On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: The Next Generation of Climate Models — Background and Applications from 10am to 11:30am. This webinar will open with a primer on climate, climate change, and climate models addressing what climate models are, what they do, and how their global outputs can be made locally relevant. The discussion will then shift to an overview of the evolution of climate modeling from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) to Phase 6 (CMIP6), potential advances in scientific knowledge on climate change, and finally illustrative examples of how modeling results can inform land-management decisions and applications. The webinar will conclude with a discussion of recent Localized Constructed Analogs (LOCA2) statistically downscaled climate model results over the California region from global models drawn from CMIP6, emphasizing increasing occurrence of heat waves and intermittent appearance of dry spells and heavy precipitation events projected during the next few decades. Teams meeting link
- WEBINAR: Office Hours with DWR’s Paul Gosselin from 12pm to 1pm. Join Maven’s Notebook and Civic Well for the next Office Hours with DWR’s Paul Gosselin. Get ready to dive into the world of groundwater sustainability plans and the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) implementation. Here’s your golden opportunity to pick the brain of the expert himself – Paul. This is your chance to get all your burning questions answered! Click here to register.
- MWDOC Water Policy Forum & Dinner from 5:30 to 8pm in Costa Mesa. The evening will showcase the insights, perspectives, strategies, and visions of several new water general managers from Southern California. Join us at the Westin, South Coast Plaza, to kick off 2024 by networking with industry colleagues and hearing from new regional water leaders as they take the reins of their respective agencies. Click here to register.
- GRA SF BAY: Annual Water Board Update from 6pm to 7:30pm. Event will be virtual. Click here for more information and to register.
Incoming storms …
Here’s how the next two atmospheric rivers will affect California
“Forecasters have warned California residents that unsettled weather between Tuesday and Thursday is likely to bring flooding rains, strong winds and mountain snow as another atmospheric river moves down along the West Coast. Another storm will threaten the region early next week. “Use today to prepare for the widespread and impactful rainfall alongside strong and gusty winds coming Wednesday,” forecasters in the National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay Area office wrote Tuesday morning. Flooding concerns, like overwhelmed storm drains that can lead to road closures, will be widespread, and the heavy rain that falls could create localized areas of flash flooding, with urban areas, roads, small streams and burn scars the most vulnerable, forecasters said. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
A potent pair of atmospheric rivers will drench California as El Niño makes its first mark on winter
“The first in a potent pair of atmospheric river-fueled storms is lashing Northern California with heavy rain and wind Wednesday. More than 20 million people across California were under flood alerts Wednesday morning as the soaking storms raise the flood threat across much of the state into next week. The wet pattern will likely continue well into February as a more typical El Niño pattern kicks into gear after going missing to start winter. El Niño – a natural phenomenon in the tropical Pacific that influences weather around the globe – causes changes in the jet stream that can point storms directly at California. Storms can also tap into an extra-potent supply of moisture from the tropics called an atmospheric river. … ” Read more from CNN.
SEE ALSO:
- Back-to-back atmospheric rivers will hit the West Coast this week, from the Washington Post
- California braces for inundation as atmospheric rivers barrel in from Pacific Ocean, from the LA Times
Northern California water agency helps study atmospheric river forecasts ahead of Wednesday’s storm
“Ahead of any storm, increasing the coverage and frequency of weather observations can help produce a more accurate forecast. That’s the idea behind a partnership between the Yuba Water Agency and the Scripps Institution for Oceanography at UC San Diego. Since 2019, atmospheric river researchers from Scripps have traveled to a site along the Yuba River to launch weather balloons ahead of big storms. Radiosondes attached to those balloons take critical measurements of the atmosphere as they ascend. Those measurements give forecasters and scientists a clearer picture of conditions high above the ground. … ” Read more from KCRA Channel 3.
