Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
California water news this weekend …
Reservoirs-plus-snowpack water storage in the Sierra Nevada
“Current measures of water stored in Sierra Nevada reservoirs and snowpacks are now continually updated and available from CW3E. Mountain snowpacks provide an “extra” way that water gets stored in California and across the Western US, acting as natural reservoirs that hold winter precipitation (as snow) from the cold wet season until spring and summer when the water is released as snowmelt when water demands for human and environmental uses, including irrigation, are high. Thus the combination of water stored as snow and water stored in human-built reservoirs is a useful indicator of development, persistence, and termination of droughts in many western water-supply systems. As the climate warms in coming decades, the “typical” mix of water in snowpack versus reservoir is projected to change, with far less snow holding far less water in future winters. Whether the water no long stored in snow ends up residing instead in reservoirs for more of the year in the future will depend on a variety of tradeoffs associated with winter-weather and hydrological changes, infrastructure constraints, and flood- and resource-management responses that tracking of the combined storage amounts may help to highlight. … ” Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes.
DWR DELTA CONVEYANCE UPDATE: Schedule, Charts Permitting Pathway + Other Project Updates
“DWR has updated the permitting schedule for the next several years of the Delta Conveyance Project planning process, creating a pathway for obtaining key permits by the end of 2026. There are new informational materials about the project, including a new Myth/Fact fact sheet, a new Q&A and an updated Fast Facts. The deadline to submit protests regarding the Delta Conveyance Project change petition has been extended to May 13, 2024. .. ” Read the full update from DWR.
City of Fairfield offers template letter opposing Bay Delta plan
“The city has a template letter for residents to oppose the Bay Delta plan on its website. The plan is intended to protect water quality through water flow and mandates increased flow into the Delta. City leaders in Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City are opposing it, saying it would have significant and detrimental impacts to Solano County. The state’s proposed “55% unimpaired flows” would have a direct and significant impact on Lake Berryessa and the communities that depend on it, the cities say. It amounts to approximately 144,000 acre-feet of water. The plan would require Lake Berryessa to be kept at 65% capacity, regardless of drought conditions. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
State Board puts Tulare Lake Subbasin into probation
A wise man once said, “You have to deal with the world the way that it is, and not the way you wished it would be.” This is the reality facing the good people in the Tulare Lake Subbasin. If you would like to read a news article about the State Water Board Hearing that took place this past Tuesday, a couple of good ones are available here and here. Nearly eight hours of very sincere and substantive testimony from many stakeholders was presented on Tuesday. The bottom line is the fact that the five Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) that make up the Tulare Subbasin did not submit an updated Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to address the deficiencies the State had identified in Tulare Lake’s last submitted GSP in July of 2022. This left the State Board with very little reason not to place the subbasin in probation and voting for probation is what they did 5-0. … ” Read more from the Milk Producers Council.
From California to Greece to China, excessive water use and urbanization is collapsing the ground
“A recent study in the journal Science analyzed dozens of Chinese cities, revealing that they’re slowly sinking. This phenomenon of the Earth’s surface literally being pushed down — technically known as land subsidence — is not limited to the tens of millions who will be impacted in China. From California to Greece, human activity is making the land under our feet more prone to subsiding than ever. The researchers behind the new paper, which was published in the journal Science, help illustrate this point. Using satellite observations taken from 2015 to 2022, the scientists analyzed land subsidence in 82 metropolises and found that 40% of the land is currently undergoing moderate to severe subsidence. This puts roughly one-third of China’s entire urban population at significant risk of flooding. … Earlier this month in California, state water officials put a farming region known as the Tulare Lake groundwater sub basin on “probation” to curb excess water use. Farmers over-pumping water caused land in the region to collapse faster than almost anywhere else in the country, although California’s entire agriculture sector is at risk because of widespread land subsiding all over the state. … ” Continue reading from Salon.
