DAILY DIGEST, 12/12: Newsom, Trump may align to get Delta tunnel built; Public hearing for appeal of Delta tunnel consistency determination scheduled for Dec 19; Four Pacific salmon and steelhead retain threatened status in reviews of recovery progress; What is behind the high-stakes standoff over the Colorado River’s future?; and more …


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On the calendar today …

  • WORKSHOP SERIES: Bay Delta Plan, Sacramento/Delta update, 4 of 5, beginning at 9am.  The State Water Board will hold a workshop series on the draft Sacramento/Delta update to the Bay-Delta Plan.  This is the fourth of six workshops. The topic is VA Flow Accounting and General Comments.  Click here for the full workshop notice.
  • PPIC EVENT: A conversation with former Governor Jerry Brown from 12pm to 1pm. After a consequential election, California and the nation are moving into a period of widespread change. Despite our differences, how can we work together to re-invent civic life, restore trust in our democracy, and address California’s major challenges? Join us for a timely conversation with—and a healthy dose of perspective from—former governor Jerry Brown. Click here to register.
  • MEETING: Delta Protection Commission from 5pm to 7pm in West Sacramento.  Agenda items include a report on Delta Stewardship Council activities, Consider Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 2025; Consider Proposed Ex-Officio Appointments to the National Heritage Area Advisory Committee (NHAAC); Consider Comments to the Department of Water Resources on its Geotechnical Activities for the Delta Conveyance Project; and Consider Participation in the Delta Stewardship Council’s Appeal of the Department of Water Resources’ Certification of Consistency for its Geotechnical Activities for the Delta Conveyance Project.  Click here for the full agenda.

In California water news today …

Newsom, Trump may align to get Delta tunnel built

“The Metropolitan Water District board on Wednesday voted to invest another $142 million into the planning for the Delta Conveyance Project. The vote followed an update at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting by Karen Lange, a partner in the lobbying firm of Shaw Yoder Schmeizer & Lange, which represents Solano County’s interests in Sacramento.  Among her comments was the political reality that getting the tunnel project built may be a common-ground issue for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s and President-elect Donald Trump’s administrations. “That is seemingly one of the things the federal and state administrations may align … trying to get this tunnel built,” Lange said.  The Metro funds will help with the cost of “environmental planning and pre-construction costs” for the Delta tunnel project in 2026 and 2027. … ”  Read more from the Daily Republic.

Southern California water agency votes to keep funding state tunnel plans

“A Southern California water agency has approved key funding needed to support plans for a giant underground tunnel that would reroute a big part of the state’s water supply.  The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which along with local agencies provides water to 19 million people, voted Tuesday to allocate about $142 million for pre-construction and planning costs for the Delta Conveyance Project. State officials say the project is critical to help shore up water supplies in the nation’s most populous state due to aging infrastructure and climate-change induced shifts in precipitation.  “After careful consideration, our board took this step because it allows us to gather critical information about the project’s benefits and costs that will allow us to evaluate whether we will participate in the full construction of the project,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said in a statement. … ”  Read more from ABC News.

SEE ALSO:

DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT: Public hearing for appeal of DWR’s consistency determination for geotechnical activities scheduled for December 19

In October, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for the geotechnical activities associated with the Delta Conveyance Project.  The draft certification only concerns certain geotechnical activities related to data collection (cone penetration tests, soil borings, and water quality sampling within soil borings), and not for the project in its entirety.  Four appeals by about eighteen local agencies, conservation groups and Tribes were filed before the deadline.  The Delta Stewardship Council has scheduled a public hearing for the appeal on December 19. … ”  Continue reading from Maven’s Notebook.

Winter weather advisory issued for Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe

“A quick-moving snowstorm is expected to sweep across the Sierra Nevada and the Lake Tahoe region starting Wednesday night, followed by a heavier snowstorm over the weekend.  The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from 10 p.m. on Wednesday to 4 p.m. on Thursday, with several inches of snow expected at lower elevations in the Tahoe Basin and up to 10 inches in the mountains. The heaviest snowfall is expected to arrive in Lake Tahoe around 3 a.m. on Thursday, said Christopher Johnston, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Reno. By afternoon, snow showers may begin to fade. … ”  Read more from SF Gate.

