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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC MEETING: Delta Lead Scientist Interview Panel from 10am to 3pm. On March 11, 2024, the Delta Lead Scientist Interview Panel, an advisory committee to the Delta ISB, will hold a public meeting. Dr. Lisamarie Windham-Myers, an applicant for the Delta lead scientist position, will present a seminar, titled “eMerging perspectives of the Land Ocean Aquatic Continuum (LOAC).” After the seminar, there will be an opportunity for the public to ask Dr. Windham-Myers questions on her presentation and general questions related to the Delta lead scientist position during the meet and greet session. Attend in person or via Zoom. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: California Water Management and Progress Since the Signing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act from 10am to 12:30pm. Join DWR in celebrating the upcoming 10th Anniversary of SGMA on Monday as we kick off Groundwater Awareness Week 2024. You’ll hear from DWR’s Director, Karla Nemeth, and DWR Sustainable Water Management Office (SGMO) Deputy Director, Paul Gosselin about the progress made over the first 10 years of SGMA. Our dynamic speakers will also discuss State-local partnerships and innovative projects that are putting more water into the ground, helping to ensure current and long-term water supply resiliency for communities, businesses, and environmental habitats that are dependent on groundwater. Registration link: https://stantec.zoom.us/
webinar/register/WN_msIUcWD- Sne11chu3VZc2w.
THIS WEEK: It’s Groundwater Awareness Week! DWR has a week of groundwater webinars planned. Check out the lineup here.
In California water news today …
California’s historic storms continue. Here’s how much scientists say it’s being driven by climate change
“A powerful winter storm buried the Sierra last weekend, with wet weather continuing for days in the Bay Area and Central Coast. Thunderstorms Wednesday drenched Salinas, dropping an entire inch in just 25 minutes. After historic weather last year, intense California storms have persisted this winter, with strong downpours causing widespread flooding in San Diego and damaging landslides in places like Los Angeles. Many ingredients contribute to extreme storm activity, but scientists agree that climate change is already amping up winter rains — and may bring even wilder weather in the future. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
California weather: Big swing from rain and snow to 70-degree temperatures this week
“The last in a series of wet weather systems is expected to brush Northern California from Monday evening to Tuesday morning. Thereafter, no rain is in the forecast for at least a week. Gusty Santa Ana and Diablo winds Wednesday and Thursday will kick off a dry, warm weather pattern through the weekend. Thursday through Sunday are expected to be the warmest days so far this year in California, with highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s in San Francisco and Oakland and mid- to upper 70s in Sacramento and San Jose. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
After another wet winter, is the West still facing a water crisis?
“Time is running out for the West’s wet season, but recent storms have done wonders for the snowpack and the drought across much of the region, especially in California. “The drought situation across the western U.S. has improved considerably as a result of a very wet winter,” Jay Famiglietti, a hydrologist at Arizona State University, told USA TODAY. In fact, both California and Nevada are “essentially drought-free” at the moment, which is “really unusual,” he said. Elsewhere, the giant reservoirs of the Colorado River Basin, Lakes Mead and Powell, are now about one-third full, said Brad Udall, senior scientist at Colorado State University. This is up from the same time last year, when they were 25% full, but still far from their historic highs of the early 2000s, when they were 95% full. … ” Read more from USA Today.
Atmospheric rivers “double-edged sword” for water in California
“Atmospheric rivers are becoming a “double-edged sword” for California, an expert has told Newsweek. The weather phenomenon involves concentrated corridors of tropical moisture that travel through the atmosphere. When they make landfall, they unleash heavy rain and snow in higher areas. California has experienced many in recent weeks, with a series of atmospheric rivers bringing floods and landslides across the state, and another causing a severe blizzard across the Sierra Nevada. Storms caused by the phenomenon also swept across the state at the beginning of 2023 and into spring. While precipitation is a good thing for the usually dry state, it also has negative consequences, Breanna Zavadoff, an assistant scientist at the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, told Newsweek. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
DWR celebrates the hidden water resource beneath our feet during National Groundwater Awareness Week
“Coming up from March 10 to 16, the Department of Water Resources will celebrate Groundwater Awareness Week to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the vital importance of groundwater in all our lives. We’re especially excited to celebrate this year because 2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA is California’s groundbreaking groundwater legislation, which passed in 2014, and established a statewide framework to protect the State’s precious groundwater resources. … ” Continue reading from the Department of Water Resources.
