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On the calendar today …
- VIRTUAL PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Draft report for designation of Tule Subbasin as a probationary basin from 11am to 1:30pm. The State Water Resources Control Board will hold a public hearing in September at which it will consider designating the Tule Subbasin as a probationary basin pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). State Water Board staff have developed a draft recommendation for the Board to consider, which describes the actions staff recommends the Board should take. Board staff will hold a public staff workshop to explain the draft staff report and share more about how to participate in the State Water Board’s state intervention process. Staff will also accept verbal public comments on the draft staff report at the workshop. Staff presentation will start at 11:00 AM Staff will begin accepting public comments at 12:15 PM Zoom link: https://kearnswest.zoom.us/j/84005853021 To view only, go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/
BoardWebSupport. Click here for the full meeting notice.
On the calendar tomorrow …
- EVENT: Restoring the Stanislaus Watershed Symposium from 8:30am to 10pm. The day session will start with plenary discussions led by experts and then hold breakout sessions to discuss the details and make action plans. We’ll learn about the current situation in the Stanislaus watershed and the operations of its dams, including New Melones. We’ll find out what it will take to redesign the watershed and the New Melones Dam in order to restore the river and its tributaries to health. In the evening session, while enjoying a delicious dinner, we’ll learn from Klamath River tribal and environmental representatives how they achieved the world’s largest river renewal project with the removal of four dams. We’ll learn how they are bringing back the salmon as well as their complex strategies for ensuring a successful restoration of their river corridor and newly opened tributaries. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
California unveils research into ‘floating solar’ project over major canal
“Canals in California may soon feature a new look — solar panel canopies, designed to stop evaporation and soak up the sun’s rays, created under a new project funded with help from the federal government to boost green energy infrastructure. Governor Gavin Newsom joined staff from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on Thursday to highlight a new “solar-over-canal” project along one of the state’s primary aqueducts. The pilot project proposes placing a solar canopy to “float” over a major waterway as a source of renewable energy that can also prevent loss of precious water through evaporation. Adam Nickels, Deputy Regional Director at the Bureau of Reclamation, said that the Biden Inflation Reduction Act helped make it possible to pick a portion of the Delta-Mendota Canal for placement of a solar panel in Merced County. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Biden-Harris Administration announces $19 Million from Investing in America Agenda for innovative solar panel installation over canals
“The Department of the Interior today announced a $19 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to install solar panels over irrigation canals in California, Oregon and Utah, simultaneously decreasing evaporation of critical water supplies and advancing clean energy goals. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton made the announcement alongside state and local officials at the Delta-Mendota Canal floating solar project, set to receive $15 million from today’s funding. “Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we have historic new resources to invest in innovative solutions that advance our clean energy goals and make Western communities more resilient to drought and climate change,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Michael Brain. “In partnership with state, Tribal and local stakeholders, the Interior Department will continue to invest in essential water infrastructure projects that mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and invest in communities across the country.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
SEE ALSO:
- More Power, More Water: Solar-Over-Canal Projects Are Coming to California, press release from Governor Newsom’s office
- San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority Receives $15 million grant for Delta-Mendota Canal Floating Solar Project, from the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Central Valley farmers fear groundwater recharge may be hampered by state policy
“Much has been said of California’s two consecutive years of above-average precipitation but there are still some grumblings in California about the water supply. In the Central Valley, some districts say their groundwater recharge projects are getting squeezed as they await word on what kind of water deliveries they’ll get this year. “This is our main canal,” explained Manny Amorelli. “This runs the length of our district, kind of like the highway, the main highway of the district.” Amorelli is general manager of the James Irrigation District in Fresno County. “Our sub-basin last year we recharged over 500,000 acre-feet of water,” Amorelli said. … ” Continue reading from CBS San Francisco.
