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In California water news today …
Ninth Circuit won’t rehear Delta smelt defenders’ challenge to Central Valley Project water contracts
“The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday said it won’t rehear a challenge to long-term water contracts with California’s Central Valley Project brought by a group of environmental organizations concerned about the welfare of endangered delta smelt. After a three-judge panel denied the organizations’ appeal in May, none of the circuit’s other judges asked for a vote to bring the petition before an 11-judge panel, the San Francisco-based appellate court said. The denial of a rehearing may very well mean the end of the almost 20-year-old lawsuit over the renewal in 2005 of the long-term contracts between U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the Central Valley Project, the largest federal water management project in the United States, and agricultural, municipal and industrial water users who hold senior water rights to the Sacramento River. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
After hottest July on record across most of California, more modest heat to come through mid-Aug (plus some monsoonal thunderstorms)
“Well, we did it again: for the Nth time in the past decade or so, California experienced its hottest July on record. (This is certainly the case across inland regions, and likely at a statewide level, though not the case in most coastal locations. I don’t know the exact statistics yet since NOAA won’t release the official numbers until next week.) July’s heat was remarkable not only for its sheer intensity (a number of sites saw their single hottest daytime and nighttime temperatures on record during this period) but also for its duration–temperatures remained extremely elevated for weeks on end and did not substantially cool off at night, especially in the foothill thermal belts. This exceptional heat led to a period of similarly remarkable atmospheric “evaporative demand,” which rapidly desiccated vegetation at lower elevations (especially in central and northern California, where winter 2023-4 was not as exceptionally wet as in SoCal) and facilitated a spate of fast-spreading wildfires. Fortunately, the heat moderated considerably in the last few days of the month, though this was not enough to prevent monthly records from being broken. … ” Continue reading from Weather West.
SEE ALSO: Storm to bring spotty rain, wind and lightning to fire zone in western US, from AccuWeather
A professor studied how to make a landscape fire resilient. Then it burned
“The Park Fire is the fifth-largest wildfire in the history of California, having burned about 390,000 acres and destroyed more than 400 structures. Authorities say it began when a man pushed a burning car into a ravine, and it quickly spread across a landscape covered in dry vegetation. The fire has swept through the Big Chico Creek watershed, a 240-square-mile area in and around the City of Chico. While the city itself has been largely spared, the blaze has devastated a surrounding ecosystem familiar to Emily Schlickman, assistant professor of landscape architecture and environmental design at the University of California, Davis. She and her students had been studying the Big Chico Creek area before it went up in flames, looking at ways to make it more resilient to wildfires—and in turn reduce the risk of a blaze spreading through the city itself. … ” Continue reading from Bloomberg.
Jim Costa, officials visit Central Valley groundwater basins
“Congressman Jim Costa and United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small visited the Alta Irrigation District in Dinuba to see firsthand how the groundwater basin investments are being used in the Central Valley. “This has been great just to show them, here’s what we’re actually doing with the money, we can actually show them tangible projects,” said Chad Wegley, General Manager of the Alto Irrigation District. With California being the top agriculture-producing state in the U.S., water is vital, especially in the valley. “Because where water flows, food grows,” Costa said. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
USDA deputy secretary visits Central Valley, tour focused on water conservation
“US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small visited the Central Valley Thursday. She met with Congressman Jim Costa and heard from local irrigation districts to discuss water-saving efforts to prepare the Valley for more frequent droughts. Local officials calling the San Joaquin valley ‘ground zero’ for climate change caused droughts. “As we plan for a new future, I am struck every single day by the fact that we all take the work that goes into our food for granted in the West, a huge part of that work is having the water to grow food.” … ” Read more from KFSN.
Water shortage looms for future California development
“Developers in California might want to pencil out some new long-term projections based on the state’s latest outlook for water supplies. A recent report by the California Department of Water Resources — which oversees the various reservoirs, canals and other engineering works that shift water around the state under the name of the State Water Project — points to the possibility of a 23 percent reduction in its supply over the next 20 years, the Los Angeles Times reports. … The Department of Water Resources’ analysis considered various scenarios and projected a cut in supplies of between 13 and 23 percent. Climate change was the chief factor, and the agency pointed to the outlook as reason to bolster the system. … ” Read more from The Real Deal.
Delta Protection Commission creates a new advisory committee; applicants sought
“The Delta Protection Commission created an advisory committee last week to recommend policies, processes, and governance as the Commission implements the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area Management Plan. The National Heritage Area (NHA) Advisory Committee is governed by the charter approved Thursday. It succeeds the NHA Management Plan Advisory Committee, whose work is done now that the management plan has been submitted to the National Park Service. In addition to advising the commission, committee members act as ambassadors to the diverse partners and communities in the NHA. … ” Read more from the Brentwood Press.
