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On the calendar today …
- LEG HEARING: Senate Committee on Environmental Quality beginning at 9am. Click here for more details.
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Proposed Voluntary Agreements related to Sacramento/Delta Update to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan Day 1, beginning at 9am. The purpose of the workshop is for the VA parties to provide a detailed overview of the VA proposal, receive input and answer questions from Board members, and receive input from the public. Topics today include Integration of VA Flow and Non flow Measures and Flow Measure Accounting. Click here for the full meeting notice.
- WEBINAR: Recharge for Farms, Nature, and People from 1pm to 1pm. Join Sustainable Conservation for a panel discussion on the many benefits of groundwater recharge and how we can boost ecosystem recovery and protect community drinking water. We hope you can join our California water experts to explore what the recent historic wet years mean for groundwater and how multi-benefit recharge is vital for building a thriving and climate-resilient California. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
State Water Project increases projected water supply allocation to 40%
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a further increase in the State Water Project (SWP) water supply allocation forecast for 2024. The forecasted allocation has increased to 40 percent, up from 30 percent last month. The State Water Project provides critical water supplies to 27 million Californians and farmers served by 29 public water agencies. Today’s increase would provide an additional 420,000 acre-feet of water, enough water to serve an estimated 1.5 million households for a year. Today’s allocation update is based on an 800,000 acre-foot increase in storage at Lake Oroville and the latest snow survey data from the all-important April 1 measurements. April 1 is typically when California sees peak snowpack and the start of the snowmelt season. Statewide, the snowpack remains near average at 99 percent of average for this date. The spring forecast in the latest snow runoff report, known as Bulletin 120, also anticipates above average runoff this spring. … ” Continue reading this press release from DWR.
California increases water allocation after wet winter, but fish protections limit pumping
“With runoff from this year’s snow and rain boosting the levels of California’s reservoirs, state water managers on Tuesday announced plans to increase deliveries of supplies from the State Water Project to 40% of full allotments, up from 30% last month. The increased allocation, which had been widely expected, means that suppliers serving 27 million Californians, as well as some farming areas, will have substantially more water available to use and store this year. But the Department of Water Resources also said officials have had to limit pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta this year because of environmental protections for native fish. Although this year has brought average wet conditions, the agency said its ability to move water south through the system of aqueducts and reservoirs has been “impacted by the presence of threatened and endangered fish species” near the state’s pumping facilities in the south delta. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
State Water Contractors respond to updated allocation of State Water Project supplies for 2024
Statement from Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors: ““While we are glad to see this modest allocation increase for public water agencies who rely on SWP supplies, it is still far below the amount of water we need. Water deliveries should be far higher in a good water year like we’ve had — there is a lot of water in the system, California reservoirs are full, and runoff from snowpack melt is still to come. Today’s modest allocation highlights just how difficult it is to operate within current regulatory constraints and with infrastructure in need of modernization. Even in a good water year, moving water effectively and efficiently under the current regime is difficult. … ” Continue reading this statement from the State Water Contractors.
SEE ALSO:
- Water allocation bumped to 40% as species-related pumping restrictions take hold, from The Business Journal
Tire toxicity faces fresh scrutiny after salmon die-offs
“For decades, concerns about automobile pollution have focused on what comes out of the tailpipe. Now, researchers and regulators say, we need to pay more attention to toxic emissions from tires as vehicles roll down the road. At the top of the list of worries is a chemical called 6PPD, which is added to rubber tires to help them last longer. When tires wear on pavement, 6PPD is released. It reacts with ozone to become a different chemical, 6PPD-q, which can be extremely toxic — so much so that it has been linked to repeated fish kills in Washington state. The trouble with tires doesn’t stop there. Tires are made primarily of natural rubber and synthetic rubber, but they contain hundreds of other ingredients, often including steel and heavy metals such as copper, lead, cadmium, and zinc. … ” Read more from California Healthline.
