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In California water news this weekend …
House Natural Resources Committee holds hearing titled “Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California”
“[Friday], members of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee held a hearing titled “Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California.” The committee members heard from California experts on the impacts of compliance with the Endangered Species Act and associated regulatory efforts on local communities, business, and America’s food supply. “Today’s testimony shows how broken our water supply system has become. The U.S. had an agricultural trade deficit in 2019 where, for the first time in 50 years we imported more food than we exported.” said Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition. “That trend has continued in three of the last five years. When California farms don’t have water to grow our food, we’re depending on other countries to do it. That’s not good for food security or having safe, affordable food choices for the American people.” … ” Read more from the California Farm Water Coalition.
SEE ALSO:
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- Video: House Natural Resources Subcommittee field hearing on California water supply, from CNBC
- Local congressman and valley voices discuss water issues, from Your Central Valley
Maddy Institute & California Water Institute FSU, Water Conference
Don Wright at Water Wrights writes, “The Maddy Institute and the California Water Institute at Fresno State University teamed up to host an event titled, “Exploring the Coexistence of Water Users in California” on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. The event ran from 8:30am to 3:00pm and included lunch provided by Wawona Frozen Foods. Panels included Moving and Storing Water, Demystifying Water Data, Ten Years of SGMA and Building Alliances Among Interest Groups for Holistic Solutions. The panels and speakers were All great stuff. But for many, me included, the biggest draw besides closing remarks by California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross, was the keynote address given by Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources. Lest we forget, there is a full court press by the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California to get the Fall X2 Line regulations changed or even removed. … ” Continue reading at Water Wrights.
Valadao, Republicans send letter opposing water guidelines
“Ten California Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have stated their concern about the Bureau of Reclamation rushing a policy for long-term water delivery and environmental standards by the end of the year for political reasons. Led by Congressman David Valadao, who represents District 22, which includes Porterville, the 10 California Republicans issued a letter stating their concerns over Reclamation’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for the long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, the two delivery systems that provide water for the state. … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
The future of California’s iconic fog is in limbo. Here’s what scientists say
“San Franciscans are intimately familiar with summertime fog, which keeps the city cool while temperatures elsewhere soar. But California’s coastal fog has declined over recent decades, according to some studies, putting the future of the iconic weather phenomenon in limbo. Scientists are still disentangling how climate change will transform fog patterns, but experts say a future with reduced fog would have dire consequences for people, ecosystems and even agriculture. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California sides with EPA over San Francisco in Supreme Court fight
“Environmental groups and California water regulators have told the U.S. Supreme Court that San Francisco’s challenge to rules on offshore pollution, which the court will hear next month, contradicts decades of clean-water rules and could harm the waters and those who use them. The court agreed in May to hear the city’s appeal of a ruling that said it was failing to protect swimmers and bathers from discharges of sewage into the Pacific Ocean. The ruling, due by next June, will determine whether local governments can be penalized for allowing pollution near their shores, or whether — as San Francisco and its allies contend — the law requires them only to limit contaminants to levels set in advance, like specific discharges per million parts of water. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
State budget cuts having “profound” impact on water agencies from state to local levels
“The impacts from California’s financial problems are starting to be revealed as some water agencies are implementing serious cutbacks. During its August board meeting, staff at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board announced they are trimming the operations budget by 5% because of state budget cuts. Meanwhile, San Joaquin Valley groundwater managers are wary, expecting far less grant funding for projects. California is in the throes of a $68 billion budget deficit largely because of declining revenue from 2022-2023. While the state will pull from reserves for spending, that is not a sustainable solution and spending cuts are necessary. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Senate bill requiring microplastics study awaits Newsom’s approval
“Senate Bill 1147, authored by state Sen. Anthony Portantino of Burbank, passed the Senate floor and is now headed to the governor for signature. The bill requires the study of the health impacts of microplastics in drinking water. “With increased reports and interest on the health risks of microplastics, it is past time we formally study its impacts,” Portantino said. “SB 1147 calls for the identification of a level of microplastics in drinking water that do or don’t pose risks to our health and then initiates a strategy to make drinking water safer for consumption. The bill applies to both tap and bottled water, which will ensure that all drinking water is treated consistently to maximize public health.” … ” Read more from the Glendale News Press.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Valley journalist Lloyd Carter spoke truth about water and power
“Veteran Central Valley journalist Lloyd Carter has passed away. Born and raised in Fresno, he covered the Valley for United Press International (UPI) and the Fresno Bee. Carter’s life was dedicated to finding equity and fairness in how the state’s water is allocated. He followed up a stellar career in the newspaper business with a law degree, working many years for the state Attorney General. Using his legal skill, Carter stayed active in the complex world of water as an advocate, delivering a clarion call about the future of this blessed and cursed landscape. San Joaquin Valley born and bred, Carter came out of southeast Fresno, attended neighborhood schools and Roosevelt High, where he credits journalism teacher Margaret Kempfer for inspiring his interest in writing. He started newspaper work at Fresno City College, then at Fresno State and while a student joined UPI. … ” Read more from the Fresno Community Alliance.
