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In California water news today …
Storms packing rain, snow to return to California, northwestern US
“All weather patterns must come to an end, and the setup that allowed warm and dry conditions over much of the Northwest and limited rainfall in California in recent days will wind down later this week as a new train of storms lines up over the northern Pacific, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The storm train is not as intense as some episodes over the winter, but with a breakdown of high pressure over the Northwest and a southward shift in the jet stream from the Pacific into North America, there will be more opportunities for rain and mountain snow as well as locally heavy precipitation that can slow travel on highways and airports. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: Tahoe snow: Late-season storm could drop up to 2 feet of fresh powder in Sierra, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Stellar Sierra snowpack to ensure elevated reservoir levels heading into summer
“Although the wet season got off to a slow start, a persistent El Niño-like weather pattern since the beginning of January allowed the Sierra snowpack to catch up to normal. The statewide percent of the April 1 average, the date when the snowpack typically peaks, is at 98% of average. Broken down further, the Northern Sierra, which supplies snowmelt to the two most vital reservoirs in the state (Shasta and Oroville), is at 112% of the April 1 average. Since the state’s reservoirs remained well above average through the dry summer and autumn months thanks to the record wet winter last year, they will continue to remain above average and almost all of California will remain drought free for another year. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Court upholds California rules to protect fish, but Newsom wants lenient Delta approach
“A Sacramento judge upheld a decision by California’s water regulator to cut back agricultural and municipal water use from the San Joaquin River. The decision could lend support for future regulations in the rest of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system. It comes amid declining fish populations and increasing pressure on water supply due to climate change. But rather than move forward with strict regulations, the state agency is considering a plan pushed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that would grant water districts more flexibility. The Friday ruling by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto rejected a litany of lawsuits by water districts against the State Water Resources Control Board’s plan to boost river flows and help revive struggling native fish populations. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via AOL News.
Judge denies all 116 claims by petitioners in favor of Water Board’s Bay Delta Plan Update
“The Sacramento Superior Court on March 14 ruled in favor of the State Water Resource Control Board’s 2018 Bay Delta Plan update, denying all 116 claims by petitioners, according to Maven’s Notebook: mavensnotebook.com/… “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. … Responding to the ruling, Restore the Delta said the recent ruling upholding the Bay-Delta Plan “marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to protect the delicate balance of our state’s water resources and ecosystems. As the court affirmed, science-based flow standards are essential for safeguarding the health of the Delta and its vital ecosystems.” However, amidst this legal validation, the groups said “concerns arise regarding Governor Newsom’s approach to implementing the Bay-Delta Plan. While the court’s decision underscores the importance of prioritizing environmental stewardship, Governor Newsom’s delay in completing and implementing the plan in favor of voluntary agreements raises serious questions.” … ” Read the full article at the Daily Kos.
California’s Water Board eyeing new water-saving regulations statewide
“Many Californians could soon be required to cut back on their water use, but some question if it will go far enough. In a marathon eight-hour workshop Wednesday, the state’s Water Resources Control Board gave the public a chance to weigh in on its new strategy to increase water supplies statewide to protect against future drought conditions. The state’s new plan to save water over the years has a catchphrase, promoting water conservation as “A California Way of Life”. This is also something that’s been a ‘way of life’ here in San Diego County for decades now. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Cal Cities pushes for feasibility and flexibility in updated water regulations
“Earlier today, Cal Cities and city representatives provided robust input on updated draft water efficiency regulations. The proposed regulations aim to reduce water usage in urban areas over the long term to lessen the need for mandatory water reductions during the next drought. The State Water Resources Control Board announced the updated regulations last week as part of a 15-day comment period. The state also released updated provisional data showing how much water each supplier will need to conserve. Cities represent about half of the nearly 400 affected urban water suppliers in the state. The updated regulations address many of the concerns Cal Cities initially identified by providing cities and urban suppliers flexibility to meet a complex water savings goal. Cal Cities and other stakeholders provided feedback on the water conservation package during the previous public comment period, in meetings with the State Water Board, and in working discussions. … ” Read more from League of California Cities.
