Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
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.
- EVENT: California Water Data Consortium Town Hall from 9am to 10am. Join us for our virtual Public Town Hall to discuss the latest water data management and transparency developments at the California Water Data Consortium. Our new CEO, Robyn Grimm, Ph.D., will begin with reflections on her journey to the Consortium and her gratitude to those who have dedicated years to advancing water data issues in California. The Town Hall will feature program updates from our various initiatives. Following the updates, Robyn will lead a discussion on “What’s Next,” celebrating the Consortium’s recent successes, sharing feedback from our community, and introducing initial ideas for a new strategic plan. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute their insights and help shape the future direction of the Consortium. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Delta Conservancy Board from 9am to 1pm. Agenda items include an update on grant programs, update on Reorienting to Recovery: Central Valley Salmon Recovery Project, nutria control activities, Delta Conveyance Project update, and Delta agencies avtivies update. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- SoCAL WATER DIALOG: Taming Catastrophic Wildfires from 12pm to 1pm. Catastrophic wildfires have already swept the state with over 1-million acres burned. This year’s unusually hot fall reminds us that the worst of the fire season is yet to come. Join renown wildfire and forest management experts as they share new strategies and innovations being implemented to create more wildfire resilient ecosystems in both southern and northern California. Speakers will address how water yield can be increased and post-fire water quality improved, recent advances in estimating and reducing risk, the value of increasing prescribed burns and restoration thinning, and the urgent need for additional state and federal government funding and action. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Chronicles from Nature’s Phoenix, Episode 6: Megafires – Catalysts for Ecological Renewal from 12pm to 1pm. In our sixth and concluding installment of Nature’s Phoenix’s chapter webinar series, Dr. Dominick DellaSala and Dr. Chad Hanson, authors of Chapter 2-Ecosystem Benefits of Megafires-dissect the often-overlooked ecological advantages of megafires, which have become increasingly prevalent under extreme weather conditions like mega-droughts and heat domes. Unlike common perceptions of megafires as destructive events, these massive fires are natural phenomena with profound ecological benefits. Our speakers will explore how megafires, driven by their own weather patterns and self-organizing dynamics, create opportunities for fire-adapted species and lead to diverse postfire environments. Click here to register.
In California water news today ...
Farms face ruin as groundwater law takes its toll
“Last month, on the final day of his almond harvest, Amrik Singh Basra sat outside his Madera County farmhouse, cradling a heavy folder. The documents, sent by his bank during the past several months, were an ultimatum: Pay up or lose the farm. Originally from India, Basra came to California in 1980. He worked in trucking for several years before using his savings to buy a small farm plot. In 1997, he bought the house in Madera and the surrounding ranch, where he has lived with his family ever since. About one-fifth of the San Joaquin Valley’s irrigated farmland—Basra’s land among it—lies in “white areas” that receive no surface water from an irrigation district. So, like other farmers, he pumped water from the ground to sustain his 100 acres of almonds and 200 acres of winegrapes. Decades of unchecked groundwater pumping across the San Joaquin Valley yielded a bounty of fruits and nuts matched by few, if any, places on Earth. But it depleted the aquifers, drying up domestic wells and causing sections of land to sink. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Kings County groundwater managers ‘flying blind’ with zero input from State Water Board
“Water managers in Kings County have heard nothing but crickets from state Water Resources Control Board staff for more than a month. While they would like feedback on how to best revise their groundwater sustainability plans, managers in the Tulare Lake subbasin instead are operating in separate silos, tailoring those plans to their own groundwater sustainability agency (GSA) boundaries. “We’re trying to move forward, but we’re also somewhat flying blind,” said Johnny Gailey, general manager of the South Fork Kings GSA. The subbasin was the first of six San Joaquin Valley regions to face scrutiny by the state Water Board, the enforcement arm of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. That law requires that overdrafted aquifers reach sustainability by 2040. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
King County Farm Bureau’s SGMA defense efforts are changing history
Dusty Ference, Executive Director of the Kings County Farm Bureau, writes, “While KCFB’s SGMA Defense efforts are active and affecting change throughout California, few exciting updates are available to the public. After the judge issued a preliminary injunction (PI) in favor of KCFB, work on the effort has not stopped. It is just not out in the open. KCFB’s legal team is preparing for a hearing. On Jan. 10, 2025, KCFB is in court for its second case management conference. At the conference, the judge will receive updates from both sides and set a trial date for later in the year unless more time is needed, in which case a third case management conference can be called. In the meantime, KCFB encourages groundwater sustainability agencies (GSA) to continue updating their groundwater sustainability plans (GSP). Updated GSPs should work to address the deficiencies identified by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). … ” Read more from the Hanford Sentinel.
