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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Consideration of proposed Resolution authorizing the Executive Director to execute contracts with the California Water Commission to reimburse the State Water Board for staffing costs in support of accelerated processing of water right applications or petitions for Water Storage Investment Program Projects (uncontested); Current hydrologic conditions; and Toxicity Provisions Implementation Status Report. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Water supply and demand modeling in the Butte Creek watershed from 4pm to 5pm in Chico. The State Water Board is developing water supply models that assess surface water availability in select watersheds. The models will help local communities better plan for and address water shortage conditions that may threaten water supplies, impair critical habitats, and create uncertainty for water users. Board staff will present information on the status of this work in the Butte Creek watershed and be available to answer questions. Click here for the event flyer.
In California water news today …
Bomb cyclone with atmospheric river to blast Northwest, part of California
“A major storm will pummel areas from Washington to Oregon and Northern California with torrential rain, heavy mountain snow and high winds this week, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. Due to low-elevation flooding and blizzard conditions in the mountains, widespread travel impacts are expected while powerful gusts can knock down trees and power lines over a broad area. The storm will strengthen so fast that it will fit into a special category of weather terminology known as a bomb cyclone. A storm, or cyclone, is essentially a giant spinning vacuum in the atmosphere. When a storm’s central pressure drops 0.71 of an inch of mercury inches (24 millibars) or more in 24 hours or less, it is considered to be a bomb cyclone. “This storm’s central pressure is forecast to crash from 29.53 inches (1000 mb) to at least 28.05 inches (950 mb) in 24 hours, which is double the criteria for a bomb cyclone,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Long-duration atmospheric river event to bring heavy precipitation to California and Oregon
“A strong atmospheric river (AR) is forecast to make landfall over the US West Coast tomorrow (19 Nov) in association with a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system. After the initial AR landfall, the AR is forecast to stall over Northern California for several days. The location of AR landfall has continued to trend southward in recent model runs, with the strongest AR conditions and heaviest precipitation now expected in Northern California. Active weather is likely to continue across California this weekend into early next week, but there is considerable forecast uncertainty in the duration and exact location of AR activity beyond Fri 22 Nov. AR 4 conditions (based on the Ralph et al. 2019 AR Scale) are likely in coastal Northern California. Some locations may experience AR conditions for > 72 consecutive hours. … ” Read more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes.
A bomb cyclone is driving an atmospheric river to California. Here’s what that means
“A rapidly intensifying low-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean is predicted to surpass the meteorological criteria for a “bomb cyclone” off the Washington coast Tuesday. Unlike the bomb cyclone that made landfall over San Francisco in March 2023, this week’s storm will spin up hundreds of miles away from California. However, the storm will drive a major atmospheric river toward California beginning Tuesday evening. November is a premier month for bomb cyclones in the Pacific Ocean, and this week will be no different. Very cold air spilling out of the Gulf of Alaska will run into moist subtropical air over the Pacific Ocean on Monday night. The clash of air masses forces the moist air to rise, generating clouds and precipitation. This rising air causes a sharp drop in air pressure at the center of the system, the beginning of a powerful, counterclockwise-spinning storm. … ” Continue reading at the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
SEE ALSO:
-
- Sudden shift to very wet conditions in NorCal with strong & very slow-moving atmospheric river poised to soak region in coming days; flooding likely in north, from Dr. Daniel Swain at Weather West
- Atmospheric rivers hitting California will become even more intense. Here’s how they work, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- ‘Bomb cyclone’ threatens Northern California and Pacific Northwest, from the Associated Press
Groundwater pumping drives rapid sinking in San Joaquin Valley
“A new study shows land in California’s San Joaquin Valley has been sinking at record-breaking rates over the last two decades as groundwater extraction has outpaced natural recharge. The researchers found that the average rate of sinking for the entire valley reached nearly an inch per year between 2006 and 2022. Researchers and water managers have known that sinking, technically termed “subsidence,” was occurring over the past 20 years. But the true impact was not fully appreciated because the total subsidence had not been quantified. This was in part due to a gap in data. Satellite radar systems, which provide the most precise measure of elevation changes, did not consistently monitor the San Joaquin Valley between 2011 and 2015. The Stanford researchers have now estimated how much the land sank during these four years. “Our study is the first attempt to really quantify the full Valley-scale extent of subsidence over the last two decades,” said senior study author Rosemary Knight, a professor of geophysics in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “With these findings, we can look at the big picture of mitigating this record-breaking subsidence.” … ” Read more from Stanford News.
