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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include the Delta Synthesis Working Groups: A Collaboration with the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). Click here for the full agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: SGMA – A legal perspective from 10am to 12pm. This seminar offers a legal perspective on California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, exploring its key legal frameworks and regulatory mandates. Presenters are Jennifer Buckman from BKS Law Firm, and Austin Ewell from the Ewell Group. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
Report: How much water is available for groundwater recharge in the Central Valley?
“Groundwater recharge is a powerful tool for increasing water supplies and building resilience for dry years. The wet winter of 2023 created ample opportunity for refining and improving recharge practices, and good progress was made—about a 17 percent increase in recharge volumes over 2017, another wet year. But many groundwater basins remain far from their recharge goals, and since 2023, discussion has intensified on how to augment recharge without harming other water users or the environment. Our high-level look at conditions in 2023 in the Central Valley—California’s largest watershed—illustrates how much water would be needed to comply with environmental regulations in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and how much might have been made available for other purposes, including groundwater recharge. Rechargers lack the capacity to capture all of this potentially available water, and some recharge would entail tradeoffs with downstream uses—particularly exports from the south Delta by the state and federal water projects. Still, the abundance of wet years could be better managed by understanding when additional diversions for recharge could take place without harming other users, and when partnerships and policy tools could facilitate more recharge. This analysis also provides a starting point for understanding opportunities and constraints in drier years, when the tradeoffs would loom larger.” Read the full report from the PPIC.
Delta leaders applaud exclusion of Delta tunnel from budget; tunnel proponents say streamlining efforts will continue
“Governor Newsom and state lawmakers have reached a budget agreement for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, though additional budget items are expected over the summer. Newsom’s approval of the spending plan hinges on lawmakers passing a bill to streamline new housing development by reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, a priority he has advocated for since May. While the governor’s proposed budget included plans to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, budget documents reveal this initiative will not move forward. Here are reactions from the Delta Caucus, Californians for Water Security, State Water Contractors, and the Southern California Water Coalition. … ” Read more at Maven’s Notebook.
State budget deal drops Newsom bid to fast track the Delta tunnel
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to circumvent parts of the state mandated environmental review process to fast track the controversial Delta tunnel has been scuttled for now. Newsom last month tucked language fast tracking the $20 billion plus project into this year’s budget that would have effectively eliminated environmental and judicial review of the project. State Senator Jerry McNerney, who represents San Joaquin County, said the move was essentially giving the state a blank check to float bonds to pay for the water tunnel. On Wednesday, however, in order for Newsom to secure a budget deal to address a $12 billion deficit, McNerney and other Delta tunnel opponents got Newsom’s language dropped. “Keeping the tunnel fast-tracking proposal out of the state budget is an important victory for California and the Delta, and for the communities, farms, and historic resources surrounding the largest estuary on the West Coast,” McNerney said. … ” Read more from the Manteca Bulletin.
Delta stressors must be addressed for water reliability
“AgNet West’s Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” recently sat down with Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, to discuss one of California agriculture’s most pressing issues: water. Jacobsen voiced a long-standing concern over the ongoing challenges facing the state’s water system, especially those tied to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. “My frustration is, that you and I both know, there are significant stressors up the Delta well beyond the water exports,” said Jacobsen. “For every five drops that enters the Delta, four goes out the bay.” Jacobsen emphasized that ignoring upstream issues will continue to undermine the reliability of water for farming, municipalities, and the environment. He believes a collaborative; balanced approach is essential. “We can get to a point of win-win for the environment, and a win-win for agriculture, and other municipal users of this water south of Delta.” … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
Reclamation releases environmental assessment for Delta Cross Channel Gate Improvement Project
“The Bureau of Reclamation released an Environmental Assessment for the Delta Cross Channel Gate Improvement Project on June 23, opening a 30-day public review period. The Delta Cross Channel gates, originally constructed in 1951, are a critical component of California’s water infrastructure. Located near Walnut Grove in Sacramento County, the gates help manage the diversion of fresh water from the Sacramento River through the interior Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to the Central Valley Project and State Water Project. The proposed project would modernize the aging gate facility, improving its function and extending its operational lifespan. Key project goals include increasing the frequency of Central Valley Project operations of the gates to protect fish and support increased operational flexibility, reducing long-term operation and maintenance costs, enhancing employee safety, and improving conditions for recreational boating. In addition to structural and operational upgrades, the project includes plans to construct a new public access ramp downstream of the gate structure. This new feature is designed to improve public safety and expand recreational access for activities such as fishing and launching non-
motorized watercraft. The Environmental Assessment is available here. Reclamation encourages public participation
and invites comments on the EA through July 23. Comments may be submitted to: Carolyn Bragg, Email: cbragg@usbr.gov.”