SEE ALSO:
- Hurricane hunters chase powerful atmospheric rivers as dangerous systems slam West Coast, from CBS News
- How scientists are tracking the Bay Area’s looming atmospheric river-fueled storm, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Newsom’s salmon strategy …
Saving salmon: Newsom unveils blueprint for ending decades-long decline
“With salmon populations throughout California declining for decades and facing the threat of extinction, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday unveiled a state strategy aimed at protecting and restoring the iconic species “amidst hotter and drier weather exacerbated by climate change.” The blueprint calls for tearing down dams and improving passages for migrating salmon, restoring flows in key waterways, modernizing hatcheries to raise fish and taking other steps to help Chinook, coho, steelhead and other migrating fish. “We’re doubling down to make sure this species not only adapts in the face of extreme weather but remains a fixture of California’s natural beauty and ecosystems for generations to come,” Newsom said in a statement. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Governor promotes salmon ‘restoration plan’ without science-based water flows
Dan Bacher writes, “As he continues to push the salmon-killing Delta Tunnel, Sites Reservoir and voluntary water agreements, Governor Gavin Newsom, with no sense of irony today, announced new actions and efforts “already underway that California is taking to help restore California’s salmon populations.” “After 10 years of rapidly intensifying drought and more extreme weather, salmon are not doing well,” according to a statement from Newsom’s Office. “Last year, with projections showing Chinook salmon population at historic lows, the salmon season was closed and the Newsom Administration requested a Federal Fishery Disaster to support impacted communities. Additionally, due to crashing salmon populations in 2023, some tribes canceled their religious and cultural harvests for the first time ever.” … ” Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
Gov. Newsom backs dam removal projects to boost salmon. Critics say that’s not enough
“California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pledging to fast-track more than half a dozen projects by the end of his term to remove or bypass dams that have blocked salmon from returning to the state’s chilly mountain streams and acting as the keystone of a complex ecosystem that sustains both economies and spiritual beliefs for tribes. … His proposal did little to satisfy critics, with the Golden State Salmon Association calling it “smoke and mirrors” that will do little to give fish what they really need — more water in the state’s rivers. That criticism was shared by environmental groups who have opposed Newsom’s effort to seek voluntary agreements with major farmers over how much water they can take from rivers and streams. Newsom’s salmon proposal still includes support for those agreements. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
SEE ALSO:
- Governor Newsom Launches California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, press release from the Governor
- Newsom launches strategy to restore salmon population, from the Courthouse News Service
- Governor Newsom Tours CalTrout Projects and Releases New Salmon Strategy, from Cal Trout
- Is Governor Newsom’s California Salmon Strategy Just Smoke and Mirrors? GSSA Responds, from the Golden State Salmon Association
- Governor’s new salmon strategy ignores existing biological goals, from California Water Research
Snow survey …
Second snow survey of the year shows modest improvement for snowpack, conditions remain below average
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 29 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 10 inches, which is 58 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Today’s results reflect a modest increase in the snowpack since January 1, but overall conditions are still far below normal. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 8.4 inches, or 52 percent of average for this date, an improvement from just 28 percent of average on January 1. One year ago, the snowpack statewide was 214 percent of average on February 1. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
California officials hopeful for more snow as season nears its peak
“There’s a structure that stands near a snow survey point at Phillips Station, off Highway 50 near South Lake Tahoe. This time last year it was partially covered in snow. On Tuesday, snow levels reached nowhere near that high. “Obviously, our snowpack is still below average,” said Sean de Guzman with the Department of Water Resources. “We’re only at halfway of where we need to be at this time of year.” Tuesday was the second snow survey conducted by de Guzman’s department this year. He and others trudged through snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, measuring snow depth and water content. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Other California water news …
Checking up on Montezuma Wetlands: Mud on the rise
