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On the calendar today …
- EVENT: California Financing Coordinating Committee Funding Fair (Virtual) from 9am to 12pm. Seeking Funding for Your Infrastructure Project? Obtain information about currently available infrastructure grant, loan and bond financing programs, and options. The funding fair provides an opportunity for attendees to speak directly with program staff about specific projects and issues affecting their community. Visit www.cfcc.ca.gov for more information. Click here to register.
- MEETING: Delta Plan Interagency Implementation Committee (DPIIC) Restoration Subcommittee from 9:30am to 12:00pm. The Committee members will tour restoration sites in Stockton, Lathrop, and Rindge Tract. Click here for the meeting notice.
- WORKSHOP: Proposed changes to Water Measurement and Reporting Regulations beginning at 10am. The State Water Board is developing proposed revisions to standardize and better align measurement and reporting data with the modernization of the State Water Board’s water rights reporting database and to add clarity and ease of reference. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
How floating wetlands could transform restoration in California’s Delta
“Floating wetlands sound like something straight out of a fairy tale, fanciful landscapes where the laws of nature are suspended. But these buoyant mats of peat and tall, spiky marsh plants called tules are very real. That said, floating wetlands do possess qualities that border on magic. They historically broke off from marshes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and could be so big―up to several acres―that people call them floating islands. And they’re so sturdy that one even bore a herd of livestock to safety during California’s Great Flood of 1862, which filled the Central Valley to depths of 30 feet. People can walk on floating wetlands too. “They’re squishy, and kind of bob up and down,” says Steven Deverel, principal hydrologist at the Davis-based consulting firm HydroFocus. But, Deverel and other researchers say, the most wondrous thing about floating wetlands is their potential for restoring the Delta. According to new findings that are preliminary but promising, floating wetlands could help Delta smelt and other imperiled native fish. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Climate change could bring disaster or solutions to San Joaquin Valley
“A projected increase in the kind of “atmospheric river” type storms California experienced in the historic 2023 water year could be disastrous for the San Joaquin Valley – or its salvation. The difference depends on whether locals can adapt to the coming changes by absorbing the intermittent deluges and storing that water for later dry times. Right now, systems in the San Joaquin and Sacramento River watersheds were built to collect and move precipitation that first lands as snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains and then slowly melts through springtime. A warmer climate, though, will mean more rain than snow, filling rivers and reservoirs more quickly, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, during a webinar hosted by the Sustainable Conservation. “This is particularly true in the San Joaquin and Sacramento River watersheds,” he said. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The Trump-California water wars are about to begin. Here’s what’s at stake
“In a social media post days after the election, President-elect Donald Trump made clear that California’s water wars are top of his agenda – and he’s firmly on the side of big water users, not fish. His early words for the state come as little surprise after his first four years in office. The previous Trump administration successfully rolled back environmental protections to send more water from rivers in the north to farms and cities farther south. While the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley welcomes water that might return with Trump 2.0, critics worry that the president’s prior term gives him the know-how now for an even bigger water grab, all the while drying up landscapes, killing wildlife and ruining the serenity and sport many residents seek on the state’s waterways. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO:
- A guide to Gavin Newsom’s Trump-proofing efforts by POLITICO’s California bureau, from Politico
- Trump-Proofing Time at the California Legislature?, from Legal Planet
Extreme weather accelerates nitrate pollution in groundwater
“Extreme weather spurred by climate change, including droughts and heavy rains, may increase the risk of nitrates from fertilizers ending up in groundwater, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The study found heavy rains after a drought caused nitrates to seep 33 feet under farm fields in as little as 10 days. The study was published in Water Resources Research. “The conventional wisdom was that it could take several weeks to years for nitrates to move from the crop root zones to reach groundwater,” said corresponding author Isaya Kisekka, a professor in the Departments of Land, Air and Water Resources and Biological and Agricultural Engineering. “We found these extreme events, such as California’s atmospheric rivers, are going to move nitrate more quickly.” … ” Read more from UC Davis.
