On the calendar today …
- EVENT: 2023 Delta Invasive Species Symposium from 8:30 to 4:15pm. The biennial Symposium is a forum for Delta managers, researchers, and decision-makers to meet, share and synthesize information, and communicate best practices and lessons learned. The Symposium theme this year is “Making Connections: Understanding Connectivity in an Invaded Estuary.” Presentations will focus on how connections within and among estuaries impact invasive species movement, how connectivity of different types can both help and hinder invasive species control, and how making connections among disciplines, policies, and actors is critical to effective invasive species management. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Estuaries past, present and future: Using elevations and historical maps to characterize estuarine habitats across 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves from 11am to 12pm. Estuaries are coastal gems. To protect and restore them, we need a clear understanding of exactly where they are, where they were, and where they could be in the future. A team led by the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) recently completed an ambitious effort to map estuarine habitat in and around the 30 NERRs. They used a powerful combination of NOAA resources for elevation and tidal datums to map the reach of tides, historical topographic sheets generated by NOAA’s predecessor agency to map past habitat distributions, and compared this to mapping from USFWS’s National Wetland Inventory (NWI). Elevation-based mapping revealed that estuary extent is greater than currently mapped in NWI. At more than two-thirds of the Reserves, the team detected tidal forests missed by NWI. Comparison of historical maps to NWI revealed dramatically greater loss of tidal wetland extent on the Pacific coast than in other regions. The results of this investigation suggest that multiple mapping methods complement each other and should be integrated to provide a more accurate understanding of estuaries—past, present and future. Register: https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_33F-LjrSQpW6qE_1062QiA
- WEBINAR: Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Wildlife and Strategies to Mitigate Them from 2pm to 3:30pm. Join us for an exploration of the intriguing ramifications of artificial light at night on species, habitats, and ecosystems. This lecture will delve into the far-reaching consequences of our illuminated nightscape, shedding light on how it affects the behavior, physiology, and ecological interactions of diverse organisms, from nocturnal wildlife to plants and their pollinators. Discover how understanding and mitigating light pollution is necessary for the management of natural landscapes, reserves, and connectivity. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
NCA5: Drought and climate change in 10 maps
“The Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) represents the latest science in assessing changes in the climate, its national and regional impacts, and options to reduce present and future risk. Every five years, the U.S. Global Change Research Program releases a new National Climate Assessment. The newest assessment, NCA5, is a resource to understand how drought will change as the climate changes, how we can adapt, and how future droughts might impact your region and livelihood. Check out these 10 maps and graphics to learn more about drought in a changing climate. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
New report on drought assessment in a changing climate
“According to the American Meteorological Society (AMS), drought is defined as “a period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently long enough to cause a serious hydrological imbalance. To assess “abnormally dry weather,” there needs to be a standard of “normal” to act as a comparison. However, establishing what time period should be used to constitute “normal” is not straightforward. In a changing climate, past human experience is not always an indication of what to expect in the future. The changing climate is causing the probability of extreme events, like drought, to change, a phenomenon known statistically as “non-stationarity.”Non-stationarity poses new challenges that include identifying the differences between permanent change (e.g., trends towards wetter or drier conditions) and temporary anomalies from normal conditions (e.g., drought). To address these challenges, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and USDA Climate Hubs released the report, Drought Assessment in a Changing Climate: Priority Actions and Research Needs. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
How California’s reservoirs will change after atmospheric river hits
“California will escape much of the rainfall from an incoming atmospheric river, but the storm will still benefit some of the state’s reservoirs. An atmospheric river is forecast to saturate much of the Pacific Northwest over the next week. An atmospheric river is a “long, narrow region in the atmosphere—like rivers in the sky— that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). More than a dozen similar storms battered California last winter, and although the deluge alleviated much of the state’s drought, it also wreaked havoc through flooding and mudslides. The incoming storm could bring up to 2 inches of rain to two of the state’s northern lakes. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Press release: Environmental, fishing, and community organizations petition California and feds to protect SF Bay white sturgeon under endangered species laws
“Today, San Francisco Baykeeper, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, the Bay Institute, and Restore the Delta petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the California white sturgeon as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act. Separately, these groups petitioned Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and NOAA Fisheries to list the San Francisco Bay population of white sturgeon as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. San Francisco Bay and its watershed are home to the only known reproductive population of white sturgeon in California. Excessive freshwater diversions, regular overfishing, and recent algal outbreaks in the Bay have decimated the population. Immediate action is necessary to protect this fish, already categorized as a species of special concern in California, as well as its habitat. “White sturgeon have been around for about 46 million years,” said Baykeeper science director Jon Rosenfield, PhD. “They are the ultimate survivors, but the Bay’s population might not survive into the next generation because of neglect from government agencies that are supposed to protect our Bay and its fishes. … ” Read more from the Baykeeper.
