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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include Delta Levees: Challenges and Opportunities and the Delta Lead Scientist’s report. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Coastal Resilience Network: Key Findings from the Golden Gate Biosphere Climate Adaptation Project from 12pm to 1pm. Join us for a presentation from Danny Franco, Senior Project Manager with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, that will include an overview of key findings from the Golden Gate Biosphere Climate Adaptation Project, which includes downscaled climate projections for the Golden Gate Biosphere, species distribution modeling for (6) vegetation types, and adaptation briefs for several key wildlife species and ecosystems. Learn more about how the Parks Conservancy plans to integrate this information with a National Park Service led vulnerability assessment for assets and infrastructure in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, with the goal of developing a portfolio of multi-benefit climate adaptation projects. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California’s floodplains at the heart of landmark agreement: State and federal agencies unite to address climate resilience through landscape-scale investment
“Federal and State of California government agencies, overseeing water, agriculture, fish and wildlife, public lands and flood control, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration on landscape-scale, multi-beneficial floodplain water projects in the Sacramento River Basin. The purpose of this agreement is to elevate the opportunity for landscape-scale funding and to streamline planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and information sharing of projects located on the floodplains that enhance flood protection, restore fish and wildlife habitat, improve groundwater aquifer recharge, provide water supply reliability, and sustain farming and managed wetland operations. … “We are deeply grateful for this commitment to floodplain restoration with so many conservation leaders in the Sacramento Valley,” said Paul Souza, Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Floodplains provide rich habitat for birds, fish, and so many other species, and this partnership again shows how agriculture and species conservation can work hand in glove to benefit people and communities, foster a healthy environment, and adapt to a changing climate. We are committed to this restoration action.” … ” Continue reading this press release.
SEE ALSO: California joins federal partners to enhance flood protection and wildlife habitat in Sacramento River Basin, from the Office of the Governor
DAN WALTERS: California reservoirs are full, but water politics may trump hydrology
“Most of us operate on the calendar year — the 12 months that begin on January 1 and end on December 31. Many governments and major corporations use the fiscal year — typically beginning on July 1 and running until June 30 of the following year. However the federal government’s fiscal year, which began on July 1 for 132 years, was shifted in 1974 to an October 1 start to accommodate federal officials’ insistence on a month-long escape from Washington’s steamy summer weather. In California, the most important calendar may be the “water year,” which also begins on October 1, because how much the state’s reservoirs have in storage and how much nature provides in the form of rain and snow are existential factors in the lives of nearly 40 million people. The water year begins on October 1 because historically, the state’s roughly six-month-long rainy season begins in the fall. … ” Read more from Dan Walters.
CA WATER COMMISSION: Update on the Water Storage Investment Program projects
“The October meeting of the California Water Commission included an update on the seven projects progressing through the Water Storage Investment Program. Program Manager Amy Young gave the update. Proposition 1 of 2014 dedicated $2.7 billion for investments in water storage projects, which the California Water Commission administers through the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). Seven water storage projects were selected and must complete the remaining requirements, including final permits, environmental documents, contracts for the administration of public benefits, and commitments for the remaining project costs, before they receive the final funding award. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
RIP, Los Vaqueros
“With cities and farmers across the state trying to secure water supplies in an age of climate change extremes, the expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir was supposed to be a slam dunk. Water agencies looking to it as a beacon of what’s still possible as supplies dwindle and costs rise are still scratching their heads at its unexpected demise last month. “This is not the classic story of city water supply people versus environmental water supply people,” said Jay Lund, an engineering professor at UC Davis. “There’s some worries, I think, that if this is a signal event, we’re now in a political era where people are just less agreeable.” Los Vaqueros was a rare species, seemingly bred for threading the gauntlet of California water politics that’s held up other new storage projects for decades: It would have expanded an existing project, rather than starting from scratch, which meant fewer permitting hurdles. … ” Read more from Politico.
