Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar today …
- MEETING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. Agenda items include Consideration of a proposed Resolution approving an amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay Basin to include information on climate change and aquatic habitat conservation, management, and restoration; Office of Operator Certification Program updates; and Clear Lake Hitch Emergency Update. Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
In California water news today …
Scientists are turning fog into water. Here’s what it could mean for California
“It comes in fingers, walls and waves. Along the San Francisco Bay, it often hangs, oppressive, eviscerating what could be a sunny day. Other times, it’s an apparition, within reach one moment and beyond grasp the next. Fog — a part of daily life for millions of Californians — is fundamentally fickle. Yet now researchers are trying to more consistently harvest it. The effort comes as global warming pushes California’s climate pendulum from brutal droughts to extreme deluges. As these swings intensify, water supplies are becoming increasingly precious. Fog, however, blankets parts of California through dry periods and heatwaves. Scientists, and investors, say this untapped water resource could make communities more resilient, while stirring an impulse to conserve. Peter Weiss, an environmental toxicologist at UC Santa Cruz, started collecting fog during the megadrought that plagued California from 2019 through 2021. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Restoring the Salton Sea: Enhancing habitats and safeguarding community health
“California state agencies are working on projects to improve air quality and create safe habitats for birds at the Salton Sea, a key stop along the Pacific Flyway. Over the years, less water has been flowing into the sea, causing it to shrink and become saltier. As the water recedes, exposed lakebed releases dust, which poses health concerns for nearby communities. The Salton Sea Management Program includes the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, working under the California Natural Resources Agency to advance projects at the Salton Sea to improve air quality and provide critical environmental habitat for birds along the Pacific Flyway. State legislation, State Water Resources Control Board orders, and formal agreements between federal, Tribal, and local entities guide the SSMP’s work. The November meeting of the California Water Commission included an update on the Salton Sea Management Program. Evon Willhoff, Acting Assistant Deputy Director for Salton Sea Restoration, and Melinda Dorrin, Acting Salton Sea Restoration Office Lead Manager, both with DWR, provided an overview of the Program’s restoration actions, including the recent implementation of large-scale aquatic habitat restoration and vegetation enhancement on exposed Salton Sea lakebed. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Annual Farm Bureau meeting workshop takes on navigating SGMA
“Ten years into the state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, local agencies are implementing plans and projects to achieve long-term sustainability in aquifers by limiting overdraft, land subsidence and impacts to drinking water. Navigating SGMA challenges, including the probation process under the California State Water Resources Control Board and how to fund and implement groundwater sustainability plans, was discussed as part of an educational workshop for members at the California Farm Bureau’s 106th Annual Meeting in Monterey last week. “Where we are in the state is trying to get all our basins balanced,” said Justin Fredrickson, California Farm Bureau senior policy analyst who provided an overview of the state’s landmark groundwater regulation. … ” Read more from Ag Alert.
Punjabi farmers gain few answers at workshop to address confusion over groundwater regulations
“After a four-hour workshop with state officials in Visalia, Punjabi American farmers were left frustrated and questioning whether California realized it had weaponized groundwater in a way that could destroy the San Joaquin Valley. “SGMA has good intentions,” said Selma grower Nick Sahota during the Dec. 5 event. “But it has become a weapon to destroy the San Joaquin Valley.” He wanted to know if lawmakers had considered the impacts not just on farmers, but trucking, convenience stores and other ancillary valley businesses that rely on ag when they passed SGMA in 2014. Sahota referred to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which aims to bring severely overdrafted aquifers into balance by 2040. To do that, local groundwater sustainability agencies, GSAs, have been working to increase water recharge opportunities and reduce pumping. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Northern California lakes take different approach to preventing invasive golden mussels
“The most recent, and perhaps the potentially the most devastating, invasive species to enter California’s waters is the golden mussel, discovered at several sites within the California Delta and in the reservoirs of the California Aqueduct. California boaters already must be inspected at several lakes prior to launching due to the potential spread of quagga and zebra mussels, but the golden mussel presents a more potent threat as they can establish in waters with considerably lower calcium levels than required by quagga and zebra mussels. Since ocean-going vessels enter the California Delta to offload at the Port of Stockton and Port of Sacramento, invasive species such as the golden mussel are ‘easily introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port, most likely via ballast water release from commercial shipping and introduced to other rivers by overland or aquatic transport on boat hulls or trailers,’ according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lake Berryessa was the first domino to fall in northern California due to the potential spread of the invasive golden mussel, and within the past week, Lakes Hennesy, Camanche, and New Melones have followed suit on temporary 30-day launch closures. … ” Read more from the Western Outdoor News.
