On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Clean Water, Complicated Laws: Funding Stormwater and Wastewater Programs from 10am to 10:30am. Join BB&K’s leading water quality attorneys for a webinar series as presenters provide practical guidance on water quality issues, laws and regulations. Once a month, we will explore the major concerns wastewater, stormwater, and recycled water managers face, and dive into the many complicated issues that arise regarding water quality. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Lake Tahoe has an alarmingly high concentration of microplastics, study finds
“A new scientific research paper published Wednesday morning found that alarming levels of microplastics are lingering in the surface waters of Lake Tahoe. In a comparative study of 38 freshwater lakes and reservoirs worldwide, Tahoe had the third-highest concentration of microplastics, according to the paper, which was co-authored by a researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno, and published in the journal Nature. With 5.4 plastic particles per cubic meter, Tahoe is cited as one of three lakes where microplastic concentrations are higher than those found in the notorious ocean gyres of floating garbage. The other two are Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano, adjacent water bodies spanning the border between Switzerland and Italy. … ” Read more from the SF Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Lake Tahoe has high concentration of microplastics, global research shows, from the Tahoe Daily Tribune
California Democrats move forward bill to chip away historic water rights
“The California Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife today passed a bill out of committee that would empower the State Water Board to chip away at historic water rights and significantly reduce rural water allocations. Under SB 389, sponsored by Ben Allen (D-Redondo Beach), the California State Water Resources Control Board and its five appointed members would be able to review historic riparian and appropriative water rights to determine whether or not they are appropriate. … ” Read more from the Center Square via Maven’s Notebook.
Millerton Lake reaches full capacity, prompting controlled over the top spill-over
“Millerton Lake has officially reached full capacity. On Wednesday, water was seen spilling over the top of Friant Dam. Michael Jackson, Area Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation says the spillover is about 50 to 100 cubic feet per second (cfs). This is in addition to the 3,500 cfs coming out through the lower gates and into the San Joaquin River. … ” Read more from KMPH.
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and the Environment’
“California had storms and snowpacks of historic proportions this winter, followed by large water runoffs in the spring, providing a welcome respite from a prolonged drought. But Californians are facing “weather whiplash” and heat waves as the global climate changes. Meanwhile, the economy is sending mixed signals, and state government surpluses have given way to shortfalls. These situations raise questions about the state’s ability to meet ambitious climate goals—even given federal investments in climate and clean energy programs through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Amid changing economic and environmental conditions, what do Californians think about climate change and climate policies? This is the 25th year of the PPIC Statewide Survey, and these are the key findings of the annual survey on Californians and The Environment, conducted from June 7 to June 29, 2023 … ” Read more from the PPIC.
SEE ALSO: Heat: 3 in 4 Californians say climate change is contributing to the state’s extreme weather events, from the San Jose Mercury News
Most major California reservoirs are over 90% full. But there’s one big exception
“More than two-thirds of California’s major water supply reservoirs are more than 90% full as the state’s record snowpack continues to melt, and most are well above their historic average levels for this time of year, according to data from the California Department of Water Resources. But there’s one major exception: Trinity Lake northwest of Redding (Shasta County), which has yet to exceed 60% of its capacity, and is at just 78% of its historic average. Trinity Lake, California’s third largest reservoir, has seen its water level steadily climb since the storms that pounded the state last winter, rising from about 20% of its total capacity last fall to 58% as of Tuesday. But that still lags behind most of the other major water supply reservoirs in the state, including nearby Shasta Lake, which is the largest in the state and is at 91% of its capacity, after nearing 100% last month. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
State Water Board releases draft report on expediting permitting for seawater desalination plants
“As part of California’s all-of-the-above strategy to address an anticipated 10% reduction in its water supply by 2040 due to hotter and drier conditions, the State Water Resources Control Board, in coordination with multiple state agencies, has developed a Draft Siting and Streamlining Report to Expedite Permitting Seawater Desalination Projects. The State Water Board is accepting public comments on the draft report until 12 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2023. “Given the increasing threats to our water supply and the reality that we are experiencing hotter, drier weather, desalination will continue to be an important water source for some communities within our state,” said Karen Mogus, deputy director for the Division of Water Quality. “This report was developed to facilitate projects that meet the waste discharge requirements set forth in the Ocean Plan to ensure that the most advanced technology and protections for the marine environment are utilized. This draft report provides valuable information for those considering pursuing seawater desalination projects to help safeguard local water supplies.” … ” Continue reading this press release from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Water Worries: CA groundwater mismanagement puts farmers and food supplies at risk
“After a historic wet winter, California’s reservoirs and surface water are overflowing. However, state officials are in a race to prevent farmlands from becoming barren deserts as the state’s groundwater is being pumped out at an alarming rate. Depending on the source you read, California’s “Golden State” nickname was coined because of the 1800’s Gold Rush, the yellow poppies that sprout in Summer, or likely the early settlers who first saw its rolling-golden hills of parched grass. “I think in California, we’re almost perpetually in a drought,” said Adam Claes with the Fresno Irrigation District (FID). “Over the past five years, we had the three driest years on record.” The state went from one of the worst droughts in more than 1,000 years to a record-breaking rain and snowpack. The entire state is virtually drought-free, for now. Water experts call this oscillating weather pattern the ‘California Whiplash.’ … ” Read more from CBN.