SEE ALSO:

Snow drought current conditions and impacts in the West

“Substantial snow water equivalent (SWE) deficits emerged across areas in the Rocky Mountains, where above-average temperatures and drought persisted into the new water year.  Snow drought is most prevalent across Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, and southwest Montana. Low precipitation is driving snow drought across these states.  An active weather pattern across the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada in November buffered snowpack conditions despite a recent multi-week dry spell.  Temperature will play a key role in snow drought development. Current National Weather Service outlooks favor above-normal temperatures for all of the western states through December. Early season snow drought conditions can change rapidly, especially at lower elevations, with increased variability in weather patterns during late fall and early winter. Early in the season, snow drought recovery can be rapid. Recovery from snow drought in late winter and early spring, when snowpack is typically near peak, can be slower. … ”  Read more from NIDIS.

NOW AVAILABLE: NOAA Fisheries Final Biological Opinion for the Long Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project

“The biological opinion by NOAA Fisheries for the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project is now available.   The document states that the proposed action more effectively aligns Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) operations in the Delta, introduces a new operational framework for Shasta Reservoir operations that improves drought resilience for operations and fish conditions, and introduces changes to Clear Creek, Stanislaus River, and American River flows and temperature management. … The final opinion included in this document concludes that Reclamation’s proposed action results in the following determinations for the listed species and designated critical habitats. … ”  Read more from Maven’s Notebook.

Four Pacific salmon and steelhead retain threatened status in reviews of recovery progress

York Creek flows free after removal of York Dam reopened the upper reaches of the creek to Central California Coast steelhead after nearly a century. Photo by Brian Meux/NOAA Fisheries.

“NOAA Fisheries has completed 5-year reviews of the recovery progress and prospects of four salmon and steelhead species in Northern California and Southern Oregon. We found that all four should remain threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They are the latest reviews completed for the 28 Pacific salmon and steelhead species listed under the ESA. NOAA Fisheries is required to assess their status every 5 years.  The habitat of the species begins in the dense metropolis of the San Francisco Bay Area and the redwood forests of Northern California and Southern Oregon. It ranges north to the vast agricultural lands of the Central Valley and the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains. The four species are Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast coho salmon, California Coastal Chinook salmon, Central California Coast steelhead, and California Central Valley steelhead. … ”  Read more from NOAA Fisheries.

California water officials try to curb spread of invasive golden mussels found in Delta

“An invasive species in the San Joaquin County Delta is putting water officials on high alert.  Despite its name, the golden mussel isn’t native to the Golden State, but instead to Southeast Asia. Now, some lake boat ramps and launches are closed, to try and keep the invasive species at bay.  The mussels were first detected upstream on the San Joaquin Delta back in October.  Officials say it likely got here from an international shipment into the port, and it’s the first time this species has been found in North America.  Underneath the ripples and waves of the San Joaquin Delta, the invasive species is threatening the surrounding wildlife. … ”  Read more from CBS News.

DWR assists underrepresented communities & tribes with local groundwater improvements, expands support to small farmers

“California faces a full range of climate challenges, from extreme drought to flooding, that place stress on critical water supplies like groundwater that communities, businesses, and ecosystems rely on. Recognizing the lack of resources underrepresented communities have to address these issues, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) provides hands-on technical assistance services at no cost through the Underrepresented Community, California Tribes, and Small Farmer Technical Assistance Program (URCTA Program).  Beginning in 2024, DWR and its partners expanded existing technical assistance services to include support for small farmers. Expanding technical support to eligible farmers within critical over-drafted groundwater basins will help ensure that they also have the resources and information they need to adapt to a changing climate. New services for small farmers include groundwater level monitoring, soil moisture monitoring, aquifer testing, support and preparation for irrigation services, well monitoring and training. … ”  Read more from DWR News.

