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On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP: Urban water conservation regulations beginning at 9am. The Board will hold a public workshop to receive comments on changes to the proposed regulation to make conservation a California way of life. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Making the case for affordability: tools for fiscal health & keeping rates affordable from 10am to 11am. Ensuring water, wastewater, and stormwater services are affordable for all customers is essential to protecting public health and addressing environmental justice concerns. Utilities and municipalities are well aware of the importance of keeping rates affordable. Still, operationalizing affordability programs can be challenging. The good news is that there are tools to help water managers navigate these challenges and make the case for affordability while maintaining fiscal health. WaterNow Alliance, in partnership with Natural Resources Defense Council, will host a 1-hour webinar for municipal, utility, and community leaders nationwide to explore the Water Affordability Business Case Tool and environmentally-sustainable strategies for keeping rates affordable. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: What You Need to Know About Microplastics in Our Waters from 10am to 11am. Microplastics are emerging contaminants in the water environment. These manufactured polymer particles have been found across water matrices, capturing the attention of consumers and regulators, raising questions about potential human and ecosystem hazards. A major challenge for understanding microplastic fate and transport is that these are complex particle mixtures of varying size and shape. Join us to learn the latest about this a hot topic! This webinar will provide updates on the regulatory landscape, consumer knowledge and attitudes about microplastics in their drinking water, what you need to know about sampling and analytical options, and what we know about microplastic sources and occurrence across water matrices. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: Panel discussion on climate change from 12pm to 1pm. This Climate Change panel discussion has been convened with leading representatives of County, State, and Federal organizations to discuss both the implications and opportunities presented by actual and potential consequences of climate change on water resources. The discussion will include the challenges to policy making under an uncertain climatic future in a setting of widely varying acceptance of current climate science. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Indicators of climate change in CA: Vegetation and wildfire from 2pm to 3pm. On March 20, 2024, OEHHA and CAL FIRE will co-convene a webinar on Vegetation and Wildfires. This is the first of a series of webinars that will focus on updating climate change science and data and illustrate how this information informs climate action in California. OEHHA is hosting these webinars in partnership with state agencies. Register on Zoom to join the webinar.
- GRA SACRAMENTO: City of Roseville Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Tour from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. The City of Roseville is hosting a tour of their Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) facility for the Sacramento Branch of GRA. Through the use of ASR technology the City can inject and later extract stored drinking water from the groundwater basin. This is vitally important to enhance water supply reliability, maintain groundwater as a sustainable resource and meet regional conjunctive use program goals consistent with local water management agreements. Please wear closed toed shoes, safety vest, and bring a hard hat. 100% of the registration fees for this event will support scholarships for Sacramento-area students. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Rain is set to return to California — and it could stick around
“A high-pressure system over the West Coast has steered storms far away from California for the past week, but it is expected to gradually break down over the next few days, opening the door for wet weather to return to the Bay Area on Friday. Around a half-inch of rain is possible in San Francisco from Friday through Sunday, while up to 2 feet of snow is forecast in parts of the Sierra Nevada. And thanks to the jet stream, the storm door is expected to remain propped at least halfway open through the end of March into early April. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Are wineries complying with California’s new winery wastewater order? The answer: yes and no
“California wineries appear to be complying with the Water Board’s statewide Winery General Order’s winery wastewater requirements, but the pace is slow, state statistics reveal. And many are not in the compliance reporting pipeline at all, data shows. The order was passed, the water boards said, for two major reasons. One was because, “Winemakers requested the order to address the statewide inconsistencies in permitting.” This request was from large wineries that operate numerous facilities throughout the state. (Smaller wineries opposed this in the public hearings.) The water board made the case that the order will help the board conduct its oversight and enforcement, writing that the order “addresses the permitting backlog by providing consistent enrollment and standard discharge requirements. These streamlining efforts will allow the regional water quality control boards to focus resources on compliance rather than issuing region or site-specific permits.” … ” Read more from Wine Business.
Critics knock proposed state water conservation statutes
“State water regulators are one step closer to cementing new conservation rules for California cities, a move that will define how Burbank Water and Power grapples with water supply constraints over the next two decades. … As part of the state’s strategy to expand storage, develop new water supplies and promote more efficient water use, the proposed regulation would require suppliers to annually calculate their “water objective,” using a state-defined formula. Any overuse would result in fines or other consequences for the local agency. The Water Board’s Tuesday draft included changes to the regulation, including a deadline extension for water agencies to reach conservation targets, a move that conservation advocates said would result in significantly less water savings until 2040, allowing many water suppliers to delay any action on conservation for 15 more years. … ” Read more from the Burbank Leader.