Water Commission tours Harvest Water Project
“On June 18, the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SacSewer) hosted a public bus tour of the Harvest Water Program as part of the California Water Commission’s June meeting. The Commission administers the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP) to fund the public benefits associated with water storage projects. One project, the Harvest Water Program, has received final funding and is under construction. … ” Read more from the Elk Grove Citizen.
Anchovy dominated diets off the West Coast pose new dangers for salmon
“A vitamin deficiency likely killed as many as half of newly hatched fry of endangered winter-run Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River in 2020 and 2021. These new findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The deficiency of thiamine, or Vitamin B1, is linked to large-scale shifts in the ocean ecosystem. These shifts changed the prey adult salmon consume before they return to West Coast rivers to spawn, scientists reported. They said the longtime loss of habitat and water has already weakened many California salmon populations. Further declines from thiamine deficiency or other impacts may lead to their extinction. The deficiency syndrome can also affect salmon runs like the Central Valley’s fall-run that once supported valuable commercial fisheries across California. They have since dwindled to the point that commercial ocean salmon fishing in California has been closed for the last 3 years. “Salmon in California have endured one blow after another,” said Nathan Mantua, research scientist at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center. “They have lost habitat, water, and access to higher elevations. Many are maintained in hatcheries. There is really no safety net left. Any new impact could be the final blow, especially if it continues over an extended period.” … ” Read more from NOAA Fisheries.
SEE ALSO: Anchovy Dominated Diets off the West Coast Pose New Dangers for Salmon, from UC Davis
Daniel Jackson highlights east vs. west side water struggles
“Nick Papagni, “The Ag Meter,” recently spoke with Daniel Jackson of Family Tree Farms—one of the largest growers of peaches, nectarines, plums, and blueberries globally—about the complex differences between farming on California’s east and west sides. Jackson, who farms in both regions, explained how initial challenges on the west side created long-term clarity. “It’s kind of like we feel like there were some hard things that happened up front that made it challenging for us on the west side. That there were different things that were imposed on us… that weren’t imposed on east side farmers.”As water regulations have evolved, Jackson says the west side is now more stable by comparison. … ” Read more from Ag Net West.
SEE ALSO: Joel Allen on Westside Farming, Family Legacy, and Football Fame, from Ag Net West
California Congressional Delegation protests Army Corps of Engineers cuts
“A dozen members of the California Congressional Delegation, led by its chair, Rep. Zoe Lofgren of the 18th Congressional District, sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee calling for the committee to reject the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The president’s budget request for fiscal year 2026 included only $1.56 billion for USACE construction—53% below the fiscal year 2024 enacted funding level—and excluded vital flood prevention projects in California. “This funding request is seriously insufficient to meet the flood risk management, navigation, ecosystem restoration, and other needs of communities across the country,” the letter stated. … ” Read more from the Pajaronian.
