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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: State of Wildfire in California: Protecting Our Communities and Landscapes from Catastrophic Wildfire from 12pm to 1:30pm. Wildfires are blazing across California this summer, driven by extreme heat and plant growth from a wet winter. Thousands of firefighters confront these fires each day, working to contain the fires and keep people safe. What’s happening to confront this worsening wildfire risk? Are we prepared as climate change accelerates? Join us to learn what’s underway to protect California from dangerous wildfires and restore the health of our landscapes. We’ll hear from state leaders on current actions to build our wildfire resilience in the Golden State. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
NOTEBOOK EXPLAINER: Reclamation’s draft EIS for potential changes to operation of the Central Valley Project: What is this document?
The Bureau of Reclamation has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the State Water Project (SWP) and is taking comments from the public through Sept. 9, 2024. 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 EIS is a federal document prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is similar to an Environmental Impact Report prepared under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). But what exactly is this document? As is usually the case in California water, it’s a long and litigious history that brings us to these documents. I will try to piece it together as simply as I can. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
Arrowhead water bottler ordered to stop operations in San Bernardino Mountains
“The federal government has backed up California state regulators in ordering the company that bottles Arrowhead water to stop drawing from the San Bernardino Mountains. Though BlueTriton Brands draws from springs in the mountains that have been used for bottled water since 1906, environmental activists have claimed the removal of that water is harming wildlife, particularly Strawberry Creek. About a year ago, California’s Water Resources Control Board ordered BlueTriton to stop using the water, which flows through public lands like the San Bernardino National Forest. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reported that the U.S. Forest Service has denied BlueTriton’s permit to extract water from San Bernardino Mountains springs. While environmental activists are cheering, BlueTriton released a statement to the Times decrying the decision and claiming it’s “unsupported by facts.” … ” Read more from KTLA.
Forest Service orders Arrowhead bottled water company to shut down California pipeline
“In a decision that could end a years-long battle over commercial extraction of water from public lands, the U.S. Forest Service has ordered the company that sells Arrowhead bottled water to shut down its pipeline that collects water from springs in the San Bernardino Mountains. The Forest Service notified BlueTriton Brands in a letter last month, saying its application for a new permit has been denied. District Ranger Michael Nobles wrote in the July 26 letter that the company “must cease operations” in the San Bernardino National Forest and submit a plan for removing all its pipes and equipment from federal land. The company has challenged the denial in court. Environmental activists praised the decision. “It’s a huge victory after 10 years,” said Amanda Frye, an activist who has campaigned against the taking of water from the forest. “I’m hoping that we can restore Strawberry Creek, have its springs flowing again, and get the habitat back.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
SEE ALSO: US Forest Service Denies BlueTriton’s Water Permit, from the Mountain News
Tribes and community organizations urge delay in Delta Conveyance Project hearings
“Yesterday, the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition (DTEC), represented by the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, and partner environmental organizations submitted a comprehensive pre-hearing conference statement expressing significant concerns with the proposed schedule and process for the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) hearings. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) announced a public hearing for the Delta Conveyance Project on January 16, 2025, with an initial pre-hearing conference on August 13, 2024. This hearing marks a significant step in evaluating the Department of Water Resources’ controversial project. The statement, submitted by a coalition of Tribes and environmental advocacy organizations, including the Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, Restore the Delta, San Francisco Baykeeper, California Indian Environmental Alliance, and Golden State Salmon Association, highlights several key issues with the public hearing schedule. … ” Continue reading this press release from Restore the Delta.
Miles of lead cables lie at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Why are they still there?
“Emerald Bay, punctuated by a wooded island on Lake Tahoe’s western edge, is probably the lake’s most recognizable feature. But beneath the water’s azure surface lies an issue few have set eyes on: about 6 miles worth of defunct century-old telephone cables that contain toxic lead. The cables, made of copper wires sheathed in lead, were discovered by scuba divers 12 years ago resting on the sandy lake bottom and, in places, bent around rocks. One long segment spans the West Shore from Baldwin Beach across the mouth of Emerald Bay up to Rubicon Bay — including through shallow areas where people swim and boat — and there’s a separate strand inside the bay. Three years ago, AT&T, which acquired the company believed to have installed the cables, entered into a consent decree to pay $1.5 million to remove them — an agreement lake lovers viewed as a victory and hoped wouldn’t take more than a season or two to complete. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
The Park Fire is tearing through some of California’s last wild habitat for threatened salmon
“The devastation caused by wildfires extends far beyond human homes. Northern California’s Park Fire has burned through some of the Central Valley’s last wild salmon habitat, dealing a blow to an already struggling iconic fish species. It’s unclear how much damage the fire has done to the Mill and Deer creek watersheds. But scientists fear that spring-run Chinook salmon, a once abundant California fish, could take another step toward extinction amid dangerous levels of population decline. Last year California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife counted only 167 of the fish in the Central Valley’s Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems that were home to tens of thousands of them as recently as the early 2000s. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
SEE ALSO: The Park Fire created its own weather. Stunning visuals show how it happened, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Addressing wildfire impacts on chinook salmon
“The past few weeks we have seen catastrophic wildfires in the Sierra Nevada Range, most notably the Park Fire, which has devastated both rural communities and the landscape to such an extent that scientists are concerned with the impact that the fires will have on the limited number of creeks that provide essential habitat for the threatened population of spring-run Chinook salmon. Right now, crews are working hard to contain the fires and the priority is to ensure public safety. As we think about the current fires and the many fires that have surrounded the Sacramento Valley over the past decade, there are two types of actions underway to address these concerns as we look to the future. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Researchers warn of water quality threat expected to linger after California Park Fire — here’s how it could impact the country
“Not only are wildfires posing an immediate risk for homeowners and wildlife, but the natural disasters are also causing long-lasting effects on our water, according to researchers. The warning comes as more than 425,000 acres have burned in California as of August 7 in the Park Fire, detailed here by Cal Fire, which has led to evacuation notices. Researchers have found that large wildfires are endangering our water supply, as a majority of drinking water in the United States comes from forested regions, according to a report by The Washington Post. Tens of millions of Americans rely on this water that is becoming contaminated by ash and harsh chemicals released by the dangerous flames. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
CAL MATTERS: Dangerous herbicide used on California crops banned
“A dangerous herbicide banned immediately by the US Environmental Protection Agency has been sprayed on crops in many California counties and has contaminated groundwater in low concentrations in the Salinas Valley and Santa Barbara County. The weed-killing chemical, known as DCPA or Dacthal, can harm the developing brains of babies in the womb, and can remain in fields for weeks, EPA officials said. The greatest threat is to pregnant farmworkers and people living near fields. The chemical, which has been in use in the United States for almost 70 years, was so dangerous that “it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” EPA announced Tuesday. The agency issued an emergency order suspending all use immediately — a first for the EPA in almost 40 years. “It’s EPA’s job to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never even know they were exposed could give birth to babies that experience irreversible lifelong health problems,” Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff said in a statement Tuesday. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Calif. Water Alliance summit finds Valley ag at crossroads moment: frustrations mount, opportunities arise
“California is at a critical juncture with the future of its water usage, with over 100 farmers gathering together on Wednesday to discuss the issues facing the Central Valley at the California Water Alliance’s fourth annual water forum in Fresno. While much of the discussion was ultimately focused on the tough water year with a clouded horizon, water experts urged farmers to band together in a call to action to push for better policy to bring relief to agriculture throughout the Central Valley. The big picture: Rep. John Duarte (R–Modesto), Asm. Esmeralda Soria (D–Fresno), Westlands Water District General Manager Allison Febbo, Friant Water Authority CEO Jason Phillips and Bowles Farming Company CEO and President Cannon Michael were the panelists at Wednesday’s discussion, which was moderated by Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Impact of drought on drinking water contamination: Disparities found affecting Latino/a communities
“In the United States, there is a striking disparity in exposure to contaminants in tap water provided by community water systems (CWSs), with historically marginalized communities at greater risks compared to other populations. Often, CWSs that distribute water with higher contamination levels exist in areas that lack adequate public infrastructure or sociopolitical and financial resources. In a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, Ms. Sandy Sum, a Ph.D. candidate at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara, investigated the drinking water quality in California’s CWSs serving majority Latino/a communities. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
SEE ALSO: Some California Drinking Water Disproportionately Contaminated by Nitrate, Arsenic—an Issue Worsened by Drought, from Food Safety Magazine
Algal blooms aren’t always harmful, but when they are, science is here to help.
“Algae. If you’ve ever visited a pond, cleaned a fish tank, or eaten sushi, you’ve likely encountered some of these water-living, plant-like organisms. Algae come in many shapes and sizes and play important roles in ecosystems. For one, they make energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, which leads to them being the base of the food web in marine and freshwater communities. … These super stars are clearly important to our world as we know it and thrive in many conditions. Algae are really good at multiplying and when conditions are right, they can reach really high concentrations. When they do, it is called an algal bloom, and they are usually triggered by an increase in nutrients. … ” Read more from the USGS.
Toxic algal bloom affecting California sea lions and dolphins
“Strong upwelling of nutrient-laden water from the deep ocean is driving a bloom of harmful algae along the Southern California coast. It produces a toxin that can poison sea lions and other marine mammals. The neurotoxin, domoic acid, does not appear to harm fish or pose a risk to swimmers. It can accumulate in shellfish such as mussels, oysters, and Dungeness crabs. Strong upwelling is a common spring-to-summer occurrence, driven by winds that help draw cold water up from the deep ocean along the coast. This year a short-lived local marine heatwave first warmed coastal waters. This may have set up the algae for rapid growth, said Andrew Leising, research scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
Climate change threatens the survival and recovery of black abalone
“Black abalone, which are plant-eating marine snails, once thrived along the California and Baja coasts but are now endangered. They are one of seven abalone species that live along North America’s west coast, inhabiting rocky shores where they eat drifting fragments of kelp. Their proximity to land makes them particularly vulnerable to climate-related events that impact the intertidal ecosystem. The species is historically significant to the Chumash people. Throughout history, they harvested black abalone for food, trade, jewelry, ceremonies, and more. European settlement increased the species’ popularity, leading to active commercial and recreational harvests and species declines. In the mid-1980s, withering syndrome devastated populations of black abalone throughout the southern part of their range. In response, the State of California prohibited harvest of black abalone in 1993. Today, harvest remains prohibited for this once-abundant and culturally significant resource. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
New study shows emerging opportunities amid growing dangers of climate change
“The Pacific Institute along with Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN) and Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) released new research on August 7, 2024, outlining how climate change impacts are leading to devastating consequences for water and wastewater systems in rural communities across the U.S. The report also introduces an innovative community-centered framework to assist leaders in rural communities to build equitable water and wastewater systems that will be resilient to climate change in the future. The framework can inform policies and can be adapted and scaled to be used in different rural areas. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Next summer: A route from source to sea
“On a recent July day, a group of young indigenous paddlers gathered in Klamath country to train, their sights set on running the Klamath River not far away. In a matter of a few short weeks, this river will run free all the way from Klamath Falls to the Pacific Ocean. As soon as this autumn, salmon are expected to move up past the old dams. And next spring, while the spring chinooks swim up from the sea and the fall-spawned salmon move down, those paddlers will aim to be the first people in the modern age to descend this stretch of water, from near its source all the way to the Pacific. As these young kayakers spend their time preparing their boats, bodies and minds for that historic month-long paddle, all along this “hydro stretch” of the Klamath, excavators and loaders, bulldozers and backhoes are hard at work, laying the groundwork for the journey. This summer, a new version of recreation is coalescing on the Klamath. By next summer, it should be in full swing. … ” Read more from Source Weekly.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Final death determination for dog that died at Lake Tahoe reveals toxic algae was cause
“After the California Water Board released a statement last month saying that there were no toxins related to harmful algal blooms (HABs) at two Lake Tahoe beaches, the Final Death Determination for the dog that died, Cora, suggests the possibility that there may have been toxins in the water before the samples were collected. Cora’s case went viral after her owner, Anais Felt, posted about her case to TikTok, where she claims Cora died just hours after ingesting toxic algae at El Dorado Beach in Lake Tahoe. About a week later, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection collected water samples from El Dorado Beach and Nevada Beach, but those samples all came back non-detect for cyanotoxins, according to a release from the California Water Resources Control Board. … ” Continue reading from Fox 11.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Yuba Water Agency acts to reduce risk as wildfires burn across Northern California
“As multiple wildfires are burning in Northern California, including the devastating Park Fire, the Yuba Water Agency took the next step in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire in that are of the Sierra. This week, the Yuba Water Agency approved funding for the construction of a 5-megawatt biomass plant near New Bullard’s Bar Reservoir. “As we watch the destruction of the Park Fire in neighboring Butte County, we’re reminded of the very real threat of wildfire in our backyard and the importance of projects like this one to make our forests more resilient,” said Willie Whittlesey, Yuba Water General Manager. … ” Read more from KCRA.
