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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include a Presentation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Levee Inspection Results for Reclamation District (RD) 1 and RD 2089 – Union Island Levee System, San Joaquin County; Pixley Slough Bridge Replacement Project; Informational briefing update on the permit application progress for the Governor’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative; and Informational briefing on the Mid-Valley Area, Phase III, Project near Knights Landing. Click here for the full agenda.
In California water news today …
California prepares for extreme weather swings as new water year approaches
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today previewed the new Water Year which starts on October 1 by highlighting preparations for more extreme weather events this season following a record hot summer across much of California and a looming La Niña pattern. Over the past decade, climate extremes have posed significant challenges to water managers, especially the extreme hot and dry conditions that frequently persist well past summer months and into the fall. California is seeing that right now with above-average temperatures forecast into October and no rain in the current forecast. At the same time, the water that California does receive will arrive from more powerful storms, and hotter temperatures will mean less winter precipitation falls as snow and more will arrive as rain, increasing flood risk. … ” Read more from DWR News.
What’s in store for California’s new water year? Experts say ‘extremes are getting more extreme’
“Extreme weather and our changing climate means that forecasting has become even more important. To help you become more climate-ready, ABC News and the ABC Owned Television Stations have teamed up to help you navigate this new reality. The state’s water year begins October 12 and ends September 30 of next year. Typically, fall rain starts in October then the bulk of California’s rain falls from December to February. April is when we see peak snowpack. So what will this year look like? Climate experts are warning to be ready for some extremes. “What we’re seeing in the forecast right now is that we’re likely off to another late start to the wet season,” said Dr. Michael Anderson, who serves as the official State Climatologist for California. “Meaning, the dry conditions continuing and certainly still seeing the above-normal temperatures.” … ” Read more from ABC 7.
SEE ALSO:
- California Dept. of Water Resources shares new water year preparations, from KRCR
- Hot Summer, La Niña Conditions Make for Uncertain California Water Forecast, from the Times of San Diego
New case endangers water rates
“The San Diego panel of the Court of Appeal released a recent decision which threatens a wave of new lawsuits challenging water rates. The decision in Coziahr v. Otay Water District issued on July 15, 2024 and local governments are now beginning to grapple with its far-reaching implications. Plaintiffs’ class action counsel sued the Otay Water District, which serves areas along the border with Mexico south and east of San Diego, and the City of San Diego in one case to challenge tiered water rates. Those impose progressively higher rates as more water is used to encourage conservation and to reflect the higher cost of supplying marginal water supplies to meet inefficient demands. The cases were tried separately but led to an $18 million refund award against Otay and a $78 million dollar award against San Diego. The San Diego case is still pending before the Riverside Court of Appeal. … ” Read more from Public CEO.
Delta Regional Monitoring Program: Moving forward with collaboration and innovation
Melissa Turner, Delta Regional Monitoring Program, writes, “The Delta Regional Monitoring Program (DRMP) is a stakeholder-directed program formed to collect water quality data necessary for improving our understanding of Delta water quality issues. Established to improve understanding of water quality and ecosystem health, DRMP serves as a collaborative forum where state, local, and federal agencies, along with scientific experts and stakeholders, can come together to share data and advance common goals. The DRMP was founded with the goal of supporting management decisions through robust, scientifically-sound monitoring efforts. Our mission is to provide high-quality data and analysis that informs policy makers, resource managers, and stakeholders about the state of the Delta’s water quality. This is achieved through collaborative partnerships, transparent sharing of data, and the implementation of monitoring strategies designed to assess the Delta’s unique challenges. … ” Read more from the Northern California Water Association.
Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service announce Notice of Funding Opportunity for Central Valley Project fish studies
“The Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for projects that collect information on Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, green sturgeon, white sturgeon, and Delta smelt. Reclamation and the Service are awarding up to $5 million (subject to appropriations) in fiscal year 2025 to projects that collect biological information on select fish populations in the Central Valley and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The information will be used to reduce uncertainties in existing decision support models, which are used to evaluate recovery strategies for Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, green sturgeon, white sturgeon, and Delta smelt. Eligible projects include field and laboratory research studies that are aimed at measuring fish growth and survival rates, movement, spawning population size, abundance and distribution, and many others. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
West Coast chinook salmon get a new genetic reference database
“NOAA scientists have upgraded a crucial tool for Chinook salmon conservation. This genetic reference tool allows researchers to pinpoint the river system individual fish come from, enabling more precise management and protection of threatened and endangered populations. “It’s like giving every fish a unique genetic fingerprint,” says Donald Van Doornik, a NOAA Fisheries fish biologist and lead author of a new paper describing the work in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management. “We can use this fingerprint to figure out where that fish came from by comparing it to other fish’s DNA.” … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
How a climate change grant could fix flood-damaged roads in Sutter County
“Pass Road does just what it sounds like. The two-lane thoroughfare cuts through the south end of the Sutter Buttes, clearing a straight-line pass through foothills of what’s known as the world’s smallest mountain range, often used for farm workers to move quickly from one side of the buttes to the other. The road saves workers time while keeping large farm equipment like tractors off the more heavily trafficked Highway 20 to the south. But winter storms nearly three years ago caused flooding on a western stretch of the road, revealing structural damage and closing that section until a temporary fix was put in place. The cost of a long-term fix has fallen on Sutter County amid its recent budget shortfall while the permitting processes have slowed down its timeline. Sutter County officials say the stalled repairs to Pass Road show the struggle in cutting through state and environmental permitting requirements and securing funding for unexpected road needs. Now they hope they’ve found a way to curb that problem in the future. … ” Read more from Yahoo News.
