Department of Water Resources (DWR) releases final EIR for the Delta Conveyance Project …
California’s final report on disputed Delta tunnel project shows fish and farms still at risk
“California’s water agency released a final report Friday on the controversial plan to build a tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The highly anticipated document is expected to lead to approval of the water project. The environmental impact report said the tunnel’s construction and operations would significantly impact the Delta’s endangered and threatened fish species, tracts of important regional farmland and tribal cultural resources that include human remains. State officials say some of those impacts will be mitigated, and that the Delta Conveyance project is needed to slow a long term decline in water supplies by capturing more during intense storms for southern California cities and farms. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via AOL News.
State releases final environmental review of controversial Delta tunnel bringing it closer to a construction date
“Final environmental documents for the contentious $16 billion Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tunnel project were released by the Department of Water Resources Friday, clearing a significant hurdle in the years-long process leading up to construction. The Delta Conveyance Project would construct an underground tunnel to move water from the Sacramento River down to the start of the California Aqueduct in what state officials say would be modernized infrastructure to bring significantly more water to users in preparation for more extreme wet and dry years as climate change continues to accelerate. Creating greater reliability in the State Water Project system has been a key factor in support from users south of the delta, who have rarely received their full allocations over the past 10 or more years. … ” Continue reading from SJV Water.
What’s up with the Delta tunnel(s)?
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Department of Water Resources released the final environmental review today for its version of a decadesold proposal to replumb the state’s main water hub, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, to move more water from Northern California to Southern California. The original goal in former Gov. Jerry Brown’s time was to shore up the state’s labyrinthine, crumbling system of levees and canals that delivers water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland and make it more resistant to earthquakes — and to try to fix some of the environmental damage caused by sending water every which way within the Delta, the state’s largest estuary. Climate change is the state’s main argument now: The tunnel would help the state more easily move water based on the booms and busts of California’s weather. For example, during last year’s extreme storms, the project would have captured enough water for 2.3 million people’s annual use, according to the Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from Politico.
Environmental groups slam final Delta Tunnel EIR as California fish populations collapse
“As California’s salmon and other fish populations struggle to survive in the worst ecological crisis in the state’s history, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released a final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel). DWR also conducted a rushed virtual media briefing this morning by Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth and Carrie Buckman on the EIR’s release. … Governor Gavin Newsom today reaffirmed his support for the redesigned Delta Conveyance Project proposal, claiming “how critical the project is to protect millions of people’s water access against the threats of climate change.” Since day one, the Governor pledged to “right-size this project to one tunnel and embrace an all-of-the-above approach to protecting California’s water access,” according to a statement from the Governor’s Office. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
Final Delta Conveyance EIR released without cost estimate or benefit-cost analysis: A quick look at old DWR analysis of single-tunnel alternatives shows this proposal is likely a bad deal for SWP agencies. (and even worse for a State that cares about the environment and non-SWP regions)
Jeff Michael, Executive Director of the Center for Business and Policy Research at the University of the Pacific, writes, ” The Final EIR for Delta Conveyance was released today. I just read the press release summary. Here is my quick take. The press release case for the tunnel argues that the project will result in about 500,000 AF in additional water supply for State Water Project agencies once operational. They continue to ignore updated cost estimates, and economic/financial analysis of the project. However, in 2018, DWR did analyze the effects of a single-tunnel proposal that would result in 660,000 additional AF, over 30% more water than the current proposal, that was estimated to cost $11 billion in 2017 dollars. While no cost estimate for the current proposal has been released, it is well-known that costs of the current proposal are much, much higher – even after accounting for inflation. … ” Read more from the Valley Economy blog.
