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In California water news today …
California must improve plans to address climate change impacts, state officials say
“California officials say that the state must better prepare for the impending impacts of climate change to avoid potentially devastating losses of water in coming years. The state’s Department of Water Resources on Wednesday released the 2023 State Water Project Delivery Capability Report, analyzing current and future expectations for California’s water supply. Experts reported that the state’s delivery capability and reliability could decrease by as much as 23% within 20 years due to changing flow patterns and extreme weather shifts. That’s equivalent to about 496,000 acre-feet per year, enough to supply more than 1.7 million homes for one year. “The analysis released today underscores the need to modernize and upgrade our aging infrastructure so we can capture water supplies when it’s wet. Modernizing the State Water Project is critical to delivering on the human right to water in California,” Karla Nemeth, Department of Water Resources director, said in a statement Wednesday. … ” Read more from Courthouse News.
State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change
“Climate change threatens to dramatically shrink the amount of water California can deliver over the next 20 years and could reduce supplies available from the State Water Project by up to 23%, according to new projections released Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. The analysis by the California Department of Water Resources examined a range of climate change scenarios and projected that by 2043 the average amount of water transported through the massive network of reservoirs and canals to more than half the state’s population could decline between 13% and 23%. Such a loss in the State Water Project’s water delivery capacity, if not addressed, could lead to major shortages for much of the state, including Southern California. “The SWP was designed for the climate of the 20th century,” said John Yarbrough, the project’s deputy director. “It’s going to need continued investment to get it in a place where it’s really able to function with the hydrology of the future.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO:
- New report estimates potential water losses due to climate crisis, actions to boost supplies, press release from DWR
- California reservoir levels could drop much more than expected in the future, state report finds, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Report: Supply could dip due to climate change, from the LAist
Thompson and Garamendi oppose tunnel
“In a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson and John Garamendi pulled no punches in reiterating their longstanding and vehement opposition to the Delta Tunnel project. The project, in the works in ever-changing forms under different administrations for over half a century, would convey water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin river deltas to the central and southern portions of the state. “Throughout the process of this proposed project, we have consistently voiced our opposition based on the economic and environmental damage the Delta Tunnel would have in our districts,” the letter reads. “From exacerbating water quality issues for our local agriculture and wildlife to creating water scarcity, this project’s unintended consequences will be a calamity in our communities.” … ” Read more from the Times-Herald.
Water contractor urges feds to revamp strategy after longfin smelt ruling
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruled that the San Francisco Bay’s population of longfin smelt is endangered under the Endangered Species Act. One major Central Valley water contractor, however, is calling on the federal government to take a different approach to restore the Delta ecosystem in a manageable way that will provide water for farmers. What they’re saying: Federico Barajas, the Executive Director of the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, said the authority disagrees with the conclusions supporting the endangered listing. While disagreeing, Barajas recognized that the longfin smelt and other species that live in the Delta are under significant duress and are in need of active management. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Better understanding the role of predation in salmon survival in the Central Valley
“Central Valley Chinook salmon experience many stressors at each of their life-cycle stages from eggs in the upper river through adulthood. One of the stressors that we know the least about is the role predation plays in the low survival rates of juvenile fish as they migrate downstream and out to the ocean. These losses in the middle reaches of the region’s rivers negate and squander costly water management and restoration actions that are performed with the goal of enhancing salmonid survival in earlier life-cycle stages. To help advance the science and a better understanding of predation, FISHBIO and a coalition of San Joaquin Valley water agencies have conducted a five-year study to better understand and then address predation by non-native species to help protect California’s declining native fish populations. We encourage you to watch this short film–A Startling Picture–that describes the research and the study, which suggests that predation by non-native fish species is having a significant impact on juvenile Chinook salmon, with population-level losses exceeding 50% under ideal conditions, and many salmon not surviving through the rivers to reach the Delta. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Kamala Harris’ slow flow in California water wars
“Vice President Kamala Harris’ record on water and agriculture is remarkably thin for someone hailing from the state with the biggest agricultural industry in the country. Her California roots would theoretically give her unique insight into agriculture in the West, where water supply is farmers’ top priority in a way it isn’t in the rest of the country. But an ambitious statewide politician like her could afford to steer mostly clear of the high-risk, low-reward century-old water wars — and did — because only a small voting bloc in the Central Valley really made them a priority. As California’s attorney general, she oversaw routine representations of the state water regulator and defended California water law from preemption, but left no political wake like she did on other environmental causes — namely her investigation of Exxon Mobil. Later, she ceded most of the heady policymaking to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a colossus of water politics, during her stint as California’s junior senator, longtime agricultural observers said. “Something as complicated as California water just wasn’t going to be something she was going to tackle when she was there,” said Cannon Michael, a melon and tomato farmer and chair of the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, which supplies water to 1.2 million acres of irrigated farmland in the Central Valley. “She’s sort of a blank slate in terms of what she would do about water.” … ” Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).
