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On the calendar today …
- WORKSHOP SERIES: Bay Delta Plan, Sacramento/Delta update beginning at 9am. This is the first of six workshops. The topic is Draft Sacramento/Delta Regulatory Provisions in the Bay Delta Plan. Click here for the full workshop notice.
- MEETING: California Water Commission beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include presentation of Final Draft Strategic Plan; Water Storage Investment Program projects update; informational update on dam safety regulations, Salton Sea Management Program update, and State Water Project briefing on constructions and operations. Click here for the full agenda.
In California water news today …
‘Bomb cyclone’ brings high winds and soaking rain to Northern California and Pacific Northwest
“What was expected to be one of the strongest storms in the northwest U.S. in decades arrived Tuesday evening, knocking out power and downing trees across the region. The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks beginning Tuesday and lasting through Friday as the strongest atmospheric river — a large plume of moisture — that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season bears down on the region. The storm system is considered a “ bomb cyclone,” which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly. The areas that could see particularly severe rainfall will likely reach from the south of Portland, Oregon, to the north of the San Francisco area, said Richard Bann, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
Battling dual threats, California prepares for heavy rain and fire weather
“As the state braces for an onslaught of heavy rain in Northern California and fire weather in Southern California, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is taking proactive measures to protect communities from dual threats: debris flows in recently burned areas and heightened fire risks due to high winds. Cal OES today announced that it is prepositioning resources across key regions susceptible to debris flow and wildfire activity. Crews equipped with specialized apparatus, including debris flow rescue teams and additional fire engines, are being deployed to areas of highest concern. “This is a dynamic situation,” said Cal OES Fire Chief Brian Marshall. “The state is facing multiple simultaneous threats. The heavy rains forecasted for this week could trigger dangerous mud and debris flows to Northern California, especially in burn scar areas from recent wildfires. At the same time, dry conditions in Southern California, combined with offshore winds, increase the risk of new wildfires.” … ” Read more from Cal OES.
SEE ALSO:
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- Bomb cyclone with atmospheric river blasts Oregon, Northern California and Washington, from AccuWeather
- Atmospheric river arrives in Northern California as bomb cyclone intensifies damaging storm, from CBS Bay Area
- What is a ‘bomb cyclone’? The weather term back in the spotlight as West Coast prepares for a storm, from the Mercury News
- What the bomb cyclone looks like from space, as California preps for intense storm, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- California braces for storm as atmospheric river intensifies. Here’s a timeline of impacts, from the San Francisco Chronicle
Scientists issue warning after research shows concerning impact of common drug disposal method: ‘Should be taken as a warning’
“Flushing pharmaceuticals down the toilet might seem like a quick and easy way to dispose of them, but it actually poses a significant danger to marine wildlife. Animal Ecology revealed that waterways contaminated with the common antidepressant Prozac have affected fish bodies and behaviors “in ways that could threaten their long-term survival.” Dr. Upama Aich from Monash University, the study’s co-lead author, said thousands of chemicals were “being dumped into our waterways every day.” The study determined that low concentrations of fluoxetine, the drug used in Prozac, “reduced the body condition and sperm vitality of male guppies over multiple generations.” Researchers caught and observed 3,600 wild guppies that were exposed to different concentrations of fluoxetine over five years. Aich said low exposure overwhelmingly reduced the body condition of males in the population, “which is really important, not only for mating, but also for fighting with other males, and their overall survival.” … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
The economic and environmental imperatives of Delta levees
“Flood risk is one of the most pressing threats to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Delta’s 1,100 miles of levees protect highly productive agriculture, recreational assets, habitats for sensitive species, utility and road infrastructure, freshwater for export, and navigation. However, Delta levees are becoming more vulnerable in the face of sea level rise, extreme weather events, burrowing animals, and subsiding islands, as well as shifting priorities and funding gaps. A panel discussion at the Delta Stewardship Council’s October meeting highlighted the need for ongoing levee maintenance and the economic challenges of maintaining levees. “The coequal goals are built on a foundation of levees,” said Erin Mullin, Senior Engineer with the Delta Stewardship Council. “Without levees, we do not have a reliable water supply and our ecosystem would be changed in a way that I don’t think that any of us can even imagine.” … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
PRESS RELEASE: New report reveals climate threats, hidden costs of reservoirs
“Reservoirs, a major component of California’s water storage system, are a significant source of climate-warming emissions, releasing more greenhouse gases across the state than 300,000 gas-powered cars in a year, according to a report published today by the Center for Biological Diversity. Beneath the Surface outlines the environmental threats of big water infrastructure projects and exposes why reservoirs’ water storage benefits will only diminish as climate change intensifies. The report comes as California plans three massive reservoirs and dam expansion projects, including Sites Reservoir, that will cost a total of $7 billion. These and similar projects across the western U.S. would divert large quantities of water from nearby rivers and cause irreparable harm to imperiled fish and other wildlife. … ” Read more from the Center for Biological Diversity.
