On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Department of Food and Agriculture from 10am to 2:30pm. Agenda items include a departmental update, federal resources for beginning farmers and ranchers, small-scale/beginning farmer assistance, California Ag Land Equity Task Force, and land access. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Water Industry from 12pm to 1pm. There is a lot of buzz around AI and machine learning (ML) these days, with a broad range of tools available to use. These applications can help water utilities improve predicative analytics, insights, and data management and ultimately optimize day-to-day operations and long-term planning. Hear from our panel of experts about potential risks and challenges, and emerging technology and opportunities that can be implemented in the water sector. (Spoiler alert: AI is here to support enhanced water operations, not take over our jobs) Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Open Space & Watershed Protection in Santa Barbara from 7pm to 8pm. This collaboration between Channel Islands Restoration and the Environmental Defense Center will provide an overview of EDC and its role as a nonprofit public interest law firm serving Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties. EDC has played an important role in preserving some of our region’s treasured open spaces. The presentation will cover several of EDC’s successful efforts and ongoing campaigns to preserve areas threatened with development, including Ellwood Mesa, Douglas Family Preserve, Carpinteria Bluffs, Naples, More Mesa, Sedgwick Ranch, San Marcos Foothills, and Hearst Ranch. EDC will also describe its Watershed Protection and Education Program, including its creek cleanups, creek surveys, evaluation of creek restoration projects, and convening of the Watershed Alliance of South Coast Organizations. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Last summer’s fish-killing algae bloom is back in the Bay
“A red tide that has left a light-brown sheen on the water along parts of the East Bay shoreline is the same type of toxic algae bloom that killed thousands of fish in the San Francisco Bay last summer, a local environmental group warned on Monday. “We have confirmed with our partners that it’s the same species as last year,” Eileen White, executive officer of the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board, said at a Monday afternoon press conference. She said the organism has so far been found in the bay waters near Emeryville, Albany, the Berkeley Marina, Richardson Bay and Belvedere Cove, as well as off the Marin County coast, near Muir Beach. “The good news is we have not seen any marine animal deaths as a result of this algae bloom,” she said. … ” Read more from KQED.
San Francisco Bay’s toxic algae bloom is suddenly back. How bad will it get?
“A red tide that has stained the water along the East Bay shoreline tea brown appears to be the same type of algae bloom that spread throughout the San Francisco Bay last summer, killing tens of thousands of fish. It may even be caused by some of the same organisms from last year’s bloom that went dormant and are only reemerging now, scientists say. “We’re carefully monitoring and tracking the bloom because we know the horrible effects that last year’s algae bloom had on marine life,” said Eileen White, executive officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, in a media call announcing the bloom Monday. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Red tide returns to San Francisco Bay, one year after large fish die-off, from the San Jose Mercury News
Don’t call it ‘toilet to tap’ — California plans to turn sewage into drinking water
“Californians could drink highly purified sewage water that is piped directly into drinking water supplies for the first time under proposed rules unveiled by state water officials. The drought-prone state has turned to recycled water for more than 60 years to bolster its scarce supplies, but the current regulations require it to first make a pit stop in a reservoir or an aquifer before it can flow to taps. The new rules, mandated by state law, would require extensive treatment and monitoring before wastewater can be piped to taps or mingled with raw water upstream of a drinking water treatment plant. “Toilet-to-tap” this is not. … ” Read more from Cal Matters @ Maven’s Notebook.
