A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
California expected to be drought-free through 2025 following epic winter storms
“AccuWeather meteorologists say the state of California will be free of widespread drought through the end of 2025. The major announcement comes on the heels of a blockbuster blizzard that dumped more than 80 inches of snow on the mountains of northern and central California. AccuWeather California Expert Ken Clark says the back-to-back wet and snowy winters are welcome news in the long-term battle against drought, following years of heat waves and lackluster wet seasons that took a toll on reservoirs and underground aquifers. “The combination of the abundance of rain and snow from the winter of 2022-2023, the state of reservoirs currently, and what has happened this winter, gives a high confidence that drought conditions will remain absent in California well into 2025,” said Clark. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Better data key to informed water policy decisions
“To
adapt to climate extremes and become more water resilient in California, modernizing the state’s water data—including the way it is collected, stored, shared and used—may lead to more informed decisions. Improving data practices to best manage California’s water resources helped drive discussions last week as state and local water managers, farmers, environmentalists and others gathered in Sacramento for the 62nd annual California Irrigation Institute Conference. “To really understand what that vulnerability is from the headwater to the groundwater to the outflow in a watershed, we need to bring together multiple data layers,” said Kamyar Guivetchi, planning division manager for the California Department of Water Resources. “Those same layers will help us come up with adaptation strategies that can help us get in front of and hopefully manage the impacts of climate change.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
The groundwater crisis: The need for new data to inform public policy
“Although many of Earth’s major aquifers are severely depleted, it is hard not to feel that groundwater will become ever more important in the context of climate change. However, the amount of groundwater hidden in Earth’s aquifers remains a huge unknown. We only see the impacts of depletion on a large scale through declining water levels in wells or earth-scale geophysical studies. This lack of data has been harmful in forming clear public policies that can help communities and industries respond effectively to climate change. From a policy perspective, groundwater management is often opaque. As a recent article in The New York Times highlights, there is a lack of consistent regulation between states and within states. In many cases, access to groundwater is simply unregulated or lost in a tangled web of regulations — effectively a free-for-all. This is exacerbated by the lack of basic data, such as not knowing how many wells there are, let alone how much water is being pumped. … ” Continue reading from the MIT Press Reader.
Sinking canal has “everyone’s attention” and could put entire Tule subbasin under state control
“Fallout over the ever sinking Friant-Kern Canal could affect growers throughout the Tule subbasin regardless of whether they get water from the canal. The State Water Resources Control Board already has the subbasin in its cross hairs for neglecting to create a coordinated plan to bring aquifers into balance under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A hearing for the Tule subbasin is scheduled for September. Now, new – and worsened – subsidence (land sinking) beneath the Friant-Kern Canal has prompted the canal’s operator to seek help from the Water Board. “We’re in a corner so yeah we’re talking to the State Board and we’re asking them to review what’s happening and that we need intervention – soon,” said Jason Phillips, General Manager of the Friant Water Authority, which manages the federal canal and has been the lead agency for a massive two-phase construction project to fix a 33-mile sagging section of the canal. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Board sets probationary hearing for critically overdrafted Tule groundwater subbasin
“To protect communities that rely on crucial groundwater resources, and in keeping with its authority under the landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the State Water Resources Control Board today announced a probationary hearing on Sept. 17 for the critically overdrafted Tule subbasin in Tulare and Kern counties. The board also released a draft staff report for public comment. During the hearing, the board will determine whether to place the Tule subbasin on probationary status, which could eventually lead to temporary state oversight until new sustainability plans are approved, as required by SGMA. … ” Continue reading this press release from the State Water Resources Control Board.
At Kern County Water Summit, experts speak about path towards SGMA compliance
“Water is the lifeblood of Kern County. From oil to agriculture, water keeps our economy afloat. That’s why the Kern County water Summit brings together those that work with water, from farmers to builders, to discuss the trials and triumphs of managing water in California. “The Water Association of Kern County’s mission is to inform and educate the community of Kern County about our top water issues,” said Jenny Holtermann, the Executive Director of the Water Association of Kern County. The conference was organized by the water association and featured topics such as water banking, common infrastructure roadblocks, and compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
Infrastructure the main topic at Kern’s annual water summit
“With nature providing plenty of water – finally – this year, and groundwater regulation well underway, water managers, farmers and others turned their focus to infrastructure at Thursday’s Water Summit put on by the Water Association of Kern County. Early in the day’s line up of speakers, Edward Ring, senior fellow with the California Policy Center, captured the audience’s attention with an extensive cost-benefit analysis of the Delta Conveyance project, a tunnel that would take Sacramento River water beneath the ecologically sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta 45 miles to be exported south. His conclusion: the project has a whopping price tag for a “dribble” of water. Though the Department of Water Resources, which is in charge of the project, has estimated it will cost $16 billion, environmental groups have disputed that, saying the true cost is closer to $56 billion. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
DWR Releases Groundwater Well Permitting Report – Observations and Analysis of Executive Orders N-7-22 and N-3-23
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its Groundwater Well Permitting: Observations and Analysis of Executive Orders N-7-22 and N-3-23 report, which focuses on Executive Order N-7-22 (paragraph 9, March 28, 2022) and currently active Executive Order N-3-23 (paragraph 4, which superseded N-7-22 on February 13, 2023). The report summarizes different approaches taken by well permitting agencies and groundwater sustainability agencies to comply with the requirements of the Executive Orders, which included new well permitting requirements for local agencies to prepare for and lessen the effects of several years of intense drought conditions. The report recaps perspectives shared by some small communities, provides examples of local agency compliance measures, and contains observations of groundwater conditions that occurred during the time these actions were underway through summer 2023. Policy recommendations are also included that can be used to develop future solutions to align land use planning, well permitting, and groundwater management and use. … ” Read more and view/download report from DWR.