Podcasts …
WATER RESOURCES: Update on Groundwater Sustainability and Land Subsidence in California’s Central Valley
Claudia Faunt describes the new Central Valley Hydrologic Model (CVHM) highlighting the system response to droughts and floods and groundwater pumping and land subsidence from 1962 to 2019.
NOT BUILT FOR THIS: The little levee that could
Most of the stories in this series have been about places that are ill-prepared for the extreme weather that is coming their way. But this story is about a place that managed to get the kind of infrastructure that will actually help it survive climate change. How after more than two decades of tireless work, the residents of Hamilton City, California finally got the levee they deserved.
WE GROW CALIFORNIA: Collaboration was the best lesson I learned
This week Dan Nelson retired Executive Director of the San Luis-Delta Mendota Water Authority (Authority) joins Darcy and Darcy. Dan shares the history of the Authority’s predecessor organization, the events that led to the Authority’s creation, key operation and water management milestones, and the best lesson he learned. The coolest part of the interview from Darcy B’s perspective was that Dan worked with Darcy V.’s grandfather, the water legend himself, C.W. “Bill” Jones Sr. who is known for bringing water deliveries to agriculture and for whom the Jones Pumping Plant is named. Dan shares what Bill Sr. was like, what type of leader he was, and key insights that Darcy V. surely will take to heart. Curious as to what the key takeaway from today’s episode might be? Dan Nelson is a leader whose experience and lessons are just as applicable today, as they were when the Authority started. And that leadership transcends water and agriculture. Take a moment and listen in.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Decisions at the Top
Have conditions and approaches really changed that much? Balancing our ability to handle seasonal flooding and, at the same time, trying to optimize the water supply has always been a challenge in California. The US Bureau of Land Reclamation must meet this challenge every year. First priority is safety and public health and after that focus becomes the water supply. How is rain and snow that falls unpredictably in California each year get assigned to the many water users that depend on this resource? I’m going to give you a peek into the past (2009) and ask you if water decisions are getting any easier this year. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
KCRW: Private companies are profiting from water sales in Arizona, where H2O is worth more than oil
In the tiny town of Cibola, Arizona, water is more valuable than oil. Nearly a decade ago, a private firm bought almost 500 acres of agricultural land in the area. Recently, the company sold the water rights tied to the land to Queen Creek, a Phoenix suburb more than 200 miles east of Cibola, making a tidy $14 million in gross profits. Greenstone Resource Partners isn’t the only company doing this. Experts think the practice will become more common in drought-stricken regions across the West, especially as climate change and chronic overuse continue to sap the Colorado River watershed. Reporter Maanvi Singh has been covering the issue for The Guardian.
WATER LOOP: Meet leaders emerging in WaterNow
Developing and recognizing emerging leaders in the water sector is crucial for addressing current and future challenges. The WaterNow Alliance’s Emerging Leaders program plays a vital role in this effort by identifying and supporting professionals who are driving positive change in their communities. This episode presents brief interviews with the seven individuals recognized this year, along with Caroline Koch of the WaterNow Alliance, discussing their impactful work in areas like lead line replacement, green stormwater infrastructure, and fostering diversity and equity within utilities.
