Several news sources featured in the Daily Digest may limit the number of articles you can access without a subscription. However, gift articles and open-access links are provided when available. For more open access California water news articles, explore the main page at MavensNotebook.com.
On the calendar for Friday …
- WEBINAR: The future of water: Will it be there for us? from 12pm to 1pm. Our global water environment is under stress, creating significant uncertainty about our planet’s ability to support humanity into the future. And the changing climate isn’t helping. As the demand for water continues to grow, meeting demand is no longer just about its scarcity. It’s also about its security because of the socioeconomics of accessibility and equity in water’s numerous consumptive uses across all scales of modern civilization. This presentation considers the impacts of rapid global urbanization on water, the geopolitical ramifications of water demands across geopolitical boundaries, and the influence of modern agricultural practices on water’s future. To what degree is climate change responsible? What is the role of public policy at the local, regional, and national level in shaping water’s future? What role does the environmental engineering community play in addressing this incredibly complicated challenge? Are there feasible, practical, cost-effective technical solutions that will ensure a sustainable future where water will be available, safe, and secure? Click here to register.
In California water news this weekend …
Looking to the Pacific, scientists improve forecasts of atmospheric rivers
“As atmospheric rivers pounded the U.S. West Coast last winter, scientists deployed increasingly advanced observing tools over the Pacific Ocean to improve forecasts of the powerful storms. Using airborne observations and ocean buoys, scientists targeted remote regions in the Eastern Pacific that most influence the development and path of atmospheric rivers. Those observations were fed into leading forecast models, enhancing 1- to 5-day predictions in ways that helped safeguard not only vulnerable West Coast communities but the entire nation. “These targeted observations provide a huge payoff,” said U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) scientist Christopher Davis. “By taking these observations, we improve forecasts of atmospheric rivers for the West Coast and, because the storms keep moving east, we also improve winter forecasts for the entire continental United States.” Davis is one of the mission directors of Atmospheric Rivers Reconnaissance (AR Recon), a major effort involving multiple federal agencies, universities, and other partners. It’s led by the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, which is based at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. … ” Read more from UCAR.
Modeling the past, present, and future of drought
“As the climate warms, drought conditions are intensifying in many parts of the world. The effects of hydrological drought on water levels in rivers and other waterways are especially crucial to monitor because they can affect regional agriculture, energy production, economic stability, and public health. Historical rainfall and river flow data exist from only as far back as a few decades to 200 years, depending on the location, time spans too short to assess long-term hydrological behavior accurately. Climate change adds more uncertainty, as historical data are less likely to correlate with potential future conditions. Tree ring widths, which reflect the dry or wet conditions affecting tree growth annually, provide valuable proxy climate data from before historical recordkeeping began. … ” Read more from EOS.
Officials warn of ‘urgent invasive species threat’ in Northern California
“Last October, an invasive species never before seen in North America was discovered in the deep waters of the Port of Stockton, about 92 miles east of San Francisco. No larger than the size of a paperclip, the seemingly innocuous, caramel-colored shells of golden mussels clinging to buoys and monitoring equipment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — and subsequently found at O’Neill Forebay in the San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos — have left California officials scrambling to stop the spread. On Wednesday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife released its plan to address what it’s calling an “urgent invasive species threat,” with strategies to prevent further distribution of golden mussels and to minimize their impact on the environment, recreation, agriculture and, notably, drinking water infrastructure. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
California’s drought isn’t expected to improve soon. Is our wildfire forecast any better?
“While cooler temperatures and more rain in March helped mitigate drought in some regions in California, drought conditions aren’t forecasted to improve for large swaths of the state in the coming months. A seasonal drought outlook by the Climate Prediction Center released on Thursday, April 17, valid through July 31, forecasts that Southern California and a central pocket of the state will see drought conditions persist with no improvement. It comes as a National Integrated Drought Information System update issued on April 10 reported that below-normal temperatures and higher-than-normal rainfall in March helped mitigate drought in the Central Valley and San Diego. … ” Read more from the Desert Sun.