Understanding the underground: DWR completes first phase of innovative groundwater mapping program
“National Groundwater Awareness Week is next week, and in the spirit of promoting groundwater knowledge, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is excited to announce that its innovative groundwater mapping project is complete and will provide critical information about our underground water supply. The Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Project has now completed surveys in all high-and-medium-priority groundwater basins in California. AEM surveys use state-of-the-art helicopter-based technology to scan the earth’s subsurface to depths of up to 1,000 feet, like taking an MRI of the earth, to visualize the aquifer structures beneath our feet. DWR collected nearly 16,000 miles of AEM data within 95 groundwater basins across California between December 2021 and November 2023. This data, which is now publicly accessible, is invaluable for identifying the most suitable locations to implement groundwater recharge projects that can capture water from winter rain and runoff events to store underground for use during dry periods. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
State Water Board issues Notice of Public Hearing and Pre-Hearing Conference for the Sites Reservoir Project
“The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Administrative Hearings Office (AHO) will hold a pre-hearing conference and a public hearing on the pending petition for partial assignment of state-filed Application 25517 (priority date of September 30, 1977) and accompanying water right Application 25517X01, and the pending petition for release from priority of state-filed Applications 25513, 25514, 25517 (unassigned portion), 22235, 23780, and 23781 in favor of water right Application 25517X01 of Sites Project Authority. The Authority seeks these approvals for the construction and operation of a proposed new surface water storage project, the Sites Reservoir Project, which would entail the diversion and storage of water from the Sacramento River and two of its tributaries for later use in northern and southern California for multiple purposes, including agricultural use, municipal use, and fish and wildlife protection.” Click here for the notice.
Salmon fishing closures or restrictions are likely this year
“The ocean and river salmon seasons in California are likely to be closed or severely restricted this year based on low abundance forecasts for Sacramento and Klamath River fall-run Chinook salmon that were released by state and federal fishery scientists at the CDFW’s annual salmon information meeting via webinar on March 1. California representatives are now working together to develop a range of recommended ocean fishing season alternatives taking place now at the March 6-11 Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting in Fresno. Final season recommendations will be adopted at the PFMC’s April 6-11 meeting in Seattle, Wash. … ” Read more from the Stockton Record.
In commentary this week …
Commentary: Are the new groundwater management plans being watered down by weak monitoring methods?
Dr. Mark Greenspan, who has more than 30 years of scientific viticulture research and viticultural field experience and is founder of Advanced Viticulture, Inc, has written a commentary for Wine Business that begins with a bit of background on SGMA, and gets to his concerns with remote sensing as a proxy for metering groundwater wells: ” … My objection to using ET, as a surrogate to flowmeters, has been partially allayed by investigating [Open ET and LandIQ]. I reassured myself by looking at some output of OpenET and seeing that ET measurements do not fall to zero, during the winter, when vineyards (and most orchards) have no leaves on them. Indeed, there was ET occurring then, so the model can consider non-crop vegetation, as well as surface evaporation. But does it truly capture a grower’s water use? No, it does not! ET measures consumptive water use, not applied water. Land IQ’s brochure states this clearly. If a grower over-irrigates (i.e., applies more water than the consumptive use), the consumptive water use estimate doesn’t change. Indeed, a grower could over-irrigate, causing runoff or deep percolation, and ET would remain unaffected. Does this matter? I think so. For one, it provides no incentive for a grower to irrigate more efficiently because their water use report will remain largely unaffected, regardless of what they do to conserve water. … ” Read the full commentary at Wine Business.
