On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Clean Water, Complicated Laws: How to Effectively Work With the Army Corps from 10am to 10:30am. Join BB&K’s leading water quality attorneys for a webinar series as presenters provide practical guidance on water quality issues, laws and regulations. Once a month, we will explore the major concerns wastewater, stormwater, and recycled water managers face, and dive into the many complicated issues that arise regarding water quality. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Creating Tomorrow’s Workforce Through Diversity and Inclusion from 11am to 12pm. As the water industry continues to experience retirements and recruitment challenges, there is a need to invest in the water workforce and support leadership development needs and succession planning efforts. Additionally, research indicates that increased DEI within organizations is tied to improved employee retention, productivity and better linkage between service-oriented entities and customers. Join our relaxed and informative discussion, as California water leaders share their vision for building a strong water workforce of the future. Then, we’re excited to hear your questions and recommendations. These are popular webinars, register soon and share the invite with fellow team members. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Solar River, Covering and Powering Canals with Photovoltaic Energy from 12pm to 1:15pm. In 2015, Tectonicus started researching the feasibility of deploying canal-solar systems in the US. Reports published in 2014 and 2016 by the US Bureau of Reclamation cited the challenges to this idea such as canal access, security, structure cost, constructability, and operations and maintenance. Taking these hurdles as design challenges in 2015, Tectonicus started researching ways to solve these issues. This WRRC Water Webinar will provide information about how Tectonicus has built a controlled environment to test evaporation, algae growth, PV performance, and measure the micro-climate effects on the water and air, and cover the implications of the research. The tested effects, measured through instrumentation, are then mathematically modeled and applied to a larger system-scaled analysis of central Arizona canals for techno-economic impact analysis. The analysis compares the economics of existing utility-scale solar systems with canal-solar projects of the same size. The lab analysis will continue through to 2024; however, the preliminary results show canal-solar has a greater net present value than utility scale solar with water quality being the biggest benefit. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Building blocks to resilience of California’s grasslands beginning at 7:30pm. This talk will review recent findings on how California’s grasslands will respond to environmental changes, especially fires and droughts, and the management approaches that can enhance the resilience of these grasslands to multiple changes. Valerie Eviner is a professor of Ecosystem Management and Restoration in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. Her work focuses on understanding the ecological mechanisms that maintain grassland composition and ecosystem function, and how to enhance these with management. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
An historic California species is in danger of extinction. A huge effort just launched to save it
“On a remote stretch of creek in California’s far north, a team of biologists dropped fishing nets into a cold pool of water Tuesday with high hopes: to save one of the state’s great salmon runs by bringing the fish into captivity. State and federal scientists, which began catching fish across the Sacramento River basin last week, believe the number of salmon that migrate to the region in spring has gotten so low that they need to take the extraordinary step of establishing a captive stock for safe keeping. The salmon netted at Deer Creek, about an hour north of Chico, like those being caught on other far-flung tributaries of the Sacramento River, will be driven in trailers to a holding facility at UC Davis to preserve the genetic lineage of the fish should their counterparts in the wild disappear. Even among the extreme efforts taken to aid California’s imperiled salmon, like razing dams and trucking young fish when their rivers dry up, the latest measures are unusual. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
State and federal fish agencies take urgent actions to save spring-run chinook salmon
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries biologists are pursuing urgent measures this fall to save some of the last remaining Central Valley spring-run Chinook salmon after the numbers returning from the ocean this year fell sharply toward extinction. Biologists call this year’s sharp decline a “cohort collapse” because so few threatened adult spring-run Chinook salmon returned to the small streams still accessible to them. Mill and Deer Creek — two of the three streams that hold the remaining independent spring-run populations — each saw fewer than 25 returning adults this year. Returns to Butte Creek — the third independent population — were the lowest since 1991 and adults further suffered impacts of a canal failure in the watershed. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Press release: San Francisco Baykeeper puts federal agency on notice: will sue to uphold Endangered Species Act
“San Francisco Baykeeper today put the US Fish and Wildlife Service on notice that the environmental advocacy organization intends to sue the agency for violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency proposed listing the SF Bay-Delta population of longfin smelt as an endangered species in 2022, but it has failed to meet a deadline established by Congress in the ESA to make a final listing determination or to designate what counts as critical habitat for the imperiled fish. The agency’s proposal to list longfin smelt is the result of a series of petitions to and lawsuits against the agency, going back to 1992. The most recent monitoring data for longfin smelt in San Francisco Bay shows that populations have crashed more than 99 percent, compared to when monitoring first started in 1967. … ” Read more from the SF Baykeeper.
