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In California water news this weekend …
California’s largest new reservoir project in 50 years gains momentum
“Colusa County is known for sprawling rice farms and almond orchards, wetlands full of migrating ducks and geese, staunch conservative politics, and the 19th-century family cattle ranch where former Gov. Jerry Brown retired five years ago. But the windswept county in the Sacramento Valley — whose entire population of 22,000 people is just one-third of Palo Alto’s — may soon be known for something else: The largest new reservoir anywhere in California in the past 50 years. Last weekend, President Biden signed a package of bills that included $205 million in construction funding for Sites Reservoir, a proposed $4.5 billion project planned for the rolling ranchlands west of the town of Maxwell, about 70 miles north of Sacramento. The funding is the latest boost for the project, which has been discussed on and off since the 1950s. … ” Continue reading from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Court upholds State Water Board’s revised flow objectives for the San Joaquin River
“The Sacramento Superior Court has ruled in favor of the State Water Board’s 2018 Bay Delta Plan update, denying all 116 claims by petitioners. In December 2018, the State Water Resources Control Plan adopted revised flow objectives for the San Joaquin River and its three major tributaries, the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers. The new flow objectives provide for increased flows on the three tributaries to help revive and protect native fall-run migratory fish populations. The Board also adopted a revised south Delta salinity objectives, increasing the level of salinity allowed from April to AugustSeveral petitions were filed in several counties challenging the Board’s action. Most hold water rights on the tributaries or represent those reliant on water from the tributaries for ag or municipal uses. A few petitioners represent environmental interests. … Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Balancing water supply resilience and ecology: The Tuolumne River and the Bay Delta Plan
“California’s challenge to balance water supply sustainability and ecosystem health comes to a head in the San Francisco Bay Area. A recent Stanford University study delves into the complexities of the issue, shedding light on the challenges, and offering innovative solutions. The paper focuses on the Bay-Delta Plan, a critical water management strategy drafted in 1996. Declining fish populations and the specter of drought exacerbated by climate change, among other changes, have led to calls to update the plan. Central to the debate is the requirement for unimpaired flow in the Tuolumne River, a vital source for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which serves millions of people. The SFPUC and Central Valley irrigation districts have proposed a voluntary agreement plan that emphasizes interventions such as habitat improvements and predation management, instead of large cutbacks in water withdrawals. … ” Read more from Stanford News.
Coalition asks Newson to amend Salmon Strategy to add flows needed by collapsing salmon populations
“Salmon populations are in deep trouble in California and a large coalition wants to stop the current march to extinction. On the International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14, a big coalition of California’s Tribal organizations, environmental non-profits, and fishing groups released a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom asking for flow protections and pollution controls to be added to Newsom’s controversial newly released Salmon Strategy. The groups said that “while they appreciate the focus on dam removal and restoration, California’s salmon and fishing industry are facing an unprecedented crisis.” … ” Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
California proposes delaying rules aimed at reducing water on lawns, concerning environmentalists
“California regulators this week proposed delaying new rules aimed at reducing how much water people use on their lawns, drawing praise from agencies that said they needed more time to comply but criticism from environmentalists who warn that the delay would damage the state’s already scarce supply. Last year, California proposed new rules that would, cumulatively, reduce statewide water use by about 14%. Those rules included lowering outdoor water use standards below the current statewide average by 2035. On Tuesday, regulators proposed delaying that timeline by five years, until 2040. The State Water Resources Control Board is scheduled to vote on the rules later this year. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Regulators may delay rules to reduce water for lawns
“California regulators have proposed delaying new rules aimed at reducing water usage on lawns. Last year, California proposed new rules to reduce statewide water use by around 14 percent. That included lowering outdoor water use standards by 2035. The big picture: The proposal now suggests delaying this timeline by five years, until 2040. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun.
