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On the calendar today …
- EVENT: Emerging climate science symposium beginning at 9am. The Delta Independent Science Board, which provides scientific oversight of programs that support adaptive management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, is hosting a two-day symposium. Through presentations, panel discussions, and a breakout group activity, the symposium will explore the current climate projections for the Delta, related uncertainties, and how the current state of climate science is being integrated into decision-making in the Delta. The symposium will help identify information gaps that should be incorporated into existing decision support models and assess how current management approaches align with the latest research in the field. Click here for the agenda. Attendance is free. Register to attend virtually.
- PUBLIC HEARING: State Water Resources Control Board beginning at 9am. The State Water Board will hold a public hearing to consider a proposed Resolution to designate the Kern County groundwater subbasin as probationary under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Click here for the full agenda.
- MEETING: CA Water Commission beginning at 9:30am. Agenda items include Annual Update on Department of Water Resources’ Activities, State Water Project Briefing: Adaptation Strategies and Operations Update, Water Storage Investment Program: Projects Update, Water Storage Investment Program: Sites Project Early Funding Request, and Best Practices in Meaningful Tribal Engagement and Consultation. Click here for the agenda and remote access instructions.
- WEBINAR: Ecological Drought: Integrating Ecological Drought Considerations into Restoration Efforts and Natural Resource Management (Part 1) from 10am to 11am. Presentations: Projecting Socio-Ecological Impacts of Drought in Southwestern Ecosystems to Prioritize Restoration Initiatives; Drought Effects on Coastal Restoration Success: Quantifying Impacts and Testing Strategies to Enhance Resilience; and An Integrated Framework for Drought Response in Southern California’s Natural Landscapes. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Jedediah Smith Redwoods – Salmon in the Smith River from 12pm to 1pm. Join Kyle Buchanan a California State Parks Interpreter at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park for a live webinar exploring the inspiring voyage that salmon make within one of California’s most pristine areas, the Smith River Watershed. While following this wild journey we will further examine the unique role that these salmon play in fueling this Old Growth Redwood Forest. Kyle is an amazing interpreter who will have you packing your bags to visit Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Click here to register.
- RECLAMATION SCOPING MEETING: North-to-South Water Transfers Program from 3pm to 5pm. Reclamation manages the Central Valley Project which includes storage in reservoirs (such as Shasta, Folsom, and Trinity reservoirs) and diversion pumps in the Delta to deliver water to users in the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay area. When these users experience water shortages, they may look to water transfers to help reduce potential impacts of those shortages. Transfers are allowed under California State law and under Federal law.Reclamation proposed to facilitate and approve, in accordance with law, policy, rules, regulations and contracts, then in effect, the voluntary transfer of water from willing Sellers located primarily upstream of the Delta, to willing Buyers located primarily south of the Delta, and in the 2026-2027 North to South Water Transfers Environmental Assessment/Initial Study. Zoom Meeting Link
In California water news today …
California asks appeals court to allow preliminary work for Delta tunnel to begin
“The California Department of Water Resources on Tuesday asked a state appellate court to lift a preliminary injunction on geotechnical investigations for the controversial Delta Conveyance Project — a proposed 14-mile tunnel that would divert water from the Sacramento River to Central and Southern California. Last year, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto agreed with a group of local counties and water districts, as well as environmental and tribal organizations, that the preliminary work is a “covered action,” and the state agency must certify that the entire project complies with the requirements of the California Delta Reform Act. The hourlong hearing before a three-judge panel of the Third Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal in Sacramento Tuesday revolved around the question of whether the proposed preliminary work itself, as opposed to the tunnel itself, is in fact a covered action — which the water agency has to self-certify is consistent with the so-called Delta Plan for the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta — even though the state’s Delta Stewardship Council had said it’s not. … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Showdown: State says it’s time for water interests to show their cards on subsidence
“Ferocious overpumping that has caused huge swaths of the San Joaquin Valley to sink, damaging key water arteries including the Friant-Kern Canal and California Aqueduct must stop, according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR). It’s one of the main reasons the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was passed in 2014. After 11 years, though, not much has slowed the sinking, other than a few good, wet years, prompting the state to issue proposed subsidence guidelines that leave no doubt how serious DWR is about the issue. “We are going to get everyone in the room to put their cards on the table,” DWR Deputy Director Paul Gosselin said during a workshop about the guidelines in Delano on Sept. 10, part of a three stop tour that also included Clovis and Willows. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
NOTICE: State Water Board rescinds notice on Bay Delta Plan Sacramento/Delta update; workshops to be rescheduled
“The State Water Board has rescinded the August 22, 2025 Second Revised Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment and Hearing on Revised Draft Sacramento/Delta Updates to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed (Bay-Delta Plan or Plan). Accordingly, the hearing previously scheduled for September 24-25, 2025, and the associated public comment period are cancelled and will be rescheduled to a future date. Updating the Sacramento/Delta components of the Bay-Delta Plan is one of the State Water Board’s top priorities, and the Board is working expeditiously to complete this update. Board staff anticipate a limited recirculation of the draft Staff Report/Substitute Environmental Document in support of the Sacramento/Delta updates to the Bay-Delta Plan together with the updated draft Plan in December 2025. New dates for a public hearing and comment period will be announced upon release. … ” Read the full notice.
