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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include the consideration of proposed Order setting aside Water Quality Certification for the Yuba River Development Project, water rights fees, water quality fees, ELAP fees, and drinking water fees. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- 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.
In California water news today …
State puts second San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin on probation, with two exceptions
“Farmers in southern Tulare County will face greater pumping scrutiny after the state placed the region on probation following a lengthyhearing in Sacramento on Tuesday. State Water Resources Control Board members acknowledged a new groundwater plan submitted by water managers in August had made great strides in many areas. But the big sticking point was subsidence, or land sinking. Calling the situation a “crisis,” State Water Resources Control Board members voted unanimously to put the Tule groundwater subbasin on probation based on a staff report that showed subsidence continues to plague the region, causing ongoing damage to the vital Friant-Kern Canal. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO:
- California water board puts Tule Subbasin on probation, from Courthouse News
- California cracks down on a second farm region for pumping too much groundwater, from the San Francisco Chronicle
California reservoir project faces setback with federal rejection
“The California State Water Board announced Monday that the Sites Reservoir project failed to secure federal approval. State officials believe it is just a setback that can be rectified. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rejected the current plan for the estimated $4 billion project in Northern California meant to help the state’s ongoing doubt by capturing water during the rainy season. The reservoir is designed to hold up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water, which would be enough for about 3 million homes. … ” Read more from KMPH.
SEE ALSO:
- Sites Project issues update on Permit Notification for Sites Reservoir, update from the Sites Project Authority
- Friends of the River responds to Sites Project Section 401 denial, statement from Friends of the River
- Sites Reservoir faces setback after denial from federal government, from the San Joaquin Valley Sun
Rare September snowfall dusts Sierra Nevada and Yosemite
“An unusually cold September air mass is sweeping through the Sierra Nevada, bringing scattered snow showers to the region. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory Wednesday for elevations above 9,000 feet in Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. The Hanford branch of the National Weather Service in San Joaquin Valley forecasts 2-5 inches of early-season snowfall at Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona and Cedar Grove on Thursday and snow to blanket the higher terrain of the Sierra Nevada beginning Wednesday. “Travel could be very difficult due to snow-covered roads,” the advisory said. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Photos: Rare September snow dusts June Lake in Eastern Sierra, from the California Sun
Yuba Water Agency to continue water transfer extension efforts
“Yuba Water Agency is moving forward in its efforts to extend a longstanding water transfer program under the Yuba River Accord, which is expected to generate millions in revenue for the organization through 2050 if granted state approval. The Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors held a public hearing for the water transfer program extension on Tuesday and unanimously approved a supplemental environmental impact report for the extension. Earlier this year, the Yuba Water Agency Board of Directors submitted a water-right change petition to the State Water Resources Control Board. First established in 2008 after decades of legal battles, the Yuba River Accord is a landmark multi-agency agreement that has guided water usage, purchases, and instream flow requirements since its inception. … ” Read more from the Appeal Democrat.
Jude’s order prevents enforcement actions in Tulare subbasin
“A Kings County judge ruled Friday that the California State Water Resources Control Board violated rulemaking laws and exceeded its authority by making unachievable demands of water managers in the Tulare Lake Subbasin when it placed the subbasin on probation in April. Tulare Lake became the first subbasin put on probation under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act when the water board voted that the subbasin’s groundwater agency had failed to develop adequate plans to bring its aquifer into balance by 2040. On Friday, Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini issued a preliminary injunction in the case, which stems from a lawsuit brought by the Kings County Farm Bureau against the water board. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
SEE ALSO: Kings County Farm Bureau says a judge’s decision is a big win in case against State Water Board, from ABC 30
NOTICE of October 17, 2024 Delta Conveyance Project pre-hearing conference and procedural ruling
“The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Pre-Hearing Conference in the proceeding on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively) of the Department of Water Resources. The Pre-Hearing Conference will begin on October 17, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. and will be held by Zoom teleconference. … ” Continue reading this notice.
California to implement direct potable reuse
“California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved OAL File No. 2024-0624-02S – the Direct Potable Reuse Regulations – and filed with the Secretary of State on August 6, 2024. The regulations will take effect on October 1, 2024. This is a step in the evolution of using recycled water as a safe and reliable water supply for Californians. Direct potable reuse is a practice which uses multiple phases of advanced water treatment technology to transform recycled water into safe, reliable purified water, for blending directly into a community’s existing drinking water system. California is considered a pioneer in purifying recycled water for use in drinking water systems. … ” Read more from Water World.
