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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9:45 to 4pm. The Delta Independent Science Board will be trouing the Delta, visiting the Rindge Tract Partners Duck Club and Staten Island. The public may join the tour but must provide own transportation. Click here for the meeting notice.
Klamath Dam removal is complete …
California completes largest dam removal in US history
“The largest dam removal project in U.S. history has been completed on the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border, restoring a continuous flow of water to nearly 400 miles of river habitat for the first time in over a century. California officials announced that the final work has concluded on the removal of four large hydroelectric dams that previously blocked the river. Officials say the estimated $450 million project has finished ahead of schedule and within budget. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office touted the project’s completion in a statement Wednesday. “This is a monumental achievement—not just for the Klamath River but for our entire state, nation and planet. By taking down these outdated dams, we are giving salmon and other species a chance to thrive once again while also restoring an essential lifeline for tribal communities who have long depended on the health of the river,” said Newsom. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Klamath Dam removal comes to a close
“Today marks the complete removal of the four lower Klamath hydroelectric dams. Kiewit, the dam removal contractor hired by the Klamath River Renewal Corporation to complete the construction elements of the project, has finished all work in the river. Following the cofferdam breaches last month, a portion of the Iron Gate cofferdam and a temporary river crossing at Copco No. 1 were left in place to provide access to the far side of the river in order to remove diversion infrastructure. With all the diversion infrastructure, temporary bridges, and dam materials now fully removed from the river, the dam removal portion of the Klamath River Renewal Project is now complete. Restoration and recovery of the river will continue for the coming years. … ” Continue reading this press release from the Klamath River Renewal Corporation.
Final step in Klamath River dam removal opens path for returning salmon
“Heavy equipment removed the final obstacle separating the Klamath River from the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. The reconnected river was turbid but remained safe for fish after crews took steps to avoid erosion and impacts to water quality. “These final dam removal steps set the stage for salmon to return to reclaimed habitat and expand their population recovery,” said Jim Simondet, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Klamath Branch Supervisor. NOAA Fisheries analyzed the impacts of dam removal on Endangered Species Act-listed species in a biological opinion. That analysis found that the short-term impacts, such as the potential effects of sediment in the water on salmon, would be outweighed by the much greater long-term benefits as river ecosystem processes return at a landscape scale. The project will reopen more than 400 miles of habitat to salmon, steelhead, and lamprey. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
SEE ALSO:
- Tribes celebrate the end of the largest dam removal project in US history, from the Associated Press
- Klamath River dams fully removed ahead of schedule, press release from Governor Newsom
In other California water news today …
California makes major strides for water supplies and climate resilience over the past year
“With California experiencing climate-driven extremes in weather, the state is continuing to take aggressive action to protect and expand the state’s water supplies, including prioritizing groundwater recharge and infrastructure improvements and supporting vulnerable drinking water systems. The State of California, under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, has made significant strides in securing and enhancing water supplies while building climate resilience. Over the past year, California has implemented innovative water management strategies and invested heavily in drinking water systems, groundwater protection and infrastructure projects, benefitting millions of residents statewide. As the state begins a new water year, here’s an overview of some key developments … ” Continue reading this press release from Governor Newsom.
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, responds
“Governor Newsom claims the Delta Tunnel is about water resilience, but the truth is this project will drain our wallets and the Delta itself with declining water supplies resulting from climate change. His rosy cost-benefit analysis conveniently ignores the environmental destruction to environmental justice communities, harm to tribal communities, and massive financial risks for Southern California ratepayers. He is pushing a $20 billion gamble on a pipe dream for the benefit of powerful political donors. California needs real climate solutions that reduce Delta reliance, not a boondoggle that benefits a few at the expense of our most vital ecosystems economies and people.”