Leftover tropical moisture from Mario to move into Southern California, southwest US
“Tropical storm impacts in Southern California from the eastern Pacific are rare, but AccuWeather meteorologists forecast that leftover moisture from Mario, which dissipated Wednesday morning just off the western coast of Mexico, will move into the southwestern United States later this week. … The magnitude and extent of rain that occurs in the Southwest states during the second half of this week will depend on the strength of high pressure west of the Rockies. “Right now, this high pressure area is very strong but is likely to weaken a bit this week,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva explained. “If the high weakens substantially, a greater surge of tropical moisture could stream in from the Pacific,” DaSilva said. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
SEE ALSO: Quick Look at Potential Impacts from Remnants of Mario, from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes
Map shows tap water for nearly 100M people has toxic chromium-6 mixed with arsenic and nitrate
“Thousands of communities have water utilities serving almost 100 million people drinking water polluted with hexavalent chromium, also called chromium-6, as well as arsenic and nitrate. That’s the finding of a new report and interactive map published today by the Environmental Working Group. These contaminants are known to cause cancer and other health harms, and are toxic at extremely low levels. But most drinking water treatment systems only tackle one contaminant at a time. Filtering several co-occurring contaminants together instead could prevent up to an estimated 50,000 cancer cases in a lifetime, according to a peer-reviewed paper by EWG scientists. … ” Read more from the Environmental Working Group.
SEE ALSO: EWG map supports ‘co-contaminant’ tap water rules for preventing up to 50,000 cancer cases, from the Environmental Working Group
California ag production value hits record $61.2 billion
“California’s 2024 agricultural production amounted to $61.2 billion, marking the first time the state’s production value has exceeded $60 million, according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. The total value indicates an increase of 3.6% from 2023. California’s top 10 commodities reflected the state’s diverse and high-value agricultural output. Dairy products led the way at $8.6 billion, followed by almonds at $5.7 billion, and grapes at $5.6 billion. Cattle and calves generated $4.982 billion, while lettuce contributed $3.67 billion, and strawberries reached $3.5 billion. Pistachios added $2.046 billion, tomatoes brought in $1.6 billion, and carrots accounted for $1.565 billion. … ” Read more from Valley Ag Voice.
As California installs more artificial turf, health and environmental concerns multiply
“Fields of plastic, or fake turf, are spreading across the Golden State from San Diego to Del Norte counties. Some municipalities and school districts embrace them, saying they are good for the environment and promote kids’ activity and health. But some cities including Los Angeles are considering banning the fields, citing concerns about children’s health and the environment. Nowhere in the country is turf growing faster than in California — on school athletic fields, city parks and residential lawns. Exact numbers are not known, but it’s estimated that 1,100 acres of the material, or the equivalent of some 870 football fields, are being installed across the state each year. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
Kelp forests are connected to local beach ecosystems
“The kelp forest is ephemeral, yet foundational. Fronds of this fast-growing giant seaweed come and go with the seasons, storms and waves, supporting communities of fish, invertebrates and even mammals wherever they emerge. As dynamic as they are in the ocean, kelp forests are also essential for its nearby shoreline communities, as fronds of this seaweed wash up on the beach, providing sustenance for invertebrates and serving as the foundation of beach food webs. However, the extent of this cross-ecosystem connection is not fully understood. “We know that there’s a link between the kelp forest and the beach,” said Kyle Emery, a researcher at UC Santa Barbara’s Marine Science Institute. “But what we didn’t know is over what spatial scale that connection is operating.” Now, Emery and colleagues are coming closer to such an understanding. In a study published in the Nature journal Communications Biology, the team utilizes data taken in and around the kelp forests of the Santa Barbara Channel to elucidate the factors that drive the kelp connection between the nearshore and the beach. This, in turn, can inform habitat conservation and recovery efforts along the coasts, which are facing increased environmental pressures. … ” Read more from The Current.
