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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Delta Research Award Seminar Series from 10:30am to 12:00pm. This week: Comparing the Impact of Predation on the Outmigration Mortality of all Central Valley Salmon Ecotypes Relative to Other Habitat Related Covariates; Understanding Within and Between-Basin Migration in White Sturgeon: A synthesis of more than 10 years of acoustic tagging data. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Temperature records shattered across the West as intense heat wave drags on
“California and the West are still days away from the end of the current heat wave, which has brought oppressive and dangerous temperatures to many areas for almost a week. In a Monday forecast, the National Weather Service described the situation as a “seemingly never-ending heat wave,” with heat warnings remaining in place for much of the state’s interior through Saturday. In some cases, the heat has already been deadly, and officials are urging people to take the extreme heat seriously. The length and magnitude of this heat wave has repeatedly been described as unprecedented, setting several records for high temperatures across the Golden State and the Western U.S. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Report: Extreme heat events created $7.7 billion in hidden costs in California
“How much do heatwaves cost? The hidden costs of extreme heat — from lost productivity to healthcare for heat-related illnesses — totaled more than $7.7 billion over the last decade, a new report from the California Department of Insurance found. The report was released amid a persistent heat wave across Northern California, where temperatures soared into the 100s in the East Bay and cities across the Bay Area faced excessive heat warnings. “Extreme heat is a silent, escalating disaster that threatens our health, economy, and way of life in California,” state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a statement. “We must prioritize resilience-building efforts and innovative insurance solutions to safeguard our state against the growing impacts and financial risks of extreme heat.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
SEE ALSO:
- Extreme heat waves broiling the planet in 2024 aren’t normal: How climate change is heating up weather around the world, from The Conversation
- Average Global Temperature Has Warmed 1.5 Degrees Celsius Above Pre-industrial Levels for 12 Months in a Row, from Inside Climate News
The challenges of implementing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act ten years in
A decade after the introduction of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), significant strides have been made in managing California’s groundwater resources. However, the path to effective implementation has been fraught with challenges. At ACWA’s 2024 Spring Conference, a panel discussed some of those challenges, such as State Water Board intervention, lawsuits affecting SGMA implementation, domestic well mitigation plans, and groundwater allocations. … “We have everything in this state,” said attorney Jeanne Zolezzi. “We have basins that are being put in probationary hearings, we have those that have been approved, we have those whose plans are being sued, and we have those that are trying to fund their projects and management actions and being sued on those funding attempts. So I will turn it over to the panel now so they can start with all these issues we’re facing.” … ” Read the full panel summary from Maven’s Notebook.
$10 billion climate bond heads to the California ballot
“After much anticipation and deliberation, the California legislature approved a $10 billion climate bond measure just before the summer recess began on July 3, 2024. California voters will now have the opportunity to approve or reject the bond measure on the November ballot. The bond measure will now be referred to as Proposition 4 on the upcoming ballot, but it began as SB 867, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. Senate and Assemblymembers approved SB 867, sending it to the Secretary of State to be added to the ballot. Proposition 4 would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $10 billion pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance a variety of projects combating climate change, increasing resiliency, and supporting climate solutions. Some of the notable investments include: $3.8 billion for safe drinking water and groundwater, $1.5 billion for wildfire and forest programs, and $1.2 billion to combat sea level rise. Other projects include extreme heat mitigation, improved outdoor access, and investment in nature-based climate solutions. … ” Read more from Legal Planet.
The Supreme Court took powers away from federal regulators. Do California rules offer a backstop?