SEE ALSO: Butte Environmentalists speak out about delayed water regulations, from KRCR
Solano County supervisors back Delta’s National Heritage Area management plan
“The Solano County supervisors have sent a letter of support for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan. “I write to you in support of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan (Management Plan), as it represents an important and compelling opportunity to enhance the interpretive values of the Delta landscape and legacy communities. The Delta is rich in cultural and natural diversity with important resources of concern to native people and the general public, including here in Solano County,” the county letter states. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Court upholds state plan to require more water in California rivers
“A court has upheld a key decision by California’s water board calling for reductions in water diversions from the San Joaquin River and its tributaries to help revive struggling fish populations. In his ruling, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto rejected lawsuits by water districts serving farms and cities that would be required to take less water under the standards adopted by regulators. The judge also rejected challenges by environmental groups that had argued for requiring larger cutbacks to boost river flows. The judge’s ruling, issued in a 162-page order last week, supports the State Water Resources Control Board’s 2018 adoption of a water quality plan for the lower San Joaquin River and its three major tributaries — the Tuolumne, Merced and Stanislaus rivers. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
State Water Board reduces pumping fees by half but some say it’s still too high
“Members of the state Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 19, to reduce pumping fees for groundwater users in subbasins that come under state control, known as “probationary status.” The controversial fee was lowered from $40 per-acre-foot of pumped water to $20 per acre foot. The board will hold its first probationary hearing on the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers Kings County, on April 16. The hearing stems from implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which mandates over pumped regions bring aquifers into balance by 2040. Groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) for Tulare Lake and five other San Joaquin Valley subbasins were rejected twice by the state as inadequate, which is why they are now coming before the Water Board to determine if they should be put into probationary status. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
2024 marks a decade of SGMA regulations
“California’s landmark 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires local agencies in affected basins to develop and implement plans that identify a roadmap to protect groundwater for generations to come, turns 10 this year. “If you think of the last 10 years when SGMA was first passed, a lot has happened,” said E. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the California State Water Resources Control Board, during a webinar kicking off National Groundwater Awareness Week last week. “It was a historic drought that we had just experienced, and it was the impetus for the passage of SGMA.” During the 2012-2015 drought, a lack of surface water and depleted groundwater supplies left some state residents without access to drinking water. This period brought agriculture—especially California’s citrus belt on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley—to a near halt. In Tulare County, blocks of citrus trees were abandoned or removed. For-sale signs and well-drilling rigs were common. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Farmers consider their crop options for spring planting
“Falling commodity prices, rising production costs and water supply uncertainty are some of the factors weighing on planting decisions for California farmers this season. They say their crop options have narrowed, with canneries needing less acreage of processing tomatoes and a major seed company ending its sunflower seed program in California. Growers who have pulled out permanent crops such as almonds and walnuts in recent years due to lower prices are also looking to plant annual crops on the open ground. This has led to more grower competition for crop contracts. “This year, everybody’s scrambling,” Merced County farmer Bill Crivelli said. Canneries offered record-high prices last year to encourage farmers to plant more processing tomatoes. With tomato supplies replenished, growers have seen their contracted acreage slashed this year, and they’re looking to fill the gap with other crops. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
How California’s atmospheric rains are increasing cases of Valley fever
“The atmospheric rivers that’ve pummeled California this winter have caused flooding, mudslides and other impacts. But the phenomenon is also leading to an increase in Valley fever cases in that state. Health officials say last year set a new record for the most new cases in a year. Zoya Teirstein is a staff writer at the environmental magazine Grist, where she covers climate change and human health. She’s written about this and joins The Show to talk more about it.” Listen to the show or read the transcript at KJZZ.