The secret lives of dead trees
“Mark Harmon crouches low next to log number 219: a moss-covered western hemlock tree trunk, five meters long, lying dead on the ground in the lush green woods. It’s marked by a thin aluminum tag. The forest ecologist leans in close, his unruly white beard nearly brushing against the decomposing cylinder. Dark, flaky patches on the dull, reddish-brown wood closer to the ground show where fungi have infiltrated the cellulose within. Farther down the trunk, multicolored fungal conks protrude like hard shelves barely big enough for a mouse. A shiny black beetle scurries along the ground, then out of sight under the log. Harmon presses gently on 219 with three fingertips. It’s so spongy that he is reluctant to roll back a chunk of it to reveal what lies underneath. “Oh, I don’t want to destroy it,” he says slowly. “It’s all falling apart.” … ” Read more from Scientific American.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Spill of chlorinated water into Janes Creek during water district repair work kills more than 250 fish, including coho salmon
“A mechanical failure during last week’s emergency repair work to a damaged Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District (HBMWD) transmission pipeline caused chlorinated water to spill into Janes Creek, resulting in the death of more than 250 fish, including trout, sculpin and Coho salmon, according to district staff. Contractors for the HBMWD had almost finished repairing a major water transmission line last Tuesday evening when the spill occurred, according to General Manager Michiko Mares. She explained that a temporary pipeline had been installed to drain chlorinated water from the pipe as part of the disinfection process that’s performed prior to bringing the transmission pipeline back into service. The temporary line ruptured, causing roughly 13,500 gallons of chlorinated water to flow into Janes Creek over a 15-minute period, Mares said. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Restoration partnership at Baduwa’t doubles as a training ground for students
“When Fisheries Biology Professor Darren Ward’s students dipped their nets into the shallow water, they pulled up three rare finds: tiny coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and a tidewater goby—all listed under the Endangered Species Act, all seeking refuge in the muddy water. That discovery, made a decade ago, revealed that these species were present and seeking calmer water away from the river’s main channel. Ward and his students are part of a years-long effort to restore critical salmonid habitat along the river. The Baduwa’t Estuary Restoration project, a sweeping effort led by CalTrout, is re-creating thousands of square meters of slow-water habitat, which are havens for baby salmon and other native species. The need is urgent. In California, 90% of wetlands—critical habitat for salmon—have been lost, according to NOAA. “When slow water habitat is in short supply, the survival rate of coho salmon goes down,” Ward said. … ” Read more from Humboldt Now.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project to launch in Tahoe National Forest
“The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, is launching the Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project, a major forest restoration effort aimed at revitalizing quaking aspen habitat within the Tahoe National Forest. Spanning a total of 292 acres in the Lost Sierra, north of Highway 49 and west of Gold Lakes Highway, this project includes degraded quaking aspen stands along Packer and Samon Creeks. Aspen stands are in decline throughout the Sierra Nevada, and the primary goal of this project is to restore and enhance critical aspen habitat. Additional goals of the project include forest resilience and reduced risk of high severity fire. Restoration actions include selective thinning to remove competing conifers designed to support healthy aspen regeneration. Treatments are tailored to the terrain and ecological conditions in each unit. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Pilot project captures tire pollution to protect Lake Tahoe
“Keep Tahoe Blue, The Tyre Collective and Desert Research Institute (DRI) have implemented a pilot project on the Emerald Bay Shuttle to capture tire wear particles directly at the wheel to prevent these particles from entering the environment. The pilot program employs The Tyre Collective’s proprietary technology using discrete, compact devices affixed to a vehicle’s undercarriage to capture the microplastics, according to a press release. “While we know that vehicles impact water quality and Lake clarity, this project will help us better understand exactly how vehicles contribute to Tahoe’s water quality challenges,” said Laura Patten, natural resource director at Keep Tahoe Blue in the release. “With that knowledge, we will continue to create solutions that protect this national treasure and Keep Tahoe Blue.” … ” Read more from the Tahoe Guide.
