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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. View hearing on the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel.
- CONGRESSIONAL HEARING: Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California | Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee beginning at 10:30am. The Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold an oversight field hearing titled “Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California.” The hearing will examine California’s water supply, including the challenges faced through federal regulations, and connection to our nation’s food security. Click here to view livestream.
In California water news today …
New California water measures aim to increase fines for violators, protect wetlands
“Under California law, anyone caught diverting water in violation of a state order has long been subject to only minimal fines. State legislators have now decided to crack down on violators under a newly approved bill that sharply increases penalties. Assembly Bill 460 was passed by the Legislature last week and is among the water-related measures awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. Other bills that were approved aim to protect the state’s wetlands and add new safeguards for the water supplies of rural communities. … One of the other water-related measures passed by the Legislature included a bill intended to protect California’s wetlands after the rollback of federal protections under a Supreme Court decision last year. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Valadao, Calif. Republicans push Reclamation to reconsider proposal for long-term water operations
“California Congressional representatives are pushing back against a new proposal from the Bureau of Reclamation’s plan for the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The California Republican Delegation, led by Rep. David Valadao (R–Hanford) sent a letter to Reclamation saying its plan prioritizes environmental goals at the expense of municipal and agricultural water needs. … The delegation – which also included Central Valley Republicans John Duarte, Tom McClintock and Vince Fong – said the current approach to Endangered Species Act consultation under the draft EIR prioritizes environmental goals that are unrelated to Endangered Species Act compliance. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
More than half of California is now ‘abnormally dry,’ drought experts say
“More than half of California is experiencing abnormally dry conditions or worse, according to a new report, as months without precipitation as well as evaporation caused by summer heat waves take their toll. That includes parts of the Central Valley, which are back in abnormally dry conditions for the first time since April 2023, according to the National Weather Service’s Hanford branch. “With minimal precipitation over the past few months, abnormally dry conditions are beginning to return to Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties,” the weather service posted on X. Within the Bay Area, Sonoma is the only county experiencing abnormally dry conditions. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California braces for weekend of heightened fire weather amid storms, intense heat
“The intense heat wave scorching Southern California and a subtle shift in Northern California’s weather pattern will converge with the same outcome: dangerous fire weather. Over the next few days, the state will face heightened fire risks for entirely different reasons. In Southern California, a red flag warning is in effect through Saturday evening for the hills of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and other parts of Los Angeles County. … Parts of Northern California are facing a serious fire weather threat of their own on Friday and Saturday as a storm system moves in from the Pacific Ocean. This storm will push inland across the northern part of the state, creating conditions favorable for isolated thunderstorms and dry lightning ignitions. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE: Groundwater Use Can Be Accurately Monitored With Satellites Using OpenET, New Study Finds
“Drought is a widespread concern in the Western U.S., and water managers across the region are developing groundwater management plans to conserve the essential resource. Groundwater is often pumped to the surface to irrigate crops, and meters that measure the flow of pumped water have historically offered the best information on groundwater use. These meters are rare, however, so DRI scientists set out to determine whether OpenET, a platform that measures evapotranspiration using satellite data, could help fill this information gap. The new study, published August 8th in a special issue of Agricultural Water Management, compared groundwater meter data with OpenET estimates for agricultural fields in Nevada and Oregon. The results demonstrate that OpenET can be used to accurately estimate the amount of groundwater used for crop irrigation at the level of individual fields. … ” Read more from the Desert Research Institute.
Climate change is poised to exacerbate agriculture’s environmental impacts, research shows
“Today, the journal Science has published what is believed to be the most comprehensive scientific review ever undertaken into how climate change is likely to exacerbate the environmental impacts that agriculture already makes. The study catalogues the extent to which the long-term health of people and nature depends on the resilience and sustainability of food production systems in light of ongoing climate change. “The paper highlights where agriculture’s negative environmental impacts could be further magnified as the climate crisis deepens, exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient pollution, and habitat and soil loss,” said lead author Yi Yang, professor at Chongquing University, which worked alongside numerous international institutions, including The Nature Conservancy, on this research. … ” Read more from Ag Daily.
