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.
In California water news this weekend …
California snowpack promising, but more storms needed
“California’s first winter snowpack survey of 2025 showed the snowpack at 91% of the average to date and 37% of the average on April 1, when the Sierra snowpack is typically at its peak. The state Department of Water Resources conducts the official survey at Phillips Station, nestled in the crest of the Sierra near South Lake Tahoe. The snowpack acts as a reservoir for the state: As spring approaches and the snowpack melts, the water runs off into local streams and rivers, then state-run canals and dams for storage and use. Experts say that nearly a third of the water used in California annually comes from the snowpack. Andy Reising, manager of the Department of Water Resources’ snow surveys and water supply forecasting unit, said the snow depth was 24 inches. That’s a good start, according to officials, but more storms are needed especially in Central and Southern California, which are typically drier than Northern California. “As of right now, I am feeling OK, but we’ll need a progression of monthly storms to keep going,” Reising said. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
First snow survey of the season shows snowpack near average for California
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 9 inches, which is 91 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 108 percent of average for this date. Recent years in California have been marked by extremely hot and dry conditions broken up by periods of intense rain and snow. So far, this water year has been no different. A record-breaking hot and dry summer continued well into the fall, but a powerful atmospheric river in November broke several rainfall records in Northern California. A series of storms in late December provided another boost. “While our snowpack looks good now, we have a long way until April when our water supply picture will be more complete,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Extreme shifts between dry and wet conditions are continuing this winter and if the past several years are any indication, anything could happen between now and April and we need to be prepared.” … ” Read more from DWR.
SEE ALSO:
-
- Northern California snowpack off to a much stronger start than last year, from KQED
- L.A.’s water supply looks good right now — but it might not last, from the LA Times | Read via Yahoo News.
- Sierra snowpack sees promising start but California’s water fortunes have ‘a long way until April’, from the Sacramento Bee
- Sierra Nevada snowpack above average to start the year, a promising sign for state water supplies, from the San Jose Mercury News
California typically sees its wettest weather now. Are storms on the horizon?
“California’s north-south precipitation split that defined fall will give way to a more balanced weather pattern to begin 2025, but not in a way that favors skiers and fans of wintry weather. The first half of January is likely to be much drier than average across California, with the Climate Prediction Center forecasting elevated odds of below-normal precipitation for the next two weeks. There is only one storm on the horizon from New Year’s Day until at least Jan. 15. January is typically the wettest month of the year in San Francisco and the second wettest in Los Angeles, with 4.4 inches and 3.3 inches of rain, respectively. Weather models predict around half of these totals this January. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Atmospheric rivers could become stronger, study suggests
“As atmospheric rivers take aim at the West Coast, not all impacts are the same. Some events bring beneficial rain and snow, while others unleash deadly flooding and landslides. We now know that climate change will also have a hand in how these rivers of moisture come onshore and it’s not a uniform change from one end of the coast to the other. … The amount of water they move is mindblowing – a strong atmospheric river can transport as much water vapor as up to 15 times the average flow of liquid water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. They are also not exclusive to the West Coast of the U.S. – they can happen all over the world. On average, there are four to five active atmospheric rivers on Earth at one time. However, In a typical winter, an average of 24 atmospheric rivers make landfall along the U.S. West Coast. … ” Read more from The Weather Channel.
Pending state Bay-Delta decision has Solano treading water
“Suisun City Vice Mayor Princess Washington is in a difficult position regarding the proposed Bay Delta Plan. She adamantly opposes the proposal that she and other Solano County officials argue will devastate agriculture, halt all new development, force higher dependency on groundwater and leave her own city bone dry 40% of the time. Washington, however, is also president of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, the state organization which favors the plan designed to improve fish and wildlife habitat, and specially salmon. “For Suisun City in particular, the scenario would result in no water allocations at all, creating an existential crisis for residents, businesses, and public infrastructure. The cascading consequences would include building moratoriums, economic stagnation, and unsustainable groundwater dependency,” Washington noted in comments she delivered to the State Water Resources Control Board. … ” Read more from the Daily Republic.