Sites Reservoir in the Sacramento Valley remains a second environmental battlefront between Newsom and California tribes and conservation groups
“Gavin Newsom continued his “California Jobs First” tour last week with a press event at a farm in Colusa in the Sacramento Valley where the governor promoted efforts to build Sites Reservoir. However, similar to Newsom’s embattled Delta tunnel, Sites is a water project that’ is strongly opposed by a broad coalition of indigenous tribes, environmental groups and fishing organizations. “The future of California’s water supply flows right through Colusa County – and with that comes enormous economic opportunity and more jobs,” Newsom asserted at the event. “Farms like this one, and all across the state, have led the charge by transitioning to smart water practices that not only save water but also conserve critical habitats.” He added, “But we have to do more to protect our water supply for generations to come: That’s why we’re building more critical water infrastructure, faster to be able to store and move water for the hotter hots and the drier dries.” … ” Read more from the Sacramento News & Review.
$1.4 million grant awarded to UC Riverside to spur water recycling technology
“The University of California system has awarded a $1.4 million grant to UC Riverside chemical and environmental engineering professor Haizhou Liu and a collaborative team from several UC campuses to combat water scarcity by developing strategies to clean and reuse water for agriculture. With California facing climate change and dwindling water supplies, the research comes at a pivotal moment. “Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges in agriculture today,” said Lui, a faculty member in the Bourns College of Engineering. “Our project not only aims to improve water use efficiency but also to improve food safety, protect public health, and ensure a sustainable agricultural future.” The grant will allow Liu and his research team to develop methods to remove chemical pollutants and pathogens from wastewater supplies. Pollutants and pathogens can significantly hinder crop growth when contaminated recycled wastewater is used for irrigation. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
New laws and regulations impacting California’s public agencies, water suppliers, and employers
“The California Legislature and state agencies approved over 1,000 new laws and regulations which will go into effect in 2025, including a State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) regulation requiring water conservation planning and reporting, amendments to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act), significant penalties for violation of certain housing laws, and employment legislation pertaining to the use of paid leave, worker protections, and job postings. The State Board’s regulation, Making Conservation a California Way of Life (Regulation), was adopted in summer 2024 and takes effect in 2025, implementing two laws enacted in 2018 that directed the State Board to develop a regulatory framework advancing long-term water use efficiency. … Beginning on January 1, 2025, the Regulation requires urban retail water suppliers to annually calculate a unique urban water use objective (Objective) for the prior year. … ” Read the full article at Somach Simmons & Dunn.
