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On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Water Right Permit beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board is holding a multi-day public hearing on the Sites Project Authority’s application for a water right permit to store up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually in a proposed reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. In person at CalEPA Headquarters, 1001 I St., Sacramento, California or view on the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel.
- WEBINAR: Chronicles from Nature’s Phoenix, Episode 2: Rethinking Fire Management – Beyond Backcountry Logging from 12pm to 1pm. Join us for the continuation of our webinar series as we explore Chapter 10 of Nature’s Phoenix second edition, “Forest Managers Play the Backcountry Fiddle as Towns Burndown”. Authored by Dr. Dominick Dellasala, this chapter examines the current wildfire management strategies and their limitations. Panelists Dr. DellaSala and Luke Ruediger, Conservation Director of Klamath Forest Alliance, will discuss the substantial funding directed toward backcountry logging and fire suppression, often at the expense of more effective measures such as home hardening and community preparedness. This session will highlight the need for a shift in focus towards strategies that enhance ecological integrity and natural processes. Our expert panel will provide an in-depth analysis of these issues and propose solutions for creating fire-adapted communities. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Quantifying The Impact of Extreme Climate events and Humans on Groundwater Resources in California Using Space Geodesy Techniques from 12pm to 1pm. The groundwater resources in California are impacted by the extreme climate events (e.g., droughts) as well as human activities (pumping). Geodesy is the science of measuring Earth’s gravity field and shape and its variations with time. Groundwater dynamics can be monitored using space geodesy techniques that measure changes in gravity of the Earth (GRACE and GRACE-FO satellites) and surface deformation (GNSS and Interferometric SAR [InSAR]). In this seminar, I will present a few applications of these space geodesy techniques in monitoring groundwater dynamics in the Central Valley and Santa Clara Valley (Silicon Valley) aquifers. These studies help us better understand the impact of droughts, atmospheric rivers as well as humans on groundwater and aquifers. In addition, I will discuss the evaluation of managed aquifer recharge (or lack thereof) on groundwater dynamics and land subsidence in these two aquifers. These case studies highlight the importance of Earth observation satellites for developing management, adaptation, and resilience plans for freshwater resources in the era of climate change in California. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Recent Updates to Federal Environmental and Natural Resource Regulations from 12pm to 1:30pm. Updates to federal environmental and natural resource regulations and recent consequential decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court have resulted in a significant shift to the federal environmental and natural resource landscape and a degree of regulatory uncertainty for projects across the United States. Changes in regulations affecting compliance under the National Environmental Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and management of greenhouse gas emissions and federal lands, have both streamlined and complicated project delivery. Decisions handed down by the Supreme Court have further impacted the durability of the current regulatory regimes. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Can You Keep Your Lawn and Save Water? How Drought Safe Lawns Might Be An Answer for California Communities from 2pm to 3pm. Breakthrough pilot projects in Utah cities have shown new breeds of grass are a viable alternative to full turf replacement, save water and – most notably – are proving a more popular to homeowners than turf removal offers. Should California’s state and local water managers consider similar strategies ? California City and County News will present a webinar that covers these issues and how cities, counties and other local agencies can improve conservation with minimal impacts to aesthetics and other health and ecological concerns. Click here for more information and to register.