In commentary this weekend …
Salmon fishing shutdown marks a grim milestone. Why California shouldn’t give up hope
Chuck Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, writes, “This week, a public federal process determined there will be no commercial salmon fishing off California’s coast for the third year in a row. It’s a grim milestone for our state. While we will see some recreational ocean fishing, we’re at the low-water mark. With so few fish available, we know this won’t be enough to meet the demand of our state. That’s hard news in hard times. Thirty years ago, the idea we would be implementing — yet alone discussing — these restrictions would have been unthinkable. Back then, millions of salmon swam through the rivers of California every year. It was a bountiful, thriving species. But last year, the number of adult salmon in the Sacramento Index, a critical measure of the Sacramento River salmon population and an indicator of the overall health of California’s salmon, shrunk to roughly 100,000 fish. It’s a tiny fraction of salmon’s former might. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
‘Abundance’ is the best way to Trump-proof California
“Up until the 1970s, California was a state known for its commitment to boundless opportunities, with the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown governorship reflective of the can-do spirit that drew people here from across the world. Given the degree to which modern California is noted for its ineffectiveness, wastefulness and regulatory sclerosis, it’s difficult to imagine a California that took its Golden State moniker seriously. Brown “envisioned a future in which economic growth would be driven by a network of state-of-the-art freeways to move people, reservoirs, and canals to capture and transport water and intellectual capital from low-cost institutions of higher education. He sold that vision to the public and, in doing so, as the late historian Kevin Starr wrote, putting California on ‘the cutting edge of the American experiment,’” per a Hoover Institution retrospective. The state grew dramatically as a result. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In people news this weekend …
Promotions, passings, profiles – submit people news items to maven@mavensnotebook.com.
U.S. Ag Secretary appoints Aubrey Bettencourt to senior post
“California farmer Aubrey Bettencourt has been appointed as the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Bettencourt previously served as the President and CEO of the Almond Alliance and was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior during President Donald Trump’s first administration. The big picture: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Bettencourt’s appointment on Monday. Bettencourt was one of two dozen people appointed on Monday to implement Trump’s America First agenda at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). … ” Read more from the San Joaquin Valley Sun.
How did environmentalism become a partisan issue? Sociologist Caleb Scoville wins a prestigious Andrew Carnegie fellowship to study the question
“Caleb Scoville grew up in isolated Humboldt County in northern California, known as the “home of the Redwoods” for its old-growth forests. From an early age, he witnessed the tension between extracting goods from nature and trying to preserve wilderness. That early environmental awareness continues in his work as an assistant professor of sociology, teaching classes like Environmental Sociology. Now he will be delving deeply into the connection between environmentalism and partisan politics in the U.S., thanks to a prestigious Andrew Carnegie fellowship, which he just received. The fellowship is part of a Carnegie program supporting research around political polarization in the U.S. One of only 26 recipients nationwide out of an applicant pool of more than 300, Scoville will receive $200,000 for a two-year research project called “Divided by Nature: How Environmental Politics Became Partisan and What to Do About It in a Warming World.” He plans to write a book that appeals to academic and general audiences based on the research. … ” Read more from Tufts University.
