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On the calendar today …
- WEBINAR: California-Nevada January 2024 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar from 11am to 12pm. The California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña). Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Environmental groups claim California’s State Water Project will harm endangered fish and the environment
“Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Water Resources Wednesday, claiming that the California State Water Project will harm endangered and threatened fish and the environment in the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River watersheds, as well as the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. The California State Water Project (SWP) is a system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants and pumping plants that delivers water to California. Its purpose is to provide water to California’s residents and farmland, and to control flooding. It also provides hydroelectric power for the state’s power grid. The SWP is the largest state-owned water and power system in the U.S., stretching over 705 miles from Northern to Southern California. San Francisco Baykeeper, an environmental nonprofit, was joined by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, the Winnemem Wintu Tribe and six other plaintiffs in the lawsuit. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Reductions in SWP deliveries expected to continue
“Roughly every two years, the California Department of Water Resources issues its “Delivery Capability Report” for the State Water Project (SWP). Those studies estimate the amount of SWP water that can be delivered each year, based on simulations of current facilities and regulations applied to over 70 years of historic hydrology. The first study conducted in 2001, indicated that on average, 72% of contracted water entitlements could be delivered annually. During a 6-year drought, average deliveries would drop to 41% of the contracted amount. Since then, regulations to protect endangered fish have reduced exports. DWR just released its 2023 Delivery Capability Report. Average annual deliveries are now estimated at 55% of contracted entitlement with deliveries through a six-year drought now expected to be 23%. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
Public review begins for Bay-Delta plan revisions, comment period ends soon
“The State Water Resources Control Board staff released draft updates to the Bay-Delta plan on Nov. 6 for public review. The draft covers potential updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento San Joaquin Delta Watershed. State law requires California’s water board to create and review plans to protect water quality in rivers and other surface waters. These draft updates are focused on the Sacramento River watershed, Delta eastside tributaries, and Delta for the “reasonable protection of fish and wildlife beneficial uses.” The draft updates focus on protecting fish in the Sacramento River system and build on previous efforts to increase fish populations in the San Joaquin River. Staff have suggested regulating 45% to 65% of natural river flow for salmon and steelhead populations. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
December off to a dry start in California with high-pressure system in place
“The final month of 2024 officially began Sunday with sunny skies, mild temperatures and no precipitation — and it looks like that dry trend will continue for several weeks. A strong and persistent high-pressure system is firmly in place over California, keeping the entire state dry through at least mid-December. This is a sharp departure from November’s rain-soaked weather. Fueled by a multi-day atmospheric river event, most major climate stations in the Bay Area reported above-normal precipitation for November. Both San Francisco and Oakland recorded more than 4 inches of rain for the month. Rainfall totals across the Peninsula, East Bay and South Bay ranged between 1.5 and 4.5 inches in November, with much of it falling during just a few days. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
California water experts prepare for climate whiplash
“California officials regularly tout their global leadership on climate, yet experts warn that state preparations for a warming world need a major overhaul. The state hit its 2020 goal of mitigating climate change by reducing planet-warming greenhouse gases to 1990 levels six years early. But adapting to chaotic climate disruptions already underway while planning for an uncertain future remains a formidable challenge. California’s climate policies are underfunded and “stretching the capacity of local, state and federal agencies responding to the urgent issues of today,” wrote Letitia Grenier, director of the Water Policy Center at the Public Policy Institute of California, or PPIC, in a report released earlier this month. Global temperatures over the past quarter century are higher than at any time in recorded history and California just saw its hottest July ever. Over the past decade, the state has experienced one of its driest periods, its biggest and most destructive wildfires, record-breaking heat waves and catastrophic flooding, as already stressed ecosystems struggled to cope with land use changes and water diversions. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Be flood diversion and recharge ready: Flood diversions for recharge under Water Code §1242.1
As flood events become more frequent, being prepared for flood diversions and groundwater recharge is critical for sustainable water management. On October 9, 2024 the CA State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) held a public workshop focused on flood diversions for groundwater recharge using Water Code §1242.1. Topics included an overview of Water Code §1242.1, definition of terms, flood diversions requirements, how to file reports, report submittal timelines, diversion exclusions, and an overview of the diversion requirements specific to the Delta. … ” Continue reading from DWR.
