Monday’s top of the scroll: River’s rebirth: Efforts to restore lower Mokelumne paying off
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2009 at 7:50 am
From the Stockton Record:
” A few miles downstream from Camanche Dam, where the foothills flatten and the green Mokelumne River swims a little lazy, a wild rose blooms on land owned by a grape grower. The pink blossom is among the most colorful in a 22-acre riparian restoration area at Vino Farms. It offers assurance that the river has, in a few short years, regained some of what it lost over a century of neglect.
Like many streams, the Mokelumne has been diminished by dams and poisoned by toxic mines. Like many streams, arguments persist over how much of its flows should be diverted for cities or farms. Like many streams, the number of salmon returning to spawn has plummeted in four years, from tens of thousands to mere hundreds.
But a series of restoration efforts – spurred by some unusual alliances between private landowners, government officials and water diverters – appears to give the lower “Moke” a fighting chance. … “
Read more from the Record by clicking here.
Tahoe mussel inspections to continue through winter
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2009 at 7:45 am
From the Reno Gazette-Journal:
“With winter’s arrival weeks away, few boats are taking to Lake Tahoe’s increasingly frigid waters. But any that are launched will continue to be inspected for the possible presence of aquatic hitchhikers posing a huge environmental and economic risk to the Sierra lake.
The danger posed by quagga and zebra mussels requires constant vigilance, officials say. “It’s a big deal and certainly a high priority,” said Ted Thayer, aquatic invasive species program manager for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
“Quagga and zebra mussels can be just as readily spread in the winter as in the summer and we do have year-round boating,” Thayer said.
Neither type of mussel has been found in the lake but quagga mussels were discovered on a boat preparing to launch in the summer of 2008. … “
Read more from the Reno Gazette Journal by clicking here.
YouthNoise/DROP: Interview with Aguanomics blogger David Zetland
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2009 at 7:43 amFrom YouTube, this interview with Aguanomics blogger David Zetland (video from December 2008):
Commentary: Copenhagen’s missing ingredient is water
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2009 at 7:39 amFrom the Los Angeles Times, this commentary by James G. Workman, who has advised national water ministers around the world and is the author of “Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought.”:
“Climate change conjures up factory smoke, corn ethanol, cap-and-trade, hybrid cars. It also evokes Al Gore, drowning polar bears, African famine and Hurricane Katrina. All these triggers and the issues they invoke, backed by mounting evidence of irreversible risks to humankind, will converge next week in Copenhagen.
Our collective political will may yet secure the Earth’s equilibrium through an overarching deal — though short of a treaty — by the end of the U.N. climate-change conference there. Or it could all come unglued. Delegates from around the world chosen to decide our fate have deliberately removed the one element that can tip the scales.
We know fossil fuel emissions matter immensely. But the most volatile chemical compound isn’t methane, nitrous oxide or even carbon dioxide. It’s water.
Scientists stress water’s profound link with climate change, and how wise water management could bind global efforts to cool our warming planet with local efforts to absorb its unavoidable shocks. Even the public gets it. Yet our delegates wallow in denial. In a misguided effort to avoid dissent, they have erased water from their working draft, forgetting how water is the planet’s one common denominator. … “
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Water package: Sealing the deal
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 8:25 am
From the Sacramento Bee:
” Just before midnight, he saw it falling apart. Months of delicate negotiations and hardball confrontations; of meticulously drafted legislation that was torn up as soon as the ink was dry, only to be rewritten; of interminable hours in closed-door meetings and impromptu hallway huddles. A potentially monumental step toward easing a water crisis that had been decades in the making was close.
And yet an incongruous move by ardent environmentalists to kill a decidedly pro-environment bill was threatening to derail the entire package. “Incredible,” a frustrated Senate President Darrell Steinberg muttered to no one in particular from his desk near the back of the state Senate chambers. “Incredible.”
Wrestling with California’s water system is like working a Rubik’s Cube: As soon as a couple of sides are aligned, the others go out of whack. … “
Commentary: Isenberg played loose with facts
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 8:22 amFrom the Sacramento Bee, this commentary by Mary Snyder, district engineer for the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District.:
“Phil Isenberg calls the Sacramento region “whiny and sanctimonious” in dealing with water issues about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and he dismisses the concerns expressed by many as “hysteria” and “caterwauling.” But the accusations made about the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, the potential impact of ammonia from our discharge on the Delta ecosystem and our position in the Delta debate deserve special attention.
Isenberg’s latest commentary, “Delta fix demands sacrifices from all” (Viewpoints, Nov. 18), unfortunately continues to perpetuate untruths. Here are the facts.