The farmers who love JD Vance
” … Vance’s story of a hard-scrabble upbringing resonated with the farmer-heavy crowd, who’ve faced steadily dwindling water deliveries to the arid Central Valley and a long-nurtured sense of grievance against the state’s Democratic leaders whom they blame for diverting too much of it to endangered fish species. “We are an endangered species,” said William Bourdeau, a co-host of the event and a vice president at Harris Farms. Bourdeau said he originally thought the crowd of roughly 150 attendees wouldn’t be able to match Vance’s haul in Silicon Valley on Monday, where Vance touted deregulation and drummed up antipathy to SEC Chair Gary Gensler. But they ponied up at relatively similar levels, he said, without disclosing specific dollar figures. It’s a reminder that for groups like pistachio and melon farmers, the water wars are what they really care about. … ” Read more from Politico.
After historic floods, the safety net failed small farmers
” … California’s smallest farms — those cultivating less than 50 acres — comprise two-thirds of the state’s farms. The backbone of rural communities, they play a vital role in the nation’s food security and climate resilience: They hire and spend locally, bring competition to a market dominated by industrial-scale agriculture, and grow a greater diversity of crops than the biggest producers, which usually focus on a tiny range of products or a single commodity for fuel or processing. Research shows that small farms feature greater biodiversity and are more likely to use climate-resilient or regenerative practices. But the safety net that helps big operations through disasters — which are worsening with climate change — wasn’t built to protect them. “We expect so much from small farmers,” Josefina Lara Chavez, who, until recently, ran Latino farmer programs at the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), said. “We expect them to solve the food system, to be ecological, to have the best produce, everything.” But when 17 back-to-back storms wiped out their livelihoods, realistic government help didn’t exist. … ” Read more from High Country News.
SCIENCE FEATURE: Using an adaptation pathways approach to explore the solution space and accelerate adaptation
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is experiencing continual and often rapid change, making it challenging to predict and prepare for the future. Traditional data and models are no longer adequate to foresee future conditions, and this uncertainty cannot be resolved by simply gathering more data. Decision-making becomes complex when stakeholders hold differing views on the consequences of actions. New methods for anticipating future conditions and making decisions are necessary to manage the Delta effectively. The Delta Independent Science Board is reviewing the “Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty” approach, which is interdisciplinary and provides decision-makers with innovative tools and processes. These tools help them make better-informed decisions despite the challenges they face. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
US Forest Service failing to protect old growth trees from logging, critics say
“They are the ancient giants of America – towering trunks of sequoias or beech or ash that started to sprout in some cases before the age of the Roman empire, with the few survivors of a frenzy of settler logging now appreciated as crucial allies in an era of climate and biodiversity crises. Joe Biden has vowed to protect these “cherished” remnants of old growth forest, as well as the next generation of mature forests, directing his government to draw up new plans to conserve the ecological powerhouses that enable US forests to soak up about 10% of the country’s carbon emissions, as well as provide a vital crucible for clean water and wildlife. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
In graphic detail: Mouthfuls of microplastic
“It’s tasteless, odorless, and nutritionally devoid, yet eaten every day. Nearly everyone on the planet unintentionally consumes microplastic—through food, water, and even air. How much? That depends on geography. Plastic production has increased 240-fold in the past few decades. Over time, these plastics degrade into smaller and smaller pieces that infiltrate the air, soil, and water. To determine how much microplastic people have been eating, drinking, and breathing, researchers from Cornell University in New York analyzed food, water, and air in 109 countries. According to the study, people in Asia, Africa, and the Americas are now eating and breathing six times more microplastic on average than in 1990. … ” Read more from Hakai Magazine.
