On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Eel River Dam Removal Forum from 5pm to 6pm. Charlie Schneider, California Trout’s Lost Coast Project Manager and lead on the Eel River Dams issue, will provide an update on the decommissioning schedule for Scott and Cape Horn dams (which have blocked fish passage on the main stem of the Eel for more than 100 years) and how this will impact our region’s fish and people. The presentation will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions.The forum is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. Click here to register. Since space is limited, we will also live stream to the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter’s Facebook page.
In California water news today …
California reels from floods as downgraded storm barrels on
“Southern California is out of the warpath of the so-called weekend “hurriquake,” but officials warned Monday that Tropical Storm Hilary could still bring damage to areas farther north as well as neighboring states. Rainfall has already begun across the Sacramento Valley and could reach the northern Sierra Nevada before dying down Tuesday, according to a statement from the National Weather Service Office in Sacramento. “The majority of this rain will fall in the San Joaquin Valley as Hilary moves north,” the service’s Hanford office said. After several years of drought, the San Joaquin Valley has been hard hit with flooding throughout this past spring. Already the Kern County desert and mountains have received between 3 to 5 inches, putting the region on high flood alert as flood waters recede. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO:
- Satellite images capture the extent of flooding in California after storm, from NPR
- A tropical storm in California? Warmer waters and El Niño made it possible, from Grist
- California rain totals: Map shows how much rain Tropical Storm Hilary brought, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- How bad was Hilary? Mountain and desert communities got the worst of the tropical storm, from the LA Times
- Hurricane Hilary pounded Mexico then brought intense flooding to Southern California, from AccuWeather
- Hilary was billed as a monster storm. Why it battered some areas but spared others, from the LA Times
- Dramatic before-and-after images show Tropical Storm Hilary swamping California, from the LA Times
Did Tropical Storm Hilary have an impact on California’s water supply?
“Tropical Storm Hilary swept over the Golden State on Sunday, bringing a massive amount of precipitation along with during what is normally the driest time of the year, when wildfires are always a looming issue. The record-breaking rains left a trail of floods, mudslides and debris flows in their wake, with parts of Southern California left to pick up the pieces to start the new week. But, did the storm actually do anything to impact the state’s water supply? The short answer is: no. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Educating the judiciary on water and climate change
“Justices Ron Robie and Stacy Boulware Eurie are spearheading an effort to educate California’s judiciary about climate change and water issues. We asked them why they’ve taken on this task—and what they hope to accomplish. You are leading the judiciary’s efforts to train judges and justices on water and climate. What does this entail, and why is it so important? Justice Robie: I’ve taught classes on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for about 20 years. Water is a similar specialized area like CEQA, and more water cases are being assigned to larger courts. It seemed logical that using the CEQA model would be good for water. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
WEBINAR: SGMA Review: Achieving Groundwater Access for All & Visual Data Tool Demonstration
A new report, authored by experts from organizations including The Nature Conservancy, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Audubon California, and Clean Water Action, provides a set of recommendations on how California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act can better protect vulnerable communities and the environment. The recommendations are based on findings from a study published this week in Nature Communications, which found that the majority of local groundwater plans developed under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) overlook the state’s most vulnerable groundwater users. A webinar was held that provided an overview of the analysis of the plans and information about how the plans fail to protect groundwater for many. The webinar included brief presentations, a live demonstration of an interactive visual data tool, and a Question and Answer session. View webinar here.
Draining the swamp: How land reclamation hurts California’s environment for people and other life forms
“One of the most famous, though possibly apocryphal, quotes to come out of the Vietnam War appeared in a Feb. 7, 1968, Associated Press report. It quoted an unnamed “United States Major” explaining why U.S. forces leveled the Vietnamese town of Ben Tre—in one succinct, memorable turn of phrase: “It became necessary to destroy the town to save it,” the major reportedly commented. The quote lives on because, real or not, it seemed to perfectly encapsulate the absurdity of military logic. But the quote didn’t apply only to the military. In fact, it could easily be applied to the large-scale public improvement project that built much of what California is today—via a process known as “land reclamation.” … ” Read more from California Local.
