On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: CASGEM Program Overview and Release of New Online System from 10am to 12pm. The Department of Water Resources CASGEM (California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring) Program is hosting a public meeting to provide an update on the CASGEM Program and release a new version of the CASGEM Online System. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Aquifer Storage and Recovery in California – Lessons Learned, Common Questions and Misconceptions from 12pm to 1pm. Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) is playing a larger role in improving water supply reliability and helping achieve basin sustainability in California. This presentation will highlight ongoing ASR projects providing attendees with an understanding of where, why and how ASR is being implemented in California. Factors affecting the feasibility of ASR will be covered along with featured case studies throughout the state. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Geoconnex 101: The Water Data Fragmentation Solution from 1pm to 2pm. Join the Center for Geospatial Solutions to learn more about the Internet of Water’s flagship technology, Geoconnex. This revolutionary water data-specific search index links disjointed water data with structured metadata, enabling seamless organization and discovery of information by theme and location. Ultimately, Geoconnex will unlock a Google-like experience, helping save countless hours in water data searches for the benefit of water managers, researchers, and the public alike. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
The dire consequences of depleting California’s groundwater
“In an average year in California, roughly 40 percent of the state’s water supply comes from groundwater — the water that fills a well, naturally stored beneath our feet in aquifers. In a dry year, the share of the state’s water needs that are met from this hidden resource can exceed 60 percent. In other words, groundwater is vital, here and across the nation. Drawing on underground water allowed vast cities to emerge and turned the nation into an agricultural powerhouse. But many of America’s aquifers are being severely depleted, and quite a few of them won’t be able to bounce back, an investigation by several of my colleagues has found. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Will Northern California see another stormy winter this year? Here’s what experts predict
“This summer’s heat seems to be easing down as temperatures recline to the 70s and 80s , a reminder that seasons are changing and winter is coming. In June, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association officially declared an El Niño, predicting that it will strengthen in the northern hemisphere this winter. But it’s too soon to know exactly what this winter will look like for California. Here’s what experts are predicting … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
KQED Forum: How safe is California’s tap water?
“The tap water in Southern and Central California’s urban areas are among the U.S. regions most exposed to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Almost half the tap water in the United States contains one or more PFAS, high levels of which are linked to health issues like infertility and cancer, the study found. It’s raising questions about water quality in a state where more than 1 million people already lack access to safe water, especially in low-income, disadvantaged communities. Still, “drinking water across California is largely safe,” according to the Pacific Institute. We’ll look at the state of tap water in California and talk with experts about how to make sure your drinking water is safe.” Guests include Susana De Anda, co-founder and executive director, Community Water Center, and E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. The radio show airs at 10am; audio available afterwards on this page from KQED.
A simple vineyard strategy cuts water usage by one-third
“The increasingly unpredictable climate is making growing grapes an increasingly risky and costly business. France recently lost an estimated $2 billion in wine sales after extreme weather decimated the harvest. In 2022, California farmers lost an estimated $1.7 billion to the drought alone, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California. And despite California’s abnormally wet winter in 2023, which helped replenish reservoirs and groundwater aquifers, experts warn that the wet weather won’t make up for decades of diminished rain and extended periods of drought. How much water a vineyard needs to produce great wine varies considerably, and while there is an increasing effort to dry farm, the vast majority of California vineyards are irrigated. And the vast majority of vine-growers are eager to reduce their dependence on water, often after running out of water during drought years, and watching their harvest—and bottom line—shrivel in the hot sun. But what if there was a way to cut down on water usage by about one-third … ” Read more from The Drinks Business.
DWR using special counting tools for spring-run chinook salmon
“In California’s Central Valley, spring-run Chinook salmon are a threatened species. To support recovery efforts of spring-run and to track their progress, it’s crucial for state agencies like the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to know how many juveniles are produced in the Central Valley’s rivers each year. Adult spring-run Chinook salmon spawn and produce juveniles in at least seven different tributaries of the Sacramento River. These tributaries enter the Sacramento River at locations stretching from near Sacramento all the way up past Red Bluff. “One of the things all these juvenile salmon have in common is they have to pass down the mainstem Sacramento River near its entrance to the Delta on their way to the ocean,” said Brett Harvey, DWR environmental program manager. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Did you know your car’s tires could be harming salmon?