• Regarding the statement in the commentary that “independent scientists found current levels likely cause harm” to Delta fish: This is not true. No such research exists – as confirmed by a panel of national independent experts convened by CalFED in March 2009. Their report is available on the CalFED Web site. … “
Read more of this commentary by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District sees bass as problem, not water; District fights irrigation cuts mandated to save salmon
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 8:19 am
From the Modesto Bee:
“Every spring, some of the water that might have gone to farms instead flows down the Tuolumne River to help young salmon get to sea. And every spring, officials with the Modesto Irrigation District say, striped bass gobble up many of these fish as they swim through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The MID is trying to get state and federal officials to control the bass population rather than seek increased releases from Don Pedro Reservoir. The district contends that the bass, introduced to California in 1879, have come to dominate the delta at the expense of salmon and other struggling native fish.
“What’s written on the wall, from my perspective, is one word: predation,” said Tim O’Laughlin, the district’s general counsel, during a Nov. 17 presentation to its board. … “
Read more from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Phase I QSA lawsuit wraps up Wednesday
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 8:07 amFrom the Imperial Valley Press:
“The first phase of the Quantification Settlement Agreement lawsuits will finish at the Superior Court of California in Sacramento on Wednesday.
Imperial Irrigation District General Counsel Jeffrey Garber said no one knows where the ruling stands until the judge, Roland Candee, makes the final ruling. “Anyone who says they know is second guessing,” Garber said.
The QSA went into effect in 2003 and sends water conserved in the IID to the San Diego County Water Authority, the Coachella Valley Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
The first phase of the lawsuit will determine whether the QSA is valid, and the second will address QSA impacts on California Environmental Quality Act standards. … “
Read more from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
Rep. Miller talks on water, war and politics
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 8:04 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“SENATE PRESIDENT Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg called Rep. George Miller and asked for the congressman’s support sight unseen for the $11.1 billion water package a few days before it hit the floor of the Legislature.
Miller’s blessing would have been powerful mojo in the Senate leader’s battle with unhappy Delta lawmakers, who universally opposed the bills. “Steinberg wanted me to endorse it,” the Martinez congressman said during a wide-ranging discussion over coffee last week. “I told him, ‘You have moved this issue a long way but I don’t have the language in front of me and I can’t do that to my local representatives. They are on the ground. I’m 2,000 miles away.’
Miller agrees with the electeds in his district who say the Delta lacks sufficient representation on the new Delta Stewardship Council.
They want more emphasis on cheaper sources of new water such as recycling and conservation and less reliance on expensive reservoirs or canals. … “
Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Some reports on water resources available online
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:52 amSome reports on water resources & management now available (hat tip to the Water Sisweb):
Better water resources management – Greater resilience today, more effective adaptation tomorrow: “Water is a primary medium through which climate change will have an impact on people, ecosystems and economies. Water resources management should therefore be an early focus for adaptation to climate change. Water resources management does not hold all of the answers to adaptation, a broad range of responses will be needed. But water is both a key part of the problem, and an important part of the solution. It is a good place to start. … ”
Read this report from the World Water Council by clicking here (17 page pdf).
Peter Gleick: The changing water paradigm: A look at twenty-first century water resources development: Water resources management approaches around the world are changing dramatically. This changing water paradigm has many components, including a shift away from sole, or even primary, reliance on finding new sources of supply to address perceived new demands, a growing emphasis on incorporating ecological values into water policy, a re-emphasis on meeting basic human needs for water services, and a conscious breaking of the ties between economic growth and water use. A reliance on physical solutions continues to dominate traditional planning approaches, but these solutions are facing increasing opposition. At the same time, new methods are being developed to meet the demands of growing populations without requiring major new construction or new large-scale water transfers from one region to another. More and more water suppliers and planning agencies are beginning to explore efficiency improvements, implement options for managing demand, and reallocating water among users to reduce projected gaps and meet future needs. The connections between water and food are receiving increasing attention as the concerns of food experts begin to encompass the realities of water availability. These shifts have not come easily; they have met strong internal opposition. They are still not universally accepted, and they may not be permanent. Nevertheless, these changes represent a real shift in the way humans think about water use. This paper summarizes the components of this ongoing shift and looks at the new paths being explored. It evaluates the major reasons for the change in approach and discusses the applicability of these new concepts in different parts of the world. … ”
Water, People, and the Future: Water Availability for Agriculture in the United States: With a projected 25% and 50% increase in U.S. and world population, respectively, by the year 2050, substantial increases in freshwater use for food, fiber, and fuel production, as well as municipal and residential consumption, are inevitable. This increased water use will not come without consequences. Already, the United States has experienced the mining of groundwater, resulting in declining water tables, increased costs of water withdrawal, and the deterioration of water quality. Long-term drought conditions have greatly decreased surface water flows. Climate change predictions include higher temperatures, decreases in snowpack, shifts in precipitation patterns, increases in evapotranspiration, and more frequent droughts. Not surprisingly, conflicts over water use are continually emerging. As one of the largest users of water in the United States, agriculture will be impacted significantly by changes in water availability and cost. Approximately 40% of the water withdrawn from U.S. surface and groundwater sources is used for agricultural irrigation. Although the proportion of available freshwater used in agriculture varies widely among geographical areas, it is a major proportion of total water use in every area.