What’s being done to save California salmon as populations continue to decline
“From the Sacramento River to the coast, salmon populations have struggled to survive, and fishing for salmon in California has been canceled for the second season in a row, marking the third season in the state’s history a fishing ban has been in place. The heart of the problem: dams and climate change. The 2024 season cancelation was announced on April 10, after the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) acted unanimously to recommend the closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries through the end of the year, repeating recommendations made in 2023 to close the fisheries. This decision is a blow to salmon industries and fishermen like Rickey Acosta as many struggle to find alternatives. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
SEE ALSO: California Cancels Salmon Season for Second Consecutive Year, from Field & Stream
CDFW warns dog owners to be mindful of salmon poisoning disease
“Dog owners in California are reminded to take precautions to protect their pets from Salmon Poisoning Disease. Salmon Poisoning Disease is a potentially fatal condition seen only in dogs after they eat certain types of raw or cold smoked fish like trout and salmon that are infected with a bacteria-like organism, Neorickettsia helminthoeca, which is transmitted by the parasitic flatworm (or “fluke”) Nanophyetes salmincola. Nanophyetes salmincola occurs naturally in waters of northern California and most of the north state can be considered the native range for the fluke. But dogs throughout the state are susceptible. Dog owners are advised to be cautious and to keep their dogs away from salmon, steelhead, trout and other freshwater fish carcasses. The parasite cannot survive in cooked fish, is not harmful to humans and does not affect pets other than dogs. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish & Wildlife.
Probation under SGMA will cost the region, farmers say
“Farmers in the critically overdrafted Tulare Lake Subbasin in the San Joaquin Valley are bracing for escalating costs as state and local agencies assess fees on wells and groundwater pumped. For the first time, the California State Water Resources Control Board last week placed the subbasin on probationary status as part of regulations under the state’s landmark 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. The decision was based on a report from water board staff that concluded the joint plan submitted by the five local agencies failed to show how actions would address critical overdraft by limiting groundwater pumping, land subsidence and impacts to drinking water. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
What are baseflow droughts—and why should we care?
“Last fall, UC Riverside’s Dr. Hoori Ajami co-authored a study looking at how long-term droughts are impacting river flows across the US. We asked Dr. Ajami and The Nature Conservancy’s lead river scientist, Dr. Bronwen Stanford, to tell us about the study and its implications. Q: First, what is a “baseflow drought” and how is it distinct from a precipitation drought? A: Hoori Ajami: Water in a stream has two sources: precipitation and groundwater. “Baseflow” is groundwater’s contribution to a stream’s flow. We were specifically interested to see how a river’s baseflow changes after a precipitation drought. When we talk about “drought,” we typically mean a precipitation drought, but there are different types of droughts, including baseflow and groundwater droughts. Any precipitation changes can impact our water balance, which includes groundwater and baseflows. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Long-term forecasts hint at wet storm hitting California in early May
“Long-term weather models are hinting a wet storm could sweep California in early May, but forecasters warn that people shouldn’t arrange their plans around this potential system just yet. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center told SFGATE that some models show the storm could generally bring a chance of 0.5 to 1 inch of rain across the entire state. An inch of rain is not a big deal in the winter, but in May, it’s a little less typical. “You get into May and June in California, and it’s the drier time of year, but rain isn’t unheard of,” said Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster with the prediction center. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Mild spring pattern to continue across California through early May. Plus, thoughts on summer to come…
Dr. Daniel Swain writes, “The last month or so has been, for the most part, a relatively damp and cool period across California. The coolness has been especially pronounced in coastal southern California, where are few observing sites have seen the coldest such 30-day period in several decades. Of course, as has come up in some lively discussion in the Weather West comments section, part of this is a symptom of “shifting baseline syndrome:” California, even during spring, is considerably (around 2.5-3F) warmer than it used to be a century ago. Yet much of that spring warming occurred prior to 1990–unlike other calendar seasons, where regional warming has accelerated over the past ~30 years and where recent years have shattered centennial records (repeatedly). This has, notably, not happened in spring–and I don’t necessarily have a clear answer as to why at this point. … ” Continue reading at Weather West.
Students create games to teach about safe water’
“Ensuring people have access to reliable, clean water is no game. Except when it is. UC Merced’s Secure Water Future interns, administrative assistant and coordinator joined the university’s Game Development Club to host the “Aqua Arcade Game Jam” in early April. Dozens of students from UC Merced and Merced College competed to develop a game that included an aspect of hydrology education. Teams of five people or fewer had 48 hours to create their games. At the end of the weekend, eight teams submitted game entries. All teams submitted creative products, but one emerged as the winner. The winning team (UC Merced students Sean Thomas Edison Grant, Richie Friedland, Serge LoBach and Damian Eaton), “Remediation,” created a game with the same title. … ” Read more from UC Merced.