Is it possible to build a dream city from scratch?
“In 2018, a company began quietly buying up some $900 million worth of land from farmers in Solano County, California, an area just north of the Bay Area. As the parcel ballooned to more than 60,000 acres, their motivations remained a mystery — stoking unease and speculation. Then, last year, the news broke: The land was to become a brand-new eco-friendly city, backed by a roster of Silicon Valley billionaires, and built from the top-down by a company called California Forever. The plan was launched by Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader and California Forever’s CEO. He said the project has three main goals: “Help solve the California housing crisis”; create a walkable metropolitan area with a high quality of life and low carbon footprint; and build a new “economic engine” for Solano County. “There’s no playbook here,” Sramek said. “What we are trying to do is really, really different.” … ” Read more from Grist.
In commentary today …
How many people will water from the Delta tunnel support?
Edward Ring, the director of water and energy policy for the California Policy Center, writes, “According to the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), “The Delta Conveyance Project would yield about 500,000 acre feet of water per year, which is enough for about 5.2 million people.” Let’s put that into perspective. Over the past ten years, on average, California’s farms have required 33.4 million acre-feet per year, and California’s cities have required 7.9 million acre-feet per year. So increasing California’s overall water supply for farms and cities by 500,000 acre-feet will add 1.2 percent to our water supply. The official estimated total project cost for the Delta Conveyance is $20 billion. But is 500,000 acre-feet really enough water for 5.2 million people? Since one acre-foot is equal to 325,851 gallons, then 500,000 acre-feet is equal to 162.9 billion gallons, which over a year would equal 446 million gallons per day. Spread that among 5.2 million people, and you’ve got 86 gallons per day per person to work with. Is that enough? … ” Read more at the California Globe.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath River flows returned to historic path at JC Boyle Dam Site
“Yesterday, crews broke through the cofferdam at the JC Boyle Dam site, returning the river to its historic path and restoring fish passage in that reach of the Klamath River. JC Boyle Dam is one of the four dams slated for removal as a part of the Klamath River Dam removal project. It is the only dam to be removed in Oregon as part of the project. KRRC was joined by representatives and elders from the Klamath Tribes and Modoc Nation to view the moment the river broke through the cofferdam and joined the waters downstream. “While there is still work to be done, today is a historic day for this reach of the Klamath River,” noted Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC). “It was an honor to be able to witness this reach of river coming back to life alongside area Tribes. Each milestone brings the river into a healthier state.” … ” Continue reading this press release from the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.
Klamath Tribes welcome return of salmon and free-flowing Klamath River as removal of dams nears completion
“The removal of four Klamath River dams, the largest dam removal in U.S. history, is on track to be completed by November and reportedly ahead of schedule. The breaching of the John C. Boyle dam on Tuesday marked a historic achievement as the four dams on the Klamath River, including Copco 1, Copco 2, and Iron Gate, near completion. The $450 million project strives to restore the river and its ecosystem to its pre-dam condition with a focus on returning salmon, Chinook and coho. If the reintroduction of salmon is successful, then it will provide once again an ancestral food source to the tribal communities that relied on the annual fish returns in the river as one of their first foods. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Klamath River update
“It is the first summer without the reservoirs on the Klamath River. Upper river flows at Iron Gate are now at summer lows. The flow, water temperature, and turbidity in the river without the reservoirs (the dams have not all been removed) is shown in the following figures. Two major concerns are sporadic turbidity events from dropping flows and higher water temperatures that are a consequence of unshaded former reservoir reaches and loss of cold-water dam releases. Extensive gaging data are available for the lower Klamath River from the USGS and Karuk Tribe. The focus here is on the reach below the four-dam-removal project where the dams were drained in early 2024, leaving the river free-flowing. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Aging Yuba River debris dam jeopardizes threatened and endangered species
”
The operation of Daguerre Point Dam, which was constructed to contain debris resulting from Gold Rush-era mining and currently supports irrigation diversions from the Yuba River, jeopardizes threatened and endangered species, including spring-run Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Southern Resident killer whales, NOAA Fisheries has found. The century-old dam includes two poorly functioning fish ladders that can block a large percentage of salmon and all sturgeon from high-quality habitat upstream. NOAA Fisheries’ determination came in a biological opinion following consultation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the Endangered Species Act. The finding follows years of scrutiny and litigation fueled by concerns about the impacts of the dam that was constructed to contain gravel and debris from historical gold mining.
” … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Why you may see water at construction site in Yuba City
“For those who may travel along Harter Parkway near Butte House Road in Yuba City, you may have noticed some excavation work that is currently being done and an excess of water that at times is present at the site. While it may be alarming to some to see water wasted, a Yuba City official confirmed with the Appeal that it’s just a part of the process of home building. In this case, it’s groundwater that’s being pumped for a new D.R. Horton home development. “As part of the subdivision construction, the developer is required to install road and utility improvements. These utility improvements include underground sewer and water line installation work,” Yuba City Public Works & Development Services Director Ben Moody said in an email. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
Here’s how Roseville has lowered water usage while accommodating growing population
“Even though we’ve had back-to-back wet winters, state officials say drought is still one of California’s most severe environmental threats. One Placer County city is reducing its overall water usage with the help of homeowners, businesses, and even space-based technology. Roseville is one of the most rapidly growing cities in the region, and it’s been able to accommodate all these new homes without needing any extra water. “Since 2013, the population of Roseville’s grown by 25%. Yet, water usage is down 17%,” said Sean Bigley, the City of Roseville’s assistant environmental utilities director. Bigley said the key has been conservation. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
Water Resources Development Act could provide $20M for Yolo County water infrastructure
“Last Week, Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Yolo, voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which authorized the Army Corp of Engineers to make investments in the country’s ports, inland waterways, flood management systems, ecosystems and other water resources infrastructure. According to a press release from Thompson, the Yolo County Flood Control District could receive up to $20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure including water supply and stormwater management if the legislation passes the Senate. The release argued that this project would ensure a more sustainable water supply for the county and protect communities from stormwater. Once complete, the flood control district will be able to divert storm flow into existing pits during wet seasons ensuring accessibility to county roads during storms. … ” Read more from MSN News.
CENTRAL COAST
A water conservation game reveals how much our decisions beyond water matter.
“Sara Rubin here, crossing my fingers that this could be my year to win a high-efficiency dishwasher. I love any chance to enter a sweepstakes, which was my real motivation to start playing “Summer Splash,” a water conservation game produced by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District with California American Water as a cosponsor, starting in 2020. These agencies can often be seen tabling at community events, eager to share tips (and gear, like hose nozzles with shutoff valves) for conservation. But the pandemic forced them to get creative. MPWMD’s conservation analyst, Stephanie Kister, created a quiz game to inform people about water conservation. Answer questions to play, learning along the way. (The information is suitable to all ages, although the sweepstakes portion is only open to those ages 18 and up, sorry kids.) … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex announces Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex has released the Complex’s Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, guiding the purpose and management of the complex. In response to comments received from the public, the final plan includes minor changes to the agricultural uses section and to the North and South Freitas hunt unit section. The Complex’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan covers the San Luis and Merced National Wildlife Refuges and Grasslands Wildlife Management Area. The plan includes the history of the refuges, current management activities and concerns, information about water acquisition and availability, refuge resources, future management goals and objectives and an overview of the plan’s implementation. San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge already has an established Comprehensive Conservation Plan and therefore is excluded from this Plan. … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Delta Mendota GSAs release single subbasin GSP
“The 23 Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) of the Delta Mendota Subbasin have released the subbasin’s first of its kind joint, single Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The Delta Mendota Subbasin, encompasses 747,000 acres (1,170 square miles) and traverses Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties. The plan, which fulfills State requirements for achieving long-term sustainable groundwater management, outlines specific strategies to arrest subsidence and create groundwater security for the region’s most vulnerable. The passage of the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014 created new obligations for the subbasin’s cities, counties, and water managers, including requirements to create GSAs and prepare a GSP. The Delta Mendota GSAs, to comply with the law, twice prepared a set of coordinated but separate GSPs for submission to state regulators. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) found those submissions inadequate and placed the subbasin under the oversight of the State Water Resources Control Board. The new, single GSP seeks to address the concerns and resolve deficiencies identified by DWR. … ” Continue reading this press release from Delta Mendota GSAs.
Fresno Irrigation District water deliveries extended
“The Fresno Irrigation District announced that water deliveries for customers will extend through August. They had initially expected to dry up by August 1. … ” Read more from KFSN.
