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On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife beginning at 9am. Click here for more information.
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water beginning at 9am. Click here for more details.
In California water news today …
Newsom’s Delta tunnel pitch: It’s for the climate
“Gov. Gavin Newsom has a new sales pitch for a tunnel to move more water south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that past governors have tried and failed to build for five decades. “The Delta conveyance is an adaptation project,” he said last week in a snowy field in the Sierra Nevada, where a winter that started out dry eventually delivered a just-above-average snowpack that will soon melt into the Sacramento River and its tributaries. It was a pretty good backdrop for his pitch: that not only will climate change make precipitation “flashier,” with bigger storms and floods, but it’ll make it scarcer overall — reducing the state’s water supply by up to 10 percent by 2040. Building a new tunnel to reroute water deliveries through the state’s main water hub will help maximize scant supplies, Newsom argued, while running it only during wet weather will minimize harm to local communities and endangered fish like the Delta smelt and salmon. … Long-skeptical Delta lawmakers aren’t convinced by the latest rationale. … ” Read more from Politico.
The Central Valley Project water supply allocation forecast: What factors into Reclamation’s determination?
“Following back-to-back wet winters bringing torrential rainstorms and record-breaking blizzards, water users throughout California may have cause for optimism when it comes to their water supply for 2024. After an initial conservative Central Valley Project (CVP) water allocation forecast in February, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) recently announced an additional increase in CVP water deliveries. The CVP is a federally owned and operated water project that supplies approximately 7 million acre-feet of water per year to millions of people throughout the state. CVP water is delivered to users that have contracts with Reclamation to meet municipal, industrial, or agricultural water demands. The major groups of CVP contractors include water rights contractors or settlement contractors (Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors), North of Delta and South of Delta water service and repayment contractors, and Central Valley Refuge contractors. … ” Continue reading at Somach Simmons & Dunn.
Scaling up mountain meadow restoration
“One year ago, we announced that California’s Wildlife Conservation Board had awarded Point Blue a $24.7 million block grant to support and scale up the work of the Sierra Meadows Partnership (SMP). The SMP, which Point Blue chairs, is an established coalition of organizations working to restore and protect Sierra meadows. Over the past twelve months, our team has been busy developing and evaluating potential projects, deepening relationships with partners, and getting financial and technical support out into the field where it can make a difference. But let’s back up a minute. Why is restoring meadows a priority to begin with? Healthy mountain meadows clean and store water, sequester carbon, provide wildlife habitat, and offer significant cultural and recreational benefits. Unfortunately, of the estimated 280,000 acres of Sierra meadows, ~50% are degraded and climate change and development continue to threaten remaining healthy meadows. Through our partnership with the WCB, we are working to restore 6,000 acres of meadow habitat, complete planning for an additional 4,000 acres, and identify the next 2,500 acres of meadows to prioritize for future restoration. … ” Read more from Point Blue Conservation Service.
Solar on canals to test potential to conserve land and water in West
“Water canals in California, Utah, and Oregon are soon to be outfit with solar panels, as three projects received federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). IRA set aside $25 million for the design, study, and implementation of photovoltaics co-located with water reclamation facilities. The three projects will receive a combined $19.5 million to support the projects, which are administered by the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency tackling the challenges of water and power management in the U.S. West. This IRA carve-out was created with input from California Representative Jared Huffman. The program directed to study the water efficiency gains from covering canals with solar panels. … ” Read more from PV Magazine.
