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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Delta Stewardship Council beginning at 9:30am in Stockton. Agenda items include a presentation on the Tribal and Environmental Justice Issue Paper Public Review Draft Release; Consideration and Possible Adoption of the Delta Plan Five-Year Review Report; Delta Lead Scientist’s report; an update from the Delta Watermaster, and a Delta Conveyance Project update. Click here for the full agenda.
- WEBINAR: Regulated Drinking Water Contaminants in California: Protecting Public Health & Financial Resilience from 11am to 12pm. The high cost of complying with evolving drinking water regulations has deeply affected the water sector in California. Contaminants such as PFAS, 1,2,3-TCP, perchlorate, and 1,4-dioxane will cost utilities millions to remove. Without adequate funding, the financial burden of complying with new regulations will fall on utilities and their ratepayers. This virtual session will provide an update on current legislation and anticipated regulatory action that could result in operational and financial challenges for California water agencies. Then, we will share funding options available to utilities, from grants to water contamination litigation, including examples of water providers that used the legal process to recover current and future costs of monitoring and treatment. By the end of this session, you will have gained actionable knowledge to help prepare your utility for the costs of compliance with existing and anticipated regulations. By exploring all available funding solutions, utilities can maintain water affordability while building public trust and a more financially resilient future. Click here to register.
- WEBINAR: Chronicles from Nature’s Phoenix, Episode 4: Confounding the ‘Overgrown Forests’ Myth from 12pm to 1pm. In this chapter webinar, speakers Dr. Chad Hanson and Bryant Baker, MS, Conservation & Research Director of Los Padres Forest Watch, critically examine the pervasive “overgrown forests” narrative that attributes the severity of wildfires in the western United States to overly dense forests resulting from decades of fire suppression. This widely accepted view suggests that excessive biomass and tree density are leading to larger, more severe wildfires that devastate forests, releasing carbon into the atmosphere and transforming forest landscapes into shrublands, grasslands, or even bare ground. However, Hanson and Baker pore over the scientific evidence to assess the validity of this narrative, exploring whether the public discourse aligns with the actual scientific findings. This examination is based on Chapter 11 of the second edition of Nature’s Phoenix. Click here to register.
In California water news today …
San Francisco weighs bid to drop Supreme Court water case
“Lawmakers in San Francisco are launching a last-ditch effort to kill the city’s lawsuit challenging federal water pollution requirements, weeks before Supreme Court oral arguments are set to begin. The city has accused EPA of including unreasonably vague requirements in a wastewater permit for one of its sewage treatment plants. The language in the permit is designed to protect water quality and is widely used in permits for municipalities nationwide. San Francisco says it’s virtually impossible to follow. But on Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar introduced a resolution urging the city attorney’s office to drop the case. … ” Read more from E&E News.
SEE ALSO: Community Decries Dangerous Lawsuit Threatening Clean Water in San Francisco and Across the U.S, from the Sierra Club
Invasive rodent species found in critical Bay Area watershed, officials say
“The recent discovery of a nutria in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Contra Costa County has raised concerns of damage to the region’s fragile ecosystem from the invasive rodent species, prompting officials to ask the public to report any new sightings. Nutria are native to South America and live in waterways, such as deltas, rivers and ponds. They’re known to be invasive, destroying crops and weakening levees “to the point of failure,” said Matthew Slattengren, an agricultural commissioner for the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture, on Wednesday. Only a handful of nutria have been spotted in the county in recent years, according to Slattengren and state Fish and Wildlife data. But officials say the animals have the potential to cause “serious damage” to the vast Delta watershed and its network of aging earthen levees — a critical water source for much of California. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Tulare County irrigation districts try to ‘right the ship’ toward groundwater sustainability. But will it be enough?
“Three Tulare County irrigation districts that recently found themselves in the state’s crosshairs over groundwater extractions and subsidence are scrambling to show officials they are getting on the right side of “sustainability.” The boards of the Terra Bella, Porterville and Saucelito irrigation districts each approved resolutions seeking to cut back the amount of groundwater farmers can pump within their boundaries. “We would like to demonstrate that we are moving more quickly toward sustainability, and the fact that we’re willing to not overpump is the first step to making that case,” said Sean Geivet, general manager of all three districts. “We want to right the ship going forward,” affirmed Brett McCowan, a Porterville district board member. But some say the action may be too little, too late. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
The Delta supports state-boosted sustainable ag: What does that look like?