What is a strong El Niño? Meteorologists anticipate a big impact in winter 2023, but the forecasts don’t all agree
“Winter is still weeks away, but meteorologists are already talking about a snowy winter ahead in the southern Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. They anticipate more storms in the U.S. South and Northeast, and warmer, drier conditions across the already dry Pacific Northwest and the upper Midwest. One phrase comes up repeatedly with these projections: a strong El Niño is coming. It sounds ominous. But what does that actually mean? We asked Aaron Levine, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington whose research focuses on El Niño. During a normal year, the warmest sea surface temperatures are in the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, in what’s known as the Indo-Western Pacific warm pool. But every few years, the trade winds that blow from east to west weaken, allowing that warm water to slosh eastward and pile up along the equator. The warm water causes the air above it to warm and rise, fueling precipitation in the central Pacific and shifting atmospheric circulation patterns across the basin. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
SEE ALSO:
-
- What is El Niño? Scripps Oceanography experts explain phenomenon and its global impacts, from UC San Diego
- Charts show stark differences in how El Niño impacts California, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Hydro dams are struggling to handle the world’s intensifying weather
“It’s been one of the wettest years in California since records began. From October 2022 to March 2023, the state was blasted by 31 atmospheric rivers—colossal bands of water vapor that form above the Pacific and become firehoses when they reach the West Coast. What surprised climate scientists wasn’t the number of storms, but their strength and rat-a-tat frequency. The downpours shocked a water system that had just experienced the driest three years in recorded state history, causing floods, mass evacuations, and at least 22 deaths. Swinging between wet and dry extremes is typical for California, but last winter’s rain, potentially intensified by climate change, was almost unmanageable. Add to that the arrival of El Niño, and more extreme weather looks likely for the state. This is going to make life very difficult for the dam operators tasked with capturing and controlling much of the state’s water. … But at one major dam in Northern California, operators have been demonstrating how to not just weather these erratic and intense storms, but capitalize on them. … ” Read more from Wired.
Happy New Water Year: The blessing of full reservoirs for 2024
“As we move into October and the new water year in California, we are thrilled to be starting the water year with robust surface supplies as our reservoirs are generally at their maximum levels. The Central Valley Project (CVP) begins the 2024 water year with total reservoir storage of 8.17 million acre-feet, more than double of last year. See CVP. This past winter’s storms provided a huge boost to the State Water Project (SWP), as Lake Oroville levels recovered and had the single biggest increase in the SWP’s history last year. The SWP was able to capture a total of 3.5 million acre-feet in reservoirs since December 1, 2022. Oroville is currently at 136 percent of historical average today, up from 64 percent of average a year ago. See SWP. Other major reservoirs in the Sacramento Valley, such as New Bullards Bar, Camp Far West, and Indian Valley, are also starting the water year at maximum levels that allow for flood control operations while storing as much water as possible for the future. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
PRESS RELEASE: Weather Tools, Inc. Partners with Baron Weather, Inc. to revolutionize water year precipitation forecasting for California
“Weather Tools, Inc. (Weather Tools) an innovative weather forecasting company based in Chico, CA, has entered a strategic partnership agreement with Baron Weather, Inc. (Baron Weather). This collaboration brings to market the California Annual Precipitation (CAP) report, a revolutionary forecasting tool specifically designed to predict California’s water year (October 1 – September 30) precipitation. Headquartered in Huntsville, AL, Baron Weather is an international leader in advanced weather intelligence solutions. Baron will offer the Weather Tools CAP report within its current product line. CAP is a water year precipitation forecast for the state of California that is released during the first week of November. Known for its susceptibility to both drought and flood, California lacks an accurate water year precipitation forecast. As climate variability continues to pose challenges, this joint effort is a significant step towards improved water year precipitation forecasts for the state. “We are excited to join forces with Weather Tools in order to provide customers with the California Annual Precipitation report that brings our clients a new level of accuracy and confidence with respect to the prediction of water year precipitation in California,” said Bob Dreisewerd, President & CEO of Baron Weather. … ” Read more from Weather Tools, Inc.
