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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC WORKSHOP: Proposed Voluntary Agreements related to Sacramento/Delta Update to the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan 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 Governance and ParticipationEnforcement; Accountability, Transparency, and Implementation; and public comment. Click here for the full meeting notice.
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Delta Levee Maintenance Subventions Program, Army Corps of Engineers’ Levee Inspection Results for the Reclamation District 1602 – Del Puerto Levee System; Great Valley Grasslands Floodplain Restoration Project, Merced County; and Update on the development of the 2027 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
- MEETING: Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative from 10am to 5pm. Join the Department of Water Resources for the Drought Resilience Interagency & Partners (DRIP) Collaborative meeting. Members of the public will be able to observe the meeting and provide public comments in-person at the meeting location or remotely. Click here for more information.
On the calendar tomorrow …
- EVENT: Delta Waterway Cleanup from 12pm to 4pm on Sherman Island. The Delta Conservancy is teaming up with the Rio Vista Windsurfing Association and Sherman Island Kiteboarding Organization (RVWA-SIKO) for this cleanup. Click here for more information.
- GRA SJ VALLEY: SGMA Mitigation Plans & Networking at Summer Fox Brewing from 3pm to 5pm in Fresno. Join the GRA SJV Branch and Central Valley Water Professionals for a ‘Building a SGMA Mitigation Program’ workshop with an opportunity to network with fellow water industry folks to follow. We hope the event on the weekend and allow greater flexibility for those interested in the topic; however, we recognize weekends are for FUN and time with loved ones. That said, this event is family-friendly, and dogs are welcome at the facility. We will have activity-based toys for children and water bowls for dogs. Following the event, Summer Fox Brewing is hosting a vendor fair starting at 5pm. Feel free to stay after to enjoy! Click here to register.
Bay Delta Plan workshops …
Fishermen, Tribal members, and residents ask California Water Board to support science-based water plan, deny Voluntary Agreements
“A coalition of Tribal members, fishermen, and others from all over Northern California will rally and testify before the State Water Resources Control Board to urge them to deny a proposal to replace flow requirements in the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan) with agriculture-led voluntary flow agreements. Communities from the Klamath River to the South Delta have participated in the science-based Bay-Delta Plan process for almost 15 years and repeatedly seen voluntary agreements and local cooperative solutions in Delta tributary watersheds fail, leading to water quality and salmon crises. On the last day of the State Board Hearing on the Bay-Delta Voluntary Agreements, they will once again urge the Board to heed their warnings. “For a decade, California water agencies have promised a voluntary agreement to address the deteriorating health in Central Valley rivers and the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. Unfortunately, the process seems less focused on creating a credible agreement than on preventing the State Water Board from actually implementing a plan that recognizes the need for increased cold-water flows,” said Scott Artis, executive director of Golden State Salmon Association. … ” Continue reading this press release.
State hears feedback on controversial water plan
“As the California State Water Resources Control board meets at the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters for three days of discussion on its Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan Solano County water officials are there to speak in opposition to a course of action that could see the county’s water allocation from Lake Berryessa cut by 75 percent. Chris Lee and Alex Rabidoux of the Solano County Water Agency presented information regarding the growth of salmon populations in Putah Creek in recent years. The state has claimed that diminished river flows in these areas are harming fish habitats and are ecologically detrimental to the water system as a whole, but SCWA argues that Putah Creek is already a standout example of salmon repopulation. … ” Read more from the Vallejo Times-Herald.
