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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Independent Science Board from 9am to 2:30pm at the Ryde Hotel in the Delta. Agenda items include Planning for a Climate Science Research Symposium, Presentation: Draft Tribal and Environmental Justice Issue Paper; Debrief from previous day’s tour; Subsidence review; Food webs review; Decision-making under deep uncertainty review update; and debrief on Bay-Delta Science Conference. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Beaver restoration program brings furry species back to habitats, tribal land across California
“California has strengthened a new Beaver Restoration Program which is dedicated to supporting the species and their habitats. With the passing of Assembly Bill 2196, the program has partnered with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The initiative works with California tribal nations, private landowners and non-government organizations on implementing coexistence and beaver-assisted restoration projects to the state’s wildlife habitats. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB2196 into law in September. The bill’s author, Assemblyman Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, said the law will now codified the program’s efforts. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
LaMalfa visits Shasta Dam, reassures progress on Sites Reservoir project
An aerial view taken September 2014 shows the valley that would be filled by the proposed Sites reservoir near Maxwell.
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa was at Shasta Dam on Thursday, where the lake is about 61% full. He says a recent paperwork mix-up will not significantly affect the Sites Reservoir plan, and work should start in another year or two. LaMalfa said water is important for fish and agriculture because California feeds the country. “We grow 90 to 99 percent of many crops in California—specialty crops, fruit crops, vegetable crops—crops that aren’t grown anywhere else in the U.S. You would either have to source them from another country or do without,” LaMalfa said. “I like to tell my New Yorkers, if you want your tomato paste for pasta, it’s probably going to come from here.” … ” Read more from KRCR.
Getting water to the Sites Reservoir
“Action News Now is learning more about the sites reservoir project proposed for Colusa County. Two weeks ago, the developer needed to resubmit its application for a water quality permit under the Clean Water Act with more information. The pumping station in Hamilton City is one of the two stations that will divert water from the Sacramento River to the sites reservoir. The other station is in Red Bluff. Water is diverted from the river into the Glenn-Colusa irrigation district’s main canal. The canal infrastructure is already here, but they must build a regulating reservoir on site. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
State’s top water manager urges solutions for Delta conveyance at SoCal regional roundtable
“The future of California’s primary water supply delivery system was presented to regional leaders on Tuesday as Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) hosted the state’s top water manager for a roundtable discussion on the proposed Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). Karla Nemeth, Director of the California Department of Water Resources, laid out the importance of investing in the DCP during a two-hour conversation attended by dozens of regional water, community, and civic leaders at EMWD’s headquarters. “We have no better option than the one that is right in front of us today,” Nemeth said. “When the current system fails, it will be harder and more expensive than the current option.” The call to action comes as the proposed DCP advances through the regulatory process and faces a critical vote by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors in December. That vote will determine if Metropolitan continues its financial support in the design and planning of the modernized conveyance system. … ” Read more from Eastern Municipal Water District.
No rain in sight for California in October as high pressure ridge dominates
“October has kicked off with high temperatures across California and the Southwest, and that trend looks set to continue into mid-month, though we’ll see the usual fluctuations in intensity and microclimate effects. It’s clear that the first two weeks of October will feature above-average temperatures and little to no chance of precipitation across the state. Beyond mid-month, the forecast becomes less certain — similar to the pattern of uncertainty noted in the September weather outlook, and that’s no coincidence. The ridge of high pressure responsible for the record-breaking heat across California and the Southwest is holding strong. In fact, it’s expected to restrengthen slightly and shift back over California this weekend and into the second week of October. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Millions of Americans have never been this hot in October before as a historic heat wave hits
“Millions of people in the West are experiencing a dangerous and historic October heatwave with temperatures so extreme they’d be considered hot during the peak of summer. The heat has been so potent the United States soared to and tied the highest temperature ever seen in the month of October on Tuesday. At least 125 places from the West Coast to the Rockies have tied or broken all-time October heat records since the month began. Many others have set daily high temperature records. It’s another reminder that extreme heat is no longer confined to the summer as the world warms due to fossil fuel pollution. … ” Read more from CNN.
Numbers in review: California’s water year comes to an end
“The water year in California runs from Oct. 1 through the following September 30. The timeline helps water managers prepare for the onset of the wet season, in October, and for the dry season, June through September. A typical water year begins with the onset of precipitation in October with nearly half of the annual total falling December through February. Rain and snow totals begin to lower in March before dropping off in May. At that point, water demand is at the highest point and temperatures warm, resulting in more evaporation. This helps illustrate the critical need for winter precipitation. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
The water year is over and a new one begins. What might it look like?
