On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Path to Power: Water Professionals Week from 11am to 12pm. The Association of Women in Water, Energy & the Environment are excited to introduce a remarkable panel of women in the water industry who will engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about their accomplished career paths. Come and join us for an enriching discussion as they delve into their strategies for overcoming obstacles, harmonizing their professional and personal lives, dispensing invaluable insights, and answer audience questions. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
New California law takes aim at injustices in water rights system, but barely
“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a rare piece of legislation this weekend that confronts the problems with California’s deeply entrenched, and often unfair, water rights system. The new law, SB389, gives state regulators clear authority to investigate the validity of water draws by some of California’s biggest and most privileged water users, many of which have long evaded scrutiny due to their senior — and nearly untouchable — water rights. The state’s water rights system generally lets those who first claimed water from rivers and creeks, including farm suppliers and cities, to take all the water they want while everyone else gets what’s left over. The enduring hierarchy has been criticized for disadvantaging those who weren’t able to get in early, including indigenous people who were barred from taking part. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Governor signs RWA-sponsored legislation SB 659, The California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023
“In a landmark moment aimed at addressing California’s pressing water challenges exacerbated by climate change in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law SB 659, officially titled the California Water Supply Solutions Act of 2023. SB 659, authored by California Sen. Angelique V. Ashby (D-Sacramento) and co-sponsored by the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and California Association of Winegrape Growers, received widespread support for its approach to enhancing groundwater recharge as a sustainable water supply for California in adapting to increasing wet and dry extremes caused by climate change. The legislation directs the California Department of Water Resources to provide actionable recommendations to develop additional opportunities that increase the recharge of the state’s groundwater basins without reducing the amount of water available for environmental purposes. The bill also requires the plan to protect safe drinking water and maintain a high level of water quality. … ” Read more from the Regional Water Authority.
Electric school buses, pesticides and oil wells: New environmental laws coming to California
“Gov. Gavin Newsom gained widespread attention Saturday for signing a first-in-the-nation law to require corporations doing business in California to add up how many tons of greenhouse gases they emit each year, and make the information public. The new law will affect roughly 5,300 businesses with more than $1 billion a year in sales — including companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, Chevron and Home Depot. The law is expected to put pressure on businesses to reduce pollution when researchers, advocacy groups, media outlets and others issue “biggest polluter” lists showing which companies emit the most chemicals that are warming the planet. But with less fanfare, Newsom also signed more than a dozen other significant environmental bills over the weekend that lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled Legislature had sent to his desk. In doing so, he won accolades from environmental groups, and disappointment from some industries, including oil and agriculture. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In commentary today …
In wet winters, California must do more to recharge groundwater
Joe Mouawad, general manager of Eastern Municipal Water District, and Jim Peifer, executive director of the Regional Water Authority. write, “Another wet winter seems likely for California, giving us another chance to recharge groundwater aquifers with captured storm runoff. But are we ready? Well, there’s a lot more we could do. Forecasters say there’s a 95 percent chance El Niño conditions will prevail during the winter to come. In addition, they say the odds are 2-in-3 that this El Niño will be “strong,” which boosts the odds for wet conditions. This means we have a chance at two wet winters in a row, a very rare occurrence in California. If there’s anything last winter’s very wet conditions showed us, it’s the vast opportunity we have for groundwater recharge. By capturing abundant runoff in wet years, we have potential to make major strides toward rebuilding depleted groundwater. Note that we say “potential.” … ” Continue reading this commentary at Maven’s Notebook.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
How a California tribe won their ancestral land back and saved endangered salmon
“Globally, Indigenous peoples protect 80% of the earth’s biodiversity on the lands they’ve maintained for centuries, despite being only 5% of the world’s population. And when Indigenous peoples have sovereignty over their lands — that is, the ability to own and care for land in accordance with their traditions and desires — everyone benefits. No one understands that dynamic more than the Winnemem Wintu tribe. The tribe, which is located in the Shasta Cascade region of Northern California, has been fighting for almost a decade to reintroduce their sacred salmon, the winter-run Chinook, to the McCloud River. For millennia, the tribe ensured the safe travel of the Chinook upstream to colder waters, so the fish could reproduce. They’d light fires at night along the river, as well as physically carry fish in baskets on foot if there were obstacles along the way. Then came the Shasta Dam. … ” Read more from Vox.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Truckee students get lesson in sustainability at Yuba River Day
“The Yuba River, a Californian gem, features polished granite rocks and emerald waters. It offers both exhilarating whitewater experiences in spring and serene swimming spots in warmer seasons. Emerging from the Tahoe National Forest, the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Yuba River boast unique features against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada. They also bear the historical marks of mining and hydropower endeavors. Once a bustling gold rush hub, the Yuba River area transformed into a major hydraulic mining site before its prohibition. Today, it’s marked by over 30 dams, 20 powerhouses, and 500 miles of canals. This region allures paddlers from the West with exceptional whitewater adventures. The undammed North Fork offers spectacular views from Sierra Buttes to Mt. Shasta and Mt. Diablo. Snowmelt sustains diverse aquatic life, including trout, Chinook salmon, and steelhead. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Ducks Unlimited project will improve water availability at Sutter National Wildlife Refuge
“This year, thanks to an unusually wet winter and spring, Sutter National Wildlife Refuge near Yuba City will be flooded in time for the Oct. 21 waterfowl-hunting season opener. As California’s hunters can attest, that doesn’t always happen. It’s often uncertain when the refuge will open to hunting due to limited water. But in the years to come, the wetlands on the 2,591-acre refuge will have a more reliable water supply, thanks to an ongoing project Ducks Unlimited is overseeing in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency. … ” Read more from Ducks Unlimited.