SEE ALSO: Alliance of enviro, sporting groups want white sturgeon listed as endangered, from the Daily Republic
Status of winter run chinook salmon in the Sacramento River – A poor 2023 run
“The latest carcass count survey indicates another near-record low-run of winter-run salmon in the upper Sacramento River in 2023 (Figure 1). Most of the spawning occurred in June and July 2023 (Figure 2). The official total winter-run escapement includes hatchery returns, Battle Creek counts, and fishery harvest, but is not available yet for 2023 (Figure 3). The low 2023 spawning census count can be directly attributable to broodyear 2020’s poor spawning, incubation, rearing and emigration conditions in below normal water years 2020 and critically dry year 2021. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
Veteran firefighters’ ‘forever chemical’ exposures remain unrecognized by the VA
“In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the armed forces began employing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) on many U.S. military bases, a fire-extinguishing solution designed by the Navy in collaboration with 3M to quickly snuff out difficult blazes. The foam’s remarkable surfactant qualities were the result of the per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within, a class of over 12,000 synthetic carbon-fluorine compounds whose molecular strength prevents natural decay, earning them the unofficial name of “forever chemicals.” The first formulations primarily included two PFAS subtypes, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS).While the foam’s manufacturers upheld their stance that both compounds were inert ingredients, internal corporate documents going back decades show that not only were they aware of potential health hazards, they also withheld this information from federal authorities and the general public. … ” Continue reading from Monterey Weekly.
Experts discuss wildfire mitigation efforts in California at water agencies conference
“The Association of California water Agencies (ACWA) kicked off its two-day 2023 Fall Conference and Expo at the Renaissance Esmeralda and Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells today. The event brought together local water agency leaders from throughout California for updates, analyses, and perspectives on multiple water-related issues affecting every part of the state. Wildfire preparedness was the focus of one panel discussion, which highlighted the importance of access to funding for local communities. “When we talk about food, when we talk about housing, when we talk about water — wildfire is one of those common threads,” according to California State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil. … ” Read more from KESQ.
Residents sound off about billionaire-backed ‘tech utopia’
“The public got its first chance to sound off face-to-face with the backers of a billionaire-funded plan to build a new city in southeastern Solano County about how such a development would impact their community. Vallejo residents said they worry about the proposed city in the surrounding region and gobble up arable land. They also cast doubt on the developer’s promise that the master-planned city would bring lasting jobs to nearby communities. Residents made their voices heard at a town hall Wednesday, the first of its kind meeting held by the backers of the development billed as the “California Forever” city. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard.
Why do small changes in global temperature matter so much?
“Scientists are warning us that even comparatively small changes in average temperature may have disastrous results. If you turn up your thermostat 2 ºC (about 3.6 ºF), the difference may be noticeable but it’s no big deal. So why is that a scary increase in global temperatures? Some reasons are physical, particularly the difference between being one degree below freezing versus one degree above. But another key reason is that we’ve finely tuned our society to a specific climate regime, which is abruptly changing. In the natural world, there are generalists species that do pretty well in a wide variety of settings and specialist species that are finally tuned to a specific setting. Homo sapiens is a generalist species — but are our current physical and social infrastructure is finely tuned for a very specific climate regime. Climate change upsets the applecart, disrupting entrenched adaptations to the physical world. … ” Read more from Legal Planet.
