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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9am. Agenda items include the Staten Island Wetland Restoration and Carbon Farming for Habitat, Climate, and Communities project and a Delta Conveyance Update. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: CV-SALTS Nitrate Program from 9am to 12pm. CV-SALTS and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board are holding a webinar on Nitrate Control Program requirements. This webinar will be helpful if you have received a Nitrate Control Program Notice to Comply* in the mail and would like to learn more about the program and your regulatory compliance responsibilities. The purpose of this webinar is to provide an overview of the Nitrate Control Program, describe the program’s regulatory structure and timeline, discuss permittee responsibilities (those who received a Notice to Comply) and lessons learned from areas already complying; and Introduce Management Zone leaders. This webinar will introduce and discuss nitrate control compliance requirements for permittees in these groundwater basins/sub-basins: Delta-Mendota, Eastern San Joaquin, Kern County (Poso), Kern County (West-side South), Madera, Merced, Tulare Lake, and Yolo. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern Through Innovation, Research and Technology from 12pm to 1pm. Join Orange County Water District as we welcome special guest speaker Orange County Sanitation District General Manager Rob Thompson to the District’s ongoing webinar series. For decades, our agencies have remained on the forefront of advanced treatment of wastewater recycling, sophisticated lab analysis, researching new and innovative technologies, and more. Hear about OC San’s journey to tackle contaminants of emerging concern through its Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) project. As an industry leader, this pilot project continues OC San’s journey in investigating potential technologies to address wastewater and water challenges. Featured speaker: Rob Thompson, General Manager, Orange County Sanitation District. Click here to register for the webinar.
In California water news today …
Blizzard conditions could bury California mountain towns in feet of snow
“Residents, businesses, and visitors are urged to prepare for a powerful winter storm that will lead to lengthy travel disruptions and power outages in California’s Sierra Nevada. AccuWeather meteorologists say the combination of heavy snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour, combined with 40-60 mph wind gusts, will lead to blizzard conditions and a life-threatening situation for people caught unprepared in the storm.Snow is expected to pick up across portions of Oregon, northern California, and northwestern Nevada by Wednesday night. AccuWeather meteorologists say heavy snow will expand through the northern and central Sierra on Thursday. The best chance for snow totals of 4-8 feet or more will be at elevations above 5,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Cold storms headed for CA, including rare blizzard conditions in Sierra Nevada Fri-Sat
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “Winter 2023-2024 has turned out to be an eventful one despite a pretty slow start in December. Overall conditions have been substantially warmer than average across essentially all of CA, with some parts of the San Joaquin Valley seeing winter temperatures approaching seasonal records. Precipitation has been a bit more heterogeneous, with December starting out fairly dry in most places but January and February being extremely wet in some places. Overall, precipitation for the past 90 days has been above average essentially everywhere within 100 miles of the CA coast and near to slightly below average inland across the Sierra Nevada (though that’s going to change quickly in the next 72 hours!). Overall, DJF will end up warmer and wetter than average for most of CA’s land area and the vast majority of its population (and JFM precipitation anomalies may yet be even higher on the wet side). … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO:
- Blizzard warning of up to 10 feet of snow in the Sierra could make travel ‘dangerous to impossible’, from the Associated Press
- California snowstorm: What Tahoe ski resorts are saying about the weekend, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- What exactly is a blizzard? How is this California snow storm different from the last?, from the Sacramento Bee
How back-to-back California storms are erasing fears about state’s water supply
“Even before the major storm forecast for this weekend, a wet February has eased fears that California would end the rainy season with too little water. In fact, many parts of the state are now likely to wrap up with average or above-average rain and snow totals. The state’s March snow survey, taking place Thursday, will show that snowpack in California’s mountains is around 80% of average for the date, a substantial leap from the end of January when it hovered around 50%. Rainfall, meanwhile, stood at 103% of average statewide Wednesday, up from about 80% last month. While the numbers are not exceptional, they mark enough of an improvement since the start of the year — when some water managers began to talk about drought — that reservoirs are sufficiently primed with precipitation to avoid major water shortages in 2024, even if the rest of the rainy season disappoints. Part of the reason is that a lot of water remains in storage after last year’s historically wet weather. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
California’s coveted coastal cliffs eroding in atmospheric rivers
“The views of the Pacific Ocean from Alan Ashavi’s cliff-top property are breathtaking, but underneath lurks a danger to the dream home he has been building for the last 12 years. When the first round of atmospheric rivers battered the California coastline last year, several of his neighbors’ backyards collapsed, but Ashavi was spared. The 66-year-old was not so lucky earlier this month, when another atmospheric river caused a landslide underneath his property. “Well it is nerve-wracking because you deal with it on a daily basis and you come in here and check every day or every hour sometimes,” Ashavi told Reuters. … ” Read more from Reuters.