SEE ALSO: Governor issues water resilience update, touting ‘progress’ on Delta Tunnel and Sites Reservoir, from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos
Start of 2025 water year is a reminder of the need for caution and preparedness
“California’s 2025 water year begins with relatively good conditions in major Central Valley Project reservoirs, with 7.43 million acre-feet of water in storage, about 120% of the 15-year average. Shasta, the anchor of the CVP and California’s largest reservoir, is at a robust 2.78 million acre-feet of water, 113% of the 15-year average. The water year annually begins Oct 1. and concludes Sept. 30. The 2024 water year began with more than 8 million acre-feet of storage in CVP reservoirs, the result of a wet 2023-2024 winter that helped erase several years of drought. However, precipitation totals in 2024 began slowly and conditions were well below average at the time of the Feb. 1 water supply forecast. The water year did improve after that point, with close to average annual precipitation totals across the Sierra Nevada, but the transition from spring to summer ushered in record-setting warm weather. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, August 2024 was the Earth’s hottest August in the agency’s 175-year climate record, and the Central Valley of California felt this trend. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Nation-leading regulations for converting wastewater to drinking water go into effect as new water year begins
“Through an innovative effort that advances Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy for adapting to a hotter, drier future, California’s regulations for converting wastewater to high-quality drinking water became official this week – coinciding with the first day of the new water year. The regulations clear the way for water systems to invest in innovative treatment plants and processes that will recycle – and reuse – millions of gallons of wastewater daily. The State Water Resources Control Board unanimously approved the regulations in December 2023, giving California the most advanced standards in the nation for treating wastewater to such an extent that the finished product meets or exceeds current drinking water standards. The regulations became effective Oct. 1. Through “direct potable reuse,” water systems will be able to generate a climate-resilient water source, reduce the amount of wastewater discharged to rivers and the ocean, and add millions of gallons of recycled drinking water over time while avoiding costlier, more energy intensive water supplies. … ” Read more from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Fall 2024 Environmental Monitor available now
“In the Fall 2024 edition of the Environmental Monitor, we highlight resource managers and researchers who work together to protect and preserve natural resources. From monitoring above and below dams to studying harmful algal bloom dynamics in local water bodies, this latest edition highlights the role of environmental data-informed resource management. Featuring stories from glaciologists to managers of multi-site resource monitoring programs throughout the United States, our writers sought out environmental professionals dedicated to understanding environmental resources and the stressors that threaten them, using data to inform policies, restoration, and various initiatives. … ” Read more and download copy at Environmental Monitor.
In commentary today …
Time to gut and amend California’s rogue water agencies
Edward Ring, senior fellow with the California Policy Center, writes, “In California today, we have given unelected state bureaucrats the power to make decisions that affect millions of people and cost billions of dollars, and there is almost no recourse. There is also very little public criticism of the decisions these agencies make. That’s because the people who are most familiar with the extraordinary power of these agencies are also the people who must go to them for permits and, often, critical funding. Despite the absence of meaningful public criticism, the primary narratives that state agencies use to decide water policy in California are highly debatable. Let’s begin with the great climate boogeyman used to bludgeon us into accepting literally anything. The counter-argument is simple and compelling. Even if climate change has arrived – bringing more volatile weather patterns and hotter, longer summers – this only increases the urgency for regulatory flexibility, new approaches to protecting threatened species, and new water supply infrastructure. … ” Read more from What’s Current.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Eel River cleanup project tackles trash, one tire (and bowling ball) at a time
“On Thursday, September 26th, the dedicated volunteers of the Eel River Cleanup Project (ERCP) once again took to the outdoors, continuing their years-long mission of tidying up Southern Humboldt’s forests and riverbanks. Their efforts resulted in the removal of 1,700 pounds of trash, including a large tire and an unexpected discovery—a blue bowling ball. Since its beginnings in 2014, the ERCP has been making a real difference in the Garberville and Redway areas. Even before that Mike Miller began cleaning up trash in the area in 2011 and now the volunteers, led him, show up every week with trucks and a sense of purpose. Whether it’s rain or shine, they collect trash and haul it off, often paying out of their own pockets to dispose of it properly. … ” Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act signed into law
“On October 1, President Biden signed the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (S. 612) into law, which reauthorizes funding of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through September of 2034. The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2016 allocated $415 million to the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP, for environmental restoration and improvement projects. The act was set to expire in September of this year, even though according to the EIP’s website, only $121.8 million, or 29 percent, of the total authorized funds had been used. … ” Read more from KTVN.
