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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9:00am. Agenda items include Summary of results from the 2023 Volumetric Annual Report of wastewater and recycled Water in California; Informational update on the Water Board’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 web-based Performance Report; Delta Watermaster Periodic Report; Quarterly Delta Stewardship Council Lead Scientist’s Report; and Public Workshop to receive input on the proposed amendments to the Policy for implementing the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Policy for implementing the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Finding Best-Fit Funding and Financing for Sustainable Water Projects from 10am to 11am. There are a range of federal and state programs available to help water managers invest in sustainable, equitable and climate resilient solutions. But matching these various funding options to community’s priority projects can be challenging. WaterNow Alliance will host a 1-hour webinar for municipal, utility, and community leaders in the Intermountain West to learn about funding and financing options for sustainable water projects of all scales. The program will feature U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART grant program as a way to kick-start water conservation projects, Colorado’s State Revolving Fund program as a key pathway to larger-scale investments in sustainable projects, and U.S. EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans as flexible financing for communities’ largest investments in sustainable infrastructure. Click here to register.
- LUNCH-MAR: Aquifers and ecosystem services from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. Presenters: Kate Scow and Radomir Schmidt, UC Davis. Click here to register.
- GRA SAC VALLEY: SGMA and Geophysical Technologies from 5:30pm to 8:00pm. While geophysical methods have traditionally been used for groundwater investigations, numerous advances have been made in the past few (1-3) years that have elevated geophysics to a new level for targeted groundwater applications. These advancements have centered around efficiency, improved resolution, and ease-of-deployment of geophysical systems. In this presentation, we dive into very recent instrument developments that can significantly contribute to SGMA- and other groundwater-related studies. The presentation includes selected recent case studies from California and discusses current challenges and future directions for research and development. Click here to register.
- EVENT: Water Association of Kern County Annual Meeting from 6pm to 9pm in Bakersfield. Guest speaker: Senator Melissa Hurtado. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
California voters approve Proposition 4, the bond measure for water and environmental projects
“A $10-billion California bond measure to finance water, clean energy and other environmental projects was approved by voters in Tuesday’s election. Proposition 4 called for spending $3.8 billion for water projects, including those that provide safe drinking water, water recycling projects, groundwater storage and flood control. An additional $1.5 billion would be spent on wildfire protection, and $1.2 billion would go toward protecting the coast from sea level rise. Other money would be used to create parks, protect wildlife and habitats, fight air pollution, address extreme heat events and fund sustainable agriculture. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Lawsuit accuses Friant Water Authority of holding secret meetings that resulted in massive fees pinned on a handful of Tulare County irrigation districts
“The legal fracas over who should pay to fix the sinking Friant-Kern Canal grew Friday when three Tulare County irrigation districts sued the Friant Water Authority for imposing steep fees on the districts approved through allegedly secret communications and serial meetings. In a suit filed Nov. 1 the Terra Bella, Saucelito and Porterville irrigation districts also seek to declare the fees, up to $295 million approved in a special meeting held in August, void. “We are hoping that Friant will go back and re-do that board meeting, and if they do, that the outcome will be different,” said Sean Geivet, general manager for the three districts. “The unlawful tactics of Friant’s leadership need to cease because my three middle-sized districts can’t continue to function on an uneven playing field.” He said the districts have documents that show the fees were approved illegally. “It’s pretty cut and dried.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
State Water Board seeks comments on Bay-Delta plan
“California water officials are taking another step forward as part of a broader process to improve conditions for struggling fish populations in the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries. Last week, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced draft updates for the Sacramento River and Delta phase of the state’s water quality control plan, known as the Bay-Delta plan. Thad Bettner, executive director of the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, a group that holds contracts with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to divert water from the Sacramento River, said the draft updates mark the beginning of the implementation process, which he said “could have significant impacts on agriculture and the environment.” … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Invasive mussels could harm California Delta ecosystem and add to water costs
“The recent discovery of a new type of invasive mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is raising concerns that the non-native species could cause major ecological harm and inflict costly complications for the infrastructure California relies on to deliver water across the state. State workers discovered golden mussels attached to equipment and buoys in the Port of Stockton last month while carrying out routine water quality tests. The mussels were also recently found in O’Neill Forebay, part of the state’s water delivery system south of the Delta near Santa Nella. “Any invasive species in our Delta is problematic, and we’re going to do everything we can to control its spread,” said Steve Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Better water wisdom to help control disease in almonds
“Over the past eight years, four new problems have arisen as major challenges for some Sacramento Valley growers as they work to establish and manage their ‘Monterey’ almond trees. These four problems have not been studied in UCCE-replicated and -randomized field trials. Instead we are relying on the establishment of patterns from individual grower experiences in the Sacramento Valley as well as anecdotes from Australian almond production. Over the past eight years — with a growing list of ‘Monterey’ maladies — a single through line has become well ingrained: water. Many growers accuse the ‘Monterey’ variety of being a canary in the coal mine when it comes to water stress. … ” Read more from Growing Produce.