Trump cuts to Delta levee repair projects could put Stockton in jeopardy
“The Trump administration is proposing to cut the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ construction budget next fiscal year by more than half, a move that could devastate levee restoration projects in the Delta. The proposed cuts, which would reduce the construction budget by 53% compared to the amount previously allocated, could include work on the San Joaquin Basin Project in Stockton, said U.S. Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy. The basin project is directed at protecting 300,000 residents from flooding. Harder is one of 12 members of Congress who sent a letter urging that funding be restored. The congressional members sent the letter to the chairperson and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Water Subcommittee. … ” Read more from Stocktonia.
Harder demands restoration of flood-control funding
“Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded a reversal of proposed cuts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood protection projects, including the San Joaquin River Basin Project in Stockton. The Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) is 53% lower than previously enacted levels, and excludes funding for vital flood prevention projects in the Valley and across California. Proposed cuts come at a crisis moment in Valley flood mitigation: The Delta region faces a greater flood risk than New Orleans did before Hurricane Katrina. In Stockton alone, over 90% of properties are at risk during a major flood event. More than 1,100 miles of Delta levees need repairs. “Yanking flood protection funding at the last-minute makes no sense and puts our Valley communities at risk,” said Rep. Harder. “We face flood threats every year because of aging infrastructure and we worked across the aisle to finally get the flood protection we need. Now, Washington is trying to steal back funding for our levees, and I refuse to let them get away with it.” … ” Read more from Congressman Josh Harder.
The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
“The number of gray whales migrating along the California coast has plummeted again this year, dropping to levels not seen since the 1970s, according to federal officials. There are now likely fewer than 13,000 gray whales migrating along the North American Pacific coast — fewer than half the population’s 27,000 peak in 2016, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Although a single cause for the population shrinkage has not been determined, scientists believe it is likely the result of a changing climate and its impact on the animals’ Arctic and subarctic food supply. This year, scientists in Mexico reported ominous indicators as they observed gray whales wintering in the shallow, warm, protected lagoons of the Baja California Peninsula. They said that very few calves had been born, and that many adult whales were dying. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
California nonprofit revises plan for controversial wood pellet project
“A California nonprofit organization has decided to revise its controversial plan to build two wood pellet processing plants that would turn excess biomass in the state’s forests into pellets to be shipped overseas for use in renewable energy generation. Golden State Natural Resources said Wednesday it will develop a reduced-scale project focused on domestic, rather than international, use of sourced wood, producing wood chips instead of pellets. The project will target emerging demand in California and nearby regions for sustainable energy and alternative wood products. “By supplying biomass domestically to emerging green industries in sustainable fuel production and innovative wood products, GSNR’s reduced-scale project not only increases forest resiliency, but directly supports sustainable biomass use innovation in accordance with state and federal goals,” Patrick Blacklock, the nonprofit’s president, said in a statement. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
SEE ALSO: California’s Largest Proposed Wood Pellet Project Defeated, from the NRDC
These 4 million acres of California forests could lose protection. Here’s what Trump’s ‘roadless rule’ repeal could do
“The Trump administration’s plan to repeal a rule prohibiting logging and road construction in undeveloped parts of national forests would strip protection from more than 4 million acres within California’s borders. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced on Monday that she will act to rescind the “roadless rule,” developed during the Clinton administration, to allow “for fire prevention and responsible timber production” on more than 58 million acres of national forests. But experts are divided about whether allowing road development and timber harvest in national forests will help prevent wildfires. Though roads can aid in firefighting and fuel reduction and serve as fire breaks, roads can also mean more people — and people mean more sparks that can ignite wildfires. And some experts say timber harvests may not reduce fire severity because they can promote growth of more flammable fuels in forests. … ” Read more from Cal Matters.
