DAILY DIGEST, 8/9: Can California salmon survive Trump water plan backed by House Republicans in spending bill?; Appeals court rules against Westlands Water District in contract dispute; LAO Report: New infrastructure legislation; Delta increasingly bogged down with weeds; and more …

In California water news today …

Can California salmon survive Trump water plan backed by House Republicans in spending bill?

“A Trump administration plan for delivering more water to Central Valley farmers — bottled up in court by opponents for almost four years — could be returned from legal limbo this summer by House Republicans. Environmentalists say the measure could push closer to extinction the salmon, trout and Delta smelt who live in waterways that sustain the state’s agricultural heart. They also contend that the underlying science has advanced since regulators published their plan in 2019. Congressional approval would lock it in for the next seven years. … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.

California appeals court rules against Westlands Water District in dispute over its contract with feds

“A California appeals court Monday ruled against a major U.S. agricultural water supplier seeking to secure permanent access to federally controlled water in California.  The order handed down from Associate Justice Rosendo Peña Jr. affirms a 2021 judgment from the Superior Court of Fresno, which dismissed Westlands Water District’s attempt to validate a contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, primarily due to missing information regarding Westlands’ financial obligations.  The ruling, however, doesn’t necessarily end the contract the district already entered into with the federal government in June 2020.  The contract, facilitated by former Westlands lobbyist and former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, sought to provide the district with permanent access to over one million acre-feet of water for agricultural purposes under the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act — an Obama-era law that provided a chance for water contractors to convert existing water service contracts with the bureau to repayment contracts. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

Appeals court sides with enviros over Westlands water contract suit. What does it mean for supplies?

“A California appellate court has ruled against Westlands Water District in the district’s attempts to validate a contract that would grant permanent access to federally controlled water.  The appellate court affirmed a ruling from the Fresno County Superior Court decision to not validate the contract because Westlands did not provide the financial information as part of the contract.  The backstory: Westlands Water District receives water that it distributes to its agricultural partners from the Central Valley Project, which is operated by the federal government through the Bureau of Reclamation. … ”  Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.

Federal judge denies request for temporary block of water toxicity testing rules in California

“Two associations that represent the interests of wastewater treatment and water reclamation plant operators are unlikely to succeed on their claims challenging the federal government’s approval of California’s new water quality standards, a federal judge in the state ruled Monday.  On May 22, Clean Water SoCal and the Central Valley Clean Water Association — groups with member agencies that own and operate wastewater treatment and water reclamation plants — sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tomas Torres, director of EPA’s Region IX, over the approval of California’s new water toxicity provisions. The defendants had granted final approval of the provisions — which are aimed at improving protections for aquatic life and apply to inland surface waters, enclosed bays and estuaries and coastal lagoons — earlier that month. … ”  Read more at the Courthouse News Service.

Attorney General Bonta leads coalition in calling for DuPont to pay more for contaminating Americans’ drinking water supply with toxic PFAS

“Leading a coalition of five attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed an amicus letter expressing strong concerns over the amount of money that DuPont and two spin-off companies would pay under a proposed class action settlement with public water providers. While the proposed settlement has been revised in several important ways at the request of states led by Attorney General Bonta, DuPont declined to pay more than the $1.18 billion set forth in the original proposed settlement filed on July 10, 2023. In their amicus letter, the five attorneys general underscore that $1.18 billion falls far short of the amount needed to remediate the PFAS contamination caused by DuPont to Americans’ drinking water supply. Revisions to the proposed settlement, which were also filed today, remain subject to court approval. … ”  Read more from Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office.

California regulators seek replacement of tire chemical linked to fish kills

“State regulators are requiring tire manufacturers to seek alternatives to a chemical preservative linked to fish kills in the Pacific Northwest and detected in California waters.  Under the new rule by the California Department of Toxic Substances that takes effect in October, manufacturers will need to evaluate replacements for the preservative known as 6PPD. The preservative is used to prevent tires from cracking and crumbling.  “6PPD plays a crucial role in the safety of tires on California’s roads and, currently, there are no widely available safer alternatives,” department deputy director Karl Palmer said. “For this reason, our framework is ideally suited for identifying alternatives to 6PPD that ensure the continued safety of the tires on California’s roads while protecting California’s fish populations and the communities that rely on them.” … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.

Could hydroponic fodder solve the West’s water woes?

” … Alfalfa hay, the nutrient-rich backbone of the dairy, beef and horse industries in the West, produces more protein per acre than any other field crop. But it comes at a great cost to the region’s water supply. Alfalfa alone siphons off more than a third of that agricultural water usage.  But there’s a potential solution on the table that some ranchers and farmers have been slowly adopting over the past decade or so. Hydroponic fodder, young tender grass grown from cereal grains in indoor systems, can grow animal feed using up to 98 percent less water than it would take to grow a comparable amount of calories in a field. Although the design and water sustainability varies from system to system, these technologically advanced setups have the potential to grow far richer animal feed using just a fraction of the water supply, land, energy and labor needed for traditional hay crops while potentially cutting greenhouse gas emissions. … ”  Read more from Modern Farmer.

Can California cropland be repurposed for community solar?