California orders tiremakers to find alternative for chemical that kills endangered salmon
“The State of California has adopted a rule that will require tiremakers to find a new alternative to a chemical that is currently in use that has been found to kill an endangered salmon species. 6PPD, a chemical that helps reduce tire cracking and extends the life of tires, has been added to California’s list of Priority Products, which identifies consumer products that contain chemicals that are potentially dangerous to people or the environment. Its inclusion means tire manufacturers will have until Nov. 30 to notify state regulators if they currently make tires that contain the chemical. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SEE ALSO: California requires tire makers to evaluate alternative chemicals to improve public and environmental health, from Tire Technology International
Dinosaurs among us: A glimpse into the status of sturgeon
“Sturgeon are an ancient family of fish much older than those we typically see behind the deli counter. The sturgeon family first evolved in the Jurassic period, nearly 200 million years ago. To put that in perspective, dinosaurs were walking the earth while sturgeon were swimming in oceans and rivers. If that isn’t impressive enough, sturgeon can exceed 100 years in age and historic accounts suggest that the largest individual ever caught may have been a beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) at 24 feet long and weighing over 3,000 pounds – almost four times the height of Shaquille O’Neal and nearly the same weight as a Tesla Model 3. Adult sturgeon are toothless bottom feeders that consume invertebrates and fish off the river or ocean floor and are covered in scutes, creating an armor plating, protecting them from predators that lurk in the water. These scutes are modified ganoid scales that are not ideal for typical scale aging practices. Therefore, sturgeon are generally aged by looking at small clips from their pectoral fin spine, which have annual layers that can be read like the rings of a tree. … ” Continue reading at FishBio.
Photo feature: Photos: Postcards from the Sierra, where they are still skiing and the water is flowing
“It was a drought-busting winter. Mammoth Mountain and the Sierra Nevada range recorded a record amount of snow, as area reservoirs returned to full capacity. Times photographer Luis Sinco took a drive down the Eastern Sierra’s to see first hand the snowmelt that is finally giving way to summer. … ” Read more and view pictures at the LA Times.
A day of action for salmon in the Capitol
“Earlier this month, CalTrout staff joined the Day of Action for Water Justice and Salmon in Sacramento, sponsored by a collection of Tribes, Native-led NGOs, fishing, and environmental organizations. In addition to a rally and advocacy efforts to support healthy rivers and salmon runs, this lobby day was filled with legislative meetings for the three water bills moving through the legislature: AB 1337 (Wicks), AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan) and SB 389 (Allen). CalTrout was thrilled to be invited to this event, which yielded a mix of lobbyists, scientists, community advocates, and project managers participating in teams and speaking to staffers about these bills. All three water bills are part of a movement advocating for more pragmatic and equitable water rights enforcement in California. While they all took different journeys throughout their legislative processes, they all engaged in the same vital conversation: that we need to make pragmatic changes to the ways in which we manage water in California. As we grapple with a rapidly changing climate, California needs to modernize the water rights system to effectively manage water as supplies become more variable. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Northern California river cruise not happening in 2024
“The American Jazz cruise ship that docked in Sacramento and other Northern California ports as part of a Bay Area and river excursion will not do so in 2024. American Cruise Lines is not offering the Napa Valley Cruise on its 2024 schedule of U.S. excursions, spokesperson Alexa Paolella told FOX40 News in an email. The website for the cruise leads to a 404 error page. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
From carbon, to communities, and the classroom: Extending the impact of research beyond the science itself
“On a warm spring morning, sixty students from Knightsen Elementary School spill from school buses at the California Department of Water Resources’ newly restored Dutch Slough tidal marsh near Oakley in eastern Contra Costa County, and gather around U.C. Berkeley scientist Dr. Dennis Baldocchi and his colleagues. Today, the students won’t just learn about the historical ecology of the Sacramento San-Joaquin Delta from the experts. They’ll get to observe science in action as a working tower of scientific instruments measures greenhouse gasses moving between the wetland and the atmosphere. They’ll see tracks left by a river otter crossing the berm between a canal and the tules. They’ll dig into the peat soil with their own hands, experiencing this ecosystem in vivid detail. On this field trip, these local students get to explore their own ecological backyard, much as Dr. Baldocchi did as a child. He grew up just a few miles away on the family’s orchard, catching fish in Marsh Creek, now connected to Dutch Slough. Hands-on experiences like these can cultivate an appreciation and curiosity for the Delta in these students. … ” Continue reading at the Delta Stewardship Council.