NOAA FISHERIES: The Elwha River restoration: A case study in adaptive management for salmon recovery
“The removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams on the Elwha River, Washington, presented a unique opportunity to study the ecological response of a river ecosystem to large-scale disturbance and subsequent restoration. Central to this effort was the development and implementation of an Adaptive Management (AM) framework aimed at guiding the recovery of Chinook salmon and steelhead trout populations. The Elwha River, once renowned for its robust salmon runs, experienced significant ecological degradation following the construction of the two dams in the early 20th century. These structures impeded fish migration, altered hydrological regimes, and trapped sediment, leading to a precipitous decline in salmon populations. Decades of advocacy culminated in the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act of 1992, enabling dam removal, which occurred in phases from 2011 to 2014. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
A new study uncovers another devastating effect of California’s wildfires
“As wildfires sweep across California at greater frequency every year, a new study has uncovered another devastating effect of the annual disasters. Erosion in the state after a wildfire has increased dramatically in the past 37 years, according to recent U.S. Geological Survey research. The groundbreaking study analyzed soil and sediment erosion in the year following a big wildfire, for the years between 1984 and 2021. The concerning acceleration continues unabated as climate change leads to a growth in both yearly wildfires and record wet years. “We anticipated that we would also see some increase [in erosion], but we were surprised at the degree to which that increase has occurred,” said Helen Dow, a research geologist with the USGS. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
As California swelters, climate officials declare Summer 2024 the hottest on record
“As Southern California swelters under its most punishing heat wave of the year, international climate officials have confirmed that summer 2024 was Earth’s hottest on record. The global average temperature in June, July and August — known as the boreal summer in the Northern hemisphere — was a record-breaking 62.24 degrees, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. The season was marked by explosive wildfires, sizzling heat waves and heat-related deaths in California and many other parts of the world. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath River runs free as historic dam removals complete, restoration begins
“The dams have been removed and the Klamath River is running unimpeded from its origins into the Pacific Ocean. Work has already started on restoring the land that was once underwater. The goal is to restore historic salmon runs in the Klamath River, part of the work is to restore the land that has been underwater for a century. Dave Meurer is from Resource Environmental Solutions, hired for the restoration. “The reservoirs were all drained in January,” said Meurer. “We have the entire area planted, it was blooming in March and April, and it’s looking great. Some people who drove up there were trying to find out where the reservoir used to be because all they saw was a river heading through poppies.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
An ongoing commitment to restoring the Upper Klamath
Chrysten Rivard, Trout Unlimited, writes, “Salmon, steelhead and lamprey have been absent from the Upper Klamath Basin for more than 100 years. As we ready ourselves for their return to the cold, spring-fed tributaries and headwater streams above the four dams removed this past year, I cannot help but reflect on the journey that brought us to this incredible moment—and on the hard work that is still to come. The reconnection of the Klamath Basin, the largest river restoration project in history, is happening thanks to the tireless advocacy of the Klamath Basin’s tribes, the leadership of at least six governors of Oregon and California, federal administrations led by both Democrats and Republicans, and the anglers, conservationists and countless individuals who understood that without healthy rivers and fisheries, the people of the Klamath Basin cannot thrive. … ” Read more from Trout Unlimited.
Redwood Valley Water Board blasts PG&E for drastic flow cuts to Lake Mendocino
“At the August 15, 2024 meeting of the Redwood Valley Redwood Valley County Water District Board, General Manager Jared Walker reported a sharp drop in water flows into Lake Mendocino after PG&E received permission from FERC to reduce the flow to 5 cubic feet per second. The City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Water Authority have protested this drastic cut, arguing it creates an artificial drought and harms the Russian River. The Board also reviewed recent water use, consolidation with Ukiah, and upcoming audits at their latest meeting. General Manager Jared Walker reported on the reduced flows into Lake Mendocino. PG&E was granted a variance by FERC to reduce flows through the Potter Valley Project into Lake Mendocino to 25 cubic feet per second, with the option to go as low as 5 cfs. A week after the variance was granted, PG&E dropped the flows to 5 cfs. … ” Read more from MendoFever.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
California lawmakers call on Biden to create Sáttítla National Monument in NorCal
“Some state lawmakers want President Biden to create a national monument in the Northstate. California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, along with California Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, have asked President Biden to create the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California. Schiff’s office said this would protect more than 206,000 acres of public land within the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath and Modoc National Forests, calling the land culturally significant, ecologically rich and geologically unique. Brandy McDaniels, who is thePit River Nation Tribal Council Sáttítla National Monument working group lead, told us there are cultural and environmental reasons their tribe wants the land to become a national monument. … ” Read more from KRCR.