“Tucked between headline-grabbing opinions on presidential immunity, Jan. 6 rioters and homeless encampments, the U.S. Supreme Court closed out a momentous session late last month with a series of body blows to the federal bureaucracy. Under three back-to-back rulings, regulations that touch nearly every aspect of the American economy and American life (see: rules on food safety, water quality, overtime pay, medical billing, carbon emissions, fisheries monitoring and housing discrimination, to name a few) may soon be harder to enforce, more convenient to challenge in court and easier to strike down once challenged. For the conservative legal movement and for major business interests who bristle under what they see as an overreaching federal regulatory apparatus, the rulings mark a once-in-a-generation victory against the “administrative state.” But in California, the effects of those rulings may be a bit more muted, legal experts say. California has an administrative state of its own. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO: The Supreme Court’s Contempt for Facts Is a Betrayal of Justice, editorial from Scientific American
Unified water plan for the San Joaquin Valley project: Progress and insights
“The California Water Institute at Fresno State and the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley are leading efforts to address water management challenges in the region. Their ongoing work to develop and integrate subregional water management initiatives into a comprehensive water plan is crucial for ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the San Joaquin Valley’s water resources. A core aspect of the work completed so far involves meticulous data mining and normalization from Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) to create effective summaries for each subbasin. These summaries are then presented to the subbasins to confirm the adequacy and intention of the data. These presentations cover a wide range of topics, providing an in-depth overview of each basin, including historical land use, population growth estimates, the involved agencies, and the flow of information used for the analysis. This structured approach ensures that all relevant data is accurately captured and analyzed. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Blueprint.
California’s 2024 drinking water needs assessment reveals critical issues in public water systems
“The California State Water Resources Control Board’s 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment reveals that 385 public water systems in the state are failing, impacting nearly 913,500 residents. The report, mandated by Senate Bill 200 and supported by the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Drinking Water (SAFER) program, aims to address these issues through collective efforts from various stakeholders. Since the SAFER program’s inception in 2019, over $831 million in grants have been distributed, bringing 251 water systems back into compliance and completing 142 consolidations to benefit approximately 100,000 people. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, with 613 public water systems at risk and high-risk domestic wells and small water systems still present. … ” Read more from the Planetizen.
SEE ALSO: California Water files plan to spend $1.6B on state water systems, from Seeking Alpha
California spurns Central Valley water suppliers
“The California State Water Resources Board made good on 2018 legislation signed by former California Governor Jerry Brown by passing the buck to Central Valley water suppliers. The Board passing a policy that would severely lower the usage of local suppliers including Oildale Mutual (Oildale) and West Kern (Maricopa/Taft). The policy would begin making cuts in 2027 then again in 2030, 2035 and 2040. Water deliveries could be curbed by around 50%. If the suppliers go over their allotment of water, they are hit with a $ 10,000-a-day fine. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now.
CA Utilities Commission wrongly flushed water companies’ ‘decoupling’ programs, Supreme Court says
“The California Supreme Court has reset the clock on a bid by California’s Public Utilities Commission to pull the plug on a program intended to incentivize water conservation, but which the commission said has allowed water utilities to instead charge customers more without any real concern for controlling costs. In the July 8 ruling, the unanimous state high court ruled specifically that the CPUC did not provide enough notice under the law to water utilities before ending the so-called rate decoupling program, officially known as Water Revenue Adjustment Mechanism. The court sided with the state’s largest water utilities, who had argued they were bushwhacked by the CPUC at a meeting and weren’t given the time legally allotted to them to prepare counter arguments to the CPUC’s findings related to the end of the decoupling program. … ” Read more from the Northern California Record.
Northern California steelhead maintain threatened status
“Northern California steelhead require continued protection as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, according to a recent 5-year review by NOAA Fisheries. State and federal agencies, tribes, and private landowners have completed numerous habitat restoration projects since the last review in 2016. However, the population faces continued threats from drought, high water temperatures, and water use, all exacerbated by the changing climate. The 5-year review also found that water conservation should be integrated into habitat restoration projects to achieve maximum benefits. “Because climate change is one of the most significant threats to Northern California steelhead, protective efforts in the future should focus on projects that aim to conserve water during the summer and fall low flow periods,” said Seth Naman, a fish biologist with NOAA Fisheries and the lead author of the 2024 5-Year Review: Summary & Evaluation of Northern California Steelhead. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
White sturgeon fish moves closer to endangered status
“After over 100 million years of existence, the white sturgeon may be fading from the San Francisco Bay estuary. On June 19, the California Fish and Game Commission approved white sturgeon as a candidate species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act. Bay Area scientists say their decline is due to increased pollution and a loss of deep-river spawning grounds. The listing could not only affect the sport fishing industry but throw more legal weight behind the argument against state and federal projects that divert and store water from the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. … ” Continue reading from NorCal Public Media.