Map: These wild California forests could open to logging under Trump plan
“The Trump administration is seeking to undo a 25-year-old rule that shields nearly a third of U.S. Forest Service lands from roads and logging, including large swaths of California, notably areas near Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Giant Sequoia National Monument. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who announced the plan to rescind the “roadless rule” this week, called the protections outdated, saying they were preventing responsible timber production and necessary wildfire prevention work. Conservation groups, however, shot back that the move would simply encourage destructive logging ventures in ecologically important areas. They vowed to fight the action as it winds through what promises to be a lengthy and litigious repeal process. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule covers about 59 million acres of Forest Service lands, mostly in western states. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Malaysia will stop accepting U.S. plastic waste, creating a dilemma for California
“Malaysia will ban plastic waste imports from the U.S. starting Tuesday because of America’s failure to abide by the Basel Convention treaty on international waste transfers, in a move that could have significant consequences for California. Malaysia emerged as a major destination for U.S. waste after China banned American waste imports in 2018. California shipped 864 shipping containers, or more than 10 million pounds of plastic waste, to Malaysia in 2024, according to the Basel Action Network, an advocacy group. That was second only to Georgia among U.S. states. Under Malaysian waste guidelines announced last month, the country will no longer accept plastic waste and hazardous waste from nations that didn’t ratify the Basel Convention, the international treaty designed to reduce the international movement of hazardous and other waste. The U.S. is one of just a handful of countries, including Fiji and Haiti, that hasn’t signed the pact. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In commentary today …
Edward Ring: The Grand Water Bargain
“For the last few decades in California, the conventional wisdom has been that farmers and urban water consumers have to improve efficiency and reduce consumption. To the fullest extent possible, rain and snow falling on watersheds must proceed unimpaired from the mountains to the ocean, and if water is reserved in reservoirs, releases of the stored water must prioritize maintaining flow in the rivers over diversions for agriculture or urban consumption. This conventional wisdom is reflected in most water policies and water infrastructure investments. It is reflected in a new slogan adopted by the California Department of Water Resources, “Making Conservation a Way of Life.” That slogan is the rhetorical centerpiece of recent legislation that will restrict indoor water use by urban consumers to 42 gallons per person per day, and set budgets for outdoor water use. As for California’s farmers, it is estimated that approximately one million acres is expected to be taken out of production in order to maximize the unimpaired flow of water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and out to the Pacific ocean. … ” Read more from Edward Ring.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Slough story: Humboldt Waterkeeper staffers discuss history, future of Butcher Slough
“Humboldt Waterkeeper staff members Jennifer Kalt and Sylvia van Royen will present a free, one-hour program titled “Butcher Slough: Past, Present, and Future” July 2 at 7 p.m. at the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center on South G Street in Arcata. The event – also being carried live via Zoom –will be followed by a Q&A session. This talk is part of the First Wednesday Lecture Series sponsored by Friends of the Arcata Marsh (FOAM). A press release from FOAM says, “Originally a travel route for Wiyot people canoeing to and from Arcata Prairie, Butcher Slough was converted into an industrial area that up until the 1980s was dominated by lumber and plywood mills. Today, it is a restored tidal slough channel lined with salt marshes and popular trails, but the toxic legacy of the industrial era remains. In 2023, the city of Arcata teamed up with Humboldt Waterkeeper to secure a Brownfields grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to explore the extent of contamination on the site, with a goal of removing contamination to restore the ecological health of the slough.” … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
PG&E already has $300 million to contribute to removing Potter Valley
“PG&E announced that it projects the cost of decommissioning the Scott and Van Horn Dams in the Potter Valley Project will cost $532 million. However, by 2029 PG&E will have already collected from ratepayers $321 million towards that cost in depreciation expenses. PG&E makes capital investments in generation, transmission and distribution equipment, and then recovers those investments on an annual basis akin to a mortgage payment. The annual cost recovery rate is computed as a sum of the cost of capital, defined as shareholder return and debt interest rate, plus the depreciation expense which is calculated based on the expected life of the equipment. … ” Read more from Economics Outside the Cube.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Precipitation extremes drive swings in Lake Tahoe’s UV exposure
“Lake Tahoe’s sparkling, clear water is a point of pride among locals and a draw for tourists. Although the water clarity—measured by how deep visible light can penetrate—has decreased since measurements began in 1968, conservation efforts over the past 2 decades have stabilized it. However, a new study published last month in Limnology and Oceanography Letters shows that ultraviolet (UV) light tells a different story. The depths to which UV radiation reaches in Lake Tahoe vary dramatically between extreme wet and dry years. Because UV radiation can affect chemical and biological processes, shifting underwater light environments between years could have significant implications for Lake Tahoe’s ecosystem. … ” Read more from EOS.
