Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9:00am in Lake Tahoe. The State Water Resources Control Board will meet in South Lake Tahoe, where they will have a Mid-year Review and Discussion of Water Board Priorities. Click here for the agenda. Meeting will be livestreamed here or here.
- WEBINAR: How Dirty is Your Watershed? Sediment and Turbidity TMDL Compliance Planning from 11:30am to 1:00pm. This intermediate-level webinar is your opportunity to learn how to develop and implement total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for sediment and turbidity. The webinar will employ two contrasting case studies of TMDLs developed for salmon-bearing streams on California’s North Coast. Click here for more information and to register.
- WEBINAR: What does the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Chevron Doctrine mean for climate and energy policy? from 1pm to 2pm. In one of its final decisions of this term, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to overturn the Chevron Doctrine. The Chevron Doctrine, established forty years ago, stated that courts must defer to reasonable agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. Legally, the Chevron Doctrine has been critically important and has been cited in thousands of court decisions, including seventy Supreme Court decisions. Many have written that this decision will hamper the ability for agencies to act, especially on emerging and rapidly changing issues like climate change. What will this decision mean for climate change, energy, and environmental policy in the coming years and decades? Please join the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment and the Berkeley Climate Change Network to hear from two leading legal experts on what they think this decision could mean for progress on climate change, energy, and the environment. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Delta Protection Commission from 5pm to 7pm in Oakley. Agenda items include a report on Delta Stewardship Council activities, Delta as Place Presentation, Status of Recreation in the Delta, and Approval of National Heritage Area Advisory Committee Charter. Click here for full agenda.
In California water news today …
PPIC Survey: Californians identify climate change, wildfires, and water supply as top environmental concerns; coastal issues also prominent
“Californians have been facing a record heat wave and wildfires across the state this summer. The state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit prompted spending cuts for climate and energy programs. In response, the legislature approved a $10 billion state bond for the November ballot that asks voters to approve more funding for drought, floods, wildfires, coastal resilience, and extreme heat mitigation. The deep partisan divide on climate and energy policies surfaced in the presidential debate on June 27. These are the key findings of the Californians and the Environment survey on local, state, and national issues and coastal and inland topics that was conducted June 24–July 2, 2024 … Read on for the full survey results from the PPIC.
SEE ALSO: New poll: Big support among California voters for climate bond, Adam Schiff, from the San Jose Mercury News
Another heat wave, plus monsoonal moisture, is coming to California
“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 round of relentless, hazardous heat forecast across the West, from the LA Times
- Heat dome returns to California. Here’s which cities will be hottest, from the SF Chronicle
Press release: On the brink: Repeat of massive sturgeon die-offs likely
“Huge die-offs of white sturgeon in the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta estuary over the last two years were so devastating that the California Fish and Game Commission recently moved to list the iconic gamefish under the state Endangered Species Act. But that decision is hardly an adequate substitute for meaningful action, said Tom Cannon, a fisheries expert and consulting biologist for the California Water Impact Network. The reasons adult white sturgeon died by the thousands in 2022 and 2023 were warm water and algae blooms, conditions caused by excessive state and federal water diversions for corporate San Joaquin agriculture. “The one meaningful thing the Newsom administration could do to avoid another kill is increase cool water flows down the Delta,” said Cannon. “But they aren’t doing that, and now we’re seeing the same conditions in the Bay/Delta that we saw in 2022 and 2023 just prior to the die-offs.” … ” Read more from the California Water Impact Network.
Press release: The missing piece: Protecting California’s struggling native fish
“A groundbreaking five-year study conducted by FISHBIO and a coalition of Central Valley water agencies has uncovered a potential missing link in efforts to protect California’s declining native fish populations: predation by non-native species. A new video released by Banta-Carbona Irrigation District (Banta-Carbona), “A Startling Picture,” takes a closer look at the research that challenges many long-held beliefs about why California’s native fish are in decline. … ” Read more from the Banta-Carbona Irrigation District.