“When you think of solar power, California undoubtedly comes to mind. The state’s strong climate goals paired with abundant sunshine have helped California reach record rooftop and utility-scale solar buildout. But surprisingly, its community solar programs (not to be confused with community choice aggregation) haven’t been able to gain traction.  Out of the 5,700 megawatts of installed community solar in the country, less than 1% of that is in California. And for perspective, California has more than 40,000 megawatts of installed solar capacity.  Unfortunately, the state’s current community solar programs haven’t been able to incentivize these projects. … ”  Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

New state program aims to help residents before wells go dry in California’s next, inevitable, drought

“After two multi-year episodes of intense drought over the past decade, there is finally a centralized hub of resources and information for well owners and communities that suffered when their wells went dry.   Before the most recent drought lifted thanks to this year’s historic winter, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) launched its Be Well Prepared program in May.  The program came out of a realization that even after three years of drought, well owners and many communities still didn’t know where to turn for assistance, said Mary Fahey, public information officer with DWR.  “The real kind of mission or goal behind this program, number one, is to empower well owners so that they understand how their wells function and they know where to turn when they experience any type of well issues,” said Fahey. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

Relief Act seeks to improve disaster help for farming

“To provide aid for U.S. farmers and ranchers who lost crop revenue due to unprecedented climate events, including severe drought, massive wildfires and flooding, federal lawmakers from California introduced bipartisan legislation that would create permanent disaster relief.  U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, both D-Calif., and U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, and Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, last week announced the introduction of the Agricultural Emergency Relief Act.  The legislation would create a lasting structure of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Relief Program, or ERP, to provide relief for farmers who lost crops due to natural disasters. … ”  Read more from Ag Alert.

CDFA gives $7.4m in water efficiency grants

“California is giving out $7.4 million in grants to 17 organizations under its Water Efficiency Technical Assistance program, which was funded in the 2021 state budget.  According to the state Department of Food and Agriculture, the groups will provide such services as on-farm irrigation system evaluations, pump efficiency testing, and training in water-use efficiency and nutrient management. … ”  Continue reading at the Western Farm Press.

Biden-Harris administration makes nearly $200 million available for drought and climate resiliency projects as part of Investing in America agenda

“The Department of the Interior today announced up to $195 million in funding opportunities available through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to develop a more resilient water supply, support cooperative watershed management and safeguard aquatic ecosystems. The funds come primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s WaterSMART program, as well as from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations.  President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history and is providing much-needed resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and climate change, including protecting the short- and long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System. Through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including water purification and reuse, water storage and conveyance, desalination and dam safety. The Inflation Reduction Act is investing an additional $4.6 billion to address the historic drought. … ”  Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.

LAO Report: New infrastructure legislation: Summary and issues for legislative oversight

“Along with the 2023-24 budget agreement, the Legislature adopted a package of bills aimed at expediting infrastructure projects. In this post, we provide a summary of the key components of the bills that comprise this infrastructure package, including provisions related to legislative oversight. We conclude by identifying key issues for the Legislature to consider as it oversees the implementation of this legislation. … ”  Read more from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.

As threat of El Niño winter looms, Newsom signs order to hasten levee repairs

“As forecasters sound the alarm about another potentially wet California winter fueled by El Niño, Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking urgent but controversial measures to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that befell the state earlier this year.  An executive order signed by the governor this month will streamline levee repairs and debris removal to help protect and prepare communities for another potential inundation. Last winter, dozens of levee breaches around the state sent stormwater rushing into communities — killing several people and causing considerable damage.  Restoring levees, river channels and other elements of the state’s aged flood infrastructure is critical to public safety. But critics say Newsom’s order also comes at the expense of several rules and regulations designed to protect the environment. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Luxury eight-day riverboat cruises out of Old Sacramento have been scrapped

“Luxury multi-day riverboat cruises from Old Sacramento have died a quick death after four departures in February and March. A new season of eight-day cruises aboard the riverboat American Jazz, starting at $6,000 a person, were supposed to begin last Saturday. “American Cruise Lines will not be offering the Napa Valley River Cruises again on our itineraries, but we do hope to offer the cruises again in the future,” said Alexa Paolella, a spokesman for the cruise lines. Paoletta did not respond to questions as to why the cruises were scrapped or mention Sacramento, the starting and departure points for the cruise. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

Finding the end of the rainbow: All the ways to measure fish

“A common question that any fisher is all too familiar with hearing when they regale their friends with the tale of their most recent fight with a fish is, “How big was it?” Fish length is one of the most ubiquitous measurements in fisheries management and one of the most important for anglers. In fact, in any given year, FISHBIO measures thousands of fish of all different shapes and sizes. Although “length” seems a simple enough concept, the method of measuring fish length can vary depending on the species and the primary reason for taking the measurement. Typically, anglers use total length, or the distance from the fish’s snout to the end of its caudal or tail fin, which provides the longest measure of the fish. Total length is typically used to measure fish during tournaments and for harvest regulations. However, this measurement method may be affected by whether or not the recorder pinches the fish’s tail or if the caudal fin is damaged. … ”  Read more from FishBio.

Striped bass 2023 – Recovery?

Tom Cannon writes, “When I last updated the status of striped bass in August 2021, it did not look good.  The fall index was at its minimum (Figure 1).  In 2021 and 2022, the index remained unchanged – as expected for drought years.  With 2023 very wet and with somewhat reasonable indices in wet years 2017 and 2019, combined with the fact that stripers start reaching maturity at ages 4 to 6, might we expect some level of recovery in this fall’s index?  I think so.  The numbers of 4-to-6-year-old adult spawning stripers should be up this year. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.

