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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Presentation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Inspection Results for Reclamation District 784 – Best Slough and Dry Creek Levee System, Yuba County; Governor’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Project Update; and Board Staff Activities Report – Property Management of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Drainage District. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
- MEETING: Central Valley Regional Water Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include End of Year report on Board’s water quality programs; an informational item on the wastewater needs assessment; and several WDRs and NPDES permits. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
California’s prenup with the feds on water
“California is making moves to keep control of its water — and protect the state’s endangered species from a potential second Trump administration. With federal and state officials in the midst of renegotiating how they manage a 400-mile system of reservoirs, pumps and canals that moves water out of the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta to deliver it to taps and farms across the state, California water officials are taking steps to adopt guidelines from the state’s own wildlife officials rather than federal ones. Lenny Grimaldo, the Department of Water Resources’ State Water Project environmental director, said in an email the decision to seek a separate state permit to operate the system, rather than a joint state-federal one, was “to ensure [California Endangered Species Act] coverage remains in place even if there is a future change in federal law.” … ” Read more from Politico.
Hearing officer pauses Delta tunnel deadlines amid tribal and community concerns
“Restore the Delta, alongside the Delta Tribal Environmental Coalition Partners — including Buena Vista Rancheria, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Little Manila Rising, and the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School — joined forces with partner environmental groups, Delta water districts, commercial fishing organizations, and Delta counties to present a compelling case at the recent pre-hearing conference concerning the Delta Conveyance Project. The conference, held at the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), highlighted numerous conflicts that hinder the ability of protestants to respond effectively and prepare a case for the formal hearings. … ” Continue reading from Restore the Delta.
Restoring California’s depleted groundwater: Collaborative research effort leverages nature for groundwater replenishment
“Groundwater is California’s hidden lifeline, supporting agriculture, drinking water, and ecosystems. Yet, over the past century and a half, unsustainable water use has led to depleted aquifers, land subsidence, damage to infrastructure, streamflow depletion, and dry wells, threatening both human and environmental health. In fact, rates of groundwater decline in California are some of the highest in the world. Four groundwater basins in the San Joaquin Valley rank among the world’s most rapidly declining aquifers, according to research published this year. “Groundwater depletion is a landscape-sized problem,” says River Partners President Julie Rentner. “We need landscape-scale correction.” … ” Read more from River Partners.
Listen: Domestic water wells in the San Joaquin Valley are fragile. Many factors are making them go dry.
“The last two years have been good water years for the Central Valley, but despite that, this summer some people across the Valley are still seeing their domestic water wells dry up. These residents often rely on water wells for daily use because they live in more rural areas and are not connected to a water system. Jesse Vad of the water news website SJV Water recently reported on the uptick of domestic wells drying up. He joined KVPR’s Elizabeth Arakelian for a conversation about this problem, and said the sustained higher temperatures this summer have been a big contributing factor.” Listen at KVPR.
A rare August storm may bring snow to California’s High Sierra. What to know.
“California could see rare August snow this weekend, as a Pacific storm that is unusually strong and cold for this time of year hits the West Coast. There’s a chance of accumulating snow in the high Sierra above 8,000 feet — including the higher terrain in Yosemite National Park — an area that hasn’t seen August snow in at least 20 years, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford, Calif. … “While these are relatively low snowfall numbers, any chance for snow in August is quite rare and has the potential to increase impacts for travelers and hikers Friday night [and] Saturday,” the Weather Service wrote. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO: Snow in August? California’s Sierra Braces for Rare Summertime System, from KQED
Park Fire burn scar in Northern California will be under flash flood warning this weekend
“A flash flood warning will be in effect this weekend for the Park Fire burn scar area as wet weather is expected to roll through Northern California. The National Weather Service (NWS) Sacramento said the warning will be in place from 11 a.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Saturday where the fire burned through Butte and Tehama counties. The fire ignited last month in the Chico area and burned north through Tehama County near the Shasta County line. Nearly 430,000 acres have been burned and, as of Wednesday, it was 57% contained. All evacuations due to the fire have been lifted, however, officials in Butte County and with the NWS said residents should be prepared to evacuate this weekend if incoming wet weather causes a need to do so. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
A third of California is ‘abnormally dry,’ drought monitor says. Where are conditions worst?