California’s urban runoff flows down the drain. Can the drought-plagued state capture more of it?
“California fails to capture massive amounts of stormwater rushing off city streets and surfaces that could help supply millions of people a year, according to a new analysis released today. The nationwide report, by researchers with the Pacific Institute, ranks California ninth nationwide among states with the most estimated urban runoff. Rainwater flows off streets and yards into storm drains that eventually empty into waterways and the ocean — carrying pollutants picked up along the way. The analysis reports California sheds almost 2.3 million acre-feet of precipitation from pavement, roofs, sidewalks and other surfaces in cities and towns every year. If it were captured and treated, that would be enough to supply more than a quarter of California’s urban water use, or almost 7 million Southern California households each year. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
New Pacific Institute report finds substantial opportunity for urban stormwater capture to enhance water resilience in communities across the US
“The Pacific Institute, a US-based global water think tank, in partnership with 2NDNATURE today released a new national assessment finding substantial opportunities for expanded stormwater capture and use approaches to improve water resilience in urban areas across the United States. The pivotal study quantifies the volumetric potential of stormwater runoff in urban areas, finding 59.5 million acre-feet per year (AFY) of urban stormwater runoff is generated, exceeding earlier estimates. This is equivalent to an annual average of more than 53 billion gallons per day. … ” Continue reading from the Pacific Institute.
Newsom wants to build a $16-billion water tunnel. Will it destroy California’s Delta?
“In the heart of California, at the place where two great rivers converge beneath the Tule fog, lies the linchpin of one of the largest water supply systems in the world. Here in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, birds soar the Pacific Flyway, cows graze beside sodden rice fields and red reeds poke from still depths. In winter and spring, when the snow melts and the rain pours, water rushes through its sloughs and streams, winding around more than 200 small islands on a path to the Golden Gate and, eventually, the Pacific Ocean. This 1,100-square-mile estuary drains a vast watershed, bringing together about half of all river flows in the state and contributing to the supplies of three out of every five Californians. But the idyllic marsh is also the site of a bitter, decades-long battle over a proposed plan known as the Delta Conveyance Project — a 45-mile tunnel that would run beneath the delta to move more water from Northern California to thirsty cities to the south. … ” Read more from the LA Times (for LA Times subscribers only).
CA WATER COMMISSION: Update on the Water Storage Investment Program Projects
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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. At the February meeting of the California Water Commission, Program Manager Amy Young updated the Commissioners on the status of the seven water storage projects. New information has been culled from the last quarterly reports, and some project timelines have changed significantly. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
CalTrout Executive Director weighs in on “saving salmon” with state officials and partners
Curtis Knight writes, “California is and always has been a salmon state. We have 20 different kinds of salmon and steelhead in California from the very top of the state all the way down to San Diego. Many of these fish are close to blinking out, but as of February 2024, we have not yet lost a single species. These fish are fighters, and it is this resilience that speaks to the great opportunity we have – an opportunity that I find both hopeful and urgent. Earlier this month, I was honored to represent CalTrout and our perspective on “Saving Salmon”, as I joined California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot for his monthly Secretary Speaker Series. My colleagues from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Yurok Tribe, NOAA Fisheries, California State Water Board, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations also joined the conversation. Together with Secretary Crowfoot, we discussed what state actions are needed to recover salmon populations in California. Much of our conversation unpacked the Newsom Administration’s recently released California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter Drier Future. … ” Read more from CalTrout.