The agreements to support healthy rivers and landscapes benefits all Californians
“The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) multi-day public workshop is underway, April 24-26 at the CalEPA Building in Sacramento. A broad, bipartisan coalition of industries and organizations support and encourage the State Water Board to approve the Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, as the approach for meeting the goals of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan Update. The Agreements between state, federal and local water agencies represent a collaborative and holistic approach to water management in the Delta and its tributaries that benefits the environment, agriculture, utilities, housing needs, and California’s economy. We have been working closely with the organizations representing these industries and their input has been very valuable to ensure the Agreements will benefit all of these important uses of water throughout California. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
In other California water news today …
‘Rivers in the sky’ have drenched California, yet even more extreme rains are possible
“For years, scientists have said that atmospheric rivers can either make or break the water supplies of thirsty California cities and farms. For the last two winters, a steady succession of these giant “rivers in the sky” have dumped record-breaking and drought-busting precipitation across the state, while simultaneously causing catastrophic floods, landslides, and dangerous blizzards. But now, new research has found that these recent atmospheric rivers pale in comparison to some of the monster storms that battered ancient California — a sobering revelation that suggests to some experts that the state could be revisited once again by such cataclysmic storms. “Our findings show that atmospheric river activity exceeds what has occurred since instrumental record keeping began,” said Clarke Knight, a U.S. Geological Survey research geographer and the lead author on the study that detailed — for the first time — atmospheric river activity dating back 3,200 years. “This is important because it suggests the latent potential of our area to experience storms beyond those that we have seen today.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read more from AOL News.
How an obscure atmospheric phenomenon causes catastrophic flooding in California
“Tulare, California once sat next to the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. During the late 19th century, diversions for municipal and agricultural water use drained the lake dry, and much of the one-time lake bed was repurposed for agriculture. In the century since the lake dried up, it has refilled a handful of times with disastrous results. Last year, the Tulare region—part of Central California’s San Joaquin Valley—was inundated with rain, flooding over 100,000 acres. Projected damages were immense. Nearby farms were looking at over $300 million in losses. Though rare, these floods always have the same culprit: atmospheric rivers. … ” Read more from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
It’s raining stormwater NOVs in California
“After many years of drought, in late 2023 and early 2024 California experienced significant rain. Indeed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported rainfall quantities far exceeding averages in most areas statewide. With the rain came consequences for many of California’s industrial facilities including an onslaught of 60-day notices of violation (NOVs) from private enforcers threatening to file federal Clean Water Act complaints. Consequences arose because many of California’s industrial facilities are subject to California’s General Industrial Storm Water Permit (IGP). For those new to this regulatory framework, the IGP regulates industrial stormwater discharges and non-storm water discharges from specified industrial facilities in California. Legally, the IGP implements the federally required stormwater regulations under the Clean Water Act in California for stormwater discharges to waters of the United States — a vague term, per the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on that topic. … ” Read more from Facility Executive.
Sacramento Delta stewards eye climate change protection for levees, habitats
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta faces significant challenges affecting the health of its waterways and ecosystem, and stewards say state agencies must accelerate efforts to prepare for the impacts of climate change and a growing urban landscape. Delta Stewardship Council staff presented the Delta Plan Five Year Review on Thursday, recommending numerous measures to preserve precious water and environmental habitats against future crises such as extreme drought, sea level rise and earthquakes. The council recommended that stewards work with state regulators to improve the delta’s ecosystems and reduce reliance on delta water, and with landowners to identify affordable uses of sinking land for sustainable farming. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: YOUR INPUT WANTED: Draft Delta Plan Five-Year Review Report
Visualizing contaminated groundwater in 3D
“A whopping 191 billion gallons of water are provided annually by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to meet the needs of Los Angeles County’s approximately 10 million residents—with more than one-third of that water coming from aquifers. The bad news for these aquifers—and in turn for county residents—is that groundwater is vulnerable to a number of contaminants that can be introduced by processes like oil production or improper disposal of industrial waste. Water can become polluted with salts, chemicals, residual hydrocarbons, and toxic solvents like Trichloroethylene (TCE), which can potentially affect soil and groundwater quality. The LADWP monitors its water supply for more than 200 different contaminants throughout the year, including industrial discharges, residential and commercial wastewater, pesticides, stormwater runoff, and vehicle emissions. The danger posed by these pollutants to the county’s water supply means that it is also monitored by organizations like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which uses GIS technology to obtain data about well contamination in LA County. With 3D visualization, for instance, the EPA can make targeted regulatory actions based on a broad swath of data. … ” Read more from ESRI.