The EPA is cracking down on PFAS — but not in fertilizer
“On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency designated two types of “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law. The move will make it easier for the government to force the manufacturers of these chemicals, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or pfas, to shoulder the costs of cleaning them out of the environment. The EPA “will focus enforcement on parties who significantly contributed to the release of PFAS chemicals into the environment, including parties that have manufactured PFAS or used PFAS in the manufacturing process, federal facilities, and other industrial parties,” the agency explained in a press release. … Although the EPA’s new restrictions are groundbreaking, they only apply to a portion of the nation’s extensive PFAS contamination problem. That’s because drinking water isn’t the only way Americans are exposed to PFAS, and not all companies spreading PFAS into the environment deliberately added the chemicals to the products. In Texas, a group of farmers whose properties were contaminated with PFAS from fertilizer are claiming the manufacturer should have done more to warn buyers about the dangers of its products. The first-of-its-kind lawsuit illustrates how much more regulation will be needed to rid the environment — and Americans’ bodies — of forever chemicals. … ” Read more from the Grist.
Ocean spray emits more PFAS than industrial polluters, study finds
“Ocean waves crashing on the world’s shores emit more PFAS into the air than the world’s industrial polluters, new research has found, raising concerns about environmental contamination and human exposure along coastlines. The study measured levels of PFAS released from the bubbles that burst when waves crash, spraying aerosols into the air. It found sea spray levels were hundreds of thousands times higher than levels in the water. The contaminated spray likely affects groundwater, surface water, vegetation, and agricultural products near coastlines that are far from industrial sources of PFAS, said Ian Cousins, a Stockholm University researcher and the study’s lead author. “There is evidence that the ocean can be an important source [of PFAS air emissions],” Cousins said. “It is definitely impacting the coastline.” … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Tall flowers, dead shrubs, ephemeral lake: Death Valley has become a picture of climate whiplash
“In California’s boom-and-bust climate, Death Valley has offered some of the strangest scenes over the past few years. Some of the area’s perennial creosote bushes died back during a severe drought that hampered the region through 2022. Then torrential downpours — from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary and subsequent storms — revived annual wildflowers from seed over the last year. During the winter, extreme rainfall resurrected an ancient lake that is now disappearing once again. Together, these extremes have created bizarre juxtapositions in the famed desert. “I could take you to a field of dead creosote bushes with nice wildflowers springing up in between,” said Patrick Donnelly, a conservation biologist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “For a plant, it’s a post-apocalyptic wasteland — everything is dead — then spring comes and flowers are sprouting between the corpses.” … ” Read more from NBC News.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Delta Stewardship Council elects a new Chair and Vice Chair
At its April 12, 2024, meeting, the Delta Stewardship Council unanimously elected Council Member Julie Lee as chair and Council Member Gayle Miller as vice chair. “As the chair of this Council, I realize these are very big shoes to fill,” Lee said. “I fully commit to you to do my very best to ensure that the Council continues to fulfill its mission.” Chair Lee’s election took effect immediately, and pursuant to the Delta Reform Act, she may serve in that capacity for no more than four years. Her current term on the Council expires on February 3, 2026. Prior to being appointed to the Council by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, Lee served the Office of Governor Jerry Brown and the following California state agencies: Government Operations Agency, Building Standards Commission, Department of Transportation, Department of Personnel Administration, Highway Patrol, and Department of Corrections. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council.
Podcasts …
ALMOND ALERT: Liquid dynamics: Insights into California’s water management with Jennifer Pierre
On this episode of Almond Alert, Aubrey Bettencourt welcomes Jennifer Pierre, the State Water Contractors General Manager. Aubrey and Jennifer delve deep into the multifaceted realm of California water management, examining pivotal policy decisions and the intricate challenges ahead. As California confronts evolving water needs and environmental imperatives, collaborative decision-making and forward-thinking policies emerge as imperative. Join us as we navigate the complexities of California’s water landscape and explore pathways toward a sustainable and resilient water future.
FISH WATER PEOPLE: Inside the Klamath Dam Removal Project, with Mark Bransom
Ever wondered what it takes to orchestrate a river’s rebirth? Join Fish Water People podcast host and CalTrout Executive Director, Curtis Knight, as he dives into the latest updates on the monumental Klamath River dam removal and restoration project. In this special short-tape episode, Curtis welcomes Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, back to the show to discuss recent developments in the removal of dams along the Klamath River. From breaching dams to managing sediment flow, Mark provides an insider’s perspective on the challenges and triumphs of this once-in-a-lifetime restoration endeavor. Don’t miss out on this riveting journey of resilience and renewal of one of California’s most iconic rivers!
