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On the calendar today …
- VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING: California salmon fisheries (CDFW) beginning at 10am. The meeting will provide informational presentations on topics such as last year’s spawning escapement, estimates of forecasted ocean abundance and management goals for 2024 ocean salmon seasons. Salmon Information Meeting details, informational materials and instructions for attendance will be published in advance of the event on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Calendar of Events page.
- WORKSHOP: Delta Adapts Draft Adaptation Plan from 10am to 12:30pm. The Delta Stewardship Council is hosting a hybrid Delta Adapts Draft Adaptation Plan Workshop to discuss climate adaptation strategies for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Suisun Marsh, including high-priority actions, responsible entities for implementation, and how to finance adaptation. Ideas generated during the workshop will be considered along with other comments on the Draft Adaptation Plan – which will be released in 2024 for a 60-day public comment period – in the preparation of the final Adaptation Plan. This public event will be held in a town hall format that allows participants to discuss adaptation strategies. Those working on climate adaptation in the region and interested members of the public are encouraged to attend. A remote access option is available. Click here for more information and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Ferocious blizzard with “life-threatening conditions” hits Sierra Nevada as Tahoe residents hunker down for up to 12 feet of snow
“Communities around Lake Tahoe hunkered down Thursday as the biggest blizzard of the winter began to roar across California’s Sierra Nevada — a storm that forecasters said could bring up to 12 feet of snow by Sunday in some areas, with power outages, closed highways and winds over 100 mph on ridge tops. “There’s a high likelihood that people will be stranded if they try to drive up here from the Bay Area,” said Craig Shoemaker, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, on Thursday afternoon. “It’s too late to even try. It’s a very dangerous, life-threatening situation that will be developing.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Parts of the Sierra Nevada likely to get 10 feet of snow from powerful storm by weekend
“The most powerful Pacific storm of the season is forecast to bring up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow into the Sierra Nevada by the weekend, forcing residents to take shelter and prompting Yosemite National Park and at least one Lake Tahoe ski resort to close. The storm began barreling into the region on Thursday, with the biggest effects expected to close major highways and trigger power outages Friday afternoon into Saturday. A blizzard warning through Sunday morning covers a 300-mile (482-kilometer) stretch from north of Lake Tahoe to south of Yosemite National Park. “Your safe travel window is over in the Sierra,” the National Weather Service in Reno posted Thursday morning on social media. “Best to hunker down where you are.” … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Will California’s incoming blizzard finally push snowpack above normal?
“Cold gray storm clouds swirled over Phillips Station near South Lake Tahoe on Thursday as state officials trudged through fresh powder to conduct their third snow survey of the season — just hours before a monster blizzard was set to dump up to 12 feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada. “It is significantly colder than it was a month ago, and that is indicative of the big storm system that we have coming in that will likely bring lots of rain and lots of snow, which is good for our snowpack,” said Sabrina Washington, an information officer with the California Department of Water Resources. Even without the incoming storm, the state’s snowpack has shown a considerable turnaround since the start of the year, when it measured just 28% of normal and sparked worries of a developing “snow drought.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
March snow survey shows improvement for Sierra snowpack
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the third snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 47.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 18 inches, which is 77 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Today’s results reflect continued improvement in the snowpack since the slow and dry start to the water year. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 18.7 inches, or 80 percent of average for this date, an improvement from just 28 percent of average on January 1. The statewide snowpack is currently only 70 percent of the critical April 1 average, when the snowpack is typically at its peak. An incoming storm is expected to bring several feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada this weekend. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
SEE ALSO:
- 3rd Northern California snowpack survey sees big improvement, but next month is crucial, from CBS Sacramento
- Despite stormy February, California snowpack levels are below average, from Capital Public Radio
- Major storm dumps snow on the Sierra as California chases an average snowpack, from KQED
NOTICE of petition requesting changes in water rights of the Department of Water Resources for the Delta Conveyance Project
Paul Hames / DWR
“Please be advised that on February 22, 2024, the State Water Resources Control Board (Board) received a Petition for Change from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to add two new points of diversion (POD) and rediversion (PORD) to the water right permits associated with the State Water Project. Specifically, the petition seeks to change Water Right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively). The proposed new PODs/PORDs would consist of screened intakes 2.3 miles apart located on the lower Sacramento River between Freeport and Sutter Slough. The proposed new intakes are part of the Delta Conveyance Project, which would allow DWR to divert water from the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Delta) and convey the water through a tunnel to existing water distribution facilities in the southern Delta. … ” Continue reading this notice from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Harder leads coalition urging Army Corps of Engineers to deny permit for Delta tunnel water grab
“Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) led a group of his Delta region colleagues urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit for the now-infamous Delta Tunnel. The State recently released an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) confirming that the project will threaten endangered fish populations, destroy farmland, and harm water quality. Harder is calling attention to the deeply concerning long-term impacts that the Delta Tunnel project would have on the Delta itself, the local agriculture industry, and the environment. “The Delta Tunnel water grab would be a disaster for our region. We’ve been saying it for years and Sacramento’s own report shows the damage it would do, but they won’t listen and they’re steamrolling ahead,” said Rep. Harder. “Delta communities are united in opposition to this boondoggle project because water is the lifeblood of our way of life. The Army Corps needs to do what’s right, look at the real dangers this project will cause, and deny a permit.” … ” Read more from Congressman Harder’s website.
Long planned Sites Valley reservoir moves toward construction
“As California enjoys a second robust winter in a row, calls for additional water storage may soon be getting an answer. A new reservoir is something voters approved funding for years ago, and while progress has been slow, there are hopes that it may finally be moving ahead. “Nothing has been built like this in California for more than 30 years,’ said Jerry Brown, Executive Director of the Sites Reservoir Authority. It’s been nearly 70 years since California took a look at the Sites Valley, and saw the potential for a reservoir that could have been as large as Shasta. he plan now is for something not quite that large, but still massive. … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco.
California’s plan to install solar panels over canals
“Originally proposed by researchers at the University of California, the idea has been slow to gain traction but now looks like it could become a reality in the near future. According to the team’s initial study, the potential gains from this project could be significant, with around 63billion gallons of water saved by covering the State’s almost 6,500km of water canals. In doing so, it could also generate 13gigawatts of electricity, which is enough to power the entire City of Los Angeles from January to early October, based on annual average power demand. However, this is only now set to be tested in practice with Project Nexus, in California’s Central Valley. … ” Read more from Environment Journal.
How volunteer ‘streamkeepers’ influence water policy across the West
“When residents of the Yuba River watershed northeast of Sacramento saw a stretch of the emerald-green river suddenly turn an alarming reddish-brown on a recent winter day, they knew immediately who to call. Though water quality concerns are the purview of federal, state and county environmental agencies, they alerted the local South Yuba River Citizens League, confident its volunteers could get to the scene quicker and investigate the discoloration faster than any regulator. Sure enough, the group found the likely culprit within hours. … The league is among dozens of volunteer organizations that monitor the health of their local waterways and native fish populations across California and the West. … ” Read more from Western Water.
California is missing out on billions of gallons of stormwater each year, report finds
“For too long, California and other states have viewed stormwater as either a threat or an inconvenience — something to be whisked away from cities and communities as quickly as possible. But as traditional sources of water face worsening strain from climate change, population growth, agriculture and other factors, those unused gallons of rainwater pouring across asphalt or down rain gutters are starting to be viewed as an untapped resource that can help close the widening gap between supply and demand. In a report released Thursday, researchers with the Pacific Institute determined that every year, 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater go uncaptured across the United States — or roughly 53 billion gallons per day. The amount is equivalent to 93% of the water withdrawals for municipal and industrial uses in 2015, the most recent year for which national data were available. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
LAO Handout: Crafting Climate, Resources, and Environmental Budget Solutions
“The 2021-22 and 2022-23 budget packages included agreements to provide a six-year total of about $39 billion from various sources (2020-21 through 2025-26). „ The 2023-24 budget agreement made some adjustments to these plans, including a net programmatic reduction of $2.8 billion, maintaining $36 billion (93 percent of original planned amount). „ Even with these changes, the budget plans maintain unprecedented levels of General Fund for these types of programs, enabled by the significant tax revenue surpluses the state received (and expected to receive) over the past couple of years. Many of these programs historically have been supported with special funds or bond funds. … ” Read this handout from the LAO.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Ducks Unlimited supports vital partnership in Klamath Basin
“Ducks Unlimited (DU) strongly supports the vital partnership announced Wednesday between the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water Users Association. This collaboration is a positive step to address the region’s water challenges, and develop and implement actions that benefit fowl, fish, farms and most importantly, people. The historic agreement was cemented in a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Department of the Interior, agreeing to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply to a region plagued by drought and other environmental factors. The Klamath Basin, an essential part of the Pacific Flyway stretching across Southern Oregon and into Northern California, is one of DU’s highest priority areas. … ” Read more from Ducks Unlimited.
