DAILY DIGEST, holiday weekend edition: Department of Water Resources approves Delta Conveyance Project; DWR approves Groundwater Sustainability Plans for the Madera Subbasin; Central Coast groundwater rules drive farmers and residents to court; November marks 6 record-warm months in a row; and more …

Department of Water Resources certifies Delta Conveyance Project EIR …

Department of Water Resources approves Delta Conveyance Project

“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today approved the Delta Conveyance Project, a modernization of the infrastructure system that delivers water to millions of Californians. DWR has certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and completed an extensive environmental review. DWR selected the “Bethany Reservoir Alignment” for further engineering, design and permitting.  With the state expected to lose 10% of its water supply by 2040 due to hotter and drier conditions, the Delta Conveyance Project is a key part of the California’s Water Resiliency Portfolio and Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy. … ”  Continue reading this press release from the Department of Water Resources.

California approves Delta tunnel project, pitting water agencies against environmentalists

“California’s leading water agency approved a controversial water infrastructure project to build a tunnel underneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Thursday, marking a significant step in a decades-long effort to advance it. Governor Gavin Newsom has long advocated for the tunnel, called Delta Conveyance, as a key way to protect water supply from climate change. The Department of Water Resources’ decision is expected to usher in extensive legal challenges. Despite consistent opposition to the tunnel from the state’s leading environmentalists, state officials celebrated the approval of the multi-billion dollar project as a step toward modern and affordable water management. … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.

Department of Water Resources officially approves fish-killing Delta Tunnel Boondoggle

“Just in time for the Christmas Holidays and the Winter Solstice at a time when many Californians are traveling out of town to visit family members, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today officially approved the embattled Delta Tunnel project and published the project’s Notice of Determination (NOD).  “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today approved the Delta Conveyance Project, a modernization of the infrastructure system that delivers water to millions of Californians,” DWR proclaimed in their press statement. “DWR has certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and completed an extensive environmental review. DWR selected the “Bethany Reservoir Alignment” for further engineering, design and permitting.” … ”  Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.

Enviros hate the Delta tunnel, so it’s probably a good idea

“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the West Coast’s largest estuary, an awe-inspiring area of wetlands with 700 miles of waterways and 1,100 miles of levees nestled between the San Francisco Bay and the Central Valley south of Sacramento. … I certainly suggest a trip there for any California history buff. It’s a short hop from Sacramento and it’s worth a visit to Locke, a national historic site that was home to Chinese immigrants who built the levees and railroads. But learning about the area is a must for anyone interested in our water supplies, especially after the Newsom administration released an environmental report for a proposed tunnel to route Sacramento River water under the Delta and toward the farms and cities southward. … ”  Read the full commentary at the OC Register (gift article).

In other California water news …

Here’s where California reservoir levels stand after this week’s big rain

“Despite heavy rain throughout the Bay Area and Northern California this week, water levels in the state’s major reservoirs remained mostly steady, though they could rise as precipitation is expected to soon reach the southern part of the state.  California’s reservoirs, which have been storing elevated amounts of water since atmospheric rivers and storms repeatedly swept through the state in late 2022 and early 2023, currently hold in aggregate 117% of their total historic average for this time of year.  State data reveal that average reservoir levels were not greatly affected by the wettest period the Bay Area has seen since the official start of the rainy season on Oct. 1. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Cali approved sewage waste to be converted to drinking water, but should Black folk be wary?

“Regulators in California have approved the use of advanced filtration and treatment facilities that would convert sewage waste into pure drinking water. In addition, that water would be feed into systems for millions of households via tap.  This development comes as California continues to face terrible droughts due to climate change. However, knowing that Black and brown communities are the populations negatively impacted the most when it comes to environmental issues, the one question on everyone’s mind is: Is it safe? … ”  Continue reading from The Root.

DWR Approves Sustainability Plans for the Madera Subbasin

“The Department of Water Resources (DWR or Department) announced today that it has approved the resubmitted Groundwater Sustainability Plans (Plans or GSPs) for the Madera Subbasin. Upon evaluation, Department staff concluded that sufficient action was taken to correct deficiencies; however, Department staff have provided recommended corrective actions which will be required to be addressed by the Plans’ next periodic evaluation.  On March 21, 2023, multiple Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) resubmitted multiple Plans covering the entire Madera Subbasin to DWR in response to the Department’s initial incomplete determination on September 22, 2022. In total, four GSPs were revised, and resubmitted by seven GSAs and are coordinated pursuant to a required coordination agreement. … ”  Continue reading this press release from DWR.