Padilla announces up to $75 Million for California to address drought, conserve water
“Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of up to $75 million awarded across five California irrigation districts to support farmers, agricultural commodity production, and water conservation. This funding will help irrigation districts and producers use innovative water savings technologies and farming practices, produce water-saving commodities, and expand and create new, sustainable market opportunities after years of historic drought. Five California irrigation districts were preliminarily selected to receive up to $15 million each: Corcoran Irrigation District, Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Imperial Irrigation District, Solano Irrigation District, and Sutter Mutual Water Company. USDA worked to select irrigation districts based on several commodity production and water management-related criteria in order to maximize the ability to achieve program objectives. … ” Read more from Senator Alex Padilla.
Biden administration to pay Western farmers to conserve water
“The Biden administration will pay farmers in the Western U.S. to save water as the region contends with historic drought. The Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that it will invest up to $400 million in paying farmers in 11 states to reduce their water consumption while continuing to produce commodities. The department said the action is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet of water — or about 16 billion gallons. “Agricultural producers are the backbone of rural communities across the West and many of them are struggling under prolonged drought conditions,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a written statement. … ” Read more from The Hill.
Biden-Harris administration announces more than $105 Million for West Coast and Alaska salmon
“Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced more than $105 million in recommended funding for 14 new and continuing salmon recovery projects and programs. Located along the West Coast and in Alaska, these state and tribal efforts will be funded through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF). The funds include Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations as well as $34.4 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $7.5 million under the Inflation Reduction Act, and will aid programs and projects in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington that include habitat restoration, stock enhancement, sustainable fisheries and research and monitoring. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
In commentary today …
State Water Project supplies could fall up to 23% within 20 years due to climate change
Restore the Delta writes, “A recent article published by the Los Angeles Times reveals that California’s State Water Project could see its supplies diminish by up to 23% over the next 20 years due to climate change. This alarming forecast highlights the urgent need for responsible action to safeguard our water resources. Governor Newsom’s administration has been advocating for large-scale water infrastructure projects, framing them as key climate initiatives. Among the proposed solutions is the behemoth 45-mile water tunnel project, designed to create a secondary route for extracting water from the Sacramento River into the State Water Project’s aqueducts. However, the article brings to light a crucial evaluation by Jeffrey Michael, a public policy professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Professor Michael’s recent report critiques the state’s cost-benefit analysis of the tunnel project, arguing that the tunnel is not only more expensive but also environmentally and socially detrimental compared to other water supply alternatives. … ” Continue reading from Restore the Delta.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Wild horses are romping all over California’s massive dam-removal project
“The massive dam-removal project on the Klamath River, near the California-Oregon border, has faced all sorts of challenges. The newest one may be the most unexpected: wild horses. In recent months, more than 100 free-roaming horses have descended on the dam sites, eating and crushing the new grasses and shrubs being planted in areas where the dams once held reservoirs. The plants are intended to help revegetate the formerly submerged lands and prevent soil from slipping into the newly flowing river. While the horses possess a distinct rugged beauty and are cherished by some, managers of the dam removal say the equines could undermine the vast replanting effort that’s vital to the project. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Reclamation awards more than $1M for Klamath Basin salmon recovery
“The Bureau of Reclamation today announced four projects totaling more than $1 million to be awarded as part of two Klamath Basin Salmon Restoration grant programs. Reclamation is partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to administer the programs. The awarded projects will generate over $2 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $3 million. Flowing from the Oregon high desert to the redwood forest of the Northern California coast, the Klamath River boasts one of the most unique and productive watersheds in the Western United States. The Klamath River historically supported the third largest Pacific salmon runs of any river system in the continental United States. The shallow lakes and wetlands of the upper basin are a globally important stop for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway, as well as habitat for endemic suckers and salmon species. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Karuk Tribe launches first dugout canoe in Klamath River in 60 years
“It’s a special moment for the Tribe, which has been working to revitalize the canoe tradition. Until July 20, riding in a Karuk-built canoe, or páah, in their ancestral homelands was a distant memory for many of today’s Tribal members. On the warm summer morning, three generations of Karuk Tribal members gathered along both sides of the Klamath River and watched from the Orleans Bridge the first Karuk canoe in their ancestral waters in over a half-century. Tyler Conrad, a carver, sat at the front, singing and beating a drum while the canoe paraded around the open water. Tribal members, including elders and children, took turns riding in the boat. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tagged Lahontan cutthroat trout released into Lake Tahoe allow anglers to help scientists monitor the threatened species
“Over 15,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout are settling into their new Tahoe home after a release spanning the last couple of weeks. The Lahontan National Fish Hatchery Complex released the trout at Meeks Bay, Lake Forest Boat Ramp, and Sand Harbor State Park. That is just the start of summer long stocking plans the complex has. Stocking will continue throughout the summer at various publicly accessible Tahoe locations in California and Nevada. Despite having brown, rainbow and brook trout, the Lahontan cutthroat trout is actually Lake Tahoe’s only native trout species. The Nevada state fish is also the largest inland cutthroat trout in the world, growing up to four feet long and weighing up to 40 pounds. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
NAPA/SONOMA
Guerneville couple takes restoration of Russian River riparian corridor into their own hands
“If you ask anyone who lives here what their favorite Sonoma County activity is, chances are that many would answer with, “the Russian River!” And for good reason, too. Our beloved Russian River is a great place to hang out on hot summer days like these. You can tube, swim, kayak or have a picnic gathering with friends and family. But the river isn’t just a fun place to chill when Sonoma County heats up — it is also a vital part our delicate local ecosystem. Unfortunately, many riparian corridors (special ecosystems located along the banks of rivers, creeks and streams) along the Russian River are disappearing or being overrun by non-native plants, which means that the overall health of the river and the wildlife that live there is at critical risk. Rita and Mark O’Flynn have owned their home in Guerneville for over 20 years, and just so happen to live near the bank of the river. It turns out that a riparian corridor makes up about a quarter of an acre of their yard. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette.