Environmental groups claim victory as judge rules ‘‘Safe Harbor’ Program violates Endangered Species Act
“Late yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled against a federal “Safe Harbor” program on California’s Shasta River that allowed a dam owner and water diverters to harm threatened coho salmon in exchange for scant “stewardship” practices on private lands. The court halted the program, invalidating the underlying biological opinion and environmental assessment. Now, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) must prepare a new biological opinion and a more thorough environmental impact statement that do not violate the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, respectively. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
California takes big step to boost use of purified sewage water to combat drought
“California law currently doesn’t allow cities to put recycled wastewater directly into municipal water distribution systems. Instead, cities are required to first inject that water underground into an aquifer, where further, natural filtration occurs. What’s proposed: These new regulations would allow putting recycled water directly into the local water system, allowing more cities to recycle water that don’t happen to have an underground basin to store water, or don’t have enough space in groundwater basins because of past pollution, which is the case in L.A. … ” Read more from the LAist.
America is wrapped in miles of toxic lead cables
“AT&T, Verizon and other telecom giants have left behind a sprawling network of cables covered in toxic lead that stretches across the U.S., under the water, in the soil and on poles overhead, a Wall Street Journal investigation found. As the lead degrades, it is ending up in places where Americans live, work and play. Researchers Seth Jones and Monique Rydel Fortner, from the environmental consulting firm Marine Taxonomic Services, collected lead, soil and water samples at the Journal’s request—a process that included diving expeditions at some locations. They have become experts in lead cables since they discovered them under Lake Tahoe more than 10 years ago and have advocated for their removal. The Journal found that where lead contamination was present, the amount measured in the soil was highest directly under or next to the cables, and dropped within a few feet—a sign the lead was coming from the cable, experts said. … ” Read the full story at the Wall Street Journal.
Courts prepare for rise in climate and water law cases
“Heat. Wildfires. Drought. Floods. Sea-levels. Scientists predict that human contributions to our changing environment will cause a rise in the number and intensity of these climate-related hazards. As a result, legal and policy experts expect a corresponding increase in the number of climate-related lawsuits and other regulatory issues coming before the courts. Last month, a group of California judicial officers and court staff attorneys came together for the Judicial Council’s first Environmental Summit, where attendees heard the current science on climate change, the potential impacts on the public, and the expected lawsuits and disagreements courts will help to resolve. … ” Read more from the California Courts Newsroom via Maven’s Notebook.