SEE ALSO: STUDY: Quantification of record-breaking subsidence in California’s San Joaquin Valley, from Nature
As monumental California water law turns 10, state leaders say there’s a lot left to do
“California lawmakers passed significant new rules for managing groundwater a decade ago, during a major drought. Since then, the state has continued to see floods and more severe drought. That’s given state leaders a lot to think about as they evaluate the decade-old policy, which they covered at a Department of Water Resources conference on Monday. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act — or SGMA — gave local governments requirements and a new structure to protect groundwater levels. Groundwater was largely unregulated by the state before 2014, and overpumping led to depletion in some areas. California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said SGMA has been successful and has impacts beyond the environment. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
Counties update groundwater well-drilling restrictions in response to the Governor’s termination of executive orders
“Following the Governor’s September 2024 decision to terminate Executive Orders restricting approvals of new well-drilling permits, some counties are moving to impose their own restrictions. New restrictions enacted by Yolo County may be a harbinger of restrictions that could be imposed in other counties where groundwater is being regulated under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”). This Legal Alert describes Yolo County’s new restrictions on the issuance of well-drilling permits recently enacted through an urgency ordinance. We then discuss the likely impacts of those new well-drilling restrictions and identify takeaways from a recent judicial decision challenging well-drilling restrictions enacted by nearby Napa County. … ” Read more from the Kronick Law Firm.
Self-Help Enterprises unveils a first-of-its-kind project to ensure rural homeowners have access to safe drinking water
“A groundbreaking new project by Self-Help Enterprises, state agencies, and local Groundwater Sustainability Act partners will provide cost-effective ways to help rural homeowners who are experiencing issues with water wells running dry. The first home to benefit from this new project was unveiled on Nov. 14. The home is located in Tulare on agricultural land, but had experienced a well dry-up in 2023. Self-Help had initially been contacted by the homeowners to assist with purchasing and installing a water storage tank so that water could be delivered. Earlier this year, Self-Help – using local, state and federal clean drinking water funds – drilled a new well on the property to ensure a steady stream of clean water. … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
NOTICE of public hearing and procedural ruling for the Delta Conveyance Project
“The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) Administrative Hearings Office (AHO) will hold a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). The hearing will address the water right change petitions filed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR or Petitioner) which propose to add two new points of diversion (PODs) and rediversion (PORDs) to water right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively) (SWP Permits). The purpose of the hearing is to gather evidence that the State Water Board will consider to determine whether to approve the petitions and, if so, what specific terms and conditions the Board should include in the amended SWP Permits. The hearing will begin on February 18, 2025, with the presentation of oral policy statements by interested persons or entities and discussion of outstanding procedural issues. The hearing will continue on March 25, 2025, with presentation by the Petitioner of case-in-chief testimony. The AHO will conduct a third pre-hearing conference on December 16, 2024. … ” Read the full ruling here.
