In California water news this weekend …
DAN WALTERS: California has a new plan for the Delta but faces the same conflicts over water
“California’s water warriors have a new arena for their perpetual conflict over the allocation of the state’s ever-evolving supply – a nearly 6,000-word proposal from the state Water Resources Control Board. The draft essentially calls for sharp reductions in diversions from the Sacramento River and its tributaries to allow more water to flow through the environmentally troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “It is a consequential effort,” Eric Oppenheimer, chief deputy director of the board, said during a media briefing on what is technically an update of the agency’s management plan for the Delta and San Francisco Bay. “It reflects years of scientific analysis that we’ve undertaken and years of public input.” … ” Read more from Dan Walters.
Debate over options for California’s ailing Delta region reflects deep divisions over water
“California water regulators have released a long-awaited analysis of options for managing flows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, where fish populations have been declining and the ecosystem has been deteriorating. … The draft report from the State Water Resources Control Board’s staff lays out alternatives for new water quality standards that will determine how much water may be taken out, and how much should be allowed to flow through the delta. Some of the options would limit users’ water withdrawals to maintain certain flows in the delta at one of three potential threshold levels. Another alternative is generating heated debate: It would rely on negotiated agreements, with water agencies pledging to forgo certain amounts of water while also funding projects to improve wetland habitats. … ” Continue reading at the LA Times.
SJV WATER: Farmers fighting farmers over pumping allocations as Kaweah subbasin prepares for state scrutiny
“Groundwater relations in the Kaweah subbasin in Tulare County have gone from bad to worse. Fingers have been pointed, ultimatums laid down and patience has run out. The Greater Kaweah GSA board voted at its Sept. 26 meeting to allow farmers in its boundaries to pump up to 1.87 acre feet per acre for the 2023-24 growing season. That’s too high, according to managers of two nearby groundwater agencies, the East and Mid-Kaweah GSAs. And it was the last straw after years of tensions. One agency manager suggested the allocation could prompt legal action. And one of several angry letters from agency managers was copied to the state. That could prove significant. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Video: Energy advancements for water providers
“Catch up on all the good information shared during our September 2023 installment of our What Matters Webinar Series, led by our Water Energy Efficiency Task Force chairs Scott Houston and Kris Murray. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates 3-4% of national electricity consumption, equivalent to approximately 56 billion kilowatts, or $4 billion, is used to provide drinking water and wastewater services each year. Water and wastewater utilities are typically the largest consumers of energy in municipalities, often accounting for 30-40% of total energy consumed. Finding innovative ways to reduce energy use by water and wastewater utilities brings many benefits. Watch the webinar video on demand, read the Q&A and chat transcripts, and view the powerpoint slide decks shared by our panelists.” Click here to watch video and access resources from the Southern California Water Coalition.
Soil switch-up: Our HOA tore out all the lawns, they erased 49,000 square feet of turf – but say it’s for a good reason
“Solera Properties, a HOA in Bakersfield, California, is using xeriscaping to try to manage water better in the future. While xeriscaping doesn’t look like a typical lawn, it is extremely tolerant to droughts, which is good in an area like California, and it saves homeowners money. Bakersfield District Manager for the California Water Service, Tammy Johnson, said the community’s xeriscaping efforts were so successful that they earned $150,000 through the Lawn-to-Garden Rebate Program. “Not just this space, but they actually have 3 different locations and they saved – or they removed over 49,000 square feet of turf,” Johnson said to ABC affiliate KERO. … ” Read more from the U.S. Sun.
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – unique, worth every ounce of effort
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: We call fowl!
This week, Darcy and Darcy welcome Ric Ortega, General Manager of Grasslands Water District. Grasslands is dedicated to the protection and delivery of water to the Grassland Resource Conservation District’s 75,000 acres of private, state, and federal wildlife refuges. Habitat served by the district is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands and is also designated as a Wetland of Global Significance, a critical component to the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network. To learn more about the amazing ecosystem and environmental work they do, visit https://gwdwater.org/gwd/
A STORY YOU HAVEN’T HEARD: Andy Fecko: The perfect combination
How one man’s love for nature and teachings may become the perfect combination for forest and river health.