NASA-DOD Study finds saltwater to widely taint coastal groundwater by 2100

“Intrusion of saltwater into coastal groundwater can make water there unusable, damage ecosystems, and corrode infrastructure.  Seawater will infiltrate underground freshwater supplies in about three of every four coastal areas around the world by the year 2100, according to a recent study led by researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. In addition to making water in some coastal aquifers undrinkable and unusable for irrigation, these changes can harm ecosystems and corrode infrastructure. Called saltwater intrusion, the phenomenon happens below coastlines, where two masses of water naturally hold each other at bay. Rainfall on land replenishes, or recharges, fresh water in coastal aquifers (underground rock and soil that hold water), which tends to flow below ground toward the ocean. Meanwhile, seawater, backed by the pressure of the ocean, tends to push inland. Although there’s some mixing in the transition zone where the two meet, the balance of opposing forces typically keeps the water fresh on one side and salty on the other. … ”  Read more from JPL.

SEE ALSO: Climate change could taint aquifers with seawater, JPL finds, from KTLA

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In regional water news and commentary today …

NORTH COAST

King tides expected to hit the California North Coast

“Scientists said the king tides are expected to flood California beaches, roads and coastal areas in the upcoming months. Officials said this indicates future erosion and flooding caused by sea level rise and climate change.  “We have some stronger storm systems that are coming in later this week heading into the weekend, and those storm systems have the potential to add some surge on top of that tide and that has some of the potential to bring some increased coastal flooding, especially in some of our low-lying areas, like the beaches around Humboldt Bay,” said National Weather Service Eureka Meteorologist, James White.  Meteorologists said king tides typically occur on the north coast from December through January and are caused by an astronomical alignment between the earth, moon and the sun, causing a stronger gravitational pull than normal. … ”  Read more from KRCR.

Huffman votes to pass Water Resources Development Act, celebrates wins for Northern California

“Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman voted to pass the final version of the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. This legislation includes key North Coast and environmental priorities championed by Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), a senior Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  WRDA is a biennial legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to carry out civil works projects to improve the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, flood and storm protection, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure. This bill includes locally-driven projects in California’s Second Congressional District and around the country, which will deliver regional and national benefits to protect the environment, create jobs, strengthen our supply chain, spur economic development, and improve water resources. … ”  Read more from Congressman Jared Huffman.

MOUNTAIN COUNTIES

Wrapping up salmon expeditions on the Yuba River: The crucial role of environmental education for students

“The education team at the South Yuba River Citizens League just wrapped another successful season of salmon expeditions on the Lower Yuba River! Salmon Expeditions coincide with spawning season for Chinook salmon, and they run five-days a week from early October to late November.  During Salmon Expeditions, 3rd-5th graders from Nevada, Yuba, and Sutter counties experience a jam-packed field trip day that is both fun-filled and educational.    The Salmon Expeditions consist of rafting down four miles of the Lower Yuba River to witness spawning Chinook salmon, with several stops along the way for students to participate in lessons and activities. During a modeling activity, students learn about the history of the Yuba River watershed, particularly how hydraulic and dredge mining during the Gold Rush impacted the landscape, salmon, and the Nisenan Tribe. Students also conduct an investigation where they find benthic macroinvertebrates and learn about their significance as an indicator species. The final stop takes place at Lower Long Bar, one of SYRCL’s most recent restoration sites designed to provide rearing habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon. … ”  Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.

BEBOT beach-cleaning robot cleans over 1 million square feet of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline

“It all started with an ambitious idea from JB Harris, Co-Founder of ECO-CLEAN Solutions, who, after years of working on Tahoe’s beaches, recognized the pressing need for an innovative solution to keep Tahoe’s shorelines litter-free year-round. Determined to make a difference, Harris sought out cutting-edge technology that seamlessly combines innovation with environmental stewardship. This vision became reality in 2021 with the introduction of BEBOT, the first solar and battery-powered beach-cleaning robot on the West Coast.  Now, in 2024, ECO-CLEAN Solutions celebrates a record-breaking milestone in its mission to preserve Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty: BEBOT cleaned over 1 million square feet of shoreline across 20 beaches, revolutionizing how we care for our beaches and paving the way for a sustainable future in tourism. With approximately 15 million visitor days annually to Lake Tahoe, traditional volunteer cleanups can no longer keep pace with the increased influx of visitors during the peak busy season. BEBOT elevates beach cleanups to the next level, sifting out debris as small as 1 cm from below the sand’s surface. … ”  Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