Conservation or cannabis: are the two mutually exclusive?
“As famed conservationist Steve Irwin once said, “We don’t own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.” When it comes to cannabis cultivation, wildlife management may not be the first concern that comes to mind. Yet agriculture of any kind often takes a toll on watersheds, soil health, and habitat biodiversity. Fortunately, new organizations and technologies are emerging to mitigate damage and help create a more sustainable cannabis industry. Humboldt County, California has been an epicenter of cannabis production for decades. Its climate is nearly perfect for the crop and residents have embraced the culture wholeheartedly. But, California’s legal cannabis landscape is challenging for licensed farmers in the small coastal community. Flower prices are falling, and many of the fees facing licensed operators push consumer costs higher, empowering unlicensed operators. But aside from dwindling economic returns, the area is fighting to continue to be a vital hub for cultivation. … ” Read more from Cannabis & Tech.
The rubber meets the road with California’s green chemistry law
“What do nail polish, children’s foam-padded sleeping mats and tires have in common? Not much at first glance, but all have been identified as “priority products” under California’s Safer Consumer Products regulations administered by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) under the state’s Green Chemistry law. The regulation designating motor vehicle tires containing the chemical N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) as a priority product became final on July 3, 2023, making tires containing 6PPD the seventh priority product identified under the law. DTSC’s priority product designation for tires containing 6PPD will become effective on Oct. 1, 2023. As a result of the priority product designation, foreign and domestic manufacturers of motor vehicle tires whose products enter the stream of commerce in California will have until Nov. 30, 2023, to submit Priority Product Notifications to DTSC identifying those products. … ” Read more from Holland & Knight.
SEE ALSO: Environmental law group threatens to sue tire manufacturers over pollutants, from the Mercer Island Reporter
Mosquitofish: Small fish are big players in mosquito abatement
“Most people have heard of working dogs, but few have heard of, or even considered the concept, of working fish. Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were first introduced to California in 1922 to perform mosquito control services throughout the state. … Currently, there are 60 member agencies throughout the state focusing on remediation for mosquito abatement. In addition to chemical (larvicide and insecticide treatments) and physical (change to landscape) controls, one approach to mosquito abatement is the stocking of mosquitofish in mosquito habitat (standing or slow-moving water). Since their introduction, mosquitofish have been regularly stocked in areas ranging from naturally fishless ponds to rice fields to urban drainage basins. … ” Read more from FishBio.
Coastal plant receives federal protections under Endangered Species Act
“After nearly a decade of requests by environmentalists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced federal protections for the sand dune phacelia on Monday, designating 180 acres over 13 areas in southern Oregon and Northern California for the threatened plant. Also known as the silvery phacelia, the sand dune phacelia is a rare, flowering perennial from the forget-me-not family that provides native bees with an abundant source of nectar and pollen. The plant is also remarkable for its habitat, given that it thrives along nutritionally barren coastal dunes with high winds and lashings of sand and salt spray. But the plant’s habitats have dwindled to 25 distinct populations due to off-road vehicles, rising sea levels and invasive species like European beach grass and gorse. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Toxic trash: California’s aging hazardous waste sites have troubling safety records
“California produces millions of tons of hazardous waste every year – toxic detritus that can leach into groundwater or blow into the air. It’s waste that can explode, spark fires, eat through metal containers, destroy ecosystems and sicken people. It’s dangerous material that we have come to rely on and ignore – the flammable liquids used to cleanse metal parts before painting, the lead and acid in old car batteries, even the shampoos that can kill fish. It all needs to go somewhere. But over the past four decades, California’s facilities to manage hazardous waste have dwindled. What’s left is a tattered system of older sites with a troubling history of safety violations and polluted soil and groundwater, a CalMatters investigation has found. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Hilary dumped record rainfall on California, but it might not ease wildfire risk
