DAILY DIGEST, 10/29: CA braces for first widespread rain and snow of the season; CA seizes $544 million in illegal weed, just a drop in the bucket; Study finds pattern in DDT contamination among fish off SoCal; Governor visits Tijuana River; and more …


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On the calendar today …

  • WEBINAR: A 360-Degree View of PFAS Testing from 11am to 12pm.  There have been numerous webinars and workshops on PFAS testing – almost all of which discussed the molecular structure of various PFAS groups. This information is important but what is more important, from a user’s point of view, is to get first-hand knowledge of how the regulators and laboratories think about the PFAS testing, the challenges all stakeholders face and how to overcome them.  Join this discussion where we’ll dive into the complexities of PFAS testing and offer expert insights on how to navigate this evolving field. While PFAS testing has been a hot topic of discussion, not many are aware of the different testing methods available and the challenges that can arise during the process.  Click here to register.

In California water news today …

California braces for first widespread rain and snow of the season

“This week, California is set to experience its first widespread precipitation in months. From Wednesday through Saturday, a series of cold fronts will bring significant rain and snow, particularly across Northern California and the Sierra.  On Wednesday, a strengthening low-pressure system will move southward from the Gulf of Alaska toward California. A strong cold front attached to the storm will first push into Northern California on Wednesday, then sweep through the rest of the state late Wednesday and into early Thursday morning.  By Wednesday afternoon, moderate to heavy rain will develop along the Northern California coast, with 0.25 to 0.5 inches expected in just a few hours from Eureka to Crescent City. Precipitation will spread inland overnight and into Thursday morning, bringing 6 to 12 inches of snow to the mountains around Shasta Valley. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

California hails $544 million in illegal weed seizures. But it’s just a drop in the bucket

“Two major state programs to combat illegal cannabis recently sent out news releases lauding their collective seizures of some $544 million worth of illicit weed.  But when it comes to reining in California’s sprawling black market, experts say it’s just a drop in the bucket.  Those in the thick of the fight against illegal pot, like Mendocino County Sheriff Matthew Kendall, can’t help but roll their eyes.  “Don’t get me wrong, I love when those guys [state law enforcement officers] show up to help,” he said, “but I would need 50 police officers for 50 days to even begin putting a dent in it.” … ”  Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.

California looks to streamline desalination plants

“State water regulators are in the early stages of easing environmental rules for desalination plants along California’s coast to boost water supplies as the climate changes.  The State Water Resources Control Board kick-started its process to amend its ocean protection standards for desalination plants at a scoping meeting Monday after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the regulator to consider streamlining new projects in August 2022.  Though the board has yet to publish new draft rules, staff said Monday they were looking to speed permitting, especially for novel technologies, and clarify how and when to measure and mitigate the loss of marine life to the highly saline water that plants discharge back into the ocean. They are also interested in requiring projects to prove a strong need for the additional water supply. … ”  Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required).

California’s main water hub regulator keeps options open

“State water regulators are leaving their options open for how best to protect endangered fish and distribute water in the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta under a draft plan released Friday.  The release intensifies a bruising battle between environmentalists, tribes and fishing groups on one side and cities and farmers on the other over managing the state’s main water hub, which supplies water to most Californians as well as habitat to migratory birds and endangered fish like chinook salmon.  The State Water Resources Control Board detailed several alternatives in its draft plan for meeting state and federal water quality standards, including requiring minimum flows on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and tributaries, settling with water districts that’ve proposed instead to limit their deliveries and pay for habitat restoration, and a combination of both…. ”  Read more from E&E News (sorry, subscription required, but this article is referring to this draft document released by the State Water Board last Friday).

Tribal representatives call on President Biden to designate new desert national monuments in California

“Tribal representatives are calling on President Joe Biden to designate new national monuments in the California Desert.  In a press release, this is to protect “sacred Tribal lands and cultural landscapes and imperiled biodiversity.”  The press release says the representatives issued their call to action from Cali, Columbia, “where they are participating in the 16th United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity (COP16),” and the proposed national monuments in the desert include the following:  Kw’tsán National Monument in Imperial County, Chuckwalla National Monument in Riverside and Imperial Counties, and Sáttítla National Monument in northeastern California. … ”  Read more from Channel 11.