Fresno State makes waves in water education with new minor
“Fresno State is introducing a groundbreaking new minor, in collaboration with the California Water Institute, focusing on multiple facets of the water industry for students to add to their educational plan. “It requires students to take classes in several different departments, and even different colleges at the university. As such, this is a fairly novel minor, for we have almost nothing else at Fresno State that requires students to take courses from several different colleges, at least other than the GE curriculum,” said Dr. Thomas Holyoke, a political science professor at Fresno State. “We want students to understand water from the agricultural point of view, but also from the environmental point of view, and to know how it impacts people and society all through our Valley, through California and throughout the American West.” … ” Read more from Fresno State News.
California’s new 1600-acre state park set to open this summer
“Californians can soon enjoy a new state park at the heart of the Central Valley, the first in about a decade. The Dos Rios preserve, about 90 minutes east of San Francisco, is a lush floodplain filled with green grass, shrubs and native trees like cottonwood, willows and valley oaks. Visitors can hike through miles of trail beginning June 12. The park is located eight miles east of Modesto near the convergence of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers. Until about a decade ago, Dos Rios was a dairy and cattle ranch owned by farmers who grew tomatoes and almonds. But year after year, floods swept through, damaging the crops. In 2012, the owners sold all 1,600 acres to River Partners, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to conservation. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO: What to know about California’s new state park, a scenic green space where two rivers meet, from the LA Times
Biden-Harris Administration provides more than $11 million for water sustainability and efficiency as part of Investing in America agenda
“The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an $11.1 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support collaborative planning and design projects that improve water sustainability and efficiency. The 34 grants through Reclamation’s WaterSMART program will support projects in 11 states and Guam. Funding for these grants is provided through President’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.“This important investment in the planning and design of water-related projects is focused on improving water management and infrastructure to enhance water supply reliability and promote sustainable practices in water management,” said Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Through historic resources provided through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we have the opportunity to invest in projects like these to combat the impacts of long-term drought for current and future generations.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation. A lot awarded for projects here in California. Check out the project list.
Bad air quality, smoky sky at forefront of 2024 wildfire forecast
“Wildfires in North America made international headlines in 2023 as millions of people were cast under thick clouds of smoke from massive infernos. Air quality plummeted to dangerous levels and transformed famous skylines into views more akin to an apocalyptic horror movie. The 2024 wildfire season is right around the corner, and although AccuWeather meteorologists are not expecting a record-shattering season, it may still bring air quality risks similar to what was experienced last year across the continent. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
And lastly … Can diverting the Mississippi River save the drought-stricken west? 5 better alternatives
This should be worth a chuckle, if nothing else … In case you missed it, the American Southwest has been going through a drought for the past 24 years. Tree ring and geologic data show it is the worst drought in the region for 1200 years! Lake Mead is down to 32% capacity and is projected to drop another 17 feet by the end of the year. It only has about 100 feet to go before Hoover Dam will no longer be able to produce electricity for its 1.3 million customers in three states. And the 20 million+ people who depend on the lake’s water will be increasingly thirsty. … So, if diverting the Mississippi isn’t the best solution, what is? The answer is undoubtedly a combination of things rather than one massive geoengineering effort. Some solutions might benefit a single state, while others might help the whole region. So, none of these is a silver bullet, but could they together see the West through this crisis? … Read the full story at Wall Street 24/7.
