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In California water news this weekend …
“Groundhog day meets purgatory.” The tale of the sinking Tule subbasin
“When you’re done, you’re done. And the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is done. The district recently issued its new groundwater plan — purposely without coordination among the other groundwater agencies in the Tule subbasin. In the San Joaquin Valley water world, that’s the equivalent of going rogue. Especially as the Tule subbasin is about to go before the Water Resources Control Board for a probationary hearing Sept. 17. Lack of coordination is an automatic no-go under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires agencies to agree on how groundwater will be measured, monitored and protected. Without a coordination agreement, it’s highly likely the Tule subbasin will be put into probationary status, the first step toward a full state takeover of pumping. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
As California seeks to curb groundwater declines, farmers in one county fight back in court
“With long-term declines in groundwater levels putting thousands of domestic wells at risk and causing the ground to sink in parts of the San Joaquin Valley, state regulators are moving forward with efforts to force local agencies to take stronger steps to begin to rein in chronic overpumping by California’s agriculture industry. But these efforts have recently run into complications as growers in one area, the Tulare Lake subbasin, are suing to challenge state officials’ decision to intervene by placing the area on probationary status — a step that’s called for under California’s groundwater law when local water managers fail to come up with adequate plans to curb declines in water levels. The State Water Resources Control Board’s attempt to intervene was slowed this month when a judge in Kings County issued an order temporarily putting on hold the state’s determination and delaying a requirement that farmers begin measuring and reporting how much groundwater they pump. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Reclamation seeking public input on the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project
“The Bureau of Reclamation seeks public input on the Long-Term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The draft document considers revised operations of dams, powerplants, and related facilities of the Central Valley Project and Delta facilities of the State Water Project. “An unprecedented display of openness has gone into the process to work through technical analyses and develop options for new operating rules with monthly interested party meetings, quarterly public meetings, and numerous direct outreach efforts,” said California-Great Basin Regional Director Karl Stock. “We are pleased to present the comprehensive results of this effort to the public for comment.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Delta Conservancy Board approves nearly $1m for Stockton Maritime Museum project, elects new chair
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board on Wednesday elected a new chair and approved $950,000 to support the preconstruction planning activities of a historical maritime museum in Stockton that will showcase a restored vessel previously used by the U.S. Navy. Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume was elected the Conservancy’s Board chair for 2024-2025 and will replace outgoing Chair Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn. Board Member Leo Winternitz will continue to serve as the Conservancy Board’s vice chair. “On behalf of the Delta Conservancy, I want to welcome Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume as our new Board chair. We look forward to the continued progress and positive impact he will bring to the Delta,” said Delta Conservancy Executive Officer Campbell Ingram. “Additionally, I want to express our gratitude to Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn for his dedicated service and contributions to the Board.” … ” Read more from the Delta Conservancy.
What recent Supreme Court rulings mean for environmental laws in California
“In Corner Post, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the six-year statute of limitations for challenging an agency’s regulation begins when the action injures the challenger, rather than when the agency finalized the regulation, even if the agency finalized the regulation more than six years before the injury. Changing when to bring a facial challenge to void a regulation under the Administrative Procedure Act will significantly affect environmental regulations. Future challenges to a federal agency actions will be assessed under the Supreme Court’s new Loper Bright standard, which overrules “Chevron deference” and requires that courts exercise independent judgment when interpreting statutes rather than deferring to an agency’s interpretation. The Loper Bright decision will not directly affect whether and how courts defer to California agencies’ interpretations of California statutes. Those interpretations of state law remain subject to a similar but different standard referred to as “Yamaha deference”. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
Video: Californians and the Environment
“Climate change remains a top environmental issue for Californians as the November election draws closer, and the stance a candidate takes on the environment matters to most voters. At a briefing last week, survey analysts Lauren Mora and Deja Thomas discussed this sentiment and other key findings from the latest PPIC survey on local, state, and national environmental issues. “Close to eight in ten California likely voters say that a candidate’s position on environmental issues is very or somewhat important to determining their vote for president, US Senator, and in House representative races,” said Mora. It’s a factor at play for about nine in ten Democrats, eight in ten independents, and just over half of Republicans. … ” Read more and watch video from the PPIC.