ECO NEWS REPORT: Toxic soup in the Smith River
The Smith River needs your help. Agricultural operations along the estuary are polluting the river with high levels of pesticides. This pesticide pollution is impacting coho salmon, tidewater goby and other wildlife that rely on the river, as well as the human residents that live amongst the pollution. Greg King, executive director of the Siskiyou Land Conservancy, joins the show to discuss his organization’s new report detailing the 40-year history of peticide pollution in the riverand what needs to be done to restore it.
THE LANDSCAPE: Swimming upstream with Trout Unlimited
Kate and Aaron are joined by Trout Unlimited CEO Chris Wood, who has been with TU for twenty years, following a career as chief policy director at the U.S. Forest Service during the Clinton administration. Chris talks about how an influx of federal funding for ecosystem restoration is supercharging the group’s work reconnecting streams and rivers, as well as how his group is engaging in legislative mining reform.
MARKETPLACE: The worth of water
The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American West. Millions of people rely on it to live. But we’re using more water than the river has to give, and it’s already lost trillions of gallons to rising temperatures. Meanwhile, rampant growth and water-intensive farming have depleted groundwater supplies.In this special, we visit places across the West that must fundamentally rethink how water is divided up and used, and we search for solutions that could help communities around the world adapt to a drier future.
TALKING UNDER WATER: What utilities need to know about cybersecurity
In this episode of Talking Under Water, the hosts discuss how the Water Coalition Against PFAS testified on Capitol Hill during a PFAS hearing; share news about California’s Department of Water Resources completing a groundwater mapping project; and the White House’s plans to work with state administrations to address cyber risk in the water industry. Finally, this week’s interview is with Andrew Ginter, vice president of industrial security for Waterfall Security Solutions. Ginter talks about cybersecurity risk and what utilities need to think about when upgrading systems to smart technology.
Sunday video
A fighting chance: Conserving and restoring Klamath wetlands
The Klamath Basin on the California-Oregon border has historically been home to a vast array of interconnected wetlands. These wetlands have long provided vital benefits for nature and people, ranging from water storage and filtration, flood protection, carbon storage, and important refuge for a diverse array of birds and other wildlife species. Over time, however, these wetlands have almost entirely been lost through damming and draining. We are excited to share “A Fighting Chance,” a short film that answers key questions about why conserving and restoring wetlands is so important, what we can learn from the birds that depend on them, and how local communities can be part of the conservation solution. Produced by the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership. For more information and to get involved, please visit: www.PointBlue.org/KlamathWetlands
Welcome to Salmon Country: California’s Central Valley
“The Central Valley has a rich salmon culture. Join us as we talk with community members and learn how they connect with Central Valley salmon. Salmon have been here for millions of years. They have been central to the culture and economy of Indigenous people since time immemorial. They still are to this day. In the mid-to-late 1800s, European settlers exploited West Coast salmon in excess, and overharvest continued into the 1970s. As native salmon runs declined, hatchery programs replaced the native runs. Meanwhile, impacts from industry, agriculture, mining, forestry, and urban development filled floodplains, dredged and channelized rivers, contaminated water, removed streamside forests, and built dams, blocking the habitat salmon need to spawn and rear. Together with partners and community members, we are working to ensure salmon are a vibrant contributor to a thriving Central Valley. Where they are valued as a part of our culture, their important role in our ecosystem, for the way they support jobs, recreation, and feed our families.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Klamath wetlands conservation
“The Klamath Basin on the California-Oregon border has historically been home to a vast array of interconnected wetlands. These wetlands have long provided vital benefits for nature and people, ranging from water storage and filtration, flood protection, carbon storage, and important refuge for a diverse array of birds and other wildlife species. Over time, however, these wetlands have almost entirely been lost through damming and draining. And as climate change continues to fuel longer, more frequent, and more severe droughts, there is less water available than ever before for the remaining wetlands–most of which exist within the Klamath National Wildlife Refuge System managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s critical that we work together to strike a balance by conserving existing wetlands and restoring degraded wetlands whenever and wherever possible. … ” Continue reading from Point Blue Conservation Service.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
‘She’s full and she’s beautiful:’ Lake Shasta six feet from the top and near capacity