Commentary: Is California’s Klamath River Dam removal a ghoulish experiment?
Katy Grimes, Editor in Chief of the California Globe, writes, “In 2018, plans were released to destroy the Klamath River dam system by American Rivers, an environmental non-profit which claims “up to 85% of the dams in this country are unnecessary, harmful and even dangerous.” The removal of dams along the Klamath River in Siskiyou County, Northern California was sold as necessary to save salmon – specifically, “to restore habitat for endangered fish.” The dams are part of the Klamath project, a series of seven dams built 1910 to 1920 in the Klamath Basin to bring electricity and agricultural water mitigation for Southern Oregon and Northern California, the Globe reported in 2020. Emotions run high on both sides of the dam destruction issue. The Globe wants to know why the Klamath Dams are being removed, and who is behind it? … ” Read more from the California Globe.
Mendocino City and Community Services District discusses future of sanitation facility
“The Mendocino City and Community Services District held its monthly meeting on Monday, February 26, which was dominated by the continuing discussion about funding of infrastructure renovations for the rapidly aging sanitation facility. The Board reviewed and approved the more substantial financial transactions from last month, including a deposit of $205,000 into reserves for the first time in over three years. The Board also considered a request from staff to purchase three replacement garage doors that were damaged from recent storms. The Board approved funding for up to $15,000, with a preference that the new doors be made out of fiberglass or aluminum rather than the wood doors that have been used in the past. Board member Aum offered to take the request up with the Mendocino Historical Review Board. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
Sulphur Bank mine among cleanup projects to move forward at 100 Superfund sites
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a third and final wave of more than $1 billion for cleanup projects nationwide at over 100 Superfund sites as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, one of them in Lake County. This funding is made possible by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will launch new cleanup projects at 25 Superfund sites nationwide, including California’s Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine in Clearlake Oaks, Lava Cap Mine in Nevada City, and Southern Avenue Industrial Area in South Gate. “Thanks to unprecedented funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is delivering significant investment to achieving the goal of long-term protection for communities living closest to contaminated sites,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “With our Superfund cleanups, we are taking firm action to protect the health, safety, and environment of communities throughout California and the Pacific Southwest.” … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Epic blizzard hitting Tahoe, Mammoth, Sierra Nevada ‘with a vengeance’
“A treacherous, life-threatening blizzard was targeting California’s mightiest mountain range Thursday, already bringing 100- to 110-mph gusts at the highest elevations, with conditions expected to deteriorate dramatically by Friday night. “It’ll arrive with a vengeance,” said meteorologist Amanda Young of the National Weather Service’s Reno office, which issued a rare blizzard warning for the region, which is typically issued only once a year or every other year. Up to 12 feet of snow could fall on the highest peaks of the Sierra Nevada from Thursday through Sunday, the National Weather Service office in Sacramento said. Other areas with an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level could get 5 to 10 feet of snow. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- Northern California blizzard could be one ‘for the record books,’ climate expert says, from the Sacramento Bee
- Tahoe blizzard: Here’s when extreme snow and wind will be most dangerous, from the San Francisco Chronicle
BAY AREA
Wild weather is forecast for Bay Area, with rapid shifts from sun to rain to hail
“Unusual precipitation could be on the way to the Bay Area from a cold storm expected to also bring historic snowfall to the Sierra Nevada. Frigid conditions could produce pea-sized hailstones that linger on roadways, causing dangerous travel conditions, meteorologists say. Compared with past storms this winter, the upcoming system is primed for unsettled weather conditions. “For the next few days, Bay Area residents can expect rapid transitions from rain to sun to hail to wet snow at high elevations,” said Chronicle meteorologist Anthony Edwards. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Marin agency’s sea-level study highlights vulnerable areas
