On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Idaho-Maryland Mine Final Hearing beginning at 9am. The Nevada County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a Special Meeting on February 15 to hold a noticed public hearing and take final action on the proposed Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley Project. The meeting may continue to February 16 if needed. This Special Board Meeting follows the May 10-11, 2023, Planning Commission Public Hearing, where the Commission recommended that Supervisors deny the project and the Final Environmental Impact Report. At this upcoming meeting, the Board of Supervisors will hear presentations from staff and the applicant as well as take public comment. The Board is expected to ask questions of the staff and the applicant before entering deliberations on whether to approve or deny the application to reopen the Idaho Maryland Mine – Rise Grass Valley. Click here for more information.
In California water news today …
Farmers, tribes reach ‘historic’ Klamath River deal
“The Interior Department on Wednesday announced an armistice in the battle over the Klamath River, unveiling an agreement between farmers reliant on the waterway for irrigation and tribal nations seeking to restore the region’s fisheries. The memorandum of understanding between the Klamath Water Users Association, which represents farmers in the Pacific Northwest, and the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe and Karuk Tribe will guide future negotiations over the Pacific Northwest waterway. The document, also signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, states that all parties will work on both improving the ecosystem of the Oregon-California waterway and improving “water supply reliability” for agricultural users. “The collaboration and cooperation reached today in the Klamath Basin is a critical step forward as we work to support healthy ecosystems and water reliability in the region for generations to come,” Haaland said in a statement. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Klamath Basin reacts to water agreement
“Reaction to Wednesday’s announcement by the Department of Interior came in quickly from a range of groups and individuals. Clayton Dumont, chairman of the Klamath Tribes, said he is pleased with the agreement, saying, “I think it’s a positive step forward.” But he also noted, “It’s really an agreement to try to agree. I think it’s a positive step forward.” “I truly believe making a maximum effort to restore some semblance of health to this complex ecosystem running from the headwaters here in our homeland to the ocean is the best shot we will have, ever, for tribal and agricultural communities to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our coming generations,” Dumont said in a statement. “All of us who have been involved in these difficult discussions for many, many months owe a debt of gratitude to Matthew Strickler, assistant deputy secretary for Fish and Wildlife. Secretary Haaland and the Department of Interior picked the right guy for the job.” … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
SEE ALSO:
- Biden administration announces truce in Klamath Basin water wars, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Klamath Basin irrigators, tribes sign conservation agreement, Interior pledges $72M, from the Herald & News
- Interior Department Reaches Landmark Agreement with Klamath Basin Tribes, Project Irrigators to Collaborate on Ecosystem Restoration and Water Reliability, from the Department of the Interior
Judge rules to allow Arrowhead Spring bottler to continue taking water from San Bernardino mountains
“A judge ruled last month to allow the company that bottles Arrowhead Spring Water to continue taking water from the San Bernardino National Forest. Activists are now calling on the Forest Service to stop the company’s operations. Fresno County Court Judge Robert Whalen on January 25 ruled to pause the state water board’s cease and desist order against BlueTriton Brands. BlueTriton took over Nestle’s operations in the national forest in 2021. … ” Continue reading from KVCR.
New steelhead run record set on the Mokelumne River
“A new record for the number of steelhead returning to the Mokelumne River has been set this year. A total of 1,749 steelhead, including 968 adults and 781 fish under 18 inches, have come back to the system this season. The previous record for total steelhead was in 2018 when the hatchery reported 530 adults and 638 juveniles, a total of 1168 fish. However, there was another year when the total number of adults was over 700 fish. The majority of steelhead are in the 18 to 24 inch range, with a few larger fish mixed in, reported William Smith, manager of the Mokelumne River Fish Hatchery. One of the steelhead returning this year weighed 13-1/2 pounds, but it was apparently from Nimbus Fish Hatchery on the American River. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record.
