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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: CA Water Commission beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include a briefing on the State Water Project strategic plan and operations, Water storage investment program update, overview of flood advocacy, and an update on DWR grant programs. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Delta Research Award Seminar Series from 10:30am to 12:00pm. This week: From Microbes to Zooplankton, What Defines a Beneficial Wetland?, and Non-Invasive Environmental DNA Monitoring to Support Tidal Wetland Restoration. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: A Conversation with Jen Quan, Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region from 11am to 12pm. Grab a cup and please join us for RWA’s virtual COFFEE & CONVERSATION with Jennifer (“Jen”) Quan, Regional Administrator for NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. RWA Manager of Strategic Affairs Michelle Banonis will join Jen for a discussion on protecting and restoring salmon amidst the unfolding challenges of climate change. They will explore the current regulatory and physical landscape and offer insights into what lies ahead. Click here to register.
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 11:30am in Lake Tahoe. The State Water Resources Control Board will meet in Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, where they will be given an overview of Lake Tahoe Environmental Research and a tour of projects along the south shore. Click here for the agenda.
- OCWA: OC’s Path to Lead Free Water : An OCWA Industry Insight from 11:30am to 1:30pm in Irvine. In our ongoing commitment to public health and safety, Orange County water agencies are at the forefront of the battle against lead contamination in drinking water. Since the USEPA first introduced the Lead and Copper Rule in 1991, efforts to safeguard drinking water have significantly evolved. The most recent update in 2021, the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) mandates water systems to complete thorough service line inventories for lead presence, including those within private properties, by October 16, 2024. This presentation covers the approach OC water agencies are taking to meet LCRR compliance, lessons learned, and how we are gearing up for the LCRI. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: Post-2026 Colorado River Operational Guidelines: An Overview of the Lower Basin’s Alternative from 1pm to 2:15pm. In response to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a new set of operating guidelines for the Colorado River following the expiration of the current 2007 Interim Guidelines, Drought Contingency Plan, and other related agreements, the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada submitted an alternative for analysis on March 6, 2024. In this WRRC webinar, the Colorado River Programs Managers for the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Central Arizona Project (CAP) will provide an overview of the goals and parameters of that alternative and the paradigm shifts in thinking captured in the new proposal. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Kings County judge rules state overstepped by requiring farmers to meter, report groundwater extractions
“The first steps toward possible state control of groundwater pumping in Kings County were derailed under a ruling issued July 15 that said the Water Resources Control Board had overstepped its bounds by requiring meters on wells. The temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction were issued by Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini in a case brought by the Kings County Farm Bureau. Requiring meters and reporting extractions were the first steps mandated by the Water Board in the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, as part of its enforcement of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The requirements were made after the subbasin was put into probationary status by the Water Board April 16 for failing to come up with a coordinated groundwater management plan. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Judge temporarily blocks state order to growers who depleted groundwater
“A Kings County judge today issued a temporary restraining order against the state that pauses its unprecedented move to crack down on groundwater depletion in California’s agricultural heartland. The decision by Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini grants Kings County growers a temporary reprieve from a state mandate to monitor and report how much water they pump from heavily over-pumped aquifers. The order will last through a hearing in August, when the judge will consider issuing a preliminary injunction. The State Water Resources Control Board in April put Kings County water managers on probation under the state’s landmark groundwater law — a first step towards wresting control of the severely depleted Tulare Lake groundwater basin in the San Joaquin Valley. The groundwater basin serves vast swathes of dairies, ranches and farms, including those controlled by agricultural giants J.G. Boswell Company and Bay Area developer John Vidovich. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
SEE ALSO:
- Judge issues Temporary Restraining Order against State Water Resources Control Board, press release from the Kings County Farm Bureau
- Judge temporarily halts state plan to monitor groundwater use in crop-rich California region, from the Associated Press
- Enforcement of California’s landmark groundwater law put on hold by judge, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Judge sides with Kings County farmers, issues temporary restraining order against state, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
Groundwater is key to protecting global ecosystems
“Where hidden water tables meet the Earth’s surface, life can thrive even in the driest locations. Offering refuge during times of drought, shallow groundwater aquifers act like water savings accounts that can support ecosystems with the moisture required to survive, even as precipitation dwindles. As climate change and human water use rapidly deplete groundwater levels around the world, scientists and policy makers need better data for where these groundwater-dependent ecosystems exist. Now, a new study maps these ecosystems in dryland regions globally, examines their protection status and explores how they overlap with human communities. The research, published in the journal Nature, marks the first time that groundwater-dependent ecosystems have been mapped on a global scale. The global effort brought together researchers from universities, non-profit organizations and institutions from seven countries, including UC Santa Barbara. Their results show that 53% of these ecosystems are in areas with known groundwater depletion, while only 21% exist on protected lands or regions with policies in place for their protection. … ” Read more from The Current.