Understanding future groundwater sustainability scenarios from a community perspective
“The negative impacts of falling groundwater levels drove California to adopt the historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which requires consideration of climate change impacts when developing local Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). Yet, many GSPs do not include readily accessible climate data in ways that actually protect communities. This fact sheet describes how to responsibly include climate information in groundwater planning efforts to better understand the implications for low-income and farmworker communities. … ” Read the report from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Bill would convert prime ag land to solar
“A bill in the California Legislature would make it easier for farmers without ready access to water to exit their Williamson Act contracts without penalty, which farm advocates fear could lead to large swaths of solar panels in the Central Valley. The Williamson Act provides property tax relief for farmers and owners of open space in exchange for a 10-year agreement not to develop it or convert it to another use. Assembly Bill 2528 by Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, would allow owners to cancel their contracts without paying the mandated fees of 12.5% of land values if they lack sufficient water. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Using genetic identification to find spring-run salmon and more
“Balancing the water supply needs of millions of Californians while protecting the environment is no easy task. The Department of Water Resources is committed to using and advancing the best available science to operate the State Water Project to get water to the people who need it while protecting native fish species. One important way DWR is doing just that is through the advanced use of genetics to identify different runs of Chinook salmon to monitor and protect the runs that are listed as threatened or endangered. Knowing which runs are present and where they are being found in the water system ultimately helps rebuild salmon populations in California. DWR has released a video showing the genetic identification process in action. … ” Read more from DWR News.
Audio: California’s plans for slowing climate change through nature-based solutions
“As part of SF Climate Week, KQED’s Danielle Venton sat down with the California Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crowfoot, for Climate One at the Commonwealth Club. They discussed wildfires, indigenous leadership, natural land and the State’s plans for slowing climate change. “If I had one point to make,” said Crowfoot, “it’s the importance of nature in our efforts to combat climate change. We talk so much about energy, transportation, buildings, transitioning to 100% clean energy and reducing pollution. And that’s all critically important. But we can’t forget the natural carbon cycle.” The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.” Read more from KQED.
Portantino bill requiring robust study of microplastics in drinking water passes Senate Health Committee
“SB 1147, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) that requires the study of the health impacts of microplastics in drinking water, passed the Senate Health Committee. “Microplastics have been identified in rain, drinking water, soil, and air. That’s why more research and action is necessary to understand how to deal with their impact on our health,” stated Senator Portantino. “SB 1147 will evaluate and identify a level of microplastics in drinking water which does or does not pose a significant risk to our health and then initiate a strategy to increase public health.” In 2018, there was an average of 325 pieces of microplastics identified in a liter of bottled water. Currently, California’s water bottling facilities do not test for microplastics, nor do they have a method to test for microplastics. … ” Read more from Senator Anthony Portantino.
Senate Environmental Quality Committee passes Senator Padilla’s legislative package protecting the Tijuana River watershed
“Today, the Senate Environmental Quality Committee passed two bills, Senate Bills 1178 and 1208, authored by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), which address corporate pollution poisoning California waters (Senate Bill 1178) as well as halt the development of a landfill that would only cause further harm in the Tijuana River Watershed (Senate Bill 1208). For generations, billions of gallons of contamination, pollution, and wastewater, stemming from failing infrastructure, have ravaged California’s southern coastline. San Diegans are suffering from the health, economic, and environmental impacts of these continued transboundary flows. This month, the Tijuana River Watershed was named in the 10 most endangered rivers in America, a list managed by environmental organization, American Rivers. The designation comes from an analysis of the hazardous industrial waste and raw sewage contaminating the river. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Rivers are the West’s largest source of clean energy. What happens when drought strikes?