$2M grant awarded for Feather River restoration project
“The Sutter County Resource Conservation District was recently awarded over $2 million in grant funding for the design of a habitat restoration project along the Feather River. In order to restore side channel habitats for juvenile salmonids, this planning project will facilitate designs, environmental permits, revegetation and invasive plant removal within a 1.5 mile stretch of the Feather River in Sutter County. Mike Johnson, president of the Sutter County Resource Conservation District, said that upon completion, this project will help improve 231 acres of floodplain and riparian habitat. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
BAY AREA
Residents concerned over planned wetlands restoration project
“A wetlands restoration project in the Delta has provoked the ire amongst residents about its potential intrusion in the existing community and ecosystem. The Knightsen Wetlands Restoration Project, approved to begin construction next year, has raised concerns from residents close to the planned project that include what they say are no local public benefit, no flood control enhancement, and no public access. Residents have also expressed concerns about a lack of an environmental impact review, which residents say could identify potential public safety and health issues. … ” Read more from the Brentwood Press.
CENTRAL COAST
Measure U would reduce San Lorenzo Valley Water bills, but could slow repairs
“Voters in San Lorenzo Valley Water District in November will decide whether to reverse a recent water bill hike and cap some future charges. Supporters of the voter-initiated Measure U said it would save ratepayers money. Opponents — including multiple district board members — said its passage would halt or greatly limit badly needed water system repairs. The district includes Ben Lomond, Zayante and parts of Boulder Creek, Scotts Valley and Felton. … ” Read more from Santa Cruz Local.
Dam it up: North County cities are using man-made and natural beaver dams to control erosion and fire in the Salinas Riverbed
“There’s a clear distinction between the dry land and lush riverbed along the Upper Salinas River in Atascadero. Tracks along the shoreline in late August reveal that a branch was recently dragged into the stream. A pile of fresh wood shavings and deep divots on the riverbed floor lead up to an architectured dam—the beavers were busy the previous night. According to SLO Beaver Brigade Founder Audrey Taub, the family of beavers that reside in this area is one of four in Atascadero. They maintain two dams that span the width of the riverbed holding up to 3 feet of water that slowly flows for about a mile, to which Taub named them “ecosystem engineers.” … ” Read more from New Times SLO.
Proposed Calif. motel in jeopardy as town’s water supply dwindles
“A small coastal town on the Central Coast seems like the perfect place to build a new motel — ideal for travelers looking for a seaside rest stop off Highway 1 or to spend a weekend getaway in a Monterey pine forest. The only problem? This seaside town is hindered by water woes, and the problem is starting to impact hospitality. A proposal to build a new downtown motel has pitted a California county against coastal regulators over the waning resource. Cambria has been running out of water for nearly four decades, with no permanent solution in sight. This lack of water has stagnated the town’s growth; in 2000, San Luis Obispo County reduced Cambria’s growth rate to 1%. The current growth rate is zero. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
CV-SALTS UPDATE: Priority 2 basins and P&O study move forward
“The Salt and Nitrate Control Programs continue to progress as they work to improve water quality in the Central Valley and support local communities. Within the Nitrate Control Program, Priority 1 Management Zones (MZs) continue to expand their outreach efforts to promote free well testing and bottled water delivery services, while working collaboratively to develop long-term solutions to nitrate contamination problems. Priority 2 MZs are organizing and preparing their Preliminary Management Zone Proposal with local permittees and beginning to work closely with the public. After completing its report describing current salt conditions in the Central Valley, the Salt Control Program has begun working on an initial case study (Archetype). … ” Continue reading this update.