Before and after: Sierra Nevada snowpack expands steadily over past month
“What a difference a month makes. On Jan. 1, the Sierra Nevada snowpack, the source of nearly one-third of California’s water supply, was a meager 28% of its historic average. October, November and December had brought few storms, leaving ski resorts with many runs closed and water managers around the state beginning to get nervous that California could be heading back into the kind of dry conditions that defined the 2020-22 drought. But since then, winter has arrived. Multiple atmospheric river storms have sent the Sierra Nevada snowpack back to respectable levels. On Wednesday, it was 74% of the historic average. Images from NASA satellites show that on Jan. 1, snow was present mostly only at the highest elevations between Lake Tahoe and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park in the Southern Sierra. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Water and looming SGMA regulations discussed at World Ag Expo
“Ag workers from around the world gathered in Tulare for the World Ag Expo to hear from policy experts, business owners, manufacturers, legal consultants, and other ag-industry stakeholders about the one thing on all their minds — water. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, SGMA, was established in 2014 by California’s legislature. It defines how much water can be pumped from the state’s constantly fluctuating groundwater supply. Kings County is no exception. Threats to water supply, cost, quality and land loom over San Joaquin Valley residents. “Overpumping has caused a lot of damage in the Central Valley including land subsidence,” said Laura Ramos, interim director of the California Water Institute Division of Research and Education at Fresno State. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Water bottle waste: Ventura County legislator proposes state law to chip away at problem
“Bill would require the state agencies to stop buying single use water bottles. It’s a type of pollution we see everywhere. We see them by the side of the road, floating in creeks and on our beaches. They are plastic water bottles. A state assemblyman from the Tri-Counties wants California to set an example, and to use alternatives. “Single use plastics just have a very negative impact on pollution, on the environment over,” said Democratic State Assemblyman Steve Bennett of Ventura. … ” Read more from KCLU.
California tried to ban plastic grocery bags. It didn’t work.
“Almost a decade ago, California became the first state in the United States to ban single-use plastic bags in an effort to tackle an intractable plastic waste problem. Then came the reusable, heavy-duty plastic bags, offered to shoppers for ten cents. The unhappy result: Last year, Californians threw away more plastic bags, by weight, than when the law first passed, according to figures from CalRecycle, California’s recycling agency.Now, lawmakers are trying to fix that. A new bill seeks to ban all plastic bags offered at the checkout line, including the heavy duty kind. (Shoppers would still be able to pay for a paper bag.) … ” Read more from the New York Times.
The 2024-25 Budget: Crafting climate, resources, and environmental budget solutions
“In response to the multibillion‑dollar budget problem the state is facing, the Governor’s budget proposal identifies significant solutions from recent augmentations made to climate, resources, and environmental programs. This report describes the Governor’s proposals and provides the Legislature with suggestions for how it might modify the spending plan to better reflect its priorities and prepare to address a potentially larger budget problem. The report begins with a discussion of the Governor’s overall approach, including background on recent funding augmentations and the state’s budget problem; a high‑level overview of the Governor’s proposals; our overarching assessment of the proposed approach; and recommendations for how the Legislature could proceed. We then walk through the Governor’s proposed solutions in each of 11 thematic areas, including examples of alternative or additional budget solutions the Legislature could consider. … ” The report includes a section on Water and Drought. Read more from the Legislative Analyst’s Office (pdf) | html version
White paper: Extreme decentralized water treatment
“Access to an adequate quantity of piped water and management of wastewater produced in homes and businesses is an expectation of city dwellers in wealthy countries, and an aspiration for many people living in rapidly developing cities in low- and middle-income countries. Recycled water can play a greater role in meeting those needs, and can be more practical and cost-effective to deliver through decentralized systems. Water in the West affiliate Meagan Mauter convened a workshop to explore the future of premise-scale water treatment and reuse, and worked with workshop participants to produce a working paper outlining the challenges and opportunities. Download the paper and read a related Q&A with Mauter.”
Wildlife Conservation Board releases 2023 year in review
“The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) today released its 2023 Year in Review, highlighting their conservation and restoration efforts throughout California. WCB contributed to 127 projects for the 2023 calendar year, allocating approximately $496 million in funding. “The WCB had a remarkable 2023, delivering strong on our commitment to protect 30 percent of California by 2030 (30×30),” said Wade Crowfoot, California Natural Resources Secretary. “I am especially pleased to see increased partnership with tribes and community organizations to protect biodiversity and expand access to nature across the state.” WCB’s Year in Review highlights progress across eight strategic initiatives designed to address biodiversity, climate change and increase access to nature. … ” Read more from the Wildlife Conservation Board.