Groundwater pumping is making California’s San Joaquin Valley sink about an inch per year: Study
“California’s San Joaquin Valley may be sinking nearly an inch per year due to the over-pumping of groundwater supplies, with resource extraction outpacing natural recharge, a new study has found. This agriculture-rich region, located within the state’s Central Valley, has been sinking at record-breaking rates over the past two decades, according to the study, published on Tuesday in Nature’s Communications Earth & Environment. While researchers have known that subsidence — the technical term for sinking — has been affecting the region in recent years, the total amount of collapse had not been quantified. “Our study is the first attempt to really quantify the full Valley-scale extent of subsidence over the last two decades,” senior study author Rosemary Knight, a professor of geophysics at Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability, said in a statement. … ” Read more from The Hill.
SEE ALSO: California is literally sinking under the weight of its water demands, from Study Finds
Supima Cotton celebrates its harvest season and view on sustainability
“SUPIMA cotton heralds itself as the epitome of luxury and sustainability within the cotton industry, with refined cotton fibers creating some of the most enduring textiles. … Historically, it became the foundation for premium kinds of cotton cultivated in the Americas, such as the Pima, Sea Island, and Egyptian varieties, which have grown into the hallmark of luxury textiles. Over time, SUPIMA cotton, in particular, has come to represent the highest quality fibers with a commitment to environmental responsibility, driven by the demand for traceable and sustainable practices.Founded in 1954, SUPIMA, which is predominantly grown in the deserts of California, with about 95% of its production exported making up lematerials than 1% of cotton grown in the world, requires meticulous water management. In this dry environment, water is one of the most crucial resources for cotton farming. … ” Read more from Forbes.
And lastly … Oarfish keep washing ashore in California. Folklore suggests that could be a bad omen
“A deep-sea creature steeped in folklore has once again washed ashore in California. On Nov. 6, a researcher on an Encinitas beach spotted an oarfish, measuring 9 to 10 feet long. The fish typically swim at depths of 300 to 3,000 feet and are rarely seen on the surface. Yet it was the third time one has appeared in Southern California since August. They have been associated with bad omens, according to English-language accounts of Japanese folklore. ..,. Oarfish have been found around the globe, but one particular country’s history with the fish has gathered the most attention: Japan. According to some media reports, oarfish have been associated in Japanese folklore with prophesies of doom — in particular, earthquakes. … ” Read more from KASU.