Maintaining and managing water quality in almond orchards
“Water quality management in almond orchards is important for ensuring a successful crop. Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition, noted most efforts focus largely on controlling salinity and elements, such as boron, which can be toxic and problematic at higher levels. “Optimum water quality for any crop can help improve efficiency because crop production is maximized per unit of applied water,” he said. Hardeep Singh, food systems advisor for UC Cooperative Extension, Central Sierra, said nitrates and salts present in the water are much of the concern to the growers and they monitor them by laboratory testing. That’s why farmers or their PCAs (pest control advisers) test the water samples for nitrates, salts, pH and other biological composition of the water. Most times, this is part of the annual package with the PCA/CCA (certified crop advisers) for all services. … ” Read more from the National Nut Grower.
California agriculture faces challenges but promises innovation, says Secretary Ross
“Speaking at the FIRA conference, Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), outlined both the challenges and opportunities facing California’s agricultural industry. Ross recognized the difficult situation for farmers, particularly due to low commodity prices and increasing production costs. “It’s unusual to have so many crops struggling at the same time,” she said in an interview with AgNet West, while reflecting on the pressures farm families are facing this year. Adding to the economic stress, farmers are also dealing with new regulations from the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), forcing them to reconsider their crops and farming practices. Ross acknowledged the difficulty of these transitions. “Every generation goes through this,” she said, “but this time we’re all living it now.” However, she emphasized that the current struggles come with long-term opportunities. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
California increases fines for unauthorized water diversions and uses
“As California prepares for future cycles of water scarcity, the Legislature continues to prioritize enhancing regulations to address critical water supply needs, secure the rights of diverse water holders, and protect essential environmental resources. On September 22, 2024, Governor Newsom signed AB 460 into law, a bill that significantly increases fines for unauthorized water diversions and other violations of state orders related to water use. AB 460 was introduced in response to limitations in existing California Water Code provisions that capped the maximum fines for violations of appropriative water diversions and uses to $500 per day. During the drought conditions in 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board (the Board) issued emergency drought curtailment orders on the Shasta River in order to protect salmon and senior water rights holders. Violators were subject to the statutory maximum fines, but the $500 maximum per day limitation proved insufficient to deter many from continuing to divert water from the river. AB 460 increases the penalties that the Board can impose under different circumstances and strengthens the Board’s enforcement powers in a manner that proponents hope will prevent future noncompliance. … ” Read more from the Natnioanl Law Review.
Biden-Harris administration announces $276 million for water infrastructure in California through Investing In America Agenda
“Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade water infrastructure and keep communities safe. Combined with $2.6 billion announced earlier this month, this $6.2 billion in investments for Fiscal Year 2025 will help communities nationwide make essential water infrastructure upgrades to safely manage wastewater, protect local freshwater resources, and deliver safe drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses. These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs to address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for California ($177,966,000), Clean Water Emerging Contaminants funds ($15,362,000), and $82,428,000 under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminants Fund. … ” Read more from the EPA.
Future atmospheric rivers could bring catastrophic ocean level rise off the West Coast, simulation study shows
“A team of climate specialists from the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global Dynamics Lab, Texas A&M University, and Pennsylvania State University has found evidence for a rise in ocean levels during future atmospheric rivers (ARs) that form in the Pacific Ocean and make their way to the North American coast. In their paper published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the group describes their study of previous ARs and how they applied what they learned to ARs of the future, when taking into account global warming. Over the next century, dramatic changes to the world’s climate are expected, from warming temperatures to more rain in some places and less in others. Another aspect of climate change that has not received as much press is the ongoing changes to the world’s oceans. In addition to warmer air over the oceans, the water temperature is also growing warmer. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
New study finds drought recovery hindered by a changing climate
“Drought recovery isn’t only important for human water users. For example, migrating birds depend on being able to locate the same sources of water year after year to survive on their long journeys. A new study, published in Nature Communications: Earth & Environment, found climate change means it takes about three months longer for California to recover from drought, and possibly longer. A group of researchers at the University of California Merced (UC Merced) led this study, with funding from NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “Climate change has fundamentally changed the odds of getting out of drought. It has weighted the dice,” said Emily Williams, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral scholar with UC Merced’s Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI). “This is happening because of warming in summer months, and a good portion of it is because of human-caused climate change.” … ” Read more from NIDIS.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Commentary: Klamath Ag supports Basin refuges