Stanford study may help California stop land from sinking in future droughts
“Stanford University scientists have released a study that may explain why some ground in the San Joaquin Valley has sunk due to overpumping groundwater while other areas haven’t. By using satellite data and electromagnetic probes, the Stanford scientists found that land made up of clay doesn’t sink as fast and sees more uplift when the water table is recharged as opposed to land comprised of coarse sand and gravel. The study concentrated on two areas: one near Fresno and one near Visalia, both in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley’s agricultural industry. Overpumping groundwater has caused large swaths of the San Joaquin Valley to sink dozens of feet during recent droughts. This has led to costly repair bills for projects such as the Friant-Kern Canal, which recently needed to be raised because of subsidence. The canal provides irrigation water to valley farmers. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Our crumbling shores: Water always wins, but are we really in a zero-sum game?
“The United Sates is a coastal nation, though we don’t often think of it this way. Nearly 40 percent of US residents — about 130 million people — live along the coasts. Added together, the economies of coastal counties would rank third in the world for gross domestic product, behind only the entire US and China.Much like drought, the disappearing coast is a slow story, too slow to properly deal with. It lives in the category of things that don’t demand immediate attention. There are always more urgent needs — raging wildfires, razed towns, floods that sweep homes and cars away. Crime, politics, jobs. Taxes, kids, love, heartbreak. And yet, for the past few months, as I’ve been traveling the California coast, I see the effects of erosion everywhere I go. They are small, sure, but they are everywhere, lapping at the edges of the continent: trails that have fallen apart, cliffs that have collapsed, beaches gone, asphalt disappeared. In their place come signs of resignation. “Detour,” “Road Closed,” “Do Not Enter.” These things are a nuisance, but they do add up. They cost us. … ” Read the full story at Earth Island Journal.
To protect giant sequoias, they lit a fire
“Beneath a cerulean sky and a forest of the largest trees on Earth, the chairman of the Tübatulabal Tribe, Robert Gomez, offered a prayer. “I want to tell the spirit on the other side of the sun to give us power for this burn,” he said. “Give us a good burn.” After songs, prayers and pronouncements, several dozen members of the Tule River, North Fork Mono and Tübatulabal Tribes and others kindled branches into crackling fires. Thick clouds of blue smoke billowed through the canopy of the giant sequoia forest. A plate of food from a barbecue was offered to the flames. The carefully monitored fire at the Alder Creek Grove in California was aimed at clearing the forest of growth in the understory and, among other things, at helping to prevent out-of-control wildfires. … ” Read more from the New York Times (gift article).
Welcome to the Age of Fire: California wildfires explained
“After two mild wildfire seasons, California is bracing for whatever 2024 brings. Favorable weather marked 2023 and 2022, when the total acreage burned — less than 400,000 acres each year — was considerably lower than the state’s 5-year average of more than 2.3 million acres. But 2024 has already started in a worrisome way, particularly in areas where two heavy rainy seasons fueled thick grasses and brush. The Post Fire in the Gorman area of Los Angeles County burned almost 16,000 acres in its first three days and remained active for 11 days in June. The fire raged in steep, hard-to-reach areas, and Cal Fire noted that “fire weather conditions” — gusty winds and warm temperatures — were making it even more difficult to control. As climate change warms the planet, the state’s wildfires have become so unpredictable and extreme that new words were invented: firenado, gigafire, fire siege — even fire pandemic. California now has 78 more annual “fire days” — when conditions are ripe for fires to spark — than 50 years ago. When is California’s wildfire season? It is now almost year-round. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
In commentary today …
Editorial: Full reservoirs, but California sticks with water rationing
The Southern California News Group editorial board writes, “California’s regulatory policy often is at odds with reality, but the latest water-conservation rules seem extreme even within that context. The State Water Resources Control Board has approved new mandatory conservation standards that comply with a package of state laws passed by the Legislature in recent years. They will force us to use less water by imposing targets on suppliers. This isn’t rationing for individual households, but the net result might be the same as water agencies are forced to meet the targets or face fines. The water agencies will then impose restrictions and raise prices. Conservation is an important part of any water strategy, but as usual the state prefers the stick to the carrot. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Efforts on the Eel continue
