Aquafornia

Great Salt Lake identified as source of greenhouse gas emissions

Marnette Federis — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 05:43:00 +0000

Like some dystopian astronaut, Melissa Cobo would hike the searing flats of the dried-out Great Salt Lake every couple of weeks, hauling a heavy backpack attached by a hose to what looked like the lid of a cake dome. … Through these grueling treks, Cobo, then a Utah State University graduate student, and her adviser, Soren Brothers, discovered more disturbing evidence that dried-out lakes are a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions — one that has not been included in the official accounting of how much carbon the world is releasing into the warming atmosphere. In a new study in the journal One Earth, the researchers calculated that 4.1 million tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were released from the drying bed of the Great Salt Lake in 2020, the year Cobo and others collected the samples. This would amount to about a 7 percent increase in Utah’s human-caused emissions, the authors found.

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Opinion: Managing California’s water requires improved transparency

Marnette Federis — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 05:41:00 +0000

California is experiencing whiplash between boom-and-bust cycles of prolonged drought and atmospheric rivers. The unpredictable nature of our climate makes management of California’s water system extraordinarily challenging. But as the lifeblood for every Californian and a key ingredient for our agricultural communities, it is critical we have water management and distribution systems in place that work during both dry and wet years. This year’s water allocations from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Department of Water Resources were at the very least frustrating and demonstrate the need for improvements.
– Written by Allison Febbo, general manager of Westlands Water District

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New Study: Parched Central Valley farms depend on Sierra for groundwater

Spencer Fordin — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:59:00 +0000

New research shows that California’s Central Valley, known as America’s breadbasket, gets as much as half of its groundwater from the Sierra Nevadas. This is significant for a farming region that, in some parts, relies almost entirely on groundwater for irrigation. … Scientists have long recognized that the Sierras are a key water source for the Central Valley aquifer, but this new UC Riverside-led study is the first to quantify the groundwater contribution from the mountains. Published in the journal Water Resources Research, the study shows that contribution is as much as 53% in the southern Central Valley.

Related article:

USGS/California Water Science Center: Using mixed telemetry methods to measure soil moisture for improving runoff forecasting in the Sierra Nevada

Growing Produce: Farmers Can Gain From Tracking Water Use With Satellites

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What California’s ‘hydrogen hub’ means for our energy future

Spencer Fordin — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:43:00 +0000

The federal government plans to spend $7 billion to $8 billion to build a hydrogen economy in the U.S. The money will be allocated to seven regional “hydrogen hubs” across the U.S. mainland. …. California gets a hub of its own — and $1.2 billion. … The program will kick off with 37 projects — yet to be announced — spread across the state with a heavy concentration in the Central Valley. … Water is also an issue in drought-prone California. “There are certainly questions about where the water is going to come from,” said [Katelyn Roedner Sutter, Sacramento representative for the Environmental Defense Fund.]

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Tijuana to pay $5 million to import water from California

Spencer Fordin — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 23:26:00 +0000

The state of Baja California will get 200 liters of water per second from the San Diego County Water Authority to help Tijuana residents during the hot summer months. The water will be delivered through an international line that crosses the border from San Diego to Tijuana. … Carlos Alberto Machado Parra, director in Tijuana for Baja’s Public Service and Planning Commission … stated his department is prepared to pay 85 million pesos, or about $5 million, for the water this summer.

Related article:

Latin Times: Tijuana Sewage Update: California beachgoers in this county warned to stay out of ocean

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Lake Powell pipeline proposal introduced for Arizona tribes

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 15:29:00 +0000

There’s another proposal on the table to build a pipeline from Lake Powell, but the water wouldn’t go to St. George. Arizona lawmakers this month introduced legislation that would fund a pipeline to bring water from Lake Powell to three tribes with Colorado River rights. The $5 billion deal — negotiated by the tribes, the federal government and the state of Arizona in May — includes $1.75 billion for the pipeline, and now needs approval from Congress.

Related articles:

AZPM: Tribal leaders advocate for historic water rights settlement in DC

Associated Press: US promises $240 million to improve fish hatcheries, protect tribal rights in Pacific Northwest

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Opinion: Are there ways to use avian flu control concepts to deal with California’s water problem?

