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On the calendar today …
- PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE: Delta Conveyance Project water right hearing beginning at 9am. The State Water Resources Control Board Administrative Hearings Office will hold a Public Hearing on the pending Petitions for Change of Water Right Permits for the Delta Conveyance Project. Interested members of the public who would like to watch this hearing without participating may do so through the Administrative Hearings Office YouTube channel at: bit.ly/aho-youtube. Click here for the meeting notice.
In California water news today …
‘No way, not possible’: California has a plan for new water rules. Will it save salmon from extinction?
“The Newsom administration is refining a contentious set of proposed rules, years in the making, that would reshape how farms and cities draw water from the Central Valley’s Delta and its rivers. Backed by more than $1 billion in state funds, the rules, if adopted, would require water users to help restore rivers and rebuild depleted Chinook salmon runs.
The administration touts its proposed rules as the starting point of a long-term effort to double Central Valley Chinook populations from historical levels, reaching numbers not seen in at least 75 years. But environmental groups have almost unanimously rejected it, saying it promises environmental gains that will never materialize and jeopardizes the existence of California’s iconic salmon and other fish.
“There is no way the assets they’ve put on the table, water and habitat combined, are going to achieve the doubling goal — no way, not possible,” said Jon Rosenfield, science director with San Francisco Baykeeper. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
NOTEBOOK FEATURE: Save the peat, save the planet, save the Delta?
“In the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an invisible fire is burning. Peat soils, laid down under water when the region was a vast wetland, are oxidizing, vanishing into the atmosphere at the rate of about 1.5 inches a year. 150 years after levee-building created the modern landscape of agricultural islands between hardened tidal channels, many of those islands have lost 20 feet or more of soil; standing in a sunken cornfield, you might tilt your head back to see a ship chug by on an adjoining river. The subsidence continues.
On some tracts, there are 30 or more additional feet of organic soil to go. Some of the consequences are known. Levees defending hollowed-out islands are under pressure and at risk of failure. Valued farmland is likely to flood. And island collapse could wreck the plumbing of California’s largest water systems, which use Delta channels to shunt Sacramento River water south to the San Joaquin Valley and beyond. (These flows will continue for decades regardless of the fate of the latest Delta tunnel plan.)
Lately attention has shifted to another penalty of peat soil loss: its sizable output of greenhouse gases. Like coal, peat is a store of carbon, and its oxidation releases carbon dioxide to the air. The Delta comprises about 1.4% of California farmland, but generates about 15% of the state’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. “This tiny little dot in the middle of California is a chimney pumping carbon into the atmosphere,” says Campbell Ingram, Executive Officer of the Delta Conservancy. … Click here to continue reading this article.
Water & Snow update: California’s recent storms in review
“A storm that packed quite the punch — heavy rain, several feet of snow, strong winds and even a first-ever San Francisco tornado warning — has come to an end. After what’s been a largely dry December, there has finally been some good rain and snow numbers across Northern California. Much of the valley picked up between an inch and three inches of rain, with the highest rainfall numbers in the upper Sacramento Valley and the lowest in the San Joaquin Valley. This most recent storm put us back above average for the month of December so far, with 2.02″ of rain in Downtown Sacramento this month. Halfway through December, the average rainfall is about an inch and a half. … ” Continue reading from Channel 10.
Once cold and lonely, ‘snow management’ at Tahoe resorts goes high-tech with lasers
“At midnight, a slender moon hangs above the snowy Sierra Nevada, casting only a faint glow on a sheer cliff and the dark canyon below. But snowcat operator “Bandit” Ferrante has laser-guided vision, measuring snow depth 150 feet ahead and to each side to sculpt the slopes with precision. By dawn, crowds will start arriving to ski and ride the weekend’s fresh powder. “These advancements are changing the way we do things,” said Ferrante, 37, who drives a new $400,000 German-made PistenBully rig with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to prepare the trails. “I see exactly where we’re going, and what’s going on.” After two winters of heavy snow, the snowfall so far this winter has been sporadic. While Mother Nature is always fickle, climate change could create less reliable snow, spelling hardship for the businesses and mountain communities that depend on storms for their economic survival. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Growing food for ducks and fish in seasonally flooded managed wetlands
Kyle Phillips, Alice Tung, Teejay O’Rear, and John Durand write, “In a recent publication in Freshwater Biology, UC Davis researchers found that waterfowl food-plants in managed wetlands of Suisun Marsh can boost plankton production by an order of magnitude compared to plants in open tidal habitats. Suisun Marsh is one of the largest tidal wetlands on the west coast of North America and is critical habitat in the San Francisco Estuary (SFE). While managed wetlands in the marsh are operated to promote waterfowl, this study supports other research showing how fishes can benefit from waterfowl management actions. This work has direct implications for managing food availability for native and desirable fishes, especially those that rely on plankton in the SFE. This is another example of a reconciliation ecology approach for California water. … ” Read more from the California Water Blog.