RIPPLE EFFECT: Eddy Covariance Tower Update
Two special guests join us from the Utah Geological Survey: Kathryn Ladig, Project Geologist, and Paul Inkenbrandt, Senior Geologist. We reconnect to hear an update on their Eddy Covariance Towers. We discuss the science behind the technology and how the data from these towers is used.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: A Challenge for Montana Water Rights, Part II
Our streams, creek, rivers and lakes were once thought to be independent of water that has been found buried in underground geologic formations. Today in Montana, this perception has changed. Water on the earth’s surface is considered to be connected with underground aquifers and this new understanding is beginning to play out in how water rights in Montana are handled. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Yuba River salmon return numbers so far: Are they encouraging?
“Through SYRCL’s participation in the River Management Team (RMT), we get monthly updates on the number of Chinook and steelhead utilizing the fish ladders at Daguerre Point Dam. The latest numbers are in and, at this moment in time, salmon are off to a slow start working their way up the Yuba River. The slower start to salmon returns this year compared to previous years isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. During winters with lots of water, salmon tend to spend more time in the Delta and lower in the river system before they start the migration to their historic spawning reaches. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
BAY AREA
Oakley embraces Delta themed park while removing ball fields
“At its September 26 meeting, the Oakley City Council agreed to move away from ball fields and go all in on a 55-acre delta themed park. This was a reversal for the council, who had advocated for a sports complex of four baseball fields, but have since moved forwards recreational options to better utilize the delta from a boat launch, fishing, trails and water access. The move comes as Oakley saw a split vote after a community meeting with the public which saw 70 votes for “alternative 1” and 72 votes for “alternative 2” – see plans below. The debate had always been ball fields versus other activities. During the work session, staff and its consultant provided an overview of the two previous plans, while offering a third concept draft plan–which removed the fields completely. The work session sought to further nail down a concept design for the future 55-acre park. The park is located on the delta waterfront at the north end of Sellers Avenue within the City of Oakley and has been in the works since 2002. … ” Read more from the Contra Costa News.
CENTRAL COAST
‘Living shoreline’ concepts try to stem storm damage on Santa Cruz County coast
“For decades, the Monterey Bay coast has been armored with seawalls and large boulders that offer some protection from waves, but the armor often needs replacement and can harm local ecosystems. Next year, scientists will begin designing “living shorelines” that take a different approach, offering ecological benefits and some erosion protection. Living shorelines come from a different mindset for dealing with coastal erosion, said David Revell, principal of Integral Consulting Inc. The firm is working with State Parks on a grant to restore sand dunes at Seabright, Natural Bridges and Salinas River state beaches. “Instead of trying to change the processes — stopping erosion or stopping waves from breaking — it’s working with the processes, and allowing the native materials to perform their natural functions,” Revell said. … ” Read more from Santa Cruz Local.
Conflict between Lake Nacimiento locals and Monterey County enters new phase after year-long delay
“For more than four years, Steve Blois has been waiting, debating, and fighting for something near and dear to him and his fellow Lake Nacimiento shoreside residents: Who determines how they use the lake in their backyards? “We want to protect recreational use of [the lake],” Blois said. “The fact of the matter is that no one owns that water except the people of California—you can permit what it’s used for, sure, but in the end that water isn’t any one person or group’s thing to lord over.” Blois serves as the vice president of the Nacimiento Regional Water Management Advisory Committee, a group embroiled in a lawsuit with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency over the latter’s regulation of recreational lake use. … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Kern farmland prices slip with ag’s recent fortunes
“Local farmland values continued their slide over the summer, or in some cases just started it, according to a new report showing how hard times in agriculture have turned back price appreciation by a decade on many properties as fields overall take much longer to sell. The third-quarter Kern County market summary by Bakersfield’s Alliance Ag offered few signs of slowing in a broad decline that has largely erased price bumps over the last one to three years. “It is ugly in the general ag market,” wrote Mike Ming, a broker and principal at Alliance. The report is the latest tough news for a local industry that has seen labor and other costs rise while sales fall. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
USACE installs temporary pumps to alleviate seepage at Isabella Lake
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District awarded a contract for the installation of a temporary pump system at Isabella Dam in Lake Isabella, California, on Sept. 28, 2023, to increase the capacity of the existing pump system and redirect seepage back into the lake. By Oct. 2, the new system had been installed and was operational. The temporary system has currently eliminated downstream flows caused by seepage. Henri Mulder, a geotechnical engineer with the USACE South Pacific Division who works out of the Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project Resident Office, stressed that the seepage is not a risk to the safety or structural integrity of the dam. “All dams experience seepage,” said Mulder. “However, the elevated seepage levels we’re seeing this year are the result of record precipitation and the higher lake levels that resulted.” … ” Read more from the Army Corps of Engineers.
