On the calendar today …
- VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Proposed Draft Emergency Information Order Regulations for the Clear Lake Watershed at 10am. State Water Board staff will hold a public workshop to receive input and answer questions on the draft regulations. The draft regulations are available online at https://waterboards.ca.gov/clearlakehitch/. Click here for the workshop notice. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: A Conversation on AI-Driven Communications for Water Agencies from 11am to 12pm. ChatGPT and generative AI have caused quite a stir in the world of creatives and communicators this year. For some, this brings trepidation, while others are excited to embrace a new tool to aid communications. But how should water agencies proceed when it comes to generative AI? What guidelines should be in place, and how can AI help with public communications efforts? Join us for a conversation with two AI/Data experts who can walk us through how AI can be used and what we can get out of it. However you feel about AI, now is the time to stay on top of this latest trend in our industry. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Wet weather bolsters a record year for water conservation by California and its neighbors
“A wet year and major conservation efforts are paying off in the short term for the Colorado River, with California, Arizona and Nevada on track to conserve a record 1 million acre-feet of water or more by the end of 2023, officials announced last week. That is an enormous amount of water: about 325 billion gallons, enough for about 333,000 households for a year. The water will stay in the badly depleted Lake Mead reservoir and not be earmarked for any one supplier to use in the future. “Extraordinary conservation and massive amounts of snow and rain combined to drop Lower Basin use of the Colorado River in 2023 to levels not seen in 40 years, providing an invaluable reprieve for the beleaguered Colorado River,” said Michael Cohen, senior associate at the Pacific Institute, a think tank focused on water. “Hopefully, negotiators will use this gift to craft long term, durable water reduction solutions to ensure that we have sufficient water for people, agriculture, and the environment in the years ahead.” … ” Read more from The Desert Sun.
The U.S. is in for a warm, wet winter with El Niño
“Temperatures are currently cooling down across the U.S., but much of the country is in for a warmer, wetter winter than usual, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in this year’s winter outlook. This has been an El Niño formation year, and now that the boy is back in town, NOAA has forecast that much of the northern half of the contiguous U.S. is going to see above-average winter temperatures. The lower half of the country is a coin toss, with equal chances of slightly below normal, near normal, or slightly above normal temperatures this winter. … ” Read more from Gizmodo.
Officials urge California residents to brace for flooding as El Niño looms
“With California facing the prospect of a second consecutive winter of heavy precipitation, state officials are urging residents to prepare for possible widespread flooding and evacuations in the coming months. Barely a year after dozens of powerful atmospheric rivers pounded the state and triggered historic flooding, state officials gathered at a muddy berm and pumping station near the Sacramento River this week to highlight the threat of flooding in a warming climate. “These flood risks are getting more intense and we’re doing more than ever to protect California from these risks,” said Wade Crowfoot, California’s natural resources secretary. More than 7 million of the state’s residents live in an area where they are at risk of flooding, officials said — and many don’t even know it. Every one of California’s 58 counties has had a flooding emergency in the last two decades. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
State, Federal, and local representatives mark California flood preparedness week to highlight the importance of flood readiness
“Extreme weather events in California in 2023 highlight the need for more awareness of flood risks in California and now is the time for all Californians to prepare for possible flooding. That was the message from state and federal agencies gathered today to show how they are joining forces to protect communities from another potential wet winter. This week marks the start of Flood Preparedness Week, which runs from October 21 to October 28, and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board gathered at the Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project in Sacramento to remind Californians of their flood risk. The project is an example of the work being done by state, federal and local partners to expand flood plains to protect communities from flooding. … ” Read more from DWR.