Cal Water infrastructure upgrades underway to improve reliability, protection in Visalia
“California Water Service (Cal Water) is working on major infrastructure upgrades, with more planned in coming months and years, to the water system that provides safe, clean, reliable drinking water to about 145,000 people in Visalia. The utility hosted media at a few of its project sites today to provide a more in-depth view. Currently, construction of a fifth water storage tank and booster station, along with installation of 3,350 feet of new 12-inch and 16-inch water main to support the project, are underway just east of downtown Visalia. In coming weeks, Visalia customers will experience the benefits of the 975,000-gallon water tank and booster station, which is a major expansion of the system’s capacity to provide water amid the peak demands of summer. … ” Read more from Valley Voice.
Kern County subbasin considered for SGMA probation
“The California State Water Resources Control Board is considering placing the Kern County Subbasin on probation because of concerns about its groundwater sustainability plans. A public hearing about this decision is scheduled for February 20, 2025. If the subbasin is put on probation, those using groundwater will need to report their usage and might face fees until the local agencies can properly manage the water. The State Water Board has criticized the Kern County Subbasin for its updated groundwater plan not addressing all concerns, especially those from earlier plans. The revised 2024 plan, submitted in May 2024, aims to improve groundwater management but still faces scrutiny. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
EASTERN SIERRA
Technical working group gives new findings on Indian Wells Valley basin safe yield
“A new report from the Technical Working Group (TWG) reveals that the Indian Wells Valley (IWV) Basin has an annual safe yield which is much more than previously reported by the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA). The TWG, comprised of independent groundwater experts engaged by the Indian Wells Valley Water District (IWVWD) and Searles Valley Minerals (SVM), among others, has found that 14,300 acre-feet of water each year can safely be pumped from the Basin. This is nearly double the 7,650 acre-feet per year estimated by the IWVGA. This discrepancy is a crucial difference in understanding the Basin’s safe pumping capacity. This report is being released by the IWVWD and SVM for review by all the parties and serves as a demonstration of transparency. … ” Continue reading this press release.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
What explains this week’s Southern California scorcher? In part, a phenomenon called ‘seasonal lag’
“A late-summer heat wave is scorching Los Angeles and the broader West Coast this week. Downtown Los Angeles is flirting with triple-digit temperatures, maybe even for consecutive days. Hotspot towns such as Claremont and Woodland Hills hit 100 and 106, respectively, on Wednesday, with even higher numbers forecast for Thursday. The last time it was this hot for this long, people were still disinfecting their groceries in year one of the pandemic. As AccuWeather meteorologists reported, a strong area of high pressure set up over California midweek and will linger into the weekend. The center of that high will park right over Southern California, sending temperatures soaring to levels not seen since September 2020. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Wilks pens letter, asks Newsom to visit Chiquita
“State Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, issued a call for more attention to the problems at Chiquita Canyon Landfill and asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to visit the landfill following two years of problems for local residents, according to a copy of the senator’s letter dated Thursday. Wilk authored a letter to Newsom calling on the governor to visit the north Los Angeles County landfill and see how “an underground fire continues to impact the environment, health, safety and well-being of residents,” adding he felt nauseous during his most recent visit. The landfill has been plaguing residents in Castaic, Val Verde and a growing area surrounding the facility, as public officials’ reactions have ranged from Rep. Mike Garcia’s call for the landfill to be shut down immediately while the problems are figured out to that of Los Angeles County, which has repeatedly said closing the landfill could cause legal problems and won’t address the issues. … ” Read more from The Signal.