New study shows the valley is sinking an inch per year
“New research from scientists at Stanford University shows that the San Joaquin Valley is sinking faster than ever due to excessive groundwater pumping. Even though aquifers are plummeting and the ground is sinking, the situation is never static. Since the historic wet year of 2023, some localities have seen significant rebounds in groundwater levels, though not enough to permanently change the trajectory, experts warn. Researchers brought together separate existing subsidence datasets from 2006 to 2022 to paint a more reliable picture of conditions in the valley. “If you don’t accurately know what’s going on with the subsidence, then you won’t effectively be able to deal with it to fix the problem,” said Matthew Lees, lead author of the study. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: Stanford study documents sinking in San Joaquin Valley and looks for potential solutions, from ABC 7
In the town ‘Erin Brockovich’ made famous, residents still fear dirty water
“As the popular movie “Erin Brockovich” winds to an end, a character named Donna Jensen wins $5 million from Pacific Gas and Electric, part of a $333 million legal settlement the community won in 1996 after it was accused of contaminating the groundwater here for years, sickening some residents. What the movie didn’t show is what happened next. In real life, Roberta Walker, the woman on whom the Jensen character was based, said she received less than $1 million from the settlement. After decades of living in Hinkley, she believed the contaminated water was making her and her family sick, so she moved out of town, as did hundreds of other Hinkley-area residents who were fearful of ongoing contamination. She said she has had five stomach surgeries and three breast surgeries and many members of her family have struggled with health problems. … “When you look at the movie, everybody thinks Hinkley got rewarded and saved. But in reality, that was the start of the fall,” said John Turner, 62, who grew up in Hinkley and is one of the few natives who remains. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
MIT engineers achieve solar power breakthrough that could affect drinking water of millions: ‘We’ve done it’
“Thanks to a groundbreaking solar-powered desalination system developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers, more communities could soon have access to cheap, clean drinking water. According to MIT News, the innovative system doesn’t require additional batteries to keep the desalting process going during cloudy or stormy weather, helping to massively reduce costs. The system follows the sun’s natural patterns, ramping up desalination as sunlight increases throughout the day and scaling back in overcast weather. Since the system is capable of responding quickly to changes in sunlight, it makes the process more energy-efficient and can produce an abundance of fresh water no matter the weather conditions. In addition, MIT’s system doesn’t require backup batteries or grid power, making it a cost-effective solution to combat water scarcity worldwide. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Biden could designate national monuments near Yosemite and Mount Shasta before Trump arrives
“Before leaving office, President Joe Biden could act on two bids for new national monuments in Northern California: one in the rugged Sierra Nevada south of Yosemite and another in the volcanic highlands northeast of Mount Shasta. Doubts are emerging, though, that Biden will offer the protective and prestigious status to either of the properties. Not only is time running out for the administration, but opposition to the initiatives has recently surfaced, shattering any notion that a proposed Range of Light Monument in the Sierra or Sáttítla National Monument near Shasta would be universally popular. Also, Donald Trump’s return to the White House could be a deterrent. The president-elect, during his first term, worked to undo several monuments, which he could do again at new sites. This would create administrative confusion that’s probably best avoided. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Homes vs. beaches: Court makes key decision in battle over California seawall construction amid ocean rise
“In a case that could affect thousands of property owners and beaches visited by millions of people along California’s 1,100-mile coastline, a state appeals court has indicated it will uphold rules limiting the construction of sea walls along the coast. The case, centered on the California Coastal Commission’s decision to deny a sea wall for 10 vulnerable townhouses near Half Moon Bay, is playing out at the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. It has been closely watched by environmental groups, builders and oceanfront cities across the state as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, putting billions of dollars of property at risk. “It’s a big deal,” said Charles Lester, director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Center at UC Santa Barbara. “This will potentially resolve a question that’s been under debate for years now.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
A warning from a California marine heat wave
“They call it “the Blob.” A decade ago, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific shot up to 11 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than normal. A high pressure system parked over the ocean, and winds that churn cold, nutrient-rich water from the depths to the surface died down. Stagnant, warm water spread across the Northeast Pacific, in a marine heat wave that lasted for three years. Under the surface, the food web broke down and ecosystems convulsed, at first unseen to humans on shore. But soon, clues washed up. … Researchers are still untangling the threads of what happened, and they caution against drawing universal conclusions from a single regional event. But the Blob fundamentally changed many scientists’ understanding of what climate change could do to life in the ocean; 10 years later, the disaster is one of our richest sources of information on what happens to marine life as the temperature rises. … ” Read more from the New York Times.
California biofuel project aims to cut wildfire risk, but at what cost?
“For Laura Ornelas and thousands of other South Stockton residents, harmful air pollution is a fact of life. Hemmed in by freeways and rail lines and bordered by heavy industry and the Port of Stockton, the area has been dubbed an “Asthma Capital” by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Ornelas, who rents a house in the Boggs Tract neighborhood, says she has to wear a mask just to work outside, or to clean the soot off her car every few days. She said her 91-year-old mother’s mysterious cough worsened after they moved in at the start of the year. “We just need to get out of here,” she said. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
As California pushes increased ethanol use, experts sound the alarm on environmental impacts
“On Oct. 25, California Governor Gavin Newsom encouraged the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to accelerate its study of E15, a gasoline-ethanol blend, as a way to potentially lower the cost of gasoline in California and “save Californians as much as $2.7 billion every year —with little to no impact on the environment.” The idea that E15 could lower gas prices in California is, itself, controversial. Even more controversial, though, is the notion that expanding the use of biofuels comes with few consequences. Policy changes in California, especially when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions or offsetting emissions through carbon credits, can have ripple effects throughout the U.S., and even around the globe; if California were a country, it would have the fifth-largest economy in the world. In the case of E15, California’s decision-making could impact land use in places like the Midwest, which produces most of the corn that goes into ethanol. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Blue states prepare for battle over Trump’s environmental rollbacks
“President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to slash federal climate, clean air and clean water regulations during his second term — an agenda that could target rules governing everything from auto emissions to power plant pollution to drinking water standards. Trump has said that Lee Zeldin, his nominee to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses.” Business groups and many Republican leaders are cheering Trump’s plan to weaken environmental protections, arguing they are too strict and harm the economy. But in states that have focused on tackling climate change and pollution, attorneys general and lawmakers are preparing to fight back by filing lawsuits, enacting their own regulations or staffing up state environmental agencies. … ” Read more from Stateline News.