Mary K. Miller writes, “The drive down Fire Truck Road to the Montezuma Wetlands Project, where the Delta and Suisun Bay converge with the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers, feels out of place from much of the Bay Area, sparsely dotted as it is with farms, cattle and wind turbines rather than housing tracts. Stopping for a closer look, I see that part of this desolate grassland 20 miles from the city of Fairfield is undergoing a radical transformation. Adjacent to Fire Truck Road is low marsh with intertidal channels and ponds surrounded by tall swaths of tule, cattails and bulrush, while towards the foothills grow clumps of salt grass and pickleweed in high marsh. What took tens of thousands of years for nature to build–the foundation of an ecosystem that is almost equal parts water and muddy ground–took two decades to recreate using a bit of ingenuity, a good business plan and a lot of sediment. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Fields of innovation: A trip showcasing multi-benefit land repurposing
“Embarking on a field trip can often feel like stepping into a storybook, especially when the narrative and scenery revolve around transforming landscapes. This feeling was palpable last November when the Environmental Defense Fund organized a trip to Merced and Stanislaus Counties in California. The journey wasn’t just a tour; it was a vivid illustration of how multi-benefit land repurposing (MLRP) is bolstering groundwater sustainability in areas hardest hit by climate change. MLRP involves transforming areas where agriculture is least viable into thriving multibenefit land use mosaics that serve a multitude of purposes, from recharging groundwater to creating wildlife habitats, while providing payments to growers for voluntarily participating. … ” Read more from EDF’s On the Waterfront blog.
Spring a leak? Google will find it through a new partnership aimed at saving water in New Mexico
“New Mexico is teaming up with Google to hunt for leaky water pipes using satellite imagery as the drought-stricken state prepares for a future in which growing demand puts more pressure on already dwindling drinking water supplies. State officials made the announcement Tuesday as they rolled out a 50-year plan that includes nearly a dozen action items for tackling a problem faced by many communities in the western U.S., where climate change has resulted in warmer temperatures and widespread drought. New Mexico is the first state to partner with Google for such an endeavor, state officials said, noting that the payoff could be significant in terms of curbing losses and saving municipalities and ratepayers money over the long term. … ” Continue reading at US News & World Report.
A California town will vote on banning factory farms. What does that mean for the rest of the US?
“This year voters in Berkeley, California, will get to choose whether to ban factory farms in its city limits – marking the first time in the US that such a measure has been put on the ballot. It may seem like an unusual mandate for a city that presently has no factory farms. (There’s a horse race track field that would be shut down if the measure passes.) But the activists behind the ballot initiative say it’s part of a broader strategy to ban this type of industrial style of livestock production in which cattle, chickens and pigs are held in confined spaces before slaughter. If successful in Berkeley, a liberal San Francisco Bay Area town that’s often been at the forefront of US environmental policy, the method can be replicated elsewhere, they say. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
New study reveals impacts of irrigation and climate change on Western watersheds
“In a groundbreaking study that could reshape our understanding and management of water resources in the Western United States, David Ketchum, a 2023 graduate of the University of Montana systems ecology Ph.D. program, has unveiled a 35-year analysis quantifying the interconnected impacts of climate change and irrigation on surface water flows. The study, recently published in Nature Communications Earth and Environment, describes the relative impact that climate change and irrigation intensification is having on hundreds of watersheds in the Western United States. … ” Read more from the Desert Research Institute.
California Forever revisions shrink proposed footprint by 1,100 acres
“California Forever refiled its East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative on Monday, shrinking the proposed footprint of its new community to 17,500 acres from 18,600 acres. Language has been added to ensure that, if passed, Solano County will have the right to enforce the development agreement, including all guarantees made by California Forever to the voters, through the duration of the development agreement. New verbiage also clarifies that all solar panels used on the property will have to be cleared by Travis Air Force Base before they are implemented. Nothing will be construed, the further language adds, to “in any way modify or limit the authority of the Airport Land Use Commission to make consistency determinations regarding the Airport Land Use Compatibility act. … ” Read more the Vallejo Times-Herald.