“For struggling salmon populations in California, it’s never just one thing. Over the past half century, these fish have faced impacts from human development, pollution, overfishing, dams and other barriers, climate change, invasive species, and more. This myriad of problems has led to a significant reduction in California salmon population numbers – a “death by a thousand cuts” of sorts for these culturally and ecologically important fish. In 2020, researchers discovered reason number 1001. A study by University of Washington and Washington State University researchers found a specific chemical often included in car tires to be the likely cause of death in coho salmon returning to urban streams and rivers in the Puget Sound. The culprit, 6PPD-quinone, is an antioxidant that helps prevent degradation and cracking of rubber compounds caused by exposure to oxygen, ozone, and temperature fluctuation. 6PPD-quinone is created when 6PPD reacts with ozone in the atmosphere. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Bipartisan bill designed to expedite fixing levees
“Introducing bipartisan legislation on Aug. 29, California 9th District Congressman Josh Harder said the goal is to protect communities from severe flooding and get damaged levees in flood-prone areas fixed as quickly as possible. The Safeguarding Our Levees Act would cut through the red tape that slows down the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to repair levees – the bill also reduces the financial burden of levee improvements for local communities. After heavy rainfall like Northern California saw earlier this year, communities rely on the Army Corps to repair levees quickly before another flood. Right now, red tape can slow the Army Corps’ work to rehabilitate levees by months or even years, leaving communities unprotected for the next flood event. Representative Clay Higgins (LA-3) joined Harder in introducing the bill. This legislation is endorsed by the San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency (SJAFCA). … ” Read more from the Oakdale Leader.
California AG announces new program targeting illegal cannabis operations
“A new program connecting the California Attorney General’s Office with local jurisdictions seeks to stop illegal cannabis activity by hitting perpetrators in their pocketbooks. Attorney General Rob Bonta on Tuesday announced the Cannabis Administrative Prosecutor Program (CAPP), which he said will provide local governments with state support as they work toward fighting illegal cannabis as a public nuisance and land-use issue. “That’s what our shared constituents expect of us — to team up,” Bonta said. Flanked by Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz, Bonta said illegal cannabis is problematic for many reasons. Some producers use highly toxic chemicals, others litter forests with industry materials, and workers are sometimes trafficked and exploited. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: Attorney General Bonta announces new state-local program to tackle illegal commercial cannabis activities, press release from AG Bonta’s office
California-led AGs okay ‘forever chemicals’ settlement but say 3M should pay more
“California Attorney General Rob Bonta and four of his colleagues submitted an amicus letter late Monday night, citing shortfalls in the company 3M’s multi-billion-dollar proposed settlement with contaminated water utilities. The attorneys general said that while they are in favor of moving forward with the settlement, 3M should pay more than the $10 billion to $12 billion the firm has offered — in order to fund the massive remediation efforts public utilities will have to undertake to eliminate “forever chemicals” from their supplies. … ” Read more from The Hill.
Drivers of California’s changing wildfires: State has potential to be a model for change
“In recent decades, the western United States and Canada experienced striking increases in the size and severity of wildfires, which resulted in a steep rise in fire suppression costs. In an article recently published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire, 19 authors affiliated with the Southwestern Climate Adaptation Science Center synthesized available research and assessed the major drivers of changing wildfire dynamics in California. The authors specifically addressed four questions: … ” Read more from the International Association of Wildland Fire.
California launches online tool to track wildfire resilience projects
“Today, the Governor’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force (Task Force) launched the beta version of a first-of-its-kind Interagency Treatment Dashboard that displays the size and location of state and federal forest and landscape resilience projects in California. The dashboard offers a one-stop-shop to access data, provide transparency, and align the efforts of more than a dozen agencies to build resilient landscapes and communities in California. It reports treatment activities such as prescribed fire, targeted grazing, uneven-aged timber harvest, mechanical and hand fuels reduction, and tree planting. Users can sort treatments by region, county, land ownership and more. “Thanks to historic funding from our Legislature and Governor Newsom, over 1,000 wildfire resilience projects are in motion across the state to protect communities and our diverse landscapes from catastrophic wildfire,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, co-chair of the Task Force. … ” Read more from the Natural Resources Agency.