Read this issue paper from CAST by clicking here (20 page pdf).
California statehouse staffer is a superstar of his own: Kip Lipper is responsible for some of the nation’s most groundbreaking environmental laws over the last 30 years
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:33 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“Reporting from Sacramento – If he were a basketball star instead of a statehouse staffer, he’d be Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson — a veteran playmaker, feared by foes, his best moves unleashed just before the buzzer.
But like so many Sacramento insiders, Kip Lipper plays out of the limelight, in the back corridors of the Capitol, unknown to the public whose air and water and ecological ethos he has made his specialty over the last three decades.
As the environmental expert for the state Senate’s ruling Democrats, Lipper has helped craft many of California’s groundbreaking laws in that realm — and become a foil for Republicans irked by what they view as regulatory excess, and by the economic fallout.
His fingerprints are on the California Clean Air Act, the state Safe Drinking Water Act and the landmark 2006 curbs on greenhouse gas emissions. Legislation that boosted recycling, reduced landfill dumping, saved redwoods and cleaned up power plants are also part of his highlight reel.
Most recently, he aided negotiations that helped break a quarter-century deadlock and produce an $11-billion plan to fix the state’s balky water system and revive the flagging Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
His boss, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), calls him “a force of nature.” … “
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Investors drink in water ETFs
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:30 amFrom the Seeking Alpha blog:
“The rise of the ETF industry has democratized commodity investing, making this asset class accessible to more investors than ever before. ETFs offer exposure, both direct and indirect, to almost every commodity imaginable, ranging from popular resources such as metals and grains to obscure commodities like adzuki beans and greasy wool. With all the attention paid to gold bullion and crude oil, investors often overlook one of the most important commodities: water.
Unlike most commodities, water has no real substitute, a fact that is raising concern as the world’s population expands more quickly than supplies of fresh, clean water. It is estimated that only 3% of all the water in the world is fresh and of that only 0.3% is above ground in lakes and rivers. With billions depending on the ability to make the most of this limited supply, the few unclaimed water supplies left are becoming increasingly valuable. As concerns about its scarcity in coming decades intensifies, water has the potential to become big business. … “
Read more from the Seeking Alpha blog by clicking here.
Commentary: Safety concern at Milliken Dam
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:28 amFrom the Napa Valley Register, this commentary by Napa residents John Stephens and Chris Malan:
“While researching the possibility of restoring stream flows and fish habitats on Milliken Creek, we found a serious safety issue for people who are living downstream of Milliken Dam. We found that the 110-foot high Milliken Dam, which was built in 1924, should be reassessed for seismic safety.
The Green Valley Fault runs just one mile from the dam site and is capable of producing a 6.5 earthquake. The state of California Division of Dams and Safety found that Milliken Dam at full capacity “would be overstressed by seismic loads associated with the maximum credible earthquake.” Stress fractures and cracks in the face of the dam have become problematic. If an earthquake magnitude of 6.5 occurs, dam failure could occur.
The California Division of Dams and Safety ordered the city to lower the level in May of 2001. The city submitted a detailed analysis showing that “acceptable dam stresses” could be achieved with a lowered reservoir storage elevation at 907 feet, 16 feet below the crest, and still hold 1,390 acre-feet of water. After four years of engineering studies and no public reviews, four 18-inch holes and one 24-inch hole were drilled at elevation 907 to maintain the mandated level of water at the dam face. … “
Read more of this commentary by clicking here.
Front lawns frowned on for Windsor’s new homes
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:27 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“The green, green grass of home not only inspired a song, but it is a traditional fixture of suburbia. In Windsor, that’s about to change as a result of new landscaping guidelines designed to make those thirsty front lawns obsolete.
The Town Council on Wednesday is poised to adopt an ordinance that essentially prohibits front-yard turf in new subdivisions of five or more homes.
The move follows another dry summer that led to water conservation measures in many North Bay communities, including Windsor.
Those lush lawns may look attractive, but they “take a tremendous amount of water to sustain and maintain over years of ownership of a home,” said Town Manager Matt Mullan.