America’s four most polluted national parks are in California, study finds
“Some of California’s most treasured parks are threatened by blight caused by pollution and climate change, according to a pair of new reports. The four national parks with the highest ozone levels are all in California, with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks topping the list of parks struggling with air that’s dangerous to breathe, according to a recent report by the National Parks Conservation Assn., an independent advocacy group. Meanwhile, severe wildfires, drought and sea-level rise are ravaging state parks, which encompass nearly a quarter of California’s coastline, according to a separate report by the California State Parks Foundation, another advocacy group. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Where land and water meet, expect resilience challenges
“As 2023 came to a close, reports of record-breaking temperatures and billion-dollar disasters — including floods, wildfires, extreme storms, and hurricanes — filled the news. One region heavily impacted by changing climate is the boundary where land and water meet. The need for resilient approaches that address the interaction of critical built infrastructure and ecosystems along shorelines has never been more pressing. Coastal and shoreline regions have large and growing populations, critical infrastructure, and valuable habitat. When it comes to designing more resilient solutions along the water’s edge, what are the challenges, opportunities, and approaches? … ” Read more from Civil Engineering Source.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Irrigation Districts prepare to move water over concerns
“Klamath Project irrigation districts are preparing to move water as concerns grow about potential flood releases on Upper Klamath Lake in the coming weeks. The Klamath Water Users Association says its members have been concerned over water management in Upper Klamath Lake. The Klamath irrigation district says given the possibility of flood conditions in the coming weeks, it could pose a risk for everyone along the Klamath River, including those working on dam removals. Irrigation District Executive Director Gene Souza says their request to discuss these concerns with the Bureau of Reclamation has gone unanswered. … ” Read more from KOBI 5.
California tribe that lost 90% of land during Gold Rush to get site to serve as gateway to redwoods
“California’s Yurok Tribe, which had 90% of its territory taken from it during the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s, will be getting a slice of its land back to serve as a new gateway to Redwood National and State Parks visited by 1 million people a year. The Yurok will be the first Native people to manage tribal land with the National Park Service under a historic memorandum of understanding signed Tuesday by the tribe, Redwood National and State Parks and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods League. The agreement “starts the process of changing the narrative about how, by whom and for whom we steward natural lands,” Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: Save the Redwoods League, the Yurok Tribe, and Park Partners Sign Historic Agreement to Return Tribal Land, press release from the Yurok Tribe
New plan afoot to divert water from the Eel River into the Russian River after dams removed during high flows
“Proponents of a post-dam diversion have decided what kind of structure they’ll ask for when PG&E submits its license surrender application for the Potter Valley Project. A number of questions have yet to be answered, especially about sediment management and how much water will continue to flow from the Eel into the Russian River. But after months of committee meetings and analyses across a wide spectrum of interest groups, a new joint powers authority decided unanimously on March 19 to pursue a pump station that would divert water from the Eel River into the Russian River during high flows. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Highly unusual feature appears at California ski resort: 30-foot deep crevasse
“Strong winds from a recent storm have led to a never-before-seen phenomenon at Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort: a 30-foot-deep crack in the snow, according to resort officials. In a video posted to the resort’s social media, Ski Patrol Director Shannon Maguire said a wind-driven storm earlier in March led to a 30- to 40-foot crack running parallel to the full length of the Middle Castle run. Maguire said the crack is hard to see from the surface in some places, but below opens into a steep and icy cavern, similar to a crevasse in a glacier. The same storm led to snow build-ups as tall as 20 feet, knocking down some mature trees, according to Maguire. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Tahoe Conservancy to acquire Motel 6 property including 31 acres of sensitive lands
“The California Tahoe Conservancy joins with its funding partners—the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Tahoe Fund, and League to Save Lake Tahoe—to announce the Conservancy is acquiring 31 acres of environmentally sensitive land along the Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe. “This environmental acquisition may be the most important in a generation to protect Lake Tahoe,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “By reconnecting the most important wetland that filters water flowing into the Lake, this investment protects the Lake’s precious water quality and also provides an important corridor for local wildlife. This project demonstrates the great value of the California Tahoe Conservancy, to work diligently over years—sometimes decades—to see important environmental improvements to fruition.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Historic Tahoe Conservancy Acquisition Will Protect Upper Truckee River, Marsh, and Lake Tahoe, press release from the Tahoe Conservancy
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento water providers harnessed historic 2023 storms to boost groundwater
“Sacramento-area water providers leveraged the historic winter storms of 2023 to boost groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge, banking over 12.3 billion gallons of water during the year, according to a new analysis from the Regional Water Authority (RWA), which represents nearly two dozen water providers serving 2.2 million people in the greater Sacramento region. In-lieu recharge is the combined management of both surface water and groundwater use, resulting in the replenishment of groundwater supplies within the aquifers. Every gallon of surface water served to customers in lieu of groundwater results in water saved in the groundwater aquifer. RWA’s analysis found that water providers opted for 70 percent surface water in 2023 (a very wet year) compared to 53 percent in 2022 (a very dry year). This substantial 17 percent shift allowed the groundwater aquifers to recover, resulting in nearly 38,000 acre-feet (over 12.3 billion gallons) of water stored—enough to serve about 113,700 households for a year. … ” Read more from the Regional Water Authority.
