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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: Leverage Domestic and Small Farm Wells to Cost-Effectively Fulfill Monitoring Program Goals from 12pm to 1pm. Historically overlooked, domestic and small farm wells can and should be considered an important component in building cost-effective, integrated groundwater-level monitoring networks. These wells can provide a necessary “canary in the coal mine” risk identification for drinking water well mitigation monitoring programs and also take advantage of existing infrastructure to fill gaps (particularly in high risk areas), track progress and engage community volunteers. Join Charles and Marian in this GRACast as they share case studies from communities in CA and other states that are leveraging pumping wells to build the monitoring insight they need while optimizing their budgets. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Turns 10! from 12pm to 1pm. California’s leaders made history in 2014 when they passed a landmark law to manage groundwater. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, aims to bring water supplies from underground aquifers into sustainable use over the next two decades. It’s a critical mission, since groundwater provides at least one-third of the California’s water supplies in a regular year, and up to two-thirds of water supply during drought. As SGMA turns ten years old this month, join us in conversation with local and state leaders driving its implementation. We’ll learn more about how SGMA has changed the way we manage water and if we’re positioned to meet the bold intent of this water reform. A not-to-miss conversation! Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Most well owners in Kings County will soon have to meter and register wells under local – not state – rules
“Most Kings County farmers will begin metering and registering their wells by the end of this year even though a court order is holding those exact same requirements by the state at bay pending the outcome of a lawsuit. The state Water Resources Control Board had tried to impose well metering and registration – among other requirements – on farmers after it placed the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation April 16. The Kings County Farm Bureau sued the state arguing those requirements exceeded the Water Board’s authority under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. A Kings County judge agreed. She issued a preliminary injunction halting the requirements citing a lack of transparency and a host of other problems with the Water Board’s enforcement process. But local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) in Kings County are moving ahead with their own well metering and registration policies. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The search for markets to help manage California’s groundwater
“In 2014, California passed a legislative package to work toward making groundwater extraction sustainable over the long term. The law, known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), followed decades of over pumping, resulting in dry wells, land subsidence, and seawater intrusion in many parts of the state. A few enclaves throughout California, mostly urban areas, already had groundwater management frameworks as a result of costly and time-consuming adjudication or special and location-specific enabling legislation. But for most of the state’s struggling aquifers, SGMA brought an end to nearly limitless pumping entitlements for overlying landowners. Early headlines expressed some excitement about the potential for using markets to contain the costs of groundwater conservation. A decade later, what role have groundwater markets actually played in implementing SGMA? … ” Read more from PERC.
State Water Board agrees on probation for Tule Subbasin
“Some farmers who rely on groundwater in portions of the Tule Subbasin in Tulare and Kern counties will face increased scrutiny while others are exempt from fees and reporting requirements, as the state implements the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, to bring critically overdrafted aquifers into balance by 2040. At its meeting in Sacramento last week, the California State Water Resources Control Board passed a resolution that probation is warranted for the Tule Subbasin because plans submitted by most of its groundwater sustainability agencies failed to show how actions would address problems such as land subsidence, which has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the Friant-Kern Canal. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Gov. Newsom signs trio of water bills to fix long-term water problems in tiny East Orosi
“Residents of East Orosi played host to Governor Gavin Newsom Tuesday, who briefly stopped in the tiny community nestled against the foothills of northern Tulare County to sign three bills guaranteeing them an end to decades worth of dirty water flowing to their homes. Newsom was flanked by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) and state Water Resources Control Board president Joaquin Esquivel in the backyard of Carlos Sanchez’ home as he signed the bills … Residents chanted “Si, se puede” (Spanish for “Yes, we can”) and cheered “Bravo!” as Newsom signed the bills with a flourish. The event was not open to the public but SJV Water gained access. “On behalf of 40 million Caifornians, you deserve better and we can do better,” Newsom said to the small crowd. “I apologize for taking this long but I want to compliment the leadership that helped deliver this and the commitment we’re making to follow through. Once you sign a bill, that’s not the end of the process, it’s the beginning of driving that accountability.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
DWR: An annual snapshot of the management of the State Water Project
“Are you interested in learning how the nation’s largest state-built water conveyance system, known as the California State Water Project (SWP), is managed? The Department of Water Resources recently released the latest two editions of the Bulletin 132 series that reports annual water deliveries, facilities maintenance, financial analysis, water quality monitoring, recreational opportunities, power resources, and other activities related to the SWP. The annual publication that covers activities for the previous year and financial data used to calculate charges for the subsequent year, is used for research and reference by many, including the California Legislature, SWP Contractors, utilities, bond investors, and the public. The bulletins give a detailed overview of more than 60 years of record about SWP operations that are used widely both within DWR and externally for many purposes, including water supply planning, academic papers, news articles, and DWR studies. … ” Read more from DWR News.