Podcasts …
WATER RESOURCES: Linkages between groundwater and irrigated agriculture focusing on California
Thomas Harter discusses relationships between irrigated agriculture and groundwater considering water quantity and quality in the California Central Valley.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: A Watery Economy
Water is, for the most part, a transparent resource that is invisible to your typical American. Its tangible contributions in our lives are eventually seen when the resource is taken away. Paul Jewel, Kittitas County Commissioner, feels that people can take water for granted. It truly is our single, biggest economic indicator. Most people don’t appreciate that. 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
Letter to the Editor: Huffman claims ‘disinformation,’ Lake Pillsbury Alliance calls foul
“In the recent Ukiah Town Hall on April 4, Congressman Jared Huffman suggested the Potter Valley Project issue should not be political and that a “firehose of disinformation” has risen. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Huffman’s hand-picked “very inclusive ad-hoc community” included numerous members of the environmental community who dominated the entire process. Cal Trout, Trout Unlimited, Friends of the Eel River, and others were allowed to join. Lake County was given one seat out of 30 and was shut down every time they spoke up. The Lake Pillsbury Alliance sought a seat at the table and when they did show up, Mr. Huffman asked them to leave. The political determination to remove the dams was clear at the outset. No alternative voices were permitted. Some made it clear that if dam removal was not the outcome of these discussions, they would pursue litigation. Was that not being “political?” … ” Read more from the Mendocino Voice.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Plastic water bottles could get banned on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe with senate bill
“A senate bill has been introduced to the Nevada legislature this session that could prohibit the sale of plastic water bottles in Nevada Lake Tahoe communities, if passed. The bill is similar to the City of South Lake Tahoe’s ordinance that went into effect on Earth Day of last year and the Town of Truckee’s ordinance, taking effect this upcoming Earth Day. Both ban the sale of certain plastic water bottles and both municipalities lies on the California side of Lake Tahoe. Senate Bill 324 would introduce similar restrictions in communities that abut the Nevada portion of the Lake Tahoe Watershed. The proposed bills prohibits sale of disposable plastic water bottles under four liters. The bill was initially written to allow the attorney general to enforce the ban and inspect for compliance with those in violation guilty of a misdemeanor. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Surveys in the Sierra: A search for Bighorn Sheep
Nathan Hurner writes, “he morning felt as though the still air had frozen. In my small backpacking tent, cold air swirled to the roof as I let out the first few breaths of the day. Not a sound was to be heard as morning began in the Sierra Nevada. My frigid body provided me all the motivation I needed to move around in an attempt to thaw myself out. I left my 15-degree sleeping bag’s “warmth” to embrace the fall morning. A ray of sunshine by Rock Creek Lake offered hope to regain feeling in my nose, if it was still attached to my face that is. While waiting to defrost, I wondered… If these are the mornings that I’m waking up to, what else is in store for these next few days? It was the beginning of a four-day trip, during which, I would join the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on their Wheeler Ridge surveys for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Little did I know the respect I would gain for the landscape, the animals, and the remarkable biologists who work on this species recovery. … ” Read more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
NAPA/SONOMA
Raising height of Lake Mendocino dam could benefit water customers, help environment
“A new partnership between three organizations will explore options for raising the dam at Lake Mendocino to boost the water supply supporting agriculture and recreation. State and local politicians, tribal officials and representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers met this past Friday at Lake Mendocino to formalize a cost-sharing agreement for the Coyote Valley Dam General Investigation Study. According to the Mendocino County Inland Water and Power Commission, Lake Mendocino provides drinking water for over 650,000 people in Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties and plays a role in flood control.The study, led by a partnership between the commission, the Lytton Rancheria and the Corps of Engineers will assess the prospects of greater water supply and potential federal interest in reducing flood risks. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
BAY AREA
Richmond eyes shoreline erosion project to save Bay Trail expansion
“Shoreline erosion at Point Molate Beach could jeopardize a $6 million recreational trail project through Richmond and threaten historical artifacts. A $2 million city investment approved by the city council on Tuesday aims to find a solution. For about a decade, the East Bay Regional Parks District and Richmond officials have envisioned expanding a section of the San Francisco Bay Trail, a 350-mile-long recreational route meant to circle the entire bay, along a 2.5 mile section of Richmond’s bayfront. Once built, the new portion of the pedestrian and cyclists trail would stretch from the historic Winehaven District, once known as the largest pre-prohibition winery in the world before becoming a war-time fuel storage site, past the Chevron refinery to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Mountain View: Restoring connections: Evelyn Avenue Fish Passage Project
“Stevens Creek is more than a waterway; it’s a lifeline for wildlife and a cherished resource for our community. But in Mountain View, the stretch of creek between the Evelyn Avenue and Central Expressway bridges has long been hindered by barriers that block fish, like the federally protected Central California Coast Steelhead, from migrating to their upstream spawning habitats. An earlier attempt in 2015 to restore fish passage here was damaged by winter floods, leaving the problem unresolved. Now, Valley Water is undertaking the Evelyn Avenue Fish Passage Project to rebuild and improve upon past efforts. This project will remove passage barriers and create a roughened channel with riffles and pools to mimic natural streams, add large wood features to enhance aquatic habitat, and stabilize eroding banks downstream of Evelyn Avenue. … ” Read more from Valley Water News.
