On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP: Delta Independent Science Board Delta Subsidence (Day 2) beginning at 9am. The focus of the workshop today is to discuss practical considerations of inundating the Delta landscape, including the economic feasibility and science gaps that could support decision-making. Following the Day 2 workshop portion, the Delta ISB will meet to debrief on the workshop. Click here for the full meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: Major Improvements to the Sacramento River Flood Control Project from 12pm to 1pm. Speakers include David Pesavento, Supervising Engineer, California Department of Water Resources (DWR); Dan Tibbitts, Principal Engineer, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA); and Sean McNeil, Senior Project Manager, Sacramento District South Pacific Division. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Pattern flip to bring dramatic change to the West, leading to a big cooldown and even snow
“A shocking change in the weather is ahead for western United States as the recent record warmth will be replaced by much cooler conditions and even some early-season snow, warn AccuWeather meteorologists. The flip in the weather pattern, driven by a strong cold front, will end the heat wave that has brought record-smashing, triple-digit heat to parts of the Southwest and replace it with temperatures that are several degrees below historical averages. This will represent a downward swing of as much as 25 degrees in daytime high temperatures over the course of less than a week. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO:
- Rain possible in Northern California this weekend as temps drop. Will it snow in Tahoe?, from the Sacramento Bee
- Water Year 2023 Recap: An Extreme Drought Buster, from NIDIS
A warm, wet El Niño winter is in store for California and much of the U.S.
“After a blistering summer of record heat, raging wildfires and unpredictable storms, federal scientists on Thursday said a warm, wet winter driven by El Niño is in store for California and much of the rest of the country. The first winter outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that a strong El Niño will remain in place through at least the spring, with further strengthening possible over the next couple of months. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-La Niña Southern Oscillation pattern — sometimes referred to as ENSO — and is a major driver of temperature and precipitation patterns across the globe. “The anticipated strong El Niño is the predominant climate factor driving the U.S. winter outlook this year,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the operational prediction branch at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Map shows California regions with the highest odds for wet winter weather
“A wetter-than-average winter is expected across much of California, with Central California forecast to have the highest odds of above-average precipitation according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s U.S. winter outlook, released Thursday. The central third of the state, including the Bay Area, stands out on the map above, which highlights areas likely to face more precipitation than normal in green. Darker shades of green indicate higher probabilities for wet conditions; Central California has a 40% to 50% chance for greater precipitation than normal. Brown hues point to higher chances for drier-than-average conditions. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Lake Shasta water level healthy as new water year begins. Trinity Lake? Still recovering.
“Thanks to a stormy winter and spring, Lake Shasta’s water level is almost a third higher than it usually is in mid-October. The state’s largest reservoir at Shasta Dam, nine miles north of Redding, was 71% full on Monday, according to the California Department of Water Resources. That’s 130% of what the lake usually holds on that date, according to the state. The Shasta Lake reservoir is also in good shape for water storage and recreation at the start of the new water year, which began on Oct. 1, according to Bureau of Reclamation Area Manager Donald Bader. Over the past 2022-2023 water year, “we met 100% of allocations” for agriculture, drinking water to communities/municipal use, Bader said, adding that “the lake is still full.” … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
Fiercely dedicated to the valley, a one-time housing assistance nonprofit emerges as a major player in water solutions
“In a state where there seems to be no middle ground on water, one entity has proudly planted a flag of neutrality. Self-Help Enterprises’ focus is apolitical and purely practical — getting water to people in need. The Visalia-based nonprofit is known for both its quick response in emergencies as well as sticking around to find long-term solutions for residents of mostly low-income communities in the San Joaquin Valley. After decades of “boots on the ground” work for valley residents, Self-Help is also emerging as a major player in the agricultural world as groundwater agencies facing possible state action turn to the nonprofit for help. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Updates on California water law: New legislation and regulations
“The California 2023 Legislative Session ended on September 14, 2023, and presented the Governor with several important changes to California’s water-related statutes. The Governor had until October 14, 2023, to sign all bills into law. In addition, the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) recently issued revised regulations concerning water rights reporting requirements and deadlines. This alert highlights key water legislation approved by the Governor, as well as the State Board’s new reporting requirements. … ” Read more from Allen Matkins.