In regional water news this week …
Fall-run chinook salmon fry succumb to gas bubble disease in Klamath River
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced today that fall-run Chinook salmon fry released for the first time from its Fall Creek Fish Hatchery in Siskiyou County are presumed to have succumbed to gas bubble disease in the Klamath River. On Monday, Feb. 26, CDFW released approximately 830,000 fall-run Chinook salmon fry into Fall Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River above Iron Gate Dam. The fish were hatched at CDFW’s new, $35 million, state-of-the-art Fall Creek Fish Hatchery, which represents California’s long-term commitment to supporting and restoring both Chinook and coho salmon runs on an undammed Klamath River. The salmon fry experienced a large mortality based on monitoring data downstream. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Klamath River reshapes itself as flushing flows move reservoir sediment downriver
“The Klamath River is making the most of recent precipitation to rapidly reshape itself by removing decades worth of sediment accumulated behind dams now slated for removal. With the reservoirs behind the dams now empty, the river is transporting the sediment downstream while it is still wet and mobile. NOAA Fisheries and the Bureau of Reclamation are working with tribes and other basin partners to release water from Link and Keno dams farther upstream through March and April. Starting this week, releases will create a flushing flow that peaks at approximately double the current river volume. The pulse will last for a week while managers monitor water quality. Additional releases will be conducted weekly with potentially higher peaks determined through monitoring and adaptive management. These variable flows will pick up the sediment and flush it downstream and into the ocean. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
Potter Valley Project decommissioning takes next step
“The impacts to Lake County’s water supply were debated at the Board of Supervisors meeting February 27 with discussion centered over the substantial effects on the county’s future water supply if PG&E’s proposed plans are carried out in full. Consideration was made of: A. requesting a letter of support from the State Department of Water Resources, and B, approval of resolution authorizing the grant application, acceptance and execution of the Potter Valley Project de-commissioning. Such action means probable removal of Scott Dam and maybe elimination of Lake Pillsbury. Asking the Board chair to sign the letter was Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer along with Patrick Sullivan, treasure/ tax collector. Rothstein and officials from the California Department of Water Resources have regularly met with county staff, Chair Bruno Sabatier and District 3 Supervisor Crandell over last several months to discuss potential consequences of PG&E’s decommissioning proposal. … ” Read more from the Lake Record-Bee.
Department of Fish and Wildlife submits flow recommendations for Mill, Deer, and Antelope Creeks
“The State Water Resources Control Board received a letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) submitting instream flow recommendations to inform a long-term flow-setting process to support anadromous salmonids and year-round ecological stream function on Mill, Deer, and Antelope Creeks. Mill, Deer, and Antelope Creeks are tributaries to the Sacramento River and provide aquatic habitat for several native fish species including Chinook salmon (spring-run, fall-run, and late fall-run), Steelhead, and Pacific Lamprey. Additional information will be forthcoming on the next steps in considering the recommendations.” Read the letter here.
The good flood, restoring a Sonoma creek
“Wooden fence posts poking just above the surface and tall oaks with their trunks submerged are sure signs that the land is flooded. That word, “flooded,” has a negative connotation, an association with destruction. But here it is positive – even protective. And if the San Francisco Estuary Institute, Sonoma County Water Agency, and Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation get what they want, more water, not less, is destined for this place. The Laguna de Santa Rosa drains much of urban Sonoma County, a watershed of 250 square miles, and is the largest tributary of the mighty Russian River. The more water that this creek and its floodplain can slow and absorb, the less water will rush downstream to threaten truly catastrophic flooding in Guerneville, Monte Rio, and Rio Nido. But echoing a familiar Bay Area story, more than a century of development and channelization of the 22-mile Laguna de Santa Rosa and its tributaries – including Mark West, Santa Rosa, and Copeland creeks – significantly impaired the historical carrying capacity and ecological function of the system. The city of Sebastopol discharged its sewage directly into the Laguna until 1978. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
Marin water managers gain edge in weather science
“Water management might look different in Marin County as agencies partner to understand extreme weather better. The North Marin Water District, the Marin Municipal Water District and Marin County joined the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes Water Affiliates Group in January. The group researches “atmospheric rivers” and other severe weather to improve water management, mitigate flood risk and increase water supply reliability. “With climate change atmospheric rivers, major storms are very dynamic and they are going to change over time,” said Tony Williams, general manager of the North Marin district. “There could be more of them, they could be all at once, they could be very different from how we’ve historically seen rainfall.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal (gift article).
CV-SALTS: Notices to comply for nitrate control program sent to Priority 2 areas; Interactive map and dashboard now available management zone information
“The CV-SALTS program has achieved many key milestones heading into 2024. The biggest news on the Nitrate Control Program side is that the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) recently sent out over 900 Notices to Comply to program permittees in Priority 2 areas. In addition, the currently active Management Zones continue to engage in community outreach, water testing, and water delivery and work on longer-term steps to reduce the excess nitrate problems in the Central Valley. On the Salt Control Program side, the Executive Committee has reviewed the Basin Characterization Report which will be completed later this year. … ” Continue reading this update from the CV-SALTS program.