As the federal Safe Drinking Water Act turns 50, California is poised to address new challenges
“The State Water Resources Control Board today joins many nationwide in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act and recognizing the lasting impact of a federal law that ushered in the modern era of drinking-water regulation throughout the U.S. In California, the act inspired numerous pioneering achievements by the State Water Board to safeguard the drinking water supply in the state. Signed into law by President Gerald Ford on this day in 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act continues to play a pivotal role in protecting human health by safeguarding the safety and quality of drinking water in all 50 states. In many ways, California leads the way in identifying contaminants and establishing health safety standards – known as maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs – that protect the quality of drinking water for 7,400 public water systems throughout the state. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
SEE ALSO: Safe Drinking Water Act Turns 50, from Circle of Blue
Jared Huffman clinches top Democrat’s spot on House Natural Resources Committee
“California just got another boost to its positioning as a primary antagonist to the incoming Trump administration on the environment: The North Coast’s Rep. Jared Huffman today formally clinched the Democrats’ top spot on the House Natural Resources Committee. Huffman will lead House Democrats’ efforts to stymie Trump’s agenda to drill more on public lands and boost federal water deliveries by rolling back endangered species protections. A progressive climate and environment hawk who maintains deep ties to California green groups, Huffman is a former Natural Resources Defense Council attorney with over a decade of experience on the committee. “It is my life’s work — water, wildlife, fisheries, public lands, tribal issues — and what I know and love the best,” Huffman said in a press release. “I am ready to roll up my sleeves and do the work to protect our treasured natural resources, lift up tribal and frontline communities, and lead us as a team to effectively fight against Trump’s Project 2025 agenda and ensure we win back the House.” … ” Read more from Politico.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
More than a century after their land was ravaged by the California gold rush, Yurok Tribe to reclaim territory
“Rosie Clayburn is a descendant of the Yurok Tribe, which had its territory — called ‘O Rew in the Yurok language — ripped from them nearly two centuries ago. “As the natural world became completely decimated, so did the Yurok people,” she said. That decimation started when miners rushed in for gold, killing and displacing tens of thousands of Native Americans in California and ravaging the redwood trees for lumber. “Everything was extracted that was marketable,” Clayburn said. “We’ve always had this really intricate relationship with the landscape. We’ve hunted, we’ve fished, we’ve gathered. And those are all management tools. Everything that we do has been in balance with the natural world.” Now, generations later, 125 acres bordering Redwood National and State Parks will be handed back to the Yuroks. … ” Read more from CBS News.
Humboldt County board of supervisors work to get water released to the Trinity River
“California has been working hard to sustain its water and to supply it. Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta is one of those bodies of water that is being assisted with its sustainability by receiving water from the Trinity River. Humboldt County and the United States entered into a water contract on June 19, 1959, as authorized under Section 2, Proviso 2 of Public Law 84-386, which Congress adopted on August 12, 1955. Proviso 2 conditioned the integration of the Trinity River Division into the Central Valley Project, requiring that not less than 50,000 acre-feet shall be released annually from Trinity Reservoir and made available to Humboldt County and downstream water users. … ” Read more from KRCR.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
‘We just got lucky’: Tahoe storm dumps snow across ski resorts
“Christmas came early for skiers in Northern California, as a weekend storm dumped several feet of snow in the Sierra and rescued a ski season that has so far been lackluster for much of the region. More than 4 feet of snow has fallen in the last five days on the mountains near Lake Tahoe in the biggest snow cycle of the year, with resorts such as Palisades, Northstar and Sugar Bowl having above the average snowpack for this time of year, according to OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto. “We just got lucky” during this past storm, Allegretto said, because Tahoe wasn’t on track to get much of any snow. He said West Coast weather patterns have favored the Pacific Northwest so far this ski season. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Lake Shasta water level boosted by California wet weather, with more rain coming
“Since last month’s atmospheric river that drenched the North State, the water level in Lake Shasta — California’s largest manmade reservoir — has shot up nearly 20 feet. And after a few dry days this week, get ready for more rain in the northern Sacramento Valley as the region enters another wet pattern that is expected to go through Christmas. As of Monday, the elevation at Shasta Dam was at 1,003 feet, 18 feet higher than where it stood in mid-November before the area got soaked with record amounts of rain that jump-started the water season, according to the California Department of Water Resources. With the last several days of wet weather, the water level at Lake Shasta has risen 6 feet since the start of December. … ” Read more from the Redding Record-Searchlight. | Read via Yahoo News.
SEE ALSO: Lake Shasta rising again: 20 photos tell story of how full California lake was in 2024, from the Redding Record-Searchlight
The Sacramento River: A mecca for many critters—and a source for all
“California’s largest river flows 400 miles from its headwaters near Mount Shasta to the San Francisco Bay. Its shape resembles a child’s scribbles in places, but the Sacramento River provides a demanding region with its most precious resource: fresh water. Take a trip with us along the state’s unsung architect, which paved a route that would be traversed by steamships, crisscrossed by highways, and floated by inner-tubers. Many of the first people who lived in Northern California, long before our cities’ namesakes arrived and forcibly claimed the land, made their homes on the banks of the river. It sustained them with water and food, with transportation and tools. … ” Read more from Alta Magazine.
