On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Water rights 101 (Scott and Shasta Watershed) from 4pm to 5pm. State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) staff will host two virtual meetings to present introductory information about water rights and fisheries in the Scott River and Shasta River watersheds. At this webinar, State Water Board staff will provide an introduction and overview of key water right concepts related to these watersheds. Join Zoom meeting online: https://waterboards.zoom.us/j/
94332453084 or Call in by phone: Find your local number: https://waterboards.zoom.us/u/ adlMiNx4sw Meeting ID: 943 3245 3084
In California water news today …
Where the rubber meets the road (and river) – Evaluating impacts of stormwater and road runoff on salmon and aquatic ecosystems
“Stormwater and road runoff are increasingly recognized forms of pollution that can contain chemicals harmful to fish and other aquatic animals. One such chemical is 6 p-phenylenediamine – quinone (6PPDQ). 6 p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is critical to the life of automobile tires and driver safety by protecting tire rubber from cracking. 6PPD absorbs the degrading impacts of the ozone by reacting with air and transforming into 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ). 6PPDQ is then released into the environment as tires wear down while driving, and stormwater carries the chemical into nearby rivers and streams. Once in the water, fish and other aquatic organisms are exposed to the chemical. Recently, 6PPDQ was linked to mass mortality of adult coho salmon in some streams of the Pacific Northwest (Tian et al. 2021). This recent discovery has inspired new research into the breadth of 6PPDQ’s impacts on aquatic ecosystems. … ” Continue reading from the USGS.
Dam releases attempt to boost Delta smelt habitat
“What is three inches long, nearly transparent, and holds sway over much of northern California’s water politics? The answer, of course, is the diminutive Delta smelt—a secretive, federally threatened fish that was once abundant and now is on the verge of extinction. As a result, much effort goes into finding new ways to bolster the fish’s habitat and population, with mixed results according to new analysis. Carefully timing bursts of water into the Delta via changes to reservoir releases or to exported water from the South Delta is one method that scientists theorized might temporarily increase some of San Francisco Estuary habitat that has been lost to the fish over the last century. “The water releases are hypothesized to affect a number of habitat variables that were seen to benefit the smelt,” says Calvin Lee, a researcher with the consulting firm ICF, and lead author of a study examining the efficacy of such releases, recently published in the journal San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science. The project compared wetter years in which what was officially dubbed “flow augmentation” was conducted, to drier years when it was not. … ” Continue reading this article from Maven’s Notebook.
Plastic mulch is problematic—and everywhere. Can we do better?
“Strawberries are one of many crops that often use plastic mulch during their growing season. Mulching is the process of covering the earth around a plant with something to help it grow. Myrvold says that for the strawberries at Viva Farms, plastic mulch—long, thin sheets of polyethylene—serves two main purposes. “It adds heat to the soil, which is really beneficial for a heat-loving crop like strawberries. And it also helps with weed suppression, which is always a challenge in organic production.” But there is a critical downside. There are no consistently accessible mechanisms for sustainably disposing of plastic mulch film at the end of its life. What’s more, research shows that renegade pieces of this plastic can break down into the soil and waterways as microplastics—pieces of plastic less than five millimeters long that present serious health and ecosystem concerns. … ” Read more from Modern Farmer.
California’s proposed chromium-6 drinking water limit fails to protect public health
“[Yesterday] California’s State Water Resources Board convened a hearing on its proposed drinking water limit for hexavalent chromium, commonly known as chromium-6, the notorious “Erin Brockovich” carcinogen. The water board is recommending a maximum contaminant level, or MCL, limiting allowable chromium-6 in drinking water to 10 parts per billion, or ppb. But the state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, or OEHHA, has suggested a much more protective public health goal of 0.02 ppb. The Environmental Working Group has urged the water board to reflect that goal in the MCL. Chromium-6 is a cancer-causing chemical, so it is vital the water board finalize a strict drinking limit to safeguard communities at risk from exposure to this hazard. … ” Continue reading at the Environmental Working Group.