Thanks to cleanup of groundwater, San Fernando celebrates its ‘water independence’
“The City of San Fernando celebrated a water milestone on Thursday, Sept. 5. State Sen. Caroline Menjivar and Metropolitan Water District Board Chair Adan Ortega joined San Fernando’s mayor and City Council members to “turn off the valve” and mark the city’s “return to water independence.” Thanks to its system of groundwater wells and treatment systems, the city is able to again rely on its own water and was able to shut off outside water resources from MWD. Menjivar, Ortega, Mayor Celeste Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Mary Mendoza, City Council members Mary Solorio and Victoria Garcia, as well as San Fernando MWD Chair Adán Ortega all helped the city celebrate its “independence” at San Fernando’s water booster station. … ” Read more from the LA Daily News.
San Bernardino Valley enhances resiliency with hydroelectric facilities
“The San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (San Bernardino Valley), a prominent regional water resource management agency and sustainability figure in the Santa Ana River watershed, has recently entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) to acquire 7 hydroelectric plants from SCE. The Asset Purchase Agreement is the first of many steps needing to take place before the official transfer can be completed, including the transfer of certain licenses issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from SCE to San Bernardino Valley, and the approval of the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This move marks a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to enhancing effective water management practices and regional sustainability. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District.
Tritium detected in water at San Onofre, but Edison says it poses ‘no risk’
“Elevated levels of tritium — a radioactive form of hydrogen — have been found at the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, but pose no risk to public health or safety, officials from Southern California Edison said on Thursday, Sept. 5. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a “maximum contaminant level” of 20,000 picocuries per liter for tritium in drinking water. Routine monitoring at San Onofre found a low concentration of 3,430 picocuries per liter in one well, and a higher concentration of 19,100 picocuries per liter in an adjacent well. Neither, however, is a drinking water well, officials said. … ” Read more from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Indio hits 121 degrees, hottest Sept. 5 ever; Palm Springs just misses record
“Indio set the kind of record hardly anyone wants to get at this time of year Thursday when it topped out at sweltering 121 degrees, making it the hottest Sept. 5 on record. The previous record high for the day of 120 came in 2020. Palm Springs also hit 121, one degree short of tying its own daily temperature record set in 2020. That temperature was also just three degrees shy of the city’s all-time high, which was memorably set exactly two months ago on July 5. Thermal, the site of the valley’s other main weather station, missed its own Sept. 5 record by three degrees. … ” Read more from Yahoo News.
SAN DIEGO
California leaders push for EPA management of border sewage crisis amid public health concerns
“Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was joined by local elected leaders on Thursday to announce a bill intended to consolidate all infrastructure project efforts in the Tijuana and New river watersheds under the Environmental Protection Agency. The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2024 is sponsored by both Padilla, chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, and Sen. Laphonza Butler, D- California. Reps. Scott Peters and Juan Vargas, both D-San Diego, joined Padilla at the border today to announce the bill. “It should be an outrage to all of us that in 2024, raw sewage and toxic waste is shutting down public beaches, polluting the air, and threatening the health of our families and readiness of our military and border personnel,” Padilla said. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Elected leaders propose consolidating bill to assist border sewage crisis
“Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was joined by local elected leaders Thursday to announce a bill intended to consolidate all infrastructure project efforts in the Tijuana and New river watersheds under the Environmental Protection Agency. The Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2024 is sponsored by both Padilla, chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, and Sen. Laphonza Butler, D- California. Reps. Scott Peters and Juan Vargas, both D-San Diego, joined Padilla at the border Thursday to announce the bill. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
3 facts of Central Arizona Project efficiency: seepage and evaporation
“Maybe it was one of the first wonders of science you learned. Water continuously moves through our environment through processes of evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, runoff, infiltration and accumulation. Feeling nostalgic? We know the first step in this hydrologic cycle as evaporation. CAP reliably delivers Colorado River water to central and southern Arizona, and in the process, some water is “lost” to seepage and evaporation. Just how much? Perhaps less than you might think. … ” Read more from the CAP.