BOOK REVIEW: Water Management: Prioritizing Justice and Sustainability
Justin Scott-Coe writes, “I have never taken a water management course, but I can imagine the topics such a course might cover: the water cycle and hydrology basics, the history of water management (a.k.a. the history of civilization itself), agricultural versus urban uses, “hard” versus “soft” water management practices, “one water” principles, and impacts of climate change — to name only a few. In his new book Water Management: Prioritizing Justice and Sustainability (Island Press, 2024), Dr. Shimon Anisfeld provides a comprehensive overview of these and other important topics, while seeking to de- and re-construct the discourse on water management and release it from the classroom to the streets. … ” Continue reading this book review.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
After the Klamath River dams came down, salmon came back
“Three fish biologists were searching the shallows for shadows. On a chilly, late-October morning, this team, led by Mark Hereford of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, walked up a tributary of the Klamath River near the Oregon-California border. They were looking for fall chinook salmon that had returned from the ocean to spawn. The men’s boots splashed softly as they worked their way through knee-high water. Frost had turned golden streamside grasses silver, and low clouds shrouded distant conifers, but already the sun felt warm, promising a crisp, sunny day. In the creek, the dark, undulating forms of chinook were barely distinct from the rocks below, and they tended to hide under logs and hug streambanks. But before long, the biologists spotted one after another. “Holy smokes,” Hereford called from the creek’s south bank, laughing in amazement. … ” Read more from High Country News.
Fishing for science: Researchers cast nets in the newly-freed Klamath River
“There’s some very sophisticated technology being used to try to understand how migrating salmon and steelhead are re-inhabiting the river, now that four hydroelectric dams have been removed. Then there are other research methods that are as much art as science. Under a lead-gray sky on a cold, rainy November morning, James Whelan follows a small procession of trucks on a bumpy, rutted-out road along the Klamath River in northern California. Driving a stick shift while wearing a wetsuit is tricky, but nothing compared to the tangle-net survey he’s about to lead. “This is definitely the most unique type of netting I’ve done,” says Whelan, project manager for California Trout. “Alright, just go jump in the river and hold onto the other end. By the way it’s pretty sketchy…yep, I figured that out pretty quick!” … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
Students watch history unfold on the Klamath, dam removal celebration set for Dec. 7
“On a recent field trip to the Klamath River, local school children were able to witness a momentous example of nature’s ability to rebound: salmon spawning in a creek upstream from the former Iron Gate dam after decades of absence. It’s one of many ecological milestones being reached following the largest dam removal project in the nation’s history, with the official completion on Oct. 2 signaling the end of an era and a new beginning for the Klamath River, now flowing free after being released from the stranglehold of the Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, J.C. Boyle and Iron Gate dams. The November visit to Jenny Creek — part of a collaborative program of the Karuk Tribe, Save California Salmon, the Mid Klamath Watershed Council and education partners — marked the third year of such trips for students attending schools within Siskiyou County and the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District. … ” Read more from the North Coast Journal.
Where does Klamath Falls’ water come from?
“You may have recently heard that Klamath Falls is starting to replace two of the city’s older water storage tanks. It may make you wonder, where does the city’s water come from? The residents of Klamath Falls are fortunate. Few large cities in the nation have groundwater for their sole municipal supply. Groundwater sources tend to be free of many of the kinds of impurities and contaminates typically present in surface water. Groundwater sources also typically require less treatment before delivery to households. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
Current, future Arcata water projects detailed
“A coastal town with major future water needs which also happens to be challenged by climate change and sea level rise is going to need a plan. As it happens, it has several that address different aspects of Arcata’s hydrological situation, and these were explained in detail by a team of exhibit-wielding city officials and contractors at the D Street Neighborhood Center the evening of Nov. 14. The city is conducting a long range Feasibility Study to prepare the city’s wastewater facilities for future sea level rise and coastal hazards beyond 2055. … ” Read more from the Mad River Union.
