A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
Note to readers: Sign up for weekly email service and you will receive notification of this post on Friday mornings. Readers on daily email service can add weekly email service by updating their subscription preferences. Click here to sign up!
In California water news this week …
Newsom announces updated water plan amid above-average Sierra snowpack
“Sporting snowshoes and stylish shades, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday trundled around a summit south of Lake Tahoe with state water officials to unveil a “roadmap to resilience” for the state’s fickle water supply and to confirm good news from an army of sensors scattered throughout the Sierra: California’s end-of-season snowpack haul is blessedly above normal. The crucial April reading clocked in at 110% of normal, state water officials said Tuesday — a harbinger of a reliable water supply during the upcoming dry summer months. Last year, the April snowpack reading hit an astounding 244% of normal, but the previous three years’ snowpacks were all considerably below normal as California suffered through drought conditions. That “weather whiplash” driven by climate change was a reminder that there is no time to get greedy, Newsom said, even with many of California’s biggest reservoirs brimming with higher-than-usual water levels providing yet more good news about the water outlook for 2024. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Two in a row: April snow survey shows above average snowpack for second straight season
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the all-important April snow survey, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches, which is 113 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. The April measurement is critical for water managers as it’s considered the peak snowpack for the season and marks the transition to spring snowmelt into the state’s rivers and reservoirs. DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 28.6 inches, or 110 percent of the April 1 average, a significant improvement from just 28 percent of average on January 1. The focus now shifts to forecasting spring snowmelt runoff and capturing as much of that water as possible for future use. … ” Continue reading this press release from DWR.
State Releases California Water Plan Update 2023: A Roadmap to Water Management and Infrastructure for a Water Resilient Future
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the final version of California Water Plan Update 2023. This plan is a critical planning tool and can now be used by water managers, such as water districts, cities and counties, and Tribal communities, to inform and guide the use and development of water resources in the state.California Water Plan Update 2023 began with the vision: “All Californians benefit from water resources that are sustainable, resilient to climate change, and managed to achieve shared values and connections to our communities and the environment.” To tackle this ambitious vision, California Water Plan Update 2023 focuses on three intersecting themes: addressing climate urgency, strengthening watershed resilience, and achieving equity in water management. “With climate change posing uncertain challenges, California Water Plan Update 2023 highlights the importance of innovation and investments in the state’s watersheds, water systems, and frontline communities,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “This plan helps build a future where all Californians can be more water resilient and how we can all take action to adapt our communities to thrive in more extreme weather conditions.” … ” Continue reading this press release from DWR.
Delta tunnel supporters, opponents respond to Newsom’s updated water plan
Paul Hames / DWR
“Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced the release of the state’s updated water plan, which garnered both support and criticism. As he stood in the snow-packed Sierra Nevada for a press conference during the April snow survey at Phillips Station, Newsom said the new reality of climate extremes requires a new approach and elevated sophistication in terms of managing the water system. “The water system in California was designed for a world that no longer exists,” he said, referring to the drastic weather events that have occurred over the last decade, compared to 50 or 60 years ago. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Radio show: California’s former Water Czar on the state’s coming “water nightmare”
“Yesterday, Gov. Gavin Newsom surveyed the Sierra snowpack and outlined a new state water plan focused on climate change. Scott and KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero are joined by California’s former top water regulator Felicia Marcus. As the state’s top water czar, she navigated severe droughts, balancing demands for scare water by cities, farms, businesses and homeowners.” Listen at KQED.
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.
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.
SGMA Public Hearing set for April 16, ag interests keeping close watch
“The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) went into effect 10 years ago in 2014, and only now, 10 years later, the Tulare Lake Subbasin is designated a critically overdrafted high-priority basin that is most likely going to be put under probationary status. At the public hearing on April 16, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will hear from water stakeholders before voting to place the subbasin on probation. Leading up to the public hearing, DWR and the State Water Board issued a Draft Resolution and Final Staff Report. The State Water Board indicated that “SGMA recognizes that groundwater management is best accomplished locally.”Despite the privilege given to local oversight and management, the State Water Board will most likely intervene and manage the basin. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
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.
New study in Nature Water puts spotlight on importance of groundwater
“Groundwater is a critical resource around the globe, especially in dry regions, but it’s importance in sustaining ecosystems remains largely unstudied. There are many challenges in managing this precious resource for multiple purposes, including water supply and healthy ecosystems. New research has used satellite imagery and groundwater monitoring data to investigate the links between groundwater and the ecosystems they support throughout the state of California. The study, published in Nature Water , underscores the pivotal role this resource plays in supporting groundwater-dependent ecosystems. The researchers, including UC Santa Barbara’s Michael Singer and Dar Roberts, identified how groundwater can be used to support ecological conservation within California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Beyond highlighting groundwater’s significance, the study also offers an effective and practical approach for identifying where ecosystems are vulnerable to groundwater change and would benefit from more sustainable water use and management. … ” Read more from UC Santa Barbara.
