On the calendar today …
- PUBLIC HEARING: Sites Reservoir Water Right Permit beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board is holding a multi-day public hearing on the Sites Project Authority’s application for a water right permit to store up to 1.5 million acre-feet of water annually in a proposed reservoir in the Sacramento Valley. View hearing on the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel.
- WORKSHOP: Flood diversions for groundwater recharge from 10am to 11:30am. Staff of the State Water Board, Division of Water Rights invite the public to attend a virtual staff workshop on October 9, 2024, at 10:00 am. The workshop will focus on flood diversions for groundwater recharge using Water Code § 1242.1, with an intended audience of public entities and individual diverters. Click here for the workshop notice.
- WEBINAR: Chronicles from Nature’s Phoenix, Episode 5: Ecological Cost of Postfire Interventions from 12pm to 1pm. Dr. Dominick DellaSala and Michelle Connolly, Director of Conservation North, critically examine the common postfire logging practices and their ecological impacts, challenging the prevailing narrative that views postfire landscapes as wastelands in need of “salvage” and “restoration” in our fifth installment of Nature’s Phoenix’s chapter webinar series. The contents of chapter 9 highlight how the logging industry often rushes to exploit economic value from fire-killed trees, leading to extensive and disruptive interventions such as road building, replanting with commercial tree species, and the use of herbicides. This approach not only disregards the ecological benefits that fire brings to forest ecosystems but also exacerbates disturbances, transforming dynamic fire-dependent landscapes into biologically sterile tree plantations. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
‘Dirty Delta’: California’s largest estuary is in crisis. Is the state discriminating against people who fish there?

“More than two dozen fishing rods were braced against the railing of San Francisco’s Pier 7, their lines dangling into the Bay. People chatted on the benches, shouting in Cantonese and leaping up when one of the rods bent or jiggled. One after another, the men and women at the end of the pier reeled in striped bass as long as an arm, and even thicker. … From the Bay Area to Sacramento and Stockton, from Fresno to north of Redding, Californians — particularly low-income immigrants from Asian countries and other people of color — rely on the San Francisco Bay and the rivers that feed it for food. But the vast watershed is in trouble, plagued by low flows, algal blooms, urban and farm runoff and a legacy of mercury contamination that dates back to the Gold Rush. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now investigating claims that California’s management of the state’s largest estuary has “discriminated on the basis of race, color and national origin” with “its failure to update Bay-Delta water quality standards,” which involve how much water is diverted to cities and farms. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
S.F. is at war over an environmental case headed to the Supreme Court
“As San Francisco prepares to ask the Supreme Court to ease federal restrictions on sewage pollution into the ocean and the bay, the case has divided the city’s all-Democratic leadership, and put the city in the unusual position of siding with oil companies and business groups and against the state and federal governments. The Board of Supervisors will take up a resolution Tuesday urging city officials to settle the case and avoid a ruling that could harm offshore water quality nationwide. San Francisco is siding with “the nation’s biggest polluters” in a lawsuit that “has the potential to seriously destabilize Clean Water Act protections at a time when environmental protections are already under serious threat,” said the resolution by Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Aaron Peskin. … “ Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Solano County Supes hear water issues update
“The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard an update on water issues, including the state’s Delta Conveyance project, which would build a water tunnel to divert resources south. The tunnel would be drilled under the Delta and would remove water from the upper parts of the Sacramento River to directly deliver it to pumps in Tracy. The water would eventually be pumped to Southern California and the Central Valley, bypassing the river delta itself. By taking in freshwater at inputs near Courtland and Hood, the diverts water in the delta that is currently halting saltwater intrusion. The project is now expected to cost the state about $20 billion, inflated up from the original cost of $12 billion. “The interesting part of this is that the costs keep going up about $1 billion a year,” staff said. … “ Read more from the Daily Reporter.
DWR releases groundwater conditions update highlighting first decade of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
“On the heels of the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) last month and the start of the new water year, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its Fall Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions update. The recent update, using the most current data and information on groundwater conditions, describes the accomplishments made towards a sustainable groundwater future under SGMA –including rebounding groundwater levels and fewer dry wells reported – as well as the challenges posed by climate extremes, especially extended periods of drought when groundwater is heavily used. Groundwater is an important resource that helps sustain communities, households, agriculture, ecosystems and businesses across the state. Nearly 85 percent of Californians depend on groundwater for some portion of their water needs, but managing groundwater is difficult because it is out of sight, beneath our feet. Better data improves our understanding and ability to manage groundwater and prepare for extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. DWR’s Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Updates include the latest information on statewide groundwater levels, land subsidence, well infrastructure and the status of California’s groundwater basins. … ” Read more from DWR.