Why migration matters
“Have you ever really thought about the incredible distances that animals travel throughout their lives? Arctic terns fly from pole to pole, caribou cross continents, and salmon swim hundreds to thousands of miles from river to ocean. These are miraculous journeys, but today they are often disrupted by human development and activity. To help these species out, we must understand more about their migration routes and why they move. Salmon, steelhead, and trout migrate throughout their lives primarily to maximize their chances of successful reproduction and survival. Throughout different stages of their lifecycles, these fish migrate to different parts of a watershed to seek out more abundant food sources, reduce risks from predators, and find suitable locations to lay their eggs. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Tribal and environmental justice Issues in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: History and current perspectives
“September 3 marked a major milestone for the Delta Stewardship Council’s work related to tribal and environmental justice, as Council staff released the public review draft of its tribal and environmental justice issue paper. The issue paper is the culmination of over three years of listening, researching, and considering how the Council can further incorporate tribal justice and environmental justice (EJ) into its work. Addressing EJ requires understanding, acknowledging, and working in partnership to address historical wrongs that have resulted in inequitable distributions of environmental harms and benefits today; promoting a fair and open governance process that all community members can participate in; and ensuring that those who are most burdened and/or were historically marginalized are represented in environmental decision-making in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. … ” Continue reading at the Delta Stewardship Council.
Why Donald Trump wants to turn a ‘very large faucet’ to get Canadian freshwater
“It’s massive, the size of a large wall and takes a whole day to turn. That’s how former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump described a “very large faucet” that he hopes will redirect water from Canada down into California. “You have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north, with the snow caps and Canada, all pouring down,” Trump said at a press conference in California on Friday. “And they have a very large faucet,” Trump continued. It’s unclear who “they” are. Requests for clarification from Trump’s team were not answered before publication. “And you turn the faucet, and it takes one day to turn it, it’s massive. And you turn that and all of that water goes aimlessly into the Pacific. And if they turned it back, all of that water would come right down here and right into Los Angeles.” … ” Read more from the Toronto Star.
SEE ALSO:
-
- Trump: Let California burn!, from the People’s World
- Trump hates California so much, he threatened to stop federal aid to wildfire victims, commentary at the Sacramento Bee
- Donald Trump claims B.C.’s ‘very large faucet’ could help California’s water woes, from Global News Canada
- Trump’s ‘uninformed’ water proposal is mocked on Canadian television, from the Daily Kos
Bill increasing penalties on unlawful diversions of water awaits action by the governor
“During the height of the 2022 drought, ranchers in Siskiyou County diverted Shasta River water in violation of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Klamath River Watershed Drought Emergency Regulations (Emergency Regulations), which requires pumping cease under specific circumstances. The Emergency Regulations allow the SWRCB to enforce curtailments when summertime flows in the Shasta River drop below 50 cubic feet per second near Yreka. The events of the Shasta River controversy served as a catalyst for California Assembly Bill 460 (AB 460) (Bauer-Kahan), a measure taking direct aim at unlawful diversions of water. Passed out of the Legislature on August 30, and currently sitting on the Governor’s desk, this bill amends sections 1845 and 1846 of the California Water Code to increase civil penalties for violating SWRCB orders, such as the Emergency Regulations. The increase in penalties, some up to 20 times the previous amount allowed by statute, will penalize diverters for violations of the following SWRCB measures … ” Read more from Somach Simmons & Dunn.
Proposition 4: Should California issue $10 billion in bonds to fund various climate- and environment-related projects?
“Proposition 4 would help prepare Californians for the impacts of climate change, largely in the form of infrastructure projects. It would allocate $3.8 billion for safe drinking water, drought, flood and water resilience programs; $1.5 billion for wildfire prevention and restoring the health of forests; and $1.2 billion to increase coastal resiliency and mitigate sea level rise. Other funds would address extreme heat, create nature-based solutions, fight air pollution, etc. It also requires that at least 40% of the funds be used for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. … ” Read more from KQED.
In commentary today …
A call for balanced water management in California
Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition, writes, “The draft environmental impact statement for the long-term operation of the federal Central Valley Project and State Water Project has raised alarm bells for farmers and urban water users who depend on these water projects. Based on the document released July 26 for public review, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service seem to be pushing a regulatory agenda that prioritizes environmental objectives to the detriment of agricultural, municipal and industrial water needs. The CVP and SWP were originally constructed with multiple purposes in mind, central to which was the provision of water for uses such as irrigation and drinking water. But the operational plan under consideration for the water-delivery systems seems to elevate environmental protections, despite the 2009 Delta Reform Act, which established “coequal goals” of ensuring a reliable water supply for California while protecting and restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta ecosystem. … ” Continue reading this commentary.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Sierra Nevada Conservancy-funded project in upper Trinity River watershed protects critical state biodiversity
“Funding and implementing land-conservation projects in California are vital to the long-term protection of precious natural resources, such as timber and water. Projects like Pacific Forest Trust’s recent acquisition of nearly 11,000 acres in the upper Trinity River watershed will not only conserve lush forestlands in the headwaters of the Central Valley Project, but also protect some of the most biodiverse land on the planet. “This project will improve fire resilience, restore and protect critical water resources, improve and protect habitat for a multitude of plant and wildlife species, and improve overall habitat connectivity in a region of global ecological significance,” said Ryan Henson, senior policy director of CalWild. … ” Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water Board approves updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
“The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) Board of Directors on Tuesday approved an updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience and clearing the way to obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hazard mitigation funds. The plan, which is updated every five years, reviews vulnerabilities in Sonoma Water’s systems and outlines strategies to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. It covers critical infrastructure including the water transmission system, sanitation zones, and flood protection facilities. “This updated plan is crucial for our ongoing efforts to protect our water resources and infrastructure from natural hazards,” said Chair David Rabbitt of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors. “It allows us to prioritize projects that enhance the resilience of our systems and ensure continuity of service for our community.” … ” Read more from the County of Sonoma.