Assemblywoman Soria’s AB 2661 to accelerate clean energy development in the Central Valley signed by Governor Newsom
“Today, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria announced that her bill, Assembly Bill 2661 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 2661 advances clean energy development projects in the Central Valley while minimizing the negative impacts scarce water supplies have on farmworker communities and farmers who drive the region’s agricultural economy. The bill authorizes projects to convert fallowed farmland to solar farms which will create jobs, help farmworkers retrain and transition into skilled trades and spur economic development. Specifically, AB 2661 would authorize Westlands Water District – an agricultural water district serving farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings Counties – to broaden its current abilities to oversee energy projects to include the generation, storage, and transmission of solar energy. … ” Read more from Westlands Water District.
In commentary today …
Water is not the problem with AI: Data centers are nothing compared to cattle farming.
Ryan Cooper, managing editor of American Prospect, writes, “Since AI models like ChatGPT and Claude became the latest investment fad in Silicon Valley, outside observers have worried about the broader consequences. They consume tons of electricity, they are trained on trillions of original works without their authors’ consent, and if the most unhinged hype guys are to be believed, they will create mass unemployment in every industry any day now. But for some reason, the water use of these products has become one of the most common criticisms. A slew of articles and videos argue that the water consumption of all the data centers powering AI systems are a threat to the environment. It is true that data centers use some water. But there is a great deal of missing context. Even in highly water-stressed areas, all data centers combined are a rounding error compared to the real water wasters: farmers, especially of livestock feed. … ” Read more from American Prospect.
California Native American Day is a reality check about the past and future progress
“Today is California Native American Day, a moment to recall California’s dark and painful history of genocide against Indian peoples. But it is also a moment of hope, as the state is taking notable steps towards equality. This year is the fifth anniversary of Governor Gavin Newsom’s formal apology to Native Americans for a war of calculated genocide beginning with the call by our first governor, Peter Burnett, for a war of extermination “until the Indian race becomes extinct.” My own tribe, the Cahuilla-Serrano, only avoided annihilation at the hands of the militias by escaping into the San Bernardino Mountains during the 19th Century. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Bull kelp restoration efforts at Big River and Albion showing promise
“Over 96% of the kelp forest has disappeared along the Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts in the last decade, according to Tristin McHugh. McHugh is the Kelp Project Director for The Nature Conservancy and previously was the North Coast Regional Manager of Reef Check. She has been involved in studying the loss of the kelp forest and developing plans to save it since the first public campaigns began in 2017. It started in 2014 with a warm water blob in the Pacific Ocean. It was aggravated when a wasting disease wiped out the sunflower sea stars. The sea stars were the only remaining ocean predators for purple urchins. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
A Bay Area scientist made a game-changing find — entirely by accident
“Brent Hughes, an assistant professor of marine ecology and conservation at Sonoma State University, is a self-proclaimed “algal nerd.” But last week, while speaking at a Garden Club of America event, he wasn’t just talking gardens or algae — he was talking otters. Hughes’ dive into studying otters was accidental. While studying eelgrass at San Jose State University’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories around 2008, he noticed the marine plant was actually starting to recover amid a large, normally destructive algal bloom. “It was bizarre,” Hughes told SFGATE over the phone after the Garden Club of America meeting. “We didn’t immediately go, ‘Oh, it must be the sea otters.’ That was literally the last thing [we considered].” … ” Continue reading from SF Gate.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Congress reauthorizes Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
“Lake Tahoe agencies on Tuesday applauded Congress for its passage of a bill to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which is the cornerstone of federal investment in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. The approval extends existing funding authorizations for approximately $300 million to 2034 and continues federal support for priority projects to protect and restore Lake Tahoe. Since the improvement program was formed in 1997, public and private sector partners have completed more than 830 projects including wetland restoration, bike trails, forest fuel reduction, and aquatic invasive species prevention and control. … ” Read more from the Nevada Appeal.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Maintaining the Oroville Dam Spillway