CENTRAL COAST
Salinas City Council prepares to vote on sewer rate increases, potentially tripling rates.
“For over a decade, sewer rates for Salinas residents have remained the same: $5.45 per month since 2012. This fiscal year, the city is facing a funding shortfall. “Necessary infrastructure repairs and upgrades have not been financially possible,” Finance DTA, a consulting firm, reported in a study. For the next decade, DTA calculated, the city will need $114.8 million to maintain the current level of service it provides. David Jacobs, director of public works, says part of the system is very old. “Most of the sewer lift stations in the city were built in the ’60s and we have maintained them, but they’re getting to end of life,” Jacobs says. Salinas operates its own sanitary sewer collection system covering 12,430 acres, then sends the wastewater to Monterey One Water to be treated. (M1W is the agency that bills residents for both services, so they would see an increase reflected on their M1W bills.) … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Bakersfield residents react to proposed sewer rate increase of nearly 300%
“Some Bakersfield residents are speaking out, claiming the city should rethink its proposed sewer rates and say they will only add to their financial burden. Bakersfield proposes a dramatic sewer rate increase from $239 to $950 annually, nearly 300%. Residents, especially seniors, express concern over the financial burden of the proposed increases. The city has mailed notices to 106,000 properties about the rate hike. To oppose the increase, residents must submit written protests by May 28, totaling over 53,000 needed to block it. … ” Read more from Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
100 days after the LA fires, where do we stand?
“It’s been 100 days since the devastating L.A. fires decimated communities from Altadena to Pacific Palisades. At least 30 people died in the Eaton and Palisades fires, and more than 16,000 structures — mostly homes — burned, making them among the top 10 deadliest and top three most destructive fires in California history. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed, millions of tons of debris are being removed, thousands of people remain displaced, and for many survivors, the pain of the fires is still fresh. One hundred days later, there has been progress in the recovery — crews are months ahead of schedule — but mostly there’s been confirmation that there is still a very long road ahead. … ” Read more from the LAist.
The LA fires left behind millions of tons of debris, some of it toxic. Where does it all go?