Treehouse Almonds to build $9 million biochar facility in Delano

“Treehouse California Almonds is developing a new biochar manufacturing facility in Delano that will be the first commercial system directly tied to agriculture on the west coast.  Treehouse Almonds is partnering with biochar producer Sitos Group on the $9 million slow pyrolysis biochar manufacturing facility.  The new facility will be 25,000 square feet and is expected to be complete by the end of next year. … ”  Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.

Video: Surviving climate change in California’s drought-stressed forests

“Refuges in California’s forests may protect vulnerable species. For California, the last five years have been the hottest and driest in more than a century. As a result, the Carnegie Airborne Observatory was launched to monitor the health of every tree in every forest across the state. The project has identified areas of forest that are more resistant to drought and may serve as refuge for other species.”  Watch video from WKNO.

USGS awards $2.5 million to state geological surveys for mine waste projects

“The U.S. Geological Survey announced today it has awarded approximately $2.5 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for mine waste characterization and inventory projects across 25 states.  The data collection will be conducted through the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a partnership between the USGS and state geological surveys that is revolutionizing our understanding of the nation’s geology and domestic mineral resources, both in the ground and in mine waste.  Since 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has advanced scientific innovation through a $320 million investment for the USGS to better map the Nation’s mineral resources, and to preserve historical geologic data and samples. Through the end of fiscal year 2024, more than $160 million has been obligated for Earth MRI initiatives, propelling efforts to make “once-in-a-generation” advancements in the nation’s geologic and geophysical data collections and mapping. … ”  Read more from the USGS.

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In commentary today …

US Forest Service decision to halt prescribed burns in California is history repeating

“Last week, the US Forest Service announced it would stop prescribed burning in California “for the foreseeable future,” stating that the decision was made as a precautionary measure to ensure the availability of staff and equipment in case of potential wildfires. But temps are falling across California, and state, tribal authorities, and prescribed burn associations have commenced with their prescribed burns. If the federal agency doesn’t hold up its end of the work, all that mitigation work can be undone.  To grasp the impact of the Forest Service’s decision on California, it’s essential to understand the history of the state and the intricate mosaic of private, state, and federal land that constitutes the forests. Over the past 100 years, the state and federal governments relied on a “paramilitary-like program” that focused on fire suppression by rapidly mobilizing firefighters and equipment. Very little was done regarding fire prevention besides creating the famous Smokey the Bear ad campaign. One of the problems was that colonialist attitudes of fire officials constantly disregarded the valuable knowledge of forest management practices held by California’s Indigenous communities. … ”  Continue reading from the Center for Economic Policy and Research.

Why California’s Prop. 4 is essential for the Central Valley’s long-term vitality

Ashley Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, writes, “Having lived and served in this agriculturally-rich region for nearly 25 years, I know how important strategic investment is to our community. The fertile Central Valley is the agricultural epicenter of our nation, producing over 400 different agricultural commodities — more than any other place in the U.S. To preserve the strength of our beloved land and community, we must invest in stronger measures to promote climate resiliency. That means backing Proposition 4. As CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation and a former mayor of Fresno, I’ve been deeply committed to improving the quality of life and protecting the long-term economic viability of the region for years to come. Our region is not only essential to our state’s economic dynamism as the world’s fifth largest economy, but we also nourish our entire nation. Yet we must do more to meet the needs of our local residents. … ”  Read more from the Fresno Bee.

SEE ALSO: What you need to know about Prop 4, California’s climate bond, from KALW

A new rule requires lead pipes to be gone within a decade. It won’t be easy.

The Washington Post editorial board writes, “It is almost impossible to be against a rule announced by the Environmental Protection Agency this month requiring utilities to replace all lead pipes within a decade. After all, who opposes the swift removal of a deadly toxin from drinking water? But there’s a tricky road ahead, and it’s an expensive one to travel.  The 9 million or so service lines across the United States pumping poison through our homes and into our bodies cause all manner of maladies, such as high blood pressure, kidney malfunction, cognitive disability and hyperactivity. The EPA estimates that, in a country without lead pipes, 1,500 fewer people every year would die early of heart disease and about 900,000 fewer infants would suffer from low birth weight. The shift could even prevent 200,000 lost IQ points in children annually. … ”  Read more from the Washington Post.