“It’s been a long and hot summer across Northern California. Now that it’s October, the 2023-2024 water year has ended and a new one has begun. The rain and snow of last winter feels like a distant memory, and many of us are looking forward to some cooler and wetter weather returning. In the near-term, the weather pattern looks to remain warm and dry, with high pressure controlling the setup. But what about the rest of fall and into the winter? Can we say what lies ahead for Northern California in water year 2024-2025? … ” Read more from Channel 10.
California Water Institute partners with Sustainable Conservation to study on-farm recharge
“The California Water Institute at Fresno State announces its first formal partnership with Sustainable Conservation on a $498,423 grant-funded project from the California Department of Food and Agriculture aimed at enhancing aquifer replenishment in the San Joaquin Valley. “The California Water Institute has engaged in several activities with Sustainable Conservation in the past, but this collaboration marks a significant development of our partnership,” said Laura Ramos, interim director for California Water Institute’s Research and Education Division. “We are looking forward to strengthening our relationship through this grant.” Sustainable Conservation, a nonprofit organization focused on solving California’s land, air, and water challenges, and the California Water Institute will implement six on-farm recharge pilots specifically in pistachio orchards to study nitrate leaching, soil health and function, and crop yield. … ” Read more from Fresno State.
How the National Park Service is protecting groundwater for people and ecosystems
“Picture this: you’re visiting a national park in a desert landscape, and you spend your day exploring by foot in the summer heat. After seeing the sites that you had bookmarked in your visitor guidebook, you’re ready to relax and rehydrate, so you go to the visitor center, find the water spigot, and turn it on. Instantly, you get a nice, cool refill of water in your bottle, and you find a shady spot to sip and sit for a bit before you get back to it. National Park Service (NPS) staff have provided a comfortable experience for you to access drinking water in an arid part of the world where plants and animals have very limited amounts of water to survive. But the convenience of this refreshing water supply may hide just how much planning and research goes into making drinking water available to millions of park visitors and staff each year, and the extent to which those waters are connected to natural and cultural features and processes that attract people to national parks. … ” Read more from the National Park Service.
Migration matters: Breaking down barriers to migration
“Over the past century, humans have constructed major transportation infrastructure like highways, bridges, railroads, and more to streamline travel and the movement of goods. However, much of this development has made it difficult for animals to follow their traditional migration routes. Highways and railroad lines divide habitat, making animal crossings perilous, and bridges constructed over rivers or streams often do not allow for fish passage beneath them. Dams, culverts, and levees, built to meet human needs, split watersheds, leaving native fish unable to move freely. Much of this infrastructure is essential for our human communities. Some however, like the Klamath River dams, are no longer beneficial and can be removed. Others, like bridges and railways, can be redesigned to meet the needs of society, and fish and wildlife. As we advance technologically, so too does our ability and responsibility to reconnect severed ecosystems. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
California officials take action during record-breaking October heat wave
“State leaders are taking action as unusually high temperatures have been forecast for the first week of October in parts of California. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is working in partnership with state agencies to promote heat safety and resources to help residents stay safe. The National Weather Service expects extreme heat and record highs, with excessive heat warnings in 20 counties in the Bay Area, Central Coast, Inland Empire and Southern California. Heat advisories will continue into Sunday, Oct. 6. … ” Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
In commentary today …
Farmers climb the hill: A look at advocating for western agriculture and water
William Bourdeau, executive vice president of Harris Farms, owner of Bourdeau Farms, director of the Westlands Water District, writes, “During my recent visit to Washington, D.C., we had the opportunity to engage in vital discussions with policymakers and industry leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing Western agriculture. As a representative of California and the Family Farm Alliance, my focus was on advocating for solutions that address water shortages, resiliency, and the need for improved infrastructure. The decisions made in Washington have a significant impact on the future of farming communities like ours, and it’s crucial that our voice is heard—particularly when it comes to protecting American food production and navigating complex environmental regulations. Western irrigated agriculture is not only a cornerstone of our national food supply but also a driving force behind the economies of regions like California’s Central Valley. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
As California fish face extinction, the state isn’t even trying anymore
Dan Bacher writes, “With the start of the new water year yesterday, representatives of fishing and environmental groups blasted the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for cancelling the fall flow protections for the few remaining Delta Smelt. October 1, is the start of the new “water year,” the date water managers use to mark the end of the dry season and the beginning of the wet. Current state and federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) permits require DWR and Reclamation to release a pulse of water through the Delta to the San Francisco Bay in September and October to improve habitat conditions for the listed Delta Smelt, according to a statement from environmental and fishing groups. This fall outflow requirement is only triggered in years when it is wetter than normal and is often referred to as “Fall X2.” … ” Read more from Red, Green & Blue.