EASTERN SIERRA
Explore Mono Lake’s level over the years
“A few common questions we hear at the Mono Lake Committee include, “How is the lake doing?” “How much has the lake risen since I last visited?” and “How much has the lake come up this year after the big winter?” I wanted to make a tool so everyone could have an easy, interactive way of learning about Mono Lake’s changing level. Now, you can simply select a month and year and this tool will tell you the lake level for that month and how it compares to Mono Lake’s current level. Try it out … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
New concerns raised about toxic chemicals at Santa Susana site
“A watchdog group issued a report last month saying that two highly toxic chemicals are not being monitored at the Santa Susana Field lab and potentially can leak into the Los Angeles River. Local water officials, however, say they’ve since responded to the report and are working on addressing the issues raised and that PCBs are not leaking into the river or groundwater. The report — issued by the Public Employees for the non-profit Environmental Responsibility, or PEER — said California’s public health agencies have failed to monitor the decades-long use and migration of the chemicals at the Santa Susana site that sites atop hills between the Simi and San Fernando valleys. “We do not know how much PFAS has already run off Santa Susana or penetrated the aquifer used to grow crops in Ventura County,” said Pacific PEER Director Jeff Ruch, adding that PEER has filed a lawsuit over the site’s cleanup. “Santa Susana’s forever chemicals may already be in Southern California’s food chain, and they will not magically disappear.” … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
Planning phase for Bouquet Canyon Creek Recovery Project Planning estimated to end fall 2026
“Numerous Bouquet Canyon residents expressed their frustrations and desire for immediate solutions as they heard the planning for the Bouquet Canyon Creek Recovery Project Planning will not be finished until 2026 at the earliest. Supervisor Kathryn Barger and the L.A. County Department of Public Works team hosted the community information meeting on Thursday. This meeting was prompted after a Sept. 5 meeting, held by Bouquet Canyon community members at LARC Ranch, had attendees and speakers expressing their disdain and wanting to hear progress from local representatives. … ” Read more from The Signal.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
What’s up with Salton Sea lithium?
“Where’s the lithium? It’s in California, that much is certain. But extracting it, processing it and turning it into batteries to store renewable energy and power electric vehicles is another question entirely. That’s especially hard in the U.S., where permitting challenges, local opposition and costs have mixed together to thwart new mining efforts. It’s an uncomfortable truth: Critical minerals like lithium are essential ingredients for clean technologies, lots of them are needed and China currently dominates the space. California’s Salton Sea, a rich area of geothermal activity that also happens to produce abundant lithium resources, offers a potential way forward. Three companies have launched projects there to capitalize on what could be a win-win-win: a more environmentally friendly, domestic lithium industry to power the energy transition and create new jobs. It’s a lot of promise. But where do things stand? … ” Read more from Politico.
SAN DIEGO
Sweetwater mulls increase
“On Sept. 17, the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board accepted the 2023 rate study, which proposes a water rate structure for the following three years, determining the cost of providing water service and revenue required to maintain current water service levels. With a 9.5% increase in San Diego County Water Authority’s imported water cost, the Authority is proposing implementing an additional 0.5% in revenues starting Jan. 1, 2024, a 6% increase on Jan. 1, 2025, and a 6.5% increase on Jan. 1. 2026. “This more moderate increase is a direct result of the Board’s commitment to leverage costs-savings associated with maintaining a local water supply,” officials stated in a press release. … ” Read more from The Star News.
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead water levels are trending down again
“Lake Mead’s water levels appear to be trending down again as summer comes to a close. As of October 6, the reservoir’s water levels stood at 1,065.71 feet. This is a slight downturn from the middle of September when levels stood at 1066.46 feet. Lake Mead borders Arizona and Nevada and is the largest man-made lake in the U.S. It is an integral water source and provides water for around 25 million people living in the Colorado River Basin. When the lake is full, it holds around 31 million acre-feet of water. But this has not been the case for a long time. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
After months of uncertainty, Rio Verde Foothills residents will see water on Monday
“At long last, Rio Verde Foothills residents will see water next week. With the unincorporated community’s short-term water solution firmly in place, its standpipe district will work with Scottsdale to get water haulers’ access codes for the standpipe active over the weekend. Standpipe district members can begin filling their tanks on Monday morning, officials said. “It’s still a little bit hard to believe that we will have water flowing after it’s taken this long and there’s been lots of obstacles,” said Meredith DeAngelis, chairperson of the standpipe district. “I am just ecstatic for the community and the residents, and I am very thankful to our partners, from Scottsdale to Epcor to every politician along the way.” … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