Groundwater court disputes will consider environmental justice in new law signed by Gavin Newsom
“Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law last week that will incorporate environmental justice principles in legal disputes that stands to impact future groundwater use decisions across California’s agriculture dominated regions. The law, AB 779, will require state courts to consider water use by small farmers and disadvantaged communities when settling those disputes, which historically skew in favor of larger agricultural businesses. Solving disputes through adjudication in the courts costs millions of dollars in legal fees and takes years. “Small farmers and disadvantaged communities are underrepresented in adjudications because of their high costs and long duration,” said Julia Stein, deputy director for UCLA’s Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.“This law takes steps to ensure those communities have access to information about adjudication proceedings and that the court takes their water use into account.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Governor signs water shutoff protection bill into law
“Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 3 into law in October to expand due process protections for those unable to pay their bills and ensure access to safe sources of water. Existing water protection laws, such as the Water Shutoff Protection Act of 2018, created a 60-day grace period to cover past debt as well as established a payment system for those served by water companies with 200 or more customers. Senate Bill 3, authored by State Senator Dodd, expands those same protections to more people by lowering the threshold of applicable water service companies to those that serve 15 or more customers. … ” Read more from KEYT.
With wildfires growing, California writes new rules on where to plant shrubs
“In most neighborhoods, houses are hugged by greenery – flowers surround the front steps, large shrubs screen the windows. But in wildfire-prone places, such as California, fire experts say this typical suburban template needs to drastically change as human-driven climate change makes intense wildfires more frequent. California has long had the strongest defensible space rules in the country. Now, it’s drafting rules that would make it the first state to limit the vegetation directly next to buildings. In areas at high risk of wildfire, plants within five feet of a house would be strictly limited. The new rules are not expected to go over well. … ” Read more from KASU.
In commentary today …
Too many carrots and not enough sticks
Andy Caldwell, COLAB Executive Director and a local radio talk show host, writes, “Unfortunately, the good people of Cuyama and a majority of our county supervisors can’t tell the difference between a carrot and a grape. Moreover, they are convinced that the water table beneath the surface of the earth is one giant bathtub, instead of barely connected diversely stratified aquifers. Historically, the water beneath a property belonged to the property owner overlying the aquifer. This is critically important to farmers, because if they don’t have access to the water underlying their property then they simply own dirt, meaning they can’t grow anything. However, the State of California has dramatically changed historic water laws by way of the State Groundwater Sustainability Act. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Here’s one way to protect California’s beaches from rising seas: Stop messing with them
Karina Johnston, a doctoral student at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and the Marine Science Institute, writes, “Protecting our coasts from sea level rise is increasingly urgent, especially for densely populated coastal communities such as Southern California’s. Coastal flooding and beach erosion from rising seas and storms are far more than a threat; they’re already happening in many places in California and beyond. But new research suggests one relatively simple means of shoring up our beaches: leaving them alone. As I and my colleagues at UC Santa Barbara and our partner institutions showed in a recent paper, natural dune formation can help restore and adapt urban coasts to climate change. In fact, we found that natural processes can cause the sands to rise much faster than the seas. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
After the flood: As the world’s largest dam removal takes shape, restoration ecologists are poised to transform a landscape
“Standing on an outcrop of volcanic rock, Joshua Chenoweth looks across the languid waters of California’s Iron Gate Reservoir and imagines the transformation in store for the landscape. In early 2024, operators will open the floodgates on the 49-meter-high dam that blocks the Klamath River, allowing the more than 50 million tons of water it impounds to begin to drain. Once it’s gone, heavy equipment will dismantle the structure. All that will remain of the 11-kilometer-long reservoir that filled the valley for 60 years will be steep-sided slopes coated in gray mud, split once again by a free-flowing river. Within months, however, that sediment will be covered with a fine, green carpet of seedlings and colorful splashes of flowers, many planted by Chenoweth’s team. … ” Read more from Science Magazine.