PRO/CON: Is California’s Prop. 4 climate bond a smart move or just too expensive?
“Proposition 4 would allow the state to borrow $10 billion by issuing bonds bonds for natural resources and climate activities. Individual proposals include efforts to ensure safe drinking water, strengthen drought, flood and water “resilience,” increase clean energy production, address sea level rise, create parks and outdoor access, provide heat mitigation or fund wildfire prevention programs. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Klamath River dam removal brings hope for threatened salmon
“Over the last month, salmon have gathered in clear pools in the Salmon River as they have returned to their spawning grounds. This undammed river, a tributary of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border, is one of the last remaining strongholds of a type of salmon that is increasingly at risk of extinction: spring-run chinook. The salmon population here has sharply declined in the last decade. But the recent removal of four dams on the Klamath is bringing new hope among biologists, environmental activists and Indigenous leaders that the fish could begin to recover. “Dam removal couldn’t come at a better time,” said Toz Soto, the Karuk Tribe’s fisheries program manager. “We really need to build this population back before we lose it completely.” … ” Read more from the LA Times.
McKinleyville Community Services District looking askance at Big Lagoon water collab
“The McKinleyville Community Services District will most likely not help the Big Lagoon Community Services District operate its water system. The MCSD Board of Directors is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at Azalea Hall, 1620 Pickett Rd. in McKinleyville. The meeting will also be held on Zoom at 859 4543 6653. Big Lagoon reached out to the MCSD in March and asked it to run its water system, which would include conducting water testing, reading the meters, billing and various required reports. MCSD staff determined that the work could be done for about $23,000, which Big Lagoon would pay for. However, district staff is recommending against the proposal. There are concerns about legal liability, but more importantly staff is concerned about the additional workload for MCSD employees, who area already stretched thin. … ” Read more from the Mad River Union.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Update on Van Norden Meadow Restoration Project
“Van Norden meadow (Yayalu Itdeh in Washoe), an important Sierra meadow at the headwaters of the South Yuba River, was purchased in 2012 and saved from development by the Truckee Donner Land Trust, multiple local conservation groups, and thousands of local community members who supported the campaign and raised funds to save this property. SYRCL, in partnership with the US Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest (USFS), the Truckee Donner Land Trust (TDLT), and other partners are working together to restore 485 acres of meadow habitat in Van Norden meadow. The restoration involves conducting key scientific studies to address specific uncertainties about how meadow restoration actions impact meadow hydrology, ecology, biology, and the vulnerability of meadows to climate change. The project partners have been monitoring Van Norden meadow since 2008. We anticipate that our long-term baseline data will lead to greater understanding of specific uncertainties surrounding the response of meadow hydrology, headwater streamflow, vegetation and wildlife communities, and climatic vulnerability to meadow restoration actions aimed at restoring ecosystem function. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Yuba River cleanup event removes estimated 10,000 pounds of trash
“The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) held its 27th annual cleanup event to pull trash from the Yuba Watershed, and they’re calling it a huge success. The event takes place traditionally once the summer swimming season wraps up. This year, an estimated 10,000 pounds of trash were removed from the river. “I moved out here a couple years ago and i had never heard of the yuba. And it’s just mind blowingly gorgeous and serene and majestic and perfect,” Frass valley resident elias iristree. The SYRCL wants to keep it that way. The nonprofit has been around for 40 years, focusing on keeping the Yuba Watershed clean. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Commentary: What is the most ferocious election in the Sacramento region? You’ll never guess
Columnist Tom Philp writes, “The most ferocious political fight in the Sacramento region this election cycle is in, of all places, the quiet Sacramento suburban hamlet of Fair Oaks. There, the water district is embroiled in the most suburban issue of them all — parking. And the village is ablaze with signs demanding a district takeover. At the Fair Oaks Water District, with five board members, three incumbents are up for re-election and all face challengers, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years. And the other two directors not up for re-election face a signature-gathering effort to force a separate recall election. The existing directors “want to have their fiefdom,” said the leader of the fast-emerging loyal opposition, long-time resident Leon Corcos. “The way to stop it is to get three votes on the board.” Prosperity is tearing Fair Oaks apart. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
CENTRAL COAST
Soquel Creek Water District finishes Pure Water Soquel construction
“The pipes are in, the filters are primed and the water is almost ready to flow at the Soquel Creek Water District’s Pure Water Soquel facility in Live Oak. Although the faucets won’t be turned on until early next year, the new facility’s nearly three-year construction effort was capped off Thursday at a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by district officials and featuring keynote addresses from a slough of regional, state and federal dignitaries. A decade in the making, the roughly $180 million facility is an integral part of the district’s effort to bring the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin–the sole freshwater resource for its 40,600 customers–into sustainability by 2040. “It’s been an incredible, unforgettable, daunting, intimidating, amazing, nerve-racking, breathtaking, exhilarating and totally awesome 10 years,” said newly-appointed Soquel Creek Water General Manager Melanie Mow Schumacher. … ” Read more from the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
