In California water news this weekend …
With California snowpack below average, approaching storms bring hope
“On Saturday, stormy, near-whiteout conditions in parts of the Sierra were a welcome sight to Andrew Schwartz, the lead scientist at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. “It’s very snowy right now. Very heavy snowfall rates coming down,” he said. “This one is looking like it could be a dent – not going to be a huge dent in the low snow conditions but, if we can have several other storms like it looks like we might, then it should end up helping at least a little bit.” There hasn’t been a lot of snowfall, to date, in the Sierra this season. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco.
Low snowpack leaves California’s water year outlook uncertain
“Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is currently much lower than what is considered average for this time of year, according to the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) first snow survey of the season. DWR staff conducted the survey on Jan. 2 at Phillips Station — a site located roughly 90 miles east of Sacramento off U.S. Highway 50 — and recorded 7.5 inches of snow depth with 3 inches of a snow water equivalent, which is the measurement of how much water is available from snow. Compared to what is normally recorded at Phillips Station in January, the measured snowpack depth is at just 30% of the average. “While we are glad the recent storms brought a small boost to the snowpack, the dry fall and below average conditions today shows how fast water conditions can change,” Sean de Guzman, the DWR’s snow surveys and water supply forecasting unit manager, said in a Jan. 2 press release. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
Big Delta tunnel project raises questions over Napa water supply
“California’s recent approval of the controversial Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tunnel water project is causing at least some ripples in Napa County, even though the tunnel would be some 40 miles away. That’s because the cities of Napa, American Canyon and Calistoga receive drinking water from the Delta. The source is Barker Slough along Highway 113 in rural Solano County, with the North Bay Aqueduct providing the connection through Jameson Canyon. None of that would be changed by the Delta tunnel, should it ever be built in coming decades amid a variety of challenges. The 45-mile-long tunnel is to carry water for shipment to Southern and Central California. Still, the tunnel would change the Delta water regime. … ” Read more from the Napa Register.
Brace yourself for the highest tides of the year mixed with high surf
“California is bracing for a combination of the highest tides of the year and large waves Jan. 11-12. What are King Tides? While the term King Tide isn’t a scientific term, it is used to describe very high tides, caused when there is alignment of the gravitational pull between sun, moon and Earth. When King Tides occur during floods or storms, water levels can rise higher and have the potential to cause great damage to the coastline and coastal property. … King Tides themselves are not related to climate change, but they allow us to experience what higher sea level will be like. King Tides are the highest high tides of the year — 1 to 2 feet higher than average high tides, which is a good approximation of how high we expect everyday tides to be over the next few decades due to human-caused sea level rise. … ” Read more from the OC Register (gift article).
The story of the orcas and the chinook salmon
“Thanks to 20th-century aquariums and marine theme parks, orcas—also known as killer whales—are the most iconic marine mammals in America. When the public learned their captivity involved torture, captive orca exhibits (mostly) disappeared from those parks, as they should have. Now there are signs that certain groups of orcas could disappear entirely. Significantly, many of the orcas captured—including the famed Shamu—came from a small population of orcas whose trusting nature made them easy to catch. Southern Resident orcas, which historically spent the summer and fall months in Washington’s Puget Sound, are down to only 75 left in the world. Designated as endangered in 2005, the Southern Residents are still some of the most critically endangered marine mammals in the United States. But it’s a different human activity that is now making it hard for these creatures to survive. … ” Read more from Sierra Magazine.
In commentary this weekend …
The delicate balancing act between California’s environmental goals and economic reality
“Living in Northern California, I’m constantly reminded of the delicate dance between environmental aspirations and economic realities. The California Air Resources Board’s ambitious 2045 carbon neutrality goal raises valid concerns about potential ripples impacting crucial industries and the wallets of everyday Californians. From governors Arnold Schwarzenegger to Gavin Newsom, the state’s long-held desire to address environmental hazards is noble. But it is crucial to ensure policy doesn’t unintentionally disrupt lives and drain pockets; regulations that add costs are far more likely to have unintended consequences than incentives that produce the same end result. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Obituary: Frank Lawrence (Larry) Ruhstaller
“A beloved family man, consummate host, and admired public servant, Larry Ruhstaller, died peacefully December 27, 2023, at the age of 75 with his devoted wife Kitty and daughter Vanesa by his side. … ” Among his many, many civic positions, Larry Ruhstaller served as the San Joaquin County representative on the Delta Protection Commission, at one point being elected Chair of the Commission, and then serving on the Delta Stewardship Council. ” … Yet despite all these amazing efforts and achievements, he will be remembered by all who knew him for his humility, honesty, generosity, and hilarious sense of humor.” RIP, Larry. Read the full obituary at the Stockton Record.