AI creates new environmental injustices, but there’s a fix
“As the computing demands for artificial intelligence, or AI, grow at a great pace, so do the inequitable environmental consequences. The rising computer processing demands from AI are increasing freshwater consumption to cool thousands of servers housed in warehouse-sized data centers and increasing unhealthful air pollution from coal power plants that provide much of the electricity. A recent paper by University of California, Riverside, electrical and computer engineers finds that technology companies are not doing enough to equitably distribute these growing environmental impacts. The finding mirrors calls from international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for efforts to address AI’s environmental inequity. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
Multiple ecosystems in hot water after marine heatwave surges across the Pacific
“Rising ocean temperatures are sweeping the seas, breaking records and creating problematic conditions for marine life. Unlike heatwaves on land, periods of abrupt ocean warming can surge for months or years. Around the world these ‘marine heatwaves’ have led to mass species mortality and displacement events, economic declines and habitat loss. New research reveals that even areas of the ocean protected from fishing are still vulnerable to these extreme events fueled by climate change. A study published today in Global Change Biology, led by researchers at UC Santa Barbara, found that while California’s network of marine protected areas (MPAs) provide many social and ecological benefits, they are not resilient to the effects of ocean warming. MPAs are locations in the ocean where human activities such as fishing are restricted to conserve and protect marine ecosystems, habitats, species and cultural resources. The study, part of a 10-year review of California’s MPA network conducted at UCSB’s National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS), found that marine heatwaves impact ecological communities regardless of whether they are protected inside MPAs. … ” Read more from The Current.
Fires, floods, heatwaves. Is the extreme weather from coast to coast ‘a new abnormal’?
“Wildfire smoke engulfed the iconic skyline of New York, blotting out the Empire State Building in a dystopian orange haze. A massive heat dome broke temperature records in Texas, straining the power grid and killing 13 people. Torrential rain flooded the Hudson Valley and Vermont, washing homes off their foundations and forcing residents to navigate downtown streets by canoe. This summer, the United States resembles the set of a blockbuster disaster movie. As extreme weather engulfs almost every part of the nation — from intense precipitation in the Northeast to a sharp climb in heat and ocean temperatures in the Southeast and Southwest— even scientists who track climate change are startled. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Floods, fires and deadly heat are the alarm bells of a planet on the brink
“The world is hotter than it’s been in thousands of years, and it’s as if every alarm bell on Earth were ringing. The warnings are echoing through the drenched mountains of Vermont, where two months of rain just fell in only two days. India and Japan were deluged by extreme flooding. They’re shrilling from the scorching streets of Texas, Florida, Spain and China, with a severe heat wave also building in Phoenix and the Southwest in coming days. They’re burbling up from the oceans, where temperatures have surged to levels considered “beyond extreme.” And they’re showing up in unprecedented, still-burning wildfires in Canada that have sent plumes of dangerous smoke into the United States. Scientists say there is no question that this cacophony was caused by climate change — or that it will continue to intensify as the planet warms. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Could this be a year when California doesn’t see a big wildfire?
“Wildfire risk in California is forecast to heighten in coming days, with a “heat dome” expected to bring scorching temperatures across the state. This summer’s fires in the Golden State have mostly been small, just a couple acres, due to the unusually wet winter. But blazes are likely to trend bigger through the end of July as temperatures are set to soar above 120 degrees at the hottest locations this weekend.Peak fire season is predicted to run August through October, and destructive fires over 100,000 acres are possible. Experts say the chance for an exceptionally large fire nearing 1 million acres this year is small, however. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Night-flying helicopters prepare to battle wildfire as heat wave bakes California
“Clouds of dust swirled around the Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale as a massive helicopter hovered over a tank of wildfire retardant, dropped a long snorkel from its belly and sucked up 3,000 gallons of bright pink material in just about 90 seconds. The chopper zipped back into the sky, where it met with two other Coulson CH-47 Chinook helitankers and got in formation. One by one, they dropped the neon retardant on the ground below — the latest demonstration of California’s war-like preparations for wildfires this year. “As we get deeper into the fire season and this summer, we’re going to be approaching fall when the Santa Ana winds will return,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said. “We can expect the risk of wildfires to grow, especially given the increased vegetation and the habitat that’s grown following a wet winter and spring. This vegetation will be dried out and become explosive fuel, which will result in rapid wildfire spread.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
How much has the Western drought increased carbon emissions?
“Researchers are getting a better picture of just how much the drought in the West has increased carbon emissions. Hydropower is a big source of energy there. And when water is scarce, grid operators often turn to coal and gas plants to make up for lost power. This can have a big impact on the environment and public health even in places far away. Here & Now‘s Celeste Headlee learns more with Jake Bittle, a staff writer for our editorial partner, Grist.” Listen at KCLU.