Can this forest survive? Predicting forest death or recovery after drought
“How long can trees tolerate drought before the forest dies? Researchers from UC Davis can now predict which forests could survive despite future drought. Their new method links precipitation to tree growth, and it can help people decide where to put their resources as climate change affects patterns of snow and rainfall that impact the health of forests. “If a forest is doing OK, but in the future we know it’s likely to get only half the average rainfall it used to get, we can calculate the likelihood it will die,” said Jessie Au, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Plant Sciences. She works with Troy Magney, an associate professor in the department. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
LAO Handout: Leveraging federal climate funding; Recent state actions
“LAO handout presented to Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies. Handout covers key components of recent state infrastructure legislation intended to expedite clean energy projects; issues for legislative oversight; significant spending commitments for greenhouse gas reduction activities; and an overview of proposed legislative bond measures. Click here for the LAO Handout.
In commentary today …
Sites Reservoir project is not the water solution California needs
Keiko Mertz, Policy Director for Friends of the River, writes, “California is at yet another critical point in its struggle toward a sustainable water future, and yet we’re still talking about the wrong solutions. On Wednesday, the water rights protest period for Sites Reservoir will come to a close. Sites Reservoir is the latest in a long line of proposed dams promising to end our cycle of water insecurity. However, Sites won’t add much to California’s water portfolio, and its harm to the Sacramento River, Delta ecosystem and communities that rely on them could be irreversible and ongoing. … If the Delta ceased to deposit water into the San Francisco Bay, ocean water would further flow into the Delta, making the Delta’s water unusable for farming and toxic for the wildlife that depends upon it. … ” Read the full commentary at Cal Matters.
Sites Reservoir: Greenhouse gas threat or hot air?
Don Wright, publisher of Water Wrights, writes, “One modern day mystery is how California is going to be able to supply its water needs going forward without more water storage. If the climate changes as predicted, more rain and less snow, California’s hydrology and its storage needs are going to change greatly. No major water infrastructure has been built in the state since its population was 16-million. Now with more than 40-million people it has to be asked – can the state meet its water needs without improved infrastructure? California is one of the five Mediterranean Climates on Earth where diverse agriculture can thrive along with unparalleled beauty and a preferred biosphere for many creatures including humans. Most of California’s stored water supply begins as snowpack in the mountains surrounding the Central Valley. As the snow in the Sierra Nevada and Cascades Ranges melt during the spring and summer the runoff is gathered in reservoirs to prevent flooding and provide supplies for urban, agricultural, recreational and environmental use during the dry seasons. This system makes life in California as we know it possible, providing the supplies needed to support families, business and habitat. … ” Continue reading at the California Globe.
The social significance of water infrastructure
Aaron Pope, Project Manager with The Catalyst Group, Inc, writes, “When we discuss water infrastructure in our industry, our thoughts naturally gravitate toward its fundamental roles in growing our food, supplying our homes, and powering industries. However, within the depths of lakes and the fast-moving currents of rivers, lies an often-overlooked aspect of water’s importance – its profound social significance. Beyond its utilitarian functions, water plays a vital role in fostering community, recreation, and shared experiences that enrich our lives in ways that extend far beyond basic necessities. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Nuclear power could save our air quality. At what cost to the water?
Columnist Liz Granderson writes, “You know it was a remarkable week when dumping tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean wasn’t even the lead story. That’s right: While much of the globe’s attention was on the former American president’s legal battles and the mug shot seen around the world, Japan started its 30-year plan to release the diluted yet still contaminated water that was stored at the now defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Back in 2011, the most powerful earthquake in Japan’s recorded history led to a devastating tsunami and the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Damage to the plant led to radiation of a huge volume of water, which the facility has been storing ever since. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Today’s featured article …
FEATURE: How a new satellite-based platform could transform water management in California
In 2015, when California was deep into a severe drought, state Senate Bill 88 tightened requirements for reporting water use. This posed a challenge for growers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s 415,000 acres of farmland, where many irrigation systems are fed by siphons instead of pumps and so lack electricity to run water meters.
Alternative power sources proved troublesome. “I spent a lot of time on the side of levees replacing batteries and circuit boards, and fixing solar panels,” recalls Brett Baker, a water attorney with the Central Delta Water Agency who grew up on a Sutter Island pear orchard.
So when former Delta Watermaster Michael George suggested that Baker look into OpenET, a new online platform that uses satellites to track how much water plants consume, Baker was primed to make it work. That was in 2020. This year marked the launch of an OpenET-based website for reporting water use in the Delta, and 70 percent of growers there have already adopted it.