California moves forward with landmark plastic waste reduction law
“Every day, 58-year-old Armando Monroy separates tons of trash at the Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square. The hotel basement has four recycling tanks where Monroy finds waste that is not sorted correctly, including plastic containers, paper, cans, cardboard, glass and food. “People don’t understand,” he told Environmental Health News (EHN) in Spanish, adding that guests often visit from places that lack the same infrastructure for recycling. That single hotel’s trash is a drop in the bucket: Californians discard about 15,000 tons of plastic into landfills every day, enough to fill 290 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Packaging alone accounts for more than a quarter of total landfill waste by weight and more than 50% by volume. … ” Read more from Environmental Health News.
In commentary today …
It’s easy to criticize California water conservation. It’s a lot harder to offer solutions
Dr. Mark Gold, the director of water scarcity solutions at the Natural Resources Defense Council, writes, “A recent criticism of the State Water Resources Control Board’s proposed regulations for urban water conservation was wildly misplaced. Urban water is valuable because it must be treated to the highest standards, delivered to millions of locations and available daily. The proposed conservation regulations will achieve greater water savings than the city of Los Angeles uses annually. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe travel could be ‘very difficult to impossible’ as atmospheric river hits California
“As an atmospheric river makes its way into California, gusty winds and snow showers are in store for the Tahoe region. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Friday. Areas above 5,000 feet can expect around 1 to 2 feet of snow. Over higher mountain peaks, 3 feet of snow accumulation is expected, the weather service stated. The snow level will move down lower as the week progresses, down to 3,500 feet on Friday. Along with snow, wind gusts are predicted to sweep through Tahoe at around 50 to 60 mph. “Travel delays, snow covered roads, reduced visibility from gusty winds, chain controls & road closures will all be possible,” the service said. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read more from AOL News.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Inspection team descends 260 feet down into Whiskeytown Dam’s Glory Hole spillway
“As one of two people who descended 260 feet down into the Glory Hole spillway at Whiskeytown Dam on Tuesday, Scott Colburn has gone where few others have gone before. A civil engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Colburn inspected the Glory Hole to make sure it was structurally sound. He was joined on his venture by James Hudleston, a mechanical engineer for the bureau. Colburn said they did not find any troubles with the concrete structure, which is an emergency spillway to prevent the lake from flowing over the top of the earthen Whiskeytown Dam, which the bureau operates. “Not very many people get to do this. It is great and the inspection went well,” Colburn said. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
RELATED: Photo gallery: Crew descends into the Glory Hole spillway at Whiskeytown Lake
Water being released from Shasta Dam ahead of rainy weather in the coming days
“The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing for water levels to rise at the Shasta Dam because of the incoming rain. As of Tuesday, Shasta Lake’s water level is around 1,033 feet, which is about 34 feet from the top. The Bureau of Reclamation told Action News Now it’s tripling the water they release this week. They are going to increase the release from 5,000 to 15,000 cubic feet per second. The Bureau says this is normal reservoir management during flood operations, especially since Shasta Lake is up about four feet from last week. The lake is sitting around 122% of the average. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Oroville Dam to see some water releases ahead of atmospheric river headed to California
“Officials say they expect to release some water from the Oroville Dam’s main spillway on Wednesday. The operation comes as a strong atmospheric river sets its sights on Northern California. According to the California Department of Water Resources, about 6,000 cubic feet per second of water will be released from the Oroville-Thermalito Complex. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
Waterfowl flock again to valley rice fields
“The return of fully planted rice crops to the Sacramento Valley following years of drought has restored another essential feature of the region. After harvest, reservoirs replenished by last year’s historic storms enabled farmers to flood more of their fields this winter, creating wetland habitat for migrating waterfowl. Right now, “You can’t drive down the road without seeing thousands of geese,” said Kim Gallagher, who grows rice along Highway 45 in Yolo and Colusa counties and participates in government-funded programs that incentivize rice farmers to flood their fields in the winter for wildlife conservation. Birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway have stopped in the Central Valley for centuries, resting and refueling for their journey north in the spring. But since the Gold Rush, California has lost 95% of its wetlands to development. … ” Continue reading at Ag Alert.