‘Game changer’ forestry project begins in Tahoe Keys a year early
“Secretary Wade Crowfoot joined the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) on Monday, Sept. 15, to see the work in the Tahoe Keys that started this September—a year ahead of schedule. The 43-acre mastication project is in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and contractor BurnBot and was able to start early through Gov. Newsom’s emergency proclamation to confront the ongoing risk of wildfires in the state. According to Chris Carney, communications director at the CTC, the project is their first one approved through the proclamation, though it kicked off over a hundred projects across the state. The opportunity to move in advance was exciting for all partners involved, who felt that the project was especially important to protect the neighborhoods and sensitive wetlands nearby. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
End of season sailing in Lake Tahoe
“”Welcome aboard the Cheeseburger in Paradise at Lake Tahoe! Come on aboard!” Says Terry Wasik, the owner and captain of “Another Cheeseburger in Paradise.” We met with Captain Wasik to ask him about how this summer’s boating season was. But of course, we have to ask him where the name of his boat came from first. He told us his first boat was Jimmy Buffett-inspired and named “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” but he has since sold that boat and got a new one, hence the name “Another Cheeseburger in Paradise.” He says he’s from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which is where his sailing story began. If he gets another boat, it will be named “The Last Cheeseburger in Paradise.” … ” Read more from KTVN.
Lake Tahoe school district discusses non-functional turf
“Lauren Benefield, water conservation specialist at the South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) spoke about the impacts of AB 1572. The legislation, which passed in October 2023, prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf on commercial, industrial and institutional properties. Benefield noted that STPUD only provides potable water in the community, as legally, they must send recycled water out of the basin. Since LTUSD is an education institution, they must pass the amendments by January 1, 2027, and STPUD would be required to enforce compliance. Benefield said that the board and LTUSD staff would meet with the STPUD conservation team to evaluate the non-functional turf on the properties. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Yuba County flood risk reduction projects receive $8.1 million boost
“The Yuba Water Agency has approved more than $8.1 million in grants and loans to support projects aimed at advancing flood risk reduction and enhancing water supply reliability in Yuba County. “We were founded on the principles of flood protection and flood risk reduction to the people of Yuba County, so to be able to help our partners by investing in these projects is just a tremendous opportunity that I am really proud to be a part of it,” said Ryan McNally with Yuba Water Agency. … ” Read more from KCRA.
SEE ALSO: Yuba Water grants and loans fund critical water supply and flood risk reduction projects throughout Yuba County, from YubaNet
NAPA/SONOMA
Environmental lawsuit settlement forces Napa landfill to pay millions for 2019 spill
“A Napa Valley landfill will pay millions of dollars to settle an environmental lawsuit over a 2019 spill and other alleged violations, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced Friday. In March 2019, Clover Flat Landfill spilled 40,000 gallons of leachate into nearby streams, which are tributaries of the Napa River, Haley said in a news release. Leachate is a liquid created when water runs through the waste in a landfill. Investigators looking into the spill also uncovered other alleged violations, including a road built through what had been a stream and the unauthorized removal of trees and other vegetation, according to prosecutors. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
BAY AREA
Triple-digit temps, dry lightning may hit parts of the Bay Area
“The risk of fire outbreaks jumped Tuesday as the warmest temperatures of the week are expected to arrive along with dry and breezy conditions in the Bay Area.Temperatures are expected to reach the 90s and up into the triple digits in parts of the inland Bay Area, with increased wind gusts and dropping humidity increasing the fire risk for the region.“Compound the heat with low humidity this afternoon in the teens to 20% range and typical gusts up to 20-25 mph will result in near critical fire weather conditions,” the National Weather Service said in its forecast discussion. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
CENTRAL COAST
Montecito: Improving reliability and resilience with reservoir retrofits and replacements
“Set to begin this fall is the first in a series of reservoir retrofits to address seismic resilience. This important project has been years in the making and will benefit from exclusive federal grant funding that provides 30% principal forgiveness and zero interest loans. The Montecito Water District (MWD) is excited about this opportunity to pursue needed capital improvements as affordably as possible, as it strengthens the ability to provide for the community’s future water needs. The MWD’s Strategic Plan identifies Infrastructure dependability as a top goal because a reliable supply of water depends on ongoing and proactive maintenance, repair and replacement of the MWD’s extensive facilities, including treatment plants, pipelines, pump stations and reservoirs. … ” Read more from the Montecito Journal.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Modesto Irrigation District director accused of water theft, board will investigate
“The Modesto Irrigation District will look into accusations that one of its top elected leaders has stolen water, the lifeblood of the public utility. Speculation that longtime Director Larry Byrd has used MID water to nourish almond trees outside district boundaries near La Grange has spilled into the agency’s boardroom in two recent meetings, including last week. MID Board President Robert Frobose, whose position gives him authority to commission investigations, cited hopes of shoring up public trust in confirming that the accusation is being taken seriously. “I expect the district will be conducting a thorough and independent examination of the allegations forthwith,” Frobose said Sept. 12 in response to a Modesto Focus inquiry. “We deeply care about ensuring public trust is maintained along with responsible water management, while also ensuring this is looked at independently and fairly.” … ” Read more from the Los Banos Enterprise.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Rare September rain is on the way to Southern California
“Much of Southern California could see a rare September rainstorm as the remnants of Tropical Storm Mario move into the area late Wednesday. The heaviest rain is expected to fall on Thursday and could cause debris flows in recently burned areas before things dry out by Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will climb into the low triple digits across inland areas of Southern California Tuesday and Wednesday. Expect the weather to get muggy. Before the rain arrives, there’s a small chance of dry lightning — and thus fire starts. … ” Read more from the LAist.
Did L.A. wildfire debris worsen this year’s toxic algal bloom? Researchers say it’s unlikely
“When scores of dead and dying sea animals began washing up on L.A.-area beaches just weeks after January’s devastating fires, the timing seemed suspicious. Harmful algae blooms had sickened marine life in each of the three years prior. But the especially high number of animal deaths this year prompted several research teams to investigate whether runoff from the fires may have accelerated algae growth to particularly dangerous proportions. … “Some of the fire retardants have nutrients in them, like ammonia or phosphate, that can fuel the growth of phytoplankton and the growth of organisms in the ocean. And we do see some spikes in those nutrients early on, immediately post-fire,” said Noelle Held, a University of Southern California microbiologist and oceanographer who has tested ocean water along L.A.’s coastline regularly since January. “But those increases are completely dwarfed by the major shift that happened in the ocean between the end of February and the beginning of April — the upwelling event.” … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via Yahoo News.
Environmental justice and conservation groups sue City of Long Beach to demand more rigorous environmental review of controversial LA River-adjacent Pacific Place project
“The environmental justice group Riverpark Coalition (RPC) and the environmental watchdog organization Los Angeles Waterkeeper filed a lawsuit last week against the City of Long Beach over the City’s approval of a self-storage warehouse project along the Los Angeles River at 3701 Pacific Place. The groups assert the City failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, in approving the controversial project because the required environmental review lacked the rigorous analysis required and “is prejudicially misleading” about the extent of environmental impacts from the project. RPC and LA Waterkeeper have requested the court to reject the City’s incomplete environmental review and require the City to complete an adequate analysis of public health and environmental impacts before the project can move forward. … ” Read more from the LA Waterkeeper.
PRESS RELEASE: Court strikes down Inland Empire water deal after City of Ontario lawsuit reveals environmental violations and risks to local water supply
“A California court has ruled in favor of the City of Ontario in its legal challenge against the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), finding that IEUA’s approval of the Chino Basin Program (CBP) in May 2022 violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The court found that the IEUA: (1) “‘piecemealed’ the evaluation of the effects of the CBP by failing to evaluate the effects of the CBP and the Feather River Exchange outside of the Chino Basin”; (2) “Used an unstable and inconsistent project description that evaluates the effects of a project life of 25 years, but then justifies the CBP based on purported water supply benefits over 50 years”; and (3) Adopted a biased and determinative project objective to justify a refusal to evaluate reasonable alternatives to the CBP.” … ” Read more from this press release from the City of Ontario.
