen the relationship between wildlife, the environment, and the human impact on the area, from sailing to fishing. Over the past decade, they noticed a steady rise in the numbers of dying oysters until a severe shortage of healthy oysters led to a fishery closure in 2018. Mystified, the conservancy contacted Ciocan. Initially, the conservancy suspected dumped sewage and overfishing. But when Ciocan examined local shellfish, she discovered a huge number of mystery shards inside the animals, dead and alive. … ” Read the full story at Hakai Magazine.
In commentary today …
Clear California goals needed to develop future water supply
Jim Wunderman, the president and CEO of the Bay Area Council, writes, “Over the past decade, California has withered and swelled under huge swings in annual rain and snowfall. We’ve endured two of the most severe droughts in recorded state history, two of the wettest years on record, and even one of those rare occurrences — the average water year. The trend, however, is clear. California is getting warmer, and the drought intervals between our wet years are getting longer. State officials estimate climate change could reduce water supplies by about 10% by 2040, resulting in an approximate 8 million acre-feet per year loss. Meanwhile, the Colorado River basin is in steady decline, and scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories estimate warming temperatures will eliminate the Sierra snowpack most years beginning in the 2040s. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Making the pie bigger
Scott Hamilton writes, “The following article first appeared in Valley Voice in August 2021. As many prepare to attend the Kaweah Subbasin SGMA event on Thursday, July 13th at the International Ag Expo in Tulare it would be good to keep in mind there are more people working on solutions than one always realizes. The Sustainable Groundwater Act (SGMA) has had some unfortunate side effects. It has pitted neighbor against neighbor and water district against water district to fight for the last uncaptured remnants of water in the Valley. These fights are frequently contentious and emotional. And nothing less than future of some farms is at stake. But there is an alternative. Rather than fighting over pieces of the existing water pie, the pie can be made bigger. But this is California, and politics, particularly water politics, can present challenges of monumental proportions. … ” Continue reading at Water Wrights.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Winnemem Wintu Run4Salmon continues for eighth year along with specific COVID protocols
“Covid protocols remain in place this year as the Winnemem Wintu Tribe, along with a collective of Indigenous women, activists, and allies embark on Run4Salmon, a 300-mile Prayer Journey to restore salmon to the Mount Shasta area for the eighth year in a row. WHO declared the Covid pandemic over this past May 2023, however positive Covid cases continue in California. Run4Salmon is protecting Tribal Elders who carry sacred Indigenous knowledge & traditions from any high risk of severe illness or death by continuing specific Covid protocols, and keeping the entire journey private. The public is invited to join Run4Salmon virtually through Social Media. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Radio: Tribe, water users, and fish protectors come to agreement in Scott Valley
“You could fill a library with stories of disagreements over water use in the American West. California’s Scott Valley alone would take up some shelf space in that library, with sensitive salmon species and their need for water frequently abutting the rights of old ranches. Now some of the interested parties are working together, under a new agreement signed by California Trout, the Farmers Ditch Company, and the Yurok Tribe. The goal is a river and tributaries more friendly to salmon, and a set of farms and ranches that use water more efficiently. We explore the details in an extended discussion with Mike Belchik of the Yurok Tribe, Gareth Plank from FDC, and Damon Goodman from CalTrout.” Radio show will air at 9am; audio will be posted afterwards. Listen at Jefferson Public Radio.