Decommissioning Looms: Potter Valley faces urgent water challenges
“The future of water security in Potter Valley took center stage at a November 14 town hall, where experts and community leaders outlined plans to adapt to life without year-round Eel River diversions. With PG&E’s decommissioning of the Potter Valley Project looming, discussions focused on potential groundwater storage, new infrastructure, and conservation measures—all aimed at ensuring local agriculture survives a drier summer reality. … Historically, Potter Valley and downstream users along the Russian River have depended on water from the Eel River, stored in Lake Pillsbury behind Scott Dam and in Van Arsdale Reservoir behind Cape Horn Dam. The water has been diverted through a tunnel into Potter Valley, where it flows into the East Branch of the Russian River, continues into Lake Mendocino, and ultimately serves users in Sonoma County. Locally, the diverted water has been critical for agricultural irrigation in Potter Valley. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
Public forum Tuesday to address Mendocino’s persistent water shortage
“Mendocino City Community Services District, which manages Mendocino’s groundwater, will host a public forum on Tuesday to discuss the first phase of a study on long-term water solutions for the town of Mendocino. According to the district, the forum will include presentation of the first draft of the Source Water Study prepared by GHD, a consulting firm that has been retained to do a feasibility study to address the water crisis. The study’s goal is to “to locate water sources and identify options for long-term solutions to ensure a sustainable, reliable, and safe water supply for the village of Mendocino and larger study area,” according to its website. … ” Read more from the Mendocino Beacon.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Shasta level ‘rebounding’ after historic levels of rain in Redding
“Even with snow, hail and rain in historic amounts in November, Lake Shasta finished the month lower than than it was at this time last year. Even as 18.75 inches of rain fell at Shasta Dam during November, sending millions gallons of water streaming into the lake from its upstream tributaries, the level of the reservoir still lagged behind 2023, according to data compiled by the California Department of Water Resources. By Friday, Lake Shasta was still 15 feet lower than the same date in 2023, according to the state. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight.
Experts warn Chico could face severe flooding if conditions mirror the 1997 storm
“Parts of northern Chico saw some pretty bad urban flooding last week during the atmospheric river, but could it have been worse? That’s the questions some experts are asking. “Let’s start with January 1, 1997, I decided to come out on patrol because it had been raining heavily that night,” Robin McCollum said. The retired Butte County Flood Control Superintendent said that was the last time the area was subject to a 100-year weather event. “It was within six inches of going over the levee here. It hasn’t happened since,” McCollum said of the 1997 event. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Labor deal reached for OPUD sewer line to Wheatland, Hard Rock Casino and Hotel
“The Olivehurst Public Utility District and the Mid-Valley Construction Trades Council have approved a labor agreement for the $130 million first phase of an infrastructure project that will benefit Wheatland and the utility customers of Olivehurst, and position the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel and a planned “employment village” for expansion. OPUD’s wastewater treatment plant will become an important piece of regional infrastructure as a result of the project. … ” Read more from the Appeal-Democrat.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma County coastal plan approved
“The California Coastal Commission has certified Sonoma County’s Local Coastal Plan, a foundational planning document that regulates land use and protects resources along the 55-mile shoreline. The unanimous approval on November 14 ensures the County’s permitting authority for development within the Coastal Zone, which extends inland from between a half mile and five miles from the coast in Sonoma County. “With the Coastal Commission’s approval of the Local Coastal Plan, we have enhanced environmental protections for the Sonoma County coast, safeguarding its unique ecosystems, ensuring public access and promoting sustainable practices,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents west Sonoma County and the coast. … ” Read more from the Sonoma Sun.
Lower Russian River residents, advocates criticize Sonoma County’s response to recent flooding
“As a historic storm stretched into its third day late last month, Teresa Burns waited for a tow truck and anxiously watched as pools of water surrounding her trailer steadily grew. When water levels ticked up to the doorway, it was too late. Burns, her husband and two cats were eventually forced to flee the small trailer along the lower Russian River on a privately owned plot of land off Neeley Road in Guerneville. Two days later, on Sunday Nov. 24, she learned the trailer and most of their belongings were a total loss. A neighboring trailer also was destroyed. Part of living on the Russian River comes with the risk of flooding. “It’s the price we pay for paradise,” Burns acknowledged. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
Richmond setting up plan to deal with impending sea-level rise along its 32-mile coastline
“Early next year, Richmond will begin developing its Sea Level Rise Adaptation and Resiliency Plan to address the risks of rising sea levels. It will involve city officials, environmental scientists, engineers, and community members implementing strategies to protect and restore the Richmond shoreline after decades of heavy industrial activity. This initiative gives the city a head start on the planning process mandated by California’s new sea level rise legislation, which requires local governments to have a plan in place by 2034. “We have 32 miles of shoreline, so we have the most at risk, and a lot of our low-income communities are near the shoreline,” said Councilmember Cesar Zepeda, who also serves as a commissioner on the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. “So we have to make sure that we’re protecting and we’re staying in front of whatever issues can come about.” … ” Read more from Richmond Confidential.