First phase of AEM survey project to map groundwater supplies gets completed
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has completed its mapping project in all high-and-medium-priority groundwater basins in California. The Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Project has encompassed helicopter-based technology to scan subsurface depths of up to 1,000 feet, providing critical information about underground aquifers. This data, now publicly accessible, will be used to help with the identification of locations for groundwater recharge projects. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Coalition raises alarm about protected steelhead dying in Delta water pumping facilities
“The many millions of fish, including endangered salmon and steelhead, that have perished in the state and federal water project facilities in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in recent years is just one in the long list of horrors that expose the tenuousness of the “green” California myth. On March 6, a coalition of environmental and fishing groups reiterated their request that a federal court modify federal agencies’ proposed interim plan for operating the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), in coordination with the State Water Project (SWP), to protect fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and California Endangered Species Act (CESA). … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
A functional flows approach for environmental flows in Chile
“Countries, regions, and river basins globally are struggling to provide and manage flows in rivers for ecosystems. One approach, of many, is a Functional Flows approach, because it seeks to provide a range of streamflows over the year and between years to support fundamental functions of river ecosystems and the ecosystem services for society. These streamflows include seasonal base flows that vary from wet to dry seasons and interannually across wet to dry years as well as short-term flood flows that mobilize and scour bed sediments, recreate aquatic, riparian, and floodplain habitat, and support seasonal wetlands. The approach also involves a process for balancing multiple human and ecological objectives for river systems through broad engagement of multiple interests. In their challenge to maintain riverine ecosystem services, Chile and California can benefit from this dynamic approach to managing instream flows. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
Regulator OK’s decision on California Water general rate case, infrastructure plan
“California Water (NYSE:CWT) +2.8% in Monday’s trading after the California Public Utilities Commission adopted its decision on the 2021 general rate case and infrastructure improvement plan, marking the end of an extensive review of the utility’s water system improvement plans, costs, and rates. Cal Water (CWT) said the decision adopts a revised version of the alternate proposed decision issued in January 24 and increases adopted revenues for 2023 by $39.2M, plus a yet-to-be determined inflation factor retroactive to January 2023. The decision also raises revenues by up to $32.2M for 2024 and $31.7M for 2025, subject to CPUC’s escalation earnings test and inflationary adjustments. … ” Read more from Seeking Alpha.
Adapt, move or die? Plants and animals face new pressures in a warming world
“The world continues to hit alarming records. Last year was the warmest since record keeping began in 1850. And the 10 warmest years have all occurred in the past decade. The implications for life on Earth are vast. More than 1 million species are already at risk of extinction — a number that’s likely to increase with climate pressures. Researchers are rushing to understand how a quickly changing planet affects myriad species of plants and animals. One thing is certain: There’s still much we don’t know. Frogs, for example, are succumbing to mass mortalities as heat waves push temperatures above thresholds they can tolerate. But researchers found that we don’t even know the heat tolerance for 93% of described amphibian species. … ” Read more from The Revelator.
Detergent pods are only the start of clothing’s microplastic pollution problem
“Last month, Democratic New York City Council Member James Gennaro introduced a bill that would change the way countless New Yorkers do their laundry — by banning laundry detergent pods. More specifically, the bill — dubbed “Pods Are Plastic” — proposed a ban on dishwashing and laundry detergent pods coated in polyvinyl alcohol, or PVA, a type of plastic that disintegrates when submerged in water. Laundry and soap companies have long argued that the PVA coating is totally safe and 100 percent biodegradable, but proponents of the bill say that neither of those claims is true. … ” Read more from Grist.
