On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: It’s not just another fish! Native Fish and Native Plants: How they interact, from 7pm to 9pm. Join the California Native Plant Society to learn about how native fish and native plants interact! Our speaker is Gail Davis. Gail will talk about the unique nutrient cycle between the local Pacific salmon and trout and the ecosystems of the watersheds in which they live. Virtual presentation on Zoom, register here
In California water news today …
Rethinking water management in California: How to benefit people and wildlife
“A new strategy could help California water managers meet the needs of people as well as the environment. This could benefit at-risk species like shorebirds and salmon that historically flourished in the state’s great Central Valley, which stretches 450 miles from Redding to Bakersfield. Today people use so much water in this intensively farmed region that rivers can run dry. The strategy arose from a pilot analysis—called the Merced River Basin Flood-MAR (Managed Aquifer Recharge) Reconnaissance Study—that modeled using flood flows to recharge groundwater in the Merced River watershed. The goal was to optimize aquifer storage, reservoir storage, and environmental flows. “We think it’s a new, better way to integrate these three sectors and get them working together,” says Technical Studies Manager David Arrate, a water resources engineer with the state Department of Water Resources who presented this work during a July 2023 workshop. “It could provide benefits to the water supply and ecosystems.” The Merced River Basin study is wrapping up, with final reports expected soon, and next the team will expand their analysis to the San Joaquin River Basin. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Happy New Water Year 2024! – from 2023’s wild ride to the wilderness of 2024
“October 1 marked the beginning of the new Water Year in California. Water years here run from October 1 until September 30 of the next calendar year, and are named for the calendar year of the bulk of the water year (January-October). It is a good time to reflect on the last year and make largely futile predictions of precipitation for the coming 12 months. The main lesson from the wild 2023 water year in California was the reminder that California’s hydrology is highly variable and rarely knows its average. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
New California law makes oil companies more accountable for cleaning, plugging idle wells
“Oil companies will have a harder time passing off old California oil and gas wells to smaller firms that can’t afford to clean them up, under a measure Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Saturday. Marking a win for environmentalists and communities near aging oil fields, The Orphaned Well Prevention Act will prohibit the sale of an oil well unless the new owner can pay to plug and clean it — with the goal of preventing wells from becoming “orphaned.” The governor’s signature is a win for environmentalists and communities near the state’s aging oil fields. Supporters say the legislation would begin to hold the waning oil industry accountable for plugging and cleaning idle wells that are at risk of leaking oil, brine and methane into vulnerable communities. … ” Read more from the Sacramento.
Which big California bills did Newsom veto?
“Up against an Oct. 14 deadline and with more than 700 bills on his desk heading into the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom decided the fate of bills — a lot of bills. The governor’s office put out a big batch of nearly 150 actions on Saturday, a second one on Sunday of about 130 and a third one late Sunday night of about 190 more. That unusual volume for a weekend means he still has some 260 bills to go. And he may have run out of ink in his veto pen this weekend: He blocked 143, or 30%. The reasons he cited touched on a few common themes: The bills were unnecessary, or they went too far on policy too fast. Or they could cost the state lots of money — a common rationale governors use for bills they don’t like. … Newsom still signed more bills than he blocked. Among them, Water rights: A measure that spells out the state’s powers to investigate water rights claims and allows the California Water Board to take action against unauthorized water users.” Read more from Cal Matters.
In commentary today …
Challenging the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act: SYRCL’s perspective
The South Yuba River Citizens League writes, “The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) believes it is crucial to address environmental issues with transparency and a commitment to facts. That is why we question some of the assertions made by hydropower providers as to the environmental benefits of their product. In particular, we have some issues with the assertions behind the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act (H.R. 4045) and the science used to support them. This legislation “claims” to increase clean, renewable hydropower resources in the United States, purportedly to combat climate change and improve environmental quality. However, we believe it’s essential to critically examine its language and intentions. … ” Continue reading from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Ukiah celebrates one billion gallons of recycled water served
“Ukiah’s recycled water project, known as the “purple pipe,” held a celebration October 5 to commemorate one billion gallons of recycled water water served since the project began. The event took place at the recycling facilities on 300 Plant Road in Ukiah, and included Congressman Jared Huffman and other elected officials, agency representatives, project staff, and a visit by Mrs. Williams’ 5th grade class at Yokayo Elementary School in Ukiah. Earlier this year, the City of Ukiah received a $53.7 million grant to expand the project’s capacity to include serving more local schools and parks as part of the project’s “Phase 4.” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Welcome to Bumpass Hell, a bubbling, stinky sliver of ‘California’s Yellowstone’
“Lassen Volcanic National Park, sometimes called “California’s Yellowstone” for its geothermal activity, is a gorgeous landscape of volcanic peaks about a four hour drive from San Francisco. The park is snow-covered in winter and filled with meadows of colorful wildflowers in the summer. While the Dixie Fire charred much of the landscape in 2021, parts of the park are still green and fresh, home to hemlock and whitebark pine trees, birds and yellow-winged grasshoppers. And other parts look more like Mars, or … maybe, hell. The most famous, known for its bubbling mud pots and steaming vents, is called Bumpass Hell. … ” Read more from KQED.