FERC’s new rule clarifies California’s water quality authority
“In May 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) adopted the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) revised section 401 requirements under the Clean Water Act. As with the EPA’s requirements, FERC’s new policy requires that states process water quality certification applications within a reasonable time, ideally within six months but not exceeding one year from the applicant’s request. This new policy affects California’s permitting role in projects involving FERC licensing, like hydroelectric dam projects. … ” Read more from Hanson Bridgett.
In commentary this weekend …
California could lose up to 9 million acre-feet of water by 2050. Here’s what can be done
Danielle Blacet-Hyden. the deputy executive director of the California Municipal Utilities Association, writes, “California’s water supply is trending poorly. Unless we act now to transform how California manages its water — by passing an important bill that would update our approach — the state will soon lose some of its year-to-year supply. By 2050, California is expected to lose between 4.6 and 9 million acre-feet of its annual water supply. In other words, by 2050 at the latest, Californians would lose access to a volume of water that is enough to supply 50-90% of all the state’s households — or to irrigate 17-33% of all the state’s farmland. Picture a volume of water as large as two Lake Shastas disappearing from the state’s water bank. If you remember the drought in 2022 and its restrictions on water supply, you know that California is regularly short of water. But the situation now is worsened by dated state policy and infrastructure, which are unprepared for the consequences of a hotter, drier climate. The situation demands serious, immediate action. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
RELATED CONTENT: REPORT SUMMARY: The Magnitude of California’s Water Challenges, from Maven’s Notebook
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Women in water science make a splash
“In a time when both science and women’s rights are being actively challenged, the Sierra Nevada Phillips award shines a light on accomplished women in water resource sciences. Launched with a ceremony last March—Women’s History Month—the new award, is named for a historic female entrepreneur from the early 1900s, who spent her life living in the mountain range she was named for, and which plays such a vital role in shaping California’s water supply. “We are growing a tradition here at the Department of Water Resources for an award that’s devoted to science leadership that has been provided by women specifically,” the agency’s lead scientist Louise Conrad said at the second annual presentation of the award. While the science, of course, is essential, the award is also meant to honor the recipients’ roles as mentors for the next generation of scientists, added Cindy Messer, DWR Deputy Director. “We recognize the collaboration and community engagement [efforts] that catalyze advancements in water resource management for our state. There are so many women to recognize in these areas, and this award is a chance to hold them up as leaders for navigating our water future.” … ” Continue reading this article.
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) welcomes back Partner David Cameron as water team leader
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo (AALRR) is pleased to welcome back David Cameron as a partner and leader of the Firm’s water practice. Mr. Cameron is a water resources attorney who advises and represents clients throughout California on water rights and environmental issues. His practice focuses on securing and protecting water rights, the purchase and sale of water rights, compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), water banking, and related environmental and endangered species issues. Mr. Cameron tackles complex legal issues and provides practical solutions to his clients – water districts, irrigation districts, cities, counties, investors, lenders, and agricultural interests both large and small. “We are excited to have Mr. Cameron rejoining the firm, bringing his incredible expertise and relationships to our state-wide water practice,” commented David Boyer, chair of AALRR’s Facilities, Construction & Property practice group. “Dave’s experience is a tremendous asset for our team and our clients. We are confident that his leadership will continue to build and grow our water practice.” … ” Read more from AALRR.