Satellite photos show California turning green and snowy after winter storms
“After years of drought and water restrictions, Californians have had some respite over the last two years. In 2023, the state found itself replenished by a record number of storms fed by atmospheric rivers, which brought most places out of drought and transformed a withered landscape into a verdant one. This year, winter storms have again brought much-needed precipitation to California. As of Friday, only 4.5% of the state was abnormally dry, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Key takeaways from the Sustainable Water Investment Summit
“Set against the context of unprecedented demand for water supply solutions, Brownstein and WestWater Research brought together water industry and finance leaders for the second annual Sustainable Water Investment Summit. The World Resources Institute’s latest data helps articulate the scale of the demand for water supply reliability, sustainability and innovation: by 2050, an additional billion people will be living in arid areas and regions with high water stress, and by 2050, around 46% of global GDP is expected to come from areas facing high-water risk (up from 10% currently). Given these realities, it’s unsurprising that diverse interests are now converging to meet the challenges of ensuring a resilient and accessible water future. Polls find that 63% of global companies now undertake water-related risk assessments, and 1,100 CEOs have annual performance reviews tied to results around water goals. Here we outline a few of the takeaways and reflections from the conference held last week at the Terranea Resort in Los Angeles. … ” Read more from Brownstein.
Scientists say these critical factors will determine how bad California wildfires will be this year
“California enjoyed a second consecutive winter of above-average precipitation this year, and many are hoping that will translate to another relatively calm fire season. But that’s far from a sure thing, even though the outlook for the next few months is good, experts say. In 2023, about 320,000 acres burned statewide due to wildfires, well below the five-year average of 1.7 million acres. Storms that winter played a part: Rain revitalized a landscape parched by years of drought and a colossal Sierra Nevada snowpack provided additional moisture as it melted through the warmer months. The wet conditions this winter soaked vegetation, which bodes well for fire risk over the next few months. There also aren’t signs for unusual weather that would amp up large fire activity during spring. But how wildfires will play out this summer and fall remains uncertain. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California unlikely to meet landmark goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
“California is poised to fail to meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals by the end of the decade unless it can triple its efforts to reduce carbon emissions statewide, according to a critical new report. Although the state has pledged to slash planet-warming emissions by 40% of 1990 levels by 2030, the state is not on track to meet that commitment, according an analysis by the nonprofit group Next 10 and Beacon Economics, an L.A.-based consulting firm. Based on the most recent data available from the state, emissions have fallen just 11.5% below those of 1990. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Cannon Michael re-elected as board chair for San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
“Cannon Michael, a 6th generation California farmer was re-elected chairman of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Authority). Michael is president of Bowles Farming Company, a family owned and operated farming company headquartered in Los Banos. Michael also serves as chair of the Henry Miller Reclamation District, is a board member with the Water Education Foundation and serves as an advisory board member of the Public Policy Institute of California. Following his re-election, Michael said, “The Authority plays a vital role in our communities, managing a significant part of the Central Valley Project. It is a big responsibility to oversee the operations that bring project water to over a million acres of farmland, 2.5 million California residents and important wildlife refuges along the Pacific Flyway. “It is very rewarding to work with a great group of directors who have the knowledge and skill to solve the complex and nuanced water challenges confronting California. Our board is supported by a first-rate team at the Authority who work tirelessly to make sure water is delivered safely, reliably, and efficiently.” Also re-elected to serve as vice-chair of the Authority is William Bourdeau. Bourdeau is Executive Vice President of farming operations for Harris Farms, owner of Bourdeau Farms, and is a board member of the Westlands Water District.
Matt Clifford selected to lead Trout Unlimited’s California Program
“Matt Clifford, a staff member in Trout Unlimited’s California program since 2013, has been named the California Director effective March 25th. Brian Johnson, who directed the California program since 2011, is taking on a new role as Senior Policy Advisor, Western Water and Climate. “Matt is exceptionally well-qualified to lead the California program,” said Rob Masonis, Pacific region vice president. “With more than two decades of policy advocacy and legal experience at both the federal and state levels spanning a range of subjects, including water allocation and management, abandoned mine clean-up, hydroelectric dam regulation, and salmon recovery, Matt has the breadth and depth of knowledge that positions him well to lead TU’s largest state program.” … ” Read more from Trout Unlimited.
