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In California water news this weekend …
Meeting of Colorado River users wraps with focus on Mexico and tribes
“The Colorado River Water Users Association concluded its three-day conference at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on Friday with the needs and desires of Colorado River tribes and Mexico taking center stage. Over 40 million people use the river, including the most vulnerable people, and the conference was geared toward finding solutions to conserving water for future generations. “We face two challenges: water scarcity and getting to a consensus,” said David Palumbo, deputy commissioner of operations for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “We have 30 Native American tribes, seven states and two countries to work with.” The Colorado River watershed is divided in two — the lower basin consists of Arizona, California and Nevada and the upper basin includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Mexico also gets a share of the water from the drought-stricken river. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Leaving Las Vegas without a deal over the Colorado River, states expected to keep talking
“In her remarks to the crowd on the final day of the Colorado River Water Users Association, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton appeared to urge states to return to the bargaining table. “We all know that the Colorado River is more than just water. It’s a lifeline,” she said. Touton, who will leave office with the change in presidential administrations, spoke with pride about accomplishments her agency made in combating drought and aridification in the western United States. She spoke about their many partners in the Upper and Lower Basin states. “We do this work for the millions of people who rely on this resource. For the ecosystems of which we are stewards for future generations who will inherit a world that we are shaping today,” she said. “Keep doing the hard work. Stay at the table. Listen to each other. Challenge one another, but push forward with courage together. The river demands nothing less than the best of us.” … ” Read more from Fox 13.
Seven states’ Colorado River negotiators, all at same conference, didn’t meet together
“The 40 million people who rely on the Colorado River will continue to wait for a long-term plan for its management as negotiations between the seven states in the river basin remain stalled. One illustration of that impasse: The seven negotiators did not meet during this week’s three-day Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference, despite representatives from each state spending that time in the same windowless Las Vegas hotel. “All seven of us have been in this city, yet we were not able to meet,” Colorado’s negotiator, Becky Mitchell, said during a panel discussion. “That is a lost opportunity.” … ” Read more from Denver 7.
Colorado River states bluster and bicker ahead of an uncertain future for the water supply
“States that use the Colorado River have spent the better part of 2024 deadlocked about how to share its shrinking water supplies, and annual water meetings in Las Vegas laid bare how far those states are from an agreement. The seven states can’t agree on who should feel the pain of water cutbacks during dry times. The river is getting smaller due to climate change, and states need to come up with new rules to share its water. Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico make up the Upper Basin. California, Arizona and Nevada represent the Lower Basin. The current rules for sharing water expire in 2026, and each group has submitted a separate proposal for new guidelines after that point. In Las Vegas, the Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference provided a rare peek behind the curtain of talks between those states. Surrounded by the golden wallpaper and shimmering chandeliers of the Paris Hotel, policymakers showed little progress towards an agreement but brought plenty of bluster. … ” Read more from KUNC.
This tribal governor is ‘hopeful’ Trump will ‘help us finish’ post-2026 Colorado River guidelines
“While President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team prep to regain the White House, critics have expressed concern about how they’ll handle water in the West. But a key Arizona tribal ally of President Joe Biden believes the incoming administration is ready for the task. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community shared his optimism at a sovereign-to-sovereign dialogue with Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Chairman Manuel Heart during the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference in Las Vegas on Friday. “I’m not worried about the next administration,” Lewis said on stage, “as some have otherwise indicated. The Trump administration delivered [Drought Contingency Plan], as we all remember, and I remain hopeful that they will help us finish this journey that we’re on for those new guidelines.” … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Another swing of the precipitation pendulum in NorCal; Meanwhile, Santa Ana winds & wildfire risk in SoCal
“Well, this sure has been an interesting start to the Water Year in California. Over the last 90 days, in different parts of the state, there have been record hot temperatures, record-breaking heavy precipitation, and near-record low precipitation (and in some cases, more than one of the above have happened in the same locations!). After a slow start in Sep-Oct, Nov brought a strong and very slow-moving atmospheric river with a robust subtropical moisture tap (the subject of the last blog post)–which brought the heaviest 48 hour precipitation accumulations ever observed to a broad swath of northwestern California. Of particular note were the 24-72 hour totals in northern Sonoma County–including the City of Santa Rosa–where virtually all precipitation records from 24-72 hour durations were broken (in some cases, for the 2nd 3rd time this decade) as the atmospheric river sat over the region for nearly three days. … ” Continue reading from Weather West.