Lake County Supervisors to consider letter to member of Congress regarding Scott Dam
“The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss a letter to the county’s member of Congress regarding the potential removal of the Scott Dam. The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. … In an untimed item, the board will consider sending a letter to Congressman Mike Thompson regarding a possible resolution in Pacific GAs and Electric’s proposed decommissioning of the Scott Dam. In a memo to the board, County Administrative Officer Susan Parker wrote, “Your Board has consistently and steadfastly raised concerns over the potential adverse effects of the decommissioning and removal of Scott Dam proposed by PG&E. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
Defining community is slippery on the Eel River
“On paper, California’s Eel River is a prime candidate for restoration. It’s a remote river that runs through rugged, lightly-populated terrain in Northern California. As with many rivers in the region, a combination of logging, over-fishing, and dams decimated its once-plentiful salmon and steelhead runs. The introduction of a native predator, the pikeminnow, only made things worse. But some of that could be put to rights: two aging dams in the Eel’s upper reaches are reaching the end of their lifespan—and one has been declared seismically unsafe. PG&E, which owns the dams, has chosen not to renew their licenses, setting the stage for removal if no new owner steps forward. Eel River residents overwhelmingly support dam removal, the tribes are adamantly in favor, and a constellation of NGOs is pushing hard for it. If those dams come down, 150 square miles of cold-water habitat will open up to struggling populations of steelhead and salmon, offering needed refuge from the warming climate. So why is it so hard to get done? … ” Read more from the PPIC.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Mosquitoes are making life miserable in this popular California tourist destination. Here’s why
“The high temperatures hitting the Sierra Nevada have led to an unexpected surge in the mosquito population just in time for the peak summer tourist season. The area has witnessed an explosion of snowmelt mosquitoes, an assortment of half a dozen highly aggressive species that hibernate beneath the ice and emerge to feed as it melts. However, this year’s boom is happening later than usual due to the record-breaking snowfall in the spring and the late start to the snow melt. Typically, these mosquitoes emerge gradually throughout the spring and early summer. But the sudden temperature change this year has disrupted their usual pattern, according to Joel Buettner, manager of the Placer Mosquito & Vector Control District. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
How California’s melting snow poses a deadly risk for backcountry hikers
“For at least 13 years, California reported no deadly avalanches in the summertime. Until this month. On July 2, an avalanche high on a Sierra peak west of Big Pine (Inyo County) struck a party of three hikers, one of whom died. Two others were hurt and evacuated by helicopter. Another disaster occurred on June 14, when two skiers were caught and carried by an avalanche on the north face of 12,237-foot Mount Hurd, also in Inyo County. The two were partially buried, and one succumbed to injuries. Both were “wet avalanches,” a type of catastrophe involving heavy, slushy snow that can occur on steep backcountry slopes well into the warmer months. This summer, the risk appears to be greater than usual, since snow from the relentless winter covers an unusually broad swath of the Sierra. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Tehama groundwater still in jeopardy – Groundwater commission circles the wagons
“After this past winter, it’s hard to believe California is still experiencing water woes. Not surface water, of course. The lakes, rivers, and creeks look terrific. But deep underground, the aquifers look pretty much the same. The shallow aquifers have seen a great increase in water, but the deep ones have not recharged and it could take decades or eons for that to happen. Many local jurisdictions are taking real steps toward groundwater sustainability, but Tehama County’s commercial nut growers are still fighting tooth and nail against any regulation or oversight. The state has mandated local agencies be formed to address sustainability on the local level and the nut growers are not down with that at all. … ” Read more from A News Cafe.
NAPA/SONOMA
New water quality requirements proposed for North Coast vineyards
“The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is inviting public comment on a draft order that proposes new requirements for vineyards to safeguard water quality. The requirements, which could be modified after public comments are received and reviewed, will be considered for adoption by the North Coast Water Board later this year. The Proposed General Order for Waste Discharge Requirements for Commercial Vineyards, or draft vineyard order, the first of its kind for the region, is the result of collaboration among the North Coast Water Board, vineyard owners and stakeholders committed to sustainable practices that protect the environment. The draft order was developed through a series of stakeholder efforts that culminated in the formation of a technical advisory group in the summer of 2022 to address components of the program. … ” Continue reading this press release from the North Coast Water Board.
BAY AREA
Marin grand jury: Water utilities should fortify dam safety plans
“Following the barrage of drenching storms this winter, Marin County’s dam safety plans are failing to account for more frequent, intense storms brought on by climate change, according a new report. While the report by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury says the eight dams operated by the Marin Municipal Water District and the North Marin Water District are in full compliance with state and federal safety standards, the agencies’ dam hazard plans do not incorporate the latest science on climate change effects on “atmospheric river” storms. “Of note, no failures took place thus far, in part because water levels in dams were low due to the prolonged drought,” the report states. “However, with stronger atmospheric rivers happening in greater numbers, and perhaps higher water levels in the dams, the situation could be different.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Bay Area heat wave coming this week, 114 degrees forecast for Central Valley, 117 for Las Vegas
“After a mild spring, temperatures are expected to heat up steadily later this week across the Bay Area, culminating in a heat wave in the mid-to-high 90s in many Bay Area cities and up to 105 in Livermore and other inland areas by this weekend. “Summer is definitely arriving. It may have been a little late coming to the the Bay Area, but it’s here now,” said Dial Hoang, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey. The warming comes as a series of extreme weather events are unfolding across the United States and the world. Forecasters say Phoenix is likely to break its all-time record of 18 days in a row over 110 degrees, with 10 straight already in the books by Sunday, and 115+ forecast for the coming days. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News. | Read via MSN News.