VIDEO: Climate change and water diversions for agriculture have all but dried up an ancient food source of the Tachi Yokut tribe
“The indigenous Tachi Yokut people have lived in the San Joaquin Valley for thousands of years. Throughout much of that time, they subsisted on the land, including oyster mushrooms which used to grow in abundance on trees in the area. But because of water diversions and the drying out of the reservation’s lands, the mushrooms are disappearing and tribe members can no longer harvest them for their community as they once did.” Watch video at SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCV Water awarded $363K federal groundwater grant
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency was recently awarded a $363,374 federal grant under the Bureau of Reclamation’s FY 2023 WaterSMART Applied Science Grant Program. Funds will go toward the agency’s Groundwater Model Refinement and Calibration Project. … “This grant will assist SCV Water with updating its groundwater flow model to better describe the storage and recharge paths in key aquifers to determine future reliability and recharging needs in the Upper Santa Clara River Valley Groundwater Basin,” SCV Water Principal Water Resources Planner Najwa Pitois said in the release. … ” Read more from The Signal.
Feds reverse Southern California fishing restrictions meant to protect sea turtles
“After temporarily prohibiting large-mesh drift gillnet fishing to protect migrating threatened loggerhead sea turtles in waters off the coast of Southern California in May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries announced that they will reopen the area for commercial fishing in August. The agency says in an announcement set to be released on Thursday that the sea surface temperatures off the West Coast — in an area stretching from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County called the Southern California Bight — has returned to normal or below normal, and El Niño conditions are no longer present. “The CPC report on June 13, 2024, indicated a transition from El Niño to ENSO—neutral/La Nina Watch conditions based on cooler SSTs observed and a forecasted continued cooling trend in the Pacific Ocean,” the agency said in the announcement, using an acronym for sea surface temperatures. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SAN DIEGO
Violation notice issued to border wastewater station for odors
“A notice of violation has been issued to the International Boundary and Water Commission regarding odors near the Tijuana River Valley, officials said Wednesday. The notice, issued Monday, was sent to the IBWC after the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District received around 150 complaints since July 21 regarding foul smells coming from the Hollister Wastewater Pump Station. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Along the Colorado River …
Officials keep wary eye on reservoirs, infrastructure as Front Range wildfires rage nearby
“As crews aggressively fight four Front Range wildfires, Colorado water officials say water delivery has not been interrupted even as they keep a close eye on nearby infrastructure that could be impacted. The Alexander Mountain fire, the Stone Canyon fire, the Quarry fire and the Lake Shore fire led to one fatality, forced thousands of people from their homes, and burned structures as of Wednesday, even as dry and sweltering conditions are forecast to continue on the Front Range. Among the resources in the path of danger are reservoirs, power lines, treatment plants, and miles of canals and pipes that deliver water to cities, farms and ecosystems across the Front Range and eastern Colorado. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
What’s the deal with PFAS, aka ‘forever chemicals’?
“They keep scrambled eggs from sticking to Teflon pans, takeout food from leaking out of its cardboard box, and raincoats from soaking through. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of chemicals known as PFAS, have a powerful ability to repel oil and water and resist heat, making them useful in a wide range of consumer products and industrial applications. Recent headlines about PFAS, however, are more likely to focus on their potential health risks; studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can decrease our immunity, and increase our risk of for certain types of cancer, birth defects, and liver and kidney disease. What’s more, PFAS can be hard to get rid of — often called “forever chemicals,” they stick around in the environment for decades and some may remain in our bodies for years. … ” Read more from Stanford News.
Climate cash pivots to new reality of a hotter, wetter planet
“Efforts to address the cause of climate change have fallen short so far. That is leading to a big push to treat the symptoms. Government and private money is pouring into plans to control flooding, address extreme heat and shore up infrastructure to withstand more severe weather caused by climate change. Nearly all of the spending on climate change has gone to prevention, including reducing fossil-fuel use and developing technologies to lower carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Those mitigation efforts haven’t been enough. Funds aimed at addressing the effects of climate change recently accounted for about 5% of the roughly $1.3 trillion spent annually on all climate efforts, according to a report from the Global Center on Adaptation and the Climate Policy Initiative, a pair of nonprofits. … ” Read more from the Wall Street Journal (gift article).
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of public hearing regarding the Delta Conveyance Project