State Water Board holds workshop on revised draft regulation for water use efficiency
“The State Water Resources Control Board today held a workshop on the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation a California Way of Life. The State Water Board is expected to adopt the regulation this summer. Under the “Proposed Text of the Regulation,” urban retail water suppliers would be required to meet an agency specific urban water use objective, comply with annual reporting requirements and implement commercial, industrial and institutional performance measures. More information on the draft regulation is available in a Fact Sheet. … ” Read more from ACWA.
State Water Project takes action to protect native fish species
“Spring is an important time for water project operators to fill reservoirs ahead of dry months. It also is an important migration window for many native fish species. Steelhead trout in Central Valley rivers are listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act as threatened. As a result, the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) monitor steelhead at the pumping plants near Tracy that move water to the Santa Clara Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California. The State Water Project and Central Valley Project have decreased pumping to less than half of maximum capacity since January 1 to protect migrating fish. Now, the SWP and CVP are approaching the maximum number of steelhead trout that can be collected at the pumps from December 1 through March 31 of each year under rules established by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). … ” Read more from DWR.
Department of Water Resources gets a free pass: CSPA asks State Water Resources Control Board to follow its own rules
“On March 15, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and allies submitted a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) requesting that it resolve the protests of CSPA and others of a petition for extension of time submitted by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in 2009. CSPA submitted this letter because the State Board issued notice of DWR’s recent change in point of diversion petition for the Delta Conveyance Project (proposed Delta tunnel) without resolving protests made by CSPA and allies in 2010 regarding the same water rights. DWR must be subject to the same laws and procedures as other water rights holders in the Bay-Delta watershed. … ” Read more from the CSPA.
Potential groundwater [extraction] fees reduced in half
“The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously approved a proposal to reduce in half groundwater extraction fees for groundwater users in subbasins that could be put on probation for not meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The board approved the proposal to reduce the fee from $40 per acre foot to $20 per acre foot at its meeting on Tuesday. Locally the Tule Subbasin, which includes the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency that covers Southeastern Tulare County, could be affected as it faces being placed on probation. The seven agencies in the Tule Subbasin essentially submitted the same Groundwater Sustainable Management plan to meet the requirements of the SGMA. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
California’s water management dilemma
A Q&A with Defenders’ Water Policy Advisor: “How does California manage its water? First, let’s look at the landscape to inform how we implement best practices for living alongside freshwater wildlife and protect the most at-risk species. California has over 1,300 reservoirs and dams throughout the state, and hundreds of miles of canals and infrastructure moving water around the state. All of this is managed under two projects: the State Water Project (SWP) and the federally run Central Valley Project (CVP). The majority of the water goes to large agricultural production, feeding people across the nation. Additionally, most California citizens receive their water from one of these two projects and wildlife depends on accessing the highly altered waterways. Depending on the administration we are under, wildlife may get more or less consideration. In recent years, the previous federal administration wreaked havoc on California’s aquatic habitats and we are still feeling those impacts today. … ” Read more from Defenders of Wildlife.
Evaluating underground CO2 sequestration in California
“While the confirmed skeptic will consider Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) to be the ultimate waste of money, it nonetheless is happening. Billions of dollars have already been committed, with no end in sight. Regardless of how one might judge its necessity, having some facts about CCS belongs in any serious discussion about California’s energy future. So here goes, starting with natural gas used for generating electricity. According to the California Air Resources Board, natural gas fueled electricity generating plants emit approximately 42 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2 per year, which is 11 percent of California’s total emissions of CO2, estimated at 381 MMT in 2021. These plants also generated over 97,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity, fully 50 percent of California’s in-state electricity production in that year. What if all of that CO2 could be pumped underground? … ” Read more from the California Globe.