State program for assistance on water bills extended

“A state program helping low-income families pay their water bill has been extended.  We spoke with Kevin McCusker with Cal Water to show us how the “Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program” works and how you may qualify.”  Watch video at KFSN.

California tribal communities ready to monitor culturally important marine resources impacted by harmful algal blooms

“Traditional shellfish resources are often the lifeway to coastal tribes who rely on indigenous fisheries for subsistence. However, the expanding threat of harmful algal blooms (HABs) contaminate shellfish and poison local communities. NCCOS engages both locally and through regional partnerships with tribal nations to design workshops specific to community needs for monitoring and detecting toxins to reduce HAB related health threats.  Following the COVID pandemic webinar series on “Managing HABs in Tribal Waters”, one of the participants asked NCCOS to develop a citizen science program for the Tribal Marine Stewards Network (TMSN), tailored to their specific need to help protect tribal members who subsistence-harvest shellfish. After a two year listening process, NCCOS scientists shared methods for phytoplankton monitoring coupled with toxin detection to reduce the risk of marine biotoxins to the health of the tribal members. A two day in-person workshop was held in October 2023 with hands-on experience in sampling phytoplankton along the Bodega Bay at the Bodega Bay Marine Laboratory. … ”  Read more from NOAA.

In commentary this weekend …

Resource optimization enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of wildlife management and conservation efforts

Paul S. Weiland writes, “Over the past several decades, the federal government has sought to formulate and implement public policy across sectors ranging from health care to consumer safety to the environment in a manner the optimizes the use of available resources. Yet public policy with respect to conservation of threatened and endangered species as implemented by the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has, to a substantial degree, disregarded the use of resource optimization to inform decision-making. The time is ripe for those agencies to integrate resource optimization into endangered species policy. Doing so has the potential to improve conservation outcomes that result from societal investments in Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance.  Resource optimization is the allocation of finite resources in the most efficient manner possible. In the context of wildlife management, it is a structured process to select a management action from among alternatives available intended to result in the most efficient allocation of resources to achieve a specified objective. Prominent scientists, including Byron Williams and James Nichols (2014) and Carl Walters and Ray Hilborn (1978), have laid the groundwork for agency decision-making informed by resource optimization. … ”  Read more from the California Water Policy Center.

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In regional water news this weekend …

NORTH COAST

10,000 acres of California land bought by Hoopa Valley Tribe

“A Native American tribe has regained a wide swath of rolling forests and rushing streams in Northern California in a landmark $14.1 million deal.The 10,395-acre Pine Creek Tract in Humboldt County has been acquired by the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the tribe announced Wednesday. The land, around 20 miles northeast of Eureka, borders the western boundary of the tribe’s reservation, and was sold by Australian forest management company New Forests. Alongside other tribes in the region, the Hoopa Valley Tribe say they plan to remove river dams on the Klamath River, restore historic salmon runs and repopulate the meadows and forests with elk. … ”  Read more from SF Gate.

Huffman: $2 million federal grant will help fund fish-diversion studies

“Members of a recently formed legal entity that hopes to continue diverting water from the Eel River to the Russian River after the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project is decommissioned are celebrating the recent awarding of federal funds designed to help their efforts.  In a press release this week, the office of Rep Jared Huffman (D – San Rafael) announced that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded a “$2 million grant to Sonoma County Water Agency meant to study a diversion from the Eel River to the Russian River that will have the least possible impact on salmon and steelhead.”  The crucial funding for this study comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Huffman notes he helped write, adding that he also “personally advocated for this grant, which is a part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program to support the study, design and construction of collaboratively developed ecosystem restoration projects that provide widespread regional benefits and improve the health of fisheries, wildlife and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage.” … ”  Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal.

