DAILY DIGEST, 10/22: Fixing California Aqueduct subsidence: A multi-billion dollar problem; The tunnel vision: A look at CA’s $20 billion solution to its water crisis; Turlock Irrigation District is placing solar panels atop canals. And the world is watching; Owner of Bay Area island won’t get new trial over illegal levee ‘repair’; and more …


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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.
  • WEBINAR: From Policy to Practice (Part 2): Implementing the Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation from 1pm to 2pm.  Part 2 of this webinar series will provide waters suppliers with tips and tricks to begin thinking through the implementation of the State Water Resources Control Board’s recently adopted Making Conservation a California a Way of Life Regulation. Under the new regulation, urban retail water suppliers will need to meet an urban water use objective, performance measures and new reporting requirements.  From staffing and budgeting considerations to new data needs and challenges, this webinar will connect suppliers with new partners and identify resources to think through immediate next steps and challenges.  Click here to register.

In California water news today …

NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Fixing California Aqueduct subsidence: A multi-billion dollar problem

In California, 80% of the usable fresh water is located far from where it’s actually used, so water conveyance infrastructure is vital to the state’s existence.  Spanning 444 miles, the California Aqueduct is a vital component of the State Water Project, serving as a crucial source of water for 27 million Californians, providing water for agriculture and municipalities. Unfortunately, land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley has drastically diminished its capacity to deliver water, with reductions reaching up to 46% in some places.  Addressing this problem will require a substantial investment of billions over the next 20 years.  Given the importance of water supply reliability to the state, the California Aqueduct Subsidence Program is a priority for the State Water Project.  At the October meeting of the California Water Commission, the Commission received a briefing on the California Aqueduct Subsidence Program by Program Manager Jesse Dillon. … ”  Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.

The tunnel vision: A look at California’s $20 billion solution to its water crisis

“California has one of the most ambitious and highly engineered water delivery systems on the planet, and it’s being eyed for a new extension. The Delta Conveyance Project is Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal for a 45-mile underground tube that would tap fresh water from its source in the north and carry it beneath a vast wetland to users in the south.  The Delta is the exchange point for half of California’s water supply, and the tunnel is an extension of the State Water Project, which was built in the 1960s. It’s a 700-mile maze of aqueducts and canals that sends Delta water from the Bay Area down to farms and cities in Central and Southern California.  This is a local story about a global issue, the future of water. In a three-part series of field reports and podcasts, Bay City News reporter Ruth Dusseault looks at the tunnel’s stakeholders, its engineering challenges, and explores the preindustrial Delta and its future restoration.  Ruth is joined by Felicia Marcus, the Landreth Visiting Fellow in Stanford’s Water in the West program and former chair of the California Water Resources Control Board.”  Read more at Local News Matters.

Turlock Irrigation District is placing solar panels atop canals. And the world is watching

“The state granted $20 million to the Turlock Irrigation District in 2022 to test the idea of solar panels atop canals. The project was delayed by design challenges, but installation finally started in May on a small canal stretch southwest of Keyes. It could be generating power by year’s end, to be followed next summer by a second test site east of Hickman. While increasing the supply for TID’s electricity customers, the panels also could reduce evaporation. Taking the concept statewide could be a key step against climate change, the University of California reported in 2021. UC Merced researchers will monitor the systems for power output, evaporation savings and whether the panels interfere with canal operations. TID will retain them after data collection ends in June 2026. … ”  Read more from the Modesto Bee.

SEE ALSO: Turlock Irrigation District tests solar panels over canals, video from the Modesto Bee

Generac to receive $50M to boost grid resilience with clean energy for California water utilities

“Generac Holdings, a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and providing energy technology solutions and power products, has been selected to enter into negotiations by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive a $50 million grant. This grant is part of the DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP), a $10.5 billion program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to boost grid flexibility, strengthen power system resilience against extreme weather, and ensure access to affordable, reliable energy for American communities.  In collaboration with the California Water Association (CWA), Generac aims to deploy clean energy solutions across water utilities throughout California. The total investment is expected to reach around $100 million, covering approximately 100 water utility sites, with a focus on Disadvantaged Communities (DACs). … ”  Read more from Smart Water Magazine.

