Incoming storms …
First of back-to-back atmospheric rivers drenches Northern California while moving south
“The first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers drenched Northern California on Thursday, flooding roads while triggering statewide storm preparations and calls for people to get ready for powerful downpours, heavy snow and damaging winds. Heavy rain and gusty winds that began hitting the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday evening were expected to continue powering down the coast, according to the National Weather Service. The river of rain “will be taking aim at mostly Southern California” on Thursday, weather service forecaster Bob Oravec said. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Atmospheric rivers to fuel the 2 biggest storms of the winter in California
“A meteorological double-whammy will pound the West Coast with heavy rain and mountain snow, starting with one storm that will last into Thursday night and be quickly followed by another storm Sunday to Monday. Both will tap into moisture from atmospheric rivers, heightening the flood risk for millions, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The proximity of the second storm to the first, hitting roughly the same areas, could escalate flooding, mudslides and power issues. Rounds of large waves from both storms will pummel the California coast into next week. There will be the potential for overwash, coastal erosion and property damage. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Here’s why water is being released from several Northern California reservoirs this week
“Northern California water managers are preparing for a stretch of wet weather by releasing water from several major reservoirs this week. At 8 a.m. Wednesday, the California Department of Water Resources began releasing water down the main spillway at Oroville Dam. Initial releases were at 6,000 cubic feet per second. By Wednesday afternoon, water was being released at 12,000 cubic feet per second. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation also began releases on Wednesday. Shasta and Keswick Dams were both releasing water at 15,000 cubic feet per second. … ” Read more from KCRA.
California isn’t prepared for turbocharged storms like the ones we’re getting this week
“As a series of major winter storms sweep over the West Coast this week, anxious Californians are looking back at the flash floods and the “thousand-year” deluge that shocked San Diego a week ago, and Oxnard a few weeks earlier, wondering what’s in store. Starting Tuesday night, and then again on Sunday, two “atmospheric river” systems will bring high winds and heavy rain to Northern California, along with at least two feet of snow in the Sierra, followed by moderate to heavy rains in Central and Southern California, with a real risk of local flooding. And there are still at least two months of our wet season to go. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Field researchers use giant balloons to make forecasting atmospheric rivers a breeze
“It may sound a little simplistic, maybe even inflated, but Jeri Wilcox and Ross Beaudette are taking meteorology to new heights. For days, they’ve been coming to this little hilltop near Bodega Bay to release huge silicon balloons from the same spot every three hours. Field researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Wilcox and Beaudette are storm chasers who investigate a weather phenomenon called atmospheric rivers. “When we send [the weather balloons] up we’re able to gather a lot of information about what’s really going on in the atmosphere during these atmospheric rivers,” Wilcox said. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco.
Watch: Valadao calls for water storage ahead of major storms
“With heavy rains expected to hit California in the coming days, Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) took to the House Floor to call for more water storage to capture as much of the rainwater as possible.” Watch video at the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
MORE STORM COVERAGE:
- Satellite images show strong California storm spiraling over Pacific Ocean, from the SF Chronicle
- Explainer: What is an atmospheric river and how does it affect drought in California?, from NBC4
In other California water news today …
California is in a ‘snow drought.’ Why this week’s atmospheric rivers won’t be enough to end it
“Despite forecasts of heavy rain and possible flooding in the coming days, state water managers are warning that the “snow drought” in California’s Sierra Nevada could remain for the rest of the winter and into the spring. Storms that are moving in from the Pacific are forecast to bring more snow to the mountains starting this week, along with torrential rains in other parts of the state. But most of California’s storms this year have been shaped by warm conditions, bringing more rain and less snow — a trend that experts say is influenced by the current El Niño conditions on top of rising temperatures driven by human-caused climate change. “Even though the storms during January slightly helped out our snowpack, we’re only about halfway of where we should be for this time of year,” said Sean de Guzman, flood operations manager for the Department of Water Resources. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
WATER STORAGE INVESTMENT PGM: Commissioners discuss what to do if a project is not progressing
