30A wrap-up of posts published on Maven’s Notebook this week …
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In California water news this week …
More big storms lining up along US West Coast
“AccuWeather meteorologists warn that at least two more significant storms will roll onshore along the Washington, Oregon and Northern California coasts through this weekend. Each will boost problems associated with heavy rain, mountain snow and gusty winds, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. The storms have already produced inches of rain along the coast and the lower west-facing mountainsides. Some of the stronger storms have produced sneaker waves and large surf that have caused significant damage and overwash as far to the south as Central California in recent days. The next potent storm will press inland on Friday. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Biden, Newsom officials announce long-awaited new water delivery rules
“State and federal water officials announced today their long-awaited new rules for operating two massive water delivery systems that serve 30 million Californians and much of the state’s farmland. The rules will oversee operations of the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project, which carry water from Northern California rivers south to San Joaquin Valley farmers, Los Angeles area residents and many other water users in the southern half of the state. Deliveries will increase for major urban water suppliers and many farms, while they’ll be cut for some farmers. Schedules for releasing water from Lake Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, will be revised. Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the new rules represent the best path forward for the competing interests of cities, farms and fish. “It’s good for both people and the environment,” he said. “It’s the expression of what people want from us.” … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Biden admin completes under-the-wire endangered species rules for California water projects
“The Biden administration signed off on Friday on its plan for how to run the massive system of pumps, canals, reservoirs that moves water across California, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office with a very different vision. The Bureau of Reclamation’s record of decision closes a four-year process to overturn Trump’s previous rules for the Central Valley Project, which both environmentalists and the state of California claimed did not adequately protect endangered fish like the Chinook salmon and Delta smelt and sued over. The Central Valley Project, operated jointly with the California-run State Water Project, delivers water from the wetter part of Northern California to Central Valley farmers and Southern California through the sensitive habitat of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Its guidelines are a perpetual political football and the Biden administration’s under-the-wire plan is likely to face at least some opposition from Trump, who vowed on the campaign trail to send more water to conservative-leaning Central Valley farmers. … ” Read more from Politico.
‘Durable’ solution or flawed fix? New California water delivery plan stirs debate
“The Biden administration has adopted new rules for operating California’s main water delivery systems in the Central Valley, endorsing a plan backed by state officials that aims to strike a balance between ensuring protections for imperiled fish species and providing a reliable water supply for farms and cities. Federal and state officials said the new operating rules for the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project that were developed over the last three years will bring greater stability to the state’s supplies in the face of worsening droughts intensified by climate change. “The updated rules mark a new path forward that will provide more certainty for water users, and fish and wildlife,” said Karl Stock, the federal Bureau of Reclamation’s regional director, calling it a “durable plan that builds in a great deal of flexibility.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via MSN News.
Reclamation approves water plan that’s ‘likely to adversely affect’ Sacramento River winter Chinook
“The Bureau of Reclamation today approved a controversial new plan, known as a “biological opinion,” for the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and Delta facilities of the State Water Project — even though the opinion documents say it would likely harm endangered winter-run Chinook salmon. Reclamation claimed the biological opinion “presents a path forward with more predictable actions for endangered fish species and a more reliable CVP response to multi-year droughts,” while fishing and environmental groups slammed the decision for being even worse in some areas than the 2019 Trump Administration plan that it replaces. “The resilience of the Central Valley Project, with its importance to the agricultural industry and drinking water deliveries across California, is critical to the state’s water supply future,” gushed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Mike Brain. “The revised operating plan will improve regulatory certainty for water users and provide a more stable water supply for communities, farms, and fish.” … ” Continue reading at the Daily Kos.
SEE ALSO:
- Reclamation greenlights action plan for the long-term operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, press release from the Bureau of Reclamation
- New federal actions will help California better manage water supply, press release from Governor Newsom
- California water systems’ new plan aims to balance urban needs and salmon conservation, from KRCR
- Long awaited rules for water deliveries unveiled, from the Porterville Recorder
State Water Project allocation increases to 15% following recent storms in Northern California
“[Monday], the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an update to the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for 2025. The allocation has increased to 15 percent of requested supplies, up from the initial allocation forecast of 5 percent announced earlier this month. The SWP provides water to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. Strong storms in late November and early December have helped boost statewide precipitation to just above average for this time of year. Reservoir levels have also increased because of the storms. The initial allocation forecast announced on December 2 had not accounted for these storms because the data was not yet available to water managers. Prior to the second half of November, the start of the water year had been dry and warm. … ” Read more from DWR.