“About a third of California was “abnormally dry” on Thursday as parts of the state appear poised to return to triple-digit temperatures, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest update. As of Thursday, areas of “moderate drought” were isolated to Northern California while a sliver of the state near the Oregon border was under “severe drought,” the Drought Monitor said. “Abnormally dry” spots could be found in northern and central California as well as the southeastern corner of the state. Here’s a look at drought conditions across California … ” Continue reading at the Sacramento Bee.
US water reservoirs are shrinking and becoming less reliable
“Major water reservoirs across the continental United States are experiencing longer, more severe, and more variable periods of low storage than several decades ago, a new study reports. The problems are most severe in the western and central United States, but reservoirs in the eastern and southeastern United States are not immune, the study finds. Overall, reservoirs are less reliable and more vulnerable to climate change than they used to be. The findings, which update critical information about water storage, should improve water forecasting, helping water managers at national, regional and local levels make more informed decisions about the timing and volume of water release. The study appears in Geophysical Research Letters, which publishes high-impact, short-format reports with immediate implications spanning all Earth and space sciences. … ” Read more from the American Geophysical Union.
PG&E withdraws application for transfer of hydropower assets
“On May 10, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) reported that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) had denied an application for the transfer of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) hydropower assets to a subsidiary, Pacific Generation. The CPUC found that PG&E’s application failed to meet “even the minimal public interest standard.” The CPUC, however, gave PG&E leave to file a new application addressing the inadequacies of the first effort. On August 12, 2024, PG&E filed a letter with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). PG&E’s application would have needed additional approval from FERC to initiate the asset transfer. In its August 12 letter PG&E withdrew its application to FERC, ending, once and for all, PG&E’s effort to spin off its hydroelectric projects in order to raise money. The end of PG&E’s attempt to spin off its hydropower projects is a big win for the California Hydropower Reform Coalition (CHRC), of which CSPA is an active member. … ” Read more from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Calif. still barred from collecting pumping data
“California is still barred from collecting pumping data and charging water extraction fees against farmers in the Tulare Lake Subbasin. The ruling on Aug. 20 by Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini extends the court’s temporary restraining order issued in mid-July. The Kings County Farm Bureau sued to block the state from implementing probationary action against those in the subbasin. That ruling came as the State Water Resources Control Board determined that the region’s plan to sustainably manage its groundwater is inadequate. The local Farm Bureau had hoped for a preliminary injunction from the court, pending outcome of its lawsuit against the state, according to Dusty Ference, executive director of the Kings County Farm Bureau. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Ag summit explores how water users coexist in California
“The Maddy Institute and California Water Institute at Fresno State will hold a one-day ag summit focused on how water users coexist in California from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Resnick Student Union at Fresno State. This event will bring together stakeholders from across the state to discuss pressing issues and foster collaborative solutions. The summit is also available to attend virtually. “We are excited to partner with the California Water Institute for our second annual Agriculture Summit,” said Blake Zante, director of the Maddy Institute. “This year, attendees will be able to listen to a wide range of panel discussions and keynote speakers about the development of collaborative policy solutions to support California’s agricultural, urban and environmental water users.” … ” Read more from Fresno State.
In commentary today …
Reform CEQA instead of punching holes in it
William Fulton, editor and publisher of “California Planning & Development Report,” writes, “For the second time in two years, the California Legislature passed a one-off law to circumvent the California Environmental Quality Act. And this time, the optics aren’t good: In June, the Legislature exempted its own new office building project from CEQA. The new law passed quickly. Even Sen. John Laird of Santa Cruz, one of the state’s leading environmentalists, expressed concern about the way CEQA was driving delays and therefore the cost of the project, which is more or less the same concern that developers have been expressing forever about CEQA. … Everybody loves to hate the California Environmental Quality Act — except the environmentalists, neighborhood groups and unions that use it and often abuse it. … ” Read the full commentary at the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
What’s the best strategy for restoring Klamath Salmon to the Upper Klamath River Basin?
Felice Pace writes, “The train is rolling to get more federal funding to restore salmon to the Upper Klamath River Basin. Here’s why I think that is a bad idea: If ESA-listed salmon are restored by the federal government to the Upper Basin they will be an “experimental population” and could be removed at any time by a decision of the federal Interior Department. That could actually happen and may be likely if Trump becomes president. In contrast, if the ESA-listed salmon are allowed to repopulate the Upper Basin on their own, they will retain the protection of the federal ESA until they are fully recovered and safe in the Upper Basin. … ” Read more from the KlamBlog.