Fairfield council questions potential 75% water cut
“City council members got a look at the Bay Delta Plan during presentations at Tuesday’s meeting. It was an informational presentation and no formal action was taken. Michael Hether, the city’s assistant public works director, noted the city has two water sources, the Delta and Lake Berryessa. Alex Rabidoux, assistant general manager of the Solano County Water Agency, shared the state is looking at a 75% cut in the county’s water supply. There is no way to purchase the water that would be lost, he said. Lake Berryessa has periods of wet years and dry years. To date, it has been able to meet the community’s needs. Fairfield’s current allocation is 9,200 acre-feet. It would be reduced to 2,300 acre-feet. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Governor promotes Delta Tunnel, Sites Reservoir as key components of updated California Water Plan
“At a press event to celebrate the above average snowpack survey in the Sierra Nevada on April 2, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the state’s controversial updated California Water Plan to supposedly “protect California’s water supplies from the climate crisis” while boosting the state’s ability to capture and store water for when dry conditions return. Among the key components of the plan are the Delta Conveyance Project, Sites Reservoir and the voluntary agreements, anti-environmental schemes that aim to deliver more Delta water to Big Ag oligarchs like Stewart and Lyda Resnick in Kern County at the expense of salmon populations moving closer and closer to extinction. “In the past few years alone, we’ve gone from extreme drought to some of the most intense rain and snow seasons on record – showcasing the need for us to constantly adapt to how we manage our water supplies,” said Newsom. “ The water plans and strategies we’re implementing are each targeted components of our overall effort to deliver clean water to Californians by capturing, storing, and conserving more water throughout the state. This plan is a critical component of that effort.” … ” Read more from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
San Francisco nonprofit asks federal judge to expedite proposed listing of endangered local fish
“Baykeeper, an Oakland-based nonprofit that defends the health of the San Francisco Bay, on Thursday asked a federal judge for a favorable ruling in a fight with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the designation of an endangered fish species. The legal fight concerns the endangered-species status of the Bay-Delta longfin smelt fish, which is listed as a threatened species under California’s Endangered Species Act. The Bay-Delta longfin smelt lives in the San Francisco Bay and some areas of the Pacific Ocean. Conservation groups have tried to get federal protection for the species since 1994. The Center for Biological Diversity and San Francisco Baykeeper sued in 2009, after the Fish and Wildlife Service determined the longfin smelt is not a distinct population entitled to protected status because it migrates up the coast to breed with other longfin. Three years later, the federal agency revised its conclusion but only put the species on a waiting list. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Calif. snowpack rallies, but allocations still low
“Late-winter storms helped California exceed its normal snowpack levels for the second straight year, but many of the state’s farmers are still set to receive less than half their requested water allocations this season. The state Department of Water Resources’ latest manual survey April 2 at Phillips Station near Lake Tahoe recorded 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches, which is 113% of average for the location. Readings from 130 electronic gauges throughout California showed the statewide snowpack at 110% of its April 1 average, a significant improvement over the 28% of average measured in January. Yet after major storms in March left an abundant snowpack and full reservoirs, the State Water Project’s allocation forecast was only raised to 30% from 15% of requests, and Central Valley Project irrigators south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta will only get 35% of their contract total. … ” Note from Maven: The allocations have not been updated since last month. My guess is that updated allocations will be released soon. Click here to read more from the Western Farm Press.
Could recycled water be the answer to California’s future droughts?