Navigating the hope (and hype) around solar canals
“Placing solar panels over canals is attracting attention in California. Proponents hope such projects will use existing infrastructure to generate renewable energy while reducing water loss from evaporation. But will solar canals live up to the hype—and will they work in California? We spoke with Turlock Irrigation District’s general manager, Michelle Reimers, about Project Nexus, a new pilot project that could help answer some of these questions. Q: Tell us about Turlock Irrigation District’s solar canals pilot project. Why is this a novel approach to take? A: Turlock Irrigation District aims to supply our customers with 60% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% greenhouse-gas-free energy by 2045. But there are challenges: producing 1 megawatt (MW) of solar takes about 5 acres of land. One of our gas-fired power plants supplies 250 MW of electricity. You can do the math: it takes a lot of prime agricultural land to construct utility-scale solar. So we took a step back and asked if there was another way we could utilize existing assets to achieve more for our customers. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Newsom signs bills targeting habitat restoration and farmer water rights
“Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on Tuesday a series of bills co-authored by a lawmaker representing Vallejo and Solano County. Roughly 900 bills sat on the governor’s desk following the end of the 2023 legislative session, which began with legislators introducing 2,600 new bills and ended in mid-September. Newsom has until Oct. 14 to either veto or sign the bills into law. So far, he’s enacted laws expanding the state’s definition of “gravely disabled” people facing mental health disorders and limiting landlord security deposit requests to one month’s rent. Newsom signed on Tuesday two bills co-authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), who represents Solano County and parts of Contra Costa and Sacramento counties. The first, AB345, makes way for both the Department of Water Resources and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to issue payments to local agencies to fund up to a quarter of projects geared toward endangered species habitat restoration. … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald.
Flood-MAR network launches new hub to promote collaborative water efforts for sustainability and resilience
“The Flood-MAR Network, a community driven collaborative initiative aimed at advancing Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge (Flood-MAR) projects in California, has launched its new interactive website, FloodMAR.org — a one-stop hub for individuals and organizations seeking information and support for Flood-MAR recharge project implementation statewide. The Flood-MAR Hub launch rings in the start of the new water year on October 1st and realizes an incredible volunteer-driven effort that intends to bring together local, state, federal and tribal entities, nonprofits, private consultants, academic institutions, and landowners to learn from each other and promote successful Flood-MAR implementation on FloodMAR.org. … ” Read more of the press release from the Flood-MAR Network.
Eelgrass meadows power biodiversity and climate resilience, but need protection
“As West Coast states look to develop and implement plans that make coastal communities more climate resilient, policymakers should look to eelgrass meadows and other tidal wetland habitats to play a critical role in that effort. These habitats capture and store carbon, filter excess nutrients from the water, produce oxygen, and help protect coastal communities from floods and storm surge. Healthy eelgrass meadows also provide vital habitat for salmon, Dungeness crab, and other wildlife that are important to the region’s economy. Marine scientists Melissa Ward and Kathryn Beheshti recently published a first-of-its-kind analysis of eelgrass restoration and mitigation projects that offers important lessons and recommendations for natural resource managers. The study, which is publicly available in Ecosphere, a journal of the Ecological Society of America, examined 82 West Coast restoration projects spanning 30 years. Here are some key takeaways from their research. … ” Read more from the Pew Charitable Trust.
