A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
Park Fire jeopardizing one of California’s most iconic species: ‘This species could blink out’
“California’s fifth largest wildfire is encroaching on some of the last strongholds for imperiled salmon, with potentially devastating consequences for a species already on the brink. The explosive Park Fire has spread into the Mill and Deer Creek watersheds in Tehama County, which are two of the three remaining creeks where wild, independent populations of spring-run Chinook, a threatened species, still spawn in the Central Valley. If the Park Fire climbs to higher altitudes, federal and state officials said it could strike the final deathblow to the region’s spring-run salmon, which are already at risk of extinction. “It’s really concerning. It’s really sad. Spring-run Chinook populations have taken such a hit over the past few years, and they’re just at a critically low point,” said Howard Brown, senior policy advisor with the Central Valley office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s West Coast fisheries region. “The emotional toll of seeing a fire like this hit such an important place, with (critically at-risk) populations that are suffering so bad, it just feels like the cards are stacked up deeply.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
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.
A surprising byproduct of wildfires: Contaminated drinking water
“Over the weekend, the Park Fire grew to more than 360,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders and warnings around Chico, California in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties. In the days ahead, Cal Fire will seek to contain the blaze to reduce harm to people, structures and the environment. However, months from now when the rains come and the fires are extinguished, a hidden threat could put communities at risk once again. … Around 60 to 65 percent of the United States’ drinking water comes from forested areas. As fires burn in these areas, they increase the risk of cancer-causing and toxic substances entering water supplies. An estimated 53.3 million U.S. residents who live in areas with significant wildfire risk may face damaged drinking water infrastructure from those flames. … ” Read more from the Washington Post (gift article).
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.
Bay-Delta longfin smelt wins Endangered Species Act protections
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officially listed the San Francisco Bay-Delta population segment of the longfin smelt as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act Monday morning. The longfin smelt was already listed as a threatened species under California’s Endangered Species Act, prohibiting the unpermitted possession, purchase, sale or take of the species. The service’s decision will now provide consistency between state and federal endangered species regulations, eliminating separate requirements from the state and federal levels. The fish is 3.5 to 4.3 inches long with a translucent silver appearance on its sides and gut, while its back has an olive to iridescent pinkish hue. It lives about two to three years in bays and estuaries along the West Coast from Northern California to Alaska. The Bay-Delta longfin smelt occupies only the San Francisco Bay estuary and some areas of the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
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.
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.
Bold moves needed for California agriculture: UC report details farming’s needs for climate resilience
“California should take urgent and bold measures to adapt its $59 billion agriculture sector to climate change as the amount of water available for crops declines, according to a collaborative report by University of California faculty from four campuses. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the report provides a roadmap for more water capture, storage, and distribution systems that are in harmony with climate projections and ecosystems. It further considers how runoff and groundwater can be used repeatedly as it flows generally from mountainsides to coastal lands. “The availability of water for consumption is decreasing because of climate change, partly due to increased evaporation and transpiration but also because we don’t have the system set up to capture and use the larger and more variable flows that are now the norm,” said Kurt Schwabe, a public policy professor at UC Riverside and co-author of the report. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
Climate whiplash and hydropower: challenges and solutions in California’s Sierra Nevada Basins
“The area under study consists of four major basins in the central part of the Sierra Nevada in California: the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced and Upper San Joaquin river basins, which contribute the most to the San Joaquin River flow. They host various hydropower projects, including the expansive Big Creek hydropower system which is ranked among the world’s largest complexes of its kind. Collectively these projects generate approximately 25% of California’s hydroelectric energy, with a total generation capacity of over 2700MW. In addition to the largest climate variability in the US, the Mediterranean climate regime found in California gives the state a more extreme mismatch in water availability and demands. Electricity and especially agricultural water needs are greater during California’s hot, dry summers, while most of the precipitation arrives primarily as a few atmospheric river events in the northern part of the state, in particular in the Coast and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges during the winter. … ” Read more from International Water & Power.