Huffman topples panel leader as Trump battles loom
“In his new position as ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Jared Huffman expects to clash early and often with the incoming Trump administration. Huffman, a Marin County resident, was elected to the position this week after challenging Rep. Raúl Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona. Grijalva had led the committee’s Democrats for 10 years. “This is a big development,” said David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University. “It’s a big development for him personally and a big development for his North Coast district. This makes Jared hugely influential.” Huffman, 60, is one of three Democrats who recently ousted more senior members of their party from positions of leadership. The changing of the guard has led some to speculate that the party is embarking on a youth movement in response to their election losses in November. … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
Commentary: Will Western irrigated lands be a Trump priority?
Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance, writes, “President-elect Donald Trump is returning to the White House in large part because people were fed up with high food and fuel prices driven by policies that put domestic food production on the back burner. The Family Farm Alliance and the producers and conservationists who we work with are dedicated to the pragmatic implementation of actions that seek to find a sustainable balance of environmental protection and economic prosperity. Western irrigated agriculture has and can continue to provide the most stable food supply in the world – but only if we allow it to function. We are very encouraged that the new administration will again make Western irrigated agriculture one of its priorities. … ” Read more from the Western Farm Press.
Case against groundwater sanctions in Kings County on hold while appeals court reviews a state challenge
“The Fifth District Court of Appeal agreed to hear one of two challenges by the state in a Kings County Superior Court case that paused groundwater sanctions set to be imposed on area farmers. The pause on groundwater sanctions is still in effect but further court proceedings in the case are now on hold until the Fifth District reviews one of the state’s appeals. “We aren’t surprised by the appeals,” Dusty Ference, executive director of the Kings County Farm Bureau. The Farm Bureau sued the Water Resources Control Board over groundwater measures imposed by the state that would require farmers to meter and register wells at $300 each and pay $20-per-acre-foot pumped. “I guess in the water world, it’s becoming more common to see the state board react that way, so we weren’t completely surprised by that.” … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Blog: CAFED: Allocating California water isn’t a taking because Cal says only the feds have water rights
“A long-ish read (32 single-spaced pages) from the Federal Circuit in City of Fresno v. United States, No. 22-1994 (Dec. 17, 2024), but worth reading. Not only will you get a crash course in how water is allocated in California’s vast central valley (as the billboards above, set up along the north-south I-5 corridor demonstrate, not everyone is happy about how that is accomplished), but you will also understand how the Federal Circuit approaches the predicate question in takings case: does the plaintiff own “private property?” The court concluded no, the plaintiffs do not possess private property rights. Consequently, it affirmed the Court of Federal Claims dismissal of the takings claim. … ” Read more from Inverse Condemnation.
Draft Delta Adapts Adaptation Plan now available for public comment
“The Delta Stewardship Council recently released the draft Delta Adapts Adaptation Plan, marking a significant step forward in addressing the impacts of climate change on the Delta and Suisun Marsh. This comprehensive plan is now open for public comment through January 17, offering an opportunity for stakeholders, experts, and community members to contribute to shaping the future of the region. Recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, the draft Delta Adapts Adaptation Plan highlights the need to prioritize resilience in the face of anticipated climate impacts and provides an actionable framework to drive much-needed climate adaptation efforts across the region. It proposes a wide range of climate adaptation strategies tailored specifically to the Delta and Suisun Marsh. It identifies lead and partner agencies responsible for implementing these strategies, examines potential tradeoffs inherent in various adaptation actions, and draws on illustrative case studies to demonstrate how these proposals could unfold in practice. This is the first climate adaptation plan for the Delta that takes an integrated approach, addressing multiple sectors and issues with a unified vision for a sustainable future. … ” Read more from Maven’s Notebook.