California releases formal proposal to end fracking in the state
“California oil and gas regulators have formally released their plan to phase out fracking three years after essentially halting new permits for the practice. The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) wrote that they would not approve (PDF) applications for permits for well stimulation treatments like fracking to “prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources (PDF)” in addition to protecting public health and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. “I’ve made it clear I don’t see a role for fracking in that future and, similarly, believe that California needs to move beyond oil,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement in 2021 when he initiated regulatory action to phase out new fracking permits. … ” Read more from KQED.
In commentary today …
Wade Crowfoot on desalination, and the opportunity cost of the Delta tunnel
Edward Ring, senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “Last week in Sacramento at Cal Desal’s annual conference, one of the highlights was an appearance by Wade Crowfoot, California’s Natural Resources Secretary. In his remarks, and in answer to questions from the audience, Crowfoot sought to create the impression the Newsom administration is supporting desalination projects. “The last thing we want to do is put cost-prohibitive constraints on desal,” he said, adding that the state needs to “clarify the permitting pathway.” He even said that California’s “regulatory agencies are getting the message that desal is good.” But reality preempts rhetoric. In May 2022, Newsom’s appointees to the California Coastal Commission unanimously denied approval to construct a large scale desalination plant in Huntington Beach. At a capacity of 55,000 acre feet per year, this proposed twin to the Carlsbad plant, along with other investments already made or planned in runoff harvesting and wastewater recycling, would have made Northern Orange County, population 2.5 million, completely independent of imported water. … ” Continue reading from the California Globe.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
‘A significant existential threat to us and our water supply’: Mendocino County leaders on the Eel-Russian River diversion
“Mendocino County 1st District Supervisor Glenn McGourty spoke before his colleagues at the February 6, 2024 Board meeting with a troubling development about the Potter Valley Project, the disputed water diversion infrastructure that keeps the Russian River flowing year-round. He reported that PG&E had seemingly disregarded Mendocino County water users in their rush to decommission meaning “if they wanted to, they could probably just shut the water off and that would be the end of the Potter Valley Diversion.” In McGourty’s words: “Last week was a very big shock to us . . . in regards to water transfer from the Eel River. . . . We had the first meeting of the new JPA, the Eel-Russian Project Authority. This would be the group that would be taking over the diversion from PG&E and designing a new one that would move Eel River water and continue the flow of Eel River water to our region.” … ” Read more from MendoFever.
Commentary: Following the money on Scott Dam removal
Adina Flores writes, “As plans for the full and expedited removal of the Scott and Cape Horn Dam on the Eel River in Potter Valley move forward, our natural resources are in danger. The larger Scott Dam is located where water is stored at Lake Pillsbury, and the smaller Cape Horn Dam constitutes the creation of the Van Arsdale Reservoir. District 2 Congressional candidates Tief Gibbs and Jared Huffman have touted their support for providing an upgraded fish passageway while completely disregarding the impact on stakeholders. According to their congressional opponent, Chris Coluombe, the dam removal will cost the taxpayers an estimated $500 million, constituents and firefighters will face further fire risk due to reduced water availability, and agricultural producers will face the impact of starving our land of water. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Snowpack is lacking around Lake Tahoe, but strong in other parts of Mountain West
“The wet season got off to a weak start in the Mountain West, but federal officials say recent winter storms have helped strengthen some snowpacks. In Nevada, most snowpacks across the state are above normal, which means snow levels are higher than their historical median levels for this time of year. One area below normal is the Sierra Nevada mountains near Reno and Lake Tahoe, where the snowpack is less than two-thirds its median level for early February. That’s despite being hit recently by an atmospheric river, which is a long region in the atmosphere that transports water. … ” Read more from KUNR.