Click here to continue reading this article.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Tribes raise concerns for public health near toxic algae bloom
“Officials with the Klamath Tribes are concerned about the Upper Klamath Lake, in more ways than one. “This isn’t something we can bury our heads in the sand and just ignore,” said Dr. Alex Gonyaw, senior fisheries biologist for the Klamath Tribes. The Oregon Health Authority has issued a recreational use advisory for the lake due to a toxic level of cyanobacteria in the water. “The Upper Klamath Lake has been disturbed for many decades by agricultural activity which has resulted in toxic cyanobacterial blooms,” said Dr. Gonyaw. … ” Read more from KOBI.
Symbiotic Restoration: Build like a beaver
“People are working in the cool, clear water of a stream. In conversation, or in silence, they are performing the physical tasks that are required for a job such as this. Natural posts pounded into the bed of the stream are packed with earth and brush. Trees are felled and branches are gathered. They are placed with care and woven with intention. Shoveling, packing, lopping, sawing, and stuffing. A structure begins to take shape, and water begins to rise, and slow. They are building a beaver dam analog – meaning, humans doing their best impression of a beaver dam – with the hope that maybe one day the beaver will be doing it instead. Garrett Costello’s Symbiotic Restoration (SR) is at the forefront of the West’s quest to bring back the beaver, passionately working to restore California’s degraded stream and meadow ecosystems. … ” Read more from the Northcoast Environmental Center.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
I found the best Sierra swimming lake with the strangest name
“Study a map of California’s Sierra Nevada, and you’re likely to see some strange names for bodies of water. Pee Wee Lake. Hell Hole Reservoir. Chewing Gum Lake. And yet, a name like Stumpy Meadows Reservoir still stands out. The lake’s weird name is partly why Candice Abellon of Livermore and her friends ended up there a decade ago. “It made me laugh,” she told SFGATE. “I was like, ‘Hey guys, do you want to go camping at this place called Stumpy Meadows? ’” For my family and I, the trip was more about finding an uncrowded lake to swim in and paddle on. It was a risky move: a three-hour drive to a lake on the western side of the Sierra that none of us had ever heard of. The goofy name didn’t exactly help. But as I floated on a paddleboard on its deep blue, exceptionally calm water later that weekend, I was more than happy we took the chance. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Oroville’s water levels continue slow downward trend
“Lake Oroville is down 40 feet from the start of the summer when the water level was at capacity thanks to a string of heavy winter storms. The storms also boosted the snowpack, allowing for consistent and often substantial runoff into the lake. Earlier this year, the California Department of Water Resources, which oversees the lake as well as the Oroville Dam, began releasing water from the reservoir’s main spillway in an effort to keep up with the inflows. Because of this, the lake nearly reached its 900-foot capacity for the first time in years and for months following the storms. However, the slowing of the melt-off and the summer dryness have conspired to once again cut the water level. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the lake sits at an elevation of 856.95 feet. … ” Continue reading at the Chico Enterprise-Record.
BAY AREA
Bay Area waterway plagued by pirates and vigilantism
“In recent weeks, the Oakland Estuary has morphed from an innocuous playground for water sports into what the local boating community describes as a semi-lawless stretch roamed by marauding thieves and patrolled by vigilantes. It’s a drama more suited for the high seas than the placid, 800-foot-wide channel separating Oakland and Alameda. Yet according to those who live and own boats in the area, the situation has escalated into a true crisis. On Aug. 16, half the boats at the Alameda Community Sailing Center, a sailing nonprofit for kids, were taken in the night. At the Marina Village Yacht Club, residents say they have been threatened by “pirates” scouting out the docks. The Encinal Yacht Club, Jack London Square Marina and the Outboard Motor Shop have all been victimized. In total, over a dozen small boats and dinghies have been stolen in the past three weeks. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Park seeks comments on Marin elk preserve fence plan
“The National Park Service is accepting public comments through late September on its proposal to remove a controversial fence at the Tomales Point Elk Preserve in the Point Reyes National Seashore. The park is proposing to remove the 3-mile, 8-foot-tall fence at the southern end of the 2,600-acre preserve to allow its largest tule elk herd to become free-roaming. The National Park Service created the preserve in 1978 to reestablish tule elk in the seashore. The fence was erected to separate the herd from private cattle ranches that lease parkland south of Tomales Point. Removing the fence is one of three alternatives the park is considering as part of an update to its 1998 Tomales Point Management Plan, which outlines the management practices of the herd. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
A boat-side view of restoring South Bay tidal marshes
Jim Ervin writes, “The UC Davis Otolith Geochemistry and Fish Ecology Lab has been conducting fish monitoring surveys of Lower South San Francisco Bay since 2010. Most of this monthly work is conducted in and near several of the restored former salt ponds along the lower segment of Coyote Creek and surrounding marshes. We count roughly 60 species of fish and bugs (invertebrates) at 20 stations every month. The main purpose of this work is to monitor a small but growing resident population of a threatened fish, Longfin Smelt. But, we also track the overall health of the marsh and long-term ecological changes. Long story short…I have been taking pictures of the pond restoration process along Coyote Creek since about 2012. However, because the UC Davis blog is a fish blog, I only occasionally post photos of marsh growth. … ” Continue reading at the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.