In commentary today …
A water conservation proposal could kill tree canopies. Regulations need a reboot
Jim Peifer, executive director of the Sacramento Regional Water Authority, writes, “California officials are preparing new urban water conservation rules intended to help the state adapt to a drier future caused by climate change. In reality, the proposed restrictions are so great they could actually harm those adaptation efforts by sacrificing the tree canopy we have nurtured in our cities for generations. The “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” rule package, proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board, sets conservation targets unique to each urban water agency in the state. While conserving each and every year makes sense, so must the restrictions. A recent report by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office found big flaws in the Water Board’s approach, describing the proposal as overly complex, expensive and unrealistic, with potential water savings amounting to a mere drop in the bucket statewide. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
New Water Authority unites Ukiah Valley, Redwood Valley, and Millview to navigate the next era of water challenges
“In what one Ukiah Valley water leader calls “the next big era of major water decisions,” the City of Ukiah has joined up with Redwood Valley and the Millview water district to form a new water authority. The aim is to qualify for state infrastructure grants to create a more reliable water supply for small communities. The new authority has around 8500 to 9000 water users, with about half of them in the city of Ukiah. That’s pretty small by state standards, but First District Supervisor Glenn McGourty, who is retiring this year, thinks the water authority will help smaller districts comply with ever-increasing state requirements. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
Lady of the Lake: Low down on stream and lake levels
“Dear Lady of the Lake, Is there an easy and quick way to learn about the stream and lake levels in Clear Lake? I was also wondering what your expert guess/prediction would be on the Rumsey level of Clearlake after this current storm passes through? Hello Larry, Great question and perfect for this time of year! We have been getting quite a bit of rain and that means the creeks and streams will have high flows of water, which do flow to Clear Lake. Every year I get lots of questions about how the stream and lake levels are measured and where that information can be found. Lake and stream level data is collected from permanent gauge stations. Usually these gauges are installed, calibrated, and quality controlled by state or federal agencies. The majority of gauges situated around Lake County are managed by the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, and California Department of Water Resources, or CDWR. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Sierra Club calls for halt on Giant Sequoia restoration project
“A fire abatement project in two regions of the Sierras is being challenged by environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, who have asked a court to put a pause on the U.S. Forest Service projects. In 2020 and 2021, the Caste and Windy fires burned through tens of thousands of acres of Sierra forests and caused significant damage to large groves of ancient Giant Sequoia trees. To reduce the risk of future fires, the Forest Service has proposed clearing vast swaths of forest, removing trees and clearing undergrowth. The plan encompasses two regions that include more than 39,000 acres in the Castle Fire area and an additional 14,000 acres burned by the Windy Fire. Both restoration projects are almost entirely located within the Giant Sequoia National Monument. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
Team Tahoe members to present to Congress on Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
“Team Tahoe, a coalition of Nevada and California local elected officials, tribal leaders, and representatives from public and private entities have gathered in Washington, D.C. for meetings with Members of Congress and the Biden Administration to urge the extension of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2016 (LTRA), which expires on September 30, 2024. This critical, bipartisan legislation provides funding for projects that support forest health, water for fire infrastructure, watershed restoration, water quality, aquatic invasives species control, Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery, and accountability. Since the Act’s passage in 2016, Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP)partners have implemented hundreds of projects, leveraged the federal investment 5-to-1 with state, local, and private funding, and supported 1,700 jobs per year. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
BAY AREA
County to host public meeting on Cupertino cement plant
“Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian is hosting his ninth annual public meeting regarding the future of Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant and Permanente Quarry in the Cupertino foothills. Several steps have been taken to bring an end to mining at the quarry, close the cement plant permanently and begin the process of reclamation and restoration. The March 27 public meeting will provide a status report from the county and the various regulatory agencies with oversight of Lehigh’s activities. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
One year after Pajaro levee breached, many residents remain in dire need
“When Francisca Lopez woke up to sirens and speakers outside her home loudly blaring for her to evacuate, she had no idea what to expect. She feared a war or some natural disaster had struck, so she grabbed a few jackets, dressed her 10-year-old son, and left immediately. Within hours, the overflowing waters from the Pajaro levee poured into her neighborhood, flooding her home and ruining much of what she owned. One year later, Lopez stood in front of the Pajaro home where she rented a room for three years, which was left uninhabitable after the 2023 flood. “We lost everything,” said Lopez, who now lives in Watsonville, in Spanish. “It’s so hard to start over. I was just starting to build something. We had the warmth of a home.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Cuyama Valley: First phase of groundwater case ends with last-minute withdrawal