Roger Cornwell: The many benefits of growing plump, gourmet bugs
“It is the dead of winter but the rice fields in the Sutter Basin are full of life. It’s the slowest time of year for most farmers; crops have been harvested and the spring planting season is months away. While most Farmers patiently await the turn of season, fields southwest of Yuba City are busy producing new type of food. Roger Cornwell, the general manager of the Basin Irrigation and Drainage Authority, knows there isn’t any money in growing tiny insects, but he’s banking on it leading to riches in another sense. The spineless orange bugs, known as cladocerans but also called a water flea, are no larger than a grain of rice, but they are the preferred meal of California’s Chinook salmon. Partnering with UC Davis, California Trout and State Water Contractors, Cornwell is hoping these tiny crustaceans thriving in his member’s rice fields can lead to a rebound of the salmon’s declining population numbers. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: From showers to flowers
For over a decade now, Direct Potable ReUse (DPR) has been referred to as “Showers to Flowers.” Darcy and Darcy welcome back Las Virgenes General Manager and President of Water ReUse California, Dave Pedersen to talk about DPR’s next level – Pizza & Beer! If you recall from our December 29th episode, Darcy V wanted to try the DPR Pale Ale Beer that a local microbrewery Lady Face Mountain crafted exclusively for Dave’s project. Dave got it to Darcy B., and she got it to the great Central Valley for Darcy’s enjoyment. Listen in to hear Darcy V.’s candid review and then learn about Dave’s unique community engagement efforts that involve pizza, beer, gelato, and shaved ice – all made with DPR water!
WHAT ABOUT WATER? WITH JAY FAMIGLIETTI: Go with the flow: Erica Gies on embracing water’s natural path
“What happens when we change our relationship to water? Can we stop trying to control water and just go with the flow? Erica Gies, environmental journalist, National Geographic Explorer, and author of Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge sits down with host Jay Famiglietti to discuss how the engineered control of water sometimes does more harm than good. We also hear from Nicholas Pinter about ‘Design with Nature’ and how communities are managing retreats from the floodplains.
RESOURCES RADIO: Four Dam Removals on the Klamath River, with Amy Bowers Cordalis
In this week’s episode, host Margaret Walls talks with Amy Bowers Cordalis, cofounder and principal of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group, about efforts to remove four dams on the Klamath River in California and Oregon. Cordalis discusses her experience growing up on the Klamath River as a member of the Yurok Tribe, the ecological damage to the Klamath River Basin and the Yurok Tribe that has been caused by the dams and nearby agricultural production, and the process that led to the removal of the dams.
WHAT ABOUT WATER? WITH JAY FAMIGLIETTI: John Fleck on the inconvenient science of the Colorado River
What happens when science gets in the way of ambition, politics, and progress? With a look back at the historical figures and forces that led to the overallocation of the Colorado River, and the consequences that continue to play out today, John Fleck joins Jay Famiglietti on What About Water? Fleck is a Water Policy Researcher at the Utton Center, University of New Mexico and co-author with Eric Kuhn of Science Be Dammed: How Ignoring Inconvenient Science Drained the Colorado River. We conclude the episode with a perspective on how we can use the latest science and technoligy to both map and protect the earth’s biodiversity. Greg Asner explains what AToMS (Airborne Taxonomic Mapping System) can do and where the technology is headed in the future. Asner is the Chief Science Officer for a satellite mission called Carbon Mapper and director of ASU’s Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science.
DRY BUT ALIVE: Rethinking golf’s green lawns
Arizona has long been a hotspot for golfers looking to keep up their game as weather elsewhere turns cold. But, for just as long, the state has been working to limit water use by golf courses. How much of a part does golf play in Arizona’s water issues?