In commentary today …
California can make climate policy decisions today that address the problems of tomorrow
Letitia Grenier, director of the Public Policy Institute of California Water Policy Center, writes, “In the wake of one of the most consequential elections in American history, California looms large. What occurs here is happening to roughly one in every eight Americans — and what’s happening in California is climate change. The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record globally. Here in California, residents sweltered through the hottest July the state had ever experienced. And one of the most important ways California is experiencing climate change is in its water. The state’s naturally volatile climate is facing whiplash like it’s never seen before. Increasingly intense droughts are being followed by major floods. Snowpack is diminishing, and sea level is rising. Vegetation is drying out, exacerbating severe wildfires that occur earlier than ever each season. Everyone is feeling the effects, though low-income, underserved communities — many of color — are feeling it most acutely. And rising temperatures are driving these changes. … ” Read more at Cal Matters.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Salmon are ‘coming home’ to spawn in Klamath River after dams are removed
“A giant female Chinook salmon flips on her side in the shallow water and wriggles wildly, using her tail to carve out a nest in the riverbed as her body glistens in the sunlight. In another moment, males butt into each other as they jockey for a good position to fertilize eggs. These are scenes local tribes have dreamed of seeing for decades as they fought to bring down four hydroelectric dams blocking passage for struggling salmon along more than 400 miles (644km) of the Klamath River and its tributaries along the Oregon-California border. Now, less than a month after those dams came down in the largest dam removal project in US history, salmon are once more returning to spawn in cool creeks that have been cut off to them for generations. Video shot by the Yurok Tribe show that hundreds of salmon have made it to tributaries between the former Iron Gate and Copco dams, a hopeful sign for the newly freed waterway. … ” Read more from The Guardian.
Flooding forecasts for the Russian, Garcia and Navarro rivers as atmospheric river arrives
“Mendocino County is on track to experience its first major winter storm of the season when an atmospheric river settles over the area starting late Tuesday night. The county is expected to receive 5 to 9 inches of rain Tuesday through Thursday, with more rain likely Friday and into the weekend. As a result, a flood watch is in place for the entire county from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday. Mendocino County residents should prepare for the usual areas to flood, such as low-lying roadways, vineyards and fields, and other areas with poor drainage, such as downtown Ukiah or Willits. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Officials successfully remove 17 acres of destructive plant wreaking havoc on iconic US lake: ‘This marks an exciting step’
“An infestation of aquatic invasive plants has threatened the famously blue waters of Lake Tahoe, but officials have announced that Phase 1 of a project targeting the weeds was a success. As detailed by the Mountain Democrat, a joint effort under the Taylor and Tallac Ecosystem Restoration initiative successfully treated 17 acres of invasive weeds in the Taylor and Tallac creeks and marshes in South Lake Tahoe. In early October, when Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program officials checked the aquatic plants’ roots underneath sunlight-depriving barriers — placed two years ago — they found that both the roots and above-ground growth were dead. “This marks an exciting step in the ultimate restoration of this invaluable habitat,” Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager Dennis Zabaglo told the Mountain Democrat. “This is one of the basin’s largest wetlands and its restoration is a cornerstone of the collaborative work to restore the Lake Tahoe region.” … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Tahoe Fund issues call for 2025 projects
“The Tahoe Fund is opening its annual call for projects. The nonprofit is seeking projects for its 2025 portfolio that will increase the pace and scale of forest restoration, improve lake clarity and health, encourage sustainable recreation, provide innovative solutions to transportation challenges, and create more stewards of Lake Tahoe. Public agencies, nonprofits and environmentally focused businesses are invited to submit proposals for projects that require $5,000 to $1,000,000 in funding. Projects with the ability to leverage public funding as a result of Tahoe Fund support will be prioritized. “The projects submitted each year are a testament to the passion our community has for Lake Tahoe,” said Caitlin Meyer, Chief Program Officer for the Tahoe Fund. “The positive impact our partners make on the ground continues to inspire us. We’re so excited to see what new ideas are dreamed up this next round of submissions!” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
A massive new ski village was just approved for this world-famous Tahoe resort