“What policies would Delta residents support for adapting to environmental changes in the region? Given nine choices in a recent survey of Delta residents, only one garnered majority support: increasing state funding for sustainable agriculture. This is one example of what that looks like. Rice farming can be an antidote to one big Delta problem: subsidence – the sinking of heavily farmed soils well below adjacent river levels. But while flooded rice slowly rebuilds subsided soils, it comes with its own challenge: Water on those rice fields must be kept fresh for the crop to survive. That means pumping water off the fields and into the river, then pumping fresh water back in. … ” Continue reading from the Delta Protection Commission.
Newsom signs water, sewer bills into law in East Orosi
“In the vibrant backyard garden of an East Orosi home, where all that comes out of the pipes is brown water, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that will put pressure on local agencies to address failures in their wastewater systems. Before making a trip to Fresno on Sept. 24, Newsom visited with residents in East Orosi, one of the many communities in the Valley that still lack access to safe drinking water and reliable sewer systems despite years of local advocacy. Newsom signed three bills into law — including one authored by Valley Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula — and said enacting legislation to address sewage issues, following previous efforts to improve clean water access, was “an honor.” … ” Read more from the Foothills Sun-Gazette.
CDFW awards $41m to critical restoration projects statewide
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) today announced the award of $41 million in grants for 20 restoration and protection projects throughout the state to benefit wetlands and meadows, Southern California steelhead and watersheds impacted by cannabis cultivation. Today’s awards continue the effort to support critical restoration projects with funding made available in late 2022 through the Nature Based Solutions Initiative and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, funding through CDFW’s Cannabis Program, as well as funding dedicated to improving Southern California steelhead habitat through Proposition 68. These projects also support key initiatives including California’s 30×30 initiative and California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
CalTrout & Partners’ Northern California Salmon Restoration Initiative recognized by Biden-Harris Administration during climate week
“Today, the Biden-Harris Administration recognized CalTrout and our CA Salmon and Steelhead Coalition partners, The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited, for our coalition’s Northern California Salmon Restoration Initiative. The initiative was selected as one of ten projects from across the nation to be highlighted during Climate Week. Recognition for the Initiative comes as California salmon fishing communities have faced unprecedented challenges due to the back-to-back closures of the 2023 and 2024 ocean salmon seasons. The announcement underscores the project’s role in restoring salmon and steelhead habitats, building climate resilience, and improving water security on California’s North Coast. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
SEE ALSO:
- Historic Conservation Progress: Transformational Fish Passage Projects to Rejuvenate Ecosystems, Bolster Climate Resilience, and Support Cleaner Water for Communities Across the Nation, from the White House
- Reviving Rivers, Reconnecting Communities, storymap
State helps local communities prepare for flood emergencies with latest round of funding
“The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is awarding $1.4 million in funding for nine emergency response agencies across the state to increase their ability to respond to flood events. This funding will help put resources in the hands of local first responders tasked with protecting our communities. California continues to adapt to an increase in extreme weather, with swings from dry conditions to dangerous flooding. The previous two winters have demonstrated the importance of planning for flood emergencies, especially at the local level. “DWR works with communities across the state to prepare for flooding, and we know the best way to prepare is to ensure local communities have the resources they need to respond to emergencies,” said Laura Hollender, DWR Deputy Director of Flood Management and Dam Safety. “This funding will help counties, cities, and Tribal partners bolster their response capabilities for the next flooding emergency.” … ” Read more from the Department of Water Resources.
Supply chain report tackles hydropower’s missing links
“Solar panels and wind turbines get a lot of attention in the current conversation about renewable energy. Meanwhile, hydropower is quietly, consistently producing large amounts of clean energy—and has been for more than a century. In fact, nearly 27% of all current renewable energy generation in the United States comes from hydroelectric operations. But in order for hydropower to continue contributing to the nation’s clean energy goals, a strong domestic supply chain must be put in place to enable new construction, plant upgrades, and refurbishments to aging systems. Shoring up that supply chain is the focus of a recently released report, titled Hydropower Supply Chain Gap Analysis, which considers various sectors of the hydropower supply chain—from mining and extraction to installation and construction. The report identifies five key gaps in the domestic supply chain and provides actionable recommendations for addressing them. … ” Read more from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
In commentary today …
California water crisis
Mitchell Katz with The Buckley School writes, ““A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” a Greek proverb says. As I write this today, I am less concerned with the planting of trees than I am with the water required to grow them. We must start protecting our water, and these changes must be implemented by those who currently hold power in our country. Water waste is the number one issue facing us currently. People in power often ignore this issue because the effects will occur at some point in the distant future. In spite of recent rains in the Southwestern United States, it is still empirically evident that we are suffering through a devastating megadrought. We must take adequate steps toward conversation immediately, or we risk forever damaging our water security. Younger generations cannot implement this level of change by themselves. We must call on older members of our society to create change for the benefit of others, knowing that they may never see the positive impact of their actions. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Over 75,000 birds killed in Klamath disease outbreak
“More than 75,000 birds have died after an outbreak of disease at a North California lake. The Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the Klamath Basin, near the California-Oregon border, is in the throes of a botulism outbreak, which has killed between 75,000 and 80,000 birds. This is now the worst outbreak in the region’s history, having killed more birds than the last such event in 2020, with thousands more expected to die in the coming weeks. Samples from the lake tested positive for avian botulism on August 23, the Agriculture Department National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed. … ” Read more from Newsweek.