MORE COVERAGE:
- California officials say delta tunnel project will slow water loss from climate change, from the Courthouse News Service
- California pushes ahead with $16 billion water project — one of the most contentious in history, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Newsom administration advances delta tunnel project despite environmental opposition, from the LA Times
In other California water news this weekend …
After frustrating false starts, strong indications of a major Pacific jet extension & active pattern by late December
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “If you were in California this autumn, you probably already noticed: this fall was unusually warm and dry nearly everywhere in the state (and, indeed, across most of the Western U.S.!). Despite that, given unusual summer rainfall thanks to Tropical Storm Hilary in southern California and the legacy of an unusually wet and (by recent standards!) cold winter in California during the 2022-2023 season, no extreme wildfire activity was observed this autumn in the state. The last month certainly hasn’t be completely dry in the northern half of the state–occasional rain and high elevation snow events have occurred, though they’ve been a bit hard pinpoint very far in advance (as sometimes occurs during transition seasons). But SoCal has remained decidedly dry through the period–and for this reason, the prospect of renewed Santa Ana winds over the next couple of days will bring with it the prospect of increased wildfire risk (though, again, not extreme risk thanks to fairly typical vegetation moisture conditions). Sierra snowpack, though it did finally receive a modest boost this week, remains behind the curve for early Dec (though it’s quite early in the season, and early season deficits can be erased by a single strong and cold-enough storm). … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO: Is California about to get hit with an El Nino storm of epic proportions? This forecast thinks so, from Active NorCal.
Why is water in the west so complicated? Fresno State professor dives in with new book
“Water policy in the west is complicated and convoluted. And, according to Fresno State political science professor Tom Holyoke, there’s a reason for that. In his new book, Water Politics, Holyoke explores the political pressures as well as competing interests from industrial water users, developers and environmental groups that have shaped and shifted water policy over the last century. In this interview, Holyoke sat down with KVPR’s Kerry Klein to discuss the origins and fragmentation of “reclamation policy,” which originally came about to capture water for westward migrants and small-scale farmers.” Listen to the interview and read the transcript from KVPR.
How a California farmer is helping build a Black-led sustainable agriculture revolution
“Dennis Hutson has played many roles in his life: pastor, US Air Force chaplain, and devoted husband and father of three — to name a few. But it wasn’t until he co-bought 60 acres of land in Allensworth, California, that he felt he’d fulfilled his ultimate destiny. Allensworth is the first Black-founded and -governed town in California. Allen Allensworth, an escaped slave, founded it in 1908. He traveled throughout the eastern and midwestern US advocating for self-help programs that would give Black people a chance at social and economic self-sufficiency. … ” Read more from Business Insider.
Study shows that planting less water-intensive crops in the western United States would help alleviate water scarcity
“Across the world, irrigation dominates freshwater consumption, accounting for 88% of all the freshwater consumed on a global scale. In the western United States, this is no different, as irrigated farming is the leading driver of water depletion in the region. In addition, climate change has caused it to become increasingly difficult for the western United States to meet the water needs of farms, cities and ecosystems. In a paper published in Nature Water, researchers from the University of Delaware, Sustainable Waters — a global organization focused on water scarcity challenges — and Virginia Tech looked at six agriculturally important river basins in the western U.S. that are experiencing water scarcity: the Great Salt Lake, the Lower Colorado River, the Rio Grande, Snake River, Platte River and the San Joaquin River. They also determined which crops are currently being grown in the areas and examined how switching to less water-intensive crops would help with water scarcity while also allowing farmers to remain economically viable. … ” Read more from the University of Delaware.