SEE ALSO: Solar + Water Canals = Win-Win?, from Nossaman
Coalition of water agencies and business interests send letter to lawmakers regarding 2024 resources and climate resilience bond priorities
The below-signed entities recognize and appreciate the challenging policy and fiscal trade-offs required to address California’s current budget constraints. Among the competing priorities for limited state resources is a potential climate resilience bond on the 2024 general election ballot. With this letter, it is our intent to share with you our priorities and perspectives for a climate resilience bond, should you decide to move forward with placing one on the 2024 general election ballot. California’s water infrastructure needs cannot be met by ratepayers alone. Necessary maintenance and repair of legacy water systems and rising costs to purchase, treat, and distribute water have, in recent years, increased the cost of water across California. The rising costs have left more Californians struggling to keep up. As a resources and climate resilience bond package is considered this year, it is imperative that there is robust water-related infrastructure investment to ensure California can continue to strengthen its resilience to drought and floods. … ”
Clean air, water, environment amendment passes first hurdle in California Assembly
“California lawmakers want to establish the state’s position on environmental health, taking a first step Monday in their proactive approach to ensure processes for the state’s environmental management remains secure, regardless of any federal changes. “In California, we’re a national leader on addressing climate change and injustice,” Assemblymember Isaac Bryan said Monday when addressing the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. “We’re a global leader in addressing climate change and injustice.” The Los Angeles Democrat is propositioning a constitutional amendment that would enshrine into law the Californian’s right to clean air, water and the environment. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 16, authored by Bryan, passed Monday out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and into his chamber’s Appropriations Committee. It must pass both houses by at least two-thirds and then secure a majority vote at the polls. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
In commentary today …
Reducing water loss requires upgrading aging ag water infrastructure
Gillian Roy, a 2023 Schneider Fellow from Stanford University, writes, “California owes much of its success as the nation’s leading agricultural producer to the vast systems of irrigation that supply water to the state’s agricultural land. Every year, California irrigates an average of more than nine million acres of agricultural farmland using roughly 34 million acre-feet of water–roughly 80% of all water used for homes, businesses, and agriculture in California. However, climate change is fueling more severe and longer-lasting droughts in California, threatening the economic and environmental viability of the state’s irrigation-reliant agricultural sector. To address this challenge, state and federal government grant programs (such as NRCS’s EQIP WaterSMART Initiative and the CDFA SWEEP grant) incentivize California’s farmers to install technologies that improve water use efficiency on their farms, like drip irrigation systems and advanced irrigation scheduling. While these on-farm upgrades are important, they alone are not enough to ensure the entire agricultural sector uses water efficiently during drought periods. To maximize the state’s water use efficiency, irrigation districts must invest in upgrades to their water management systems and services to complement farmers’ investments in their on-farm irrigation systems. … ” Read more from the NRDC.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath Reservoir drawdowns: Short-term costs for much larger long-term gains
“The Klamath dam removal process is well underway and has received a lot of attention – both positive and negative. In some cases, outright misinformation has been spread by opponents of dam removal. As this massive restoration project unfolds, it is a great moment to provide an update and highlight how extensive project planning has mitigated the temporary impacts to water quality. Of the four dams that are slated for removal in the Klamath River, the smallest one (Copco 2) was deconstructed last year. Below the former site, the river has returned to a 1.7-mile-long canyon that was dewatered when Copco 2 was built. The reservoirs behind the remaining three dams (JC Boyle, Copco 1, and Iron Gate) were drained in a ‘drawdown’ process that began in January. … ” Read more from Trout Unlimited.
Cattle are “Drinking the Colorado River Dry” – Is the same true for the Klamath?
Felice Pace writes, “High Country News reported recently on a research study which found that, within the Colorado River Basin, agriculture consumes 74% of the water directly used by humans, including the water used producing cattle feed, and that cattle-feed crops (alfalfa and other hay) consume more Colorado River water than any other crop category, accounting for 32% of all water from the basin; 46% of direct water consumption; and 62% of all agricultural water consumed. That got me wondering about how much of the Klamath River Basin’s surface water is consumed by agriculture in general and for beef production. According to US Bureau of Reclamation studies, agricultural irrigation uses about 98% of the total surface water used throughout the Klamath River Basin. … ” Read more from the KlamBlog.
Snow levels ‘average to above average’ in Klamath National Forest
“Snow levels in the Klamath National Forest are at their average, according to an April 1 survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA said the snowpack is average to slightly above average at 111% percent. “The height of snow and (Snow Water Equivalent) are measured by a snow sampling tube with a cutter end that is driven through the snowpack, measuring depth,” the report said. “The snow core is then weighed to determine the water content (SWE). The information is forwarded to the State of California, where the data is compiled with other snow depth reports.” … ” Continue reading at KDRV.