Love Alpaugh: Celebrating the life and legacy of Sandra Meraz
Kristin Dobbin, assistant professor of cooperative extension in water justice policy and planning at UC Berkeley, writes, “When Alexandrina “Sandra” Meraz arrived in Alpaugh in the Spring of 1963 at the age of 22, one of the first things she noticed was the water. It didn’t smell right. Sandra was a self-professed reluctant “pioneer” [1]. As a young mom, living in the tiny unincorporated community in Southeast Tulare County far from the Cabezon Reservation where she was born and raised wasn’t easy. In time, however, leaving would become out of the question. Over the next 60 years Sandra gave everything she had to Alpaugh, transforming the small, out of the way forgotten place as it did her. Along the way, she changed California. In 1998, with grown kids and time on her hands Sandra landed on the Tulare County Waterworks District #1, one of three locally elected boards that controlled drinking water provision in the town at the time. She didn’t know anything about water, but she asked questions and she learned. … ” Continue reading at the California Water Blog.
‘I’ll run until there’s no sea left’: the gas-mask wearing ultramarathoner circling the Salton Sea
“In an otherwise desolate horizon, a black dot materialized along the dramatic shoreline of California’s Salton Sea one recent Saturday afternoon. Beachgoers shielded their eyes against the midday glare and watched as the mirage became 49-year-old William Sinclair, an ultramarathon runner and activist who goes by the self-given nickname “Irondad”. The runner’s sudden appearance felt apocalyptic: he wore an ominous full-face gas mask to block out dust, and a pair of snowshoes strapped wing-like to his back, to traverse the area’s expansive mudflats. He dressed all in black, with the exception of neon orange sneakers that were already caked in dirt from running and hiking the past 16 miles, a remote stretch of both cracked and swampy earth that very rarely sees any other human activity. … Irondad, who requested that he be referred to by his runner name, hopes that his unusual annual pilgrimage will rally people around the plight of the dwindling Salton Sea, an issue that has long been called an “environmental and public health crisis”. … ” Read the full story at The Guardian.
Podcasts …
WATERLOOP: Lands with benefits
Water scarcity and groundwater overuse are driving land use dilemmas in California, particularly in agriculture. One promising solution gaining traction is multi-benefit land repurposing, which involves transforming unproductive farmland to capture rain, floods, and diverted water for groundwater recharge. These repurposed lands also provide various advantages for wildlife, recreation, education, and climate adaptation. This episode delves into discussions with experts and stakeholders involved in the program, such as Ann Hayden, Vice President of Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund. The potential of multi-benefit land repurposing is showcased through visits to Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, Kaweah Oaks Preserve, Joseph Gallo Farms, and Castroville Slough Treatment Wetlands. Despite its complexity and cost, the program is gaining momentum, offering hope for California and beyond.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Senator Anna Caballero talks water & ag
Senator Anna Caballero, who represents Senate District 14 which includes Merced, Madera, and Fresno Counties, joins Darcy and Darcy this week. The Senator discusses Darcy B’s favorite bill this session, SB 366, rural California, water infrastructure, and the importance of Agriculture is to California’s economy, and to National Security. The Senator shares some of her frustration at the Capitol, the benefits of the Rural Caucus, getting out into her district, and making a difference. Join the conversation!
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Win-wins for rivers and ranches, with Mike Belchik and Gareth Plank
How can conservation groups, Tribes, and ranchers come together to create healthier watersheds? Hear from CalTrout Mt. Shasta/Klamath Regional Director Damon Goodman, Yurok Tribe Senior Fisheries Biologist Mike Belchik, and Farmers Ditch Company member Gareth Plank on how the three groups work together to realize a better future for the Scott River Valley.
THE EVERGREEN: The largest dam removal project in the US
On the Oregon-California border, four Klamath River dams are coming out in the country’s largest-ever dam removal project. It will reopen hundreds of miles of salmon habitat and restore thousands of acres of land, some of which could be returned to Native American tribes. It’s giving some along the river new hope — and leaving others, like farmers, uncertain about their future. OPB science editor and reporter Cassandra Profita brings us the history behind the dam removal project: why the dams were created in the first place, the water politics of the region and how residents of the basin are waiting to see what the dam removals will do to the landscape.