Watchdog group sues Tahoe Regional Planning Agency over environmental concerns
“In December, it was reported that the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) had approved new land-use rules allowing greater flexibility for developers. The new rules would permit the construction of buildings with higher density and height in town centers. However, Mountain Area Preservation (MAP), an environmental group, filed a lawsuit against TRPA to revoke these amendments. MAP Advocacy Director Sophia Heidrich stated, “The environmental watchdog needs watching” as the group believes that TRPA violates its 55-year-old Tahoe Regional planning bi-state Compact. Furthermore, they also take issue with the fact that TRPA has not performed a regional environmental impact statement since 2012. … ” Read more from Channel 2.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Billions of gallons of water flowing into Lake Shasta push reservoir level up 27 feet
“Pushed by above normal rainfall for this time of year, the water level at Lake Shasta has risen nearly 27 feet since Jan. 1, brightening the outlook for agencies, irrigators and wildlife that depend on water from the lake. In January alone, the level of California’s largest reservoir rose 20 feet, according to figures from the state Department of Water Resources. And by Feb. 9, the water level reached its highest level so far this year, 1,040 above feet sea level and 27 feet above the Jan. 1 watermark. A fuller Lake Shasta was good news to Don Bader, the area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Shasta Dam. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
BAY AREA
2023-24 San Geronimo Tributary adult spawner update
“The salmon spawning season is always a long-awaited period of wildlife spotting within the Lagunitas Creek Watershed. As the California Coastal coho salmon are critically endangered, efforts to monitor this keystone species are performed during the juvenile stages of their life cycle within the freshwater creeks, until they return as adults to start the cycle again. Data for each of the three cohorts allows stronger analysis towards how the population is persisting, thriving, and progressing towards no longer being endangered. This year, winter rains brought in coho salmon throughout December with peaks occurring around the second and last weeks of the month. … ” Read more from the Turtle Island Restoration Network.
Amid cost increases, Valley Water continues to progress with Anderson Dam and other priority projects
“Valley Water is responsible for operating and maintaining large infrastructure that serves Santa Clara County’s water needs. The existing water supply infrastructure was built decades ago. Dams such as Anderson in Morgan Hill were built in the 1930s and 50s. Water treatment plants were built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Valley Water is making investments to repair and replace the existing infrastructure and to prevent outages or disrupted service. Our agency also needs to invest in new projects to ensure a reliable water supply for future generations. Currently, Valley Water’s largest project is fixing Anderson Dam. This reservoir is an essential source of water storage for Santa Clara County. Built in 1950, Anderson is the largest of Valley Water’s ten reservoirs and could fit the other nine reservoirs inside it. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
Putting Bay Area stormwater to work
“It’s nice to hear a rushing creek…but when those creeks are full of stormwater runoff, it’s not necessarily a pleasant sound. At least to Sandy Mathews, Alameda County’s Clean Water Program Manager. “What we’re really focused on is water quality. Keeping the stuff that’s in our everyday lives—like the oil drips, the dirt from construction sites—out of the stormwater.” That’s because stormwater isn’t “treated” the way that wastewater typically is. “And when you’re in an urban environment like we are in the Bay Area, a lot of that stormwater hits the ground, but it doesn’t get into the ground. It runs off. It runs into storm drains. And those storm drains are fast conduits into the creeks and into the Bay.” … ” Read more from KALW.
Zone 7 alleges Pleasanton failed to pay $18.5 million in fees
“The Zone 7 Water Agency last month sued the city of Pleasanton alleging it failed to pay the agency over $18 million in fees after Pleasanton increased water meter sizes and connections but failed to properly report those changes. Because the city did not uphold its end of a longstanding agreement, Zone 7’s finances have been heavily impacted and is looking for the city to pay what it owes, and possibly more, according to the petition for writ of mandate and complaint for breach of contract, declaratory relief and failure to perform mandatory duty under state law – a copy of which has been obtained by the Pleasanton Weekly. “Zone 7 has been personally affected by the City’s past failures to pay water connection fees pursuant to the written agreement and the ordinance,” according to the petition filed in Alameda County Superior Court on Jan. 26. … ” Continue reading at Pleasanton Weekly.
Keep Zone 7 incumbents to reconsider Voluntary Agreements
“Water management in California was never easy, but it’s about to get harder. Because of climate change, the coming decades will bring the state face to face with a new set of challenges with low-to-no snowpack in the mountains, longer droughts and wetter storms. The Tri-Valley needs leadership that will proactively seek out water solutions on both the local and state levels. For the Zone 7 Board of Directors’ full-term seats, we endorse Director Laurene Green, Director Kathy Narum and Board President Sandy Figuers. Under their direction, the water agency has been notably responsive to the area’s forever-chemical issues. We suspect that similarly difficult decisions lie ahead in this changing landscape. … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly.
Half Moon Bay: Sewer authority considers flood risk to wastewater plant
“The SAM wastewater treatment facility in Half Moon Bay has long been vulnerable to periodic flooding due to its location near Pilarcitos Creek and the Kehoe Watercourse. To better understand how flooding could damage the plant and assess mitigation strategies, SAM hired Integral Consulting to create various models from the creek, watershed and the ocean. Last week, Integral presented their findings to the board. … ” Read more from the Half Moon Bay Review.