In commentary today …
Delta science vs. Delta betrayal: The state has two new plans for the Delta. One is plausible, if predictably inadequate. The other is a gift to special interests.
Columnist Michael Fitzgerald writes, “I don’t know where, in the annals of California’s historic mistakes, to rank killing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, but it would have to be high on the list. And what’s so maddening is watching the killing—of fish species; of the entire estuary; of the Delta way of life—unfold in slow motion despite clear scientific evidence that the Delta needs more water. But the scientists aren’t running the show. Apparently, neither is the State Water Resources Control Board, though it’s supposed to oversee “the reasonable protection of fish and wildlife” in the Delta. No, the culprit is Governor Gavin Newsom. The governor’s hand is evident in the Water Board’s recent Draft Staff Report for the Phase II Update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan—part two of the state’s new, two-part plan purportedly to save the Delta. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
California enacts major water law reform legislation–but more changes are needed
Richard Frank, Professor of Environmental Practice and Director of the U. C. Davis School of Law’s California Environmental Law & Policy Center, writes, “The California Legislature has enacted and Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law SB 389, an important water law reform measure authored by State Senator Ben Allen. California has one of the most antiquated and outdated water rights systems of any Western state. Indeed, California currently faces a 21st century water supply crisis; relies on a 20th century water infrastructure system; and is burdened by a 19th century water rights legal regime. For a state that prides itself on innovative leadership when it comes to so many other areas of environmental and natural resource policy, California’s water rights law is sorely in need of modernization. … ” Read more from the Legal Planet.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe National Forest to start French Meadows prescribed burn; Community leaders tour project site
“Starting Oct. 11, the Tahoe National Forest will be beginning a 262-acre prescribed understory burn at French Meadows Reservoir as part of the French Meadows Project. The French Meadows Project is a forest restoration and fuels reduction project located in the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the American River on the Tahoe National Forest in California’s northern Sierra Nevada. The project area includes 27,623 acres, of which 22,152 are national forest land. The project was developed not only to improve the health and resilience of an important municipal watershed, but also to address critical barriers to increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Glenn County fights drought aftermath with over a dozen groundwater recharge projects
“As of this January, Glenn County is now home to more than a dozen groundwater recharge projects. This on the heels of a drought between 2020 and 2022 which local officials say resulted in hundreds of dry wells throughout the area. County officials and water consultants gathered Wednesday at Lely Park in Orland, the site of one of the groundwater recharge projects, to discuss the ongoing efforts. They say they saw the recent wet winter as an opportunity to replenish groundwater supplies. There are various ponds, gravel pits and ditches that are collecting excess surface water. That water seeps into the ground to help local aquifers. Officials say this is water that would have otherwise flowed into the Sacramento River and eventually into the ocean. … ” Read more from KRCR.