“For more than two months, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has been leading efforts to clear properties damaged in the Eaton and Palisades fires to prepare them for rebuilding. The operation includes scraping the top six inches of soil and ash, cutting down damaged trees, removing concrete walls and foundations compromised by heat and pulling gnarled melted metal for recycling. The Army Corps estimates that across nearly 14,000 parcels, as much as 4.5 million tons of material will be removed by the time operations wrap up (hopefully) in the fall. This is the largest municipal wildfire cleanup operation in recent history. For comparison, the deadly 2023 fires in Hawaii generated roughly 400,000 tons of debris. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Why Trestles — known for natural beauty and a long walk to get there — will host Olympic surfing
“The 2028 Olympic surfing competition will be held at a famed break south of San Clemente, according to an announcement came with the reveal of nearly all of the remaining Olympic venues earlier this week. Organizers chose Lower Trestles over Huntington Beach — literally trademarked Surf City USA — to host the sport’s third Olympic appearance. But why? Let’s explore. Lower Trestles, or Lowers, is one of several surf breaks at San Onofre State Beach, which stretches from Orange County’s San Clemente into north San Diego County.The land is the ancestral home of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation and a site that marks the village Panhe is about 2 miles from the shore. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Wedge surfers chased out of water by sea lion, the latest in a string of aggressive behavior at beaches
“The situation at first seemed comical – a cute sea lion ruling the line up at the wild Wedge in Newport Beach, where wave riders showed up earlier this week to take on beefy waves from the first south swell of the season. At times, the sea lion would join in on the fun, bodysurfing a few waves and playing in the surf like the others in the water. It’s not an unusual scene, the marine mammals are known for their playfulness while hanging out near surfers. But there was something off about this one — it would suddenly turn aggressive, chasing the humans out of the water, darting toward them. The encounter occurred on April 15 at the Wedge, a popular surf spot on the east end of the Balboa Peninsula. The sea lion “spooked all the surfers and bodyboarders” and was “chasing them in an aggressive fashion,” said Brian O’Rourke, assistant chief lifeguard with Newport Beach Fire. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SGPWA breaks ground on project
“The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) will soon break ground on a groundwater monitoring wells installation project to support water reliability for local disadvantaged communities (DACs) near Banning, in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Starting April 17, the drilling and construction will be concentrated near 1220 Dysart Drive in Banning. Residents can expect the project to last 10 to 15 business days, with operating hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Local homes will not be directly impacted, and SGPWA and USGS will take all possible measures to minimize disruptions to the public’s daily routines. “Groundwater is essential for the San Gorgonio Pass area,” said Mickey Valdivia, SGPWA board president. … ” Read more from the Record-Gazette.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego’s drought: Where are we now?
“When it comes to water, San Diego County faces a couple of problems — persistent drought and a deep water year deficit. National Weather Service numbers show San Diego has only received about half of the rainfall it normally expects annually. The water year is a way of measuring annual rainfall without breaking up the winter. It runs from Oct. 1 to Sep. 30, so San Diego’s current water year started last fall. A full water year for San Diego brings an average of almost 10 inches of rain. The National Weather Service said San Diego should have received just over 9 inches of rain so far. But up to this point, the region has received just 4.19 inches. That means we have a gap, called a “deficit,” of almost 5 inches. … ” Read more from Channel 10.
Imperial Beach leaders call for action on Tijuana River sewage crisis
“Imperial Beach city leaders are calling for more federal accountability and legislative actions to address the ongoing Tijuana River pollution. In a four to one vote, the city council approved a resolution Wednesday night that lists several priorities to help solve the public health crisis. Mayor Paloma Aguirre was the only dissenting vote. The resolution, spearheaded by Councilmember Mitch McKay, is largely symbolic as Imperial Beach has no jurisdiction over any of the actions, but it intends to send a message to the federal government, as well as state and local partners, about possible next steps. … ” Read more from Fox 5.
Imperial Beach officials want to restrict border crossings, potable water amid sewage crisis
“Imperial Beach councilmembers want the U.S. Congress to consider restricting potable water sales to Tijuana as well as limiting border crossings from Mexico. The 4-1 vote on Tuesday was bundled with a number of requests meant to pressure Mexican authorities to accelerate their response to the Tijuana River sewage crisis. It comes after President Donald Trump said that Mexico was dumping sewage into “our part of the ocean,” and days before U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is set to visit the region. Officials acknowledged that their request deals with issues they have no jurisdiction over — and that they don’t know how federal officials would carry it out. … ” Read more from iNewsSource.
