On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Conservancy Board from 9am to 1pm. Agenda items include update on various grant programs, Nutria eradication project update, Delta agency updates, EcoRestore update, and Delta Conveyance Project update. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program Stakeholder meeting from 10am to 1pm. The meeting will focus on Groundwater Protection Targets and Groundwater Quality Management Plan updates and is open to the public and all interested stakeholders. Please see the agenda. Join Zoom Meeting: https://waterboards.zoom.us/j/92277197032
In California water news today …
SB 389: California Legislature considers granting State Water Board unprecedented authority
“California Senate Bill 389 (SB 389) is a legislative effort to increase the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) authority over pre-1914 appropriative water rights and riparian water rights. Introduced by Senator Ben Allen (D-Redondo Beach) on February 9, 2023, the bill purports to “provide the State Water Board with more tools to determine whether senior water right claimants who assert riparian or pre-1914 appropriative rights have defensible ground for their diversion and use of water.” The bill is inspired by a February 3, 2022 paper released by the Planning and Conservation League (PCL) entitled “Updating California Water Laws to Address Drought and Climate Change.” Notably, the paper recommends that the State Water Board obtain authority to verify the validity of pre-1914 appropriative rights and riparian rights. The PCL asserts that the bill could enable the State Water Board “to better manage the system for the benefit of all users, and the ecology of California’s many beautiful streams.” … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
How many dead trees there are in California might surprise you
“If long droughts and massive wildfires weren’t enough harm to California’s trees, there is massive damage being done by pests and fungi. This could contribute to more acres of record-setting wildfires. Remember the song “It’s not easy being green?” Well, it isn’t for forests up and down California. Many trees are turning brown and dying losing the fight at fending off harmful beetles, borers, moths, weevils and fungi. The California Forest Pest Council released a report earlier this year that shows elevated levels of tree mortality were recorded on more than 2.6 million acres, totaling an estimated 36.3 million dead trees. The majority of trees killed were fir, followed by ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Mortality was particularly severe and widespread in the central Sierra Nevada range. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
REPORT TO LEGISLATURE: Status of 2020 Urban Water Management Plans
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) Report to the Legislature on the Status of 2020 Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs) was submitted to the Legislature on 7/25/2023. All water suppliers that submitted a UWMP to DWR receive a copy of this report. DWR is required by California Water Code Section 10644(c)(1)(A) to submit a report to the legislature describing the status of submitted UWMPs and identifying exemplary elements of submitted plans. This report summarizes the status of 2020 UWMP submittals received as of the time of report preparation and documents key findings in the UWMPs. The report also provides an update on statewide progress toward meeting the 20% reduction in water use by 2020 that was required by SB X7-7, The Water Conservation Act of 2009 in California Water Code Sections 10608 to 10608.44. … ” Read more from the California Natural Resources Agency.
State pays valley farmers millions to keep water in the ground
“The state is sending millions to farmers throughout the San Joaquin Valley to keep water in the ground. The money, paid through the LandFlex program, goes to groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) and then directly to farmers, paying them for every acre foot they don’t pump. On July 24, the Department of Water Resources announced awards to the Lower Tule River and Pixley GSAs of $7.7 million and $5 million, respectively, and $4 million to the Westlands Water District GSA. This is the second round of LandFlex funding. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Drought is hitting Black farmers hard
“With the phrase “heat dome” entering our vocabulary and more than 2,300 heat records smashed so far this summer, extreme temperatures are endangering our lives. And for farmers, the scorching hot, dry weather also threatens their livelihoods. According to the United States Drought Monitor, 22.57% of the United States and Puerto Rico are currently experiencing drought. And, as of July 2023, 40 states were in some level of drought, ranging from “abnormally dry” to “exceptional drought.” It’s no wonder that in 2022, 75% of farmers in the United States said drought impacted their harvest. As climate change worsens, it’s getting tougher for Black farmers, who are only 1% of all farmers in the United States — and were rejected for USDA loans more than any other demographic — to protect their crops, livestock, and livelihoods. … ” Read more from the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint.