NAPA/SONOMA
Wine producer in top California wine region goes against advice and decides to dry farm
“”You will make worse wines!” That was the response from many well-respected people in the wine world in California when winemaker and director of winegrowing at Hamel Family Wines, John Hamel, asked well-respected colleagues if it was possible to dry farm (avoiding irrigation) in Sonoma County, California. The response from most was a warning that he would make worse wines because the grape bunches on the vines would dehydrate. John was already very thoughtful and conscious with his irrigation, only watering the vineyards when they needed it. After surveying more seasoned professionals, the consensus was that he was doing everything right regarding making high-quality wine. And yes, he was happy with the results from his vineyards. Still, he couldn’t help but think that a more superb quality could be achieved if he had a better understanding of how to manage his particular plots of land. He was determined to seek out someone making excellent quality wines while dry farming in his area, which often saw zero rain during the summer growing season. … ” Read more from Forbes.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey Peninsula water officials vote to buy out Cal Am
“The highly anticipated move by the Monterey Peninsula water district to seek a forced buyout of California American Water Co. reached fruition Tuesday night when the district’s board of directors voted unanimously to forge ahead with a court battle to acquire the company. The vote was 6-0 with board member George Riley having recused himself. More than 50 speakers in the venue at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey and online logged their pleas one way or another in front of the board of directors of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District. The board was tasked with determining whether or not to move forward with an eminent domain seizure of Cal Am – the process that enables government to seize private property with a fair compensation for the public good. To do so, the district board was required to pass what’s called a “resolution of necessity,” which it did unanimously, 3-1/2 hours into the meeting. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Cal Am Water press release: Monterey Peninsula Water Management District moves forward with risky resolution
“California American Water, along with community leaders and organizations, testified that the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (District) is making a costly error in proceeding with its buyout attempt of California American Water’s Monterey water system. Supported by representatives of labor, hospitality, environmental groups and members of the public, California American Water made its case that they have, and will continue to be, the best stewards of the Monterey Peninsula’s water resources. California American Water raised multiple issues regarding the District’s plan, including that the District does not have the proper certification by the state to operate a water system, was denied permission by other local elected officials on the Monterey County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) to become a retail water system, and has no previous experience in operating a water system. Even if successful in moving forward with its plan, the District intends to borrow as much as one billion dollars from investment banks to finance the purchase – more than 3,000 percent more than their current average budget. … ” Continue reading this press release from Cal Am Water.
How local leaders are working to prevent future flooding along Arroyo Grande Creek
“Wednesday morning, San Luis Obispo County leaders gave an update on ongoing efforts to repair the Arroyo Grande Creek Levee. A little over a month ago, the county’s public works department began work to repair the storm-damaged levee, a months-long project aimed at restoring the area to how it was before last winter’s storms. “The project components include approximately 11,000 cubic yards of sediment removal, debris removal, and vegetation maintenance to allow for clear pathways for the water to flow,” said Kate Ballantyne, SLO County Public Works Department Deputy Director. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Santa Barbara County Supervisors decide Cuyama groundwater basin is half empty, not half full
“With a major groundwater basin in the Cuyama Valley identified as one of the 21 most critically over-drafted basins in the state, the Santa Barbara supervisors — by a 3-2 vote — concluded it made no sense to grant the permits necessary for an 850-acre wine-grape operation owned by Brodiaea Inc., a subsidiary of Harvard University’s investment arm, to carve out three major frost ponds to better keep their grapes alive during cold winter snaps. Each of the three ponds proposed by the North Fork Ranch would occupy five acres, be 27 feet deep, and be allowed to use no more than 103 acre-feet — combined — per year. Led by Supervisor Das Williams, county supervisors argued against allowing any further overdraft of a basin already so imperiled that water users there will be required by the state to gradually cut back usage by 60 percent. … ” Read more from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SEE ALSO: Board of Supervisors deny North Fork Ranch frost ponds project, from the Santa Maria Sun
Column: Baby carrots
Columnist Trudy Wischemann writes, “Baby carrots—who doesn’t love them? But there’s a reason to think twice before you toss another bag of ‘em into your grocery cart. When I think of baby carrots, of course, I’m thinking of the ones pulled fresh from a kitchen garden a little early to see how the carrot crop is coming along, with just a few molecules of dirt clinging to them, popped into your mouth. The smell of the green tops clings to your hand for just a moment, evidence of the good earth that grew them. The taste is out of this world. The baby carrots John Pitney refers to in his song, however, are the ones we find in stores in neat little plastic bags, already washed and peeled, and far more elderly. In fact, they’re pretty mature carrots ground down to the sweeter inner portions. Like so many of us, they’ve been made to look younger than they are. You can’t knock the convenience, or at least that’s what I thought until I read about the groundwater dispute in the Cuyama Valley, just southwest of us in the Coast Range. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Fresno Co. crops reach record high values, Tulare Co. takes top Ag county crown.