Mendocino water supply sources

“Two days following the most comprehensive public lecture and tour of restoration efforts on Big River, the Mendocino City Community Services District held a board meeting on October 30, where they discussed potential water sources to supply an anticipated community water system. At the time, their superintendent announced that GHD Engineering, the international firm hired by MCCSD in 2021 to assist with its water and wastewater challenges, had looked “at water sources up Big River and some of the potential gulches” (tributaries), reassuring him that they think “there’s a way to make it work.” … ”  Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Will it snow in Tahoe on Christmas? How much snow has fallen so far? Here’s the forecast

“After about a week of rainy weather in the Sacramento region, more snow could be headed to Tahoe. Snow levels in the central Sierra Nevada will rise from 6,700 feet to 7,700 feet on Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Whether you’re spending the holidays in the mountains or planning a ski getaway, here’s how much snow you can expect. As of Thursday, here’s how much snow has fallen so far this season at Tahoe’s ski and snowboarding resorts, according to their websites … ”  Read more from the Sacramento Bee.

What ski conditions in Tahoe are like heading into the Christmas holiday

“Skiers, snowboarders and snow lovers hoping for a repeat of last holiday season when Lake Tahoe and the Sierra were inundated with snow will be disappointed with the outlook for deep fresh powder in the coming week.  While all of the Tahoe area ski resorts are open, they haven’t received a lot of snow this winter — and they’re not likely to get any until next Thursday at the earliest, according to forecasters. “For the remainder of this week and into next week, the pattern is going to remain fairly dry,” said Kate Forrest, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Sacramento. “There could be some sprinkles early next week, but mainly in the far north.” … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

BAY AREA

Marin Municipal Water District outlines goals for resiliency

“Creating a water system that is not only sustainable, but able to bounce back during disasters was a central theme this week as Marin Municipal Water District managers continue to draft a five-year strategic plan.  The presentation Tuesday covered six objectives that officials say are needed to maintain a resilient water system. That big-picture goal is being packaged into the district’s strategic plan, along with focus areas on water supply, fiscal responsibility, watershed stewardship and organizational excellence.  Alex Anaya, district engineering director, said the agency’s network of water infrastructure spans challenging topography that consists of more than 900 miles of pipeline, 130 water storage tanks, 97 pump stations, seven reservoirs and dams and three treatment plants. All the elements must work together to store and convey water to over 191,000 customers. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.

CENTRAL COAST

Rules aimed at long-contaminated groundwater drive California farmers and residents to court

“Near fields awash with strawberries and greens, Ileana Miranda and her family pay $72 a month to get water piped into their home in a rural California community — and that’s before they consume a drop. They pay to bring it from more than a mile away because the groundwater beneath them has been contaminated with nitrates leached into the soil from years of large-scale farming.  Now, the San Jerardo cooperative — where Miranda and 300 others live — and environmental organizations have sued the state, demanding stricter rules about how much fertilizer farmers can use in the hope that the next generation of residents in the community 100 miles (161 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco will have cleaner water.  “We understand crops need these chemicals to grow, but you don’t need to put that much in the groundwater,” said Miranda, who manages the cooperative. “It is essentially poisoning the groundwater that we need to live.” … ”  Read more from the Washington Post.

Commentary: Fertilizer nitrate pollution is killing our communities. We must stop this public health crisis now.

Chelsea Tu, executive director of Monterey Waterkeeper, and Ileana Miranda, general manager of the San Jerardo housing cooperative in the Salinas Valley, write, “When you turn on your tap, is the water safe to drink? Is it safe to cook and shower with? These are questions most Californians don’t think about. However, the 350 residents of the San Jerardo Cooperative have suffered health problems from unsafe water, and worry about it constantly. Thousands more Central Coast residents do not have clean drinking water due to nitrate pollution from agricultural practices. The State must address this ongoing public health crisis now, starting with curbing fertilizer overuse. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly.

The drip continues in MPWMD’s efforts to buyout Cal Am.