State Water Contractors partner with DWR to award over $4 million in funding for science projects through first-ever science proposal solicitation
“The State Water Contractors (SWC) awarded funding for six projects that will be conducted by leading researchers from some of the top institutions and firms in California and across the nation. These projects will investigate information gaps related to Delta Smelt, Longfin Smelt, Chinook Salmon and Central Valley Steelhead – helping reduce uncertainties in the effects of non-flow mechanisms that affect species growth, migration and survival. The SWC’s initial investment is supplemented with funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), which brings the total scientific research investment above $4 million. “These awards are an exciting milestone for the SWC and the SWC’s Science Program. The projects we are funding will explore new lines of research and help fill in critical knowledge gaps to improve management of both water supply and ecosystem health. We are thankful to have a funding partner in DWR, as we share the goal of funding high-quality, management relevant science,” said Darcy Austin, Science Manager for the State Water Contractors. … ” Read more from the State Water Contractors.
Valley fever could hit California hard. The drought-to-downpour cycle is to blame
“After California’s record-breaking winter rains, public health officials are warning about an increased risk for valley fever this summer. “California’s dry conditions, combined with recent heavy winter rains could result in increasing valley fever cases in the coming months,” California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Tomás Aragón said in a news release. During a drought, the fungus that causes valley fever often is less active, but it grows once the rains return, according to the Department of Public Health. Valley fever cases have been lowest during drought and highest in the years immediately following a drought, raising concerns for this summer and fall after the record-breaking rain that hit California. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
CEQA news you can use
“Dam straight—Oroville Dam relicensing upheld after 15 years of litigation: California has been working for more than two decades towards relicensing its hydropower facilities at the Oroville Dam (the Oroville Facilities), which is part of the State Water Project (SWP). … Regional Water Board need not issue CEQA findings for discharge permit for water treatment plant: In 2017, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board issued water discharge permits to several LA County water treatment plants. Los Angeles Waterkeeper challenged those permits on several grounds, seeking to force the regional board to require the water treatment plants to recycle more water than they already do. … ” Read more from Brownstein.
Q&A: Toxic algae, warming waters imperil marine life on U.S. coasts
“The images are heart-rending: hundreds of dolphins and sea lions washing up along the shores of Southern California, sick and dying from toxic algae poisoning. Photographed earlier this summer, they are the latest reminders that the climate crisis is becoming impossible to ignore. Toxic algae blooms, a recurring natural phenomenon, have long been observed in water off the coast of Southern California. But scientists are increasingly concerned over the frequency and severity of these deadly algal outbreaks. As climate change continues to warm ocean temperatures, these favorable conditions allow harmful algae to proliferate. USC News spoke with David Caron, an expert in biological oceanography who is closely examining the ecological crisis and its potential impact on local marine ecosystems, and Carly Kenkel, at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, who focuses on coral reefs. … ” Read more from USC News.
In commentary today …
A new age of water is dawning
Peter Gleick, an internationally recognized expert on water and conflict and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, writes, “We’re living in a pivotal moment in history, on the cusp of either sinking into a dark period of growing poverty, accelerating ecological destruction, and worsening conflict, or moving forward to a new age of equity, sustainability, and stewardship of the only planet in the universe where we know life exists. I believe a positive future is not only possible, but inevitable, but solving our current crises and moving along the path to that desired future will require new, concerted, and sustained efforts. Nothing better exemplifies both the threat and the promise facing us than the challenge of water. … ” Continue reading at Time Magazine.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Reclamation releases 2023 drought plan
“On July 5, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued what the agency refers to as a “Drought Plan” for the Klamath Project, which will require many farmers to stop irrigating before the end of the growing season. The Drought Plan states that this year’s allocation for so-called Warren Act contractors that receive water from Upper Klamath Lake and the Klamath River is limited to 0.6 acre-feet per irrigable acre under contract. That volume represents less than a third of the water needed to produce a normal crop in the Klamath Project. Approximately 50,000 acres of farmland are potentially affected. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Senate subcommittee tees up 16 Western water bills; Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act discussed
“The Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Water and Power Subcommittee on July 19 heard testimony on sixteen bills dealing with the impacts of drought across the West, including legislation intended to address long-standing issues in the Klamath Basin. The sole witness at the hearing was Camille Touton, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. “Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement Support Act” (S. 482) from Subcommittee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) that would address issues related to impacts of the removal of non-federal hydro dams on the Klamath River, among other things left over from the failed Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA). … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe tasks aquatic robot with keeping waters clean