Proposition 4, paradigm shifts and our planet – climate resiliency questions with State Senator Ben Allen
“Santa Monica’s State Senator Ben Allen recently successfully authored Proposition 4, a climate resiliency bond measure that will be on California’s November 2024 statewide ballot. A 1996 graduate of Santa Monica High School and a former Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board member (2008-2014), Allen has made a mark in the State Senate pursuing big picture legislation. I asked him about Proposition 4 and why he is committed to paradigm-shifting work. QUESTION: What would your bill SB 867/Proposition 4 do — the “Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024” — and why is it necessary? SENATOR ALLEN: California is facing massive challenges relating to climate change, from our water infrastructure to wildfire prevention. With our 40 million people and drought challenges growing, our clean water supplies are going to be increasingly threatened. Investing in groundwater recharge and water recycling is critical to the long-term resiliency of our system. … ” Read more from the Santa Monica Daily Press.
In commentary this week …
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.
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.
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 this week …
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.
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).
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
Lake Tahoe clarity report shows highs and lows of 2023
“The clarity of Lake Tahoe’s famed blue waters in 2023 continued its years-long trend of improving during the winter and deteriorating during the summer. The annual clarity report, released today by the University of California, Davis – Tahoe Environmental Research Center, found that winter lake conditions were the clearest observed since 1983 and the 10th best on record, with visibility of 91.8 feet under the surface, compared with 72.2 feet in 2022. Summer months tell a different story, marking the fifth murkiest on record with an average of 53.5 feet, compared with 68.9 feet in 2022. Overall, the annual average for lake clarity dropped to 68.2 feet from its 2022 value of 71.9 feet. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Rising from the ashes: Groundwater agency blamed for Kings County probationary woes relaunches
“After several rounds of musical chairs in front of a standing-room only audience, a groundwater agency that had been blamed for putting Kings County into probationary status with the state was reconstituted and launched anew Monday night. “Tonight’s the night we come together,” said Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon, who, along with his fellow supervisors and the vice mayor of Hanford make up the new six-member board of the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Chuck Kinney, director of the Kings County Community Development Agency, will act as the GSA’s General Manager. “One thing I want to get across is how extremely hard it was to get these three entities in one room in one night,” Verboon told SJV Water, referring to the Board of Supervisors, City of Hanford and the Kings County Water District. “If we hadn’t done this, the state would have been there at midnight. This had to get done.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Visalia-based nonprofit swamped by requests for help from San Joaquin Valley groundwater agencies
“Self-Help Enterprises, a nonprofit that works with rural valley residents whose wells go dry, may need a little help of its own as more and more groundwater agencies are hoping to use it as a pillar in their plans to reach sustainability. The nonprofit already has a $5.8 million annual contract with groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in the Kaweah subbasin, a one-time $90,000 contract with the Eastern Tule GSA and a $90,300-per-domestic well in the Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District GSA, both in the Tule subbasin. And it’s in talks to provide services to GSAs in the vast Kern subbasin. “They’ve definitely made it clear that they are evaluating their capacity,” Delano-Earlimart General Manager Eric R. Quinley said. “They are driven by staffing and funding like all of us.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
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.
Reviving the Los Angeles River: Engineering alongside nature and society
“Much of the Los Angeles River is currently a concrete channel. Angelenos often joke that it is hardly a river, given that it is frequently dry and perhaps better known as the location for motorcycle and car chases in Hollywood blockbusters. Yet, the concrete channel serves an important purpose. The channel and multiple dams were put in place as flood control measures by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after a series of devastating storms in the early 1900s (Gumprecht 2001). The concrete channel fixed in place a river that was previously a dynamic landscape that frequently flooded and changed course. The denuded and straightened channel also reduced flow resistance, easing the passage of high flows towards San Pedro Bay. … ” Read more from the National Academies.
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.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE OF PREPARATION and Public Meetings for Tides End Multibenefit Restoration Project
NOTICE of public hearing regarding the Delta Conveyance Project