Historic, protected trees chopped down to make space for new housing development in Sacramento County
“Residents in the small town of Freeport are upset after they say decades of Delta history were chopped down in the middle of the night. Valley Oak trees that once lined Freeport Boulevard near the Freeport Wine Country Inn were chopped down early Monday morning to make room for a new housing development. Video obtained by ABC10 shows crews using a chainsaw in the middle of the night as they went to work, toppling over the 21 trees. Leeann Maltby lives across the street and now has a view of a wasteland of Valley Oak trees. “I thought you couldn’t do anything after 10 o’clock because of the loudness and the noise, but they were at it until 3 a.m.,” said Maltby. … ” Read more from ABC 10.
Cal OES reimburses levee repair costs along Cosumnes River in Sacramento County
“On Thursday, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) announced it reimbursed a Sacramento area reclamation district for its efforts in repairing a levee that suffered failure along the Cosumnes River in 2022. The $390,000 reimbursement, granted in February, went to Reclamation District #800, which is responsible for 2,136 acres between Deer Creek and the Cosumnes River east of Elk Grove. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
BAY AREA
Marin County allocates $500K for sea-level rise plan
“Marin County supervisors have approved a $519,000 expenditure for a consultant to recommend a countywide governance structure to respond to sea-level rise. “The county of Marin has over 70 miles of coastal and 40 miles of bay shoreline, leaving much of the county vulnerable,” Ariel Espiritu Santo, an assistant county executive, told supervisors prior to their unanimous vote on Tuesday. Recent assessments estimate that by 2100 approximately 7,000 acres, 9,000 parcels, 10,000 buildings and 120 miles of roads throughout Marin County will be exposed to sea-level rise during a 100-year storm. The $519,000 will pay for a contract with AECOM, a Dallas infrastructure consulting firm. The work will be done in two phases. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Bel Marin Keys: Why this rich California enclave is bracing homes for rising seas
“Nature is not what comes to mind when an outsider drives into Bel Marin Keys, a tiny community that begins 1½ miles east of Highway 101 in Marin County, reached by a single road that passes a shopping center and small industrial buildings along the way. The wide streets are monotonous, often lined with homes that resemble those of countless 1960s subdivisions. On some blocks, the only hint that creeks and wetlands might be nearby are the red-winged blackbirds that touch down on utility poles. Where you meet open water, the shore tends to consist of little more than ice plants covering the ground, and a bench or two along a gravel path. But the 1,700 residents in the community east of Novato aren’t here to find neighborhoods where you can take a short stroll to shops and schools and playgrounds. The appeal is backyards where you can launch your boat into one of Bel Marin Keys’ two lagoons or enjoy a front-row view of the surprisingly rich wildlife scene. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Danger advisories posted at East Bay lakes over harmful blue-green algae blooms
“Harmful blue-green algae blooms have the East Bay Regional Park District warning everyone to keep themselves and their pets out of the water. The danger advisories have been posted at a number of East Bay parks, including Fremont’s Quarry Lakes. From our SKY7 view, an obvious green tint to Livermore’s Lake Del Valle is spreading on the first day of spring. “They’re a whole wide bunch of organisms, some of which produce toxins that can be harmful to people or pets or fish,” said Jon Rosenfield, Science Director at San Francisco Bay Keeper. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
SEE ALSO: Bay Area experiences uptick in toxic ‘blue-green’ algae, KRON
Zone 7 receives federal grant to help construct PFAS treatment facility in Livermore
“The Zone 7 Water Agency recently received federal funding for the Chain of Lakes PFAS Treatment Facility project, which will use an ion exchange treatment process to remove the synthetic chemicals from the well’s groundwater supply, the agency said. Zone 7 worked with congressmen Eric Swalwell and Mark DeSaulnier to secure the $957,752 federal grant that will help construct the treatment facility in Livermore, which will in turn ensure safe and reliable groundwater in the Tri-Valley, according to a March 11 press release. “Despite the recent rain, California remains vulnerable to drought and our water supply needs to be protected. I am proud to be able to leverage federal resources to augment the work that our communities have been doing for years,” Swalwell stated in the press release. “The Chain of Lakes PFAS Treatment Facility is the stage of a committed effort to provide a safe and reliable water supply for the Tri-Valley.” … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly.