CENTRAL COAST
More water cuts could be coming to SLO County. Here’s how much your city faces
“Some San Luis Obispo County residents may need to cut their water use in the coming years under new regulations proposed by the state — one city as much as 30%. The new regulation framework, titled “Making Conservation a California Way of Life,” was rolled out by the California State Water Resources Control Board in the fall. The agency was still considering public feedback received on the proposed regulations as of Monday and will likely release an updated draft in March, according to spokesman Edward Ortiz. As currently proposed, the regulations would require some cities in San Luis Obispo County, but not all, to reduce residential and commercial water use by 2035, according to the state water board’s data. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. | Read via Yahoo News.
Barrels of hazardous waste dumped along public roadway in Paso Robles
“The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department is seeking information from the public concerning the illegal dumping of several drums filled with hazardous waste on the side of Monterey Road near Paso Robles.On Dec. 18, 2023, county roads maintenance workers discovered five steel drums dumped at a roadside turnout on Monterey Road near Paso Robles. County hazardous materials personnel responded to the location to prevent public access and assess the potential hazard of the dumped material. Upon determining that no liquid waste spillage or leaking had occurred, the barrels were removed from the road shoulder and transported to a secure location by a certified hazardous waste hauler. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency updates
“Groundwater is a vital water supply for Californians who have been affected by prolonged drought and unreliable surface water supplies. Over the last decade, we have seen reservoirs across the state drop to historic lows. Fortunately, in recent years we have seen them recover. When surface supplies dwindle and rain does not come to the rescue, California water agencies become more dependent on groundwater supplies to meet their customers’ water demands. Additionally, during droughts, the agricultural sector becomes more dependent on their private wells to ensure that their crops survive the dry and oftentimes unpredictable conditions to produce food. According to the Department of Water Resources, groundwater accounts for 60% of California’s total water supply during drought and 40% in average years. … ” Read more from the Coastal View.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Mudslide danger high in Southern California as rain-saturated hills ready to give
“Already inundated by record rainfall, Southern California is facing another major storm Presidents Day weekend that could bring new risks for mudslides and flooding in vulnerable areas saturated with water. The region saw 2 to 15 inches of rain last week — precipitation that weakened hillsides, closed roads and damaged homes. And while the strength of this new storm is still far from clear, experts say it underscores the dangers for slide-prone areas in the weeks and months ahead. The National Weather Service office in Oxnard said it is still assessing the weekend forecast but said there is the possibility of “significant flooding and mudslides,” with a “potential for coastal flooding and damaging waves” and a moderate risk of falling trees and power outages. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
The high cost of underinvestment
The ReBuild SoCal Partnership writes, “For decades, Southern California’s infrastructure has driven economic growth, enabling the swift movement of goods throughout the region, enhancing health and safety across communities, and improving the quality of life for residents. But today, in the wake of a rapidly changing climate and extreme weather conditions, the foundation is beginning to crumble. As the region faces aging infrastructure and severe overuse, it also faces growing disinvestment and inequitable spending that trails other competitive economic regions around the country. While Southern California has made substantial investments in many areas, the state’s roads, bridges, transportation and water management systems aren’t ready for a competitive, technologically enhanced future. Thoughtful considerations for infrastructure planning and investments in sustainable solutions have never been more crucial. … ” Continue reading at Politico.
Cemex sues State Water Board over permit for Santa Clara River
“A company looking to build the largest mine in North America just east of Santa Clarita is suing the State Water Board in its latest attempt to get a permit needed to use the Santa Clara River in its plans to extract 56 million tons of sand and gravel from Soledad Canyon. The lawsuit means the city, State Water Resources Control Board and residents will have to wait until after the lawsuit is resolved for any answers on whether they’ll get a chance to discuss any potential concerns that might be related to putting such an operation next to a river that’s been called “one of the last natural rivers in Southern California” and a critical water resource. Cemex did not immediately respond to a request for comment. … ” Read more from The Signal.