Controversial Solano private island to be auctioned
“Following a decade long legal battle, a Solano County private island previously listed for up to $70 million will go up for auction in January following a court order. Solano County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Rexhall Hawkins said the island will be auctioned subject to a court order on Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. in front of the Solano County Courthouse. Prospective bidders must register before Jan. 7, and the minimum bid is $0 with increments of $100. The deadline to register for the auction is 15 days before the event, according to documents posted to a Facebook page operated by the island’s previous owner, John Sweeney. Potential applicants must agree to comply with multiple court decisions and regulations that the property is subject to, which will be enforced by local and state agencies. … ” Read more from the The Reporter.
Crunch time: Groundwater agency with land in two troubled subbasins working double time to try and hold off state sanctions
“The Tri-County Water Authority has a foot in each of the two groundwater basins now under state probation and is scrambling to find a path to compliance in each. Tri-County covers lands in both the Tule and Tulare Lake subbasins, in the southern portions of Kings and Tulare counties, respectively. Both those subbasins have been placed on probation by the state Water Resources Control Board for having inadequate groundwater sustainability plans. Probation requires farmers to meter and register their wells at $300 each, report extractions and pay the state $20 per acre foot pumped. That’s on top of fees they already pay their groundwater agencies and water districts. In the Tulare Lake subbasin, probationary sanctions have been paused while a lawsuit wends its way through the court system. But that also means Water Board staff aren’t communicating with local water managers to help them develop groundwater plans that meet state expectations. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Michael Fitzgerald: Worst. Invasive. Species. Ever.
“There’s news from the front lines of the battle against the nutria, the weird invasive “giant swamp rat” that threatens to overrun and destroy the Delta: We’re losing. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife doesn’t say that, of course. But its own data clearly show the population and range of the voracious South American beaver-like rodent are expanding towards a tipping point where they will be too numerous and widespread to eradicate. “It’s scary. It’s really scary,” said Jen Fox, a spokesperson for Congressman Josh Harder, D-Tracy. Harder’s bill to continue funding nutria eradication efforts recently passed the House. “Nutria might look cute to some, but these giant swamp rats and their nacho cheese teeth are dangerous and they’re causing serious damage,” Harder said in a press release. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
California takes emergency measures to stop spread of invasive golden mussels, first found in Stockton
“California’s Fish and Game Commission has taken an emergency action that it hopes will help halt the spread of the golden mussel, an invasive mollusk discovered two months ago in the Port of Stockton. The measure makes it illegal to possess, transport or import live golden mussels. The move by the commission at its December meeting adds the tiny bivalves to the list of “restricted species” in California, joining crocodiles, elephants, aardvarks, manatees, slugs and white perch, to name a few. All are banned from the state without a special permit in an effort to protect agriculture and the environment from being overrun by nonnative varmints. Golden mussels aren’t the first invasive mollusk in the state — zebra and quagga mussels have also been a problem — but they are being treated as potentially more dangerous. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Secretary of Commerce determines fishery resource disasters for the 2024 state of California Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook salmon fisheries
“The Secretary of Commerce has determined that fishery resource disasters occurred in the 2024 Sacramento River Fall Chinook and Klamath River Fall Chinook salmon fisheries and the 2023 Squaxin Island Tribe Puget Sound fall chum salmon fishery. The determinations are in response to requests from Acting California Governor, Eleni Kounalakis and Chairman Kristopher Peters. … These positive determinations make these fisheries eligible for disaster assistance from NOAA. At present, there are no standing funds specifically designated for fishery resource disasters. Fishery participants may also qualify for disaster assistance from the Small Business Administration. ” Read the full article from NOAA.