CAPITOL WEEKLY: How working forests can fight wildfire and floods – while slowing climate change
California has set ambitious climate goals, including phasing out the use of fossil fuels and becoming carbon neutral by 2045. Our guest today is here to talk about the role nature can play in meeting those goals. Laurie Wayburn is the co-founder and president of the Pacific Forest Trust and the chair of the California Natural and Working Lands Expert Advisory Committee. She was also the lead author of a recent report suggesting the state should invest “as much in nature-based climate solutions as it has in clean energy and transportation.” With proper forest management, California could capture 400 million tons of carbon each year, lower wildfire risk and vastly improve flood protection in the state. But, the $10 Billion price tag may be a hard sell in a down budget, even in climate-conscious California.
WATER SHELF: Drs. Manuel Teodoro, Samantha Zuhlke, and David Switzer, The Profits of Distrust
In this episode, Justin Scott-Coe talks with eminent scholars Drs. Manuel Teodoro, Samantha Zuhlke, and David Switzer and about their recent book of immense importance to the water industry entitled The Profits of Distrust: Citizen-Consumers, Drinking Water, and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government (Cambridge Unviersity Press, 2022).
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: The Meaning of a Dairy
What one resource underlies a healthy dairy community, builds equity and has a ripple effect into the daily life of families and their small businesses? Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
NAPA/SONOMA
Special water sourcing adds ‘sense of place’ to Napa Valley brewer’s beers
“Water is a key ingredient in brewing beer, along with hops and barley, but you rarely see it mentioned on labels. Water is just water. Right? Well, not all producers feel that way. Nile Zacherle, the owner of Mad Fritz Brewery in Napa Valley, goes to extremes to source water from wells and springs throughout the region to use for different beers. He regularly drives Napa’s winding back roads to collect water in a 350-gallon tote that he keeps in the back of his van. While lots of beer producers adjust the composition of their water to suit different beer styles, what Zacherle is doing could be considered – well, a little bit nutty. … ” Read more from Northern California Public Media.
BAY AREA
The fight to rid the bay of red algae may cost $11B
“Ten years. That’s how much time the Bay Area’s 37 wastewater treatment plants will have to reduce fertilizer and sewage in their water by 40%. The estimated price tag for the facility upgrades is $11 billion. The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board plans to adopt the change as part of its new discharge permit requirement beginning June 12. Previous permits did not require reductions, according to Lorien Fono, executive director of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, which oversees the region’s wastewater treatment plants. She spoke from the Oro Loma Sanitary District in San Lorenzo on Thursday. The facility is considered a model for upgrades. … ” Read more from The Almanac.
Local watchdog alleges San Francisco is discharging sewage, trash into area water
“A local environmental watchdog group plans to sue San Francisco over accusations that the city’s Public Utilities Commission routinely violates federal law by discharging millions of gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage into regional bodies of water during a typical year. Attorneys representing the group, San Francisco Baykeeper, sent a letter dated March 6 to Mayor London Breed and City Attorney David Chiu, as well as administrators with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, informing them that the nonprofit intends to file a lawsuit over what it said are violations of the Clean Water Act, a federal law that deals with water pollution. In a Thursday news release, Baykeeper said public records it obtained show that the city has committed “hundreds” of violations of the Clean Water Act in the last five years. Those violations include “discharges of mixed sewage and trash-filled urban runoff into San Francisco Bay during heavy rains,” the news release said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Proposed salmon restrictions could have big impact in San Mateo County
“The upcoming restriction or elimination of commercial and recreational salmon season could have serious economic impacts on local fishers and coastside economies, industry members say. The Pacific Fishery Management Council released three options for ocean salmon season, which is set to begin May 16 — two of three alternatives would authorize short season dates and establish harvest limits, while the third would close ocean fisheries entirely. “The salmon fish is one of two big fish besides crab. Many fishermen earn half their income or more from salmon season,” James Pruett, San Mateo County Harbor District general manager, said. “It’s a significant economic impact.” … ” Read more from the Daily Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Partners work towards a sustainable water future