In commentary today …
Proposed refuge policy ignores special relationship
Dan Keppen, executive director of Family Farm Alliance, writes, “This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed new regulations that would establish a policy to prohibit farming and grazing on public lands in the national wildlife refuge system, unless new, extra-statutory criteria are satisfied. This proposal is an update of a policy issued during the last week of the Clinton Administration, and targets – and points to the elimination of – longstanding and widespread agricultural practices on those public lands. Farming and grazing are common on refuge lands and integrated with other management practices by refuge managers. The regulation proposed on February 1 includes several new policy approaches that directly affect agriculture, including agricultural uses. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Parasite found in fish at Klamath Falls hatchery
“The Klamath Falls fish hatchery is one of three Oregon locations reporting “novel parasite” in rainbow trout. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said it’s the first time this parasite has been connected to illness and death in Oregon’s fish. It can infect fish kidneys and urinary system, and it has been detected in sick rainbow trout raised at Klamath Falls, Rock Creek and Elk River hatcheries. The origins of the parasite are unclear. Because of the risk of spreading the parasite, the fish exposed cannot be safely released into Oregon’s waters. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
Klamath River Update 2024
“On March 2, CDFW reported the mortality of recently released (Feb. 28) salmon fry from the new Fall Creek Salmon Hatchery located on a Klamath River tributary upstream of the site of the recently removed Iron Gate Dam. The Iron Gate Hatchery located at the foot of the dam site was removed with the dam and replaced by the Fall Creek Hatchery. Mortality of the salmon fry was attributed to gas bubble disease caused by the fry passing through the Iron Gate Dam release tunnel. Iron Gate Reservoir and the three upstream reservoirs were emptied beginning on January 11 prior to dam removal. As the reservoirs were drained, the gage below Copco Dam picked up a large increase in turbidity with an associated complete loss of dissolved oxygen … ” Continue reading at the California Fisheries blog.
Prairie Creek project site land will be returned to Yurok Tribe in historic agreement
“Yesterday, March 19, 2024, Save the Redwoods League, the Yurok Tribe, National Park Service, and California State Parks signed a landmark memorandum of understanding in a historic first step towards transferring ‘O Rew, a 125-acre ecologically and culturally important property and the site of a CalTrout floodplain restoration project, from Save the Redwoods League back to its original steward, the Yurok Tribe. The agreement describes the four partners’ shared vision for long-term co-management of the site as a gateway for the visiting public to the adjacent Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP). This vision describes the first co-management model whereby National Park Service and California State will support visitation and stewardship on land owned by a Tribe. CalTrout celebrates this exciting news and the step that it signifies toward a new future in conservation that considers the historic context of land management and honors Indigenous sovereignty through action. We look to this agreement as the first of many, and are grateful to witness our partner, the Yurok Tribe, in this moment. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Pump station diversion chosen for Potter Valley Project
“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. The Eel Russian Project Authority consists of representatives from Sonoma Water, the county of Sonoma, Mendocino County Inland Water & Power Commission (or IWPC, which is itself a consortium of local governments and water agencies), and the Round Valley Indian Tribes. It is negotiating with PG&E during the process of decommissioning Scott Dam, which impounds Lake Pillsbury, and Cape Horn Dam, near the tunnel that diverts water from the Eel into the Russian River. It will also have the legal authority to own, build and operate the new diversion facility where Cape Horn Dam is now. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
Eel River dams headed for removal, water users support dam-free diversion
“In 2023, PG&E announced its plans to remove both Scott and Cape Horn dams on the Eel River as part of its license surrender and decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project. CalTrout has long advocated for removing both dams to improve salmon and steelhead populations in the Eel River by reconnecting the cold, perennial streams in the headwaters behind the dams. CalTrout has also been working with water users in the Russian River basin seeking to maintain the water supplied by a transbasin diversion tunnel. On Tuesday, March 19, 2023, partners and stakeholders met to select a design alternative for a potential future diversion from the Eel River to the Russian River that balances both needs of water users and fish. A regional group composed of Sonoma Water, Mendocino Inland Water and Power Commission, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Humboldt County, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited, and CalTrout has been working together to support fisheries recovery in the Eel while also maintaining a winter “run-of-the-river” water diversion into the Russian River for water supply. PG&E has expressed their willingness to coordinate with the regional group as they proceed with dam decommissioning, but building a new diversion structure must not delay or impede the dam removal process. The regional group has agreed not to delay dam removal. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Experts issue warning after strange ‘snow’ washes up on beaches of Lake Tahoe: ‘One of the hardest things to clean’