Unpacking the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the “Chevron Doctrine”
“We asked our senior fellow Brian Gray, a retired environmental law professor, to help us understand the implications of the US Supreme Court’s recent decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondi, which overruled the “Chevron doctrine.” Let’s start with a basic question: what was the Chevron doctrine? The Chevron doctrine stems from the Supreme Court’s 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. The decision basically stated that if federal legislation is ambiguous or leaves an administrative gap, the courts must defer to the regulatory agency’s interpretation if the interpretation is reasonable. Notably, Chevron required the courts to defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of the statute, even if a court—left to its own devices—would interpret it differently. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
California State Parks initiates collaborative planning process for Delta Meadows Park property
“California State Parks today announced the department is classifying and developing a comprehensive general plan for Delta Meadows Park Property, which includes the Locke Boarding House, in Sacramento County. The plan will enrich the visitor experience, address critical resource management and infrastructure needs, and incorporate public input into decisions about the park’s future direction. An initial step to gathering public input is an online survey that is now open. The approximately 500-acre park property is one of California’s natural gems and is located in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, approximately 30 miles northwest of Stockton and 25 miles south of Sacramento. “State Parks is excited to launch this planning effort for the Delta Meadows Property, which is adjacent to the town of Locke,” said Diablo Range District Superintendent Clint Elsholz. “Already known as a fishing destination, this planning effort will highlight the park’s other natural and cultural resources that demonstrate its value and significance to the California State Park System.” … ” Read more from California State Parks.
Judge halts enforcement of Tulare Lake subbasin probation
“Parameters of the Tulare Lake Subbasin probation are being put on hold for the next several weeks. Kings County Superior Court Judge Ciuffini issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The ruling has now suspended the enforcement of the subbasin’s probationary status under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). “What the restraining order does for the subbasin is eliminate the need to record pumping data with the intention of submitting it to the State Board. So, until further notice, the rule, or the requirement rather, to record data and submit it in is on pause,” said Dusty Ference, Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) Executive Director. “Our next step is a hearing for a preliminary injunction and that’s scheduled for August 20. If the injunction is granted, then that’s a longer-term pause on the rules of probation that will pause those rules until our case goes to trial.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
State rolls out plan to cut down urban water use
“The State Water Resources Board has rolled out a new regulatory framework which, when implemented, is expected to reduce urban water use by more than 400-thousand-acre feet by 2030. The framework, “Making Conservation a California Way of Life,” is a 15-year plan that builds on a policy that was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018. The latest measure will become effective Jan. 1, 2025. Suppliers subject to the first round of reductions have until 2027 to comply with the framework. Combined with conservation actions already taken by suppliers, businesses and residents, the framework is expected to generate about 500,000 acre-feet of water savings annually by 2040 – enough to supply more than 1.4 million households for a year, according to a July 3, 2024 Board media release. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
Heal the Bay: Water quality at California beaches dips in 2023-24
“Heal the Bay issued its 34th annual Beach Report Card today, issuing A-to-F grades to more than 700 beaches along the Pacific Coast based on levels of bacterial pollution in 2023-2024. The lower the grade, the greater the chance of ocean-goers getting sick. This year’s report is really a story of two seasons – summer and not summer. The good news is that nearly 90% of monitored California beaches received A or B water-quality grades for the dry-weather summer months. That figure is close to the state’s 10-year summer average, but does mark a 6% drop from our last Report Card. That means beach lovers had a very good chance of finding a shoreline with safe water quality during the state’s prime ocean recreation period (April-October 2023). … ” Read more from Heal the Bay.
Columbia River: Record salmon migration runs into hot water
“A persistent heat wave gripping parts of Washington state could spike temperatures as high as 105 degrees this week, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service to drink plenty of fluids, avoid the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. There’s no mention of what to do, however, if you’re a salmon swimming upstream to spawn. As air temperatures hit records in recent weeks, Native American and state fisheries experts and environmentalists are warning that water temperatures in the Columbia River Basin are similarly on the rise. Those warming waters — in major tributaries like the Okanogan River and the Snake River — come at the same time as annual migrations of sockeye salmon from the Pacific Ocean, complicating a spawning ritual that spans hundreds of miles and is already peppered with human-made obstacles. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Microbes found to destroy certain ‘forever chemicals’
“A UC Riverside environmental engineering team has discovered specific bacterial species that can destroy certain kinds of “forever chemicals,” a step further toward low-cost treatments of contaminated drinking water sources. The microorganisms belong to the genus Acetobacterium and they are commonly found in wastewater environments throughout the world. Forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, are so named because they have stubbornly strong carbon-fluorine chemical bonds, which make them persistent in the environment. The microorganisms discovered by UCR scientists and their collaborators can cleave those stubborn fluorine-to-carbon bonds, they reported Wednesday, July 17, in the journal Science Advances. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