New federal land plan could make Butte Creek a ‘wild and scenic river’
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has unveiled a draft of its resource management plan for Northern California, marking the first update in 30 years. This comprehensive plan covers an expansive area stretching from the “north coast beaches” to the “foothills of the Sierra Nevada” and spans approximately 14.4 million acres, including 382,200 acres of BLM-owned land that may be impacted by new protections. Among the plan’s recommendations is the eligibility for “Wild and Scenic River” protections for Butte Creek forks, a move that holds promise for environmental conservation in the region. The vital tributary to the Sacramento River meanders 93 miles through Butte County, flowing beautifully through Chico. … ” Read more from Active NorCal.
Water management initiative tackles Putah Creek concerns
“Community members jotted down memories on post-it notes and placed them along a 10-foot map of Putah Creek on a wall of the Winters Community Center at the first public gathering to gain feedback regarding creek water concerns and questions. The Oct. 5, Putah Creek Community Gathering was the first public workshop in part of the Putah Creek Water Management (PCWM) initiative. The exercise was to see where along Putah Creek — from the Putah Diversion Dam at Lake Berryessa to the Yolo Bypass in West Sacramento — the attendees accessed the water and what types of activities they used the creek for. … ” Read more from the Davis Enterprise.
BAY AREA
Here’s the Bay Area forecast as October weather whiplash continues Monday
“The high-pressure system responsible for last week’s 90-degree temperatures along the California coast is on its way east, leaving the door open for wet weather patterns to return. Bay Area heat will be exchanged for clouds and rain showers the next few days as October weather whiplash continues. A Monday cold front will raise the chance for light rain showers in the North Bay and Peninsula. It will be much cooler, especially compared with the recent warmth, with highs in the 60s to lower 70s region-wide. Isolated showers continue Tuesday and drier weather is set to return Wednesday before a brief warmup brings mid-70s to the bayshore Thursday. Seasonal temperatures and dry weather are expected to continue Friday. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
What eminent domain has to do with Monterey’s water
“The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District will decide whether to use Eminent Domain to force California American Water to sell its business at a special meeting Tuesday evening, October 10. The purpose is to create a public water utility that replaces the privately held Cal Am as the source of water for 40,000 customers on the Monterey Peninsula and along Highway 68. Eminent Domain is the power of the government to take private property and convert it to public use. It is used quite often to build roads, parks and other infrastructure. In order to understand the law, I spoke with Mitch Winick, Dean of Monterey College of Law and Co-Host of the podcast“Sidebar.” … ” Read more from KAZU.
Concert to help raise funds to clear mud, debris in Ventura County neighborhood
“Months after winter storms, a creek north of Ventura is clogged with mud and debris, a crossing is still flooded and residents are worried. They hope a benefit concert will help. If the channel in the Foster Park community doesn’t get cleared, residents could face more rounds of flooding. But before work starts, they have to come up with $94,000, county officials said. That’s the residents’ share of an estimated $1.5 million project to clear the stretch of Coyote Creek near Camp Chaffee Road. The county cannot pay for the work because a section of the project is located on private property, officials said. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts contend with the violent swings of climate change
“As they try to adapt to climate change, the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts have closely watched the changes in hydrology in the Tuolumne River watershed, which is a vital source of water for farms and cities in Stanislaus County. The districts today cope with volatility in the massive watershed, characterized by atmospheric river storms in wet years and droughts that are getting drier and lasting longer. TID officials said five of the most severe droughts on record occurred in the last 35 years. But the most abundant water year for the region and the third wettest on record occurred in the last seven years. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Dear Los Angeles: You’re drinking indigenous water
“In August 2023, a tropical storm bore down upon Southern California for the first time in 84 years. As Hilary’s northward-rolling blanket of rain touched off mudslides from Hollywood to the San Bernardino Mountains, thigh-deep water floated vehicles in the streets of Cathedral City. To the east, 120 miles of Highway 395 were closed due to flooding and rock slides, pinching off the route between the city of Los Angeles and the once-green valley 300 miles away from which it has, for over a century, sourced fresh water. Since the early 20th century, Los Angeles has siphoned liquid snow from a beautiful, high-desert basin between the austere peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the softened summits of the White Mountains. In the view of a migratory bird passing overhead, its namesake river cuts a sinuous path through the valley’s heart. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club.
