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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a recycled water research program update and consideration of a proposed Order setting aside water quality certifications for the Merced River and Merced Falls Hydroelectric Projects, Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project, and Don Pedro and La Grange Hydroelectric Projects. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: America’s Drinking Water Affordability Crisis and How to Solve it from 10am to 11am. As part of National Drinking Water Week, Community Water Center is hosting a virtual discussion on drinking water affordability with frontline leaders across the U.S. They will be discussing solutions, and how we can advance efforts to ensure a basic necessity like water needs the same government support as telephones and internet to ensure access for all. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
State Water Board to hold probationary hearing for critically overdrafted Kaweah subbasin
“To ensure the long-term viability of groundwater supplies in portions of Tulare and Kings counties, the State Water Resources Control Board today released a public notice for a Nov. 5, 2024, hearing to determine if the Kaweah Groundwater Subbasin should be placed on probationary status under the landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This is the third probationary notice the State Water Board has issued to groundwater basins since last October as it continues to carry out its state intervention responsibilities under SGMA. The previous notices were issued to the Tulare Lake and Tule basins, respectively. At the Kaweah basin hearing, the board will decide if a probationary designation is warranted after a robust public input process. … ” Continue reading this press release from the State Water Board.
Historic 2023 Water Year delivered big boost to California’s groundwater supplies
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has released the latest Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions report, and the data show that California achieved 4.1 million acre-feet of managed groundwater recharge during Water Year 2023, which is nearly the water storage capacity of Shasta Lake. The report also details an increase in groundwater storage of 8.7 million acre-feet. Water Year 2023 is the first year since 2019 that there has been a reported increase in groundwater storage. A significant reduction in groundwater pumping in 2023 also led to favorable groundwater conditions, including a decrease in land subsidence, or sinking of the land. Some areas that had previously experienced subsidence actually saw a rebound (uplift) in ground surface elevation from reduced pumping in the deeper aquifers and refilling of groundwater storage. The groundwater report released today includes, for the first time, groundwater sustainability plan Annual Report data reported by local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) across 99 groundwater basins which make up over 90 percent of the groundwater use in the State. … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
California sees big dividends in groundwater supply thanks to wet winter duo
“An extraordinary water year brought much-needed relief to a drought-stricken Golden State, but experts say California needs several more exceptionally wet years to repair lingering damage to precious underground water supplies. The newest Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions report — using the first annual data collected from groundwater sustainability agencies across 99 basins holding more than 90% of the state’s groundwater — indicates the state has gained 4.1 million acre-feet of water through underground recharge, nearly the total storage capacity of Shasta Lake. Meanwhile, underground storage improved by 8.7 million acre-feet. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: California reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years, from the Associated Press
Big tech could help fund a new California state park
California Department of Water Resources
Nearly 1,600 acres of land used as rice fields north of Sacramento could one day become public land, after a huge restoration project funded partly by big tech. Apple is among the donors to the Dos Rios Norte project, an effort to restore a floodplain located where the Sacramento and Feather rivers meet that’s crucial to wildlife, the Sacramento Bee first reported. California conservation nonprofit River Partners is leading the efforts, with the goal of repairing the area habitat for the state’s native Chinook salmon population, threatened bird species and other wildlife species. The project aims to save around 7,000 acre-feet of water each year, among other environmental benefits. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
‘Nothing is untouched’: DDT found in deep-sea fish raises troubling concerns for food web
“For several years now, one question has held the key to understanding just how much we should worry about the hundreds of tons of DDT that had been dumped off the coast of Los Angeles: How, exactly, has this decades-old pesticide — a toxic chemical spread across the seafloor 3,000 feet underwater — continued to reenter the food web? Now, in a highly anticipated study, researchers have identified tiny zooplankton and mid-to-deep-water fish as potential links between the contaminated sediment and the greater ecosystem. For the first time, chemical analyses confirmed that these deep-sea organisms are contaminated by numerous DDT-related compounds that match similar chemical patterns found on the seafloor and animals higher up on the food chain. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Testing and making futures: Participatory scenario planning in California’s Delta