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST:
Produced by Steven Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
Sunday video …
Tipping Point: Colorado River Reckoning
Forty million people depend on the Colorado River for water, but that vital resource is in peril. The river’s storage system has shrunk to an estimated 41 percent capacity as of June 2024. The river, which irrigates 4 million acres of some of the most productive agricultural land in the United States. may never fully recover due to climate change, according to scientists. PBS News science correspondent Miles O’Brien hosted a discussion on July 24, 2024 called “Tipping Point: Colorado River Reckoning,” that looks at some of these challenges and answers your questions. She was joined by several guests, including Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, Former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt and Heather Tanana, a member of the Navajo Nation, among others.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Klamath dam removals progressing rapidly
“Optimistic reports about the ongoing removal of the four Klamath River dams and restoration efforts were voiced during a Thursday afternoon Klamath Dam Removal Update coordinated by the organization overseeing the projects. “We’re presently way ahead of schedule,” said Ren Brownell, public information for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), the group overseeing the dam removal, which is the largest such project in U.S. history. “We can’t be more excited about how the project is proceeding,” echoed Dan Chase, director of Fisheries, Aquatics & Designs for Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
What’s next after Klamath River dam removal? Monitoring program launches
“By fall 2024, dam removal on the Klamath River will be complete opening over 400 miles of habitat. As the largest river restoration project to date, the whole world has been watching. But what happens after the dams come out? As fish begin to return to waters that have been inaccessible for over a century, CalTrout and our project team will be ready to monitor fish migration and assess the efficacy of this monumental restoration effort. In July 2024, CalTrout and our partners launched the Klamath River Monitoring Program to build our understand of dam removal including how fish repopulate newly opened habitat and how they recover from landscape level restoration. The project team consists of a diverse group of interests including tribes, governmental entities, and non-profits. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Hoopa Valley Tribe files intent to sue feds over Trinity River water diversions
“On Thursday, the Hoopa Valley Tribe filed an intent to sue the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Fish and Wildlife, accusing them of violating the Endangered Species Act by reducing coho salmon populations via water diversions from the Trinity River for the Central Valley. This does not mean the tribe will actually sue the U.S. Government. If the parties are able to settle amicably and work out an agreement that ultimately increases the number of salmon spawning and swimming in the Trinity River, then a lawsuit could be avoided, said Ryan Jackson, the Hoopa Tribal Chairman. “We’re not necessarily opposed to winter flow variabilities or adjusting the way that the water comes downriver, we just don’t want it to take get taken out of the ROD (record of decision) flows. We want additional water to come from either the first proviso of the Trinity,” Jackson said. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard (gift article).
RELATED: Biden administration policies have Tribe’s Trinity River coho fishery on path to extinction, press release from the Hoopa Valley Tribe
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A historical view of Tahoe from under the lake
“Every year thousands of visitors flock to Emerald Bay State Park. Many of them enjoy the scenic drive on Highway 89, scores of them hike down to the beach and tour Vikingsholm, hundreds take in the sight of the crystal clear water by boat, kayak, or paddleboard and even a few lucky people get to explore the tea house on Fannette Island. What many people don’t know is that lurking under the surface of the Bay’s waters is another part of the State Park, a part that the vast majority of visitors don’t get to see; California’s First Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail at Emerald Bay. The underwater trail takes scuba divers and snorkelers to four sites in Emerald Bay where they can see various scuttled boats and a barge. While the trail was officially opened to the public in October 2018, the history of those water vessels dates back much further. … ” Read more from the Record-Courier.
EASTERN SIERRA
Ridgecrest: Water District board opposes imported water pipeline
“At the Indian Wells Valley Water District board meeting on July 8, board members expressed open opposition to any efforts of the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority to continue with its imported water pipeline project. This discussion followed a presentation by Water District general manager George Croll that focused on the economic impact of the IWVGA’s imported water pipeline project. Croll’s presentation first questioned other water projects the IWVGA has abandoned after finding them infeasible, such as recycled water or surface percolation projects. Croll asked if those projects were truly found to be infeasible. Later, Croll stated that Water District customers would bear the full cost of imported water, estimating that a customer currently paying $100 per month could see their bill increase to $290 per month. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
New California water limits will change Coachella Valley’s landscape. Here’s how