The world’s largest plughole! Huge 75 feet wide funnel that acts as overspill for Lake Berryessa is now in action again after California’s drought ended
“A mesmerizing whirlpool has opened up in California‘s Lake Berryessa as the state’s battle against devastating droughts has finally cooled. Officially named the ‘Morning Glory Spillway’, the bizarre effect is due to a water-draining system that was installed when the body of water was dammed in 1953. It is essentially a giant concrete funnel, 75-ft wide at the top and 28-ft at the base, which stands just blow the brink of the dam’s walls at 440-ft to prevent it from overflowing. The hypnotic spiral is rare due to California’s scorching climate, and it has only been open around two dozen times since it was built over seven decades ago. … ” Read more from the Daily Mail.
Good news, bad news for California almond growers
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recently released 2023 California Almond Objective Measurement Report shows that almond production is forecast at 2.60 billion meat pounds, up 4 percent from May’s forecast, and 1 percent above last year’s crop of 2.57 billion meat pounds — all this despite the heavy rainfall this winter that hindered bee pollination of trees. So, how does less pollination result in a larger-than-expected crop? Simply, almonds headed for harvest next month are just plain bigger than last year’s, according to the USDA report. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
California shores up beaver protection in nod to their ‘ecological benefit’
“California is embracing beavers and the role they play in the ecosystem after years of viewing the animals as a nuisance for chewing down trees and blocking up streams. The state recently enacted a new policy that encourages landowners and agencies dealing with beaver damage to find alternative solutions before seeking permission from authorities to kill the animals. California is also running pilot projects to relocate beavers to places where they can be more beneficial. The aim is to preserve more beavers, along with their nature-friendly behaviors, including creating lush habitats that lure species back into now-urban areas, enhance groundwater supplies and buffer against the threat of wildfires. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
DWR: Roadmap for a climate resilient forecasting framework
“Climate change is altering the timing, pace, and scale of the weather events that provide precipitation to California during the wet season from October through April. Historically, 90% of the annual precipitation shows up during this time with 50% showing up in the 3-month window from December through February. Snowpack is built up in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade mountains from December through March, with a peak water content on or around April 1. Melting of the snowpack provides a key component of California’s water supply and typically occurs from April through July. As the world warms, it is expected that in future decades, on average, there will be fewer but stronger storms during the wet season, a smaller snowpack limited to higher elevations, and warmer periods between storms that will act to dry out the landscape. … ” Read more from DWR via Maven’s Notebook.
In commentary today …
California is a model for climate change action when international efforts fall short
Mark Baldassare, Statewide Survey Director and Miller Chair in Public Policy, writes, “Last week, US climate envoy John Kerry met with Chinese officials in a sweltering Beijing to press the fellow economic juggernaut to urgently reduce its climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Kerry called the conversations “frank,” but China insisted that it would follow its own timetable for reducing emissions, and the two countries did not reach any agreement. But cross-border action isn’t the only way forward for the world’s two largest polluters. California, even while suffering through its own record heat wave, offers a model for overcoming the impasse that has stalled national and international action. … ” Continue reading at the PPIC.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
No salmon at the 59th Annual Klamath Salmon Festival
“With a heavy heart, the Yurok Tribe announces that salmon will not be served at the 59th Annual Klamath Salmon Festival because the Klamath River’s forecasted fish run is one of the lowest on record. “This decision reflects our sacred responsibility to take care of the Klamath River’s fish stocks. In addition to not catching fish for the festival, we are not going to harvest any salmon this year to protect the overall fish population,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “The festival is still happening and we are doing everything possible to make it the most memorable event yet. I encourage everyone to come out to support local vendors and have a good time with family and friends.” … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
Rafting outfitters prepare for change on the Klamath River
“At Spring Island, a popular put-in spot on the upper Klamath River, a dozen or so whitewater rafters are getting ready to run a reach called Hell’s Corner Canyon. The thrill seekers adjust helmets and snug their life jackets as Nate McLennan, a rafting guide with Noah’s River Adventures, describes what they’ve signed up for. “We’ve got two big Class Four-plus rapids: one called Caldera; one called Hell’s Corner,” says McLennan. “They’re going to be long, big, fast: lots of paddling; lots of grabbing on; lots of shifting around in the boat.” … Spring Island is just downstream of the J.C. Boyle Dam and hydropower plant near the Oregon-California border. That this trip is possible through the summer is thanks to coordinated releases of water from the powerhouse. But J.C. Boyle, along with three other dams that are part of the Lower Klamath Project, will be removed next year, and the powerhouses decommissioned (the smallest of the four dams, Copco 2, has already been partially deconstructed). When guides return to the Upper Klamath in 2025, this stretch of the river will be forever changed. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Stakeholders give their case on the fate of the Russian River