‘Severe’ marine heat wave arriving in California from Pacific Northwest

“A marine heat wave that has spiked sea surface temperatures off the Oregon and Washington coast is moving into California waters. If it continues south, there is a chance it could raise temperatures along the chilly Bay Area coast within weeks, according to federal oceanographers.  An intense marine heat wave that had lingered offshore since May recently arrived on the Oregon and Washington coast, raising temperatures 7 to 9 degrees above normal, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration announced Friday. Since then, it has moved into Northern California about as far south as Eureka in Humboldt County and is getting closer to Mendocino County. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Climate change is making PNW hydropower less reliable

“As drought settled in over the Pacific Northwest this year, some electric utility managers did something unusual: They looked to California for hydropower. While the Golden State’s reservoirs retained an abundant supply of water after an abnormally wet winter, in Washington, the nation’s leading producer of hydropower, some systems saw less water than expected. The hydropower variability this year represents one example of some of the changes the country can expect in a warming world, according to a new report from Stanford researchers. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

California thunderstorms could come with rain or fire risk. Here’s what we know

“Moisture from the remnants of tropical system Eugene arrives Wednesday and Thursday, raising humidity levels and the odds of isolated thunderstorms and light rain showers in parts of California.  Weather models predict that the bulk of the tropical moisture will settle over Southern California over the next couple of days, increasing the instability of the atmosphere. There could be just enough energy in the air to raise a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms along stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway on Wednesday and Thursday. Most of this unstable air is likely to stay within Southern California, but the North American and European weather models suggest that it could spread into the rest of the state this week. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bureau of Land Management announces ambitious approach to reduce wildfire risk

“The Bureau of Land Management is taking an ambitious and coordinated approach to accelerate fuels reduction projects on public lands with high wildfire risk throughout California and northwest Nevada. Today’s signing of the Statewide Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Treatment Programmatic Environmental Assessment will streamline plans to protect communities, reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health.  “This plan helps reduce the intensity, severity and spread of wildfire near communities that border public lands managed by the BLM,” said BLM California State Director Karen E. Mouritsen. “Through partnerships with local and state agencies we will prioritize and coordinate fuels treatments to protect people, property and vital infrastructure.”  Under this plan, fuels treatment projects will be coordinated across land ownerships to provide the best results for communities, creating a landscape-level network of strategic fuels treatments and breaks within the wildland-urban interface. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

A solution for California’s wildfire safety deficit

“A tree killed in a climate-driven drought snaps and severs a power line. A transformer sparks. A downed live wire ignites a pile of dry leaves. Many of the country’s most damaging wildfires, including California’s deadly 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires, Oregon’s 2020 Santiam Fire, and Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, can be traced back to failure in the electric grid.  Experts say one of the most permanent and effective approaches to hardening the electrical system to prevent wildfires is burying power lines underground. But costs are steep and the solution is most often implemented in wealthier communities. A new Stanford University study finds lower-income communities in California today have a disproportionate share of fire-prone overhead lines and flammable wooden utility poles, and proposes a way to equitably allocate the cost of moving more lines underground. … ”  Read more from Stanford News.

Study finds climate change to blame for record-breaking California wildfires

“Record-breaking forest fires during California’s summer months have become a regular occurrence. Wildfires not only cause catastrophic environmental and socioeconomic impacts, but also have negative consequences for human health. Environmental observations indicate that summer burned areas in northern and central California have increased fivefold during 1996 to 2021 compared to 1971 to 1995. Further, 10 of the largest California wildfires have occurred in the last 20 years—five of which occurred in 2020 alone. While higher temperatures and increased dryness are thought to be the leading causes of increased burned areas, the extent to which burned area changes are due to natural variability or human-caused climate change has remained largely unresolved. … ”  Read more from NIDIS.

A giant Oregon wildfire shows the limits of carbon offsets in fighting climate change

“In this patch of Southern Oregon forest, young stands of ponderosa and lodgepole pine once pulled carbon dioxide out of the air, storing this greenhouse gas in their trunks, branches and roots.  Today, these trees are charred black snags that bake in the summer sun. Most stand erect, a few so bowed that their tops curl down to touch the ground.  They were killed by the fierce heat of the Bootleg Fire, which raged through here in July 2021, sending up huge pyrocumulus clouds of smoke and ash some 30,000 feet into the earth’s atmosphere — generating their own thunderstorms. … This was supposed to be a showcase for Seattle-based Green Diamond’s forestry strategy for a warming world. The company had committed to century-long plans to slow the pace of logging on some 570,000 acres. In exchange, the company received millions of dollars in payments from Microsoft and other companies seeking to offset their carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuels by paying to grow more wood on this land. … ”  Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.

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In commentary today …

Well, Sacramento is at it again.

Farmer, writer and educator, Paul Betancourt writes, “This time they are going after pre-1914 water rights. Now, some of you are asking, “what are pre-1914 water rights? Sounds kind of geeky.” Fair enough.  But, if you know about water in California, a threat to pre-1914 water rights mean fightin’ words.  Pre-1914 water rights are just what they sound like. These are rights that are over 100 years old. They deal with appropriative water rights on non-riparian land. The old rule in water is “first in time, first in right.” These pre-1914 water rights are some of the oldest and most protected water rights in California. They have priority over rights developed after.  There is a long and complicated web of water law and rules in California. … ” Read more from The Business Journal.

Despite big rains this winter, Southern California must remain sensible on water use

James Murtland, board president of Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, writes, “A reflection on the very rainy past seasons may leave San Diego County residents optimistic about the water outlook for this summer. After all, we had record rainfall levels in the southern half of California and snow falling as low as 1,500 feet, generating a snowpack of 172 percent of normal. It’s very easy to think a 2023 drought has been averted.  Unfortunately, headlines don’t always convey the full story. Despite the significant rain and snow that fell locally and in the northern Sierra Mountains, Southern California must continue to be judicious about continued water conservation and permanent water use efficiency. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

Klamath deputies find, destroy three illegal marijuana grow operations

“The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants on three properties on Wednesday and Thursday.  On Wednesday, a search warrant was served in the 36000 block of Highway 97 near Chiloquin. Two subjects were cited and released for possession and manufacturing marijuana. A total of 288 plants were destroyed and one greenhouse used in the production was destroyed. Using Oregon prices for the product, the value of the illegal crop was estimated to have been worth $1.7 million. The amount of water estimated to have been used was 155,500 gallons. Because there were children at the residence, DHS-Child Protective Services was notified as a precaution. … ”  Read more from the Herald & News.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Van Norden Meadow: A Sierra Jewel