“New California water regulations likely will transform much of the Coachella Valley’s landscape in coming years. But how quickly that shift will happen hinges on whether some local water suppliers win major exemptions written in to the new rules. On paper, water agencies serving the scorched desert valley could be required to cut water use by a third or more under new rules rolled out by the State Water Quality Control Board in early July. Agencies out of compliance would face fines of up to $10,000 a day. But the drastic-sounding changes won’t be enforced until 2027, and contain multiple avenues to dramatically scale back required cutbacks — caveats that infuriate some environmentalists. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Feds contradict scientific research, say the Salton Sea’s exposed lakebed is not a significant source of pollution for disadvantaged communities
“As the Salton Sea shrinks, a crisis deepens. The water levels of the 345-square-mile lake, located in an arid swath of agricultural land in Southern California’s Imperial County, have been receding for years, exposing the lakebed to strong winds that dry it, churn it to dust and drive the particles into surrounding communities. According to a recent academic study, the communities most impacted by the dust pollution are among the most socioeconomically disadvantaged in the state. Yet some environmental researchers and advocates believe a draft environmental assessment from the federal government, released last month as part of a process for finalizing a new Colorado River water transfer deal, downplays the deal’s potential adverse health impacts on those communities. According to them, it would worsen dust pollution because it would continue a policy to divert water away from agricultural lands that drain into the Salton Sea, accelerating exposure of the dust-emitting lakebed. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Subsidence from geothermal operations: Navigating the regulatory landscape and potential claims
“Geothermal projects in the United States and abroad face scrutiny of their potential impacts on the surrounding environment and communities. Seismic activity, noise and water contamination are commonly cited concerns. Subsidence—the slow sinking of the land surface—is a frequently discussed risk. Indeed, the possibility of subsidence was the subject of long delays in the development of Southern California’s Imperial Valley geothermal fields. Those fears were motivated in part by the 50-year experience at Wairakei, New Zealand, where the ground subsided as much as 14 meters (over 45 feet). There, claims of subsidence-induced damage to several nearby houses were refuted by independent assessments. … ” Read more from Pillsbury.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County Water Authority raising rates 14%, costs passed on to consumers, businesses
“The Uptown Car Wash in Hillcrest has been a haven for the budget shopper. The company offers a wash for less than $10, while a full detail is more pricey. However, the costs for those services likely are increasing. That’s because the San Diego County Water Authority this week raised water rates by 14%. The higher water bills are expected to begin in January for the county’s 23 agencies, including the City of San Diego, which has raised water bills 16% the past few years. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Editorial: There is a huge problem we know how to fix. Get on with it.
The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board writes, “California is full of problems that its leaders are unable to fix, starting with the very related high cost of housing and high levels of homelessness. But what should drive San Diegans bonkers is that on one of the region’s biggest problems — the sewage nightmare shutting beaches, sickening people and causing a steadily spreading stench in the South Bay — elected officials know exactly how to solve it. They could do so by quickly upgrading deficient infrastructure in Tijuana and, to a much lesser extent, on the U.S. side of the border. They just won’t act. Instead, we see a slow-motion federal response that could, in five years time, yield major progress. That’s ridiculous. This is not a daunting technological challenge. If this emergency was treated like, you know, an emergency, the upgrades could be done in months. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Lake Powell’s high water level is promising. But will it last?
“Tracking every move of the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs has become a routine for water managers across the West. As runoff season comes to a close, the latest hopeful sign comes from Lake Powell, the country’s second-biggest reservoir. Its water level this week was the highest it has been in more than three years — 3,586 feet. It’s a mark of two good snowpack years in a row and successful conservation efforts. That’s a positive change after the reservoir hit an all-time low in April 2022, especially in light of news that Glen Canyon Dam’s lower tubes could be damaged. Some of this success can be attributed to the 2019 Drought Contingency Plan, where Lower Basin states — Nevada, California and Arizona — voluntarily took cuts in their river water and increased conservation, said John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Boulder City: Unpacking the golf course deturfing issue
“When the Boulder City Municipal Golf Course opened in 1973, it was a kind of golden age for golf as a suburban pastime. … A little more than 50 years later, the lake is some 200 feet below full, more than 2.3 million people call the region home and plans are being made for a possible future when there will not even be enough water flowing through the Colorado river to generate electricity.And against that backdrop, a giant fight about water used for irrigation of golf courses has come to Boulder City as water authorities call for about one-third of the turf at what some have described as the “jewel of Boulder City” to be removed in the name of water conservation. … ” Read more from the Boulder City Review.
