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In California water news this weekend …
A major California river dried up below Yosemite. The reason was a mystery — until now
“Two years ago, California water regulators were stunned to learn that a major river in the San Joaquin Valley had stopped flowing. The waterway ran dry for 5 miles, leaving young fish stranded in muddy pools, birds fleeing to new homes, and paddlers, waterfront property owners and farmers gripped with frustration. In a state partly defined by its thirst for water, the emptying of the Merced River for four months in 2022 remained something of a mystery. Fed by the snowy peaks of the Sierra, the Merced has long been heavily pumped for agriculture, and its levels often dip considerably during droughts. Yet California generally restricts water draws to keep at least some flow moving downstream. An investigation that state water regulators are just finishing into why the river dried up offers some insight: While water users clearly drew out more water than was healthy for the Merced, the California State Water Resources Control Board found that the users were largely within their legal rights to do so, highlighting a fundamental problem with the state’s regulatory system. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle (gift article).
Groundwater models through stakeholders’ eyes: Evaluating benefits, challenges, and lessons for SGMA implementation
“The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requires stakeholder participation in developing groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) to ensure the reliability of groundwater resources. Groundwater models became widely used in GSP development (e.g., to evaluate management actions). This study explores stakeholder perceptions of the benefits and challenges of using these models in GSP development and of models’ abilities to deal with uncertainties arising from existing data gaps. Qualitative interviews and minutes from groundwater advisory committee meetings from three groundwater basins reveal that groundwater models can improve stakeholders’ understanding of the groundwater system and help stakeholders identify management actions. … ” Read the full article at California Agriculture.
Landmark government report calls for national mobilization to curb groundwater depletion
“Even as groundwater levels have rapidly declined in farming regions from California’s Central Valley to the High Plains, the federal government has mostly taken a hands-off approach to the chronic depletion of the nation’s aquifers. But in a new report for the White House, scientists say the country is facing serious and unprecedented groundwater challenges that call for the federal government to play a larger role. Members of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology said the country needs better data to provide a comprehensive picture of how much groundwater there is and how fast it is being depleted. The scientists called for a national effort to advance strategies for safeguarding aquifers, including establishing a federal program that would provide incentives to encourage states and communities to manage underground water supplies sustainably. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Video: Ten years of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
“Department of Water Resources (DWR) recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This law was signed in 2014 by Governor Jerry Brown and has had a profound impact on groundwater use and management as nearly 85 percent of Californians rely on groundwater for some portion of their water needs. Watch California water officials and experts discuss numerous accomplishments under SGMA that have reshaped California’s groundwater management including: 250 local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies formed to bolster our water supply across the state, improved our groundwater data collection, and improved resilience to the impacts of extreme weather associated with climate change.” Watch video here.
‘It’s going to be pretty messy.’ Atmospheric storms in California could complicate holiday travel
“A series of atmospheric river storms are expected to impact Northern California over the weekend, raising the likelihood of making holiday plans for many travelers more complicated. The first of the storm systems is expected to move into the Bay Area on Saturday morning, bringing about a quarter of an inch to a third of an inch of rain to San Francisco and Oakland, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Dial Hoang. The North Bay valleys are expected to get around half an inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain while the mountains could record one and a half inches, Hoang said. San Jose and the inland portions of the East Bay could see a few hundredths of an inch. The storm is expected to last through Sunday before another storm brings “intense rain” to the region Monday and Tuesday, Hoang said. San Francisco and Oakland could get an additional inch and a half of rain while the North Bay valleys could get up to 3 inches in some areas. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Warm and “wet north/dry south” pattern to continue in California
“When it comes to California precipitation so far this season, your mileage may vary. Specifically as a function of latitude! Since October 1, nearly all of NorCal north of the Golden Gate has seen much wetter than average conditions; south of Point Conception, conditions have been much drier than average (and even completely dry in some cases). In fact, there are pockets of Sonoma County that are still on track to experience their wettest start to the Water Year on record–and wider swaths of SoCal that are on track to meet or tie the records for their driest start to the Water Year on record. Even in a state where there are frequently striking north-south contrasts, the extremity of the current north-south precipitation dipole is genuinely remarkable–a north-south contrast that may itself be record-breaking in some respects. … ” Read more from Weather West.