“At a packed government meeting on Tuesday evening in North Lake Tahoe, officials voted to greenlight a highly controversial development that many believe will be transformational to one of North America’s iconic skiing destinations. The vote by the Placer County Board of Supervisors came after a nine-hour meeting during which dozens of local residents voiced passionate concerns about the project’s potential impacts to their quality of life and the character of a historic Tahoe community. “I understand why you’re angry,” said Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, whose district encompasses Olympic Valley. “I understand why you’re skeptical. But I believe this is the best program we can put forward … I believe we can make great strides together, so I do support moving forward.” … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mokelumne River salmon run breaks record for the second year in a row
“The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) reports the 2024-2025 fall run of Chinook salmon currently underway on the Mokelumne River has set a new record for the second year in a row. More than 30,000 fish have been counted to date with hundreds more arriving daily from the Pacific Ocean to spawn. This is the largest salmon return on the Mokelumne since record keeping began in 1940, surpassing the record-setting 2023-24 total count of 28,698 Chinook with several weeks still left to go in this spawning season. “I’m proud of EBMUD’s decades-long dedication to sustaining the health of the Mokelumne River habitat and investing in fish hatchery operations,” said EBMUD Board President Lesa McIntosh. “This historic salmon run is a testament to our science-driven management, cooperative relationships with neighbors on the river, and our collaboration with local, state and federal partners to enhance spawning grounds, operate our hatchery effectively, and protect vital natural resources.” … ” Read more from the Amador Ledger-Dispatch.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Shasta Lake’s water levels lag behind 2023 despite [rain], officials report
“Northstate lakes await replenishment as wet weather moves in, but patience is urged by officials. “We are very excited by this current set of storms coming in,” said Michael Burke, Bureau of Reclamation. “Shasta reservoir is about 90% rain filled. So, any amount of precipitation we get up here is helpful to the lake. But truthfully, it is going to take about three storms like this before we really begin to see the lake level rise.” … Despite a nice 2024 water year, the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), responsible for managing the Shasta Dam, said Shasta Lake remains 81 feet from the crest—27 feet lower than in 2023. … ” Read more from KRCR.
California Water Board project in Butte Creek watershed evaluates supply and demand
“The California Water Board is set to convene a meeting in Chico on Tuesday, where they will share important updates regarding their ongoing efforts in the Butte Creek Watershed. The board has begun the project to gain a deeper understanding of water supply and demand dynamics in various watersheds throughout the state. One of the key focus areas of the initiative is the Butte Creek Watershed, where they are analyzing factors influencing water availability and consumption patterns. The study will help inform sustainable water management practices and promote better resource allocation in the region. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Paradise receives $1.75 million for sewer connection project
“The Town of Paradise is set to receive $1.75 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aid in its ongoing recovery efforts following the 2018 Camp Fire. The funding, announced by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), is part of the Community Project Funding program and will be used for the Sewer Regionalization Connection project. “After the devastation of the Camp Fire, Paradise is making tremendous progress in their effort to rebuild, and this project is a critical part of that,” Rep. LaMalfa said. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Folsom seeks help in identifying lead pipes. They could be in houses built before 1986
“Folsom is asking its residents to complete a survey if their house was built before 1986 to identify whether or not they have lead pipes. Lead in drinking water can in some cases lead to health problems. As part of an effort required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW), Folsom is identifying lead service lines in its water system, the city said. … “The city’s drinking water is lead-free when it leaves the water treatment plant,” Folsom wrote on its website. “However, water can absorb lead through pipes if it flows through a property containing lead pipes.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
NAPA/SONOMA
Residents near the Russian River in Sonoma County get ready for incoming storm
“Parts of Sonoma County are used to dealing with flooding concerns when heavy, prolong stretches of rain are in the forecast, like those residents who live in the area of the Russian River. While officials are not expecting any major problems with the river flooding from this storm, it will bring a substantial boost to its water levels. Moving into November and the summer docks are finally coming out of the water at some Russian River properties. “We’re getting our summer equipment out of the water,” explained Herb, a property owner on the river. “So we have a floating dock for our guests and we’ve got to get it into the dry before the storm comes.” … ” Read more from CBS San Francisco.