Big milestone for Delta climate adaptation offers exciting pathways forward – and it needs your input
“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is of critical importance to all of California’s people, ecosystems, and economy. It is an ancestral homeland and a place of cultural significance to many tribes, a crucial source of drinking water for 27 million Californians, a biodiversity hot spot for more than 750 plant and animal species, and an unmatched producer of crops, generating $4.5 billion in economic output each year. But like the rest of the state (and the world at large), this incredible place faces the accelerating impacts of climate change. Rising seas, extreme heat, flooding, drought, and changes in precipitation all threaten the residents, ecology, industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and economy of the region. At the Delta Stewardship Council, addressing these climate impacts is critical to our mission. … ” Read more from the Delta Stewardship Council.
An invasive South American rodent has returned to the Bay Area — and it may be too late to eradicate it
“Strolling atop levees at Grizzly Ranch in the Suisun Marsh, south of Fairfield, wildlife biologist Robert Eddings stops in front of a brackish pond. Unlike most of the surrounding wetland, this pond stays flooded all year. Its lush green cattails make it a haven for waterfowl and an irresistible feast for invasive nutria — housecat-sized, semi-aquatic rodents with bright orange teeth. “They’re out there somewhere,” Eddings said. Indeed, this pond is where the first nutria at Grizzly Ranch were found in 2023. Native to South America, nutria are elusive, burrowing inside of levees during the day and emerging at night to devour marsh plants. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News (gift article)..
Green crabs have invaded habitats. Sea otters might be the solution.
“An invasive species had taken over ecosystems across the West Coast and was threatening to dominate another one in Monterey County, California, when ecologist Rikke Jeppesen began her research two decades ago. Jeppesen was seeking solutions for the havoc green crabs had caused — damaging sea grass beds in multiple states, eating small prey crucial to other species’ survival and persisting despite frequent efforts to remove them. One state even spent millions of dollars to protect its waters from the crabs, which are native to Europe. But to her surprise, Jeppesen learned there was a much simpler way to remove the crabs in the slough she studied: furry and hungry sea otters. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
In commentary this week …
Why mountain meadows should be a priority for California’s new climate bond
Ryan Burnett with the Sierra Nevada Group at Point Blue Conservation Science writes, “When I stepped into a Sierra Nevada meadow over 25 years ago, I was struck by the diversity of life, the hub of biological activity — full of birds, frogs, fish and plants. As a wildlife ecologist, I was in love. That infatuation has endured, growing into one of the great passions in my life. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve always been enamored with the natural wonders our state contains, and meadows are no exception. Californians have a lot to be proud of. In addition to the highest GDP of any state, we have a proven track record as the country’s climate and environmental leader. Since voters recently approved Proposition 4, we can be proud that California will deepen its commitment to large-scale action to address the state’s water, wildfire and climate challenges. The $10 billion bond measure will flow to environmental projects large and small, including $1.2 billion for land conservation and habitat restoration, which will benefit communities and wildlife around the state. But one question looms: What might these investments to increase climate resilience look like on the ground? … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
California cannot afford to ignore its water crisis
Earl “Skip” Cooper II, the Chairman of the Board and President Emeritus of the Black Business Association, writes, “Over the past few decades, California has prided itself on being a national leader in setting ambitious environmental goals and policies, from reducing carbon emissions to strengthening recycling and furthering the circular economy. Yet, when it comes to one of the state’s most pressing challenges—water quality and safety—California’s track record is less than successful. Given the Golden State’s long standing water quality issues, it is all the more troubling that Governor Gavin Newsom recently vetoed SB 366, also known as the California Water Plan: Long-Term Supply Targets, legislation that sought to address this inequity. As California law states, clean water is a fundamental human right, and lawmakers cannot continue to ignore the glaring challenges facing the state’s water systems and the communities they serve. … ” Read more from the LA Sentinel.
It’s Christmas day – and the battle to stop the Delta tunnel and Sites Reservoir continues
Dan Bacher writes, “It’s Christmas Day 2024 — and the battle by Tribes, fishermen, environmentalists, Delta Region Counties, family farmers and Southern California ratepayers to stop the ecosystem-destroying Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel) continues as imperiled salmon and Delta fish species are in their worst-crisis ever. As I’ve stated so many times, the Delta Tunnel is a zombie project that keeps getting resurrected from the dead by California governors. The previous incarnation of the project, the peripheral canal, was overwhelmingly defeated by the voters in 1982. Then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger resurrected the project in 2007 as the twin tunnels under the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Governor Jerry Brown continued and expanded Schwarzenegger’s planning for the twin tunnel project, renaming it the California Water Fix, during his third and fourth terms from 2011 to 2019. When Governor Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, he transformed the twin tunnel boondoggle into the single tunnel boondoggle, the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). … ” Read more from the Daily Kos.