“Yet another deluge was dropped on Southern California this year as Tropical Storm Hilary moved through the region over the weekend. While the storm broke rainfall records for this time of year in some parts, experts say the rainfall might not have much impact on local wildfire risk moving into the peak of the season. After Sunday’s downpour, Cal Fire officials said the potential for fires might ease slightly in the short-term as vegetation responds to the added moisture. But, they are still expecting wildfire season to proceed as normal moving into the state’s driest and most fire-prone months. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Countering false and omitted evidence of historically heterogeneous western US dry forests and mixed-severity fires
“Evidence of forest structure and fires in pre-industrial dry forests—major forests covering ~26 million hectares (64 million acres) of the western U.S.—provides an essential historical baseline. Dry forests are dominated by ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) or similar pines, and mixtures of these pines with other trees. Wildfires in dry forests are now increasing and spilling over into communities, leaving questions about how natural these fires are and what should be done to prevent them. We presented extensive evidence in a recently published review in the journal Fire (1), which demonstrated that a synthesis by Hagmann et al (2021) (2), which promoted extensive forest manipulation to reduce high-severity fires, omitted a large body of evidence about pre-industrial forests and drew false conclusions. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
In the face of sea level rise, can we reimagine California’s vanishing coastline?
“The sea has long inspired a human attraction, perhaps even a compulsion, to be as close to the edge as possible. Its sheer power captivates us, even on its most turbulent days, and we can’t help but dream of calling the shore our own. To be out by the surf, to sense the very limits of where land can go, to feel the rise and fall of each wave like our own breath is to reckon with a force so alive it feels otherworldly. But the ocean is not “out there” beyond the shore, it is upon us, carving away at the coast each day despite our best efforts to keep the water at bay. We thought that with enough ingenuity we could contain the sea, but the rising tide is proving otherwise. Studying this confluence of land, people and sea has kept Gary Griggs busy for much of his life. Seventy-six years old, with a shock of white hair and a long stride, Griggs has spent decades examining every inch of the California coast. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Wetland restoration project underway in eroded area of Ackerson Meadow
“A wetland restoration project is now underway in the 400-acre former herding area known as Ackerson Meadow, which was controversially added to Yosemite National Park in 2016, the National Park Service announced this week. Ackerson Meadow is on the west edge of Yosemite, on Evergreen Road in Tuolumne County, between Highway 120 and the entrance to Hetch Hetchy, and it borders Stanislaus National Forest land. Ackerson Creek flows into the South Fork Tuolumne River. Natural subalpine meadows there used to be magnets for cattle and sheep herders who sought grazelands when they were outside park boundaries. More than 150 years of grazing operations and landscape manipulation, including domestic water diversion, ranching, farming, fire suppression, and timber harvesting have changed the area, which is no longer wilderness. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Butte County supervisors to discuss potential flood risk study
“The Butte County Board of Supervisors will be returning to talks regarding a potential Flood Risk Reduction Feasibility Study on Tuesday based on data gathered by its Public Works Department. Stemming from discussions in both 2020 and 2021, the public works staff was given direction by the board to work with field experts and stakeholders to come up with a draft study regarding Nord, Rock Creek and Keefer Slough. According to the related agenda item, a presentation is planned for Tuesday’s meeting that will go over the draft study, its findings and what measures are possible for the county in reducing the risk for these areas. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register.
Where does Sacramento’s drinking water come from?
“Since the city was founded in 1849, Sacramento’s drinking water has been provided by the city. Currently, the Sacramento Department of Utilities is currently in charge of producing the water used by residents and businesses. According to the city, about 80% of Sacramento’s water supply flows from the Sacramento and American rivers with the remaining 20% coming from 28 local groundwater wells. … ” Read more from KTXL.