SEE ALSO: In Harm’s Way: How decades-old decisions to build two California prisons in a dry lakebed and a chaotic climate left 8,000 incarcerated people at risk, graphic story by Grist
Isleton aftershock downgraded to 2.9-magnitude, USGS says
“An earthquake that struck Monday morning in Sacramento County has been downgraded to a preliminary 2.9-magnitude quake, according to the United States Geological Survey. The USGS later said the quake is considered to have been an aftershock to a 4.2 quake that struck the region last week. The quake happened around 7:42 a.m. near Isleton. USGS initially reported its depth as 4.97 miles, but that has since been updated to a depth of 8.1 miles. There were no immediate reports of damage. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: Sacramento County town prepares for sewage seepage, more earthquakes, from CBS Sacramento
DWR News: Recent delta earthquakes a reminder of why modernizing our water infrastructure is vitally important
“News of yet another earthquake in the heart of the Delta in the last week is a serious reminder about the importance of modernizing and protecting water supply infrastructure. In a report by CBS News last week, Austin Elliott with the US Geological Survey (USGS) said that “a very large earthquake, centered near the Delta, would pose a particularly significant threat to both protective systems that the levees provide, as well as the water distribution and intake systems.” … The Delta Conveyance Project is meant to help the State Water Project guard against these seismic threats. … ” Read more from DWR.
The Delta National Heritage Area takes shape
“The Delta Reform Act and Delta Plan both emphasize the importance of designating the Delta under the National Heritage Area program. This designation aims to protect and enhance the unique cultural, historical, recreational, agricultural, and economic values of the Delta as a place, in alignment with the coequal goals. In 2019, federal legislation established the National Heritage Area, and since then, the Delta Protection Commission has been working on developing a management plan. The plan outlines the significance and purpose of the National Heritage Area, as well as the activities that the Commission and its regional partners will undertake over the next 10 to 15 years. The plan must be submitted by March 12, 2024, five years after the designation, and approved by the Secretary of the Interior. At the September meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Protection Commission Program Manager Blake Roberts shared the progress made as they near completion of the draft management plan. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
California irrigation bills 50/50 for signature into law
“For California, a mixed bag of results on irrigation regulation has occurred with the signature of Assembly Bill 1572 into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom, while Assembly Bill 1573 was ordered to the inactive file by the state’s Senate. The two bills each had different aims to address conservation measures in California and targeted various irrigation methods as a means of advancing that effort. AB1573 was ordered to inactive file at the request of Sen. Henry Stern, D-California, in early September. The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, published a letter in June that expressed deep concern with the bill. The legislation would have prohibited the use of traditional overhead sprinklers, defined as including ”spray sprinkler nozzles with application rate greater than 1.0 inch per hour,” in new or rehabilitated landscapes. Additionally, the bill would’ve mandated the use of “water-efficient irrigation devices” in those spaces. … ” Read more from Irrigation & Lighting.
AI-powered enumeration and monitoring of wild salmon
“Frontiers in Marine Science released the first results of a novel salmon population monitoring tool developed by scientists and natural resource managers from Canadian First Nations, governments, academic institutions, and conservation groups. “Salmon Vision,” a game-changing new technology, merges artificial intelligence with age-old fishing weir technology. Early evaluations reveal that it is exceptionally effective at detecting and counting fish species, possibly allowing managers of fisheries to monitor salmon populations in real time…. ” Read more from AZO Robotics.
Are beavers always the answer? Not really
“Beavers, through their assiduous dam building, can recharge groundwater and provide habitat for fish and wildlife. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, managers are bringing back beaver as part of trout and salmon management. “God bless beavers and their industrious nature,” writes Trout Unlimited’s Idaho-based Chris Hunt in Hatch magazine. “They make habitat for the fish we love, and opportunities to catch them.” True enough, in Idaho. But the notion, ubiquitous in America, that all beavers everywhere are a panacea for what ails an ecosystem is misinformed. Yes, beavers are beneficial — in the right places. In the wrong places — watersheds degraded by humans — they’re a scourge. The environmental community and the public tend to have trouble grasping these two realities simultaneously. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Ally.
California lets companies keep ‘dangerous’ oil wells unplugged forever
“A new California law just signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom aims to close loopholes that have allowed oil drillers to walk away from wells that are no longer profitable but remain harmful. Oil majors have typically sold wells to smaller companies without paying to plug the wells, essentially sealing them off. Under the new law, buyers will have to put up a cleanup bond before regulators approve the sale. But while the Orphan Well Prevention Act will help reduce the number of abandoned and orphaned wells — currently around 5,300 — industry watchers said it does little to address the looming issue of wells that remain dormant indefinitely, some of which leak climate-warming methane and toxic fumes. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
Then and now with Jerry Brown
“If you’re a California governor, going to China is almost a rite of passage at this point. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who’s there this week to talk climate, is following in the footsteps of former Govs. Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who also sought to leverage California’s economic and cultural might to bridge geopolitical gaps on climate change. But a lot has changed in the past five years since Brown left office. We talked to Brown, who has made a second career of fostering climate ties with China as chair of UC Berkeley’s California-China Climate Institute, about what Newsom should expect on his trip this week. … ” Read more from Politico.