One Tulare County groundwater region setting the standard for protecting residential wells
“At least one Tulare County groundwater region is doing things right when it comes to protecting residential drinking water wells, according to two advocacy organizations. The Kaweah subbasin, which covers the northern half of Tulare County’s flatlands, earned important endorsements this month from the Community Water Center and Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. Both organizations confirmed to SJV Water that Kaweah’s domestic well mitigation program is “the standard” for other subbasins to follow and will recommend to the state Water Resources Control Board that Kaweah not be placed on probation at its January 7 hearing in Sacramento. “If they follow through on their commitments, I don’t think they have to go to probation,” said Tien Tran, senior policy advisor at Community Water Center. “They have a really robust drinking water mitigation program that is the standard right now.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
San Joaquin Valley well drillers say they are struggling to meet state air regulations
“Well drillers are having a hard time updating expensive equipment to meet state air quality regulations. Some are giving up the business while others are moving their trucks at night to avoid run-ins with any potential regulators. It’s a situation that has added further pressure to the drilling business which is already suffering because of the hurting agricultural economy in the San Joaquin Valley. About a decade ago, well drillers were feeling pretty safe as they worked to meet clean air requirements, said Tom Krazan, manager of Kings River Drilling in Fresno County. “We invested almost two million bucks in all the equipment,” Krazan said of his company. “We all felt safe in our equipment.” But regulations changed over the years and soon, Krazan and others found themselves out of compliance with expensive equipment that had been okay to use a few years earlier. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The surprising reason why olive oil is getting more expensive—that has nothing to do with inflation
“The rising cost of olive oil over the past few years has not gone unnoticed, especially for those who follow a Mediterranean diet, where it makes up the main source of fat. In fact, the global price of olive oil has more than doubled since 2021.1 While there are many factors at play, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent. … In San Joaquin County, California, where the climate closely mirrors that of the Mediterranean, olive oil farmers are facing a similar situation. “One of the biggest impacts of climate change in California is water availability,” says Little. “[It’s] one of California’s most precious and endangered resources. Corto’s olive groves use 100% drip irrigation and soil- and water moisture-monitoring probes to increase efficiency and reduce water evaporation.” … ” Read the full story at Eating Well.
How full are California’s reservoirs heading into the winter rainy season?
“The weeks around Halloween in California usually bring cooler weather, Christmas decorations in stores, leaves to rake and umbrellas opening for the first time since spring. So far this year it’s still dry. No major rain is forecast through the end of October. But that doesn’t mean the state is heading for water shortages. Because the past two winters have been wetter-than-normal, California’s major reservoirs are currently holding more water than usual for this time of year. That’s giving the state — which has suffered through three severe droughts over the past 15 years — a welcome water-supply cushion, experts say, as this winter season approaches. “The reservoirs are in pretty good shape,” said Jay Lund, a professor of environmental engineering at UC Davis and vice director of the university’s Center for Watershed Sciences. “We had a wet year in 2023, then a better-than-average winter this year. It’s nice to have water in the reservoirs. Things are probably looking good for the next year or so.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
The atmospheric rivers of water year 2024: End of water year summary
Changing winters are impacting Lake Tahoe and other freshwater ecosystems
“As temperatures rise, particularly in alpine regions, lakes are feeling the heat. Research published in the journal Science, led by researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science, indicates that climate change impacts critical winter processes including lake ice conditions. Changes in lake ice conditions impact the function of ecosystems and the communities that live nearby. With climate affecting this critical winter process one can ask, what other critical changes to freshwaters might occur from changing winters whether at Lake Tahoe, or the small lakes and streams in the mountains of California and Nevada? Sudeep Chandra, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, was part of the study and has been studying lake ecosystems for over two decades. … ” Read more from the University of Nevada Reno.