In commentary this weekend …
Three key water projects mean new supplies for San Joaquin Valley farmers
Cannon Michael, a sixth-generation California farmer and chair of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, writes, “Water is the lifeblood of California, and the state has always faced unique challenges in managing its precious water resources. In recent years, a series of ambitious projects spearheaded by the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority have been undertaken to restore California’s critical water infrastructure and to begin to address some of its members most pressing supply issues. … Some key projects are the recently completed rewinding of the large motors at the C.W. “Bill” Jones Pumping Plant, the restoration of lost capacity of the Delta-Mendota Canal, and the raising the B.F. Sisk Dam to expand San Luis Reservoir storage. Each of these are of vital importance to the future of California. These projects, some complete and some in progress, will provide numerous benefits, including increasing the reliability of critical water infrastructure, increasing resilience to future droughts, and decreasing flood risk. … ” Read more from the Fresno Bee. | Read via AOL News.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
State Water Board adopts regulations to help address sharp decline in Clear Lake hitch population
“To support ongoing efforts to improve conditions for the imperiled Clear Lake hitch, a native fish found only in Clear Lake watershed and its tributaries, the State Water Resources Control Board yesterday adopted emergency regulations that allow staff to collect information from water users to evaluate how pumping affects creek flows that are critical for the species’ habitat. Millions of hitch, also known as “chi” to local tribes, once thrived in the watershed, but poor water quality, invasive species, passage barriers and inadequate flows have contributed to long-term declines of the population, with the numbers plummeting over the last decade. Insufficient creek flows from February through June can prevent access to spawning habitat or strand and kill the fish before they migrate back to Clear Lake or before eggs can hatch, creating a primary threat to the species’ survival. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A fortune was unearthed at this California gold mine. Now it may reopen
“In California’s long affair with gold, the 160-year-old Idaho-Maryland Mine stands out as one of the great mother lodes.Its 73 miles of tunnels, an hour north of where the discovery of gold kicked off the historic rush of forty-niners, bustled with rickety mine cars and workers in hard hats, on and off from the 1860s to 1956. During its run, the mine unearthed some of the largest underground treasure California has seen. In total, more than $4 billion worth of gold, by today’s prices, was pried from the site, near Grass Valley in Nevada County.Next week, Nevada County officials are scheduled to decide whether the rights to mine gold at the complex are still valid. The verdict will determine whether a mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada can proceed with plans to reopen the storied facility and revive a rich but controversial piece of California’s past. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Last chance to see spawning Chinook salmon in Sacramento. What to look for at Nimbus hatchery
“The final salmon egg taking of the season will be available for the public to view at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery next week, according to hatchery officials. Egg-taking combines eggs from euthanized female fish with milt, which contains sperm, from male salmon. The fertilized eggs are then submerged in a water tank and later taken to a holding area in the hatchery to continue the fertilization process. The egg-taking is done to aid in the conservation of the species. The process will be available for the public to view from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Dec. 11 and 14 at the hatchery located at 2001 Nimbus Road in Gold River. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
Marin water suppliers laud Mendocino water diversion plan
“Marin water agencies are applauding a milestone in an effort that would enable future water diversions from a PG&E hydropower plant to one of the county’s main suppliers. The Sonoma Water board approved an agreement with the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission on Tuesday to form the Eel-Russian Project Authority. The new entity will have the power to negotiate the purchase of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s Potter Valley Project, a 110-year-old hydropower plant in Mendocino County. Pending successful negotiations, the new authority would have the capacity to own, construct and operate a new water diversion facility near the Cape Horn dam. Water diverted by the plant feeds into the Russian River watershed, which is a key part of Marin’s water portfolio. Electricity production is not part of the plan. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
King tides are coming soon. Here’s when to expect the season’s highest waters
“Starting next week, the first of the season’s super tides will hit the Bay Area. King tides are simply royal branding for the highest—and lowest—tidal events of the year. The term was first coined in Australia in 2009 after the country saw its highest seasonal tides in nearly 20 years. When the sun and moon line up in early winter, the combined gravitational pull translates to high tide marks that can reach 7 feet and contribute to flooding in low-lying areas, especially when they hit during or after storms. California typically experiences three or four king tides every winter, with each one lasting four to five days. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Standard.
SEE ALSO: Some of the season’s highest ‘king tides’ are coming to the Bay Area, from the San Francisco Chronicle
San Anselmo puts flood district exit on March ballot
“San Anselmo’s potential departure from the county flood control district will be put to the people to decide. The Town Council voted 4-1 on Monday to approve ballot language, clearing the way to place an initiative on the March 5 primary ballot. Councilmember Brian Colbert dissented. If approved by a simple majority, the initiative would withdraw the town from Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Flood Control Zone 9. The estimated $9.9 million removal of a downtown bridge known as “Building Bridge Two” has become a divisive issue in the community. The county flood control district purchased the bridge in 2018 with the intention of tearing it down. Its removal would allow San Anselmo Creek to flow more freely and reduce the likelihood of flooding in downtown and other areas upstream. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Water on the Monterey Peninsula: The board game.
