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In California water news this weekend …
Audio: The crucial job that keeps Central Valley water flowing – commercial diving
“At the edge of California’s Sacramento River, across from the town of Princeton, there’s a trailer full of equipment and a cacophony of generators and pumps. This is clearly a worksite, but the real work is happening out of view. The only clues are some bubbles on the water’s surface, and something that sounds like walkie talkies. A team of four workers from Big Valley Divers is doing seasonal work at a pump station that’s about to supply irrigation canals across the Sacramento Valley with water. I never knew this work existed, but I’ve learned that commercial divers are everywhere. Picture contractors and construction workers, just under water. Anywhere there are lakes and rivers, anywhere we’ve manipulated water, like dams and canals, commercial divers work on the infrastructure – cleaning, maintaining, building, repairing. … ” Listen at KQED.
Reinterpreting ENSO’s role in modulating impactful precipitation events in California
“A recent study has shed new light on the seasonal behavior of winter weather patterns that impact California, revealing the intricate ways El Niño and La Niña influence the State’s hydroclimate. This research is described in a new paper entitled “Reinterpreting ENSO’s Role in Modulating Impactful Precipitation Events in California”, which was recently published in Geophysical Research Letters … This research was motivated by recent seasonal forecast challenges in which winter precipitation in California deviated substantially from the seasonal forecasts issued 1-3 months in advance. Despite predictions of dry winters due to La Niña, California experienced unexpectedly wet conditions in both 2017 and 2023. Conversely, the strong El Niño of 2016 was expected to bring wet weather, but the season turned out to be normal-to-dry across the state. … ” Read more from the Center for Western Water & Weather Extremes.
Park Fire – Spring-run salmon’s worst nightmare
“The fire that started on July 24 has burned most of the lower foothill and middle reaches of the affected streams as of August 8th. It is now actively encroaching on the mountain spawning reaches of Mill and Deer creeks on the south slopes of Mt Lassen, the two most important of the affected spawning streams. It will likely slow only when it reaches the boundary of the 2021 Dixie Fire and its lower levels of fuels. Spring-run salmon populations in the Central Valley, including the core Battle, Mill, Deer, and Butte Creeks populations, are at recent historic lows. It is essential to rehabilitate previously burned watersheds as soon as possible. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife should expand the Deer Creek Spring-Run Conservation Hatchery Program begun in 2023 at UC Davis to include the other spring-run salmon streams in the Sacramento Valley. … ” Read more from the California Fisheries blog.
Wildfires create smoke clouds that hold heat and warm the earth, researchers say
“Scientists have long known the thick, billowing smoke clouds that wildfires launch into the atmosphere affect climate change. Now, Washington University researchers have discovered how big a role some of those clouds play. Wildfires generate vast plumes of smoke, which can reach the humid upper atmosphere, cool down and develop into clouds that can remain there for months, warming the air, drying out the earth and increasing the likelihood of another fire — especially bad news for a planet already getting hotter. Not every wildfire will produce these smoky clouds, said Rajan Chakrabarty, senior author of the paper and professor in the department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering at Washington University. He said those that do tend to be “intense, burn a wide area and produce a lot of heat,” and their smoke reaches much higher into the atmosphere, which is how these clouds are formed. They don’t typically produce rain — only lightning. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News. | Read via Silicon Valley.
In commentary this weekend …
Delta tunnel project will protect California’s vital water supply
David Bini, executive director of the Santa Clara and San Benito Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, and Tim McRae is senior vice president, sustainable growth of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, writes, “California’s history is defined by building great and innovative infrastructure projects that improve our quality of life and set our state up for continued economic prosperity. From the Golden Gate Bridge to interstates 5 and 80, these projects are symbols of how major infrastructure investments can drive incredible economic growth. Though the creation of these projects was seemingly impossible to many at their inception, they quickly became an essential part of our critical infrastructure fabric that sustains our economy and way of life. We are at a similar crossroads in building reliable water infrastructure to deliver water to two-thirds of Californians through the Delta Conveyance Project. This proposed project has been studied, refined, redesigned and rerouted due to extensive public input and thoughtful improvements by Gov. Newsom’s administration. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article).
Sisk dam raise would take more Delta water. Why are environmentalists silent?