Forecasted Sacramento River fall-run Chinook population number is only 213,622
“The forecasted adult Sacramento Valley fall-run Chinook salmon population number is only 213,622, according to page 59 of a presentation to be done in Oregon by the state and federal governments today. This foreshadows the California salmon information webinar coordinated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on Friday, March1. The presentation power point is available at: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/docs/OSIG_Combined_Presentations_2024.pdf The original 2023 projection for Sacramento River fall Chinook, the most predominant stock harvested in California’s fisheries, was estimated at 169,767 adults, one of the lowest forecasts since 2008 when the current assessment method began. The 213,622 number is surprisingly low, considering that all ocean recreational and commercial salmon fishing in the ocean and all recreational river fishing for salmon was closed last year. … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
State leaders get birds eye view of the Sacramento Valley floodplains
“Our bypasses and many of our ricelands in Northern California are still inundated with water, which is helping to not only keep Sacramento and our communities safe from flooding, but these landscapes are currently providing critical wintering habitat to fish, birds and hundreds of other wildlife species. In an effort to demonstrate the power of proper floodplain management, the Floodplain Forward Coalition came together with the conservation touring company, EcoFlight, to show media, legislative staff and California Natural Resources Secretary, Wade Crowfoot, how the floodplains are working in the Sacramento Valley and demonstrate how we can provide more benefits to people and wildlife with an increase in investment and permitting from state leaders. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Senator Padilla introduces bill to create permanent, national water assistance program
“Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, introduced the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Establishment Act, legislation that would establish a permanent, nationwide water assistance program to help families afford their water bills. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress appropriated more than $1 billion in 2021 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to help low-income households pay their drinking water and wastewater bills. From June 2021 through September 2023, LIHWAP served more than 1.4 million households, restored water and wastewater services 100,479 times, prevented disconnections 753,558 times, and reduced 679,030 water bills, supporting more than 16,000 water and wastewater systems in low-income, Tribal, rural, and urban communities. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Fact sheet: Floods in California
“More than seven million Californians—one in five residents—live in areas at risk of flooding. All 58 counties have a history of severe flood damage, making flood risk the most widespread natural hazard in the state—more pervasive than earthquakes or wildfires. Flooding comes in many forms, including river floods, coastal floods, and urban floods where intense rainfall overwhelms storm drainage systems. Aging dams—susceptible to failure during earthquakes or high flows—also pose a risk to some downstream communities. More than 250 dams pose a major risk, though only 16 need immediate attention. Low-income communities of color throughout the state are disproportionately at risk. Such communities have limited financial capacity to fund flood control upgrades and post-flood recovery efforts. … Read more from the PPIC.
Fact sheet: Sea level rise in California
“As the atmosphere warms, ocean water warms—causing the water to expand—and land-based ice melts. Both of these processes raise sea level. Future sea level rise is inevitable, as greenhouse gases (GHGs) already in the atmosphere continue to trap heat. Reducing GHG emissions in the coming decades would reduce the rate of sea level rise in the long term. The rate of sea level rise will also depend on whether large ice sheets melt steadily or collapse rapidly. Recent evidence suggests that ice sheets are melting faster than expected, which could lead to more rapid sea level rise. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Study finds drought fuels invasive species after wildfires
“In a study recently published in the journal Ecology, University of California, Irvine scientists uncover the intricate dance between drought, wildfires and invasive species in Southern California’s coastal sage scrub ecosystems. Titled “Long-term drought promotes invasive species by reducing wildfire severity,” the research, led by Sarah Kimball, Ph.D., director of the Center for Environmental Biology at UCI, sheds light on the critical interplay of these factors and its profound implications for ecosystem health. The research, conducted at the Loma Ridge Global Change Experiment, showcases how prolonged drought acts as a catalyst, influencing not only the severity of wildfires but also paving the way for invasive species to take center stage. By simulating drought conditions, the study clarifies connections between climate change, wildfire dynamics, and shifts in plant communities. … ” Read more from UC Irvine.