Decades-old toxic barrels off LA coast are killing marine life on the sea floor
“Over fifty years ago, thousands of steel drums containing industrial waste were dumped off the coast of Southern California by chemical companies. The barrels, which are peppered across 14 sites along the coastline from San Diego to Santa Monica, were largely forgotten until 2020, when new images of the ghostly barrels brought the issue back to surface. It’s still not entirely clear what is in these barrels sitting 3,000 feet deep on the ocean bed—it’s been so long that historical records on the drums appear to be lost and their contents dispersed. But a new study funded by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and University of Southern California Sea Grant sheds light on the mystery behind these containers. … ” Read more from the LAist.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Salton Sea: Toxic reality
“An alarming report about toxic emissions at the Salton Sea. Many of you have experienced that rotten egg smell. Now, reports of more severe medical issues than previously thought from those living in the area. This as data proves pollution is worse than what’s being recorded. “When we speak with the community, we find that they always talk about, obviously, this rotten egg smell that we have kind of known to associate with the Salton Sea. But they also speak about episodes of asthma or having nausea or severe headaches whenever they smell this,” said Alejandra Lopez, Community Scientist & author of UCLA Salton Sea brief. News Channel 3’s Angela Chen has what you need to know in a special in-depth report.” Watch video at KESQ.
CEQA in Lithium Valley: Shield, sword, or stumbling block?
“Beneath the parched flats south of the Salton Sea lies what many call America’s next energy frontier. Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) is betting big on Lithium Valley, a geothermal and direct lithium extraction (DLE) hub it says could wean the U.S. off foreign minerals, stabilize the electric grid, and seed a domestic battery supply chain. But as CTR breaks ground on its flagship Hell’s Kitchen project, it faces a determined legal opponent: Comité Cívico del Valle (CCV), a Brawley-based nonprofit with deep roots in environmental justice advocacy. Alongside Earthworks, CCV has appealed Imperial County’s approval of CTR’s permits under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the state’s five-decade-old environmental review law that has become both shield and stumbling block for development. At stake is more than one lawsuit. The battle embodies a central tension in California: can CEQA safeguard communities from environmental harm without becoming a tool that stymies the very clean-energy projects needed to avert climate disaster? … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Battle over Salton Sea lithium project heads to appeals court
“The fight over lithium extraction at the Salton Sea has now entered the appeals stage. Two environmental groups are pressing ahead with their challenge to Imperial County’s approval of the Hell’s Kitchen lithium and geothermal project, a development they say risks worsening water scarcity, air pollution and cultural loss in one of California’s most fragile regions. On appeal before the California Fourth District Court of Appeal, attorneys for Comité Cívico del Valle (CCV) and Earthworks submitted their opening brief on Thursday, Sept. 11, arguing that the county rushed the project’s approval and relied on a faulty environmental review that underestimated impacts and ignored legal obligations. The developer, Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR), has hit back forcefully, calling the lawsuit “frivolous” and insisting the project is key to Imperial Valley’s economic transformation. The appeal comes after the original case before the Imperial County Superior Court was ruled meritless and the lawsuit was dismissed in January. … ” Read more from the Calexico Chronicle.
SAN DIEGO
A rivalry over $50 million meant to clean cross-border rivers is brewing
“California voters approved Proposition 4 last year. It will yield $10 billion to pay for environmental projects and programs. Of that total, $50 million is earmarked to spend on water quality projects in the polluted Tijuana River, which crosses the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County before meeting the Pacific Ocean, and the New River, which also crosses the border from Mexicali into Imperial County. That funding, leaders from both areas said Tuesday, would be critical in addressing cross-border pollution that continues to wreak havoc on the people who live and work near the rivers. … ” Read more from KPBS.
Toxic sewer gases pollute South Bay at levels 70 times state regulations, study finds
“People who live in San Diego’s South Bay may be exposed to levels of toxic sewer gas —as much as 70 times higher than state air-quality standards — for hours at a time. That’s according to new research that confirms sewage from Mexico pollutes far more than the ocean off Imperial Beach and other South Bay communities. Hydrogen sulfide, which can cause headaches, nausea, respiratory problems and other symptoms, comes from the Tijuana River and can be found in alarming amounts in the air that many South Bay residents breathe. “For the first time, we’ve shown that poor water quality can profoundly degrade air quality, exposing entire communities to toxic gases and other pollutants,” said Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist at U.C. San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and lead researcher of the study. … ” Read more from NBC 7.
Researchers issue warning about toxic gases crossing US border: ‘Hazardous’
“The heavily polluted Tijuana River is releasing air pollution and driving a regional air-quality crisis in the border area, researchers have reported. The Tijuana River passes through San Diego’s South Bay Region before dumping into the ocean, bringing with it foul smells and beach closures, UC San Diego Today explained. According to a new study from the university, it’s also releasing large quantities of a toxic gas called hydrogen sulfide as air pollution. Scientists measured peak concentrations of hydrogen sulfide that were approximately 4,500 times higher than typical for an urban area. The paper also identified hundreds of other gases that are released into the air by the river and its ocean outflow. … ” Read more from The Cool Down.
