A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
Mystery surrounds sudden increase in steelhead trout deaths near California water pumps
“California environmental groups are urging a federal court to intervene amid a “dramatic increase” in the deaths of threatened steelhead trout at pumps operated by state and federal water managers. Since Dec. 1, more than 4,000 wild and hatchery-raised steelhead have been killed at pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, according to public data for the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. The agencies are now at about 90% of their combined seasonal take limit, which refers to the amount of wild steelhead permitted to be killed between January and March under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. A coalition of environmental and fishing groups — including the Golden State Salmon Assn., the Bay Institute and Defenders of Wildlife — are involved in ongoing litigation that seeks to challenge current federal operating plans in the delta, an estuary at the heart of the state’s water supply. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Press release: Environmental and fishing groups raise alarm about ongoing killing of federally protected fish by the Central Valley Project and State Water Project
“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). That coalition includes the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, the Golden State Salmon Association, The Bay Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, and Natural Resources Defense Council. Coinciding with that filing has been a recent dramatic increase of protected steelhead dying at the projects’ water pumps. … ” Continue reading this press release.
Harder leads coalition urging Army Corps of Engineers to deny permit for Delta Tunnel ‘water grab’
“Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) is leading a group of his Delta region colleagues to urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit for the now-infamous Delta Tunnel – what Harder calls “the zombie project” that just keeps coming back. “The State recently released an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) confirming that the project will threaten endangered fish populations, destroy farmland, and harm water quality,” the assemblyman’s office said in a statement. “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.” Harder soon elaborated on the point himself. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review.
State recommends huge cut to Solano water allocation
“A new recommendation from the California State Water Quality Control Board in its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan) for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary could see Solano County forced to adapt to a fraction of the water it is currently allocated from Lake Berryessa. The implications for Solano County cities could be enormous, leaving Solano County with about 25 percent of its current allocation. Spanning hundreds of miles from north of Lake Shasta to Fresno, the tributaries of the Sacramento and Sac Joaquin rivers that feed into the San Francisco Bay reach well into the Sierra Nevadas and Central Valley. The State Water Quality Control Board has noted that diminished river flows in these areas are harming fish habitats and are detrimental to the water system as a whole ecologically. … ” Read more from the Vacaville Reporter.
‘Simply catastrophic’: California salmon season to be restricted or shut down — again
“California’s fishing industry is bracing for another bad year as federal managers today announced plans to heavily restrict or prohibit salmon fishing this year, following a complete ban last year. The Pacific Fishery Management Council today released a series of options that are under consideration, all of which either ban commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the ocean off California or shorten the season and set strict catch limits. The council’s final decision is expected next month; the commercial season typically begins in May and ends in October. While more Chinook salmon returned from the ocean to spawn last year than in 2022, fishery managers said the population is expected to be so small that they must be protected to avoid overfishing. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
California weakens plan for mandatory cutbacks in urban water use, yielding to criticism
“Facing criticism over their ambitious plan to curb urban water use, California’s regulators today weakened the proposed rules — giving water providers more years and flexibility to comply. Cities and urban water districts welcome the changes to the state’s draft conservation rules, which they said would have been too costly for ratepayers, estimated at $13.5 billion, and too difficult to achieve. But environmentalists are dismayed by the revisions, which they said won’t save enough water to weather shortages as climate change continues to squeeze supplies. “It’s really looking like this is a ‘do nothing’ regulation,” said Tracy Quinn, CEO and president of Heal the Bay, a Los Angeles County environmental group. “The updated standards are weak, and the regulation includes semi-truck sized loopholes that make it too easy for water suppliers to shirk their obligation to use water more efficiently.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
REACTIONS: Here’s what ACWA and the Conserve4CA Coalition have to say.