Study: Even during intense wildfires, beaver-dammed waterways provide major wildfire protection
“Wildfires are increasing in size and intensity, and billions are spent every year fighting them. New research published by the Geological Society of America suggests land managers could have a new ally to turn to: beavers. When beavers get to work along mountain waterways, they can quickly turn them into sprawling wetlands. And those wetlands, according to new research, effectively provide critical refuge for plants and animals during even intense wildfires, and aid in recovery post-fire. Looking at three major 2020 wildfires in Colorado and Wyoming, researchers found that nearly 90 percent of beaver-dammed riverscapes could be classified as so-called fire refugia, while just 60 percent of riverscapes without dams could. … ” Read more from Boise State Public Radio.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Echo not as litter impacted as other Tahoe area lakes
“Environmental nonprofit Clean Up The Lake in October completed its first SCUBA-enabled research project in Echo Lake to evaluate litter accumulations and survey for aquatic invasive species. In a positive turn of events divers found Echo Lake, located just south of Lake Tahoe, doesn’t have the extensive litter problems that exist in neighboring lakes. While litter was found during the project, lower Echo Lake was significantly less littered than other lakes in the region like Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake and Donner Lake. Clean up the Lake divers surveyed areas along the subsurface shoreline in lower Echo Lake, where the highest level of human activity occurs. These high activity sites often correlate with greater litter accumulation and non-motorized vessel launching. Divers looked for submerged litter and signs of aquatic invasive species across various sample sites covering a total 1.27 miles, or just under half, of lower Echo Lake’s shoreline. … ” Read more from the Mountain Democrat.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust says 952 acres of farmland permanently protected
“The Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust finalized a conservation easement last month that will permanently protect 952 acres in Yuba County, officials said Wednesday. On Jan. 18, the trust finalized a conservation easement on the Magnolia Ranch property, which will now protect a rice farm from any future development. “In 2019 the landowners initiated a partnership with Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, to begin the process of placing a conservation easement over the ranch, permanently protecting the land from development,” officials said. “The easement was funded by the California Strategic Growth Council’s Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALC) in collaboration with the Department of Conservation.” … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
BAY AREA
Cold front to bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain to Bay Area today
“Northern California is bracing for a powerful low-pressure system that could result in historic snowfall in the Sierra Nevada. While the Bay Area isn’t likely to set any weather records with this storm, periods of inclement weather are expected. The cold nature of the arctic system is different from other storms that have swept through the Bay Area this winter. Temperatures will be much lower than earlier this week, with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s and 40s Friday through Saturday. Unusual precipitation types are also possible in San Francisco and Oakland. Thunderstorms Friday afternoon through Sunday could include hail near the bay shoreline, and a mix of rain and snow as low as 1,500 feet. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
New model maps a resilient SF Bay future through climate-smart seagrass restoration
“Audubon California and partners released their San Francisco Bay Eelgrass Habitat Suitability Model, a powerful new tool that highlights future-resilient locations within the bay most suitable for restoration of eelgrass, a linchpin species for long-term bay health. The project was developed as a collaboration between Audubon California, Merkel & Associates, Inc., and Dr. Katharyn Boyer (Interim Director, Estuary and Ocean Science Center, San Francisco State University), funded by a grant from the California Ocean Protection Council. “For over two decades, we have been amassing knowledge regarding eelgrass distribution, spatial dynamics and controls, as well as restoration capacity within San Francisco Bay through the concerted efforts of NOAA, the Coastal Conservancy, and many others,” said Keith Merkel, Principal Ecologist, Merkel & Associates. “Today, we’re taking a giant step forward in addressing the challenges of predicting where it will persist in the future.” … ” Read more from Audubon.