BAY AREA
Rising seas already flood some Bay Area schools. The risk will only get worse
“The Bay Area will become much wetter in the coming decades as rising sea levels push water into shoreline communities, putting highways, homes and schools in the path of flooding. A new analysis from KQED and Climate Central, a nonadvocacy science and newsgroup, found that more than 50 public schools are so close to the bay’s high-tide line that they’re already in danger of being inundated with ocean and groundwater — and the risk will grow as seas continue to rise from the effects of climate change. While many major sea-level rise solutions could indirectly protect schools, our analysis alerts the public to areas that may flood and gives school districts around the Bay Area agency to prepare for what’s to come. … ” Read more from KQED.
CENTRAL COAST
Hollister Ranch public beach access project making steady progress, Coastal Commission says
“Work on improving public access to a stretch of spectacular coastline in Santa Barbara County jealously guarded by wealthy residents is making steady progress, an official with the California Coastal Commission said on Wednesday at the agency’s monthly meeting. Two consultant groups, one working closely with four Native American tribal groups, have prepared pedestrian surveys, an environmental impact report and a tribal resource assessment of the coastline next to Hollister Ranch, said Linda Lockland, the commission’s coastal access program manager, at an informational briefing at Wednesday’s meeting. The 14,000-acre Hollister Ranch in western Santa Barbara County is home to a wealthy enclave of gated communities, celebrities, a cattle operation and eight miles of pristine undeveloped Pacific Ocean shoreline. … ” Continue reading from the Courthouse News Service.
EASTERN SIERRA
Feds eye rare California fish for endangered species protections
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday proposed listing the Long Valley speckled dace, a rare minnow native to the eastern Sierra Nevada, as an endangered species. The decision stems from a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity seeking to protect the subspecies on the brink of extinction due to various environmental threats. “Endangered Species Act protections will provide a badly needed lifeline for Long Valley speckled dace, which survive at only two locations,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a statement. The dace, found only in the Long Valley volcanic caldera and the upper Owens River watershed in eastern California, once thrived in springs and creeks throughout the upper Owens Basin in Mono County. Today, they struggle to survive in just one spring and a small creek east of Mammoth Lakes. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Cadiz releases new aerial tour of aquifer system feeding Mojave groundwater bank
“Cadiz, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDZI / CDZIP) (“Cadiz” or the “Company”), a California water solutions company, announced today the release of a new video focused on the hydrogeology of the watershed surrounding the Company’s Cadiz Ranch in California’s eastern Mojave Desert. The Cadiz Aerial Tour video utilizes new photography, underground imagery and aerial footage to bring to life the vast and unique aquifer system flowing beneath Cadiz Ranch. With as much as 30-50 million acre-feet of water in storage today, the 2,000 square mile aquifer system at Cadiz contains more water than Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The water flowing through the aquifer has supported sustainable agriculture operations at Cadiz Ranch for four decades. … ” Continue reading from Cadiz.
Along the Colorado River …
A crisis fraught with possibility: How a massive canal set Arizona up for growth
“In the 1960s, Arizona was facing a crisis. Its aquifers were depleting and its ground was sinking. That issue prompted a major infrastructure project that would forever change what was possible in the state, a 336 mile system of canals that take a big part of the state’s Colorado River water allocation and diverts it to Phoenix and Tucson, as well as farmland in Central Arizona. This week, we look at how the Central Arizona Project came to be, and what it means to the state. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
In national water news today …
Kids drink contaminated water at schools, but testing for lead isn’t required
“When the state of New York became the first in the nation to require all public schools to test their drinking water for lead in 2016, Keyry Broncano learned that water drawn from 68 different taps at her high school contained dangerously high lead levels. Then Broncano, at the time a high school junior, discovered that the water she’d been drinking since kindergarten in the East Ramapo Central School District, about an hour north of New York City, probably contained elevated lead levels: Water from 23 taps at her elementary school was found to contain at least 15 parts per billion of lead. At her middle school, 85 taps had high lead levels. “I was like, ‘I think I’ve been drinking poison,’” Broncano said, recalling rushing home to explain the news to her mother, a Guatemalan immigrant. … ” Continue reading from the Washington Post.
Groundbreaking PFAS source-tracking research by Carollo Engineers & The Water Research Foundation
“Carollo Engineers, in partnership with The Water Research Foundation (WRF), announced the completion of Project #5082, a pioneering study providing water utilities with practical, cost-effective strategies for evaluating and mitigating sources of PFAS contamination.PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in many industries due to their heat, water, and oil resistance. These substances can enter the water supply through the use of everyday consumer products, industrial discharges, percolation of firefighting foams into groundwater, and leachate from disposal sites. … ” Read more from Smart Water.