EPA director says he’s coming to check out America’s 2nd most endangered river
“The Tijuana River is now the second most endangered river in America. That’s according to environmental organization American Rivers. “We moved from number nine to number two, and that’s concerning,” sighed Ramon Chairez, the education director for Un Mar de Colores. The Mississippi River is listed as the most endangered river in America. “It’s insane. There’s toxic sewage. It makes you want to throw up,” fumed Coronado Mayor John Duncan while standing alongside the long-polluted Tijuana River. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Along the Colorado River …
Changes loom for innovative Lower Colorado River Endangered Species Program amid drought, new river rules
“Before the construction of Hoover Dam on the lower Colorado River, as well as a slew of smaller sisters downstream, the stretch downriver served as a biological oasis in the middle of the unrelenting Mojave and Sonoran deserts. The marshes and backwaters along the river’s edge provided sheltered areas for fish to spawn and rear their young, and mesquite and cottonwood-willow forests provided important habitat for numerous species of birds and other animals. But when Lake Mead began filling behind Hoover Dam in 1935, it drastically reduced the amount of water flowing downstream, radically altering the habitat there. In the decades that followed, the river flow captured by Hoover Dam became a critical source of water for farms and cities across Southern California, Nevada and Arizona – transforming deserts into some of the nation’s most productive farmland and creating some of the most populous cities such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas. Today, more than 27 million people in the three states rely on water from the Colorado River—roughly two-thirds of the total population that the river serves. Yet even as that dependence on the river grew, a collision between human and environmental needs was brewing. … ” Read more from Western Water.
Arizona: Saving the environment to save ourselves
“Saving the environment. At Arizona State University, that’s not just a trendy slogan. From water insecurity to wildfire awareness to cleaning pollutants in urban fishing waterways, ASU is tackling problems to not only keep our Earth clean but improve the lives of everyone living on the planet. Here’s a look at some of the ways ASU is making the world a better place for animals and people to thrive. … ” Read more from Arizona State University.
Arizona’s intense heat, extended drought periods taking toll on saguaro cactuses
“The intense heat in recent Arizona summers is taking a toll on the smaller saguaro cactus. The survival of saguaro seedlings is being threatened by extended drought periods, as rainfall is their primary water source during their early decades. Erik Rakestraw, curator of Botany at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, says nurse plants are crucial toward the development of younger saguaros. “So if you, if those things go away and you know, nurse plants, nurse trees go away, the saguaros will have no place to get a foothold and carry on future generations, ” Rakestraw said. … ” Read more from KJZZ.
Funding uncertainty, river droughts, and 120-year-old infrastructure: Hickenlooper hears Western Slope water woes in his visit to Garfield County
“Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper stood right beside the flowing Colorado River as he responded to concerns about its future from water conservation leaders on the Western Slope. The senator’s Tuesday visit to Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs was just one of several stops on his tour across Northwestern Colorado to discuss things like public land management and housing challenges. Those in attendance relayed their hopes and water concerns to him — ranging from a warming climate to the freezing of already-awarded federal grants for water projects by the Trump administration. The Colorado River serves 40 million people across seven states. Roughly 65% of the river’s natural flow originates on Colorado’s Western Slope. The river — and the communities it serves — is currently facing several challenges, many of which are related to increasing temperatures, prolonged drought, lower snowpack levels, more stream regulations, and increased water demand. Those conditions are only exacerbated by the state’s aging infrastructure. … ” Read more from Summit Daily.
In national water news this weekend …
The PFAS drinking water rule under the second Trump administration
“Major trade associations and water systems filed suit to challenge the Biden-era U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Primary Drinking Water Rule for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. After President Donald Trump took office, the EPA asked the court to stay the litigation until the agency could review the rule and consider its position on the litigation. Considering the EPA’s PFAS priorities during the first Trump Administration, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s historic positions, and the common ground between the EPA and the challengers regarding some, but not all, of the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), it appears possible that the EPA could narrow the Rule to apply only to PFOS and PFOA. … ” Get the details from Holland Knight.