The ocean is more than a pretty place to Californians
“Californians heading to the seashore to cool off this summer may have been met with an unwelcome surprise. Higher sediment deposits, potentially dangerous bacteria, and sewage spills caused by heavy runoff after record rains have sullied the quality of ocean water. This year, only two California beaches qualified for the Honor Roll on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card. Last year, 50 California beaches earned the honor. Nearly all California adults believe the condition of oceans and beaches is very (67%) or somewhat important (27%) to the economy and to quality of life, according to the most recent PPIC Statewide Survey on the environment. These numbers have held a steady majority since July 2017; furthermore, inland residents agree with coastal residents on the value of California’s oceans and beaches (64% inland, 68% coastal). … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Global warming is making big(ger) waves off the California coast, scientists say
“Ocean waves along the California coastline have long symbolized the best the state has to offer: surf-ready swells at Malibu and Rincon; the misty beauty of breakers crashing along the North Coast; the foamy, playful waves welcoming beachgoers from San Diego to Santa Cruz. But climate change has left no part of the sea unaltered. As melting glaciers and hotter temperatures force global sea levels ever higher, the height and power of ocean waves are increasing along California’s coast — and elsewhere. Using seismic data stretching back nearly a century, oceanographer Peter Bromirski of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has found that the height of winter waves has increased by an average of nearly 12 inches since 1970. That makes them 13% taller, on average, than winter waves from 1931 to 1969. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Why California waves are swelling to extreme highs, from the San Francisco Chronicle
It’s not windy, but wildfires are still spreading in California
“If you live near the coast, wildfire season starts with Southern California’s notorious Santa Ana winds, which usually arrive in the fall. But inland, the fire season is already well underway. It’s as if there are two separate fire seasons, said David Gomberg, a forecaster and fire weather program manager with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. His forecast office has warned for more than a week of the potential for fires that can explode into monsters, sending smoke plumes thousands of feet into the sky. And they do it without any significant winds, such as a Santa Anas. “Strong winds are not a requisite condition for large uncontrollable fires,” said John Abatzoglou, a professor of climatology at UC Merced who has studied the bifurcation of Southern California fire activity. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California’s York fire grows to 77,000 acres—biggest this year in Golden State
“California’s York Fire, the biggest in the state so far this year, expanded over a remote section of the Mojave Desert on Monday, covering more than 77,000 acres—or more than 120 square miles—prompting officials to close roads as the blaze threatens to scorch Califonia’s desert. The fire had grown to 30,000 acres at 0% containment on Sunday, swelling in size due to a combination of dry wood—or fuel—and high winds, which “created extremely challenging conditions” for firefighters, according to the Mojave National Preserve’s incident report. Dry vegetation sun-baked in a series of recent heat waves has served as a “ready ignition source,” causing the fire to spread in “long-distance fire runs” with flames as high as 20 feet in a pattern described by the Mojave National Preserve as “extreme.” … ” Read more from Forbes.
Despite rising concerns, climate change is still a partisan issue
“Climate change has been an important issue for President Joe Biden since the beginning of his administration. And while a majority of Americans agree that we need to work to reduce global warming, the partisan divide surrounding climate change is growing. “I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of climate change anymore,” Biden said during a press conference on extreme heat. Amid a sizzling hot summer, Biden announced new actions to combat extreme heat and drought. It comes as Americans across the country are feeling first-hand evidence of the changing climate. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Construction begins on Mid-Klamath Basin Fish Passage Project
“Mill Creek is the lowermost tributary to the Scott River, which consistently generates the largest returns of wild coho salmon in California. During the fall spawning migration for coho and Chinook salmon, Mill Creek is the first tributary they encounter, and one of the only low gradient tributaries in this steep section of the Scott. In the last few years, the mainstem Scott went dry in multiple locations in the summer and early fall, due to drought and late fall rains; these conditions prevented adult salmon from accessing their typical spawning areas and significantly impacted fisheries populations. Restoring a tributary this low in the watershed will ensure that salmon have a place to spawn, and rear, regardless of upstream conditions and drought years. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
State of the Lake: 2022 saw rapid changes in clarity, algae growth
“The Tahoe Environmental Research Center, TERC, at the University of California, Davis, released its annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report in late July, describing 2002 as one of rapid biological change. Most notably in 2022, Lake Tahoe’s average annual clarity was 71.7 feet compared to 61 feet in 2021. The 2023 report presents data collected during 2022 and puts it in context with historical records. It also serves as an important resource for restoration, management and monitoring decisions. The entire report is available at tahoe.ucdavis.edu/stateofthelake. UC Davis researchers have been monitoring the second deepest lake in the United States continuously since 1968, and the report provides an update for nonscientists on a variety of factors affecting the health of Lake Tahoe. … ” Read more from Tahoe Weekly.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry legislation to allow drought-stricken farmers to participate Rice Commission Governance signed by Governor
“Assembly Bill (AB) 454 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), which provides greater flexibility to the California Rice Commission to maintain district representation of all rice farmers, has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The California Rice Commission, established in 1999, functions as a quasi-governmental entity within the Department of Food and Agriculture, providing for the orderly production, milling, and marketing of California rice and the associated environmental benefits. The Commission’s board is made up of rice producers and handlers. Previously, each board member had to actively produce or handle rice to maintain board eligibility. Extreme drought and water shortages have severely constrained rice production in the Sacramento Valley. … ” Read more from Assembymember Aguiar-Curry’s office.