BAY AREA

King tides, Bay Area’s highest of the year, could cause minor coastal flooding

“King tides are returning to the Bay Area over the coming days, bringing some of the highest tides of the year and the potential for minor flooding. While king tides don’t have a scientific definition, they refer to very high tides produced when the Earth, moon and sun are in just the right alignment. The high water levels provide a preview of challenges Californians could face in the future due to sea level rise, experts say. “A beach that you love, it might be totally underwater,” said Annie Kohut Frankel, a manager of the California King Tides Project, run by the California Coastal Commission. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Lawsuit delays removal of Point Reyes elk fence

“The National Park Service has agreed to delay further work to dismantle a tule elk enclosure fence in the Point Reyes National Seashore following a lawsuit by the California Cattlemen’s Association.  The association filed the suit on Dec. 3, the day after the National Park Service announced that it had completed a new management plan that involves the removal of the fence. Advocates for the elk hailed the news, but members of Marin’s agricultural community reacted with dismay, fearing the elk will compete with cattle for forage and water.  The park moved quickly to start taking down the 2-mile fence and had removed about 850 feet by Friday, when a federal judge held a hearing on the association’s lawsuit. … ”  Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.

Silicon Valley water district maintains hiring freeze

“Silicon Valley’s main water supplier will maintain a hiring freeze in order to offset hundreds of millions of dollars in a budget shortfall.  Valley Water officials instituted a hiring freeze in February for 72 job vacancies amid a $222 million budget deficit for the fiscal year ending in June. The skyrocketing price tags for projects like the Anderson Dam and Pacheco Reservoir expansion — and the rising cost of cleaning waterways polluted by homeless residents — have caused a ballooning shortfall expected to increase to $300 million in 2024-25. That will grow to $350 million the following fiscal year, according to a March Valley Water presentation. Fifty positions are currently frozen and will remain so through fiscal year 2025-26.  The freezes have translated into about $1 million a month in savings, or roughly $9 million so far, according to Budget Manager Enrique De Anda. Managers have adapted by shifting tasks and reassigning employees, but the agency will likely hike water rates due to the cost increases for its capital projects. … ”  Read more from the San Jose Spotlight.

Half Moon Bay homeowners battle California Coastal Commission over right to build seawall

“A legal battle playing out between the California Coastal Commission and homeowners who want to build a large seawall near Half Moon Bay could have repercussions along the entire California coast. On Tuesday, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco heard arguments from the Coastal Commission, which previously denied a permit for a 257-foot seawall to protect the surrounding beach from erosion, and the homeowners who say they need it to protect their houses from the pounding surf. The case revolves around how to interpret California law about which homes are eligible for armoring and which are not, and both environmental and property rights groups say the final decision could have wide-ranging impact. If the court sides with the Coastal Commission’s interpretation — which it indicated it will in a tentative opinion in October — beachside homes constructed after Jan. 1, 1977 would not be guaranteed to build seawalls, also called armoring. … ”  Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.

CENTRAL COAST

San Lucas’ water has been unsafe to drink for years. Is a solution near?

“Maybe you’ve received a boil-water notice after an emergency, like a flood. The water may not be safe to drink for a few hours or days – health officials recommend using bottled water.  Now imagine that notice lasts for 10 years, or longer.  Yes, this is the 21st century and yes, this is in the United States. But residents of the South County town of San Lucas, population 324, have been under do-not-drink orders for over a decade, ever since testing by Monterey County’s Environmental Health Bureau revealed that nitrates in the water supply exceeded levels deemed safe for human consumption.  “We are requiring the use of bottled water or water from an approved source for drinking or cooking,” a July 7, 2011 notice from the Health Department read. “Research is being done to find another water source.”  That research is still ongoing, with a glimmer of possibility that a solution is in sight. … ”  Read more from Monterey Now.