Tomales ranch slated for conservation easement
“Marin County and the Marin Agricultural Land Trust have teamed up to secure their 17th agricultural conservation easement. On Tuesday, county supervisors approved an allocation of $418,350 in Measure A funds to help secure an easement over the 177-acre Parks Home Ranch just north of downtown Tomales. The trust secured a matching amount from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency. The property had an appraised value of $795,000, and the administrative costs were an additional $41,700. Chris Chamberlain, director of the county parks department, told supervisors that the county has invested $22.7 million in agricultural easements with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust as its partner. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Elevated radiation detected at former Bay Area landfill turned art park
“State-ordered environmental testing has uncovered elevated levels of cancer-causing radiation at a popular spot for hikers and dog walkers in the Bay Area, according to a new report. Over the summer, the city of Albany hired hazardous waste specialists with Cabrera Services Inc. to survey for the presence of radioactive waste at the Albany Bulb, a former municipal landfill for construction debris that now features scenic hiking trails and a sprawling collection of outdoor art. State regulators ordered the investigation after discovering a 1980 archival document that suggested a former Richmond chemical plant dumped 11,000 tons of waste at the former Albany and Berkeley landfill from 1960 to 1971. The document indicated the waste may have included alum mud — a potentially radioactive sludge and byproduct of aluminum processing. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Marin’s early-season salmon activity raises hopes of rebound
“Marin biologists say an early abundance of salmon returning to nesting grounds in local creeks is signaling that this year’s spawning season could be one for the record books. “We saw more chinook salmon in a single day than we’ve ever seen before,” said Eric Ettlinger, aquatic ecologist for the Marin Municipal Water District. Ettlinger and his team monitor activity at the county’s main salmon stronghold at Lagunitas Creek. As of Tuesday, biologists had already discovered 169 live adult chinook salmon in the creek and its tributaries, breaking a previous record of 134 in a single season. There were also 60 chinook redds, or nests, also surpassing the previous record of 49 in a season. The salmon are listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. What’s more, the team observed 37 adults of the endangered coho salmon, and six of their redds. Chum salmon, which are rare for Marin, are also spawning: Five adults and two redds were discovered. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Planners hired for Sausalito school creek project
“The Sausalito Marin City School District is moving ahead on a much-debated plan to move subterranean Willow Creek above ground. The district’s trustees voted unanimously this month to award a nearly $800,000 architectural design contract for the project to Prunuske Chatham Inc. “The scope of the work is the full design package,” said Jason Cave, construction project manager for the district. “This design work is highly specialized, and there’s only a few companies that can do it.” Steve Moore of the environmental nonprofit Friends of Willow Creek praised district leaders for working with his group and others to make the project happen. The group has been lobbying for the project for almost a decade. “I know this is not in your comfort zone,” Moore told superintendent LaResha Huffman and budget director Gina Murphy-Garrett. “Restoring a creek on a school campus is an ambitious, outside-the-box thing.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Water district passes new rules to remove homeless encampments from creeks in San Jose, Santa Clara County
“Trying to limit widespread pollution and violent threats to their employees, board members of Silicon Valley’s largest water agency late Tuesday approved a new ordinance to ban camping along 295 miles of creeks in San Jose and other parts of Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara Valley Water District’s board voted 6-1 to enact the rules, which take effect Jan. 2. “Our employees have to have police escorts to do their jobs,” said Dick Santos, a retired fire captain and vice chairman of the board. “They can’t go into the creek areas by themselves. We’ve had gunshots, dog bites, needles. Criminals there are giving the homeless a bad name. And it’s increasing. We’ve had people pull knives on our employees, threaten them with machetes. What we’ve been doing hasn’t been working. We’ve got to stop this nonsense.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
CENTRAL COAST
Santa Cruz: California court affirms campus understanding of water service agreements
“California’s Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the City of Santa Cruz is obligated to provide water service to all parts of the UC Santa Cruz residential campus. The decision reverses a lower court’s 2022 ruling. The court also ruled that the campus does not need to seek approval from the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) before receiving city water service in the north campus areas. “We welcome this decision by the Sixth Court of Appeals and the clarity it provides,” Chancellor Cynthia Larive said. “We appreciate the justices’ careful review of this case.” UC Santa Cruz is pursuing an ambitious plan to provide more than 40 percent additional student housing by 2030. In the future, providing water service to all parts of the residential campus will further help UC Santa Cruz provide housing, classrooms, and space for research and creative scholarship, and fulfill its commitment to the local community and faculty, staff, and students. … ” Read more from UC Santa Cruz.
SEE ALSO: City of Santa Cruz must provide UCSC with water as university expands, from Santa Cruz Local
Oxnard: Levee funding approved
“The Finance & Governance Committee, during its Tuesday, November 26, meeting, accepted $1 million from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The money will be used for the Santa Clara River Levee #3 Construction Project (SCR3). Project Manager Adam Smith presented the item, which is part of the State’s 2023-2024 Budget, with Assembly Members Jacqui Irwin, Steve Bennett, and State Senator Monique Limon obtaining the funding. “SCR3 is divided into four reaches from west to east and is an earth and levee system constructed by the County in the 1960s,” Smith said. “Regions 1,2, and 3 were redone and completed in February 2018, which extends from the project’s downstream limits at Victoria Avenue, where Ventura Avenue begins to parallel the Santa Clara River.” … ” Read more from Tri County Sentry.