NAPA/SONOMA
Save the Redwoods League to buy nearly 400 acres of redwood forest along lower Russian River
“Save the Redwoods League has secured a deal to purchase nearly 400 acres of redwood forest above the Russian River near Guerneville, including 224 acres that were targeted for logging under a controversial timber harvest plan long fought by local community groups. The land includes a mile of river frontage, as well as the treasured Clar Tree, an ancient coast redwood believed to more than 2,000 years old. It is one of the oldest and tallest trees in Sonoma County, though about 30 feet was lopped off the top during last winter’s severe storms. Most of the forest’s other old-growth redwoods were logged more than 100 years ago. But new trees sprouting from the stumps of felled trees are on their way to maturity and “on the trajectory of being the old growth of the future,” said Sam Hodder, president and chief executive officer of Save The Redwoods. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Muir Woods launches endangered salmon restoration project
“Visitors at Muir Woods National Monument will see more construction work than usual this summer as the National Park Service undertakes a habitat restoration project for endangered coho salmon. The agency aims to restore 750 feet of Redwood Creek through the popular redwood forest. The project is intended to rectify the damage caused by work performed during the 1930s. At the time, the Civilian Conservation Corps was reshaping the park, including adding a new trail network, as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. To prevent flooding and erosion that could damage trails and redwood trees, the corps built rock walls along the banks of Redwood Creek to stabilize it. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
San Francisco isn’t doing enough to protect residents from sewage pollution, Ninth Circuit rules
“San Francisco must take all steps necessary to protect swimmers and bathers from sewage pollution discharged into the Pacific from a wastewater treatment plant at the southwest corner of the city, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. In the nation’s first appellate case on the issue, San Francisco and other local governments argued that they were legally required only to limit pollution levels to standards set in advance, such as specified discharges per million parts of water. But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Environmental Protection Agency can go further and require the city — particularly during heavy rains — to prevent dangerous water pollution by bacteria and other contaminants that flow through its Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle. | Read the court document via Courthouse News.