In commentary today …
Ending Mono Lake diversions to Los Angeles would help the environment but hurt the climate
Jim Newton, veteran journalist, best-selling author and teacher, writes, “California’s effort to secure water supplies is a struggle older than the state itself. It played out during the Gold Rush, and it defines modern San Francisco and Los Angeles. It has created divisions between north and south as well as east and west. It consumes endless political energy and mountains of literal energy, spent by moving water from the Sacramento Bay Delta to San Jose and Southern California, from the Colorado River to the Los Angeles basin, from the Sierra Nevada to the Bay Area. In all of that, Mono Lake is a small data point, barely a dot on the state’s vast water map. So why is Mono Lake suddenly attracting attention in water circles? … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
With one down, Klamath dam removal proceeds on schedule
“The first of four hydroelectric dams along the Oregon-California border has been removed from the main stem of the Klamath River. All that remains of the dam known as Copco 2 in Siskiyou County, CA is the headworks of a diversion tunnel adjacent to the now free-flowing river. “As little as a month ago, it was a 35-foot concrete dam that spanned the entire width of the Klamath River right there,” says Mark Bransom, CEO for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, which is overseeing dam removal. From a nearby overlook of red volcanic rock, an excavator looks like a child’s toy as it chips away at the remnants of the concrete wall that was embedded in the river. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Tribes await renewed salmon runs as massive dam removal project takes shape in California
“The biggest dam removal project in U.S. history is underway in Northern California, auguring the restoration of one of the state’s largest rivers and a revival of salmon runs long called for by Native American tribes and environmentalists. The $500 million project, expected to resurrect the lower half of the Klamath River historically fished by tribal communities and populated by salmon and migratory birds, has been championed by tribal leaders, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. “It’s probably the biggest planned dam removal outside of wartime,” said Craig Tucker, policy consultant for the Karuk Tribe, one of five tribes that have historically made their home along the 257-mile-long Klamath River. “And it’ll be the biggest salmon restoration in world history, as far as we can tell.” … ” Read more from USA Today.
20,000 residents to see water, sewer bills jump 88% over 5 years
“The Board of Directors of Humboldt County Services District voted Tuesday for water and sewer rate increases, with two of five directors dissenting. Rates would eventually increase over the next five years by a total of 88% and start increasing Aug. 1. A number of people who attended the meeting spoke against the increase. The total of 117 water protests and 103 sewer protests counted by HCSD did not meet the threshold of 3,700 water protests and 3,200 sewer protests, which would have forced the board to reconsider. “I can feel the pain out there. But it would be irresponsible for us to kick this can down the road,” said director Michael Hansen at the meeting. Public commenters noted that people on fixed income would be hurt the most by this, as other bills increase and inflation soars. The rate study states the increase starts at 13% a year for water and 14% for wastewater, to end in 5 years. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
Environmental Planner Aldaron Laird: local sea level rise consequences are going to be ‘mind boggling’
“Here on planet Earth our present climate change conditions include increased greenhouse gas concentrations. In combination with subsidence (sinking land) and other oceanic forces such as storm surges, projected mean sea level rise will affect the coastal zone. This will increase coastal vulnerability such as erosion rates and shoreline retreat among other potential impacts. These are expected to have numerous negative social consequences. “We are actively working on this constantly,” Larry Oetker, executive director of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District stated on September 13, 2022, regarding sea level rise. Aldaron Laird is perhaps the most knowledgeable and well-known sea-level rise expert in Humboldt County. He is an environmental planning consultant who has specialized in sea level rise vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning for Humboldt Bay. I spoke with him recently and asked him questions regarding the impact locally. … ” Read more from the Mad River Union.
Large hydropower project proposed near Fort Ross generating opposition even as details still are emerging
“Public officials and conservationists are scrambling to understand the ramifications of a proposed power storage facility on the Sonoma Coast through which seawater sucked in and shunted uphill in large pipes would be used to generate electricity during peak demand. Details of the proposed project near Fort Ross remain sketchy. But some elected officials already are bracing for a fight, given the environmental vulnerability and scenic beauty of the remote area — part of a coastline advocates have fiercely defended for decades. “Bottom line: This project is dead on arrival,” California Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said Tuesday. “There is no chance a project of this size, with this scope, will ever get approval in such an environmentally sensitive region like the Sonoma Coast.” … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (gift article).