Migration matters: Monitoring fish migration across the state
“To understand where and how fish need our help most urgently, we monitor fish movement, behavior, survival, and other life history patterns. This data helps us figure out what restoration efforts to engage in and where they should take place. Simultaneously, we collect data to measure the success of completed restoration projects, ensuring that we learn from what we’ve done, and that future projects are data-driven and impactful. Much of this scientific monitoring data centers around understanding migration patterns, essentially where the fish are moving and when. Each piece of a watershed must be functioning to support a successful lifecycle for fish. To build diversity in fish populations and resilience to disturbances, fish must also have access to multiple functional watersheds. What watersheds do they rely more heavily on? Where in a watershed are they suffering greater mortality? Do they need higher quality freshwater habitat or is their survival inhibited by poor estuary conditions? Is there a barrier blocking their access to habitat they previously utilized? Is new habitat access restored due to successful barrier removal projects? Answers to these questions illuminated by monitoring help guide our work. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
California water agency extends manager’s leave of absence while investigation continues
“The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California voted to allow more time to complete an investigation into accusations against General Manager Adel Hagekhalil, who was placed on leave more than four months ago in response to harassment allegations by the agency’s chief financial officer. The board’s decision will extend Hagekhalil’s leave of absence until an investigator has finished interviews and submitted a report on the findings. “The investigation is being conducted independently by an outside investigator,” said Adán Ortega Jr., chair of the MWD board. “The investigator is down to final witnesses.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Is California experiencing a water affordability crisis?
“There’s a growing perception that there’s a water affordability crisis in California, but as with most water issues, the reality is more complex. PPIC Water Policy Center founder and senior fellow Ellen Hanak sat down for a conversation with PPIC adjunct fellow and water economist David Mitchell to learn more. First, how do we determine whether water is affordable? There are various definitions of affordability. Almost all of them stem from informal guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in the mid-‘90s. The agency looked at how to determine whether sewer-related mandates and drinking water regulations might result in undue economic hardship for people served by small water systems. They identified a cost threshold of roughly 2% and 2.5% of an area’s median household income for sewer and water service, respectively. These metrics were specific to small systems serving less than 10,000 people and referred to average household impact. … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Proposition 4 climate bond seeks to avoid future costs with current investment
“A bond measure on the Nov. 5 ballot that would provide $10 billion dollars for climate mitigation and resiliency projects around California gives voters a pretty stark choice, according to supporters. Pay now, or pay later. With extreme weather and climate-induced disasters already costing the state billions of dollars a year, proponents of Proposition 4 say investing in solutions now means spending less in the future and avoiding the worst that climate change could bring by way of wildfires, flooding, disrupted food systems, human health impacts, sea level rise and more. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
California increases fines for violations against excessive water usage: ‘It’s an important step’
“Anyone violating California’s water diversion laws is in for a sharp wake-up call. Violators will no longer be subject to minimal penalties but will face stiffer ones. According to The Los Angeles Times, the California legislature passed Assembly Bill 460 in late August, and the Valley AG Voice noted Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law at the end of September. The bill increases fines for violations and helps the State Water Resources Control Board enforce the penalties for curtailing water use. The bill will prevent violators from getting off with minimal fines and continued violations. For example, in 2022, Shasta River Water Association farmers and ranchers diverted more than half of the Shasta River’s flow, defying protections for salmon. It threatened the salmon and also affected water supplies downstream for users, per the Times. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
How an ancient California lake became a ‘death trap’ for birds