Commentary: Luring fish to their death and loving it
Andy Caldwell, COLAB Executive Director, writes, “Twitchell Reservoir was created to alleviate flooding throughout the Santa Maria Valley and to store storm water to recharge the aquifer during the summer months. Regardless, the feds are proposing to release “extra water” (there is no such thing) from the normally dry Twitchell Reservoir to help recover steelhead trout runs on the normally dry Santa Maria River (it is dry 90% of the time), which ultimately involves wasting the water by running it to the ocean. This is just one of many projects in California, including Lake Cachuma releases, that waste upwards of 40% of California water every year. The proposal itself lists a slew of reasons that proves this project is not only a bad idea but doomed to failure. For instance, the proposal simply assumes the species is present because they can’t find any fish in the dry riverbed. … ” Read more from the Santa Ynez Valley Times.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Cloudy water in Wasco, likely a result of well repairs and safe to drink
“Wasco City Manager Scott Hurlbert said the likely culprit of cloudy water for a few residents in Wasco was the result of well repairs and bringing the well back online, kicking up sediment. Hurlbert says the city does routine testing of the water they send to residents to ensure it’s safe, and tested the water from the recently repaired well to the same standard. Hurlbert noted the likely cause behind the cloudy water was the re-opening of valves that blocked off the well that needed to be repaired, which kicked up sediment and sent it out to residents. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
EASTERN SIERRA
DWP water export now exceeds 4,500 acre-foot commitment
“Mono Basin water exports by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) reached—and then exceeded—the 4,500 acre-foot level this week, a surprise given Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s decision to hold exports at the same 4,500 acre-foot level as last year. DWP has not yet responded to multiple Mono Lake Committee inquiries about the over-export of water. Exports began in October as scheduled in the DWP Annual Operations Plan, which also states: “Planned export is 4,500 acre-feet.” DWP conducts exports by moving diverted streamflow from Grant Lake Reservoir through the Mono Craters Tunnel. On Wednesday, November 27, exports are continuing without change. Water is flowing out of the Mono Basin and away from Mono Lake at the rate of one acre-foot every 20 minutes, adding up to about 80 acre-feet per day. The Mono Lake Committee is investigating why DWP is not honoring the export commitment. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Facility converting wastewater into drinking water is coming to the San Fernando Valley
“The construction of a new water treatment facility that will transform wastewater into purified drinking water will soon begin in the San Fernando Valley. The facility will produce 20 million gallons of purified drinking water daily, enough to supply 250,000 people in Los Angeles. In the coming weeks the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP), in partnership with the LA Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN), will break ground on the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant (Tillman) located at the Sepulveda Basin. The purified water will be piped to LA County’s Hansen Spreading Grounds, replenishing the San Fernando Groundwater Basin. After a two-year natural filtration process settling in the basin, the water will be extracted from existing wells and further treated before being delivered to residents’ taps. … ” Read more from the San Fernando Valley Sun.
What does a weak La Niña mean for rain in SoCal?
“Back in the spring it was looking like a strong La Niña might shape up come late fall, but since then the odds have decreased quite a bit, as waters along the equatorial Pacific didn’t get as cool as anticipated and westerly trade winds failed to organize. We pay close attention to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, especially here in California, as it can affect our weather. La Niña is often associated with drier conditions in the southern half of the state. Now that neutral or close to neutral conditions are likely, there’s no large-scale atmospheric driver connected to the tropical Pacific that we can use to try and bolster our guesses about how things might trend. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Column: A forced marriage in Orange County’s Water World?
Columnist Teri Sforza writes, “How does saving more than $6 million a year sound? Like fiction if you’re Orange County’s water importer. And cool if you’re O.C.’s groundwater manager. Suffice to say things are a bit tense at the office. We often poke fun at the little government agency charged with making sure other little government agencies aren’t duplicative (there are 58 of them in California, so, yeah), and which are notoriously loath to recommend dissolving or combining other little governments (even where it makes obvious sense). Well, stop the presses! After decades of sharing a building and address and receptionist and general mission (water) but having completely separate budgets and staffs and boards of directors and M.O.s and general managers etc., the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission has dipped its wee toe into the icy waters of consolidation, saying it’s feasible to merge the county’s big groundwater manager (Orange County Water District) with the county’s not-so-big water importer (Municipal Water District of Orange County). … ” Read more from the OC Register (gift article).
RELATED: OCWD highlights benefits of OC LAFCO consolidation study, at Maven’s Notebook
SAN DIEGO
20 years in the making, giant trash boom installed to keep Tijuana trash out of U.S.
“A trash boom measuring 450 feet in length has been installed on the Tijuana River channel just north of the border, a project that has been in the works for 20 years. Two years ago, funding was finally secured to build it. “The cost is about $4.7 million,” said Oscar Romo, the trash boom’s project manager. A binational environmental group called Alter Terra and other agencies such as the California Water Resources Control Board, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, and U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission were involved with the project. … ” Read more from Channel 9.