PCAST releases report on strengthening America’s groundwater resilience
“The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has released a new report addressing America’s groundwater resources. Groundwater is central to the health, security, and economic vitality of communities across the United States. It resides in aquifers underground, and it supports nearly half of the nation’s drinking water supply, sustains agricultural production, and powers industries across the country. However, challenges such as depletion, contamination, limited data systems, a shortage of skilled workers, and the impact of climate variability on refilling the aquifers threaten its long-term viability. If these issues remain unresolved, communities risk losing reliable access to clean water, which would strain food production, disrupt essential industries, and trigger far-reaching economic consequences across the nation. This report offers evidence-based strategies to better support state, Tribal, and local efforts navigating the mounting pressures on this essential resources. … ” Read more from the White House.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Paynes Creek residents fear increased flooding, criticizing the county’s lack of response
“Payne’s Creek community members were concerned over what comes next, after a massive tree blocked off the waterway they get their name from, flooding nearby properties. According to nearby residents, the tree fell Saturday, blocking off much of Payne’s Creek, destroying nearby fencing, and blocking off part of the roadway on Paynes Creek Loop. They claimed it was only the quick actions of volunteers that prevented more flooding on Saturday, but say with the rain picking back up on Monday they’re concerned about what comes next. … ” Read more from KRCR.
BAY AREA
After more rain Monday, Bay Area expected to dry out until end of work week
“The last in a series of three storms to hit the Bay Area set raindrops falling in parts of the region before sunrise Monday and was set to to coat other parts with showers as the day progressed, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters anticipate it will be the only rain of the work week. “We still have a lot of time, and things can change,” NWS meteorologist Lamont Bain said. “But those are the current indications. It’s a little hard to tell how much moisture will feed into the next system and how it’s going to proceed. But what we know is that outside of (Monday), the rest of the work week is going to be relatively dry.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
King Tides, highest of the season, roll over San Francisco’s Embarcadero
“This weekend’s storm that swept through the Bay Area was combined with King Tides, which contributed to flooding in many areas. King Tides, which are exceptionally high tides, splashed onto the Embarcadero at Pier 5 at just over 7 feet. Scientists say they are a reminder of climate change and an indicator of the future. “When we have these higher than normal tides like today, we can see what kind of infrastructure and what communities are affected and so that scientists and planners can get an idea of where we need to adapt and build more resilience in our communities first,” said Staff Educator at The Exploratium Lori Lambertson. … ” Read more from KTVU.
Podcast: How 3 coastal cities are tackling sea level rise
“Today, we’re sharing this episode from the podcast Sea Change, a show by WWNO in New Orleans and WRKF in Baton Rouge. In it you’ll hear about how three different cities — including San Francisco — are addressing unique challenges around sea level rise.” Listen at KQED.
Chinook salmon make an unlikely journey to Oakland’s Lake Merritt
“Long before the creation of the city of Oakland, salmon were spawning. Their journey would likely have taken them from the freshwater creeks they were born in out to the Pacific Ocean to mature and back again to reproduce, struggling up a wide channel into what was formerly a large saltwater lagoon. Each would have tried to swim through the lagoon and into the creeks above to spawn as their bodies slowly decayed. But since development cut off access to that lagoon’s creeks over a century ago, narrowed the entrance to the lagoon itself, and converted it into what is now known as Lake Merritt, the salmon have stopped coming back. In his 10-year tenure as executive director of the nonprofit Lake Merritt Institute, James Robinson had only seen a salmon in the lake once. So when he first heard reports of a Chinook spotted in the waters in November, he was doubtful at first. “Many times we have people say they witness salmon in the lake,” he said, “and it’s actually a striped bass or some other fish.” However, the following day members of the Lake Merritt Institute found bodies of several Chinook salmon washed up on the lake’s shore. … ” Read more from the Sierra Club.