The Klamath Drainage District writes, “Recently, The Oregonian published a letter from Mary Hayden of Oregon City about the conditions of the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the recent outbreak of avian botulism. In her letter, Ms. Hayden offered her thoughts on a solution – “cash out the farmers” and “give the water to the birds.” Unfortunately, when it comes to Klamath Basin water issues, this is a frequent, short-sighted reaction by individuals who are not dependent upon Klamath Basin agriculture. This way of thinking also doesn’t take into account the work and advocacy Klamath Basin family farmers and ranchers do on behalf of the birds of the Pacific Flyway or area wildlife. Nor does it appreciate the tangled political web of the power of the Federal government, the Endangered Species Act, or water rights that put these refuges last in line and create “paper droughts” affecting farmers and waterfowl alike. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Salmon spotted far upstream after historic Klamath River dam removal
“Less than two months following the removal of four hydroelectric dams along the Klamath River, some of its salmon have swum upstream in Oregon to start spawning for the first time in over a century. The first salmon was spotted October 3 on sonar, swimming through the former site of Siskiyou County’s Iron Gate Dam, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Ever since that initial sighting, scientists say dozens to maybe hundreds of Chinook salmon have swum through the site — the southernmost of the four. “The salmon remember,” Frankie Myers, vice chairperson of the Yurok Tribe, told the San Francisco Chronicle. The purpose of the $500 million project was to restore the river’s natural flow and revive wildlife — including the salmon — in the Klamath River basin. … ” Read more from EcoWatch.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Eastern Plumas prescribed burn aims to reduce fuels
“If conditions permit, on Thursday, Oct. 24, the Plumas Underburn Cooperative will be supporting a landowner with broadcast burning in Valley Ranch, report organizers. This burn will be conducted by citizens and wildland fire professionals in order to reduce fire hazards in the neighborhood near Clio. PUC member Hannah Hepner is assisting the landowners with planning and implementation of the burn. “This community was under evacuation during this summer’s Gold Complex,” said Hepner. “These landowners are taking initiative to reduce their risks and provide community protection.” Landowner Cathy Linden, who has a background in range management, said, “The burn is also intended to increase the health of the meadow ecosystem on the property.” The burn is part of a larger effort to manage the property for fire safety and forest health. … ” Read more from the Plumas Sun.
California’s Dying Lakes: Efforts underway to ‘Keep Tahoe Blue’
“Lake Tahoe — the largest freshwater alpine lake in North America — is world-famous for its clear blue water, but the lake faces a multitude of threats requiring constant care and vigilance to keep it that way. “We’re more than a bumper sticker,” said Laura Patten, the Natural Resource Director at the League to Save Lake Tahoe, better known as Keep Tahoe Blue. “We really rely on the science to figure out what is happening in the lake.” Patten and other scientists studying Lake Tahoe say climate change and recreation pose the biggest threats to the lake in the 21st century. Longer and hotter periods of heat, more extreme fire seasons, and erratic precipitation patterns in the winter all play a part in Tahoe’s water quality. “We need to think about how are we going to plan for that potential climate future of Lake Tahoe,” said Patten. “If we’re seeing different patterns in precipitation, in smoke and ash and wildfire, how are we seeing these different pressures impact the lake?” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
What NOAA, Old Farmer’s Almanac, AccuWeather say about La Niña in Redding this winter
“This year, Redding and much of far Northern California could see a slightly drier winter than average, but not all forecasts agree. That’s because Shasta County sits close to the edges of what the Old Farmer’s Almanac, AccuWeather and NOAA say are wet and dry weather patterns this winter, a La Niña year. That makes predicting North State weather harder than in other places, said meteorologist Sara Purdue with the NOAA/National Weather Service Sacramento office. Long-range weather predictions in the Old Farmer’s Almanac say the U.S. will have less extreme weather overall than in past years, which were a checkerboard of flooding and droughts across the country. This year, “temperatures will be up and snowfall down throughout most of the United States. We’re predicting a temperate, uneventful winter,” with some exceptions, Almanac Editor Carol Connare said. California is among those exceptions. … ” Read more from the Redding Record Searchlight.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Water to update climate change models for Russian River watershed
“Sonoma Water has announced plans to update its climate change models for the Russian River watershed using the latest available data. Sonoma Valley and the City of Sonoma both are contractors with the agency, and receive water from the Russian River. The agency will partner with Flint HydroScience, LLC to incorporate new climate projections into its Basin Characterization Model, which is used to estimate stream flows and analyze potential impacts to water supplies. “This updated modeling is critical for planning the future of our water resources,” said David Rabbitt, Chair of the Sonoma Water Board of Directors. “It will help us understand how climate change may affect operations at Lake Mendocino, Lake Sonoma and throughout the Russian River system.” … ” Read more from the Sonoma Valley Sun.