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In regional water news and commentary today …

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Field tours on the North Yuba: Highlighting collaborative successes and landscape goals

“In early October, SYRCL Watershed Science staff joined landscape restoration partners for two field tours on the North Yuba River watershed. Led by the Tahoe National Forest and Blue Forest respectively, the field tours showcased forest restoration treatments taking place as part of the North Yuba Landscape Resilience Project (“NYLRP” or “Project”).  The NYLRP is a 275,000-acre forest resilience and fuels reduction project on the North Yuba, primarily located on the Tahoe National Forest. This project was planned and funded by the North Yuba Forest Partnership (“NYFP” or “Partnership”), of which SYRCL is one of nine signatory members*. The Partnership was formalized via a Memorandum of Understanding in 2019, under which all signatories committed to working collaboratively on the design, fundraising, implementation, and monitoring of needed forest restoration work across the full Project area. … ”  Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.

Prop 68-funded fuelbreak reduces fire risk in Calaveras County communities & watersheds

“In California, reducing hazardous fuels and constructing strategic fuelbreaks are critical measures to help protect people, homes, communities, and natural resources from damaging wildfires. In Calaveras County, a recently completed project funded by Proposition 68 will do just that, as it widened and reinforced a fuelbreak along a strategic ridgeline to aid in future wildfire suppression and firefighting efforts.  In 2018, California voters passed Proposition 68 (the “Parks, Environment, and Water Bond Act”), which provided $55 million to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to invest in natural resource conservation and resilience efforts. Just over six years later, most of those projects have been completed, including the fuelbreak now running six miles up and along Pine Ridge in Calaveras County. … ”  Read more from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

NAPA/SONOMA

Monte Rio and Villa Grande homeowners weighing wastewater system options

“Seats at the Monte Rio Community Center were full Thursday night for what residents thought was the final step before county supervisors forced them into an unpopular and expensive plan to replace their septic systems.  Clarity only came late in the meeting, when Deputy County Administrator Barbara Lee attempted to calm frustrated residents.  Until then, the prevailing assumption was the Sonoma County board of supervisors would decide in January whether every household in Monte Rio and Villa Grande had to connect to a new sewer line or create community leach fields, all at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars per home. … ”  Read more from Northern California Public Media.

BAY AREA

Valley Water reaches milestone in tunnel project at Anderson Dam; planning continues for seismic retrofit project

“Valley Water reached a milestone in the summer of 2024 when construction crews completed the final stretch of a 1,736-foot-long tunnel next to Anderson Dam.  Construction crews used a specialized Micro-tunnel Boring Machine to tunnel the final 347 feet, driving 30 feet below the water’s surface. Once the machine drove through the last piece of hillside, crews needed to remove it. In September, a team of divers and other construction workers attached a large crane to the machine sections and lifted them from the reservoir.  While the tunneling is complete, work still needs to be done before construction on the dam begins. Valley Water is preparing the downstream creek channel to safely convey the higher flows of water from the new outlet tunnel. We are also doing more work inside the tunnel, including installing a lining to provide additional structural support. … ”  Read more from Valley Water News.

SEE ALSO: Santa Clara Valley Water District completes final stretch of Anderson Dam tunnel project, from Tunnels & Tunneling

CENTRAL COAST

Tearing down SLO County oil refinery will have one major, unavoidable impact, report says

“Demolishing the Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery will have only one “significant and unavoidable” environmental impact, according to the final environmental impact report for the project. Tearing down the structures on the Nipomo Mesa property and removing contaminated soil will kick up particulate matter pollution, which conflicts a county air quality policy, the report said. The draft environmental impact report analyzed how demolishing the oil refinery and remediating the soil would effect the environment surrounding it. … ”  Read more from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

An entire Latino generation has grown up fighting this California toxic waste dump

“Two decades ago, a group of children on a class field trip from Kettleman City — a small Latino community nestled between rolling golden hills and vast green agricultural fields in California’s plentiful Central Valley — stood in awe inside the grounds of a local recycling plant.  As the kids clawed through the dirt, a man told them curious tales about digging for fossils and quartz and responsibly collecting garbage to save the planet.  “It was also exciting for us,” says Brian Cadena, now 23, who recalled answering quiz questions to win toys — tiny treasures for the children of immigrant farmers in one of the nation’s poorest regions. “Our parents didn’t have extra money for stuff like that, so I really liked getting something.”  Cadena and his classmates came prepared, shouting out the names of recyclable materials: plastic, cardboard, paper, and tin. The man tossed out key chains, bracelets, stress balls, yo-yos, and pens, all bearing the logo of Waste Management, the nation’s largest landfill operator. … ”  Read more from Reckon.