SAN DIEGO
Collaborative Politifest summit engages San Diegans
“CalMatters partnered for the first time with Voice of San Diego, one of the nation’s oldest and most successful nonprofit newsrooms, for VOSD’s 12th annual Politifest summit this weekend. The weekend started with a Friday evening panel about sea level rise in a very appropriate venue: An Imperial Beach brewpub perched on the edge of San Diego Bay. Then the main event on Saturday drew hundreds of people to the University of San Diego campus to explore the social, political and economic implications of the region’s housing and water challenges. “Voice of San Diego provides vital journalism to California’s second largest county,” said CalMatters CEO Neil Chase, “and it’s an honor to collaborate with them on an event that brings so many people together for these important conversations.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona is evicting a Saudi alfalfa farm. But in the midst of a historic drought, it’s not enough
“As Arizona struggles to adapt to a water shortage that has dried out farms and scuttled development plans, one company has emerged as a central villain. The agricultural company Fondomonte, which is owned by a Saudi Arabian conglomerate, has attracted tremendous criticism over the past several years for sucking up the state’s groundwater to grow alfalfa and then exporting that alfalfa to feed cows overseas. Governor Katie Hobbs responded to those calls for action on Monday when she canceled one of Fondomonte’s four leases in the state’s rural Butler Valley and pledged not to renew the other leases when they expire next year. Hobbs, a Democrat who took office earlier this year, said in a statement about the decision that the company “was operating in clear default” of its lease and had violated state laws around hazardous waste. She also pledged to “hold defaulting, high-volume water users accountable” and “protect Arizona’s water so we can sustainably grow for generations to come.” … ” Continue reading from Fast Company.
Explainer: What is behind the Arizona-Saudi groundwater controversy?
“The US state of Arizona terminated land leases with a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s dairy giant Almarai this week, constituting the latest chapter in a battle over groundwater that could affect how the company and others from the Gulf operate. The Riyadh-based Almarai is one of the largest food companies in the Middle East and reported a net profit of $453 million in 2022. What happened: Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the decision on Monday. She said that Arizona has canceled one of Fondomonte’s leases of state land in the Butler Valley and will not renew the other three that expire in February 2024, according to local media. … ” Continue reading at the AL Monitor.
San Luis Valley officials create regional board to vet water export projects
“Local governments in the San Luis Valley have a new tool to protect their water resources: a regional review process for projects that propose taking the valley’s water and exporting it for use elsewhere. Like in many communities around Colorado, local officials want to keep a tight grip on their water. Groundwater aquifers, rain, snow and rivers provide drinking water, support wildlife and keep the region’s primary economic engine, agriculture, running. But over the decades, several developers have proposed projects that would take water out of the valley and send it to places like water-short communities on the Front Range. Communities in the valley say they don’t have water to spare. Local officials were left with a problem: They could review permit applications for water export projects within their jurisdiction — and they knew that what happens with one community’s water resources impacts others in the valley. Yet, they didn’t have a way to weigh in when a water export project was proposed to their neighbors. That is, until September when — after months of negotiations — local governments finally signed on to an agreement that sets the foundation for a joint review process. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In California water news this weekend …
-
Napa Valley Aerial by Dhinal Chheda DAN WALTERS: California has a new plan for the Delta but faces the same conflicts over water
- Debate over options for California’s ailing Delta region reflects deep divisions over water
- SJV WATER: Farmers fighting farmers over pumping allocations as Kaweah subbasin prepares for state scrutiny
- Video: Energy advancements for water providers
- Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge – unique, worth every ounce of effort
- 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
- Yuba River salmon return numbers so far: Are they encouraging?
- Oakley embraces Delta themed park while removing ball fields
- ‘Living shoreline’ concepts try to stem storm damage on Santa Cruz County coast
- USACE installs temporary pumps to alleviate seepage at Isabella Lake
- Lake Mead water levels are trending down again
- And more …
Click here for the weekend digest.