Water muddle: An update on San Joaquin Valley water issues
Geoff Vanden Heuvel, Director of Regulatory and Economic Affairs for the Milk Producers Council, writes, “It has been a while since I wrote something on water for the Friday Report. That is not because there is nothing happening, but rather a lot of what is going on in water right now lacks clarity or certainty about where it is headed. Let’s first talk about the winter precipitation. There has obviously been significant precipitation in various parts of California, but from the reports I get at the meetings I attend, it is still not clear what the implications are for this coming year’s water supply. The State Water Project just raised their allocation to 15% from 10%, which is likely to go up some more, but is certainly way below last year’s 100% allocation. The Central Valley Project allocation is more complicated and ranges depending on priority from 100% for very senior water right holders down to 15% for South of Delta contract holders and 0% for Friant class II contractors. These amounts also are very likely to go up as the winter progresses. … ” Continue reading at the Milk Producers Council.
Chevron announces its first solar-to-hydrogen production project in California’s Central Valley
“Chevron New Energies, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc., announced it is developing a 5-megawatt hydrogen production project in California’s Central Valley. The project aims to create lower carbon energy by utilizing solar power, land, and non-potable produced water from Chevron’s existing assets at the Lost Hills Oil Field in Kern County. This low carbon intensity (LCI) electrolytic hydrogen will be produced through electrolysis, which is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Chevron’s strategy is to leverage our strengths to safely deliver lower carbon energy to a growing world. Chevron believes in the value of delivering large-scale hydrogen solutions that support a lower carbon world. The facility is designed to produce two tons of LCI hydrogen per day, with the goal of supporting an expanding hydrogen refueling network.. … ” Read more from Chevron.
NOTEBOOK EXCLUSIVE: Nutrients from wastewater treatment plants may threaten coastal marine life―should California regulate them?
“The State Water Resources Control Board is exploring regulating nutrients emitted from Southern California wastewater treatment plants into the ocean. The controversial move is prompted by concerns that these discharges may accelerate acidification and oxygen loss in the region’s coastal waters, harming nearshore marine life. The wastewater treatment industry says this nutrient regulation is premature. Environmentalists say it’s overdue. To help inform decision-making, scientists are investigating this issue further. “This is a hotly debated topic right now,” says Martha Sutula, who leads biogeochemical studies at the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, a research institute dedicated to improving management of aquatic systems. The institute’s members include agencies that treat wastewater, manage stormwater, regulate water quality, and set ocean policy. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Can the ocean save the Colorado River? San Diego thinks so.
“Facing rising costs and rates, the leaders of San Diego’s water lifelines are looking to sell some of its most expensive supply: de-salted ocean water from a massive plant in Carlsbad. But, at the same time, they’re also trying to make more of it. Dan Denham, the San Diego County Water Authority’s new general manager, says he wants to expand seawater desalination not because he thinks San Diego needs more water, but because he thinks they can sell it and recoup at least a little of the massive investment local rate payers have made on the plant. It’s Denham’s latest move to try and position San Diego to be a water dealer across the drought-stricken West. “We’re looking to expand the plant as an opportunity for users, whether that’s in southern California or the lower Colorado River basin,” Denham said. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Ocean water from San Diego could stabilize south OC supply, boost desal
“Ocean water desalinated at a controversial plant in Carlsbad soon could be stabilizing supplies for south Orange County residents served by Moulton Niguel Water District, who now depend on fluctuating allotments from the Colorado River and Northern California to keep their taps flowing. In exchange, western San Diego County residents could see some relief from their soaring water bills if south O.C. residents start to absorb some of the hefty costs associated with turning seawater into drinking water. But it’s not yet clear how much, or if, a deal to use Carlsbad water might drive up water bills for Moulton Niguel customers. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
‘We can do better’: Western states divided over long-term plans for Colorado River water
“With climate change compounding the strains on the Colorado River, seven Western states are starting to consider long-term plans for reducing water use to prevent the river’s reservoirs from reaching critically low levels in the years to come. But negotiations among representatives of the states have so far failed to resolve disagreements. And now, two groups of states are proposing competing plans for addressing the river’s chronic gap between supply and demand. In one camp, the three states in the river’s lower basin — California, Arizona and Nevada — say their approach would share the largest-ever water reductions throughout the Colorado River Basin to ensure long-term sustainability. In the other camp, the four upper basin states — Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico — argue their proposal would help rebuild reservoir levels and enable the West to adapt to the limits of diminished river flows. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
DWR: Public comment period opens for Carpinteria Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan
