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In California water news this weekend …
Removal of dams on the Klamath River nears completion
“A new landscape and river are emerging in the Klamath Basin. Iron Gate dam is disappearing. One of three barriers being removed from the Klamath River in far Northern California and Southern Oregon this summer, the dam once stood 173 feet tall. Now it’s about a third of its original height. On a Friday in late July, a dozen bright yellow machines crawled across what was left of the dam. An excavator bit into a pile of brown earth, then hovered its claw over a waiting 40-yard dump truck; three giant scoops and the truck was full. The driver beeped twice, and the truck chugged away, only to be replaced by another one. From an overlook southwest of the dam, the machines looked like Tonka toys in a sandbox. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
How indigenous land reclamation is helping heal California’s Klamath River
“The Yurok Tribe are one of the oldest existing communities in California. With a homeland stretching along northern coastal communities from Crescent City to Trinidad, there are estimated to be more than 6,000 Yurok alive in 2024. Yet despite living along the Klamath River for at least 10,000 years, the Yurok have in recent history had very little say over California’s natural resources. Then last year, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) announced that it would begin dismantling the Klamath Hydroelectric Project, which has blocked fish passage and changed the Klamath’s river flows for over 100 years. Now additional steps are being taken to restore control of the region’s natural resources to the local indigenous community. In March, the Yurok Tribe signed an agreement with the National Park Service and California State Parks that constitutes a memorandum of understanding: An environmentalist nonprofit known as the Save the Redwoods League, which currently controls the 125-acre national park known as ‘O Rea, will eventually transfer control back to the Yurok Tribe. … ” Read more from Truth Out.
Regulators find high levels of lead in outdoor water faucets at Pleasanton’s STEAM Preschool
“The Pleasanton Unified School District’s STEAM Preschool had to shut down four of its outdoor water faucets earlier this year due to excessive levels of lead being found in the water, according to the state’s Department of Social Services. However, because the outdoor faucets are not typically used for drinking or cooking, students at the preschool this year will still have access to safe water as the school year starts, according to PUSD director of communications Patrick Gannon. “The district replaced the faucet heads (a common cause), however they still tested over the threshold for particles so we are providing alternate access to ensure students and staff always have access to fresh water,” Gannon told the Weekly. “Testing was also done on internal water faucets which all were fine.” … ” Read more from Pleasanton Weekly.
Wells in Soledad are out commission, and Public Works is racing to repair them.
“Soledad City Council met on Wednesday, July 31 to address issues with its potable water supply. The council authorized $120,000 for emergency repairs to wells. (This estimate is based on previous repairs that range from $25,000 to $120,000.) This issue happened just before a seasonal surge in demand. August and September are the months when water usage swells. “With three out of our five wells down, it’s tough to keep our reservoirs full. Our reservoirs are designed to have adequate storage for this community,” said Don Wilcox, director of public works, during the July 31 meeting. A day prior, city officials announced three out its five wells that provide potable water were down; two are broken and one is shut down for maintenance. Officials are asking residents for voluntary water reductions, asking them to cut water consumption by 25 percent. (These reductions are voluntary, and the city did not implement a water shortage contingency plan.) … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
With its only well in danger, Los Osos water provider needs help. The solution? Merge with CSD
“Two Los Osos water purveyors could consolidate during the next year. On Thursday, the Los Osos Community Services District Board of Directors voted unanimously to take steps to absorb S&T Mutual Water Company. This means the CSD will explore the option of providing water to S&T Mutual Water Company’s customers, CSD general manager Ron Munds said. If the CSD board ultimately approves the consolidation plan, S&T Mutual Water Company will dissolve. S&T Mutual Water Company serves 179 connections with a singular well on the Los Osos Groundwater Basin, according to a report by the water company. That well is experiencing increasing levels of nitrate contamination and saltwater intrusion, the report said. … ” Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
E. coli detected in water at a Lodi elementary school one day after classes start
“Students returned to class at Davis Elementary School in Stockton on Tuesday, just one day before E. coli bacteria was discovered in the water supply, Lodi Unified School District officials said. The district learned last week that there may be issues with the drinking water. While awaiting test results, the district set up hand-washing stations and had hand sanitizer and bottled water available for teachers and staff who returned to campus July 26, according to Mark Dawson, who works for Lodi Unified and oversees North Stockton schools. On Wednesday, a day after children came back from summer break, San Joaquin County provided the district with test results that showed unsafe levels of bacteria in the drinking water. School leaders immediately sent a letter out to parents informing them about the situation. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Fresno picks up $230mil in settlement over contaminated water wells
“The City of Fresno nabbed nearly a quarter billion dollars in a legal settlement with Dow Chemical Company and Shell Oil over contamination of wells. The two companies used contaminated wells with a chemical they hid in pesticides designed to kill nematodes. The backstory: For decades, the city alleged, Dow and Shell put 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) into nematocides, which the companies admitted could seep into water supplies, despite the fact it was largely useless to kill nematodes. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
SEE ALSO: Shell, Dow settle with Fresno for $230 million over claims of TCP water contamination, from the Fresno Bee
Springville residents remain wary of Del Oro water
“After over a year of being met with empty glasses and empty promises, residents of the River Island Water District are still on the fence about trusting the water provided by a new treatment plant from Del Oro Water Company; and what’s more, they have joined forces with Pine Flat residents under the California Pines Water District to take further action against their shared water provider. On July 31, the community members were joined by District 5 Supervisor Dennis Townsend in the Springville Veterans’ Memorial Building to discuss the current standing of water issues with Del Oro Water Company. Even though Del Oro removed its “Do Not Drink” order on July 29, saying in a press release that the water in its treatment plant passed its bacteriological and nitrate testing, residents noted they are apprehensive to drink it. … ” Read more from the Sun-Gazette.
SEE ALSO: ‘We Need To Stay Mad:’ Del Oro customers still frustrated, from the Porterville Recorder
Judge considering whether to bring in more defendants on the Kern River case
“Combatants over the Kern River met in court again Thursday to argue over the City of Bakersfield’s motion seeking an order to compel the plaintiffs to bring in all the rights holders as defendants. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp told the phalanx of attorneys on Thursday he would consider the arguments but did not set a new court date. Whether agricultural water districts with Kern River rights are defendants or “real parties in interest” may seem like so much technical legal jargon to casual observers, but both sides agree that Pulskamp’s decision could be the difference between a one-and-done ruling and years more legal wrangling. They just don’t agree on which decision will cause the drag out. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kern River Valley residents weigh in on proposed Isabella Lake power project
“A “pumped energy storage” project above Isabella Lake that generated dozens of negative comments when it was first proposed back in 2020 is again rousing concerned comments from Kern River Valley residents. Ten individuals have so far weighed in on the proposal, which would build a small reservoir somewhere above Isabella Lake, move water uphill when power is abundant, then run it down through turbines when demand increases. The concept is a way to supplement renewable sources, such as solar, that don’t produce power at night. But the Isabella Lake proposal by Premium Energy Holdings LLC has been met with heavy local opposition. Nearly 50 individuals and organizations opposed the project and several public entities filed motions to intervene with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission back in 2020. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
In essays and commentary this weekend …
Essay: Achieving water abundance: A new approach based on positive, common sense ideas
Edward Ring, California Policy Center, and Steve Hilton, Founder of Golden Together, write, “Californians today are living with water scarcity, and the water we do have access to is threatened. For example, millions of Southern Californians depend on water pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into southbound aqueducts. One big earthquake could collapse some of the over 1,000 miles of aging levees that protect the Delta’s below-sea-level islands, and salt water from the San Francisco Bay would pour into the Delta. If that happens, it would be years, if ever, before the fresh water status of the Delta would be restored. While an earthquake that destroyed levees in the Delta would be a terrifying disaster, for most of the 21st century, Californians have not had enough water. Not only have we outgrown the infrastructure we rely upon to supply water to our farms and cities, but we now face a new threat. Climate change. Longer droughts. Hotter summers. Less rainfall. Extreme weather. … ” Read more from the California Policy Center.
Megafires are California’s future, as we learn to live with climate change
Robin Epley writes, “Northern California is no stranger to explosive fires. Butte County’s recent history in particular, with the 2018 Camp Fire, remains one of the state’s most destructive and deadliest wildfires to date, killing 85 people and causing more than $16.5 billion in damage. At its height, the Camp Fire moved at a clip of about 80 football fields per minute, burning more than 153,000 acres overall. But within mere days, 2024’s Park Fire — blazing through roughly the same geographical area — has blown past the Camp Fire’s records and become the state’s fourth-largest wildfire in recorded history and the largest-ever allegedly caused by arson. And it’s not over yet. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Capitol Spotlight: Kim Delfino, Earth Advocacy
“Kim Delfino, an environmental attorney and consultant, is known for her vast knowledge of land use law, wildlife law, water law and energy law. She is founder and president of her own one-person consulting firm Earth Advocacy and formerly led the conservation organization Defenders of Wildlife for 19 years. “There is not an environmental advocate with more knowledge and more clout than Kim,” said Jennifer Fearing, a lobbyist who has worked with Delfino nearly 20 years on environmental projects. “If she has an opinion, she is listened to.” Delfino and Fearing recently celebrated a victory by helping get a $10 billion climate bond placed on the November ballot. The two helped coordinate 180 environmental, environmental justice, and sustainable agriculture organizations that are backing the measure, titled Proposition 4. … ” Read more from Capitol Weekly.