A divided Town Council last week voted 3-2 to introduce a “water efficient landscape” ordinance intended to significantly restrict the amount of grass that gets planted with new homes and office parks. … “
Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Williams officials asking state water board for $17M loan
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:24 amFrom the Appeal-Democrat:
“Williams officials will caravan Tuesday, hats in hand, to Sacramento to make a plea to the California Water Resources Control Board for a $17 million loan to build the wastewater treatment plant.
All five members of the City Council, the city administrator, financial consultant and plant engineer hope to quell any lingering concerns the state has about the city’s financial troubles.
The wastewater project was derailed by the state after a Colusa County grand jury investigation uncovered negligent financial controls, city officials said. … “
Read more from the Appeal-Democrat by clicking here.
Commentary: Balance, compromise keys to reliable water supply for Santa Cruz
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:17 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel, this commentary by Toby Goddard and Bill Kocher of the Santa Cruz Water Department:
“The future of California’s water supply has been in the forefront of the news these past few weeks. In what some are calling an historic achievement, the legislature recently passed a package of bills aimed at reforming state water policy, rebuilding water infrastructure, and restoring the bay delta ecosystem. Details are beginning to emerge and opinions are beginning to form over the specifics in the package. But one thing is clear: for any agreement to be reached on a topic as complex and charged as is the subject of water in California, it took a lot of compromise by all the varied interests to achieve a balanced plan.
It’s not clear what effect these bills will have locally. Here in Santa Cruz, we rely on water from the north coast and San Lorenzo River watersheds to meet our community’s water needs. The fact is, we are physically and geographically isolated from the major water systems serving the most populated regions of California. Our major challenge with regard to water supply — one that we have just experienced again this year — is dealing with shortages in dry years when flows in local streams and river sources run low.
To address this challenge, the city is pursuing what is known as an Integrated Water Plan, whose approach for providing a reliable water supply parallels several elements of the state’s recent agreement, and which also involved much compromise to achieve a balanced plan. … “
Read more of this commentary by clicking here.
Commentary: Desalination plant will cost more than GWRS
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:16 amFrom the Daily Pilot, this commentary by Garry Brown, executive director of Orange County Coastkeeper:
“As we try to understand the water crisis gripping California, we must understand that not all of the proposed solutions to our water crisis are created equal. Some solutions such as conservation are inexpensive, most applications are somewhat costly, and then there is one that is outrageously expensive: ocean desalination.
Many people believe that ocean desalination is the ultimate solution to our water problems. I support desalination on a case-by-case basis, in certain locations, and with the right technology. In reality, desalination is not yet ready for California. Basically, with the 50-year-old technology that Poseidon is proposing, we are in effect trading electricity for water. It is the most expensive solution to our water crisis compared to any of the other solutions discussed.
Let’s compare a new state-of-the-art water recycling solution called the Ground Water Replenishment System (GWRS) operating in Orange County to the Poseidon desalination project proposed in Carlsbad or Huntington Beach. … “
Read more of Garry Brown’s commentary by clicking here.
San Bernardino area water agencies join forces to store more H20
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:11 amFrom the San Bernardino Sun:
“SEVEN OAKS DAM – Local water providers are attempting to increase their ability to store H20 before predicted El Nino conditions hopefully bring rain to the Inland Empire.
Efforts to store more water includes work at what’s called the Cuttle Weir, downstream from the Seven Oaks Dam.
Water that doesn’t pass over the weir, which is higher than the downstream river bed, can be allowed to flow into one the six nearby gates and be used to recharge groundwater basins. The objective of the project, a joint venture between three Inland Empire water agencies, is to raise and strengthen the Cuttle Weir, making it possible to collect more water.
The Santa Ana River bed was dry Tuesday while welders’ tools crackled and glowed blue-white at the work site. But on a wet day, water flowing below the dam could either be collected for local supplies or be allowed to flow over the weir downstream toward the Pacific Ocean.
“What we want to do is to be able to force more water to our spreading grounds,” said Manuel Colunga, field operations specialist for the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District. … “
Read more from the San Bernardino Sun by clicking here.
Truckee River pact challenged
Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:09 am
From the Reno Gazette-Journal:
“More than a year after officials gathered on the banks of the Truckee River to sign a historic pact on management of its long-contested waters, battles continue.
The Truckee River Operating Agreement, more than 20 years in the making, was signed in September 2008 by officials from the federal government, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the states of Nevada and California and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.
What U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., described as “truly landmark legislation” was celebrated as an end to protracted fights over one of the country’s most litigated rivers.
Now, Churchill County, the city of Fallon and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District are back in court, trying to block the agreement’s final implementation. “It is a disappointment, but it’s not a surprise,” said Mike Carrigan, chair of the water authority, jointly composed of Reno, Sparks and Washoe County. … “
Read more from the Reno Gazette-Journal by clicking here.