Fall forest thinning continues at Lake Tahoe
“Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT) forest thinning projects are underway and scheduled to continue over the next several weeks, conditions and weather permitting. For project details, including land ownership, lead agency, start date and expected duration, view the Forest Thinning Projects Map at Tahoe Living With Fire which highlights current and upcoming projects. Forest health is a top priority of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), a landscape-scale collaboration and partnership between nearly 80 public and private organizations to achieve the environmental goals of the region. To date, partners have treated nearly 95,000 acres in Lake Tahoe Basin forests to reduce hazardous fuels. After decades of fire suppression, Tahoe Basin’s forests are overstocked and highly vulnerable to insects, disease, and catastrophic wildfire. Forest thinning projects are a vital forest management tool used by land managers to help protect communities by removing excess vegetation (fuels) on public lands that can feed unwanted wildfires. These projects complement defensible space and home hardening efforts on private property in neighborhoods and communities. Forest thinning also contributes to improved forest health, wildlife habitat, and watershed and forest resilience in the face of climate change. … ” Read more from the Forest Service.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Shasta water level down from 2023 after hot, dry summer; uncertain rainy season ahead
“Record-breaking heat this past summer has the North State and the rest of California starting the new year ― the new water year, that is ― thirsty for rainfall to fill reservoirs and ease wildfire danger. Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Shasta Dam, said conditions in the lake and other reservoirs the agency manages in California were in “relatively good” shape this month. At the end of September, the water level in Lake Shasta was down from 2023, but still above average for this time of year, according to the bureau. State and federal water managers mark the new water year beginning Oct. 1 to coincide with the beginning of California’s rainy season. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
BAY AREA
Invasive 20-pound rodents continue to spread in the Bay Area
“Close to a thousand nutria have been hunted down in the Bay Area this year alone, and wildlife officials are urging people to share reports of the invasive, 2.5-foot-long rodents as recent sightings caught on camera show they’ve spread to Contra Costa County, posing a risk to a critical watershed. Krysten Kellum, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Bay Delta Region, and Matthew Slattengren, Contra Costa County agriculture commissioner, both confirmed the discovery in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to SFGATE, as first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.) … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
Pajaro River levee project breaks ground as winter flood concerns loom
“Over a year and a half after the Pajaro River levee burst, inundating nearly 300 homes in Monterey County with chocolate milk-colored water, flood agencies broke ground on Wednesday on a massive levee project to protect the river valley from future storms. “We’re turning the page from decades of fighting for a project [to] now just a handful of years of constructing a project for a new safe and secure Pajaro Valley,” Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend said. The nearly 14-mile levee project, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency, is expected to be finished early next decade. … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO:
- Pajaro River flood protection project breaks ground, from the Office of the Governor
- Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of $600 million Corralitos Creek flood control project, from KSBY
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Upgrades made to Fowler water tower to reduce lead contamination risks
“Big changes are happening at the water tower in Fowler to help reduce the risk of lead contamination. You can see the work underway for a major makeover, including new paint. … ” Read more from Channel 30.