SEE ALSO:
- Atmospheric river approaching Northern California to bring rain, snow. What to know, from KCRA
- Atmospheric rivers are returning to the Bay Area. Here’s the rain timeline, from the SF Chronicle
California hatcheries lend a helping hand to Battle Creek fall run Chinook salmon
“For hundreds of years fall Chinook salmon in the Central Valley of California have been abundant and thrived in the rivers and tributaries flowing through the great valley. Little by little as rivers and streams were modified by dams and channels beginning in the early 1900s, salmon populations began declining. In 1942, Congress recognized that hatcheries were needed to help support these fish and established Coleman National Fish Hatchery to mitigate the loss of salmon naturally returning to historic spawning areas. Each year, Coleman needs to collect 3,500 pairs of fall Chinook salmon during the months of October and November to meet its annual production goal of 12 million juvenile fall Chinook salmon. Typically, plenty of salmon return to the hatchery via Battle Creek, however, 2024 was different story, with 1,100 females returning in the fall. As a result, the hatchery collected roughly only 5.5 million eggs. … ” Read more from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Update: A record 34,740 salmon return to Mokelumne River, Upper Sacramento run is dismal
“A record high number of fall-run Chinook salmon have returned to the California’s Mokelumne River to date, while an alarmingly low number of Chinooks have come back to the Upper Sacramento River’s Coleman National Fish Hatchery on Battle Creek. A total of 34,740 fish have gone over the Woodbridge Diversion Dam on the Mokelumne near Lodi through Dec. 13, according to Michelle Workman, Fisheries and Wildlife Manager for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). 25,429 of those fish were adults, while 9,303 were grilse (male/female 2 year olds). Those numbers don’t add up to the total because a handful of early fish could not be sorted by male/female. The previous salmon record was set last year when the total run size was 28,865, said Workman. … ” Continue reading from Dan Bacher at the Daily Kos.
Out-of-control invasive species has met its match: Cute and hungry otters
“A California ecosystem has gotten a big boost from an adorable, fluffy and hungry friend. At Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, a newly-reinvigorated population of native southern sea otters has eaten so many invasive European green crabs that researchers say the otters have locally solved a problem that has plagued the West Coast for years. States are spending millions to protect their inland waterways from the tiny crabs. Though small – they reach only four inches in width – the invaders harm native wildlife and shoreline ecosystems. At stake are multi-million dollar shellfish industries for Dungeness, king crab and other species. But at the reserve, otters have almost wiped the crabs out, helping the estuary’s ecosystem come back into balance. … ” Read more from USA Today.
California Fish and Game Commission guards state waters against golden mussels, extends sturgeon fishing restrictions with added guidance
“The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) acted on a variety of issues affecting California’s natural resources at its Dec.11-12 meeting in Sacramento, including emergency action to list the invasive golden mussel as a restricted species. The Commission also acted to extend emergency regulations 90 days for the recreational catch-and-release white sturgeon season and added language for permitted catch handling. The public was able to participate in the meeting in person, via webinar and by phone. To protect California against the spread of invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) discovered Oct. 17 at the Port of Stockton, and in the days following as far south as San Luis Reservoir’s O’Neill Forebay, the Commission added golden mussel to the list of species restricted from live importation, transportation and possession. This discovery is North America’s first; golden mussel is native to China and Southeast Asia and was likely transported across the ocean on large ships. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Calculating the future of the California Current Ecosystem
“Few places in the world’s oceans are as biologically productive as the California Current Ecosystem (CCE), which, as the name implies, lies off California’s coastline, from British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico. Seasonally, cold waters filled with nutrients feed krill, squid, and sardines, among other species. These are in turn consumed by other species, from birds to fish to marine mammals. Unfortunately, this region is also suffering some of the world’s fastest-recorded declines in dissolved oxygen. Scientists worry that this could eventually lead to a major ecological disruption by narrowing the available habitat for species that need oxygen. To understand that potential future, a team of researchers—supported by funding from the Ocean Protection Council—decided to look at the CCE’s past. … ” Read more from Sea Grant.