“While the weather is still dry, crews with the Department of Water Resources are hard at work on the Oroville Dam Spillway, preparing for a safety inspection. Following the 2017 spillway crisis that forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people in our area, Roy Carlson, the supervising engineer with the Department of Water Resources Operations and Maintenance, said preventative work like what’s being done this week is essential to the safety of our communities. “The purpose of our spillway inspection and maintenance program at the Oroville Spillway is to ensure that it can pass flood flows and protect downstream communities for not only this upcoming winter but many winters to come,” Carlson said. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Sacramento temperature blanket 2024: We’re finally exiting California’s hottest summer on record — but the heat isn’t over yet
“With summer ending last weekend, it is officially autumn. I’m looking forward to the soup-making and sweater-wearing season, but we’re not exactly out of the heat yet. This week, we’ve seen high temperatures in the high 90s. But summer’s end does mean we can take a look back and assess the season’s record-breaking peak temperatures. It’s been a lot to document in our temperature blanket; Claire and I have accumulated enough crocheted data that we’ve had to actually start stitching our blanket together in order to keep our squares organized. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa County considers water pumping fee
“Napa County is evaluating a fee on groundwater pump users to pay for state-mandated efforts to manage the Napa Valley’s groundwater subbasin. The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to explore the new fee to fund a state-mandated local agency that manages groundwater in an area that stretches from north of Calistoga to south of Napa. The goal is to manage the Napa Valley subbasin under a plan that complies with the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The state law was implemented in 2014 to protect the state’s groundwater resources. … ” Read more from Wine Business.
BAY AREA
Navy’s Hunters Point Shipyard cleanup in San Francisco moves underwater
“The long-running cleanup of one of the nation’s most contaminated sites crossed a major hurdle on Thursday as officials announced the final phase of plans to remove radioactive and industrial waste from San Francisco’s former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. This phase will take place underwater as the U.S. Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency address offshore pollution in the last of six areas that need environmental restoration. The new plan allows the Navy, which is responsible for cleaning up the site, to address contaminated underwater sediment from a 443-acre area of the San Francisco Bay around the shipyard, otherwise known as Parcel F. This is the underwater area that wraps around the base; other parts of the base are currently undergoing remediation. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO: Prolonged S.F. Shipyard cleanup moves into final phase focused on offshore ‘toxic hotspot’, from the San Francisco Chronicle
CENTRAL COAST
Recycled water trade group awards water suppliers
“A trio of Monterey Peninsula recycled water customers netted a statewide award as Recycled Water Customers of the Year by a national trade association. Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Marina Coast Water District and California American Water Co. jointly received the award from WateReuse California, an arm of a national trade association for water utilities advancing laws, policy, funding and public awareness of the benefits of recycled water. The two agencies and Cal Am supply water to residents of the Peninsula in part from Pure Water Monterey, the water recycling project operated by Monterey One Water. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Volunteers remove nearly a ton of trash from Salinas Riverbed
“The annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup, organized by the Paso Robles Public Works Stormwater Division, saw over 54 community members gather at Larry Moore Park and Wendy’s on Sept. 21 to collect trash along the Salinas River. Volunteers collected 1,900 pounds of debris, including plastic and bottles, in a local effort to reduce pollution in the area’s waterways.“We are incredibly grateful for everyone who came out today,” said Kim Porter, stormwater program manager. “Together, we’ve made a tangible difference in our community while raising awareness about the importance of protecting our natural resources.” … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
Ventura: SOAR holds groundwater rights forum
“Nonprofit SOAR, or Save Open Space & Agricultural Resources, hosted a groundwater conversation at California State University Channel Islands on Sept. 21 titled: “Saving Water and the Family Farm: The High Stakes Battle for Groundwater.” The event featured a welcome from SOAR Executive Director Linda Parks, former county supervisor, and an overview by symposium moderator Joe Pope, who serves as vice president for Construction Management Water at MNS Engineers, and previously was the Water and Sanitation Director for the county of Ventura. Fran Pavley, former state senator and author of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, attended the meeting via Zoom. … ” Read more from the Ojai Valley News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Application deadline for fallowing program for Tule basin farmers extended to Sept. 30
“The deadline to apply for the Tule Land and Water Conservation Trust’s land fallowing program has been extended to Monday, Sept. 30. More than $1.2 million is available to growers in the Tule subbasin, which covers the southern half of Tulare County’s flatlands, to participate in the third year of the program. Those funds come from local groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) which collect pumping fees from landowners. The trust, formed in 2020 to help the basin navigate the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), works to match those funds with grants and private donations. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Residents ask obscure but powerful water agency why it’s fighting against a flowing Kern River