Grange fire a wake-up call for infrastructure
“The Grange Fire, which broke out in Boonville on July 25, highlighted some major infrastructure needs in terms of disaster response: namely, power and water. PG&E was knocked out, telecommunications were spotty, and the local radio station, which was in the evacuation zone, went off the air due to damaged equipment. Anderson Valley Fire Chief Andres Avila said the 90-acre fire was a stark reminder of local vulnerabilities, as wildfires across the state devour hundreds of thousands of acres. The lack of water, he said, “daylights our Achilles heel to larger fires.” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Final Technical Memorandum for NID’s ‘Plan for Water’ released
“After more than two years of public discussions about the best ways to meet the community’s demand for water over the coming decades, the Plan for Water Final Technical Memorandum has been released by the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). The Memorandum details strategic alternatives and how future supply and demand scenarios may be integrated into the District’s water management practices and capital improvement projects. The Plan for Water (PFW) process began in November 2021 and included a review of NID’s available water supply and long-term impacts on varying water demands. The public was invited to participate in a series of workshops covering 11 stages. These included: the NID delivery system, water rights, watershed, risk, strategic planning, hydrology and hydrography, and local water supply and demand. … ” Continue reading at YubaNet.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Court issues landmark ruling to protect the Russian River
“This week the Sonoma Superior Court held that the County of Sonoma failed to meet its obligations under the Public Trust Doctrine and violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when it adopted a Well Ordinance that was not protective of Sonoma County creeks and rivers. The Court ordered the County to fulfill its obligations under the Public Trust Doctrine and CEQA to ensure that groundwater extraction does not harm salmon, steelhead, and other public trust resources of the County’s waterways. The County must now conduct the analysis it has failed to do to date before issuing additional groundwater pumping permits. … ” Continue reading at YubaNet.
Redwood forest with Sonoma County’s tallest tree is now protected forever
“A 394-acre tract of land along the Russian River that is home to Sonoma County’s tallest known coastal redwood will forever be protected from development, in a victory for century-long efforts to conserve the endangered giants. On Thursday, Sonoma County Agricultural Conservation and Open Space announced that the Russian River County Sanitation District board of directors had approved a $6.18 million purchase of the tract from the Save the Redwoods League, which bought the parcel in 2023. A conservation easement and recreation covenant will formally protect the land. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Sun.
Residents demand action over blocked Russian River access at Parks and Rec meeting
“At the Aug. 21 meeting of the Russian River Recreation and Parks District, board members faced a wave of frustration from Vacation Beach residents over a neighbor who they say has been blocking access to the Russian River. The heated discussion centered around a fence erected by Mark and Rita O’Flynn, longtime residents and environmental stewards, which some neighbors claim has effectively privatized a portion of the riverbank historically open to the public. The district has standing in the river access dispute because it is responsible for managing public lands and ensuring public access to these areas under California law. The Public Resources Code Section 5780 grants recreation and parks districts the authority to maintain parks, trails, and natural resources, including access to navigable waters like the Russian River. The board is legally obligated to investigate and address any obstructions that infringe on public rights, such as access guaranteed by the Public Trust Doctrine and prescriptive easements, making it the appropriate body to resolve such issues. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Gazette.