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Let it snow, let it flow, let it slow: What does all this year’s snow mean for water managers?
“Ski resorts all around the Lake Tahoe region recently finished off the season strong with the latest closing date in years thanks to the record snowpack. But as summer (and summer heat) arrives, the region’s snowpack is now melting and heading downstream – and all that water needs to be managed somehow and by someone. Meet Dave Wathan, Reno’s chief deputy watermaster. He works in the Federal Water Master’s Office, which manages the rights and regulations of the Carson and Truckee river systems, as well as operations at Lake Tahoe. “We determine how much water should be released or stored based on the operating rules in the system,” Wathan explained. The operating rules he mentioned are outlined in the Truckee River Operating Agreement, which spells out how much water gets used for what purposes and where. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally.
Tahoe Conservancy awards $4.6 million to reduce wildfire risk
“The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded two grants totaling $4,627,000 to build partner capacity for forest and wildfire resilience projects across the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin: A $3,302,500 grant will build the capacity of the Lake Valley Fire Protection District and South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue to plan and oversee projects to reduce wildfire risk on the south shore; and a $1,324,500 grant will fund the Tahoe Resource Conservation District to provide professional forestry services to complete environmental review and prepare prescriptions and layout for forest resilience projects. “The Caldor Fire showed the importance of reducing hazardous fuels on forested lands in our communities,” said Fire Chief Chad Stephen with the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. “These grants will help us protect our communities by increasing the pace and scale of forest management.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Placer County takes steps to protect Lake Tahoe as it awards water quality project in Kings Beach
“In an effort to improve lake clarity and reduce sediment loading from roadway runoff to protect the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, Placer County is moving forward with construction of the transformative Lower Secline Water Quality project in Kings Beach. The Placer County Board of Supervisors recently authorized a contract award of $580,951 to F.W. Carson Co. out of Incline Village, Nevada, for construction of this vital water quality improvement project – located on Secline Street south of state Route 28 and encompassing the western portion of Brockway Vista Avenue in the Kings Beach commercial core. “We’re excited to see construction begin on this project because it’s vital for protecting the lake,” said Placer’s Public Works Deputy Director Rebecca Taber. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Burney Water District finds E coli bacteria in drinking water, asks people to boil water
“E coli bacteria has been found present in the drinking water distribution system, according to the Burney Water District. The presence of these bacteria indicate that other pathogens could be present in tap water which can make you sick and are a particular concern for people with weakened immune systems, the water district said. Therefore, the Burney Water District in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water are advising residents of Burney to only use boiled tap water or bottle water for drinking and cooking purposes. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
PG&E warns of dangerous Feather River currents
“In preparation for whitewater recreation use, PG&E issued a warning Wednesday regarding heavy currents in the Feather River during the coming weekend. According to a press release issued by the company, class 3, 4 and 5 rapids, which are only supposed to be ridden by skilled paddlers, will occur at the north fork of the Feather River from July 15-16. The release said these currents will not be appropriate for tubing. The area in question will be the Rock Creek Reach which is an 8.3 mile stretch of the river between Rock Creek Dam and the Rock Creek Powerhouse located near Storrie in the Plumas National Forest. Flows will increase to 1,100 cfs by 9 a.m. Saturday with Sunday’s flows to be set at 900 cfs until 2 p.m. at which point flows will be reduced to 440 cfs. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register.
NAPA/SONOMA
Why California wineries are embracing fire to avoid disaster
“If you’ve perused a selection of California wines recently, you might have noticed something strange. There are 2019 vintages available and 2021 vintages, but there’s a big hole in the market where 2020 wines should be, especially Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and Sonoma counties. For that, blame wildfires. … Wine growers and winemakers will feel the financial impact of that loss for years to come. But as the inevitability of future wildfires becomes all too real for the state’s massive wine industry, winemakers are looking to solutions to mitigate the worst fallout in the future, from new research to technology to better land management—including embracing fire itself. … ” Read more from Modern Farmer.