In California water news today …
Salmon will soon swim freely in the Klamath River for first time in a century once dams are removed
“For the first time in more than a century, salmon will soon have free passage along the Klamath River and its tributaries — a major watershed near the California-Oregon border — as the largest dam removal project in U.S. history nears completion. Crews will use excavators this week to breach rock dams that have been diverting water upstream of two dams that were already almost completely removed, Iron Gate and Copco No. 1. The work will allow the river to flow freely in its historic channel, giving salmon a passageway to key swaths of habitat just in time for the fall Chinook, or king salmon, spawning season. “Seeing the river being restored to its original channel and that dam gone, it’s a good omen for our future,” said Leaf Hillman, ceremonial leader of the Karuk Tribe, which has spent at least 25 years fighting for the removal of the Klamath dams. Salmon are culturally and spiritually significant to the tribe, along with others in the region. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
SEE ALSO:
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- Major California river will flow freely this week as historic dam removal concludes, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Largest dam removal in U.S. history nears completion, reviving hopes for California salmon, from the LA Times
NOTEBOOK FEATURE: We are still here: Partnering with tribes on the Delta
“The first time Malissa Tayaba visited one of her ancestral village sites on the banks of the Sacramento River, she was in tears. “We are river people, we are salmon people. The river fed us, clothed us, and kept us healthy,” said Tayaba, Vice Chair of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, at the 2024 State of the Estuary Conference. “Everything we need to be who we are comes from the river.” But her ancestors were forced off their homelands in and around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta long ago, and relocated inland away from the waterways intrinsic to their identity. Now the Delta Stewardship Council, a state agency, is collaborating with tribes to highlight their priorities, such as facilitating tribal access to ancestral lands and waters, weaving traditional knowledge into managing and restoring the Delta, and fostering tribal and environmental justice. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Hearing process could boost Sites Reservoir project
“The plan to build California’s first new major reservoir in decades advances as the state considers whether to issue a water-right permit for the proposed Sites Reservoir, an off-stream water storage project that could store up to 1.5 million acre-feet annually. The California State Water Resources Control Board last week began a public hearing process on the project’s water-right permit application. Hearings will continue through October. Representatives of agriculture, water districts and government agencies spoke at the first session Aug. 19 and urged the state water board to approve the water-right permit to advance the project. “After a half-century of conceptual proposals and a quarter-century more of hard study, California is finally ready to build Sites, and not a moment too soon,” said Alexandra Biering, senior policy advocate for the California Farm Bureau. Biering noted projections estimating climate change will cause the Sierra Nevada snowpack to erode by as much as 60% by the end of this century, resulting in a 10% reduction of water supplies. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Judges strikes down Sonoma County rules governing wells, groundwater use, siding with environmental groups
“Sonoma County violated state environmental law in its latest attempt to draft a controversial ordinance governing wells and groundwater use across a wide swath of the region, a Sonoma County judge has ruled. Superior Court Judge Bradford DeMeo’s ruling throws the county’s 16-month-old rules into limbo and raises questions about how permitting for new wells may be affected for rural residents and farmers across more than 300 square miles, or nearly a fifth of the county. The county has not outlined the immediate implications for those permit applications. A county spokesman said the ruling was still be reviewed. The court decision is the latest turn in a yearslong legal fight between environmental groups who contend heavy groundwater pumping is doing harm to streams and aquatic wildlife. The county, those groups say, must conduct deeper study of those impacts and craft stronger regulations to safeguard natural resources that belong to the public. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Bakersfield hosts State Water Board on Kern groundwater issues
“This week, Bakersfield will host the State Water Resources Control Board in two separate events focused on groundwater management within the Central Valley and Kern County Subbasin. On Aug. 29, SWB staff will lead a second public workshop centered on Kern County Subbasin’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan as well as its draft staff report — a key precursor to the probationary hearing scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025. The workshop serves as an opportunity for Kern County agricultural leaders to engage with state regulators and influence the future of groundwater management. Despite the progress demonstrated by local Kern Subbasin GSAs in the revised 2024 GSP submitted in May, the SWB’s draft staff report and workshop will focus on a review of the deficiencies present in the obsolete 2020 and 2022 GSPs. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Water coalitions push to suspend regulation that will cost 400,000 acre-feet of water
“Two water coalitions are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the federal government to stop reducing water supplies this year. The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Water Coalition penned a letter to Newsom and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland asking them to suspend certain actions that are reducing water supplies for the 2024 water year. Driving the news: The Water Blueprint is a coalition of Central Valley community leaders, businesses, water agencies, local governments and agricultural representatives that work to advance common sense water solutions. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
New report released on Delta Drought Response Pilot Program
“The Delta Conservancy’s report on their 2023 Delta Drought Response Pilot Program reveals mixed results in testing drought-resistant field management practices in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The program involved 61 projects across 18,450 acres, where Delta farmers tried various water conservation methods, like crop changes, reduced irrigation, and creating bird habitats by flooding fields. Key findings include that water savings were inconsistent, especially in low-elevation areas, while higher elevations showed more potential. Factors like crop type, soil, and local flooding also influenced results. The report suggests that future water conservation efforts need to balance water savings with environmental goals, like supporting wildlife. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
California’s largest water district extends GM’s leave as harassment investigation continues
“Southern California’s largest water supplier on Tuesday extended the administrative leave of its general manager and CEO while it investigates harassment claims against him. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s board voted Tuesday to extend Adel Hagekhalil’s leave until Oct. 23. He had been scheduled to return Sept. 12, pending the results of the investigation. In a public comment period ahead of a closed board session, Hagekhalil lambasted the investigation, noting that he had yet to be contacted by investigators 74 days into the process. “It’s now time for me to come back and be with you and take this journey again,” he said. “Over 74 days ago, you unfairly placed me on leave, and as of today, I still have not been contacted about the investigation.” … ” Read more from Politico.
SEE ALSO:
Bill tracking: More than a dozen proposed new water laws are churning through the legislative process in Sacramento
“While many of these bills might make it to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, no one can say if he will sign them, veto them, or ignore them. There is no timeline set in stone for these bills. AB 460 (Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda): Would increase penalties the state Water Resources Control Board can impose for unauthorized water diversions. People who ignore the Water Board’s “cease and desist” orders would pay $2,500 per day, up from $1,000 a day. It would also increase the penalty for those who violate a term or condition of a permit, license, certification or registration issued by the Water Board, from $500 a day to $1,000 a day. And those divert water unlawfully when there is a curtailment order could be charged $10,000 a day and $2,500 per acre foot diverted in violation. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Legislature passes ACWA-sponsored AB 2257
“ACWA-sponsored AB 2257 — which would help member agencies avoid Proposition 218 lawsuits — passed out of the Legislature during the last week of session. It is now headed to the governor’s desk. Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), AB 2257 would allow ratepayers to participate and raise specific objections to proposed rate changes before resorting to litigation after the new rates are approved. The bill would provide an opportunity for local agencies and ratepayers to resolve objections during the public process and avoid surprise litigation down the road. … ” Read more from ACWA’s Water News.
From Chad to California – water crises cause dry wells and conflicts
“Benjamin Franklin once remarked, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” Franklin’s quote serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of water, especially as the world faces an unprecedented crisis of scarcity. Water is essential for life, yet millions around the globe lack reliable access to this vital resource. The situation is deteriorating, with increasing numbers of regions experiencing severe shortages. Understanding the roots of this crisis and finding solutions is more critical than ever. Water scarcity is a global issue that affects nearly 2 billion people today. According to UNICEF, over 700 million people could be displaced by intense water shortages by 2030. The World Bank notes that 40% of the world’s population is already impacted by water scarcity, with some regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, facing particularly severe challenges. In Sub-Saharan Africa, many communities still rely on contaminated sources, resulting in significant public health issues. … ” Read more from Forbes.
Record heat is testing Kraft Heinz’s efforts to climate-proof its ketchup
“For Heinz ketchup, nothing is more important than tomatoes. Sure, by calories, a tablespoon of the flagship condiment is 80% added sugar. But by weight — and frankly, by reputation — it’s Heinz Tomato Ketchup for a reason. Now some of those tomatoes are in peril from climate change. The $5 billion-plus Heinz brand is critical to Kraft Heinz, the $42 billion packaged food giant that owns it. It produces 660 million bottles of ketchup each year, 300 million of them in the U.S. In a recent interview, Pedro Navio, the company’s North America president, referred to Heinz as its “powerhouse.” Kraft Heinz has also invested in organic and no-added-sugar versions — and charges more for them — which then Chief Executive Officer Miguel Patricio said on a 2019 earnings call was paying off. The tomatoes used in Heinz ketchup are a particular point of pride. At its HeinzSeed research center in California, the company has spent more than 150 years evolving the fruit to ensure that tomatoes growing in the field can be processed into perfect tomato paste. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In commentary today …
Valley farmers are meeting challenges head on
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley writes, “It’s no secret that California’s water infrastructure is ill-equipped to support the needs of our continuously growing state. Already the nation’s fifth largest economy, California’s population is increasing by the day. Though many factors contribute to the rapid growth, it’s unacceptable to see rampant mismanagement of our most precious resource, water. There is one group that is regularly asked to rise to the occasion despite the many obstacles related to water shortages and that’s farmers. No matter the current policies, weather, or political environment, farmers across the Valley work tirelessly to provide the food, fiber, and resources our state, even our nation, depend on. Over the past several decades, growers in this state have become increasingly water-efficient and it’s certainly not because they require less water. Rather, it is because they find it increasingly difficult to obtain the water they need and are simultaneously expected to reduce current usage. … ” Continue reading at the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley.
In regional water news and commentary today …
BAY AREA
La Niña Watch: Just how wet will San Francisco get?
“As the Bay Area bakes under summer’s heat, small changes in the Pacific Ocean signal a shift in the weather — and it could mean a better chance for a drier, warmer winter in The City after some recent years of above-average precipitation. Climate models now predict a two-in-three chance of a La Niña pattern forming later this year, with the probability increasing for La Niña to persist into the winter months. According to the Climate Prediction Center’s latest discussion, such conditions are “favored to emerge during September-November (66% chance) and persist through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2024-25 (74% chance during November-January).” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Examiner.