In commentary today …
Newsom’s 2023 California Water Plan: Supplying imaginary water to meet an insatiable demand
Sarah Vardaro writes, “On April 2, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of the 2023 update of the California Water Plan (Water Plan). Governor Newsom announced the Water Plan at a press conference held at Phillips Station in the high Sierra, just after this year’s snowpack was measured there at 113 percent of average. At the press conference, Governor Newsom stated that the Water Plan contains a new strategy to help California adapt to future cycles of extreme drought and extreme precipitation. At the core of this strategy is the plan to build Sites Reservoir for more storage and the Delta tunnel for more conveyance. The Water Plan also supports the weakening of regulations that could be used to keep more water in rivers to protect public trust resources. The update of the Water Plan offers no reckoning with the fact that the state constantly promises and delivers more water than falls from the sky or is left in the ground. Rather, the Water Plan outlines a strategy that will continue the same overallocation of the state’s water resources that has led to the near collapse of ecosystems in the Bay-Delta, its tributaries, and beyond. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Sites Reservoir project is a huge boondoggle with harmful effects
Max Gomberg, senior policy consultant and board member of the California Water Impact Network, writes, “When Californians voted for Proposition 1 in 2014, they had every reason to expect sound investments in climate-resilient water projects. And all but one of the projects selected to receive the proposition’s $2.7 billion in water supply funding fulfill those criteria. They replenish groundwater basins and enhance the storage capacity of existing reservoirs to better withstand droughts — benefits that are realized by all people across the state. Unfortunately, the one project that does not measure up — the Sites Reservoir Project — would be publicly funded to the tune of nearly $900 million. That’s fully a third of the entire water storage budget. The federal government has also pitched in another $200 million in taxpayer funds, bringing the total to over $1 billion in subsidies. With that degree of public funding, one would expect a level of benefits equivalent to a national park. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Using bad math, water utilities fight to delay progress in tackling ‘forever chemicals’
“Many of the nation’s water utilities have been trying to weaken or delay Environmental Protection Agency final rules addressing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. In recent weeks, the EPA finalized rules placing limits on the amount of six PFAS in drinking water and designating PFOA and PFOS – two of the most notorious PFAS – as hazardous substances, promises made by President Joe Biden during his election campaign. For the drinking water rule, the EPA’s economic analysis calculates that the benefits of the rule – including fewer deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease – exceed the costs. The EPA also anticipates significant benefits from “avoided negative developmental, cardiovascular, liver, immune, endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, musculoskeletal, and carcinogenic effects as a result of reductions in the levels of the regulated PFAS and other co-removed contaminants.” … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group.
In eco-minded California, there’s still no constitutional right to clean air and water
The LA Times editorial board writes, “California may be a leader in the fight against climate change, but the state is years, even decades, behind other states when it comes to granting environmental rights to its citizens. While a handful of other state constitutions, including those of New York and Pennsylvania, declare the people’s rights to clean air, water and a healthy environment, California’s does not. That could change as soon as November. Under a proposal moving through the Legislature, voters would decide whether to add one sentence to the state constitution’s Declaration of Rights: “The people shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Do Californians have the right to a clean environment?, podcast from KCRW
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath allocation falls short despite storms
“Irrigators in the Klamath Basin straddling the Oregon-California state line expressed “deep disappointment” over a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water allocation that fell 35% below the estimated need despite this season’s normal precipitation. The bureau of mid-April announced the initial 2024 allocation for the Klamath Project would be 230,000 acre-feet from Upper Klamath Lake, leaving open the possibility that water supplies could be increased later. The shortfall will leave some farmers without surface water for the fifth straight year, Klamath Water Users Association officials complain. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Historical Society presents program on Klamath River dams
“The early history of the development of hydroelectric plants on the Klamath River will be examined in a presentation scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Klamath County Museum. The program will be offered during a meeting of the Klamath County Historical Society in the back meeting room of the museum. The presentation is free and open to anyone interested. Tim Hemstreet, vice president of renewable energy development for PacifiCorp, will describe the role the dams played in expansion of the electric grid in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Four major hydroelectric plants were constructed on the Klamath River by the California Oregon Power Company, a forerunner of PacifiCorp. All four dams are now in the process of being removed. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Removing lead cables from Lake Tahoe: it’s the mission of grassroots organizers
“Emerald Bay is known for its beauty, with an island castle at its center, and an underwater state park full of sunken boats. But that’s not all that lies beneath the water’s surface. Two defunct, lead-clad telecommunications cables run across the mouth of the bay and along Tahoe’s southwestern shores. An ongoing court battle and investigation by the Wall Street Journal have brought the cables into the public eye. The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance has sued AT&T to have the cables removed, while competing studies by AT&T and WSJ resulted in drastically different findings on whether the lines pose any risk to the lake and its visitors. … ” Read more from KTVN.
Tahoe Artesian Water is giving back to the Tahoe Fund with every case
“Those who love Tahoe now have a refreshing way to give back to the environment. Starting this spring, Tahoe Artesian Water is donating $1 from every case of still or sparkling water sold to the Tahoe Fund’s $1 for Tahoe program. “We love partnering with local companies that are passionate about the Tahoe environment,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “With plastic bottle bans taking effect in the Tahoe region, now is the perfect time to choose glass bottles or cans from Tahoe Artesian whenever you can’t get Tahoe tap!” Tahoe Artesian Water is high quality, naturally alkaline and sustainable. Sourced from a family owned artesian well in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Tahoe Artesian Water spends decades being naturally filtered through the earthen layers of the mountains. It is bottled to order in Eco Glass high in the Tahoe National Forest. … ” Read more from the Sierra Sun.