SEE ALSO: State-funded Santa Cruz County recycling facility will protect drinking water, build resilience to sea-level rise, press release from the State Water Board
Guadalupe violates water board permits due to clogged sewage filters
“A recent sludge buildup at Guadalupe’s sewage treatment plant put the city in deep water with a regional authority, which prompted a plan for course correction. During its Sept. 24 meeting, the Guadalupe City Council reviewed two interrelated proposals to dredge the plant’s filtering system ponds and improve the site’s maintenance procedures. Approved unanimously by the council, the two projects also correct permit violations cited by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to the staff report. “The existing system has not been maintained like it should be, so it’s worn out quicker than it should have,” City Engineer Jeff van den Eikhof said at the meeting. … ” Read more from the Santa Maria Sun.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Emergency declaration made over oil spill in Stockton
“Several days after potentially hundreds of gallons of oil spilled into the Smith Canal in Stockton, the acting director of the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services declared a local emergency due to property and environmental impacts. Acting Director Paul Canepa made the declaration since county supervisors are not in session, and it will last for seven days unless the board meets and decides to extend it. The declaration will help impacted community members have access to resources and services related to the spill, the county said. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
Kern values unfazed by Tropical Storm Hilary
“Record rain and storm damage during last year’s tropical storm that drenched parts of Kern County, Calif., did not prevent farmers there from amassing a record crop value. Table grape prices rose significantly, citrus and blueberry yields were up, and pistachio acreage grew to a new high as the county’s annual gross crop receipts surpassed $8.62 billion, beating out neighboring Fresno and Tulare Counties. Kern now has three billion-dollar commodities in its mix of production. All grapes in 2023 were valued at over $1.61 billion, with citrus in second place at $1.27 billion, and pistachios the newcomer to that elite list at just over $1 billion in gross receipts. None of the figures in the annual crop and livestock report released by the Kern County Department of Agriculture reflect profit or loss to farmers. The data merely reflects the “farm gate value,” or what farmers were paid for the commodities they produced. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Water and Power: Could a century-old aqueduct point the way to Los Angeles’s clean energy future?
“Los Angeles was thirsty, desperately so. At the start of the 20th century, the upstart city was wilting under a drought that had delivered just half an inch of rain per month during the previous three years, well under the already-low norm. It was scarcely enough to meet the needs of a modest city, let alone the booming metropolis its leaders imagined. William Mulholland, the visionary head of the city’s water department, had rationed residents’ water use and installed newfangled meters to limit waste, but reports still rolled in lamenting foul-tasting water tainted by algal blooms in the city’s reservoirs and fire hydrants that lacked the pressure to protect homes and businesses. … ” This article is ultimately about the hydroelectric capabilities of the LA Aqueduct, but it takes a while to get there. Great photos. Read more from Distillations Magazine.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea shrinking rapidly as IID conserves more water
“Monday marked the end of the Imperial Irrigation District’s 49-day Deficit Irrigation Program (DIP). Since the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) approved and implemented this additional water conservation program – expected to yield 170,000 acre-feet (AF) of water this year (and as much as 500,000 AF over the next two years) – the Salton Sea’s rate of decline increased 50% relative to the recent average rate, exposing thousands of additional acres of lakebed, Pacific Institute and Alianza Coachella Valley said in a joint press release. This extraordinary water conservation comes on top of some 176,000 AF of lower-than-expected water use by IID and another 36,000 of decreased use by the Coachella Valley Water District, partly due to its own extraordinary conservation efforts. All told, these factors could decrease total inflows to the Salton Sea this year by 13% relative to 2023, the nonprofits said. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
SAN DIEGO
Extreme weather strains stormwater infrastructure, prompts proposed solutions
“San Diego is a prime example of a city that is facing an urgent need to address the challenges posed by stormwater runoff and aging infrastructure, particularly as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe. The rains of the winter of 2023-2024 served as a stark reminder of San Diego’s vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for a comprehensive strategy to manage stormwater and protect urban infrastructure. In response, a new sales tax initiative has emerged as a potential solution to fund various infrastructure improvements including repair and replacement of failing underground storm drains, maintenance of creeks and flood control conveyance facilities, and installation of green infrastructure. This article will explore how this initiative could help address San Diego’s stormwater problems and serve as an example for other cities. … ” Read more from Stormwater Solutions.