“Lake Tahoe has become known throughout the world for its water’s clarity and aesthetically pleasing nature. Now, a marina, a technology company and a non-profit have come together to make sure that it preserves those qualities that make Lake Tahoe so special. The PixieDrone is an electric, autonomous and programmable motorized skimmer that will capture trash that sits on the bottom of the lake, which will allow the water quality and clarity to remain unthreatened. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Protecting communities and fish and wildlife during dry years in the Sacramento Valley
“With the recent dry years dramatically affecting the Sacramento Valley, we have taken some time, stepped back and reflected on the past decade, what we have learned from the dry years, and what we can do better in future years—both wet and dry–to help serve water for cities and rural communities, farms, fish and wildlife, recreation, and hydropower throughout the region. We offer the following observations from a very practical and passionate perspective working very closely with the families who live, work, and play in the Sacramento Valley and who care deeply about the people, fish, and wildlife and are personally investing in a future where communities, farms and fish and wildlife all work together in harmony. … ” Continue reading at the Northern California Water Association.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma, Mendocino County grape growers battling new rules designed to reduce sediment, pesticides in local waterways
“A new program targeting 1,500 commercial grape growers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties and designed to improve water quality in local creeks and rivers is drawing criticism from members of the agricultural community. The draft rules include reporting requirements, annual fees, well and groundwater monitoring, ground cover requirements and restrictions on wintertime operations that growers deem excessive. Vineyard operators and agricultural representatives say the costs and mandates are overkill for an industry that is already working to reduce sediment runoff into waterways and protect fish habitats. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
St. Helena housing project faces environmental lawsuit
“Opponents of St. Helena’s controversial and recently approved 87-unit Hunter Subdivision have taken the issue to court. The lawsuit, filed July 27 in Napa Superior Court, seeks to overturn St. Helena City Council’s June 26 approvals of the project’s tentative subdivision map and its Environmental Impact Report. Plaintiffs include St. Helena Citizens for a Sustainable Future — a group of St. Helena residents that have spoken out against the project in the past — and Water Audit California, a group that’s previously sued Napa County and St. Helena over water issues. The plaintiffs are suing the city and Hunter project applicant Ben van Zutphen and White Fang Properties. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Novato wildfire buffer project gets underway
“Crews started work this week on a 60-mile-long, continuous shaded fuel break that will encircle both incorporated and unincorporated Novato as a protective cushion against wildfires. The 200- to 300-foot-wide break will skirt 5,200 residences on the area’s outer edges and cover more than 3,400 acres. Shaded fire breaks remove some understory trees and vegetation while retaining tree canopies. The shade from the canopies helps preserve moisture in potential ground fuels. Mark Brown, executive officer of the Marin Wildfire Protection Agency, announced Monday that it has secured a $2.6 million grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to help complete the multi-year project. The county agency is investing $500,000 of its own funds in the project, and Conservation Corps North Bay recently received a $374,000 grant to work on it as well. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin district outlines plans for salmon habitat restoration
“The Marin Municipal Water District is preparing for one of its larger restoration projects on Lagunitas Creek with some new approaches in its effort to bolster endangered coho salmon populations. The project, which has an estimated cost of $10 million to $12 million, is set to begin next summer. The district plans to use both proven and new strategies to mimic the natural habitats found in the creek before the construction of dams, utility staffers told the board during a project update on Tuesday. The Peters Dam at Kent Lake blocks large pieces of wood and gravel from moving downstream where salmon and steelhead spawn. The debris is vital for creating gravel beds and deep, cool pools in the creek where adult coho salmon spawn and juveniles grow during their 16-month stay in freshwater. “This channel really is starving for both of those things,” Jonathan Koehler, the district fisheries program manager, told the board. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Faulty Valley Water sensor recalibration leads to erroneous NWS flood warnings
“The weather conditions and a technology-driven warning didn’t add up. Under sunny skies in the Bay Area, Wednesday, the National Weather Service posted a flood warning for a portion of the 24-mile-long Los Gatos Creek. “So why would they do that? I guess that’s the question…why would they put something out that…I mean, if they’re gonna put an announcement out like that, maybe they should have some justification or reinforcement of the information on that,” said Robert Lira, who was walking along the creek-side trail during his lunch break. … ” Read more from KTVU.