NASA study: Crops, forests responding to changing rainfall patterns
“A new NASA-led study has found that how rain falls in a given year is nearly as important to the world’s vegetation as how much. Reporting Dec. 11 in Nature, the researchers showed that even in years with similar rainfall totals, plants fared differently when that water came in fewer, bigger bursts. In years with less frequent but more concentrated rainfall, plants in drier environments like the U.S. Southwest were more likely to thrive. In humid ecosystems like the Central American rainforest, vegetation tended to fare worse, possibly because it could not tolerate the longer dry spells. Scientists have previously estimated that almost half of the world’s vegetation is driven primarily by how much rain falls in a year. Less well understood is the role of day-to-day variability, said lead author Andrew Feldman, a hydrologist and ecosystem scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Shifting precipitation patterns are producing stronger rainstorms — with longer dry spells in between — compared to a century ago. … ” Read more from NASA.
Biden to create two national monuments in California honoring tribes
“President Joe Biden plans to create two new national monuments in California in the coming days, according to two people briefed on the announcement, aiming to cement his environmental legacy before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The two individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement is not yet public. Biden will sign a proclamation establishing the roughly 644,000-acre Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park, the people said. The move would bar drilling, mining, solar-energy farms and other industrial activity in the area. It also would honor the wishes of several Native American tribes that have revered the landscape for thousands of years, and would expand local Latino communities’ access to outdoor recreation areas. … ” Read more from the Washington Post.
SEE ALSO:
- Biden to designate environmental national monuments in California, from CBS News
- Biden to create two new California national monuments protecting tribal lands, from the LA Times
How to help your garden (or even some fish) with your dried-out Christmas tree
“As the new year begins, most people are finally getting a minute to clear out the chaos left behind by the holiday season—from wrapping paper remnants to festive dinner leftovers. But what about the giant Christmas trees lingering in living rooms? Though artificial trees now dominate the holiday market, around one in every four households that display Christmas trees choose live ones. While you can’t stow away these evergreens to use next year, Christmas trees can take on a new life after the holiday season is over. Experts recommend a number of ways to recycle the plant to support your garden, animal sanctuaries and even fish. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
The world’s fifth-largest economy is about to ban most polystyrene foam
“California, the most populous U.S. state and fifth-largest world economy, will effectively ban the use of most expanded plastic foam food containers on January 1, a move conservationists called a major development in the effort to limit plastic waste. “We found that this could eliminate up to 3.9 billion pieces of foam ware every single year,” Anja Brandon, director of plastics policy at the environmental nonprofit Ocean Conservancy, told Newsweek. Clamshell containers, cups and other food ware items made from expanded polystyrene foam are popularly—though incorrectly—called Styrofoam, which is a registered brand name for styrene foam construction materials made by DuPont. But whatever you call it, Brandon said, foam ware makes a remarkable mess when it all too often ends up as litter. “These cups and clam shells break apart into a bunch of little pieces, just creating microplastics everywhere,” Brandon said. “It’s lightweight, it can travel incredibly long distances, and there are much better reusable or recyclable options to replace it with.” … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Gas prices and water fights: California environment 2024 year in review
“California strived to maintain its environmental leadership in 2024, with voters approving a $10 billion environmental bond and the state advancing its renewable energy goals — all while navigating a major budget deficit. The Legislature approved only a few new major environmental policies as the deficit left environmental groups and renewable energy advocates clamoring for increased spending. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature scaled back their “California Climate Commitment” spending package to $44.6 billion from $54.3 billion. Voters approved Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond that will fund projects across the state that aim to safeguard drinking water, combat wildfires, protect natural lands and improve resilience against floods and extreme heat. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
New Year marks start of new laws and regulations
“The start of another year has brought with it new laws and regulations that affect agricultural production in California. As of Jan. 1, new policies related to water, air quality, endangered species and other issues that impact farmers have taken effect. … There are new policies that affect the penalties the California State Water Resources Control Board can implement for unauthorized water diversions and late reporting. AB 460, authored by Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, increased fines the SWB can impose for unauthorized diversions from $1,000 per day to $2,000 per day, while the penalty for failing to report flood flow diversions increased from $500 per day to $1,000 per day. … ” Read the full story at Ag Alert.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
Kamyar Guivetchi and Charlie Olivares retiring from DWR
From the Department of Water Resources:
DWR bids a fond farewell to two long-time employees who have made the California Water Plan eNews what it is today.