In commentary today …
Artificial intelligence saves water and electricity, and boosts profits
Carlos Gaitan, CEO and Co-founder of San Diego, CA-based Benchmark Labs, writes, “Every day, I see a remarkable new technology at work. Our company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software provides stunningly accurate weather data to farmers, energy companies, and landowners, helping them use less water, electricity, and fertilizer. Thanks to AI, they are reducing costs and actually generating more revenue, and in doing so, they save natural resources, leave more water for more farmers and factories, and help us meet the challenges of climate change. I know firsthand how AI can be a source of resilience and optimism. Unfortunately, it seems that media stories focus only on AI’s risks, not its power to solve problems and improve society. I’m worried that this negative attention could lead more people to fear AI or government overregulation, limiting AI’s tremendous positive potential. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Juvenile coho salmon observed above former dam site on Cedar Creek, tributary to South Fork Eel River
“Located in northern Mendocino County, Cedar Creek is an important cold-water tributary to the South Fork Eel River. But since the late 1940s a dam had been in place to supply water to a now defunct fish hatchery. The Cedar Creek hatchery dam, only a few hundred feet from the South Fork Eel River, impeded fish access to most of the creek’s prime habitat. In 2022, CalTrout and our partners removed this dam on Cedar Creek, increasing access to approximately nine miles of high-quality habitat previously inaccessible to juvenile salmon and steelhead. In an exciting development, CalTrout staff observed juvenile coho salmon in Cedar Creek above the former dam site. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Will it snow in Tahoe this week? Here’s the forecast
“A cold front is set to sweep through the Sierra Nevada this week, bringing wintry weather and fresh powder to the region’s ski resorts. With the snowline expected to drop below 4,000 feet, ski enthusiasts can anticipate a dusting of fresh snow around Yosemite Valley, a couple of inches at Mammoth Lakes and up to a foot around Lake Tahoe. Winter storm conditions are likely to take hold in the Sierra Nevada starting Thursday afternoon. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Nevada County releases staff report on Rise Grass Valley’s vested rights petition ahead of December 13 hearing
“Nevada County released the staff report today responding to Rise Grass Valley’s Vested Rights Petition to conduct mining operations at the Idaho Maryland Mine. The County released the staff report ahead of the upcoming Special Meeting of the Board of Supervisors scheduled for December 13. Staff are recommending that the Board make the following finding: 1) that mining operations on the subject property that the Petitioner is seeking a finding of vested rights were abandoned as early as 1956; and 2) neither the Petitioner nor any other party has a vested right to mine on the subject property. At the meeting, the Board will hear presentations from Planning Department staff and Rise Grass Valley, followed by public comment and Board deliberation. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Local farmer concerned over confusion caused by EPA’s new water guidelines
“A local farmer says the newly updated guidelines around the Clean Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency are causing confusion, and leaving them fearful they could stumble into a fine or worse. The US Supreme Court ruled this summer the EPA had to establish clear guidelines on what private land the regulations of the newly updated Clean Water Act would be applied to. In response, the EPA put out new guidelines to conform to the court’s decision in September, called the ‘Waters of the US’. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Local agencies undergo flood fight training
“More than 40 people from six local agencies came together this week to practice flood fighting techniques in Yuba County, the Yuba Water Agency said on Wednesday. “We take very seriously our responsibility of operating these local levees – which are stronger than ever – and staying current on flood fighting techniques is an important part of preparedness,” said Patrick Meagher, general manager of Reclamation District 784, in a statement. “It’s also a great opportunity to reconnect with other local agencies, which helps strengthen these partnerships ahead of high-water events.” … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
Yolo Bypass project gets federal infrastructure funds
“A $2.5 million grant has been awarded to the state Department of Water Resources to design a berm removal project to create floodplain and tidal marsh habitat in the Yolo Bypass. It is part of $144 million in grants awarded toward 109 projects in 31 states through the National Coastal Resilience Fund by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The funding source is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Other project partners include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Defense, Shell USA, TransRe, Oxy and Salesforce. “This year’s grant slate continues our significant investments in nature-based solutions that are critical to increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities and protecting and restoring essential habitats for fish and wildlife,” Jeff Trandahl, executive director and chief executive officer of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District develops five-year strategic plan