‘Spectacular’ stretch of Bay Area coastal forest may soon open to the public
“A stretch of coastal redwood forest twice the size of Central Park could soon be open to the public and permanently protected against development if an environmental nonprofit manages to purchase the Sonoma County property by the end of this year. The 1,624-acre parcel sits adjacent to Fort Ross State Historic Park and 10 miles north of the Russian River. Its rolling grassland, lush redwood forest and steep coastal canyons are owned by Soper Company, which conducts timber operations throughout Northern California. But a $16 million deal could soon place the land in the hands of Save the Redwoods League, thereby opening it to the public and protecting it from the ever-present threat of real estate development. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
BAY AREA
San Francisco is suing the owners of a mysterious trash lake in SoMa
“San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu is suing the owners of a turbid, trash-filled lake in the city’s SoMa neighborhood, alleging that the vacant lot has become a “public nuisance that substantially endangers the safety, health, and welfare” of nearby residents and the public. In a lawsuit filed Sept. 9 in San Francisco Superior Court, Chiu alleges that 360 Fifth LLC, a subsidiary of Leap Development that owns the lot at the corner of Shipley and Fifth streets, has ignored numerous code violations issued by city departments over the last year. Chiu’s suit seeks to force those companies to bring the lot back up to code and pay all outstanding fees. “These property owners have completely abandoned this property and created a public nuisance that neighbors have been dealing with for years,” Chiu said in an emailed statement to SFGATE. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bulldozers rip up Tuolumne River banks east of Modesto. The goal is better fish habitat
“In a few weeks, Chinook salmon once again will swim up the Tuolumne River looking for places to spawn. They will encounter a dam that has blocked migration past La Grange since 1893. They also will find that mining many decades ago ruined some of the gravel beds where salmon lay their eggs. And the water can be too low during droughts such as that of 2020 to 2022. The salmon are getting help from a pair of projects at La Grange that launched over the summer. One is by the Tuolumne River Trust, an environmental group. The other is just upstream and sponsored by the river’s main diverters, the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts and San Francisco. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee. | Read via AOL News.
EASTERN SIERRA
Water Board candidates differ on how to balance basin, protect ratepayers
“Potentially the most important question popped up roughly halfway through the Indian Wells Valley Water District Board candidate forum Wednesday night. Hidden within a longer question was the key point: how do the candidates think the local water basin should be balanced and how do they plan to protect water district ratepayers while doing so? The question is all the more significant in light of the recently-passed basin replenishment fee. According to current plans, the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority intends to use this fee to finance the purchase of water rights to import water — one estimate is that roughly 5,000 acre-feet of water a year will be needed to help balance the IWV groundwater basin, a task mandated by the state. … ” Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SCV Water begins construction of new water treatment project in Valencia
“As part of SCV Water’s ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the Agency recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Well 205 in Valencia. Well 205 is located on Valencia Boulevard, west of the McBean Regional Transit Center, and was removed from service due to perchlorate and VOC detection in 2012. Construction on the facility is ongoing and is anticipated to be complete in Winter 2025. … ” Read more from Public CEO.
Congresswoman Torres announces federal funding for Inland Empire water resource development
“Today, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee which oversees all federal funding, announced that the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), a water supply agency, will receive $87, 973 in grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the transition to ammonia-based controls, which is more cost-effective and efficient in reducing harmful emissions, improving air quality, and helping industries comply with environmental regulations. This grant award is part of the Department of Energy Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) grant program and will help the agency make improvements at their facilities to save energy, lower costs, and strengthen our domestic manufacturing sector? … ” Read more from Congressman Norma Torres.
Snow cannons help save California ski resort from Bridge Fire devastation
“As the Bridge Fire burned in southern California earlier this month, Mountain High Resort utilized their snow cannons to help prevent the wildfire from burning down its ski facilities. The Bridge Fire began on Sept. 8 several miles south of the ski resort. But within a couple of days, the wildfire was knocking on the door of Mountain High. With the fire on the horizon, the ski resort crew began working to protect structures within the resort by using many of their 500 snow guns, said John McColly, vice president of sales and marketing for Mountain High Resort. … ” Read more from Fox Weather.