In a one-two punch against plastic, California sues Exxon, bans plastic bags
“California leaders leveled two significant challenges to plastic production in the past three days. The state sued ExxonMobil Sept. 23, alleging the oil giant deceived the public for half a century by promising that the plastics it produced would be recycled. And a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 22 bans all plastic shopping bags starting in 2026. Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said that less than 5% of plastic is recycled into another plastic product in the United States even though the items are labeled as “recyclable.” As a result, landfills and oceans are filled with plastic waste, creating a global pollution crisis, while consumers diligently place plastic water bottles and other containers into recycling bins, the lawsuit alleges. … ” Read more from the Christian Science Monitor.
Major East Bay reservoir expansion is axed after years of rising costs, waning interest
“A long-percolating expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County will not move forward after costs and delays mounted in recent years, ending a project that would have significantly boosted the Bay Area’s water supply. The project, first proposed in 2017, would have increased the reservoir’s capacity by more than 70% and distributed water to residents across the Bay Area. In a statement on Monday, Contra Costa Water District Board President Ernesto A. Avila announced the agency would end its participation in the project, citing increasing costs and declining participation from other local water agencies. “As difficult as the decision was … we have reached the point where the facts show that this well-intended project is not viable,” he wrote. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO:
- Plans for $1.5 billion expansion of East Bay reservoir unravel, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Yearslong effort to expand Bay Area reservoir by 37 billion gallons faces sudden collapse, from SF Gate
Groups reply to Sites Reservoir court ruling, Newsom comments
“On Friday September 20, the appellate court upheld the earlier trial court ruling and found the Sites Reservoir Project environmental impact report to be legally adequate. Don Mooney, attorney for the coalition of conservation groups, including Friends of the River (FOR), California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), Center for Biological Diversity, California Water Impact Network, Save California Salmon, and the Sierra Club (plaintiffs) had this to say: “We are disappointed in the court’s decision and remain concerned that the public still lacks sufficient information from the Sites Authority to fully understand and appreciate the project’s downstream impacts. We also remain concerned that given the inaccurate information regarding environmental baseline, the project impacts will not be fully mitigated.” … ” Continue reading this press release.
SEE ALSO: ‘Save California Salmon’ has concerns about the Sites Reservoir.
Conflicts in California’s food safety and sustainable agricultural practices
“On-farm food safety practices focus on mitigating sources of foodborne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella enterica, and managing potential routes of exposure through water, soil, and animal movement. However, many practices conflict with practices designed to enhance sustainability or environmental quality. Consequently, California growers must balance policy and program requirements for food safety and environmental protection to produce a safe, healthy, and sustainable food supply. … ” Read more from the Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.
The art of growing native seed in California
“Sandwiched between fields of almonds, walnuts and rice in the Sacramento Valley near the agricultural town of Colusa, is an unlikely burst of colors, sounds and aromas, all emanating from a native seed farmstead. Heritage Growers, a venture of the Chico-based riverway restoration nonprofit River Partners, is one of only a handful of farms in California that specializes in growing native seeds for wildland restoration projects, and an important partner for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Pat Reynolds, general manager for Heritage Growers, attests to the fact that although extremely rewarding, native seed farming is not for the faint of heart. “It requires a high-level of coordination, organization and specialized knowledge, as well as custom-made equipment,” said Reynolds, while pointing to a specially made seed drill (a farming machine that sows seeds at a specific depth and in a controlled amount, usually in rows). “Growing native plants at scale is a complex web of these elements and more including timing, weather, soil, water, partnerships, luck and land – the lynchpin behind a successful operation.” … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
California’s gold rush continues: State still leads the nation in new gold discoveries
“Nearly two centuries after California’s initial gold rush in the mid-19th century, the state continues to lead the nation in gold production and discovery, according to a new report. By far, the Golden State saw the largest number of new gold discoveries in 2023, according to an analysis of U.S. Geological Survey data compiled by SD Bullion. A total of 10,373 gold-bearing locations have been unearthed in the state, according to the report. That represents 66.6 sites per every 1,000 square miles of land, “more than quadruple that of Washington in second place on the list, at 2,271 current locations.” … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
Life in Hot Water: As another strong El Niño exits the Pacific, researchers look to marine life to tell us what’s happening.