“In Washington, a dozen dams dot the Columbia River — that mighty waterway carved through the state by a sequence of prehistoric superfloods. Between those dams and the hundreds of others that plug the rivers and tributaries that lace the region, including California and Nevada, the Western United States accounts for most of the hydroelectric energy the country generates from the waters flowing across its landscape. Washington alone captures more than a quarter of that; combined with Oregon and Idaho, the Pacific Northwest lays claim to well over two-fifths of America’s dam-derived electricity. So when a drought hits the region, the nation takes notice. That happened in 2023 when, according to a recent report, U.S. hydroelectric power hit its lowest level in 22 years. … ” Continue reading from Grist.
Forest service grants delayed for communities in flammable forests
“Last summer, Plumas County Fire Safe Council was hoping to hit the ground running. The nonprofit’s members knew exactly what they were working to prevent—the devastation of wildfires is evident all over the landscape of this Sierra Nevada county, tucked between Tahoe and Lassen. In 2021, the Dixie Fire—California’s second-largest wildfire on record—tore through Plumas, destroying three communities and stretching across five counties. This kind of destruction couldn’t be allowed to happen again. A year ago, in March 2023, Liam Galleher was excited to hear that the Fire Safe Council, where he works as a county coordinator, would receive $6.8 million from the U.S. Forest Service’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program. He had plans for fuel reduction—thinning forests, removing trees, and safely burning the overgrown understory. But due to delays at the federal level, the grant agreement went unsigned for months. … ” Read more from Bay Nature.
Fire for watersheds
“Fire is not coming easily to the pile of dried grass and brush. Four college students fuss with the smoldering heap while Ron Goode, a bear-like man with a graying braid, leans on his cane and inspects their work. Crouch down low, he tells them. Reach farther into the brush with the lighter. Tentative orange flames spring to life and a student in a tie-dyed t-shirt blows gently, imploring them not to die. It’s a clear November day in the western foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada near the town of Mariposa. The students, visiting from the University of California, Berkeley, are here to help revitalize a patch of live oaks that belongs to Goode’s wife’s family. Goode, the chairman of the North Fork Mono Tribe, is here to teach them how. Now in his early 70s, Goode and his Tribe have worked for decades to restore neglected meadows and woodlands on private property, reservations belonging to other Tribes, and on their own ancestral homelands in the Sierra National Forest. And restoration, in these dry hills, calls for fire. … ” Read more from The Revelator.
In commentary today …
Is planting trees on Arbor Day one way we can all fight climate change? Not so much
Laurie Wayburn, co-founder and the president of Pacific Forest Trust, writes, “Arbor Day has its roots in the 1870s, when the horticulturist J. Sterling Morton spearheaded a movement to green Nebraska’s largely treeless plains. Since then, citizens, businesses and governments have marked April 26 by planting trees in schoolyards, parks and neighborhoods. In recent years, tree-planting has been touted as no less than a means of empowering people to combat climate change. Gratifying and photographable, planting a tree seems to be a small but tangible act that almost anyone can undertake to reduce their carbon footprint and feel good about it. The science, however, suggests a more strategic use of our time and resources. Newly planted trees take many years to become effective carbon sinks. By contrast, properly caring for the forests we already have — and letting them grow older — can make a huge difference immediately. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Major renovations planned for wastewater treatment plant
“The City Council approved long-awaited Renovations on the Wastewater Treat Plant (WWTP). The WWTP is operated via contract with Jacobs Engineering. Jacobs Staff were on hand in the audience and via Zoom to address technical questions by councilors and the Public. The Resolution for amending the agreement with the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) amends the financial arrangements between the City and the SWRCB. A second Resolution approved amending the City budget for fiscal year 2023-24. The City Wastewater Treatment Plant is struggling to meet financial commitments of a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan on major Plant renovations in 2011. The SRF funding has now been reduced to zero percent and exclusively provides cities and counties financial relief for clean water and sewage treatment purposes. … ” Read more from the Del Norte Triplicate.