NAPA/SONOMA
After rejection of Le Colline, what does the future hold for Napa County vineyard plans?
“Some people view Napa County’s recent rejection of the proposed Le Colline vineyard in the Napa Valley watershed as a breath of fresh air. Others see it as an ill wind. Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond – including news, sports, features and politics. Le Colline was the first controversial land use decision facing the new-look Board of Supervisors that took office at the beginning of the year. On Tuesday, the board, by a 3-2 margin, sided with environmentalists who objected to clearing forest and shrubland for a 20.6-acre vineyard. Mike Hackett of Save Napa Valley has over the years often been disappointed with county land use decisions. This time, he liked the outcome and sees good things to come. … ” Read more from the Napa Valley Register.
BAY AREA
Lake Merritt project to improve oxygen levels and water quality for wildlife
“On August 15th, the City of Oakland installed a new aeration fountain in Lake Merritt—one piece of an ongoing effort to maintain healthy conditions for fish and wildlife at the Lake. This new device is part of the Lake Merritt Water Quality Management Pilot Project, initiated in response to the 2022 Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). The Pilot is designed to begin addressing excessive algae growth and the low dissolved oxygen levels associated with the fish kill. The new fountain is located near the Pergola by El Embarcadero Avenue and replaces an out-of-service fountain at that location. By mixing air into the water, the fountain will improve dissolved oxygen levels in the Lake, helping to maintain an oxygenated refuge for aquatic life near the fountain. The design and spray settings on the new fountain maximize benefit to wildlife. … ” Read more from the City of Oakland.
CENTRAL COAST
San Luis Obispo residents say airport contamination cleanup is moving too slowly
“Toxic chemicals have been leaking into the groundwater under and around the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport for about five decades. It’s not the only airport in the state dealing with this contamination, but it is the first to address the problem with a formal plan. That’s because the contamination impacted dozens of private wells for homes and businesses. Many affected residents feel like the process is moving too slowly. The Federal Aviation Administration requires hundreds of airports of all sizes to use a special foam to put out any fires. Here in SLO, firefighters began spraying what’s called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) during practice drills in the 1970s. … ” Read more from KCBX.
Ventura County: Water conservation board member charged with years of felony water theft
“Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced on Monday that charges have been filed against Daniel Conklin Naumann for multiple felony counts of grand theft and theft of utility services after diversion bypasses were discovered on two commercial pumps that irrigated Naumann’s crops. The Camarillo resident owns and operates Naumann Family Farms in Oxnard and is a publicly elected board member of the United Water Conservation District. … ” Read more from KEYT.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tropical storm impacts ‘not as significant’ as initially projected for Fresno ag
“A tropical storm that made landfall in California for the first time in more than 80 years brought significant wind and rain to the state. Southern California was hit the hardest with historic rains which caused flooding in several areas. Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen said the area did not experience as much turbulent weather as was originally forecasted. “It’s looking like the impacts are not as significant as initially projected. We did see rainfall here in the San Joaquin Valley, but not to the upper ends of what was the potential projections out there,” Jacobsen noted. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
State is working to contain bird disease in flooded Tulare Lake
“Avian botulism, a lethal disease for birds, has been found spreading throughout Tulare Lake. The disease is caused by bacteria that thrive in shallow, warm waters with decaying organic matter. The bacteria that causes the disease is found naturally in wetland soil. But it doesn’t produce the toxin that causes the disease unless environmental conditions are right. As temperatures soared in the San Joaquin Valley over the past few months, Tulare Lake warmed, causing perfect conditions for the disease to spread. Neighboring wildlife areas, such as the Kern National Wildlife Refuge, often have standing, shallow water for bird habitat. The difference is, the water flow in refuges can be controlled and changed if an outbreak is suspected, wrote a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in a statement. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Tehachapi: Water district responds to grand jury report