“Summit Valley at Van Norden contains the largest meadow in the Yuba watershed. It is also one of the largest restoration projects undertaken by the South Yuba River Citizens’ League (SYRCL) working with the Forest Service in the Truckee Ranger District. The goal of the project is to restore the meadow to its original natural beauty before the arrival of emigrants and the building of the Van Norden dam in 1872.  In July 2023, we had an opportunity to take a look at the progress of the planned work that has been developed over the past two years. We were able to meet at the Van Norden dam with Alecia Weisman, the SYRCL scientist who is heading up this project. The major thrust of the project is to sustainably restore the natural flora and fauna in the meadow. … ”  Read more from the Sierra Sun.

New California-Nevada report shows efforts to meet Lake Tahoe Clarity Challenge continue to make an impact

“Bi-state efforts to reduce pollution and restore Lake Tahoe’s world-famous water clarity remain on track, according to an annual lake performance report released today by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, part of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).  The report outlines the program’s progress and highlights the commitment of Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program partners to help restore Lake Tahoe’s water clarity. The report found that the amount of light-scattering fine sediment that made it into the lake was reduced by 303 tons in 2022, or about the weight of a Boeing 747 jet. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, which contributes to algae growth, also was reduced by thousands of pounds per year, thanks to collaboration between Nevada and California; support from federal, state and local agencies; and help from private landowners in the Tahoe Basin. … ”  Read more from Cal EPA.

Officials: Sediment in Tahoe on the decline

“Officials with the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced this week that fine sediment is being reduced in Lake Tahoe.  Sediment from runoff and other sources is considered one of the primary sources contributing to the lake’s decline in clarity.  A new government report shows sediment was reduced by 303 tons in 2022.  Officials said that Nevada and California seek to restore clarity to a depth of at least 78 feet by the end of 2031. The goal is for people to be once again able to see lake depths of 97 feet in the historically pristine lake. … ”  Read more from This is Reno.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Reviving the river: Sacramento’s salmon spawning project resumes to boost local ecosystem

“A joint effort by local, state, and federal entities to enhance the Sacramento River’s ecosystem is set to resume on Monday with the continuation of the salmon spawning gravel project.  Since January 2023, this ambitious project has been focused on depositing over 21,000 tons of gravel into the Sacramento River, creating essential spawning habitats for both salmon and trout in the river’s upper reaches and tributaries. Spearheaded by various stakeholders, the initiative aims to support the local fish population and promote environmental conservation. … ”  Read more from KRCR.

NAPA/SONOMA

Sonoma, Mendocino county water managers propose pathway for continued Eel River diversions

“Water managers in Sonoma and Mendocino counties have submitted a conceptual proposal to PG&E to buy and maintain portions of the utility’s defunct Potter Valley power plant to enable future water transfers.  The move would be a critical step toward preserving seasonal diversions of Eel River water to supplement supplies in Lake Mendocino and the Russian River.  Working with the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission and the Round Valley Indian Tribes, the Sonoma County Water Agency is seeking to preserve elements of the power plant through which water is channeled from the Eel River to the East Fork Russian River. No electricity would be generated as a part of the plan. … ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (gift article).

New proposal over Eel River water diversion plan leaves some stakeholders out

“A group of regional interests has submitted a proposal to PG&E, in hopes of continuing the diversion of Eel River water into the Russian River, after the Potter Valley Project is decommissioned. Other stakeholders are not amused by being left out.  PG&E has stated publicly that it would move forward with plans to take all its infrastructure out of the river, if a third party did not step forward by the end of July with a viable plan to take over the project in some form.  Now the Sonoma County Water Agency, the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission and the Round Valley Indian Tribes have drafted a proposal to take over the infrastructure downstream of Scott Dam. That includes the van Arsdale Reservoir and its facilities, Cape Horn Dam, diversion tunnels and penstocks, the river and diversion gages, access roads and powerhouse facilities, a helicopter landing site, and the 1905 water right owned by PG&E that authorizes diversions from the Eel River. … ”  Continue reading from the Redheaded Blackbelt.

Dam Removal on the Eel is closer than ever

“Dam removal on the Eel River is closer than ever after county water agencies and a tribal government announced a last-minute conceptual plan for how a trans-basin water diversion from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed might be continued after the Pacific Gas & Electric Company removes two century-old dams on the upper Eel River.  The proposal was submitted to PG&E last week by the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, and the Sonoma County Water Agency, in response to the company’s announcement earlier this year that it intends to remove Scott and Cape Horn dams as part of its draft plan for decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, which stopped producing electricity in 2021. The dams block native salmon and steelhead from reaching prime habitat in the headwaters of the Eel, and restoring upstream and downstream fish passage past the dam sites is a high priority for federal and state fisheries agencies as well as conservationists. … ”  Read more from Cal Trout.

SEE ALSO:

• Latest proposal for Potter Valley Project future put to PG&E, from Northern California Public Radio
• Mendocino and Sonoma County Water Interests Team-Up With Round Valley Tribe to Take Over Potter Valley Project, from Mendo Fever
• Press release: Proposal to preserve Potter Valley diversion and fish passage, press release from Sonoma Water
• Potter Valley Project: New plan to conserve Eel River diversions submitted to PG&E, from the Ukiah Daily Journal

Proposed new water rules aim to mitigate impact of vineyards

“A state water regulators meeting…not the kind of thing that makes you think “I’ve got to be there.”  But with new environmental rules on the table for vineyards across Sonoma and Mendocino, there was hardly an empty seat to be found at the latest gathering of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.  Scores of community members and grape growers packed the board’s meeting room in Santa Rosa.  They were there to take in a presentation on a proposed set of rules meant to protect surface waters – creeks, streams, and rivers – plus groundwater in the North Coast region – from sediment and chemical pollution caused by vineyard activity. … ”  Read more from Northern California Public Media.