BAY AREA
Big weather shift is headed to the Bay Area this weekend. Here’s what to expect
“After the recent scorcher saw temperatures approach 90 degrees in communities along San Francisco Bay, a big shift in the Bay Area’s weather pattern will bring a significant cooldown and the potential for rain this weekend. Residents can expect temperatures to become more seasonal, but they should plan for the possibility of light showers and even a stray rumble of thunder in the coming days. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Revival of once-abundant Olympia oyster population could help fight effects of climate change
“Scientists, researchers, and volunteers are working on an Olympian quest – to restore the Olympian oyster to once-historic levels at a coastal wetland along the Monterey Bay, an effort that may help to curb the impacts of the warming climate. At the legendary Swan Oyster Depot in San Francisco, the line forms early. If you’re lucky to get a seat at the seafood counter, you’re in for a treat: the restaurant just got a fresh shipment of the only oyster native to the West Coast of North America. The Olympia oyster, native to the Puget Sound area and named after Olympia, Washington, is as small as a silver dollar but big in flavor. They are described as slightly briny with a coppery finish. “I grew up eating these oysters and I think they’re just fantastic,” exclaimed Swan co-owner Steve Sancimino. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
Gilroy council passes water rate increase
“The Gilroy City Council passed a water and wastewater rate increase Oct. 16 that will be more gradual over five years than was originally proposed. On a 5-0 vote, the council agreed to raise water rates by 6% every year through 2028, beginning on Jan. 1. Wastewater rates will increase by 4% annually during the same time period. Councilmembers Tom Cline and Zach Hilton were absent. The city, which owns and operates its water and wastewater utilities, serves more than 15,000 customers, according to Finance Director Harjot Sangha. But with the number of customers growing, and operational costs climbing as well as needed infrastructure improvements, the city must increase the revenue it receives from those utilities for the first time since 2019, he said. … ” Read more from the Gilroy Dispatch.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz County prepares for rainy winter
“Since a series of storms ravaged Santa Cruz County earlier this year, county officials have been preparing for another winter of heavy rains. This includes clearing debris from creeks and rivers and repairing three damaged portions of the Pajaro River Levee system. All of this comes in advance of a massive $400 million rebuild of the levee, which will kick off construction next year. Pajaro River Flood Management Agency will sign a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers next month for the long-awaited project, director Mark Strudley told the County Supervisors Tuesday during an update on this year’s flood prevention efforts. … ” Read more from Good Times Santa Cruz.
Court grants State Water Board’s request to appoint receiver to troubled drinking water system in Santa Cruz County
“Following the Santa Cruz County Superior Court’s approval of a receivership request by the State Water Resources Control Board, the firm Silver & Wright LLP has been appointed to assume possession and control of Big Basin Water Co. The privately owned drinking water system in the Santa Cruz mountains has been plagued by water outages, chronic supply shortfalls and substandard infrastructure. Santa Cruz County Judge Timothy Volkmann signed the final order appointing Silver & Wright LLP as receiver on Oct. 6. The order applies only to the company’s drinking water system, which has 540 connections serving about 1,200 people. The management and operation of the company’s wastewater treatment plant are still the responsibility of its longtime owners, Thomas and Shirley Moore. The State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water sought receivership after the Moores demonstrated they were unwilling or unable to pursue solutions for ongoing
problems in the company’s drinking water system. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Pajaro makes progress, some residents move back in and levee upgrades are expedited
“Local leaders say progress is being made in Pajaro — albeit slow for many people who continue to be displaced months after the breach of the Pajaro River Levee inundated their homes. Last Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved Assembly Bill 876, which allows construction on the Pajaro River Levee to bypass multiple environmental laws and regulations, which are oftentimes blamed for delaying projects throughout the state. It could shave off a year from the beginning of the main project and three years for the overall lifetime of the project, according to Zach Friend, a Santa Cruz County supervisor and a Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency Board member. … ” Read more from KSBW.
Recycled water project in Paso Robles to address groundwater issues
“Already three months into their three-year Recycled Water Distribution System Project, the City of Paso Robles is nearly complete with the first phase of a 4.5-mile pipeline called the “Salinas River Segment.” This segment is built upon a hilltop along North River Rd. Construction Inspector Matthew Natividad notes how this project differs from most others he’s come across in his two decades of experience. “It’s not difficult, it’s just complex and it’s unique. As you can see, the pipe is being installed on a hillside. It’s over 30 percent slope,” Natividad said. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bellah Ave joins Lindsay waterlines
“To avoid leaving some households just outside the city high and dry as repairs are made to pipes along city limits, the city of Lindsay is stepping up to the plate to ensure the impacted homes have access to clean water. On Oct. 10, Lindsay City Council approved a vote to share the city’s water system with homes that are found just outside the city line. This will provide water to the residents while their disintegrating underground pipes are being replaced. The seven homes on North Bellah Avenue are on the edge of the Lindsay city limits and are served by the Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District (LSID). “I think we should do this. LSID has supported us, Provost & Pritchard is a pretty reliable contractor firm. It’s seven units, why not support this?” Mayor Hipolito Cerros said at the meeting in favor of helping the households. … ” Read more from the Sun-Gazette.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Survey work begins on Salton Sea restoration project
“Engineers are busy studying the soil near the Salton Sea. This is where they’re planning on transforming more than 150 acres into a modern nature habitat. “This is one of the biggest projects, probably the biggest project, the only project that we have initiated here in the north end of the lake which is in Riverside County,” said Castulo Estrada, vice president of the Coachella Valley Water District. … ” Read more from KESQ.