Whether pumping cuts come from state or locals, cuts are coming to Tulare County farmers
“Water managers in two Tulare County groundwater agencies are scrambling to keep their farmers out of state clutches as much as possible, even knowing the solution will be painful. “As long as we don’t saddle our landowners with another fee and a report to fill out, that’s our goal,” said attorney Alex Peltzer, who represents Lower Tule River Irrigation District and Pixley groundwater sustainability agencies. “That is our attitude and it is doable. It’s going to be unpopular and tough to do, but it’s possible. We think we can help manage landowners into a soft landing.” The only way to get there, though, is to significantly reduce pumping – and fast. The state Water Resources Control Board gave the two GSAs 60 days starting Sept. 17 to come up with a plan that proves to them farmers are making strides to stop subsidence, land sinking, and causing damage to drinking water wells from lowering the water table and worsening water quality. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
State grilling prompts Tulare County groundwater agency to make changes
“The Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency board took several actions at a recent meeting following a severe grilling by state Water Resources Control Board members during the region’s probation hearing on Sept. 17. Board members called subsidence in Eastern Tule’s borders “alarming” and said its groundwater accounting and allocation methods “don’t make sense.” The board placed the Tule subbasin on probation, with some exclusions for other groundwater agencies. That came on top of a lawsuit by the Friant Water Authority against Eastern Tule over subsidence and groundwater accounting and internal strife that led several members of Eastern Tule to break away and form their own groundwater agencies. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Fresno State utilizes grant funding to study groundwater recharge
“Fresno State is teaming up with nonprofit Sustainable Conservation on a groundwater recharge study. The partnership is run through the California Water Institute, a research division at Fresno State that focuses on sustainable water resource management. The big picture: The California Department of Food and Agriculture is giving Fresno State a $498,423 grant to fund the partnership. … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
GPS for drought monitoring: leveraging the power of satellites to quantify regional water deficits

John Chacon / California Department of Water Resources
“Drought intensity is often characterized using meteorological observations, such as precipitation, rather than hydrologic observations, such as reservoir levels and groundwater levels. While precipitation indicates the amount of water entering an area, precipitation models do not determine the amount of water retained in a watershed or the amount lost due to runoff and evapotranspiration, which are important factors for drought management. Researchers from the University of Montana addressed this need by producing a drought index that captures changes in both surface and subsurface hydrologic reservoirs/pools using a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field called hydrogeodesy. Hydrogeodesy quantifies changes in water volume based on how the shape of the Earth changes under the weight of the water. In this study, the researchers used hydrologic load estimates, calculated using three-dimensional global positioning system (GPS) data, to develop a GPS-based drought index (GDI). The study focused on California, where the GPS network is particularly dense and hydrologic observations from several sources are available. … ” Read more from NIDIS.
Done right, flooding fields can be efficient
“With their orchards, vineyards and high-value crops, California farmers have embraced drip and other forms of microirrigation, making such systems the leading method used to water their crops. Despite increased adoption of drip, the traditional and more low-tech method of flooding the ground and using gravity to deliver water to crops remains popular in the Golden State—and not just for field crops. Less popular in California are sprinkler systems, even though they remain the most widely used irrigation method in the nation. There’s a reason microirrigation has taken off. Drip systems, in general, improve irrigation efficiency, said Khaled Bali, an irrigation water management specialist at the University of California Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. With improved irrigation efficiency, farmers can produce higher yields per unit of applied water, he added. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
State Water Board approves boost in rates for 2024-25
“To meet budgetary shortfalls for water rights and water quality programs that require participation by farmers and ranchers, the California State Water Resources Control Board has approved rate increases, including for groundwater recharge projects. The state water board adopted increases for the new 2024-25 fee schedule at its Sept. 18 meeting. The higher fees come as California water users and local agencies work to balance critically overdrafted aquifers under the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA. Alexandra Biering, senior policy advocate for the California Farm Bureau, and others representing agriculture and water districts emphasized that higher fees for groundwater recharge permits would prevent participation by some water users. “Farm Bureau is concerned that if the fees are too high, this will be a disincentive to doing the exact sort of recharge that the temporary 180-day and five-year, high-flow diversion permits were intended to do,” said Biering, who monitored fee stakeholder meetings during the year. “We want to make sure that as you go through this process, that you are balancing the need to increase fees with increasing recharge.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Public acceptance lags as CA facilities turn sewage into tap water
“After an Orange County resident flushes her toilet, the water flows through the Southern California community’s sewer system, meanders its way to the sanitation plant, has its solids removed, is piped to a wastewater recycling facility next door and undergoes three different purification processes until it is clean enough to drink. “It tastes like water,” said Mehul Patel, executive director of operations for the Orange County Water District’s project, after taking a gulp from a clear plastic cup at the sampling station, as he stood outside the final purification process facility on a warm afternoon earlier this month. “It’s just like any other water, but it’s gone through a lot,” he said. “People shouldn’t judge where it came from, but where it is now.” … ” Read more from the Public News Service.