New cases threaten local revenues in Coziahr v. Otay Water District

“Two recent decisions of the California Court of Appeal have increased risk for California’s local governments as to utility fees and fees imposed to fund regulation. A new statute provides a means to reduce that risk somewhat.  Coziahr v. Otay Water District is a class-action challenge to tiered water rates imposed by a district which serves territory along the international border south and east of San Diego. Tiered rates make water progressively more expensive as customers use more of it and are intended to encourage conservation. A 2015 decision I handled for the City of San Juan Capistrano established that such rates are lawful, but agencies must “show their math” and make a record justifying the portion of service cost assigned to each rate tier. At one level, Coziahr is just an application of that rule — decided against the District because its tiered rates were not sufficiently justified by its ratemaking record. On another, though, it is very troubling. … ”  Read more from Public CEO.

Nature’s engineers: milestone for beaver restoration will improve California’s watersheds

California’s waterways are about to get a helping hand from an unexpected ally: the North American beaver. With the recent passing of Assembly Bill (AB) 2196, authored by Assemblymember Damon Connolly and supported by CalTrout, a comprehensive program for beaver restoration throughout California’s watersheds is set to begin. This innovative approach leverages nature-based solutions to promote fish and freshwater resilience, offering a beacon of hope for our aquatic ecosystems.  While beavers are admired for their sweet and adorable charm, they are powerful ecosystem engineers whose work is vital for maintaining healthy watersheds. Their dam-building activities create complex aquatic habitats, improve water quality, and increase biodiversity. By reintroducing beavers to their native historical range, we’re not just bringing back a lovable species – we’re deploying nature’s own environmental restoration experts. … ”  Read more from Cal Trout.

Metropolitan general manager’s administrative leave extended as investigation continues

“Metropolitan Water District’s Board of Directors voted today to extend General Manager Adel Hagekhalil’s administrative leave until an independent investigation into various personnel matters is complete and a report is issued.  “The investigation into Equal Employment Opportunity matters related to the general manager must be thorough, fair and respectful of the rights of everyone involved,” board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said after a six-hour meeting of the board and its Executive Committee. “While I know many would have preferred for our board to have reached a conclusion today, we must take care to protect the independence of the outside investigator and give them time to hear witnesses and affected parties who may be impacted, and to produce a report. A fair and thorough process for all parties involved is our priority in these matters. … ”  Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.

Atmospheric rivers could double sea level height along West Coast

“A new study has found that powerful atmospheric rivers—narrow bands of concentrated moisture that deliver heavy rain and strong winds—could significantly contribute to sea level rise along the West Coast, exacerbating the risks of coastal flooding in the coming decades.  Researchers conducted simulations to assess how atmospheric rivers (ARs) influence ocean processes, focusing on their effects on sea surface height.  The study’s findings, published in Communications Earth & Environment, indicate that during these AR events, strong winds push ocean water toward the coast, piling up against land barriers and raising sea levels dramatically.  In regions such as Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, sea level increases caused by ARs could exceed 200 percent under worst-case scenarios of future global warming. … ”  Read more from Newsweek.

Trump threatened California’s emergency aid. Newsom has a backup plan.

“Gov. Gavin Newsom and his administration are making further contingency plans to shield the Golden State in case former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.  Newsom and top budget officials are looking to establish an account the state can immediately draw on for disasters if Trump refuses to provide federal dollars for fires, floods and other emergencies.  Newsom said he doesn’t have a dollar figure for the scenario his administration is discussing ahead of his January state budget proposal, but described it as “not an inconsequential consideration.”  “You could have multiple disasters stacking up just like they did with these two storms, and you’re going to have serious cash flow issues, even a state as large as California, even with budget reserves that are significant,” the Democratic governor told POLITICO in an exclusive interview. … ”  Read more from Politico.