NAPA/SONOMA
Sonoma Valley eyes up conservation and recycling to protect limited water supplies
“There are bountiful water supplies in the Russian River’s watershed, but in other nearby parts of Sonoma County, water is not as plentiful. Critical groundwater declines are threatening long-term water reliability for homes, farms, and businesses just a short drive away in the Sonoma Valley. To learn more, KRCB News spoke with Marcus Trotta, principal hydrologist at Sonoma Water, and plan manager for the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA). Trotta said the agency has designated two new Groundwater Sustainability Priority Areas: El Verano and Eastside. “Those are areas where Sonoma Valley GSA is currently focused on doing both outreach to groundwater users,” Trotta said. “[And] identifying and evaluating the types of projects and actions that can be taken to address the ground water level declines.” … ” Read more from NorCal Public Media.
Napa County halts compliance deal with castle winery after discovering major groundwater discrepancy
“Napa County officials have pulled the brakes on a controversial plan to legalize years of unpermitted activity at Castello di Amorosa, the medieval-style castle winery near Calistoga, after discovering the business used more than twice the amount of groundwater it reported. The county’s sudden reversal comes just two months after planning commissioners approved a sweeping permit that would have allowed the winery to continue operating despite longstanding violations. In 2019 alone, Castello di Amorosa hosted more than 400,000 visitors — a 1,600% increase over what was legally allowed — and racked up violations tied to fire safety and occupancy limits. But commissioners agreed in April to let the winery come into compliance under new conditions, including stricter controls on water use. Water Audit California — a group known for challenging water use policies in Napa County and frequently appealing planning commission decisions — appealed that April decision, citing procedural issues and water concerns. But now, those plans are off the table and the appeal hearing has been delayed. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
Golden mussels threaten California lakes. Napa County acts to keep them out of Berryessa
“Lake Berryessa remains free of invasive freshwater mussels — for now. But the recent arrival of golden mussels in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has prompted Napa County to bolster its efforts to keep the pests out. On Tuesday, the Napa County Board of Supervisors signaled support for a new ordinance that would give county inspectors and sheriff’s deputies the authority to stop and inspect any vehicles, trailers, boats or other watercraft that could be carrying mussels — either adult or larval — at any of the lake’s resort areas. The ordinance would also allow them to issue citations, including fines and misdemeanor charges, to violators. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
BAY AREA
A review of sediment transport across a natural tidal salt marsh in Northern San Francisco Bay
“Tidal salt marshes—vital ecosystems that protect coastlines, remove excess nutrients and pollutants from coastal waters, and provide habitat for fish and wildlife—depend on a steady supply of inorganic sediment to keep pace with rising sea levels. But how, exactly, does this sediment get to the marsh? And what factors influence this process? A new monograph tackles these questions head-on, distilling years of scientific research at China Camp State Park in Marin County, California, into a clear, decision-relevant summary. The synthesis is the product of a collaborative process involving resource managers, restoration practitioners, and scientists convened through a National Estuarine Research Reserve Science Collaborative project. The site, located on San Pablo Bay in the San Francisco Estuary, is one of the last remaining salt marshes in the region that has remained largely untouched by human development. The findings, drawn from a range of field studies, tell a complex and variable story of sediment movement. One major takeaway: shallow areas of the bay serve as an important—though inconsistent—source of sediment for the marsh. Sediment is delivered across the bay-marsh boundary primarily during flood tides and through wave action, in addition to transport through tidal creeks. In some cases, creeks may even export sediment instead of importing it. … ” Read more from the USGS.