Innovative solar desalination system could provide low-cost drinking water for millions
“Scientists have built a solar-powered desalination system that does not need expensive batteries and which could produce vast amounts of low-cost drinking water for millions around the world. The innovative plant, which was designed by MIT researchers, responds quickly to subtle changes in the level of sunlight – such as a passing cloud – to make the most of the available solar energy. As a result, it requires no extra batteries for energy storage, nor a supplemental power supply, and therefore can produce large amounts of drinking water with exclusively renewable energy. The MIT engineers behind the project tested a community-scale prototype on groundwater wells in New Mexico in the US over six months. … ” Read more from The National News.
New laws aimed at preventing devastating January floods from happening again
“Two new bills just signed by Governor Gavin Newsom are aimed at helping city governments prepare and prevent major flooding like what happened Jan. 22 in San Diego. “It is a no brainer to make it easy and simple for routine maintenance that the city wants to do, to allow them to do it as quickly as possible, that’s what these bills are about,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez. Assembly Bill 3227 gets rid of some of the state environmental delays and helps expedite regular maintenance of storm water channels. The bill applies to channels that are fully concrete or have less than a 100-year storm capacity to ensure they are adequately maintained ahead of significant weather events. According to the city, this applies to nearly all of the channels in San Diego. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
SEE ALSO: New California laws aim to help city officials improve their storm preparedness, from Fox 5
LaMalfa, Thompson introduce Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act
“Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after introducing the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act with Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04). This bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to enroll additional agricultural lands in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program as long as it is necessary to address wetland habitat concerns. Additionally, it encourages farmers to manage their working croplands in ways that support wetland-dependent species by permitting seasonal flooding of these fields. LaMalfa said: “The next drought is around the corner, and we need to use the water resources we get to the best mutual benefit of farms, people, and the environment. Even this year with better water availability the California Department of Fish and Wildlife estimated that breeding duck populations have dropped by 30 percent, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by both farmers and wildlife due to poor water management policies. This bill seeks to protect both the farmers and the hundreds of species along the Pacific Flyway. I’m proud to support this bipartisan solution, bringing waterfowl and agriculture together to protect these habitats and keep land productive.”… ” Continue reading from Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
Prop 4: Here’s what’s in California’s $10B climate bond measure
“Among the many questions on your California ballot this November is whether to approve a $10 billion state bond to invest in climate adaptation. Proposition 4 is one of the largest bonds on the ballot in the country this year. What problem would this bond solve? The money in the bond will be used to make communities more resilient against climate change. The list of projects is long. The largest sum will go toward water projects such as reducing flood risk, storing water for future droughts, cleaning contaminated water, and better capturing stormwater. The goal is to broaden water sources as droughts and floods become more frequent and more intense. … “ Read more from KCRW. https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/kcrw-features/prop-4-climate-bond
SEE ALSO: Voters to decide on $10 billion climate bond in November, from Capital Public Radio
In commentary today …
Feds are operating in shadows on Calif. water as voters render their verdict between Trump, Harris
“It seems that accusing others of the exact things you are guilty of is becoming a customary practice. That is exactly what is happening right now with Central Valley water. It was about four years ago when headline after headline wrongly accused the Federal administration of playing politics with our water in the updating of Biological Opinions regarding Delta Smelt and Chinook Salmon in the San Francisco Bay-Delta. Most don’t find reading a story about Biological Opinions particularly interesting until they realize these rules and guidelines effect the management of water to millions of acres which grow their food and millions of people who live in places only made possible by this very water supply. The effort afoot to secretively complete draft opinions before the election is likely the most actual work these agencies have done in the previous four years. … “ Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
To protect our children, California must fix our water quality problem now
Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the California Black Health Network, writes, “August marked the start of a new academic year as California’s K-12 students headed back to freshly decorated classrooms. While some parents may welcome the fact that summer vacation has ended, not all parents can be certain their children are safe in our public and private schools. According to recent reports, many low-income families and their children may be exposed to dangerously unsafe water in public schools. This month, reports of high levels of lead in the historically Black neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles came to light by a local environmental group. No amount of classroom décor can mask the reality of poor water quality in children’s homes and schools. That’s why it’s important for state and local lawmakers to address the underlying infrastructural gaps perpetuating the problem – like old water pipes, dams, and spillways – instead of pursuing ineffective solutions that often impose significant unintended consequences for low-income families, leaving them in the same situation they’ve faced for decades. … “ Continue reading from The Observer.