Warming waters: Chinook salmon in hot water
“The collapse of the state’s Chinook salmon runs has reduced many ports to relative ghost towns. At Bodega Bay, Sausalito and other seaside harbors, fishing boats that once targeted the coveted fish have been idled for almost two years after officials determined there are not enough salmon off the California coast to support harvest. Once abundant, Chinook have been devastated by habitat loss, water diversions from the rivers where they spawn and drought. If they are to recover, the salmon will need improved spawning grounds and more floodplain nursery habitat. … ” Read more from the Pacific Sun.
Another heat wave is coming to California. How will it differ from the last one?
“As California finally cools off after baking under a heat dome for more than a week, another spell of sweltering weather is already coming to the Golden State this weekend. “Yes, this is happening…again,” said UCLA Climate scientist Daniel Swain, who covers California weather in his blog. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center is warning the heat wave could bring afternoon highs in the 90s to 100s and overnight lows in the upper 60s to 70s to inland areas. “The likelihood of significantly above-normal temperatures” from July 22 to 26 is over 60%, the center said. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Another Northern California warmup begins today. Here’s how hot it will get, from the San Francisco Chronicle.
After years of discussions, California will start water cuts in 2027
“New water restrictions are coming to California. Earlier this month, the state Water Resources Control Board adopted new rules that will phase in cutbacks to water suppliers across the state; the enforcement of those conservation targets is expected to start in 2027. These new rules have been under consideration for several years, and have gone through different iterations over that time. With The Show to talk more about them is Rachel Becker, water reporter at CalMatters. … ” Read more or listen to podcast at KJZZ.
SCIENCE IN SHORT PODCAST: Environmental DNA: An Interview with Andrea Schreier
Living organisms everywhere are leaving behind clues of their presence. Known as environmental DNA, or eDNA for short, this genetic information is being used by conservation ecologists to pinpoint species in a way that they never have been able to before. California researchers are testing out new tools that can offer up answers to our questions in a matter of minutes. With a potential to revolutionize how we do conservation science, eDNA technology presents many opportunities for us to better understand the dynamics and health of our California Bay and Delta ecosystems. Click here to listen to the podcast or read transcript.
Cover crops offer water-holding benefits
“As farmers statewide prepare for anticipated cutbacks to groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, they are trying to stretch every drop of water to stay in business. Merced County farmer Benina Montes, owner of Burroughs Family Farms, planted cover crops between rows of almond, walnut and olive trees at her farm near Snelling to improve soil health and attract beneficial insects. She is now seeing water savings. “For every 1% increase in soil organic matter, you can hold another 20,000 to 25,000 gallons of water per acre,” Montes said of the water-holding capacity of soil planted with a cover crop. “By having the ground covered, we’re getting much better water penetration.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Biologicals in Agriculture: Benefits and challenges
“At the 2024 Salinas Biological Summit, President and CEO of Woolf Farming and Processing, Stuart Woolf shared his experience with biologicals in agriculture. He noted that with the increased interest in the presence of biologicals in agriculture, growers are hopeful of their efficacy especially as conventional methods for crop protection are lost to changing regulations in the state of California. “Having options is great,” Woolf said, “but we’ve got to make sure that these options are viable, that they’re efficacious, and that it’s not going to be increasing our costs or putting additional burdens on smaller growers.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
The business of California beaches: Leaders gather to discuss impacts of a disappearing coast