CENTRAL COAST
Marina Coast replacing critical water main, storage tanks
“Marina Coast Water District is closing in on a $1.8 million project to replace more than 2,000 feet of a water main along California Avenue in Marina after crews discovered failures in the system at the beginning of the year. On Wednesday, Marina Coast General Manager Remleh Scherzinger cautioned that there will likely be slow nighttime traffic along California Avenue and Imjin Parkway, but that no daytime delays are expected. Traffic control measures are in place to manage the flow of traffic. While one lane may be closed, no major traffic stoppages are expected. The night work takes place from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Work on the 24-inch diameter water main is expected to be wrapped up by the end of the month. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Environmental groups sue county over Lopez dam’s impact on steelhead trout
“San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, Los Padres ForestWatch, California Coastkeeper Alliance, and the Ecological Rights Foundation filed a lawsuit against San Luis Obispo County this week, alleging violations of the Endangered Species Act. The groups claim the county fails to release enough water from Lopez Dam to support fish in Arroyo Grande Creek. A federal court hearing is scheduled for September. The county must file a response to the lawsuit next week. The lawsuit asserts that for the past 30 years, the county has been aware of the harm its operation of Lopez Dam causes to endangered species in Arroyo Grande Creek. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Developers introduce new water storage system for farmers in Fresno County
“The Westlands Water District in Fresno County finalized the first phase of a new groundwater storage system Thursday, aiming to replenish the nation’s largest irrigation district. Developers say the 614,000-acre district has optimal farming soil but is desperate for water storage. In response, they are implementing the Pasajero Groundwater Recharge Project in two phases. The first phase features a system to recharge basins with 30 cubic feet of water per second, resulting in up to 21,000 acre-feet of water per year. … ” Read more from Your Central Valley.
SEE ALSO:
- Westlands Water District Celebrates the Completion of Phase One of the Pasajero Groundwater Recharge Project, press release from Westlands Water District
- Westlands launches major groundwater recharge project expected to revolutionize water management, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
EASTERN SIERRA
Trash-collecting scuba divers just cleaned up this Eastern Sierra lake. Here’s what they found
“The underwater trash-collecting scuba crew that has pulled tens of thousands of pounds of litter and junk out of lakes across the Sierra in recent years just completed its first cleanup of Mammoth Lakes. For nearly two weeks in July, volunteers and staffers with Clean Up The Lake, a Tahoe nonprofit, removed 1,865 pounds of litter from Lake Mary, the most prominent of Mammoth’s namesake bodies of water that is a major draw for trout fishers, campers and hikers. Divers scoured the shore of the 140-acre lake down to a depth of about 25 feet, scooping up bits of trash and hauling them to a raft waiting at the surface. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Las Virgenes Commentary: The importance of having safe water
“When making financial investments as individuals, we are always reminded that it’s best to diversify our financial portfolios. Water supply diversification is no different and is crucial to long-term reliability. We are 100% dependent on imported water right now. Since 2016, LVMWD has been planning and developing the Pure Water Project Las Virgenes–Triunfo. This new source will supply up to 30% of our drinking water by purifying recycled water—currently used for irrigation or discharged to Malibu Creek—through an advanced treatment process that includes microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light disinfection. … ” Read more from The Acorn.
Study finds lead in tap water of Watts homes, including public housing units
“A nonprofit in South L.A. has found lead in the tap water of homes in the region, including in public housing units. Over the course of four months, volunteers with the Better Watts Initiative, the environmental justice branch of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee, fanned out across the neighborhood and gathered more than 500 water samples. The volunteers included residents from the majority Black and Latino neighborhood, as well as students from UCLA and USC. … ” Read more from the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Local water agencies gear up to meet new state water conservation goals
“Water conservation remains a top priority in California, where drought is a recurring problem. A new state regulation adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in July aims to make more cuts in the next several years. … Coachella Valley Water District has 115,000 customers, from just outside Desert Hot Springs to the Salton Sea. That includes several unincorporated areas, such as Thousand Palms. Its the largest service area out of the four main local water agencies.Lorraine Garcia with CVWD said most of their customers won’t be hit by water cuts. “We are working with HOA customers and commercial customers to find that nonfunctional decorative turf that’s not being used for any type of recreation that can be removed.” … ” Read more from KESQ.
SAN DIEGO
Submerged monitors get a quick read on Tijuana River wastewater
“More than two years of testing has researchers convinced they have a faster way to detect untreated sewage in the Tijuana River. The new tools are called fluorescence monitors. San Diego State University (SDSU) scientists have submerged several of them beneath a platform in the mouth of the Tijuana River. They’re measuring pollution in a river estuary that’s notorious for fecal contamination. The sensors emit UV light that’s reflected by the chemicals in wastewater that give it a unique optical signature. … ” Read more from KPBS.