BAY AREA
‘Month’s worth of rain’ could hit parts of Bay Area this week: Here’s when it starts
“After a period of mostly clear skies and beaming sun, Northern California is expected to see an intense atmospheric river this week that’s forecast to bring powerful winds and two rounds of heavy rainfall. The first storm system is expected to begin Wednesday morning, with a downpour arriving as early as Tuesday night. “The heaviest rainfall is going to be over the North Bay in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told SFGATE. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: TIMELINE: North Bay to see significant atmospheric river impacts with high flood risk, from ABC 7
‘Moment of awe’: Native California species washes up dead in Bay Area lake
“Last week, an unexpected discovery washed up on the shoreline of Oakland’s Lake Merritt: several dead Chinook salmon. They had likely swum hundreds of miles in the Pacific Ocean before making their way inland, past the Golden Gate Bridge and into the tidal lagoon, where they attempted to spawn and lay eggs.While the image of multiple fish carcasses might strike some as bleak after recent algal blooms killed off thousands of animals in the nation’s oldest designated wildlife refuge back in 2022, the presence of the threatened species shocked and thrilled Bay Area researchers. James Robinson, executive director of the Lake Merritt Institute, called it “fascinating” due to the sheer number of obstacles the fish encounter just to get to the lake, telling the Oaklandside it was only the second time he was aware of the species making its way there since he started working for the nonprofit in 2005. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Marin environmental leaders brace for Trump restoration
“Environmental groups in Marin County are worried about the effects the new Trump administration will have on pressing concerns such as climate initiatives and green technology incentives. “The danger is already plain, with Trump and his appointees lying to the public that climate change doesn’t exist, even as we see floods, wildfires and extreme heat intensifying,” said Bill Carney of the Marin Climate Action Network. Carney said Trump’s threats to cut funding for programs that bolster climate solutions — like electric vehicles, home electrification upgrades and carbon farming — will effect the county. He said these initiatives are essential to reaching Marin’s goal of halving its climate-related pollution by 2030 and reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Seawall project to protect San Francisco’s Ocean Beach OKed
“The California Coastal Commission recently approved a $175-million project that will protect San Francisco’s Ocean Beach as well as key parts of the city’s wastewater infrastructure imperiled by climate-induced erosion of the coastal bluffs. The Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project approved on Nov. 14 includes a 3,200-ft-long buried seawall at Ocean Beach to protect the sewer system infrastructure, which includes the city’s Lake Merced Tunnel and a nearby recycled water facility. “These long-term improvements will protect the vital wastewater infrastructure at risk,” Anna Roche, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission project manager, said in a statement. “But equally important, this project offers an opportunity for the city to drastically improve public use and accessibility along the coast south of Sloat Boulevard.” … ” Read more from Engineering News-Record.
CENTRAL COAST
4,000 pounds of rainbow trout arrive at Cachuma Lake; lake at 90% capacity
“Cachuma Lake received a recent planting of 4,000 pounds of rainbow trout, the first of the stocking season which typically calls for a total of 16,000 pounds be released each year between the winter and spring months. Santa Barbara County Parks, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, trucked in the load from Mt. Lassen Trout Farms Inc. in Paynes Creek and released the fish, ranging in size from half-pound “catchables” to eight-pound trophies. County Parks recommends bait fishing, trolling, or casting artificial lures as possible methods for catching rainbow trout. The most common sizes caught at Cachuma Lake are between 12 and 21 inches. … ” Read more from the Santa Ynez Valley News.