Where the river flows: Micro-scale habitat selection in migrating salmon
“Each year, mature adult salmon travel hundreds of miles upstream from the ocean to complete their life cycle and spawn in tributaries where they were born 2 to 4 years prior. There are many twists, turns, and side channels that they need to traverse on their journey. Imprinted scent cues from their home stream during the juvenile life-stage help adult salmon find their way back to the same location years later. But scent is only one of the methods that salmon use to plot their course. Genetics, light polarization, and geomagnetic fields are some of the other ways that salmon navigate through rivers and oceans. Environmental conditions such as water temperature, flow, oxygen levels, and turbidity can create crucial hydraulic microhabitats and affect the decisions that fish make during their migration. A 2023 study by Sean Luis and Gregory Pasternack of UC Davis examined the influence of micro-hydraulic conditions on Chinook salmon behavior and habitat selection at a river confluence. … ” Read more from FishBio.
California Water Institute projects provide regional perspective for Prop. 4
“The California Water Institute at Fresno State is positioning its current projects to help inform work related to California’s Proposition 4, a $10 billion climate resiliency bond that overwhelmingly passed on the November ballot. The historic measure is the largest single climate bond in state history and includes $3.8 billion for state water projects that address drought, flood and water supply issues. The California Water Institute targets some of those key areas with two grant-funded programs already underway; the Unified Water Plan and Climate Resiliency through Regional Water Recharge in the San Joaquin Valley. “As climate change intensifies, our infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges. Californians have recognized this urgency by passing this historic bond measure,” said Laura Ramos, interim director for the California Water Institute’s Research and Education Division. … ” Read more from the California Water Institute.
Biden-Harris announces $125 million investment for large-scale water recycling projects
“The Department of the Interior today announced a $125 million investment for five projects in California and Utah that will help create new sources of water and improve drought resiliency. These investments support the Department’s new Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, launched in 2023 with new funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new program incentivizes conservation projects at a larger scale, with no cap on project size, and will play an important role in helping communities develop local, drought-resistant water supplies by turning unusable water sources into clean, reliable ones. “The President’s Investing in America agenda is making transformational investments in climate resilience in communities across America,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through the Large-Scale Water Recycling program, the Department is ensuring that communities in the West have the resources they need to safeguard water supplies and ensure this precious resource is available for generations to come.” … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Everywhere is California now
“State leaders on the Eastern Seaboard are scrambling to deal with something California officials know all too well — drought and fire. While the unusual dry spell fueling wildfires in New York and New Jersey is only expected to get worse, some California officials hope the moment can bring attention to issues long considered niche to the West. “A lot of these other states see California and see what’s going on here, but don’t really understand or feel the effects of it,” said Cal Fire battalion chief Jesse Torres. “I think moving forward, when they have their own droughts and fires, they’ll be able to understand what California deals with and be more prepared themselves.” … ” Read more from Politico.
The problem with microplastics
“While photos of littered beaches and floating garbage patches are unsettling, perhaps the most problematic plastic is barely visible to the naked eye. Called microplastics — chunks less than 5 millimeters across — these bits have been detected everywhere from Arctic sea ice to national parks. These pervasive particles are harder to clean up than larger plastics, allowing them to accumulate in the environment and inside living creatures. As their quantities rise, UC Davis researchers are racing to understand the risks they pose to ecosystems, animals and humans. “If these things are getting into our drinking water sources, we should really care,” said Katie Senft, a staff research associate at UC Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center, “especially if they’re not going anywhere and we don’t know the long-term implications.” … ” Read more from UC Davis.
In commentary today …
Bay-Delta Plan update: Deputizing foxes to protect the chickens
The California Water Impact Network writes, “The State Water Resources Board has released implementation plans for its update to the Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan – the roadmap that will determine water quality and salinity for the vast Bay-Delta watershed, the source for most of California’s developed water. The plan details implementation procedures for the update’s Voluntary Agreements – protocols that would allow the state’s largest corporate agricultural interests to avoid regulations. It also provides information on a possible regulatory pathway, even though it is well understood the Board will approve the Voluntary Agreements in pro forma fashion. Max Gomberg, a water policy expert and board member of the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN), panned the update for evading a primary legal obligation: analyzing economic impacts. “The California water code stipulates that these updates must address economic considerations,” said Gomberg. “This plan explicitly fails to do so, which is further evidence the Board is unwilling to grapple with the economic benefits of leaving more water in our rivers and the economic costs of continuing massive water diversions. Moreover, the lack of economic considerations directly violates the Board’s public trust responsibilities.” … ” Read more from the California Water Impact Network.