In commentary today …
Who will champion California’s desert parks and water as Dianne Feinstein did?
Hans Johnson, president of Progressive Victory, writes, “Just off the main road to Joshua Tree, where San Bernardino and Riverside counties meet, lies a beautiful anomaly. The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is an unexpectedly lush and leafy sanctuary, bustling with birds and four-legged creatures – for two major reasons: Natural springs nourish this oasis with water, and it’s a protected national parkland. The humble signage at this sanctuary contains no picture of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. But it could. No one did more than Feinstein, who died last month at age 90, to make extraordinary places throughout the Mojave Desert off-limits to development. Three national parks and three national monuments stretching over 12 million acres of inland Southern California bear witness to her 30 years of work to preserve these rugged landscapes from plunder. But as any park ranger or biologist would caution, park designation is not the ultimate safeguard. The underground water that replenishes the pools at Big Morongo feeds other springs in the Mojave. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Column: Why conservatives hate the Endangered Species Act
LA Times columnist Michael Hiltzik writes, “The removal of a species from the government’s endangered species list is often a cause for celebration, as it means a plant or animal variety has somehow beaten the odds and recovered from its parlous condition. That’s not the case for 21 animal species just delisted from the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They’re being taken off the list because they have moved in the opposite direction. They’ve gone extinct. The latest list is a slight reduction from the agency’s original proposed delisting of 23 animal and one plant species in 2021; the removals were of a woodpecker that the government isn’t sure has gone extinct, though it hasn’t been seen in the wild since 1944, and a Hawaiian herb for which a suitable habitat has been discovered. But both plainly are on borrowed time. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Supreme Court’s Sackett vs. EPA ruling restores reasonable state control over water
Charles T. “Chuck” Gibson, an elected Director on the Board of the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) and Chair of the SMWD Finance and Administration Committee, writes, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that changes to its “Waters of the United States” rule (otherwise known as WOTUS) that regulates “navigable waters” under the Clean Water Act became final September 8, 2023. Those changes are based on the recent Sackett v EPA decision at the Supreme Court. The decision provides “clarity for protecting our nation’s waters consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision while advancing infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and agricultural activities.” The Biden Administration expressed disappointment with the court ruling, but they recognized their obligation to change the rules. … Not surprisingly, the Supreme Court’s decision has been reported as a victory for property rights on the one hand and, on the other hand, an undesirable ‘rolling back’ of environmental protections. There is, however, widespread agreement in the California water sector that the Supreme Court’s decision is a more balanced step in the right direction. … ” Continue reading at the OC Register.
SEE ALSO: Experts weigh effects of Sackett case, from the Progressive Farmer
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Ashley Falls water quality project area to be restored after city contractor error
“Residents in the Ashley Falls neighborhood were surprised last month when all of the landscaping in the water quality project in their community was removed, leaving behind an expensive dirt hole with cut-back weeds. After sounding an alarm to the city, the area’s vegetation will be restored. The city’s $650,000 water quality project was completed in 2020 after two years of construction, transforming the corner of Carmel Knolls and Pearlman Way. The project included the installation of three reinforced concrete storm drain pipes and a shallow biofiltration basin, meant to improve water quality in stormwater runoff, and prevent pollutants from getting into the Los Peñasquitos Creek subwatershed. As part of the project, the city included community benefits such as a walking trail through the area. More than just aesthetic value, the vegetation helps to filter runoff before it flows back into the storm drain system. … ” Read more from the Del Mar Times.