Christmas comes early to Ventura: Water recycling program gets $60 million federal grant
“The $370 million dollar project would create a cutting edge water recycling facility which would meet about 20% of the city’s needs. The gift-giving season has come early for the City of Ventura. The city has received word that it will receive a $60 million dollar grant from the federal government for its new cutting edge wastewater recycling facility. The facility will produce about 3600 acre feet of recycled water annually, which is enough to meet about 20% of the city’s annual needs. … ” Read more from KCLU.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
As storm bears down, California begins repairs on leaking Delta levee
“The state is beginning repairs this week to a damaged levee on Victoria Island that led San Joaquin County to issue an emergency declaration last month. Although a major storm is bearing down on the Delta, officials say it is not expected to cause any further significant damage to the levee, located about 16 miles west of Stockton. The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services declared the state of emergency last month after the discovery of slumping at the levee, situated along the Old River on the island near Highway 4, between Stockton and Discovery Bay. The county authorized repairs, but the declaration was needed to bring in the California Department of Water Resources for a longer-term fix. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
How will the ‘bomb cyclone’ up north impact us down in Southern California?
“The entire northwestern United States is getting slammed this week by a powerful bomb cyclone system that could drop nine inches or more of rain in some areas in a matter of days. Southern California isn’t immune. While the bulk of the storm will be contained to north of the Bay Area, SoCal could see some heavy rain over the weekend. The precipitation should start arriving by late Saturday. By Sunday it could drop up to an inch of rain on the Los Angeles basin, and possibly up to two inches in some mountain and foothill areas. Mountain communities will also see snow at higher elevations, above 8,000 feet. … ” Read more from ABC 7.
OceanWell secures $11 million in series a to build deep-sea water farms and supply abundant fresh water
“OceanWell, a water technology company, announced $11 million in Series A funding to scale its next-generation modular deep-sea water farm solution and launch California’s water farm pilot with Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD). Kubota Corporation, a century-old leader in water infrastructure manufacturing, the family office of Jon Hemingway of Carrix Ports, and Charles McGarraugh, former head of metals trading at Goldman Sachs, participated in the round. OceanWell is developing modular deep-sea water farms made up of pods that harness natural hydrostatic pressure at depths of 400 meters for reverse osmosis desalination. Each pod can produce up to one million gallons of fresh water daily, and the modular design allows for scalable projects based on demand. This technology ensures ultra-clean water by filtering out salts, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and PFAS, while its robust components are engineered for durability in harsh deep-sea environments. Unlike traditional desalination methods that are energy-intensive and threaten marine life, OceanWell’s technology reduces energy consumption by up to 40 percent, while protecting marine life and eliminating toxic brine disposal. … ” Read more from PR Newswire.
SCV Water opens new PFAS treatment facility
“The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency opened its Santa Clara and Honby Wells PFAS Groundwater Treatment Facility on Tuesday morning to help bring back previously shut-down groundwater supplies to the valley. In the agency’s ongoing efforts to remove PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, from local drinking wells and restore local groundwater supply, Matt Stone, general manager of SCV Water, said the agency is proud to complete another milestone. “This is our third PFAS treatment facility,” said Stone. “We’re bringing two additional groundwater wells back online and restoring water affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of synthetic chemicals also known as PFAS.” … ” Read more from SCV Water.
Project to develop new local water supply for Southern California gets second federal funding boost
“A project that will make Southern California more resilient to climate change by purifying and reusing cleaned wastewater will receive a second infusion of funds from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Reclamation announced Monday (Nov. 18) it will award a $26.2 million large-scale water recycling grant to Pure Water Southern California, a regional water recycling project being developed by Metropolitan Water District and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. The new grant comes on top of $99.2 million in federal funds awarded to the project in May. Reclamation also announced funding for other recycling projects across the Southwest as part of the Department of Interior’s new Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, launched in 2023 with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
OC Coastkeeper recovers 724 pounds of shell from DTLA Oyster Festival for marine restoration projects
“This past weekend, Orange County Coastkeeper (Coastkeeper) collected 724 pounds of discarded oyster shells at the DTLA Oyster Festival, an annual event showcasing international oyster cuisine. These reclaimed shells will undergo a natural curing process for a year, after which they’ll be repurposed for native oyster restoration projects in Long Beach and Seal Beach to help combat coastal erosion, habitat loss, and water quality issues. Coastkeeper is grateful to the festival’s organizers, The Oyster Gourmet and Grand Central Market, for their invitation to participate in this year’s event. Coastkeeper staff hosted an educational booth to engage festival attendees on oyster restoration, sharing insights on how discarded shells can contribute to healthier shorelines. … ” Read more from the OC Coastkeeper.