BAY AREA
Despite media hype, experts unfazed by elevated radiation at Albany Bulb
“A recent study found elevated levels of radiation at a former dump turned busy community space, but experts say the public has little to worry about. Similar to other public parks, the Albany Bulb was formed on top of what was previously a landfill created along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bayfront, just north of Berkeley. The main portion of the park, about 40 acres, is owned by Albany while the East Bay Regional Parks District owns the northern stretch of land leading up to the bulb and the state owns the southern portion. People flock to the area for a number of reasons – everything from dog walking to daily strolls to birdwatching and beach visits. The Albany Bulb itself is known for its display of public art made of scavenged scraps of landfill that coincide with the park’s scenic views. It was also home to unsheltered residents for decades before they were removed in 2014. Concerns about safety at the park were raised recently after a survey conducted by GSI Environmental found 10 areas spanning 12,370 square feet showed elevated levels of radiation. … ” Read more from the Mercury News.
Commentary: Valley Water takes first step to address impacts of waterway encampments
Richard Santos, vice chair of the Valley Water board of directors, writes, “Valley Water’s mission is to provide Silicon Valley with safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment and economy. To help achieve this mission, we are committed to protecting water quality and the environment from harmful activities. In recent years, there has been an increase in encampments along creeks, waterways and lands owned or managed by our agency. These encampments can lead to significant amounts of trash and harmful pollutants, which diminish water quality, block stream flows and fish passage and harm wildlife habitats. Additionally, they can pose serious health and safety concerns for individuals without shelter, Valley Water staff and the broader community. Our board recognizes the urgent need to address the environmental problems associated with encampments near our waterways. Every year, our agency invests millions of dollars to enhance the environment in these areas. However, activities like trampling, digging, removing plants and trees and the rising number of fires from encampments are harming and destroying important habitats we are trying to protect. … ” Read more from the San Jose Spotlight.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
MEETING NOTES: Copper wire thieves vex Corcoran Irrigation District; Tri-County to look into subsidence source and spread
“Corcoran Irrigation District’s General Manager Devin Eagle informed the board that wire thieves continue to hit farms, ranches and even the Corcoran office, taking wire from wells and equipment. Some damage is extensive. The bandits usually cut through the district’s fence to nab wire from extra equipment on the property, Eagle said during the district’s Dec. 10 board meeting. Other districts such as Tulare Irrigation District are also seeing metal thieves. … Construction was expected to begin the week of Dec. 9 for the district’s recharge basin project. Wood Brothers Inc., an excavating contractor based in Lemoore, was hired for the job. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Kern Subbasin approves final Groundwater Sustainability Plan
“The Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) have finalized and approved a coordinated Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), endorsed by all 20 GSAs. The adopted plan addresses deficiencies previously identified by the California Department of Water Resources and the State Water Resources Control Board. Originally drafted in May 2024, the final version was revised based on feedback from the State Water Resources Control Board staff and public comments. Key components of the plan include a coordination agreement among all 20 GSAs in the Kern County Subbasin a robust domestic well mitigation program, and extensive improvements in technical areas like water quality and subsidence monitoring. All of these enhancements will ensure the sustainable management of groundwater resources in Kern County and avoid potentially undesirable results from excessive groundwater pumping. “We are very well-coordinated and worked together to address all deficiencies identified by the State, and I am extremely pleased with the collaborative approach that produced this unified plan,” said Derek Yurosek, chair of the Coordination Committee for Kern County Subbasin. … ” Continue reading this press release from KCWA.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes has slowed from one foot to 2.7 inches a week
“Land movement in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes has slowed from an unprecedented one foot a week to an average 2.7 inches as residents brace themselves for the winter rain season. According to the latest staff report, the entire landslide complex is also now around 700 acres, up from 380 acres. City officials attribute the slowdown to dry weather spells and the city’s dewatering efforts, which have resulted in the removal of around 75 million gallons of water from within the landslide area. … ” Read more from the LAist.