Drought expands across the U.S.
“Unusually dry conditions gripped over half the contiguous United States in October 2024. On October 29, abnormal dryness and drought affected over 78 percent of the American population—the highest percentage in the U.S. Drought Monitor’s 25-year-long record. Drier- and warmer-than-normal weather dominated the country during much of October, caused by a strong ridge of high pressure that lingered high in the atmosphere for weeks. According to the Southeast Regional Climate Center, 100 weather stations across the U.S. recorded no rain in October, including the cities of Philadelphia, Atlanta, Birmingham, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Sacramento. Over 70 weather stations recorded the driest October on record. … ” Read more from Earth Observatory.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
First salmon in over a century return to Oregon’s Klamath Basin after dam removal
“Salmon have officially returned to Oregon’s Klamath Basin for the first time in more than a century, months after the largest dam removal project in U.S. history freed hundreds of miles of the Klamath River near the California-Oregon border. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed the news on Oct. 17, a day after its fish biologists identified a fall run of Chinook salmon in a tributary to the Klamath River above the former J.C. Boyle Dam, the department said. The fish likely traveled 230 miles from the Pacific Ocean, officials said, after four dams were removed to ensure their safe passage. It’s the first confirmed salmon to return to the Klamath Basin since 1912, when the first of four hydroelectric dams was constructed along the river, the department said. … ” Read more from Oregon Live.
Unpacking Mendocino’s water politics: Inside the MCIWPC’s October meeting
“Covering water issues in Mendocino County is like fitting together a jigsaw puzzle. Limiting the geographic area to the Ukiah Valley, Lake Mendocino and the Upper Russian River, there are over a dozen water agencies that are involved in local water use policies. We decided to catch up with the MCIWPC, as we have not been covering these meetings. Before reporting on the October 10 meeting, here is a summary of some of the parties involved. The MCIWPC is made up of these member agencies: County of Mendocino Water Agency, City of Ukiah, Redwood Valley County Water District, Potter Valley Irrigation District, and Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District. Each of these agencies has an elected representative on the Commission. The Commission meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in the County Ag Building. The MCIWPC is a significant party when it comes to negotiating for Mendocino County’s interests regarding the Russian River. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Haskell Peak Meadows Restoration Project: Second and largest year of implementation completed this September
“SYRCL, in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest, completed the second year of project implementation on 229 acres of meadow, fen, and meadow edge habitat within five high priority meadows in the North Yuba Watershed: Haskell Headwaters Fen, Chapman Saddle Meadow, West Church Meadow, Freeman Meadow, and Bear Trap Meadow. Meadows are important ecosystems for sequestering carbon, they serve as habitat for threatened native species, and act as a “water bank” by holding snow water as it melts then slowly releasing it through the summer. As temperatures rise and precipitation shifts from snow dominant to rain dominant, the resiliency of these meadow ecosystems is increasingly threatened. While existing habitat degradation in these meadows was initially caused by a variety of historic human impacts, this degradation is expected to worsen in response to the impacts of climate change without intervention. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Santa Ana winds to push fire danger sky high in Southern California