Sacramento officials prepare for coming atmospheric river as forecasts trend milder
“An atmospheric river system is set to arrive in the Sacramento area Tuesday night into Wednesday, bringing the possibility of heavy rain and gusty winds up to 55 mph. Forecasters are advising residents to clean out gutters, tie down anything loose outdoors and prepare for possible power outages. Still, the storm isn’t expected to be too much more than the one that rolled through earlier this month. “I know a couple of the forecasts we had been putting out showed upwards of 2 inches of rainfall near Sacramento, but that has trended downwards and right now we’re looking anyway from an inch to an inch and a half in downtown Sacramento,” said Jeffery Wood, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
NAPA/SONOMA
Study projects sequences of atmospheric rivers will increase. Here’s what that means for Sonoma, Napa counties
“Atmospheric rivers are a double-edged sword. They’re both a major source of water for North Bay residents and a significant contributor to flooding. The pros and cons all depend on when the moisture-laden storms appear. Last winter was marked with back-to-back-to-back storms caused by atmospheric rivers. They helped the North Bay emerge from a yearslong drought, but also brought significant damage and even death to Sonoma County. In the next week, two atmospheric rivers will move into the North Bay, just a little over a week since a previous storm exited the region. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Updated timeline issued for storm set to soak SF Bay Area
“The National Weather Service issued a new graphic Wednesday morning showing when certain regions of the San Francisco Bay Area can expect to see an onset of steady heavy rain today. Heavy rain is expected to be widespread across the entire North Bay by 10 a.m. and start in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose between 10 a.m. and noon. While the system is expected to deliver a stormy mix of downpours, powerful winds and roadway flooding, the good news is that the latest forecast indicates it’s trending slightly drier than originally predicted, said Matt Mehle, a meteorologist with the weather service. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
‘Storm prep mode’: Bay Area braces for atmospheric river, possible flooding
“On New Years Day in 2023, those who live in the East Bay remember the torrential rains flooding many local waterways, especially on El Capitan Drive in Danville where homes were inundated with water. The Trucco family had water up to their front door and had to be rescued. “Actually, the fire department had to take us out of our house,” Joy Trucco said.” I couldn’t get out of my house. “That was last year so now you must have a little bit of fear?” ABC7 News reporter Leslie Brinkley asked. “Anxiety. Oh yes, I do and my two next door neighbors – we all do. Very scary,” Trucco answered. Public works departments say last year’s storm was problematic because it swept through as all the leaves fell from the trees, clogging the drains. This time, the late January timing means the leaves are already cleared out. … ” Read more from KGO.
How computer modeling is helping the Bay Area plan for climate change: from polluted flooding to the economic impact of storms
“As he walks around his Oakland office near I-880, environmental advocate Brian Beveridge sees obvious issues: diesel exhaust and piles of trash. But he has deeper concerns — literally. Beveridge, co-founder of West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, is worried about solvents and other chemicals in the soil, a legacy of spills from polluting industries that long operated in West Oakland. If a severe storm rolls in, bringing surging seas and heavy rain, the dormant contamination could be brought back to the surface, drowning the area in a toxic stew. “We operate with a kind of false sense of security because we’ve been living in a drought for 15 years,” Beveridge said. “Within three months, we could have a flooded neighborhood, emergency crews trying to clear out storm drains, toxic water going into the bay.” That threat will worsen with a rise in the sea level driven by climate change. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
CENTRAL COAST
State money coming to help Big Basin Water Company customers
“Santa Cruz County is getting state money to help bring safe drinking water to customers in the Santa Cruz Mountains. On Tuesday, the county announced they are receiving an $850,000 state grant to help assure access to safe drinking water for the community served by Big Basin Water Company. “This funding is good news for Big Basin customers, but we still have a long way to go as we work together for permanent and positive change,” Supervisor Bruce McPherson said. … ” Read more from KSBW.