“The City Council received an update from the Calleguas Water District about sustainability and reliability as they move forward during the Tuesday, March 4, meeting. Deputy City Manager Shiri Klima said the City imports approximately 40 percent of its water portfolio from the State Water Project through the Southern California Metropolitan Water District. “That entity brings that water from Met to Oxnard is Calleguas Municipal Water District, so that’s a critical part of Oxnard’s future,” she said. “As of Jan. 24, Kristine McCaffrey is the new General Manager at Calleguas, and her focus is on implementing collaborative and ambitious approaches to improving water supply reliability in Ventura County.” Klima said McCaffrey has more than 25 years of experience in the water industry. … ” Read more from the Tri-County Sentry.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Survey shows Southern Californians committed to water efficiency
“A vast majority of Southern Californians are committed to doing more to conserve water amid growing concerns about how climate change will affect the availability of water in the future, a recent Metropolitan Water District survey found. Survey results presented to a Metropolitan board committee earlier this week showed 90% of respondents agree it’s important to conserve water every day, whether or not the region is in drought, and 75% are willing to do more to conserve than they’re doing currently. Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil underscored that the region’s commitment to conservation will be critical in the future, as climate change stresses the availability of imported water supplies with longer and more severe droughts – a challenge recognized by those surveyed. According to the survey, 75% agree that climate change will significantly impact Southern California’s water supply in the future and 83% agree that Southern California will experience more droughts. … ” Continue reading from the Metropolitan Water District.
Beverly Glen woman hit with $9.5k water bill, still unable to return home after landslide
“Nearly six weeks after a major winter storm led to flooding and landslide throughout Southern California, some homeowners in Beverly Glen are still trying to return home. On Caribou Lane, a landslide knocked a home off its foundation, and the debris slid into the neighbors’ homes. That debris and mud left Samila Bahsoon’s home with a lot of damage. She has potentially more than $600,000 in damage, and two insurance companies already denied her claims. And that’s just the beginning. … “LADWP sent me a $9,500 water bill, which is 6,500% more than average for the last 35 years that this house has been used,” she said. … ” Read more from NBC LA.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Comité Civico and Earthworks challenge Hell’s Kitchen project
“Comité Civico del Valle and Earthworks issued a joint petition Wednesday, March 13, challenging the approval of the Controlled Thermal Resources Hell’s Kitchen Lithium Project adjacent to the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley. The petition argues that Imperial County (County) has violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by approving the project claiming a deeply flawed Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that lacked adequate analysis and ignored possible impacts to air quality, hazardous waste, and water supply. The petition also argued that the County failed to comply with legal requirements for tribal consultation, such as meaningful consultation with affected tribes or requiring tribal-specific mitigation measures. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
Local beaches get extension to clean up water
“San Diego’s 20-year battle of the beaches reached a standdown — for now at least. On Wednesday the Regional Water Quality Control Board granted a four-year reprieve to cities that aren’t meeting water quality standards for dry weather. It approved an order that forestalls penalties for excessive bacteria levels at local creeks and beaches until 2028. A dozen cities including San Diego signed onto the plan, saying it provides extra time needed to finally clean up pollution. Environmentalists opposed the order, arguing it amounts to a Get Out of Jail Free card for cities that aren’t making the changes needed to ensure San Diego’s waterways are safe for public use. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Better snowpack for Colorado River may fend off ‘whiplash’ of recent years
“Snowfall this week in the Rockies has improved the water picture for the Colorado River, but one expert says she’s not counting her chickens before they’re hatched. Current information on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s website shows that snowpack levels in the Upper Colorado River Basin are at 110% of normal for this time of year. That’s an improvement over March 1 when it was at 101%. Rosemary Carroll, research professor of hydrology for the Desert Research Institute (DRI), said on Friday that important weeks are still ahead, even though the snowpack peak is typically measured on April 1 each year. Reclamation’s map shows snow water equivalent (SWE) — the amount of water contained in the snow. … ” Read more from KLAS.
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE: Sites Project Authority applies for a permit to place dredged and/or fill material into Waters of the US
NOTICE: Ex Parte Communication Reminder for Proposed Order Setting Aside Water Quality Certifications