No show – no dough – no H2O
Charles Carner, Welljet, writes, “On Friday, September 6, 2024, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife & Fisheries held a hearing in Santa Nella, CA on the subject of Water Abundance: Opportunities and Challenges in California. The two-hour hearing focused attention on the disastrous consequences of water mismanagement following California’s most recent drought – but also pointed the way toward common sense solutions. Despite record rainfall last winter, water allocations to Central Valley farmers and cities were astonishingly stingy: initially just 5-percent, finally – belatedly – raised to 50-percent. This is because water policy decision making is both cumbersome and opaque. Increasing regulations have reduced flexibility of water operators to adapt to changing conditions. And recent biological opinions regarding fish species have further restricted water available for human use. … “ Continue reading this commentary at Water Wrights.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Federal and tribal leaders celebrate $240 million for Tribal hatchery modernization
“Tribal, federal, and state leaders gathered at the Tulalip Reservation on October 3 to celebrate $240 million in federal funding for tribal hatcheries. This Inflation Reduction Act investment will help 27 tribes from Northern California to Southeast Alaska meet urgent maintenance and modernization needs of tribal Pacific salmon and steelhead hatcheries. NOAA Fisheries partnered with the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs to disperse the funds. Initial payments of $2 million are currently being distributed to each of the 27 tribes. The remaining $186 million will be allocated by competitive grants in 2025. Treaties with the U.S. government in the 1850s promised many tribes hunting and fishing rights. However, the decline of salmon in Northwest rivers has left the hatcheries to provide many of the fish for tribal fisheries. The commitment of funding by the Biden-Harris Administration is a step toward delivering on the treaty promises that tribes would have fish to catch. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
Salmon swim freely in the Klamath River for 1st time in a century after dams removed
“For the first time in more than a century, salmon are swimming freely along the Klamath River and its tributaries — a major watershed near the California-Oregon border — just days after the largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed. Researchers determined that Chinook salmon began migrating Oct. 3 into previously inaccessible habitat above the site of the former Iron Gate dam, one of four towering dams demolished as part of a national movement to let rivers return to their natural flow and to restore ecosystems for fish and other wildlife. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Lawmakers call on Biden to create Sáttítla National Monument in northern California
“The Pit River Tribe, joined by other Indigenous tribes and environmental groups, has launched a proposal to establish the Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California. Modeled after Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument, the initiative aims to protect sacred lands and preserve the region’s rich cultural and ecological heritage. Pit River Chairman Yatch Bamford said the tribe is working to protect approximately 200,000 acres of critical tribal cultural land from the threats of geothermal development and industrialization. The area, he emphasized, is not only a sacred landscape but also home to a vital aquifer and the headwaters that sustain much of California’s water supply. … ” Read more from the Navajo-Hopi Observer.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Agencies explore options of permanent home for El Dorado County watercraft inspection station
“Northern California agencies are looking to find a permanent home for the Myers Watercraft Inspection Station. “This is 100% a mandatory program. Every single motorized watercraft that goes into the lake has to be inspected and oftentimes decontaminated,” Jeff Cowen with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency said. Cowen said the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species program has been operating for more than 15 years. The inspectors look for any plant, animal, mud or water that could be harmful to Lake Tahoe and surrounding waters. He said having a permanent location for the inspections would increase service for boaters. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Mast year: Massive seed collection success for the Sugar Pine Foundation
“For the Sugar Pine Foundation (SPF) – a local non-profit dedicated to restoring Tahoe’s sugar pines and overall forest health – this September was incredibly busy with seed collection because 2024 proved to be a mast year for sugar pines and most conifers in the Tahoe region. This is significant because reforestation starts with collecting seed. A “mast year” is when an entire population of a certain tree or shrub produces a large amount of fruit, seeds, or nuts, which are collectively referred to as mast. (The term “mast” comes from the Old English word mæst, which refers to the nuts of forest trees that accumulate on the ground.) Mast years occur at irregular intervals every few years – and the timing is different for different species. Sugar pines, which take two years to produce fully mature cones, may mast every 2-7 years. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Exploring our local watershed: The Cache Creek Nature Preserve
“As citizens of Yolo County, we inhabit two watersheds. Earlier this summer, I wrote a column about the newly expanded Lake Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument, which preserves land along Putah Creek. This piqued my interest in Cache Creek, the other river in our Yolo County watershed. Cache Creek extends from Clear Lake, from which it overflows as flood control, down through the Capay Valley until it empties into the Yolo Bypass. The Cache Creek Conservancy website lists Cache Creek as blending three major cultures: the Yocha DeHe Wintun culture, mining, and agriculture. The creek is also valued for its exceptional scenic beauty and whitewater recreation. Cache Creek was always a rich habitat. It derived its name from the early California beaver trade. Trappers got so many beaver pelts along this creek that they would cache them in various hideaways. …. “ Read more from the Davis Enterprise.
NAPA/SONOMA
Survey to explore farmers’ perception and behavior towards climate change
“Farmers, ranchers, and growers are invited to participate in a short online survey to capture their expertise in facing climate effects in water management and crop production, while asking for implemented adaptation measures and observed barriers. The survey is anonymous and can be filled via mobile phone and computer. It is available in English and Spanish, and the response time is no more than 10-12 minutes. Interestingly, the survey includes two last open questions in which farmers can share their thoughts and feelings on water management and climate variability, and also provide their email address to be informed of the progress of the research, as this is a study with farmers and for farmers. … ” Read more from the County of Sonoma.