“California’s Eel River got its modern name from the swarms of Pacific lamprey that once plowed up and down its length, but it’s more famous for its wild steelhead and salmon –– and, unfortunately, for the dramatic decline in those fisheries over the past century. Trout Unlimited has been working over the past 25 years to improve habitat and fish passage for steelhead and salmon in the Eel watershed, much of which remains largely intact. Two recent developments in which TU has played a major role should dramatically improve the prospects for wild salmon and steelhead in California’s third largest river system. … ” Read more from Trout Unlimited.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
E. coli bacteria levels rising in area rivers, Sacramento County says it’s still OK to swim
“Every week during hot weather, the Sacramento and American rivers are put to the test. Crews are testing for E. coli bacteria levels, which are going up. The testers work under the State Water Resources Control Board with the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program, or SWAMP, and keep track of the E. coli bacteria levels for the county. “There is E. coli out there that we are monitoring and for everyone to stay safe while they are out on our rivers,” said Elizabeth Zelidon, a spokesperson for Sacramento County Public Health. According to Sacramento County monitoring data, it says to use caution with the higher bacteria levels. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Yolo County farm cultivates seeds, ecological restoration
“In Yolo County, nestled among sprawling orchards and field crops, is a one-of-a-kind farm. Each spring and summer, Hedgerow Farms turns into a patchwork of yellows, greens and violets as its fields of native wildflowers come into bloom. For more than three decades, the farm has cultivated native plants for seed production, supplying land managers working to restore wildlife preserves and other nature areas. “We basically create our own superbloom,” said Julia Michaels, restoration ecologist at Hedgerow Farms. “We go out into the wild and, with permission, find big blooms of native wildflowers and collect a small amount of the seed.” Hedgerow Farms uses the wild seed to plant a field of the native species at its 300-acre farm near Winters, “turning a handful of wild-collected seed into thousands of pounds of seed.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
BAY AREA
One final round for Bay Area heat wave before it says goodbye for good
“For days, a historic Bay Area heat wave that broke century-old records appeared finally to be well out the door and into the distance. Instead, it has turned around and is back pounding on the region, insisting on one more visit. “This is still the high pressure that started everything. It shifted slightly off to the east for a couple of days,” National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass said Wednesday. “The ridge is just building again.” The system led to five straight days last week of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in the hottest places, as well as the longest excessive heat warning in the region’s history. This final blast won’t be as intense or long, the weather service said. The heat is back from 11 a.m. Wednesday until 8 p.m. Friday for the East Bay hills and interior valley areas, San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley, the Eastern Santa Clara hills, and the North Bay interior mountains. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal (gift article).
Bay Area households will pay $200 more per year to protect San Francisco Bay
“Bay Area cities and counties will soon have to make major upgrades to their aging wastewater facilities to comply with new regulations that aim to protect the San Francisco Bay from harmful algal blooms. The upgrades are estimated to cost $11 billion across the region — an average increase for ratepayers of $200 per year per household. The new regulations are expected to be finalized at Wednesday’s meeting of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. They’re part of a regional permit that is updated every five years. The need for the upgrades became clear, regulators say, after major algal blooms in the bay over the past two summers turned the water rust red and killed tens of thousands of fish. Nutrients found in wastewater — especially nitrogen which comes from human urine and other types of waste — are major contributors to algal blooms. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
How SF keeps drinking water ‘pristine’ amid statewide cleanliness issues
“Thanks to Hetch Hetchy, The City has some of the cleanest tap water across California. But for nearly 1 million people statewide, healthy drinking water remains out of reach. That’s according to the California Water Resources Control Board’s fourth annual Drinking Water Needs Assessment report, which evaluated the health of the state’s drinking water. The report, released late last month, provides key data points for the state’s SAFER program. The 2019 Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience effort attempts to establish strategies ensuring all Californians receive safe and affordable drinking water as quickly as possible. … ” Read more from the Washington Examiner.