“When the birds touch down, they have no idea of the danger that lurks in the water. But soon they feel weak. Their eyes may close. They struggle to hold up their wings, then their heads. Eventually, they drown. Over the past three months, nearly 100,000 birds have died in this vicious sequence that scientists say marks the worst outbreak of avian botulism ever at the Klamath Basin national wildlife refuges, along the California-Oregon border. The die-off is centered at Tule Lake, an ancient, volcanic lake in Siskiyou and Modoc counties. It’s one of six federal refuges designed to provide sanctuary for the hundreds of thousands of birds, as well as other animals, that live and visit the remote region annually. Among the recent dead are both the local waterfowl, namely ducks, and the many migratory birds that stop for food and rest on their often-long journeys up and down the West Coast. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Watch: Klamath River reemerges after the removal of four dams
“The largest dam removal project in U.S. history was completed Oct. 2 on the Klamath River in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Four dams were taken out, allowing adult salmon to swim all the way up the Klamath River from the Pacific Ocean and into more than 400 miles of newly reopened habitat. OPB cinematographer Brandon Swanson collected video footage of the dam sites before and after the removal operation. … The video also includes before-and-after shots of a site along Iron Gate reservoir, where an algae bloom had turned the stagnant lake green in 2022, and a site along Northern California’s Copco Lake reservoir, where a community of about 100 people lives. After the dam was removed, the lake disappeared, and the Klamath River reemerged. … ” Watch video at Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Mud wrestling on the Klamath: How citizen action helped keep Klamath dam removal on the right track
“While the removal of four dams on the upper Klamath River was one of California’s biggest environmental wins in decades, it was marred by missteps that threatened the intended beneficiaries – the river’s once mighty salmon runs. If public outcry had not been immediate and robust and if agency response had fallen short, the results would’ve been catastrophic. Here’s what happened: The dams were owned by PacificCorp, a power production company. But as part of the removal and river restoration agreement, their title was transferred to a government entity created by Oregon and California: the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC). It was KRRC’s job to develop and implement a plan for sediment disposal as part of the dam removal project. … ” Continue reading from the California Water Impact Network.
State to consider Scott and Shasta river flows rules
“California water officials last week directed staff to create a report that outlines the scientific basis for development of permanent instream flow requirements on the Scott and Shasta rivers in Siskiyou County to aid salmon and steelhead trout. In addition to developing the scientific basis report, the California State Water Resources Control Board asked staff to assess the economic impacts of baseline minimum flows and to continue modeling and developing information that could be used in the future to evaluate water year-specific minimum instream flows. The board also directed staff to obtain input on whether to extend the December 2023 emergency flow regulations for another year or implement a locally preferred alternative if it becomes available. Farmers from the region called for a science-based approach to guide the requirements for river flows. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
California’s Dying Lakes: Science and partnerships keeping Clear Lake alive
“Clear Lake is the largest freshwater lake that lies wholly in California. It’s also the oldest warm water lake in North America, having formed over half a million years ago, but those ancient waters and surrounding shores hide a dangerous element that could suffocate this treasure. Warming temperatures and a changing climate are giving algae and bacteria the upper hand. The community isn’t willing to give up, though. Long-time resident Debbie Clarke sees the potential in the lake sitting just 100 miles north of Sacramento and San Francisco. She recalls summer days from her childhood when the lake would go from 1,000 people to 15,000 people starting Memorial Day weekend. Even though the population of permanent residents has grown, Debbie says it still feels like a close-knit community. One neighbor is even working on revitalizing an old boat slip with hopes of making it a place to swim and fish, if he can find a way to keep out a dangerous bacteria growth called cyanobacteria. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
CENTRAL COAST
Dead anchovies fill Santa Cruz Harbor