“At the January meeting of the California Water Commission, commissioners discussed what discretion the Commission has if a project selected for the Water Storage Investment Program is making insufficient progress toward completing the program’s statutory requirements. Proposition 1 of 2014 dedicated $2.7 billion for investments in water storage projects, which the California Water Commission administers through the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). Seven water storage projects were selected and must complete the remaining requirements, including final permits, environmental documents, contracts for the administration of public benefits, and commitments for the remaining project costs. Holly Stout, legal counsel for the Commission, said there isn’t a process or procedure for taking action if a project is not making sufficient progress; the Commission has the latitude to do what it wants in collaboration with everyone on the Commission. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Newsom administration develops comprehensive salmon strategy for California
“On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration released the “California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future: Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in the Age of Climate Change.” This document outlines the administration’s broad strategy to recover California’s salmon populations, including the four runs of Chinook salmon that return to rivers and creeks in the Sacramento Valley to spawn. We encourage you to read the new strategy. Categories of actions in the plan include: Remove Barriers and Modernize Infrastructure for Salmon Migration, Restore and Expand Habitat for Salmon Spawning and Rearing, Protect Water Flows and Water Quality in Key Rivers at the Right Times to Support Salmon, Modernize Salmon Hatcheries, Transform Technology and Management Systems for Climate Adaptability, and Strengthen Partnerships. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife service awards over $1.3 million to protect and restore coastal wetlands and build coastal resilience
“As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to conserve and restore coastal wetlands, the Service is awarding more than $1.3 million to support two projects in Marin County to protect, restore or enhance over five acres of coastal wetlands and adjacent upland habitats under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. Coastal wetlands are vitally important in protecting us from floods, filtering our water, supporting recreation and local economies and providing habitat for fish and wildlife. Despite their importance, there has been a steady loss of coastal wetlands. Partners will contribute $1.3 million in additional funds to support these projects in California. These grants have wide-reaching benefits for the local economy, people and wildlife – using nature-based solutions to boost coastal resilience, stabilize shorelines and protect natural ecosystems. Protecting and restoring coastal wetland habitats is critical for fish, wildlife and plant species and the many coastal communities that depend on these ecosystems. … ” Continue reading from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Tesla sued by California counties over hazardous waste
“A group of 25 California counties have sued Elon Musk’s Tesla, claiming the electric vehicle maker mishandled hazardous waste at its facilities across the state. The lawsuit from Los Angeles, Alameda, San Joaquin, San Francisco and other counties was filed on Tuesday in California state court. It seeks civil penalties and an injunction that would require the company to properly handle its waste in the future. The counties accused Tesla of violating state unfair business and hazardous waste management laws by improperly labeling waste and sending the materials to landfills that cannot accept hazardous material. California’s hazardous waste management law carries potential civil penalties as high as $70,000 per violation per day. … ” Read more from Reuters.
In commentary today …
Comparing the Delta Tunnel versus desalination
Edward Ring, senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “Debates over the efficacy of water projects often focus on the monthly cost to end users. For example, in May 2022, a few days before the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to deny the final permit to build a desalination plant in Huntington Beach, the influential Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik fretted that it “might drive up the average household water bill in Orange County by $3 to $6 per month.” Is that all? People of all incomes spend that much money every week buying cases of bottled water, or, for that matter, $3 will get you one-half of a Big Mac burger. Up to $6 a month is a manageable cost, and in any case water districts have programs to alleviate these costs for qualifying low income households. One of the biggest concerns about desalination projects is the financial cost to build them. Another frequently heard criticism is that they use too much energy. But as with all things, the relevant question is compared to what? … ” Continue reading at the California Globe.
This Sierra river needs more water for salmon. San Francisco wants to give it gravel
Peter Drekmeier, policy director for the Tuolumne River Trust, writes, “Nature designed the Tuolumne River to be a fast-moving, cold river. Dams and diversions have turned it into a slow-moving, warm stream. Its operators are trying to solve the problem with physical changes to help native fish. That won’t work if the river also doesn’t get some of its water back. The Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts, along with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, recently announced a plan to invest $80 million to restore fish habitat in the river. Unfortunately, a critical issue remains: More water to make the habitat work. Without this, the Tuolumne River’s beleaguered salmon population will not recover. … ” Continue reading from Yahoo Opinion.