City of St. Helena responds to complaints about water quality

“The city of St. Helena has received several reports in the last few weeks of cloudy, discolored or “dirty” water coming out of faucets. In a statement, the city said the water is still safe to drink. If you encounter discolored water, run the tap a few minutes until it clears. Despite the recent flushing of the city’s mainlines, the reports of discolored water have returned. The problem seems to be happening intermittently in specific parts of the city. Last week, a contractor inspected and cleaned the main supply tank (Tank 1) and the “Clear Well” that holds treated water at the treatment plant before it is pumped up to Tank 1 and distributed throughout the city. … ”  Read more from  the Napa Register.

Napa DA settles environmental suit with gas station owners

“A settlement has been reached in an environmental protection action against the owners and operators of several Fast And Easy gas stations in Napa, Yolo, Lake, Alameda and San Joaquin counties, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Monday.  Yolo County Superior Court entered a judgment ordering defendants Aasim Corporation, Aasim Enterprises, Inc., Ashraf Ali, Yasmin Ali, Samir Ali, Shafique Bhimani, and Mohammed Bilal to pay $1.1 million in civil penalties and investigative costs. This judgment settles allegations that the defendants failed to follow state laws governing the operation of retail gas stations in the five counties. … ”  Read more from the Patch.

BAY AREA

New rules apply to drilling wells in Marin’s coastal zone

“Marin property owners with land in state’s “coastal zone” must now notify neighbors if they seek to drill a well on their property for agricultural or residential use.  The rule was at the center of a dispute before the Board of Supervisors last month. The supervisors gave a Bolinas property owner, David Alexander, the green light to proceed with the creation of a new farm last month that will rely on wells. His neighbor, Tony Nemec, said the wells infringe on his property rights by limiting the size of his septic system.  Alexander purchased the property at 210 Elm Road in Bolinas in 2011.  “Our main goal is to cultivate our land and to produce food for our family, friends and community,” Alexander told supervisors during the July 25 hearing. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.

Lake Anza is open to swimmers — for now — after retreat of squishy fern and toxic algae

“Swimmers are allowed at Tilden’s Lake Anza this summer for the first time in four years.  The popular watering hole at the top of the Berkeley Hills reopened in the spring, and officials expect the lake to remain open until mid-September, when it typically closes for the winter.  Lake Anza hadn’t been officially open with lifeguards present since summer 2019.  The lake has struggled with intermittent harmful algae blooms since at least 2015, and  swimming was halted in 2020 because of one such spike in toxic cyanobacteria. … ”  Read more from Berkeleyside.

Just in time for algae season, a new satellite map offers glimpses of SF Bay blooms

“For those who like to swim, fish, or boat in San Francisco Bay, but not when it is suffused with thick, soupy, potentially hazardous algae—the California Water Boards now has a map for that.  Just in time, since algae season’s heating up. A recent glance at the map showed a rainbow spreading across the Bay, indicating a widespread bloom. In Berkeley and in Richardson Bay, near Sausalito, water sampling has confirmed it and determined the culprit is Heterosigma akashiwo—the same phytoplankton, dubbed the “flying potato” by researchers, that caused last summer’s first-ever Bay-wide harmful algal bloom, or HAB, leaving countless dead fish in its wake. … ”  Read more from Bay Nature.

San Mateo: Belmont Creek restoration efforts underway

“Belmont Creek restoration efforts are underway near Twin Pines Park to reduce erosion and flooding risks for the local area and nearby cities, with hopes of starting work in two years.  Belmont Public Works Director Peter Brown said the project had been planed for several years and will restore water quality, remove invasive species of plants, re-plant vegetation, stabilize the banks and control erosion to protect property and infrastructure following a history of flooding in the area that affects jurisdictions during the wet winter. “It’s all been born out of the local governments trying to reduce flood risk downstream for property owners,” Belmont Public Works Director Peter Brown said. … ”  Read more from the San Mateo Daily Journal.

CENTRAL COAST

Gov. Gavin Newsom signs executive order to expedite Pajaro River levee repair

“The winter storm season is long over, but with the impacts of the Pajaro River levee breach and subsequent flooding in March, many are looking ahead to the rainy season and hoping there will not be a repeat.  On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order aimed at accelerating levee repairs and debris removal to ensure communities along the Pajaro River are prepared for the winter.  “This year’s historic winter storms damaged levees and left debris in river channels that exacerbate the risk of flooding next winter – damaged levees provide less protection from high water flows, and debris and vegetation within river channels reduce capacity to move high water flows,” Newsom’s office wrote in a news release. “By acting now, the executive order allows affected communities to accelerate work to restore levee function and river channel capacity degraded by last winter’s storms and floods.” … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Douglas Deitch makes another run for 2nd District Board of Supervisors seat

“A familiar face in Aptos says he intends to run again for a seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors.  Douglas Deitch, a longtime Aptos resident and water issues watchdog with a background in real estate, has pledged to make another push to represent the county’s 2nd District behind the dais in the board chambers. … “No one here is talking about nature-based solutions except for me,” Deitch told the Sentinel, “and that’s all I talk about.”  Deitch’s “nature-based solution” is centered around what he calls the “Sylvia and Leon Panetta Monterey Bay Estuarine National Monument,” which he believes can fight against creeping seawater intrusion threatening freshwater basins along the California coast. … ”  Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel. | Read more from MSN News.