In commentary today …
California policy czars ignore water-supply solutions in plain sight
Edward Ring, co-founder of the California Policy Center, writes, “Chronic water scarcity in California is indeed the new normal, but it’s not because of climate change. Even if the state is destined to experience lengthier droughts and reduced snowpack, most scenarios also forecast an abundance of years when the state is inundated with a series of so-called atmospheric rivers. That diluvian scenario was experienced by Californians this past winter, and even more so in the winter of 2022–23. Yet water remains scarce. Water is scarce because Californians have been living off a previous generation’s investment in the State Water Project, a remarkable system of reservoirs and aqueducts built in the 1950s and ’60s that were designed for a state with 20 million people but that is now inhabited by a population nearly twice the size. … ” Read more from the National Review.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Groups seek stronger protection for 200,000 acres in Siskiyou County with ‘purest water’
“From the air, the Medicine Lake Highlands in Siskiyou County appears as a vast expanse of mountains covered in forests of pine and fir. But what has groups such as Trout Unlimited, the Pit River Nation and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers of California eager to get federal protection for the area can’t be seen on the surface of the mountains or in the fields of volcanic rock. Underground lies an aquifer so large that it could hold the same amount of water as California’s largest 200 reservoirs combined, according to Trout Unlimited. That subsurface reservoir feeds a system of streams that are part of a valuable trout stream that extends south into Shasta County, the group says. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
‘First plan of its kind on Humboldt Bay’: Eureka OKs sea-level rise study
“Tuesday night, the Eureka city council unanimously approved using a $1 million grant to further study sea-level rise encroaching on public infrastructure and start some design work. Councilmembers awarded the project to GHD, Inc, an engineering consultant in Eureka. A study was completed in 2023 on the city’s sea-level rise vulnerability. Now, Public Works wants to delve into specific locations and develop strategies to address them. The $1,090,000 was awarded to the city in February from the State Coastal Conservancy for the Eureka Coastal Access and Resilience Plan. “We do hope this will be the first plan of its kind on Humboldt Bay, and, even more broadly, on the California coastline. So we really hope that it can be used as a template for others to work from,” Brian Gerving, director of Public Works for Eureka, said at the meeting. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
South Lake Tahoe bans plants, furniture within 5 feet of homes for wildfire protection
“As wildfire risks continue to impact fire-prone areas across California, the City of South Lake Tahoe is implementing new defensible space requirements for homeowners. South Lake Tahoe Fire Marshal Kim George said the city has never had a specific defensible space ordinance before, but they wanted to take action now to help keep people and their properties safe. “We’re requiring the Zone 0, the 0 to 5 feet of nothing combustible,” George said. George said they are banning bushes, pine needles and much more. “Furniture, barbecues, hot tubs,” George said. … ” Read more from KCRA.
The future of Yuba salmon: Community meetings on rotary screw trap trials and reintroduction efforts
“Please join the Yuba Salmon Study to learn more about the rotary screw trap trials and what is next for the effort to reintroduce spring-run Chinook salmon to the North Yuba River. … The Yuba Salmon Study is a collaborative planning and implementation program led by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW). The vision of this project is to reintroduce spring-run Chinook salmon to their historical habitat in the upper Yuba River watershed through a phased, science-based, and cost-effective reintroduction project that will inform future Central Valley reintroduction decisions. … ” Read more from The Union.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Heritage growers and the revival of California’s native habitats
“In the Sacramento Valley, there are significant efforts to integrate working farmland with other types of habitat for fish and wildlife. As part of this effort, we are inspired by the emerging work of Heritage Growers, a native seed and plant company launched by River Partners. Heritage Growers is addressing the critical shortage of native seeds needed for restoration projects in California, a challenge amplified by the state’s ambitious 30X30 conservation goals. The demand for native seeds in California is soaring due to extensive restoration projects and the state’s initiative to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. This need is outlined in the California Native Plant Society’s recent report, highlighting that current seed stock is insufficient to meet restoration goals. Heritage Growers steps into this gap, providing high-quality, locally adapted seeds that are essential for successful restoration efforts. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Marysville to replace aging Ellis Lake water pump
“The Marysville City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a consent item that will allow the city to replace an aging pump that supplies fresh well water to Ellis Lake. According to the city, the current pump is “over its life expectancy” having been in service for more than 30 years. With approval from the council, the city will now replace that pump at a cost of $44,237.35. The city said “staff have observed that the pump is failing” and after consulting with “pump and well experts,” it was recommended that a complete replacement was required. Officials said the current pump and motor that have been in place have been repaired and maintained “several times” over the past few decades. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
BAY AREA
Marshes could save Bay Area half a billion dollars in floods