SAN DIEGO
Escondido approves water rate increases over 5 years
“Escondido City Council on Wednesday voted 4-1 to increase the water rate over the next five years. City leaders say it was needed to keep the utility department financially stable. The rate increases came after the San Diego County Water Authority increased the wholesale rate by 9.5% in June. Escondido buys most of its water from the Water Authority. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
’Humans must solve the problem by lowering their water use’: Public heard in Colorado River report
“A new report released Thursday by the Bureau of Reclamation shows the wealth of public feedback officials received as they begin the process of developing new guidelines for the Colorado River, which provides water to about 40 million people in the U.S. Southwest. The “Scoping Report for Post-2026 Colorado River Reservoir Operations,” shows what federal, state and local governments, tribes, advocacy groups, individuals, and anyone with an interest in the vitally important 1,400-mile-long river are asking for when it comes to how the Colorado and its dams and reservoirs will be managed after several sets of guidelines and agreements governing its use expire at the end of 2026. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Nevada, Arizona and California commit to record-setting conservation to protect Colorado River
“The Southern Nevada Water Authority announced that the state will continue to collaborate with Arizona and California on a long-term sustainable plan for the stability of the Colorado River. According to a media release, the Bureau of Reclamation is moving the process forward to develop new operating guidelines for the Colorado River that will be in effect after 2026. To that end, the Lower Colorado River Basin states— water users in Nevada, Arizona and California—are contributing record volumes of water to Lake Mead. By the end of 2023, the Lower Basin cumulatively will have voluntarily conserved more than 1 million acre-feet—water that is being held back in Lake Mead for the benefit of the entire system over and above shortage reductions agreed to in 2007 and those of the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan. In 2023, consumptive use in the Lower Basin states is expected to be around 5.8 million acre-feet, the lowest consumptive use since 1984. … ” Read more from Channel 5.
Protecting West Slope water: Coalition eyes pricy purchase of water rights
“The Colorado River District is leading a coalition in what would be a history-making purchase involving historic water rights that are pivotal to Colorado River flows and water uses in western Colorado. The district and others in the Western Slope coalition are proposing spending potentially $98.5 million to acquire the rights from Xcel Energy for operation of the Shoshone hydroelectric power plant in Glenwood Canyon. According to the river district, Shoshone holds the most senior major water rights on the river, dating back to the early 1900s and totaling 1,408 cubic feet per second. … ” Read more from the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
In national water news today …
U.S. Winter Outlook: Wetter south, warmer north
“This year, El Nino is in place heading into winter for the first time in four years, driving the outlook for warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States, according to NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook released today by the Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service. “These outlooks provide critical guidance on the upcoming season for many industries and sectors of our economy, from energy producers to commodities markets to agricultural interests to tourism,” said Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D., NOAA chief scientist. “With a strengthening El Nino and more potential climate extremes in an already record-breaking year, we’re lucky to have scientists like those at the Climate Prediction Center helping to build a Weather and Climate-Ready Nation by providing critical operational seasonal climate predictions.” … ” Read more from NOAA.
‘Forever chemical’ bans face hard truth: many can’t be replaced
“As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of cancer-linked “forever chemicals,” many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds. Minnesota and Maine have passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly all products by the early 2030s. Dozens of other states are also considering curbing their use. And the European Union’s Chemical Agency has proposed a widespread ban. In response, Ford Motor Co. warned Maine state officials in May that “there is no commercially available technology that exists in the world today” that can replace a PFAS-containing thermoplastic used for electric vehicle batteries. Earlier this month, the US Defense Department said that banning PFAS, used in weapons systems, information technology and machinery, “would greatly impact national security,” a view echoed by the US Chamber of Commerce and other industry groups. … ” Continue reading from BNN Bloomberg.
National water and climate report …
The Natural Resources Conservation Service produces this weekly report using data and products from the National Water and Climate Center and other agencies. The report focuses on seasonal snowpack, precipitation, temperature, and drought conditions in the U.S.
dmrpt-20231019Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Public Availability of Changes to Proposed Regulations for Direct Potable Reuse (SBDDW-23-001)