Placer County Water Agency asks raw water customers for voluntary conservation due to PG&E water delivery problem
“Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) is asking customers who purchase untreated water for irrigation purposes to consider voluntarily reducing or suspending use of that water for the next several months. The request results from damages at a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) facility that delivers water to PCWA from Lake Spaulding. At its April 18 board meeting, the PCWA Board of Directors approved a variance that opens the conservation opportunity to the smallest raw-water customers. Previously, only customers purchasing at least 2 miner’s inches of raw water could opt for a temporary, seasonal reduction. “This is an unforeseen situation due to conditions beyond our control at a PG&E facility,” said Robert Dugan, chair of the PCWA Board of Directors. “We know this may cause a hardship to many of our agricultural customers, especially as we head into the hot months.” … ” Read more from YubaNet.
BAY AREA
Orinda: Subcommittee tackles infrastructure and drainage problems for private roads
“It was standing room only in the Sarge Littlehale Community Room on April 17 when Mayor Darlene Gee and Vice Mayor Latika Malkani headed the first meeting of a newly-formed ad-hoc Infrastructure Subcommittee. The plan was to evaluate the various options available for integrating and maintaining the community infrastructure and drainage on Orinda’s many private roads. Gee – who is a Civil Engineer by profession – opened the meeting by admitting that the current situation comprises “a long series of problems that are not easy to solve”, but added that she is “a strong believer that just because it’s not easy [doesn’t mean] we shouldn’t be working on it”. She said that in the past, the City had spent “quite a bit of time talking about private roads, but we’ve never really spent so much time talking about private drainage, which is every bit of challenge for you and your neighbors”. … ” Read more from the La Morinda Weekly.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Woodlake residents sue government entities over flood damage; glad to see progress on infrastructure projects
“More than a year after floods devastated the small town of Woodlake in Tulare County, residents finally feel hopeful about the future thanks to new infrastructure projects and an ongoing lawsuit they are bringing against local governments and other agencies. In March of 2023, homes in northwest Woodlake were hit with floods after historic storms and snowpack brought a deluge onto the valley floor. It took many residents months and tens of thousands of dollars to repair their homes. Residents banded together and took legal action against what they said was a government failure to properly prepare and respond to the floods. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Along the Colorado River …
Southern Nevada Water Authority offers Las Vegas residents incentive to get rid of grass
“For the last 20 years, the Southern Nevada Water Authority has been giving Las Vegas residents cash for each square foot of grass they convert to a desert landscape. That incentive went up just for 2024 from $3 a square foot to $5 a square foot of grass converted. “It’s a one-year thing so it’s projects that have to be started and finished in 2024,” Toby Bickmore with the Southern Nevada Water Authority explained. He said it is the highest the incentive has ever been and likely will be. “The average conversion is roughly about one thousand square feet so the average rebate is about $5,000 from the time they apply to where we say okay you can start is usually about three weeks of time.” … ” Read more from KLAS.
Alfalfa is not Arizona’s water-use enemy. Why we grow so much of it here
“That’s not just a load of hay you see rumbling by on Western highways during summer months. Those hay bales form the foundation of rural agriculture in many Western communities. Alfalfa is a major crop across the Western U.S., covering more than 6 million acres, according to USDA data for 2022. It is highly valued for its nutritional content and is primarily used as feed for cattle, horses, sheep, goats and rabbits. Unfortunately, in recent years alfalfa has become a favorite target, with news stories and opinion pieces criticizing the use of Colorado River water to grow “animal feed” and that animal agriculture, particularly beef and dairy, results in overuse of water resources. Despite this criticism, alfalfa is an efficient water user, provides environmental benefits, and is a significant part of our food chain. … ” Read more from the Arizona Republic.