“Docks are seen by lake users as safe places. Unfortunately, the same can’t often be said of docks for the lakes themselves. This is a fact that beautiful Lake Tahoe recently learned, and not for the first time. The shores of the famously blue lake were recently sprinkled with white, and not from the snow typical of the area this time of year. As detailed by The Guardian, the material was actually expanded polystyrene beads. Colin West, founder of local non-profit Clean Up the Lake, told the outlet that the beads — the same kind used to fill beanbags — look to be remnants of a floating dock that disintegrated, likely after colliding with a boat ramp. Waves created by a storm washed the beads ashore. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Here’s how last winter’s big rain and snow benefitted Sacramento’s groundwater storage
“Last winter’s big rain and snow brought immediate benefits to California’s water supply and data now shows that there are long-term benefits, too. According to data gathered by Sacramento’s Regional Water Authority, a surplus of surface water following the 2022-2023 winter allowed water managers to use 17% less groundwater compared to 2022. Historically, groundwater throughout California’s Central Valley had been severely overdrawn. Over the past 20 years, policy changes and more nuanced water management have helped groundwater levels recover. … ” Read more from KCRA.
BAY AREA
Novato utility declines to rule out pump station option
“The North Marin Water District board has voted to keep a controversial site in the mix of options for a new water pump station. Several board members said it was premature to remove the site, a city-owned parcel on a greenway that runs along Arroyo San Jose Creek near Ignacio Boulevard and Palmer Drive in Novato. “To just pull one off without having some confidence that we got something better — we’re not at that point yet,” said Jack Baker, the board president. The board, which met on Tuesday, also directed the district staff to seek more possible locations for the project, which aims to replace the nearly 60-year-old pump station near Lynwood Elementary School. Customers can still comment on the project’s environmental and engineering documents until May 6. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Editorial: Weather science important for building Marin’s resilient water supply
“It wasn’t that long ago that we were wondering when we’d see a good soaking rainstorm. We didn’t and the Marin Municipal Water District said it was perilously close to its mountain reservoirs running out of water and had launched into plans to build an emergency transbay pipeline to import water. Then it rained. It poured. The photo in the IJ from Jan. 12 showed Stafford Lake over its banks and two lakeside hammocks hanging over the water. Though just a year or two removed from months of prolonged drought, IJ Photo Editor Alan Dep’s image is a reminder our water supply relies on the variables of the weather. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Harmful algae detected in Oakland’s Lake Merritt could be ‘an ominous sign for the Bay’
“Earlier this month, signs posted around Oakland’s Lake Merritt made some joggers stop in their tracks. “Avoid water contact,” they cautioned in bold letters. “Harmful algae may be present.” The warnings came after a mysterious red substance emerged in the water between the Lake Merritt Sailboat House and the Rotary Nature Center on March 7, as the Oaklandside first reported. Subsequent lab testing by the California Department of Public Health and San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board last week confirmed the presence of Heterosigma akashiwo in the water — the same species of harmful algae responsible for the Bay Area-wide red tides and mass fish kills reported in 2022 and 2023. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Valley Water aids in the purchase of land for habitat conservation
“In a significant stride in our mission to preserve the environment of Santa Clara County, Valley Water recently provided $4,000,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency to secure a portion of Richmond Ranch in San Jose. The property at Richmond Ranch will ultimately be transferred to Santa Clara County with the long-term vision of converting it into a nature preserve with hiking trails. This purchase marks an important moment in Valley Water’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding natural habitats through the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Salmon fishing season declining in Santa Cruz County
“Fishing for salmon in California isn’t looking too good. For the second time, there are restrictions which is likely to impact fisherman and customers. Since 2003, H&H market say they pride themselves in providing freshness and quality products. Which include the most popular item, the local king salmon. Yet, with salmon season being put on hold, co- owner from H&H in Santa Cruz points out that it’s painful. “It’s literally the biggest thing that people want to buy,” H&H Fresh Fish co-owner Hans Haveman said. “When we have the local king salmon, it’s literally one of the best products in the world and when we don’t have it that gets painful.” … ” Read more from KION.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Mid-Kaweah GSA navigates state regulatory rapids