Year in review: it was a pretty wet year. And we don’t know whether next year will be wet or dry
“We’re closing in on the end of September, so now’s the time to look back and reflect on the year that has been. And all told: Pretty damned good year, wasn’t it? Pretty wet! We’re talking about the “water year,” of course – that period from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 that meteorologists and other scientists use to talk about rainfall here in the U.S. of A. Look at the LoCO weather report down at the bottom of our homepage. See the line for “year to date” precipitation? On Oct. 2, that number will reset to zero. That’s because we’re talking about the water year, not the calendar year. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Redway CSD initiates water conservation stage 1 due to low Eel River flow
“On September 22nd the South Fork of the Eel River at the USGS Miranda gauge recorded a flow of 24.6 ft3/s, “cubic feet per second”. A flow of 25.0 CFS is the trigger for Conservation One in the Redway CSD’s Conservation Ordinance. Our Water Conservation Ordinance 2018-01, which was approved May 23rd, 2018, by the Redway CSD Board of Directors it states in Section 6 that Conservation Stage 1 may be initiated by flow in the South Fork of the Eel River hitting a flow of under 25 CFS. … ” Continue reading from the Redheaded Blackbelt.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Major victory for community: NID withdraws Centennial Dam proposal after SYRCL’s decade-long opposition
“On September 25th, the Nevada Irrigation District voted on the future of their proposed Centennial Dam project, a $1 billion project that the South Yuba River Citizen’s League (SYRCL) has rallied the community in opposition to since its inception. In August of 2014, the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) began planning to construct a new 275-foot-tall dam and reservoir on the Bear River between the existing Rollins and Combie reservoirs. The water agency’s proposed new 110,000 acre-foot reservoir with a 275 foot-tall dam on the Bear River would have inundated six miles of the Bear River, completely flooding the Bear River Campground, more than 25 homes and 120 parcels, hundreds of cultural and sacred Native American sites, and the Dog Bar Bridge, the only crossing of the Bear River between Highway 49 and Highway 174. … ” Read more from The Union.
SEE ALSO: NID abandons Centennial Project, data says raising Rollins a better option, from YubaNet
Congress approves Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for another decade
“On Tuesday September 24, Congress passed legislation to extend the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for ten more years, making millions of dollars available to protect and preserve the lake. The original Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA) was passed in 2000 and pledged $300 million to restore the lake through various efforts. In 2016, the act was reauthorized and allotted $415 million. The most recent reauthorization aimed to extend the time on the Congressional clock, as only 29% of the funds had been appropriated. … ” Read more from the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
Tahoe is the oldest lake in North America, 3rd in the world, study says
“Lake Tahoe is the oldest lake in North America and the third oldest in the world, according to new research presented at the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting on Monday in Anaheim. The finding places Tahoe in the pantheon of the world’s most ancient lakes. Lake Tahoe is at least 2.3 million years old, according to Winnie Kortemeier, a professor of geosciences at Western Nevada College in Carson City, Nevada. She initially made that discovery in 2012, when she sent samples of volcanic rock she collected near Tahoe City to the U.S. Geological Survey geochronology laboratory for radiometric dating. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
NAPA/SONOMA
Napa County supervisors favor fee on groundwater users to support sustainability
“Napa County is looking into how to fund its groundwater sustainability agency while work continues to implement the county’s state-required groundwater sustainability plan. And the answer may be a fee on groundwater users. “We want to make sure all users are paying toward the use and not just ag users,” Napa County Supervisor Joelle Gallagher said. On Tuesday, the Napa County Board of Supervisors favored a staff-recommended fee program based on groundwater extraction. But there are more steps in the process before that fee is figured out. … ” Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (gift article).
BAY AREA
How does the Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program advance regional goals?
“The Wetlands Regional Monitoring Program (WRMP) held a joint Steering Committee-Technical Advisory Committee meeting in April 2024, where committee members brainstormed responses to the prompt: “How do you see the WRMP advancing regional goals?” Committee members used sticky notes on whiteboards to share their answers with the group. Responses fell into the following categories: improving understanding of wetland ecology/restoration techniques through standardized data; reducing the need for project-based regulatory monitoring by reducing uncertainty; measuring progress toward and informing regional goals & priorities; expanding public awareness of wetlands and restoration; enhancing collaboration and learning opportunities; and improving environmental/social equity. … ” Read more from the Wetland Regional Monitoring Program.