Seat on one of Kern’s most powerful but little known water boards has a challenger
“Siona Harper Huyck knows her bid for a seat on the Kern County Water Agency in this November’s election is a long shot. The education and health consultant doesn’t know a lot about water, for starters. And she’s up against incumbent Royce Fast, a fourth generation Rosedale-area farmer with nearly 30 years serving on water boards, including 12 at the agency. “I fully understand that water is a steep learning curve,” she said during a recent interview. “But I am a pretty tenacious person.” Since she filed for the District 6 seat, which covers northwest Bakersfield up to 7th Standard Road and east to Highway 204, Huyck has been cramming on all things water from the Kern River to groundwater banking. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
30th anniversary of the historic Water Board decision to protect Mono Lake shows that additional action is needed
“Thirty years ago, on September 28, 1994, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued one of California’s most historic environmental decisions. The Mono Lake Basin Water Rights Decision 1631 (D1631) was designed to protect fragile and ecologically critical Mono Lake from unsustainable water diversions. On that day, the City of Los Angeles, the Mono Lake Committee and others joined in support of the solution to protect Mono Lake reflected in D1631. The Decision halted the destruction of Mono Lake. “When approved 30 years ago, D1631 became one of California’s greatest environmental successes,” said Geoffrey McQuilkin, Executive Director, Mono Lake Committee. Now, on the 30th anniversary of the decision, the lake elevation has not yet recovered to the healthy level ordered by the State Board and Mono Lake’s resources remain in jeopardy. Today, the Mono Lake Committee welcomes a new phase in the partnership with Los Angeles, and anticipates additional action by the Board to achieve the mandated lake level – 6,392 feet above sea level. The first step in this process is a Board hearing and review slated for 2025. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Metabolic Studio diverts LA River water to “facilitate natural systems that want to repair themselves”
“Art and research organisation Metabolic Studio has showcased aspects of its Bending the River project, an infrastructure and art project designed to remediate water and land around the Los Angeles River. For more than a decade, Metabolic Studio has been working with local agencies to divert water from the Los Angeles River as a source for irrigation in a region that often suffers with drought. Metabolic Studio founder Lauren Bon has gained what the studio claims is the only private rights to the river, which is mostly a massive, paved aqueduct that carries rainwater through the city to the ocean. The studio has cut into the concrete canal, placed pumps and begun to source water directly from the flow. Bon told Dezeen that the aim of the project was to “facilitate natural systems that want to repair themselves”. … ” Read more from DeZeen.
Art and education series increased awareness about LA’s water past and future
“Art, education, and water collided in “What’s on Tap.” This art exhibit and accompanying event series spread public awareness about the history and future of Los Angeles’ water, from source to spigot. “I hope that people came away understanding that our relationship to and stewardship of water in LA is not only a critical part of our past history, but essential to determining our region’s future as well,” said Edith de Guzman, UC Cooperative Extension specialist for water equity and adaptation policy with the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. … ” Read more from UCLA.
Long Beach debuts “Jellyfishbot” to clean the city’s marina waters
“Long Beach’s small but mighty “Jellyfishbot” is on a mission to collect trash in the city’s marina waters — and officials need your help naming and designing some of it. Young people from surrounding communities are invited to submit art that could be displayed on the sides of the robot and participate in a naming contest. The winning artist will receive a $1,500 scholarship package and other prizes donated by sponsors. Bryan Plante, superintendent for marine operations, told LAist that the bot is much more efficient than sending a boat with a team of people to scour through the area. “It’s a Roomba of the sea, if you will,” he said. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Some help is finally set for residents in Palos Verdes’ landslide crisis. They hope it’s not too late
“After weeks of residents begging for outside help with landslide damage in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, some assistance is finally on the way. The Rancho Palos Verdes City Council on Tuesday allocated $2.8 million — more than half of a $5-million grant from Los Angeles County — for direct relief to residents in the Portuguese Bend area facing landslide damage or a loss of vital utilities — or in many cases, both. “These emergency grants will deliver long-overdue immediate assistance to those whose lives have been upended by land movement and utility shutoffs, helping them cover essential costs like home repairs and temporary housing,” Mayor John Cruikshank said in a statement. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Yucca Valley homeowners face $5,000 a day fines over polluting septic systems
“Yucca Valley property owners who aren’t complying with a ban on septic tanks are beginning to feel the hammer from state enforcers, who want an aquifer that supplies drinking water for the rural town off Highway 62 to stop being polluted with toilet waste runoff. After years of warnings, state water regulators have now issued cease-and-desist notices against three Yucca Valley homeowners for failing to hook up to public sewage lines, and for discharging septic waste into the town’s primary drinking water source. If they do not comply by December, they could face penalties of $5,000 a day and referral to the state attorney general for possible further sanctions. None of the owners responded to requests for comment from The Desert Sun. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
People in South Bay say sewage smell has improved
“In an app on his phone, Cesar Rosales is able to track the air quality inside his San Ysidro home. It’s connected to his air purifier and shows a significant improvement in the last few weeks. “What have you noticed over the last three weeks in terms of the smell?” “A remarkable decline in how much it is in the night,” Rosales said. “It’s not keeping you up at night anymore?” “No and it’s not waking me up in the morning either.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Imperial Beach coast is finally open, but more sewage is on the way.