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is undergoing continual and often rapid change. This poses challenges in predicting and preparing for the future, as past data and models are no longer sufficient to anticipate future conditions. This uncertainty cannot be addressed by collecting more data, and decision-making becomes complex when stakeholders have differing views on the consequences of actions. To effectively manage the Delta, managers need new methods for anticipating the future. The Delta Independent Science Board is conducting a review of the Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty, an interdisciplinary approach that provides decision-makers with new tools and processes to make better-informed decisions despite the challenges they face. One of the tools the Board has been focusing on is scenarios. In this fourth seminar in the series, Dr. Brett Milligan, an associate professor at the Department of Human Ecology at UC Davis, presented scenario development methods specific to the Delta region, drawing on the Franks Tract Futures project as an example, which focused on climate change adaptation and how to manage increasing salinity in the Delta. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Legislators advance agricultural bills
“Legislators in California introduced 2,124 bills in Feb. — 1,505 in the Assembly and 619 in the Senate — which are being considered by their respective houses until May 24. While the main points of focus this year seem to center around artificial intelligence and public safety, several pieces of agricultural legislation from pesticide regulations to amending the Williamson Act are circulating. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Biden-Harris Administration delivers $147 Million from Investing in America Agenda for drought resiliency and water supply reliability across the West
“The Department of the Interior today announced a $147.6 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help communities prepare and respond to water reliability challenges due to drought and other water scarcity concerns. The funding will support 42 projects in 11 states. “As communities across the West continue to face the impacts of ongoing drought, the Biden-Harris administration is making record investments to safeguard local water supplies and build climate resilience now and into the future,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “By working together in close coordination with states, Tribes and other stakeholders, we can provide much needed relief for communities across the West that will have a lasting impact for generations.” … ” Continue reading this press release. Many California projects selected. View the list here.
UK’s Drax targets California forests for two major wood pellet plants
“Drax, a major global manufacturer of wood pellets for bioenergy, has joined a California nonprofit in a controversial plan to build two industrial-scale wood pellet plants in the state. The two mills combined will be capable of making and exporting 1 million tons of pellets annually, primarily for Asian markets. The proposed California siting of two large biomass mills would mark a major expansion of the industry outside of the U.S. Southeast, where most pellet making is currently centered. The project has raised red flags with forest advocates. Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR), a state-funded nonprofit focused on rural economic development, has been planning the wood pellet plants for several years. … ” Continue reading from Mongabay.
In commentary today …
Calif. had plenty of rain. Farmers, Valley cities are getting stiffed on water supplies anyway.
Wayne Western Jr. writes, “On April 24, the United States Bureau of Reclamation updated water allocations to Central Valley Project (CVP) water users. South of Delta (SOD) agricultural contractors received an increase of 5 percent, now sitting at a 40 percent allocation of their water to irrigate crops this season. Despite that, political and bureaucratic tyranny and ignorance stands at 100 percent as does media misinformation. There’s nothing new about the latter but one thing is for certain: pending Biological Opinions and Voluntary Agreement should remain pending until something makes a lot more sense than these allocations given current snowpack percentages and reservoir levels. … ” Continue reading at the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Trout, beavers, drought, and a ‘precious frog’
“The Oregon spotted frog’s scientific name is Rana pretiosa, which translates to “precious frog” in Latin. Precious things are often rare, which is the case with the Oregon spotted frog across parts of its range. It was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2014. Although several threats are responsible for the Oregon spotted frog’s decline, loss of the wetland habitat it needs to survive is at the top of the list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s national report on wetlands status and trends reveals nationwide losses. In the Klamath Basin of Oregon and California, it’s estimated that 50-90% of the Oregon spotted frog’s wetland habitat has been lost due to habitat modification and prolonged drought. U.S. Geological Survey scientists are working with other federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and private landowners to research the effectiveness of restoration projects for multiple species and aid in the recovery of the Oregon spotted frog. … ” Read more from the USGS.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Plumas group sues Forest Service over wildfire protection project