NOAA announces funding for CalTrout restoration project in Humboldt County, an investment in coastal resilience
“Humboldt County residents have something new to celebrate this Earth Week, with the announcement of a $6 million grant from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to fund long-planned efforts to restore the Elk River watershed. The funding will support the first of several phases of the Elk River Recovery Program which includes a suite of restoration actions along approximately 14 miles of river channel from Highway 101 to portions of the North and South Forks of the river. Non-profit lead California Trout collaborated with Elk River communities, local advocacy organizations, agencies, consultants, and the Wiyot Tribe to develop the Recovery Program. “After ten years of community engagement, planning, and permitting, we’re excited to finally be able to get to work,” said Darren Mierau, North Coast Regional Director with CalTrout. … ” Read more from CalTrout.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Conservation groups sue Plumas Forest Supervisor and USFS over large-scale logging project
“The coalition of Community groups has taken legal action against the Forest Service’s plans to implement the large-scale logging project in the Plumas National Forest because of it’s lack of conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The project, valued at $650 million, aims to log over 200,000 acres of forest, including mature and old-growth forest. Critics argue that the project, purportedly aimed at community protection, ignores scientific evidence suggesting that logging can exacerbate wildfire risks and harm forest ecosystems. Forest officials say the Forest Service’s Community Protection—Central and West Slope Project, announced last year, is a response to recent wildfires. In September of last year, the forest was able to obtain emergency authority to phase Environmental assessments and proceed with the project. … ” Read more from the Sierra Daily News.
‘More litter in Tahoe than meets the eye’
“In a test of human versus machine, volunteers evaluated their beach cleanup efficacy against the beach cleaning robot, BEBOT. Volunteers gathered all the trash they could find on a stretch of Nevada Beach. Then, it was BEBOT’s turn. Human volunteers retrieved 30 pieces of trash, BEBOT captured 300. “What that is highlighting is really not an issue with what was conducted with the human-powered cleaning, but,” JT Chevallier, co-founder of ECO-CLEAN Solutions said, “there is an ugly story that exists just below the surface of the sand that we might not be seeing.” The ugly story sat on a slide behind him. It read, “…there is more litter in Tahoe than meets the eye.” The slide was part of a larger presentation Chevallier provided in February at the Tahoe Beach Club regarding his company’s highlights and goals. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
American River Parkway Foundation: Water Forum’s partner in protecting the Lower American River
“Here at the Water Forum, our work centers on the Lower American River, the flowing Wild and Scenic heart of California’s capital metro area, and working to balance the coequal objectives of providing reliable water supplies and preserving the river’s environment. But a vibrant river corridor requires so much more than that. This is why we work closely with other vital groups like the American River Parkway Foundation. The Foundation handles a wide range of habitat protection and enhancement work of its own, mainly focused on improving natural areas along both sides of the river. It also offers a wealth of essential public education and volunteer programs, helping visitors and residents understand and appreciate this unique urban jewel. “The Foundation does a lot of the heavy lifting on conservation in the parkway,” said Water Forum Executive Director Jessica Law. “It’s fair to say the parkway would not be what it is today without them.” … ” Read more from the Water Forum.
Some Sacramento communities will soon be seeing more trees in their neighborhood
“Sacramento is often known as the City of Trees, but the tree canopy is largely absent in some communities. The city announced Thursday it’s receiving nearly $2 million in grant funding to address this concern and increase urban forestry efforts as they continue to look at ways to combat climate change. Congresswoman Doris Matsui, alongside Sacramento city leaders, says the $1.9 million will come from both the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program and the EPA’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Grant Program. Matsui says it’s an important step in fighting climate change using nature-based solutions. Trees are a powerful tool in mitigating impacts due to a warming environment, including limiting dangerous storm runoff, absorbing dangerous air pollution and carbon pollution. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Elk Grove Water District proactive in monitoring for PFAS
“In a significant development for public health and environmental protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced nationwide limits on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), marking a pivotal moment in water quality regulation. … The Elk Grove Water District (EGWD) stands as a commendable example of proactive compliance with these stringent standards. Even before the EPA’s announcement, the Elk Grove Water District had been diligently monitoring its water sources for PFAS contamination. Following the California State Water Resources Control Board’s statewide order in 2022, the Elk Grove Water District undertook quarterly testing of its water wells, surpassing the required mandate. … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen.