Columnist writes of the Sisk Dam/San Luis Reservoir expansion project, ” … The expansion of San Luis Reservoir is a small part of a larger effort by the state and federal agencies to increase water storage. But unlike virtually every other dam project in California, this one was approved with little public scrutiny and zero opposition from environmentalists — even though the extra 130,000 acre feet of water would come out of the heavily scrutinized San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta. Why is that? As with everything involving water and the environment in California, there are multiple factors at play. … ” Read the full commentary from the Fresno Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
A sailor, a scientist and a squall – Ted Sommer
“Since as early as he can remember, Ted had always been drawn to the ocean. As a boy he idolized Jacques Cousteau. A desire to understand the mighty sea burned with him through childhood, adolescence and on to his first year of college, where he would find himself at the docks of his maiden voyage out to sea. “Marine biology was all I ever wanted to do, and this was going to be the first of many voyages out to the Pacific Ocean…” Ted recalls , “… or so I thought.” Just as a vessel cleared the channel, a relentless volley of waves, twenty feet tall began to batter the ship, twisting and tossing the craft into directions that baffled even the young scientists. Ted and many of his fellow classmates were now doing everything they could to keep their lunch. As Ted’s Knuckles turned white from grasping the railing, he began to re-evaluate his aquatic dreams. “I wanted to work on projects that mattered, but I realized on that day that the ocean wasn’t my destination.” … ” Continue reading from the Northern California Water Association.
William L. ‘Bill’ Kahrl, a former Bee opinion editor and water policy scholar, dies at 78
“From his arrival in California in 1969 to the end of his days, William L. “Bill” Kahrl made an impact in the areas of public policy, resource management, environmentalism and conservation. He was a government employee, historian, journalist, father and consultant, always following his motto, “Let me help us.” Karhl, a former opinion editor for The Sacramento Bee, died in a Roseville hospital on July 26 after a brief illness, surrounded by family. He was 78. “Bill Kahrl was the classic definition of a citizen – tireless in improving his community, active in the public policy debate and passionate for the values and beliefs that define us as Americans,” said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove. Kahrl was the project director and editor of “The California Water Atlas,” published in 1979 by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. It came out in the wake of the state’s record drought of 1976-77. It remains a significant work for water resource management for a state in which there is no more important natural resource. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee. | Read via Yahoo News.
Brenda Bass joins KP Public Affairs advocacy team
“KP Public Affairs (KP) is pleased to announce that Brenda Bass has joined the firm’s advocacy team. Brenda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having served as a senior lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce handling water, environmental, agriculture, and energy issues. She has worked extensively on complex water supply, quality, and groundwater issues, building coalitions on legislative and regulatory proposals, and representing the business community in the California Legislature. “Brenda is a great addition to the KP team and will play a key role as we continue to grow our business in the water and environmental areas,” said Michael Burns, managing partner at KP. “Her track record of policy achievements will undoubtedly enhance the exceptional value that we strive to deliver to clients.” Prior to her role as a senior lobbyist for the California Chamber of Commerce, Brenda worked as an attorney representing a wide range of clients in water rights, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), stormwater, and recycled water matters. Learn more about Brenda at www.kppublicaffairs.com/brenda-bass.
California Extreme Precipitation Symposium honors CW3E with special recognition award
“At the University of California, Davis on July 11, 2024, CW3E was presented with the Special Recognition Award during the 30th Annual California Extreme Precipitation Symposium (CEPSYM). … CEPSYM awards the Special Recognition Award each year to “highlight and honor the outstanding contributions of individuals and institutions that have supported and advanced the professions of meteorology, flood hydrology, and flood risk management. These professions share the public safety goal of protecting life and property from the ravages of flooding. Together these professionals provide the tools, information, and knowledge essential for forecasting flood events before they occur, estimating potential flood magnitudes and impacts used in designing flood risk reduction projects, and responding to floods when they occur. Each honoree contributed to making the people of California safer from flood events over their many years of service.” Read the full press release from the Center for Western Water & Weather Extremes (CW3E).
Wade Crowfoot, Karla Nemeth, and Fiona Hutton make Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list
Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list highlights influential figures in California politics, showcasing individuals who shape policy and decision-making in the state. The list includes legislators, lobbyists, advocates, and other key players, providing insights into their roles and impact within the political landscape. This year’s list includes Wade Crowfoot (#4), Karla Nemeth (#94), and Fiona Hutton (#68). Yours truly, unfortunately, was once again #101. Read the full list here.
Podcasts …
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: King’s County Farm Bureau = 1, State Water Board = 0
This week, Darcy B. is flying solo while Darcy V. is out of town. Left to her own devices, Darcy welcomed into the studio Dusty Ference, the Executive Director of the King’s County Farm Bureau. Recently, Dusty and the King’s County Farm Bureau made headlines when they successfully were issued a temporary restraining order against the State Water Resources Control Board. This order prevents the State Board from putting the Tulare Lake Groundwater Subbasin on SGMA Probation. The restraining order remains in effect until Tuesday, August 20, 2024, when the judge will consider issuing a temporary injunction. To put it in baseball terms, Kings County Farm Bureau hit a homerun the first time at bat, and the State Water Resources Control Board has yet to get to first base. Darcy pitched some difficult questions like how this action is sitting with their neighboring agencies, why they should have more time to comply than anyone else – including her own water agency, how the state determined the proposed fees, what’s the potential impact to Tulare communities, and what are they hoping for when all the dust settles. To find out the answers to these questions and more, listen in!