Newsom’s new Trump-proofing plan

“Gov. Gavin Newsom is hatching a cold, hard plan to insulate the state from a second Trump administration.  Spurred by former President Donald Trump’s recent threats to withhold disaster relief funding over disagreements on water policy, Newsom said he’s making plans to free up state funding in case of retaliation.  “You could have multiple disasters stacking up just like they did with these two storms, and you’re going to have serious cash flow issues, even a state as large as California, even with budget reserves that are significant,” Newsom told Chris last week in an exclusive interview. … ”  Read more from Politico.

First California project to bury climate-warming gases wins key approval

“In a major step toward California’s first effort to bury climate-warming gases underground, Kern County’s Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a project on a sprawling oil and gas field.  The project by California Resources Corp., the state’s largest producer of oil and gas, will capture millions of tons of carbon dioxide and inject it into the ground in the western San Joaquin Valley south of Buttonwillow.  The Carbon Terra Vault project is part of a broader bid by the oil and gas industry to remain viable in a state that is attempting to decarbonize. Although the company still faces additional steps, the county approval is a key development that advances the project.  The Newsom administration has endorsed carbon capture and sequestration technology as critical to California’s efforts to tackle climate change — it plays a major role in the administration’s action plan for slashing greenhouse gases over the next 20 years. … ”  Read more from Cal Matters.

SEE ALSO: California’s first carbon capture project gets OK from Kern County, from the LA Times

Scientists see echoes of ancient warming world in El Niño

“As recent conditions in the Pacific Ocean favor the development of a La Niña event later this year, researchers have discovered that this cycle of temperature swings was likely occurring at least 250 million years ago, and on an even greater scale.  A modeling study published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that El Niño and its cold counterpart, La Niña, were intensely experienced by the dinosaurs of the Mesozoic era.  Utilizing the modeling tool that is used by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change to predict future climate change, Duke researchers and collaborating scientists instead looked into the past, breaking down the 250 million years into 26 10-million-year ‘slices’ to analyze.  “In each experiment, we see active El Niño Southern Oscillation,” Shineng Hu, assistant professor of climate dynamics at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, said in a press release. “It’s almost all stronger than what we have now. Some way stronger, some slightly stronger.” … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

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In commentary today …

Yes on Prop 4: A brighter future 4 everyone

“This November 5th, all Californians will have the opportunity to vote for a brighter, cleaner, healthier future for our communities, by voting Yes on Prop 4 (the Climate Bond)! This historic bond would be the single largest investment of public funding for climate resilience in California history.  The need for action is urgent—according to Audubon’s science, nearly two-thirds of North American bird species could face extinction by the time someone born today in the U.S. reaches their average life expectancy of 76 years, by the year 2100. … ”  Read more from Audubon.

SEE ALSO: Bonds on the November ballot are worthwhile, but very, very costly, by George Skelton at the LA Times

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

Wildlife rehabilitators treat birds one by one, as botulism outbreak at a Klamath Basin refuge drags on

“On a clear, sunny day in early October, January Bill peers under a drop cloth at the latest batch of patients at the Bird Ally X field hospital near the Oregon-California border. The birds—American wigeons, shovelers, and Northern pintails—are clearly sick: Some struggle weakly; some don’t move at all.  “They’re at different degrees of paralysis,” says Bill, a wildlife rehabilitator who co-founded Bird Ally X. “We rate it by a stage from one to four, with four being the worst; they are usually 100 percent paralyzed.”  These ducks are victims of a large outbreak of avian botulism that so far has killed close to 100,000 birds at the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. … ”  Read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.

NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA

California’s dying lakes: Attempts to keep Eagle Lake from drying up

“A combination of warmer climate and water mismanagement has led to the draining of Eagle Lake near Susanville.  While changes could still be made to preserve what’s left, the Bureau of Land Management says getting the lake levels to where they were a century ago would take decades of rain without evaporation — and that’s a scenario that just won’t play out.  Evaporation and winds drop lake levels at Eagle Lake several feet every year.  “You get 3-5 feet of loss every year so you have to balance that with recharge, and if you don’t, then the lake just gets smaller and smaller,” said Stan Bales with the Bureau of Land Management. … ”  Read more from Channel 10.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Forest thinning continues at Lake Tahoe

“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 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. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

The fight for fish & flows: Tuolumne River Trust organizes around new instream flow plan

“This fall, TRT and a coalition of partner organizations are turning our advocacy focus to the water-challenged Hetch Hetchy Reach, a 12-mile stretch of the Tuolumne just downstream of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Our new campaign, launched alongside Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, Natural Heritage Institute, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Friends of the River, and Fly Fishers International, focuses on the 1987 Kirkwood Agreement—named after the Kirkwood Powerhouse downstream of Hetch Hetchy. The Kirkwood Agreement  required the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to conduct a fish study to identify how they might improve river flows along this stretch of the Tuolumne River—an agreement that is unfulfilled to this day, thirty-seven years later.  Excessive diversions along this stretch of the river heat the Tuolumne’s water, making it too hot for salmon and rainbow trout during the low-flow months of summer. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission recently released its draft Instream Flow Management Plan. We are poised to ensure this Plan acts in accordance with the Kirkwood Agreement and that our public agencies support the environmental needs of the river and the fish that rely on its healthy flows. … ”  Read more from the Tuolumne River Trust.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Butte County launches program to repair wells damaged by wildfires and drought

“Butte County has launched a Drought Resilience Outreach Project (DROP) to assist residents with wells that have been damaged by recent wildfires or drought.  The county administration said that the DROP would allow qualified residents to get their damaged wells repaired at little to no cost. Funding for this project comes from the State Water Resources Control Board. … ”  Read more from KRCR.

NAPA/SONOMA

Plan to close embattled Napa landfill discussed publicly for 1st time

“A plan to close Napa Valley’s controversial Clover Flat Landfill and move waste to the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun City is moving forward.  A Waste Connections representative confirmed Monday at a special Upper Valley Waste Management Agency meeting that the company will submit a closure plan to Napa County’s Local Enforcement Agency and state officials in early 2025.  It marked the first time the closure had been discussed publicly.  “Our decision for the closure is based solely on the economic viability of the landfill facility,” said Adam Gooderham, division president for Waste Connections. … ”  Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

BAY AREA/DELTA

Sausalito sea level rise plan advances

“Sausalito is progressing on its sea level adaptation plan.  The City Council received an update at its meeting on Oct. 15 that included comments from a community workshop. The project is about one-third complete.  The sea is expected to rise by 1 foot in the San Francisco Bay Area between now and 2050, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The phenomenon is attributed to human activities that stoke global warming.  The goal of the city plan is to have an adaptation strategy, develop a community vision and complete a vulnerability assessment on how storm surge and sea levels could impact city-owned assets. The plan will include both short- and long-term strategies, priority projects and funding options, said Catie Thow Garcia, the city’s sustainability manager. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.

Owner of Bay Area island won’t get new trial over illegal levee ‘repair’

“A federal judge denied a request by the owner of Point Buckler Island in the greater San Francisco Bay for a new trial in an almost eight-year dispute with the U.S. Justice Department over his illegal “repair” of the levee surrounding the island.  John Sweeney argued that the 2020 ruling that, after a bench trial, had found him liable for violating the Clean Water Act was no longer sustainable in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision last year in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which had curtailed the federal government’s authority to regulate wetlands.  In that decision, the nation’s top court found that the reach of the Clean Water Act extends to only those “wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are ‘waters of the United States’ in their own right, so that they are ‘indistinguishable’ from those waters.”  In his bid for a new trial, Sweeney claimed that the wetlands on Point Buckler Island weren’t regulated because they weren’t indistinguishable from the surrounding waters. … ”  Read more from the Courthouse News Service.

Only 21-36% of Delta residents have flood insurance: How can we do better?