Want farmers to protect the environment? Tie their subsidies to conservation
Tom Philpott writes, “Like a reveler who chases each of many tequila shots with a seltzer, U.S. farm policy consists of comically clashing impulses likely to result in a nasty hangover. The Department of Agriculture doles out substantial subsidies each year to entice farmers to maximize production of corn and soybeans. These commodities account for about 60 percent of U.S. farmland, are used to fatten animals on factory farms, and deliver many of the sugars and fats in our ultraprocessed diets. Unsavory side effects of their production include planet-warming emissions, soil erosion, and polluted waterways. Since 1985, the USDA has also offered farmers cash to adopt conservation practices meant to help counter those troublesome impacts. Growers can make extra money by adding soil-stabilizing crops such as rye and oats to their rotations or by establishing filter strips of grasses or legumes, which are designed to trap chemical runoff. The catch is that a large amount of federal money—about $14 billion per year on average between 1995 and 2021—goes toward promoting commodity crops, compared with just $1.8 billion for conservation. … ” Continue reading at the Food & Environment Network.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
As Klamath Dams come out, restoration project develops on important Klamath tributary
“The Klamath River has historically been the birthplace of many of California’s salmon, but, severed by dams, it is disrupted and disconnected, and salmon and other watershed residents have suffered from the impacts. Today the watershed is playing host to the largest river restoration project in the world. By the end of 2024, all four lower hydroelectric dams will be removed,
Cleaning up Clear Lake
“Lately there have been several public meetings on cleaning up Clear Lake. If this sounds familiar it’s been a hot topic for years. Over the past 30 years there have been a number of groups that have wanted to change the lake dramatically and they range from dredging the lake to a depth of more than100 feet to spraying the lake with a herbicide to kill the weeds and algae. Actually, in comparison to the surrounding lakes the fish have less mercury than Lake Berryessa and Lake Pillsbury. The mercury in the lake comes from the old mercury mine near Rattlesnake Island. It was on the Super Fund for cleanup and a lot has been done. … ” Read more from the Record-Bee.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
DWR ramps up water releases from Lake Oroville amid winter storms in California
“As heavy rain and winter storms hit multiple areas in California, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has increased water releases from Lake Oroville. The water released from Lake Oroville flows into Feather River to protect communities from flooding. Releases are in coordination with water operators and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. … ” Read more from KRCR.
BAY AREA
Hidden danger may lurk in puddles amid heavy Bay Area storm
“As another atmospheric river storm sweeps through the Bay Area, puddles on San Francisco streets may look tempting to splash in. But experts warn you should stay out — that glossy rainwater might also contain raw sewage. After last year’s January downpours overwhelmed Bay Area sewers, wastewater seeped its way into creeks, the bay and city streets — even coming out of manholes or backed-up sewer drains in the city. All told, tens of millions of gallons of wastewater and raw sewage were discharged into the environment after just two storms. The spills were the result of aging infrastructure unable to cope with intense downpours that inundated the sanitary system with extra water, Andrea Pook, a spokesperson for the East Bay Municipal Utility District, previously told the Chronicle. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
CENTRAL COAST
Sea otters stabilize salt marsh banks as they recolonize a Californian estuary
“Sea otters are making an impact as they return to the wetlands of Central California. Remarkable changes have occurred in the landscape as these adorable animals recolonize their former habitat in the Elkhorn Slough, a salt marsh-dominated coastal estuary in Monterey County. The erosion of creek banks slowed on average by 69% after the sea otter population fully recovered at a time when rising levels, stronger tidal currents and nutrient pollution should be causing the opposite. Marsh and streamside vegetation is rebounding and putting down densely matted root systems that can increasingly stand firm against flooding and surging waves. These features, essential for making the estuary resilient, are on the mend in large part due to the sea otters’ insatiable appetite for herbivorous marsh crabs, according to a study appearing in Nature. … ” Read more from the Current.
New bridge on Santa Margarita River will enhance important steelhead migration corridor
“Today it is rare to see a Southern steelhead in the wild, but there was a time when these fish were abundant, swimming in and out of Southern California’s watersheds in the tens of thousands. CalTrout’s South Coast region team is working across the lower half of the state to provide additional opportunities for these fish to thrive in our coastal waters once again – and to prevent the irreversible loss of this iconic Southern California fish species. Soon endangered Southern steelhead will be able to access all 29 miles of the Santa Margarita River, restoring this important historic migration corridor from headwaters to sea. In June 2024, CalTrout and our project partners will re-start construction to remove the current bridge and replace it with a new steel bridge that provides climate smart solutions for both fish and people. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Central Valley prepares for statewide atmospheric river
“Central California, along with most of the state, is bracing for a series of atmospheric rivers. The next round of weather will bring wind, rain, and snow. Officials across the state are on standby due to the predicted duration of the storm and widespread rain. “The impacts extend from the north coast almost near the Oregon border, all the way down to San Diego towards our border with Mexico,” explained Brian Ferguson with Cal OES. Sustained winds in the San Joaquin Valley are expected to be around 35 mph, and in the High Sierra, wind gusts can reach up to 75 mph. … ” Read more from KFSN.