“The Santa Cruz Harbor is working to clean up thousands of dead anchovies that have filled the water due to low oxygen levels. “When they come into a closed area like this, it’s kind of like a fish tank that’s overstocked,” said John Hains, harbormaster. “It must be a huge meal for the seagulls.” Hains explained that anchovies prefer shallow water this time of year, but the harbor may not have enough oxygen to support them all. “One of the things I’m really appreciate is the way the folk here have dealt with this. They’re thinking positively. And so rather than just cleaning it up, they’ve been trying to pump oxygen into the water to keep the anchovies alive,” Hains said. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Manteca 200-year levee physical work starts in late 2029
“Physical work on levees designed to protect Lathrop east of the San Joaquin River and a large swatch of west Manteca straddling Airport Way against a 200-year flood event won’t start until at least October 2029. The work that gets started then is the portion of the overall $337.3 million project that is being paid for with local and state funds. The portion the Army Corps of Engineers will pay for won’t see physical work started until October 2034. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
EASTERN SIERRA
LADWP retracts Deep Aquifer Pumping Project
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power agreed to retract its Notice of Determination and Notice of Exemption for the Deep Aquifer Pumping Project on Oct. 8. The retraction follows correspondence and discussions between LADWP and concerned members of the community regarding potential negative impacts new wells would have on the Owens Valley ecosystems, including groundwater levels, vegetation, and future water availability in Payahuunadü. LADWP filed the notices on Sept. 10. “We’re relieved that LADWP has decided not to proceed without fully evaluating the potential impacts of their project and so appreciative of all those who came together collectively to protect Payahuunadü,” Owens Valley Indian Water Commission executive director Teri Red Owl said. … ” Read more from the Inyo Register.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
No, LA is not “technically” in a drought. Yes, we should conserve water anyway.
“Humans have funny brains. Take confirmation bias, for example—the tendency to seek out or pay more attention to information that confirms what we already believe. Or recency bias, where we tend to put more weight on things that have happened more recently, while forgetting about long-term patterns. Besides being mildly amusing, these quirks of the human brain also make it hard for us to grasp larger, more complex and long-term problems like climate change. Studies show that our brains struggle to respond to threats that feel abstract or distant. Research by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that, while 72% of Americans believe climate change is happening, only 48% believe it will harm them personally. When it comes to things like climate change, it’s easy to convince ourselves these problems aren’t real or don’t matter. Just scroll through the comments section of any climate-related YouTube video. You’ll probably find gems like, “How can there be global warming if it’s cold outside my house right now?” or “How are we in a drought when it just rained yesterday?” Ironically, climate change might be making this confusion even worse. Enter: climate whiplash. … ” Read more from the LA Waterkeeper.
Landfill threatens to sue county over closure talk
“Chiquita Canyon Landfill officials are once again threatening to sue L.A. County over an agreement the two parties made, the most recent letter stemming from the landfill operators’ concerns over a previously agreed-upon trash-intake reduction. The letter states the Texas-based operators of Chiquita Canyon agreed to the reduction of waste as part of the terms agreed to with L.A. County in 2017, when the landfill was granted an extension of its operating permit by the county over residents’ protests. The landfill sued the county over the agreement not long after, which led to a 2022 settlement. “Specifically, Chiquita Canyon Landfill faces on Jan. 1, 2025, an enormous drop in permitted solid waste volume under the terms of the old 2017 Conditional Use Permit,” according to the letter. “This 50% drastic reduction in capacity will seriously damage solid waste management in Los Angeles County and likely compel the closure of the landfill, undermining vital public infrastructure.” … ” Read more from The Signal.
Large algae bloom spotted off Santa Monica Pier
“A large algae bloom was spotted around the Santa Monica Pier Tuesday, extending for miles down the coastline. Sky5 was above the “red tide” at 11 a.m. The bloom was seen “all the way down” in Marina del Rey, KTLA 5’s Rich Prickett said. Beachgoers were seen gathering on the pier and on the beach to get a closer look at the phenomenon. No beach closures were immediately announced. … ” Read more from KTLA.