In the Mojave Desert, a gold rush sparks a mini real-estate boom for old mines
“It’s a brisk day in Johannesburg, a tiny mining town tucked among the Rand Mountains in the Mojave Desert. The landscape is vast and rugged, a mish-mash of rock, dirt and creosote bushes, swaths of gray and brown under a deep blue sky. The terrain appears completely untouched by man, but a closer look reveals dozens of cavities pocked across the rolling hills. They look like monster snake holes. Those curious holes are abandoned mines, and they’re driving a real-estate boomlet in a place that hasn’t had one in more than a century. As the price of gold climbs, the demand for Randsburg’s craggy land has been reawakened. “The market is heating up,” said David Treadwell, a real estate agent based in Hemet. “I get 2-3 leads per month on buyers looking for patented mine claims. If you can get the gold out of the ground, there’s money to be made.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
IID dissolves agricultural advisory board
Brawley farmer Rusty Jordan writes, “Today I got an unexpected three hours a month of free time. The IID dissolved the AWAC committee. As I hate acronyms ‘Agricultural Water Advisory Committee,’ This group has met since it replaced WCAB’s ‘Water Conservation Advisory Board’. Four or five years. Each IID Board member had appointed three members, so there were 15 AG members. “Farmers.” The members are bright, concerned citizens who share a concern for the future of the Imperial Valley (my opinion). The IID supplies an equal number of people to interact with the Board. The meetings were held in the Farm Credit Conference room on Aten Road. The public was welcome, and interested parties attended. In years before, the meetings were held at the IID Board Meeting room and were available for viewing on the Internet. After it was noticed that all the Western Water World was viewing this open session of ideas and interchange, wiser minds decided that working for solutions to water issues would be carried on in a quieter setting. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
IID passes resolution to modernize infrastructure
“In an action to secure the long-term reliability of water and power service, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors passed at its Tuesday, Dec. 17 regular meeting, a resolution committing to modernize its critical infrastructure by 2040. The initiative will bring IID’s vast network of canals, power lines, and facilities into “good or better condition,” while ensuring no critical infrastructure exceeds its useful life, a recent IID press release said. The resolution addressed a growing challenge faced by utilities nationwide: aging infrastructure. IID’s systems include over 7,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines, 3,000 miles of canals and drains, and key facilities like the Imperial Dam and the All-American Canal, per the release. Without reinvestment, IID studies showed that within 15 years, over a third of IID’s water and power infrastructure, and the majority of its general services and IT infrastructure, will be at or beyond their designed lifespans. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
South County Report: What’s in the water
“Sweetwater Dam rises 200 feet from the floor of a rocky river gorge a few miles northeast of Bonita. The 136-year-old concrete and masonry dam holds back 28,000 acre-feet of water in Sweetwater Reservoir, a major source of drinking water in South San Diego County. The dam, and the reservoir, have been quiet fixtures of the Bonita and Spring Valley landscape for generations. These days, they’re drawing an unaccustomed amount of attention. Last week, I wrote about the unwelcome discovery of toxic industrial chemicals in Sweetwater Reservoir. If further testing confirms initial results, Sweetwater Authority, the government agency responsible for the dam and reservoir, could be required to install expensive new treatment systems to remove the chemicals. Water rates could rise to cover the anticipated cost of roughly $40 million. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
2 announcements could offer relief for border sewage pollution crisis
“Twin announcements Tuesday could bring welcome relief to the ongoing pollution crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border in the Tijuana River Valley. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced the beginning of a state-funded pilot project featuring floating trash booms made partially from recycled material.The $4.7 million project, financed by California’s Water Resources Control Board and managed by the nonprofit Rural Community Assistance Corporation, is intended to intercept and collect large items of trash such as tires and appliances dumped into the river. … Also on Tuesday, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, announced he and the San Diego Congressional delegation have secured $250 million in the “Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2025″ for the Tijuana River pollution. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Trash booms placed at Tijuana River to address cross-border pollution
“California state officials have deployed a new trash collection system in the Tijuana River Valley to combat cross-border pollution. The system includes a 450-foot-long boom designed to capture up to 14,000 cubic yards of debris. The California Water Resources Control Board has positioned 150 separate sections of floating barriers in the concrete-lined portion of the main Tijuana River Channel immediately downstream of the border. They will intercept trash and plastics before they reach South Bay waterways and beaches. Officials said the boom will collect surface-level debris, including plastics and textiles, that would otherwise flow into the ocean. Due to recycling regulations, the materials will be transported to landfills, as plastics from Mexico do not meet California recycling standards. … ” Read more from Channel 8.