BAY AREA
Valero, oil shipper Amports to pay $3.3 million after unusual S.F. Bay pollution case is settled
“The Valero oil company and Amports, owner of terminals that ship oil products, have agreed to pay $3.3 million to settle a lawsuit by the environmental group SF Baykeeper, which said the companies had discharged petroleum coke pollutants into bay waters outside Valero’s refinery in Benicia. The settlement, approved Monday by a federal judge, includes $2.38 million to be paid to the nonprofit Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, which will distribute it to local groups for projects related to water quality. The rest will go to SF Baykeeper for costs related to the lawsuit that it filed in March 2022. While denying any wrongful acts, Valero and Amports agreed to take steps to improve shipping and loading of the petroleum product, sweep residue from ship decks, regularly test the waters and pay additional sums for any further pollution. Valero will pay $1.5 million of the settlement and Amports $1.8 million. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Corte Madera seeks federal shoreline adaptation grant
“Corte Madera is in line for a $1.2 million federal grant to combat sea-level rise. The Town Council received a report from staff on Oct. 1 about on shoreline adaptation engagement efforts. Public Works Director Ronald Suokko said that the town is likely to receive the flood mitigation assistance grant awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “We definitely knew it was a high priority in town,” Suokko said. “That’s definitely something we want to get in front of.” The next step is a request for information from federal agency, which is anticipated in three to nine months. A final decision will follow, according to a staff report. Corte Madera’s shoreline neighborhoods face flood risks that are increasing because of factors such as the rising ocean, high tides and heavy storms. … “ Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Volunteer trout wranglers save Central California’s steelhead
“Brian LeNeve doesn’t have much patience for people who are late. As he and a crew of five volunteers gathered in a small dirt parking lot at Garland Regional Park in the Carmel River Valley of central California, the 81-year-old seemed distracted by his watch, checking it between conversations. “We give people a 10-minute grace period before we leave,” he explained. Any longer than that, “we’re taking time away from the fish.” LeNeve is the former president and current treasurer, conservation chair, and board member of the Carmel River Steelhead Association (CRSA), based in Monterey, California. The organization has one simple mission: Save the federally threatened South Central California Coast population of steelhead trout. … “ Read more from the Sierra Club.
Santa Barbara court rules against water district in probate case that could impact Golden Hills CSD water rights
“A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge on Thursday overruled an attempt by Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District to stop a matter pertaining to Tehachapi Basin water rights from being decided as part of a probate case. Attorney Robert Kuhs, the water district’s legal counsel, said in an email Thursday afternoon that the court adopted its tentative ruling as an order and denied the district’s motion during the Oct. 3 hearing. The water district’s filing included an assertion that the water rights case belongs in Kern County — not Santa Barbara — because a 1971 judgment in Kern County Superior Court established water rights in Tehachapi Basin and designated the water district as Watermaster. … “ Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
43.2% of Delta is within San Joaquin County; swath of Manteca is within the secondary zone
“You may not think of Manteca as part of the Delta but it is in the eyes of the California Legislature. The Comprehensive Water Package adopted by lawmakers in 2009 included the establishment of the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC). It has appellate authority over land use in both Delta land designation zones — primary and secondary. That means the non-elected stewardship council could have the final say on any development issue that could have an impact on the Delta. The San Joaquin River serves as the eastern boundary for the Delta’s primary zones. All of Lathrop and most of Manteca, Stockton and Tracy are in the secondary zone. That is why the four cities banded together back in 2020 with other local jurisdictions around the Delta to aggressively lobby against the implementation of any California Coastal Commission or Tahoe Regional Planning Agency style land use controls by the stewardship council. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Three counties make up half California’s ag output
“The ag geek in me always looks forward to crop report season, which for the “Big 3” is typically late summer. California law mandates that each of the counties report gross agricultural receipts each year to the Department of Food and Agriculture. This year two of those three counties came on the same day – a rare one given what some may call a bit of a competition into who will be No. 1. Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties are what I call the “Big 3” for their gross output. Regardless of who rises to the top each year, the combined output of these San Joaquin Valley counties is roughly half of California’s total agricultural value. Last year they combined to produce over $25 billion in food and fiber. These figures showcase the gross amount paid as raw commodities left the farm. They do not reflect profit or loss. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Oil spill cleanup at Smith Canal wraps up
“An oil spill that temporarily closed the Smith Canal to fishing is in the final throes of being cleaned up. The Coast Guard has turned over responsibility for the effort to the Environmental Protection Agency for ongoing monitoring. “We go out and get (with) contractors and oversee their work and make sure it gets done properly,” said Michael Brogan, a San Francisco-based spokesman for the EPA. Initial reports from the Coast Guard noted that a container with a capacity of 380 gallons had been discovered in the area, but that figure was later downsized to a 280-gallon capacity, Brogan said. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Oil producer accused of contaminating water files for bankruptcy
“The Ventura County-based oil producer facing financial liabilities relating to accusations it contaminated Bakersfield’s municipal water system in June filed Wednesday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection that would allow the company to reorganize its debts while continuing to do business. … “ Read more from the Bakersfield Californian.