American River salmon – Fall 2023
“It is early October 2023, and the fall-run salmon are running. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife expects to open the ladder to the American River Hatchery on or about November 1. There are already salmon in the lower American River from its mouth all the way to Nimbus Dam. The run expected this year has a mixed forecast. There was no ocean or river salmon fishery this year because of poor runs in the Central Valley during the 2020-2022 drought. The fact that fishing was not allowed will improve the 2023 run size (escapement). The 2020 run (parents of this year’s run) was pretty good (Figure 1). But when brood year 2023 was rearing and migrating to the ocean, it was a critical drought year 2021, conditions under which juvenile salmon almost always have poor success in making the journey from rivers to the ocean. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
Solano County Water Agency board meets Thursday
“The Solano County Water Agency directors will consider an agreement with the Putah Creek Council for management of the Native Plant Nursery at Sackett Ranch when they meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Also on the agenda are various policy and activity reports, such as Delta updates. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
BAY AREA
Marin commentary: We must approach recycled water solution with open mind
Kristi Denton Cohen, co-founder of the Marin Coalition for Water Solutions, and Steve Moore, an advisor to the coalition and general manager of Ross Valley Sanitary District, write, “In Marin County, we have limited options when we face the next, inevitable drought. Recycled water, the reuse of purified wastewater, is one of the most viable options and belongs in the water supply of every urban area of coastal California. There are two kinds of recycled water to consider: Nonpotable reuse and potable reuse. Nonpotable reuse is often used for irrigation, toilet flushing and washing cars, but is not for human consumption. While purple pipes (used to differentiate distribution of nonpotable from potable water) are seen in select areas of Marin, such as North San Rafael and Novato, our hilly terrain, low-volume and spread-out demand makes wider distribution costly and difficult. Potable reuse, the use of recycled water to augment water supplies, does not require special pipes because it is purified to be suitable for human consumption and can be distributed in existing pipes. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
CSU Monterey Bay receives $1.13 million grant for water-use research
“CSU Monterey Bay was awarded a $1.13 million grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to support water-use research. The university’s Department of Applied Environmental Science adjunct faculty and research scientists, AJ Purdy and Lee Johnson, received the award to provide research, support and software engineering to OpenET. OpenET was publicly started in October 2021 and is a data program that provides satellite-based information on “evapotranspiration” – when water evaporates from the ground or transpires from plants – in accessible and usable formats for stakeholders across the country. The program provides open, easily accessible satellite-based data for water management in order to maximize the benefits of the United States’ water supplies and lead to more efficient use of water in agriculture. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca water uses continues dropping on a per capita basis
“Manteca’s population is up by over 1,300 residents since last September. That’s just under a 2 percent gain. Water use, though, barely rose as it inched up by just 0.3 percent. As such, it marks the third straight year September per capita water use has fallen despite the city gaining almost 4,000 residents. The September water use report issued last week by the City of Manteca Public Works Department placed water consumption at 478.931 million gallons last month. That compares to 477.102 million gallons in September 2021 and 470.355 million gallons in September 2020. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Army Corps installs pump to handle unexpected seepage from Isabella Dam
“For the first time in six months, Gerald Wenstrand doesn’t have a river flowing through the pasture at his ranch situated just below the Auxiliary Dam at Lake Isabella. The Army Corps of Engineers, which owns and operates Isabella Dam, finally installed an extra pump to move seepage coming through the base of dam back into the lake. The pump system it had installed as part of the $300 million dam reconstruction project was too small to handle the amount of water coming through the earthen dam. The fix comes six months after residents first began complaining to the Army Corps that the seepage as causing sinkholes near homes, damaging septic systems, eroding land and causing massive weed growth and mosquito infestations. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
How LA is reimagining flood infrastructure amid increasing flood risk
“Southern California has gotten a lot of rain. But in Alicia Gonzalez’s Sun Valley neighborhood, she said they’ve been relatively safe when it comes to flooding. “It’ll only last for about maybe 20 to 30 minutes, and then the water will go down. So, it’s perfect. It’s not a problem like it used to be,” Gonzalez said. … About ten years ago, she helped rally her community together to secure funding for a retrofitting project. The project was run by multiple partners like Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County and non-profits. She said she remembers organizers going door-to-door to try to get the neighborhood involved, and she became friends with one of them. “And then from there, we just kept talking. And I’m a big mouth, I’m very friendly,” she said. “So, I just kind of started getting involved.” … ” Read more from KABC.