In regional water news this week …
Shasta Dam celebrates milestone anniversary
“Today, the Bureau of Reclamation recognizes the 80th anniversary of the last bucket of concrete poured in the making of Shasta Dam. The historic photo of the last bucket of concrete was recreated with the current Shasta Dam team in honor of the original dam workers. Workers began pouring concrete on July 8, 1940, and continued seven days a week/24-hours a day until the last bucket was poured on Dec. 22, 1944. The story of Shasta Dam begins with its construction from 1938-1945. Frank Crowe was chosen by Pacific Constructors Inc. as their choice for job superintendent. Crowe had most recently finished his job as superintendent of the Hoover Dam project. Crowe oversaw 4,700 people and the construction of the second largest concrete dam in the country, at the time. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Tuscan Water District landowners to vote on special fee
“The divide over water rights continues. The Tuscan Water District met last week with members of the public to discuss a potential new fee on land owners. All landowners within the district will are getting the chance to vote on the new fee. Right now, the district says it doesn’t generate any revenue, but says it needs to start. The district, which was formed in February, is seeking approval for what’s called a “special benefit assessment.” In the first year, landowners could pay about $7 per acre. Revenue would go towards things like staffing, office expenses, lobbying and unexpected costs. … ” Read more from KRCR.
Kern subbasin finalizes 2024 GSP ahead of probationary hearing
“In December, the Kern County Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies finalized and approved a coordinated, amended Groundwater Sustainability Plan ahead of the Kern Subbasin’s probationary hearing on Feb. 20, 2025. The amended GSP is endorsed by all 20 GSAs within the subbasin, incorporating feedback from the State Water Resources Control Board staff and public comments. According to a press release from the Kern County Water Agency, the plan includes extensive improvements in technical areas such as water quality and subsidence monitoring. “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,” Derek Yurosek, chair of the Coordination Committee for Kern County Subbasin said in the release. … ” Read more from the Valley Ag Voice.
State Water Board to hold Mono Lake hearing in 2025
“The California State Water Resources Control Board will schedule its long-awaited hearing about Mono Lake and implementation of the Board’s mandated, healthy 6,392-foot surface elevation for 2025. Agency officials have shared the plans in recent meetings. On a multi-party video call last week, State Water Board staff made it clear that the hearing schedule had accelerated after surprise and disappointment about the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s (DWP) water exports exceeding the planned 4,500 acre-feet. DWP’s reversal on its commitment to voluntarily limit water diversions clearly undermined the potential for solution-oriented collaboration. The State Water Board had been considering facilitating a series of pre-hearing collaborative discussions to see if voluntary agreements could be found that would streamline the hearing process. However, DWP’s abandonment of the City’s collaborative approach has caused the Board to cancel those plans and accelerate the schedule for the hearing itself. … ” Read more from the Mono Lake Committee.
SEE ALSO: DWP abandons LA’s commitment to Mono Lake, from the Mono Lake Committee
Rising water costs in San Diego is a never-ending story
“The cost of water in San Diego will continue to skyrocket but we don’t have a good idea where or whether it will stop. The city of San Diego recently revealed its own water rates will rise a whopping 61 percent through 2029, adding about $57 per month to the average water bill. Part of the reason is the San Diego County Water Authority, which sells water to the region’s 22 water districts, is paying off debt and deals it took on many years ago to claim more Colorado River water and tap into ocean water for drinking. Another reason is cities like San Diego are building their own expensive wastewater recycling systems. But this year’s price spike – or any water rate forecast in San Diego right now – doesn’t account for some of the largest and most expensive water security solutions being pondered in Southern California right now by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and beyond. San Diego would also be on the hook for those. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
Announcements, notices, and funding opportunities …
NOTICE of Proposed Rulemaking: California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division 3, Chapter 16, Underground Storage Tank Regulations
NOTICE: 2024 California Integrated Report partial approval/partial disapproval by USEPA
NOW AVAILABLE: Draft Proposed Emergency Regulation for Scott-Shasta Watersheds