CENTRAL COAST
Charred by fire, these grand California redwoods rise again. How to hike among them
“It’s a life, death and disaster hike. Yet it’s also a stroll in the park. The route in question is the Redwood Loop Trail, part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. One lap around the 0.63-mile loop and you’ll see, amid the fading ravages of fire, what a vast difference four years can make in the natural world. The state park, California’s oldest, is also the largest stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco. It was 97% burned in 2020, when the CZU Lightning Complex fire erupted in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Tens of thousands of trees were incinerated, and most of the park remains closed, its infrastructure (including 150 campsites) destroyed. Yet after four years of regrowth, which included drought conditions, followed by atmospheric river storms in 2023, visitors can walk amid countless rising stalks, many reaching 10 to 20 feet high. … ” Read more from the LA Times via AOL News.
Elkhorn Slough researchers find sea otter population helps stop invasion of green crabs
“Although sea otters are an unofficial mascot of the Monterey Bay area and popular among tourists and locals alike, they are also described by scientists as voracious predators that help keep problematic invaders out of coastal waters. A recent study was published in the scientific journal Biological Invasions, detailing that otters at the Elkhorn Slough are keeping populations of globally invasive green crab at bay. “I’ve studied green crabs in estuaries on three coasts and two continents for decades, and this is one of the first pieces of good news we’ve gotten,” said Rikke Jeppesen, an estuarine ecologist at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve who spearheaded the publication, in a statement. … ” Read more from the Mercury News.
Paso Basin agencies seek input on groundwater sustainability plan
“The Paso Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies are inviting public comments on the draft 5-Year Groundwater Sustainability Plan Evaluation, according to a recent Facebook post by the City of Paso Robles.The deadline to submit comments is Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. Community members are encouraged to review the plan and provide input before the deadline. … ” Read more from the Paso Robles Daily News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Video: A data-driven approach to safeguarding Southern California’s water supply
“In Southern California, the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District supplies water to 13 local utilities across a drought-prone, 350,000 square mile service area—larger than Singapore. Using GIS, the district creates detailed maps and analyzes data to tackle infrastructure and habitat challenges. By including maps and analysis in project proposals to regulatory agencies, the district easily secures permits and showcases their expertise in local ecosystems. Discover how GIS enables an intelligent water system.” Watch at ESRI.
Podcast: Going to the Source of L.A.’s water
“Throughline associate producer Anya Steinberg talks to supervising senior editor Julie Caine about her reporting trip to Owens Valley in northeastern California for the episode, “Water in the West,” about the creation of—and controversy over—the Los Angeles aqueduct.” Listen at NPR.
El Segundo still stinks. Why can’t L.A. fix the problem two years after huge sewage spill?
“On the worst days, Tamara Kcehowski said, she has thrown up when the stench from Los Angeles’ nearby sewage plant overwhelms her El Segundo apartment. She said her dog, Maggie, has even retched alongside her. On the not-so-bad days, she says she often deals with a dull headache or burning eyes. Some mornings, she wakes up gagging or coughing. None of this was part of Kcehowski’s life before July 2021, when major failures at the nearby Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant dumped millions of gallons of untreated sewage into Santa Monica Bay and released high levels of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and can cause health issues. At the time, Kcehowski was hopeful the facility’s response would be swift and that her community would suffer the stinky mess for only a few days — or at worst a few weeks. But now, more than three years later, the noxious odors and elevated hydrogen sulfide emissions persist, despite repeated complaints and appeals to the city of Los Angeles, air quality regulators and local officials. Although she’s lived in El Segundo with her daughter since the early 2000s, she now wonders if her only recourse is to move. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
One ski resort’s long-shot bet to survive low snowfall and devastating wildfires
“For much of its 85-year existence, the Mount Waterman resort has drawn skiers and outdoor enthusiasts from around Los Angeles for its no-fuss, no-frills experience. Unlike all other ski hills in Southern California, Mount Waterman, the closest mountain resort to Los Angeles, didn’t make snow (its motto has long been “Praying for snow since 1939”), and it has only a modest warming hut and three chairlifts. But its steep inclines and access to backcountry terrain kept loyal snow-sports fans coming back. “It’s steep, gladed — one of the greatest places I’ve skied,” said Michael Melton, a board member of the Buckhorn Ski Lodge, a private lodge near Mount Waterman. “It doesn’t have the acreage of a Palisades Tahoe, but it has the punch.” … ” Read more from the New York Times.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
In the dust of the Coachella Valley, residents push for a park along the shrinking Salton Sea