California’s first wave-powered desalination plant underway in Fort Bragg
“Since almost completely running out of water in 2015, and again in 2021, the City of Fort Bragg is working to make sure it stays ahead of any future droughts by investing in desalination. “We stopped allowing people to wash dishes and had them use paper products and things like that, just disposable plates and things like that. So it was very serious at that time,” Director of Public Works for the City of Fort Bragg John Smith said. He says part of the reason why Fort Bragg was so impacted by the droughts is because there are no groundwater sources within the city. “If we don’t have the aquifer or the streams and those types of things flowing, then we just run out of water,” Smith said. … ” Read more from KRCR.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
More heat waves and vanishing snow: The Lake Tahoe basin’s future on a warming planet
“Lake Tahoe is known for its crystal-clear blue water, scenic mountain backdrop, and world-class recreation opportunities. Unfortunately, the lake and surrounding basin aren’t insulated from global climate change. Although the effects of rising atmospheric greenhouse gases can already be seen in the more frequent and intense wildfires, unpredictable snow seasons, and temperatures that creep ever higher, scientists and resource managers need the best possible projections for where, and how, the region will transform over time. This information can help communities to prepare by prioritizing restoration areas and infrastructure that can buffer the impacts. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
Projects improving the South Lake Tahoe environment
“Partners of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program provided a webinar update on multiple projects improving South Lake’s environment on Wednesday night, Oct. 18. The environmental webinar was open to anyone who wanted to attend and learn how the EIP is working to prepare the region for climate resilience and restore the environment from previous threats. “Tahoe has faced many environmental threats over the years,” said Victoria Ortiz, Community Engagement Manager for Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, “We have contended with historical logging, development, and grazing, which all caused Tahoe’s famous clarity to plummet over the years.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Great Wolf uses ‘purple water’ to water landscape
“Great Wolf is the first — and only — user of treated waste water for landscaping in Manteca. And — as Manteca looks at ways to make more efficient use of water resources — it won’t be the last. Manteca has taken a slow approach to putting together a purple pipe distribution system to take advantage of the high level of treated water that comes from the city’s wastewater treatment facility. For years, the water has been used on city property adjacent to the treatment plant where a farmer has leased the acreage to irrigate corn grown for silage for use at local dairies. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Major project completed to reduce flooding risk in the Sacramento region
“The Sacramento region has finalized another project in its centuries long battle with devastating floodwaters with the completion of the Lower Elkhorn Basin Levee Setback Project along the Sacramento River. The seven mile and $280 million project will allow the California Department of Water Resources to divert more water from the Sacramento River into the Yolo Bypass when high water flow is detected. According to CDWR, this project will help reduce flood risks for nearly 800,000 people living in Yolo and Sacramento counties. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
BAY AREA
Bay Area weather: Last day of seasonal warmth before big changes
“Impacts of Sunday’s rain continue to linger around the Bay Area, as patchy dense fog is possible around the inland valleys Tuesday morning. Wet ground from the recent rain, combined with long, clear October nights, will lead to areas of morning fog around the Bay Area, particularly in the North Bay. However, dry air is expected to move toward Central California on Tuesday, potentially limiting just how much fog forms away from the wind-sheltered inland valleys. … A cold front will approach Northern California on Wednesday, dropping highs into the 60s across the Bay Area and raising the chance of snow showers in the Sierra Nevada. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
An unusual phenomenon at Oakland’s Lake Merritt is baffling experts
“At first, it looked like there was just one. And then there was another — and another, and another, and another. The ripples, which suddenly appeared on the surface of Lake Merritt in October, have been observed for weeks now — and multiple experts in the Bay Area still can’t discern what’s causing them. Damon Tighe, a local biotech educator who’s been studying Lake Merritt’s organisms for the past 20 years, says there are a few theories that could explain the mysterious ripples: one, that the lake has low oxygen, forcing small fish to rise to the surface, and two, that sardines or inland silversides are preying on zooplankton, resulting in a mass feeding event. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
New firm assumes control of drinking water system in Santa Cruz Mountains
“Silver & Wright LLP has been appointed to assume possession and control of Big Basin Water Co. following the Santa Cruz County Superior Court’s approval of a receivership request by the State Water Resources Control Board. The privately-owned drinking water system in the Santa Cruz mountains previously operated by Big Basin Water Co. has allegedly been plagued by water outages, chronic supply shortfalls and substandard infrastructure, the State Water Board said in a news release Thursday. 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. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Big Basin Water Co. operator announces abrupt departure, from the Santa Cruz Sentinel
Elkhorn Slough Reserve receives state funding to combat climate damage
“A celebration for $1 million of state funding for the Elkhorn Slough climate resiliency project was held Monday. The grant was secured by California State Assembly Member Dawn Addis and California State Sen. John Laird, who both understand that Highway 1 will be increasingly impacted by coastal storm flooding and sea level rise. “We know that sea level rise is going to hit it. We know that the highway is already a bottleneck,” Sen. Laird said. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Salinas River is ‘not ready’ for possible upcoming rain; Ag leaders fear repeat of floods
“The National Weather Service is ramping up their operations this week as we enter into the winter season. “We’re in good shape to start the year,” says Dalton Behringer of the National Weather Service. Because of the atmospheric rivers from earlier this year, the drought is nearly nonexistent and reservoir levels are above average. As El Niño gains strength, many assume that automatically means an excessively wet winter, but KSBW’s Chief Meteorologist Lee Solomon says not all El Niños are created equal. … ” Read more from KSBY.