“The future of California’s water is on the minds of millions of people, especially during major drought years. As our climate changes, extreme heat and droughts have become more common than floods in California. Since the year 2000, there have been at least 14 years of severe to exceptional drought conditions in the Golden State. As lawmakers, engineers and government water entities work to tackle the issue of conservation and water availability, the burning question is, “How do we plan for future droughts that last more than a few years?” Aside from restrictions on water usage, finding new water sources can be a challenge. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
2024 trends and outlooks in Central Valley agriculture
“The agricultural industry in California is one of the largest economic drivers in the state with over 400 commodities which account for over a third of the country’s vegetables and three-fourths of the country’s fruits and nuts. Tulare, Fresno, and Kern counties ranked in the top 5 for U.S. agricultural sales according to the recently released 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture — a report taken once every five years. Despite a continuous decline in the total number of farms in California, the value of agricultural sales in California increased. Since 2023, the Central Valley has received ample rainfall coming off of three drought years, but rising labor costs, high inflation rates, and the push for SGMA compliance still hinder agriculture production. Three of the region’s top commodities — grapes, almonds, and dairy — are seeing the effects of these obstacles, but the industries are optimistic in 2024. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Clean up and abandon: While the state undertakes its largest orphan oil well project in California history, environmental groups worry about lack of accountability for oil operators
“About a year ago, the California Department of Conservation embarked on the largest oil well plugging and abandonment project in state history, starting in Santa Barbara County. The department’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) set off to plug and abandon 171 orphaned wells in the Santa Maria Valley’s Cat Canyon with $34 million in state and federal funding. As of March 29, 160 orphaned wells have been plugged to the surface, but more work needs to be done, California Department of Conservation Assistant Director for Communications Jacob Roper told the Sun in a statement. “A total of 16 wells have had all well work completed, including plugging, surface cutoff, methane testing, and well histories documented,” Roper said, leaving 155 wells that still need testing and documentation. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Sun.
California map shows where state will become underwater from sea level rise
“Areas of populous cities along California’s stretch of the Pacific Ocean could be flooded or entirely consumed by water if, due to the effects of climate change, sea levels rise as predicted, modeling suggests. By the year 2100, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated, there could be between 43 and 84 centimeters (1.4 and 2.8 feet) of sea level rise, and an increase of two meters (6.6 feet) “cannot be ruled out.” According to projections by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a sea level rise of about 3 feet would still see high-population areas along California’s coastline suffer. San Francisco International Airport would become entirely submerged, as would the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve near Union City. Water would also reach the outskirts of Newark and flood several blocks of Mountain View and Sunnyvale. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
California’s beloved abalone sea snails are struggling. Here’s why
“The beaches of Northern California can be treasure troves for keen-eyed visitors. Surrounded by grass-covered cliffs and dramatic rocky outcrops, walkers can often find seashells, driftwood and other riches on the cool, wet sand. When Bay Curious listener Lorraine Page moved to Pescadero about 30 years ago, she spent a lot of time hunting for such treasures at the beach. A family doctor by day, beachcombing was her way to unwind. While she came across all sorts of treasures, she was looking for one thing in particular: abalone shells. For her, finding one of those beautiful, iridescent mollusks signified a day well spent on a Northern California beach. Abalone are mollusks, essentially sea snails that can grow up to 10 inches in diameter. … ” Read more from KQED.
Newsom, Legislature get a $17 billion jump on California budget deficit
“Salary savings from open positions in state government, cutting welfare programs that serve tens of thousands of families, delaying funding for public transit — these are some of the first steps that California officials plan to take to deal with a looming multibillion-dollar budget deficit. Facing a shortfall estimated at somewhere between $38 billion and $73 billion next year, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders announced today an “early action” plan to tackle part of that gap before the regular budget process later this spring. The $17.3 billion package includes some program cuts, but mostly relies on new revenue, internal borrowing and funding delays and shifts for savings. It is expected to come up for a vote in the Legislature next week. “I thank our legislative leaders for their partnership in taking this major step to address the shortfall with a balanced approach that meets the needs of Californians and maintains a strong fiscal foundation for the state’s future,” Newsom, who has been calling for early budget action since January, said in a statement. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
And lastly … Truck crash hurls 77,000 ‘threatened’ salmon into wrong creek
“Wildlife officials hoping to replenish depleted salmon populations hurled tens of thousands of the young fish into a northeastern Oregon creek last week. The issue? It was the wrong waterway. The accident happened Friday morning when a truck loaded with approximately 102,000 spring Chinook smolts rolled onto its roof and crashed as it failed to round a sharp bend, Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. The truck slid down the rocky embankment, emptying the tanker of the majority of its cargo into Lookingglass Creek, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River. Wildlife officials had intended to release the salmon into Oregon’s Imnaha River instead, more than 50 miles away. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
In commentary today …
Balancing fish and flows
Scott Hamilton, President of Hamilton Resource Economics, writes, “It was the 29th of February 2024. The big storm that would drop 10 feet of snow off the Sierra Nevada in early March was yet to arrive. Still, floodwaters made their way through the Yolo Bypass, circumnavigating Sacramento and saving the city from flooding. Despite the floodwater, the State Water Project allocation was at 15% and the state’s share of San Luis Reservoir was less than half full. On that day, the California Department of Water Resources projected the flow from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the Pacific Ocean was 111,600 cfs – a flow just shy of one-quarter of a million acre-feet per day. The State Water Project pumps were operating at 5,000 acre-feet per day – about one-quarter of their capacity. The water project pumps were limited to help protect endangered fish. The fish of concern that day were steelhead. For some unknown reason, the crop of steelhead in 2024 was enormous. If population estimates were made and recorded it could have been the largest production in 50 years. But no one knows. … ” Continue reading from Valley Ag Voice.