“Pretty much the entire Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a floodplain, where the chances of flooding in any given year are as high as 1 in 10 in some areas.  But the Delta Residents Survey found that only about a third of rural Delta residents and a fifth of Delta city dwellers have flood insurance.  Studies show households without insurance take longer to recover.  Given the risk, the number of households with insurance may seem low. But Michael Mierzwa, a civil engineer for the California Department of Water Resources, noted this is actually above average. Statewide, about 2% of property owners have flood insurance.  He said there are two likely reasons for the Delta’s higher participation rate: One is the Delta’s generational experience with flooding. Memories run long here.  The other is that mortgages issued in flood-prone areas require flood insurance. … ”  Read more from the Delta Protection Commission.

CENTRAL COAST

Massive levee project to protect Pajaro and Watsonville gets underway

“It was March 2023 when a levee burst, completely flooding the community of Pajaro in Monterey County. Now a massive new levee project is underway to give up to 100-year flood protection for Pajaro and surrounding communities.  On Monday, crews were at work cutting down huge eucalyptus trees where the first phase of the project will be built. A brand new levee will go in along Corralitos Creek in Watsonville and will be part of an overall 13-mile levee system which will be built or upgraded to give protection from the potential of a 100-year flood event. … ”  Read more from KTVU.

Water infrastructure improvements, including new wells underway in Salinas

“The sound of construction equipment echoed through the quiet streets of south Salinas as excavation work proceeded along Park Street and a section of Archer Street earlier this month.  Part of California Water Service’s (Cal Water) extensive program of infrastructure upgrades currently underway, the crew was in the process of replacing a section of the approximately 350 miles of water mainline responsible for transporting potable water within the city’s municipal water distribution system with 1,871 feet of new 8-inch water main.  The mainline replacement project, which includes swapping out old fire hydrants as well, began earlier this summer, according to Cal Water, and is important for water quality and fire prevention by preventing failure of aging and high-risk pipelines. … ”  Read more from the Salinas Californian.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Water district board president discusses regional meeting, need for storage

“President Robert Schultz shared information Oct. 16 with directors of the Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District about a water forum that took place five days earlier.  Schultz and General Manager Tom Neisler attended the San Joaquin Valley Water Forum sponsored by the Association of California Water Agencies.  Neisler was a speaker at the forum with a presentation about capital project funding. … ”  Read more from the Tehachapi News.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

River LA begins fundraising for 100-acre Taylor Yard Park

“River LA, a non-profit organization created by the City of Los Angeles in 2008 to support investment in the Los Angeles River, has announced a capital campaign to help bring about 100 acres of park spaces at the former Taylor Yard.  The venture, also known as the 100 Acre Partnership, includes the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, the State Parks Department, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. If completed, the new Taylor Yard River Park would be the largest new park in the City of Los Angeles since Griffith Park was established in the late 19th century.  “River LA was asked by the City of Los Angeles to lead the “Friends of Taylor Yard” Capital Campaign, Los Angeles’s largest and most impactful new philanthropic project in generations,” said River LA board chair Harry B. Chandler, whose mother Dorothy led fundraising efforts for the Los Angeles Music Center. … ”  Read more from Urbanize LA.

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Canal upgrade optimizes water deliveries, saves millions for ratepayers

“A newly completed canal renovation project will support water conservation, provide new water storage, and save ratepayers millions of dollars thanks to a partnership between the Coachella Valley Water District, the San Diego County Water Authority and the San Luis Rey River Indian Water Authority.  The Coachella Mid-Canal Storage Project, completed this summer, made critical upgrades to the 123-mile Coachella Canal, which provides Colorado River water to the Coachella Valley and – under landmark water conservation agreements – the San Diego region.  The $7.5 million project was funded jointly by the three water agencies through a low-interest loan from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which was part of the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocations to relieve drought in the West.  “There is a strong spirit of collaboration within the region for efforts to save water and reduce expenses,” said Jim Barrett, CVWD general manager. … ”  Read more from the Coachella Valley Water District.