“What, precisely, is the value of habitat restoration? While answers tend to aim for pristine nature and thriving wildlife, one approach — recently published in the journal Nature — has assigned salt marsh restoration projects a dollar value in terms of human assets protected from climate change driven flooding. This novel approach uses the same models engineers use to evaluate the value of “gray” solutions such as levees and seawalls. “You can really compare apples to apples when you put these green climate adaptation solutions on the same playing field as gray infrastructure,” says Rae Taylor-Burns, a postdoctoral fellow with UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Coastal Climate Resilience and lead author of the study. … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
These 2 Bay Area beaches are among California’s most polluted
“A pair of beaches in San Mateo County are among the most polluted in California, according to an environmental report published Wednesday. The report comes from Heal the Bay, a nonprofit advocacy group in Southern California that examines fecal pollution measurements taken throughout the year at beaches spanning the state and has been producing the report annually for more than 30 years. The cleanest beaches make the group’s honor roll, while those found to be most polluted are dubbed “beach bummers.” Most beaches from the Oregon border south to San Luis Obispo County, including San Francisco County, earned high marks for cleanliness during 2023. The group evaluates beaches during dry summer months, dry winter periods and wet weather events. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Here’s the $10M change coming to SF’s Golden Gate Park
“People are creeping into a closed-off section of Golden Gate Park as a construction project to renovate the once-dilapidated area around Middle Lake nears completion. When SFGATE visited the 14-acre site on Monday, there were several people in the fenced off area, including a woman with a child and a dog, a man running through the trail and two people walking up one of the hills. Sarah Keating-Wolk, who’s lived near the park for about seven years, was also there. “I was like, ‘Should I do it? ’ The gate over there was more open than it normally is,” Keating-Wolk told SFGATE. “I think people have had the same idea like, ‘What the heck? ’ I just want to see it.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
State approves Zone 7 groundwater management plan
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has approved an update to the Zone 7 Water Agency groundwater management plan, with a determination that the agency continues to meet requirements of the state Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Zone 7 manages groundwater resources in the Tri-Valley and adopted its management plan, formally known as an Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan, in 2016. That plan was approved by the state in 2019. The SGMA requires that water resource agencies submit updates to their management plans every five years. … ” Read more from the Livermore Independent.
CENTRAL COAST
Ventura County spot makes the list of top-scoring California beaches
“Ventura County beaches ranked among the cleanest in the state, an environmental group reported this week. Heal the Bay released its annual report card Wednesday, grading beaches from A to F based on water-quality samples from April 2023 through March 2024. Locally, all but one, or 97%, of those monitored scored A and B grades during the summer season, the busiest time for the beaches. That’s higher than the close to 90% statewide. “If a beach receives a grade of an A or a B, that means that it’s safe to swim,” said Annelisa Moe, associate director of science and policy at Heal the Bay. … ” Read more from the Ventura County Star.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Thinking about jumping into a lake or stream in L.A. to cool off? Here are the ones to avoid
“Angelenos searching for an aquatic adventure at one of Los Angeles County’s many inland waterways during the latest summer heat wave should do some research before taking the plunge, according to Heal the Bay’s River report card released Wednesday. Heal the Bay analyzed water quality at 35 freshwater sites along Malibu Creek, the Los Angeles River and the San Gabriel River last summer. Of the sites reviewed, 63% received grades ranging from A+ to B, which indicate low health risks for swimmers. Another 37% of sites received C, D or F rankings, indicating higher levels of bacteria and possible health risks. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Here’s Long Beach’s water quality grades after record amount of rainfall, from the Long Beach Press-Telegram
Why Los Angeles can’t afford to go third on clean energy
““Utilities race to be second. And sometimes it’s better to be third.” So said Fred Pickel, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s in-house ratepayer advocate, at a DWP board meeting in December 2019, a few months before the pandemic brought everyday life to a screeching halt. He was discussing the city’s first-of-its-kind plan to convert a coal plant to green hydrogen — a key piece of L.A.’s plans to reach 100% clean energy by 2035. Pickel was intrigued. But he was also concerned that the coal-to-hydrogen conversion would be expensive, driving up electric bills for DWP customers. He suggested that maybe the city should back off, and wait for some other public or private utility to invest in the innovative technology and drive down costs. Then Angelenos could take advantage of the cheap clean energy later on. “Be mindful of the consequences,” Pickel said. “Be mindful of the tradeoffs.” Five years later, he’s singing the same song. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego beaches top ‘Beach Bummer’ list thanks to sewage
“Hampered in part by winter storms, water quality declined at beaches across California in 2023-24, according to an annual report released Wednesday by an environmental group, which placed the Tijuana River Mouth in the top spot on its dreaded “Beach Bummer” list. The annual Beach Report Card released by Heal the Bay assigns letter grades of A through F to beaches based on bacterial pollution levels. The report rates 700 Pacific Coast beaches stretching from Washington to Baja. According to the report, 89% of California beaches received A or B grades during the dry-weather summer months, a 6% decline from last year. Southern California beaches fared about the same as those statewide, with 90% of them receiving A or B grades. … ” Read more from CBS 8.