CalTrout wades into Kern River legal fracas
“Another big hitter in California rivers has waded into the ongoing Kern River legal battle. California Trout, a conservation group dedicated to healthy rivers, filed a brief with the 5th District Court of Appeal asking justices to reinstate an injunction that had required enough water be kept in the river for fish to survive. CalTrout has been watching the Kern River case closely, said attorney Walter Collins. “First, the Kern is a really important river in California,” Collins said. “And our interest in this case surrounds (California) Fish and Game Code 5937. It is a central pillar of protection in California for rivers and species. Any time it’s under threat, CalTrout will be there to protect its legacy.” … “ Read more from SJV Water.
EASTERN SIERRA
The brilliant autumn foliage in this Eastern Sierra paradise is drawing a global crowd
“Just after dawn on Thursday, I pointed my car up a long, steep hill outside Bishop and climbed through the high desert scrub toward the towering peaks of the Eastern Sierra. For about 15 miles, the land and most everything on it was the same color: a muted sandy gray. But at about 8,000-feet elevation, I rounded a curve on South Lake Road, and the world in front of my windshield exploded in blazing yellow and gold. At that altitude, groves of aspen and willow trees were radiant with fall color, filling creek beds and high mountain slopes with a riot of glorious hues seen once a year here and only for a week or so. … “ Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: Tahoe’s fiery fall foliage: Fall outings to make the most of the season, from the Tahoe Guide
Indian Wells Valley Water District to host public workshop on critical water issues
“The Indian Wells Valley Water District invites the community to attend a public workshop on Monday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Historic USO Building in Ridgecrest. This important event will also be accessible online via the District’s Zoom link for those who cannot attend in person. During the workshop, the District will present key findings from the District’s Technical Working Group Safe Yield and Groundwater Storage reports, offering an in-depth look at the current state of the Indian Wells Valley groundwater basin. Attendees will also hear a detailed discussion of the Antelope Valley-East Kern (AVEK) Water Pipeline Project, including cost estimates provided by Clean Energy Capital. … “ Read more from the Ridgecrest Independent.
Rare desert wetland wildflower advances toward endangered species protections
“In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the rare western wildflower Tecopa bird’s beak may qualify for protection under the Endangered Species Act. The small herbaceous plant with delicate pale pink flowers grows in alkali wetlands in two desert basins in western Nevada and eastern California. Its existence is threatened by groundwater pumping for agriculture, compounded by numerous proposed mining projects across its range. “The Tecopa bird’s beak is a precious symbol of the vibrancy of desert wetlands, thriving in harsh conditions that many other organisms can’t endure,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “As tough as it is, this resilient species can’t survive without water. The combined pressures of agriculture and mining are draining the aquifers that sustain this special wildflower, pushing it to the brink of extinction.” … “ Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity.
SEE ALSO: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completes 90-day finding for species in California, Nevada and Oregon, from the US FWS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
La Niña could turn Southern California’s hot summer into a warm, dry winter. What to know
“After one of its hottest and driest summers, Southern California could remain abnormally warm and dry this winter as La Niña conditions develop, a cycle that can trigger irregular weather patterns worldwide. La Niña tends to produce drier weather in Southern California and the Southwest during the winter, a critical time to replenish water resources. Drier vegetation can also worsen the risk of wildfires. Even if this La Niña is weaker, it could still have serious regional implications. Northern California may see a wetter-than-average weather this winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While seven of the 10 La Niña events this century resulted in dry years in California, research also suggests that even as the climate grows hotter and drier overall, the precipitation that California does receive will arrive in stronger storms, increasing the risk from flooding, according to the California Department of Water Resources. … “ Read more from the Desert Sun. | Read more from the Visalia Times-Delta.
SCV Water discusses growth ahead of rate-hike talk
“The good news: A rate analysis showed years of drought-management outreach and water-conservation lessons appear to have taken hold, playing at least a role in declining consumption rates presented at the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency meeting Tuesday. The bad news: The numbers were shared as part of the SCV Water analysis being used to justify a rate hike, which water officials are looking at making after November’s election. Using the numbers discussed during the SCV Water meeting, the rate hike would take the average monthly bill from about $59.40 to $62.97, according to a presentation by Rochelle Patterson, chief financial and administrative officer for SCV Water. “It’s showing that customers are consuming less water, we’re meeting our targets — and we can kind of see that here,” said Patterson. … ” Read more from The Signal.