“A study by the Transportation Authority of Marin about rising sea levels has identified 19 areas of concern. Mikaela Hiatt, a planner for the agency, updated its board of commissioners on the sea-level rise adaptation plan and study at their meeting on Feb. 28. It is about halfway complete. The areas of concern are especially vulnerable to the effects of flooding from rising water. “I think some of us have seen some of the storm impacts overlaying with king tides and know it’s really impactful,” Hiatt said. The key focus areas are Bel Marin Keys; Belvedere and Tiburon; Bolinas; the Hamilton Wetlands; Inverness; Marin City; Manzanita and Tamalpais Junction; Mill Valley, downtown and western Novato; Santa Venetia; Sausalito; Stinson Beach; Highway 37; Highway 101; San Rafael; Kentfield; Corte Madera; Terra Linda; and Larkspur. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Mud-starved wetlands get a meal, at last
“As I arrived at the Port of Oakland, a high-tech nautical mud abduction was underway. On a cherry-red dredger, a 55-cubic-yard clamshell bucket hung from a crane by a webbing of cable, like a 45-ton chandelier. With open jaws, the bucket descended into the water, sank to the harbor floor, closed over a thick scoop of sludge, and lifted it into a massive transport barge. It was just tipping sunrise; sleepy pelicans dotted the riggings and mooring lines of the harbor. The dredger, named the Njord after the Norse god of the sea, runs 24 hours a day to meet its production goals; this crew had been scooping and dumping since midnight. By the time the sun popped over the top of the Oakland hills, the barge was almost fully loaded with 2,700 cubic yards—about 5,000 tons—of soupy sediment. The dredger moved on to the next section of harbor, scooping up bucketfuls of mud, tracing long, clean lines like a methodical lawnmower. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredges an average of 2 million cubic yards of sediment from around San Francisco Bay every year to maintain the federal navigation channels that allow gargantuan freighters to traverse it. Manson Construction Co. Capt. Joe Barney, who has been dredging for 38 years, puts it this way: “We just keep the channels clean so the ships can get in so you can go shopping.” … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
Zone 7 looks to collect $18.5M from Pleasanton
“The Zone 7 Water Agency is suing the City of Pleasanton for some $18.5 million in unpaid meter-connection fees, pointing at alleged misreporting on the city’s part dating back to 2015. Connection fees for new or upgraded meters are calculated based on meter size. The city underreported its meter sizes for new installations between 2015 and 2022, according to legal documents filed by Zone 7 on Jan. 26. The city also began upgrading its existing meters to larger ones without corresponding payment increases around 2015, continued the claim. If proven to be true, the errors amount to several million dollars annually in missed payments to Zone 7 during the eight-year period. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
Valley Water building steel wall to protect South Bay communities from Coyote Creek flooding
“Valley Water is working to protect communities in the flood zone by creating a wall between them and the water. With every major storm that hits San Jose, residents who live near Coyote Creek can’t help but say a silent prayer. It is a wish that nothing like what happened in 2017 ever happens again. “You would’ve been standing ankle-deep in water up here,” Graham Stitchman said. “If you had gone over to 17th Street, there were some houses where you would just see the peak of their roof sticking up out of the water.” Valley Water is trying to give residents along the creek a little more peace of mind. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
CENTRAL COAST
Pajaro Valley Water secures federal loan to complete construction of College Lake project
“For nearly a year, the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency has been preoccupied with the construction of a new water supply system at College Lake to rebalance water levels in the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. Recently, the agency announced it has secured two Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which will push the construction of the Watsonville Slough System closer to fruition. The two loans will provide PV Water with $74 million at an average rate of 4.465% over 35 years, according to a news release. Officials say it would save the agency $24 million over the life of the loans and eliminate the need for issuing public bonds. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Water capture breaks century record
“With February’s atmospheric rivers dumping inches on the southland, the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District announced its final groundwater recharge tally for 2023, which was a record-breaking water year. “The district soundly surpassed our 100-year water recharge record from the year 1923 when we had recharged 84,981-acre feet (AF) of water,” says Betsy Miller Vixie, San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District’s General Manager. “In 2023, we totaled 87,914 AF of water collected in the district’s basin, which includes 15,513 AF from the State Water Project. Miller Vixie adds that this figure does not include water that naturally recharges within the river system on District-owned land. According to data going back to 1912, this is the district’s best yield for the recorded history of 111 years. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District.