Along the Colorado River …
Colorado River officials will descend on Las Vegas this week. Here’s what to know
“With the dawn of a second Trump administration and a looming deadline for interstate negotiations, Las Vegas will turn its focus to the Colorado River this week. Scientists, nonprofit advocates, tribal leaders and negotiators from all seven states that rely on the river will attend the Colorado River Water Users Association conference at Paris Las Vegas beginning on Wednesday. Historically, it has been an annual forum to discuss the most pressing issues affecting water availability across the basin. On Nov. 20, with little notice, the Bureau of Reclamation released a list of five paths forward for critical deliberations about how to manage the river past 2026, when current guidelines expire. The brief descriptions of each offered few details. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
Colorado River compact clash: Arizona officials warn of looming legal battle over water cuts
“An outcome long held to be unthinkable for the Colorado River Basin — litigation — has entered the realm of the thinkable. It may even be likely, in the face of continued river water shortfalls and irreconcilable conflicts between the Lower Basin states including Arizona and the Upper Basin states over how to fix them. The clear possibility of lawsuits loomed large this past week at a public meeting in Phoenix. Top Arizona water officials made the case that the Upper Basin states are only three years away from the point where they’re not sending enough water from Lake Powell downstream to Lake Mead to meet legal obligations set by the 1922 Colorado River Compact. That — and the differences between the two basins over how to share the pain of water shortages — could spark court fights, an outcome that until now was seen as highly undesirable for many reasons. Not least, it’s that a lawsuit would blow up and jeopardize a longstanding tradition of collaboration among the basin states. It would also drag out the conflicts over the Colorado almost indefinitely — as the river’s supplies continue declining. … ” Read more from Havasu News.
5 potential options for an increasingly dry Colorado River
“A new plan for managing an increasingly dry Colorado River is finally within sight. Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released an overview of five options for operating the largest reservoirs on the Colorado River when current rules expire in 2026. The bureau is expected to release a more technical analysis in December. The draft options are meant to keep water above critical thresholds in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, two man-made reservoirs that have seen their water levels sharply drop since the early 2000s. Those reservoirs are crucially important for the seven states, 40 million people and 30 federally-recognized tribes who rely on the river. Mexico is also entitled to a share of the Colorado River’s water. … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
Outgoing Biden administration looks at options to address Colorado River water crisis
“Water coming from the Colorado River serves many people. However, negotiations on which states will use the resources has been a major point of discussion. The Colorado River water crisis calls for many people to find solutions to tackle water shortage. With several states and tribes using water resources, the need for a solution becomes urgent. Recently, the Bureau of Reclamation released recommendations showing how to manage the water. On PBS’ “Arizona Horizon,” Sarah Porter of the Kyl Center for Water Policy says the agreement hinges on who should take the shortage of water. “Basically, the disagreement is the upper basin — which is Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. They believe that the lower basin should take all of the shortage,” she said. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Student recognized for effort to save fish species from extinction in Colorado River
“Micah Feller walks into the greenhouse at West Career & Technical Academy and begins his daily routine. The high school senior is meticulous in logging the weight of the hundreds of bonytail chub, an endangered fish species he’s helping raise so they can be released back into the Colorado River Basin. He checks the pH level of the water in the large tanks where the fish live, monitors their health, checks for unusual activity and feeds them. “Conservation is important because it’s preserving a part of our own world,” Feller said. “If we lost a bunch of these species our future generations … wouldn’t be able to grow and see all this diversity happening.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Sun.
Lake Mead levels remain low this Thanksgiving despite severe holiday storms
“Lake Mead’s water levels are at their second lowest on Thanksgiving since 2019, despite intense winter storms bringing an early dump of snow to the mountains that feed the troubled Colorado River Basin. The lake, located in Nevada and Arizona, suffered amid a severe drought in 2022, when levels on Thanksgiving that year reached just 1,043 feet. Thanksgiving in 2022 was slightly earlier, on Nov. 24, and this time, levels in Lake Mead are 1,061 feet. The lake is 3 feet lower than on Thanksgiving last year and more than 20 feet lower than it was on the holiday in 2019, which also fell on Nov. 28. At the end of October, Lake Mead’s water levels were the second lowest in a decade, eclipsed only by 2022. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
New Arizona Farm Bureau president wants people to understand what goes into the food they eat
“The Arizona Farm Bureau, the largest organization in the state advocating for the agricultural industry, recently welcomed a new president. John Boelts, a Yuma County producer of fresh vegetables, melons, grains, and forage crops, will finish the last year of Stephanie Smallhouse’s two-year term. Boelts told The Arizona Republic he will run for election next year. The Republic talked to Boelts about his goals and vision for the Farm Bureau’s future. The co-owner of Desert Premium Farms served for the past seven years as Smallhouse’s first vice president and also served twice as Farm Bureau president for his county. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Arizona commentary: Every city should worry about the thousands protesting Mesa’s water rates
Joanna Allhands writes, “Mesa has valid reasons to raise monthly water bills by about $4, on average, next year. There are several key projects coming online to shore up the city’s water supply. And officials want to spread out those costs over time, to minimize the sticker shock on customers. But it should not overlook the 2,000 people who have signed a petition and the flood of residents who protested the proposed rate increase at a recent City Council meeting. Neither should other cities. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Draining Lake Powell won’t solve crisis: Arizona’s top water official
