On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: California-Nevada Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar from 11am to 12pm. The California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System January 2023 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña). Click here to register.
- VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING: Colorado River post-2026 operating guidelines from 5pm to 6pm. The Bureau of Reclamation is initiating the process to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the development of post-2026 Colorado River reservoir operational guidelines and strategies for Lake Powell and Lake Mead. S everal important reservoir and water management decisional documents and agreements that govern operation of Colorado River facilities and management of Colorado River water are currently scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. Reclamation requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope of specific operational guidelines, strategies, and any other issues that should be considered on or before August 15, 2023. This is the last of three virtual public meetings/webinars to provide summary information and receive oral comments. Register here.
- IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Nonstructural Flood Risk Mitigation Public Workshop for San Joaquin Valley from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in Grayson. Learn about weather outlooks, nonstructural flood solutions, habitat restoration efforts, and local mitigation strategies for reducing flood risk in your community. Equip yourself with expert insights and available resources you can take advantage of to lower your flood risk and stay informed. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
States lose federal water funds as lawmakers redirect money to pet projects
“Members of Congress have redirected roughly $2.3 billion in federal water funds toward political pet projects over the past two years, cutting at times into the money that could have been made available for poorer, needier communities. As a result, 38 states and territories have been shortchanged about $660 million in federal water aid, according to data obtained and analyzed by The Washington Post, illustrating how the system often has rewarded politically well-connected lawmakers in some of the wealthiest areas nationwide. The problem is expected to worsen in the coming fiscal year, as House Republicans eye a $1.7 billion cut to the overall funding that Washington sends states for their water needs. That could complicate a new national push to replace lead pipes, repair wastewater facilities and improve other aging infrastructure — an urgent task at a moment when the United States is grappling with extreme heat and other consequences of a fast-warming planet. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Gavin Newsom poised to play $26 billion gatekeeper for California Democrats
“California is on the cusp of a borrowing bonanza as Democratic lawmakers line up tens of billions of dollars in bond proposals to pay for mental health treatment, schools and adapting to climate change. But voters would need to sign off on the new debt. And everyone is looking to Gov. Gavin Newsom to settle how much to ask for and where to spend it — acknowledging that asking an economically anxious electorate for too much could mean inundating voters in 2024 and ending up empty-handed. “A number of legislative leaders have come to me — ‘Hey, support this, support my bond, this bond,’” Newsom said at a recent press conference. “We have to work together on what the priorities are going to look like for November.” … ” Continue reading at Politico.
Growing green: Cannabis farmers tackle sustainability
“In 2016, when Lex Corwin opened his off-grid, biodynamic cannabis farm in Nevada City, California, he incorporated sustainability into every facet of the company. He powered the greenhouse with on-site solar panels, opted for natural pest control instead of synthetics and sold his products in recyclable, 99% plastic-free packaging. “It’s a very important political topic for a lot of people in our generation,” says the 30-year-old founder and CEO of Stone Road. Not only do Millennials and Gen Z-ers widely support marijuana legalization, but they also engage more with issues surrounding the climate crisis. With sales of legal cannabis expected to more than double by 2030, producers of the nation’s sixth-most valuable crop have a problem: Cannabis has a substantial environmental footprint. … ” Read more from Modern Farmer.
Bakersfield: Calif.’s oil wind-down rankles neighboring farmers
“A small Bakersfield-based organic farmer is calling on an oil company to clean up crude oil on his farm that is still there months after the company removed an idle well. While the state got involved through the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), the fines that have been issued to operator Sequoia Exploration have not resulted in a cleanup of the entire property. The big picture: Farmer Larry Salada told The Sun that Sequoia Exploration removed an idle well that was situated on his 2.5-acre farm, where he grows organic fruits and nuts. Removing the well ended up creating a mess as the high winds that day spread crude oil over his property and his three neighbors, covering buildings, cars, trees and animals, including his miniature goats. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
SOMEWHAT RELATED ARTICLE: What is produced water?, from Inside Climate News
Post-wildfire mudslides, floods not caused by water-repellant soil
“New research disproves the belief that burnt watersheds create a water-repellant layer, causing more mudslides and floods after wildfires. Instead, burnt watersheds may hold more water in their soil due to lack of vegetation, according to a press release from the University of Southern California (USC). Common knowledge has long held that loss of vegetation during a fire leaves soil vulnerable to erosion because the plant roots that hold the soil in place wither and die. Some people have held a different view that, as leaves burn, their waxy coating forms an organic, oily substance on the soil’s surface. This waxy coating creates a water-repellant layer at or near the surface. Some professionals believed this layer prevented the ground from absorbing water, resulting in rapid water runoff that carries mud and debris. New research published in Nature Communications has called that theory into question. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions.