BAY AREA
Marin water supplier, union at odds over wage, benefit proposals
“As the Marin Municipal Water District prepares for historic investments in new water supplies and seeks to recover financial losses incurred during the drought, unionized district employees say they are being left behind and would lose benefits under a proposed labor agreement by the agency. District staff represented by the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 rallied at the water district’s headquarters in Corte Madera on Tuesday afternoon to protest the proposed four-year contract. Members stated the contract would not keep wages on pace with the rising cost of living; would remove retiree health care benefits for new employees unless they worked a minimum of 10 years; and would allow the district general manager to decide on employee appeals to disciplinary actions as opposed to an independent arbitrator. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Valley Water to keep percolation ponds in Santa Clara County full this summer
“For the first time since 2018, Valley Water plans to implement a full groundwater recharge program. As a result, percolation ponds across Santa Clara County are expected to be filled with water through the summer. Record-setting atmospheric rivers last winter boosted reservoir levels locally and statewide, helped replenish groundwater and resulted in historic Sierra Nevada snowpack levels. Based on the current healthy water supply, Valley Water is projecting to send more than 100,000 acre-feet of water into local underground aquifers this year. This is more water than can presently be stored in our county’s surface reservoirs. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Residents are starting to seek legal recourse after the Pajaro River floods.
“In the wake of this winter’s devastating atmospheric rivers and resulting floods, residents in the hard-hit Pajaro Valley have set legal wheels in motion that could result in lawsuits against local government agencies. Attorneys representing hundreds of Pajaro Valley residents have filed legal claims against Monterey and Santa Cruz counties – plus local agencies like the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and Monterey County Water Resources Agency, as well as state bodies like the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Caltrans – seeking compensation for damages they say were caused by inadequate government measures to prevent the flooding of the Pajaro River and its surrounding tributaries. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly,
Monterey County’s cannabis industry is struggling to survive — and claims overtaxing and burdensome regulations are to blame.
“Just off highway 101, about a 10-minute drive south of Salinas, is an expanse of farmland that has become the heart of Monterey County’s cannabis industry. Next to fields replete with the vegetable crops that have made the Salinas Valley a powerhouse of California agriculture sit gated, fenced-off parcels, most of them spanning 10 acres or more, that house sprawling, canopied greenhouses of ganja. Three decades ago, many of these greenhouses, previously full of flowers, were left empty in the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which decimated the local flower-growing industry. But after California legalized recreational cannabis in 2016 and Monterey County soon followed with its own rules permitting cannabis businesses, cultivators flocked to this area to set up marijuana growing operations – breathing new life into the long-neglected facilities, creating thousands of jobs and generating tens of millions in tax revenue for the county. By 2021, cannabis was the third-most valuable agricultural product in Monterey County, with an estimated $618 million produced that year. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly.
Growers and environmental groups clash over how to regulate groundwater.
“Some facts about groundwater in the Central Coast are not in dispute. For example: It’s groundwater – stored in subterranean aquifers, rather than surface water in streams and reservoirs – that supplies most of the region’s drinking water, about 90 percent. That fact tells us simply that groundwater is important. How to protect it, however, is another matter. Unlike point-source pollution – think of an outfall pipe, easy to observe and measure – the quality of groundwater is impacted by nonpoint source pollution, seeping underground from various places over various time frames. And when it comes to regulating nonpoint source pollution and quality of groundwater, economics, politics and science all converge. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State sending $20 million to aid Planada flood victims. Residents say ‘Ojalá’
““Ojalá.” The word, rooted in Arabic, is said by Spanish-speakers to mean “hopefully” or “God willing.” It is said frequently now by residents of Planada, the small Merced County community devastated six months ago by a great flood. As many struggle to repair their homes, replace destroyed cars and belongings, or make up for lost work, they are warily hopeful that promised relief will actually reach them. In recent weeks, state representatives and community leaders have assured them help is coming. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a budget bill that allocates $20 million for the people of Planada. Community organizers say they just need to wait a bit longer and they’ll see it. “Ojalá,” said Ramiro Rosas, an agricultural worker whose rain-damaged roof remains unpatched. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Lindsay tops off seats on temp water committee
“Lindsay City Council has officially appointed a committee to take care of improvements to the city’s water system after a recent feasibility study identified almost $40 million worth of improvements. The council gathered on Tuesday, July 11, to review and appoint members to their new water ad hoc committee to address the ongoing need to fix Lindsay’s water system. Council chose to appoint Mayra Magallanes, Jose Soria, Brenda Gonzalez and Grant Schimelpfening to the committee. “It’s a good committee, you guys are gonna get a lot done and discover a lot,” Mayor Hipolito Angel Cerros said. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun Gazette.