How three Trump policy decrees could affect California’s agricultural industry
Dan Walters writes, “Voters in California’s farm belt, stretching more than 400 miles from Kern County on the south to Tehama County on the north, delivered solid majorities for Donald Trump in this month’s presidential election. They were obviously outvoted in heavily populated coastal and urban counties, so rival Kamala Harris claimed the state’s 54 electoral votes. However, it is Trump who will be moving into the White House, and of all California economic sectors, agriculture arguably has the most to gain or lose during his second presidency. There are three policy issues particularly important to California’s farmers that Trump wants to change. If he does what he has promised, one might benefit the industry and two might damage it. The beneficial change is what California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglas, in a post-election statement, calls “securing a sustainable water supply.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Rightward shift to impact Western ag, water
Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance, writes, “President-elect Donald Trump, alongside Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, secured a decisive victory with an electoral college result of 312-226. Trump is the first Republican since George W. Bush in 2004 to win the popular vote. The administration is actively filling Cabinet positions and White House roles, with key appointees such as North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, who has been tapped as the next Secretary of Interior. This leadership is expected to set a new conservative tone, particularly impacting policies on energy, the environment, and federal regulatory oversight. The Alliance will closely monitor opportunities to improve the climate for Western irrigated agriculture. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
First atmospheric river of the season set to soak Mendocino County
“The first atmospheric river of the season is barreling toward Mendocino County, promising heavy rain, fierce winds, and potential flooding. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Mendocino Coast and a Flood Watch countywide, effective from Wednesday morning through Friday. … ” Read more from Mendo Fever.
City of Lakeport reports on CalEPA Lead Service Line Inventory results
“The city of Lakeport Utilities Department reported that it has completed the initial Lead Service Line inventory required by the U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, part of a nationwide mandate for water systems across the United States. Utility crews conducted inspections of all city service lines, working diligently from mid-August through the end of September to ensure a thorough and accurate inventory. Through completing a historical records review, employee interviews and field investigations of all service lines, the city of Lakeport has determined that it has no lead or galvanized service lines requiring replacement in its distribution system. This includes any privately owned or customer-owned service lines. … ” Read more from the Lake County News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe ski resorts are opening just as atmospheric river slams California. Here’s the snow outlook
“A major storm system due to slam Northern California this week will hit the Sierra just in time for the start of ski season – but skiers might have to wait for the weekend for a real burst of snow. An atmospheric river event expected to douse California’s far north starting Wednesday morning should bring a wave of precipitation to the Tahoe area later this week, which happens to coincide with the early opening dates at several premier Tahoe ski areas. Heavenly Mountain Resort, in South Lake Tahoe, is opening for the season on Wednesday; Northstar and Palisades Tahoe, both in North Tahoe, are slated to open Friday; Sugar Bowl and Boreal, near Donner Pass, are also due to open Friday. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Travelers beware: Back-to-back storms to hit Tahoe, Sierra Nevada this week
“An atmospheric river with back-to-back storm systems this week, bringing both rain and snow to Interstate 80 and other major thoroughfares in Northern California, is forecast to collide with holiday travel through the weekend and possibly into early next week. With active storms throughout the week, the windows to travel up to the mountains are slim. This weekend, Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada could see as much as a foot of snow. “There’s a slight wall between Thursday afternoon and early Friday,” said Gigi Giralte, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno. “So Thursday could be a good chance to travel. However, this weekend, it’s looking a little more dicey just because of the expected precipitation that we have.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Atmospheric river to flow through Sacramento area. How much rain will we get?