BAY AREA
S.F. shipyard redevelopment delayed further after Navy agrees to expand toxic cleanup
“The U.S. Navy will expand an ongoing toxic cleanup of the 500-acre San Francisco’s Hunters Point Shipyard on two land parcels where soil sampling unearthed radioactive objects last year, a Navy spokesperson confirmed on Thursday. The new plan is expected to delay the shipyard’s cleanup by as many as 18 months. The objects — a 1.5-inch deck marker covered in radium tainted paint that was used to light passageways on ships during the Cold War, and a radioactive piece of glass — were discovered on two swaths of land where the Navy has been re-examining work conducted by its former remediation contractor, Tetra Tech EC, after allegations of fraud in connection with the cleanup surfaced in 2018. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Oakley urges residents to not dump trash or chemicals into storm drains
“The city of Oakley asks residents to keep these storm water treatment facilities both aesthetically pleasing and functional by not dumping trash, chemicals or animals into or around them. The storm water detention basins at Emerson Ranch, Delaney Park, and Cypress Grove are retention ponds, the city posted on its social media platforms. Their primary purpose is to provide effective stormwater management in neighborhoods. The city of Oakley does not, and never has, stocked the ponds with fish, and the physical structure of the retention ponds cannot sustain large populations of aquatic species. In addition, fishing equipment like hooks and lines can snag and damage the underwater aeration systems. … ” Read more from The Press.
CENTRAL COAST
San Lorenzo Valley Water District plans to replace 12 aging tanks
“San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) is moving forward to replace 12 water tanks to improve reliability, capacity and drought resiliency. The tanks to be replaced include older, wooden tanks made of redwood, as well as plastic tanks that were damaged in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. The old tanks will be replaced by six new 120,000 gallon bolted-steel tanks, greatly increasing system reliability and water storage. The tanks are located at several sites, including the Redwood Park Tank, Echo Tanks, Highland Tank, Felton Heights Tank and South Tanks. The project is funded by a $4.5 million Department of Water Resources’ 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief grant, plus a $1.5 million match by SLVWD. … ” Read more from the Press Banner.
Seeking clarity on how to lift a cease-and-desist order on Peninsula water, a private meeting brings the state water board to Monterey.
“Water woes on the Monterey Peninsula go back for decades. In 1995, the State Water Resources Control Board issued Order 95-10, declaring that California American Water was entitled to take only 3,376 acre-feet of water a year from the Carmel River. The utility at the time was taking about 14,000 acre-feet to supply the region. Over the subsequent years, seeing little progress toward a solution, the state water board upped the ante. A 2009 update to the cease-and-desist order prohibited new water connections until Cal Am was pumping within its legal limit. That meant putting the pressure on conservation measures to simply use less water, and also the pursuit of a replacement water supply. It’s the latter that today, 30 years after the original cease-and-desist order, remains a point of contention. … ” Continue reading at Monterey Now.
SEE ALSO: A private meeting about Peninsula water is supposed to lead toward consensus, but consensus remains elusive, from Monterey Now
Scores of reports of sick sea lions along California’s Central Coast
“Wildlife rescuers are reporting an uptick in diseased sea lions along California’s Central Coast. The culprit: domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by harmful algal blooms. The toxin accumulates in filter-feeding fish such as sardines and anchovies, which are eaten in large quantities by sea lions, dolphins and fur seals. Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, said that since mid-July, the center’s network has seen an increase in the number of affected sea lions along the coast in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. He said rescuers have responded to more than 70 sea lions, as well as two dolphins and two fur seals. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
It’s been 4 years since Turlock Lake closed recreation. Is there a plan to reopen?