CENTRAL COAST
Coastal agricultural project gives new farmers a boost
“Along California’s Central Coast in Santa Cruz County, organic vegetables thrive near restored habitat at a site known as Watsonville Slough Farm, located in one of the state’s largest coastal wetlands. To prevent the land from development, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County in 2009 purchased the property and set out to protect and restore the coastal wetland ecosystem, demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices and provide opportunities for research, public access and education. This work continues today through the nonprofit Esperanza Community Farms, a sustainable community agriculture project that leases land to new and beginning organic farmers at a significantly reduced cost. The project seeks to help local families facing food insecurity by growing and supplying organic produce that is distributed through a subsidized community supported agriculture, or CSA, program. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
San Luis Obispo earns $6.6M grant from state water board for groundwater cleanup
“San Luis Obispo will add groundwater to its water portfolio thanks to a state grant worth $6.6 million. The California State Water Resources Control Board approved a grant to clean up groundwater contamination in San Luis Obispo. It’s a region that historically had ceased groundwater use in part due to the presence of PCE — a toxin produced by industrial activities that are no longer in use. “The state was looking for areas where they could clean up some of the groundwater contamination issues that existed in the state,” Nick Teague, the water resources program manager for San Luis Obispo, said. “They approached us and said, ‘We think SLO would be a good place for this project.’” … ” Read more from KSBY.
Water basin report finds more water added during 2023
“The draft version of the Paso Basin Annual Report for the 2023 water year was recently released to the community for comment, with the report now moving forward for approval by the Paso Basin Cooperative Committee. The report compiles information regarding trends affecting the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, such as water use and storage capacity, from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023, and ongoing and future management plans. … One finding in the report is that less water was pumped [out of] the groundwater basin than in previous years due to a record rainfall in the 2023 water year. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Westlands Water District surpasses groundwater recharge goal
“Westlands Water District has surpassed its goal for groundwater recharge over the last 12 months. The District has successfully recharged 380,000 acre-feet of surface water into its aquifers since March 2023, surpassing its target of 275,000 acre-feet by the end of the water year. The achievement highlights the commitment and efficiency of District farmers, who participated in groundwater recharge programs and incentives. These efforts included implementing various recharge projects such as basins, wells, and Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Grant to pay for long-term solution ideas to fix recurring water problems in rural Tulare County communities
“Heads up to creative consultants interested in finding long-term solutions to stubborn drinking water problems in small, rural communities such as Teviston and Allensworth: Tulare County has a grant for you. Tulare County is offering a $371,000 contract for a consultant or consultants to use in finding long-term fixes to wells that routinely dry up during drought or have excessive amounts of arsenic, nitrates or other contaminants. Dubbed the Water Security Project, the concept is to identify projects that will finally give residents of these rural communities reliable drinking water. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SAN DIEGO
Dems to Issa: Are you in or out on border sewage fix?