CENTRAL COAST
CPUC delays a decision on the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply and future demand.
“Tomorrow, June 26, the California Public Utilities Commission was scheduled to adopt a proposed decision regarding the Monterey Peninsula’s current water supply and forecasted demand by 2050. And after already being rescheduled from the June 12 CPUC meeting by Commissioner Darce Houck, who’s presiding over the matter, on June 24 Houck pulled it from the agenda again and rescheduled it until July 24, the CPUC’s next meeting. Also on June 24, Cal Am filed a notice to report that eight people—six Cal Am employees and two Cal Am consultants—met over Webex with staff of four of the five CPUC commissioners (Houck’s Chief of Staff Victor Smith among them) for 30 minutes each, two on June 19 and two on June 20. The talking points discussed were a rehashing of Cal Am’s disagreement with the proposed decision, which projected a 2050 water demand of 13,732 acre-feet per year—the number Cal Am had been pushing for, and far higher than five outside estimates—and a current water supply of 11,204 acre-feet per year, which Cal Am thinks is too high. Cal Am officials also reiterated why they think the demand numbers are correct. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
Carmel River: First phase of floodplain restoration project underway
“A major stream restoration project that aims to return the Carmel River’s natural flow is underway on what was once twin 18-hole golf courses straddling about a mile of the waterway. “This is phase one of a three-phase project designed to rewild the lower Carmel River, reconnect its historic floodplain, and create a more resilient landscape for wildlife and the community,” said Jake Smith, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District planning and conservation program manager. “Phase one officially broke ground on June 3 and runs from June 2025 to June 2026 and focuses on the western – downstream – half of the park.” Smith added that the project is on schedule with earthwork this summer and the Park District is looking forward to moving into final floodplain contouring and planting over 30 different species of native plants this fall. … ” Read more from the Monterey Herald.
Morro Bay moves forward with plans to demolish old wastewater treatment plant
“The Morro Bay City Council has given the green light to move forward with plans to demolish the old wastewater treatment plant along Atascadero Road. The city approved a $900,000 contract for design services Tuesday night. “It’s been 25 years in the making,” said Betty Winholtz, Morro Bay resident and former city councilmember. The old wastewater treatment plant was in commission from 1964 to 2023. “It was supposed to last for 40 to 50 years, and we had it in operation for longer than 60,” Winholtz said. … ” Read more from KSBY.
San Luis Obispo is one step closer to diversifying its water portfolio
“San Luis Obispo’s Groundwater Contamination Characterization Project is one step closer to completion. Currently, the city receives water from Whale Rock Reservoir, Salinas Reservoir and Nacimiento Reservoir. Once finished, the project will add two new groundwater pumps to the water supply, making up 10-12% of the city’s water use. “We are in the implementation phase right now,” said Nick Teague, the city’s Water Resource Program Manager. “We are focused on building the infrastructure that’s going to be drawing water from the aquifer, treating that water and then putting it into the distribution system.” … ” Read more from KSBY.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Kern River plaintiff alleges region’s groundwater plan ignores harm to river flows
“In a comment letter to the state Water Resources Control Board, one of the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit over Kern River flows alleges information has been withheld from the region’s groundwater plan to the detriment of the river. Water Audit California states a number of entities, including the City of Bakersfield and its main drinking water purveyor California Water Services, “…failed to disclose the adverse impacts that their groundwater extraction is having on interconnected surface waters, thereby causing injury to the public trust and its biological components,” according to the June 20 letter. Under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), regions that have over pumped aquifers must bring them into balance by 2040 to avoid specific harms. One of those harms is sucking out so much groundwater that it damages existing, natural interconnections that exist between the water table and streams, wetlands, springs or rivers. Water Audit contends that diverting Kern River water into groundwater recharge basins that are then pumped for drinking water, creates an interconnectivity that may affect stream flows. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