“It’s been an eventful few months for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District in its yearslong effort to potentially buyout the local water system of California American Water, an investor-owned utility.  On Oct. 10, the MPWMD board passed a “resolution of necessity” to initiate a buyout of Cal Am’s local system, a crucial step in order to begin an eminent domain trial in Monterey County Superior Court. (This comes after local voters, in 2018, passed Measure J—which compelled the district to buyout Cal Am’s system if feasible—by a 56-44 margin.)   On Friday, Dec. 15, MPWMD filed its eminent domain complaint, beginning a process in Monterey County Superior Court that will culminate in one or potentially two trials: the first will determine whether the threshold for an eminent domain takeover of Cal Am’s local system meets the legal threshold for necessity. If so, a second trial will determine the value of the system. … ”  Read more from Monterey Weekly.

“Water is life”: Interior Secretary Haaland tours Ventura WaterPure project

“United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland gazed across the sand dunes at Ventura’s Marina Park at a construction barge floating out past the waves, but what she also saw was progress on President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda. Even though the calendar said Dec. 15, it was a picture-perfect day with sunny skies and a warm offshore breeze as Secretary Haaland was greeted by Ventura city leaders.  Haaland, a former congressmember from New Mexico and the first Native American to ever serve in a president’s cabinet, was in Ventura to see construction of the VenturaWaterPure project designed to recycle wastewater into drinking water and provide up to 20% of Ventura’s water supply in the future. … ”  Read more from the Ventura County Reporter.

Historic, ‘genuinely dramatic’ rainfall in Ventura County stuns experts, causes flooding

“Portions of Southern California were inundated Thursday with what forecasters described as a once-in-a-millennium rainfall, which brought flooding to roadways across Ventura County, a brief tornado warning and the threat of heavy downpours in and around Los Angeles.  Fire officials in Ventura County reported that 911 dispatchers received over 275 calls for help over a five-hour period as floodwaters rose in the coastal communities of Port Hueneme and Oxnard.  Mud and debris tumbled into roadways in Santa Barbara, closing at least one off-ramp on the 101 Freeway. Elsewhere, cars were surrounded by rushing water that appeared to be several feet deep. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Record rain sent 3 to 4 feet of water rushing into his home. ‘There is nothing livable left’

“Bob Myers sat in the gymnasium of Oxnard College on Thursday afternoon holding his cane.  At around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, he was awakened at his home in the 55-plus community of Hueneme Bay by the sound of rushing water.  A storm that barreled down on Ventura County dumped what officials said was historic levels of rain over a short period of time. The downpour left streets flooded across Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme, where Myers lives.  “I thought some pipes had blown up or something,” he said. Myers ran to his bathroom but found no issues. He then moved to his back door, where he saw water rushing into his home “like someone was standing there with a fire hose.”  The doors, he explained, were closed, and the water was coming in from small spaces around them. The doors could not be opened.  He looked through one of his windows at the complex and saw “a lake.”  “Eventually,” he said, “the water receded enough that people could begin getting their doors open.”  Stories like this emerged in Ventura County coastal communities hit hard by the rainstorm. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Historic fish flow ruling on the Kern River wasn’t intended to expand Bakersfield’s water rights, according to judge

“Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp made one thing clear during the latest hearing on the twists and turns of the Kern River’s flow: He did not intend to expand the City of Bakersfield’s water rights under his November ruling that mandated enough water must remain in the river channel for fish populations.  That amount was set at 40% of the river’s flow as measured at Hart Park.  “The court’s intention was clear,” Pulskamp said Thursday during a give and take with Bakersfield’s attorney Colin Pearce. “By creating a new water right – call it a carve out – for public trust flows, the court’s intent was to take that out of allocations that were not for city municipal use. But I never intended to expand the city’s water rights, either.” … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Storms bring record rainfall, flooding to SoCal. When will the rains finally end?

“Southern California’s stormy week is set to wind down Friday after two storm systems that brought tornado warnings, heavy flooding and at-times historic rainfall rates, especially in parts of Ventura County.  At least 60 homes were red-tagged in Ventura County as a result of flooding, which hit Oxnard and Port Hueneme hard.  For the most part, the bulk of the rain seems to be past. Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said rain was expected to continue in moderate amounts Friday with a slight chance of thunderstorms across Los Angeles County. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

Water district purchases surplus water to replenish local supplies

“Following California’s unprecedented wet weather this year, Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD) is buying as much water as possible to replace local groundwater and build community reserves. The extra water will be stored for future use, supporting long-term supply dependability for area residents.  BCVWD requested to purchase 11,200 acre-feet of water from state water contractor San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) for 2024, with an additional order of 7,000 acre-feet for further groundwater supply pending availability. … ”  Read more from the Record-Gazette.