“David Schmalz here. Several weeks ago, Weekly Editor Sara Rubin suggested the time was ripe for a cover story about the Peninsula’s water situation. I agreed, as the many nuances of the current state of play are hard to capture in a single news story—it’s a complicated topic. To try and spice it up a bit, we decided to make it a game to get readers engaged with what is often a dry, wonky topic. The goal is to help readers learn about the state of play by playing along. I love fun ideas. We initially thought of the board game Candy Land as a model. But after letting the concept ferment for a few weeks we decided instead to invent our own version. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly. | Play Board Game
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Tulare County sheriffs called out to Water Warriors protest at River Island
“The Water Warriors Against Del Oro held a protest against the construction of a new Family HealthCare Network facility within the River Island community on Thursday that ended in a call to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office who had to escort the protesters off of the property. The group is fighting against the Del Oro Water Company and the establishment of the health clinic due to the fact the residents in the area claim they still lack drinking water within their own homes. Raffaella Woods, the spokeswoman for the Water Warriors group, explained Del Oro Water Company has jurisdiction over the water services within the water community. After the floods in the spring, the community lost the use of their water as many of the wells were damaged or completely washed away by the rapid water flow. … ” Continue reading at the Porterville Recorder.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Drought-proofing Los Angeles County
“This week has been big for water resilience in Los Angeles County. On December 5, the Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive L.A. County Water Plan that highlights the need and approaches to achieve 80 percent local water supplies by 2045. The new target comes from the OurCounty sustainability plan that was approved in 2019. Currently, only about 40 percent of L.A. County’s water supplies comes from local sources such as groundwater and recycled water, while the city of LA is currently at about 20 percent local water. The vulnerability of regional and imported water supplies was exposed during the two major droughts we’ve experienced over the past decade. These events have demonstrated that L.A. County cannot achieve water and climate resilience without a rapid, transformative move toward local water self-sufficiency. … ” Read more from the NRDC.
State contractors plan for less water
“Last year’s winter rains may have brought about an end to drought conditions in California, but state water suppliers are not yet counting on the same conditions for the coming winter. With little precipitation statewide since the Oct. 1 start of the water year, the Department of Water Resources announced on Dec. 1 an initial forecast of 10% for allocations of water from the State Water Project in the coming year. The initial allocation is based on current reservoir storage and an assumption of very dry conditions.Given the reserves from last year, the initial forecast did not alarm officials from the Palmdale Water District, one of three State Water Contractors that serve the Antelope Valley. “PWD is optimistic about the 2024 SWP supplies with an initial allocation of 10%,” General Manager Dennis LaMoreaux said via email. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press.
Along the Colorado River …
Biden-Harris administration announces nearly $6 million for innovative solar panel installation over canals in Gila River Indian community
“The Biden-Harris administration today announced $5.65 million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda for the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona to construct and install solar panels over the Casa Blanca Canal. Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton celebrated the investments with the Gila River Indian Community today. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is unlocking resources for new and innovative ways to combat the climate crisis, including simultaneously generating renewable energy and increasing water efficiency,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. “In partnership with local stakeholders, the Interior Department will continue to invest in essential water infrastructure projects that mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and invest in communities across the country.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Fish nursery gives endangered razorback sucker babies a fin up in survival
“Imagine you’re a baby razorback sucker fish. You start life as a tiny larva that looks like a half-inch translucent noodle. To make it to adulthood, you have to brave the big, bad Colorado River — without getting eaten. That challenging feat has become even harder in recent decades. Dams and diversions on the river have reduced the flooding that historically created safe, still backwater pools where these little guys thrived, and the introduction of predatory invasive fish species means there are more hungry mouths out to get them. … ” Read more from KUER.
In national water news this weekend …
This land is our land: States crack down on foreign-owned farm fields
“Andy Gipson gets concerned even when American allies such as the Netherlands and Germany invest in large swaths of Mississippi’s farmland. “It just bothers me at a gut level,” he said. For Gipson, Mississippi’s commissioner of agriculture and commerce, the growing trend of foreign ownership could threaten what he views as the state’s most valuable asset: the land that grows its forests, rice and cotton. “It is our ability as a country, as a state to produce our own food, our own fiber and our own shelter,” he told Stateline. “And I think every acre that’s sold to anybody outside of this country is one less acre that we have to rely on for our own self-interest, our own national food security.” … ” Read more from Stateline.