With sewage gushing into sea, US and Mexican border towns plead for help
“Each day, millions of gallons of sewage cascade through a canyon and into the Pacific Ocean just south of the U.S.-Mexican border. As any surfer in San Diego knows, summer swells that come from the south will push the toxic brew north. Meanwhile, millions more gallons of treated and untreated sewage trickle down the Tijuana River and into the sea just north of the border. When the wind and currents conspire, the odor of fecal bacteria fouls the otherwise quaint San Diego County town of Imperial Beach, where Mayor Paloma Aguirre calls the discharges “the biggest environmental and public health disaster in the nation that nobody knows of.” … ” Read more from Reuters.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona tribes sign landmark settlement to bring water and land to communities
“The refrain “water is life” was on the lips and minds of people gathered at the Heard Museum Wednesday as the Navajo Nation, Hopi tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Flagstaff and Arizona’s two major water agencies formally signed the landmark Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement. Hopi Vice-chairman Craig Andrews said the historic coalition of 39 parties, including the three tribes, the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Salt River Project, municipal, state and federal agencies represented about one-third of Arizona’s lands. “This is a testament to the power of unity and collaboration in the face of water uncertainty,” he said. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Every last drop: Tackling big questions about Arizona’s water future
“As water supplies dwindle, concern is rising in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. You have important questions. KJZZ explores the answers. Water is arguably the most precious resource on Earth, essential to all forms of life. And the Colorado River has long been a lifeline for the Southwest. From ancient civilizations to modern times, it has allowed humans to inhabit the harsh Sonoran Desert and surrounding areas. But now, the river and its largest reservoirs are drying up. Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at alarmingly low levels, and the Southwest is struggling to balance the worst drought in 12 centuries with an ever-expanding population. As the water levels continue to fall, concern is rising among residents. People are asking what they should be doing, what the government is doing, and whether it’s even viable to continue living in the desert. KJZZ is committed to ongoing coverage that puts the water crisis into context, helping Arizonans better understand the local and individual impacts. Get your questions answered at KJZZ.
USBR begins experimental water releases to control smallmouth bass in Grand Canyon
“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has begun water releases from Glen Canyon Dam to cool the temperature of the Colorado River and slow the reproduction of an unwanted fish. The exotic and predatory smallmouth bass poses a threat to native species like the threatened humpback chub. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with Reclamation’s Bill Stewart about the experimental program. Q: So how often do you anticipate having to do these cool water releases? A: We’re in the really early phases of the implementation…and we anticipate intermittently continuing flows are needed to maintain that daily average water temperature below that target of 15.5 degrees Celsius. We’re doing this at locations where we know or suspect smallmouth bass to reside below the dam. … ” Continue reading at KNAU.
ADEQ proposal to convert wastewater to drinking water moves forward
“The proposal to turn treated wastewater into drinking water, otherwise known as Advanced Water Purification, is moving forward, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. In early July, ADEQ announced the release of its draft rule, which is the operating rule that will apply to utilities that are considering Advanced Water Purification technology. “This is a critical point for us as a state to have A.W.P. as an option for our utilities,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Deputy Director Randall Matas. “It certainly can be a large component of Arizona’s water security portfolio and I think going into the future indeed will be a very important part.” … ” Read more from Channel 15.
‘Devastating’: Invasive species larva found in Colorado River, Government Highline Canal
“A European species of mussels has spread into the Colorado River and the Government Highline Canal near Grand Junction, threatening the livelihoods and pastimes of all water users in those regions. Zebra mussels have been a target of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a while, aiming to prevent the spread of non-native mussels after they spread into Colorado waters, likely due to some hitching rides on boats, trailers or other equipment that makes contact with bodies of water. “This challenging discovery has ecological and economic impacts not only on the Grand Valley but potential statewide impacts as well,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis in the announcement. “CPW is committed to working with all of our partners as we work to better understand the extent of this discovery and the next steps in protecting the natural resources and infrastructure.” … ” Read more from Channel 31.
In national water news today …
New research identifies ecosystems around the world that could be threatened by declining groundwater levels
“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. … ” Read more from the Desert Research Institute.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
DWR NEWS: Public Comment Period Opens for Seven Resubmitted Groundwater Sustainability Plans Given ‘Incomplete’ Determinations in January 2024