Annual ocean indicators point to varied conditions for Pacific salmon
“How did climate change impact ocean waters off the U.S. West Coast this past year? What does that tell us about the growth and survival of juvenile salmon for the years to come? NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center researchers track ocean ecosystem indicators off Newport, on the Central Oregon Coast. This year, they showed varied oceanographic shifts in the northern California Current. A strong El Niño event dominated the Pacific Ocean during the winter of 2023–24. It brought warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures and the lowest juvenile salmon prey indicators of the time series to the northern California Current. However, the picture changed in summer. Wind-driven upwelling delivered cooler-than-average ocean temperatures, and higher-than-average biomass of lipid-rich copepods. This signaled better conditions for juvenile salmon. The contrasting effects of warm winter and cool summer ocean temperatures make predicting the overall impact on the marine ecosystem challenging, especially for juvenile salmon. … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Farewell, Bill Kier: A Champion for California’s Fisheries and Public Trust Water has Died
“Bill Kier has died; he was 89. Bill was one of California’s most knowledgeable and respected fisheries and water policy experts, and the mentor to scores of biologists, politicos, environmental activists and journalists – including staffers with the California Water Impact Network. Though he lived a long and rich life, Bill’s death still comes as something of a shock. It’s a cliché to describe anyone as larger than life, but that’s perhaps the most apposite descriptor for Bill. When he entered a room, he somehow drew attention – not because of a loud or bluff manner, or his physical size. People gravitated to him because they sensed intelligence, analytical prowess, human warmth – and most of all, wit. Bill’s knowledge of California’s water and fisheries history, law, and policy was encyclopedic. He had a lot to teach, and he was highly successful at educating people because he wasn’t didactic. He was a gifted raconteur and an engaging conversationalist who relayed facts as part of a dialogue; he didn’t beat his interlocutors over the head with them. … ” RIP, Bill. Continue reading from the California Water Impact Network.
ACWA Past President Randy Record honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
“The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Randy Record, who has served on the Eastern Municipal Water District Board of Directors for 24 years including 20 years as its representative on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors. Presented during ACWA’s 2024 Fall Conference & Expo in Palm Desert, the award recognizes individuals who have made remarkable and lasting contributions to California water. Record has been a leading voice in bringing together water users from urban and agricultural backgrounds to find common solutions to California’s water challenges. He has helped advance long-term solutions including the California Water Fix and the Regional Recycled Water Program. He has also been actively involved in ACWA throughout his career and led the association as President during the 2012-’13 term. “Randy Record is the true embodiment of a leader in this industry,” said ACWA President Cathy Green. “His vision and dedication to bridging differences has led to successful collaborations between urban and agricultural backgrounds.” Record retires from the EMWD Board of Directors this month and plans to become a full-time farmer at his vineyard in the Paso Robles area.”
Healthy forests create watershed-wide resilience: An interview with Madelyn Guillaume
“Madelyn Guillaume is a Forest Health Project Manager with the Tuolumne River Trust. She works in the Stanislaus National Forest on the SERAL (Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape) project. Her work, alongside many others, creates resilience for Sierran forests at risk of catastrophic megafire. In this interview, Madelyn shares more about her personal connection to ocean and the forests, a family experience with catastrophic fire in Paradise, and a career transition that brought her to TRT. Q: I’m curious if you can talk about your family’s experience with fire and how that experience shaped the work that you’re doing today? A: During the 2018 Camp Fire, my parents lived in Paradise, right along the ridge the fire started below. So, they were evacuated early in the morning, and in just a few hours their house was completely ash. We lost everything. The rate of the fire spread was so fast that it deeply impacted that community. In a way, they are still unable to come back at the level that they previously existed in. That fire signaled a big shift in how people perceived wildfire; it started a big social dialogue about what we are doing with megafires and how we are going to manage this new issue that we’re seeing. I started thinking about how I wanted my work to happen and where I felt most impactful in my relationship to the environment and my surroundings. … ” Continue reading from the Tuolumne River Trust.