How one California wetland was saved while wetlands worldwide are disappearing
“We’re at the Bolsa Chica ecological reserve, the largest restored wetland in Southern California’s history — nearly 1,300 acres of coastal estuary bordered by the city of Huntington Beach. Wetlands are areas where water covers soil, maybe year-round, maybe seasonally. They’re home to plants and animals that have adapted to these neither entirely dry nor entirely wet habitats. You might see a snowy egret diving into the shallow pools, or a long-billed curlew or marbled godwit stabbing their bill into the mudflats for an invertebrate meal. That is thanks to the efforts of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, and eventually a much larger coalition, who confronted developers and several state agencies in the late 1970s. A decades-long legal battle ensued until California purchased an additional 880 acres for public ownership in 1997. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Water agencies explore innovative deal for drought-proof water
“The San Diego County Water Authority and the Moulton Niguel Water District are exploring a potential transfer of drought-resilient water supplies to South Orange County, according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both agencies. The MOU creates a three-year window for discussions expected to center on the Water Authority transferring water – including supplies from the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant – to Moulton Niguel. The district serves more than 170,000 customers from Laguna Niguel to San Juan Capistrano. How and when that could happen will be the subject of talks between agency leaders. … ” Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
New wetlands play important role for wildlife and health at Salton Sea
“The Salton Sea is shrinking. The sea formed about 120 years ago when a Colorado River levee burst, creating an extremely large body of water and a thriving resort town. But as agriculture runoff and evaporation impacted water quality, the sea slowly became toxic, turning the once vibrant area into a ghost town. However, local groups are working together to change that narrative. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea Wildlife Refuge is an example of what life at the sea looks like when its supported and managed. At sunrise, coyotes run along berms, snowy egrets forage for food and thousands of snow geese travel as a noisy flock. Award-winning wildlife photographer Paulette Donnellon spends her time capturing life at the refuge. “It’s my therapy, we share this planet with these wonderful animals and birds, and just to be there with them and watch them, it’s very peaceful for me,” Paulette said. … ” Read more and watch video from NBC Palm Springs.
Farm runoff fills Salton Sea, also pollutes it
“While researching the sea, some people have asked why don’t they just drain the water and eliminate it? Well experts say due to agriculture runoff, it will always exist in some form. Eliminating it would disrupt migrating birds and other wildlife, and expose even more toxic soil, creating unhealthy air for nearby communities and the Coachella Valley.” Watch video from NBC Palm Springs.
SAN DIEGO
Assembly passes resolution urging Congress, Biden to alleviate Tijuana sewage crisis
“Members of the state Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a resolution that urges President Joe Biden and Congress to immediately alleviate the Tijuana sewage crisis. Assembly Joint Resolution 12, which now heads to the Senate, asks federal lawmakers to approve a $310 million supplemental appropriation to fix and expand an outdated wastewater treatment plant at the U.S.-Mexico border that has allowed cross-border pollution to shutter South County beaches and risk people’s health. The measure also asks the president to declare a national emergency. It also asks that the federal government provide funds to stop cross-border pollution of the New River, which crosses into Calexico, Calif., from Mexico. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona’s senate has passed a plan to manage rural groundwater, but final success is uncertain
“A plan to manage rural groundwater passed Arizona’s Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday amid growing concerns about the availability of sufficient water for future generations in the arid Southwestern state. The legislation now heads to the House, which the GOP also controls. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has expressed opposition to the bill, complaining that an earlier version that she backed offered better ways to ensure water conservation but failed to get a hearing in the Legislature. “This legislation leaves rural Arizonans without a real solution for how their groundwater is managed,” Hobbs’ spokesperson Christian Slater said Thursday. “Governor Hobbs is dedicated to continued work with stakeholders and legislators, including Senator Kerr, to find a better way forward that truly gives rural Arizonans a say in how their groundwater is managed and provides a sustainable and secure water future for generations to come.” … ” Read more from US News and World Report.