Wastewater industry split on Trump’s performance
“Wastewater industry professionals are split when it comes to President Donald Trump’s performance in office so far. In a poll conducted by Wastewater Digest following President Trump’s first few months in office, roughly 50% of respondents felt “very negative” or “somewhat negative” about his performance so far as it relates to the wastewater sector. Roughly 44% felt “very positive” or “somewhat positive,” and around 6% were “neutral” on the topic. Responses about President Trump’s performance varied, with some people praising his first few months in office, while others were concerned about the future of the country. Hot topics included comments about the economy, regulations, tariffs and the environment. … ” Read more from Wastewater Digest.
Massive cuts at National Weather Service spark fears about forecast quality, public safety
“As Trump administration firings at the National Weather Service continue to impact local offices across the U.S., the agency announced Thursday that staffing limitations may further reduce or suspend the launch of weather balloons. The announcement follows weeks of legal uncertainty over widespread staff reductions, and comes the day after the agency’s Sacramento office announced that it would stop answering public phone lines and reduce the extent and frequency of certain forecasting products due to “critically reduced staffing.” Prior to that announcement, the office said it would be limiting its weather updates on social media. The changes are among the first of many that weather service managers say they are likely to make as they prepare for an era of “degraded operations” under the current administration. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
SEE ALSO: NOAA funding cuts erasing years of weather data for experts, from Channel 4
How the Trump administration’s interpretation of one word—‘harm’—could gut habitat protections for endangered species
“The Trump administration proposed a new rule Wednesday that would rescind widespread habitat protections for species protected under the Endangered Species Act, a landmark law enacted in 1973 to conserve the country’s imperiled animals and plants. That would open the door for developments across the country to be approved even if they significantly disrupt critical habitat for species listed under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed rule, posted in the U.S. Federal Register by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, would “rescind the regulatory definition of ‘harm,’” which is defined as any significant habitat modification or degradation that actually kills or injures wildlife. Environmental groups lambasted the proposal. “There’s just no way to protect animals and plants from extinction without protecting the places they live, yet the Trump administration is opening the floodgates to immeasurable habitat destruction,” said Noah Greenwald, co-director of endangered species at the Center for Biological Diversity. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
SEE ALSO: By Redefining ‘Harm,’ Agencies Aim to End Longstanding Wildlife Protections, from the New York Times
TRUMP EO: Unleashing American commercial fishing in the Pacific
The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (PRIMNM) was established by Proclamation 8336 of January 6, 2009 (Establishment of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument), and then further expanded by Proclamation 9173 of September 25, 2014 (Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Expansion). Under these monument proclamations, over 400,000 square miles in the Pacific Ocean were appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing, or other disposition under the public land laws for care and management by the Federal Government. The PRIMNM was established to protect and preserve the lands and marine environment around Wake, Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston and Palmyra Atolls; Kingman Reef; and the historic and scientific objects therein. These objects include fish, birds, marine mammals, coral, and the general biodiversity of the ecosystems encompassed by the PRIMNM. As part of the management of the PRIMNM, commercial fishing is currently prohibited within its boundaries. As explained herein, following further consideration of the nature of the objects identified in Proclamations 8336 and 9173 and the protection of those objects already provided by relevant law, I find that appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of scientific and historic interest that the PRIMNM protects at risk. … ” Continue reading from the White House.
SEE ALSO: Trump order seeks looser regulation of US fishing industry, from Reuters
How Trump’s reg-busting quest tests legal limits
“President Donald Trump is proudly waging a war on federal regulations with a series of tactics that could soon land in the center of high-stakes court battles. Trump’s critics have been dismayed by the president’s early assault on the federal regulatory apparatus, with some legal experts expressing confidence that the administration’s moves won’t hold up against legal challenges. But in regulatory rollbacks, as well as other arenas, Trump’s second-term team has signaled that it’s willing to attempt massive changes to how the executive branch operates, then take its chances in court. “It’s clear that they’re trying to push as far as they can on legal boundaries,” said Myron Ebell, who led Trump’s EPA transition team after the 2016 election. … ” Read more from E&E News.