REPORT SUMMARY: Groundwater Well Permitting: Observations and Analysis of Executive Orders N-7-22 and N-3-23
Groundwater is intimately connected with the landscape and land use that it underlies. How land is developed above can change both water demand and how much water can be recharged, and inappropriate land use and poor land management can cause chronic groundwater quality problems. Consistent coordination with land use planning and groundwater use is essential for sustainable management of the basin. Under SGMA, land-use planning agencies must notify GSAs of any proposal to substantially amend a general plan. When amending their general plan, they must review and consider any adopted groundwater plan (including GSA comments). However, how effective these provisions are in encouraging coordination between land use planning and GSAs is an open question. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
California’s water outlook has brightened for now, but salmon and other fish are still in peril
Ian James writes, “Salmon is king. It’s a phrase I heard more than once as I interviewed people who depend on fishing and asked them what last year’s shutdown of salmon fishing has meant for them. Along the California coast from May to October, commercial fishing boats and sportfishing charter vessels are typically out on the ocean hauling in salmon. But low population numbers led to the cancellation of last year’s season, and this year fishery regulators will soon consider whether to ban fishing for another year, or allow a minimal season with restricted dates and catch limits. I spoke with people in a few fishing communities to learn how they’ve been affected by the closure, and what they think about the factors that have driven declines in salmon and other fish populations. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Groups say the state must stop the ongoing killing of federally protected salmon and steelhead by the Central Valley Project and State Water Project
“State and federal agencies must take immediate action to stop the unauthorized killing of thousands of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead at State and Federal water export pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta), according to a coalition of environmental and fishing groups. Both fish are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA); Central Valley winter-run Chinook Salmon is also protected under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This is the second time in 2024 the coalition has responded to an increase in killing of legally protected fish at the pumps of the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project (Projects or Water Projects). Despite the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) calling for significant reductions in the Projects’ Delta water pumping, California’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the federal Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), which own and operate the Projects, ignored these recommendations and continued to export water at rates that killed thousands of imperiled fishes. … ” Continue reading this press release.
SEE ALSO: State and federal agencies must take action to stop killing of salmon, steelhead in Delta Pumps, 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.
Cutting the green tape with SERP
“California is known for strong laws protecting the environment; however, these policies meant to protect natural resources can unintentionally slow down projects that restore essential habitats and imperiled ecosystems. Recognizing this, the Newsom Administration signed an Executive Order in October 2020 directing state agencies to “implement actions to increase the pace and scale of environmental restoration and land management efforts by streamlining the State’s process to approve and facilitate these projects.” This has become known as the “Cutting the Green Tape Initiative.” The Cutting the Green Tape Initiative has several permitting and CEQA tools for restoration permitting, including the Restoration Management Permit, Restoration Consistentcy Determination, and the Habitat Restoration and Enchancement Act. In 2021, Governor Newsom added another tool to the toolbox when he signed SB 155, creating a CEQA statutory exemption for restoration projects that meet specific requirements. The provision is set to sunset on January 1, 2025 unless it is renewed by the legislature. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Explained: The senior rights to California’s water and balancing access to safe drinking water
“Water access in California has seen growing scrutiny as the climate shifts from more extreme dry to wet swings. This results in increasing year-to-year uncertainty for both commercial and residential water availability. One area getting more attention from an ethical and practical application is the system of water rights, which first took shape in the late 1800s. Cody Phillips, with the California Coastkeeper Alliance, a non-profit focused on providing safe water for all Californians, says the right to water in the state really started with the gold rush. He says people would stake a claim to water the same way they would come out and claim land to mine. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
In commentary this week …
Editorial: California snow survey makes it official — we’re all wet
The LA Times editorial board writes, “At the end of the rain and snow season, California is officially wet. The crucial April snow survey conducted Tuesday morning showed above-average Sierra snowpack. That means there will likely be enough melt over the rest of spring and summer to keep reservoirs from being depleted. It’s not unexpected, but it’s a relief, because the season’s first survey showed a snowpack of only 25% of normal. A series of storms helped the state to catch up. The snowpack is now 64 inches, or slightly more than 5 feet, which is 113% of average at the measurement spot in El Dorado County. Surveys in other locations show about 105% of average snowpack statewide. “Average is awesome,” California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth said Tuesday at the survey site. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
A better pathway forward for the Bay-Delta
Daurice Kalfsbeek-Smith, Colusa County Supervisor and Gary Bradford, Yuba County Supervisor, write, “As elected officials representing Colusa and Yuba counties, we sent a letter to Governor Newsom earlier this year encouraging him and his administration to advance the Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (sometimes known as the Voluntary Agreements) and the associated benefits for communities, farms, businesses, the environment and the public. We were joined in this letter by counties throughout the Sacramento River Basin—we have specifically urged the State Water Board to identify the Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes alternative in its final staff report and forthcoming program of implementation as the State Water Board’s best pathway for updating the Sacramento/Delta portions of the Bay-Delta Plan. Here’s why we believe that is the right choice. The agreements represent a comprehensive, collaborative plan that is designed to contribute to the recovery of fish and wildlife species and provide an alternative to the one-size-fits-all requirements to release massive amounts of flows in an attempt to improve Bay-Delta fisheries. … ” Continue reading at the Northern California Water Association.