New groundwater fee aims to create “equity” among South San Joaquin Valley farmers but some say it will unfairly devalue their farms
“Farmers in the Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District who rely on groundwater will be paying a new fee intended to create “financial equity” with farmers who contract for surface water. The new “groundwater service charge” was approved Wednesday by the Wheeler Ridge board of directors. While this particular issue only affects farmers at the far southern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, similar dilemmas are playing out in various forms all over the valley as surface water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta becomes more scarce in most years and new restrictions are being placed on groundwater as well. Farmers now find themselves in the ring with one another. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Irrigators want to slow the flow of Kern River to bring Lake Isabella to its brim
“The question of whether Lake Isabella might “spill” has now turned to whether it will fill. The lake is achingly close to being full. It stood at 528,663 acre feet as of Wednesday afternoon – just 39,337 acre feet shy of its full capacity. But it needs to hit that max fill mark for the Army Corps of Engineers to test all the dam’s new hardware so the safety operations phase of the repaired dam can be completed and the dam can be returned to regular operations, according to Kern River Watermaster Mark Mulkay. “We’re doing everything we can to get it to fill,” Mulkay said. “The Kern River interests (water districts with river rights) are asking the Corps to allow us to reduce the outflow so the lake can get to full.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Local effort to preserve, protect Bolsa Chica wetlands gets $2M
“Efforts to preserve Huntington Beach’s Bolsa Chica wetlands were recently bolstered, when members of the nonprofit Amigos de Bolsa Chica reported they’d received a $2-million donation in honor of a former board member. The citizen-led organization, which since 1976 has advocated for the protection of the area as a coastal ecosystem for marine life and migrating avian species, announced Sunday it had received the gift from Meredyth Stern, whose husband, Bill, was a longtime volunteer and member of the group’s board of directors since 2017. A retired banker who split his time between Huntington Beach and a second home in Minnesota, Stern helped educate the public, lecturing on the value of the wetlands, leading tours and making sure that Amigos allocated its resources wisely. He died last year following a brief illness. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN DIEGO
Editorial: San Diego water dispute shows backlash to ever-higher costs
“In 1991, during a lengthy drought, the giant Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ordered huge cuts in supplies to the San Diego County Water Authority, which relied on MWD for 95 percent of its water. The authority resolved back then to steadily and sharply diversify its supplies, and it did with great success. By 2022, MWD supplied only 13 percent of the water for the authority, which obtained a large share of Colorado River water from the Imperial Irrigation District, helped bring a desalination plant to Carlsbad, and adopted a range of other smaller but important policies. That this was a huge public policy triumph was confirmed in 2021. … ” Continue reading at the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Rep. Peters, San Diego members request environmental justice funds to halt border wastewater pollution
“Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) led a request to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan for the agency to find ways to direct funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), especially funding for environmental justice programs, to help stop the flow of trash, sewage, and other wastewater pollution from Mexico spilling into our local beaches. Representative Peters was joined by Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Mike Levin (CA-49) in this letter which implores Regan to help identify new funds needed to address deferred maintenance needs at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (ITP). Regan visited the Tijuana River Valley to view this environmental catastrophe firsthand in 2021 at Peters’ invitation. … Continue reading at Congressman Peters’ website.