One way to save the Colorado River? Give up one hamburger a week
Aaron Mead, a writer based in the Los Angeles area, writes, “In 2019, I joined a water agency in southern California as an engineer. My role is to help manage the water we import from the Colorado River, which makes up about a quarter of the region’s total water supply. A few months into the job, I traveled to Denver with a supervisor for meetings at the Colorado State Capitol. For lunch, he led us to a nearby plant-based restaurant with a hippie vibe. I ordered a veggie burger, which I sometimes ate at home. The waiter brought the burger wrapped in a layer of melted cashew cheese. Casting a wary eye over the “cheese,” I asked my boss about his restaurant choice. He said he’d gone vegan after learning how much Colorado River water irrigates cattle feed — almost a third of all river consumption, according to a recent study. His comment made me reconsider my own beef consumption. I felt deeply uneasy: How could I put the sustainability of the Colorado River at the center of my work while continuing to eat hamburgers? … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
California’s Klamath Dam removal damages: Local farmers fear liability for massive salmon deaths
““It really has been the biggest dam removal experiment in modern history. People who were very much in favor of dam removal are now beside themselves because they had no idea this would be the outcome.” Siyamak sits down with Theodora Johnson, a sixth-generation rancher from Siskiyou County. The Klamath Dam removal project is the largest of its kind in the US. Ms. Johnson will discuss its impact on the community, environment, and wildlife in the area. Siskiyou County recently declared a state of emergency over this dam removal. “What’s happened with the suspended sediment in the water has brought the dissolved oxygen level down to zero twice since the dams were removed. Now, you see muck and mud, dead fish floating to the banks, crawdads, and we see animals trying to crawl out of the water to escape.” – Ms. Johnson said.”
Klamath River native species – dead or alive?
“Dam removal comes with a BIG price when done wrong. The big question that goes to the credibility of Mark Bransom and Klamath River Renewal Corporation (‘KRRC’) is this: Were native species in the Klamath River killed by the sediment management and water released from the Klamath Dams? During numerous recent public presentations, Mark Bransom categorically denied that native species in the Klamath River would be killed due to KRRC’s release of polluted sediments from Iron Gate Dam on January 23, 2024. And Bransom continued in the delusion and misrepresentations to the public that native species aquatic life was not killed after the January 23rd sediment discharge, even after being presented with the overwhelming evidence! The point here is KRRC and Bransom are misleading the public media and press. … ” Read more from the California Globe.