BAY AREA
Marin Voice: Keep ag sustainable by making smart investment in North Bay’s climate future
“Marin County just set a new record for the hottest Oct. 8 in history when San Rafael hit 108 degrees. Extreme heat has devastating consequences, especially for Marin’s growing older adult population and people who work outdoors. With each passing year, we experience how a changing climate can affect our lives – from prolonged heat waves to intensifying storms, sea level rise, more frequent flooding, and other threats. The longer we wait to act, the more severe the consequences will be. That is why it is essential that Californians vote yes on Proposition 4 in the November election. It makes urgent investments in proven solutions to protect our communities, health and economy. It addresses threats to our iconic landscapes, coast and wildlife before the damage becomes too costly and unmanageable. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Small Delta town piloting first-in-the-state flood insurance initiative
“The small Delta town of Isleton is the first-and-only in the state, so far, to pilot a new community-based flood insurance initiative. It’s a partnership between the Department of Water Resources, California Department of Insurance, UC Davis PhD candidate and researcher Kathleen Schaefer and the Delta Region Geologic Hazard Abatement District (GHAD), which was formed about two years ago to address flood risk and flood insurance in the city of Isleton. “Less than half the people who live in Isleton have flood insurance, and they have a very real flood risk. So if something were to happen, it could be catastrophic both for the individual and for the community,” Schaefer told ABC10. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Anderson Dam tunnel completed in South Bay
“The Anderson Dam tunnel project hit a major milestone on Wednesday in the effort to protect the South Bay from the next major earthquake. The last boring machine parts have now been pulled out of the Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill, signaling the end of the major tunneling part of the project. It took nearly two years for them to dig more than 1700 feet next to the dam. “Driving a drilling machine from inside of a tunnel, a lake. There were a lot of things we were anticipating could go wrong, and it all went pretty smoothly,” said Ryan Mccarter, Andersom Dam’s project manager. … ” Read more from NBC Bay Area.
Could troubled wetland become a park in Half Moon Bay?
“The Half Moon Bay City Council discussed potential options for the beleaguered Beachwood property, a saga that began decades ago when a city-sponsored project accidentally led to wetlands developing on an adjacent privately-owned site slated for redevelopment. The root of the property’s dilemma was sparked by a flawed city drainage project in the mid-1980s. In the 1990s, when the property owner proposed constructing 83 homes on the site, the City Council noted protected wetlands had formed and a project that extensive wouldn’t be feasible. That decision prompted the owner to sue, unraveling a flurry of related legal actions. … ” Read more from the Daily Journal.
CENTRAL COAST
Community input sought for flood-prone areas to support future groundwater recharge efforts in Salinas Valley
“In an effort to increase groundwater recharge and storage while reducing flooding, four local agencies and nonprofits collaborating on the Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program are seeking public input about known areas of flooding and recharge. A public survey is now open and interested community members are invited to join the new Recharge Work Group for its first meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 23. The Multi-benefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) is a California Department of Conservation initiative to reduce reliance on overdrafted groundwater basins. MLRP funds projects to support reduced reliance on groundwater while also providing community benefits and making agriculture more sustainable into the future. “Some potential project benefits could be increased groundwater recharge and storage, reduced flooding, habitat enhancement and water quality improvement,” according to a news release. “Community input is being requested to help identify the communities’ desired benefits.” … ” Read more from the Kings City Rustler.