Podcasts …
DETLA FLOWS: Featuring Keiko Mertz and Ashley Overhouse
Women have been the catalysts of many points of change through means of social and environmental justice and system reform. What does this look like when women work in these systems? What can be done to strive towards reshaping harmful experiences into bringing about more transformative change? This episode of Delta Flows discusses Women in Water, featuring Ashley Overhouse and Keiko Mertz regarding their ongoing policy work and experiences shared as women in this line of water and environmental work.
VIC BEDOIAN: Delta advocates say tunnel is harmful and costly
Governor Gavin Newsom recently took a victory lap when three California water districts joined the list of those supporting the Delta Tunnel project. Meanwhile a coalition of environmental groups, indigenous tribes, the fishing industry, farmers and Delta cities are slamming the project as being too costly and harmful to the Delta estuary. Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno.
THE EXCERPT: The Klamath River recovery begins
This year marked the end of a 20-year struggle to remove four hydroelectric dams from the Klamath River that runs along the California-Oregon state line. The first of the four dams was built in the 1910’s. Their construction ultimately resulted in a river basin high in phosphorus and toxic algae, which flowed downriver killing off fish such as salmon and steelhead, while creating river water that was unsafe for the tribes who called the Klamath River home. The hydroelectric dams also impeded fish migration for nearly a century. Now, all four dams have been taken down. So, what happens next? Indigenous Affairs Reporter Debra Utacia Krol with the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY network, joins The Excerpt to discuss the Klamath River’s recovery and the Indigenous tribes working to reclaim their way of life.
H2 Know It Alls: Lance Eckhardt
Hosts Brittnie Gildea and Joe Yersky sit down with San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency General Manager Lance Eckhart for an enlightened conversation on the past, present and future of the California State Water Project. Learn how the Pass Agency is leading the way for State Water Project contractors to help disadvantaged communities and explore how the Sites Reservoir, which would capture excess stormwater runoff during rainy years, could play a vital role in ensuring water reliability across California.
WATER TALK: Growing Agaves
A conversation with California agave growers Ofelia Lichtenheld (East San Diego County) and Jordie Ricigliano (Central Coast) about opportunities and challenges for agave production.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: Water Birthing
The most amazing biological wonder that I have ever experienced is the birth of new life into this new world. In a world of C-sections and induced labors the pictures that we draw is many times described as painful, scary, discomforting and an exhausting experience. Elena Tonetti has been working with the birthing process called water birthing. This method is designed to bring the best out of every experience when giving birth. Water is a Many Splendor ’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Nevada Irrigation District embarks on watershed restoration to protect water supply
“The northern Sierra Nevada mountain range is immense; it’s more than 39,000 square miles of forests, creeks, rivers and lakes which supply a vast majority of California’s water. These watersheds are threatened by large, severe wildfires as we have seen in the past decade, which in turn puts the water that flows from them at risk. Within this vast network of watersheds, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) is restoring and enhancing approximately 200 acres of montane meadow habitat and another 175 acres of white and red fir forest roughly 21 miles northwest of Truckee. Why the fuss over this postage stamp in the Sierra? The restoration project is part of NID’s efforts to protect its source watersheds and adapt its water system to a changing climate, which threatens our future supply of drinking and agricultural water. … ” Read more from YubaNet.
‘Extremely frustrating’ warm weather crippling Tahoe ski resorts’ ability to make snow
“After the snowiest November in 14 years in parts of the Sierra Nevada, a dry, warm December weather pattern is spelling bad news for the California ski industry. Temperatures remain too warm for artificial snowmaking, which typically supplements natural snow in early winter. “It’s extremely frustrating for us,” said Brendan Gibbons, director of snow surfaces at Palisades Tahoe. “We’re not quite desperate but we’re getting on to being desperate.” A nighttime temperature inversion — warmer air that parks above colder air — has been particularly strong in the Tahoe basin this December due to a stubborn high-pressure system. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
New Melones suspends boat launches amid concerns over invasive mussels
“All boat launching at New Melones Reservoir will be temporarily suspended as of Saturday in response to the recent discovery of invasive golden mussels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday. The non-native freshwater bivalve was recently identified in the Port of Stockton by California Department of Water Resources staff. It’s the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America, according to an Oct. 31 news release from the DWR. “The species pose a significant immediate threat to the ecological health of the Delta and all waters of the state, water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality,” the Bureau of Reclamation stated Friday in its announcement about boat launching being suspended at New Melones. … ” Read more from the Union Democrat.