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:28:00 +0000

Water availability and its scarcity affect our lives and livelihoods. This is a case of applying the experience acquired in one area of human activities to another despite the great differences between the two areas. As improbably as it may appear, it may make sense to apply the lessons learned in controlling Avian flu to solve California’s almond production issue. But first, the facts about almonds and water. About 80% of the world’s supply of almonds is produced in California. Essential nutrients are those that the body cannot produce on its own or in sufficient quantities to meet its needs. Almonds, while nutritious, do not contain any nutrients that exclusively fulfil a common definition of “essential nutrients,” i.e., those the body cannot produce on its own or in sufficient quantities to meet its needs.
—Written by Richard Seifman, former World Bank senior health advisor and U.S. senior foreign service officer

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Washington state nears a plan to remove key culverts for salmon—after spending $4 billion

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:25:00 +0000

As the Washington State Department of Transportation spends billions of dollars removing concrete and metal pipes that block spawning salmon, another state agency is finally finishing a strategy to fix all the state’s fish migration barriers. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials have revealed key parts of a plan to prioritize which of tens of thousands of these man-made blockages would, if replaced, bring back the salmon. Without the strategy—which has taken more than four years to produce—the administration of Gov. Jay Inslee has been sinking billions into stream restorations that, in many cases, are ineffective or useless today. Construction crews have ripped out the pipes, known as culverts, which run under state highways and replaced them with natural streambeds, but a Seattle Times investigation in March found the state was investing tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars, in so-called “orphan” culverts.

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News release: CDFW completes 2024 waterfowl breeding population survey

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:23:00 +0000

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has completed its 2024 waterfowl breeding population survey. The resulting data indicate the overall number of breeding ducks has decreased by 25 percent, while mallards decreased 12 percent, the most abundant duck in the survey. “Despite another good water year, the lack of adequate nesting habitat, particularly in the Central Valley, continues to restrict waterfowl population growth in California,” said CDFW Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver. The complete 2024 California Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report is available at the CDFW website. The total numbers of ducks (all species combined) decreased from 495,438 in 2023 to 373,864 this year. This estimate is 30 percent below the long-term average.

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News release: Garamendi secures wins for Bay Area and Delta in Water Resources Development Act

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:21:00 +0000

Today (July 25), U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, secured key provisions in the “Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024″ (H.R.8812) for the Bay Area and California Delta. The bipartisan legislation passed the House of Representatives and is expected to become law this year. “The biennial Water Resources Development Act will upgrade our water infrastructure, harden our communities to climate change, and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Bay Area and California Delta,” Garamendi said. ”As a longstanding member of the House Committee that writes this law, I secured key provisions in this year’s bill to dredge the Mare Island Strait, restore Lake Tahoe, and authorize the Army Corps to remove abandoned and derelict vessels. I expect President Biden to sign this bipartisan bill into law once we negotiate a final compromise with the Senate.”

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East Palo Alto groundwater risks offer vital lessons to SF

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:14:00 +0000

New research further magnifies the growing risk rising groundwater poses to San Francisco and other low-lying Bay Area cities. The nonprofit think tank San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association and the East Palo Alto community organization Nuestra Casa released a study earlier this week analyzing the effects groundwater rise could have on East Palo Alto. The research centered on the Peninsula city because of its proximity to the water, making it one of the Bay Area jurisdictions most susceptible to groundwater rise. But the findings, researchers said, can be applied to all of the Bay Area’s at-risk cities — including San Francisco.

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Friday Top of the Scroll: California drought returns: Hot weather, wildfire risks

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:58:00 +0000

Drought is back in California for the first time in nearly a year. The update from the U.S. Drought Monitor comes as firefighters battle the state’s largest wildfire of 2024 near Chico. As of midday Thursday, the Park Fire had burned more than 71,000 acres across Butte and Tehama counties and was approximately 3% contained. According to Thursday’s update, “moderate drought” is isolated to Northern California, while “abnormally dry” spots are scattered across the state.

Related articles:

New York Times: Park Fire, now California’s largest this year, spreads rapidly

The Wildlife Society: Drought may boost parasite loads in giant salamanders

KSL.com: Drought returns to Utah, but storms forecast for state’s driest region

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Water rates will rise, but hurt less than expected

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:51:00 +0000

San Diego’s main water seller OK’d a less-doomy price increase than the region was expecting, setting it at 14 percent on Thursday. To make that work, the San Diego County Water Authority will have to find $2 million it can cut from its budget and delay some anti-earthquake-related upgrades to its biggest aqueducts. Those cuts save ratepayers from an anticipated 18 percent beginning January 1. But 14 percent is still the largest annual rate increase on the wholesale price of San Diego water since 2011, Water Authority records show. Now each of San Diego’s 22 separate water districts will have to figure out how to shoulder that cost or pass it onto customers, depending on the health of their own budgets.

Related articles:

San Diego Union Tribune: Wholesale water rates won’t rise as sharply as feared. Here’s why that could still cost ratepayers.

Times of San Diego: Wholesale Water Rates to Rise, But Less Sharply, After Water Authority Board Vote

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Dozens of wild animals found dead at Fairmount Park lake in Riverside

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:48:00 +0000

For decades, Riverside residents enjoyed a scene of serenity at a local park’s lake. But over the past few weeks, it’s turned into a horrifying scene with dozens of dead animals. Many ducks, geese and other wildlife have turned up dead at the Fairmount Park lake. One resident who visits the lake almost every day started to notice the problem earlier this month. “I mean, just two weeks ago it was beautiful. We loved coming here,” said Jennifer Taylor, who held back tears over the loss of so many animals. “Now I can’t even sleep at night because all I think about is all my little friends that have died already.” She’s counted dozens of dead animals but most of them are ducks that spend their time in the water. An old video taken by Taylor shows abundant wildlife flocking towards the water, a sharp contrast to the lake right now.