SAN DIEGO
Oceanside to pay $1.5 million for sewage overflows during 2020 storm
“The city of Oceanside has agreed to pay $1.5 million for nearly two million gallons of sewage that overflowed at a lift station and wastewater treatment plant during a major rainstorm in 2020. The April 2020 heavy rainfall led to over 900,000 gallons of untreated sewage discharged from the Buena Vista Lift Station and around 820,000 gallons of sewage from the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility, according to the State Water Resources Control Board. The lift station discharges sent sewage into Buena Vista Creek and Buena Vista Lagoon, while the water reclamation facility’s sewage was released into the Windmill and Pilgrim creeks, flowing eventually into the San Luis Rey River. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Biden includes $310M for South Bay plant at center of border sewage crisis in relief package
“As part of his disaster relief package, President Joe Biden has asked for $310 million for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to address sewage flows coming from Tijuana into the United States, a move that was praised by San Diego’s congressional delegation on Tuesday. The funding package must be approved by Congress. The same request was made last year and Congress approved $156 million for the local project. If passed, the money would add to a previously awarded $400 million in federal funding to get the plant running at full capacity and even double its capabilities. The local Congressional delegation celebrating the accomplishment include Reps. Juan Vargas, Scott Peters and Sara Jacobs, all D-San Diego, and Rep. Mike Levin, D-Dana Point. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
SEE ALSO: Local U.S. Rep., USIBWC discuss possibly more federal funding for South Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, from Channel 10
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River Basin states grapple with post-2026 guidelines amidst challenging negotiations and potential water conflicts
“The Bureau of Reclamation is currently developing the post-2026 operational guidelines for managing the Colorado River system reservoirs. The guidelines will have a significant impact on releases from Lake Powell, water uses and shortages in the Lower Basin, and storage of conserved water (like Intentionally Created Surplus) in Lake Mead. Since last spring, the Colorado River Basin states have been actively involved in the negotiations, submitting several alternatives. Despite the continued efforts, reaching a consensus has proven to be a challenging task. At the November meeting of Metropolitan’s One Water and Stewardship Committee, Shanti Rosset, Colorado River Program Manager, provided an update on the ongoing negotiations. … ” Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.
In the dry Colorado River Delta, the future of these green oases hangs in the balance
“In northwestern Mexico, just south of the U.S. border, there’s a massive, dusty expanse of beige. But it wasn’t always this way. It’s the Colorado River Delta, where the river once met the Pacific Ocean and created a sprawling network of forests and wetlands. For decades, though, nearly every drop of the river’s water has been used upstream, and a vast triangle of brown has been left in the delta’s place. But there are a few notable exceptions. An agreement between the U.S. and Mexico allocated a tiny portion of water to restore the Colorado River Delta, where governments and nonprofit groups have put that water to work. They’ve spent the past 12 years using it to build habitats for the animals that used to call it home, bringing back little oases in the middle of the otherwise barren delta. But that agreement expires at the end of in 2026, and conservationists are hoping these defiant islands of green don’t disappear. … ” Read more from KUNC.
Brackish groundwater is no easy water solution for Arizona
“The numbers are so vast, so enticing that they tantalize like a desert oasis. Deep below the surface in Arizona – roughly a quarter mile underground – sit large volumes of water that are less salty than the ocean, but not easily used. At a depth of 1,200 to 1,500 feet, between 530 million and 700 million acre-feet fill this layer statewide. If it were all pumped to the surface and purified, this brackish groundwater would supply Arizona’s water needs for a century or more. Problem is, it can’t all be pumped. Though the numbers are legitimate – and detailed in an updated state assessment that was published in August – the reality for brackish groundwater, at this point, is more of a mirage. Exploiting this resource to satisfy the state’s demand for water in an arid climate is not as simple as drilling wells. “This is not a new supply of water,” said Juliet McKenna, a hydrogeologist with Montgomery & Associates, the consulting firm that the state contracted for the brackish groundwater assessment. “This is physically groundwater and this is legally groundwater. And there are consequences and restrictions in both areas for trying to use this.” … ” Read more from Circle of Blue.