Along the Colorado River …
Interior Department official with key role in Colorado River talks is stepping down
“A senior Interior Department official who has had a key role in negotiations over the shrinking Colorado River plans to step down from the job next week. Tanya Trujillo told the department of her intention to resign as assistant secretary for water and science about six weeks ago and her last day is Monday, she told The Associated Press. Trujillo, who has served in the role since June 2021, said it made sense to leave now as the Biden administration gears up for a reelection campaign. “It’s a normal transition time, either committing to staying to the end of the (presidential) term or leaving before the campaign really gets fired up,” she said. “I am really, really proud and happy about all the accomplishments that we put into place and made.” … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
UArizona and partners form consortium to address Southwest water concerns
“The Colorado River, which provides drinking water to tens of millions of people and irrigation water to more than 5 million acres of farmland, has dropped by one-third in recent years. Arizona recently limited housing construction in the Phoenix area based on projections that groundwater will be unable to meet growing demand. The University of Arizona has received $4 million for phase one of a project to improve water security and water reuse methods in the arid southwestern United States. Phase two will be awarded an additional $3 million in funding, with the possibility of another $3 million for phase three. Together with the University of Southern California and the University of Nevada, which each received grants of the same size, the university is launching the Consortium for Potable Water Reuse. … ” Read more from the University of Arizona.
SEE ALSO: Annual water conservation conference held at University of Arizona, experts share policies to increase water security, from Channel 13
Arizona officials to consider groundwater rule changes behind closed doors
“State officials have closed to the public a meeting set for for Thursday, July 13 to discuss proposals for changing rules and possibly the state law requiring assured, 100-year water supplies for new subdivisions built in urban areas such as Tucson and Phoenix. The meeting, originally planned to be open to the public, will be of a subcommittee of the State’s Assured Water Supply Committee. Behind closed doors, it will take up dozens of proposals from the committee’s 15 members. The proposals represent the first major opportunity to revise the law and/or the rules since the mid-1990s. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs wants them to be approved by the end of 2023 by the Governor’s Water Policy Council before going to the Arizona Department of Water Resources and/or the Legislature for full consideration. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Rural Arizona counties watch as governor’s panel takes up groundwater issue
“Much of rural Arizona relies exclusively on groundwater, but the resource is for the most part unregulated. The governor’s panel on rural groundwater met recently to discuss the problem, which has led to falling water tables and a call for action. La Paz County has been hit hard by the lack of regulation and has emerged as a kind of poster child for the problem. That’s where the Saudi-financed alfalfa farms have set up shop to raise crops with groundwater, which get shipped overseas. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Scottsdale bans natural grass in front yards of new houses
“Scottsdale will ban natural grass in the front yards of new homes. It’s the city’s latest action following Colorado River supply shortages. The City Council unanimously approved the ban this week. It applies to all permitted or built single-family homes after Aug. 15. Scottsdale said feedback from water users in June found 86% supported the move. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Pima County asks state to quickly determine if we have enough groundwater
“Pima County supervisors want Arizona’s water agency to expedite a study of the Tucson area’s groundwater supply to see if it’s large enough to support all subdivision development expected over the next 100 years. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to send a letter making that request of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, as requested by Democratic Supervisor Matt Heinz. Republican Supervisor Steve Christy was opposed; Democratic Supervisor Sharon Bronson wasn’t present for the vote. Although the supervisors and County Administrator Jan Lesher said they didn’t know it, the state water agency has begun such an evaluation, but it’s not clear if the work can be expedited. The computer model analysis by the state won’t be finished until 2024 and may need 18 months, ADWR spokesman Doug MacEachern told the Star. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Commentary: Groundwater law loophole provides $313 million subsidy to Copper World/ Rosemont mine
“Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals continued its disinformation campaign to generate local support for its disastrous Copper World/Rosemont open-pit copper mine complex in a June 26 Arizona Daily Star opinion column written by Senior Vice President Javier Del Rio. Mr. Del Rio first claims the United States depends on foreign sources for refined copper. Without new mines like Copper World/Rosemont, the country’s transition to renewable energy will be “undermine[d].” Then, he dresses Hudbay in heroic garments as a “responsible and sustainable” company coming to America’s rescue by producing copper used by American industry to counter the foreign threat. And, miraculously, Hudbay will accomplish this without damaging groundwater supplies because the company is “committed to having a net positive impact on local water resources.” … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