In commentary this weekend …
Delaying the Delta Conveyance Project puts California’s water security at risk
Jennifer Pierre, General Manager of the State Water Contractors, writes, “The State Water Project, a cornerstone of California’s water delivery system, runs on 1960s-era infrastructure. This aging system is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, seismic risks and environmental challenges. Modernizing it with the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) is essential to ensure sustainable and reliable access to the water that powers our state’s communities, farms and industries. That’s why recent attempts to delay progress on the DCP before the Delta Stewardship Council are not just frustrating — they’re harmful. DCP opponents argue that conducting geotechnical investigations necessary to inform the engineering and design of the DCP is currently inconsistent with the Delta Plan — the long-term plan that guides the management of the Delta’s water supply and environmental resources. This claim simply doesn’t hold water and fundamentally misrepresents the nature and purpose of geotechnical work. … ” Read more from the State Water Contractors.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland reflects on historic appointment, legacy as her term comes to a close
“Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was born in Winslow, Arizona, and is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico. She elevated Indigenous issues from the Southwest by leaning into her roots as the nation’s first Native American Cabinet secretary. “I’m really proud of my time here,” Haaland told KJZZ News. “Did we get to every single thing? Um, no. They’ve gone through many eras of underfunding and neglect, so we did everything we could with what we were given. President Biden saw and listened to Indian Country.” She has been reportedly eyeing a run to become her home state’s next governor in 2026, which may lead to a Democratic primary showdown with three-term New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is also considering a bid. Haaland hasn’t made any announcement yet about her possible candidacy. Haaland talked with KJZZ News in December about her historic appointment and legacy.” Read transcript or listen to podcast at KJZZ.
Eight emerging scientists address high-priority research needs
“Growing up in a farming family in the Salinas Valley, Tara Pozzi learned about the impacts of extreme weather, particularly flooding. After she left for college and began to connect those flood events to the broader impacts of climate change, Pozzi began to think bigger: There’s a network of actors influencing regional adaptation efforts, she realized. Now a doctoral student at the University of California, Davis, studying environmental behavior and policy, Pozzi has spent the past two years creating a first-of-its-kind map that shows how various groups in the region — from nonprofits to municipal governments to tribal organizations — are interconnected. “Mapping the network of organizations engaged in adaptation revealed that the technical knowledge is there,” says Pozzi. “People know how to adapt, but there’s not always enough financial support or clarity about which adaptation efforts to prioritize. ” … ” Read more from Sea Grant.
SAFER drinking water advisory group welcomes new appointees
“The State Water Resources Control Board recently announced eight appointments and two re-appointments to the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Advisory Group, which provides input on the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund’s annual spending priorities to ensure they reflect the needs and perspectives of California communities. The new appointees and re-appointees join nine continuing members. The advisory group comprises members with diverse drinking water backgrounds and experiences, including representatives of public water systems, local agencies, tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and residents served by domestic wells or water systems in disadvantaged communities. The group meets quarterly to provide feedback on key SAFER plans and proposals. “Helping Californians achieve the human right to water is one of the board’s top priorities, and the SAFER Advisory Group is a critical partner in this effort,” said Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
Podcasts …
FISH WATER PEOPLE: The Klamath: Behind the scenes with Shane Anderson and Brook Thompson
Join us for behind the scenes stories from the Klamath River as we explore the before and after of this historic dam removal project. We chat with Shane Anderson, 2x Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker, and Brook Thompson, Yurok & Karuk Native and Ph.D. Student. Damon Goodman, CalTrout Regional Director, also joins the conversation to share some exciting updates from CalTrout’s monitoring program on the Klamath as we work to uncover and better understand the impacts of dam removal.
VIC BEDOIAN: Merced National Wildlife Refuge is a Valley Treasure
The Merced National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951 under the Lea Act and Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The object was to attract wintering waterfowl from neighboring farmland where their foraging activities were causing crop damage. Changing agricultural practices and refuge management activities over several decades have resolved that problem. Now, the refuge is collaboration between wildlife agencies and local farmers. It is an accessible treasure trove of wildlife in the Central Valley, as Vic Bedoian reports.