Harmful algal bloom confirmed at Discovery Bay; public urged to avoid water activities
“A “danger” advisory has been posted after testing of water samples collected from multiple locations of Discovery Bay in Contra Costa County confirmed the presence of harmful algal blooms, according to the State Water Resources Control Board and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board. HABs can pose a threat to people and pets, and the advisory urges people to avoid swimming, boating and other activities and to keep pets out of the water until further notice. … ” Continue reading this press release from the State Water Board.
Valley Water to consider ban on encampments along South Bay waterways
“Citing an increase in safety threats and environmental hazards, the primary water resource agency for Santa Clara County will consider an ordinance Tuesday that aims to reduce homeless encampments along county waterways. Homeless advocates, however, have called the proposed law inhumane and criticized it for criminalizing those experiencing homelessness. On Tuesday, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors will review and decide whether to approve an ordinance that prohibits encampments, public nuisances like radios or fireworks, and activities that could create a hazard to Valley Water employees or the public. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area.
SEE ALSO: Water district delays vote on law to remove homeless encampments from creeks in San Jose, Santa Clara County, from the San Jose Mercury News
CENTRAL COAST
California’s depleting groundwater threatens community’s future
“The Cuyama Valley north of Santa Barbara is one of the areas of California where groundwater levels have been rapidly dropping, and where water continues to be heavily pumped to irrigate thousands of acres of farmland. Like other regions, the Cuyama Valley has developed a state-mandated plan to address overpumping under California’s groundwater law, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. But while that plan is just starting to be implemented, disagreements over addressing the water deficit have led to a bitter legal fight. A group of agricultural landowners in 2021 sued other property owners throughout the valley, asking a judge to determine how water rights should be divided. That case, called a water adjudication, sparked an outpouring of opposition and prompted residents to organize a boycott of carrot-growing companies that are the valley’s biggest water users. Participants have put up signs and banners reading “Boycott Carrots” and “Stand with Cuyama Against Corporate Greed.” … ” Read more from the LA Times via Governing.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State offers help to Tulare County’s 33 failing water systems
“California recognizes the human right to water, the principle that “every human being has the right to safe, clean, affordable, and accessible water adequate for human consumption, cooking, and sanitary purposes.” However, there are 386 failing water systems in California. Tulare County has 33 of them, the California State Water Resources Control Board. In 2019, state water resources board established the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) program to provide sustainable safe drinking water to disadvantaged communities. Since then, the number of failing water systems in the state has been about the same, a statistic that can be deceptive, according to Chad Fischer, SAFER section supervising engineer for the water board’s Division of Drinking Water. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
“Too damn hot.” Farmers look for irrigation sweet spot to cool crops but there’s no beating this heat
“If the heat is sapping your will to live, most San Joaquin Valley crops are right there with you. The blast furnace weather has farmers irrigating in cycles, using more frequent bursts, taking advantage of the coolest part of the day; anything to get crops through to harvest. But “it’s just too damn hot,” said Kern County grower and farm manager Keith Gardiner. “We’re trying to keep up but we can’t increase the number of cycles. There’s only so much water we have access to. We’re pretty much maxed out.” Gardiner grows his own almonds and row crops, while his company, Pacific Ag Management manages acreage for other farmers as well. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DWP ratepayer advocate predicts fee increases, recommends delaying city’s 100% clean energy timeline
“Los Angeles residents and businesses will face higher electric bills as the Department of Water and Power transitions to 100% clean energy, according to a report by the city’s Office of Public Accountability. Monthly bills could rise 7.7% annually in the coming years if the city sticks to its goal of 100% clean energy by 2035, according to the report, which deems the cost “not reasonable” for customers and recommends delaying the 2035 benchmark. The median monthly electric bill for apartments and homes is $65.81, according to the DWP. Increases in sewer fees, which appear on the same bill, have also been proposed by the city. Fred Pickel, the ratepayer advocate for the Office of Public Accountability, an independent city department that oversees DWP rates, expressed concern that in the rush to meet the 2035 goal, the DWP could commit to outdated technology, which could be more costly in the long run. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