“Residents intent on getting at least some water flowing in the Kern River through Bakersfield brought their concerns – and some pointed questions – to board members of the Kern County Water Agency on Thursday. “I don’t mean to be combative, but why is this board funding attorneys to keep water from going back into the river using public taxpayer dollars?” asked Chris Molina, with Bring Back the Kern, which is suing the City of Bakersfield over how it operates the Kern River. Molina also submitted a Public Records Act request to the agency seeking invoices paid to Attorney Nick Jacobs with the Sacramento law firm Somach Simmons & Dunn. Jacobs represents the agency on the Kern River case. “The river is dry and the community is questioning why that is more and more. We’re not in a drought,” Molina said. “My question to this board is, what are you doing to represent the people of your districts?” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
30th anniversary of the day “we saved Mono Lake”
“On September 28, 1994, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued Decision 1631, amending the City of Los Angeles’ water licenses “to establish fishery protection flows in streams tributary to Mono Lake and to protect Public Trust resources at Mono Lake and in the Mono Lake Basin. ”There was urgency in this action back in 1994, and today, as we arrive at the 30th anniversary of this history-making decision, the lake is still 8.6 vertical feet below the Public Trust lake level—a problem that looms large for the lake, its unique ecosystem, its millions of migratory and nesting birds, and people who care for and rely on this special place. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
Fall colors starting in the Mono Basin
“Fall color season is off to a good start in the Eastern Sierra with a cold snap last week that kicked things into gear! Here in the Mono Basin the aspens, cottonwoods, and willows are steadily turning more colorful every day. None of the local groves are at their peak color yet except for Sagehen Summit, just east of the Mono Basin, which Mono County Tourism describes as “75-100% peaking” in this week’s fall color report. Other groves near Mono Lake are either “0-10% just starting,” like Conway Summit, Lee Vining Canyon, Lundy Canyon, and the June Lake loop. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
On PFAS removal, Orange County Cities lead the way
“Yorba Linda, the birthplace of Richard Nixon, has long been known for its conservative politics. But it’s also becoming a bastion of environmental protection. The city is home to the largest PFAS treatment plant in America. PFAS stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These man-made chemicals have been used to waterproof and stainproof products for decades. They’re associated with a range of health conditions including certain cancers. Plants like one in Yorba Linda use huge tanks filled with polymer beads that pull contaminants from the water. … ” Read more from California Cities.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Celebrating the new Nancy Wright Regional Water Reclamation Facility
“As our state grapples with the intensifying drought and the rising demand for water, sustainability is no longer just a priority – it is essential for protecting our future. Forty million people depend on the Colorado River, but with its flows shrinking during the current and historic drought, we must find new ways to manage water efficiently. One of the key solutions is recycling and reusing water, and that’s precisely what Mission Springs Water District’s new Nancy Wright Regional Water Reclamation Facility is designed to do. Named after 34-year MSWD board member Nancy Wright, the $68 million facility and its accompanying projects are funded by state grants, representing a vital investment in the future of our region. The Wright facility will allow us to treat and eventually recycle water reducing our reliance on the Colorado River and safeguarding our valuable groundwater supplies. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
Along the Colorado River …
IID’s Colorado River agreement to raise Lake Mead by 10+ feet
“Imperial Irrigation District inked a landmark conservation agreement Wednesday with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The agreement will conserve up to 700,000 acre-feet of water for the Colorado River and build 10-12 feet of elevation at Lake Mead — the nation’s largest reservoir and sole water supply for Imperial Valley. The agreement also unlocks a full federal investment of $250 million in Salton Sea restoration, largely targeting an expansion of the State of California’s nearly 8,000-acre Species Conservation Habitat. … ” Read more from IID.
Biden administration inks deals to bring major relief to Colorado River’s biggest reservoir
“The Biden administration and southwestern Colorado River users have partnered on a large-scale conservation effort poised to bring significant relief to the region’s key reservoir, officials announced Wednesday. The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and Southern California stakeholders signed two short-term “Bucket 1” agreements — funded by the Inflation Reduction Act — to conserve more than 717,000 acre-feet of water by 2026. “These agreements are proving critical to the stability of the Colorado River system,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton said at a Wednesday signing ceremony. “These ‘Bucket 1’ agreements celebrated today will collectively add 10 feet to Lake Mead’s elevation by 2026.” … ” Read more from The Hill.
By the numbers …
2024-09-26-item-9-attachment-2-by-the-numbers