Superior court upholds State Board’s plan to increase flows on San Joaquin River but denies claims flows are inadequate to protect fish
Sarah Vardaro with the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance writes, “In December 2018 the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) adopted updates to the Bay-Delta Plan (Plan) in accordance with its obligations under the Porter-Cologne Act. The updated Plan included flow objectives intended to restore and protect Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead in the lower San Joaquin River and its tributaries. Twelve lawsuits and 116 claims were filed challenging the State Board’s updated Plan. On March 15, 2024, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto rejected all lawsuits and claims. To some degree the court’s decision is a win for California’s fisheries, but the decision also affirmed the discretionary right of the State Board to keep less water in rivers than needed to restore fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. … ” Read more from the CSPA.
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.
California enjoys healthy water supply, but battles over its uses continue to fester
Dan Walters with Cal Matters writes, “California’s major reservoirs are nearly full thanks to two wet winters, the Sierra snowpack is deeper than usual and the state is likely to receive even more rain and snow this spring. After years of drought, California’s water supply is the healthiest it’s been in the 21st century. Nevertheless, the state’s age-old jousting over water use priorities continues and may become more intense as climate change affects the amount of water available. On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom strapped on snowshoes to accompany state water officials as they measured the Sierra snowpack near Lake Tahoe and declared that it’s well over 100% of average. … ” Continue reading from Cal Matters.
Strong water conservation standards are essential for low-income communities
Kyle Jones, the Policy & Legal Director at the Community Water Center, writes, “California’s State Water Board is wrestling with what terms to set for water conservation regulation for urban areas. This regulation implements state policy designed to Make Conservation a California Way of Life. But the only way to make that vision equitable is to ensure the needs of low-income communities are taken into account. Unfortunately, the Water Board is considering making it too easy to slow-walk investments in conservation, not only in low-income communities, but also in wealthy places like Beverly Hills that use significantly more than their fair share. The proposed regulation currently under consideration means that 72% of Californians will not need to save a single additional drop until 2035. This approach continues to shift the burden of meeting California’s water needs onto communities that can least afford it. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
The fallacy behind California’s rollback of water conservation rules
Ed Harrington. former general manager of the San Francisco PUC, and Cynthia Koehler, executive director of nonprofit WaterNow Alliance, write, “With California’s reservoirs brimming, this is the moment to strengthen our long-term water future, before the next drought. Unfortunately, the State Water Board has just taken a major step back from the fastest and cheapest way of securing water supplies for cities and towns by rolling back its own proposed conservation rules. The draft rules issued in 2023 were intended to implement 2018 legislation “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life.” The bill was already a compromise, and the regulations implementing it years later were conservative. The new rollback sets the state even further behind, likely to the detriment of ratepayers statewide. The primary driver for the change seems to have been complaints that the water savings proposed won’t make much difference and will cost too much. The evidence, however, indicates otherwise, and decision makers need a fuller picture. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Sacramento’s war on water and energy
Edward Ring, director of water and energy policy for the California Policy Center, writes, “After the deluges of 2022-23, and the rainfall season so far this year delivering an above normal snowpack and above normal rain, the drought in California is over. Even the situation on the dry Colorado is much improved, with Lake Powell and Lake Mead collectively at 42 percent of capacity, up from only 32 percent of capacity at this time last year. The reservoirs are full, and there’s snow in the mountains, but California’s farmers are still getting squeezed. The federal allocation to farmers in California’s vast Central Valley is held to 35 percent of the contracted amount, and the state water project allocation is only at 30 percent. As a result, millions of acres of farmland are going to remain fallow this year. … ” Read more from the California Globe.