Water Association of Kern County talks conservation, education, and storage
“Jenny Holtermann, the executive director of the Water Association of Kern County, joined Mike Hart on 23ABC’s Good Morning Kern County to discuss several topics concerning water in the valley. … the Water Association of Kern County [is] a local nonprofit, and we just focus on water education and outreach. So basically we host different seminars, conferences, tours, and try and just educate people about the issues — that are happening related to — water when it comes to conservation and Kern County’s abilities. Now, with so many different recharge ponds and different water banking projects, where are we today compared to 25 years ago? … ” Watch broadcast or read transcript at Channel 23.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In SoCal, whiplash and confusion over GOP plan to sell public lands
“On June 16, the Chaney Trail Corridor Project posted a call to its supporters on Instagram, warning that “public land portions of the Chaney Trail Corridor are on the map for potential sale” under Republican Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to sell millions of acres of public land across the West. The Chaney Trail Corridor Project was formed to protect the Chaney Trail, a short trail that climbs up the foothills north of Altadena and connects to Angeles National Forest above Los Angeles. The organization first formed in opposition to a local school’s plans to build a sports complex in the mountains behind Altadena, which were dropped last fall. Just a few months later, the Eaton Fire devastated the trail and much of Altadena. Since then, the Chaney Trail Corridor Project has diligently documented the recovery, from new coyote pups to sprouting native plants. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
Chiquita hit with stricter monitoring rules
“Prior to the start of another six-hour hearing, air regulators accused Waste Connections and Chiquita Canyon Landfill of weaponizing accommodations and gamesmanship in dragging out its hearing process, which the landfill’s lawyers denied Tuesday. The South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board on Wednesday announced “stronger mitigation measures to address persistent odors that have been impacting the community for years,” according to a statement from the agency. “New and modified requirements include expanded remote air monitoring and the use of drones for aerial surveillance to detect landfill emissions more rapidly and in areas that are inaccessible.” … ” Read more from The Signal.
SAN DIEGO
Regional water board could remove cease-and-desist order for Ramona egg farm
“Demler Brothers Egg Ranch is proposing a new wastewater handling system to address one of the major issues that resulted in a cease-and-desist order from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The order against Demler Brothers, often referred to by its former name of Pine Hill, was issued in November 2023 after a three-year investigation over complaints about odors and possibly contaminated water runoff at the facility at 25818 Highway 78 in Ramona. The improper discharge of wastewater used for washing eggs produced at the ranch resulted in the contamination of two nearby creeks and stormwater basins, water board staff reported. Although water board inspectors originally found high levels of ammonium-nitrate and phosphorus at the egg ranch, later tests found almost no contaminants after the facility began putting all of the egg wash wastewater into temporary holding tanks and hauling it offsite. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Diego County Supervisors advance plan for Tijuana River sewage issue
“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to advance a proposed action plan in response to the ongoing Tijuana River sewage crisis. Supervisors directed Ebony Shelton, chief administrative officer, to present recommendations to the board on Sept. 30. Supervisor Jim Desmond was the lone no vote. According to information on the supervisors’ Tuesday meeting agenda, plan options are: designating a county sewage crisis chief; matching funds used to improve air quality at schools with better filtration and cooling/heating systems; conducting an epidemiological public health impact study on chronic hydrogen sulfide exposure; an economic study on how the sewage crisis has affected small businesses, property values and regional tourism; and matching funds to help eliminate “toxic hot spots.” … ” Read more from KPBS.