Lake Elsinore invests in clean water with new infrastructure
“Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District is making strides toward expanding water and wastewater coverage, they say. A recent news release showed how the district plans to serve a population that has grown by almost 25 percent. In a recent news release, they shared details of how they plan to do it: “Today, we deliver over 7.3 billion gallons of water to our customers each year,” a spokesperson for EVMWD said, even as the district is looking ahead to the future. … ” Read more from The Patch.
SAN DIEGO
Nearly 600,000 ballots mailed for Nov. 7 special election
“Nearly 600,000 ballots are on their way to registered voters in the 4th Supervisorial District, City of Chula Vista, Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District for the Nov. 7 special election, the county registrar’s office announced today. Voters should receive their ballots this week, along with an “I Voted” sticker inside the official ballot packet. Only the voters who live in each of those districts can vote in their respective elections. … ” Read more from KPBS.
SEE ALSO: San Diego’s guide to water district separation, from Axios
Environment Report: The fist bump seen ‘round Politifest
“If a good Politifest is marked by bringing historically-opposed parties together to answer questions before the public, then this year’s was a smashing success. The San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have traditionally bumped heads on many fronts – particularly over the cost of transporting Colorado River water to San Diego. But their new leaders quite literally bumped fists on our Politifest stage – a universal gesture of respect, approval, maybe even agreement? … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Studies challenge established views on sand migration along San Diego County coast
“A renowned oceanographer who has studied the California coast for decades says new research challenges a well-established notion about how sand flows within the surf and long-shore currents that constantly shape the state’s beaches. Studies show sand doesn’t always flow south and in some cases is carried north between the coastal communities, said Reinhard Flick, a member of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Coastal Processes Group. “That’s a new finding, and it’s important,” Flick said. “This strongly suggests that little, if any, sand flows south from Oceanside to Carlsbad.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
A warming Colorado River grapples with invasive species
“As climate change bakes the U.S. West and dries up key Colorado River reservoirs, a slew of invasive species is flourishing in warmer waters at the expense of the artery’s native inhabitants. Among the most disruptive of this wide range of invaders is the smallmouth bass, which scientists fear could pose a possible danger to the native ecology of the Grand Canyon region should the fish continue making their way downstream. Of particular concern is the fate of the humpback chub — a federally threatened species that has long inhabited the area. … ” Read more from The Hill.
In national water news today …
Tribe catches coho salmon on free-flowing Elwha River, a first since dam removals
“With the plonk of fishing tackle in clear, green water, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s first fishery on a free-flowing river in more than a century got underway. “I am so proud of my tribe today,” said Russell Hepfer, vice chairman of the tribe, to a gathering of more than 100 people from the community and beyond to share in ceremony before starting the fishery on Monday. There was a welcome song, a prayer song and, of course, a salmon song. “It’s been a long time coming,” Hepfer said. “The laughs, the joy we all feel in our hearts, is just tremendous, it’s historic.” Two dams blocked nearly 90 miles of river and tributary habitat on the Elwha, or more than 90% of the river, since 1911. But both the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were gone by August 2014 after a couple of years of demolition in what was the largest dam removal project ever undertaken. And on Monday, the wait for a run of salmon healthy enough to be fished was over. … ” Read more from the Seattle Times.
As aquifer levels decline in the Great Plains, states like Oklahoma weigh the need to meter irrigation wells
“About a quarter of the United States’s irrigated cropland sits on top of the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains. But water levels are dropping, and states are taking different approaches to monitoring how much groundwater irrigators are pumping out. Mike Shannon first learned about the Ogallala Aquifer because he made a costly mistake. In the mid-1980s, Shannon was new to city government when one of his hometown’s wells started to go dry. “I just assumed, maybe I ought to go somewhere else and stick another hole in the ground and we’ll get more water,” Shannon said. “Well, unfortunately, I stuck a hole in the ground and there was no water there.” He’d spent several thousand dollars on a test well that was bone dry, and he had to answer to his constituents for it. Today, Shannon is still thinking about groundwater as the interim city manager for Guymon, the Oklahoma panhandle’s largest city. … ” Read more from KOSU.
Ancient Maya reservoirs may be key for sustainable water systems
“Finding a natural and sustainable system for water — the most valuable resource for life on Earth — in certain regions is becoming more difficult every day. A new study published Monday suggests looking to ancient Maya reservoirs and how they naturally purified water while supporting agriculture for over 1,000 years. The perspective, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, comes from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign anthropology professor Lisa Lucero, an expert on Classic Maya civilization along with ritual, political power, climate change and sustainability. Lucera suggests that between 250 and 900, Maya civilization in the southern lowlands of Central America overcame water scarcity amid annual, five-month dry seasons and climate instability with urban reservoirs akin to constructed wetlands. … ” Continue reading at the Courthouse News Service.