“On July 13 the Russian River Water Forum held the third Planning Group meeting in Ukiah, facilitated by Ben Gettleman and Jim Downing of Kearns & West. The group focused on Russian River Water Supply Resiliency, also revisions to the Planning Group Charter, and recap of the prior Planning Group, Technical Briefings, and Working Group Meetings. At the June 12, 2023 meeting, the group supported revisions to the Charter section on external communications. The clarification related to speaking in public. When speaking to the public, individual members of the Planning Group must make clear that they are speaking on behalf of their organization, and not for the Planning Group as a whole. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
What a climate of extremes means for low-income, rural Mendocino County residents: “It’s killing me”
“One windy night in March, Steffanie Darr and her son had finally settled into their new home at a Lake County mobile home park. The steps up to the trailer were damaged beyond use during their move, but inside still felt familiar. To keep the elements out, the Darrs used bricks to hold down a tarp over the trailer’s leaky roof. But in that night’s atmospheric river storm, one of more than a dozen that swept California this year, the bricks went flying and broke the trailer’s awning. “We’ve had to fight and claw just to stay alive,” Darr said. … When it comes to the impact of climate change, their experience is textbook according to a report from California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment. The report found that vulnerable populations in Mendocino County and other rural Northern California communities would be disproportionately affected by “climate-driven disruptions,” such as infrastructure failure. Populations including low-income people, people of color, women, older adults, people with disabilities, people with existing health struggles including mental health issues, and people with limited English proficiency are often less equipped to adapt and recover following climate disaster. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
It’s all about infrastructure: New GM, board members to reprioritize water-related projects
“Much has changed in a short amount of time at Nevada Irrigation District, which has been serving water to western Nevada County for more than 100 years. Fewer than five years ago, the water district had formally applied and was laying the groundwork for construction of the controversial Centennial Dam on the Bear River, between Combie and Rollins reservoirs in South County. But then came community backlash. Opponents decried a lack of transparency, uncertainty about the cost of the project, how it would be financed, the purchase of real estate prior to the project’s approval and questions on whether such a storage project was even necessary. Two election cycles later, the entire board has been turned over with five new members. … ” Read more from The Union.
Tahoe Conservancy grants $500k for study to protect wildlife corridors
“The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded a $500,000 grant to the nonprofit Wildlands Network, in partnership with Pathways for Wildlife, for a multi-year study of wildlife connectivity in the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Understanding how wildlife move through and within the Basin will help land managers and other Basin partners protect the diversity of Tahoe wildlife species. Wildlands Network and Pathways for Wildlife will analyze wildlife movement patterns, distribution, and abundance. The study team will also identify key barriers and bottlenecks to wildlife movement, such as roads and infrastructure development. Using this information, the team will recommend actions Basin partners can take to remove barriers to enhance existing wildlife connectivity. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Tuolumne Utilities District consolidates water treatment plants in Crystal Falls, Cedar Ridge
“Tuolumne Utilities District is touting the completion of a $314,000 project that consolidated two water treatment plants in the Cedar Ridge and Crystal Falls area. The district announced Tuesday that it had completed the consolidation project that began last fall. It’s part of a larger effort by TUD to retire aging infrastructure, improve economies of scale and optimize water service. “This intertie project marks an important milestone in TUD’s ongoing system consolidation efforts to strengthen our water infrastructure and improve service delivery,” TUD General Manager Don Perkins said in a written statement. “This project will not only provide greater resilience to our water system, but will significantly reduce ongoing operational costs.” … ” Read more from the Union Democrat.
NAPA/SONOMA
Future-proofing vineyards: Expert perspectives on AI, water management and climate resilience
“The recent Growing Forward Vineyard & Grower Virtual Conference (July 19) explored vital topics related to vineyard water management, climate change effects and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in viticulture. As climate variability intensifies due to global warming, grape growers are faced with the need to adopt innovative approaches for sustainable and adaptable vineyard practices. Growing Forward began by shedding light on the challenges of climate change, including more frequent and prolonged droughts and, conversely, heavy rainfall. To address these issues, experts emphasized the importance of optimizing irrigation practices. Mark Greenspan, president of Advanced Viticulture, highlighted soil moisture sensors and tensiometers as promising technologies to help tackle climate variability. … ” Read more from Wine Industry Advisor.