BAY AREA
The Bay Area now has its first-ever regional sea level rise plan
“In a first for the Bay Area, the region has a finalized plan to protect the more than 400 miles of bayshore from the chaos that sea level rise could unleash — waterlogged freeways, submerged neighborhoods, inundated airports and sunken train lines. However, for the effort to succeed, more than 50 cities and counties that ring the San Francisco Bay need to get on board and follow the guidance. “The plan will require more effort from the localities because more effort is required if we’re going to survive this and avoid major damage,” said Zachary Wasserman, chair of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. “We’re all going to have to make efforts to address this very real threat.” … ” Read more from KQED.
SEE ALSO: Regional plan approved to prepare Bay Area for sea level rise, from The Almanac
CENTRAL COAST
Climate change swiftly remaking the region’s grasslands, study finds
“John Steinbeck once described the corridor between Monterey and Salinas as the “pastures of heaven” for the grasslands flowering with blazing orange California poppies and other local species. But his poetic description now serves as just a snapshot in time of a changing landscape. Climate change is altering regional grasslands at remarkable speed as species that thrive in hotter, drier conditions dominate the ecosystem, scientists reported in a recent study. The researchers found this strong trend at test sites across California, with the most notable results near Elkhorn Slough, at UC Santa Cruz and in coastal Mendocino County. The short-lived grasses at the research sites changed at a similar rate as the climate — unlike the enduring species in forest ecosystems that scientists know lag in responding. The new study, one of the first to report this super-fast shift in grassland biodiversity, offers insights for restoration. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Rain came and went, drenching the valley and leaving behind dense tule fog
“Recent rains that drenched California just before Thanksgiving left their typical Central Valley calling card – a blanket of heavy tule fog that can be seen from outer space. “All of that moisture and rainfall basically is sitting in the soil right now,” said Mikal Montgomery, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Hanford station. “The moisture, the sky clearing and high pressure allowed for minimal winds, which allowed fog to form every single morning.” The NWS Hanford’s office has issued fog advisories nearly every day across the San Joaquin Valley since Nov. 24. Impacted counties include Kern, Fresno, Kings and Merced and Tulare. The agency recommends that drivers turn on their low beams and slow down on the road. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Reclamation sets negotiation session for canal repair payment
“The Bureau of Reclamation on Thursday announced a public negotiation session with the Friant Water Authority when it comes for the repayment for some of the costs of the recent repairs of the Friant-Kern Canal. Reclamation owns the canal while FWA oversees the canal. The session will be held at 1243 N. Street in Fresno at 9:30 a.m. December 17. Reclamation stated it has scheduled the negotiation session “for a repayment contract for costs of extraordinary operation and maintenance work on the Friant-Kern Canal Upper and Lower Reach Capacity Correction Project.” That refers to the initial repairs of a 10-mile stretch of the canal which was completed in June. Reclamation stated the repairs “restored a critical 10-mile stretch of canal that had lost over half its original capacity due to subsidence.” … ” Read more from the Porterville Recorder.