Commentary: Lake Cunningham: A local resource drowning in neglect
City Councilmember Domingo Candelas writes, “After years of underinvestment, the City of San Jose is finally taking action on Lake Cunningham, thanks in part to funding from state and regional partners. Neglect has taken its toll on Lake Cunningham Regional Park, once a vibrant park in the heart of our East San Jose community. Restoring Lake Cunningham is not just an exercise in nostalgia, it is a responsibility we owe to our environment, our community and future generations of San José residents. The effort to revive the lake is a shared responsibility that involves a partnership between government, nonprofits and the private sector. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey City Council welcomes regional collaboration to tackle water crisis
“Affordable housing and water – you can’t have one without the other. It’s a stark reality cities on the Monterey Peninsula know well, with the latter always seeming in short supply. But the city of Monterey seems determined to make sure the tap doesn’t run out, for either resource. The possible solution? Regional collaboration. At the Monterey City Council’s regular meeting Tuesday night, the Peninsula’s perennial disjunction – not enough water and not enough housing – was back on the agenda. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as is often the case when it comes to hopes of feasible development. Instead, the possibility of finding a path forward was met with optimism, thanks to a handful of alternatives introduced by city staff that, if seen through, could open up opportunities for the city. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly.
Grover Beach could fully switch from septic to sewer in two years
“Grover Beach city officials are considering changing the local municipal code to get rid of a sewage annoyance. At its July 24 meeting, the Grover Beach City Council discussed repealing an ordinance to set a citywide requirement for residences and businesses to connect to the city sewer system. Once adopted, the ordinance would require 115 properties still using septic tanks to switch to the sewer in two years. City Attorney David Hale told the City Council that case law in California references a public agency’s ability to use police power to enforce the transition from septic tanks to the sewer system because of the former’s potential for groundwater contamination. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
Commercial carrot growers sued Cuyama Valley residents over groundwater and the first hearing is coming up
“As the Cuyama Unified School District stepped out of a financial crisis after years of budget struggles, Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms sued the district over groundwater rights. And if the district didn’t join in the adjudication case, it risked losing water rights altogether, Superintendent Alfonso Gamino said. “We have it in our budget for unforeseen expenses. We have more than 5 percent [in reserves], but this was an expense we weren’t counting on and how much more we’re going to have to spend is unknown,” he said. “We have to defend our water rights, but my frustration is that we can finally breathe a little bit and it’s like, ‘Here we go again.’” … The corporations first filed the groundwater rights lawsuit in August 2021 and have continued serving every Cuyama Valley resident who relies on the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Sun.
Cuyama Valley residents call for boycott of carrots after two growers sue landowners over water rights
“In a battle likened to David versus Goliath, Cuyama Valley residents have launched a boycott of carrots after two giant growers sued all landowners in the community over water rights. Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms are among the plaintiffs for the lawsuit claiming hundreds of defendants — and all property owners — including homeowners, businesses and public agencies in the Cuyama Valley. At the heart of the fight is the rights to the water in the Cuyama Valley Basin, which has been designated among the state’s most overdrafted groundwater basins for years. Overdrafted basins happen when the amount of water pumped out is larger than the long-term average supply of water into the basin. Groundwater remains the lone source since State Water Project delivery isn’t available. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Springville water woes ‘sure as hell not our fault,’ residents blame Del Oro
“Springville has gone months without access to clean water after the Tule River floods in March. Now, residents are furious with the area’s water provider, Del Oro Water, for charging them higher rates when they had no water and when it was contaminated. In an emergency town hall meeting July 28, Del Oro representatives faced a packed house of angry residents demanding answers at the Springville Veterans Memorial Building. Some people stormed out of the meeting before it ended and others were in disbelief and frustrated with Del Oro official’s responses. The crowd lost control for a moment once a Del Oro spokesperson said there’ll be no access to water until October. Residents were also told there’d be more water now if people conserved. … ” Continue reading from the Visalia Times-Delta.
A look at Tulare Lake through Kings County’s new airboat
“A number of atmospheric rivers this past winter brought Tulare Lake back to life but at a cost to local farmers and people living in the area. Wednesday, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office gave Action News an exclusive look at the flood damage from their new airboat. Now that the water is slowly receding, the sheriff’s office is working to patrol and navigate the lake despite debris and irrigation lines. Officials say that water could take two years to fully go down, leaving many farmers in the area without an opportunity to grow their crops. … ” Read more from KFSN.