SCV Water determines no lead water pipelines in Santa Clarita Valley
“The Santa Clarita Water Agency recently completed a water service line inventory within its service area to document the material of the water service pipeline and fittings that come from the water meter to just outside of homes and businesses. During this project, SCV Water also took inventory of its own distribution system and was able to declare to the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water, California and United States Environmental Protection Agency, that its system is free from any lead pipelines. The inventory was conducted between March and mid-October 2024 and focused on homes built before 1987, as well as other customer groups. … ” Read more from SCV News.
An L.A. River champion offers a vision for reimagining the waterway — and the city’s future
“Two canoes and two kayaks glided along, paddles leaving ripples in the still water. Tall cottonwood trees and willows enveloped the riverbanks in cool shade and swallows soared among the branches. White butterflies floated along the water’s edge. “How amazing is this! In the middle of L.A.,” exclaimed Melanie Winter, who sat admiring the view from a canoe. “You get a glimpse of what the river was, and what the river could be again.” This oasis, part of the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, is one of the few spots where the Los Angeles River isn’t straitjacketed in concrete, allowing it to flow unencumbered through a thriving riparian forest. For Winter, it’s a place that shows the potential to solve multiple problems and improve life in Los Angeles by reimagining the city’s heavily engineered channels to make space for nature along the river. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
LA City Councilman McOsker: Initial testing finds lead in Watts tap water
“Bottled water is a non-negotiable for Watts resident William Taylor. “I do not drink it. I boil it. I cook with it. But I do not drink it,” he said as he turned on his kitchen faucet. It’s a lifestyle change he’s adapted to ever since he sued the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in small claims court in 2016 for a home water filtration system after a low water chlorination incident. Now, his community is battling another issue, a recent study led by the Better Watts Initiative found at least 20 residential taps in the area spewed water contaminated with lead. “To say there’s lead in the water, there’s other chemicals in the water and you just sit there and take it? No. I pay a bill. They have an obligation to give me clean drinking water and bathing water. That’s why I went to argue,” said Taylor. … ” Read more from Spectrum 1.
Vehicle crashes into the Talbert Marsh, oil teams check for impacts to habitat
“Oil response teams are assessing impacts to the Talbert Marsh following a car that crashed Monday morning into the wetlands at the border of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. The call came in at 8:15 a.m. reporting the vehicle had gone into the wetlands near Brookhurst Street, said Huntington Beach city spokesperson Jennifer Carey. Police entered the water to extract the lone person in the vehicle, with lifeguards arriving to assist. The person was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Carey said. … “ Read more from the OC Register.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
At the shrinking Salton Sea, desert grass springs new hope. But is it too late?
“On a recent toasty morning at the edge of California’s largest lake, Samantha Arthur stood half a mile inland from the bright blue Salton Sea, gazing at bundles of straw lined up by the thousands atop a bleached shoreline of dead fish bones, barnacles, and sandy soil loaded with more than a century’s worth of farm and military waste. The area where she stands was underwater three years ago. More polluted shoreline is exposed every day. But behind her, areas planted with salt brush and other native bushes and grasses painted an autumn palette of dun brown, silvery gray and light green. Dust emissions along select edges of the rapidly dwindling lake — about 1,320 acres in the Tule Wash area near Salton City — have now been slashed by 90%, according to Arthur, deputy water secretary for the state natural resources agency, and other elated officials. … “ Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
Sand replenishment projects lined up for Carlsbad beaches
“Carlsbad beaches should get their next replenishment this winter with the dredging of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, which is expected produce as much as 400,000 cubic yards of sand. Workers could begin setting up equipment in the lagoon as soon as Jan. 1, said Dominic Massaro, a senior engineer working on the project. Originally expected to begin this fall, the start was delayed by difficulties getting permits from all the federal, state and local agencies involved. However, the deadline for completion remains April 15, 2025. All the permits should be obtained by the end of this year, Massaro said in a presentation Tuesday to Carlsbad’s Beach Preservation Commission. … “ Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune.
California State Treasurer visits Imperial Beach to address sewage crisis
“For years, ABC 10 News has heard from residents raising concerns about the sewage crisis in the South Bay and its harmful effects on those living there. Now, the problem is getting new attention from state officials. On Monday, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma visited Imperial Beach to see and smell the problem firsthand. State Treasurer Ma began her day alongside Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and others. The group toured the Tijuana River Valley to witness the raw sewage overflow from Mexico and its impact on the surrounding communities. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Supervisor, Mayor want Superfund site in South Bay
“The solution du jour in the ongoing saga of “How Do We Solve the Tijuana River Pollution Crisis” is to designate six miles of the river estuary on the U.S. side as a Superfund site. Those who know the nation’s Superfund program think of Love Canal in Niagara Falls which chemical companies used as a hazardous waste dump, on top of which people later built homes and an elementary school. In Niagara Falls, odor complaints triggered groundwater contamination investigations and then-President Jimmy Carter ordered an emergency cleanup and relocation of nearby residents. That was the birth of Superfund, the idea being that the feds step in where abandoned contamination threatens communities. Then they attempt to bill companies or parties responsible for the cost of cleanup. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Doctor who exposed Flint Michigan water crisis calls Tijuana sewage ‘very similar story’
“The doctor who exposed elevated levels of lead in the bloodstream of children in Flint, Michigan, leading to a nationwide crisis that has lasted years, has compared it with the situation going on in southern California. “It’s a very similar story of environmental contamination, an environmental injustice,” said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha in a public health forum in Imperial Beach during the weekend. “My biggest message is to tell the residents that they are not alone,” she added. The statement comes shortly after local researchers said they detected a poisonous substance in the Tijuana River Valley as a result of the high volume of raw sewage flowing from Mexico into the region. … “ Read more from The Latin Times.