“Marin Municipal Water District officials unveiled details this week of a proposed watershed stewardship goal designed to focus on restoration efforts, wildfire preparedness, recreation and facility maintenance. The goal is among several that the district is packaging into a five-year strategic plan. Other goals include water supply, creating a resilient water system, fiscal responsibility and organizational excellence. While the strategic plan is a working draft, staff is breaking out discussions on each of these topic areas for discussion with the board of the directors. An update was presented at a special meeting on Monday. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
East Bay water company’s efforts lead to Chinook salmon spawning in record numbers
“California’s severe drought had a disastrous effect on many parts of the environment but nowhere more serious than on the native Chinook salmon population. The iconic fish now faces the threat of extinction. But in one small river in the Central Valley, the salmon are spawning in record numbers thanks to the efforts of an East Bay water company. Most have never heard of the Mokelumne River in San Joaquin County — I’s not very big. But for Chinook salmon, the place is very important. As EBMUD’s Fisheries and Wildlife Manager, Michelle Workman is accustomed to being out on the Mokelumne. But what she’s seeing these days is even hard for her to believe. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
Storms caused $41m damage to Zone 7 channels
“The Zone 7 Water Agency estimates it will cost $41 million over the next five years to repair 177 flood channel sites that were damaged during last winter’s heavy storms. The water agency’s board began to address the issue during its Nov. 15 meeting, which included a 5-0 vote to spend an initial $6.1 million of that price tag on design and permitting services to begin the repair process. “We have applied to the local, federal and state agencies for public assistance,” said Jeff Tang, Zone 7 associate civil engineer. “However, we’re not quite sure when that response will be addressed…It is likely that we will be partially reimbursed for the design and environmental permitting that we need to begin the work on.” … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Barbara County Water Resources, District Attorney settle Toro Canyon oil spill case
“Santa Barbara County’s Water Resources Division pleaded guilty to criminal charges and agreed to pay $750,000 in civil penalties Wednesday related to oil spills from the troubled Toro Canyon oil-water-separator system. After months of litigation over the system, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and the county reached a settlement and filed the criminal case and civil judgment this week to enact it. “The settlement was already in place at the point in time that we filed the complaint,” District Attorney John Savrnoch told Noozhawk on Wednesday. The statute of limitations for the criminal charges was coming up, which affected the settlement discussions timeline, he added. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
EASTERN SIERRA
CDFW takes steps to return land to California tribe
“After years of discussion, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will transfer 40+ acres of the historic Mount Whitney Fish Hatchery in Inyo County to the Fort Independence Indian Community, which is recognized as one distinct separate tribal government of the four Owens Valley Paiute Tribes. The Wildlife Conservation Board approved the no-cost transfer last week. When the transfer is complete, it will mark CDFW’s first ever land return to a California Native American tribe. “This act is momentous and aligns with many ambitions laid out for California by this Administration,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “It honors Governor Newsom’s Executive Order encouraging the transfer of excess lands to California Native American tribes and it is a Nature Based Solution that contributes to the goals of 30×30. I am proud to be a part of this transfer.” … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A 95,000-gallon sewage spill closes two-mile stretch of Laguna Beach coastline
“A 95,000-gallon sewage spill in Laguna Beach closed more than 2 miles of coastline to swimmers and surfers Wednesday, according to Orange County health officials.
USACE begins work on San Clemente Beach nourishment project
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Los Angeles District announced that it began preparations for a 50-foot-wide beach nourishment project in San Clemente. “Today our contractor, Manson Construction Company, will be laying down the submerged pipeline for this project,” said Doland Cheung, USACE LA District project manager. “This is the pipeline that runs parallel to the pier, from the ocean to the shore, where the dredge will connect and pump sand onto the beach.” Sand placement operations are expected to begin Dec. 15. The work is part of a 50-year shoreline protection agreement between the LA District and the City of San Clemente. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions.