CENTRAL COAST
Voluntary Cleanup Agreement in place to treat wells near SLO Airport with high levels of PFAS
“An investigation is underway at wells along Buckley Road after high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) were found in groundwater near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. “Many of us have had this water to drink for more than 40 years of our lives with these contaminants,” said Mike Olivera, who owns commercial property near Buckley Road. Kathy Borland has lived right across the street from the airport for about 40 years. She raised her seven kids on Buckley Road. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SEE ALSO: Central Coast Water Board approves state’s first cleanup and abatement agreement for PFAS contamination, press release from the Central Coast Regional Water Board
EASTERN SIERRA
Report: new $79 — $93M wastewater plant may be in use by early 2027
“The city’s new wastewater treatment plant may be in use by early 2027. That was one takeaway from a status update by Mike Nunley of Nunley and Associates at the July 19 Ridgecrest City Council meeting. Nunley spoke to the council virtually via video. The project is expected to cost between $79 million and $93 million. It will include a treatment facility plus three additional buildings: an operations building with 6630 square feet; a maintenance building with 4470 square feet and a vehicle storage building with 2785 square feet. The facility will be located on NAWS China Lake. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
Groundwater Authority to host two public scoping meetings for Pipeline Project
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) will host two scoping meetings to receive public, trustee and agency input concerning the preparation of the Environment Impact Report (EIR) for the Imported Water Pipeline Project. The proposed Imported Water Pipeline Project includes the construction of a 20 to 24-inch diameter water pipeline that will start at existing water distribution facilities owned and operated by Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and located in California City which will be used to pipe water to the Indian Wells Valley Water District’s Ridgecrest Heights Water Storage Tank located southwest of Ridgecrest. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles DWP loosens watering rules to three days a week, citing wet winter
“More than a year after instituting the strictest water conservation orders Los Angeles has ever seen, the L.A. Department of Water and Power announced Monday that it was loosening watering rules for its 4 million customers. Effective immediately, all Angelenos can return to three-day-a-week watering schedules after being placed on two-day-a-week limits in June 2022, the agency said. Officials attributed the change to this year’s wet winter, which boosted supplies and replenished reservoirs that had been drained by three years of severe drought. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Trash heaps, wild parties and slaughtered animals: Blight invades a beloved L.A. escape
“Moises Rivera and Marisol Medina had a clear vision in mind when they began their summer excursion in the mountains above blistering Los Angeles recently — and that vision definitely included a cooling dip in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Urged on by images like-minded urbanites have posted to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the couple looked forward to floating in a picturesque swimming hole where oak and sycamore trees threw shadows over clear, serene waters. Yet even before they found a place to park, Rivera, 32, and Medina, 27, were greeted by harsh, unfiltered reality. Chaotic crowds swarmed a 2½-mile stretch of river whose rocky banks were marred by graffiti. Roadsides were heaped with all manner of garbage: rotting food, barbecue grills, bottles, ice chests, soiled diapers and float toys. “It’s the first thing we noticed,” Medina said. “It’s disturbing.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Warnings issued for 9 LA Co. beaches due to high bacteria levels
“As the heat wave continues, Southland residents might be inclined to cool off at the beach — but the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Monday issued an Ocean Water Use Warning for nine area beaches, advising people to avoid swimming, surfing or playing in waters due to high bacteria levels. … ” Read more from KTTV.
Portion of Newport Bay remains closed following 500-gallon sewage spill
“Environmental and health experts with Orange County Health Care Agency are keeping a close eye on the water near Aloha Drive in Newport Beach after a sewage spill Sunday afternoon. Health officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said about 500 gallons of sewage spilled into the marina after a boat hit a sewage line that runs across the bridge. “Our health care agency environmental health team is out there accessing the water,” she said. “They did initial assessments this morning to look for E. coli and enterococcus levels in the water.” … ” Read more from ABC 7.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District looks to improve efficiency of On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program
“The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors took a hard look at their On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program (On-Farm) in the hopes that they can become more efficient at providing water efficiency savings for farmers. IID Senior Program Manager Ben Brock, along with Water Department Manager Tina Shields, updated the Board of Directors on the lengthy and complicated process that the On-Farm program currently has perform in order to determine how much to pay farmers for the water they conserved during the IID Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, July 26. According to Brock and Shields, in a perfect world the program would be able to send the first check – which is 50% of the entire contract – to the farmers two months after their crops have been harvested, but due to technical issues within the program it is taking far longer. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Repairs underway on Mexican wastewater pipe as Coronado’s water bacteria levels rise again
“The Coronado and Silver Strand shorelines are under advisory again after water bacteria levels exceeded state standards over the weekend as projects to address the Tijuana sewage crisis trudge forward on both sides of the border. In Mexico, a ruptured 42-inch wastewater pipe is expected to be repaired by November. It ruptured last summer, adding to the flow of untreated wastewater from Tijuana into coastal waters and across the U.S.-Mexico border. … ” Read more from the Coronado Times.