Second San Joaquin Valley groundwater subbasin recommended for state takeover
“The Friant-Kern Canal was called out specifically as one of the reasons the state should take over pumping in the Tule groundwater subbasin in Tulare County. The recommendation was contained in a recently released staff report to the Water Resources Control Board. While the report stated groundwater management plans covering the subbasin didn’t adequately address subsidence and continued depletion of the aquifer and degradation of water quality in general, it also noted the significant harm to the Friant-Kern Canal, which brings water 152 miles south from Millerton Lake to Arvin. Excessive overpumping caused land beneath a 33-mile stretch of the Friant-Kern Canal to collapse, creating a sag that reduced the canal’s carrying capacity south of Pixley by 60%. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
“We’re finished”: Some small Kings County farmers fear state’s groundwater law being used against them
“Last-ditch revisions being considered for the groundwater plan covering Kings County are not only “too little, too late” to avoid state intervention, according to one observer, they could be a death knell for smaller farmers. “We’re finished,” small farmer Doug Freitas said, of how the proposed revisions would affect his farm. The heart of Freitas’ fear involves how pumping from the various aquifers beneath Kings County, designated as the Tulare Lake subbasin, may be divvied up. In an effort to address state Water Resources Control Board concerns about potential damage to domestic wells, Tulare Lake water managers are considering restricting annual pumping amounts from the most shallow aquifer, dubbed the A-zone, to just a half acre foot, per acre. The A-zone aquifer is about 100 feet below ground level. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
State board to vote on reducing extraction fees for probationary basins
“On the eve of its first subbasin probationary hearing, the state Water Resources Control Board announced it will vote on whether to reduce a controversial groundwater extraction fee. The board will vote at its March 19 meeting on whether to cut the fee from $40 to $20-per-acre-foot for well owners in a subbasin placed on probation. It will hold its first probationary hearing on the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers Kings County, on April 16. Then the Tule subbasin, in the southern half of the valley portion of Tulare County, will come up for hearing Sept. 17. The extraction fee would only be charged if the Water Board had to step in and administer a subbasin in cases where it finds local groundwater agencies aren’t up to the job. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Chances of a weather-roiling La Niña this year are now above 80%
“The odds of a weather-roiling La Niña in the coming months are rising, elevating the risk of an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season. The chances of La Niña, a cooling of the equatorial Pacific, rose to 82% for August, September and October, the US Climate Prediction Center said. Last month there was a 74% chance. “The numbers edged upwards, not dramatically, and the timing still seems to be the same as to what we were predicting last month,” said Michelle L’Heureux, a forecaster with the center. La Niña can lead to droughts in South America and California and more rain across parts of Indonesia and Australia. Currently a strong El Niño, or warming in the Pacific, is winding down. La Niñas often follow intense El Niños because of a phenomenon known as discharge, when heat on the equator migrates toward the poles and cold deep-ocean waters rise to take its place. … ” Read more from Bloomberg (gift article).
Climate change takes a hidden toll on California water supplies
“California’s notorious droughts are a major concern for farming communities and water policymakers, but a new study emphasizes that it’s not just precipitation rates taking a toll on the agricultural water balance: Crop water demand is exacting an “invisible water surcharge” that explains half of the cumulative deficits of that water supply since 1980. The amount of water a plant needs is determined by the rate of its evapotranspiration, which is the combination of evaporation from soil and plant surfaces and water absorbed by plant roots that is released through the leaves as a vapor. As temperatures increase due to climate change, the atmosphere can hold more moisture creating a vapor pressure difference that can draw moisture from plant and soil surfaces. These climate-induced changes to evapotranspiration are playing an increasing role in the growing water deficit in San Joaquin Valley, according to new study published Wednesday in the Public Library of Science Water journal. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
In commentary this week …
Newsom’s stealthy divide and conquer Delta tunnel campaign
Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, writes, “Gavin Newsom’s stealthy divide and conquer tactics are pushing marginalized communities against each other in a war over water. Newsom, his administration and State Water Contractors are appropriating environmental justice language to sway public opinion in Southern California about the Delta Conveyance Project – also referred to as the Delta tunnel. They argue that the Delta tunnel is essential for Southern California’s disadvantaged communities, yet misrepresent the harm the project continues to have on the tribal communities along California’s major rivers and on communities in the Delta watershed. Pitting disadvantaged communities from different regions of the state against each other is a cynical strategy, and is all the more egregious when considering it’s done in the interest of serving only one sector of California’s economy that these players have deemed all-important – special interests in Southern California and portions of Silicon Valley. In this “Hunger Games” narrative for California water management, the areas with water resources will be sacrificed for the benefit of those with privilege, wealth, and power. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
Who is behind the removal of the four Klamath Dams?