“There’s no arguing California’s beaches are the state’s prize amenity – a place millions of vacationers and residents visit year-round, fueling tourism and generating tax revenue, a place where an ocean economy thrives with jobs that depend on a healthy coastal environment. But how much is at risk if beaches continue to erode away? And how much money are lawmakers, residents and tourists willing to spend to ensure the valuable coastline doesn’t disappear? A group gathered at the UC Irvine one recent day to discuss the “Business of Beaches,” drawing politicians, planners, educators and economic experts to brainstorm ideas to tackle a problem — the shrinking supply of sand that makes up much of the region’s beaches — that could have a domino of disastrous impacts. “If we don’t have beaches, if they are eroded, we don’t have a local economy,” said Assemblymember Diane Dixon, who helped spearhead the discussion. “We do not have the hospitality industry, we don’t have the business industry that depends on our beaches.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Mega-fires put giant sequoia restoration efforts at risk
“Even when wildfires are put out, the damage might be far from done. Thanks to a pair of giant sequoia regeneration studies, researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center have found that some areas affected by recent mega-fires may not have enough seedlings to grow the next generation of trees. Extreme wildfires have killed up to 20% of the world’s mature giant sequoias since 2015, a majority of which perished from three wildfires in 2020 and 2021. The recent mega-fires burned at a size and severity more extreme than the historic norm, and these studies show that without intervention, some giant sequoia groves may experience a long-term or permanent loss of acreage as seed trees have died, and the number of new seedlings is exceptionally low. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
In commentary today …
California groundwater still an unsettled problem
Columnist Thomas Elias writes, “No one ever explained why the so-called Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 allowed 26 years — until 2040 — before all users of California’s ever-smaller groundwater supplies would have to meter their wells. Meanwhile, two straight winters of record-level rain and snow have not solved the problem of aquifer depletion. Sure, groundwater supplies ticked slightly upward this spring, after massive downpours filled the state’s rivers and reservoirs and piled snow on the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But the groundwater increase was pretty slim, about 8.7 million acre feet of water was replaced over the two years. One acre foot is the amount of water need to cover an acre of ground to the one-foot level. That hasn’t even begun restoring land levels in the Central Valley. The same old irrigation pipes and water lines that stood several feet above ground in many parts of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys in 2014 still stand tall. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath irrigators ask for more water for farms, wildlife
“A Klamath Basin irrigation organization is seeking more water for farmers and expressed concern about the impacts of hot and shallow water on birds and fish. The Klamath Water Users Association requested “immediate action to prevent unnecessary disasters” in a letter Saturday to Commissioner Camille Calimim Touton of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Paul Simmons, the association’s executive director, asked the agency to embrace a spirit of cooperation “to address all interests and needs in the Klamath Basin, including those of farms and ranches.” … ” Read more from The Bulletin.
Klamath Falls, Klamath County work to build water fill station
“City and county officials are working together to ensure residents suffering form dry wells have a reliable source of water in Klamath County. At the regular meeting Monday evening, Klamath Falls City Council approved the entrance into an intergovernmental agreement, or IGA, with Klamath County commissioners to construct and operate a water fill station on county property. The city began the planning phase of the water fill station project last year and has been providing water for county residents with dry wells since 2021. The IGA establishes the responsibilities of both parties, with funding and site allocation assigned to the county. Klamath County will provide a total of $500,000, which includes a 10% contingency cost. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
River communities come together to clean up Trinity River, one of the nation’s most endangered