Kamyar Guivetchi’s long, 46-year career at DWR allowed him to work on a myriad of studies, projects, programs, and reports, including, perhaps most importantly, the California Water Plan. Thanks to his insight and leadership, the Water Plan and its quinquennial Updates have influenced countless projects and initiatives throughout the state to help achieve sustainable water management, and this work furthered Kamyar’s inspiration to create the weekly California Water Plan eNews.
Charlie Olivares’ career at DWR began in 2011. After nearly three decades as a TV news producer, he joined DWR’s Technical Publications unit as a technical editor, where he learned more about water than he ever thought possible. Charlie has worked on innumerable water-related reports, studies, research projects, and other assorted materials. He also served as lead editor on the past two California Water Plan Update reports.
As a team, Charlie and Kamyar created more than 500 issues of the California Water Plan eNews. Their commitment and support have allowed this newsletter to thrive, and their guidance in passing the torch paves the way for it to endure.
Thank you, Kamyar and Charlie! DWR wishes you both all the best in your respective retirements.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
Water levels rise substantially in reservoirs after extended rains
“After extended rains across Southern Oregon and Northern California, the water levels in the region’s reservoirs have shot up significantly. Heavy rainfall has been a boon for reservoirs storing water for the summer season. In October, Lake Shasta, the largest reservoir in California, was below the level it started at in 2023. But just around a week of heavy rainfall has brought the lake’s levels above last year’s. The same can be said for other reservoirs in Southern Oregon, according to Wanda Derry, manager of the Talent Irrigation District. “Our reservoirs from December 27 to the 30th on Monday, we gained 4,720 acre-feet,” Derry said. … ” Read more from Jefferson Public Radio.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Tahoe storm could drop foot of fresh snow ahead of dry stretch
“California’s final winter storm before an extended dry spell could drop up to a foot of snow at Tahoe ski resorts Friday and create difficult travel conditions. But it could also make for awesome skiing over the weekend. High clouds were increasing across Northern California on Thursday ahead of a low-pressure system that was expected to swing across the Pacific Northwest on Friday. The cold front associated with this low-pressure system will bring quick-hitting precipitation to Northern California on Friday. A few hours of moderate to heavy snow is expected in the northern and central Sierra Nevada, with light to moderate rain for the Bay Area. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Putting the meadows to bed under a blanket of snow
“Restoring Mountain Meadows, our exquisite high elevation wetlands in California, can be challenging due to the short window in which it is possible to complete this work each year. That window occurs from when spring runoff recedes so that they are dry enough and before the rains and snow return each year–about July through early November. For 2024, nature has spoken and the mountain meadow restoration season came to a close last month. Individual ice crystals have come together, blanketing our meadows, tucking them in for a well deserved winter’s rest.Many of these meadows were full of energy and activity just a few weeks ago, as our community of Sierra Meadow restorationists were busy healing these emerald jewels. Looking back since July, when the restoration season started, the numbers are impressive. … ” Read more from Point Blue Conservation Science.
BAY AREA
How much rain Bay Area could get before weather shifts for foreseeable future
“Soak up the rain, Bay Area, because Friday might be the only wet day for the next two weeks. A disorganized cold front is expected to move across the region Friday morning through the afternoon. Widespread precipitation should end by nightfall, with just a few scattered showers remaining. Rain will start in the North Bay in the predawn hours, spread toward San Francisco and Oakland by sunrise, and reach the South Bay in the late morning. Precipitation will be heaviest in the mid- to late morning hours as a cold front drifts from northwest to southeast. The frontal passage will be largely uneventful, with gusts hardly reaching 20 mph and only a slight uptick in rainfall rates for an hour or two. It will be nothing like the strong cold front that prompted a tornado warning in early December. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Antioch brackish desalination plant set to begin operations
“In an effort to increase the city’s usable water supply, the long-awaited nearly $100-million brackish desalination plant in Antioch is expected to start operating within the next few months. Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting said the project, which started around 2021, is now nearing completion. “After construction, there is time for debugging the system,” said Buenting in an interview with this news organization. “We figure it will be in operations in the first quarter of 2025.” The project, which was initially projected to cost just below $87 million, was awarded to Shimmick Construction Co. in December 2020. In May 2023, the Antioch City Council approved an amendment to its capital improvement and operating budget for an additional contingency of about 7% of the original bid amount. The final price tag for construction was $97,123,450. … ” Read more from Silicon Valley. | Read via the Mercury News.