Kings River watershed faces below average snowpack
“The first survey of the season in the Sierra Nevada mountains of eastern Fresno and Tulare Counties has found below average snowpack in the Kings River watershed. After a somewhat dry start to the year compared to last year’s historic storms, snowpack conditions within the Kings River watershed are a fraction of what existed at this time last year. The big picture: Snowpack water content is at 6.6 inches, which is 37 percent of the average for Feb. 1 and only 23 percent of the April 1 average when the snowpack typically peaks. … ” Read more from San Joaquin Sun.
Judge leans toward dismissing some – but not key – actions in ongoing Kern River lawsuit
“Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp let the battalion of attorneys in court Wednesday know he was inclined to drop at least one cause of action in the ongoing lawsuit brought by several public interest groups against the City of Bakersfield for dewatering the Kern River. But he likely won’t dismiss one of the lawsuit’s key claims – that Bakersfield has a duty to protect the river under the Public Trust Doctrine. Judge Pulskamp said he would likely dismiss a claim in the lawsuit that Bakersfield breeched its duties under a natural resources code and he was “on the fence” with regard to dismissing a claim by plaintiffs that dewatering the river had created a public nuisance that caused the plaintiffs special harm. … ” … ” Continue reading from SJV Water.
California water agencies push back against Kern River lawsuit
“Water agencies that receive diversions from the Kern River want a judge to dismiss parts of a lawsuit against the city of Bakersfield, arguing environmental groups haven’t properly argued there’s a claim to litigate. However, the judge in the case indicated he wouldn’t rule in favor of the agencies on the one claim attorneys say could potentially affect the existing preliminary injunction requiring a certain level of flow to protect fish. Attorneys argued Wednesday before Kern County Superior Court Judge Greg Pulskamp. The judge in October issued the preliminary injunction about water flows and tweaked it in late December, days before water agencies filed their notice of demurrer — a specific kind of motion to dismiss. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
EASTERN SIERRA
Column: Is it just me? Water conservation is already a way of life in Ridgecrest
Darla Baker writes, “Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mallory Boyd, president of the Indian Wells Valley Water District board, about how Ridgecrest residents are faring concerning water conservation. While the rest of the state is up in arms over having to hit the 14 percent reduction in use target by 2035, Ridgecrest residents are sitting pretty at 50 percent reduction over the past several years. Think about that for a minute. We aren’t crying in our cereal bowls because we have to cut back on our landscaping. No fussing about taking shorter showers or running our dishwashers only when they are full. Conservation has already become a “way of life” here in Ridgecrest due to our added concerns about sustainability. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Here’s how this week’s SoCal storms will be saved for when we need the water
“All of that rain drenching Southern California this week has to end up somewhere – and LA County crews are doing their best to hold on to it for when we need it most. The county has 27 spreading grounds designed to capture rainwater and let it slowly percolate into the ground, to be stored and then drawn out for the summer. “These basins or these spreading grounds are in areas that are very gravelly, rocky, sandy,” said Sterling Kippel, interim assistant deputy director with LA County Public Works. “When we bring in the water it’ll slowly percolate, soak deep into the ground and recharge these groundwater aquifers that we have in LA County.” … ” Read more from KABC.
Here’s how much rain Southern California could get over the next 7 days
“Southern California is about to get soaked by back-to-back storms as a massive low-pressure system moves into the region from the Pacific. The first storm from the atmospheric river arrives late Wednesday night into Thursday and is expected to dump one to three inches of rain along the coastal areas and valleys of Ventura County, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. “A strong cyclone over the eastern Pacific has a cold front extending south to just a few hundred miles west of the Central California coast, with a long fetch of moisture that stretches to Hawaii,” the National Weather Service said in a bulletin. … ” Read more from KTLA.