Half Moon Bay: District could replenish groundwater with recycled water
“Earlier this month the Coastside County Water District Board of Directors workshopped ideas for bringing recycled water to Half Moon Bay. The district is in the early stages of a feasibility study that will examine whether water from various sources, including wastewater, could be used for agriculture or drinking supplies. Throughout the process, CCWD must weigh the benefits of diversifying local water sources with the costs of building expensive infrastructure. Two months ago, the board agreed to pay Water Works Engineers $299,977 to evaluate the region’s hydrogeology, implementation options and permitting feasibility. The district has applied for grants from the Division of Financial Assistance that could pay for planning and construction. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review.
CENTRAL COAST
Asilomar State Beach under advisory after bacteria found in water samples
“Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove is under an advisory due to high indicator bacteria found in samples taken on Monday, Monterey County officials said. The beach will remain under an advisory until samples indicate that the bacteria are at a safe level for recreational water contact according to state guidelines, Monterey County Health Department officials said in a news release Tuesday. … ” Continue reading at SF Gate.
EASTERN SIERRA
It’s time to pay for water: IWVGA begins making the difficult decisions
“A difference of $38 million dollars in taxes to those in the Indian Wells Valley hung in the balance as the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority discussed funding options for the imported water pipeline project at the IWVGA’s board meeting on Aug. 23. The mood of the room reflected the gravity of the decision. Conversation slowed, political rivalries cooled, and board members asked the same clarifying questions from subject matter experts for a third or fourth time. Ultimately, too many questions remained on such an important decision, and so the IWVGA board tabled it until their next meeting on Sept. 13. No further delays will be possible; the IWVGA will need to make a decision at their September meeting. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Bird numbers plummet as the Salton Sea shrinks
“The Salton Sea, California’s largest lake, has been drying up for decades thanks to a combination of drought, reduced agricultural inflow and the diversion of Colorado River water to other regions like San Diego. The lake has been a crucial part of the Pacific Flyway since its accidental formation in 1905, providing migratory bird species with hundreds of square miles of wetland habitat. As the Salton Sea has shrunk, its salinity has increased, leading to the death of nearly all fish and invertebrates like pile worms that once lived in the lake. Without those reliable food sources, the number of migratory birds visiting the Salton Sea has drastically declined. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
SAN DIEGO
Supervisors support countywide vote on whether Fallbrook, Rainbow can leave Water Authority
“The county Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to support state legislation that would require a vote by all customers served by water districts within the San Diego County Water Authority before individual districts can leave the authority. Proposed by Supervisor Joel Anderson in a board letter, the policy follows a July 10 decision from the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission to allow the Rainbow Municipal Water District and Fallbrook Public Utility District to leave the water authority. With a goal of finding lower water costs for farmers, both districts want to join the Eastern Municipal Water District in Riverside. No timetable for the districts’ departure was set. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
SEE ALSO: Supervisors pass policy supporting voter OK for water district departures, from KPBS
California Senators Feinstein and Padilla request $310M for border-sewage fix
“California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla Tuesday called on U.S. Senate leadership to include $310 million in an upcoming emergency supplemental bill — money that would be used to repair infrastructure to treat raw sewage spilling across the border from Mexico. “While normal conditions overwhelm the system, Tropical Storm Hilary pushed hundreds-of-millions of gallons more of untreated stormwater and wastewater across the border, polluting nearby waterways and the ocean,” the senators, both Democrats, wrote to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
San Diego researchers work on forecasting tool for ocean pathogens
“California is investing $3 million in an effort to allow researchers to predict when and where ocean waters near Imperial Beach may be contaminated. The ocean off the coast of Imperial Beach has suffered decades of contamination which includes trash, toxic chemicals and untreated sewage runoff. Last week, homes in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, San Diego and on the Silver Strand were under a boil-water order because a test sample came back positive for E. coli contamination. The order was lifted this past weekend after additional tests found the water to be safe. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
State, local leaders looking on how to better manage resources from Colorado River in 2027 plan
“Local and state leaders are working on a plan to protect the future of the Colorado River. Tuesday, Congresswoman Susie Lee hosted a water summit at the Springs Preserve to discuss future priorities for Nevada. By the end of 2027, the seven states that share the river, including Nevada, will need to negotiate new rules to manage the dwindling resource better. On Aug. 15, Nevada, California and Arizona sent a joint letter to the Bureau of Reclamation outlining its negotiation priorities. … ” Read more from Channel 13.