SEE ALSO: SDSU scientists unveil early warning sewage-tracking system in Tijuana River, from the Times of San Diego
Along the Colorado River …
For better water forecasts, scientists say we should pay more attention to spring
“A new study of high-mountain snow and rain suggests research should pay more attention to springtime conditions than scientists previously thought. The new data could help hone water supply forecasts for the streams that feed the Colorado River. Researchers with the University of Washington initially set up a study near Crested Butte, Colo. to gather data about wintertime snow behavior. However, they found that weather and climate factors in warmer months had a noticeable impact on the amount of snowmelt that ended up flowing into streams and rivers. “We thought it was about snow,” said Jessica Lundquist, a co-author of the study. “Really, when we looked at all the statistics across all the seasons, spring is the most dynamic season, and this tells us to change our focus to what’s happening in the spring.” … ” Read more from KUNC.
New project will help train Nevada’s next water innovators
“To many, being literate on water issues is a necessity for residents of Las Vegas or any Western city. In an effort to expose more young people to STEM jobs — particularly those that will help prolong water resources in the West — the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that it had awarded the Desert Research Institute a $1 million grant to develop new curriculum. Working with both the Southern Nevada and Truckee Meadows water authorities, the institute will develop a topical, three-year program aimed at students from sixth to 12th grade. It will be available digitally, with the goal of extending water literacy beyond the boundaries of the Silver State, researchers said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Solar-paneled canopies over canals catching on in Southwest
“An intensifying but unseen force is stealing precious water from rivers in the arid West, but it’s hardly a thief in the night. The midday sun is one of the more aggressive guzzlers of the Colorado River. Between its High Rockies headwaters and its Sonoran Desert delta, 1 to 2 million acre-feet of water evaporates each year in the Colorado River Basin. That’s a big gulp in a watershed where seven thirsty U.S. states and northern Mexico skirmish for their share of an overallocated, shrinking water supply. And the evaporation will only increase as the Southwest grows hotter and drier. To cut their losses, a growing number of Western water managers want to install solar-paneled canopies over canals and even flotillas of solar panels on reservoirs to turn the sun’s rays into electricity before they hit the water. … ” Read more from Western Water.
Parts of southern Arizona completely out of drought status
“For parts of southern Arizona, rain and thunderstorms have put enough of a dent in the drought that it’s actually completely gone. In the U.S. Drought Monitor map below, notice that all of Pima County and Santa Cruz County are not covered by any type of shading. This means that there are no signs of drought in these two counties. This is due to consistent rounds of showers and thunderstorms that this part of the state has received over the past several weeks and months. … ” Read more from Arizona Family.
Battle lines drawn in West over public lands
“Utah has unleashed the latest salvo in an ongoing battle over federally managed Western lands, petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to end Bureau of Land Management control over about 18.5 million acres in the state. The suit filed Aug. 20 asks the high court to address whether the federal government can simply hold unappropriated lands within a state indefinitely, which the state argues the BLM is doing under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The lawsuit would not affect the millions of “appropriated” acres already designated as national parks, monuments, wilderness areas, forests, tribal lands or military properties, state officials said. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Colorado River ‘positive’ for invasive zebra mussels as wildlife officials hunt for source
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have launched an extensive monitoring and public outreach plan following the detection of invasive zebra mussel larvae in several locations along the Colorado River near Grand Junction last month. But their next steps will depend on what they learn about the extent and the source of the invasive population, which could pose an “extreme risk” to local ecosystems and water utilities. “If they are in a small pond, as an example, there is a completely different arsenal of tools that we may have in our tool belt to try to address that situation than if they are in an open water system like the Colorado River,” Robert Walters, CPW’s invasive species program manager, told a committee of state lawmakers on Wednesday. “Until we identify the source of the population, it’s really difficult to say what those control options might be.” … ” Read more from Colorado Newsline.
SEE ALSO: Colorado River moves from “suspect” to “positive” for invasive zebra mussels, from the Colorado Sun
In national water news today …
White House announces new money to fight lead contamination in school water
“The White House on Thursday announced $26 million in new funding to test for and remove lead from water in schools and child-care facilities, two months ahead of plans to publish a new rule requiring such testing at elementary and middle schools. While there is no national requirement to test for lead in school water, states and localities that have chosen to test often find it. Lead in schools is frequently caused not by lead service lines, which are narrow pipes that serve households and small businesses, but by lead-laced plumbing and fixtures. “We are making sure kids have a safe and healthy environment to learn and to grow and making sure everyone in this country can turn on the tap and drink clean water,” said Natalie Quillian, a White House deputy chief of staff. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