SAN DIEGO

San Diego issues $25,000 credit for erroneous water bill to 84-year-old veteran after Team 10 investigation

“Michael Mudurian served in the Air Force and then settled into his Point Loma home with an ocean view 50 years ago.  For decades, the lifelong bachelor said he had a pretty high water bill because he loved to water his garden and nourish the lush, green grass in his front yard.   However, the grass became dead and brown because Mudurian couldn’t afford his water bill; it was a stunning $28,500 in August after the city’s Public Utilities Department had held his bill for over a year.  Mudurian said he tried explaining that it was incorrect to the city’s Public Utilities Department, which has had a history of issuing incorrect bills to its 282,000-plus customers.  He said the city didn’t give him much help. … ”  Read more from Channel 10.

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Along the Colorado River …

October marks the start of Water Year 2025, how is Lake Mead doing?

“It may seem early, but October marks the start of the 2025 Water Year for the Colorado River System. That’s because the snow season typically starts this time of year, and Rocky Mountain snow pack is ultimately what drives our local water supply.  For now, Lake Mead levels remain steady as we push into the next cycle.  “We’ve certainly seen Lake Mead’s water levels fluctuate,” Bronson Mack, Southern Nevada Water Authority Spokesperson, told Channel 13. … ”  Read more from Channel 13.

Hobbs administration to Rio Verde Foothills developer: Cease and desist amid water concerns

“Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration says it has sent a cease and desist letter to a developer trying to get around water regulations in the unincorporated community of Rio Verde Foothills.  To build a house in most urban parts of Arizona, developers first need a certification from the state saying there is enough water to last that property 100 years. But some larger lots, known as “wildcat subdivisions,” are not subject to the rule.  In a press release Tuesday, the Hobbs administration said the state Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Department of Real Estate recently investigated a developer they say was trying to use that loophole to skirt the 100-year assured water supply rule in Rio Verde Foothills. … ”  Read more from KJZZ.

Colorado snowpack soars to 379% of to-date norm after big snow in Colorado

“The recent snowstorm that dropped as much as two feet of powder in some parts of Colorado has sent the statewide snowpack soaring compared to the long-term norm for mid-October.  According to the most recent USDA report, the statewide snowpack is at 379 percent of the norm for October 21, with the snowpack bump from the recent storm larger than an earlier ‘first snow’ that took place in fall of 2023. Given the colder temperatures that are present in mid-October compared to the start of the month, it’s also likely that more of this initial snowpack will be here to stay opposed to last year when most of that initial snowpack disappeared before more consistent snowfall was present. … ”  Read more from Out There Colorado.

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In national water news today …

Gaps in laws and policies leave water and sanitation systems vulnerable to harmful climate impacts in frontline communities across the us, new report finds

“New research released today by the Pacific Institute and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) reveals existing laws and policies fail to protect water and sanitation systems from climate change impacts in frontline communities across the United States. The report, “Law and Policies that Address Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation,” examines federal, Tribal, state, and local laws and policies governing centralized drinking water and wastewater systems, as well as decentralized onsite drinking water and sanitation systems.  The research demonstrates that most existing US water laws and policies were developed assuming historical climate trends that determine water availability would be constant and that communities’ vulnerability to climate events would be the same over time. … ”  Continue reading from the Pacific Institute.

Supreme Court takes on EPA — again

“In the last few years, the Supreme Court has struck down significant EPA air and water protections and eliminated one of the agency’s most powerful tools of legal defense.  On Monday, the justices took up another set of cases that could undercut the nation’s top environmental regulator by opening the door to industry groups and Republican-led states seeking to challenge certain EPA rules in more favorable courts.  “I suspect so many cases are granted involving the EPA because that agency in particular likes to push the boundaries,” said Trent McCotter, a partner at the law firm Boyden Gray representing GOP lawmakers who urged the high court to move some EPA lawsuits out of Washington and into the nation’s regional federal appeals courts. … ”  Read more from E&E News.

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.