Biden-Harris administration announces $76 million WIFIA loan to strengthen climate resilience in northern Monterey County
“Today, at an event near Marina, California, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox joined City of Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson and other local officials to announce a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Monterey One Water. This $76 million loan will expand existing water reuse capacity from 5 million gallons per day to 7.6 million gallons per day while ensuring residents and businesses in the surrounding areas have a climate resilient water supply. Since its creation, EPA’s WIFIA program has announced $19 billion in financing to support 113 projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure and creating tens of thousands of jobs. “Congratulations to Monterey One Water for securing this $76 million WIFIA loan to expand water reuse. This project will provide vital drinking water and strengthen nearby water resources—including the Carmel River and the Seaside Groundwater Basin—while creating family-supporting jobs,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox. … ” Read more from the US EPA.
SEE ALSO: A boost for local recycled water, from the Monterey Herald
Clean energy, cherished waters and a sacred California rock caught in the middle
Lauren Sloss writes, “I’m on a paddle around the fish-hook-shaped Morro Bay, where sailboats bob between a working fishing port and an 800-acre wetland, near the small seaside city with the same name on California’s Central Coast. But I’m mostly here to learn more about the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, a yearslong effort spearheaded by the Northern Chumash, a tribe that has inhabited this coastline for thousands of years. The 7,573-square-mile sanctuary would include 156 miles of coastline between the towns of Cambria and Gaviota and link the Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries to the north and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to the south, creating a chain of conservation of more than 20,000 square miles. The new designation would limit offshore oil drilling, acoustic underwater testing and other activities in the area, while providing funding for research and protection to numerous Chumash sacred sites, both on and offshore. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Proposed California marine sanctuary would protect vast area
“A beautiful and ecologically rich stretch of the California coast is about to get major protection: a new national marine sanctuary that would preserve 5,617 square miles of the ocean along the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County coast. The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary also aims to honor the Indigenous people who have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years. President Joe Biden recently endorsed it, and if finalized it will be the first marine sanctuary nominated by Indigenous groups and the first in California in 30 years. The sanctuary’s proposed boundaries and even its name, both sources of controversy among some tribal groups, are not yet final, and the public can still make comments on the draft proposal through Wednesday. After public review is complete, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hopes to have a final designation for the sanctuary by summer. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Santa Barbara County funds replacement system for Leaky Toro Canyon oil well
“Santa Barbara County plans to pay $3.72 million to replace a troubled oil-water-separator system in Toro Canyon, and the Board of Supervisors approved a large construction contract for the project last week. This issue goes back to the 1880s, when Occidental Mining and Petroleum Co. built a natural seepage well and an oil-water-separator system in the Carpinteria-Summerland area. Public agencies “retrofitted” the system after a 3,000-gallon oil spill in the 1990s, according to the county. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
New SoCal water bank improves water supply reliability for millions
“After three years of construction, the first stage of a critical new groundwater storage project is complete and water is flowing into storage, significantly increasing Southern California’s water supply reliability in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency celebrated the key milestone today. The High Desert Water Bank, a partnership between the two agencies, allows Metropolitan to store State Water Project supplies in the Antelope Valley groundwater basin. At 280,000 acre-feet, the water bank’s capacity is comparable in size to Castaic Lake, nearly double the size of Lake Perris and four times the capacity of Big Bear Lake. “This investment makes all our communities better prepared for the weather extremes that we increasingly confront,” Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said. “We know that climate change will bring more of the dramatic swings between wet and dry that we saw over the last few years, so we must take every opportunity to store water when it is available. The great news is, we completed this work in time to take advantage of this historically wet year.” … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