Dairy Drama: Petaluma Creamery faces lawsuits, loses access to sewer
“An article in Petaluma’s local newspaper last week prompted more questions than it answered. On Monday, July 17, the Argus-Courier reported that a commercial real estate firm was advertising one of the city’s largest ag-processing facilities and a few neighboring properties for sale. However, the Creamery’s owner, Larry Peter, was quick to quash the story, telling the paper “I’ve never listed the Petaluma Creamery for sale.” The online real estate listing, first posted on June 8, was quickly deactivated, and the Argus-Courier has yet to do more reporting on the oddity. That’s not the end of the story, though. An investigation by the Bohemian found that while the Creamery has successfully paid off a long-standing debt to the city for wastewater fees and fines, Peter continues to juggle other bills—and recently reached an agreement with the city cutting off the Creamery’s access to the sewer system for the foreseeable future. … ” Read more from the Bohemian.
BAY AREA
Half Moon Bay: Water district starts path to recycled water
“Bay Area consultants are working with the Coastside County Water District to examine how recycled water could finally be brought to Half Moon Bay, a project board members see as vital to diversifying the region’s water portfolio. In June, the board agreed to pay Water Works Engineers $299,977 to evaluate the region’s hydrogeology, implementation options and permitting feasibility. A draft could be ready in seven months. Last week the district’s Board of Directors met with its newly hired consultant to get the basics of the study’s proposed scope and approach. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review.
CENTRAL COAST
Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency awarded $8.9 million state grant
“The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency announced Wednesday it was one of four regional groundwater management agencies to receive grant funding from the California Department of Conservation. The four agencies received a total of $35 million in grant funding. Pajaro Valley’s share is $8.89 million and it will go toward various projects aiming to achieve sustainable groundwater resources, flood risk reduction, environmental restoration and community access, according to a news release by the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Ventura waterline replacement project to be discussed at community meeting
“A major waterline replacement project along Telegraph Road in Ventura will be discussed during a virtual College Area Community Council meeting Wednesday. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Zoom. The project covers a stretch of Telegraph from Mills Road on the west, by Pacific View mall, to Hill Road, east of Victoria Avenue. Gina Dorrington, general manager of Ventura’s water department, will address the project that began construction earlier this month and is scheduled for completion by fall 2024. The new 12-inch waterline along Telegraph will replace an existing 8-inch line from the 1950s, according to a city news release. Some fire hydrants and valves will also be replaced. The anticipated project cost is $11 million and includes $2 million in grant funding. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto Irrigation District sales proposal roils the waters
“For years, Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) water sales seldom caused more than a flicker of public interest. Let nearby Modesto Irrigation District (MID) even think about a sale, however, and the hue and cry are heard for miles around. That was the case in 2011, when MID proposed selling water to the City of San Francisco. Angry protests followed and the public uproar ended with a resounding defeat for those who would sell “our water” to San Francisco. The latest proposed sale would send excess MID surface water to out-of-district farmers in eastern Stanislaus County, where thousands of groundwater-dependent acres of grazing land were replaced with almond orchards about the same time MID was considering selling water to San Francisco. The almond orchards depleted the aquifer on Stanislaus County’s east side, one of the last viable aquifers in the San Joaquin Valley. … ” Read more from the Valley Citizen.
Take a tour of Turlock Irrigation District
“Turlock Irrigation District has created a virtual tour of its facilities for anybody interested in learning more about the state’s oldest irrigation district. “We get a lot of tour requests from companies or the public or legislators,” said Brandon McMillan, communications specialist for TID. “And, sometimes, we have two hours available on a Tuesday to conduct those tours. Well, Don Pedro (Reservoir) is an hour away, and we just can squeeze a tour into the time we have.” Also, for security reasons, there are some facilities are off-limits to the public and can’t be toured. With the virtual tour, folks can now go behind the scenes to see the inner workings of Don Pedro, the Walnut Energy Center, the district’s Power Control Center, and how TID buys and sells power on the open market. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal.