“Strong northeasterly winds, known as Santa Ana, will howl through the mountains and canyons of Southern California from Wednesday to Thursday, igniting a wildfire risk not seen for years in the region, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The combination of building high pressure over the Northwest and strong winds at the level of the atmosphere where jets fly over the Southwest will create a moderate Santa Ana event for Southern California. “The winds will increase later Tuesday night and then continue through Wednesday and into Thursday, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick said, “The strongest winds will be on Wednesday.” … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
L.A. River heads towards 10 years of dredging
“This winter, the Army Corps of Engineers will begin dredging the L.A. River from Griffith Park to the 110 Freeway area. By the time the project ends, nearby third graders will be in college. About 50% of the sediment will be removed during the 10-year project, according to Stephen Baack, a public affairs specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Los Angeles District. Work will begin with excavation and invasive species removal, he added. According to Baack, $18 million has been allocated for the project, though more money could come in later. The next step involves awarding a contract to the entity that will do the work. … ” Read more from the Eastsider LA.
Growing food instead of lawns in California front yards
“On a corner lot in Leimert Park in dusty South Los Angeles, not far from Obama and Crenshaw Boulevards, sits a curiosity that’s wildly different from all the neighboring grassy yards. Abundant and lush, it looks like a mash-up between a country idyll and something dreamed up by Dr. Seuss. Tangles of grapes and blackberries grow in clusters along a trellis. Leafy rows of basil, sweet potatoes and mesclun spring from raised garden troughs. Most striking are corridors of elevated planters stacked four high, like multilevel bunk beds, filled with kale, cabbage, arugula, various lettuces, eggplants, tatsoi and collard greens. Run by a gardening wizard named Jamiah Hargins, this wee farm in the front yard of his bungalow provides fresh produce for 45 nearby families, all while using a tiny fraction of the water required by a lawn. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
California’s largest lake is shrinking three times faster than before
“California’s Salton Sea appears to be shrinking even faster than before. The lake, which is the largest in the state by surface area at around 240,000 acres, has seen its shoreline retreating three times faster in recent years than before 2017, according to a new study in the journal Geographies. Policies that have decreed more water be rerouted from the Colorado River to San Diego may result in the Salton Sea’s shoreline retreating by just under 400 feet by 2030, and by an additional 564 feet by 2041, according to the researchers. They describe how they studied balloon and satellite images of a section of the lake dating back over 20 years and calculated the rate at which the shoreline was receding over time. They found that while the lake had been shrinking every year since 2002—the first year in their data—the recession accelerated between 2017 and 2020. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Along the Colorado River …
Should we be farming in the desert?
“Just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, California’s Imperial Valley is both a desert and an agricultural wonder. Bordered by sand dunes and barren mountains, the region receives less than three inches of rainfall per year, 27 inches less than the U.S. average. From June to September, high temperatures here often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. By most measures, the Imperial Valley is not a great place to grow food. Yet carrots, cauliflower, sweet onions, honeydew, broccoli, and alfalfa all grow here, incongruous crops that spread across half a million acres of cultivated land. Ronald Leimgruber farms 3,500 of those acres. Given the lack of rain in the region, Leimgruber says he has “about seven” different irrigation projects on his farm, where he grows an array of crops, including carrots, lettuce, watermelon, and hay. … ” Read more from Civil Eats.