“The Mid-Kaweah Groundwater Sustainability Agency reported to the Visalia City Council on March 18 that progress is being made on enacting a plan for future water solutions after years of regulatory setbacks. The initial plan was submitted to the California Water Resources Board in 2020, but the plan was deemed incomplete and was sent back to the MKGSA with orders to revise within 180 days. A revised plan was then submitted in 2022, but that plan also failed. The agency was formed following the passage of a state law known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which aims to create a statewide plan to preserve groundwater levels. The law sets a target of reaching sustainability by year 2040. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
Prima Wawona liquidates most of its farmland
“Almost all of the farmland that was owned by bankrupt peach producer Prima Wawona has been sold. Only around 1,300 of the 13,500 acres remain, according to a report form McClatchy. Prima Wawona declared bankruptcy last year, and after not moving forward with a $275 million credit bid, the company put its land up for sale in January. The big picture: Central Valley fruit packers lined up to purchase the land, with Sun Pacific and Moonlight Companies joining together as the largest buyer, according to court documents. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Chevron ordered to pay more than $13 million in fines for oil spills in Kern County
“Chevron has agreed to pay more than $13 million in fines for dozens of past oil spills in California. The California-based energy giant agreed to pay a $5.6 million fine associated with a 2019 oil spill in Kern County. The company has already paid to clean up that spill. This money will instead go toward the state Department of Conservation’s work of plugging old and orphaned wells. The department said it was the largest fine ever assessed in its history. “This agreement is a significant demonstration of California’s commitment to transition away from fossil fuels while holding oil companies accountable when they don’t comply with the state’s regulations and environmental protections,” department Director David Shabazian said in a news release. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Water District moves towards consolidating water company
“At the Indian Wells Valley Water District board meeting on March 11, the Water District board moved forward in learning about the process of consolidating the Dune 3 water mutual company into their service area. Some negotiation and planning still needs to happen before any decision is finalized, but for the moment the board is willing to cautiously move forward in the process. The IWV Water District serves water to IWV residents by pumping water out of the IWV groundwater basin. However, they are not the only ones doing so. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCV Water, Whittaker argue over cleanup
“Nearly 40 years after The Whittaker Corp. stopped activities that contaminated the Santa Clarita Valley’s groundwater supply, a three-judge panel for the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments for an appeal over the cost of the cleanup. Whittaker’s appeal claims the award to SCV Water Agency was speculative, and it should be thrown out because Whittaker didn’t get a chance to challenge the amount of property loss, which is a key factor in figuring out a party’s restoration cost under state law. The company argued that it’s only required to return the groundwater to the level of contamination it was at when it acquired the property in 1967, which was years after the water supply was first polluted. … ” Read more from SCV Water.
Why isn’t the LA regional board doing more to protect groundwater?
“From the mountains, through our streets, rivers, and neighborhoods, and down to the ocean, our watersheds connect us all throughout LA County. Heal the Bay is dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds in Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean because the protection of water quality means protection of our ecosystem, of our own health, and the health of our family, our friends, and our community. Equitable access to clean and safe surface waters is one challenge, among many, that we face in the context of our changing climate with increasingly dry conditions, including longer and more severe droughts broken by intense storms that send billions of gallons of polluted stormwater through our cement lined channels and out to the ocean. In order to ensure that the Greater LA Region is resilient to climate stressors, including drought impacts on coastal watersheds, it is critical that we protect the quality of our waters and that we use sustainable water practices to avoid wasteful use of the local waters available to us. … ” Continue reading from the Sierra Club.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial County rejects Oro Cruz, approves appeal by Quechan Tribe, conservationists
“In a victory for the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe and their conservation and environmental justice allies, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday rejected the SMP Gold Corp. Oro Cruz exploration project. The project threatened to irreversibly damage a cultural landscape held sacred by the Quechan Tribe near the Colorado River, now proposed for permanent protection as part of the Kw’tsán National Monument. The mineral exploration project would have disturbed 20.54 acres of desert ecosystem, built 8 miles of roads, drilled 65 holes down to 800 feet, and used 2,000 gallons of water per day. Although approved by the Bureau of Land Management in 2023, the project still needs Imperial County approvals under California’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Act and California Environmental Quality Act. Both the Quechan Tribe and a coalition of conservation organizations appealed a January decision by the Imperial County Planning Commission to greenlight the project. … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity.