California nut producers seeing water, water everywhere — for now
“It can safely be said that members of the most recent generation of growers of the “Big Three” California nut crops never thought they would utter these two words when it came to water: “That’s enough.” Much less these three: “That’s too much.” But those were two typical responses to the 2023 State of the Fruit and Nut Industry survey from nut growers when queried about the state’s massive precipitation totals this past winter/spring. It is understandable because it has been a long time since growers have dealt not with drought, but floods. … ” Read more from Growing Produce.
Strawberry farming causes dangerous plastic pollution
“Strawberry farms may seem innocent enough, but researchers have recently discovered a less appetizing side to this sweet fruit’s production. It turns out that the plastic mulch used in strawberry cultivation, particularly in California, contributes to significant long-term Pollution. Scientists from the Sistla group at California Polytechnic State University have found that large quantities of plastic fragments are shed from the mulch, negatively impacting soil health and raising serious concerns about the future sustainability of this farming practice. This plastic mulch, often made from polyethylene, is used to enhance strawberry growth by controlling weeds, reducing water evaporation, and preventing soil from splashing onto the fruit. It’s an effective tool in the short term, but there’s a catch: the mulch leaves behind tiny pieces of plastic that can linger in the soil for decades. … ” Read more from Civil Eats.
Marsh on the move: bringing environmental education into the classroom
“This spring, a group of researchers and students at the Center for Watershed Sciences (“Watershed”) organized a community engagement event at a local high school, with the help of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee. At Watershed, we recognize a tremendous value in opportunities that not only inspire youth to forge meaningful connections with their local watershed, but also enable greater access to outdoor experiences. Initiatives like these have the potential to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world, especially in the coming generations. We value experiential learning, especially when it enhances each individual’s connections and interactions with nature. These experiences are known to have numerous benefits to health and well-being, and have the potential to play a pivotal role in nurturing lifelong positive relationships with the environment. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
In commentary today …
LTE: California needs to build the Delta tunnel right now
Jerry Meral writes, “Generals are often accused of preparing to fight the last war, instead of preparing for the next, very different one. Those opposed to the proposed tunnel taking water from the Sacramento River under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to the state and federal water pumps near Tracy cite the danger to the Delta environment from the project. If the tunnel took too much water, damage could occur. Alternatively, as the retired deputy director for the California Department of Water Resources, I think that, if operated correctly, the tunnel would prevent the unnatural, environmentally damaging flows caused by the current operation of the pumps. … ” Continue reading at the Marin Independent Journal.
In regional water news and commentary today …
Poll shows too little support for climate resiliency tax measure; Sonoma County pols go back to the drawing board
“Members of the Regional Climate Protection Authority are going back to the drawing board to determine how best to fund carbon reduction and climate mitigation after a recent poll showed insufficient support for a tax measure they had hoped to put on the ballot next year. More than half of the 800 people polled supported either a quarter-cent sales tax or a $52-a-year parcel tax to generate money to address the local impacts of climate change, expand renewable energy use and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Corte Madera awards contract for pump station project
“Corte Madera officials have selected a contractor to perform the rehabilitation of the San Clemente pump station on the east side of town. The Town Council unanimously passed a resolution to award the job to JMB Construction of South San Francisco. The contract amount is $2,834,300 and a 10% contingency for a total of $3,117,730. The resolution also relieved Mitchell Engineering of San Francisco from a bid proposal with a clerical error that reduced the cost of its bid by nearly $600,000. Mayor Charles Lee recused himself from the vote because he owns property within 500 feet of the site. The town received four bids, said R.J. Suokko, the town’s public works director. “This is a very important storm drain pump station. It is one of our larger storm drain pump stations,” he said. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin officials decline to increase Ross Valley flood fee
“For the second year in a row, there will be no increase in a storm water drainage fee paid by Ross Valley property owners. County officials have decided to forgo a permitted 3% annual increase in the 2023-24 fiscal year, despite the fact that Flood Control Zone 9 might have to spend millions of dollars to mitigate increased flood risks. The fee — which is paid by residents in San Anselmo, Ross, Larkspur, Fairfax and the unincorporated communities of Greenbrae, Kentfield, Sleepy Hollow and Oak Manor— is expected to generate $2.63 million this fiscal year. The average fee for a detached home was $153.76 in the 2021-22 fiscal year. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Martinez refinery releases toxic dust for 3rd time since November
“The Martinez refinery spewed toxic coke dust into the air Saturday evening for the third time since November, but Contra Costa County health officials found no threat to the surrounding community. “CCH has been notified of a release of coke dust from Martinez Refining Company this evening. A hazardous materials team is responding to determine if the release is affecting nearby neighborhoods,” a tweet from health officials stated. In a follow-up tweet, health officials wrote that hazardous materials teams from the Contra Costa County health department and Bay Area Air Quality Management District did not find evidence of material from the release in surrounding neighborhoods. “The refinery reported the release of coke dust, a byproduct of petroleum refining, at 6:04 p.m.,” the statement said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Flood protection policy with Santa Cruz County roots adopted by National Association of Counties
“The National Association of Counties delivered a unanimous vote Friday that will include equitable flood protection for disadvantaged communities in its national advocacy efforts, according to a Santa Cruz County release. The policy, which matches one first proposed and adopted by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors four years ago, calls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to implement changes to its cost-benefit analysis for proposed flood control projects that have traditionally disadvantaged certain communities such as Watsonville. With the help of Board Chair Zach Friend who sponsored the resolution at the association’s annual conference in Travis County, Texas, the policy was kept on the national association’s radar for years until its successful passage Friday. … ” Continue reading at MSN.