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 this week …
Siskiyou County declares emergency over Klamath River dam-removal impacts
“The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-1 to declare an emergency due to Klamath River water quality impacts caused by sediment flowing downriver as a result of dam-removal activities. “It is hereby proclaimed that a local emergency now exists throughout Siskiyou County as a result of impacts to Klamath River water quality and potential impacts to air quality related to Lower Klamath Dam Removal activities,” the board stated in a proclamation. Three dams on the river are being removed this year, while a fourth was removed last year, in order to improve fish passage and water quality. Iron Gate Dam, downriver of the other three dams, is about 23 miles southeast of downtown Ashland. Sediment that had backed up over the decades in reservoirs behind the dams has flowed downriver since lake levels were lowered in anticipation of dam removal this year. Sediment flows muddied the river, prompting concerns from the public. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
Water quality board says metals in Klamath River not a health concern
“The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors recently proclaimed a local emergency related to concerns about heavy metals being present in the Klamath River. California’s regional water board says those worries are overblown. In late March the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency related to concerns about heavy metals like arsenic and lead being present in the Klamath River. It was prompted by the ongoing removal of four hydroelectric dams on the river. JPR’s Erik Neumann spoke with Matt St. John, an environmental program manager with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board about how worried people should be about heavy metals in the river. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Divided waters: Debate over Scott Dam’s fate boils over in Eel Russian Project Authority meeting
“The Eel Russian Project Authority convened its second Board meeting on March 19, 2024, addressing the debate surrounding the fate of Scott Dam and the future of water diversion along the Russian River. Held at the Board of Supervisors Chambers in Ukiah on March 19, the meeting saw arguments from residents and stakeholders, highlighting deep divisions over whether to preserve the dam or pursue alternative solutions. Amidst calls for preserving water storage and concerns over the impact on fisheries, the Board ultimately voted to advance alternative E-2, the Pumping Station, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing saga of water management in the region. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
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.
Preserving a landmark agreement: Yuba Water Agency petitions for Lower Yuba River Accord extension
“The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors unanimously approved to submit a water-right change petition to the State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday in order to extend water transfer agreements under the Lower Yuba River Accord for an additional 25 years. First established in 2008 after decades of legal battles, the Yuba River Accord is a landmark multi-agency agreement. It has guided water usage, purchases, and instream flow requirements since its inception. However, Accord water transfers will expire on Dec. 31, 2025, and the Agency is seeking an extension for the state’s approval. The Accord has been praised over the years for its impact on improved conditions for fish like salmon and steelhead, flood risk reduction, water rights protections for farmers and ranchers, and providing a reliable water supply for cities and farms throughout California. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
Groups and Tribe urge regulators to control toxic pollution from selenium in Mud Slough
“In an April 1, 2024 letter to three water boards, fishing and conservation groups and a Tribe have urged regulators to control recently measured excess levels of selenium in Mud Slough. Mud Slough drains selenium-impaired land on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley into the San Joaquin River and ultimately San Francisco Bay. Selenium is known to cause reproductive failure, deformities, and death in fish and waterfowl. “Our groups have spent over a decade at the water boards and in court trying to bring runoff from Mud Slough into compliance with water quality standards,” said Chris Shutes, Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “Past selenium discharges accumulated in downstream waters, impacting fish and causing deformities. The water boards need to act to protect fish and wildlife from this toxic pollutant.” … ” Continue reading this press release from the CSPA.
April 1, 2024 Mono Lake level triggers important choice for DWP
“Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) and Mono Lake Committee staff met this morning at the shore of Mono Lake to conduct the annual joint reading of the surface elevation of Mono Lake. The consensus is that the lake stands at 6,383.70 feet above mean sea level which means that Mono Lake is only halfway to the 6,392-foot elevation level mandated by the California State Water Resources Control Board 30 years ago to resolve ecological, wildlife, economic, Tribal, public trust, and air quality harms caused by the lowering of Mono Lake. Today’s lake level triggers an important choice for DWP: Will the Department choose a nearly fourfold increase in diversions (16,000 acre-feet), or will it choose to leave exports unchanged (4,500 acre-feet) and preserve the lake level gains of the record-wet winter of 2023? … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
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.
San Diego region has enough water to meet 2024 needs and beyond, report finds
“Owing to consecutive wet winters, regional infrastructure investments and conservation efforts, San Diego County has enough water to meet the region’s needs in the foreseeable future, according to a report released Tuesday. The California Department of Water Resources performed its fourth snowpack survey of the year on Tuesday, “confirming that the early winter’s “snow drought” gave way to a slightly above normal snowpack following a series of storms,” the report read. The DWR’s early April survey marks the typical peak snowpack for the year in the Sierra Nevada, and the Colorado River Basin — the main source of water for San Diego County — also reports more snow than average for this time of year, according to a statement from the San Diego County Water Authority. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Call for Proposals: 2025 Delta Research Awards
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT: Draft Policy for Standardized Cost Reporting in Municipal Stormwater Permits
AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: Workplan Addressing Uncertainty and Validating the Groundwater Protection Formula, Values, and Targets