BAY AREA
Central Marin water line replacement planned
“The Marin Municipal Water District is gearing up to replace old, leak-prone pipes in San Anselmo and Corte Madera. The district’s board authorized construction contracts last week with Maggiora & Ghilotti Inc. for the two projects. One contract is for $2.86 million of work on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard near Archie Williams High School, and the other is for $4.38 million in the Marin Estates neighborhood around Granada Drive in east Corte Madera. Although the San Anselmo project is smaller, the traffic implications are much greater as Sir Francis Drake is a major thoroughfare for the greater Ross Valley community, officials said. “It’s going to be a tough summer with a lot of construction traffic,” said Scott Schneider, assistant director of public works for San Anselmo. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Big Sur Land Trust Monterey acquisition has ecosystem, cultural benefits
“A seemingly nondescript plot of land off Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 near the Monterey Regional Airport has been acquired by the Big Sur Land Trust to conserve and protect its significant attributes. The Land Trust says that conserving the 84-acre Hiss Parcel preserves an important portion of the larger Canyon Del Rey watershed. “From time to time BSLT will reach out to a property owner – kind of like a cold call – and see whether they would consider a potential conservation sale of their property if we see from its location and attributes that it has high conservation values and community benefits,” said Rachel Saunders, Big Sur Land Trust Director of Conservation, in an email. “Because of its location in a larger landscape of conserved lands … and its values supporting high quality oak woodland, grassland and wetlands habitats, we reached out to the property owner.” … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Central Coast Blue project on hold as local cities consider withdrawal
“Drought impacts over the years across the Central Coast have highlighted the need for sustainable and drought-proof sources of water. To address this, cities like Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande were proposing the Central Coast Blue Project to protect the local groundwater basin from seawater intrusion and create an additional water supply. But not everyone was on board, especially some Grover Beach residents like William James, who is retired and on a fixed income. “I’m concerned that I’m going to have to leave here very soon, probably within the next 4 or 5 years. That’s probably about all I’m going to make it,” James said. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District receives $400,000 grant for groundwater project
“The Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District has received a $400,000 grant from the Bureau of Reclamation that’s hoped to be a step in preventing the entire Kaweah Subbasin from being placed on probation when it comes to meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Bureau of Reclamation announced on Tuesday it had awarded 34 grants totaling $11.1 million as part of its WaterSMART program to improve water sustainability. The 34 grants support projects in 11 states and Guam. The grants are provided through President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and Inflation Reduction Act. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Kings County growers nix local groundwater fees as they face state actions aimed at curbing excessive pumping
“Hundreds of landowners in the Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin overwhelmingly rejected proposed pumping fees this week that would have added thousands of dollars on top of fees they’re expected to start paying the state in coming months. The fee showdown at the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting April 23 came just a week after a stinging, unanimous decision by the state Water Resources Control Board to place the Tulare Lake subbasin, essentially all of Kings County, into probation for its lack of an adequate plan to protect the region’s groundwater. That finding started a 90-day clock for growers to start reporting their pumping. Water Board staff will use that information to start working with groundwater agencies to write up a new plan to protect the region’s aquifers, according to a Water Board press release. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Will water cost more for much of Ventura County? Here’s what Calleguas officials say
“Ventura County residents soon may have to pay more for imported water. A Thousand Oaks-based wholesaler buys the imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and faces a double-digit rate increase next year. The mega-district based in Los Angeles raised its prices and plans to increase property taxes, citing rising costs and dropping revenue. “Despite efforts to rein in costs, they have been facing the same kind of pressures that all agencies have been facing,” said Kristine McCaffrey, general manager at Calleguas Municipal Water District, which supplies around 75% of the county’s population from Simi Valley to the Oxnard Plain. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
The outlook for LADWP water rights
“In last week’s CVW article titled “Letting the Rain Run Through Our (Future) Drought Fingers” we cited the response from Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power (LADWP) in regard to a proposed project for water capturing by Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD). To recap, for years CVWD has been working on a proposal to capture rainwater that flows down the Verdugo Wash. The Crescenta Valley County Park Stormwater Recharge Facility Project would capture rainwater in two spots along the Verdugo Wash that travels through CV Park. The water captured would be used to replenish groundwater that has been reduced due to years of drought. Presently, rainwater travels down the wash to the LA River and then out to sea. But LA has water rights and, in accordance with its City Charter, it’s their water. … ” Continue reading from the Crescenta Valley Weekly.