“The Tehachapi-Cummings County Water Board of Directors unanimously approved a response to a Kern County Grand Jury report June 1, calling attention to what it said are errors of fact and standing behind board President Robert W. Schultz, stating that the board believes he has followed state conflict of interest laws. At the board’s regular monthly meeting Aug. 16, General Manager Tom Neisler presented a draft response that he said was developed jointly by staff and two directors who were named to an ad hoc committee by the board president. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest IWVGA seeks to pump water from California City site-Groundwater Authority to host two public scoping meetings for Pipeline Project
“The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) will host two scoping meetings to receive public, trustee and agency input concerning the preparation of the Environment Impact Report (EIR) for the Imported Water Pipeline Project. … The proposed Imported Water Pipeline Project includes the construction of a 20 to 24-inch diameter water pipeline that will start at existing water distribution facilities owned and operated by Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency and located in California City which will be used to pipe water to the Indian Wells Valley Water District’s Ridgecrest Heights Water Storage Tank located southwest of Ridgecrest. … ” Read more from Mojave Desert News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Stay out of the water: In Hilary’s aftermath, officials warn of unhealthy beach conditions
“Stay out of the water. Although Los Angeles County beaches managed to avoid significant damage from Tropical Storm Hilary, officials have warned beachgoers to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean water due to unhealthy conditions. The L.A. County Department of Public Health has issued an ocean water quality rain advisory until 9 a.m. on Thursday, and noted that the warning period could be extended depending on further showers. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Students imagine possibilities for public to experience Malibu Creek Restoration
“The summit-to-sea Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project (MCERP) will remove Rindge Dam and return a key watershed back to its natural course — a challenging yet exciting project. Taking place within Malibu Creek State Park, the restoration project also includes sharing the rebuilding of the waterway with all who pass though. Project funding includes creating an interpretive site at a historic overlook where visitors will be able to view the dam removal, learn about the Malibu Creek watershed and its cultural history, all while taking in the area’s majestic beauty. To imagine the possibilities of a creating such a site, CalTrout reached out to the UCLA Extension Landscape Architecture Program to help interpret the points of interest into a “stop the car!” experience with welcoming aesthetics and engaging displays. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Hilary focused much of her fury on low desert communities in the Coachella Valley
“Some of Tropical Storm Hilary’s heaviest weather targeted the normally sun-soaked Coachella Valley, where floodwaters, mudflow and a sinkhole prompted multiple rescues. In Cathedral City, east of Palm Springs, first responders rescued 47 people in a 24-hour stretch, in some cases as water and mud continued to rise around them, officials said Monday. Six residents of a care home near an expanding sinkhole were among those saved. They don’t have the ability to walk, so rescuers used the bucket of a bulldozer to lift them to safety, fire Chief Michael Contreras said at a news conference. …. ” Read more from NBC Palm Springs.
SAN DIEGO
Water Authority cites CEQA in lawsuit to stop Fallbrook and Rainbow detachment
“The San Diego County Water Authority filed suit Monday to stop the rural Fallbrook and Rainbow water districts from leaving the county system, citing environmental harm under the California Environmental Quality Act. The lawsuit filed in Superior Court challenges a decision by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission to allow the two districts to join Riverside County without paying what the Water Authority says is their fair share of water-reliability investments. The “detachment” effort is the first of its kind in California and would shift approximately $140 million in costs to the rest of the Water Authority’s customers. “Litigation is a last resort, but LAFCO’s deeply flawed decision leaves us with no choice but to stand up for residents, businesses and the environment,” said Water Authority Board Chair Mel Katz. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
Water Authority asks county registrar to stall water divorce vote
MacKenzie Elmer writes, “I got some pushback recently on the idea that legislation which could stall the breakup of the San Diego County Water Authority may have trouble getting through. But it’s hardly a guaranteed success for the city of San Diego and its sponsor, Democrat Tasha Boerner from Encinitas. It needs a two-thirds vote from the state Legislature and there’s evidence that – despite strong support from labor unions – Democrats may not have all the votes they need. It would also change the fundamental relationship between the Water Authority and its members. Jack Bebee, head of defecting Fallbrook Public Utilities District, told Voice before that if the whole county had to vote on something like this, his agency would never have joined the Water Authority in the first place. … ” Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego.