Picture of the Truckee River by flickr photographer Ryan Holst.
Saturday’s top of the scroll: Farmers’ group says it paid for ad
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:58 amFrom Stockton’s Record:
“A group of south San Joaquin Valley farmers and ranchers stepped forward Wednesday to say that they – not a Newport Beach-based group – paid for an advertisement blaming the Delta’s problems on city wastewater and urban and farm runoff.
The text of the ad, which appeared as an insert in Monday’s Record, said it was paid for by Friends of the Delta, which is headquartered at a Newport Beach public relations firm.
Friends of the Delta supports a process that could lead to a peripheral canal; critics said the ad was an attempt to shift blame for the Delta’s demise away from the pumps that ship Delta water to the south Valley and Southern California.
On Wednesday, however, Madera-based Families Protecting the Valley said that it paid for the ad and intended to refer to “friends” of the Delta in a generic way. A Families board member said he was not even aware that the Friends of the Delta group existed. … “
Read more from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Dan Bacher commentary: Standing up to big water’s astroturf groups
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:57 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org, this commentary:
“The ruthlessness that corporate agribusiness and southern California water interests employed, through political bribery and thug-like tactics, to seize public trust water over the past century is well-documented in Marc Reisner’s Cadillac Desert and other books.
However, “big water” in California has refined and added an increasing sophistication to its strong arm tactics in the computer age by creating fake “Astroturf” organizations to deceive the public and promote its goals. The past few years have seen the creation of four “Astroturf” organizations – Friends of the Delta, Families Protecting the Valley, the Latino Water Coalition and Coalition for a Sustainable Delta.
For those not aquainted with the term, “Astroturfing” is “an English-language euphemism referring to political, advertising, or public relations campaigns that are formally planned by an organization, but designed to mask its origins to create the impression of being spontaneous, popular ‘grassroots’ behavior. The term refers to AstroTurf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass,” according to Wikipedia.
Although their names are different, these four organizations represent the same San Joaquin Valley corporate agribusiness and southern California water agency interests that are trying to grab more Delta and northern California water. Their ultimate goals are to increase water exports from the imperiled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to corporate agribusiness and southern California by building a peripheral canal and more dams and to strip protections for Sacramento River chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead Delta smelt, longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other species under the Endangered Species Act. … “
Read more of Dan Bacher’s commentary at IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Thompson wants Congress to tackle e-waste
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:50 amFrom the Ukiah Daily Journal:
“Congressman Mike Thompson has asked for Congress to make a plan for disposing of its own discarded electronics. While federal lawmakers may be asked to craft their own plan, Mendocino County already ships off about 281 tons of TVs and computer monitors per year.
“We received 281 tons of televisions and monitors county wide,” said Mike Sweeney head of Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority. Sweeney said 55 tons of other electronics were also received for recycling, according to the department’s latest report.
A system previously established in California is a leading example for the rest of the country said Sweeney.
“California is one of the leaders nationwide,” Sweeney said, “The Legislature passed a bill that regulates recycling of a wide variety of electronic waste.”
California’s program for recycling TVs and computer monitors is similar to that for the recycling of bottles, for example. Sweeney said that the state program collects a deposit to ensure proper recycling. … “
Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal by clicking here.
Eureka residents perplexed over water and sewer rate increase
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:42 amFrom the Eureka Times-Standard:
“Eureka City Council members and city staff are fielding concerns over what rate increases for water and sewer fees actually are after Eureka residents began receiving their first notices earlier this week.
The city sent out a letter on the rates — which are expected to go up significantly in the next five years due to the pulp mill closing and needed sewer infrastructure improvements — late last week.
Councilman Larry Glass said he has received multiple calls from upset constituents.
”I’ve gotten a lot of response. None of it’s been positive, most of it’s been confused and I think we need to do a better job presenting what the proposal is,” Glass said.
Staff reported in October that residential sewer customers can expect an 87 percent increase over the next five years, while water rates would increase 66 percent. … “
Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard by clicking here.
Lathrop bolstered by levee improvements
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:32 amFrom the Tri-Valley Herald:
“The rainy season is approaching, but Lathrop residents soon won’t have to worry about flooding with the completion of ongoing improvements to the levees.
More than 20 miles of levees adjacent to the San Joaquin River are scheduled for extensive upgrades that will bring the levees in compliance with federal standards and exceed the minimum flood-protection requirements.
Implemented by Reclamation District 17 — the local agency that maintains and owns easements for the levees — the multimillion-dollar project is expected to keep Lathrop off a federally revised flood map that would force homeowners to buy flood insurance. The improvements will also resolve concerns over seepage from the area’s levees.