The areas of Fresno at risk of flooding if a dam breaks
“After many reservoirs reached near capacity this past winter, what could happen if our local dams were to fail while at full capacity? That extreme scenario is something the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District has considered. YourCentralValley.com looked into inundation maps in our area which show the flooding that could result from a hypothetical failure of a dam. The inundation mapping projections represent worst-case scenarios and are based on the following factors: weather and land conditions, structure of the dam, and nature of the problem. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
South San Joaquin Irrigation District hikes irrigation rates for first time since 2020
“The first irrigation rate hikes since 2000 will help cover ongoing operating costs and position the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to modernize and upgrade aging water conveyance facilities. The SSJID board adopted rate increases that will be phased in over a five-year period during Tuesday’s meeting after a public protest hearing was conducted. Just over a tenth of the eligible parcel owners were against the rate adjustment. As a result, SSJID leadership has indicated the new rates will allow the 114-year-old agency to continue providing a dependable water supply and dependable service to agricultural customers while maintaining long-term financial stability. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Construction expected in Selma for water infrastructure upgrades
“California Water Service announced that residents can expect ongoing construction as the service works on water infrastructure upgrades to improve water supply reliability and fire protection throughout Selma. The projects, expected to be completed in September, include the installation of 2,115 feet of new water main and seven new fire hydrants. “These improvements help Cal Water maintain a reliable water supply for both every day and emergency needs, while also preventing water loss from aging pipes,” said Selma Operations Manager Stuart Skoglund. “We appreciate our customers, neighbors, and motorists for their patience as we complete these important projects that will benefit their area for decades to come.” … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
USGS ARkStorm 1.0 study showed high risk of contamination from Tulare lake basin flooding
“The US Geological Survey’s ARkStorm studies included extensive analyses of vulnerabilities to flooding. In 2016, USGS Researchers Geoffrey Plumlee, Charles Alpers, Suzette Morman, and Carma San Juan published “Anticipating Environmental and Environmental-Health Implications of Extreme Storms: ARkStorm Scenario.” The ARkStorm 1.0 scenario found extensive flooding of the San Joaquin Valley and the Tulare Lake basin (Porter et. al. 2010). Plumlee et. al. used a literature review and GIS-based analysis “to infer how and where ARkStorm could cause environmental damages, release contamination from diverse natural and anthropogenic sources, affect ecosystem and human health, and cause economic impacts from environmental-remediation, liability, and health-care costs.” … ” Read more from California Water Research.
EASTERN SIERRA
Invasive plant removal in the Mono Basin
“The Mono Basin is home to an abundance of stunning native plant species, from riparian habitats to alkali-sink scrub. Unfortunately, there are also a few guests who have overstayed their welcome. In the Mono Basin, and much of the world, invasive species have been transported to new habitats steadily as a result of globalization. Invasive species can include anything from frogs to flowers and are non-native species that can be harmful to the health of ecosystems. When these non-native plants and animals establish themselves in our local ecosystems, they out-compete and challenge species that have evolved specifically to live here. Invasive plants affect ecosystems by degrading the soil, removing crucial habitat, and can even lead to the extinction of native species. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
At what levels are ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water? LA County supervisors want answers
“In response to a new study that identified Southern California as a hot spot for manmade “forever chemicals” in drinking water, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors asked for an inventory of water districts in the county that are not testing for polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The motion by Fourth District Supervisor and Board Chair Janice Hahn, approved by a unanimous vote on Tuesday, July 25, directed the county’s departments of public works and health to ask the State Water Resources Control Board to assess contamination levels of PFAS, which are considered dangerous to public health, in 206 separate water districts and systems — and to ask for state and federal treatment dollars where needed. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Hear about testing of water at Palmdale Water District event
“Palmdale Water District customers interested in how the water agency tests for and ensures water quality are invited to a special presentation on Aug. 3. The free “Let’s Talk H2O!” event will be from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Leslie O. Carter Water Treatment Plant, 700 East Ave. S in Palmdale. There, participants will tour the laboratory to see how water is tested and the results reported to the public. Space is limited for the laboratory tour and registration is required at https://bit.ly/H20WaterQuality080323. … ” Continue reading at the Antelope Valley Press.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Q&A: Drying of the Salton Sea has staved off earthquakes, for now
“The southern end of the San Andreas Fault that runs directly below the Salton Sea in Southern California currently poses the largest seismic hazard in the state, but the area hasn’t experienced a major earthquake in more than 300 years. Now, a new study in the journal Nature by scientists at San Diego State University in collaboration with UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography has found that as the Salton Sea has dried up, it has eased the strain on this part of the fault, potentially postponing a quake that could devastate Los Angeles. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
Along the Colorado River …
Climate change may have siphoned a Lake Mead-sized sip of water from the Colorado River Basin
“Scientists are holding human-induced climate change responsible for the Colorado River Basin’s loss of more than 10 trillion gallons of water — or about the entire storage capacity of Lake Mead — over the past two decades. Without the impacts of anthropogenic warming, drought conditions would not likely have depleted reservoir levels low enough to require a first-ever federally declared water shortage, which the U.S. government instituted in 2021, the scientists determined in a new study. The findings come at a watershed moment for the Colorado River region, where stakeholders from the federal government, the seven basin states, tribal nations and Mexico are about to renegotiate the long-term guidelines that govern the basin. … ” Read more from The Hill.