Northern California welcomes rain, but fire risk remains
“The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, at some 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, had 6.3 inches of snowfall Monday. It’s a welcome sign for Andrew Schwartz, the lab’s director. Not just because it’s building the snowpack early in the season, but also because it helps reduce fire risk. “It’s seeping into the soils,” Schwartz said of the snow. “With lower elevations, the rain does the same thing.” The snow, which Schwartz said currently dips to 5,500 feet above sea level, doesn’t mean the end of fire season, but it helps. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Second round of rain, snow to hit Northern California. Here’s how much to expect
“The storm door remains open over the West Coast, leaving Northern California in line for continued rain and snow chances through Monday. A powerful low-pressure system will impact the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday and push a cold front across Northern California. Heavy rain is expected along the North Coast, with 1 to 4 inches of rain forecast in Humboldt County, Mendocino County and across the Klamath Mountains. The Weather Prediction Center forecasts a low-end risk of flash flooding over burn scars, with nuisance roadway flooding likely. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SEE ALSO: Yosemite snow forecast prompts winter storm watch, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Will Lake Shasta fill up for 3rd straight year when La Niña winter weather hits California?
“A pair of storms moving through Redding this week could dump 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in the region, helping bring up water levels at Lakes Shasta and raising hope California’s largest reservoir will fill up for a third straight year if a robust La Niña arrives this winter. The lake was at 56% total capacity as of Monday, which is 104% of its historical average, according to the state Department of Water Resources’ most recent data. That compares to 69% total capacity for the same day in 2023. The data provides concrete evidence of the impact the extreme weather that baked the West had on the lake, when billions of gallons of water were lost due to evaporation. Michael Burke, a spokesman for the Bureau of Reclamation, said the water level in the lake is just under 27 feet lower today than it was a year ago. The federal agency operates Shasta Dam. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
California clears hurdle to expand major reservoir and store more water
“A $1 billion project to raise the height of B.F. Sisk Dam and increase water storage capacity on the San Luis Reservoir cleared another hurdle. State agencies and the federal government reached an agreement on Oct. 1 around how costs to build the project would be shared and how the new storage capacity would be divided up if the dam were raised 10 feet. Under the plan, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, one of the largest water districts in the San Francisco Bay Area, would kick in the most funding and have access to the most storage. The agreement will be marked with a celebration in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 13, said Matthew Keller, a spokesperson for Valley Water. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Bay Area’s San Luis Reservoir Expansion to Boost Water Supply Amid Climate Change, from KQED
Pistachios continue to be a lucrative crop in California, making the U.S. a top exporter of the nut
“California farmers are allocating more land to grow pistachios, which are proving to be a lucrative crop that can withstand the state’s drought conditions, the Associated Press reported Sunday. Approximately 99% of U.S. pistachios are produced in California, per the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Last year, the nuts generated nearly $3 billion in the state. And in the past decade, the United States has become the world’s top exporter of the crop, besting both Iran and Turkey. “There has been an explosion over the last 10 or 15 years of plantings and those trees are coming online,” Zachary Fraser, president and chief executive of American Pistachio Growers, told the AP. “You are starting to see the fruit of people’s vision from 40 years ago.” … ” Read more from Salon.