Related article:

Riverside Press-Enterprise: Riverside investigates why dozens of ducks have died at Fairmount Park

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One week after 85,000-gallon sewage spill, Lake Tahoe beach reopens

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:46:00 +0000

A week after an untreated sewage spill marred North Lake Tahoe’s tourist season, one of the two popular beaches affected has reopened. The Carnelian West and Patton Landing beaches in Carnelian Bay were initially closed just before sunset on July 18, when a private contractor, working on a Caltrans project, damaged a pipeline belonging to the North Tahoe Public Utility District. As a result, approximately 125,000 gallons of sewage leaked into a nearby parking lot, with around 85,000 gallons reaching the pristine lake.

Newsweek: Lake Tahoe Beaches Closed After 85,000-Gallon Sewage Spill

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California’s fracking ban goes into effect in October

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:43:00 +0000

California’s Geologic Energy Management Division is in the midst of finalizing regulations to ban fracking across the state, which will officially go into effect on October 1. The department submitted its rule-making package for the ban to the state’s Office of Administrative Law on July 15, where it will be given a final review. It’s the last step needed to formalize the regulation, which would prohibit CalGEM from issuing fracking permits for oil and gas wells. …. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is a process where water, chemicals and sand are injected into oil and gas wells at a high pressure to increase production. It’s long received criticism from environmental groups because of the pollutants emitted during the process.

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Kern subbasin’s third try at groundwater plan fails to avert state enforcement action

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:36:00 +0000

Noting that Kern County residents could suffer “urgent impacts” to their drinking water from continued agricultural groundwater overpumping, staff at the state Water Resources Control Board announced Thursday they are recommending the entire Kern subbasin be put on probation. Probation is the first step toward a possible state pumping take over. A hearing before the Water Board is set for Feb. 20, 2025. The finding was a blow to area water managers who had hoped a new groundwater plan submitted in May would address concerns about its 2022 plan, which was deemed inadequate in 2023. Managers of Kern’s 20 groundwater sustainability agencies had worked since then to revamp the plan.

Related article:

Fresno Bee: Opinion: Red tape is getting in the way of storing more water underground. The state must lead

LAist: CA Groundwater Report

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Opinion: When is the multibillion-dollar Sites Reservoir project not worth it?

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:28:00 +0000

Summers that follow wet winters usually bring high hopes for big water infrastructure projects to capture it all, and this year is no exception. Gov. Gavin Newsom has fast-tracked Sites Reservoir, lauding the proposed project northwest of Sacramento as a panacea for a California that still remembers the challenges of an extreme drought. But big water storage and conveyance projects such as Sites and the Delta tunnel, another massive boondoggle, pose huge environmental and financial risks. These are old ideas that claim to respond to climate change when in fact they destroy intact ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
—Written by Sofia Prado-Irwin, staff scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

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Babbitt blasts Biden admin for ‘sitting on the bench’ in Colorado River talks

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:15:00 +0000

Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is warning that negotiations over how to share a drought-stricken Colorado River among Western states are moving too slowly — creating a potential melee over dwindling supplies — and blaming the Biden administration for failing to aggressively intervene. A series of existing agreements for management of the Colorado River will expire at the end of 2026, which prompted officials from the seven states that share the river to begin formal negotiations more than a year ago. Those discussions largely center on how the states will share the pain of a shrinking water supply. Some estimates suggest the 1,450-mile-long river contains 20 percent less water than it did in 2000 due to persistent drought.

Related articles:

The Denver Gazette: Interior Department unveils $450 million funding boost for Upper Colorado River Basin

Newsweek: Lake Powell water hits highest level in three years

The Daily Sentinel: Mussel discovery complicates river recreation

Newsweek: Lauren Boebert Celebrates New Drinking-Water Plan

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Huge California dam removal project on Klamath River ahead of schedule

Marnette Federis — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 01:24:00 +0000

The nation’s largest dam-removal project is moving along faster than planned, with the demolition work on the Klamath River, near the California-Oregon border, due to wrap up as soon as next month – and salmon expected to make their long-awaited return soon after. Following months of blasting and drilling, three large hydroelectric dams slated for dismantling this year are close to being cleared out of the river channel while a smaller fourth dam was taken out last fall. Officials at the Klamath River Renewal Corp., which is managing the $500 million deconstruction effort about a six-hour drive from San Francisco, credit a combination of good weather and speedy crews for putting the bulk of the work on track to finish about a month and a half before their Oct. 15 deadline.

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