“Already fuller this year than it was at this time a year ago, Lake Shasta continues to fill, creeping toward the top ― sometimes rising just inches a day. But by early May, the lake level is expected to stop rising and the long draw-down of the lake will begin again and continue through the summer. The lake is expected to reach about 5 feet from full sometime in early May, according to Michael Burke, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates Shasta Dam. As of Friday, the lake was 6 feet from the top, which is when the water level reaches 1,067 in elevation, according to the bureau. People visiting Lake Shasta and Shasta Dam on Friday were in awe of the changes that had taken place in the lake over the past two years. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
Yuba River flowing high and cold with broken pipes unable to divert water
“The weather is getting warmer and our rivers are looking more beautiful than ever from our wet winter, but cold water temperatures from snow runoff bring danger. The Yuba River is especially high right now due to two broken pipes that can no longer divert water. A lot of people might have the same idea: the weather is warm, so why not check out the river? But for now, it might be best to enjoy the beauty with your eyes rather than go for a swim. “This year might be different because of the canal problems,” said Yuba River State Park visitor Tracie Hicks. “It’s really high today and fast.” … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
BAY AREA
Bay Area community members, lawmakers push for funding to restore tidal marsh to help with flooding
“The San Francisco Bay could experience a foot of water in sea level rise by 2050 if high emissions continue, according to the State of California’s Sea-Level Rise Guidance Report. There is a push for major spending to control flooding in the Bay Area before that scenario plays out – and one of the proposed solutions is tidal marsh. Like many Pacific Islanders living around East Palo Alto, the shoreline is a spiritual place to Anthony Tongia and Violet Saena. According to the USDA Forest Service, more than 80 percent of the San Francisco Bay’s original tidal wetlands have been altered or displaced. This has impacted habitats and species that live along the shoreline. It also partially led to recurring flooding in several areas along the Bay. Tongia and Saena are part of a community that recently helped restore tidal marsh to this section of Cooley Landing Park. Saena said people here are keenly aware of the threat to the shoreline from flooding and sea level rise. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
CENTRAL COAST
Army Corps seeks public comments on Pajaro levee environmental document
“As work prepares to begin on the systemwide rebuild of the Pajaro River levee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently conducted an environmental analysis for design refinements for the start of the project along Corralitos Creek in Watsonville. Moreover, the Army Corps is seeking public input on this phase of the project and will accept comments through May 17. The breach of the levee which led to the flooding of the town of Pajaro last year prompted a need to expedite the reconstruction of the 75-year-old levee system, and work is expected to begin in late summer or early fall. One phase of this project concerns Reach 6 of the levee, which spans Corralitos Creek from Green Valley Road to East Lake Avenue and Highway 152. Two months before the levee breach, the creek overflowed on New Year’s Eve 2022 which resulted in extensive flooding in the College Road and Orchard Park areas. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
From failed housing development to long-awaited groundwater bank, McAllister Ranch saga continues
“More than 13 years after buying half of the 2,100-acre McAllister Ranch – a poster child of the 2007 housing crash – out of foreclosure for use as a groundwater bank, Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District agreed earlier this month to sell its remaining share to Buena Vista Water Storage District. Buena Vista will buy this last section, about 297 acres, for $12.6 million, according to the agreement. Rosedale-Rio Bravo and Buena Vista paid $11 million each in 2011 to buy the Ranch, which had been slated as a 6,000-home, high-end development complete with a Greg Norman-designed golf course before the housing market imploded. The ranch stretches along Panama Lane west of Buena Vista Road. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
MEETING NOTES: Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa Water Storage District
“Main topic: Concern over proposed new well permitting regulations. Steve Torigiani, the district’s attorney, said Assembly Bill 2079, which would add new requirements to agricultural well permitting, could pose problems for the district. Torigiani expressed three main issues with the bill. First, he said, Kern County would not be able to issue a well permit if the well is located near a domestic well. Second, if the well is near an area that has subsided (or sunk) more than half a foot since Jan 1, 2015, a permit could not be issued. Third, new wells must be screened for their potential impacts on the area’s “minimum threshold.” Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, water agencies must set minimum water table levels, called minimum thresholds, in order not to over pump aquifers. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SoCal steelhead trout listed endangered by state wildlife officials