The Canyons: Oil and water could mix in Colorado River country known for its beauty, fragility
“Beneath the limestone cliffs, the trunk of a lone, dead lodgepole pine stuck straight up from the brush along the riverbank, looming over a remote stretch of the Colorado River in northern Eagle County. Inside the train cars passing by on the opposite side of the river, a voice came over the loudspeaker, pointing out to passengers the dark shape perched inside the nest atop the barren tree. “The two bald eagles are gone, but that’s one of the younger ones that hatched this year,” the Amtrak conductor said. “They won’t get their crown of white feathers on top of their head until they’re almost a year and a half old — they look like giant crows, really, the younger ones. Maybe we’ll see mom and dad fishing down here in a little while.” … ” Read more from KUNC.
In national water news today …
AccuWeather’s 2023 US fall forecast
“Widespread heat has shattered records from coast to coast throughout the first half of summer, but the longest days of 2023 are in the rearview mirror and cooler weather is on the horizon. Astronomical autumn officially arrives on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 2:50 a.m. EDT, a few weeks after the arrival of meteorological fall. Regardless of which date you celebrate the start of autumn, it may take some time before fall weather takes hold across the country. AccuWeather’s team of long-range forecasters, led by veteran meteorologist Paul Pastelok, has analyzed weather patterns around the globe to piece together the weather forecast for the United States this fall. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Thirsty data centers are making hot summers even scarier
” … We tend to think of the internet as immaterial, but websites exist in the real world as rows of servers that never turn off, filling data centers that need to be cooled to prevent technical failures. Operators such as Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft use a wide array of systems to do this; the most energy-efficient ones—such as cooling towers—typically evaporate water to chill the air circulating in the buildings.With drought spreading around the globe, battles are emerging between data center operators and adjacent communities over local water supplies in places such as Chile, Uruguay and parts of the southwestern US. In the northern Netherlands, public outrage erupted last year when a local news outlet reported that a Microsoft Inc. data center complex was consuming more than four times as much water as the company had previously disclosed. … ” Read more from Bloomberg (gift article).
Exploring rivers around the globe for clues to carbon and climate change
“Bre Waterman wades into the flowing Missouri River near the town of St. Joseph on the Kansas-Missouri border. The University of Kansas graduate student collects river water in a dark brown plastic container about the size of a ketchup bottle. She also gathers sediment from the river floor, scooping the wet mud into 5-inch long test tubes. After collecting 16 samples, Waterman carefully packs up all the materials along with ice packs into a dented cardboard box, tapes it shut, and mails it across the country to Richland, Washington. Waterman is a participant in the Worldwide Hydrobiogeochemical Observation Network for Dynamic River Systems (WHONDRS). It’s quite a tongue twister of a title for a river corridor research project hosted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. She is one of almost 100 contributors not affiliated with PNNL who collect river water and sediment samples for the project. The scientists, students, and citizens around the world applied for and received the sampling kits from the PNNL’s river corridor team, and after sampling the required materials, mailed the kits back to PNNL for analysis, said Lupita Renteria, a laboratory technician involved with WHONDRS. … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