Inland Empire: How recent storms have impacted local groundwater recharge efforts
“After the last series of Pacific storms driven by atmospheric river conditions that pummeled our region, I spoke with Betsy Miller, General Manager at the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District to touch base on the storms impact on groundwater recapture in the region. Miller: Since rain began falling in Southern California in early February, the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District in Redlands, California, has collected nearly 750-million gallons of storm water for recharge into the aquifer. … ” Read transcript or listen at KVCR.
Western Water launches groundwater storage program
“Capitalizing on wet weather while preparing for the next dry period, Western Municipal Water District’s (Western Water) Board has approved a substantial investment in its groundwater banking program, taking a major step to enhance its water supply for its customers. “A water bank functions much like a personal savings account but for water. It allows us to stockpile surplus water underground, ready for withdrawal in times of need,” said Board President Mike Gardner. “During wetter seasons, we can recharge groundwater basins, effectively ‘depositing’ water. This stored water can be withdrawn during dry periods.” … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
These machines clean up littered OC waterways following storms ‘like a Roomba for the water’
“After the recent storms that have slammed slammed Southern California, some machines have been busy cleaning out trash and debris that has flowed into the Huntington Harbour. “That all has to go somewhere. When these aqueducts like this lead out into channels and harbors, that’s where all the trash ends up,” said Michael Arens, CEO and co-founder of Clean Earth Rovers. He is working to clean up waterways one piece of trash at a time. The rovers look to capture the trash before it makes it out into the ocean. … ” Read more from KABC.
SAN DIEGO
How much rain has runoff into San Diego reservoirs in recent weeks?
“To say it rained a lot this year is an understatement and the reservoirs in the City of San Diego have been filling up. To get a better idea on that we talked with Drew Kleis, San Diego’s public utilities assistant director. He said he likes the impressive rainfall totals. “In the last 3 weeks we’ve received over 25,000-acre feet of runoff water,” he said. “That translates to having 36% more water in our reservoirs than we did this time last year. That’s a lot of local runoff we’re able to use in our drinking water system. In the last 3 weeks we’ve collected enough drinking water for approximately 50 days.” … ” Read more from CBS 8.
San Diego County’s climate action plan addresses farming practices
“Local governments in California are developing climate action plans aligning with the state’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2045. San Diego County’s climate action plan addresses that goal in several areas, including transportation, water, energy and farming. The county’s plan is different from the city’s and is for the unincorporated areas of the county and county facilities. “The county climate action plan is a big plan that the county is putting forward,” Tyler Farmer, chief of operations for the sustainability planning division for the county, said. “This plan is going to map out a way that we can reduce as many greenhouse gases as we can produce.’’ … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Winter storms helps snowpack levels across Colorado River Basin
“Snowpacks have gotten a boost across the region thanks to this month’s winter storms. In January, researchers from the California Department of Water Resources, who compile snowpack surveys, told Channel 13 that snow depths and snow water content was down 30% compared to an average year in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranger. When looking at the Colorado River Basin, all areas were only sitting at about 36% when compared to an average year. However, atmospheric rivers and winter storms that have passed through the area have helped boost those numbers. … ” Read more from Channel 13.
Lake Mead hits 1,075 feet, where the water shortage started in the first place
“Lake Mead is the highest it’s been since May 4, 2021, climbing Wednesday to 1,075 feet — the threshold for a water shortage, according to the federal government. It’s symbolic, not an end to the water shortage. And it has been cause for celebration at the lake, even if it’s short-lived. Lake Mead boaters have been posting reports about the rising water level at Boulder Harbor, and commenters are wishing it would reopen someday. Lake Mead National Recreation Area has said it’s not going to happen. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Inside the race to grasp the fate of the Colorado River
“To ensure that the Colorado River can remain a lifeline for 40 million people, the federal government is looking for answers in the extremes of the distant past and the warnings of a hotter future.In a low-slung building at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a group of engineers and scientists have developed a cutting-edge approach to help negotiators fashion the next major deal to divvy up the dwindling river for decades to come. Despite significant rainfall in recent months, Lake Mead could return to near-historic lows by 2025. As the Bureau of Reclamation looks to reach a deal by the end of the year — before a potential change in administration — the agency is, for the first time, putting climate change at the center of how it’s planning the future. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
‘Water, United’: Connecting key players to accelerate water action across the Colorado River Basin
“A new initiative aiming to unite multinationals, innovative tech companies, and water utilities has been announced in the US. Microsoft, PepsiCo, FIDO Tech, Oldcastle Infrastructure (a CRH Company), Water Foundry and Atlantean Media have worked to help develop the ‘Water, United’ initiative. ’Water United’ plans to unite the public and private sectors to accelerate water action across the Colorado River Basin – one of the most overstressed, overallocated water sources in the world. Estimated to support $1.4 trillion in economic activity and 16 million jobs*, the Colorado River provides water for more than 40 million people across seven Western states, including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and California. The first project is planned to take place with the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD), a not-for-profit water utility that provides water to more than 1.7 million people. … ” Read more from Environmental Expert.