SAN DIEGO
More water bill woes for San Diego customers
“CBS 8 is Working for You to get to the bottom of water billing problems in the City of San Diego. It’s been four months since Mission Hills homeowner Ken Perilli received a notice in the mail that his water bills were being withheld, pending an investigation by the city of San Diego into “abnormal water use.” “The first reaction is to panic that you have a leak under a slab, and that you’re going to be facing an expensive plumbing repair bill,” said Perilli. He called a plumber and checked for water leaks, but nothing seemed abnormal. “I investigated the abnormal reading. And you can see that there is dirt in front of the meter. So, the abnormal reading is that there was no reading taken, I believe,” said Perilli. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Along the Colorado River …
METROPOLITAN: Committee briefed on Colorado River interim and post-2026 operating guidelines
“At the March meeting of Metropolitan’s One Water and Stewardship Committee, staff updated the committee on the Reclamation’s release of the final SEIS for the interim Colorado River operating guidelines and the Lower Colorado River Basin’s alternative for post-2026 operations. On March 5, the Bureau of Reclamation released a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update the current interim operating guidelines through the end of 2026, when they expire. Engineer Laura Lamdin provided an update on the document and the preferred alternative. … ” Read this article from Maven’s Notebook.
Reclamation releases interim plan for Colorado River system
“As part of the efforts to address the ongoing drought impacts on the Colorado River System, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has unveiled a final plan outlined in a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). It provides updated parameters for the interim operation of the Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. Crafted in collaboration with the seven Colorado Basin states, the SEIS aims to conserve at least 3 million acre-feet of water by the end of 2026, when the current guidelines expire. This collaborative effort involves various stakeholders including farmers, water managers, municipalities, and others. Furthermore, new agreements with California water entities will also help conserve up to 399,153 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead through 2026. Similar progress has been made with Mexico regarding additional conservation efforts. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Cocopah Tribe will restore areas along the Colorado River to address climate change
“The Cocopah Tribe and two other Arizona tribal communities are working with new money and tools to address climate change after receiving grants from the U.S. Department of the Interior and several private funders. In 2023, the 1,000-member Cocopah Tribe, whose lands lie along the Colorado River southwest of Yuma, received $5 million from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful Challenge to support two riparian restoration initiatives. During the four-year project, the tribe will remove invasive species and replant 45,000 native trees, like cottonwood, willow and mesquite to restore 390 acres of the river’s historic floodplain close to the U.S.-Mexico border. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
Utah to begin meeting with other states on new Colorado River compact
“Utah will begin negotiations soon with other states along the Colorado River in hopes of hammering out a new agreement to manage the vital water source. “We’ve reached out to the lower-division states and anticipate we’ll meet with them in the next week or two,” Gene Shawcroft, the Colorado River Commissioner for Utah, said in an interview with FOX 13 News. Shawcroft was here at a meeting of the Utah Water Users Association, where he updated canal companies, state agencies, water districts and other stakeholders on the high-stakes negotiations. The Colorado River flows through seven states and Mexico and it supplies water to more than 40 million people. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Preserving the incredible wildlife of the Colorado River Basin
“The story of climate change across the western United States is being written in water, especially within the Colorado River Basin. For every 1-degree Fahrenheit increase, we are experiencing a 3-9% reduction in river flows. Less precipitation, thirstier soils, and a drier atmosphere leads to more evaporation, which accounts for much of the reduction in flow. The problem is exacerbated by the ever-increasing demands on the river. The Colorado River provides food, drinking water, power, recreation and is indispensable to the lives of tens of millions of people and a vast array of biodiversity. We know that in order to sustain this river, we must develop solutions to address the effects of climate change and the overallocation of water, and we also know that we can’t forget about the many plants and animals that call the river home and depend on its health to thrive. … ” Read more from The Nature Conservancy.