What San Diego’s water fight is really about
“More than a decade ago, the San Diego County Water Authority made a big prediction: The drinking water from its desalination plant would be cheaper than what was imported from Northern California and the Colorado River via the Metropolitan Water District. Yes, it would be expensive from the start, but in 20 years it would pay off. That investment would be worth it, they said. They were wrong. The cost of desalinated water soared. Now, San Diego’s water is more than $400 more per acre foot than the water it gets from the Met. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona’s groundwater supplies are essentially unregulated. That means rural wells are drying up
“While temperatures push well above 100 degrees, it’s easy to forget that Arizona’s deserts lie on top of groundwater basins that formed during the Ice Age. The state’s rural communities rely on that water, which experts say is a finite resource. But in most cases, it’s not regulated in any meaningful way. That lack of regulation has begun to show, as wells dry up and local residents call for action. But the same political roadblocks that have long existed at the state Capitol are still in place. More than four decades ago, Arizona attempted to pass a statewide groundwater law. Resistance from rural stakeholders forced the state to settle for a law that focused only on urban areas. Policymakers assumed that a law for rural communities would come later. It never did. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Mesa starts construction on 10.5-mile pipeline to expand city’s water portfolio amidst extreme drought
“The ongoing and historic drought has many Valley cities declaring water shortages. In Mesa, the city is in stage one of its water shortage management plan. While they’re reducing water usage citywide, Mesa is also spending millions to boost its water infrastructure. Monday, construction started on a 10.5-mile pipeline. Building out the Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline begins at Greenfield and Southern. The project is building a pipe to connect to an existing system that already delivers recycled water to the Gila River Indian Community. It’s all a part of an exchange agreement between Mesa and Gila River that dates back 15 years. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
In national water news today …
How Big Ag pollutes America’s waters and makes money doing it
“It’s been 33 years since an Iowa State University agronomist named Fred Blackmer thought he’d struck gold for Midwestern corn farmers. Using a fairly simple three-step method, Blackmer developed an analytical tool that could accurately tell farmers exactly how much fertilizer their fields needed to produce abundant harvests each season. The analytics Blackmer perfected showed not only how much fertilizer the corn crops would need to meet production targets, but also exposed how much could be wasted. Blackmer ultimately determined that farmers were applying a staggering 500 million excess pounds of nitrogen each year, a practice that not only wasted farmers’ money but also wreaked havoc on the environment as the nitrogen not taken up by plants drained from farm fields to contaminate rivers, lakes, and streams. Despite what Blacker saw as obvious benefits to producers, not to mention the environment, his method failed to gain significant traction in farm country. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
EPA releases draft strategy to better protect endangered species from herbicide use
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the draft Herbicide Strategy for public comment, a major milestone in the Agency’s work to protect federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from conventional agricultural herbicides. The Strategy describes proposed early mitigations for more than 900 listed species and designated critical habitats to reduce potential impacts from the agricultural use of these herbicides while helping to ensure the continued availability of these important pesticide tools. “Ensuring safe use of herbicides is an important part of EPA’s mission to protect the environment,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Jake Li. “This strategy reflects one of our biggest steps to support farmers and other herbicide users with tools for managing weeds, while accelerating EPA’s ability to protect many endangered species that live near agricultural areas.” … ” Read more from US EPA.
How long can we keep living in hotboxes like Phoenix?
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In California water news this weekend …
-
Tilden Lake, East Bay, By Melinda Young Stuart. How California’s weather catastrophe turned into a miracle
- From West Sacramento to the Pajaro River, an army of flood fighters is confronting threats through natural intelligence
- California town’s residents told to boil water for 10th straight day due to E. coli outbreak
- These nearly invisible organisms help clean Lake Tahoe’s water. Here’s how they do it
- Bringing back beavers: Ecologists on mission to save species that once ruled in California
- 700-gallon fuel spill in Isleton prompts extra Sacramento County groundwater monitoring
- Would you drink wastewater? What if it was beer?
- OEHHA releases second public review draft of public health goals for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water
- El Niño will likely continue into early 2024, driving even more hot weather
- Sonoma County’s water supply on the line: the implications of PG&E’s spin-off proposal
- Meeting gives update on potential Big Basin Water Company receivership
- Politics Report: Special water edition
- How US-Mexico collaboration could help stabilize the drought-stricken Colorado River basin
- House paint has a microplastic problem
- And more …
Click here for the weekend digest.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of 180-Day Temporary Water Right Permit Application to Appropriate Water from the Scott River in Siskiyou County