“Last Sunday marked the 2024 Trinity River Clean Up in Hoopa. The clean-up is an on-river and land effort to clean up, and share information about protecting, the Trinity River. This year at least 65 people collected over two truckloads of trash, while also swimming and rafting. The local Rios to Rivers 2024 Paddle Tribal Waters cohort and Warrior Institute were among them, along with many local youth. “The river clean-up was a great success. It gave our community an opportunity to take pride in our valley and keep our rivers clean,” explained new Hoopa Valley Tribe councilman and longtime clean-up supporter Joseph Marshall. Marshall’s organization, the Warrior Institute, has aided Save California Salmon in the on-water part of the clean-up for years. Save California Salmon, the Yurok Tribe, and Warrior Institute will host a second local raft trip from Hoopa to Weitchpec on August 3rd. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
No harmful algal bloom detected at Lake Tahoe sites purported to be responsible for dog’s death
“The agencies that sampled water at El Dorado Beach and Nevada Beach last week have detected no toxins associated with harmful algal blooms in the lake. These are sites viral social media posts purported could be where a dog ingested harmful cyanobacteria and later died. “The agencies involved in water-sample testing cannot draw conclusions about the cause of death for the dog from these results;” the California State Water Resources Control Board and Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ announcement reads, “they can only speak to evaluating water quality and the presence of HABs.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
The ‘Drink Tahoe Tap’ campaign makes it easy to avoid plastic in Lake Tahoe
“In Lake Tahoe, split between Nevada and California, area leaders have already banned single-use plastic bottles in towns around the lake. But they took it even one step further, and created a program to make visitors to the popular tourist towns aware that they don’t need bottled water. Tahoe-area water is “99.994 percent pure,” according to the National Rural Water Association, which makes it almost the same as much of the water bottled in the US. The campaign, called “Drink Tahoe Tap,” aims to remind visitors that Lake Tahoe’s tap water is some of the best in the country. And visitors with their own water bottles have no excuse not to try it (and no excuse for getting dehydrated), since a collective program installed 63 public and free fill-up stations at area businesses and attractions around the lake. Thanks to a funding effort, area businesses could get grants of up to $500 to install their own airport-style water bottle fill-up stations. … ” Read more from the Matador Network.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Shasta reservoir is managing well, despite extreme heat and increased evaporation
Sara Nevis / DWR
“Over 3 billion gallons of water has evaporated from Lake Shasta this month, when temperatures soared to nearly 120 degrees in Redding. That’s an evaporation increase of around 10% above average, according to the Bureau of Reclamation. But, Reclamation Area Manager Don Bader said despite the hot weather increasing evaporation and water use for agriculture, it’s not significant enough to affect their overall plan. “We call it noise in the system,” Bader said. “It’s more than we anticipated but not enough to change any major decisions for us.” … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Commentary: Sacramento has too many water districts to prepare for climate change. Time to merge
Opinion writer Tom Philp writes, “The Sacramento region’s big climate change threat is water – either too much during floods or not enough to satisfy regional demands. Our biggest problem in preparing for a drought is pretty simple. It’s local government, way too much of it. Surviving long droughts means jointly preparing to store more water underground in wet years because our rivers will provide less. And that demands a seamless regional water plan to start preparing. But Sacramento County alone has 14 water districts north of the American River. That’s way too many. And none have agreed to merge for nearly a generation, endangering the future water reliability of their ratepayers while driving up costs created by way too many fiefdoms. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
West Sacramento receives nearly $2 million to extend trail to Clarksburg
“West Sacramento is receiving nearly $2 million in funding to extend a trail to Clarksburg. The money will be utilized to develop the last-mile right of way for the Great California Delta Trail — Clarksburg Branch Line Trail Extension project, according to a press release. The Great California Trail is set to extend around the shorelines of five Delta counties, linking trail systems from Sacramento to the San Francisco Bay, according to the California Delta Protection Commission. … ” Read more from MSN News.