Bipartisan conservation poll shows increasing concern over environmental issues in Western States
“An annual bipartisan survey on conservation in Western states found an increase in voter concerns over climate issues from land and water use to wildlife populations and wildfires. The 14th annual Conservation in the West Poll from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project said anxieties regarding many environmental topics had reached new highs. “Issues that are the highest in 14 years of conducting this survey,” said Lori Weigel, one of the project’s pollsters. “They are at the highest levels of concern ever.” … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
How new AZ bill would create way for rural communities to regulate groundwater
“Lawmakers at the Arizona Capitol advanced a bill on Tuesday that would create a new way for rural communities to regulate groundwater. The bill comes as the debate over who gets to regulate often dwindling groundwater supplies heats up. This is the latest effort by Republican lawmakers to assert local control and, they say, protect agricultural interests. Camryn Sanchez with KJZZ’s Politics Desk has been covering it all and joined The Show with more. … ” Read transcript or listen at KJZZ.
‘With water, we’re all in it together,’ says Arizona’s Jewish water expert
“It’s hardly surprising that water, or more accurately, the lack of it, is increasingly on the minds of Arizonans and their elected officials. After all, last year’s steady drumbeat of national headlines about Arizona’s water woes shone a new intensity on the issue: Lake Mead’s water level fell low enough to reveal several sets of human remains covered decades ago; the water in Lake Powell was so low that the dam’s turbines could barely turn; and the Colorado River, whose water Arizona, six other states and Mexico depend on, is in crisis. Then there was the Rio Verde Foothills weeks-long saga that began when Scottsdale turned off the water tap to its neighboring “wildcat” development, forcing residents to flush their toilets with rainwater, carry laundry to friends’ homes and skip showers, a situation that Alexander Kolodin, the area’s Jewish and Republican representative, called “not OK.” As shocking as all that news was to many, it was not surprising to Sharon Megdal, the Jewish director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) and someone who has worked on Arizona water policy since the late 1980s. Megdal credits her view of things to a Jewish sensibility. “With water, we’re all in it together,” she told Jewish News. “We need to have smart and good policies in our state.” … ” Read more from Jewish News.
February storms bring above-average snowpack to Salt River watershed
“All of the precipitation Arizona has had in the last couple weeks has resulted in above-average snowpack in the Salt River’s watershed. In a snowpack survey near Happy Jack this week, a team from Salt River Project measured snow that was 30 inches deep. SRP meteorologist Bo Svoma said that’s well above normal. “It was incredible that the snowpack was that much above average, especially considering that the winter had been pretty darn dry all the way up until mid-January, so we caught up and then some,” Svoma said. “Even if the snow starts melting now and we don’t get any more, we’ve already peaked higher than we do in most years.” Svoma said the snow also appeared to be widespread in areas above 6,000 feet in elevation. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
In national water news today …
Anxiety builds as deadline for Biden rules nears
“Some of President Joe Biden’s big-ticket environmental rules aren’t yet finished, and allies of the administration are getting antsy about the pileup. The administration is facing a deadline this spring to finalize rules to ensure that they’re shielded from procedural rollbacks in the event that Republicans take hold of Congress and the White House next year. Complicating matters even further is the fact that the deadline isn’t yet clear — and won’t be known until months after rules are completed. Advocates of tougher environmental regulations watched as then-President Donald Trump used the Congressional Review Act in 2017 to unwind some of the Obama administration’s environmental rules, and they don’t want that to happen again as Biden makes an aggressive push to roll out consequential regulations across the government. Major rules expected to land in the coming months include everything from an EPA rule to crack down on power plants’ greenhouse gas emissions to endangered species protections and a bid to protect federal employees from getting fired. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
WATER TRANSFERS: Identification of Parties Interested in Potential 2024 Temporary Transfers