Along the Colorado River …
What happens to the Grand Canyon if the Colorado River dries up?
“Climate change, a rising population, and unsustainable consumption of water in the southwest are threatening the very existence of the Colorado River that’s been running through the center of the Grand Canyon for six million years. It’s a complex issue that seven states and Mexico—all of which utilize water from the river—have been fighting about for years. And it’s a dilemma the Biden-Harris administration recently dedicated $15.4 billion dollars towards trying to solve, including a deal, announced on May 22, to give $1.2 billion dollars to the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and several Native American tribes in exchange for cutting their water consumption between now and the end of 2026. The situation runs much deeper than keeping the water flowing so people like you and me can hoot, holler, and regenerate on rafting trips. But if floating the Colorado River through the belly of the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, it’s time to put your plan into action. Wait too long, and there may not be a river to run. Or, at least, regulations on boating trip sizes may make securing a permit or a spot on a guided trip harder than they are now. It could even make running the river more dangerous. … ” Read the full story at Outside.
31-day heat challenge: Phoenix sets record for consecutive days above 110 degrees
“The triple-digit temperatures punishing Phoenix set a new record over the weekend as the city continues to suffer under a heat wave that’s pressing down on millions of people across the American Southwest. Phoenix hit a high of 112 Sunday, marking its 31st consecutive day where temperatures spiked above 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The milestone obliterated a previous record of 18 days set in June 1974. “It certainly has been an unusual record stretch of really extreme heat,” said Tom Frieders, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Colorado River task force focuses first meeting on hopes, concerns about fast-paced process
“Members of the Colorado River Drought Task Force met for the first time Monday to lay the groundwork for five months of water supply problem-solving. The Colorado General Assembly passed legislation in May to create the interim task force, which will study and recommend ways state lawmakers can address Colorado River water scarcity in the future. As the members head into those discussions, several of them said one of their main priorities is to condense diverse and at times conflicting perspectives into a unified message for lawmakers. The 17-member group had to hold its first meeting by July 31, according to the legislation. The meeting primarily focused on the members’ hopes and concerns about the task ahead and logistical questions about how to proceed when time is in short supply. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Will the US run out of water?
“Within the next 50 years, many of the freshwater basins in the United States could struggle to meet the population’s water demands. Climate change is causing severe droughts and greater aridity — extreme dryness that can affect humans and the natural systems they depend on, especially in western states. Greater aridity leads to more climate extremes, drier soil and greater stress on agricultural production and ecosystems. And water supplies could decline by a third by 2071, even as the population mushrooms to 404 million by 2050, compared with 334 million today. So will America run out of water? The simple answer is no — but freshwater will not always be available where and when humans need it. … ” Continue reading at Live Science.
Republicans slam Biden NEPA revamp, threaten permitting talks
“Congressional Republicans are seething about the Biden administration’s plans to change how the government reviews major energy infrastructure projects ranging from oil and gas pipelines to solar installations. The White House released its highly anticipated proposal last week to overhaul how the government reviews projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Biden administration billed the changes as a compromise between those pushing to get projects online faster and those concerned about climate and pollution impacts. But GOP lawmakers slammed the White House approach, calling it a “dishonest” and “sneaky” attempt to favor renewable energy over fossil fuels. … ” Read more from E&E News.
White House to agencies: Tally projects’ financial damage to ecosystems
“Federal agencies would be required to do a full accounting of how their decisions affect ecosystems the public depends on under a draft guidance that the White House will release Tuesday. The Office of Management and Budget and Office of Science and Technology Policy guidance targets the benefits people derive from forests, wetlands and waterways. While ecosystems have sometimes appeared in the cost-benefit assessments that agencies must write to support their rules, policies and projects, there has never been a governmentwide directive or guidance for doing that accounting. As a result, ecosystem values are treated as secondary to more easily quantified benefits, Richard Revesz, administrator of OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar wrote in a joint blog post Tuesday. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Reclamation hosts public meeting to provide update on Delta Cross Channel gates modernization project
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Biden-Harris Administration makes $260 million available for new fish passage projects as part of Investing in America agenda