NAPA/SONOMA
Battle brews over who gets to use popular Russian River beach
“A popular beach for river rafters on the Russian River is in the middle of a public access dispute as visitors and locals clash for who gets to wash up on the shore. Folks looking to enjoy summer fun on the Russian River should be cautious if they pass through Hacienda Beach. The Hacienda Improvement Association, representing the homeowners near the beach, argues that it’s private. In contrast, others say that the beach falls within the right to public access for all Californians, as first reported by the Press Democrat. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
BAY AREA
San Francisco Bay warms in July 24
Tom Cannon writes, “This is a follow-up to a July 8 post on summer 2024 aquatic habitat conditions in the Bay-Delta Estuary. In this post, I focus on mid-July conditions after yet another summer heat wave. I am concerned that conditions are building for yet another sturgeon die-off this summer. Sturgeon mortality is caused by excessively warm water and algae blooms that eventually lead to rapid algae die-off and associated extremely low dissolved oxygen levels (<5 mg/l) throughout the Bay. Such conditions became acute in summer of drought year 2022 and led to the deaths of thousands of adult sturgeon and other Bay fishes. Conditions in the Bay are already worse this year at the beginning of summer than in 2022 or 2023 (Figure 1). Water temperatures and chlorophyll concentrations are higher, with dissolved oxygen concentrations falling. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
Valley Water releases draft Environmental Impact Report on the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project
“On July 12, 2024, Valley Water released the Coyote Creek Flood Protection Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This document identifies environmental impacts associated with Valley Water’s plan to build and maintain a series of flood risk reduction improvements along approximately nine miles of Coyote Creek in San José. The improvements would be implemented along Coyote Creek from Montague Expressway to Tully Road. The primary objective is to provide protection from floods up to the level that occurred on Feb. 21, 2017, equivalent to approximately a 5% flood (20-year event). We anticipate beginning construction on this project in 2025. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
New(ish) Kern groundwater authority gets underway
“A somewhat new groundwater authority held its first meeting Monday with a mandate to represent Kern County lands not covered by existing water districts. The so-called “non-districted lands” within the Kern subbasin (the San Joaquin Valley portion of Kern) had sort of been previously represented by the Kern Groundwater Authority KGA. But the KGA has been disintegrating over the past two years as member water districts left to form their own groundwater sustainability agencies. The KGA held its final meeting on May 22 and has since morphed into the Kern Non-Districted Lands Authority (KNDLA). The eventual goal is for owners of non-districted lands to represent their own interests under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act via the KNDLA and – more importantly – pay their own fees for studies, consultants, legal representation, etc. Water districts in the KGA had been footing those bills over the past 10 years. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kern County: Canal and well fencing repair costs adding up
“General Manager Dave Hampton said fencing costs jumped from an average $2,300 a month to $10,457 in July as the district fenced off some of its groundwater wells and has had to repair damage to fencing along the Beardsley canal near Olive Drive due to damage caused by homeless people. Fence repairs have had to be done weekly – or more often. Board members questioned if repairing the fence weekly was too often, and if that contributed to the excessive costs. “If they just continue to cut it as soon as you walk away, at what point do you just leave it and go look at it once a month instead of once a week?” asked director Joel Ackernecht. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Cal City’s water issues continue as cuts create challenges
“Cal City’s water department is understaffed dealing with several water pipe breaks and now it will be losing four jobs due to budget problems. Cal City’s water department will have to form a plan as it’s losing staff officially on Aug. 6. The city council of Cal City says it had to cut jobs because of the failure of special tax vote in March. Cal City is discussing the idea of bringing in a third-party company to take over the water department because the situation is so dire. …, ” Read more from Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A river runs through Los Angeles
“When you hear the word “river,” you probably picture a majestic body of water flowing through a natural habitat. Well, the LA River looks nothing like that. Most people who see it probably mistake it for a giant storm drain. It’s a deep trapezoidal channel with steep concrete walls, and a flat concrete bottom. The LA River is a surreal place to be, which has made it a great location to have edgy photoshoots or film movies like Grease or Terminator 2. Los Angeles was founded around this river. But decades ago it was confined in concrete so that, for better or worse, the city could become the sprawling metropolis that it is today. All these years later the county is still grappling with the consequences of those actions. … ” Continue reading at 99% Invisible.