Along the Colorado River …
Coalition for protecting Arizona’s lifeline
“Join us for a timely panel — sponsored by Central Arizona Project — on the importance of the Colorado River and CAP to communities across our state. Millions of Arizonans depend on the Colorado River and this supply is threatened due to drought, overallocation and the unwillingness of some to help protect its future. Hear from local mayors about how they are fostering a culture of responsible and smart water use, and how they have come together to protect and defend Arizona’s lifeline through the Coalition to Protect Arizona’s Lifeline.” Watch video at the Arizona Capitol Times.
Western Slope water officials call for more time on Shoshone water rights decision
“Western Slope water officials are asking for more time to negotiate before the state decides whether influential Colorado River water rights can be used to help the environment. A state water agency, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, is scheduled to make its final ruling Thursday on the future usage of a pair of water rights tied to Shoshone Power Plant, owned by an Xcel Energy subsidiary called Public Service of Colorado. On Tuesday, the Xcel subsidiary and Colorado River District — the Western Slope water entity leading the effort to use the rights to help the environment — filed an 11th-hour extension to delay the ruling to November. The 14-hour hearing in Durango will still go forward as scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.“The board can choose to have a vote immediately after the hearing ends, but they now have the option to delay a vote until the November meeting,” said Rob Viehl, chief of the Stream and Lake Protection Section at the Colorado Water Conservation Board. … ” Read more from the Colorado Sun.
In national water news today …
Wave-powered buoy makes 13,000 gallons of clean water a day
“Water scarcity is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. From drought-stricken regions like California to small island nations, communities are struggling to secure reliable sources of fresh water. Traditional desalination plants that remove salt and minerals from water — large, centralized facilities that rely heavily on electricity, often generated from fossil fuels — have long been part of the solution. But they come with steep financial and environmental costs. Oneka Technologies takes a different approach to desalination: clean, energy-independent, wave-powered buoys. … ” Read more from the Triple Pundit.
Conservationists challenge Trump withdrawal of meat processing pollution limits
“Five environmental groups are taking on the Trump administration over a recent decision to cancel protections aimed at reducing pollution from slaughterhouses and meat processing plants, which often contaminate rivers, lakes and streams. “The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw these lifesaving pollution-reduction measures is not just unlawful, it’s incredibly nasty,” said Hannah Connor, environmental health deputy director at the Center for Biological Diversity, in a written statement. “The U.S. meat industry slaughters some 18,000 animals every minute, creating a waste stream full of blood, fecal bacteria and disease-causing pathogens that adds up to one of our country’s largest industrial sources of nutrient pollution,” she added. “Now Trump’s EPA is killing a rule designed to curb discharges of that nasty wastewater into our rivers and streams and safeguard people and wildlife. This lawless administration is putting industry profits ahead of protecting kids from swimming in this gross pollution.” … ” Read more from the Courthouse News Service.
Burgum rolls out plan for Interior-based wildfire service
“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum launched Monday a new firefighting agency with the goal of streamlining the federal government’s approach to putting out wildfires on public lands. Burgum in a statement said “common sense” reforms are needed to allow federal firefighters to more quickly face fire risks. The Interior Department also released a secretarial order Burgum signed Sept. 10 establishing the U.S. Wildland Fire Service and marshaling his agency around the new program, which would work closely with the Forest Service that is housed within the Department of Agriculture. “For too long, outdated and fragmented systems have slowed our ability to fight fires and protect lives. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are cutting through the bureaucracy and building a unified, modern wildfire response system that works as fast and as fearlessly as the men and women on the front lines,” he said. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Communities around the world find plastic pellets in their local waterways
“This spring, citizen scientists across the country and the globe participated in the International Plastic Pellet Count, collecting small, usually round so-called “nurdles” on the shores of their local waterways. Today, a report detailing the findings of the citizen scientists was published: participants at 200 sites in 14 countries counted nearly 50,000 plastic pellets on the banks of lakes, rivers and on coasts. Volunteers, sometimes armed with sieves but usually just their fingers, picked out as many as possible in 10-minute intervals at each site. Around 68 percent of counts found at least one pellet. The global effort was designed to raise awareness about plastic pollution, especially for pre-production plastic, which comes in the form of pellets, flakes and powders, among others. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