Don Edwards NWR relishes progress in San Francisco Bay recovery
“Twenty years after a complex, multi-partner effort began to restore south San Francisco Bay and boost its resilience to climate change , some benefits to wildlife and people are growing easier see. Tidal flow has returned to more than 3,000 marsh acres — some of them visible from new trails and overlooks. Migratory waterbirds such as northern shovelers and canvasbacks are thriving in native pickleweed and cordgrasss. Public recreation access is improving. That’s welcome news at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a peerless natural resource in this region of 8 million people and the largest landholder along the bay’s edge. The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — a key player in South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, returning salt ponds to marshlands. Two of three project sites are in the refuge; the other is a state ecological reserve. Together they account for the West Coast’s largest tidal wetland restoration. That’s a source of considerable pride for Matt Brown, manager of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The complex covers seven refuges including San Francisco Bay Refuge…. ” Continue reading from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
CENTRAL COAST
Cal Am fires its first defensive legal volley against the water district in public buyout case
“An effort toward a public takeover of the private water utility California American Water has taken years to get to this point. Activists asked voters to approve a ballot measure to that end in 2005, and it failed. They tried again in 2014, and lost again. They prevailed in 2018 with the passage of Measure J, which compelled the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District to acquire Cal Am’s local system “if and when feasible.” More than five years later, the matter has moved to the courts. In October 2023, the board of the water district determined that yes, it was feasible—and that it would pursue acquisition of Cal Am’s system. Because the utility company had rejected the public district’s previous offer of $449 million to buy it, the district would proceed by filing an eminent domain case. … ” Read more from Monterey Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
‘We’re not getting out of farming,’ Assemi brothers say
“Assemi family members on Tuesday said that contrary to a published report they aren’t looking to sell all of their extensive agricultural holdings or to exit farming. “We are not getting out of farming,” said Darius Assemi, who is the publisher of GV Wire. “Just as we’ve always done, we are evaluating our portfolio, and right-sizing it but keeping our core operation. “We are going through the same exercise as we did in 2018 when we sold a portion of our Kern County almond portfolio. We are long-term investors with a long-term outlook.” Farshid Assemi also said that the family remains focused on farming. … ” Read more from GV Wire.
Leaked documents expose plans to sell off 52,000-acre agricultural empire in Fresno County
“The Assemi family, a major player in California agriculture, is considering a massive sale of its landholdings with the help of a Seattle investment bank – a move that a key shareholder, involved in an ongoing family feud, claims is being done without transparency. According to a leaked business prospectus obtained by Fresnoland, the deal could encompass tens of thousands of acres of farmland. The family-owned business could net over $1 billion from the deal. The proposed sale, internally known as “Project Green,” could involve approximately 28,000 acres of planted land, critical water rights, and processing facilities like Maricopa Orchards and Touchstone Pistachio Company – the latter boasting annual revenues exceeding $170 million. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
EASTERN SIERRA
Fish in the forest: Hope for a better future of fish, fire, and forest management on June Mountain
“When Allison Dodds hit the slopes at June Mountain Ski Resort this past winter the mountain looked a little different than it had in past years. Not only was there extra snow from 2023’s historic precipitation, but there was also extra space between the trees, making it easier for her to maneuver (and shred) her way down the mountain. Why the extra space? Over the past two years, CalTrout and Inyo National Forest have been working together to restore and remove infested and dead whitebark pine trees on June Mountain. Dodds works as a Project Manager for CalTrout’s Sierra Headwaters region, and she leads the June Mountain Forest Health Project. After a century of fire suppression, forests across the state have become densely packed and overloaded with dead wood that is primed to burn intensely and causes fires to spread quickly. By mimicking some of the effects of the natural fire regime, mechanical thinning selectively removes patches of dead forest and understory. On June Mountain, CalTrout and Inyo National Forest are working across 356 acres to realize a more resilient forest ecosystem for the benefit of the nearby community, wildlife, native plants, and inland fish. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Clarita commentary: Anchored within the tide
Gary Martin, president of the board of directors for SCV Water, writes, “Over the past few years, California has experienced weather whiplash – recording the three driest years from 2020 through 2022, followed by extreme precipitation in 2023. Locally, the Santa Clarita Valley received 40 inches of rain last year, far surpassing our annual average of 17.4 inches. While these two weather extremes are occurring more frequently, at SCV Water we continue to anchor ourselves within the tide – that is, our steadfast focus on investing in future water supplies while maintaining our current supplies. This ensures reliability, so that we can meet our customers’ water needs today, for the dry years tomorrow, and for generations to come. In 2024, we’ve set our sights on investing in two new (imported) supply reliability initiatives – the Delta Conveyance and Sites Reservoir Projects. … ” Continue reading at The Signal.