Feasting sea otters help reduce erosion, study says
“After nearing extinction, sea otters are returning to California’s Monterey Bay — and they’ve brought their appetites. That’s great news not just for the otters, but also for the environment and humans alike, according to a new study. Otters once filled the waters from Russia and Japan in the east, to along the the West Coast of the U.S. and down to Baja California, but demand for their soft fur in the 18th and 19th centuries drove a hunting frenzy that left a population of only 50 survivors in California, said Brent Hughes, an associate professor of biology at Sonoma State University, and the lead author of the study, published in Nature on Wednesday. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
What is an Atmospheric River? Storms expected to hit Central California this week
“An Atmospheric River is expected to hit Central California this week. Two storms are expected to hit. The first round of storms is expected to begin Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rain totals are expected to reach one to two inches, where some areas in the Foothills could get three inches. The Foothill communities could have a higher risk of flooding and rockslides. Drivers in those areas should take extra caution. … ” Read more from KFSN.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Heavy rain headed for Southern California: flooding possible
“California is bracing for heavy rain and mountain snow as an atmospheric river moves into the region this week that will deliver back-to-back storms. According to the National Weather Service, Northern California and the Central Coast will begin seeing the first storm’s impact early Wednesday. Heavier rain is expected to develop over Southern California on Thursday and continue into Friday. “This is a big storm,” says KTLA 5 News meteorologist Henry DiCarlo. “The cold front stretches all the way from Canada into Mexico.” … ” Read more from KTLA.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
CNRA asks for community input on the Salton Sea Management Program
“The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) has released a draft of the Salton Sea Management Program and Community Needs Report for a 60-day public comment period. Acknowledging the concerns raised by community members and advocates over the past decades about the actions and inactions in the Salton Sea region, CNRA recognized the need to better understand community needs and identify better pathways to achieve co-benefits while achieving the SSMP’s goals and commitments to implement nearly 30,000 acres of dust suppression and habitat restoration projects. The Salton Sea Management Program and Community Needs Report identifies community needs related to the Salton Sea, describes the status of SSMP efforts, and lists potential opportunities for the SSMP to address community needs while implementing restoration projects. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
Making sense of the floods in San Diego
“The media coverage of the floods in San Diego last week has been breathless—and for good reason. High waters carried cars for miles, people were wading through chest-deep waters, and many low-income communities bore the brunt of the flooding. But was this actually a 1000-year flood? We looked to PPIC research network member Brett Sanders and PPIC Water Policy Center senior fellow Jeffrey Mount to untangle truth from fiction. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Along the Colorado River …
Commentary: The commonsense thinking behind the Imperial Valley’s water rights
Brett Miller writes, “Last week, we briefly reviewed the history of how the Imperial Valley claimed and leveraged its water for the good of the nation, cementing its water rights in 1901, long before the major urban growth in the late 20th century and beyond. Those rights were vindicated with other laws and agreements over the decades to come, but the first major stamp of approval came in 1922 with the Colorado River Compact between six of the seven states which relied on the Colorado River. In recent years, however, some accusations have been making the rounds claiming that the Law of the River, including the 1922 Compact, should be overruled because more water was allocated among the states than the typical flow. The original legal guidelines, the critics claim, had no consideration of climate change, and now we need to rewrite the laws to take it into account. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Will a shrinking Colorado River shrivel the produce aisle?