Ducks Unlimited partners with Tulelake Irrigation District to bring water to Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
“The Tulelake Irrigation District and Ducks Unlimited (DU) have partnered to activate Pumping Plant D in the Klamath Basin, which will pump much-needed water from Tule Lake into Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge for the first time in four years. Historically, 80% of the water that makes its way to Lower Klamath comes through Pumping Plant D, making it the most important water source for the nation’s first wildlife refuge. The Refuge is an important part of the overall health of the Klamath Basin because it is used by approximately 80%, or 5 million, of the Pacific Flyway’s waterfowl for all life history stages. “Pumping Plant D is vital to the water management of the Klamath Basin, providing water necessary for the recovery of endangered fish species and waterfowl,” said Jeff McCreary, director of operations for DU’s Western Region. “We are proud to partner in the region, supporting water delivery to the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and working to create durable, multi-beneficial solutions for wildlife and people.” … ” Continue reading from Ducks Unlimited.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
2024 Sierra snowpack reaches ‘the illusive normal’
“March storms have pushed Tahoe and Truckee snowpacks to just above normal springtime peaks, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The service reported this finding after an April 1 survey of SNOTEL sites. The California Department of Water Resources also conducted a survey at the start of the month on April 2 and was joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom as he released the California Water Plan Update 2023. DWR says this April measurement is considered the peak snowpack for the season as warm weather transitions the snow into runoff. NRCS found Tahoe’s snowpack to contain 27.5 inches of snow water content, which is 102% of peak snow water. Truckee is just a bit higher at 28.4 inches and 105% of peak snow water. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Forest Service announces decision for Burke Creek Restoration
“The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in partnership with the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, issued the final decision for proposed restoration of Burke Creek on Lake Tahoe’s southeastern shore. The purpose of the Burke Creek Restoration Project is to improve water quality, meadow vegetation, aquatic and terrestrial habitat for wildlife and plants and restore the natural function of the creek and adjacent Rabe Meadow. This project complements previous restoration efforts between U.S. Highway 50 and the outlet of Burke Creek at Lake Tahoe. “There is a lot of interest and passion around restoration efforts at Burke Creek,” said Forest Supervisor, Erick Walker. “With feedback from engaged members of the public, we’ve revised the project to strategically balance watershed restoration needs with what is best for area wildlife, their habitat, and the recreating public.” … ” Read more from Tahoe Daily Tribune.
PG&E updates outlook for Spaulding powerhouse repairs
“In response to a query from YubaNet, PG&E spokesperson Paul Moreno provided an update on the progress of repairs at the Spaulding 1 powerhouse. The first deadline for restoration was April 30th, followed by a June 8th repair completion estimate after a closer inspection of the damage. Yesterday, we learned through a letter from the State Historic Preservation Office that two columns in the discharge pit were completely destroyed and had fallen to the ground. Now, the repair deadline has moved to August, or a 50% capacity sometime in June. On top of it, repairs for PG&E’s South Yuba Pipe can’t be completed before late summer/fall. The latest update on the Spaulding Powerhouse 1 reads as follows … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Sacramento DA sues California alleging underground tanks leaking under Capitol building
“The Sacramento County district attorney’s office has sued a state agency alleging that storage tanks are leaking hazardous substances under several downtown buildings, including the state Capitol. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Sacramento Superior Court against the California Department of General Services, alleges the leakages are also happening in Oakland. It was filed jointly by Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho and Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. The district attorneys filed the lawsuit “to protect public health and the environment from harm due to releases of hazardous substances from leaking Underground Storage Tanks, including harm to groundwater and surface waters and against harm from indoor air impacts,” the lawsuit stated. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
Restoring marshes as a cost-effective climate adaptation solution for San Mateo County
“Climate change-induced flooding threatens coastlines around the world. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the San Francisco Estuary Institute, and USGS explores the potential of nature-based solutions (NBS), specifically marsh restoration, in bolstering climate resilience along the shores of San Mateo County, California. The study highlights a critical disparity in the assessment of NBS compared to traditional engineering solutions for coastal climate adaptation. While NBS hold immense promise, they are often evaluated with less rigor, hindering their widespread adoption in climate adaptation strategies. Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis to quantify the flood protection benefits of stakeholder-identified marsh restoration in San Francisco Bay. Focusing on San Mateo County, identified as the most vulnerable to future flooding in California, the study provides a rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of marsh restoration under current and projected climate change scenarios. … ” Read more from the USGS.