“Fresno County’s annual crop report is in, and the county continues to reach new heights with the total value of its agricultural production. While Fresno County had a record-breaking year in 2022, the overall growth was very slight. Fresno County saw its place as top ag-producing county claimed by Tulare County. The big picture: Fresno County’s total gross production last year came in at $8,095,546,000. That marked an increase of nearly $10 million from 2021, a 0.12 percent gain. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Caltrans stormwater lawsuit resolved after three decades
“Three decades after two conservation groups sued the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) over its mishandling of polluted runoff, the groups and the agency have agreed to update the settlement terms and end the case for good. The case, which was filed by the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) and LA Waterkeeper (formerly Santa Monica Baykeeper) in 1993, argued Caltrans failed to properly manage discharge from more than 900 miles of roads and 35 maintenance facilities located across Los Angeles and Ventura counties in violation of the Clean Water Act. “The resolution of this lawsuit has been a long time coming,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of LA Waterkeeper. “We appreciate that Caltrans has continued to work with us to find a workable plan of action to address the significant stormwater pollution that runs off of highways and freeways throughout our region.” … ” Continue reading this press release from the LA Waterkeeper and the NRDC.
Permit calls for more water testing at Santa Susana Field Lab, but critics say more needed
“The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board is weighing whether to scrutinize further stormwater runoff from the Santa Susana Field Lab, where concerns about contaminants have festered over a 1959 partial nuclear meltdown and decades-long rocket testing. Last month, the board opened a hearing to update the site’s permit to require monitoring for 195 contaminants, including 15 new ones, at all discharge points and to set limits for 55 contaminants. The board continued the hearing to Oct. 19. The permit regulates radioactive metals such as uranium and radium and heavy metals, including lead and mercury. The 15 proposed additional contaminants include substances like aluminum and arsenic. In addition to increased monitoring at the site, the proposed, or draft, permit calls for monitoring of 351 total contaminants identified by state regulators at two discharge points. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District dedicates new Lloyd Allen Water Conservation Operational Reservoir
“The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors conducted a formal dedication of its newest water conservation and operational reservoir located just east of here on Wednesday, Oct. 11, named after longtime Division 3 Director Lloyd Allen. The new reservoir is expected to help IID conserve 400 acre-feet of water a year and features a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. In addition, the operational reservoir aids the district’s popular On-Farm Efficiency Conservation Program by providing improved water delivery service and flexibility to growers and IID water delivery staff in the valley’s Northend. “Today, we’re marking one of our latest achievements in water conservation and cooperation,” said IID General Manager Jamie Asbury. “Not only does this project demonstrate how IID and its ag water users work together to conserve, but it is fitting to be named after one of the valley’s most staunch protectors of our water rights, Director Lloyd Allen.” … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Supervisors OK ordinance amendment tied to Borrego Springs groundwater
“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 Wednesday to align county regulations with a court ruling allowing users in the Borrego Springs Subbasin to pump groundwater. In 2021, a San Diego Superior Court judge ruled that users in the Borrego Springs Subbasin have the right to pump groundwater. In connection with that ruling, a required 70% reduction in groundwater use to comply with the state Sustainable Groundwater Management Act must be achieved by 2040. The ruling also allowed the Borrego Springs Watermaster — a committee that includes area representatives — to manage groundwater in the basin. … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
SAN DIEGO
California Coastal Commissioners call for action to clean up sewage polluted Tijuana River Valley
“In the endless urban sprawl of Southern California, the Tijuana River Valley looks like a serene break of green before the sprawl resumes on the other side of the border. But the seemingly bucolic area is where representatives from the California Coastal Commission met on Wednesday to see first hand how sewage in the river has made people in adjacent communities sick and affected state lands. “It’s a matter of public health, of quality of life of course,” said Paloma Aguirre, the mayor of Imperial Beach, a city in San Diego County located five miles north of Tijuana. Aguirre, who is also a commissioner on the California Coastal Commission, spoke to representatives from the group before its monthly meeting on a berm overlooking the Tijuana River Valley. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Along the Colorado River …
Brain-eating amoeba a danger at hot springs, Lake Mead officials remind public as trails reopen
“Lake Mead officials caution hikers who are planning to head to popular hot springs below Hoover Dam: avoid any activity that involves splashing or submerging your head. The “brain-eating amoeba” — Naegleria fowleri — can be present if conditions are right. “Naegleria fowleri has been found in hot springs,” according to a statement released by Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Wednesday. “This amoeba enters through the nose and can cause a deadly infection that causes a sudden and severe headache, fever, and vomiting. It is advised to avoid diving, splashing water, or submerging your head in hot spring water.” … ” Read more from KLAS.