Keeping an eye on salmon in Santa Clara County
“An organization in Santa Clara County is cleaning up creeks and rivers and recording the return of the king – salmon, that is. The East Bay Municipal Utility District recorded over 30,000 salmon returning to the Mokelumne River since September due to conservation efforts, but sights of jumping salmon in San Jose and Campbell are also capturing attention. The South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition, a volunteer group that aims to clean up waterways so native wildlife can survive and grow, has been recording increasing salmon populations in Santa Clara County over the last eight or nine years. They primarily focus on the Guadalupe River, Los Gatos Creek and Coyote Creek. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Maintaining our streams to protect our community from flooding
“Valley Water crews worked throughout Santa Clara County this past summer and fall, maintaining our creeks as part of our Stream Maintenance Program. Our work in the creeks is dedicated to enhancing the health of our local ecosystems while reducing flood risks that threaten homes and businesses. Valley Water oversees about 333 miles of our county’s 800 miles of streams. Maintaining streams ensures that our 185 miles of flood protection projects remain effective.Valley Water crews utilize heavy equipment to remove vegetation and accumulated sediment in our creeks, ensuring water can flow downstream effectively. This proactive maintenance reduces the risk of flooding for local properties. The list below outlines the areas where our teams conducted these important areas of work in 2024. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
After historic fish die-off, California lake teeming with trout again
“After a historic fish die-off, a Monterey County lake is teeming with trout once again. In July, thousands of bait fish, catfish, trout and bass washed up dead on the shores of Lake San Antonio, a popular recreation spot about 30 miles northwest of Paso Robles. At the time, county officials said it was the worst recorded fish die-off in the county’s history. The lake briefly closed and a campground was evacuated as the amount of dead and dying fish created a health hazard. … On Dec. 10, some 4,000 pounds of live rainbow trout were trucked to the lake by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. … ” Read the full story at SF Gate.
Carbajal secures funding for Los Osos pipeline & Cal Poly project
“Congressman Salud Carbajal has announced that the House and Senate have agreed on the biennial Corp of Engineers water project bill called the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that this year includes $8 million to build a 2.5 mile pipeline that would connect Los Osos to the State Water Project. The 12-inch pipeline would connect to the existing pipeline near Morro Bay and would bring Northern California reservoir water to the Central Coast. Also in the measure, Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier says the college worked with Rep. Carbajal to secure authorizing language in the WRDA bill to build a turnout and 1.1-mile pipeline to the City of San Luis Obispo’s water treatment facility located at the north end of Cal Poly’s main campus. Funding will still need to be sought in an appropriation request. … ” Read more from Sierra 2 the Sea.