ETEC installs automated well pumping system to protect groundwater
“A new automated pumping system is up and running at the Former Sodium Disposal Facility (FSDF) on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) site at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL). Located northwest of Los Angeles, California, SSFL is a 2,850-acre former rocket engine testing and energy research facility. DOE conducted research and development in Area IV, a 290-acre portion of SSFL, and EM is charged with cleanup of residual contamination that remains at the site. Pumping water manually has taken place at FSDF since 2017 as part of interim cleanup measures “to protect groundwater by capturing and removing contaminated material, keeping it away from the deeper bedrock groundwater,” said Ian Lo, project engineer at the ETEC site. … ” Read more from the US Department of Energy.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
County supervisors to consider $11.2 million grants for Niland Wastewater Treatment Plant
“The Imperial County Board of Supervisors are expected to meet Tuesday to consider several items, including a $6.7 million grant for the Niland Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project. Those funds come from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program, a county document shows. Supervisors will also consider ratification to accept a $4.5 million grant from the State Department of Housing and Community Development for the same project. The item includes appropriation of funds to purchase an Imperial Irrigation District 55.9-acre property for $222,376. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
To gas or not to gas? Calexico considers new water treatment process
“While no action was taken at the most recent Calexico City Council meeting regarding what to do about the City’s water treatment system, a lot of back and forth discussion was had as to what the City should do, if anything, regarding its current water treatment system. Various mixed opinions – both from the city council and the public – were heard regarding Item No. 15 on the agenda, “Authorize Acting City Manager to Sign Agreement of Professional Services between the City of Calexico and LEE & RO, Inc. in the Amount of $282,814.00 for Engineering Design Services for the Chlorine Conversion Project – Gaseous Chlorine Feed System to Liquid Hypochlorite Feed System at Water Treatment Plant and Eastside Water Reservoir.” … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Carlsbad rejects prepaying fixed charges to county water authority
“Despite rising water rates, the city of Carlsbad has opted against prepaying fixed charges to the county’s wholesale water supplier in exchange for discounted rates in 2025. In late May, the San Diego County Water Authority asked its 23 member agencies, including the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, to consider a prepayment option. On June 27, the San Diego County Water Authority board approved a 4% increase in wholesale water rights. While that number is far less than the 15% to 18% increase that was previously projected, the water authority plans to consider additional charges to support its maintenance and operations and financial stability later this month during a public hearing scheduled for July 25. … ” Read more from the Coast News.
Boats return to Miramar Reservoir after Pure Water pipeline installation
“The Miramar Reservoir is once again open to motorboats, canoes, kayaks and float tubes. The city-owned reservoir had been closed to boaters for nearly a year. Torrey Thomas brought kayaks and fishing poles to the reservoir on Tuesday. “We’re here to do some bass fishing,” he said. “It’s been about a year now and this is our local lake, so we’re glad to get back on the water.” The city closed the reservoir to boats last September to install a mile-long underwater pipeline. It’s part of the city’s effort to reduce San Diego’s dependence on imported water by purifying recycled water. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
The Colorado River: Strategies from lower and upper basin states to reduce water consumption
“The issue of water — who gets it, how much they get and what happens when Mother Nature doesn’t provide enough — is not a new conflict in the Intermountain West. Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Park is the link in the multistate system that feeds the Colorado River from the upper basin states to its lower basin counterparts. In its trip, the Colorado River water, mainly provided by snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains, travels through the upper basin states comprising Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. It then flows through Lake Powell down to Lake Mead, feeding the lower basin states: Nevada, Arizona and California. “Over the last two or so years, there’s been an upper basin-wide conservation program that basically pays water users, farmer in particular, to voluntarily forego irrigation for a season in an effort to conserve water,” Amy Haas, who is the executive director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, said in a virtual news conference, Tuesday. “And this really started in response to some of the emergency low lake levels that we saw at Lake Powell and Lake Mead in 2022.” … ” Read more the Deseret News.