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

Recount for Fresno irrigation district race to be restarted Friday

“A recount of votes in the hotly contested race for a board seat on the Laguna Irrigation District will be restarted Friday morning after it was abruptly halted with one ballot outstanding on Tuesday.  Friday’s recommenced recount will begin at 9 a.m. in the Fresno County Election Warehouse at 4525 E. Hamilton, according to a notice posted on the Elections Department website.  The public is welcome to view the recount process.  The race ended in a 101-101 tie between well driller Wes Harmon and incumbent Frank Zonneveld. Harmon called for the recount, which may cost him about $2,000. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

Five-year South San Joaquin Irrigation District plan aiming for upgrades

“South San Joaquin Irrigation District is pursuing a $125 million five-year capital improvement program to assure water reliability and enhance water conservation.  The endeavor will help assure the district can continue to effectively serve farmers irrigating over 50,000 acres as well as provide water to 230,000 residents in Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy.  “The capital improvement program for the next five years is aggressive and carries a large price tag,” noted SSJID General Manager Peter Rietkerk.  The identified projects the SSJID is seeking to accomplish by the end of 2029 is a continuation of the district’s efforts to implement its 2022 Water Master Plan priority projects involving the irrigation distribution system. … ”  Read more from the Escalon Times.

Volunteers needed to clean trash on the lower Kings River

“Volunteers are invited to spend a Saturday morning cleaning a section of the Kings River.  The Kings River Fisheries Management Program’s Kings River cleanup event will be held Saturday, Dec. 21 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m near the Thorburn Channel to Cobbles Weir. Volunteers will be expected to sign-in and listen to a safety briefing before beginning the cleanup.  The cleanups are hosted monthly on the third Saturday of each month.  The program aims to improve and enhance the lower Kings River and its fish habitat. The program works in collaboration with Kings River Conservation District, Kings River Water Association and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

More entities fleeing embattled Tulare County groundwater agency

“The embattled Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) may soon have only one member entity left.  The City of Porterville and Porterville Irrigation District are set to vote Dec. 17 and Jan. 9, respectively, on a draft joint powers agreement to form their own groundwater agency.  The Saucelito and Terra Bella irrigation districts have also begun discussions to leave Eastern Tule form their own GSAs.  The Kern-Tulare Water District left Eastern Tule in February. And the Tea Pot Dome and Vandalia water districts left last summer.  All those exits would leave Eastern Tule, which covers land where farmers are almost entirely groundwater dependent, with one member entity – the County of Tulare. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

Cal Water works on improving water quality in Visalia

“The California Water Service, or Cal Water, installs treatment equipment at two Visalia wells.  This is an effort to meet the state’s new water quality standard for synthetic chemicals resistant to heat, oil, water and grease.  The requirements are still years away, but for the past two years, Cal Water has been working on a multi-million dollar project to help improve the quality of water in Visalia.  There are two treatment tanks at each location, one on Hillside and Akers Street and another on Packwood and Country Center Drive. … ”  Read more from KFSN.

Challenger for a seat on the Porterville Irrigation District board loses by one vote

“Of four Tulare County irrigation district elections held last month, the tightest race was in Porterville.  Jared Plumlee ran against two-term incumbent Tim Witzel for a seat on the Porterville Irrigation District board. The final tally was 111 for Plumlee to 112 for Witzel.  While disappointed, Plumlee said he won’t seek a recount.  “I have faith that the elections officials have done a great job when it comes to fairly and accurately counting ballots in the race,” he said.  He does intend to stay involved at the district, however. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

Valley farm bureau hopes to send “strong message” to the state with hefty donation to sister farm bureau

“The Tulare County Farm Bureau intends to send a “strong message” to the state by pledging $10,000 to its counterpart, the Kings County Farm Bureau, in the latter’s legal fight against groundwater sanctions issued by the Water Resources Control Board.  “We felt it was still a warranted action to lend support to our neighboring county,” said Tricia Stever Blattler executive director for the Tulare farm bureau.  The farm bureau’s most recent newsletter called the donation a “strong message to the state water board that we are committed to supporting this legal battle in hopes it brings positive change to the SGMA process for all landowners involved.”  In September, the Kings farm bureau won a preliminary injunction against the Water Board preventing the state from imposing sanctions that were instituted as a result of the Tulare Lake subbasin, which covers most of Kings County, being placed on probation for failing to come up with an adequate plan to protect the region’s groundwater per the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).  The state has appealed that injunction. … ”  Read more from SJV Water.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Fire danger diminishes in Southern California even as crews continue to battle Malibu blaze