Phase One of long-awaited high desert water bank unveiled in Antelope Valley area
“After three years of construction, water officials announced on Monday, Oct. 23, the completion of the first stage of a groundwater storage project they say will “significantly increase” Southern California’s water supply in the face of a “rapidly changing climate.” Officials from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency gathered in Lancaster to celebrate the High Desert Water Bank, which will allow Metropolitan to store water from the State Water Project in the Antelope Valley groundwater basin. … “This investment makes all our communities better prepared for the weather extremes that we increasingly confront,” Adán Ortega Jr., MWD board chair, said during a ceremony Monday morning. “We know that climate change will bring more of the dramatic swings between wet and dry that we saw over the last few years, so we must take every opportunity to store water when it is available. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
CPP experts discuss the impact of LA County’s Trash Interceptor
“The Los Angeles County Ballona Creek Trash Interceptor collected over 85 tons of trash from the Ballona Creek since its deployment October 2022, according to the latest data from L.A. County, catching the attention of sustainability-minded students and faculty at CPP. Interested in the project’s developments, Cal Poly Pomona students and experts discussed the positive and negative implications of this project for L.A. County and the future of their ocean cleanup efforts. Rey Reynaldo, publicity chair for the CPP California Water Environment Association – American Water Works Association and civil engineering student, praised The Ocean Cleanup for helping L.A. County reach its goal by engineering the new project to appropriately solve the trash issue. “Looking at the efforts that the Ocean Cleanup is making toward engineering designs and implementing them internationally is inspiring,” Reynaldo said. “I feel that this accomplishment deserves to be recognized, and it serves to inspire our youth to help support this cause.” … ” Read more from the Poly Post.
Rain is falling in parts of Southern California. How long will it last?
“Days after an unseasonably warm October heat wave, light rain is falling in parts of Southern California and could last through the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Light showers are expected to last in the San Gabriel Mountains and foothills into Monday afternoon, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Oxnard office. Rainfall amounts are expected to be around a quarter of an inch total; about a tenth of an inch had already fallen Monday morning. There’s also some light rain in the coastal areas of Orange County. Temperatures are expected to be cooler than normal, and ranging in the 70s, with some on-and-off clouds, Kittell said. Beyond Monday, there isn’t much rain in the forecast for the rest of the week. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
With $32 million state grant, Los Cerritos Wetlands can begin restoration
“Following a decade of advocacy and planning, the Los Cerritos Wetland Authority (LCWA) received a grant of $32 million to finally begin restoring the natural environment. The grant will go toward the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, focusing on 103 acres spanning through Long Beach and Orange County which has largely gone underappreciated and until recently, unfunded. “It’s very happy news, and good news on the environment is not as common as I wish it would be,” said Elizabeth Lambe, executive director of the LCWA. The Los Cerritos Wetlands Complex makes up 500 acres, which is all that remains of the 2,400-acre historic wetland system that used to go through parts of Los Angeles, the San Gabriel River and Orange County. Most of the land has been lost to housing and commercial developments, oil drilling and public infrastructures. … ” Read more from the Signal Tribune.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
New sensor in the Salton Sea monitors contaminants that cause unpleasant odors
“A new sensor installed above the Salton Sea will help researchers study the sea’s impact on air quality in the Coachella Valley. Local non-profit “Alianza Coachella Valley” partnered with the East Valley community and academic institutions – -including UCLA — to deploy this air quality sensor directly above the water. The project is meant to address local concerns about the sea’s air and water quality — measuring any pollutants produced by the sea. This includes hydrogen sulfide — which creates that “rotten egg” smell many valley residents are familiar with. … ” Read more from KESQ.