Along the Colorado River …
La Niña could turn Arizona’s hot, dry summer into a warm, dry winter. What to know
“After one of its hottest and driest summers, Arizona could remain abnormally warm and dry this winter as La Niña conditions develop, a cycle that can trigger irregular weather patterns across the world. La Niña tends to produce drier weather in Arizona and the Southwest during the winter, a critical time to replenish water resources. Drier vegetation can also worsen the risk of wildfires. Even if this La Niña is a weaker event, it could still have serious implications for the region. “We’re always in a drought, and a La Niña event on the horizon doesn’t spell any relief,” said Michael Crimmins, a climatologist at the University of Arizona. “It most likely spells some continued deterioration or sliding towards short-term drought.” … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
SEE ALSO: After record hot summer, Arizona drought experts fear worsening conditions, from the Courthouse News Service
Gila River Indian Community turns on power for first ever solar-over-canal project
“The Gila River Indian Community celebrated a historic milestone in its work to provide solutions for water conservation and renewable energy by activating the first-ever solar-over-canal project in the country. “The Gila River Indian Community is proud to be at the forefront of this groundbreaking solar-over-canal project, which not only generates renewable energy but also conserves our most precious resource — water,” Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said in a written statement. The project spans over 2,700 linear feet of the Casa Blanca Canal, which is located along Interstate 10 near Sacaton. … ” Read more from the Arizona Mirror.
Colorado congressional delegates urge feds to support historic Colorado River water deal
“Six members of Colorado’s congressional delegation, including Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, have come out in support of a $99 million effort to secure historic Colorado River water rights, a move that would provide environmental benefits and protect Western Slope users from any potential future sale. Western Slope water agencies, including the Glenwood Springs-based Colorado River District, and the state have committed $56 million to purchase the water from Xcel Energy, which uses the water to operate its Shoshone hydropower plant in Glenwood Canyon. … “ Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
American Water, the largest water utility in US, is targeted by a cyberattack
“The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States announced Monday that it was the victim of a cyberattack, prompting the firm to pause billing to customers. New Jersey-based American Water — which provides services to more than 14 million people in 14 states and on 18 military installations — said it became aware of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and immediately took protective steps, including shutting down certain systems. The company does not believe its facilities or operations were impacted by the attack and said staffers were working “around the clock” to investigate the nature and scope of the attack. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
In landmark move, EPA requires removal of all U.S. lead pipes in a decade
“The Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule Tuesday requiring water utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade, a move aimed at eliminating a toxic threat that continues to affect tens of thousands of American children each year. The move, which also tightens the amount of lead allowed in the nation’s drinking water, comes nearly 40 years after Congress determined that lead pipes posed a serious risk to public health and banned them in new construction. Research has shown that lead, a toxic contaminant that seeps from pipes into the drinking water supply, can cause irreversible developmental delays, difficulty learning and behavioral problems among children. In adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead exposure can cause increased blood pressure, heart disease, decreased kidney function and cancer. … “ Read more from the Washington Post.
Leaked recordings detail a major environmental agency quietly gutting its workforce
“Americans visit hiking and camping areas managed by the US Forest Service more than 150 million times each year. If you have climbed a peak or hiked in a golden aspen forest, paddled a protected river or visited a cultural site on any of the hundreds of millions of acres of public national forest land, there’s a good chance any federal workers you encountered were not full-time employees. The agency relies on a large, often underappreciated army of seasonal or temporary workers who clean bathrooms and campgrounds, empty trash cans, maintain trails, welcome people at visitor centers, and do critical research work on the environment. … ” Read more from Vox.
Scientists warn ‘fabric of life’ could unravel as climate devastation looms
“Earth is facing a dire climate crisis, scientists said in no uncertain terms on Tuesday, and rising sea temperatures, thawing permafrost, raging wildfires and extreme temperatures are some of the products and accelerants of climate-driven feedback loops. In an annual report, an international coalition of scientists outlined the grim reality of climate change and the further devastation in store if immediate action isn’t taken. While scientists have been warning of the looming threat of the impending dangers of human-driven climate change for years, their alarm has not been heeded and it may now be too late unless immediate action is taken, according to the report. … “ Read more from the Courthouse News Service.