“With wildfires both major and minor devastating entire communities in recent years, tensions between organizations and agencies have increased. Last week local groups announced a lawsuit aimed at the United States Forest Service claiming that the agency’s project in Plumas County is increasing wildfire vulnerability among other accusations. The release refers to a “$650 million logging project” that would allegedly log and spread herbicide on about 133,000 acres of old-growth forest while not preparing an Environmental Impact Statement. The groups that issued the release are Feather River Action, the John Muir Project and the Plumas Forest Project. However, the Forest Service’s numbers vary dramatically from the claims made by those filing the suit. … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
California’s second-largest reservoir hits 100% of its total capacity
““This is great news for ensuring adequate water supply for millions of Californians and environmental needs,” the state Department of Water Resources wrote in a statement. Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir, is currently filled with 3.5 million acre-feet of water. An acre foot is the amount of water it takes to cover 1 acre in 1 foot of liquid, normally about 326,000 gallons. A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water daily, the EPA estimates. According to the Department of Water Resources database, Lake Oroville is at 128% of its historical average, which should reassure Californians with memories of the bone-dry lakebed. Just a few years ago, houseboats had to cluster in the middle of the lake as water levels dropped, exposing steep cliffs. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Informed and prepared: How Yuba Water Agency educates residents about flood risk
“Sitting at the intersection of the Yuba and Feather Rivers, Yuba County has been described by the US Army Corps of Engineers as being “most prone to severe flooding of any river valley in the United States.” For this reason, it’s important that significant effort be made to reduce the risk of flooding as much as possible, and that Yuba County residents be informed of their personal flood risk. Fortunately, residents have several tools at their disposal to help them do that. Leading the charge is Yuba Water Agency. Formed in 1959 in response to a 1955 flood in next-door Sutter County that displaced 40,000 residents and killed 38, Yuba Water Agency has worked tirelessly over the decades to construct the New Bullards Bar Reservoir, to invest in strengthening the county’s levee infrastructure and to utilize technology to help reduce flood risk. … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review.
Del Paso Manor Water District has 1 year to fix infrastructure or face dissolution
“Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commissioners voted last Wednesday to give Del Paso Manor Water District 12 months to fix its infrastructure or face dissolution. Del Paso Manor Water District supplies water to 1,864 residential connections according to county documents, all of whom could be left to help pay the district’s estimated $52 million in infrastructure repairs. The estimated $52 million in repairs is just a baseline cost, commissioners said, and the price to bring the water district back up to speed could be higher. A 2021 grand jury report alleged the water district was flooded with public safety dangers and needed to make tens of millions of dollars in repairs. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NAPA/SONOMA
Northern California dam flood control operations found to harm endangered salmon
“A federal judge ruled Monday afternoon that a California dam harms endangered salmon when it conducts flood control operations. Coyote Valley Dam, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, protects the city of Ukiah from flooding from nearby Lake Mendocino. In 2022, fisheries biologist Sean White sued the Corps claiming the dam’s flood control operations kick up sediment in the water, increasing turbidity and harming endangered Central California coast steelhead, coho and Chinook salmon. White’s previous requests for injunctive relief were denied in 2023, yet he was granted summary judgment on his claims on Monday after providing more data. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley, a Joe Biden appointee, wrote in her 18-page opinion that it was beyond dispute that the dam’s operations harm the fish. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
BAY AREA
Marin Municipal Water District to study effects of climate change on dam system
“The Marin Municipal Water District is embarking on a yearlong study to examine the impact of frequent, severe storms on the utility’s seven dams. The district board authorized spending up to $1.06 million to evaluate the capacity of the dam spillways, and to use climate change projections to assess potential hazards. The study is a response to a critical Marin County Civil Grand Jury report published last summer. The watchdog panel said dam safety plans for the Marin Municipal Water District and the North Marin Water District are failing to account for more regular “atmospheric river” storms brought on by climate change. The grand jury recommended, among other actions, that the water districts update their dam hazard mitigation plans with the latest science on climate change effects on storms. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.. (gift article)
Belmont Creek restoration moves forward
“The Belmont Creek restoration project is finalizing its design and project plans before getting started on a large-scale effort meant to mitigate erosion and reduce flooding risk in the area. The plan would be executed in two main phases, with the first focused on addressing a majority of the most pressing concerns, including hazardous tree removal and debris build-up. The creek starts at Water Dog Lake and runs for about three miles through Belmont’s downtown underneath Sixth Avenue and El Camino Real to the San Carlos border. … ” Read more from the Daily Journal.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Some people still think Fresno tap water is unsafe, study says