SAN DIEGO
What water bill relief could look like for San Diego
“Let’s call it what it is – San Diego has a cost of water crisis. All the things San Diego built to get water and keep it here is pushing up the price of this key molecule with little sign of it dropping. The Escondido City Council just OK’d an 8 percent increase in January, triggering outrage from locals, reports KPBS. The city of San Diego jacked up rates almost 20 percent through 2025. The conductor of this breakaway train is the San Diego County Water Authority, which brings in water from big sources and sells it to places like Escondido and San Diego. It recently passed on a 9.5 percent price mark-up to its 24 customer water districts. A couple of those districts are so peeved, they’re hoping to leave San Diego entirely for cheaper water elsewhere. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
‘Scoping’ results show new Colorado River rules will face a range of demands
“A new federal government report shows Colorado River states are aiming to agree on a plan to cut back on water, but remain divided about how to share the shrinking supply among tens of millions across the Southwest. The Bureau of Reclamation on Thursday released the results of its two-month summer “scoping” process, gathered input from states, environmental groups, tribes and others with a stake in the river’s future. Those comments will be used to draft the Environmental Impact Statement, likely by the end of this year, outlining the plan for the amount of water released from major reservoirs. “There’s consensus that there needs to be an ability to operate the system more sustainably for the future, that hydrology may lead to drier conditions, and that there needs to be an understanding between supply and demand,” Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton said of the report’s findings. How exactly to bridge that supply-demand gap, though, is the question. … ” Read more from Cronkite News.
What does ‘doing more’ to save Lake Mead look like, long term? We’re about to find out
Columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “It’s widely agreed that the rules we set nearly 20 years ago to protect Lake Powell and Lake Mead didn’t go far enough. The shortage tiers we created for Lake Mead weren’t big or aggressive enough to keep the lakes from falling to dangerously low levels. And while a wet winter (plus efforts to temporarily pay folks not to use water) may have bought time for the nation’s largest water reservoirs, we still haven’t fixed the long-term problem, which is that we are still using more water than the Colorado River can reliably produce. But how far will we go to solve it? We’re about to find out. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Blue Mesa still part of the mix as federal managers plot ways to keep water levels at Lake Powell from falling too low
“The Bureau of Reclamation is keeping the option open to use reservoirs, including Blue Mesa in Colorado, to stabilize Lake Mead and Lake Powell if their water levels fall dangerously low. The rules that govern how water is stored and released at lakes Mead and Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the Colorado River Basin, are set to expire in 2026. The federal government, basin states, Mexico and 30 tribal nations are navigating high-stakes negotiations in a multi-year effort to establish new rules. Colorado water officials argued for the feds to take Blue Mesa and its two sister reservoirs, Navajo and Flaming Gorge, off the negotiating table — especially if releases end up supporting excessive water use in the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, California and Nevada. But Reclamation is still considering several options that could include the reservoirs in future Colorado River operations, according to a 389-page scoping summary released Thursday. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Scientists sound alarm as Earth reaches uncharted territory with climate change
“International scientists reissued a global warning about climate change Tuesday with a new study highlighting how several climate-related records have been shattered since 2021, particularly those involving ocean temperatures, sea ice and Canada’s wildfire season just this year. The new study in BioScience comes from an international team of scientists led by Oregon State University professor of ecology William Ripple and former Oregon State postdoctoral researcher Christopher Wolf — the same two researchers that conducted an analysis in 2020 listing 35 vital signs to track climate change. In that study, researchers declared a climate emergency that has since garnered signatures from over 15,000 scientists in 111 countries. For their newest article, however, the authors compare how Earth’s vital signs have fared since 2021, finding that 20 of these indicators are now at record extremes and that little progress has been made to combat climate change. … ” Continue reading at the Courthouse News Service.
Human-caused warming now a major factor in formation of El Niño
“A new study finds that climate change has become a significant factor in the formation of El Niños. During El Niño, warm waters pool in the eastern Pacific and radiate heat into the air, leading to hotter weather across much of the globe. A strong El Niño is now taking shape and, according to NOAA, there is a 99 percent chance that 2023 will be the hottest year ever recorded. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