“In a state boasting epic mountain ranges and stunning coastlines, the Salton Sea is not typically considered an outdoor-lover’s paradise. The Salton Sea is shrinking as less water flows in from the Colorado River, surrounding farms use more efficient irrigation and the planet warms. As water levels recede, the exposed lake bed is dry and dusty, and frequently emits a hold-your-nose rotten-egg stench, the result of natural processes, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Researchers have linked the dust that blows off the playa to the region’s abnormally high rates of childhood asthma. The rural communities that surround the Salton Sea, their populations majority Latino, bear a disproportionate brunt of this crisis. Sara Renteria, who lives along the sea’s northeast shore, was diagnosed with asthma three years ago, and doctors said she probably developed the condition from the dusty environment and exposure to pesticides at work. Yet when Renteria visits the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and gazes out at the sparkling water, she sees possibility. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Wetlands project is 24-carrot gold for farming community and Salton Sea
“Throughout most of its 52-mile length, from the Mexicali Valley in Baja California to southern California’s Salton Sea, the Alamo River is mostly a weed-choked gulley. Fed in large part by farm runoff, the river carries with it a safe-eating advisory from the state of California because of the stew of contaminants it contains. One small farming community, billing itself as the carrot capital of the world, recently completed a project designed to help rid the river of some of its pollutants and provide homes for threatened and endangered birds and wildlife, including the Yuma clapper rail. The 31-acre Holtville Alamo River Wetlands Project, a partnership that includes the Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial County, the Salton Sea Authority and Desert Wildlife Unlimited, was awarded $4.6 million in federal funding with $1.6 million coming from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Salton Sea Program budget. “This is another step towards improving conditions in and around the Salton Sea,” explained Reclamation’s Salton Sea Program Manager Jeremy Brooks. “This project will help the water quality in the Salton Sea and provide quality habitat and recreational opportunities in Holtville.” … ” Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation.
SAN DIEGO
Escondido declares emergency over water quality in Escondido Creek
“Escondido officials announced a local emergency Sunday following initial testing of water conditions in Escondido Creek near Harmony Grove due to contamination related to homeless encampments in the area. The city said it is “taking decisive action to address significant environmental and public health concerns.” The emergency proclamation will enable personnel to address risks posed by contamination in the creek bed area, ensuring the health of residents and safeguarding natural resources, according to officials. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
SEE ALSO: Escondido declares local emergency at homeless encampment, from Channel 10.
King tides show us what future sea-level rise could mean for our coastline
“King Tides are an annual event in San Diego that bring the highest and lowest tides of the year, reaching about two feet higher than average high tides. Saturday morning painters and bird watchers headed out to the Kendall Frost Marsh in Mission Bay to enjoy the beauty. Meanwhile conservationists were observing the natural phenomenon for a glimpse of what our coastline could look like in the future because of rising sea levels. Sea levels along our coastline are projected to rise by four to eight inches over the nest 25 years, according to US Sea Level Change. This change could have serious impacts on coastal environments. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Along the Colorado River …
Cracking a Utah mystery: How much of the state’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 — called the Utah Flux Network — 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,” Ladig said, “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 the Salt Lake Tribune.
In national water news today …
Some of the world’s biggest cities are so polluted they’re warming slower
“The question of whether global warming is accelerating is hotly contested among climate scientists. While some have argued that the current rate of warming — which hit an all-time high last year — is strictly correlated with increased fossil fuel emissions and therefore aligned with current climate models, others have cautioned that the Earth is far more sensitive to fossil fuels than previously thought and that humanity is hurtling toward tipping points from which there can be no return. In a recent study, a group of researchers from the University of Melbourne complicated this debate with an analysis of warming rates across the globe and possible causes for regional differences. Their principal finding: The globe is getting hotter at a faster rate, but this acceleration is occurring unevenly. Surprisingly, densely populated areas with large concentrations of poverty — megacities like Cairo and Mumbai — are warming more slowly than urban centers in Europe and North America. Why? The researchers found that the large quantity of aerosol particles in the air of highly polluted cities reflect sunlight back out into space and, at least in the short term, can have a net cooling effect on populations. … ” Read more from the LAist.
UN talks fail to reach agreement on dealing with rising risk of global drought
“Despite two weeks of U.N.-sponsored talks in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, the participating 197 nations failed to agree early Saturday on a plan to deal with global droughts, made longer and more severe by a warming climate. The biennial talks, known as COP 16 and organized by a UN body that deals with combating desertification and droughts, attempted to create strong global mandates to legally bind and require nations to fund early warning systems and build resilient infrastructure in poorer countries, particularly Africa, which is worst affected by the changes. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification released a report earlier this week warning that if global warming trends continue, nearly five billion people — including in most of Europe, parts of the western U.S., Brazil, eastern Asia and central Africa — will be affected by the drying of Earth’s lands by the end of the century, up from a quarter of the world’s population today. … ” Read more from the Associated Press.