Dead fish suddenly found in California lake raises alarms
“Officials are conducting tests at a drinking water reservoir in California, after dead fish were found floating there. The Lake Elsinore & San Jacinto Watersheds Authority (LESJWA) announced on Wednesday evening it had launched an investigation into oxygen levels at Canyon Lake. The reservoir, in southern California, has historically suffered from algae blooms, which can cause environmental concerns, according to the LESJWA website. “A fish die-off, is one of the first visible signs of environmental stress when dead fish are found floating on the surface of water or washed up on the shore,” a statement said. “The most common cause of a fish die-off is the depletion of dissolved oxygen in a body of water.” … ” Read more from Newsweek.
SAN DIEGO
Local water agencies facing 39 percent hike in costs for wholesale water
“County water officials say the amount they charge local agencies for wholesale water must increase 39 percent over the next three years, including a hike between 16 percent and 22 percent during 2025. The enormous increases will force local agencies to also raise rates, but how much of the hikes they pass on to customers will vary widely among the roughly two dozen agencies that buy from the County Water Authority. Some agencies have large local supplies, like Sweetwater with its groundwater basin, that allow them to buy less from the county authority. But others, like the city of San Diego, rely on the authority for as much as 90 percent of their water. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In national water news today …
Biden administration announces new wetlands protections after Supreme Court decision
“This week the Biden administration announced new protections for millions of acres of wetlands, which are essential to keeping water clean. The announcement is a response to a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that puts some wetlands in jeopardy. Wetlands filter out pollutants in the water that flows through them. They make up 5.5% of the contiguous United States, according to the EPA. When heavy rains fall, wetlands also serve as a sponge by trapping the water, helping avoid flooding in communities downstream. “They play many more functions than most of us realize,” North Carolina Coastal Federation coastal advocate Kerri Allen said. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
Managing meandering waterways in a changing world
“Just as water moves through a river, rivers themselves move across the landscape. They carve valleys and canyons, create floodplains and deltas, and transport sediment from the uplands to the ocean. A new paper out of UC Santa Barbara presents an account of what drives the migration rates of meandering rivers. The two authors compiled a global dataset of these waterways, analyzing how vegetation and sediment load effect channel movement. “We find a global-scale trend between the amount of sediment that rivers carry and how quickly they’re migrating, across all variables,” said lead author Evan Greenberg, a doctoral student in the Department of Geography. … ” Read more from The Current.
The world dumps 2,000 truckloads of plastic into the ocean each day. Here’s where a lot of it ends up
“The western coast of Java in Indonesia is popular with surfers for its world-famous breaks. There’s a majestic underwater world to explore, too. But it’s impossible to surf or snorkel without running into plastic water bottles, single-use cups and food wrappers. The garbage sometimes forms islands in the sea, and much of it washes ashore, accumulating as mountains on the beach. The world produces around 400 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Every day, 2,000 truckloads of it is dumped into the ocean, rivers and lakes. Despite global efforts to give plastic products longer lives, only 9% of them are actually recycled. Most plastic waste goes into landfills or is shipped to places like Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations, many of which are already drowning in their own plastic pollution. … ” Read more from CNN.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
YOUR INPUT WANTED: Draft Delta Plan Five-Year Review Report