“An atmospheric river-fueled storm will sweep the Sacramento area, bringing rain showers and possible flooding, according to the National Weather Service. “We’re having an atmospheric river system coming through the area this week,” Sara Purdue, National Weather Service meteorologist, told The Sacramento Bee on Monday, Nov. 18. The storm could have “pretty significant impacts” on parts of Northern California, Purdue said. On Monday, the weather service issued a flood watch for the northern and central Sacramento Valley, including the cities of Chico, Paradise, Redding and Red Bluff. “Excessive runoff may result in sharp rises of rivers, creeks and streams, and ponding of water on roadways and other low-lying locations,” the weather service said in the flood watch. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
BAY AREA
Bay Area braces for 5 days of rain from atmospheric river storm
“After a dry fall, the Bay Area is bracing for heavy rainfall this week that’s set to push Northern California significantly ahead of its seasonal average for this time of year. The season’s first atmospheric river will arrive Tuesday night, bringing five days of fairly continuous rainfall to the Bay Area, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Sarment. The North Bay will be hit hardest and first, with Napa and Sonoma expected to get 4–6 inches of rain inland and 7 inches on the coast between Wednesday and Thursday night. Up to 10 inches could fall in areas north of Healdsburg. San Francisco could also be hit with up to an inch and a half of rainfall during the first wave of the storm, which is made up of two low-pressure systems, according to Sarment. … ” Read more from KQED.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
State to begin repairing San Joaquin County levee that partially failed in October
“Heavy rain is expected to hit San Joaquin County this week, and it’s bringing major concerns after a partial levee failure. The levee is stable for now, but there’s still a leak and the levee has drooped a bit since its partial failure in late October. Back in October, we were told the county had exhausted all of its resources for a temporary solution, which forced them to declare a state of emergency. On Monday, water was still running from underneath the levee and out onto an alfalfa field nearby. Crews have already used bulldozers and tons of mud, dirt and clay to try and patch it — but to no success. Now, state officials will begin work on Tuesday to hopefully patch the levee once and for all. … ” Read more from CBS Sacramento.
EASTERN SIERRA
Flood in the desert: How tidal wave of climbers is reshaping Bishop, California
“For eight days in mid-September 2019, the Owens River swelled in its namesake volcanic-tuff gorge, closing access to the narrow canyon’s 1,000-plus routes. Fourteen miles north of Bishop, the ORG has long been a destination sport area. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) had coordinated the release, making the relatively placid stream swell from 45 cubic feet per second to 680; crossing the river or navigating the gorge’s rugged floor became impossible. The LADWP originally cut off the water supply from the Crowley Reservoir area to the Gorge in 1953 when it bought water rights in the Eastern Sierra, constructing a 233-mile aqueduct through the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert to Los Angeles. Then, in 1991, the LADWP began releasing water back into the gorge with a 30-year plan to repair the riparian environment through seasonal flooding, as happened with 2019’s scheduled floods.The Gorge, which sees about 30,000 climbers per year according to an Access Fund estimate, is just one of the dozen climbing areas in the Bishop region that has seen significant, recent environmental change. … ” Read more from Climbing.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
How the arrival of an endangered bird indicates what’s possible for the L.A. River
“Along a gentle bend of the Los Angeles River, in a stretch of land called Taylor Yard, a sound like a high-pitched record scratch can just be heard above the cacophony of city life. This is the call of the least Bell’s vireo, an olive-gray songbird that is only five inches from tip to tail. The riparian species native to Southern California has lived an endangered existence for more than 40 years. Now, the small bird’s return here symbolizes a new future for one of the country’s most maligned waterways. Before the concrete tide of urbanization washed over the Los Angeles River Basin, the river-fed wetland that was here represented the perfect habitat for this rare species. But for the past century, this area was one of the largest rail yards in the region, and as an expanding city grew right up to the river’s now concrete-laden banks, the vireo all but disappeared. Until, suddenly, it returned. The 2007 creation of Rio de Los Angeles State Park, which is itself part of the sprawling rail yard, set the stage. … ” Read more from Smithsonian.