Commentary: Maybe dreaded limits on water use can be (gasp!) good for Arizona
Joanna Allhands writes, “It’s widely believed that Active Management Areas (AMAs) are too stringent to work in rural Arizona. The rules are too prescriptive, the argument goes, to work in basins where there is only groundwater and farming is the predominant water use. There is wide fear that if these areas become AMAs, the state will try to squeeze the square peg of regulation from urban areas into the round hole of rural ones, and it will devolve into an unworkable mess. I’ve echoed this argument. But now I’m rethinking it. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
A NY company bought 13,000 acres in La Paz County. This official is worried about the water under it
“A New York-based investment company earlier this summer bought nearly 13,000 acres of land in La Paz County, and some critics worry the $100 million deal will mean less water for residents of the western Arizona county. Water Asset Management describes itself on its website as a “global investor in companies and assets that ensure water quality and supply.” It’s also bought land in other Western states. As the Arizona Daily Star reported, the land in La Paz County is in a basin that by law is approved for groundwater transfers — that means the water could end up in more urban parts of the state. Some residents of La Paz County are already concerned about other firms using local groundwater to grow crops shipped to other countries. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Water levels in Utah reservoirs are dropping, but where is the water going?
“Utahns visiting any of the state’s reservoirs over recent weeks to recreate or beat the heat may have noticed the water levels have been dropping. After a steady increase since October of last year to 90% capacity in July, all of the state’s reservoirs – excluding Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge – have drastically fallen to just 78% capacity as of Sept. 5. The Echo Reservoir alone, located just north of Park City, has dropped nearly 40% from its peak in the same timeframe. While the sudden drop in water levels may be alarming, Michael Sanchez with the Utah Division of Water Resources said this drop is normal, especially this time of year. … ” Read more from Channel 4.
Drip irrigation yields promising water conservation results in Utah
“In Utah, farming and ranching soak up 61.5% of the available water. Much of that water comes from the Colorado River basin, which some predict will fall far short of meeting growing demand for water within the next few years. Regulators are pushing for dramatically lower water usage, a measure putting the region’s farms at risk. To provide relief to farmers, Netafim, an Agritech leader based in Tel Aviv that has pioneered the application of precision irrigation, including drip irrigation, has launched a local resource hub to connect growers to the financing and information they need to thrive despite possible water restrictions. … ” Read more from Tech Buzz.
Robots are relining key Glen Canyon Dam tubes
“Sixty years after workers hand painted the lining of four tubes at Glen Canyon Dam, the Bureau of Reclamation is using federal funds for a needed refresh. This time, it’s with the help of robots. The dam on the Colorado River in northern Arizona impounds Lake Powell, the country’s second-biggest reservoir. It’s upstream of Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which provides Southern Nevada with 90 percent of its drinking water. Lake Powell is an important water source for Colorado River states, and Glen Canyon Dam produces enough electricity to power nearly half a million U.S. households, according to the Grand Canyon Trust. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
In national water news today …
Water system upgrades could require more than $1 trillion over next 20 years
“Water quality projects needed to meet goals of the Clean Water Act will cost an estimated $630.1 billion nationwide over the next 20 years, according to the most recent Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency. The survey was completed in 2022 and published in a report to Congress in April. The analysis comes on the heels of a second study, the most recent Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment. That analysis, finalized last September, found that water utilities nationwide will need to spend $625 billion over the next 20 years to fix, maintain, and improve the country’s water infrastructure. The two surveys together—one focused on wastewater and stormwater and the other on drinking water systems—indicate a total infrastructure funding deficit greater than $1.2 trillion over the next two decades. … ” Read more from the Pew Charitable Trust.
Here’s what the hottest summer on Earth looked like
“As floodwaters coursed through Texas and Taiwan, as mosquito-borne viruses spread across the Americas, as lethal heat struck down children on hikes and grandparents on pilgrimage, the world’s average temperature this summer soared to the highest level in record history, according to new data from Europe’s top climate agency. Global temperatures between June and August were 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the preindustrial average, the Copernicus Climate Change Service said Friday — just edging out the previous record set last summer. The sweltering season reached its apex in late July, when Copernicus’s sophisticated temperature analysis program detected the four hottest days ever recorded. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO: Sweltering 2024: Earth breaks record for hottest summer ever, from the Courthouse News Service
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
YOUR INPUT WANTED: Delta Stewardship Council’s Draft Tribal and Environmental Justice Issue Paper