SAN DIEGO

County Water Authority to drop lawsuit over Rainbow, Fallbrook departures

“The San Diego County Water Authority has agreed to drop its lawsuit over the proposed departure of two North County water agencies, it was announced Thursday.  The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, challenged a decision by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission to allow the Rainbow Municipal Water District and Fallbrook Public Utility District to leave the water authority. … ”  Read more from KPBS.

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Along the Colorado River …

Flooding risk spreads from San Diego into Arizona as drenching storm system pushes east

“A strong storm that has brought flooding rains to the Los Angeles area this week now has its eyes on San Diego and the Desert Southwest Friday as the system pushes off to the east.  Flood Watches stretch from coastal San Diego across the Inland Empire and southeastern deserts of California into Phoenix and western Arizona Friday.  Bands of moderate to heavy rain will continue to spread across the area Friday, increasing from west to east as the storm moves inland.  Some stronger cells and thunderstorms embedded in the rain bands could bring periods of heavy rain measuring 0.5 to 1.0 inches per hour. … ”  Read more from Fox Weather.

New water reductions likely for Arizona as Colorado River negotiations resume

“While the New Year is just around the corner, an old problem will be front and center for Arizona once again — water. Top water policy leaders from the seven basin states met last week in Las Vegas to discuss how to move forward as the current management plan for the Colorado River is set to expire in 2026.  Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said the goal is to reach a long-term solution to close the gap between the supply of water versus the demand. … ”  Read more from Channel 15.

Homebuilders want changes to ease water law restrictions

“Developers in the Phoenix area want lawmakers to alter 43-year-old laws that restrict construction in areas without adequate water supply.  In a press release Thursday, the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona is not disputing that the state Department of Water Resources concluded that areas around Buckeye and Queen Creek do not have the 100-year assured water supply required under the 1980 Groundwater Act to allow new subdivisions. That led the state agency, under the direction of Gov. Katie Hobbs, to stop issuing permits for new home construction in those areas.  Now the organization says legislators need to remove what it calls a “moratorium on home building in the most affordable parts of the Valley,” saying the move is leading to rapidly escalating home prices. … ”  Read more from Arizona Capital Times.

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In national water news this weekend …

November shatters global temperature records, marking 6 record-warm months in a row

“The planet has experienced an astounding six-month run of record-breaking temperatures, including the hottest November on record, federal officials announced Thursday.  Global average temperatures last month were 2.59 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average — 0.68 degrees above the previous record from November 2015, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose records date back to 1850.  The planet also experienced its hottest autumn on record — September through November — and its hottest ever January through November.  “It is virtually certain, with one month remaining in the year, that 2023 will be the warmest year on record,” said Karin Gleason, monitoring section chief with the agency’s National Centers for Environmental Information. … ”  Read more from the LA Times.

EPA’s final Clean Water Act 401 Rule, reinstating 1971 approach, already under fire

“On September 27, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final rule to implement Clean Water Act (CWA) section 401 water quality certifications (2023 Rule). The 2023 Rule became effective on November 27, 2023, but was the subject of litigation within a week. This article serves as a primer on the 2023 Rule, and CWA section 401 more broadly, by summarizing the regulatory background that set the stage for the 2023 Rule; seven key, arguably controversial aspects of the 2023 Rule; the recent lawsuit, Louisiana v. EPA, 2:23-cv-01714, challenging the rule; and our best attempt to predict upcoming developments that may impact the rule’s fate. … ”  Read more from Nossaman.

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And lastly …

Palm Springs Surf Club to open New Year’s Day: How much it will cost to hit the waves

“When plans were announced for a new Palm Springs Surf Club back in 2019, one question quickly emerged: Would a pool with some high-tech artificial waves really be enough to turn the desert’s golf gods and tennis titans into totally rad Cali surfer brahs?  Now, over four years later, the valley is set to finally start getting its answer. The club announced Wednesday that it will open to the public on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. … ”  Read more from the Desert Sun via MSN News.   Here’s a video.

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