California water recycling plant gains $26M to feed Lake Mead
“Toilet water in Los Angeles will soon reduce the strain on Lake Mead, thanks in part to a $26.2 million boost that was announced Monday. The recycled water will benefit Nevada and other states and tribes that depend on the lake for drinking water. Named the Pure Water Southern California project, when it’s active, it will generate enough water to serve nearly 386,000 households, according to a news release from U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. The funds, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Joe Biden signed in 2021, are going toward the construction of the project. It received $99 million in May from the same pool of federal money. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. | Read via PhysOrg.
Beyond barriers: Transforming Trabuco Creek through partnership with Acjachemen Nation
“In an exciting partnership, CalTrout and the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation are collaborating to restore fish passage on Trabuco Creek, with a dedicated $400,000 budget awarded directly to the Tribe. This groundbreaking initiative puts resources and decision-making power in the hands of the watershed’s original stewards, supporting cultural surveys, native plant restoration, and enhanced public education at the historic Putuidem Village site. Recent eDNA sampling has confirmed the presence of endangered Southern steelhead, Pacific lamprey, and arroyo chub below the Metrolink Bridge barrier, underscoring the ecological significance of this project. CalTrout also recently received funding awards for the fish passage project from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) totaling over $23M. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
The St. Francis Dam collapse: Los Angeles’ forgotten disaster
“Shortly before midnight on March 12, 1928, the ground north of Los Angeles started to rumble. Houses trembled. Windows rattled. Stirred awake by a barking dog, Chester Smith heard trees and utility poles snapping in the distance. Although a minor tremor had shaken California’s San Francisquito Canyon two days earlier, the rancher knew this was no earthquake—but a man-made catastrophe. Having survived a flood in the past, Smith raced barefoot to higher ground while shouting to his family, “The dam is broke!” Three miles upriver from Smith’s ranch, the colossal St. Francis Dam had unexpectedly collapsed, unleashing a 10-story-high wall of water down the canyon. As residents slept, nearly 52 million tons of water bulldozed through the Santa Clara River Valley, killing hundreds in what has been called the 20th century’s deadliest civil engineering disaster. … ” Read moire from the History Channel.
SAN DIEGO
Santa Fe Irrigation District setting aside funds for new Lake Hodges Dam
“The Santa Fe Irrigation District board is taking action to plan for the future of Lake Hodges Dam, setting aside $10.4 million for its share in the cost of a replacement dam. At the board’s Nov. 13 meeting, the board approved putting an additional $6.7 million into its Hodges Dam Fund, the fund created last year to pay for current needs and prepare for the construction of the future. The city’s proposed timeframe is for design of the new dam to be completed in 2028 with a four-year construction beginning in 2030. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Lawsuit filed against operators of South Bay Water Treatment Plant
“A lawsuit was announced Monday on behalf of a group of South Bay residents affected by raw sewage allegedly discharged from the South Bay International Water Treatment Plant and flowing into the waters of Southern San Diego County. The complaint filed Friday in San Diego Superior Court alleges Veolia, contracted by the International Boundary and Water Commission to operate, manage and maintain the plant, has failed to prevent hundreds of such sewage discharges over the years. The California Coastal Commission reported last year that more than 100 billion gallons of transboundary flows have been discharged from Mexico into Southern California over the past five years, and the complaint alleges: “Much of this contamination is directly attributable to the defendants’ failures.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona, California push study of century-old, forced-cuts policy on the Colorado River
“Arizona and California officials are turning to the threat of a “compact call” in the Colorado River Basin to ratchet up the pressure on four Upper Basin states, including Colorado, in stalled negotiations over how the river will be managed in the future. The century-old legal concept raises the prospect of forced water cuts in the Upper Basin states if inter-basin water sharing obligations aren’t met. The details of how a compact call would work are not entirely clear — it has never been enforced since it was first introduced in the 1922 Colorado River Compact. In a meeting Monday, Arizona officials said the Upper Basin states could be forced to cut about twice as much water under a compact call compared to cutbacks outlined in a proposal put forward by the Lower Basin states — Arizona, California and Nevada — earlier this year. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
Colorado River states are separated by a ‘giant chasm’ in negotiations
“The seven states that rely on the Colorado River are deeply divided over how to manage the shrinking water supply in the future. In a meeting on Monday, Arizona’s top water official outlined major differences between the states’ ideas about how to cut back on water use. The states have been split into two camps for months, and do not appear closer to agreement than they did when they released competing water management proposals in March. They are under pressure to agree on a plan before 2026 when the current rules for sharing water expire. Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said he still wants and expects the states to find a collaborative solution. … ” Read more from KUNC.