“When Camille Calimlim Touton visits the grocery store, she dutifully checks the labels on the fruits and vegetables to see where they were grown — and, by extension, where the water used to grow them came from. At last year’s annual meeting of the Family Farm Alliance, Touton, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, ticked off a few of her favorites, listing lemons from California’s Imperial Valley and cantaloupe and leafy greens from Yuma, Arizona. “We are committed to you,” Touton told the group, “to make sure you can keep doing what you want to do, which is to continue to grow food to feed this country.” But with the ongoing drought plaguing the Colorado River, that’s going to be a complicated promise to keep. Ninety percent of this country’s winter vegetables are grown on farms in the sunny, arid corners of California and Arizona dependent on the river. Given that agriculture consumes as much as 79 percent of annual flows, the sector will undoubtedly need to absorb a large share of cuts as states and the Biden administration work out a plan over how to conserve water over the next 20 years. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Radio: As Las Vegas grows, here’s where the Colorado River negotiations stand
“Southern Nevada grows continuously. But water in the Colorado River, the main source for us, does not. It does replenish, but never enough to meet the ongoing demands of all who use it: seven states and their 40 million residents, tribal lands and Mexico. If you’ve lived here a while, that’s not news. News would be if water managers for all those users came up with a new deal to limit and change water distribution levels. Because it was a year and a half ago when those seven Colorado River states could not agree with a federal request to cut some 4 million acre-feet of water to the water supply. There has, though, been movement since.” Listen at KNPR.
Environmentalists see Nevada Supreme Court ruling bringing state’s water management ‘into the 21st century’
“The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously ruled last week that the state can restrict new groundwater pumping if it will impact other users and wildlife, a decision that strikes a blow to the plan of a developer that at one time hoped to build a new city of 250,000 people in the Mojave Desert and could shift how groundwater is managed in the driest U.S. state. Thursday’s decision is the latest in what has been a decades-long dispute between proponents of a real estate development, Coyote Springs, that has proposed building more than 150,000 homes 50 miles outside of Las Vegas and currently consists of one golf course, and environmentalists and the state’s various water agencies that argued the construction would impact other water users and wildlife throughout the region. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Arizona might soften stance on water for new Phoenix developments
“Arizona proposes to pull back from its flat ban on building new subdivisions served on groundwater in the booming fringes of Phoenix. A draft of a new proposal would partially walk back a flat ban that the state imposed on the approval of new developments in part of suburban Phoenix that use groundwater. The new draft would, critics say, allow such growth to occur under specific circumstances. The practice that would now be allowed is commonly called “commingling,” and the Arizona Department of Water Resources had long opposed it in the past. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Gila Bend Groundwater Basin water users pushing back on potential for state-run conservation
“A new push for groundwater pumping regulation in the Gila Bend area is getting plenty of pushback from Arizona farmers and ranchers. “I am completely confounded as to why Governor Hobbs would take our work, what we have built in the interest of finding solutions, and blow it up,” said Stefanie Smallhouse, the president of the Arizona Farm Bureau. The Arizona Department of Water Resources announced they are exploring whether to designate the Gila Bend Groundwater Basin, just southwest of Phoenix, as an active management area, or AMA. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Colorado OKs assistance to purchase water rights
“The Colorado Water Conservation Board on Monday voted to recommend $20 million in assistance to the Colorado River Water Conservation District to purchase the water rights connected with the Shoshone Hydropower Plant in Glenwood Canyon. The conservation board voted to recommend the funding as part of the state’s annual Water Projects Bill. In a news release, the board said the money would “contribute to a larger funding effort to secure Shoshone permanence and foster water security on the Colorado River.” … ” Continue reading at the Aspen Daily News.
In national water news today …
January was awash with extreme winter storms. Climate change likely played a role
“Winter storm and flood alerts continue this week for millions of Americans following a weekend of flash floods in states such as Pennsylvania and Illinois, where many residents were forced to evacuate their homes as they took on water. It’s the third weekend this month when large swaths of the country have been doused with extreme wintry conditions—a trend that’s becoming increasingly more likely because of climate change, recent analyses show. In northeastern Illinois, unseasonably warm temperatures destabilized a pileup of ice on the Kankakee River and unleashed major flooding, prompting evacuations of about 200 homes. “There’s always ice backups this time of year, but I’ve never seen it this bad,” one resident told a local news station. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