Tour shares beauty, history and structures of Kaweah watershed
“While many San Joaquin Valley towns were shrouded in tule fog, about 35 locals enjoyed a day under bright sunshine along a creekbed, dodging cowpies and traipsing through crunchy, golden sycamore leaves. On the annual Sequoia Riverlands Trust Kaweah Watershed Tour Wednesday, a mix of farmers, new trust employees, Americorps volunteers and those who are simply curious learned how water flows and is managed throughout the Kaweah watershed. The tour is part of the trust’s education mission of conserving the lands and waters of California’s heartland. Guests stopped at two nature preserves and got a look at the innards of Terminus Dam, the structure that impounds Lake Kaweah in eastern Tulare County. At each stop, the cycles of drought and floods that are the norm for the region spurred hours of questions and conversation. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The future of Kern River hydroelectric power
“Nestled in the southern Sierra Nevada, Southern California Edison’s Kern River No. 3 Hydroelectric Project – Opens in new window generates electricity year-round from the natural flows of the North Fork Kern River. Since becoming operational in 1921, the project has remained a steady source of reliable, clean and affordable power. “Hydroelectric power is a flexible, clean resource that directly contributes to a decarbonized and stable grid,” said Christy Fanous, SCE’s managing director of Generation. “By providing clean power during critical periods, our KR3 Project and all our hydroelectric projects prevent the need for carbon-emitting resources.” As the current licensing agreement nears its end, SCE is entering the next phase to relicense the project, ensuring it continues to generate clean power. … ” Read more from SCE Energized.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Wildfire season isn’t over in SoCal. Warm weekend followed by Santa Ana winds elevates danger
“It’s December, but wildfire season is not over yet in Southern California. An unusual warm weekend followed by dry conditions and gusty Santa Ana winds is expected to bring elevated fire danger to Los Angeles and Ventura counties next week. Both counties are under a fire weather watch from 10 a.m. Monday until 6 p.m. Wednesday because of moderate to locally strong winds and very low humidity, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service anticipates upgrading the watch to red flag warnings sometime over the weekend. Above-average temperatures are forecast everywhere other than the coast this weekend, with highs in the low 80s. On Monday, moderate Santa Ana winds are expected to sweep through Los Angeles and Ventura at 20 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching between 35 and 50 mph. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
A 450-mile journey to find Burbank’s water supply
Lynn Lipinski writes, “On a sunny Friday morning in October, I’m battling a fear of heights as a tour bus creeps across the tallest dam in the United States. I’m trying to stay calm—and look calm—because my seat mate is Burbank’s youngest vice mayor, Nikki Perez. She’s serious about her work in local government but disarmingly friendly, sharing a video of an internet-famous pygmy baby hippo named Moo Deng who is adorable. It’s a welcome distraction from the dizzying views outside the window.Oroville Dam stands 770 feet tall—43.6 feet higher than Hoover Dam—but unlike its concrete counterpart, it’s an earthfill structure. It’s not strikingly photogenic, blending into the landscape like a natural mountain. As the bus inches along the mile-long crest of the dam, I start to relax enough to record a video of Lake Oroville, the vast reservoir it holds back. … ” Read more from the Burbank Leader.
Recovery plan released for endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final plan and implementation strategy to guide recovery of the San Bernardino kangaroo rat. The endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat is currently found in remnant portions of alluvial fan habitat in Lytle and Cajon creeks, and the Santa Ana and San Jacinto rivers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, California. The San Bernardino kangaroo rat is one of 19 recognized subspecies of Merriam’s kangaroo rat. This tiny mammal derives its name from large hind legs and feet that aid it in jumping. Kangaroo rats feed primarily on seeds, green vegetation, and insects. The species requires a combination of floodplain and upland refugia habitats. The most pressing threat to the species is continued loss and fragmentation of these habitats, much of which have been lost or degraded by development; sand and gravel mining; off-road vehicle use; and alterations of natural hydrological processes. … ” Read more from US Fish and Wildlife.
SAN DIEGO
Water rights agreement will save $20 million, help protect Colorado River
“The San Diego County Water Authority announced a new multi-agency agreement this week that will save local water customers $20 million while protecting Colorado River supplies. The water exchange agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District and the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District is the second over two years. Together the actions will conserve more than 100,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead, the giant reservoir behind Hoover Dam that has fallen dramatically in recent years. “For the second year in a row, the Water Authority and its partners have struck a deal to conserve water in Lake Mead and save our local ratepayers approximately $20 million,” said Water Authority Board Chair Nick Serrano. “This is a win-win for all of us and demonstrates how the Water Authority is strategically using its assets to help protect ratepayers and the Colorado River through innovative thinking.” … ” Read more from the Times of San Diego.