“It’s been nearly four years since Turlock Lake has been open for recreation. For 70-plus years, the Tuolumne River reservoir west of La Grange had been a place for camping, picnics, swimming, fishing, boating, and more. Stanislaus County leaders are working to revamp the “underutilized” park, according to Stanislaus County District 2 supervisor Vito Chiesa. Turlock Lake is one of just two state parks in Stanislaus County, the other being the newly opened Dos Rios State Park. Dos Rios, located on the confluence of the Tuolumne River and San Joaquin River, currently is open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Delano sued over a bottling plant
“In April, the Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District (the “District”) filed a lawsuit against the City of Delano (“Delano”) over the newly established Niagara water bottling plant. The District claims that Delano failed to conduct required environmental reviews and public hearings, which violates the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It claims that the plant would draw 1,792 acre-feet annually from the aquifer under Delano, exacerbating the area’s water deficit. Delano, however, argues that it complied by connecting the plant to its existing water system, bypassing new well regulations. The lawsuit seeks to halt the plant’s operations. In the Central Valley, the consequences of declining aquifers are severe. … ” Read more from Community Alliance.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Danger in the dust: Coachella Valley residents struggle to breathe
“Outside her home in Riverside County, near the north shore of the Salton Sea, Sara Renteria is struggling to breathe. She has to speak in short sentences, and pauses often to take a breath. … Although by now Renteria is no stranger to this desert region’s poor air quality, she has noticed this year that dust storms kicking up clouds of particles have been increasing. She points to the horizon — it’s often so hazy that she can’t clearly see the desert mountains nearby. People in the Coachella Valley, especially in Renteria’s low-income, Mexican American community, breathe some of the nation’s unhealthiest concentrations of a pollutant known as PM10 — particles of dust small enough to inhale. The particles exceed federal health limits, mostly when they are stirred up on windy days, and come from a variety of sources, including unpaved roads, construction sites, fallow farm fields and the dried-up Salton Sea. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Along the Colorado River …
Radio: Under the scorching summer sun, Lake Mead is doing well. How?
“It’s been a very hot summer, with temperature records falling almost daily. And that has everyone wondering: Will our water supply hold up as water is used to keep plants alive and more water evaporates into the air? Well, so far, Lake Mead and Lake Powell upstream are doing well. According to reports, they are 37% full — it hasn’t been that high since 2021. That doesn’t’ mean we can breathe easy. But it raises questions. First, why is it doing even that well? And how close are the seven river states and tribes to coming up with an agreement on cuts in water usage? The federal government has said the states need to agree by 2026. … ” Read more from KNPR.
Land fissures can be found throughout Arizona. What causes them?
“Luke Air Force Base, Arizona City, Queen Creek, Apache Junction. These are all areas where cracks in the ground — officially known as land fissures — have opened up over time. Some are slim and narrow, and others have widened significantly through ongoing erosion. It’s a geological phenomenon that is uniquely linked to how Arizona has changed and developed over the last century. As more water has been pumped out of the ground, the more the land sinks and fissures start to appear. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
In national water news today …
The U.S. WIFIA loan program: transforming water infrastructure financing
“The U.S. Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program provides long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for significant water infrastructure projects. It aims to accelerate investment in critical water systems to help communities tackle their infrastructure needs. As water infrastructure in the United States faces increasing challenges from ageing systems, population growth, and climate change, innovative financing solutions have become essential. One of the most significant initiatives addressing this need is the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We delve into the WIFIA program’s significance, the types of projects it finances, and its impact on water infrastructure across the nation. … ” Continue reading at Smart Water.
Environmentalists challenge weakened Endangered Species Act regulations
“The Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service Thursday afternoon, opposing weakened Endangered Species Act regulations proposed by the government agencies. The groups aim in the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, to correct sections of the rules that fail to protect imperiled species and undermine the conservation law’s intent and effectiveness. The Endangered Species Act was enacted by Congress 50 years ago, and has been hailed as a crucial tool in conserving biodiversity, but environmentalists say the agencies crippled their own effectiveness with the changes implemented in 2019, under then-President Donald Trump. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Climate change fueling extreme heat in Europe and the U.S.
“New analyses find that warming is fueling severe hot spells on both sides of the Atlantic this summer, spurring warnings about the need to guard against increasingly dangerous heat. On Friday, close to half of Americans will endure heat made three times more likely by warming, according to a report from Climate Central. Heading into the weekend, extreme heat will bear down on the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, and much of the Southeast, with high humidity sending the heat index, an indicator of how hot it feels, above 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) in some parts. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