“We’re going to have better levees than before, and that’s a good thing,” said Dante John Nomellini, assistant secretary and counsel for RD17. “Nice to have a bigger pile of dirt between the community and the water.”
Started last year, Lathrop’s three-phase project began with a few million dollars of improvements. RD17 officials hope to complete phase two, featuring $10 million in improvements, by the end of the year. … “
Read more from the Tri-Valley Herald by clicking here.
Steelhead runs may return to Calaveras; Federal plan calls for restoring threatened fish in Central Valley
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:31 amFrom Stockton’s Record:
“Stockton’s frequently forgotten Calaveras River could someday host a viable population of steelhead, according to a new federal plan to restore threatened and endangered fish across the Central Valley.
Bringing back the migratory rainbow trout is considered a high priority among the many restoration needs on other streams, says the draft document from the National Marine Fisheries Service.
But first, channel barriers must be removed to give fish better access to spawning areas above Bellota Weir, where much of the Calaveras is diverted to farms and the city of Stockton.
To read more or commentTo learn more about steelhead on the Calaveras — and other threatened and endangered fish on other Central Valley streams — visit swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery.
Comments on the plan are accepted through Dec. 7. E-mail them to centralvalleyplan.swr@noaa.gov.
And there’s the always-thorny issue of flows. The document says greater downstream flows from New Hogan Dam could increase the number of steelhead that use the river, but that water is also needed for people. … “
Read more from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
EBMUD Pardee Dam proposal draws lawsuit
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:28 amFrom the Amador Ledger-Dispatch:
“A lawsuit claims that East Bay Municipal Utility District violated state environmental law by omitting analysis of a proposed new Pardee Dam’s impacts on the Mokelumne River from its 2040 water plan review.
The suit was filed by the nonprofit Foothill Conservancy and other resource-protection advocacy groups Nov. 19 in Amador County Superior Court.
Including a new, taller Pardee Dam as an option in what is called a “program” Environmental Impact Report, EBMUD officials said it was proper to defer analysis of effect upstream and downstream on the river until such time as a dam project was firmly planned. Only at such a time, in a “project” EIR, EBMUD said, would it be required to analyze a dam’s effects on wildlife and habitat in the river canyon. … “
Read more from the Amador Ledger Dispatch by clicking here.
Angels water treatment debate back to council
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:25 amFrom the Union-Democrat:
“Months of disagreement over whether Angels Camp needs a fourth filter on its water treatment plant will come to a head Tuesday, nearly a month to the day after a new state warning.
The City Council has been deadlocked 2-2 on the issue since the May death of Councilman Paul Raggio. With the Nov. 3 election of Rick Downey, who will serve the remaining year of Raggio’s term, there is now a tie-breaking vote.
It comes none too soon. A Nov. 2 letter from the California Department of Public Health warned that, unless steps are taken to prevent future violations at the water treatment plant, the city faces a fine of up to $250-a-day. City staff members say penalties could increase beyond that.
The state is concerned the plant is producing more water than its permit allows. Between July 2007 and August 2008, the plant exceeded its allowed flow of 1,440 gallons per minute on at least 14 occasions, according to the state citation. There have been no further violations.
There are two likely paths to correcting the situation. … “
Read more from the Union Democrat by clicking here.
Pasadena’s Devil’s Gate Dam could be put to the test
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:18 am
From the Los Angeles Times:
“Twelve years ago, the idea of a giant mudslide barreling down the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena was considered only a distant possibility.
Nevertheless, the Devil’s Gate Dam underwent a major enhancement that took two years to complete and enabled one of the oldest dams in Los Angeles County to withstand a potential massive debris flow.
At the time, engineers thought the improvements might be overkill because conditions would never be extreme enough to test the dam’s strength, at least not in their lifetimes.
“Not a chance,” recalled Brad Boman, engineering manager of water services at Pasadena Water and Power.
But since the Station fire burned more than 160,000 acres and nearly all of the Arroyo Seco in late August and September, making it the worst wildfire in recorded L.A. County history, the experts have changed their tune.
“Twelve years later, we’re confronted with that possibility,” Boman said. … “
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Bet on wet? Storm this weekend promises precipitation for San Diego
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2009 at 7:09 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“Rain lovers have been teased so many times, it’s hard to believe it when we’re told an approaching storm actually will produce. We’ve seen so many slight chances turn into no chances, so many storms with a little bit of punch that end up with less than a finger tap.
So will it be different this weekend? The forecasters at the National Weather Service seem to think so. Unlike every other weak system that worked its way down the coast this fall, this next should actually grow stronger as it nears.