“In the early 1980s, Francisco Chavez returned to his natal homeland in Peru with his Duke University doctoral adviser, Richard Barber. Like many biologists studying ocean life, Barber had a case of physics envy. Physical oceanographers can precisely measure changes in sea level caused by underwater Kelvin waves that form in the western Pacific, which often herald the arrival of the ocean phenomenon known as El Niño. But Barber and Chavez wanted to measure biological signs of El Niño with commensurate accuracy. At the time, scientists were starting to suspect that El Niño played a major role in driving variation in the global climate, and Barber and Chavez knew species must respond to those changes. “But previous observations indicated that these changes were subtle,” Chavez, now a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, told me. Chavez and Barber started monitoring off the coast of Peru in June 1982. … ” Continue reading from Bay Nature.
Proposition 4 would raise $10 billion in bonds for climate projects
“Prop Fest is a collaboration from Bay Curious and The Bay podcasts, where we break down each of the 10 statewide propositions that will be on your November 2024 ballot. Today, KQED climate reporter Ezra David Romero breaks down Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond for climate and environment-related projects across the state. … ” Listen or read transcript from KQED.
Governor signs three bills by Asm Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
“Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law three bills authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), which address key public health, environmental, and resource management concerns for Californians. The new laws target water rights violations, pesticide disclosure, and tobacco sales to minors, reflecting the state’s ongoing commitment to environmental protection, transparency, and public health. “Protecting the health and safety of our communities has always been my priority,” said Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan. “I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this common-sense legislation that strengthens our efforts to safeguard California’s resources and promote public health.” … ” Read more from Contra Costa News.
Experts throw cold water on Donald Trump’s idea to ‘dampen the forests’ to prevent wildfires
“Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that wetting California forest floors would reduce fires. The latest version came earlier this month, when he suggested that the Columbia River could be diverted to help California to soak the ground. “You have all that water that could be used to what they call water flow, where the land would be damp, and you would stop many of these horrible fires,” Trump said at a press conference near Los Angeles. … Trump has made the case that California should be soaking the ground to drive home what he believes is the state’s own culpability for some of its most devastating wildfires. He’s threatened multiple times to withhold federal aid from the state unless it explores his preferred tactics, including ground-wetting. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Wildfire burn scars impacting Western water availability by shifting the way snow melts: Study
“As increasingly intense wildfires climb to higher elevations across the U.S. West, the burn scars they leave behind are shifting the way snow is melting, a new study has found. The accumulation of snowpack, which appears in rivers as runoff in the spring, is an important source of water in the drought-stricken region. For that reason, the changes to the landscape that are being wrought by wildfires are complicating water availability assessments, according to the study, published in Water Resources Research. … ” Read more from The Hill.
Calif.’s worst wildfire of the year could have been worse. Here’s how catastrophe was avoided.
“Since the Park Fire was ignited in Northern California in late July, it has become the largest blaze of the year and the fourth largest in state history. But the fire could have turned out to be much worse if not for CAL FIRE’s proactive use of fuel breaks to curb the blaze from spreading even more. The park fire was allegedly started by a man who pushed his mother’s car off a cliff into a ravine after it had caught fire on July 24. Since then, the blaze has spread across Butte and Tehama Counties to cover nearly 430,000 acres. CAL FIRE currently has the fire 99% contained. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Botulism outbreak kills 80,000 waterfowl and counting in Klamath Basin, volunteers aim to support populations with ‘bird hospitals
“Another devastating botulism outbreak has claimed the lives of an estimated 80,000 waterfowl throughout the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex. That number will continue to climb until cooler weather and rain return to the region in late October. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) confirmed the total last week, a sum that surpasses the historic and devastating die-off event of 2020. A news release from the Bird Alliance of Oregon said 16 conversation groups “sounded the alarm” last month when the outbreak became apparent. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Klamath Basin farm tour features frank water discussions
“The Klamath Water Users Association’s 17th annual Fall Harvest Tour Sept. 20 featured frank discussions about water availability and how farmers are coping. Farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin have received little water for three straight years and producers worry their allocation may plummet with a new operations plan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Moss Driscoll, KWUA director of water policy, said the region has been in crisis since the 2001 bucket brigade protests due to restrictions. But ag operators are adapting. “Farmers are saying this is the new reality. How are we going to make this work?” Driscoll said. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Congress approves Lake Tahoe conservation funding through 2034