“As the American Southwest grapples with a historic water crisis, some advocacy groups, such as the Glen Canyon Institute (GCI), propose drastic measures like draining Lake Powell to address the diminishing flow of the Colorado River. However, Arizona’s top water official, Tom Buschatzke, has warned that this approach could exacerbate the problem rather than resolve it. Buschatzke, the director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, outlined the risks of removing Lake Powell from the equation in the broader water management system. His argument underscores the importance of maintaining the reservoir as a buffer against the volatility of the Colorado River’s flow. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
New data could tell us how much of Utah’s water simply disappears into the air
“For all the talk about how much water exits Utah through the Colorado River, that’s not the primary way water leaves the state. Much of it simply floats off into the air. Right now, Utah doesn’t have a lot of detailed data on the water lost to evapotranspiration. That’s a measurement of how much water evaporates from water bodies and soil and how much is released into the air from plants. “That component has been very poorly understood in general,” said Kathryn Ladig, a project geologist with the groundwater and wetlands program of the Utah Geological Survey. It’s why she and other scientists are putting together a new statewide set of sensors to track it. “Water use is being looked at under a microscope really closely right now, and you have all of this legislation going on, so we are trying to provide the best data that we can to understand how much water, in theory, could also be conserved.” … ” Read more from KUER.
Commentary: Time is on Colorado’s side. No need to rush
Greg Walcher , president of the Natural Resources Group, writes, “An early lesson I learned as a young staffer for the late Sen. Bill Armstrong was the importance of careful consideration. He disliked being rushed into hasty decisions and developed a standard response to any demand for immediate action. “If you need an answer right now,” he would say, “the answer is no.” If there was time for more thought, homework, reading and studying all the implications, the answer could be different. He understood that rushed judgments are rarely good judgments. Colorado River negotiators ought to keep that in mind as they are being prodded to make new interstate agreements that could supplant a century of western water law. CNN reported a few days ago that the Biden administration is “trying to throw a Hail Mary to save the Colorado River” before President Joe Biden leaves office in two months. His appointees would love to be able to boast of finally solving the problem of administering the river during times of drought. One can certainly understand that objective; everyone wants bragging rights. But that is their agenda, not Colorado’s. … ” Read more from the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.
In national water news today …
Senate hearing celebrates 50th anniversary of Safe Drinking Water Act
“On Nov. 20, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee held a hearing to consider stakeholder testimony on the impact of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 and subsequent amendments on protecting drinking water quality in the United States. The hearing addressed successes, challenges and future challenges stemming from the Safe Drinking Water Act, which was first signed into law in by President Gerald Ford on Dec. 16, 1974. The Safe Drinking Water Act sets water quality standards for the nation’s drinking water and established a regulatory framework to safeguard public health and safety of U.S. citizens. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
OIG: EPA must address cybersecurity risks in US drinking water systems to protect public health and economy
“The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a Management Implication Report raising significant cybersecurity concerns for drinking water systems across the United States. The findings highlight vulnerabilities that pose risks to public health, critical infrastructure, and economic activity, urging immediate attention and action to fortify cybersecurity in this essential sector. The OIG’s analysis reveals that 97 drinking water systems serving over 26.6 million people were identified as having critical or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Additionally, 211 other systems, serving over 82.7 million people, were flagged for medium to low-risk concerns. These vulnerabilities include weaknesses in email security, IT hygiene, and other critical cyber defenses, leaving these systems open to potential exploitation by malicious actors. … ” Read more from Homeland Security Today.
What makes the Eastern US drought different from the West’s
“Water levels are dropping in reservoirs. Multiple wildfires have ignited tinder-dry brush, exposing people across the region to harmful air pollution levels. It has barely rained for weeks. This time we’re not talking about the frequently drought-plagued western U.S. but rather the typically wetter eastern portion of the country—where an unusually severe drought has triggered water restrictions, damaged crops and fed as many fires in six weeks as New Jersey typically sees in six months. Some of the effects resemble those of dry periods out West, but drought in the East is a bit of a different beast. … ” Read more from Scientific American.
Scientists develop foam that can filter up to 99.9% of microplastics from water
“Scientists in China have developed a biodegradable foam that they say can remove up to 99.9% of microplastics from water, a major breakthrough in an effort to combat a pervasive environmental problem. The contaminants known as “microplastics” — tiny pieces of plastic smaller than five millimeters in size that result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials or are made intentionally for use in cosmetic and biomedical products — have been found everywhere from the depths of the ocean to the most remote mountain ranges. Microplastics can persist in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years and can also enter the food chain, harming wildlife and potentially human health. “Microplastics entering terrestrial and aquatic habitats are anticipated to continuously increase for thousands of years, due to the alarming volumes of plastic waste in the environment,” the researchers write in a paper published Friday in the journal Science Advances. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