CENTRAL COAST
Arroyo Grande could deny a domestic water well despite protests in its favor
“Michael Harris has been fighting the city of Arroyo Grande for a year and a half. He wants to drill a domestic water well on his property, but city staff isn’t keen on it. “I definitely think there is individual discrimination going on for sure,” Harris told New Times. “I think that’s without question; I mean, there’s plenty of proof.” Since October 2022, Harris has had numerous conversations with city staff about building a well on his 55-acre parcel at the intersection of Noyes Road and Equestrian Way. “On March 20, 2023, we got an email from [Associate Planner] Patrick Hall that said that he had distributed the staff report for final review, and we will be on the next consent agenda for approval, and on the consent agenda everything just goes through—so they were clearly going to approve it,” Harris said. “Then the city went dark, and on May 1, I got an email from Patrick saying that the city had decided it’s not in the best interest of the city to have a domestic well at that location and they were recommending that the city deny it.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Court green lights water district challenge to Navy water rights; rejects storage argument and attempt to mine the basin
“Following a lengthy hearing on March 22, the court presiding over the Indian Wells Valley groundwater adjudication approved a request by the Indian Wells Valley Water District, and its litigation partner Mojave Pistachios, LLC, to set a trial to determine the Navy’s right to produce groundwater from the basin. The court also rejected a request by the District and Mojave to determine the basin storage after a lengthy discussion about the usefulness of such a ruling. Located in the Mojave Desert, the Basin, which encompasses 382,000 acres, sustains the Navy and more than 35,000 residents. Approximately 302,095 acres of the Basin are managed by the Bureau of Land Management or owned by the Navy for the Air Weapons Station China Lake. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
Ridgecrest: Groundwater Authority reimburses two domestic well owners due to declining groundwater levels
“At the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority board meeting on March 29, the IWVGA board approved motions to reimburse two domestic well owners who had to replace their wells due to declining groundwater levels. IWVGA reimbursed $37,996 for the Halpin Well and $31,082 for the Byerly Well. Reimbursement covers the estimated current value of the exhausted well and the incremental costs of drilling a deeper well. California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires groundwater basins like the IWV groundwater basin to reach sustainability by 2040. This is why the IWVGA initially formed to draft and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
EPA actions restore safe drinking water to over 900 mobile home park residents in eastern Coachella Valley
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has overseen the restoration of safe drinking water to over 900 residents living in 20 mobile home parks located within the boundaries of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Reservation in the Eastern Coachella Valley, located in Southern California. “EPA is committed to protecting the health of our communities, including those that have historically faced unequal environmental burdens, by ensuring their drinking water is safe and reliable,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. “We will continue to fully utilize our authority to make sure that safe drinking water standards are met.” … ” Read more from the US EPA.
SAN DIEGO
Port commissioners declare Tijuana River Valley emergency
“The Port of San Diego has joined San Diego County and the cities of San Diego and Imperial Beach in declaring a local emergency related to the ongoing Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis, officials said Wednesday. “Clean water and clean air are basic quality of life expectations and are needed now in our South Bay,” Frank Urtasun, chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners, said in a statement Wednesday. “After many years of deteriorating conditions, we are now seeing some steps in the right direction. Recently, we learned of $156 million in critical annual funding secured by Congressman Scott Peters for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
As states argue over who should cut their Colorado River use, a new plan puts the environment first
“Last month, the seven U.S. states that use Colorado River water released two divergent plans for how that water should be managed after 2026 when the current agreement expires. Their proposals centered on operations at Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the country’s two largest reservoirs, the levels of which are instrumental in determining how much water each state gets. But a coalition of environmental organizations felt that those plans — and the discourse surrounding which states should have to cut their water use — drowned out a crucial consideration: the environment. So, last week, they submitted a plan of their own. “Our plan explicitly integrates environmental values and resources into the planning, while also trying to meet the needs of people,” Taylor Hawes, the Colorado River Program director for The Nature Conservancy, said. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
How the subsidy straw is sucking the Colorado River dry
“The Colorado River has been facing a water crisis for over two decades. From 2000 to 2021, the river basin has “lost over 40 trillion liters of water.” Per a recent news report, water scarcity has led to disputes among the seven states sourcing water from the Colorado River. While it’s heating up, the debate is nothing new. For years, states have contested their water allotments. Commentators are quick to look for the cause of the plummeting water levels, pointing to climate change or population booms in the southwest. The true culprit is less obvious. The offender of the shrinking Colorado River is agricultural subsidies. … ” Read more from the American Institute for Economic Research.