Department of Fish and Wildlife testing for botulism in birds at Tulare Lake
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is testing for botulism in the waters of the Tulare Lake in an effort to prevent spread if its presence is confirmed. “Due to the remarkable refilling of the basin, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and partners are proactively patrolling Tulare Lake by plane, on the water using airboats and driving around the shoreline to monitor wildlife, including testing deceased birds for avian flu and botulism which has historically occurred on Tulare Lake when water persisted into the summer months,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Manager Stephen Gonzalez in a written statement. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
King tides may bring another night of flooding to Newport Beach, Sunset Beach
“It was another soggy night along coastal Orange County as king tides sent salt water flooding into streets Tuesday, Aug. 1. Areas of the Newport Beach peninsula, both in West Newport and near the Fun Zone, along with Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach, flooded during the night when high tides at about 10 p.m. neared 7 feet. Huntington Beach spokesperson Jennifer Carey said flooding from higher than normal tides can happen a few times a year near Pacific Coast Highway and Warner Avenue in the Huntington Harbour area. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SEE ALSO: King tides flood Orange County coastal communities and more is on the way, from KABC
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside chooses three teams to compete for controversial sand project
“A jury of experts has selected three teams as finalists to design a system that will restore and retain sand on Oceanside’s eroding beaches. Six teams, each with members of two to four design firms, submitted proposals for the city’s competition, Oceanside Coastal Zone Administrator Jayme Timberlake said this week. The chosen teams include people from a total of 15 consulting firms out of the 36 firms that the city solicited for proposals. “We are thrilled with the interest and participation from global climate adaptation and coastal resilience experts and can’t wait to see what our finalists come up with as potential solutions over the coming months,” Timberlake said in a news release. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
U.S.-Mexico partners cut borderlands plastic and marine debris
“Coastal and marine pollution doesn’t respect national boundaries, so partners along the U.S.-Mexico borderlands teamed up to tackle the problem. Cities on either side of the border have banned the use of plastic bags in grocery stores and raised public awareness. Binational volunteers also removed 40,000-plus pounds of trash from the Tijuana River Valley. The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve played an important role, with support from NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Training and technical assistance by the Tijuana River Research Reserve raised officials’ awareness of pollution in the Mexican city of Tijuana and the cross-border metro area of Tecate. Both cities prohibited single-use plastic bags in grocery stores. Many environmental organizations and volunteers also contributed. … ” Read more from NOAA.
Along the Colorado River …
Sinema & Western senators introduce bipartisan bill protecting the Colorado River basin by fixing federal funding formulas
“Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, along with Western U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), introduced the bipartisan Colorado River Salinity Control Act – legislation increasing the federal cost-share for the Colorado River Salinity Control Project. “Arizona and the American West’s prosperity depends on a secure water future. We’re fixing the current federal cost-sharing formula to protect the critical Colorado River Salinity Control Project,” said Sinema.The Salinity Control Project is a cost-effective, proven method of controlling the salinity of the Colorado River and decreasing the salinity damage to water by reducing the salt load of the Colorado River by 1.2 million tons annually. … ” Read more from Senator Sinema’s website.
Climate change has left a Lake Mead-sized void in Colorado River, study says
“Rising temperatures due to climate change have sapped more than 10 trillion gallons of water from the Colorado River over the last two decades, enough water to completely fill Lake Mead from top to bottom, according to a recent study from researchers at UCLA. Scientists and water managers alike have long pointed to climate change as a key reason for the Colorado River’s dwindling flows. But the new study, published in the journal Water Resources Research, gives us a clearer look at exactly how much human-induced climate change has depleted the river that supplies water to some 40 million Americans in the Southwest. “The fact that warming removed as much water from the basin as the size of Lake Mead itself during the recent megadrought is a wakeup call to the climate change impacts we are living today,” Benjamin Bass, a hydrologic modeler at UCLA and the lead author of the study, said in a news release. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Investigation finds Saudi Arabian firm tapped Arizona’s dwindling water for years without oversight
“An overseas-based operation has been able to extract significant source water from Arizona’s Butler Valley, one of the country’s driest regions, for years, with relatively little oversight even as drought throughout the region grows. “A megadrought has seared Arizona, stressing its rivers and reservoirs and reducing water to a trickle in the homes of farmworkers near this desert valley,” The Washington Post reported. “For nearly a decade, the state of Arizona has leased this rural terrain west of Phoenix to a Saudi-owned company, allowing it to pump all the water it needs to grow … alfalfa hay — a crop it exports to feed the kingdom’s dairy cows. And, for years, the state did not know how much water the company was consuming.” … ” Read more from Water Online.