H2 KNOW IT ALLS: Tom Coleman
Join Water Use Efficiency Specialist Joe Yersky and External Affairs Coordinator Stephanie Fu as they engage in a captivating discussion with Rowland Water District and Public Water Agency Group Chair Tom Coleman. Together, they explore the history of California droughts, the importance of water conservation and current initiatives to improve water reliability across the state. This episode sheds light on the complexities of water resource management as climate change impacts regional weather patterns.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: It Can Happen to You
You may have thought that there will never be a day that you would be asked to curtail your water supply because of drought, especially a whole town. Well, guess, what? 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 530-205-6388
KQED FORUM: How climate change is changing the Olympics
If global temperatures continue to increase, new research suggests that by 2050 past Winter Olympics host cities — like Oslo, Vancouver and Lake Tahoe — likely won’t be cold enough for the Games. And some summer events may be in jeopardy too. In her new book “Warming Up,” sport ecology expert Madeleine Orr explains why “climate change is threatening sport in every corner of the world,” including wildfire- and drought-prone California. We talk to Orr about the future of the Olympics amid climate change – and how all sports are changing in our climate reality, from Paris to the little leagues. Are you a coach or athlete who’s had to adapt to climate change?
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Tensions rise amid Klamath Dams removals
“A controversial dam removal project is expected to be completed sometime in August or September 2024, months ahead of schedule. The Klamath River Renewal Project (KRRC) is the largest dam removal effort in the world and it’s taking place on the California-Oregon border. When completed it will restore more than 400 miles of fish habitat, but the decades-old project has caused tension between Native American tribes and residents along the Klamath River. Misinformation on social media has created lots of confusion around the project. Here are some facts about the project that you need to know … ” Read more from ABC 10.
Federal agency decisions continue to impoverish rural communities
“The extraordinarily unique Klamath Watershed is in peril. Conflict and competition over water are dire, but completely unnecessary. Division amongst and within the Watershed is at an all-time high. Agricultural communities are drying up fast, wildlife is suffering, and endangered fish populations are not improving. Unfortunately, this same old song and dance that has plagued the Watershed for decades has become disturbingly redundant. Several years ago, the counties of Klamath, Oregon, and Siskiyou and Modoc, California, came together to address these issues and bring resolution to the entire Watershed. Despite countless meetings, conversations, tours, and dozens of letters urging federal agencies to act, the needle has, simply put, not moved. … ” Read more from Klamath Falls News.
NAPA/SONOMA
Federal agents search Upper Valley Disposal Service site in Napa County as part of ongoing investigation
“For the past several months, the far-reaching FBI investigation in Napa County, which targeted some of the most elite and powerful names in Wine Country, had gone quiet. But federal investigators on Wednesday morning visited the Upper Valley Disposal Service facility at 1285 Whitehall Lane in St. Helena, one of the agencies also targeted in the investigation. That’s according to two workers there who spoke to The Press Democrat on the condition of anonymity Friday evening. They said the investigators wearing FBI jackets came to the Whitehall Lane site in six or seven cars beginning at around 8 a.m. Wednesday. The agents left at about 9:30 a.m. that day. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (gift article).
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
After flooding, Kings County faces new water issues
“Kings County now faces its newest water challenge, though a vastly different one from the Tulare Lake Basin flood in 2023. This time, it’s the county’s “probationary” status with the California State Water Resources Control Board, after its groundwater sustainability agencies failed to come up with adequate sustainable groundwater plans. Now, with the state’s eye on the county, it could mean big headaches for farmers in the near future. “They have written that we’ll only be allowed to pump a half acre-foot of groundwater out of the ground and it would really hurt our economic growth in Kings County,” said Kings County Supervisor for District 3 and Board Chairman Doug Verboon. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
Audio: A chemical contaminated Fresno’s water decades ago. Behind 123-TCP’s prevalence in the Valley
“Earlier this month, the City of Fresno reached a $230 million settlement with Shell Oil, Dow Chemical, and other major companies. The settlement came 17 years after the companies were accused of manufacturing and distributing to local farmers a fertilizer containing the chemical 123-TCP. The lawsuit revolved around 123-TCP making its way into local water tables and contaminating around 30 Fresno water wells. Todd Robins is a Founding Partner at the Robins Borghei Law Firm, which has handled dozens of TCP lawsuits over the last two decades. Robins did not handle this specific case for Fresno but says the settlement is significant. He joined KVPR’s Elizabeth Arakelian for a conversation about 123-TCP and talked about how it ended up in Fresno water wells. … ” Read more from KVPR.