Frog Pond Wetland Preserve in Del Rey Oaks sees weed abatement, fuels reduction

“Just off busy Highway 218 – Canyon Del Rey Boulevard through Del Rey Oaks – lies an oasis of what was once a much larger ecosystem that teems with a diverse community of habitats. It recently had overgrown fire fuels cut back to protect the refuge and surrounding neighborhoods.  The 17-acre Frog Pond Wetland Preserve provides a unique open space for resident and migratory wildlife including frogs, deer, hummingbirds, towhees, mallards and western fence lizards, as well as humans, says the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, the agency whose responsibility it is to preserve and protect parks and open space. … ”  Read more from the Monterey Herald.

Sewage contamination detected in Carmel River

“The public is encouraged to avoid a section of the Carmel River after sewage leaked into the waterway.  The area from Carmel Valley Ranch to Robinson Canyon Road has been contaminated after a sewage release entered the storm drain system and leaked into the river.  The sewage release was stopped Monday morning. The public is asked to avoid contact with the river water between the aforementioned areas until at least 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Contact with the water could increase the risk of waterborne illnesses. … ”  Read more from Channel 8.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Modesto Irrigation District will sell excess river water to farmers who rely on wells. Price is more than expected

“The Modesto Irrigation District has approved a plan to sell excess Tuolumne River water to farmers just outside its boundaries who rely on wells. The board voted 5-0 on Tuesday to charge $200 per acre-foot for this water, more than double the staff proposal. The supply will allow these farmers to reduce groundwater pumping as part of a state mandate for sustainable aquifers. It is expected to be available in seven out of the 20 years in the contracts. MID has been selling excess water via board votes based on a single year’s conditions. It happened this year as well as in 2019 and 2017.Tuesday’s vote allows farmers to make long-term investments in pipes and other devices for tapping MID canals. … ”  Continue reading at the Modesto Bee.

Commentary: Modesto Irrigation District did well to raise water sale price. But that’s about all they got right

Garth Stapely writes, “The Modesto Irrigation District board met the absolute minimum needed to sell water to outsiders without devaluing its own customers. But the vote did little to reassure those whose confidence was shaken by a chaotic lead-up to Tuesday’s rush job.  Right away, the board’s Bob Frobose suggested setting the price at $200 an acre-foot for surface water offered to growers just outside MID boundaries. That’s what I — and several others in various meetings, letters and emails — recommended as a starting point.  It’s a sight better than the original June proposal of $80 an acre-foot for the first 12 inches, dropping to $60 after, which would represent an illegal gift of public funds and an affront to all district ratepayers, I argued in two previous columns. Both questioned who had come up with such an asinine below-market price, and why. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.

How will the new Lindsay Recharge Basin benefit residents?

“A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the Lindsay Recharge Basin, helping replenish nearly 49 million gallons of water per year to benefit Lindsay residents, officials said Monday.  According to the East Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency (East Kaweah GSA), the recharge basin will help replenish the groundwater aquifer with up to nearly 49 million gallons of water per year to directly benefit Lindsay residents, rural residents with domestic wells, and local growers. … ”  Read more from Your Central Valley.

Ted Talk X coming to Visalia, focuses on water rights

“Ted Talks is coming to Visalia.  Young entrepreneur Stephanie Heiser has gone through the long application process to be licensed to bring a Ted Talks X on Oct. 8 to the Ice House Theatre.  Since 1984, Ted Talks have created podcasts and videos by expert speakers on education, business, science, tech and creativity. TEDx encourages communities to come together in a platform that showcases local thinkers and innovators.  Some of the TEDx videos may be chosen to become regular Ted Talks. … ”  Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.

State senator supplies Springville with water

“In light of Springville’s recent lack of steady access to potable water due to flood damages, Senator Shannon Grove and Assemblyman Vince Fong have announced that they are holding a community event at the River Island Country Club to distribute water to the affected residents. This event, which will be held on Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., hopes to offset Springville residents’ lack of water as their provider, Del Oro Water Company (DOWC), works on permanent solutions to the issue. Following flood impacts from the winter storms in March, five of Del Oro’s wells were damaged, leaving a portion of Springville citizens with little to no access to water. … ”  Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.

EPA settles with Hilmar Cheese Company over claims of Safe Drinking Water Act violations

“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Hilmar Cheese Company Inc. for Safe Drinking Water Act violations at its facility in Hilmar, California, located in the San Joaquin Valley. The company will pay a $92,000 penalty for findings of permit violations related to the Underground Injection Control Program.  “Facilities that include underground injection in their operations must comply with all permit conditions in order to protect underground sources of drinking water,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director Amy Miller. “Ensuring that businesses comply with our regulations is critical to preserving vital groundwater resources.” … ”  Read more from the EPA.

Arsenic-tainted water affects low-income residents and inmates on both sides of prison walls

“Did you know that even 10 years after California recognized the human right to clean water, many residents are still drinking water that contains dangerous levels of contaminants? This includes the highly toxic mineral arsenic. Unfortunately, low-income and rural communities face the greatest challenges in accessing clean drinking water — especially if they’re living near a prison.  Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley and Virginia Tech examined how incarcerated individuals in California may be affected by arsenic-contaminated water. This study analyzed 20 years of water quality data from Kern Valley State Prison and nearby Central Valley communities, such as Allensworth, McFarland, and Delano. The findings shed light on the ongoing struggle to provide clean water on both sides of prison walls. … ”  Read more from Study Finds.