Best practices for developing watershed management programs in southern California
“Stormwater managers are faced with solving complex and diverse environmental issues. Different watersheds have different waterbodies and supported uses, different upstream landscapes and land uses, different pollutants of concern, and different responsible agencies across jurisdictional boundaries. Under all those differences, stormwater managers are expected to implement control measures that address the most pressing water quality needs. A common planning tool used across Southern California to guide effective and efficient implementation is the development of watershed management programs. Watershed management programs are a combination of rigorous data analysis and modeling, technical engineering and extensive stakeholder coordination to provide a clear pathway towards compliance with stormwater permits for improved water quality and healthier waterways. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
Along the Colorado River …
Invasive, fast-reproducing zebra mussels reach Colorado River, threaten downriver states
“Voracious zebra mussels appear to be spreading into the Colorado River near Grand Junction and infesting the Government Highline canal watering Mesa County farms, less than two years after the invasive species first appeared in a Western Slope lake, wildlife officials said Tuesday. Western Slope officials called the news “devastating,” and are warning downstream water conservation partners beginning with Utah that the fast-reproducing mussels are likely on the way. Colorado Parks and Wildlife had led the charge to combat zebra mussels after finding the first lake infestation at nearby Highline Lake State Park in September 2022. The zebra mussels strip plankton from the water en masse, depriving native species of vital food. The females can produce a million eggs during a spawn, and masses of the growing mussels cling to docks, dams, intake valves and other river infrastructure, threatening damage in the seven-state Colorado River region serving 40 million people. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
SEE ALSO: Presence of invasive zebra mussels detected in Colorado River: What this means and what’s next, from Channel 11
Imperial Irrigation District backs Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement
“The Imperial Irrigation District Board of Directors approved a resolution, during its July 16 board meeting, in support of the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement Act of 2024, urging Congress to expeditiously move the provisions of the agreement forward. The pact would address one of the longest-running water issues in Arizona by securing water rights for the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe by providing reliable and safe water for tribal communities. It also allows for tribal autonomy to lease and exchange its water supplies to fund infrastructure improvements, the provision of potable water supplies to their communities that lack access to clean water and $5 billion to build essential water development and delivery projects. … ” Read more from the Imperial Irrigation District.
Arizona: Camp Verde Town Council to consider water rights settlement with Yavapai-Apache Nation
“The Camp Verde Town Council is expected to consider the approval of a water rights settlement with the Yavapai-Apache Nation during its Aug. 7 regular council meeting. It is a result of years of negotiations and will finalize water claims between the town and tribe over the Verde River watershed and develop long-term water resources. “As the two largest local governing authorities that will impact growth and development in the Camp Verde area, it is important for the Town and the Nation to work cooperatively to ensure appropriate water resource development in the future,” says Camp Verde Mayor Dee Jenkins. … ” Read more from KNAU.
Arizona: Despite vetos, Pinal supervisor hopeful for ag-to-urban water concept
“Late last month, Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed five water-related bills — including one that would allow agricultural land to be retired for urban development, reducing water use — and urged state and local legislators to keep working, though some say the important bills were fine as is. Pinal County, the third most populous in Arizona, is a mostly rural county of about 450,000 residents. The agriculture and ranching industry in Pinal — whether it’s flat fields of cotton or alfalfa or languid arrays of sheep and cattle, knows the feeling of thirst. Farmers, ranchers, the crops and cattle themselves have long grown accustomed to the state’s dry climate. Growers pay close attention to use of the most vital resource. The Arizona Department of Water Resources is ultimately tasked with the state’s use, and conservation, of water. … ” Read more from Pinal Central.
Colorado River officials vote to explore water conservation “credits” to protect against worst drought years
“Four states in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin, including Colorado, want credit for conserving water, but water users and officials have big questions about how to make it happen. Last year, taxpayers paid farmers and ranchers $16 million to cut their water use in the Colorado River Basin, but the water saved on one farm simply reentered streams, where it could be used by anyone downstream. For years, officials in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming have been considering ways to get credit for that conserved water — to track it, store it in a reservoir, and save it to help the states in the future. Representatives from the four states voted in June to develop a proposal exploring the idea by mid-August. But building a long-term program to track and store conserved water raises questions about equity, funding, economic impacts and whether the idea is feasible at all. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Agricultural land values still high
““Nothing short of exceptional.” That’s how Farmers National Company describes the agricultural land market over the last five years. According to the company, gains in value are prevalent across all classes of land in every region of the country. Strong commodity markets, moderate interest rates, buyer demand and an overall healthy agricultural economy have also supported the growth of land values during this time. “Well, right now we’re sitting at what you would still call all-time record highs for US farmland. We’ve seen a real rapid rise here in about the last three plus years that is starting to level off at this point now due to several factors. But yeah, really at all-time high numbers,” said Jay VanGorden, Farmers National Company Area Sales Manager for the Eastern Region. If you’re considering selling, he said things look good now and for the next few months. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of changes to proposed ‘Making Conservation a California Way of Life’ Regulation
NOTICE of Proposed Order Setting Aside Water Quality Certification for the Yuba River Development Project