“Congress passed legislation Tuesday reauthorizing millions of dollars in federal funding to support restoration projects in Lake Tahoe for at least another decade. The Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act extends the timeline for close to $300 million in pre-authorized federal funds to be appropriated through 2034, according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The funds will go toward combating invasive species, improving water clarity, building wildfire resiliency and other conservation projects. “This bill makes it possible for us to continue supporting programs that keep Lake Tahoe clean, and it provides critical resources to protect the environment and communities all across the Tahoe basin,” Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who introduced the act in the Senate last year, said in a video posted to social media. “I know how important this is to so many Nevadans and to our neighbors in California, and to visitors from all over the world.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Placer County secures $1.5M grant to bolster wildfire resilience in Foresthill Divide
“Additional wildfire resiliency is on the horizon for Foresthill and the Foresthill Divide, with the Placer County Board of Supervisors approving an agreement to accept Congressionally directed federal funding for the area today. Placer was awarded $1.5 million in federal funds to accelerate the implementation of the Baker Ranch/Shirttail Canyon Wildfire Defense Planning and Analysis Project. The project will assess wildfire risk across 50,000 acres of non-federal forest and wildland-urban interface lands in the Foresthill Divide area, help develop a comprehensive treatment plan for forest resilience and complete environmental reviews for one or more individual projects to expedite implementation. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Salmon Festival celebrates 30 years of fun
“The annual Salmon Festival returns for its third decade to celebrate the return of the chinook salmon to the Feather River with a full day of activities, events, vendors, music and food throughout downtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. “We’re super excited about the 30th anniversary of the Salmon Festival,” said Eric Smith, Chamber of Commerce CEO. “We’re looking for a great day of new features and exciting opportunities for people to come and enjoy in beautiful downtown Oroville.” … ” Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record.
‘It’s just disgusting’: Sewage leak in El Dorado Hills may have contaminated Folsom Lake
“A sewage leak in El Dorado Hills may have reached Folsom Lake, officials said Tuesday. Now, the El Dorado Irrigation District is testing the water and warning community members to stay out of Browns Reservoir for the time being. “We take any kind of sewage leak very seriously,” said Jesse Saich, a spokesperson for the El Dorado Irrigation District. “Those pumper trucks were there not only to help keep sewer service going, but also to take up as much leaked sewage as possible that would have been getting into the creek.” El Dorado Hills resident David Michael said he was working in his garage Sunday night when he heard water rush into his neighborhood. He quickly realized it was sewage. … ” Read more from KCRA.
BAY AREA
Unexpected water bills to hit thousands of San Francisco mailboxes
“Thousands of San Francisco residents will see higher sewer and water bills because of a technical glitch. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission said customers had been receiving services for several months without being billed properly due to faulty transponders on their meters. Some customers went three months without receiving a bill, while others went a year or more. About 8,200 residents are affected, according to the agency. … ” Read more from KTVU.
Despite dwindling burial sites, conservation and environmental groups continue push to stop cemetery near Coyote Valley
“Once again, the environmental battle is on to stop what would be San Jose’s first cemetery in 140 years from being built on a vast swath of land in Coyote Valley. Ten years after San Jose city leaders agreed to allow cemeteries on more than 100 acres of open space, environmentalists and nature lovers are renewing their fight against the Heritage Oaks Memorial Park project with their decade-old concerns about water usage, fire risks, wildlife impacts and material changes to the landscape. The battle comes as San Jose is quickly running out of space for cemetery or crematory use between the three sites in the city at Los Gatos Memorial Park, Calvary and Oak Hill. … ” Continue reading at the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
2023 winter storms force first drop in Santa Cruz County crop values in 4 years
“Impacts from the high-intensity 2023 winter storms continue to be felt in Santa Cruz County, with the latest example coming from the agricultural sector. Agricultural commodities hit $654.7 million in 2023, representing a 1.8% drop compared to the previous year’s total, according to the county’s annual crop report released last week. The value dip is the first time crop totals have declined in four years. County Agricultural Commissioner David Sanford wrote in the report that while flood waters that inundated the county’s pristine farmland have long since dried, other impacts from the devastation continue to ripple out. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Montecito Water District hears quarterly report on water supply
“Montecito Water District’s three-year water supply outlook indicates adequate water to meet projected customer water demand through Water Year 2027 without shortages and without the need for State Water Project or supplemental supplies, according to general manager Nick Turner’s Quarterly Water Supply Update. The report was presented to the Board of Directors at the board’s August meeting. … ” Read more from Noozhawk.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