Three counties send letter asking for adequate water supply in Klamath Project
“Three counties have sent a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation asking for adequate water supply for the Klamath Project this year. Klamath, Siskiyou and Modoc counties sent the letter out on Friday. They are asking the reclamation to immediately provide adequate water supply, and they say that projections show an excess of water this year. Because of this, they believe reclamation should be able to provide full water supplies. “After four consecutive years of delayed and inadequate deliveries, reclamation needs to provide sufficient water to the farmers and ranchers who feed the region’s economy,” the letter said. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
Ukiah Valley Water Authority debut: new water district uniting regional water districts holds first meeting
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority, a newly formed entity resulting from the consolidation of several water districts, recently held a special meeting to kickstart its operations on April 2, 2024. Led by Chair Adam Gaska and Vice Chair Jerry Cardoza, the committee gathered to establish its structure and plans for the future, with legal guidance from Phil Williams. Proponents argue the formation of the UVWA marks a significant step towards improving water security in the region. UVWA is the result of Millview and Redwood Valley County Water Districts consolidating with the City of Ukiah’s Water Agency. The Executive Committee is composed of two members from each district: Douglas Crane and Juan Orozco from the City of Ukiah, Jerry Cardoza and Tim Prince from Millview, and Adam Gaska and Tom Schoeneman from Redwood Valley. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Spaulding outages and their preliminary effects
“The ongoing twin outages of both PG&E’s Spaulding powerhouse #1 and South Yuba Pipe are forecast to have major impacts on water deliveries and the Bear River/Drum systems. Nevada Irrigation District (NID), Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) and their customers are affected by PG&E’s infrastructure failures. Here is a preliminary summary of the anticipated effects. On Thursday, PG&E updated the estimated time of service restoration for both the powerhouse and the pipe. For the powerhouse, “the estimated schedule and return to service date for Spaulding 1 powerhouse is now early August. … An alternative option is to complete repairs to the first discharge horn and structural columns then restore water flows through the powerhouse. We believe that this alternative might allow us to meet a completion date closer to the previously communicated June 8th estimated return to service date, but with reduced water capacity of about 400 cfs versus full capacity of 760 cfs.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Shasta set to fill completely
“Lake Shasta could reach its full capacity this spring, following a high amount of rainfall in California. The largest reservoir in California has been steadily rising since the beginning of March. It has gone up sharply since the start of the year, which saw its levels at 1,012 feet, compared to its current level on April 5 of 1,058 feet. The lake has risen by about 19 feet since the beginning of March alone. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
BAY AREA
Pioneering program teaches students about local watershed
“Pioneer High School students and faculty marked the 30th anniversary of Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose’s BioSITE program April 3 by conducting tests on the Guadalupe River near the high school campus. Through the award-winning program, thousands of elementary and high school students collect data about the local watershed and the plants and animals in this yearlong field research course. The program focuses on the human impact on local watersheds and the actions people can take to protect waterways and the environment. Since its launch in the 1993-94 school year, nearly 26,000 students from 40 schools—mainly in the San Jose Unified School District—have participated in the BioSITE program. Elementary students work in teams throughout the year studying local creeks and waterways with trained high school student mentors. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
A Tulare County groundwater agency on the hot seat for helping sink the Friant-Kern Canal holds private tours for state regulators
“As the date of reckoning for excessive groundwater pumping in Tulare County grows closer, lobbying by water managers and growers has ramped up. The Friant Water Authority, desperate to protect its newly rebuilt – yet still sinking – Friant-Kern Canal, has beseeched the Water Resources Control Board to get involved. Specifically, it has asked board members to look into how the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) has, or has not, curbed over pumping that affects the canal. Meanwhile, the Eastern Tule groundwater agency has been doing a bit of its own lobbying. It recently hosted all five members of the Water Board on three separate tours of the region, including the canal. Because the tours were staggered, there wasn’t a quorum of board members, which meant they weren’t automatically open to the public. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
High schoolers deepen their water knowledge at Sacramento conference
“Acronyms are so prevalent in the water industry that stringing several together can form an impressive-sounding sentence. That’s exactly what Hanford High School junior Morgan Carrroll did at an April 5 workshop in Sacramento called Water 101 put on by the Water Education Foundation. After winning a game of bingo no less. The bingo game kept the audience of water managers and government and nonprofit employees on its toes during a talk on what could be a very dry topic, especially after lunch: The role of regulatory agencies in state and federal water law. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Claremont residents sue cities, agencies and county over groundwater seepage that led to flooding
“A group of Claremont residents are taking legal action Monday against multiple cities, local water agencies and Los Angeles County, alleging all share liability for groundwater seepage that damaged their homes after the heavy 2023 rain season. Victor Asemoto and his family are among the plaintiffs in the Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit who are suing such entities as the cities of Claremont, La Verne, Pomona and Upland as well as the Pomona Valley Protective Association, Six Basins Watermaster and Pomona College. The suit alleges negligence, trespass, inverse condemnation and both public and private nuisance. The residents, most of whom live on New Hampshire Avenue or Moody Place, seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. … ” Read more from the Pasadena Star News.