CDC to begin South Bay health assessment to investigate Tijuana river sewage crisis
“Families in the South Bay will be asked starting Thursday to share their concerns regarding sewage pollution along the Tijuana River Valley. More than 6,000 homes will receive flyers informing them of the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response, or CASPER, being conducted over the next few weeks by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Volunteers wearing reflective vests will begin distributing the flyers door-to-door on Thursday. The health assessment is intended to gather information about the needs arising due to concerns about toxic air pollution in the South Bay stemming from sewage overflow in the Tijuana River Valley. Nestor resident Angel Aguilar said it’s about time. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Some Rio Verde Foothills residents face lottery to determine water delivery system access
“The Arizona neighborhood that made national news when it lost its primary water source will soon have a new standpipe at its eastern edge — but not everyone will be able to use it. More than 1,200 existing Rio Verde Foothills residents are already signed up to get access to the water delivery system, according to private water company Epcor. But state regulators mandated a limited number of spots for yet-to-be-built homes while approving the community’s permanent solution last year. Epcor officials say there’s 150 access codes available, and about 230 applicants. That means the utility will soon be holding a lottery to determine who gets water — and who doesn’t. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Kelly-backed Senate bill would re-authorize program to study groundwater along border
“A bill co-introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly looks to renew a federal program that monitors groundwater quality and availability along the U.S.-Mexico border. Kelly introduced the bill alongside Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. They say cross-border aquifers supply communities in both the U.S. and Mexico with water for drinking, agriculture and industry — but vital information about the health and quality of those water systems is lacking. They’re asking for the U.S.-Mexico transboundary aquifer assessment program to be reauthorized and expanded, so that research and data collection about groundwater security, quality and quantity can continue. The program was first authorized in 2006 and brought together research from agencies and universities in Mexico and the U.S. — including the University of Arizona. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Desalination helps meet water shortfalls in parts of the world. Is it a viable solution for Colorado?
“State Sen. Kevin Priola traveled to Israel in 2022 and came away with an idea: If the arid country can produce drinking water by taking the salt out of saltwater, the same technology could potentially help Colorado with its water concerns. The next year, Priola sponsored a bill directing the state to study desalination. “Thinking of the Colorado River Basin, the northern states and the southern states are basically all in the same boat when it comes to water,” said Priola, a Democrat from Henderson. “I was trying to get people thinking and talking and looking at desalination as being part of the solution.” The bill was an attempt to explore all options in response to near-crisis conditions on the Colorado River, the water supply for 40 million people, and future water supply gaps in Colorado. But while some uses of desalination — also called desalinization — are technically feasible, the hurdles are so big, lawmakers and experts have said it isn’t worth the investment for Colorado, even as a study topic. Priola’s bill failed, but people are still talking about the concept. … ” Read more from the Water Desk.
In national water news today …
Nearly 50% of researchers quit science within a decade, huge study reveals
“A study of nearly 400,000 scientists across 38 countries finds that one-third of them quit science within five years of authoring their first paper, and almost half leave within a decade. The analysis, published in Higher Education1, used data from the citation database Scopus to track scientists’ scholarly publishing careers — a proxy for how active they are in research. It found that, overall, women were more likely than men to stop publishing, but the size of this difference varied between disciplines. “We have always been thinking and knowing that people leave science, but the scale of leaving science was somehow unknown,” says study co-author Marek Kwiek, an academic-career researcher at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. … ” Read more from Nature.