SEE ALSO: ‘Red tide’ covers parts of Southern California coast, from Fox 11
OC Coastkeeper chronicles: Upgrading local wastewater treatment and water recycling
The OC Coastkeeper writes, “Today, we invite you to learn how a systemic change in local wastewater management led to a state-of-the-art water recycling project and a cleaner coastline. In the early 2000s, when our organization was just starting out, we discovered that Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) had plans to increase the amount of primary treated sewage discharged to the ocean and seek another five-year waiver from transitioning to full-secondary treatment, which is the nationwide standard. What is primary and secondary sewage treatment? Primary treatment only removes solids, while secondary uses biological processes to purify wastewater, resulting in a much cleaner discharge out to the ocean. OC San’s plan to focus on primary treatment was a cost-cutting measure that would’ve been a step in the wrong direction for local water quality. We knew we had to step in. … ” Continue reading at the OC Waterkeeper.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Lithium mining project near California’s largest lake accused of harming wetlands
“A controversial lithium extraction project in Imperial County has polluted wetlands connected to the Salton Sea, California’s largest and most troubled saline lake, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced. According to an Oct. 17 news release, the agency reached a settlement with Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal LLC, also known as HKG, over its dredging and ditching work that harmed fragile wetlands connected to the ill-fated body of water. The construction work, starting in November 2021, was part of its lithium mining efforts, which are projected to bring billions of dollars to the impoverished Imperial County community and generate thousands of jobs. But it appears that it’s already having adverse impacts on the area’s ecologically fragile wetlands. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Campaign to revitalize Salton Sea communities launches
“As conservation efforts from the state continue to ramp up and the lithium extraction conversation sparks both hope and concern in the communities surrounding the Salton Sea, Coachella-based Alianza seized the moment with the creation of Thriving Salton Sea Communities. The Coachella Valley-based initiative “focused on improving the quality of life and economic opportunities for residents in Eastern Coachella Valley and Imperial County.” Despite its claimed aims, at the moment much of Alianza’s plans appear based in the small portion of the Salton Sea in Riverside County; about 75 percent of the sea is in Imperial County. At a launch event on Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Salton Sea Recreation Area Visitor Center just south of North Shore in Riverside County, Silvia Paz, executive director of Alianza Coachella Valley, along with Assembly member Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) and other organizers, officially launched Thriving Salton Sea Communities. The initiative aims to accelerate long-term projects across the region, with Paz highlighting the campaign’s emphasis on “action — bold, intentional action — driven by the priorities of those who live here and know this region best. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County plans to go after companies it thinks are behind sewage crisis
“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted unanimously to pursue legal action against corporations the plaintiffs claim are responsible for the Tijuana River Valley sewage pollution crisis. Supervisors voted on the measure, proposed by Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas, after hearing a staff presentation on county efforts to help residents affected by pollution. According to a statement from Lawson-Remer’s office, county legal counsel every 90 days “must present the board of supervisors updates and available opportunities to pursue lawsuits against any potentially responsible parties for damages caused to the Tijuana River Valley, Estuary and Marine Preserve, and the surrounding neighborhoods. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Biden administration punts on big Colorado River move
“The Biden administration has told Colorado River negotiators it no longer plans to issue its draft set of plans for managing the waterway in December, leaving the next major move in the battle over the West’s most important river to the next president. The federal plans for the waterway are of increasing importance since the seven states that share it are deadlocked over new rules to govern the river after 2026. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation had said for months that it intended to issue them as part of a draft environmental impact statement at the end of the year. But in recent weeks bureau officials have told states and water users that they will instead release only a list of reasonable options for governing the waterway, which would later be analyzed as part of the environmental impact statement. … ” Read more from Politico (sorry, subscription required).