Katy Grimes, Editor in Chief of the California Globe, writes, “In November 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the removal of four dams on the Lower Klamath River. The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is already removing the dams, as the Globe has reported here, and here, and here, and here. The Klamath River flows 257 miles through Oregon and northern California, and empties into the Pacific Ocean. Non-profit organization, American Rivers is in the dam removal business – at least it appears that it is. AmericanRivers.org is proud enough of their influence, that in their 2023 report, they bring the receipts – which are damning. They proudly proclaim, “We are excited to announce that Oregon and California’s Klamath River is the 2024 River of the Year, celebrating the biggest dam removal and river restoration in history.” As William Simpson of Siskiyou County recently reported in Siskiyou News, “The nonprofit American Rivers, who unknown to most people, is a board member of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) and the orchestrator of the Klamath dams removal project, indirectly gave themselves an award for ‘River of the Year’.” … ” Read more from the California Globe.
Carbon capture and storage can help California reach climate goals
Julian Cañete, President and CEO of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, writes, “Almost six years ago, under the direction of former Governor Brown, California began an ambitious journey to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Since then, this goal has been enacted into law by our state’s lawmakers and successfully built on by Governor Newsom’s administration. Even with these important steps forward, there is still more to be done to reach this important climate goal. A recent report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office found that our state’s newest plan for carbon neutrality lacked a “clear strategy” and that emissions would need to decline much faster than we have seen in the past few years. There has never been a better time to take the steps needed to protect our state for years to come. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
In regional water news this week …
Deconstruction of Copco No. 1 underway
“Following Friday’s successful test blast, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation will proceed with the removal of the Copco No. 1 Dam, the second dam to be removed as a part of the Klamath dam removal project. The Copco No. 1 Dam, constructed in 1918 for the sole purpose of hydroelectric power generation, has blocked fish passage for over 100 years and is expected to be fully removed by the end of August 2024. “We are excited to get to work,” said Mark Bransom, CEO of the Renewal Corporation “with the initial phase of drawdown complete, the dam is fully exposed and can safely be disassembled.” Copco No. 2, a diversion dam that was located just downstream of Copco No. 1, was removed last year. The remaining three dams, Copco No. 1, Iron Gate, and JC Boyle created reservoirs that needed to be drawn down before removal could begin. … ” Read more from the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.
SEE ALSO: Copco No. 1 dam removal underway, from KDRV
Wild Klamath River fish unaffected by hatchery fish mortality event, Karuk Tribe reports
“The Karuk Tribe Fisheries Department reports that fish collected in the mainstem Klamath near the Scott River are healthy and strong. “We are pleased to say that despite the sediment loads associated with draining the reservoirs, we are finding healthy wild juvenile Chinook making their way downstream to the ocean,” said Toz Soto, Fisheries Program Manager for the Tribe. Since Iron Gate, Copco, and JC Boyle dams were breached in January, the river has carried large sediment loads that impair water quality. “We knew there would be some short-term pain in order to see the long-term gain from dam removal,” noted Soto. Last week, California Fish and Wildlife reported that salmon released from the new Fall Creek Fish Hatchery did not survive the trip through the Iron Gate dam diversion tunnel. The fish showed morphological signs of gas bubble disease. Gas bubble disease results from environmental or physical trauma often associated with severe pressure change. The findings suggest the hatchery fish could not withstand the trip through the Iron Gate Dam bypass tunnel. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Lake Tahoe coalition urges congress to renew restoration act
“Local leaders and tribal representatives gathered today with an urgent request, to renew funding to protect Lake Tahoe. Tahoe is known for its clear water and beautiful views and for over 15 years, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act has put money into projects to keep it that way. All that could come to a stop without action from Congress. Serrell Smokey with the Washoe Tribe noted their people have stewarded the land for thousands of years. “We need to keep our efforts going to maintain this place for generations to come,” he said. Since the Act passed back in 2016, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) partners have started hundreds of projects to help with forest health, water infrastructure, watershed restoration, water quality, invasive species control, and accountability. … ” Read more from News 4.
Remains of destructive dam failure to be cleared from the American River after 60 years
“After nearly 60 years of being submerged in the clear waters of the American River, chunks of concrete and steel will be removed from the river in the Auburn State Recreation Area, but how did they get there? Before the current State Route 49 bridge straddled the American River, a similarly placed bridge provided the vital connection between Auburn and the communities of northwest El Dorado County. That bridge, named the Georgetown Bridge, was built in 1948 and ended its time of providing safe passage for motorists on Dec. 23, 1964. According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), Hell Hole Dam breached, releasing 30,000 acre-feet of water down the Rubicon River, into the Middle Fork of the American River and down to the confluence with the North Fork of the American River near Auburn. … ” Continue reading from Fox 40.