CENTRAL COAST
Fish ladder upgrades underway at Fall Creek in Felton
“Fish migrating along a creek in the San Lorenzo Valley can look forward to improved swimming conditions as an infrastructure project from the local water district flows ahead. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District announced that it is rebuilding a fish ladder at Fall Creek – the primary source of drinking water for Felton residents – to improve fish passage and overall operational conditions in the area. The ladder, which was constructed about 30 years ago and has been owned by the district since 2008, was designed with jump heights that have been deemed too tall for easy salmonid passage, according to a release from the district, and previous efforts to improve the structure through smaller modifications have proven unsuccessful. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
California American water relaxes water use requirements for its Monterey peninsula customers
“California American Water is updating the watering schedule for outdoor landscaping after the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District moved mandatory conservation levels from Stage 2 to Stage 1. “Conservation is always in season in Monterey and we have work to do to solve our water supply challenges,” said Chris Cook, Central California Director of Operations. “Even though we were fortunate to have had a very wet winter, it’s still crucial that all of us in our community continue to use water wisely.” … ” Read more from Market Screener.
Paso Robles: No watering restrictions required for summer water use
“Due to the abundant rainfall experienced during the recent wet winter, the City of Paso Robles announces that watering restrictions will not be implemented this summer beyond the City’s minimum conservation requirements. The state has not extended statewide Level 2 Water Demand Management measures, thanks to the positive impact of the wet winter on reservoirs and groundwater basins. The City does not anticipate supply shortages and expects residents to adhere to the minimum conservation measures in place. However, state requirements prohibiting irrigation of non-functional turf at non-residential sites remain in effect. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Water officials expected to release water from Lake Isabella in November
“The water level at Lake Isabella continues to rise, with water officials already looking ahead to next winter. The lake is approaching 526,000 acre-feet, with the maximum capacity sitting at 568,000. According to Kern River Water Master Mark Mulkay, the reduced outflow from the lake will continue at around 4,500 cubic feet per second. At the height of the runoff earlier this year, the outflow flirted with 8,000 but never went over. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
EASTERN SIERRA
Peak flows on Mono Lake’s tributary streams
“High-elevation snow is melting in the Mono Basin and we are enjoying quite a show of runoff. The winter of 2022–2023 broke records for snowpack and we’ve been watching that snow gush down Mono Basin creeks. Cool spring and early summer temperatures meant a slow start to the runoff season. Now this week’s heat wave and resultant melt is producing the highest daily flows of the season and likely the biggest peak of the year. Here’s a rundown of the season’s big runoff on Mono Lake’s two largest tributaries. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
‘Intense’ weeklong heat wave coming to Southern California. Here’s the timeline
“A heat wave is expected to hit Southern California this week, bringing “elevated” fire danger to the region and increasing the chance for heat-related illness. The next stretch of hotter temperatures comes after a brief weekend break when most of Southern California enjoyed mild weather. “We had a brief heat wave over the holiday weekend that was very short in duration where the temperatures weren’t as high,” said National Weather Service meteorologist David Sweet. “This upcoming heat wave is certainly going to be more intense and could be a long duration event, which could continue through the weekend and maybe into next week. We don’t see any end to the heat wave in the next seven days at least.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
California water district secretly hired company tied to general manager’s co-defendant in bribery case
“Central Basin Municipal Water District hired a company secretly run by employees of a construction firm that allegedly funneled $400,000 in bribes to the district’s general manager when he served as superintendent of a nearby school district, according to recently released court records. Now, Central Basin’s board members are weighing whether to terminate General Manager Alex Rojas or temporarily relieve him from duty in response to revelations that the water district paid roughly $790,000 to a company called Capstone Partners Group, which was owned by an employee of the man Rojas allegedly assisted in an embezzlement scheme in exchange for the bribes. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SAN DIEGO
Fallbrook and Rainbow water districts get OK to split from San Diego water authority
“Rainbow and Fallbrook water districts are free to join a water system in Riverside County, after a split decision by regional policymakers Monday that would slightly lower costs for ratepayers in those districts but may raise water rates in other areas across San Diego County. The San Diego County Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, which is responsible for approving and managing changes to local jurisdictions, voted 5-3 to authorize Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Muncipal Water District to separate from the San Diego Water Authority. They plan to join Eastern Municipal Water District, which serves southern Riverside County, said Jack Bebee general manager for the Fallbrook district. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
SEE ALSO:
- North County communities permitted to cut ties with County Water Authority, from Fox 5 San Diego
- Two water districts leaving San Diego County Water Authority, NBC San Diego
- Regional Leaders Seek to Protect Ratepayers from $200M Water Bill, from the Water News Network
- Padre Dam customers could be facing even higher bills, from the East County Times
Along the Colorado River …
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe responds to Supreme Court ruling on Arizona v. Navajo Nation
“The Navajo Nation has long struggled with being marginalized and excluded from water allocation conversations regarding the Colorado River. Despite their historical ties to the river and its significant impact on their communities, the Navajo Nation has often been overlooked or sidelined in decision-making processes. As water scarcity becomes more pressing in the Southwest, the Navajo people have faced challenges in accessing and managing water resources. On June 22, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court made another decision that continues the Navajo Nation’s battle for water. … ” Read more from KSJD.