“Imperial Beach celebrated that its coastline finally reopened last week after over a year of closure from Tijuana sewage spilling over the border. But more sewage is headed toward their shorelines this month. Why? Tijuana is about to make a scheduled repair to its biggest sewer main that runs from the center of the city toward the border. But to do that, Mexico has to shut down a critical piece of its sewer system and that waste has nowhere else to go but into the United States. Mexican and U.S. officials assure that these changes are necessary and will actually help to prevent future illegal spills. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
California approves Colorado River Forbearance Agreement for 2024-2026 conservation efforts
“The Imperial Irrigation District board voted 5-0 to approve the Colorado River Forbearance Agreement at the regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1. In response to the ongoing drought crisis in the Colorado River Basin, IID has approved a multi-year forbearance agreement under the Lower Colorado Conservation and Efficiency Program. This new agreement, set to run from 2024 to 2026, will enable key stakeholders to conserve critical water resources in the Colorado River system, safeguarding the future of water supply for the state and the Southwest. A California forbearance agreement is necessary so the water savings attributable to System Conservation add to the elevation of Lake Mead instead of being diverted by other contractors who may have otherwise had rights to additional water under certain circumstances. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Arizona Republicans and Democrats haven’t been meeting to make a deal on rural groundwater protection
“Three and a half months that were supposed to be filled with bipartisan negotiation on rural groundwater management have not yielded a deal between Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. They haven’t really been meeting. When the last legislative session ended, Hobbs said she’d meet with Republicans and floated the possibility of calling lawmakers into a special session to tackle the issue. Despite Hobbs later saying that productive meetings have been happening, there was only one — and according to those present — it didn’t go well. State Rep. Tim Dunn (R-Yuma) is one of three Republican lawmakers who reached out to Hobbs last month asking for more communication. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
New smart tree watering research can deliver major impact to Arizona’s urban environments
“Extreme heat in Arizona isn’t a new phenomenon, but recent trends – including Phoenix surpassing 100 straight days reaching at least 100-degree temperatures – have reinforced the need to proactively plan for increasingly hot temperatures on a nearly year-round basis. Given the ongoing heat and water crises, researchers at Arizona’s public universities set out to discover how urban tree watering strategies can be improved to reduce water needs and the urban heat island effect while remaining scalable and efficient. With support from an Arizona Board of Regents’ Research Grant, researchers at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University explored this question and tested new and existing water conservation practices. The results have successfully pushed the limits of current water conservation efforts and gained national attention for their potential to address longstanding challenges in Arizona and across the globe. … ” Read more from the Arizona Board of Regents.
Farmers use the majority of Colorado’s water. Shouldn’t they bear the burden of future cutbacks?
“You’ve heard the news: Farmers and ranchers use roughly 80% of the water in Colorado and much of the American West. So doesn’t it make sense that if growers and producers could just cut a bit of that, say 10%, we could wipe out all our water shortages? We probably couldn’t water our lawns with wild abandon, but still, wouldn’t that simple move let everyone relax on these high-stress water issues? Not exactly. To do so would require drying up thousands of acres of productive irrigated lands, causing major disruptions to rural farm economies and the agriculture industry, while wiping out vast swaths of open space and habitat that rely on the industry’s sprawling, intricate irrigation ditches, experts said. … ” Read more from KUNC.
In national water news today …
The United States just witnessed its most extreme October heat
“An exceptional autumn heat wave, which began in the southwestern United States last week, sent temperatures soaring to 117 degrees in Palm Springs, Calif., on Tuesday — matching the highest temperature ever observed in the United States during October. The high of 117 also matched the record for North America during October, according to weather historian Maximiliano Herrera. Dozens of other locations, including Phoenix and Death Valley, Calif., set October high temperature records while Las Vegas fell just short. In San Francisco, which hit 94 degrees, Tuesday was the hottest day of the year. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