“Southern California steelhead trout are now listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act after a vote from state wildlife officials Thursday. Why it matters: Any part or product of the fish cannot be imported or exported out of California, killed, possessed, or sold without proper permits. State agencies are also required to protect the species and its habitat when approving projects. For example, adding a fish passage structure could turn barriers like a flood channel or Metrolink project into a bridge for the species. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Commentary: Metropolitan Water District soaks taxpayers with higher property taxes
Susan Shelley writes, “In what may be an illegal tax increase, the board of the Metropolitan Water District just approved a two-year budget that doubles the property tax it collects in its six-county service area. MWD is a water wholesaler with 26 cities and water retailers as its customers. Through those entities, MWD supplies water to about 19 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. The new budget raises the wholesale rates by 8.5% in 2025 and then by 8.5% again in 2026. The rates for treated water will go up 11% and then 10%. Metropolitan said it has to raise rates and taxes to cover its operating costs because they’ve been selling less water, first because of drought, and then because of rain. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
Big Bear: Who owns our water? Locals, Redlands farmers all get a cut
“With all the talk around Replenish Big Bear and the water it would produce, one question that comes up is, who owns the water in Big Bear? There is no simple answer to the question. The Big Bear Area Wastewater Agency, Big Bear Community Services District, Big Bear Municipal Water District, Big Bear Department of Water and Power and Bear Valley Mutual Water Company all play a part in the watershed we live and play in, the Santa Ana River Watershed. The Santa Ana River Watershed encompasses approximately 2,700 square miles. Big Bear Lake empties into Bear Creek, which eventually makes its way to the Santa Ana River. There are three dams along this direct route to the Pacific Ocean: the Big Bear Dam, the Seven Oaks Dam, is about 8 miles northeast of Redlands, and the Prado Dam near Corona. All are downstream benefactors of Big Bear Valley water. … ” Read more from the Big Bear Grizzly.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Imperial Irrigation District applauds Garcia Bill to support water conservation efforts
“State legislation intended to facilitate water conservation in the Imperial Valley to bolster the Colorado River and unlock $175 million in federal funds for Salton Sea projects was heard in front of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on April 9th where it received unanimous approval, marking a significant step forward in the bill’s progress through the legislative process. The bill sponsored by the Imperial Irrigation District and carried by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia will facilitate IID’s component of the landmark Lower Basin Plan between Arizona, California, and Nevada to conserve three million acre-feet of water by 2026 — the largest water conservation effort in the history of the Colorado River. Last fall, the U.S. Department of the Interior endorsed the plan as the preferred alternative to operate the Colorado River system for the duration of current rules that manage the river and its reservoirs. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
‘Painful but necessary’: San Dieguito Water District to hike water prices
“If you’re under the San Dieguito Water District, your water rates will increase by mid-summer following a unanimous board vote Wednesday evening. Despite approval across the board, board member and Encinitas Mayor called the move one both “painful, but necessary.” Starting July 1, water rates will go up 9 percent, then up to 12 percent for the next fiscal year running from 2025 to 2026. Prices will go up again in the following fiscal year starting in 2026. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
Warmest weather since 2023 to build over Southwest into the new week
“After waves of cool weather by way of Pacific storms held temperatures back in March to early April, the first widespread and long-lasting surge of heat will be felt over the interior southwestern United States into the new week, AccuWeather meteorologists say. The region, as long-term natives are aware, is known for its searing heat and relentless sunshine most days from the late spring to midautumn. However, visitors in the region may be a little surprised at how hot it can get this early in the season, and the stretch through the middle of the week will be just that. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Multiple plans proposed for post-2026 Colorado River Operations
“As the Bureau of Reclamation looks to prepare new rules for the Colorado River, states across the West and other interested stakeholders have proposed plans for the river’s future. These alternative plans aim to shape the operation of the Colorado River after many of the current rules expire in 2026. In April, a coalition of conservation groups including Audubon, Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and others submitted a plan for managing the Colorado River. Known as the Cooperative Conservation Alternative, the proposal seeks to broaden management efforts on the Colorado River to be more inclusive of various interests, Tribes, and the environment. Its top priorities include stabilizing water storage and avoiding crisis-to-crisis management, making mitigation and environmental stewardship part of future operations, and creating a Conservation Reserve, which would replace an existing conservation program known as Intentionally Created Surplus. … ” Read more from the Water Resources Research Center.