Queen Creek begins getting water from Colorado River following 5-year process
“Queen Creek just announced a new water deal that seemingly means the fast-growing town can continue new housing construction. In a news release Monday, town officials announced the purchase of Colorado River water rights from a property owner in Cibola Valley, part of La Paz County, to reduce its reliance on groundwater. Town officials said the extensive review and approval from the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation took five years. Now that the process is complete, Queen Creek receives water from their new source. Just over a month ago, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced restrictions that would impact new construction around the Valley that relies on groundwater. According to a recent study, about 4% (nearly 5 million acre-feet) of groundwater demand needed for the Valley would not be met over the next 100 years if no action was taken. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
Commentary: Why is Arizona poised to give away groundwater to mining when it faces a devastating water crisis?
Terry Rambler, chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, writes, “With a groundwater crisis rapidly unfolding in the Phoenix metropolitan region, the Biden administration may be on the verge of approving a massive copper mining project in central Arizona that will allow the state to give away $400 million worth of groundwater over the 40-year life of the project. This is the result of a stunning loophole in Arizona’s water laws. It now depends on the Biden administration to stop this madness. To pass the state’s 1980 groundwater legislation , lawmakers exempted Arizona’s powerful mining industry from any restrictions on how much groundwater mines can consume. The law allows mines to pump unlimited groundwater without paying the state a dime. That law is now colliding with the stark reality that Arizona is facing a devastating deficit in groundwater supplies at the same time that Colorado River water is being squeezed by persistent drought. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
10th Circuit backs Green River water exchange between federal government and Utah
“Utah may continue drawing water from the Flaming Gorge Reservoir as part of a Trump-era water deal with federal regulators, the 10th Circuit ruled Monday, affirming a 2021 decision from a federal court in Utah. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, a branch of the Interior Department, “provided a reasoned explanation of its decision” to allow Utah to use the water, Circuit Judge Timothy Tymkovich wrote in a 38-page opinion published on Monday. The agency not only showed the deal “would not significantly affect the water or fish resources in the Green River Basin” but also “adequately explained the methodology and scope of its decision,” the George W. Bush appointee wrote. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Colorado is drought-free for the first time in 4 years, but changes in the weather are underway
“For the first time in nearly four years, the state of Colorado is free of drought. Thanks to more frequent storms and showers over the past several months, the United States Drought Monitor map as of July 6 showed no areas of drought in the state for the first time since July 16, 2019. Since late May, a weak upper-level area of low atmospheric pressure has been parked over the Rocky Mountain region, said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick. As wind energy pivoted around the low pressure area, it helped to trigger frequent bouts of showers and storms, contributing to wetter weather than the historical average, Feerick said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Conservationists and farmers work together to restore the Colorado River Delta
“One hundred years ago, the Colorado River Delta in northwestern Mexico was an area rich in wildlife and vegetation. But for decades, U.S. states have consumed most of the river’s water, leaving little to reach the delta. Combined with the effects of climate change, the area today looks more like a desert than a delta. That started to change, however, with recent efforts to bring more water into the delta and plant native tree species. Carolina del Rosario Sánchez Gastélum is the director of agroecology at Restauremos el Colorado, a nonprofit based in Mexicali, Baja California. The organization’s mission since 2015 has been to promote sustainable water management of the Colorado River and restoration of the delta’s ecosystem. She and Massachusetts native Lauren Ashbrook, who received a fellowship to spend a year working with the organization, have worked closely alongside farmers to implement sustainable practices that benefit the farmers and the delta. … ” Read more from Yale Climate Connections.
In national water news today …
How climate change intensifies the water cycle, fueling extreme rainfall and flooding – the Northeast deluge was just the latest
“A powerful storm system that hit the U.S. Northeast on July 9 and 10, 2023, dumped close to 10 inches of rain on New York’s Lower Hudson Valley in less than a day and sent mountain rivers spilling over their banks and into towns across Vermont, causing widespread flash flooding. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said he hadn’t seen rainfall like it since Hurricane Irene devastated the region in 2011. Extreme water disasters like this have disrupted lives in countries around the world in the past few years, from the Alps and Western Europe to Pakistan, India and Australia, along with several U.S. states in 2022 and 2023. The role of climate change is becoming increasingly evident in these types of deluges. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
U.S. House Dems want data on impact of Supreme Court ruling on wetlands protection
“Top Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked federal agencies Monday to track possible negative effects from a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal authority to regulate clean water. Washington’s Rick Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the committee, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee ranking member Grace Napolitano of California, expressed concern in a Monday letter to the heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers that the Supreme Court’s ruling in May would degrade water quality across the country. … ” Read more from Maryland Matters.