State approves groundwater plan for Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin
“In a letter dated Jan. 18, the California Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Office notified the Santa Clarita Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency that the groundwater sustainability plan for the Santa Clara River Valley – Santa Clara River Valley East Subbasin has been approved. The approval comes following the state’s detailed review of the GSP, which was approved by the SCV-GSA board of directors on Jan. 3, 2022. “After a multi-year development process including stakeholder input, our board approved the GSP in January 2022. Now, approval of the plan by the Department of Water Resources represents an important milestone as we prepare for the future in the Santa Clarita Valley,” Gary Martin, president of the SCV-GSA board of directors, said in a news release. … ” Read more from The Signal.
An algae bloom devastated sea mammals last year. L.A. wants to improve its rescue efforts
“A nightmarish scene unfolded in the summer of 2023 across Los Angeles County beaches as hundreds of sick marine mammals washed ashore and became stranded in the sand. Beachgoers witnessed animals seizing, foaming at the mouth and dying due to a toxic algae bloom. City leaders and residents scrambled to help as the nonprofit Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro worked to rescue and rehabilitate ill seals, sea lions and dolphins. The center quickly filled to capacity, said Chief Executive Officer John Warner, and it became clear there were not enough resources to save every animal. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: LA City Council Moves to Improve Response to Toxic Algae, from My News LA
Alamitos Bay water quality project plans to soon undergo environmental review
“A yearslong plan to replace an existing water circulation system at Alamitos Bay — which has been in the works since 2007 — has officially moved one step closer to becoming a reality. City officials, in a virtual community meeting this week, said the preliminary plans for the Alamitos Bay Water Quality Enhancement Project have formally moved into the environmental review process — a critical juncture of the process required before it can move forward. The water quality in Alamitos Bay — a highly trafficked recreational area — has long been a concern for residents, city and state officials. About a decade ago, the California State Water Resources Control Board ordered electricity providers to phase out using water to cool their generating plants to help protect water quality and fish. … ” Read more from the Long Beach Press Telegram.
City of Adelanto to join Mojave Basin “One Water” Plan
“Cadiz, Inc. announced today that the City of Adelanto, California has signed a Letter of Intent with Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company (“Fenner Gap”) to join Victor Valley water agencies in developing an integrated water management and infrastructure investment plan for the Mojave Basin region. As part of the agreement, Fenner Gap will provide 25,000 acre-feet of water to the City of Adelanto from the Cadiz Water Conservation, Supply and Storage Project. By signing the Letter of Intent, the City of Adelanto joins Fenner Gap, Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (“VVWRA”) and local Victor Valley water agencies in launching the Mojave – San Bernardino “One Water” plan, an ambitious plan to integrate public, private and multi-agency financing resources and maximize grant and municipal financing opportunities for the design, construction and operation of regional water infrastructure including pipelines, groundwater recharge basins, groundwater storage banks and water treatment facilities benefitting the entire Mojave Basin region. … ” Read more from Cadiz.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego flooding ballot measure could raise stormwater fee
“San Diego Council President Sean Elo-Rivera is moving to revive a proposed water quality tax to pay for flood prevention and anti-pollution efforts, days after a fierce rain storm overwhelmed the city’s failing stormwater system and inundated neighborhoods. Elo-Rivera said Wednesday that he will spearhead efforts to place the proposed tax on the November ballot, where it will need support from more than two-thirds of city voters for approval. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Mead water levels update as reservoir ‘on the mend,’ says scientist
“Lake Mead appears to be “on the mend” as its water levels have steadily continued to rise at the start of this year. The Nevada-Arizona reservoir’s water levels stand at 1,072.46 feet as of January 30. This marks a rise of over 4 feet since the beginning of the month, when levels were at 1068.18. While it may not seem like a huge rise, any fluctuation in the lake’s water levels is important as in recent years they have dropped very low. The reservoir, which lies on the Colorado River, is the largest man-made lake in the U.S. and provides water for 25 million people living in the surrounding basin. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
In national water news today …
The planet is dangerously close to this climate threshold. Here’s what 1.5°C really means
“The alarm bells are loud and clear. Federal and international climate officials recently confirmed that 2023 was the planet’s hottest year on record — and that 2024 may be even hotter. With a global average temperature of 58.96 degrees, Earth in 2023 was within striking distance of a dangerous limit: 2.7 degrees of warming over the preindustrial period, or 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The benchmark is significant. In 2015, the United States was among 195 nations that signed the landmark Paris agreement, an international treaty drafted in response to the worsening threat of climate change. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