THROUGHLINE: Going to the source of LA’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, about the creation of—and controversy over—the Los Angeles aqueduct.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING: A Very Merry Holiday Season to Everyone
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the basic needs for life were very similar as they are today; food, water, shelter, the feeling of our value in this world and a vision of things to come. Whether your celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or the coming of the Winter Solstice, you may find yourself reliving the history of these events. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
House passes bill to shield farmers from Klamath Dam removal impacts
“The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution designed to shield Klamath Project irrigators from adverse impacts of dam removals and species restoration, as well as costs from two dams that remain. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., authored HR 7938, which was passed by a voice vote with two-thirds majority and without objection Dec. 17. “This long overdue legislation is necessary if the federal government is to honor critical commitments it has made to farmers and ranchers,” Bentz said, in his floor statement. Under the legislation, federal agencies would not be allowed to pass on the costs of operating or maintaining Keno and Link River dams, infrastructure built and formerly operated by PacifiCorp. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
REAL Oregon hosts panel about Klamath Basin water
“On a blustery November night, Class 8 of REAL Oregon got a first hand look of the challenges of Klamath Basin water issues. Following a day of touring the Klamath Basin that included stops at the former J.C. Boyle dam site and Spencer Creek with Klamath Water Users Association’s Director of Water Policy, Moss Driscoll, the bus rolled into the Merrill Civic Center for a panel discussion titled, “Dam! Now What?” The eight-person panel was filled by representatives for economic, Tribal, agricultural, and governmental interests in the ongoing Klamath Basin water discussions. Sitting on the panel were: Darren Rutledge, Executive Director, The Klamath Idea; Becky Hyde, Upper Klamath Basin Ag Collaborative; Ken Griggs, Acting Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Klamath Refuge Complex; Willie Ray, Jr., Chairman of the Klamath Tribes; Jonathan Teichert, City Manager, City of Klamath Falls; Dave Henslee, Klamath County Board of Commissioners; Frankie Myers, Vice Chairman, Yurok Tribe; and Tracey Liskey, KWUA President and Klamath Drainage District board member.After audience and panel introductions, discussion moderator Scott White, KDD general manager and member of REAL Oregon’s Pioneer Class, jumped into the conversations. … ” Read more from the Herald & News.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
A shift in the weather may deliver a white Christmas to Lake Tahoe
“A shift in the weather is forecast to deliver a white Christmas to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada — plus a little bit of everything else the weather can throw. That ranges from rain and wind to Sierra cement and even a bit of soft, cold powder. “A potpourri,” said Bryan Allegretto, the Tahoe forecaster at OpenSnow. “I feel like a little bit of everything’s coming. Rain. Snow. Wind. No wind. Sun. All kinds of things.” Tahoe is on the southern edge of an incoming storm track, which makes the forecast a moving target, Allegretto said. If the storm stays in a northerly direction, Tahoe won’t see much precipitation and temperatures will stay warm, creating more rain than snow. But if the storm track brushes south, all that could change, bringing more precipitation and colder temperatures that add up to snow. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Shasta Lake rises 19 feet in one month, Bureau of Reclamation says its ready for more storms
“With two major storms already hitting our region this fall, and another likely on the way, we wanted to know how full the state’s biggest reservoir is. Michael Burke, a Public Affairs Specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation at Shasta Lake, explained where things currently stand: “It was a great year last year, we got within five feet of full. So, we’re really hopeful this year that the storms continue and we’re able to get a full pool again this year.” Shasta Lake has risen 19 feet in just the past month. Right now, Shasta Lake is 64% full, which is about 19.5 feet from the top. … ” Read more from Action News Now.
Breaking the pattern: Systemwide improvements aim to prepare Sacramento for future storm events
“Sacramento’s flood history dates back as far as the city itself. The prospect of gold led to people flocking to California in search of wealth and prosperity during California’s Gold Rush. Founded in 1849, Sacramento was California’s first incorporated city. The city’s location at the confluence of two major rivers and its proximity between San Francisco and the gold fields made it an ideal trading center for miners. It also presented a threat its newly transplanted residents were unprepared for – flooding. … “The geography of the Sacramento region means many communities sit at an elevation lower than the waterways that run next to them,” said Kristine Des Champs, chief of the Sacramento Basin Project Center for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District. “Standing on the levee it can be easy to see why this work is so important.” … ” Read more from DVIDS.