Bay Area’s largest water district hit by ‘silver tsunami’ wave of retirements
“The Bay Area’s largest public water utility board is experiencing a “silver tsunami” as a majority of its most experienced directors retire this year. Four of the seven members of the board at the East Bay Municipal Utility District, known as EBMUD, already have or will retire by the end of the year. Each has served since at least 2001, taking with them decades of experience preparing for drought, managing rate increases and positioning the utility for climate change. “I’ll go from being the most junior member of the board two years ago to being the most senior member of the board,” said EBMUD Director Marguerite Young, who was elected in 2014 and is one of the three remaining board members. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Berkeley will finally test for radiation at Cesar Chavez Park this fall
“Regional water regulators have approved Berkeley’s plans to measure radiation levels in Cesar Chavez Park using a drone. The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board rejected Berkeley’s initial proposal for radiation testing in May, citing concerns that its methodology was too lenient. Regulators wrote that the proposed tests, which called for an inspector to walk around with a detector, could miss a “significant portion” of the park. The water board, working in consultation with the California Department of Public Health, signed off on Berkeley’s revised work plan on Aug. 13. The city has until Nov. 11 to complete the testing and submit a completion report that includes a three-dimensional map of the site. … ” Read more from Berkeleyside.
‘It smells’: Here’s when Vallejo residents could see relief from sewage plant retrofitting project
“On a hot Tuesday afternoon in Vallejo, residents can be seen at times holding their noise. That’s because there is a strong sewage smell in the south side of the city, but that stench can sometimes travel much further. “It is in different areas of Vallejo,” said Nina Garcia, who was out for a walk. “You go down Sonoma, we don’t have a sewer plant down there but it smells like that.” The odor is coming from the Vallejo Wastewater Treatment Plant. The reason why it is so strong is because facility is undergoing a massive retrofitting project. Staff members are refurbishing one of their bio towers that filters the wastewater. With one tower currently out of service, that means they only have one other tower doing the work of two. “The strength of the waste water doesn’t go down whatsoever,” said Orlando Cortez, the project superintendent at the facility. “But our treatment did. So we reduced it by 50% – and it is what it is.” … ” Read more from KGO.
CENTRAL COAST
New project could revive Santa Cruz wetlands in effort to fight flooding
“In recent years, storms have battered the California coast, flooding vulnerable communities, as the threat of sea level rise puts more infrastructure including homes and businesses at risk. A project in Santa Cruz County is trying to address the impact of levee breaches and flooding. Barry Baker grew up in Santa Cruz County, with a love for its natural beauty. The non-profit he works for, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County just purchased 247 acres at Beach Ranch, where the Pajaro River meets the Pacific Ocean. “Within Santa Cruz County, coastal wetland habitat is just so rare,” said Baker. … ” Read more from CBS Bay Area.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Expect to see pink or purple-ish water along the Stockton Waterfront this week
“People visiting the waterfront in Stockton may notice a color change in the water at McLeod Lake starting Tuesday. The California Department of Water Resources and the city of Stockton are letting people know the water color change is on purpose and not to be alarmed. A dye, which according to scientists is harmless to people, boats and the environment, will be used to test the water as scientists examine harmful algal blooms at the lake. … ” Read more from KCRA.