Interior Department official, at water summit, lauds Nevada as a leader in conservation
“There’s a saying used in Washington to describe the woes of conserving large sums of Colorado River water amid one of the worst droughts in the history of the Western United States. It was supposedly coined by the man who oversees Nevada’s largest water agency. “Here’s the fundamental problem: We have a 19th-century law and 20th-century infrastructure in a 21st-century climate,” says John Entsminger, the general manager at the Southern Nevada Water Authority. It’s a phrase he and others began to use throughout negotiations between the seven states dependent on the Colorado River for its water before they reached a tentative deal in May to conserve roughly 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026. … ” Read more from the Las Veags Sun.
Water wars: When the taps run dry
Michael Moran, an author, policy analyst, and lecturer who serves as CMO and chief risk & sustainability officer at Microshare, writes, “Shore dwellers in New Jersey, the Carolinas, and Florida barred from commercial flood insurance; homeowners in the forests of the Rockies and Sierra Nevada denied fire insurance by firms whose loss calculations now see them as bad risks; a deadly heat wave across the southern United States caused by the hottest July in recorded global history. Alarming stories like these, driven by climate change, have been priced into the way we think about the realities of climate change. Yet this year, something more visceral happened in Arizona—something that can’t be addressed by switching on an air conditioner or searching for an uncle in the insurance game: an entire town ran out of water. The plight of Rio Verde, a fast-developing suburb of Scottsdale with about 2,500 residents, gained national attention when in January residents learned they would lose their sole source of water. … ” Continue reading at the Breakthrough Institute.
Was the leading Colorado River conservation program a flop? Officials say no, but it wasn’t perfect either.
“Two inches. That’s all the water that farmer Bob Neely had available to sprinkle on his crops through his irrigation system in 2021. The particularly bad water year reminded him of 2002 — another tough year in two decades of prolonged drought. … Neely was one of a handful of participants in this year’s leading effort to conserve agricultural water in the stressed Colorado River Basin. The program, called the System Conservation Pilot Program, pays farmers to temporarily cut their water use on a voluntary basis. Officials launched it this year after the federal government said basin states needed to cut back on their water use in light of historically low water storage levels. In total, this year’s program resulted in 37,810 acre-feet of conserved water across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — less than 1% of the average water used by the four states between 2019 and 2021. Only 2,700 acre-feet of that saved water was conserved by 22 farms and ranches in Colorado. … ” Continue reading at the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
EPA rolls back federal water protections following high court decision
“Keeping pace with a spring Supreme Court decision that slashed protections for U.S. wetlands, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule Tuesday that could cut federally protected waters by more than half. “We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling,” EPA administrator Michael Regan indicated in a statement Tuesday announcing the new Waters of the United States rule. While Regan said he was disappointed with the high court’s ruling, he indicated that the agency’s hands were tied and that it must weaken wetland protections to enforce the court’s decision. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO:
- After Supreme Court curtails federal power, Biden administration weakens clean water protections, from the Associated Press
- Disappointment with EPA’s Latest WOTUS Rule, from Ag Net West
AND ALSO NOTE THIS: Statement from the State Water Board: “Though the State Water Resources Control Board is extremely disappointed in the decision and the adverse impacts it will have nationally, it only narrows the scope of federal jurisdiction and does not weaken California’s more stringent wetlands protections.” Read the full statement from the State Water Board.