Colorado River water rights sale by private company might set a dangerous precedent: ‘We’ve opened Pandora’s box’
“A private company supported by global investors bought nearly 500 acres of land in a tiny Arizona town and sold its water rights to a Phoenix suburb for a $14 million profit. The Guardian reported this is sparking one of the largest battles over the Colorado River’s water and represents an unprecedented water transfer facilitated by exploiting water policies. Greenstone Resource Partners LLC bought agricultural land in Cibola, Arizona (population around 200), and sold the water rights to suburban Queen Creek, known for lush golf courses and resort pools. Land previously used to irrigate Cibola farms now flows through a canal to provide water to master-planned communities over 200 miles away. The Guardian has investigated this disturbing water transfer, how states negotiate dwindling water supplies, and how water rights can be transferred without proper environmental review. … ” Continue reading at The Cool Down.
New legislation would ratify Colorado River water settlements for three AZ tribes
“A bipartisan coalition of Arizona’s congressional delegation introduced legislation to address one of the longest-running water issues facing three Arizona tribes. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement (NAIWRSA) Act of 2024 would ratify and fund the largest Indian water rights settlement in the country, which will secure water rights for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. “This legislation and the settlement it ratifies represent a historic step forward in resolving a decades-long water rights dispute, providing certainty and stability for the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly said in a written statement. Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, introduced the act in the U.S. Senate on July 8. Identical legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, where it is cosponsored by Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Tucson), Raúl Grijalva (D-Tucson), Greg Stanton (D-Phoenix) and David Schweikert (R-Scottsdale). … ” Read more from Source NM.
Utah, other Colorado River Basin states want to ensure conserved water gets to Lake Powell
“Representatives of the four Upper Colorado River Basin states, including Utah, want to create a program to track conserved water and ensure it’s actually getting to Lake Powell. Water managers from Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico recently adopted a resolution to begin work to create such a program. For the last two years, the Upper Basin has implemented the System Conservation Pilot Program. Gene Shawcroft, Utah’s Colorado River Commissioner, said during that time, they compensated water users in the basin to use less water. But, in terms of the water saved through that program, Shawcroft said, “there was no mechanism really to make sure that water got into Lake Powell.” … ” Read more from KSL.
In national water news today …
Federally unprotected streams contribute most of the water to U.S. rivers
“The dry-looking stream in your backyard may play a major role in feeding U.S. rivers. Channels that flow only in direct response to weather conditions like heavy rain, called ephemeral streams, on average contribute 55 percent of the water in regional river systems in the United States, researchers report in the June 28 Science. But last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that some waterways — including these streams — are not federally protected from pollution under the Clean Water Act. The decision could have a substantial ripple effect on the environment. … ” Read more from Science News.
FEMA will now consider climate change when it rebuilds after floods
“When the Federal Emergency Management Agency spends millions of dollars to help rebuild schools and hospitals after a hurricane, it tries to make the community more resilient than it was before the storm. If the agency pays to rebuild a school or a town hall, for example, it might elevate the building above the floodplain, lowering the odds that it will get submerged again. That sounds simple enough, but the policy hinges on a deceptively simple question: How do you define “floodplain”? FEMA and the rest of the federal government long defined it as an area that has a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year. That so-called 100-year floodplain standard, though more or less arbitrary, has been followed for decades — even though thousands of buildings outside the floodplain go underwater every year. … ” Read more from Grist.
‘A really big deal’: White House to raise roads, buildings nationwide as floods intensify
“The Biden administration is finalizing a policy first proposed in 2015 that aims to protect tens of thousands of federally funded construction projects from heightened flooding caused by climate change. Starting Sept. 9, public infrastructure that’s rebuilt after a disaster with money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will have to be elevated at least 2 feet above the local flood level. Projects include police stations, schools, sewer plants, roads and bridges. The final rule being announced by the White House on Wednesday marks a long-delayed victory for environmental, taxpayer and insurance groups that have sought to strengthen building standards in flood-prone areas. It took nearly a decade and spanned three presidencies, including a period of opposition during former President Donald Trump’s administration. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE: Status of water quality objectives for salinity in the Lower San Joaquin River