SEE ALSO: County to explore plan to monitor, mitigate Tijuana River sewage pollution, from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
New Colorado River proposal breaks over year long negotiation deadlock
“There’s a break in the clouds that have hovered over Colorado River negotiations for more than a year. State water leaders appear to be coalescing behind a new proposal for sharing the river after talks were stuck in a deadlock for more than a year. The river is used by nearly 40 million people across seven states and Mexico, but it’s shrinking due to climate change. As a result, state leaders need to rein in demand. For months, they were mired in a standoff about how to interpret a century-old legal agreement. The new proposal is completely different. Instead of those states leaning on old rules that don’t account for climate change, they’re proposing a new system that divides the river based on how much water is in it today. “We finally have an approach that at least allows a glimmer of hope that the laying down of arms is possible,” said John Fleck, a writer and water policy researcher at the University of New Mexico. … ” Read more from Utah Public Radio.
Strategic transactions of Colorado River rights could help conserve water and restore fish habitat
“When the seven states of the Colorado River Basin first divided water rights in the 1920s, they handed out more than the river could reliably deliver, especially during periods of drought. Today, the basin supplies drinking water to 40 million people and irrigates 5 million acres of farmland across the southwestern United States, 30 tribal nations, and parts of Mexico. Climate change has exacerbated shortages, with studies indicating that recent Colorado River flows are near their lowest in at least 2,000 years. That has had severe consequences for fish: Of the 49 fish species native to the Colorado River Basin, 44 are already threatened, endangered or extinct. Standing agreements governing Colorado River management among states and between the U.S. and Mexico are set to expire after 2026. New research led by University of Washington water policy expert Philip Womble found that a market-based approach to managing water could provide more reliable supplies for farmers, communities and industry. The right market design and a little extra investment could also help threatened fish species. … ” Read more from the University of Washington.
In national water news today …
Like electric lights, water reuse is destined to become a necessity
“Indoor toilets were once considered a health hazard. Electric lighting sparked fears of deadly fires. Air conditioning was dismissed as an unnatural threat to human health. It seems absurd now, but each of these technologies—now fundamental to modern buildings—was initially met with widespread skepticism and resistance. Today, we’re seeing history repeat itself with water reuse. As the United States grapples with an escalating water crisis, a powerful solution is gaining momentum. Buildings can intelligently capture, treat, and reuse their own wastewater by leveraging advanced technology, data analytics, and automation to optimize every step of the water reuse process. These smart systems continuously monitor water quality and usage, automatically adjusting treatment processes to ensure safety and efficiency. While current regulations limit this recycled water to non-potable applications, the reality is that water from these systems is often treated to a level that is scientifically safe enough to drink. This isn’t about compromise—it’s about building smarter, managing water as a circular resource, and using it where it’s needed most, all within the building itself. … ” Read more from Fast Company.
GOP plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands is found to violate Senate rules, but a Utah Senator is trying again
“A plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands has been ruled out of Republicans’ big tax and spending cut bill after the Senate parliamentarian determined the proposal by Senate Energy Chairman Mike Lee would violate the chamber’s rules. Lee, a Utah Republican, had proposed selling millions of acres of public lands in the West to states or other entities for use as housing or infrastructure. The plan would revive a longtime ambition of some Western conservatives to cede lands to local control after a similar proposal failed in the House earlier this year. Lee’s plan has revealed sharp disagreement among those Republicans who support wholesale transfers of federal property to spur development and generate revenue, and other lawmakers — including GOP senators in Montana and Idaho — who are staunchly opposed. Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd said he was “adamantly opposed to public land sales in reconciliation.” … ” Read more from Colorado Public Radio.
Heat domes are lingering longer and hotter
“Temperatures are finally falling in the eastern U.S. as a vicious heat dome begins to subside. But such sweltering early-summer heat will only get more frequent in the years to come. That’s because this week’s heat wave — which tumbled century-old temperature records in some areas — was clearly influenced by climate change, scientists say. The heat dome is just one consequence of the “stuck” weather patterns that are on the rise as the planet warms. A recent study, published June 16 in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, warns of the rising dangers of such long-lasting weather patterns, which can prompt not just heat waves but also heavy rainfall and floods. … ” Read more from E&E News.