California’s coastal King Tides Project kicks off this weekend. Here’s how you can help
“Quick, snap a picture — the tides are rising. The California Coastal Commission is asking the public to photograph high tidal waters for its King Tides Project, a community-led effort to help the public understand the effect of rising sea levels on coastal areas. During king tides over the next two months, the high water mark is projected to be 1 to 2 feet higher than average across the coastline on certain weekends. This year the commission is seeking photographs during king tides Nov. 15-17 and Dec. 13-15. The images submitted will be added to an interactive map to help researchers document flood and erosion risks in coastal areas. The photos will also enable researchers to validate climate change models by comparing them to reality. Images of king tides from previous years are available on the project’s website. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Keno Dam focus of study on fish passage
“Four Klamath River hydroelectric dams have been removed. For many, the question is: What’s the future of the Keno Dam? The Keno Dam is a non-power generating dam that was built in 1967 after a flood washed out the wooden Needle Dam. It was owned by PacifiCorp until ownership was recently transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Located about a mile south of Keno, it impounds water from Keno about 22 miles upstream to Lake Ewauna in Klamath Falls. It also provides for about a third othe water for Klamath Reclamation Project irrigators. Because of its importance to agriculture, the dam will remain in place. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Scientists sound alarm on forgotten epidemic with bird death toll surpassing 100,000: ‘The scope of this outbreak is disheartening’
“Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in northern California recently experienced its worst botulism epidemic ever recorded. The bird death toll is likely to surpass 100,000. The Guardian reported 94,000 birds have already died from the massive botulism outbreak, and many more will follow. Botulism is a bacterial illness that leads to muscle paralysis. The infected birds lose control of their bodies and tragically suffocate in the lake. Scientists believe the climate crisis is a large contributing factor to this outbreak and the increasing number of instances like it. Declining natural habitats have increased the demand for limited water resources, while water diversions and rising global temperatures have made matters worse. “Given warming temperatures, droughts, then intense periods of rain followed by drying … the hallmarks of climate change are all over this,” said Andrew Farnsworth, a scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Grant-backed water reforms bring Redwood Valley closer to reliable supply
“The Ukiah Valley Water Authority (UVWA) is progressing with a consolidation plan to unify local water districts and improve water reliability in Mendocino County. General Manager Jared Walker and Ukiah Water Manager Sean White recently led a tour with Carollo engineers to assess the infrastructure. Supported by state grants, the project aims to upgrade aging systems and could eventually lift the moratorium on new water hookups in Redwood Valley. General Manager Jared Walker, along with Sean White, Manager for City of Ukiah Water, spent a few days with Carollo consulting engineers. The locals gave the out-of-town engineers a tour of the area to be served by the Ukiah Valley Water Authority. Some, but not all, of the small water districts controlled by Willow County Water District, are in the process of consolidation with UVWA. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County farmers celebrate Measure J defeat
“The election last week of Donald Trump as the next U.S. president and of new congressional leaders may bring sweeping—and, as yet, undetermined—changes to the nation’s agricultural landscape. But for farmers in Sonoma County, a down-ballot result has provided resounding clarity. As of Friday, more than 85% of the county’s voters had voted against a ballot measure that within three years would have banned large dairies and poultry farms in the county. Measure J, had it passed, would have capped the number of animals each farm can raise, banning large farms or forcing them to downsize. Doug Beretta, owner of Beretta Family Dairy in Santa Rosa and president of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, said he was “ecstatic” so many voters had sided with the county’s farmers. The landslide result, he said, capped a 14-month effort by the No on J campaign to defeat the measure. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
BAY AREA
Feds shoulder Marin City’s 80-year-old drainage problem
“In Marin City, floodwaters have been a chronic reminder of the community’s long-standing neglect — but a federal project could finally break that cycle. Marin City was selected to be one of 12 communities across the country who will participate in a Congressional Pilot Program led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for which the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of a flood-reduction project in Marin, up to $13.5 million. At a kick-off event on November 7 at the corner of Donahue and Drake, residents and activists shared their experiences with 80 years of constant flooding. Donald Smith has lived in Marin City for 76 years. “There used to be a barber shop right over there named ‘Clarence,’” he said. “You had to have a weather map to go get a haircut because you don’t know if it’s going to be flooded out or not.” … ” Read more from Knee Deep Times.