Utah’s clawing way out of an extreme water deficit. Will it last?
“It was with some pleasure Gene Shawcroft, chairman of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, was able to point to a stop sign buried under nine feet of snow at a high mountain pass. It was only discovered after a snow machine hit it, so a scraggly bit of vegetation was placed next to it to warn others of its presence. As he detailed a presentation to members of the Federalism Commission Tuesday, he showed a slide depicting a vent pipe from a Forest Service outhouse barely poking out of the snow at Bald Mountain Pass in Duchesne County. This, he told them, is what the Upper Colorado River Basin needed to desperately see last winter, and it did. The trick is if it will happen again this year. “We’re not still anywhere close to being out of the woods,” said Shawcroft, who also serves as the general manager of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. … ” Read more from the Deseret News.
The Upper Colorado River Basin Compact at 75
“The Upper Colorado River Basin Compact was signed by representatives from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming on October 11, 1948, after over two years of negotiations. It was an attempt to resolve the allocation of water among the five states, and for three quarters of a century it performed that task well. But as we approach the middle of the third decade of the 21st century, the challenges of overallocation of Colorado River, over-appropriation of the water we have, and climate change reducing the river’s flows, the Upper Basin Compact and the extended body of rules in which it is embedded are showing their age. At its simplest, the Upper Basin Compact divided the water use available from the 7.5 million acre-feet per year apportioned to the Upper Basin by the 1922 Colorado River Compact. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
In national water news today …
Biden-Harris administration makes $36 million available for fish passage and river restoration projects as part of President’s Investing in America agenda
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced the availability of up to $36 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for fish passage projects across the nation that address outdated, unsafe or obsolete dams, culverts, levees and other barriers fragmenting our nation’s rivers and streams. Since 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested $73 million in 79 projects through the Service’s National Fish Passage Program. These funds are investing in our nation’s infrastructure and natural resources by reconnecting fragmented rivers, improving fish migration, and enhancing local economies. An inter-agency task force is supporting an efficient and collaborative approach to investing a total of $2 billion in fish passage projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across the Departments of the Interior, Transportation, Agriculture, and Commerce. These projects and funding opportunities are available at the recently updated Fish Passage Portal. … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Scientists disagree about drivers of September’s global temperature spike, but it has most of them worried
“September’s stunning rise of the average global temperature is all but certain to make 2023 the warmest year on record, and 2024 is likely to be even hotter, edging close to the “red line” of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming above the pre-industrial level that the 2015 Paris climate agreement is striving to avoid. As of Oct. 10, the daily average Northern Hemisphere temperature had been at a record high for 100 consecutive days. At least 65 countries recorded their warmest Septembers on record, and even after record heat in July and August, the September spike was a shock, said Carlo Buontempo, director of the European Union’s Copernicus climate change service. “The truth is that I think many climate scientists were absolutely flabbergasted by the plot,” he said of September’s worldwide temperature reading as Copernicus released its monthly global climate report. “This is just beyond anything we’ve ever seen. The anomaly is so incredibly large. You can call it a global heatwave.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Sites Reservoir requests certification as an infrastructure project under SB 149
NOTICE: Senate Bill 552: County Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program and Groundwater Sustainability Agency Coordination