Monterey County, SLO water agencies tussle over Nacimiento
“While the dust-up between water districts in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties over access to water in Nacimiento Reservoir won’t qualify as a water war, it’s fair to call it a skirmish. At issue is a pair of applications filed with the state Water Resources Control Board, or simply Water Board, by a water district from Monterey County’s southern neighbor – the Shandon-San Juan Water District and its Groundwater Sustainability Agency. That water district is asking the state to approve applications to take additional water from Nacimiento Reservoir. In a written report to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 8, Ara Azhderian, the general manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, or WRA, explained that the Shandon water district is asking the state for permission to appropriate 14,000 acre-feet at Santa Margarita Lake on the Salinas River southwest of Atascadero in San Luis Obispo County, and from Nacimiento Reservoir, also in San Luis Obispo County, or SLO. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
California’s first floodgate aims to remove hundreds of Stockton homes from flood zone
“A floodgate that will try to bring thousands of Central Valley homes out of a 100-year flood zone is now complete. But some homeowners are hesitant to say it’s worth it just yet. The nearly $100 million project in Stockton is the first of its kind in California and on the West Coast. After four years of construction, the Smith Canal floodgate is now open. “Overall about $100 million between construction, design and permitting,” said Christopher H. Neudeck, construction manager and president of Kjeldsen, Sinnock & Neudeck, Inc. Funded through federal, state and local dollars, the floodgate runs from the tip of Louis Park to the Stockton Country Club’s shore. To the north is a 50-foot-wide barrier between the San Joaquin River and thousands of homes in central Stockton that are in flood-prone areas. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Phillips 66 is shutting down its LA refineries. What’s next?
“Phillips 66 announced last week it will shut down its oil refineries in Wilmington and Carson by the end of next year, marking the end of an era. Starting more than 100 years ago, the refineries have turned crude oil into billions of gallons of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from their location next to the nation’s largest ports. Together, the refineries supply about 8% of all of California’s gasoline demand. They also contribute to California’s single largest source of planet-heating pollution from the industrial sector. The decision comes as demand for gasoline continues to decline and an aging facility faces costly maintenance and updates to meet pollution regulations. About 600 employees and 300 contractors will be affected by the closure, according to the company. What does the closure mean for nearby communities? … ” Read more from the LAist.
USACE, partners break ground on high-priority bluff repair project
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District joined city, state, county and congressional partners Oct. 3 to break ground on an emergency repair project for the upper bluffs of Norco, along the Santa Ana River. The purpose of the project is to protect residents and their homes by repairing and stabilizing the bluffs that were damaged during storms in early 2024. The groundbreaking ceremony included the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, City of Norco, California Office of Emergency Services, Riverside County and U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert of California’s 41st Congressional District. Addressing those gathered on the bluff for the ceremony, Col. Andrew Baker, LA District commander, thanked those gathered for getting the high-priority project off to an official start so quickly. “Today signifies the shift of this project from designs on paper to shovels in the dirt, and it’s a perfect example of what happens when we all work together,” Baker said. … ” Read more from DVIDS.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Lithium Valley rejected again in bid for federal funding to boost battery industry
“Imperial County’s much-lauded Lithium Valley in California’s southeast corner has been bypassed for a second time by federal officials for critically needed funding, a key state official said on Wednesday. Noemi Gallardo, a member of the California Energy Commission who oversees reviews of proposed geothermal projects tied to lithium production, told The Desert Sun/USA Today Network that she was concerned that the U.S. Department of Energy had for a second time not selected any company seeking to produce lithium in California to receive a portion of $3 billion allocated by the Biden administration. Instead, 25 projects in 14 other states were chosen, for a total $600 million per year through 2026. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
SAN DIEGO
Plans for Tijuana desalinization plant appear to finally be moving forward
“The northern Mexico state of Baja California is betting on desalinization to solve the Tijuana area’s drinking water scarcity, and after five years with a planned project at a standstill, efforts to build a desalinization plant in Rosarito are finally moving forward again, according to state officials. After two years of legal wrangling between the state government and Consolidated Water — the firm fired from the original project to build the plant — the two parties came to a resolution this summer that saw the Mexican government purchase the 201,000-square-meter parcel of land in Rosarito. The parcel, valued at just over 596 million pesos (US $30.06 million), is now owned by Mexico’s National Infrastructure Fund (Fonadin). … ” Read more from Mexican News Daily.