Fresno State study examines how water recharge could help or harm disadvantaged communities on a regional scale
A study examining the benefits and drawbacks of building groundwater recharge basins near rural communities is underway in Merced, Madera, Tulare and Fresno counties. The two-year study is a spinoff of an earlier feasibility study focused solely on Fresno County, and both are spearheaded by the California Water Institute at Fresno State University. “Floodplains and groundwater recharge do not know geographic boundaries,” the institute’s interim director Laura Ramos wrote in an email. “Sometimes the best recharge area for Madera County might be in Merced County. So it was important to us to look at a larger geographical area.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Cal Water to make $91.2M in improvements in Visalia
“Cal Water’s 2025-2027 Infrastructure Improvement Plan is making progress in downtown Visalia. The project includes replacing 48,965 feet of aging water main, installing new treatment sites, and upgrading facilities to expand their delivery capabilities. Improving existing wells and locating sites for new wells are also planned. Cal Water’s current efforts in downtown Visalia also include a new 975,000-gallon water storage tank and booster station, which will be the fifth water storage tank in the city. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
Tehachapi: Water district board approves budget, will replace engines at two pump plants
“The final budget for Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District approved by directors at their Aug. 21 meeting includes more than $7 million to replace engines at two of the district’s five pump plants. The natural-gas fueled engines are needed to import water from the State Water Project. The district planned for the replacement and plans to pay off related bond financing secured in June 2023 by June 2038. According to a report from General Manager Tom Neisler, the approved budget exceeds revenues by nearly $7.2 million because it will draw from bond proceeds held in reserve for the major capital improvement project. … ” Read more from the Techachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
IE water district computer hacked, preventing customers from making phone payments
“An investigation is underway into a ransomware attack at the Cucamonga Valley Water District that paralyzed a computer system earlier this month, preventing customers from making phone payments. The Aug. 15 cybersecurity incident was resolved Monday, Aug. 26, enabling CVWD to accept payments by phone, district spokesperson Eric Grubb said in an email. CVWD’s water distribution operations and customer database, which are on separate networks from the phone system, were not impacted. The district serves 190,000 customers within a 47-square-mile area, which includes approximately 49,000 water connections in Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Fontana and Ontario. The water district notified federal authorities that the ransomware attack caused a “network disruption,” but did not identify the hackers or disclose whether a ransom had been paid. … ” Read more from the Inland Empire Daily Bulletin.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Disney’s new mega-neighborhood is taking shape in the California desert. Some locals are dubious
“Mickey Mouse is making his way to the Coachella Valley — whether locals want him there or not. In Rancho Mirage, the Walt Disney Co. is making progress on an ambitious development that promises to sprinkle some Disney magic into real estate. Dubbed Cotino, the master-planned community is the first of the entertainment giant’s “Storyliving” projects, designed for home buyers who want to bring Disney deeper into their everyday lives. Donald Duck won’t be delivering your mail, but the specs offer plenty of Disney flourishes, including an “Incredibles”-themed gathering space and a 24-acre lagoon. It’s a massive undertaking, with 1,932 planned homes spread across more than 600 acres. … ” Continue reading from the LA Times.
Salton sea Species habitat takes shape
“Six years after breaking ground, progress at the Salton Sea Management Project is rapidly accelerating. Now, as the initiative gathers momentum, a vast reclamation of lost habitat begins to emerge. In the dusty landscape at the south end of the Salton Sea, the SSMP is hard at work building the Species Conservation Habitat, one of the largest conservation engineering projects in the country. The Salton Sea has been receding rapidly, exposing more of the lakebed, sending more dust into the air and removing thousands of acres of habitat for the many species that call this desert home. In 2018, the SSMP began its 10-year project to replace 30,000 acres of lost habitat, and now, six years into this ambitious effort, the work is beginning to bear fruit. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
Residents fight back on potential water and sewer rate hikes
“A packed Calexico City Hall showed residents upon residents giving public comments against the proposed hikes in water and sewer rates – for nearly two hours. At a special Calexico City Council meeting last Wednesday, the findings of a water and sewer rates study, conducted by consulting firm Willdan Financial Services on behalf of the city, showed a proposed consumer price increase over a five year period, from fiscal year 2025 (beginning July 1, 2024) through fiscal year 2029 (ending June 30, 2029). … The monthly fixed charge for a first dwelling residential unit would go up from its current $18.66 first dwelling unit plus $9.33 for additional dwelling unit(s) base rates to $22.52 first dwelling unit/$22.52 per additional dwelling unit(s), climbing more each year over the next several years ($24.77 in 2025, $27.24 in 2026, $29.70 in 2027 and $32.38 in 2028), per the report. … ” Continue reading at the Imperial Valley Press.