“As weather improved in Southern California, firefighters found some success Wednesday battling a wind-driven blaze burning in steep, nearly inaccessible areas that forced thousands, including celebrities, from their homes in Malibu, fire officials said.  With much of the coastal city under evacuation orders and warnings, residents waited anxiously to see whether their properties had been spared by the fire, which erupted late Monday and grew to more than 6 square miles (16 square kilometers). The blaze, dubbed the Franklin Fire, was just 7% contained. About 20,000 residents remained under evacuation orders and warnings Wednesday evening, said Capt. Jennifer Seetoo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department … ”  Read more from the Associated Press.

How California is trying to earthquake-proof a lake

Lake Perris. Photo by DWR.

“Efforts to modernize California’s water infrastructure and safeguard public safety in the event of an earthquake are taking center stage as the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) begins construction on the Lake Perris Emergency Release Facility (ERF) project this month in Riverside County.  This ambitious initiative, taking place about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, aims to protect local communities and vital infrastructure by enabling safe water redirection in case a major earthquake or other emergencies occur.  The ERF project, part of the broader Perris Dam Modernization Program, includes building new levees, bridges and a local drainage system downstream from the dam.  These upgrades will allow water to be diverted safely away from Lake Perris through a series of levees and channels to the Perris Valley Channel in the event of a severe earthquake or extreme weather. … ”  Read more from Newsweek.

IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS

Salton Sea is known for poor air quality. Recent study points to a new culprit.

“For years, residents in California’s Salton Sea area have experienced adverse health effects. A new UC Davis study, published in Scientific Reports, reveals that these issues may stem not only from the drying lake, but also undercounted emissions released from fertilized soil, which are likely contributing to the area’s high asthma rates and poor air quality.Researchers found that nitrogen oxide emissions in the region’s soil are 10 times higher than what state regulators allow, negatively impacting area air quality and exceeding limits of ozone and particulate matter standards. The elevated emissions come from agricultural practices in the region, where the sandy soil means large amounts of fertilizer are required for productive farming. Fertilizer sales have grown by 137% in Imperial County since 1991, the study also found. … ”  Read more from SF Gate.

SAN DIEGO

Taking Flight: UC San Diego shaping future of atmospheric river forecasting

“This year’s rainy season is underway, which means atmospheric rivers are set to dump rain and snow across California and the Pacific Northwest. It also means that specially outfitted aircraft are standing by to fly out to sea into the heart of those brewing storms to improve forecasts as part of the Atmospheric River Reconnaissance program (AR Recon), led by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  Atmospheric rivers are ribbons of water vapor in the sky that can deliver huge amounts of precipitation. They are simultaneously vital sources of freshwater and the cause of dangerous flooding, making accurate forecasting critically important. Climate change is projected to make these precipitation events more intense and destructive by warming the air, which increases the amount of moisture these storms can carry. … ”  Read more from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Sweetwater Authority clarifies water quality concerns

“In response to community concerns, Sweetwater Authority recently announced the detection of a small amount of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in treated water from the Sweetwater Reservoir.  The detected concentration was below levels that would necessitate mitigation measures, meaning additional water treatment is not required. However, regulatory guidelines mandate notification to customers about such findings.  PFAS are complex chemical compounds widely found in everyday products, including non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, and food packaging. Their pervasive presence has posed challenges for water providers worldwide, prompting efforts to monitor and reduce these substances in distribution systems. … ”  Read more from Chula Vista Today.

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Along the Colorado River …

What is behind the high-stakes standoff over the Colorado River’s future? State negotiators have their say.