Along the Colorado River …
What Are They Hiding?: Behind closed doors, the Colorado River’s future hangs in the balance
“The fate of 40 million people’s drinking water in the West is being hashed out in closed meetings. The states must reach a consensus every 20 years to update how much water each state is allowed to use and which must cut their allotment as the system loses water to drought. But unlike other entities that make decisions that directly affect Nevadans’ futures, negotiation meetings are not open to the public or the media. “There should be a discussion of formally recognizing this as a public-facing body that follows public records and open meeting laws across the states,” said David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. “It’s just too darn important.” Negotiations are critical for Southern Nevada and its residents. The region sources about 90 percent of its water from Lake Mead, a dwindling reservoir that faces an uncertain future amid a decades-long drought made worse by climate change. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Loss of spring moisture a culprit for missing water in Colorado River
“Reduced spring snow and rain falling in the West explain years of missing water in the Colorado River Basin, according to new research with a genesis in the East River corridor above Crested Butte. Generating water supply forecasts is a tricky task. The local water district has put a great deal of energy and money toward annual snow survey flights in the valley’s major drainages — an effort to create a more accurate picture of exactly how much water will be available when the snow melts. Understanding how spring precipitation influences runoff later in the year may also help reduce forecast errors. For example, if it’s dry in May, the landscape not only lacks moisture from the sky, but may also see less snowmelt enter the river system later in the year. “The difference is you need to update the prediction more dramatically than you would think from the precipitation alone,” said Jessica Lundquist, one of the lead scientists on study. She is based at the University of Washington. … ” Read more from the Gunnison Times.
Arizona: Hobbs announces new groundwater protection effort in the Willcox basin
“Arizona’s water agency announced Tuesday it has started the highly controversial process of creating a new groundwater protection area in the Willcox basin called an Active Management Area, or AMA. The Willcox groundwater basin is one of the most critically depleted in the state and subject to no restrictions on pumping. Republicans and Democrats have spent many months trying to create a new kind of groundwater protection specific to rural areas as an alternative to AMAs – but a deal hasn’t come together. Now, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is supporting the Arizona Department of Water Resources, which is part of the executive branch, for taking action with the tools they have available. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
SEE ALSO: Willcox Groundwater Basin may become Arizona’s next active management area, from Arizona Public Media
High Country anglers, conservationists hope multimillion-dollar water project will breathe new life into a ‘dying’ stretch of the Colorado River
“There were days in the early 1980s when, if conditions were right, Dave Parri could catch a rainbow trout every 10 minutes while wading in the clear waters of the Colorado River downstream of Granby. Parri had traded the overcrowded fisheries of Pennsylvania, where he used to stand shoulder to shoulder with other anglers, for the peaceful waters of Colorado’s High Country when he moved to Grand County in 1979. But today the approximately 15-mile stretch of river between Granby and the small community of Parshall — an area once regarded as a premier trout fishery in the U.S. — has fallen into decline. “Only the people who fished the river all through the ’80s know how good it was,” said Parri, a 31-year fly fishing and hunting guide. “What used to be large populations of trout turned into next to nothing.” … ” Read more from Summit Daily.
Tribes won’t be paid for unused water through a federal fund. Colorado lawmakers want that to change.
“Colorado elected leaders this week rallied behind two tribal nations who are willing to forgo future water use in exchange for payment through a new federal conservation fund meant to address drought in the Colorado River Basin. At issue is whether the tribes’ proposal is eligible for the funding under federal rules. The Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes would like funding for a program that pays tribes to save water by not developing it for future use. Federal officials say the tribes’ proposal doesn’t fit the parameters of the new conservation fund. This week, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet called on the bureau to change its mind. “We write to urge you to ensure that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have the opportunity to apply for funding programs that address drought and water supply management in the Colorado River Basin, including through upcoming drought mitigation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint letter released Tuesday. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
SEE ALSO: Dems call on Reclamation to pay tribes unable to use Colorado River, from E&E News
In national water news today …
Bad state data may misdirect nearly $1 billion in federal funds to replace lead pipes
“The Environmental Protection Agency is at risk of misallocating nearly $1 billion in lead pipe replacement funding to the wrong states because it didn’t verify inaccurate data provided by Texas and Florida, an agency watchdog announced. It’s possible that the EPA can avoid much of the misallocation and can recover some funds that already went where they shouldn’t have, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General said. But the errors mean some states with the biggest needs may have to wait longer for funds — or will get less than they should have, the OIG said in a report this week. The EPA disputed the watchdog’s conclusions, saying it tried to balance evolving information on lead service lines in each state with the need to quickly allocate money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Officials promised to review future allocations for Texas and Florida. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.