Moulton Niguel Water District gets FEMA grants to reduce urban runoff to ocean
“More than $11 million in new federal funding is helping a south Orange County water district with two projects that should help keep some urban runoff from going into the ocean. The Moulton Niguel Water District is getting $10.3 million to replace nearly two miles of sewer force mains in Laguna Niguel Regional Park, hopefully preventing breaks and failures that would lead to even more runoff flowing into Aliso Creek. Another grant will help the district launch a pilot program that would turn some of the runoff into a local supply of drinking water. Both are funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A $1.7 million grant will help seed the OASIS Water Resources Center, a concept the district is looking to pilot that would use filtration and disinfectants to convert the wastewater to drinking water. If implemented, it could reduce the amount of runoff discharged into the ocean at Aliso Beach by as much as 5 million gallons daily, officials said. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SAN DIEGO
City of San Diego releases billions of gallons of water from reservoirs
“Billions of gallons of water have been released into the ocean from local reservoirs over the past year, mainly because of a state order to keep the water levels low. California’s Division of Safety of Dams currently has water level restrictions in place at five reservoirs in San Diego County, aimed at keeping the public safe. Who can forget the images of the Oroville Dam spillway disintegrating during the 2017 flooding in Northern California? The crisis led to the evacuation of more than 180,000 people living downstream. Fortunately, the dam itself did not collapse. “I think following Oroville dam safety is at the forefront of the state,” said Sharon Tapia, a division manager at the state’s Safety of Dams agency. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Along the Colorado River …
Climate change, cost and competition for water drive settlement over tribal rights to Colorado River
“A Native American tribe with one of the largest outstanding claims to water in the Colorado River basin is closing in on a settlement with more than a dozen parties, putting it on a path to piping water to tens of thousands of tribal members in Arizona who still live without it. Negotiating terms outlined late Wednesday include water rights not only for the Navajo Nation but the neighboring Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes in the northeastern corner of the state. The water would come from a mix of sources: the Colorado River that serves seven western states, the Little Colorado River, and aquifers and washes on tribal lands. The agreement is decades in the making and would allow the tribes to avoid further litigation and court proceedings, which have been costly. Navajo officials said they expect to finalize the terms in the coming days. … ” Read more from ABC News.
ASU summit calls for innovations in atmospheric water harvesting technology
“As questions about water resources and access continue to build in the Southwest, some experts are turning to an unlikely place for solutions: our atmosphere. Atmospheric water harvesting, a method of water collection that draws water from humidity in the air, offers a new pathway for water security. Experts with a focus in areas such as engineering, hydrology, material science and thermodynamics gathered at Arizona State University this month for the Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit — the first summit of its kind dedicated entirely to atmospheric water harvesting. Paul Westerhoff, Regents Professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at ASU, the Fulton Chair of Environmental Engineering and director of Global Center for Water Technology, moderated the event. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Rural groundwater bill moving through Arizona legislature but facing pushback
“To keep rural Arizona from running dry, a bill introduced in the legislature could finally set up a framework to regulate some of the state’s groundwater supply. Senate Bill 1221 would help establish what’s known as a Basin Management Area, or BMA, giving voters within groundwater basins in rural Arizona the power to decide how they’d want their water to be managed.
The bill, sponsored by Republican State Senator Sine Kerr, states that at least 15% of registered voters who use groundwater for drinking can petition to create a BMA. This would be followed up by public meetings and final approval from county board supervisors. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
In national water news today …
Federal data reveals a surprising drop in renewable power in 2023, as slow winds and drought took a toll
“U.S. utility-scale renewable electricity generation fell in 2023 due to weather patterns that reduced output from wind farms and drought that affected hydropower. Data released by the Energy Information Administration shows a decrease of 0.8 percent compared to the prior year. This is a stunning result, considering that utility-scale renewables have been a fast-growing part of the electricity mix and are a crucial resource for the country’s transition away from fossil fuels. But experts urged caution in interpreting the results. “There’s no reason to overreact to a one-year blip,” said Daniel Cohan, an environmental engineering professor at Rice University. “Renewable electricity is still on pace to more than double by the end of the decade as hundreds of new solar and wind farms come online.” … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