SEE ALSO: California joins federal and community partners to launch pilot project to help clean up Tijuana River, from the Office of the Governor
Along the Colorado River …
Arizona’s plan to import over 100 billion gallons of water
“As the prolonged megadrought gripping the Colorado River continues to deplete critical reservoirs like Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Arizona is taking action to secure its water future. The state’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) has launched a plan to import billions of gallons of water annually from out of state—a response to mounting water supply challenges exacerbated by climate change and surging demand. At the heart of this initiative is WIFA’s Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund, a program created to address Arizona’s growing water needs. With a current fund balance of nearly $450 million, WIFA is working to bring innovative, sustainable water importation projects to life. The Colorado River, which provides 36 percent of Arizona’s water, has been ravaged by over two decades of drought. Lake Mead, a key reservoir for the Southwest, sits at just 33 percent capacity, while Lake Powell faces similar depletion. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Commentary: It’s a slippery slope to sue Fondomonte Arizona out of existence
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “A judge, not lawmakers, could significantly alter how Arizona water law works. That is, if the case even goes anywhere. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing Fondomonte Arizona, the Saudi-owned company that has become a political target because it grows alfalfa to export. The lawsuit claims that Fondomonte is a public nuisance because it is pumping groundwater “at an unreasonable and excessive rate” on land the company owns in the Ranegras Plain basin, a sparsely populated part of La Paz County that includes the tiny communities of Vicksburg and Bouse. The company set up shop there in 2014, according to the complaint, and its groundwater use has increased over time, to nearly 32,000 acre-feet in 2023. That’s about 81% of estimated water use in the Ranegras basin. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Utah wants to shore up its Colorado River share with a water ‘savings account’
“Coby Hunt’s farm field near the southeast Utah town of Green River would normally be filled with alfalfa growing up to his knees. This year, however, it was barren — pale gray dirt cracking under the late summer sun. The only green things were scraggly scraps of whatever accidental plants somehow survived without irrigation. It wasn’t a pretty sight for Hunt. “It hurts,” he said as he surveyed the desolate field. “But there’s also a benefit of it looking like this, right?” That benefit is taking the water he could have used to irrigate his land and leaving it in the nearby Green River, which flows to the increasingly strained Colorado River. “There’s only so many pieces of the pie you can pull out before there’s no pie,” he said. “Every little bit you can save adds more.” … ” Read more from KUER.
In national water news today …
Funding deal has $100B for disasters, nothing for IRA conservation
“House Republican leadership on Tuesday outlined details of the stopgap funding bill that Congress will vote on later this week, including billions of dollars in economic aid for farmers, a measure to boost biofuels sales and a massive disaster aid supplemental. Ahead of the anticipated release of the continuing resolution, House Speaker Mike Johnson told members of his conference that the funding extension will include roughly $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in economic aid for farmers who have suffered from high costs, falling incomes and natural disasters. The Louisiana Republican told reporters that the text of the CR, which will run through March 14, will likely be finalized Tuesday afternoon and that he hoped to try to pass it via the Rules Committee, requiring a simple-majority vote for passage. However, the speaker may ultimately have to pass it under fast-track procedures instead and rely more on Democrats, given opposition from conservatives on the panel. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Bogotá’s water rationing is a preview: More places should practice going without crucial resources.
“Last winter, the mountains that shape Bogotá’s skyline more than any skyscraper were on fire. Which is strange in a place known for its abundant rainfall, but Colombia has been running low on precipitation since June 2023. In the spring of this year, the mayor began rationing water—the city and its 11 million inhabitants split into nine zones, each of which would have no water once every 10 days. My brother-in-law had told me about the plan, but by the time my family and I moved to Colombia this past summer, I’d forgotten. One afternoon, not two weeks after unpacking our bags, I tried to refill the half-empty water-purification tank in the kitchen, but when I opened the faucet, nothing happened. I went to the portero, to ask about the absence. He told me it was thanks to the mayor, though we both knew it wasn’t the mayor’s fault. In Colombia, climate change, coupled with deforestation in the Amazon and El Niño weather patterns that have become more intense, has caused a punishing and prolonged drought. … ” Read more from The Atlantic.