SEE ALSO: Controversial groundwater protection bill passes AZ Senate, from KJZZ
Navajo Nation nears deal for Arizona water rights on Colorado, Little Colorado rivers
“The Navajo Nation is nearing completion of a settlement of water rights claims in Arizona, ending decades of negotiations and giving hope for thousands of people who have long gone without running water. For the past 60 years, Navajo leaders have worked to settle water claims in Arizona. The aim of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement is to affirm and quantify the nation’s rights to water in the state and to secure funding to build much needed water delivery infrastructure to homes on the Navajo Nation, according to a summary of the agreement. “When we took office last year there was a huge push for us to start talking about our water rights, our water claims,” Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley told The Arizona Republic. “It’s been far too long, going through COVID, climate change, drought that we are facing every year, we had to take into account of what we want to secure for the next 100 years.” … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
The Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River initiatives: Bridging nature and agriculture
“Humans are using more water out of the Colorado River than the river can support, both for human use as well as for other life forms that live along and within the river. Agriculture is using approximately 80% of that water. The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers and ranchers throughout the Colorado River Basin on projects that will help their growing operations while also keeping more water in the river to benefit people and nature. Some of these partnerships include the Yampa River Valley, the Grand Valley, and the Price River in Utah. Here, Science Moab talks with Aaron Derwingson, water projects director of the Colorado River Program for The Nature Conservancy. Derwingson and his team do freshwater conservation and restoration projects across the whole Colorado River Basin, involving a great combination of work in science and policy to direct projects on the ground. The main goal of this program is to ensure that there are sufficient water supplies for both people and nature. … ” Read more from the Moab Sun News.
In national water news today …
Court rulings give states new power to protect groundwater
“After years of dangerous decline in the nation’s groundwater, a series of developments in Western states indicate that state and federal officials may begin tightening protections for the dwindling resource. In Nevada, Idaho and Montana, a string of court decisions have strengthened states’ ability to restrict overpumping of groundwater. California is considering penalizing local officials for draining their aquifers. And the White House has asked scientists who focus on groundwater to advise how the federal government can help. “This is truly exciting,” said Upmanu Lall, director of both the Water Institute at Arizona State University and the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University. “There has been stuff like this off and on, but not in such a short period of time across the Western states.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Is the USDA’s spending on “climate-smart” farming actually helping the climate?
“America’s farms don’t just run on corn and cattle. They also run on cash from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Every year, the USDA spends billions of dollars to keep farmers in business. It hands out money to balance fluctuations in crop prices; it provides loans for farmers who want to buy livestock or seeds; and it pays growers who lose crops to drought, floods, and other extreme weather. The agency is also now giving money — including $20 billion that Congress earmarked two years ago in the Inflation Reduction Act — to farmers trying to curb their greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in soil, a key part of the Biden administration’s goal to cut the 10 percent of the country’s emissions generated by agriculture. That windfall of climate-smart farm funding has been widely lauded by climate activists and researchers. … ” Read more from Grist.
Record-breaking temperatures likely as El Niño persists
“The current El Niño event will likely cause record-breaking average surface air temperatures in several parts of the world before waning this summer, according to a new analysis published in Scientific Reports. Researchers say there is a 90% chance that global mean surface temperatures from July 2023 to June 2024 will be the highest ever recorded. Parts of Southeast Asia, Alaska, the Caribbean Sea, and the Amazon will be especially likely to see the effect. “Knowing that these are regions of potential risk sometime this year is a leg up on preparing how you plan to protect lives, property, and living marine resources,” said Michael McPhaden, a coauthor on the study and climate scientist at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. … ” Continue reading from EOS.