Heated water district race reveals fears that wealthy outsiders are calling the shots, selling water

“A contentious race for a seat on the Laguna Irrigation District board of directors in Kings County is revealing deep-seated fears that wealthy outside interests are driving district policies tipping the scales against smaller, local farmers.  At the heart of those fears is a name that’s well-known in water circles, John Vidovich.  Vidovich controls Sandridge Partners LLC, which owns tens of thousands of acres across Kings County in several water districts.  He told SJV Water he didn’t even know there was an ongoing board election at Laguna and had no further comment. But his relationship with the district is being called out as one of the main reasons Wes Harmon, an area well driller, decided to challenge Frank Zonneveld, Laguna’s board president. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

SCV Water completes water service line inventory

“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency recently completed a water service line inventory within its service area to document the material of the water service pipeline and fittings that come from the water meter to just outside of homes and businesses.  The inventory was conducted between March and mid-October 2024 and focused on homes built before 1987, as well as other customer groups.  “Conducting this inventory allowed us to get a detailed view of the connections within our service area and ensure our water systems compliance with the California and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality requirements,” SCV Water Assistant General Manager Steve Cole said in a news release. “It is a significant milestone in our commitment to provide quality water to our community.” … ”  Read more from The Signal.

Supervisor Barger: Landfill to close in 1-2 months

“While the Chiquita Canyon Landfill might now be facing a closure deadline of early next year, residents still expressed frustration over the response to the issue, which is being handled by a task force of L.A. County, state and federal officials.    Hundreds of Santa Clarita Valley residents crowded Castaic Middle School on Monday for a scene many found frustratingly similar to one almost exactly six months earlier — residents expressing their anger over how the landfill’s pollution is impacting their health and quality of life at a Chiquita Canyon Landfill Community Advisory Committee meeting. … ”  Read more from the SCV Signal.

Study finds pattern in DDT contamination among fish off Southern California

“The toxic pesticide DDT was dumped into the ocean off Southern California more than 50 years ago by the Montrose Chemical Corporation, and it is still contaminating fish and sediments in the region decades later, according to researchers. Banned in 1972, the pesticide is now known to harm human and wildlife health, with prior research linking it to cancer as well as reproductive and neurological issues.  UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of numerous institutions exploring the extent of the environmental damage still being caused by DDT contamination, especially at a series of offshore dumpsites that gained public attention in 2020.   Now, new research led by Scripps Oceanography combines nine different datasets spanning two decades to provide a comprehensive look at DDT contamination in Southern California’s ocean sediments and fishes. The study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation, revealed new patterns and some good news. … ”  Read more from Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

SEE ALSO:  Off the coast of Southern California, DDT still found in fish 50 years after its ban, from Channel 8

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Dust from California’s lithium-rich Salton Sea worsening child respiratory issues: Study

“Wind-strewn dust from California’s lithium-rich, shrinking Salton Sea may be triggering respiratory issues in children who live nearby, a new study has found.  Among the many symptoms — worse for those young people who reside closest to the saline lake — are asthma, coughing, wheezing and sleep disruptions, according to the study, published in Environmental Research.  About 24 percent of children located in this region have asthma, in comparison to the national rate of 8.4 percent for boys and 5.5 percent for girls, the authors found.  Of particular concern to the researchers was the fact that these abnormally high rates affected predominantly low-income communities of color around 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles. … ”  Read more from The Hill.

SAN DIEGO

Two Orange County cities join studies for SANDAG’s sand restoration project

“Two Orange County coastal cities for the first time have joined San Diego County’s efforts to restore sand to the region’s shrinking beaches.  The San Diego Association of Governments completed two previous regional projects, in 2001 and 2012, that blanketed coastlines from Oceanside to Imperial Beach.  Discussions of a third and possibly larger project began a little more than a year ago. The San Diego County cities involved agreed to share the $200,000 needed to launch the initial feasibility studies.  San Clemente and later Dana Point city officials asked to join the project after seeing SANDAG’s public request for bids from consultants, said Keith Greer, the agency’s deputy director of regional planning. … ”  Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Governor Newsom visits Tijuana River rehabilitation efforts, assesses impact of sewage crisis

“Governor Gavin Newsom visited wastewater treatment facilities on both sides of the border to assess rehabilitation efforts and the ongoing sewage crisis, a long-standing environmental and public health issue. Working alongside federal, state, and local partners, Governor Newsom has helped secure critical funding and support to address cross-border pollution from the Tijuana River while holding authorities accountable to expedited timelines. With upgrades to facilities on both sides of the border, sewage flows are expected to be reduced by up to 90%.  “The Tijuana River sewage crisis has impacted our communities for far too long. Thanks to our partnership with international, federal, and local partners, we are making real progress. But our work is far from over — we need serious, continued action to protect public health and restore our environment.” … ”  Read more from Office of the Governor.