Along the Colorado River …
Corporate water stewardship in the Colorado River Basin
“On October 24th, the Pacific Institute released Pathways and Barriers to Corporate Water Stewardship in the Colorado River Basin. Written by Dr. Christine Curtis, Cora Snyder, and Michael Cohen and based on 20 interviews with corporate and non-corporate stakeholders, the report highlights opportunities to scale corporate investment and build long-term resilience in the beleaguered basin. It also highlights critical challenges to such efforts and examples of methods to overcome them. The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West. It supports 30 Native American tribes and farms, cities, and ecosystems in seven US states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—and the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora. But the river is in crisis. The combination of a crippling drought that began 24 years ago, the historic over-allocation of the river’s declining runoff, and climate change have exacerbated a structural deficit—where more water leaves the system than enters it. … ” Read more from the Pacific Institute.
Breaking boundaries: How Northern California could help Las Vegas during drought
Jim Piefer, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Water Authority and the Sacramento Groundwater Authority, writes, “It might seem hard to imagine, but there’s a connection between water supplies in Northern California’s Sacramento region and distant cities such as Las Vegas. We may be separated by deserts and mountain ranges, but these very different places could actually share water. And with a little cooperation, all of us could survive the challenges of climate change, whether it’s a shrinking Colorado River or declining Sierra Nevada snowpack. Here’s how it could work. Sacramento has a highly developed groundwater basin underlying its urban core and the American and Sacramento rivers, and there’s plenty of room in that aquifer to store more water. … ” Read more from the Nevada Independent.
Arizona governor’s water council submits management proposals, already faces lawmaker opposition
“A state water policy council on Wednesday recommended legislation intended to prevent “wildcat” subdivisions from springing up without providing home purchasers an assured water supply. The measure is intended to prevent a repeat of Rio Verde Foothills, a desert community neighboring Scottsdale that garnered national media attention when the city stopped allowing residents to collect water from a pipe tapping its municipal supply. Most developments in the Phoenix area are covered by the state’s Groundwater Management Act, which requires a certificate of 100-year supply availability before construction. When landowners split property into five or fewer contiguous lots, however, they are exempt and can sell those lots without an assured supply. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
SEE ALSO:
- Hobbs’ Water Policy Council recommends actions to rein in ‘wildcat subdivisions’, from KJZZ
- Arizona gov’s panel urges big overhaul of rural groundwater rules, from the Arizona Republic
Rio Verde Foothills secures long-term water source
“A yearslong struggle to bring a reliable water source to a small community outside Phoenix finally has an end in sight. The Arizona Corporation Commission convened Wednesday morning to unanimously approve a proposal from a private water company to provide water to the more than 1,000 people living Rio Verde Foothills, who were cut off from their water supply on Jan. 1 and have been fighting to acquire a new source since even earlier. “I’m so thrilled,” said Christy Jackman, a 13-year resident. “We finally know what’s coming.” The proposal comes from EPCOR, a Canadian utilities company that already services multiple communities around the valley. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
In national water news today …
U.S. tap water has a $47 billion forever chemicals problem
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is adding some “forever chemicals” to the list of toxins that must be reported by drinking water utilities. That is going to require a lot of infrastructure investment. “We are now in the process of establishing a drinking water standard for about six different PFAS,” Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Water, told CNBC. PFAS is an abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Beginning Nov. 30, water quality reports due July 1, 2025, and onward must include information about the levels of PFAS above four parts per trillion in drinking water. “These per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, they’re made by different companies that take fluorine and they attach it to two carbon molecules and they stick around forever. That’s why they got the nickname ‘forever chemicals,'” explained Tom Neltner, senior director of safer chemicals at the Environmental Defense Fund. … ” Read more from NBC LA.
Parched rivers, withered crops show dire impact of Amazon drought
“Justino Lira picked at anemic-looking green beans on his parcel of land near the Amazon River. The drought this year ruined almost all of his batches of beans, cabbage, corn, cassava and okra. Hardly anything survived. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Lira, 63. Normally he would ask his grandchildren to help him pick the produce and, twice a week, load up his boat for a trip across the river to the city of Manacapuru. There, he’d sell it to a local supermarket chain, earning about 1,200 Brazilian reais ($245) a month to supplement his teacher’s pension. But the area in front of his home had become a Mars-like landscape of sand, and as of early November, he’d been without running water for a month. In his community of about 170 families, other people left to find temporary jobs in the city as fishing and family agriculture dried up. … ” Read more from BNN Bloomberg.