Commentary: Why proposed rural groundwater control legislation is bad for Arizona
Congressman Gail Griffin writes, “There has been a lot of talk recently about rural groundwater bills not getting a hearing at the Arizona State Legislature. Over the years, the proposed legislation has gone by many names, including “Groundwater Conservation Areas,” “Special Management Areas,” “Rural Management Areas,” and “Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas.” It also includes “Sustainable Groundwater Management Plans.” Regardless of the name, the concept is the same, and all are bad. … ” Continue reading at the Gila Herald.
New state task force starts work on responding to worst-case Colorado River scenarios
“A new state task force charged with investigating the local effects of the drought-depleted Colorado River and recommending legislation to respond to the water crisis met for the first time this week. Members representing different river interests who gathered for the first meeting on July 31 shared hope that they would find common ground as they collaborate on possible policies, tools and solutions to help respond to the Colorado River, which has been depleted by a 20-year megadrought, climate change and overuse. The Colorado state legislature created the task force last year to bring together representatives from agriculture, water managers from Front Range cities and Western Slope towns, environmentalists, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute representatives and industry. The 17 members will meet 10 times until Dec. 7, when it will submit a report of recommendations to lawmakers ahead of the 2024 legislative session. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
In national water news today …
Supreme Court wetlands ruling imperils waters on public lands
“Wetlands and waterways in national parks, monuments, forests and other federal public lands are newly vulnerable to pollution and development in the wake of the Supreme Court’s May ruling in Sackett v. EPA, natural resources attorneys say. But because federal lands have some protection under the National Environmental Policy Act and a raft of other laws, there is broad disagreement among attorneys about how Sackett affects public land. Sackett creates a federal jurisdictional test for waters and wetlands “that is divorced from science” and will “disempower federal land managers from protecting critical water resources on public lands,” said Craig Galli, senior partner at Holland & Hart LLP in Salt Lake City and a distinguished practitioner in residence at Brigham Young University Law School. … ” Read more from Bloomberg Law.
Chemical companies’ PFAS payouts are huge – but the problem is even bigger
“When the chemical giant 3M agreed in early June to pay up to $12.5bn to settle a lawsuit over PFAS contamination in water systems across the nation, it was hailed by attorneys as “the largest drinking water settlement in American history”, and viewed as a significant win for the public in the battle against toxic “forever chemicals”. A second June settlement with the PFAS manufacturers DuPont, Chemours and Corteva tallied a hefty $1.1bn. But while the sums are impressive on their face, they represent just a fraction of the estimated $400bn some estimate will be needed to clean and protect the nation’s drinking water. Orange county, California, alone put the cost of cleaning its system at $1bn. “While over a billion dollars is real money, it is a virtual drop in the bucket of potential utility costs to monitor, remove and dispose of these contaminants in accordance with anticipated federal regulations,” the American Municipal Water Association trade group said in a statement. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Three ways Congress could act to protect imperiled wildlife
“From bees to bison to boreal grasslands, wildlife and wild places face grave threats. Globally, a million species could be pushed to extinction in coming decades, with habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, and climate change among the many manmade factors driving declines. The picture in the United States is dire, too, a report from NatureServe found earlier this year. Across the country, one-third of plants are at risk of extinction, including nearly half of all cactus species, and about 200 species of trees. In addition, 40% of animals are at risk of extinction and those associated with freshwater, like mussels and amphibians, are the most vulnerable. The bigger picture is concerning, too: Some 41% of U.S. ecosystems face range-wide collapse, with temperate and boreal grasslands being among the most threatened. Stemming these impending losses will take concerned efforts at every level, including by legislators in Washington. Three bills introduced in Congress this year could help efforts considerably. … ” Read more from The Revelator.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Certification of Consistency Filed: Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP)
NOTICE of Preparation for the Cache Creek Channel and Levee Rehabilitation Project