New water facility provides clean groundwater to local school after years of contamination
“Students and staff in the Rio-Bravo Greeley School District will now have access to clean groundwater after a new onsite water treatment plant was installed. Harmful levels of nitrate and 1, 2, 3 – trichloropropane were found in the district’s groundwater source back in 2015. For the district, solving this problem turned out to be more of a challenge than anticipated. Rio-Bravo Greeley School District Superintendent, Jennifer Hedge said solving this issue took them out of their element. … ” Read more from Bakersfield Now.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles settles with Monsanto for $35 million over PCBs in waterways
“Contamination of key Los Angeles waterways such as the Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles Harbor and Echo Park Lake due to the spread of toxic chemicals is at the heart of a $35-million settlement between the L.A. City Council and agriculture giant Monsanto and two smaller companies. The City Council on Tuesday announced the payout by the companies to settle a lawsuit filed in 2022 over damage from long-banned chemicals called PCBs, which have been linked to health problems including cancer. The City Council approved the settlement at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, voting 13 to 0 after a closed session. Councilmembers Imelda Padilla and Nithya Raman were absent. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Elections: Los Angeles, Orange County water agencies
“Water in California is complicated … and governing water use is arguably even more complicated. Local water agencies are as diverse as the communities and landscapes of California. There are thousands of agencies across the state, both public and private, that provide water. They range from a system serving a single mobile home park to huge agencies serving millions of people and businesses and thousands of acres of farmland. Some water agencies’ governing boards are appointed by a county board of supervisors or city council. The five-member board that oversees the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is appointed by the L.A. mayor and serve for five-year terms, for example. Others are directly elected by voters. Those are the ones you’ll see on your Nov. 5 ballot. … ” Read more from the LAist.
The ‘Great Los Angeles River Cleanup’ is flowing into the fall season
“It’s a breezy fact of the warm-weather months: People do love savoring the sunshine, fresh air, and outdoors, sometimes in droves. The summer season is a recreation-rich stretch, in short, with humans heading outside to play. And come the fall? Some of our most scenic spots require more than a bit of spiffying, all to clear out the debris that visitors left behind. The earliest part of fall is a busy time for pitch-inners; the Yosemite Facelift, an effort to de-litter the national park after its busiest months, happens every September. … ” Read more from NBC LA.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Coachella Valley Water District Adopts Resolution Endorsing Prop 4
“The Coachella Valley Water District Tuesday endorsed Proposition 4, a state ballot initiative that would authorize $10 billion in debt to spend on environmental and climate projects. Various environmental and advocacy groups encouraged the state legislature to pass SB 867 in July, which placed Proposition 4 on the upcoming November ballot. According to CVWD’s board, contemporary water and climate problems necessitate these investments to “support reliable infrastructure, clean water and sustainable groundwater supplies.” … ” Read more from My News LA.
Along the Colorado River …
Decrease in zebra mussel larvae in Colorado River
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife has seen a decrease in zebra mussel veligers found in the Colorado River. While there’s been a decrease in the mussel larvae it doesn’t mean they have been eradicated entirely. “We have continued to sample and have not seen them. But that does not mean that they are not present there in the system. They are just extremely difficult to detect,” Robert Walters, Invasive Species Program Manager said. A microscopic organism that’s hard to detect-that’s the trouble with the zebra mussel veligers. In July of this year zebra mussel larvae were found in the Colorado River at two different locations Highline Canal. … ” Read more from KKCO.
In national water news today …
Biden-Harris Administration announces $92 million from the president’s Investing in America Agenda to restore and protect rivers and other aquatic habitats
“Today as part of Climate Week, the Department of the Interior announced a nearly $92 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for 19 projects to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems. This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations implemented by the Bureau of Reclamation will be awarded to projects in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington for the study, design and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that will improve the health of fish, wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. “Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Interior Department continues to advance water solutions that are environmentally and economically sound for the American West,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “We are advancing nature-based solutions that benefit local water supplies, and the wildlife and habitats that support them.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
SEE ALSO: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Investments to Protect Freshwater Resources, Enhance Drought and Climate Resilience, fact sheet from the White House