How unconventional crops could save water — and reshape Utah farming
“Just outside Canyonlands National Park in San Juan County, rancher Matt Redd walked to a spot where two of his pastures meet. One side is growing alfalfa and other traditional grazing crops with wheel line irrigation. The other is home to a lesser-known grain called Kernza. “It’s a long stalk with alternating seeds [on] either side of it,” Redd said as he rolled some golden seed heads between his fingers. “I find it quite beautiful, almost elegant.” Perhaps the most beautiful thing about it, though, is how little water Kernza needs compared to the neighboring pasture. Even though this summer brought Utah record-breaking heat, Redd didn’t water it from July through September. “It looks good. It looks productive,” he said. “And it’s taken less than half the water we’ve used on our irrigated pasture.” … ” Read more from KUER.
Officials say water conservation program harmed Grand Valley irrigators
“An irrigation company in western Colorado says it is disappointed in an Upper Basin water conservation program, its impacts to the company’s operations and the local agricultural community. Grand Valley Irrigation Company President Sean Norris, in a September letter to state officials, said that GVIC shareholders will no longer be allowed to participate in the System Conservation Pilot Program without advance approval from the board. This year, seven GVIC irrigators participated in the federally funded program, which Norris said violates GVIC policies and bylaws as well as injures other shareholders on the system. “The board has even broader concerns with the SCPP,” the letter reads. “As the program grows, the agricultural economy in the Grand Valley will suffer adverse economic impacts.” … ” Read more from Aspen Journalism.
In national water news today …
‘Critical’ cyber vulnerabilities found in many water utilities, warns EPA inspector general
“A recent memo from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General shows that 9% of the public drinking water systems it scanned last month had “critical” or “high” priority cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Nicolas Evans, the office’s acting assistant inspector general, detailed in his Nov. 13 memo an assessment of more than 1,000 drinking water systems serving 193 million people. In addition to finding 97 systems with critical- or high-risk vulnerabilities, the office also spotted 211 water utilities with “medium” or “low” risk security vulnerabilities, such as “having externally visible open portals.” The facilities scanned, which are responsible for collecting, storing, treating and distributing water to the public, comprise an expansive digital footprint of more than 75,000 IP addresses and 14,400 web domains, according to the document. Evans, who forwarded the memo to Bruno Pigott, principal deputy assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Water, described the situation as urgent. … ” Read more from State Scoop.
Pipe dream? RFK Jr.’s fluoride push could take years.
“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s potential role leading the Department of Health and Human Services would not give him carte blanche over fluoride in drinking water — although he could still influence the debate in other ways, legal experts say. Kennedy, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head HHS, professed this month that Trump would sign an executive order in January advising all water utilities to remove fluoride from drinking water supplies. But while Trump later expressed tentative support for the idea, the main agency with the ability to mandate changes on water fluoridation is EPA — not the one Kennedy was chosen to lead. … ” Read more from E&E News.