Along the Colorado River …
Could wet winters start to refill Colorado River reservoirs? What researchers are saying
“In the spring of 1983, runoff from what seemed like a relentless winter of snow and rain had filled Lake Powell, the huge reservoir near Page. Officials made the decision to release a torrent of water through the Grand Canyon to keep Glen Canyon Dam fromoverspilling. As the water levels in the river rose, two Colorado River guides launched the Emerald Mile, a hand-built wooden dory made for whitewater rapids. They rode the torrent day and night for what ended as the fastest-ever tripthrough the Canyon. Writer Kevin Fedarko chronicled the ride in his award-winning book “The Emerald Mile,” named for the dory, and on Thursday, he opened a panel at the 2024 Colorado River Water Users Association conference with his story of a swollen river system that is hardly recognizable 40 years later. What was once an overflowing reservoir has shrunk and the same agencies that released water into the Canyon are trying to manage what’s left. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
IID, growers conserve over 1.2 million acre-feet of water in two years
“Thanks in part to the efforts of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and Imperial Valley growers, Colorado River water users in California together have voluntarily conserved more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water in just two years. By working together, the conserved water has been left in Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, to help stabilize and protect critical reservoir elevations after more than two decades of historic drought conditions, according to figures released Wednesday by the Colorado River Board (CRB) of California, the IID said in a press release. The results were reported during CRB’s meeting at this year’s Colorado River Water Users Association’s annual conference. The numbers are a result of the successful implementation of federally funded conservation agreements made in 2023 and 2024 and Intentionally Created Surplus conservation, resulting in historically low California Colorado River diversions. … ” Read more from the Imperial Valley Press.
Arizona water agency proposes ‘ag-to-urban’ plan they say doesn’t require GOP approval
“Arizona’s water agency has a plan to conserve water by converting agricultural land for other purposes. The program, known as “ag-to-urban” calls for the repurposing of agricultural land for developments that use less water, like housing. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a similar legislative proposal backed by Republican lawmakers earlier this year. A spokesperson for the governor says Hobbs believes the Arizona Department of Water Resources can develop the program unilaterally. “Ag-to-urban can be developed through the rulemaking process and it is actively tinder consideration by the administration. In her State of the State, the governor committed to taking action where the legislature won’t to secure our water future,” Hobbs spokesperson Christian Slater said in a text. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Federal water investments face uncertain future
“Federal funding is reshaping water infrastructure across the U.S. More than $43 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act is going toward Arizona’s aging water system. However, as President-elect Trump’s new administration prepares to take office, questions are surfacing about the future of these investments. “There’s always a risk when there are changes in leadership that, you know, programs can change, and funding opportunities can go away,” said Ari Neumann from the Rural Community Assistance Corporation. It’s one of the organizations that has put the funding to use, helping communities in southern Arizona upgrade and replace outdated infrastructure built decades ago to ensure safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. … ” Read more from Channel 15.
A pitch to bring some of California’s Colorado River water to Utah might be gaining traction
“An unusual idea floated by the president of the Utah State Senate to get more shares of Colorado River water is intriguing California water officials. In an interview with FOX 13 News in May, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, proposed a novel idea: “We actually build desalination plants in California and trade them for the Colorado River water.” “Sounds like a great idea,” said Jim Madaffer, San Diego County Water Authority board member and Vice-Chair of the Colorado River Board of California. “Why not? You think of the fact that we have the Pacific Ocean. Now, there’s certain locations along the state where desalination makes sense.” San Diego County has built a desalination plant in Carlsbad. Nevada is currently investing in water reuse projects in California that could ultimately benefit them upstream on the Colorado River. … ” Read more from the Salt Lake Tribune.
Lake Powell dam gets $30 million boost
“The Glen Canyon Dam at Lake Powell in Arizona is set to receive $30.9 million in upgrades as part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, an initiative designed to modernize water infrastructure across the western United States, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) recently announced. The investment will focus on replacing aging station service equipment, modernizing the dam’s powerplant cranes and upgrading its fire alarm systems to meet current safety standards. These updates aim to extend the operational life of the 61-year-old dam, which is a cornerstone of water management in the Colorado River Basin. Newsweek contacted the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Bureau of Reclamation via email for further comment. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