Here’s how much Lake Powell is expected to rise this year
“Lake Powell remains at the center of attention as the seven Colorado River Basin states figure out how much water is withdrawn from it this year and beyond. But those who rely on it for water and electricity — and the millions who enjoy recreating on the reservoir — are equally focused on how much Lake Powell receives this spring. The good news is, it is expected to receive a decent bump in the coming months. The bad news is, it’s not expected to reach the same levels it peaked at before the region’s latest severe drought. Lake Powell is projected to receive about 5.4 million acre-feet of water based on conditions this winter, National Weather Service’s Colorado Basin River Forecast Center officials said on Friday. That would hoist the reservoir from 32% to 37% capacity after the snowmelt process wraps up in the early summer. … ” Read more from KSL.
In national water news today …
Biden administration warns states of cyberattack threat to water, wastewater systems
“The Biden administration warned governors Tuesday that “disabling” cyberattacks are targeting drinking water and wastewater systems throughout the country and urged them to help identify and address any vulnerabilities. Water and wastewater systems can represent an “attractive target” for cyberattacks because of their essential nature and frequent lack of “resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,” said Michael Regan, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan in a letter. “Even basic cybersecurity precautions — such as resetting default passwords or updating software to address known vulnerabilities — are not in place and can mean the difference between business as usual and a disruptive cyberattack,” Regan and Sullivan said. … ” Read more from KTLA.
70 million Americans drink water from systems reporting PFAS to EPA. Is yours on our map?
“At least 70 million Americans get their water from a system where toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” were found at levels that require reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency. That’s according to new data the EPA released in its ongoing 5-year review of water systems across the nation. The number will almost certainly grow as new reports are released every three months. PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are nearly indestructible chemicals widely used across industries for decades. Found in drinking water, food, firefighting foam, and nonstick and water-repellent items, PFAS resist degradation, building up in both the environment and our bodies. … ” Read more from USA Today.
This mega-city is running out of water. What will 22 million people do when the taps run dry?
“Water shortages are becoming a way of life in cities across the globe — Los Angeles; Cape Town, South Africa; Jakarta, Indonesia; and many more — as climate change worsens and authorities often pipe in water from ever-more-distant sources. “Water sources are depleted around the world,” said Victoria Beard, a professor of city and regional planning at Cornell University. “Every year, more cities will face ‘Day Zero,’ with no water in their piped systems.” Mexico City — founded by the Aztecs on an island amid lakes, with a rainy season that brought torrents and flooding — might have been an exception. For decades, the focus has been getting rid of water, not capturing it. But a grim convergence of factors — including runaway growth, official indifference, faulty infrastructure, rising temperatures and reduced rainfall — have left this mega-city at a tipping point after years of mostly unheeded warnings. Distant reservoirs and underground wells are drying up as leaders belatedly confront an existential dilemma. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Taps have run dry across South Africa’s largest city in an unprecedented water crisis
“For two weeks, Tsholofelo Moloi has been among thousands of South Africans lining up for water as the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, confronts an unprecedented collapse of its water system affecting millions of people. Residents rich and poor have never seen a shortage of this severity. While hot weather has shrunk reservoirs, crumbling infrastructure after decades of neglect is also largely to blame. The public’s frustration is a danger sign for the ruling African National Congress, whose comfortable hold on power since the end of apartheid in the 1990s faces its most serious challenge in an election this year. A country already famous for its hourslong electricity shortages is now adopting a term called “watershedding” — the practice of going without water, from the term loadshedding, or the practice of going without power. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