It’s only a weakling beefing up a tiny bit, but hey, we’ll take it. The storm hasn’t had much impact in Central California (see the 24-hour precip map). But forecaster Rob Balfour said that when the low gets over Southern California, it will intensify. … “
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Climate change is victim of ‘Tragedy Of The Commons’
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 8:12 amFrom NPR:
“One reason it is so hard to slash carbon emissions is that climate change occurs globally. The countries that produce the most greenhouse gas all need to take action to fix the problem. That raises a classic economic dilemma called the tragedy of the commons.”
Listen to the radio show from NPR by clicking here.
Water Wired blog: California’s Delta may be sinking, but the Dutch did it first
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 8:08 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“The current (29 November 2009) issue of the weekly Christian Science Monitor has a nice little story [which you won't find on the CSM's WWW site] by Douglas Fox about the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s sinking problem, brought about primarily by the oxidation of the organic materials in the soil caused by drainage of the marshy lands so that they could be farmed. Lowering of the water table allowed oxygen to penetrate the soil, fueling microbial growth, which consumed organic detritus. Upshot: land sinks (around 2 inches per year) and CO2 is produced.
But for me, that was not the intriguing part of the story. What was fascinating to learn was that the Dutch did The-netherlands the same thing to their country: they drained it, lowering the water table, allowing oxygen to penetrate the soil and fuel microbe growth – you now know the drill. … “
Read from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Experts think toxic algae harming endangered fish
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:52 amFrom the Associated Press:
“GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Scientists say they believe toxins from a blue-green algae plaguing lakes and rivers around the West are harming an endangered fish in the Klamath Basin, adding another obstacle to restoring species that have forced irrigation shutoffs for farmers.
U.S. Geological Survey fish biologist Scott VanderKooi said Wednesday that liver damage detected in young Lost River and shortnosed suckers in Upper Klamath Lake appears to have been caused by the algae known as microsystin, which regularly shows up in the lake.
“We have symptoms in juvenile suckers consistent with exposure to these same toxins,” VanderKooi said. “It was something we’ve suspected for some time. We didn’t have evidence of it. Now we are starting to see more evidence of it.”
He said more analysis is needed on liver samples to determine that the toxin is actually present.
Summer blooms of the toxic algae have been reported from coast to coast, prompting health warnings for people to stay out of the water. This year 21 lakes and streams in Oregon were posted, and at least one dog died after drinking tainted water. Symptoms in people include eye and skin irritation, vomiting and stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, headache, pains in muscles and joints, and weakness. … “
Read more from the Associated Press by clicking here.
North Coast legislators weigh in on state water package
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:46 amFrom the Lake County News:
“The state’s proposed water package is getting mixed reviews from North Coast legislators.
The $11.1 billion legislative package takes on a laundry list of critical state water issues, from sustainability of the Bay Delta to water storage, drought relief and regional water supply, and reportedly includes establishing a statewide target to reduce urban per capita water use by 10 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020.
The part of the legislation that may affect Lake County the most relates to the Bay Delta. Clear Lake drains into Cache Creek which, in turn drains into the delta, which is a critical source of water for urban an agricultural interests in the south.
On Oct. 11 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a special legislative session to address the state’s water crisis, saying that it was damaging the state’s economy – particularly in the agricultural and building sectors.
The state’s water system now serves 38 million residents, more than twice the 16 million for which it originally was built, Schwarzenegger’s office reported.
Package elements include SB 7x 1, which establishes oversight agencies for delta governance and planning; SB 7x 7, which sets 20 percent water conservation by 2020; SB 7x 6, pertaining to groundwater elevation management; SB 7 x8, which provides for investments in delta levee repair and ecosystem restoration, storage facilities, water recycling and watershed protection, and authorizes the use of $546 million from Proposition 84; and the water bond, SB 7x 2, which places the overall $11.1 million package on the November 2010 statewide general election ballot. … “
Read more from the Lake County News by clicking here.
Windsor drilling wells to augment Russian River water
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:43 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“Windsor next month will begin drilling two test wells to augment its municipal water supply. The Town Council has approved $1.1 million in contracts to drill and monitor the wells in an effort to make Windsor less dependent on Russian River water.
The state-mandated cutback of Russian River supplies over the past summer “highlighted the limitation of the water system,” said Town Manager Matt Mullan, adding that it accelerated Windsor’s search for alternate groundwater sources.
Windsor, like many North Bay cities, has been affected by the state order to reduce pumping from the river to ensure sufficient water for the fall salmon run.
Unlike most of the cities, which have the ability to draw from groundwater wells, Windsor is entirely dependent on Russian River water. “Right now, we are completely reliant on river wells,” Councilwoman Debora Fudge said Wednesday. “We don’t have another source.” … “
Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Petaluma’s water conservation efforts are paying off
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:39 amFrom the Petaluma 360:
“The future of a second water pipe for Petaluma to receive Russian River water may be up in the air, but water conservation efforts are not slacking off and have already reduced water demands far below levels thought possible 10 years ago.