EASTERN SIERRA
Desert Report: Mono Lake still needs saving
“Standing at the shore of Mono Lake and looking out across the rippling water, you are looking at one unique and specific ecosystem, but also a thread that weaves together many landscapes, causes, and bodies of water. Protecting Mono Lake today means finding and strengthening those connections, all part of the fight for environmental justice. Located at the western edge of the arid Great Basin and the eastern side of the snowy Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake is an ancient saline lake that covers more than 70 square miles and supports a unique and highly productive ecosystem. Mono Lake is located on the ancestral and modern-day homelands of the Mono Lake Kootzaduka’a Tribe, who have lived in relation to this land since time immemorial. Mono Lake is also the site of several landmark California water rights decisions from the 1980s and 1990s that established the Public Trust doctrine’s role in protecting the lake’s ecosystem, as well as rules specifically set to raise Mono Lake to a healthy level. But today, the lake is only 50% of the way to achieving the level mandated by the California State Water Resources Control Board. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
New facility set to be built in Los Angeles to address looming public health issue: ‘It’s worth making that investment’
“Los Angeles is taking charge of the water crisis by spending $740 million to build a facility that converts wastewater into clean drinking water. The Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys will produce 20 million gallons of drinking water daily, the Los Angeles Times reported. As long as the project stays on schedule, it will break ground this month with an expected completion date of 2027. This major investment is part of the L.A. Groundwater Replenishment Project approved by the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. Recycling wastewater isn’t a new initiative for Los Angeles. However, the method was used for irrigation, whereas this initiative marks the first time the county will use this sustainable method to create more drinking water for residents. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
San Clemente’s December king tides highlight coastal challenges and opportunities
“From Dec. 13-15 last weekend, San Clemente experienced significant king tides, the highest astronomical tides of the year. These tides, caused by the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth during a new moon, resulted in extreme tidal fluctuations that affected coastal areas across California. In San Clemente, high tides peaked at 6.66 feet, 6.82 feet, and 6.79 feet on successive mornings, followed by low tides of -1.26 feet, -1.53 feet, and -1.55 feet in the afternoons. These tidal extremes presented both challenges and opportunities for residents, visitors, and researchers. The dramatic rise and fall of water levels caused temporary flooding in low-lying areas near the San Clemente Pier and adjacent beaches. … ” Read more from the San Clemente Times.
SAN DIEGO
Two local environmental groups initiate potential lawsuit against SeaWorld
“Two local environmental groups have initiated a potential lawsuit against SeaWorld San Diego alleging ongoing Clean Water Act violations in and around Mission Bay connected with the marine park’s fireworks displays and wastewater discharges. The Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper have sent a notice of intent letter to SeaWorld addressing numerous alleged violations of both its fireworks and waste discharge permits. CERF was founded by surfers in 2008 for the protection and enhancement of California’s coastal resources. San Diego Coastkeeper is an advocacy, community outreach, education, and science nonprofit promoting stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem. The notice letter states the popular marine mammal park hosts up to 150 fireworks shows per year, contending each of those shows fires off anywhere from 250 to 1,750 fireworks shells directly over Mission Bay. The letter describes “shocking amounts” of evidence collected from the waters surrounding SeaWorld’s fireworks launch barge. … ” Read more from San Diego News.