New sign along American River pays tribute to Jonas Minton
A new interpretive sign that highlights the Water Forum 2021 habitat enhancement project and pays tribute to the late Jonas Minton, a Water Forum visionary, is now installed. Check it out along the Main Trail at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center at Ancil Hoffman Park in Carmichael. Pictured: Julie Minton
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Podcasts …
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Stories of abundance, with Obi Kaufman
What does art have to do with salmon? And how can we use art as a tool and practice to improve and better understand the natural world around us? We talk with prolific illustrator, author, and naturalist Obi Kaufmann about how art as a form of storytelling can hold the key to a better future for all of us. We explore stories of abundance, myths, science, and history in our quest to unravel California’s complex relationship with and reliance upon fresh water.
GROWING IMPACT: Climate, crops, and the Colorado River
The Colorado River passes through five states on its way to Mexico, supplying water to municipalities, farms, and industry. It supports more than a trillion dollars in economic activity and supplies water to an estimated 40 million people. The overuse of the Colorado River and an extensive climate change-driven drought have significantly decreased the volume of the fifth largest river in the U.S. A research team is exploring how climate change and agricultural adaptation will affect water availability in the Upper Colorado River Basin and what is important to communities that depend on the river.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: Pittsburgh River Patrol
The number of bridges crossing the rivers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are the most concentrated that I have ever seen. You would expect that having all that access to the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers would be ground zero for calamities of all kinds. It may be but Pittsburgh has created a River Rescue Patrol to keep these rivers safe. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
TALKING UNDER WATER: PFAS
Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld (WW) and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, point of use, point of entry, residential, storm water and erosion control markets.
In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Latest Northern California storms allow lower-elevation ski resorts to open
“Dodge Ridge Ski Resort in Tuolumne County opened Friday, nearly two months after its opening date last year. The lack of snow has resulted in a later start of ski season for the lower elevation resort, with a base of around 6,600 feet. A storm this past week put 19 inches of snow on the summit of Dodge Ridge and 14 inches at the base. That’s about half of the total snow they’ve received this season. That’s good news for the ski resort, and also for all the restaurants, motels, and ski shops along Highway 108 that rely on the tourists coming up the mountain to ski. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
New survey shows no area of Tahoe lakebed free of plastic
“A new dive survey conducted in Lake Tahoe shows there is now no area of the lakebed free of plastic. During a recent study, divers discovered 673 plastic items from a small portion of the lake. The study was published in the November edition of the journal Applied Spectroscopy. “There’s very little work on submerged plastic litter in lakes,” said Monica Arienzo, Ph.D., associate research professor of hydrology at DRI and one of the study’s lead authors. “And I think that’s a real issue, because when we think about how plastics may be moving in freshwater systems, there’s a good chance that they’ll end up in a lake.” Researchers swam transects along the lakebed near Lake Tahoe and Zephyr Cove to collect litter, an area covering approximately 9.3 kilometers. … ” Read more from KOLO Channel 8.