SEE ALSO: Water Authority Sues to Stop Imminent, Illegal Water Rate Increase, from The Vista Press
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead’s water level rises as Hilary brings heavy rainfall
“Lake Mead’s water level has risen as storm Hilary brings heavy rain to the region. The drought-stricken reservoir—which lies between Arizona and Nevada near the border of California—now stands at 1,063.62 feet above sea level as of August 20. The rise in water levels comes as tropical storm Hilary batters the area. It marks a 0.16 inch increase from the reservoir’s levels when compared to August 19, before the storm hit. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Colorado River moves back to Tier 1 water restrictions; here’s what it means for Arizona
“Federal officials are cutting back on Arizona’s water restrictions. Thanks to the massive winter we saw earlier this year. The major winter snowpack helped pad water supply at two of the country’s largest water sources. It allows the Colorado River to move into a Tier 1 shortage which officials consider a significant improvement. A tier one shortage is much better than tier two, but officials say it’s still a shortage nonetheless. Arizona would have to forgo 18% of its supply in tier one, down from 21% this past year. The good news? Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Arizona’s two major water reservoirs, are 20 feet higher than last year. The update is exceptional for the short term. Over the next two years, officials don’t expect water levels in those lakes to fall significantly. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
How Lake Powell water levels changed after Hilary’s rainfall
“Videos of waterfalls supplementing low levels at Lake Powell have abounded on social media, with some users implying that Tropical Storm Hilary’s rainfall benefitted the reservoir. … The rise in water levels was cause for celebration, considering that drought has plagued the region for years and caused Lake Mead water levels to fall critically low. Lake Powell is in a similar situation, but videos claiming that Lake Powell’s water levels are rising from rains associated with Tropical Storm Hilary are false. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Colorado’s vanishing snow is becoming a crucial water management issue
“As the U.S. West struggles in the face of mounting drought, every ounce of potential water supply is becoming critical. In Colorado, that has driven a new focus on accounting for plumes of snow that seem to disappear from the mountains and into thin air. “In the East River watershed, located along the high reaches of the Colorado River Basin, a group of researchers at Gothic’s Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) is trying to solve the mystery by focusing on a process called sublimation,” The Atlantic reported. “Snow in the high country sometimes skips the liquid phase entirely, turning straight from a solid into a vapor. The phenomenon may be responsible for anywhere from 10 to 90 percent of snow loss.” … ” Read more from Water Online.
In national water news today …
Judge sides with environmentalists over freshwater pollutants criteria
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should have consulted other government agencies before issuing a nationwide recommendation that relaxed criteria for cadmium levels in freshwater, according to a recent ruling. “Although EPA’s position is defensible, the court agrees with the center that issuing water-quality criteria recommendations is an “action” under the (Endangered Species Act) that requires consultation,” U.S. District Judge John Hinderaker wrote Friday, referring to the Center for Biological Diversity. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Wildfires and extreme weather are driving climate denialism online
“When images and video of the tragic blazes in Maui began to filter out across the internet, rumors also started to spread. Across Facebook, TikTok and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, commentators shared wild speculations that the fires, which have now taken the lives of more than 100 people, were the product of arson, a plot to clear the land for billionaires or, most bizarrely, space lasers. It wasn’t the first natural disaster to trigger such unfounded origin stories. As extreme weather from floods to wildfires have become more frequent around the world, social media has become an increasingly active hub for false narratives about the events’ causes. In many cases the strange explanations avoid or try to disprove one of the most plausible links to these tragedies: climate change. … ” Read more from Bloomberg.