WATER VALUES: Why stormwater deserves more attention with ADS’s Brian King
Brian King, the Executive Vice President of Marketing, Product Management and Sustainability for Advanced Drainage Systems provides a tour de force interview explaining stormwater in a way you’ve probably never heard before. Plus, Reese Tisdale returns for a Bluefield on Tap segment discussing how the outcome of the 2024 presidential election might impact the water sector.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Push to protect Sáttítla, Medicine Lake lands, gets huge backing from California lawmakers
“California’s U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff are asking President Biden to protect the Medicine Lake Highlands in eastern Siskiyou County that are known to the Pit River Nation as Sáttítla. The introduction of the proposed Sáttítla National Monument Establishment Act follows a strong push from the North State’s Pit River Tribe and conservation groups, such as Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers of California to draw attention to and federally protect the lands and waters of the region. The area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. It spans 206,000 acres of volcanic mountains east of Mt. Shasta and is considered a one-of-a-kind geological formation in North America. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
Abandoned Shasta County mine releasing ‘pure acid’ water now an EPA Superfund cleanup site
“An abandoned Shasta County mine that produces toxic pollution at about 1,200 times the allowable standard has been named a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup site. The Afterthought Mine, located about 25 miles east of Redding near Highway 299, was placed on the list Wednesday because of the metals and highly acidic water that flows from the mine and nearby Little Cow Creek, which is a tributary to the Sacramento River, according to the EPA. When mine workers dug into the hills near the mine, the minerals that were exposed to the air and water became an acid that has continued to flow from the tunnels for decades, said John Hillenbrand, an EPA project manager. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
Two men busted for illegal cannabis grow and water diversion outside Laytonville
“The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) raided a property near Spyrock Road outside Laytonville for illegal cannabis cultivation in August, resulting in the discovery of over 900 plants, 143 pounds of untrimmed bud and an unregistered handgun. According to MCSO, a complaint was filed by a community member about what was believed to be an illegal cannabis growing operation involving water diversion from a neighboring property located in the 1200 block of Deer Trail Drive. … ” Read more from The Mendocino Voice.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Why the state is reviewing groundwater management in parts of Kern County
“The Kern County water subbasin lies underneath much of the southern Central Valley and is a vital resource for farmers and residents. However, years of over-pumping from the subbasin have left its water levels in a concerning state. In 2014, lawmakers passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which mandates that water managers in all critically over-drafted areas, including the Kern County Subbasin, create plans to bring aquifers back to healthy levels by 2040. California’s State Water Resources Control Board oversees SGMA compliance and found the subbasin’s long-term management plans were insufficient. As a result, next year, the subbasin and its controlling agencies could face probation from the agency. … ” Read more froom KVPR.
Mass fish die off in the suddenly dry Kern River prompts state investigation
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking into the mass fish die off in the Kern River after the City of Bakersfield cut flows on Tuesday in order to do weir maintenance. “CDFW takes all instances of fish mortality seriously and is investigating what has occurred on the Kern and how it may relate to the authorizations that the City has from CDFW for work on the Kern,” wrote Julie Vance, regional manager of the agency’s central region, in an email. She provided SJV Water with a copy of a permit obtained by Bakersfield in February this year to replace the weir at Coffee Road and noted “…we are unclear at this time if the river drying is related to this project or some other work.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: ‘We were just so surprised’: Calif. city unexpectedly closes part of crucial river, from SF Gate
EASTERN SIERRA
EPA awards Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority $2.79M for imported water project
“The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) today announced an award of $2,790,000 to the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority for its interconnection pipeline project. These funds will be used to finalize planning activities, including engineering, design, and rights-of-way purchase. The USEPA funding was provided as part of its new resiliency and sustainability program to support drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities. The Indian Wells Valley has joined only two other California recipients awarded funding. “Across the country, climate stress is often felt as water stress that can burden a community’s drinking water infrastructure,” said Acting Assistant Administrator [USEPA] Bruno Pigott. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Cal City gets outside help on water leaks
“The City Council agreed to bring in an outside contractor to aid city public works staff in repairing water line leaks in two locations by allowing them to shut off the water flow. Public Works Director Joe Barragan requested the special meeting on Wednesday to approve the contract with Montbello-based Koppi Pipeline Services, Inc. Public works department staff have been attempting for weeks to repair water line leaks at Redwood Boulevard and 92nd Street and at Muir Avenue and 84th Street, Barragan said. They have been unable to complete the repairs because the valves controlling water flow in those areas no longer function properly and can not be closed to stop the water flow. … ” Read more from the Antelope Valley Press.
Malibu: Geology study preps dam removal
“State park and wildlife officials announced that helicopters will soon be seen in the skies above Malibu Creek State Park transporting heavy equipment as part of a major geotechnical study in preparation for the removal of the creek’s obsolete Rindge Dam. A team from the Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project will conduct studies around Sept. 11 and Oct. 7 during the pre-construction, engineering and design phase for knocking down the 100-foot-tall concrete arch dam. … ” Read more from The Acorn.
Banning water plan moves forward
“The Banning City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2024-140, an initial study/mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) for the proposed construction of a new non-potable water storage reservoir and booster pump station at its Aug. 27 meeting. The approved resolution makes way for potential approval to begin construction on the project. Emery Papp, senior planner, presented the study to the council. “The project is part of the city’s expansion of the non-potable water delivery system,” Papp said. The reservoir and booster pump station will be located on a 7.61-acre lot on the south side of West Lincoln Street and east of 22nd Street. … ” Read more from the Record Gazette.
Havasu Lake residents boiling over water quality as EPA assumes oversight
“From his front porch, Havasu Lake resident Gary Chamberlain can see the shimmering Colorado River. He also can see the storage tanks of the Havasu Water Co., which is supposed to supply his community with clean and safe drinking water. Although the privately owned, 64-year-old water company draws its water from Lake Havasu — itself a large reservoir formed by Parker Dam — its ability to provide potable water to its 361 customers in their sundrenched community has been a challenge for more than two years. Since May 2022, the company has been slapped with multiple citations and violation notices from state and federal water regulators for operational deficiencies, faulty equipment and failing to provide potable water to its customers. The company has repeatedly issued water boil notices to its customers due to high levels of trihalomethanes — byproducts formed during the water treatment process — that exceed minimum federal safety drinking water standards. … ” Read more from the San Bernardino Sun.