Near Tulare Lake, state disaster relief includes millions for mosquito abatement

“If you’ve been anywhere near Kings or Tulare counties recently, you’ve probably noticed the proliferation of mosquitoes.  “In a normal year we’re getting anywhere from 25 to 75 mosquitoes in a single trap,” said Jacob Davis, operations director for the Tulare Mosquito Abatement District. “This year, we’re pulling mosquitoes in the 2,000 [to] 3,000 range some nights.”  The culprit: standing water remaining after the region’s historically wet winter. … ”  Read more from Valley Public Radio.

Sage Ranch CEO calls water district ‘highly corrupt’ public agency

“The debate over future allocations of imported water in the greater Tehachapi area has become even more heated.  The chief executive officer of a company that wants to develop 995 residential units in the city of Tehachapi has alleged that the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water district is a “highly corrupt, compromised and dishonest public agency.” Jeff Ciachurski, CEO of Greenbriar Capital Corp., a Canadian company, on Aug. 3 released a copy of what he called an open letter to the Kern County grand jury dated July 25. In the letter he referred to the grand jury’s June 1 report about the water district. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Los Angeles to get $12 million for urban greening projects

“The L.A. area is about to get $12-million dollars from Bezos Earth Fund’s “Greening America’s Cities” initiative. One of the first projects will be the restoration of the Pacoima wash, which will make nature more accessible and help in the fight against climate change.  Amanda Pantoja, a sustainable communities advocate with GreenLatinos, has received $4.75-million to oversee many of the projects.  “There will also be projects to plant trees in Los Angeles. And that will help to sequester carbon and provide shade for the city,” she explained. … ”  Read more from Public News Service.

SAN DIEGO

The other real reason San Diego water world is warring

MacKenzie Elmer writes, “Rage Against the Machine’s “Take the Power Back,” is quickly becoming part of San Diego’s water wars soundtrack.  The power systems at play in that tune have nothing to do with California water politics. Nevertheless, its general message aimed at challenging oppressive systems sprang to mind while I watched Valley Center Municipal Water District board meeting last month. … ”  Read more from the Voice of San Diego.

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Along the Colorado River …

As water regulations shift – again – advocates, officials work to cope

“As regulators and advocates grapple with the fallout of a Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the Clean Water Act, water lawyer Rhett Larson offers a calming bit of advice: Be like Bruce Lee.  “I would encourage all of us to embrace the martial arts philosophy of Bruce Lee, who said: Be water,” Larson, a senior research fellow at the Kyl Center for Water Policy, said. “If we are to effectively manage water, we have to be more like water and be as adaptive as the resource we are seeking to protect.”  That is the challenge for state and federal regulators who are developing new regulations to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. EPA, which said the government can only regulate waters that have a direct connection to surface waters. … ”  Read more from Cronkite News.

New report details critical threats to Colorado River basin and water stability for 40 million Americans

“Today the national environmental organization Food & Water Watch released a new report revealing the dangerous abuse of precious water resources in the Colorado River Basin by specific industrial agriculture sectors, and prolonged governmental refusal to rein in the most egregious offenders that are putting the water stability of nearly 40 million Americans at risk. The report, “Big Ag is Draining the Colorado River Dry,” details the water mismanagement crisis playing out in the seven states making up the river basin, and advocates for specific state and federal policies to mitigate the crisis.  The report demonstrates how alfalfa farms and the aggressive proliferation of mega-dairies are sucking the Colorado River Basin states dry. It details a relentless feedback loop where water-intensive crops are grown in ever-greater volumes to feed animals on more and more factory farms, leaving less and less water for communities. The report comes in advance of an Aug. 15 public comment deadline on the Biden administration’s plan to manage water resources in the basin for years to come. … ”  Read more from Food & Water Watch.

Why are we paying for crop failures in the desert?

“In mid-July in Phoenix, a man demonstrated to a local news station how to cook steak on the dashboard of his car. The city sweltered through a nearly monthlong streak of 110-degree temperatures this summer, while heat records are tumbling across the Southwest. But despite the signs that this is the new normal, farmers in the region are planting the same thirsty crops on the same parched land in the desert, and watching them wither year after year. And why not? The American taxpayer is covering their losses.  Research released in June by the Environmental Working Group shows that since 2001, heat linked to climate change has driven $1.33 billion in insurance payouts to farmers across the Southwest for crops that failed amid high temperatures. As the planet warms through the century, payments resulting from the impacts of climate change across the nation are likely to increase by as much as $3.7 billion. … ”  Read more from The New Republic.

‘Save the Colorado’ promotes Grand Canyon restoration alternative

“This week, Save The Colorado sent the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) public comments for the “Scoping: Post 2026 Colorado River Operations” which are due to USBR on August 15.  USBR will create a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) over the next 2 years for the Post 2026 Operations, that will be the most consequential opportunity in a generation to systemically change the management of the Colorado River.  Save The Colorado is encouraging USBR to create a “Grand Canyon Restoration Alternative” in the EIS that creates a bypass tunnel around Glen Canyon Dam so that the Colorado River’s water can once again flow freely through the Grand Canyon thereby nourishing the Canyon’s long-suffering and depleted ecosystem. In fact, it was USBR which, earlier this year, created a plan for a bypass tunnel around Glen Canyon Dam to help solve the Colorado River’s ongoing drought and management problems. … ”  Read more from the Pagosa Daily Post.

Golf course operators are teaming up to survive Colorado River water cuts and a future that’s less green

“Golf professionals and course owners in the Southwest will meet for the first time to discuss how an industry defined by manicured grass can survive climate change, government water cuts and attract players to fairways and greens nourished with less Colorado River water.  Whitey O’Malley, who owns the Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone, Colo., helped organize the Colorado Basin Golf and Water Summit. It’s scheduled to start Oct. 12 in Las Vegas, a city that has outlawed decorative grass, new lawns and using Colorado River water to irrigate new golf courses.  Conference speakers will give attendees an overview of the state of the river and update them on federal and state policy in the upper and lower basin. Other programs will help guide golf course managers on the best ways to design, irrigate and maintain courses if their water budgets are slashed. O’Malley said the conference is also a chance to unify the voices of golf courses across the region, which use millions of gallons of Colorado River water to keep their businesses operating. … ”  Read more from Colorado Public Radio.