SAN DIEGO
Winning projects for stormwater pollution challenge at Liberty Station
“The winners of the “Design for Clean Water: Stormwater Pollution Challenge” will be showcased from 9 a.m. to noon at I Love A Clean San Diego’s Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 21 at NTC Park in Liberty Station. This event coincides with San Diego Design Week, part of the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 experience. The “Design for Clean Water Challenge,” a partnership between Design Forward Alliance, I Love A Clean San Diego, and Project Clean Water encouraged innovative and sustainable solutions to mitigate stormwater pollution and improve San Diego’s water quality. Microgrants of $2,000 each were provided to four winning projects by BluPeak Credit Union, which shares a mission of clean water for all. … ” Read more from San Diego News.
Marine wildlife dying as San Elijo Lagoon water levels fall, conservation group says
“Despite recent restoration efforts, water levels in the San Elijo Lagoon in Encinitas are dropping to levels that affect the mortality of fish and other wildlife in the area, according to one conservation group. Jennifer Bright, COO for Nature Collective, a conservation group working to rehabilitate the lagoon, said a restoration project was completed in 2022 to increase tidal flow into the dwindling lagoon. The effort increased flow by about three times, but more sand came along with the increased tidal flow came more sand. “More sand is coming into the lagoon that has in the past, and it’s creating that hypoxic environment, which means there’s no oxygen in the water, so we are having more fish die off and more marine loss of life,” Bright said. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Along the Colorado River …
US judge unlikely to rule until next week as Arizona tribe fights to extend ban on lithium drilling
“Members of an Arizona tribe urged a federal judge Tuesday to extend a temporary ban on exploratory drilling for a lithium project near lands they have used for religious and cultural ceremonies for centuries. An executive for the Australian mining company that is trying to determine whether there is enough lithium to justify a commercial operation to help expedite production of renewable energy resources testified that every day of delay is costing it money. The judge indicated she wouldn’t decide for more than a week whether to grant the tribe’s request or lift a temporary restraining order she issued last month. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
ADWR Director joins in World Water Week discussion on tribal water rights
“ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke participated in the prestigious World Water Week events in Stockholm, Sweden, in August – a gathering that focused heavily on the water issues facing indigenous peoples around the world, including Native Americans of the Colorado River Basin region. The Director’s panel on August 28 – “Enabling Indigenous Peoples Participation: Perspectives from the Colorado River Basin” – included Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton; Amelia Flores, chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes; Becky Mitchell, Colorado River Commissioner for the state of Colorado; and Vice Chairman Lorelei Cloud of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The panel was moderated by Daryl Vigil of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. … ” Read more from the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Students map hidden contributors to the Colorado River basin using geospatial data
“Students at a Saint Mary’s University are discovering liquid treasures in the Colorado River basin all way from Minnesota. Andy Robertson’s geospatial services team employees more than 50 students, who create high-tech digital maps. “Picture Google Maps on steroids. And they’re trying to make determinations of what’s a wetland and what isn’t a wetland,” said Robertson. The students are so good at it, New Mexico hired them to map all the wetlands in the state. “We didn’t know where wetlands were. We didn’t know what type we had.” Maryann McGraw with the New Mexico Environment Department. Now, New Mexico knows where all its wetlands are. “We need to know where these things are so we can protect them,” McGraw continued. … ” Read more from KKCO.
In national water news today …
What the jet stream and climate change had to do with the hottest summer on record − remember all those heat domes?
“Summer 2024 was officially the Northern Hemisphere’s hottest on record. In the United States, fierce heat waves seemed to hit somewhere almost every day. Phoenix reached 100 degrees for more than 100 days straight. The 2024 Olympic Games started in the midst of a long-running heat wave in Europe that included the three hottest days on record globally, July 21-23. August was Earth’s hottest month in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 175-year record. Overall, the global average temperature was 2.74 degrees Fahrenheit (1.52 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average. That might seem small, but temperature increases associated with human-induced climate change do not manifest as small, even increases everywhere on the planet. Rather, they result in more frequent and severe episodes of heat waves, as the world saw in 2024. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
A bottle of water per email: the hidden environmental costs of using AI chatbots
“Roughly a quarter of Americans have used ChatGPT since the chatbot’s 2022 release, according to the Pew Research Center — and every query exacts a cost. Chatbots use an immense amount of power to respond to user questions, and simply keeping the bot’s servers cool enough to function in data centers takes a toll on the environment. While the exact burden is nearly impossible to quantify, The Washington Post worked with researchers at the University of California, Riverside to understand how much water and power OpenAI’s ChatGPT, using the GPT-4 language model released in March 2023, consumes to write the average 100-word email. Let’s look first at water. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