SEE ALSO: Claremont homeowners file lawsuit one year after water began mysteriously seeping out of the ground, from ABC 7
This SoCal hazardous waste facility could get a new permit despite past violations
“California regulators could soon grant a fresh permit for a hazardous waste treatment facility in Santa Fe Springs, even as they face off with the same company in court over alleged violations. The upcoming decision has alarmed environmental and community groups, which argue the Department of Toxic Substances Control should turn down Phibro-Tech for a renewed permit after a history of violating state rules. The Santa Fe Springs site is near the unincorporated area of Los Nietos, a largely Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles County that ranks among the most pollution-burdened communities in the state. The hazardous waste treatment facility is roughly 550 feet from the nearest homes, according to the state agency. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
‘A snapshot of the shoreline’: Irondad runs around Salton Sea for second year to track its recession
“Ultra-endurance athlete and activist Irondad made history last year by becoming the first person to run around the Salton Sea without resting. Last month, he officially turned his Salton Sea run into an annual event. Irondad completed his 92-mile run on March 11 after 42 hours of running. A year prior, he completed a 96-mile run around the Salton Sea in 36 hours, and the reduced distance reflects the receding shoreline. During an interview with the Yuma Sun, Irondad (whose given name is William Sinclair) explained that after becoming involved in Ironman Triathlons in 2018 and moving to Bombay Beach in 2021, he was “awestruck by the beauty” of the Salton Sea, though it was “pretty obvious that something had gone very wrong.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
East County Advanced Water Purification Program makes significant construction progress
“The East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) has made significant progress since breaking ground on construction nearly two years ago. The Program will create a local, clean, safe and drought-proof drinking water supply using state-of-the-art technology to purify East San Diego County’s recycled water. It will produce up to 30 percent of East County’s drinking water supply once the Program goes online in 2026. “Construction to build the East County AWP is well underway and the Program is poised to finish construction and deliver water to Lake Jennings by 2026 which will meet or exceed all federal and state drinking water standards,” said Mark Niemiec, director of the East County Advanced Water Purification Program. “The Program also received some great news last month. The State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water conditionally accepted the Program’s Title 22 Engineering Report which explains the project’s plan for safely treating recycled water and placing it into Lake Jennings to comply with state regulations.” … ” Read more from San Diego News.
The race to keep an Amtrak train from falling into the Pacific
“The Pacific Surfliner train runs along some of the most spectacular coastline in America, traversing Southern California bluffs and beaches while ocean waves crash on the golden sand nearby. Soon, some fear it might fall into the ocean. Rising sea levels and powerful storms are eating away at the ground holding up the tracks on the second most popular Amtrak rail corridor in the U.S. The route runs 351 miles from San Diego through Los Angeles to California’s Central Coast and is also used by freight and commuter trains. The erosion has caused landslides that shut down the Surfliner at least a dozen times in the past six years. During the shutdowns, engineers have installed boulders, steel pilings and concrete walls that allow the Surfliner to operate again—but only temporarily. Despite the $140 million they have spent on repairs, officials say a more costly, permanent fix is needed because climate change is going to keep pushing up sea levels and making storms more intense. … ” Read more from the Wall Street Journal.