Conservation efforts are already in place because of several dry years and federal orders to stop diverting water from Mendocino County into local supplies, and are considered prudent by City Hall since Petaluma gets 90 percent of its water through a single, 50-year-old pipeline from Cotati.
“We use a variety of methods to encourage the efficient use of water, including ads in the local movie theaters and the Argus-Courier, direct-mail postcards and newsletters,” said Mike Ban, director of Petaluma’s Water Resources and Conservation Department. “Conservation efforts are saving the city about 98 million gallons of water per year (equivalent to the use of about 900 single-family homes).”
Conservation became crucial last year after the state passed an emergency conservation bill that required every water contractor — users such as cities and water districts — to immediately curtail summer water use by 25 percent in 2009. Like most California communities, water use doubles in the hot months of July, August and September. This year, the city met its conservation quota and then some, Ban noted. … “
Read more from Petaluma 360 by clicking here.
Cities adopting state-mandated water ordinances
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:36 amFrom the Pasadena Star News:
“Like it or not, mandatory restrictions are coming by the first of the year for homeowners and developers with large pieces of property to water.
Under the state’s Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006, by Jan. 1 cities must adopt local ordinances that restrict water usage for developers – and also for public agencies – who construct new projects that include 2,500 feet or more of landscaping.
The restrictions will also apply to homeowners with landscape projects of 5,000 feet or more.
If cities don’t implement local laws by the deadline, a provision written into the act ordering the restrictions will simply take over.
Water-saving ordinances will likely vary – at least slightly – from city to city. But in general, affected developers and homeowners will have to apply for permits and submit their landscaping plans to cities for review. … “
Read more from the Pasadena Star News by clicking here.
Desert should lead the way in water efficiency
Posted by: Maven on November 27, 2009 at 7:33 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Water conservation is nothing new to the Coachella Valley.
But as California enters its fourth year of drought, the state is pushing cities to save every drop. Assembly Bill 1881, California’s Updated Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, requires cities to submit water conservation plans by Jan. 1.
The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), our regional planning organization, recently held a workshop to promote a valleywide water efficiency ordinance. We all know the drill by now: Indoors, turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth, keep showers short and use a low-flush toilet. But 70 percent of water used by most homeowners is for landscaping. The real savings can be found outdoors.
Fix broken sprinklers as quickly as possible. Don’t let them spray into the sidewalk or street. Consider replacing the lawn with desert landscaping.
That last one must be appealing to those responsible for mowing and maintenance of the grass. It’s a chore that never ends, unless you turn off the sprinklers. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Thanksgiving day top of the scroll: Idea of bureaucratic scrutiny of groundwater raises hackles
Posted by: Maven on November 26, 2009 at 12:40 pmHappy Thanksgiving from Aquafornia! From the Stockton Record:
“If there’s one thing rural landowners and farmers don’t want the state tinkering with, it’s the water they draw from below ground for their homes or crops.
“It’s supposed to be a free country and you’re supposed to be able to use what’s under your property,” said Paul Sanguinetti, who farms in east San Joaquin County. “But other people have other ideas.”
Part of the water legislation approved by the California Legislature attempts to compel cities and counties to monitor groundwater levels.
To Sanguinetti, that’s a dangerous step toward some bureaucrat telling him how much water he can draw from his wells.
To environmentalists, the law is not a step toward anything. “We think that we should regulate groundwater in the state,” said Jim Metropulos, a legislative advocate for the Sierra Club. Like other elements of the water package – new conservation measures, for example – he feels the rule was weakened during negotiations and is now more voluntary than mandatory. … “
Read more from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Hugh Hewitt and PLF expose government-caused draught: Audio from recent radio show now available
Posted by: Maven on November 26, 2009 at 12:30 pmFrom the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog:
“PLF President, Rob Rivett, appeared on the Hugh Hewitt Show recently discussing PLF’s fight against the government’s fish-before-people regulations, which are starving farms, businesses, and communities in the San Joaquin Valley of water. Mr. Hewitt devoted his entire 3-hour program to exposing the water restriction caused by the delta smelt. The audio of the program is available on PLF’s website by following this link. … “
Read more from the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog by clicking here.
Will climate change make drought the norm in California? (Climate Tipping Points)
Posted by: Maven on November 26, 2009 at 12:24 pmFrom “azknowledge” at YouTube:
Climate change may have already made “Dust Bowl”-like conditions in southwest North America the norm, which would force the region to cope with more wildfires and less water from the Sierras. This according to a new report about “Climate Tipping Points” from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change commissioned by WWF and Allianz. …
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