Reclamation discontinues cold water releases from Glen Canyon Dam
“The Bureau of Reclamation, as a result of cooler weather, is stopping releases of colder water from the depths of Lake Powell into the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam initially started to disrupt reproduction of smallmouth bass. Reclamation selected the ‘cool mix’ flow alternative in the Record of Decision for the Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The intermittent release of cool water began July 9, in an effort to maintain a daily average water temperature below 60 in the river down to river mile 61 (near the confluence of the Little Colorado River) where a core population of the threatened humpback chub is located. Cooler water temperatures deter smallmouth bass from spawning and maturing, making them less of a threat to native fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
In national water news today …
Cities, states say they’ll need more help to replace millions of lead pipes
“A new federal rule will require water utilities across the country to pull millions of lead drinking water pipes out of the ground and replace them, at a cost of billions of dollars. States, cities and water utilities agree that the lead pipes need to go to ensure safe water for residents. But they say they may struggle to do so in the 10-year window required under the rule, and they fear some ratepayers will be hit with massive cost increases to pay for the work. State officials are urging Congress to provide ongoing funding for the lead replacement effort. Local leaders say they’ll need lots of help to meet the deadline. And environmental advocates are calling on states to issue bonds or provide other financial support to water utilities. “It took us close to 100 years to get all of these lead service lines in the ground, and the EPA is asking us to get them out in 10 years,” said Tom Dobbins, CEO of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, an advocacy group for publicly owned water systems. “The [Biden] administration grossly underestimated the cost. Obviously, if the federal government doesn’t provide the funding for this, the ratepayers will have to pay for this. That exacerbates certain communities’ affordability issues.” … ” Read more from Stateline.
Trump promises clean water. Will he clean up ‘forever chemicals’?
“These chemicals are in the tap water of the majority of Americans, and the Trump administration could decide their fate. No, not fluoride, the cavity-fighter that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s health secretary pick, wants out of public drinking water. Rather, they’re harmful “forever chemicals,” also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. For all of Mr. Kennedy’s talk, and his contentious views on fluoride, larger battles loom over chemicals in the water we drink. Public health advocates worry that federal efforts to protect the public against PFAS and replace lead pipes could unravel under a Trump presidency. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
12 big changes Trump could make to climate and environment policy
“Clean energy tax breaks, pollution rules, America’s participation in the Paris climate agreement — all these policies and more could be on the chopping block after the election of Donald Trump. The president-elect’s return to the White House in January could erase many U.S. efforts to combat climate change, with the incoming administration set to boost fossil fuel production, roll back rules aimed at curbing pollution, dismantle support for renewable energy and step back from helping lead international climate negotiations. “The first 100 days, we have the opportunity to roll back regulations that are forcing businesses to be able to struggle,” Lee Zeldin, the former New York congressman Trump tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said during a Fox News interview. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
Charting the exceptional, unexpected heat of 2023 and 2024
“In 2024, global temperatures for June through August were the hottest on record, narrowly topping the same period in 2023. The exceptional heat extended throughout other seasons, too, with global temperatures breaking records for 15 straight months from June 2023 until August 2024, according to scientists from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). Although this spell of record heat fits within a long-term warming trend driven by human activity—primarily greenhouse gas emissions—the intensity of the heat, which reached a crescendo in the last half of 2023, surprised leading climate scientists. In a commentary in Nature, Gavin Schmidt, the director of GISS, used words like “humbling” and “confounding” to explain just how far temperatures overshot expectations during that period. … ” Read more from Earth Observatory.