Reservoir drawdown in 2024: Are we on track to recover storage?
“Reservoir storage in the Colorado River basin is now approximately equal to two year’s average annual consumptive use. In the three months since reservoir storage peaked in July 2024, drawdown of those reservoirs lost more than 80% of the increase accomplished by the 2024 snowmelt inflow season, which had increased basin reservoir storage by only 2.5 million acre feet despite the Upper Basin snowpack having peaked at a snow water equivalent that was 13.5% greater than the long-term average1. If this rate-of-use continues for the next six months, there will be a net loss in basin reservoir storage. Water supply reliability and security for Colorado River water users can only be accomplished if we replenish the amount of water stored in reservoirs and not further deplete the declining supply. … ” Read more from the Inkstain blog.
How Lake Mead’s water levels now compare to critically low levels
“Lake Mead’s water levels are 17 feet higher than they were when the reservoir battled critically low levels in the fall of 2022, fueling hope that the incoming water year will further help the reservoir. After years of drought, Lake Mead, which is in Nevada and Arizona, plunged to critically low levels in the summer of 2022. Above-average precipitation and snowmelt that winter helped remedy the levels, which continued to improve throughout 2023. Now, roughly two years later, Lake Mead looks to be in a better position for the new water year, which began October 1. On Tuesday, Lake Mead’s water levels were at 1,063 feet, roughly 17 feet higher than this time in 2022 and 3 feet lower than this time in 2023. The lake’s levels have remained mostly steady since late June, after the lake experienced a steady decline that brought its levels down from a high point of 1,076 feet in March. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
U.S. Air Force complies with EPA order on PFAS cleanup at Tucson Superfund Site
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the U.S. Air Force is now in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act Order it was issued in May, concerning per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS at the Tucson International Airport Area Superfund Site (TIAASS). After several months of discussions, the Air Force submitted a letter to EPA outlining its plan for addressing drinking water safety and PFAS contamination cleanup. In a letter to the EPA, the Air Force also said it is willing to enter into an interim settlement agreement with the City of Tucson and Tucson Airport Authority, agreeing to cover 50% of past water treatment plant costs and 50% of future pre-treatment plant costs after federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) dollars are used. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
A river runs through them: Laughlin, Mesquite strive to survive
“It’s a tale of two Southern Nevada cities and a river runs through them. Both have encountered struggles attracting tourists over the years for different reasons and both have the common bond of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority performing their tourism marketing plans as somewhat of a big brother. Both suffered through 9-11, the Great Recession and the COVID years. Both saw major hotel casinos boarded up and closed and both rely on occasionally fickle markets. Both have daytime temperatures generally hotter than Las Vegas. Laughlin, where the Colorado River flows through magnificently after being waylaid by Hoover and Davis dams, is a speck on the map where Nevada, Arizona and California converge. … In Mesquite, where the Virgin River trickles to a muddy mess on its way to Lake Mead, but irrigates a string of championship golf courses along the way, the room inventory has cratered from more than 3,000 in 1999 to 1,650 today. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“When we pray, we always pray about water”
“As a young girl growing up on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Lorelei Cloud learned the value of water in life lessons every week outside her uncle’s home. “I lived with my grandparents in an old adobe home they had remodeled. We didn’t have any running water and so we always hauled water to our house,” says Cloud, Vice Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in southwest Colorado. “Every Sunday, my uncle would come and pick up my sister and me. We would fill up our water jugs from the garden hose outside his house and take it back to our house. That was our water for the week.” On the occasions when her family’s supply didn’t last, Cloud’s grandmother would collect water from a nearby ditch and boil it for safe use – tiding them over until the next trip to her uncle’s. Those early memories – of water scarcity, not abundance – have helped shape Cloud’s work today as a state leader in water conservation, and as a champion for Tribal voices in water decision-making in Colorado. … ” Read more from the Walton Family Foundation.