Extreme heat has wide impact
“Last month’s record-breaking heat did more than fry your patience — it reduced summer crop yields, stoked fears of reduced water supply and prompted the Tulare AgriCenter to design air conditioning to cool their new expanded master planned facilities including a new 10,000 seat horse arena. Construction is planned for next year to coincide with construction of the new freeway interchange. NWS Hanford says with July now over, we can take a look at how the heat over the past month has affected records across the San Joaquin Valley. Based on mean average temperature (daily average temperature averaged across the entire month), July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded for Merced, Madera, Fresno and Bakersfield while being the second hottest month for Hanford. Climate records go back to 1893 in Bakersfield, 1887 in Fresno, 1899 in Merced, 1928 in Madera and 1899 in Hanford. … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
Bakersfield water bills going up. How much? That’s a little murky
“Bakersfield customers of California Water Service could be paying 34.5% more each month to fill their tubs and flush their toilets in coming years. That’s how much the water company is seeking to boost rates over 2026, 2027 and 2028, subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. If approved at the requested amounts, Bakersfield residents who use 8,977 gallons a month would see a bill of $47.87 go to $56,58 in 2026, then $61.02 in 2027 and $66.20 in 2028. A family of four typically uses 12,000 gallons a month in California. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California is home to millions of urban trees. What happens when they die?
“To stop California’s 6 million urban trees from knocking out power lines, crashing through houses, or lying across streets when they die, humans have to intervene. This week, a handful of arborists and Conservation Corps of Long Beach members gathered at a scrappy plot of land in the corner of a city park to do just that. Early in the morning, corps members used a construction vehicle to grab one of the dozens of logs from under the shade structure and drop it onto the giant orange wood milling machine. … The saw whirred to life. Corps members slowly, cleanly sliced bark from one side of the log. This piece of wood, once a thick eucalyptus tree living in the city, will one day become a bench — perhaps in one of Long Beach’s urban parks.It’s the seedling of a vision the corps dreamt up just a few years ago. The corps has been planting trees since its inception in 1987, and now it wants to take care of the trees after they die, turning them into usable lumber for houses, desks, benches, sculptures — you name it. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Regional agencies gather to create 50-year plan for water resiliency
“San Gorgonio Pass Agency (SGPWA) hosted a Board of Directors workshop on July 8 reviewing its “Water Portfolio Strategic Program,” a continuous planning assessment to maintain water supply reliability over the next 50 years. More than 25 representatives from SGPWA’s sister agencies and local stakeholders engaged in critical water supply conversations focused on the potential acquisition of future supplies and Agency and retailer activities. SGPWA started the program in 2020, projecting water supply needs over a 50-year horizon when state regulations only require a 20-year planning period. Currently, the water supply in the Pass area is robust — the Agency ended 2023 with a water portfolio of 24,733 acre-feet. This program ensures the region leverages existing water resources and maximizes their value for future resiliency. … ”
Along the Colorado River …
What’s in a minute?
“A minute = 60 seconds. But in the Colorado River world, a Minute (with a capital M) = a lot more than that! The 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty (1944 Treaty) created a unique concept in the world of treaties, called Minutes. This is the only Treaty with Minutes, making it a living document that can adapt to the needs of the two countries. A Minute is a binding international agreement between the United States and Mexico, which share the Colorado River. Minutes are not amendments – they define how things agreed to in the Treaty will be implemented. Once approved by both governments, the Minutes are binding obligations of the U.S. and Mexican governments. This requires near-constant binational collaboration, regardless of what is going on in the political or environmental climate. Due to the strength of our relationships, our two countries have a long history of cooperation related to the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the Central Arizona Project.
Central Arizona Project: The engine of growth for Phoenix and Tucson through decades of water delivery
In the face of a looming water crisis in the 1960s, Arizona embarked on an ambitious and transformative infrastructure project, the Central Arizona Project (CAP), to divert Colorado River water to its major cities and farmlands. Constructed over two decades, the 336-mile canal system supports the state’s two largest metro areas, Phoenix and Tucson. According to a recent AZPM feature, this massive endeavor has played a crucial role in shaping Arizona’s growth. As outlined in an interview with Zac Ziegler of AZPM’s podcast “Tapped,” the Mark Wilmer Pumping Plant is where much of Arizona’s Colorado River water begins its journey through the CAP. … ” Read more from Hoodline.
US Drought Monitor: Some dry spots but most of Arizona not in drought
“The weekly report from the U.S. Drought Monitor was released Thursday, and it shows despite some dry areas, most of Arizona is not in a drought right now. The map below shows that much of Arizona is covered in yellow, which is considered “abnormally dry” but technically not drought. Notice the light brown area showing “moderate drought” covers a few parts of the state, including eastern Maricopa County and the Phoenix Metro area. This lines up with recent Phoenix rainfall data. Since the start of monsoon season on June 15, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has only picked up 0.40″ of rainfall. This is below the normal 1.18″ of rainfall up to this point in the monsoon season. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