“A surprise move recently led to an unsurprising conclusion to the opening phase of a closely watched groundwater adjudication case that will shape the future of farming in Cuyama Valley. Attorneys who worked for almost a year and a half to prove the area was composed of three separate groundwater basins suddenly withdrew that assertion on the verge of a final decision on the matter. A judge then ruled the valley contains a single basin, as the California Department of Water Resources has maintained for decades. Judge Yvette M. Palazuelos’ ruling Feb. 23 in Los Angeles Superior Court means certain farming interests that had hoped to be excused from the case will instead be included in a contentious proceeding expected to carry on for several more years. … ” Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Restored floodplain has thrived at Dos Rios, southwest of Modesto. This area is next
“Just south of Dos Rios Ranch, a much-praised effort at river restoration, another such project is taking root. It will add about 380 acres of floodplain and other habitat to the 1,600 acres at Dos Rios. They are near the confluence of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, about eight miles southwest of Modesto. The state-funded project, totaling about $20.8 million, is on the former Hidden Valley Dairy. Annual feed crops are giving way to oaks, cottonwoods, willows and other native plants. The floodplain will take on high river flows that otherwise could threaten nearby Grayson and downstream towns. The standing water could recharge the aquifer below for use during droughts. The place could offer food and shelter to fish, birds, mammals and other creatures. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
LA has big plans to turn a landfill into a wetland, but delays are jeopardizing the project
“Sun Valley has long been one of the most flood-prone parts of the city. In the ‘80s and ’90s when it rained, news crews would head there for the most dramatic shots. The largely working-class, Latino neighborhood in the northeast San Fernando Valley is also a pollution hotspot, with landfills, auto shops and heavy industry nestled amid homes. At the same time, as the climate crisis leads to hotter droughts, more intense rainstorms and less reliable snow — traditionally our largest source of drinking water — L.A. desperately needs to become more like a sponge. That will help to capture more stormwater locally when rain does come and lessen devastating flooding, said Edith de Guzman, a UCLA water equity and climate adaptation researcher. … ” Read more from the LAist.
LADWP captured 13.5 billion gallons of stormwater in February
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power captured more than 13.5 billion gallons of stormwater last month, a huge increase over the 8.4 billion gallons captured in February 2023, Mayor Karen Bass’ office announced today. “The City of Los Angeles captured more than 13.5 billion gallons of stormwater during the historic February rainstorms,” Bass said. “This is great news for the city and the region, as we continue to work with the Department of Water and Power to increase our capacity to capture, clean and conserve stormwater runoff.” Officials said the 13.5 billion gallons were enough water to serve nearly 165,000 households for a year, or the equivalent to filling more than 20,000 Olympic-sized pools. … ” Read more from NBC 4.
SAN DIEGO
As city and county officials were mired in confusion, local nonprofits led the flood relief response
“As floodwaters receded from the streets of southeastern San Diego on Jan. 22, two things began to happen. Several local nonprofits — not trained in disaster response — set up a victim assistance center at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA. At the same time, county and city officials had a series of extreme miscommunications that delayed the opening of a government-run assistance center within city limits for nearly two weeks, according to letters obtained by Voice of San Diego. Normally in the wake of a disaster, government officials open what they call a Local Assistance Center near the disaster site. These assistance centers connect survivors with government and non-government resources. A survivor could get anything from a new driver’s license to food or unemployment benefits. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
More news and commentary in the weekend edition …
In California water news this weekend …
-
Searsville Lake. Photo by Quintin. Dramatic pattern shift: dry weather on the horizon for the West Coast
- California reservoirs topping off, quelling drought fears
- Press release: Environmental and fishing groups raise alarm about ongoing killing of federally protected fish by the Central Valley Project and State Water Project
- Show Time: DWR files petition to change water rights for Delta tunnel despite pending lawsuit and widespread opposition
- Harder leads coalition urging Army Corps of Engineers to deny permit for Delta Tunnel ‘water grab’
- California’s landmark plastic pollution law moves forward
- ‘California Forever’ releases new renderings of Bay Area development, TV ad
- Wild Klamath River fish unaffected by hatchery fish mortality event, Karuk Tribe reports
- Sediment from Klamath River Basin logging roads dwarfs sediment from dam removal
- Lake Spaulding powerhouse #1 offline after leak discovered
- Toxic groundwater, sea level rise latest challenges in long-running S.F. shipyard cleanup
- What once looked like a weak water year on the Kern River has grown stronger
- Noxious fumes, contaminated runoff: No easy solution for Chiquita Canyon Landfill woes
- King tides, groundwater rise: Threats to nuclear waste at San Onofre?
- No matter how the war over the Colorado River plays out, Arizona will feel pain
- And more …
Click here for the weekend digest.