“State officials are at odds over how to plan for drier years in the Colorado River Basin, but they agree on the main issue blocking their progress: How to cut use in the worst years a changing climate has to offer.  About 40 million people, including communities across Colorado, rely on the drought-plagued and overused Colorado River. Basin officials have developed plan after plan to try to respond to lower flows on the river and declining storage in reservoirs — but none could prevent the historically low water levels at the basin’s biggest reservoirs, lakes Mead and Powell, in 2022.  Now, officials from seven states are debating the terms of a new agreement for how to store, release and deliver Colorado River water for years to come, and they have until 2026 to finalize a plan. This month, the tone of the state negotiations soured as some state negotiators threw barbs and others called for an end to the political rhetoric and saber-rattling. … ”  Read more from the Colorado Sun.

Commentary: Western states don’t really want to solve the Colorado River crisis

Columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “Colorado River negotiators should stop saying that they want to work with their counterparts in other states.  Because it’s blatantly obvious that they don’t.  Six of the seven Western state negotiators were still cordial enough this summer to appear on stage together at a conference in Colorado.  But not in Las Vegas last week.  The two warring factions — the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada, and the Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — stuck to their own panels during the Colorado River Water Users Association conference.  Negotiators touted their own plans to save the river and sharply criticized the others. All while claiming that they are willing to work with the other side to avoid a nasty court battle.  And that was just the public face of this meeting. … ”  Read more from Arizona Central.

Colorado River trout population impacted by warmer water temperatures

“The fishing on the Colorado River near Lee’s Ferry on the Fly is world-renowned – taking people to fish under Horseshoe Bend and near Glen Canyon Dam.  However, increasing river temperatures have hurt fish, causing a ripple effect among local fishing businesses.  Lake Powell is just under 40% full, so the water flowing into the Colorado River is much warmer. This has caused native fish numbers to dwindle and hurt local fishing companies.  Dave Foster has been fishing on the Colorado River since the 1960s and started his business, Lee’s Ferry on the Fly, in the 1980s.  However, 40 years later, a lot has changed, including the number of fish—especially trout. He said the last two years have been some of the hardest.  “The target catch rate for Arizona Game and Fish Department is eight fish per hour,” Foster said. “Right now, we’re at somewhere around 0.2 fish per hour. We probably lost between 30 to 35% of the fish in the river.” … ”  Read more from Arizona Family.

In a first, Arizona’s attorney general sues an industrial farm over its water use

“Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a nuisance lawsuit against an industrial agricultural operation Wednesday in a novel case that alleges the operation’s groundwater pumping is threatening public health and safety and the infrastructure of the surrounding community.  Mayes hopes the suit sends a message that pushes state legislators to pass new laws managing groundwater across rural Arizona, where the rapid decline of aquifers is a growing concern. Water policy experts, however, warn the lawsuit could have unintended consequences.  The case targets Saudi Arabia-based Fondomonte Arizona LLC, which has farming operations in La Paz county on the state’s border with California that have become emblematic of Arizona’s water woes. The company has been the center of controversy in recent years, with its massive farms making international headlines as they grow alfalfa on state and private land to feed cattle in the Gulf kingdom with no government limits on the amount of water being pumped for the water-intensive crop. … ”  Read more from Inside Climate News.

SEE ALSO:

Arizona seeks prospective bidders for ambitious water importation plan

“Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday her office was taking legal action against farms in La Paz County for utilizing an excessive amount of water.  Fondomonte Arizona, the firm that’s been growing alfalfa for years and shipping it to Saudi Arabia, has been subjected to public scrutiny for paying below-market rates on Arizona land and not paying anything extra to use the state’s water resources.  In a lawsuit brought against Fondomonte, the attorney general’s office is accusing the company of violating Arizona’s nuisance laws by threatening public health and safety with its water usage. “Fondomonte’s unsustainable groundwater pumping has caused devastating consequences for the Ranegras Plain Basin, putting the health and future of the residents of La Paz County at risk,” Mayes said in a statement. … ”  Read more from Channel 12.