“As Congress barrels toward finishing a massive spending bill by Friday, some wonder whether California Rep. Darrell Issa supports emergency funding to fix a broken wastewater plant at the border that’s key to keeping Tijuana sewage out of San Diego. “Inland dude, Darrell Issa, has decided to now get involved in the sewage issue by making it as hard as possible to fix a broken sewage plant. Thanks dude,” wrote Serge Dedina, former mayor of Imperial Beach, the California town most blighted by Tijuana’s border sewage spills, on X in response to a Voice of San Diego story on the matter. Issa, a Republican from Bonsall, has been questioning how the International Boundary and Water Commission, or IBWC (the binational federal agency in charge of the plant), allowed the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment plant to fall into such disrepair. The IBWC leader, Maria-Elena Giner, provided detailed responses within weeks but Issa still doesn’t seem satisfied. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
California agrees to lasting cuts to Colorado River use
“California has agreed to make long-term cuts to the amount of water the state uses from the Colorado River, according to a proposed plan for managing the river released earlier this month by California, Nevada and Arizona. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the seven states in the Colorado River Basin, as well as 30 tribes and Mexico, are negotiating a plan to protect the river after a decades-long megadrought depleted flows and left key reservoirs Lake Mead and Lake Powell in danger of running dry. Under the Lower Basin states’ proposal, which would take effect after 2026 and potentially last decades, California would forfeit about 10% of its allocation in most conditions, with Nevada giving up 17% and Arizona 27%. Mexico, if it agreed, would reduce its use by 17%. The reductions would apply when a range of reservoirs along the river are between 38% and 58% full. They would conserve a total of about 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Future of Lake Mead still unclear as negotiations flare
“Colorado’s chief river negotiator doesn’t find the other side’s proposal for basin-wide water cuts after 2026 plausible, she told reporters Tuesday. When it comes to updating how water from the Colorado River is allocated, the Upper Basin states — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — have been wrapped in a divisive battle with the Lower Basin, which is composed of Nevada, California and Arizona. Both parties agree that the “structural deficit,” meaning the 1.5 million acre-feet of water lost to evaporation and transport, should translate to cuts made by the Lower Basin states. However, a main point of contention lies in whether Upper Basin states also must bear the brunt of cuts past the structural deficit. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Arizona’s Hobbs seeks water solutions, offers few
“Water. You either have it or you don’t — and everybody needs it. Emphasizing that “Water is the most critical issue of our time,” Water Resources Research Council Director Sharon Megdal opened two days of conference discussion. She was joined in her welcome by University of Arizona Vice President for the Agricultural Division, Shane Burgess, who added: “We are in the bullseye of climate change as it pertains to being the hottest and driest.” Taking Arizona’s Governor [Katie Hobbs}, adding in one of her appointees [Agriculture Department Director Paul Brierley], mixing in the leader of the Arizona Farm Bureau [Stephanie Smallhouse], tossing in a few dozen other seasoned executive level movers-and-shakers — along with more than 700 attendees — and you’ve got a lot of trained/talented folks concerned about the water situation in the West. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
AZ Attorney General may sue water hungry foreign farms
“Arizona’s Attorney General says she’s looking into ways to keep foreign companies from using far too much of Arizona’s groundwater to grow crops to feed cows in the Middle East. Most of the focus has been on a Saudi company but a company from the United Arab Emirates operates water-thirsty farms in Arizona too. In a sunny state like Arizona, you can grow, cut and harvest alfalfa over and over through the year as long as you have plenty of water. Saudi firms have been in the spotlight for using huge amounts of Arizona groundwater to grow feed for animals in Saudi Arabia, but the Saudis are not the only ones. A company from the United Arab Emirates leases land for an alfalfa farm too. … ” Read more from Channel 9.
Buckeye OKs plan for 2,000 homes despite water worries
“Buckeye is moving forward with plans to build more than 2,000 homes in a new master-planned community called North Star Ranch. The Planning and Zoning Commission last week unanimously approved the preliminary plat for that phase of the development. The full master-planned community was first approved 20 years ago and was known as Spurlock Ranch. The 2,818-acre development has generated controversy in the area, with residents expressing concerns to the Buckeye City Council about water supply, increased traffic demands and crime. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
“Do your job”: Colorado lawmakers tell Congress to boost funding for deteriorating southwestern water system
“Colorado lawmakers say they want Congress to do its job and fund repairs to a deteriorating irrigation system in southwestern Colorado. The irrigation system, called the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project, is one of 16 federal projects in the West that have fallen into disrepair. The maintenance backlog is extensive and would cost more than $2.3 billion to address. State legislators passed a resolution Friday calling on Congress to fully fund one key pot of money. “It’s just a letter to Congress to go do your job,” said Sen. Cleave Simpson, a Republican from Alamosa. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Biden-Harris administration engage states on cyber threats
“On March 19, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan sent a letter to all U.S. governors inviting state environmental, health and homeland security secretaries to a convening by their deputies to discuss the urgent need for cyber protection in the water sector. The virtual meeting, scheduled for March 21, aims to highlight current federal and state efforts to promote cybersecurity practices in the water sector, discuss priority gaps in these efforts, and emphasize the need for states and water systems to take immediate action. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