S.F.’s Ocean Beach could be transformed with massive seawall. Surfers are not happy
“On Thursday, the California Coastal Commission will vote on the approval of a $175 million climate-related project that would transform the southern portion of San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. A sticking point is a massive seawall that some surfers fear could make the beach disappear. Staff from the state coastal protection agency have recommended that the commission approve the city’s Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project, which will be funded by the city, with some conditions. Created by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and other agencies, the plan includes a 3,200-foot-long buried seawall designed to protect a sewage tunnel and wastewater treatment plant located along the coast south of Sloat Boulevard. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Split Antioch city council punts on water rate increase, leaves it up to new council
“During their meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Antioch City Council could not get three votes to approve water rates for the coming year. With District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica absent due to a family medical emergency, the remaining four members split 2-1-1 on the motion to increase rates and continue the current tiered rate structure. The structure means those residential customers who use more water pay a higher per gallon rate, effectively subsidizing the rates for those who use less water each month. Following the vote, during one of his final meetings on the council, Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe acted like Pontius Pilate and washed his hands of it saying, “If the new council wants to take this up, they can take it up.” … ” Read more from the Antioch Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Exeter water tower overflows due to malfunction
“Early morning on Sunday, Nov. 10, a malfunction at Exeter’s main water well led to an overflow at the city’s 100,000-gallon water tower. City Manager Adam Ennis said the town has temporarily lowered water storage in the system to address the issue. “The controller for one of the wells was stuck on and it just overfilled the tank. We’ve had it happen a few times. It’s usually a malfunction with controllers,” Ennis said. The overfilling of the water tower caused water to spill out the top and rain into the grassy areas below. Ennis said the town’s public works department responded quickly after receiving a report of the overflow and shut down the well to prevent further water loss. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
Nearly a dozen dead birds found around Truxtun Lake, no cause named yet
“Hikers and Kern River advocates began finding multiple dead Canada geese in and around Truxtun Lakes starting Thursday. California State University Biology Professor Rae McNeish counted at least 10 dead adult birds along the shore and saw another two on the island, according to an email string SJV Water was included on. “The birds look like they recently died, we’re in pretty good condition overall, and were not wounded,” McNeish wrote in the email string on Thursday. “They look like they just laid down and died.” She also reported she had spoken with a woman, apparently from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who was at the lake and had bagged a couple of the birds “for testing.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
UCLA evaluates L.A.’s plan to invest billions in wastewater recycling infrastructure
“As urgency grows to develop climate solutions, a new UCLA report confirms that the wastewater recycling plans for the nation’s second-largest city would make Los Angeles more resilient and self-reliant during droughts or disasters that cut off outside water supplies. Using a new methodology to evaluate hundreds of thousands of scenarios, the UCLA research team, led by the Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI), found that the Los Angeles city plan would significantly boost local water resilience, minimize risks of aging infrastructure and uncertain water imports, and dramatically reduce drought- and earthquake-driven water shortages. … ” Read more from UCLA.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea restoration project expands to protect air quality and wildlife
“The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) announced the expansion of its Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project at the south end of the Salton Sea, aimed at supporting regional air quality and wildlife. A groundbreaking ceremony, attended by Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, Deputy Secretary Samantha Arthur, and other officials, marked the start of this effort. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
SAN DIEGO
Chula Vista City Council issues state of emergency over Tijuana River sewage crisis
“Chula Vista now joins a growing list of cities in the South Bay and San Diego County to declare a state of emergency over the Tijuana River sewage crisis. A resolution brought forward by Mayor John McCann was unanimously approved by city council. It comes after McCann joined other mayors from the region to lobby for more funds in Washington D.C. While millions of dollars have been secured for improvements and upgrades to a wastewater treatment plant north of the border, McCann acknowledged more funding is still needed. “We know the estimate is probably a billion dollars,” McCann said. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Along the Colorado River …
The Show: Colorado River water managers aren’t worried about a new Trump administration
“Scientists agree climate change is driving the ongoing megadrought on the Colorado River and threatening our region’s water future. How could a second Trump term affect negotiations over the river moving forward? … ” Listen at KJZZ.