SAN DIEGO
Researchers studying sewage crisis pull out of South County amid reported high levels of sewer gas
“Researchers studying the health and environmental impacts of the cross-border sewage crisis said Friday they are temporarily pulling their teams collecting air and water samples in southern San Diego County communities because of “concerningly high” levels of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas. According to emails between researchers from UC San Diego and San Diego State University, the decision came late Friday morning from Kim Prather, director of the Center for Aerosol Impacts on Chemistry of the Environment at UC San Diego and principal investigator on a 2023 study about sewage in waters off Imperial Beach becoming airborne. “As you know, I feel strongly about solving this problem, but cannot in good conscience continue to put my own people at this level of risk,” she wrote to members of a task force studying the impacts of the sewage crisis. Moments later, Prather advised her team to stay in hotels outside South County. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Climate change raises challenge to secure vital resource
“Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” — Albert Szent-Györgyi “The statement by Szent-Györgyi, a 1937 Nobel Prize-winning medical expert whose research helped bring us the benefits vitamin C, accentuates one of the most critical requirements for health and prosperity: reliable sources of water. Today, continued technological advances are needed to ensure this goal can be achieved even while facing significant environmental challenges that pose a threat to the future of essential water resources. One major focus of such an endeavor is the Colorado River Basin, from which Arizona and six other states in the U.S. Southwest — California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — and a sizable swath of neighboring Mexico depend heavily for water supplies. A recent article in the Water Resources Research international hydrology science journal, “On the Sensitivity of Future Hydrology in the Colorado River to the Selection of the Precipitation Partitioning Method,” reports that expected smaller snowpack levels will reduce the basin’s streamflows to seriously problematic low levels. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Opinion: Conservatives must lead on common-sense water conservation in the West
Sam Brown, a Purple Heart recipient and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate from Nevada, and Chris Barnard, president of the American Conservation Coalition Action, write, “It’s hard not to fall in love with all the natural beauty the Western U.S. has to offer. As avid outdoorsmen and conservatives who call the West home, we recognize the inherent responsibility we have to protect these treasured places for generations to come. While the West faces many natural resource issues that grapple with our attention, one of the most crucial is that of water conservation. An unusually hot summer and looming Colorado River negotiations serve as a constant reminder of the scarce water resources in this region of the U.S. and underscore the importance of effective solutions to conserve our most precious natural resource. While above-average snowpacks in the Sierras and Rockies have offered some relief to dwindling water supplies and drought conditions, that doesn’t mean we will be as lucky next year. We must be proactive, rather than reactive. … ” Read more from Deseret News.
Arizona’s monsoon season likely to snuff out without any dramatic storms, weather officials say
“Waiting for the powerful monsoon season to cool down temperatures across the Valley? Don’t hold your breath. Weather officials said it’s unlikely for rain and storms to hit the metro Phoenix area any time soon. National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Worley said rain will be relatively inactive across a good portion of the metro Phoenix region. “There are a few areas over the next few days that could see some rainfall,” Worley told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday. “But those areas are primarily to the north of the Phoenix metro.” In fact, the Flagstaff office of NWS predicted a 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. … ” Read more from KTAR.
Hobbs willing to use administrative action over water
“Governor Katie Hobbs spent Thursday touring the Willcox area to get a first-hand look at water issues in rural, eastern Cochise County. Willcox officials, including the mayor and city manager, told Hobbs that large corporate farms use more water in a day than all of the residents of the town. They also said they have set up water fill stations for residents whose wells have run dry but can not afford to pay for deeper wells. Hobbs also stopped at a fissure cutting across open land. Water officials told the governor that fissures, which dot the county, are the result of falling aquifers and they cannot be repaired. … ” Read more from the Arizona Family.
In national water news this weekend …
Great Pacific Garbage Patch could be eliminated in 10 years, cleanup organization says
“After three years extracting plastic waste from the notorious Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an environmental nonprofit says it can finish the job within a decade, with a price tag of several billion dollars. Twice the size of Texas, the mass of about 79,000 metric tons of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii is growing at an exponential pace, according to researchers. At current levels, the cleanup would take a decade with a price tag of $7.5 billion, the Netherlands-based Ocean Cleanup said in a press release, announcing the group’s intention to eliminate the garbage patch entirely. However, computer models suggest a more aggressive approach could complete the job in just five years and cost $4 billion. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