Arizona: Groundwater regulation weaknesses exploited by industrial-scale agriculture
“Elaine Bailey stood at the microphone at the Sunsites Community Center in southeastern Arizona, voice shaking as she described the massive scale of new agricultural development next to her property. The nearby fields have drawn so much water from the surrounding area, she said, that her well has gone dry. “Here we are, all these good people fighting for our lives, our homes, our everything,” Bailey said. “Because if the water goes, our homes aren’t worth anything. That’s the reality. And I just don’t understand how the state can even allow it.” “I don’t, either,” replied Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who visited the small community in February to hear residents’ concerns about the groundwater in Sulphur Springs Valley—home to the Willcox and Douglas groundwater basins. … ” Read more from the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.
SEE ALSO: Our methods: Groundwater regulation weakness exploited by large farms, from the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Are low-water crops a realistic way to cut back on Colorado water use? 10 southwestern farmers are trying to find out.
“This summer, 10 farmers in southwestern Colorado are experimenting with low-water-use crops, like wheat and barley, as a way to cut their water use in times of drought. But their hopes aren’t high that the crops will become a dominant part of their business anytime soon. “There’s just not a big enough market for it,” said Bob Neely, a farmer in Montezuma County. Colorado, which supplies water to its residents, 19 states and Mexico, is facing a water-stressed future. Its cities are replacing lawns with drought-resistant landscaping. Its water officials say every drop counts, and are in tense negotiations with other states about how to handle painful water cuts in the future. Farmers are being paid to temporarily reduce their water use, sometimes by switching to crops that need less water or by halting planting altogether. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Warming climate is putting more metals into Colorado’s mountain streams
“Warming temperatures are causing a steady rise in copper, zinc and sulfate in the waters of Colorado mountain streams affected by acid rock drainage. Concentrations of these metals have roughly doubled in these alpine streams over the past 30 years, a new study finds, presenting a concern for ecosystems, downstream water quality and mining remediation. Natural chemical weathering of bedrock is the source of the rising acidity and metals, but the ultimate driver of the trend is climate change, the report found. “Heavy metals are a real challenge for ecosystems,” said lead author Andrew Manning, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver. “Some are quite toxic. We are seeing regional, statistically significant trends in copper and zinc, two key metals that are commonly a problem in Colorado. It’s not ambiguous and it’s not small.” … ” Read more from AGU.
In national water news today …
Biden sets new target to protect vast US water sources
“The Biden administration on Tuesday set a new goal to protect vast U.S. water sources, from rivers to wetlands, as part of a series of announcements marking Earth Week. The administration plans to announce a new goal of protecting, restoring and reconnecting 8 million acres (3.2 million hectares) of threatened wetlands and 100,000 miles (161,000 km) of rivers and streams, according to White House documents. The White House, which is hosting a water summit on Tuesday, also plans to pledge $1 billion to deliver clean water to households on Native American land. … ” Read more from Reuters.
Biden admin vows to restore 8M acres of wetlands
“The Biden administration announced a goal Tuesday to protect and restore 8 million acres of wetlands over the next six years in an effort to counter development pressures and recently weakened federal regulations. The bold new target seeks to reverse the ongoing loss of U.S. wetlands, which help keep pollutants out of rivers and streams and act as a natural buffer against flooding. Over 60 percent of wetlands now lack protections under the Clean Water Act for the first time in decades after the Supreme Court curtailed the law’s scope last year. In addition to wetlands, the administration committed to “reconnect, restore and protect” 100,000 miles of rivers and streams nationwide by 2030, including by removing impediments such as dams and by restoring stream banks experiencing erosion. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Breaking down new rules about ‘forever chemicals’
“Cookware. Dental floss. Shampoo. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, can be found in those items and hundreds of other household products. Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they do not fully degrade, PFAS are resistant to heat, oil, grease and water. (One of the first uses of PFAS chemicals was as a nonstick agent in Teflon cookware in the 1940s.) But exposure to PFAS has been linked to cancer, liver damage and birth defects, among other health issues. Lisa Friedman, a reporter on the Climate desk at The New York Times, wrote about the new rules. In a recent conversation, Ms. Friedman discussed the whirlwind month in climate news, what could stall the implementation of the regulations and how her beat has evolved over 15 years. This interview has been edited and condensed. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Water Right Petitions for Temporary Urgency Changes in Mendocino and Sonoma Counties
NOTICE: Denial Without Prejudice of Water Quality Certification for Removal and Decommissioning of Kanaka Powerhouse for the Kanaka Hydroelectric Project License Surrender