For the Colorado River and beyond, a new market could save the day
““The Colorado River, “the lifeblood of the West,” is in trouble. Decades of overuse and drought have sharply reduced its water supply, threatening an ecosystem that supports 40 million people and 5.5 million acres of farmland in nearby states and parts of northern Mexico. Steep cutbacks in water use are critical. But the seven states that rely on the Colorado River can’t agree on how much less each of them needs to take over the long run, in large part because it’s not entirely clear who holds what legal rights to the river and who should get priority over others to its available water. If the states can’t agree, the federal government is reportedly threatening to make the hard choices for them. Paul Milgrom, a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR), has encountered intractable problems like this before. In 2020, he won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his pioneering work creating markets for goods and services that can’t be sold in traditional ways. Water management, he says, is ripe for a market fix — not just for the Colorado River Basin but around the world as water shortages, made worse by climate change, become a defining issue of the 21st century. It’s no longer enough to leave decisions around water use up to federal, state, and local governments alone. … ” Read more from Stanford News.
Legislature moves to overturn Phoenix-area homebuilding freeze despite water concerns
“A bill to overturn a state ban on new subdivisions in parts of the Phoenix area and Pinal County that rely on groundwater is moving through the Legislature. At the same time, developers and homebuilders are challenging the state groundwater study that led to the Phoenix-area ban. The bill would require the Arizona Department of Water Resources to approve certificates saying that nearly 90 developments totaling hundreds of thousands of homes in far-flung, suburban Phoenix have an assured water supply lasting 100 years. It would also open up for development nearly 40 other projects, carrying a smaller but still sizable number of homes, in Pinal County. There, state approvals of new subdivisions on groundwater have been frozen in most areas since 2019. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
Sinema working to strengthen Arizona’s water future, drought resilience with new bill
“Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Drought Resilient Infrastructure Act – new legislation strengthening water security in Arizona and across the West by authorizing entities like the Salt River Project to store more water behind their dams and other infrastructure. Fellow Arizona Senator Mark Kelly introduced the legislation. “As Arizona faces record drought conditions, we’re working together to deliver innovative solutions securing our water future. Our new bill expands our water storage capabilities to ensure a lasting water supply for generations to come,”said Sinema. The Sinema-backed Drought Resilient Infrastructure Act provides the Army Corps with new authorities and programs, as well as modifies existing authorities, to strengthen drought resilience … ” Read more from Senator Kyrsten Sinema.
In national water news this weekend …
China’s cities are sinking below sea level, study finds
“As China’s cities grow, they are also sinking. An estimated 16 percent of the country’s major cities are losing more than 10 millimeters of elevation per year and nearly half are losing more than 3 millimeters per year, according to a new study published in the journal Science. These amounts may seem small, but they accumulate quickly. In 100 years, a quarter of China’s urban coastal land could sit below sea level because of a combination of subsidence and sea level rise, according to the study. “It’s a national problem,” said Robert Nicholls, a climate scientist and civil engineer at the University of East Anglia who reviewed the paper. Dr. Nicholls added that, to his knowledge, this study is the first to measure subsidence across many urban areas at once using state-of-the-art radar data from satellites. … ” Continue reading the New York Times.