“In a study by J.D. Power, water users who listed “City of Fresno” as their water utility were found to have the lowest customer satisfaction among midsized markets in the United States. What does this mean? YourCentralValley.com spoke to John Hazen with J.D. Power to make sense of the data. “We surveyed 30,000 plus residential water customers across the country,” Hazen said, “Fresno has consistently been one of the lower performing utilities that we survey.” … ” Continue reading at KFSN.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
At the edge of Imperial County, the Quechan Tribe works to restore a parched river
“Chase Choate beamed as he explained the plan for the morning. The goal was to plant 700 trees before noon. The cottonwoods and willows, Choate said, would be pretty straightforward. The honey mesquite trees though, he warned, were thorny and would need an extra layer of plastic shielding to protect them from hungry wild rabbits. “If you want gloves, we have some,” Choate, environmental director for the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe, told the group of volunteers gathered around him. “If you want to just have your hands feel the earth, we can do that too.” Along the eastern edge of Imperial County, the landscape is slowly changing. Acres of invasive saltcedar plants and other weeds are vanishing, replaced by expanses of thorny green trees dusted with bright yellow flowers. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Researchers anticipate continued reprieve from drought for southwestern US
“The glass is half-full for water users across the southwestern U.S., according to an analysis of the 2024 water year presented by researchers at the Western Water Assessment on Monday. The Western Water Assessment is an applied research collaboration between the University of Wyoming, the University of Utah and the University of Colorado Boulder focused on understanding how climate variability and climate change impact regional water resources. “Throughout most of the region, we are seeing a majority of basins with above-average seasonal streamflow forecasts,” said Seth Arens, a Salt Lake City-based research integration specialist. “If there had been one more year of drought conditions, the water levels in Lake Powell would have gotten dangerously low,” he added of the Colorado River reservoir in Arizona and Utah. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
‘We are tied to our water’: Colorado River Indian Tribes sign historic water rights settlement
“With the waving water of the Colorado River in the background, tribal, federal, and state leaders gathered on the Colorado River Indian Tribe’s reservation to celebrate the historic signing of the tribe’s water rights settlement. “We have waited patiently for today,” Colorado River Indian Tribes Chairwoman Amelia Flores said. It is a historical event for the tribe, she said, because the agreement clears the way for the tribe to finally be recognized as a central party in all future decisions regarding their rights to the Colorado River. Dozens of people gathered on the bank of the Colorado River at Blue Water Marina Park on the tribe’s land on April 26 to celebrate the signing of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022. … ” Read more from the Arizona Mirror.
Arizona: Buckeye and Queen Creek want to get off groundwater. Here’s why it’s so hard
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Most of metro Phoenix has a designation of Assured Water Supply. It recognizes that a water provider has secured the water it needs to serve existing users, plus a certain amount of additional ones, for 100 years. Buckeye, Queen Creek and a handful of other water providers lack this designation because they largely rely on groundwater. They’ve been working for years to wean their reliance on this finite water supply. But securing the water necessary to earn a designation — and continue homebuilding in these fast-growing communities — has proven much harder said than done. … ” Read more from the Arizona Daily Star.
SEE ALSO: Allhands: New proposal could help metro Phoenix cities wean off groundwater, listen at KJZZ
Listen: The groundwater supply in Arizona’s Cochise County is shrinking. Efforts to stop it haven’t worked well
“There’s been a lot of growth in the Douglas Groundwater Basin in Cochise County over the past several years. And that growth is leading to a shrinking groundwater supply. There’ve been efforts to limit the amount of pumping that can happen, but as a new investigation found, those efforts have not been all that successful. Brendon Derr, an investigative reporter with the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, spoke about the issue with The Show.” Listen at KJZZ.
2 Utah projects get federal funding to help improve water systems in the West
“In another move to build water resilient systems in the West and particularly in the Colorado River Basin, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Monday $147 million in federal grants to help underserved communities dogged by water scarcity issues. The funding will support 42 projects in 10 states. In eastern Utah, nearly $6.6 million was granted to the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation which operates the Ute Tribe Water Systems, providing water service to tribal members. … ” Read more from the Deseret News.
How Colorado towns are trying to get some water certainty
“In Western Colorado, towns and farms are banding together to pay a hundred million dollars for water they don’t intend to use. Today on the show, how scarcity, climate change and a first-dibs system of water management is forcing towns, farms and rural residents to get spendy.” Listen at NPR.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: CDFA and CalEPA Regulatory Alignment Study Informational Webinars and Workshops