Climate experts recommend Arizona drought declarations stay in effect
“Following the Copper State’s hottest summer in modern history, climate experts agreed Monday to recommend the Arizona governor maintain current drought emergency declarations for the foreseeable future. Members of Arizona’s Drought Interagency Coordinating Group forecasted more hot and dry conditions looming based on recent climate patterns across the Southwest and the onset of a La Niña that typically coincides with Arizona’s warmest winters. La Niña, a climate pattern triggered by cooling surface temperatures on the equatorial Pacific, brings warm dry air to Arizona every 2-5 years. Of the last six La Niña winters, four were warmer and drier than average across the state. “The magnitude of dryness is overwhelming on many of these,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mark O’Malley said in an Interagency Coordinating Group meeting Monday morning in Phoenix. “I would be planning on a drier than normal winter coming up.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Radio: What the data says about Arizona’s 2024 water year
“The 2024 water year saw lower than normal precipitation across Arizona, and the hottest summer on record here. Those facts are perhaps not surprising. But, what might be a bit unexpected is that drought conditions in Arizona were a little better at the beginning of this October than at the same time last year. Mike Crimmins, an extension specialist and climatologist with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, contributed to the Water Year Report from the National Integrated Drought Information System and joined The Show to talk about what it says and some of his key takeaways.” Listen at KJZZ.
ADEQ publishes draft rules for filtering sewage water into drinking water
“The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality published draft rules Monday for utilities and cities to filter sewage water into drinking water. ADEQ Deputy Director Randall Matas says the technology has gotten to the point where that water is more pure than treated ground or surface water. But a survey found that about 25% of people were somewhat or not at all likely to drink water from the so-called “advanced water purification” process. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Arizona soliciting P3 partners for state water augmentation projects
“The Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) has initiated a flexible, multi-phase pathway to securing new, long-term sources of water for the state. WIFA officials will use a competitive process supported by Arizona’s Long-term Water Augmentation Fund (LTWAF) to identify, vet, and select partners and projects that will provide Arizona with new sources of water. The competitive project development approach will be a multi-phase process consistent with the State’s established procurement rules and with legislation defining WIFA’s roles and authorities. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
Think like a watershed: Interdisciplinary thinkers look to tackle dust-on-snow
“I must admit that when I was invited to attend a symposium in Cortez, Colorado, focused on dust on snow, I was a bit hesitant to accept. Six hours of talking about dust and snow? I thought. How is that even possible? I found that it’s not only possible, but that six hours of dusty snow talk can be downright compelling and super informative, even for someone who has been steeped in the topic for years. The Nexus of Land and Water symposium, hosted by the Wright-Ingraham Institute and Mountain Studies Institute was the culmination of six months of work by 21 researchers, including scientists, artists, water professionals and community leaders. While the science of dust-on-snow was covered, the main focus was on possible solutions to the vexing problem that has serious implications for Southwestern water supplies. That’s because, as the Mountain Studies Institute’s Jake Kurzweil put it, “This is not an issue that will be solved by science … it will be solved by communities.” … ” Read more from The Land Desk.
Community Agriculture Alliance: Natural curtailment in the Colorado River Basin
“The Colorado River Basin is in the midst of a 23-year drought. Reduced precipitation, mostly in the form of snow in the western mountains, has caused water administrators at the federal, state and local level to seek ways to cut back usage. But many of us in the high country do not need water managers to tell us to reduce usage. Mother nature kindly, or unkindly, does that for us. With limited storage at higher elevations, snowpack is the source for virtually all water on the West Slope. As the Basin experiences a steady decline in precipitation, West Slope water users, especially irrigators, find that in many years, they are subject to “natural curtailment.” Less snowpack means less water. Snowpack is a shared resource in the Mountain West. The water from snowmelt that feeds the West Slope also feeds the Colorado River. The Colorado serves Lake Powell and then Lake Mead, and ultimately consumers in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California and Nevada). … ” Read more from the Steamboat Pilot & Today.
Also on Maven’s Notebook today …
NOTICE of Staff Workshop on Proposed Changes to the Water Measurement and Reporting Regulation