Proposed 2.5-mile pipeline could connect Los Osos to the State Water Project
“A proposed 2.5-mile pipeline could connect Los Osos to the State Water Project. This $8 million project recently made it through Congress and Senate approval and could be a new source of water for the town with a long history of water issues. The pipeline project has been in the works for the past four years. “We’ve done preliminary design. We’ve done the environmental work called CEQA. My board has certified mitigated negative declaration on the environmental impacts, so we’ve made some progress and I believe that’s why we have got our foot in the door for this funding because it’s not starting from scratch,” said Ron Munds, Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) General Manager. … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Volunteers needed to plant native grasses at Tule preserve
“People who aren’t afraid to get their hands or boots dirty are needed Friday, Jan. 10 to plant native grasses across 20 acres of fallowed land in southern Tulare County. The Tule Basin Land & Water Conservation Trust is organizing the Capinero Creek Restoration Volunteer Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when volunteers can transplant a variety of alkali scrub seedlings native to the area that should attract threatened or endangered species such as kangaroo rats, blunt nose leopard lizards and the San Joaquin kit fox. The property is a former dairy next to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge. It got its name from the adjacent seasonal creek, a tributary of the Tule River. The trust needs about 20 to 30 people to help, said Executive Director Susan Long. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
New federal actions aim to help California and better manage water supply in the Central Valley
“The State Water Project is a multi-purpose water storage and delivery system that has been in place since the 1960s. Millions of residents throughout the state and agribusinesses depend on it. The Kern County Water Agency says this equates to one in twelve people in the United States who receive water from the State Water Project. For example, the Kern County Water Agency gets 25% of its water from the State Water Project. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California gets about 50%, and the remaining 25% goes to 27 other contractors. “The water project, we have this set of operating plans, and that is what has changed here. Our previous operating plans didn’t have the same level of flexibility that we have with these new plans.” John Yarbrough said. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
State increases imported water allocation but still lower than need
“The Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District and other State Water Project contractors received welcome news on Dec. 23 — their allocation of water was increased. In early December, the state Department of Water Resources announced that contractors would receive only 5% of their Table A allocation in the coming year. Table A refers to the amount of each contractor’s entitlement at a 100% allocation as described in their contract with the DWR. TCCWD contracts for SWP water through the Kern County Water Agency and has imported water since 1973. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SoCal’s rainy season off to dismal start
“Counties across Southern California are off to a near record dry start this rainy season, with Los Angeles only having received about 5% of the rain it normally would. It’s been 276 days since downtown L.A. experienced significant rainfall. Why it matters: Dry conditions and the peak of Santa Ana wind season mean that large, unstoppable fires are still possible. Dry winters can have detrimental affects on native vegetation, which rely on just a few months of rain to sustain themselves through an eight-month dry period. … ” Read more from the LAist.
La Niña is living up to expectations in Southern California
“Los Angeles ended 2024 with one of its driest periods on record – a result of La Niña’s effects, weather officials told KTLA 5 News. Despite beginning the year with historic rainfall levels, an extended dry spell has covered Southern California since spring, bringing severe drought conditions that have fueled several large wildfires in recent months. In the downtown L.A. metro area, from May 6 to Dec. 31, the area only received 0.16″ of rain, making the seven-month stretch the second driest in recorded history, according to data from the National Weather Service. The only period that topped this dry stretch was in 1962, when the downtown area received only 0.14 inches during the same seven-month span. … ” Read more from KTLA News.
The Whale Superhighway: More whales are coming to Southern California waters
“Whales of all kinds travel the so-called whale superhighway off the Southern California coast. Experts say the changing seas are bringing a wide range and growing number of behemoths to the Pacific, sometimes just feet from shore. “I’ve seen a lot of change here along our southern California coast, a resurgence of the marine life out here,” Harbor Breeze Cruises CEO Cpt. Dan Salas CEO said. “It’s coming back. I’ve seen more whales than I’ve ever seen in the last four to five years right off Southern California coast.” “There’s been a big change in the kinds of species that we see when the water gets warmer,” ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Director Biologist Alisa Schulman-Janiger said. “We might get false killer whales come up from Mexico or Brutus whales or eastern tropical pacific-type killer whales.” … ” Read more from KABC.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Biden will create Chuckwalla National Monument, key source says
“President Joe Biden will designate vast, ecologically rich swaths of California desert as the new Chuckwalla National Monument, a veteran conservationist with direct knowledge of the decision told The Desert Sun. The formal designation could come as soon as this week, although with planning underway for former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral on Jan. 9, the source said, it could get pushed to later this month. President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. More than 620,000 acres of rare desert woodlands and washes that provide critical habitat for millions of migrating birds, endangered desert tortoise, iconic chuckwalla lizards and other rare, fragile wildlife and plants would be protected in the monument that would stretch south of Joshua Tree National Park and north of Interstate 10 across a confluence of two ecosystems, where the Mojave Desert meets the Colorado and the Sonoran Desert. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun. | Read via Yahoo News.