NAPA/SONOMA
Valley Water updating long-term plan to meet Santa Clara County’s water supply needs through 2050
“Valley Water’s mission is to provide Santa Clara County with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy. Our work includes managing Santa Clara County’s current water supply and ensuring a reliable supply for future generations. Water infrastructure projects often take decades to design and construct, so we must plan ahead. The Water Supply Master Plan is Valley Water’s long-range blueprint to guide water supply investments to ensure a reliable water supply for the county. The plan assesses how much water we’ll need in the future and what water supply and infrastructure projects are needed to meet that demand. Valley Water’s water supply goal is to meet 100% of demand during non-drought years and at least 80% in drought years. In 2023, Valley Water started a two-year process to update its existing Water Supply Master Plan through 2050. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Groundwater overpumping causes land subsidence in Corcoran
“In the fertile lands of the San Joaquin Valley, a silent crisis brews beneath the surface. Despite urgent pleas from local officials and environmentalists, agricultural magnates continue their relentless extraction of groundwater. The city of Corcoran, a community of approximately 20,000 residents and home to a maximum-security prison, is sinking. The persistent over-pumping of groundwater by major landowners in the Tulare Lake Basin has initiated a slow-motion collapse of the valley floor. … ” Read more from Nature World News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Massive dumping ground of WWII-era munitions discovered off Los Angeles coast
“It’s not just toxic chemical waste and mysterious barrels that litter the seafloor off the coast of Los Angeles. Oceanographers have now discovered what appears to be a massive dumping ground of military weaponry. As part of an unprecedented effort to map and better understand the history of ocean dumping in the region, scientists have found a multitude of discarded munition boxes, smoke floats and depth charges lurking 3,000 feet underwater. Most appear to be from the World War II era, and it remains unclear what risk they might pose to the environment. “We started to find the same objects by the dozens, if not hundreds, consistently… It actually took a few days to really understand what we were seeing on the seabed,” said Eric Terrill, who co-led the deep-ocean survey with Sophia Merrifield at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “Who knew that right in our backyard, the more you look, the more you find.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: WWII-era munitions found under water in survey of Southern California industrial waste dump site, from the Associated Press
SAN DIEGO
City of San Diego begins installation of new pure water pipeline at Miramar Reservoir
“The City of San Diego is preparing to install a new underwater pipeline at its Miramar Reservoir as part of the Pure Water Program. This will be the final segment of a pipeline project that will convey purified water from the North City Pure Water Facility, located off Eastgate Mall, through 8 miles of pipeline to the reservoir. Completion of the 1-mile branched pipeline along the Miramar Reservoir bed includes pipeline assembly on shore before the pipe is loaded onto barges and permanently installed underwater. Over 1,100 feet of tunneling to reach the reservoir was completed earlier this year, and work is now underway to complete construction of the pipeline at the reservoir. “The subaqueous pipeline at Miramar Reservoir is a key construction project of the Pure Water Program to help provide for our future water needs,” said Juan Guerreiro, Director of the city’s Public Utilities Department. … ” Read more from the Asian Journal.
Editorial: Lawsuit against feds over San Diego sewage fiasco worth try
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “The Biden administration’s slow-motion reaction to the worsening sewage crisis that has long punished hundreds of thousands of people in San Diego County’s South Bay is often explained away. Federal officials, we’re told, don’t have much leeway on when emergency aid can be provided. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website shows the opposite is true. It notes that at the request of the governor of the affected state, the president can declare a major disaster for any natural or man-made event “regardless of cause” if the president finds the disaster “has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond.” … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River states are racing to agree on cuts before inauguration day
“The states that rely on the Colorado River, which is shrinking because of climate change and overuse, are rushing to agree on a long-term deal to share the dwindling resource by the end of the year. They worry that a change in administrations after the election could set back talks. … The rules that govern the distribution of Colorado River water expire at the end of 2026. Negotiators are trying to reach a deal quickly, in case the White House changes hands. It’s not the prospect of a Republican administration that is particularly concerning, negotiators said, but rather a change in personnel and the time required to build new relationships between state and federal officials. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
Feds will take over if Western states can’t agree on Colorado River plan
“The rules that have guided Colorado River operations for two decades will expire at the end of 2026. Water negotiators across the West have been devising a new set of guidelines — dubbed “post-2026 operations” — that will address water use imbalances, the effects of climate change and tribal water rights. Now, Colorado River Basin states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming —only have a few months to finalize a plan to present to the U.S. Department of the Interior. If they don’t, federal officials will move forward with planning post-2026 operations without them. “Over the next three months, we are going to be frequently meeting and up to our eyeballs in negotiations with the hope and the expectation that we’ll have a proposal to the feds sometime in March,” Amy Haas, executive director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, told The Salt Lake Tribune. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
In national water news this weekend …
Tough choices could make 2024 a wild ride for Interior
“Interior Department officials enter a thicket this year overgrown with tough choices, evergreen litigation and plenty of political heat no matter which direction they go. Iconic species including the grizzly bear and the gray wolf could lose their Endangered Species Act protections, or not. Conservation could gain parity with grazing, mining and drilling on federal lands, or not. President Joe Biden’s contentious oil reform efforts could cross the finish line, or fall short. Decisions could boost, or slow, the mining of materials needed to meet the Biden administration’s clean energy and electric vehicle goals. And all of this will be happening under the eagle eye of lawmakers and advocates revved up by a presidential election year. … ” Read more from E&E News.