Snowmelt runoff sets streamflow records in the Southwest

“Across the western U.S., many areas received record or near-record amounts of snowpack over the winter. With the spring and summer temperatures melting the abundant snow, a record volume of streamflow has been recorded in several basins in the southwestern U.S., providing more water for the area later into the summer than is typically seen.  The Walker and Carson basins near the California-Nevada border, for example, have reported the largest volume of streamflow for April through July that has ever been observed in roughly a century, when the records began. The ample runoff is helping fill reservoirs that have been depleted from years of drought conditions. … ”  Continue reading at the Water News Network.

Lake Powell water levels nearly double with record spring runoff

“In early 2023, Lake Powell hit a record low — sitting at only about 22% capacity. As of late July, those levels were nearly double.  Utah’s Colorado River Commissioner Gene Shawcroft said the ailing reservoir had risen 65 feet from the record spring runoff. Those inflows lifted the water levels to about 40% capacity. … ”  Read more from KSL.

NEVADA

Nevada Supreme Court hears arguments over groundwater pumping

“The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments from litigants over water rights involving an area developers are eyeing for a master-planned city of 250,000 about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas.  The proceedings emanated from a district court order vacating State Engineer Order 1309, which highlighted strategies to deal with concerns over what some say is the over-appropriation of groundwater.  Order 1309 combined seven basins in the nation’s driest state into a single hydrographic basin and suggested a pump cap — which could restrict some owners of water rights from pumping water.  The State Engineer Order didn’t sit well with respondents Coyote Spring Investment LLC, which are planning the city. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

ARIZONA

Arizona State University water visualization tool recognized for sustainable impact

“Water from the Colorado River Basin, which spans 250,000 square miles of the Southwest from Colorado to the Gulf of California, is essential to seven states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. A nationwide drought has made the use of that water a highly contested and controversial topic. States, cities, counties and tribal communities dispute how use of the water should be shared and managed.  An Arizona State University research team has been developing solutions to help decision-makers manage this precious resource. In 2019, the NASA’s Earth Science division awarded the Center for Hydrologic Innovations at ASU a $1 million grant for its Long-Range Scenario Modeling of the Colorado River Basin project. … ”  Read more from Arizona State University.

Long-term drought and near-term heat wave take toll on Arizona’s desert ecology

“Frank Reichenbacher worries it will soon be over for his Tumamoc globeberry — a rare Sonoran desert vine that features a fruit that looks like a tiny watermelon and tastes like dirt.  For 41 years, Reichenbacher, an associate researcher at the University of Arizona’s Tumamoc Desert Lab, has followed the same three patches of the rare plants in southern Arizona — including one on Tucson’s Tumamoc Hill.  The number of Tumamoc globeberry plants has dwindled over the past two decades.It’s not just the globeberry at stake. Ecologists are concerned the heat wave is pushing some of the plants best adapted to the region’s hot, dry summers past their limits. … ”  Read more from NBC News.

Biden announces Grand Canyon monument designation with Native partnership

“With Red Butte jutting out from the forest landscape behind him, President Joe Biden Tuesday sought to honor lands that are historic and sacred to the people of the Southwest, of Arizona’s canyon lands and of the tribal nations who trace their ancestral roots to those spaces.  “America’s natural wonders are our nation’s heart and soul,” Biden told a crowd assembled at Red Butte Historic Airfield during a speech where he proclaimed nearly one million acres of public lands around Grand Canyon National Park as a new national monument. “They unite us, they inspire us — they’re a birthright we pass down from generation to generation.” … ”  Read more from Spectrum 1.

SEE ALSO: Grand Canyon monument won’t end fight over uranium mining, from E&E News

COLORADO

Late start to monsoons puts southwest Colorado back into drought

“Moderate drought conditions have come back to Colorado after the state experienced a fleeting few drought-free weeks.  Hot and dry weather in July put portions of the state’s southwest corner and the San Luis Valley into moderate drought, and a broader reach of the Western Slope into abnormally dry conditions, according to the latest update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.  Less than 5% of the state is currently in drought, due to lingering mountain snowpack, healthy soil moisture levels, and steady rains along the Front Range and Eastern Plains. … ”  Read more from HPPR.

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In national water news today …

Early detection helps states control invasive species before it’s too late

“Rising temperatures continue to fuel climate change-related disasters like hurricanes and drought with little sign of stopping. In fact, last month was the hottest July on record in the U.S., with July 3 marked as the hottest day in history until the record just a day later. While residents lament over scorching temperatures, many invasive species thrive in warm climates. That’s why concerns over an increase of invasive species around the nation are heating up.  As non-native plants invade new areas, state officials worry about their effects on local ecosystems, infrastructure and recreation. … ”  Read more from Route 50.

Why your favorite beach might be eroding

“While most people think of the beach as a place to relax, it has always served a more purposeful role: a buffer against storms. It’s a role that will become even more important as climate change continues to disrupt nature’s delicate balance, inciting sea level rise and stronger, more frequent storms on the coasts.  But those living right along the shore may soon find themselves without as much of a cushion, as coastal erosion diminishes or displaces major beaches. At least 13 miles of beaches have been lost on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, and entire beachfront communities are collapsing on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. States like Texas and Alaska have seen their coastlines “retreat” by an average of five to 10 feet per year since 1900. Two-thirds of California beaches could disappear by 2100 all because of sea level rise. … ”  Read more from Popular Science.

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