CNR[A] gives update on Salton Sea Restoration
“The California Natural Resources [Agency], through the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP), is dealing with the environmental and ecological challenges at the Salton Sea, according to a recent CNR[A] press release. With groundbreaking restoration projects, federal partnerships, and community-driven initiatives, the SSMP is accelerating efforts to combat habitat loss, mitigate air quality issues, and engage local stakeholders. One of the pivotal advancements in 2023 was the issuance of a permit by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on November 27. The permit facilitates the streamlined implementation of SSMP’s Phase 1: 10-Year Plan by creating expedited pathways for federal environmental compliance. The permit integrates procedures from the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act, ensuring projects meet rigorous standards while fast-tracking their execution, per the newsletter. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
SAN DIEGO
Where’s all the sand going? Follow the fluorescent-colored trail.
“Fluorescent-colored sand sprinkled on San Diego County beaches could help reveal the complicated patterns of erosion that plague the region’s coastline. A so-called “tracer study” would use environmentally benign grains of bright material to show the movement of sand carried by ocean currents. The technique is recommended in a report recently completed by a “sediment management task force” for the county’s regional planning agency. Recent studies by oceanographers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and elsewhere take issue with the long-held belief that sediment migrates steadily from north to south in the water along the Pacific Coast. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Las Vegas faces water supply worries as snowpack levels drop below expectations
“The lack of significant rainfall in Las Vegas since July 13 is raising concerns about water supply, as the region relies heavily on snowpack from the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains for 90 percent of its drinking water. In November, Colorado’s snowpack levels reached 134 percent of the 30-year median, marking a 10-year high, according to the state’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. However, by the end of December, only one of Colorado’s eight regions remained above the median, with the others falling slightly or well below expected levels. Rebecca Mitchell, who represents Colorado on the Colorado River Commission, emphasized the importance of planning for current conditions rather than relying on potential future improvements. … ” Read more from Channel 3.
Can new sprinklers save the Colorado River? This Utah program could be a blueprint for the West
“Southern Utah is not your typical farm country. At a glance, there appears to be more red rock than green fields. To make a go of it, farms often huddle around the precious few rivers that snake across the sun-baked landscape. That’s the case for rancher Andy Rice, who raises hundreds of hungry goats and sheep in the town of Boulder — population 227 — just outside Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. In a bright green meadow packed with more than a dozen types of grasses, clovers and flowers, Rice reached down to pluck a makeshift bouquet. He has intentionally planted diverse species here over the years to improve the ranch’s sustainability. “Isn’t that beautiful?,” he said, holding up a handful of flora. “On top of everything else that’s cool about it, it’s just really pretty.” … ” Continue reading at KUNC.
Shoshone water rights purchase gains funding momentum
“Numerous Western Slope entities this year stepped up in a big way to financially support a regional effort to purchase major Colorado River water rights that are pivotal to how the river is managed. Now the focus has turned to trying to secure a similarly sizable amount of federal funding to help seal the deal. In December 2023, the Colorado River District and Xcel Energy agreed on a deal for the district to buy Xcel’s historic water rights associated with the Shoshone hydroelectric power plant in Glenwood Canyon for $99 million. Those rights include a 1902 right to flows of 1,250 cubic feet per second and a 1929 right to flows of 158 cfs. Due to their size and seniority, and the fact that the water diverted by the plant returns to the river, the rights help assure sizable flows downstream of Glenwood Canyon by prioritizing flows for the plant at times when there isn’t enough water in the river to also allow diversions upstream by entities with junior water rights. … ” Read more from the Grand Junction Sentinel.
In national water news this weekend …
Water sector urges Trump to prioritize water in second term
“In December, associations representing the municipal water and wastewater sector submitted a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging his administration to prioritize water infrastructure in his second term. The letter was endorsed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and WateReuse. The groups said they welcome the opportunity to meet with the President-elect’s transition team to discuss collaboration efforts and presented a list of policy priorities based around what they see as some of the top water-related issues in the United States. … ” Read more from Water Finance & Management.