Friends of the River expands top leadership team to fight for California rivers
” Friends of the River, one of California’s oldest and most respected river advocacy organizations, has announced the hiring of four experienced senior water experts from the Bay Institute (TBI), another of the state’s leading water-focused nonprofits, to dramatically increase FOR’s ability to protect and restore rivers and defeat river-killing water projects. … After the TBI staff resigned this past May, TBI Program Director Gary Bobker and FOR Executive Director Jann Dorman decided to bring the senior members of the TBI team to FOR. In addition to Mr. Bobker, who will become FOR’s Senior Policy Director, the new staff includes Greg Reis, one of the environmental community’s leading analysts of water project operations, who will become FOR’s new River Restoration Hydrologist; hydrogeographer Peter Vorster, a key player in the fights to restore Mono Lake and the San Joaquin River, who will become a consulting staff scientist; and John Shelton, former executive director of the San Joaquin River Conservancy and TBI staff scientist, who will become FOR’s San Joaquin Valley Restoration Coordinator. … ” Read the full press release at Friends of the River.
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Water bond or water bust?
It’s Darcy and Darcy this week and they have plenty to talk about. First, they share information about a Central Valley event hosted by The California Water Alliance (4th Annual Water Forum) that is being held on August 7th. This event was encouraging to both Darcys as it appears to be a non-partisan, forward thinking, solution focused event. Check it out for yourself here. What really got the conversation going was Darcy B’s sentiments on the current proposed “Water Bond.” Listed on this fall’s ballot as Proposition 4, it is entitled, “The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.” In Darcy’s B opinion, there is very little funding, if any, for safe drinking water. Darcy V weighs in on propositions in general, but you’ll have to listen in to find out his thoughts on this one. Is this a Darcy versus Darcy or is it a Darcy and Darcy? Ultimately, the question goes to you, our listeners, is this a water bond or a water bust?
VIC BEDOIAN: NOAA Faces Imperiled Fisheries
Part of the mission of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, or NOAA, is to help oversee and protect the fisheries of America’s west coast. Jennifer Quan is the NOAA’S recently appointed administrator for West Coast Fisheries. This week she spoke of the challenges the agency is facing with the climate crisis and declining species. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.
VOICE OF SAN DIEGO: The solution to pollution is not dilution
The city of San Diego is building a massive wastewater-to-drinking water recycling plant. It’s going to cost billions and will require tearing up roads in the process. But after years of dumping sewage into the ocean, it may be time for a change.
WHAT ABOUT WATER? WITH JAY FAMIGLIETTI: Quenching desert thirst: What will it ‘take’?
What is the true price of water? Considering growth and climate, how do we address the gap between demand and supply? Could we achieve water security by moving it across borders to dry regions like the American Southwest? John Take, Chief Growth & Innovation Officer at Stantec, discusses importing water, desalination efforts, and whether no infrastructure is the best infrastructure. At the end of the program, Dr. Denise Fort reflects on over a hundred years of infrastructure and development in the West. What would we do differently now, and how do we make that transition happen?
THE LANDSCAPE: The future of Lake Powell with Zak Podmore
Kate talks to author Zak Podmore about his upcoming book, Life After Deadpool: Lake Powell’s Last Days and the Rebirth of the Colorado River, which explores various aspects of Lake Powell’s emptying due to drought, from how to replace the loss of hydropower to how wildlife and plant life is returning to Glen Canyon as the lake recedes.
WATER SHELF: “Water for All” with David Sedlak
The Water Shelf had the great pleasure to speak with Dr. David Sedlak about his remarkable new book, Water for All: Global Solutions for a Changing Climate (Yale University Press, 2023). Dr. Sedlak is the Plato Malozemoff Professor of Environmental Engineering at University of California Berkeley. He is Director of the Berkeley Water Center, Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center for Reinventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt), and Master Cartographer for the National Alliance for Water Innovation.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: The Perspective from an Eye in the Sky
What started out as research of gravity fields using satellites turned into the discovery of satellite data noise that was a signal that was coming from water. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
NOTICE of Certification for the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Pulse Flows Component of the Water Storage Investment Program Groundwater Projects
NOTICE of Preparation for the Sunset Weir and Pumps Fish Passage Project Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