SEE ALSO: Lake Mead’s uncertain future leads state to eye water imports, from Newsweek

Arizona seeks prospective bidders for ambitious water importation plan

“Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) took a step toward importing billions of gallons of water from out of state, but it’ll likely be many years before that happens.   Why it matters: The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) projects that demand for water will increase by at least 1.5 million acre-feet — an acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons — by 2060. That demand could hit 100,000-500,000 acre-feet within the next 10-15 years, according to WIFA. WIFA hopes to meet that demand with the water importation project, which could bring in as much as about 163 billion gallons of water annually. … ”  Read more from Axios.

Salinity Control Fix Act heading to Biden’s desk to address Colorado River salt levels

“Since 1974, the Bureau of Reclamation has supported various projects to reduce salt levels in the Colorado River’s upper and lower basins. Now, a bill to increase the 50-year-old program’s funding is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk after passing both chambers of Congress.  The bill, called the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act, was first introduced in July in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. The House companion bill was introduced by Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah. The act had several additional co-sponsors in both chambers including Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.  Bennet said in a statement that the legislation will “support ongoing efforts to keep water from the Colorado River safe for communities, farmers and ranchers and water users throughout the entire Basin.” … ”  Read more from the Steamboat Springs Pilot.

Colorado River trout population impacted by warmer water temperatures

“The fishing on the Colorado River near Lee’s Ferry on the Fly is world-renowned – taking people to fish under Horseshoe Bend and near Glen Canyon Dam.  However, increasing river temperatures have hurt fish, causing a ripple effect among local fishing businesses.  Lake Powell is just under 40% full, so the water flowing into the Colorado River is much warmer. This has caused native fish numbers to dwindle and hurt local fishing companies.  Dave Foster has been fishing on the Colorado River since the 1960s and started his business, Lee’s Ferry on the Fly, in the 1980s.  However, 40 years later, a lot has changed, including the number of fish—especially trout. He said the last two years have been some of the hardest.  “The target catch rate for Arizona Game and Fish Department is eight fish per hour,” Foster said. “Right now, we’re at somewhere around 0.2 fish per hour. We probably lost between 30 to 35% of the fish in the river.” … ”  Read more from Arizona Family.

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In national water news today …

Trump’s climate threats rattle world’s biggest science meeting

“Censorship. Funding cuts. Layoffs.  Those concerns loom over the world’s largest conference of climate scientists as they brace for whiplash at the White House when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in six weeks. Trump has recently said climate change isn’t happening, called it a hoax and joked that rising seas would create more coastal real estate — all in contradiction to the work of the 25,000 researchers attending the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting in downtown Washington this week.  “Everybody at AGU is nervous,” Jill Brandenberger, climate security program manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, said in an interview. “The unknown is what makes people nervous.” … ”  Read more from E&E News.

Coastlines around the world are losing sediment

“Coastlines are dynamic by nature, shaped by the push of inland sediment and the pull of ocean tides. A recent study gives a new view of coasts around the world. Researchers used changes in ocean color to show that sediment in the water has declined. That could have significant effects on everything from habitat health to coastal infrastructure.  A new tool uses Landsat, a network of land-focused satellites, to derive how much sediment is in these coastal zones on the basis of the light reflected from the water column. The tool relies on an algorithm developed by Wenxiu Teng as part of his doctoral research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he studies remote sensing and geomorphology. Teng will present the initial findings on 12 December at AGU’s Annual Meeting 2024 in Washington, D.C. … ”  Read more from EOS.

Earth saw its 2nd-warmest November on record

“November 2024 was the planet’s second-warmest November in NOAA’s 175-year global climate record, just behind the record-warm November of 2023.  Last month also continued the year’s record-warm streak, with 2024 almost certain to end as the world’s warmest year on record, according to scientists and data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information.  The average global land and ocean surface temperature for November 2024 was 2.41 degrees F (1.34 degrees C) above the 20th-century average of 55.2 degrees F (12.9 degrees C), which makes it the second-warmest November on record — just 0.14 of a degree F (0.08 of a degree C) behind the record warmth of November 2023.  Asia had its warmest November on record, while Oceania and South America both had their second-warmest November. … ”  Read more from NOAA.

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.