SEE ALSO: Governor Newsom tours Tijuana River region amid pollution crisis, from NBC 7

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Along the Colorado River …

Colorado River negotiators vow to slog on as timelines shift

“Key state officials negotiating the future of the drought-ravaged Colorado River said Monday that a multi-state agreement is still in the works, even as “sticky issues” continue to bar consensus and prompt the Interior Department to shift back an expected analysis of any plans.  Anne Castle, the Biden administration’s appointee to the Upper Colorado River Commission, outlined the change in timing for developing the next operating plans for the Colorado River during a meeting of the group on Monday. She said the Bureau of Reclamation will not publish in December a full draft environmental impact statement analyzing the options, as had been originally planned.  The delay comes as the seven Colorado River states — Arizona, California and Nevada in the Lower Basin and Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming in the Upper Basin — continue to debate a potential consensus agreement dictating how the pain of future cuts to water supplies would be shared. … ”  Read more from E&E News.

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In national water news today …

AI chips and data centers are making America’s water problems worse, JPMorgan says

“The artificial intelligence boom is making water strain in the U.S. worse, a new report says — and it could lead to global supply chain disruptions.  Water-stressed regions of the U.S., including in Arizona and Texas, are expecting increased manufacturing of data centers, chip fabrication facilities, and other AI-related infrastructure that need massive amounts of water to operate, according to a report called “The Future of Water Resilience in the U.S.” by JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and the ERM Sustainability Institute.  Data centers, which are essential to AI model training, require water to cool server rooms — often from drinking water sources, the report said. While a growing and moving U.S. population is the main driver of a decrease in fresh water supply in parts of the U.S., according to the report, “20% of the water used by data centers today is drawn from already stressed watersheds, presenting risks to the technology industry and the surrounding communities and environment.” … ”  Read more from MSN News.

USGS satellites and test tubes meet to ensure safe drinking water

“From space, it can be more challenging because of water’s light absorbing qualities. Scientists from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center are working with other USGS researchers to find more ways to use Landsat satellite data and other remotely sensed data to identify harmful algal blooms (HABs) on Earth.  The goal is to coordinate efforts across the USGS to use every resource available to give policy makers information as quickly as possible to warn the public of potential issues. HABs can pollute drinking water sources and make recreational water bodies unsafe to swim in. Harmful algal blooms can produce toxins that are potent enough to threaten people’s wellbeing. Aquatic life and habitat conditions are threatened when HAB levels grow too much. … ”  Read more from the USGS.

The growing scourge of plastic pollution: in numbers

“Nations could agree in December on a world-first treaty to reduce the amount of plastic leaking into the environment which, if nothing is done, is forecast to triple by 2060. How did we get here? And what are the impacts on the environment and the climate? Global production of synthetic polymers — which form the building blocks of plastic — has increased 230-fold since the 1950s, says the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Total production doubled between 2000 and 2019 to 460 million tons, faster than commodities like steel, aluminium or cement. By 2060, if left unchecked, that figure will have almost tripled to 1.2 billion tons, according to the OECD. The growth in plastic production has mainly occurred in the United States, the Middle East and China. … ”  Read more from The Press.

How ‘sinking cities’ can address subsidence challenges

“In an era where climate change dominates headlines, an often silent but significant concern is urban land subsidence, or sinking cities. New York City in the United States, for example, is currently sinking under the weight of its buildings. According to the US Geographical Survey, about 1.68 trillion pounds of concrete, glass and steel is built on the city’s 777sq km of land. Such weight can cause the ground to compress and subside. Rising sea levels and intensifying storms have also made the city more vulnerable to flooding, which can exacerbate subsidence. Coastal cities are at the greatest risk of land subsidence, although landlocked cities like Mexico City and Mexico face similar challenges. Notably, in a recent study of 99 coastal cities, 33 were found to be sinking five times faster than sea level rise. This issue is particularly severe in parts of Asia, where cities like Manila in the Philippines, Karachi in Pakistan and Tianjin in China are sinking 10 to 20 times faster than the rising sea level. … ”  Read more from the World Economic Forum.

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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.