SEE ALSO: Public Outcry Has Calexico Council Reconsider Water, Sewer Rate Hikes, from the Holtville Tribune
SAN DIEGO
City of San Diego fixing break in 36-inch water main off Black Mountain
“The City of San Diego is repairing a major leak in a 36-inch water main off Black Mountain in Rancho Peñasquitos. City workers had to bring in heavy equipment to dig down and locate the break in the water transmission line of Carmel Valley Road. Repairs started on Wednesday. Within days, neighbor John Jaskowiak noticed water flow into his backyard almost completely dried up. “Something the city is doing up there is making an improvement, because this water just slowed down and stopped here in, literally, 24 hours,” said Jaskowiak. … Unfortunately, the water flow continues further downstream on Wescott Court. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
Along the Colorado River …
Imperial Valley goes dry as farmers act to protect river
“Irrigators cut off water to a huge portion of the Imperial Valley’s half-million acres of farmland earlier this month after the federal government approved a long-awaited program designed to bolster water levels on the Colorado River. The conservation agreement, authorized Aug. 12 by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Imperial Irrigation District, pays farmers to stop irrigating forage crops such as alfalfa for a period during the summer. Farmers participating in the “deficit irrigation” program will be compensated to sacrifice one or two hay cuttings without—they hope—killing the perennial crops. “Our staff has been super busy locking a large number of (irrigation) gates,” IID Water Manager Tina Shields said last week at a district board meeting. About 150,000 acres have been enrolled in the program, close to a third of the valley’s farmland and by some estimates around half the ground that is farmed in the summertime. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
How the biggest Colorado River water user plans to conserve a lot of water
“Earlier this month, the biggest user of Colorado River water in the West agreed to conserve up to 700,000 acre feet of water through 2026. The Imperial Irrigation District in California manages about 70% of that state’s share of Colorado River water and says it’ll be able to leave that amount of water in Lake Mead, in what it’s calling a landmark conservation agreement with the federal government. Tina Shields, water manager at the Imperial Irrigation District, joined The Show to explain how that’s going to happen. … ” Read or listen at KJZZ.
Nevada lawmakers seek bills to end ‘use it or lose it’ water law, expand water rights retirement program
“Nevada’s limited water resources and wide open public lands will continue to be the source of legal and political battles for state lawmakers next year — whatever the outcome of November’s election. When state lawmakers meet in Carson City next February, they will be asked to consider several — likely contentious — bills related to groundwater, agriculture, and public land use during their four-month legislative session. On Friday, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Natural Resources voted to advance a number of bill draft requests that could deeply affect the state’s water use, including a bill that would essentially overturn Nevada’s “use it or lose it” water law. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
Utah explores ‘credit’ for conservation along Colorado River
“As part of negotiations over the Colorado River, Utah and other states are proposing a “credit” for conservation. It would allow them to bank the saved water for a time in the future when the water may be more necessary. The idea is being proposed by states in the Upper Basin of the Colorado River. “For any conservation that we realize in the Upper Basin, we would like to make sure that we get credit for that conserved water,” Amy Haas, the executive director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, told FOX 13 News in an interview on Tuesday. … ” Read more from Fox 13.
New USU study highlights channel response in Upper Colorado Basin
“A new USU study has shed light on how mountain streams in the Upper Colorado Basin respond to the compounded disturbances of wildfire, extreme precipitation and debris flows. The study, led by Utah Water Research Laboratory graduate student Paxton Ridgway, USU Professor Belize Lane, and a team of researchers from USU, Simon Fraser University, and the U.S. Geological Survey, explored the intricate dynamics that govern river morphology following wildfire, extreme precipitation and debris flows. The team utilized an array of methodologies including repeat field surveys, time-lapse photography, and remote sensing data. “We were thrilled to perform a multi-year field-intensive study in a fascinating system that has experienced the implications of shifting wildfire and hydrologic regimes in the western US,” Ridgeway said. “This research examines real-world consequences for downstream environments and human infrastructure from the headwaters to the outlet of the Colorado River.” … ” Read more from Utah State University.
Another Lake Powell pipeline proposal — but for Arizona tribes
“There’s another proposal on the table to build a pipeline from Lake Powell, but the water wouldn’t go to St. George. Arizona lawmakers this month introduced legislation that would fund a pipeline to bring water from Lake Powell to three tribes with Colorado River rights. The $5 billion deal — negotiated by the tribes, the federal government and the state of Arizona in May — includes $1.75 billion for the pipeline, and now needs approval from Congress. The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 2024 is crucial to the many tribal communities in northeastern Arizona that lack access to drinking water, said Rep. Juan Ciscomani, an Arizona Republican who sponsored the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. … ” Read more from KSL.
Show us the data: Northern Water questions deal to purchase one of Colorado’s oldest water rights
“Big Front Range water players are questioning a $99 million deal to purchase a historic Colorado River water right on the Western Slope, according to letters obtained through a public records request by The Colorado Sun. The Colorado River Water Conservation District, which is based in Glenwood Springs and safeguards water resources in western Colorado, is working with a collection of more than 20 partners to raise money to buy Shoshone Power Plant’s water rights from Xcel Energy. The rights are some of the oldest on the mainstem Colorado River in Colorado, and have supported communities and boosted the river’s flows for over a century. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District says it’s not necessary to spend millions in taxpayer dollars on the deal, nor is it necessary for the River District to play such a central role. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