Arizona Republicans investigate state attorney general over water policy inquiry
“Arizona House Republicans convened in a newly created committee Thursday afternoon to discuss an investigation into the state’s Democrat attorney general. The conservative lawmakers announced the creation of the House Committee on Executive Oversight Wednesday in response to Attorney General Kris Mayes’ ongoing investigations into “megafarms” she says are overusing groundwater and draining the wells of rural Arizonans. “The attorney general has no role in water policy,” committee chair Austin Smith, a Republican from Surprise, said Thursday afternoon. “The last time I checked, the legislature did not fund her office to weaponize our public nuisance laws against lawfully operating businesses that are vital to the state’s economy.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Arizona: Proposal would punish people for groundwater lawsuits, weaken attorney general’s power
“As Attorney General Kris Mayes gathers evidence to take action against corporate farms’ groundwater pumping, some lawmakers would like to establish protections that discourage such lawsuits. Agricultural operations could get their legal fees paid by the plaintiff if they are sued in a nuisance action to reduce or take away their water use under a bill filed early this year by state Rep. Austin Smith, R-Wittmann. The measure would have a “chilling effect” on new approaches to reduce groundwater use, several legal experts told The Arizona Republic, because the claimant would need to pay filing fees and attorney fees for themselves and the sued party. “What’s unusual about the amendment as proposed is that it has nothing to do with the merits of the claim,” said Christopher Griffin, director of empirical and policy research at the University of Arizona’s College of Law. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
SEE ALSO: Arizona AG investigating farms legally pumping groundwater; lawmakers unhappy, from the Arizona Daily Star
An Arizona energy company wants to build a new lake in the desert for hydropower
“An Arizona energy company wants to build a new lake in the desert outside Phoenix. The company says it’ll help fight climate change. From member station KJZZ, Katherine Davis-Young reports. In the mountains about an hour east of Phoenix along the Salt River sits Mormon Flat Dam. It’s managed by one of Phoenix’s electric providers, Salt River Project. Inside the dam, Waylon Johnson, a hydrogeneration supervisor, shows me the underside of a hydropower turbine. It looks like a huge propeller. … ” Continue reading transcript or listen at NPR.
A new look at western water
“Researchers in the Mountain Hydrology Group currently produce near-real-time estimates of snow water equivalent, or the amount of water contained in fallen snow, for mountainous areas in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Reports and data are released to water managers and forecasters and are also available to the public. With the new grant of $1 million over the next three years, the group will be able to expand its estimates to all 17 western states, notably adding mountainous areas in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington and large mountain ranges such as the Cascades and northern Rocky Mountains. The grant will support Noah Molotch (lead PI), Leanne Lestak, Emma Tyrrell, and Karl Rittger in analyzing snow data and producing biweekly snow water supply reports to support decision making by federal, state, and local water management entities responsible for managing water supplies in the western United States. … ” Read more from the University of Colorado.
In national water news today …
Backing for climate-smart rubber grows amid water woes
“In the parched desert Southwest, Bridgestone is more than a tire company. It’s also a pioneer of water-saving and climate resilient farming. The global maker of tires, hoses and conveyor belts runs a 300-acre former cotton farm between Tucson and Phoenix, where it’s growing a desert shrub called guayule that produces latex for rubber with just a fraction of the water that most irrigated crops here require. Bridgestone has been working on guayule (pronounced why-OO-lee) here for more than a decade, but the effort received an extra bounce in 2023 from the Department of Agriculture, which awarded a $35 million grant to the company and the University of Arizona to encourage more growers to try it. The grant through the Biden administration’s partnership for climate-smart commodities program will pay farmers — largely from the region’s Tohono O’odham Nation and Colorado River Indian Tribes — to grow guayule. Bridgestone is matching the grant with an additional $35.3 million. … ” Read more from E&E News.