Blankets of white in the West
“An early-November snowstorm dropped feet of snow on the plains of eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico and gave a boost to Rocky Mountain snowpack. While fresh powder is a common sight on the range’s lofty peaks this time of year, the accumulations measured on the plains have far exceeded monthly averages in some areas, according to news reports. This image, acquired by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-20 satellite on November 10, 2024, shows an expansive blanket of snow across eastern Colorado and New Mexico, along with a coating of white in mountainous areas to the west. Though the preceding days’ snowfall was not the season’s first measurable accumulation in the Rockies, parts of the high country picked up significant amounts of powder, including 24 inches (60 centimeters) in the town of Breckenridge, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west-southwest of Denver. … ” Read more from Earth Observatory.
Arizona AG to file lawsuit to halt pumping of groundwater in La Paz County by corporate farms
“Attorney General Kris Mayes said Tuesday she will file suit “in the next two weeks” to halt the pumping of in two rural areas by corporate farms. Mayes said she is pursuing a legal theory that the farms operating on land leased by the company, some owned by the state, are creating a “nuisance” by draining the water that others who live in the area need. And that, she said, allows her to take action after fellow Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs refused to cancel several state leases and after the Legislature has failed to enact a comprehensive program to deal with groundwater restrictions in rural areas. In a wide-ranging press conference, Mayes also said she is making preparations to sue if the Trump administration follows through with many of what is in Project 2025. … ” Read more from KAWC.
In national water news today …
USGS estimates 20% of U.S. population relies on PFAS contaminated drinking water
“According to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study published on October 24, 2024, approximately 71 to 95 million people in the lower 48 states may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for their drinking water supplies. USGS states that their scientists are the first to report national estimates of PFAS occurrence in untreated groundwater that supplies water to public and private wells. The research also provides the first estimate of the number of people across the county who are potentially affected by PFAS contaminated groundwater. USGS also published an interactive map for users to see probability estimates of PFAS occurrence. … ” Read more from Water World.
SEE ALSO: PFAS may be contaminating drinking water for up to 27% of Americans – study, from The Guardian
A brief history of America’s love affair with fluoridated water — and why it’s now up for debate
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the man widely expected to become a health leader in President-elect Donald Trump’s White House, has promised to lobby to remove fluoride from the American water supply. Nearly 63% of the US population has fluoridated water flowing through their taps, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). US health experts describe fluoridated water — a voluntary practice for local water districts — as one of modern medicine’s greatest public health achievements, up there with the recognition that smoking is bad for you. … ” Read more from Business Insider.
Lee Zeldin, Trump’s EPA pick, brings a moderate face to a radical game plan
“By tapping former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency, President-elect Donald Trump opted to put his planned radical rollback of climate policy in the hands of a staunch ally who is skilled at projecting an image of a moderate conservationist. As a Republican representing a Long Island district “almost completely surrounded by water,” as Zeldin often said, he successfully fought in Congress for coastal resilience and nature preservation projects and expressed hope for bipartisan compromise on climate, calling it “a very important issue.” But Zeldin never advanced any proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and like other Congressional Republicans in the Trump era, consistently voted against those proposals. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
SEE ALSO: Bay Area Environmentalists Criticize Trump’s Pick to Lead EPA, from KQED
Climate-related extreme weather events cost $2 trillion over 10 years, report finds
“Extreme weather events driven by climate change, including flooding and heat waves, have cost the global economy more than $2 trillion since 2014, according to a new report released this week during the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP29. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), an international group comprising of businesses across more than 170 countries, commissioned Oxera to quantify the cost of extreme weather events tied to climate. According to the report, 4,000 recorded weather events in the past decade resulted in cumulative losses to the global economy of around $2 trillion, with 2022 and 2023 economic damages reaching $451 billion alone. … ” Read more from Fox News.