San Diego congressional leaders secure $250M for South Bay treatment plant, but passage by Congress uncertain
“San Diego’s congressional delegation announced Tuesday it had secured the remaining funding needed to upgrade the long-neglected federal wastewater treatment plant at the U.S.-Mexico border that has allowed sewage from Tijuana to pollute South County shorelines. But the stopgap spending bill that would provide the $250 million to complete the critical repairs was scrapped late Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump and others urged the House of Representatives to reject the deal, putting the fate of the plant funding in limbo. U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Scott Peters led the lobbying effort to secure the funds for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, which needs a total of $600 million to rehabilitate and expand the plant’s capacity. The sum does not include costs to operate and maintain the infrastructure. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
SEE ALSO: Trump, Musk Moves Stall Tijuana River Sewage Fix, from the Voice of San Diego
Along the Colorado River …
Water resources act that will benefit Arizona goes before President Biden
“A bill that will help tackle water infrastructure, flood control, and drought in Arizona is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk. The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, is a bipartisan legislation shaped and led by Sen. Mark Kelly. “Water is the most important topic, issue, commodity that we have in Arizona overall, but definitely in CD six as well,” said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. Ciscomani added that this act helps promote a secure water future. “We continue to fight for water resources, coming back to the district, both in flood mitigation and different areas,” Ciscomani said. “Whatever way we need to continue to fight for our water rights, but also the sustainability of this precious resource.” … ” Read more from Channel 13.
Arizona: Here’s how Valley farmers are dealing with the shrinking supply of Colorado River water
“Not that long ago, substantial cuts were made to Arizona’s share of the Colorado River water. Agricultural users in Central Arizona continue to battle the reality of a hotter and drier future. Meteorologist Lauren Rainson spoke with one valley farmer who remains optimistic despite the ongoing challenges. The Colorado River Basin has been in a prolonged drought. — the driest in more than 1200 years. This means less water is available for Central Arizona agricultural users. “Farmers are the first to be cut back, and so we feel the impact of the shortage of the Colorado River before anybody else,” said Mark Schnepf, owner of Schnepf Farms. Schnepf grew up on the farm in Queen Creek, Arizona. Today, urban development surrounds Schnepf Farms. He and his wife adapted to the changing agricultural scene in State 48. The couple has grown Schnepf Farms into the largest agritainment farm in the country, with amusement rides, shops, festivals, events, a bakery, and a restaurant. … ” Read more from Channel 12.
City of Phoenix negotiates Colorado River rights with Bureau of Reclamation
“The City of Phoenix is moving forward with a plan to pull less water from the Colorado River in exchange for federal funding to build a water purification facility. The city is currently negotiating how much water to give up in exchange for $300 million in federal funding. The proposed project would be called the North Gateway Advanced Water Purification Facility, and city leaders expect it to be completed by 2030, producing 7,500 acre-feet of water annually. Troy Hayes, director of Water Services for the city, said, “This would be a facility that would be in the northwest part of Phoenix that would take water there and treat it, pass drinking water standards and then put that back into the system.” … ” Read more from Channel 15.
Arizona completes statewide water testing for PFAS ahead of updated EPA regulations deadlines
“Just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has completed a statewide sampling project for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used by a variety of industries since the 1940s. The initiative prioritized small and rural public water systems, identifying 752 systems to be sampled statewide. Ultimately, ADEQ tested 693 systems and analyzed more than 8,000 water samples for 29 types of PFAS over 663 days. The project launched in November 2022, coinciding with the arrival of Matthew Olson, project manager at ADEQ, who began managing the PFAS sampling project at that time. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
Republican lawmakers target ‘illegal’ Arizona executive water rule changes
“Arizona Republicans passed a resolution Wednesday asserting that they believe executive rule changes on water requirements for development are illegal. The state water agency recently adopted changes to allow development in the Phoenix and Pinal metro areas, where groundwater is depleted. The new rules require providers to offset groundwater pumping and incorporate new water sources. The Republicans oppose the rules, which they say are expensive and should have gone through the Legislature. “It hurts the people. The people that we represent and we aren’t even being considered here just going around the legislature,” outgoing Sen. Sine Kerr (R-Buckeye) said. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Colorado River users craft creative paths to water security
“The Shoshone Power Plant is worth more dead than alive. The small, early 1900s powerhouse on the Colorado River in western Colorado is on its last legs, crippled by chronic mechanical problems, wildfires, floods and rockslides. But this faltering facility just east of Glenwood Springs holds something of immense value in the parched West: senior rights to an estimated 845,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water a year. Communities on the Western Slope of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains have been eyeing the Shoshone plant for decades. The Colorado River District, formed in 1937 to combat transmountain water diversions, recently secured a long-sought contract to buy the plant’s water rights from its owner, the utility giant Xcel Energy, for $99 million. … ” Read more from Western Water.