San Francisco dumps millions of gallons of sewage into Bay every year – Baykeeper issues notice to sue
“San Francisco Baykeeper recently issued a notice of intent to take legal action against the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the City and County of San Francisco for repeated violations of the Clean Water Act. The nonprofit watchdog organization obtained information through public records requests from SFPUC, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and identified hundreds of Clean Water Act violations over the last five years. These violations include repeated discharges of mixed sewage and trash-filled urban runoff into San Francisco Bay during heavy rains. SFPUC documents estimate that in a typical year, the agency discharges 1.2 billion gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage, which contains feces, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and trash. In a wet year, the volume of discharge can exceed 2 billion gallons. … ” Continue reading this press release from Baykeeper.
Monterey: Peninsula’s water supply drama is now playing out in court
“David Schmalz here. I do all I can to stay on top of water issues throughout Monterey County, which is a constant hurdle I’m never able to fully clear—the county is vast, and there are a multitude of regionally specific challenges. Most recently I’ve been trying to stay on top of all that’s happening in the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply drama, which has played out for years but finally seems to be coming to a head this year. The question that will be answered is: Will residents on the Peninsula, who get their water from investor-owned utility Cal Am, have to pay for a desalination project to get out from under a state-imposed cease-and-desist order regarding pumping from the Carmel River? … ” Read more from the Monterey Weekly.
Dry well program in Chowchilla has “fallen short” of applicants
“A program to help residents with dry wells in the Chowchilla subbasin, which covers the northwestern toe of Madera County, has only spent about a tenth of its budget so far. That’s partly because the valley had an exceptionally wet year in 2023, so fewer domestic wells went dry. And it’s partly because the program just hasn’t made it on the public’s radar, according to Brandon Tomlinson, General Manager of Chowchilla Water District, which administers the program on behalf of subbasin. “We fell way short,” said Tomlinson. “And then there’s also the concern that maybe we’re not reaching our target audience.” To that end, staff is working on building a website and mailing out fliers, he added. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water Board denies Chiquita permit to expand
“In the latest rebuke from Chiquita Canyon Landfill’s regulators, the L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board denied a Jan. 4, 2022, application the landfill sought to expand operations with the “East Canyon Project.” The rejection later, dated March 1, involved a plan to expand the facility at “cells 7,9, 10,11 and 12, in the East Canyon area of the landfill, northeast of the cells in current use.” It’s the latest blow in a streak of regulatory hits to the landfill, which also recorded violations from the state Department of Toxic Substances Control on Feb. 21 over its handling of leachate, stating the landfill discharged toxic water pumped from its soil to a Gardena facility not permitted to handle it. … ” Read more from The Signal.
Feds won’t tell public what’s wrong with its border sewage plant
MacKenzie Elmer writes, “The people in charge of a broken sewage treatment plant along the U.S.-Mexico border won’t tell the public exactly what’s wrong with it. And even though they haven’t fully explained how the plant fell into ruin, it hasn’t stopped them from asking Congress for more money to fix it. In the last few years I spent covering the Tijuana sewage crisis, I heard staff from the International Boundary and Water Commission or IBWC (a little known binational federal agency with commissioners in both the U.S. and Mexico which runs the plant) hint that something was very wrong with this key piece of border infrastructure that’s responsible for keeping sewage out of San Diego. They would quote from the results of a “facilities assessment,” but I never saw the full report. … ” Continue reading from the Voice of San Diego.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE of Board Workshop on Proposed Voluntary Agreements Related to Sacramento/Delta Update to Bay-Delta Plan
YOUR INPUT WANTED to Inform Statewide Plastics Monitoring Strategy and Plan
NOTICE of Proposed Order Setting Aside Water Quality Certifications for NOTICE of Proposed Order Setting Aside Water Quality Certifications for Merced Falls, Yuba-Bear, Don Pedro, La Grange Hydroelectric Projects
NOTICE draft order denying reconsideration in response to the Petition for Reconsideration of Order WR 2019-0148 (Cachuma Project)