CENTRAL COAST
A proposed three-year rate schedule for Cal Am leads to a battle over how utilities can bill for water.
“Proceeding number A2207001 before the California Public Utilities Commission began on July 1, 2022 when California American Water filed an application to increase revenues from ratepayers. The utility company pitched a tiered plan: A $55.8 million increase in 2024 (18.7 percent), followed by $19.6 million in 2025 (5.5 percent), then $19.9 million (5.3 percent) in 2026. “California American Water’s main focus is our customers,” the application reads. It went on to note cost pressures: capital investment, labor costs, inflation and anticipated decrease in water sales as customers increasingly emphasize conservation. That last part poses a fundamental problem to utility companies: They make money by selling a product (in this case, water) and it’s a product we are encouraged to use less of. That’s where utilities rely on what are known as decoupling mechanisms, formulas that enable the company to bill customers with a surcharge. The idea is that if actual water sales fall short of projected revenue, a utility company can still collect the difference to reach its target. … ” Read more from Monterey Now.
Carpinteria: SoCalGas halts water reclaiming effort after substandard test results
“A Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) effort to reclaim over 400,000 gallons of water for irrigation this summer was halted, city of Carpinteria staff said during Monday night’s council meeting, after water quality test results fell short of the company’s water standards. SoCalGas operates transmission and high-pressure distribution pipelines throughout Santa Barbara County. In May of this year, SoCalGas presented a water reclaiming opportunity to the Carpinteria City Council. The utility had planned to discharge
” href=”https://mavensnotebook.com/glossary/discharge/” data-mobile-support=”0″ data-gt-translate-attributes=”[{“attribute”:”data-cmtooltip”, “format”:”html”}]” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”>discharge a total of 421,000 gallons of recycled water from its operations to the Carpinteria Community Farm and northern El Carro Park for irrigation. However, after conducting water quality tests this summer, SoCalGas could not deem the recycled water as safe for irrigation use, though the tests found no hazardous waste characteristics in the water. … ” Read more from Coastal View.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
School district in Kern County celebrates new drinking water system funded by state grants
” The State Water Resources Control Board yesterday joined the Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District in Bakersfield to celebrate the completion of a new treatment plant that secures safe drinking water for the district’s 1,200 students and staff. The new facility was made possible through the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies and state grants from the State Water Board’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) drinking water program and from the Department of Water Resources. “Through this project and hundreds of others like it around the state, California is working to ensure ready access to safe drinking water at school districts like Rio Bravo, small rural communities, and for all Californians,” said Sean Maguire, member of the State Water Board. … ” Read more from the State Water Board.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Chiquita Canyon faces growing concerns
“As Los Angeles County Counsel worked with Chiquita Canyon Landfill to defend against a lawsuit from residents trying to close the facility, state regulators Wednesday shared residents’ ongoing concerns with statements criticizing the inadequacy of the landfill’s response. The L.A. Regional Water Quality Control Board once again denied Chiquita Canyon permission to expand into an additional cell at the facility in a letter also dated Wednesday. In response to a request for comments about the letter, CalRecycle, the state agency in charge of waste management, said it was working with L.A. County on potential alternative waste-disposal sites, which county officials confirmed Wednesday. … ” Read more from The Signal.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
Managing the Salton Sea: Strategies for a sustainable future
“Located in the core of California’s Imperial Valley, the Salton Sea is a rapidly changing ecosystem where some of the most challenging issues in water conservation, ecological protection, and environmental justice issues converge. In the past two decades, water levels at the Salton Sea have dramatically declined due to Colorado River water transfers and conservation efforts, prompting the state to develop long-term plans like the Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) and numerous region-wide initiatives to address the pressing environmental crisis. For more than seven years, ESA has played a key role in this management effort as a principal scientific consultant to the state. Developing regional monitoring plans and a project tracking tool as part of the SSMP, the firm has also supported local water agencies by examining the potential ecological impacts of proposed water conservation and recycling measures. … ” Read more from ESA.
Big lithium plans for Imperial Valley, one of California’s poorest regions, raise a bigger question: Who should benefit?
“Imperial County consistently ranks among the most economically distressed places in California. Its Salton Sea, the state’s biggest and most toxic lake, is an environmental disaster. And the region’s politics have been dominated by a conservative white elite, despite its supermajority Latino population. The county also happens to be sitting on enough lithium to produce nearly 400 million batteries, sufficient to completely revamp the American auto fleet to electric propulsion. Even better, that lithium could be extracted in a way consistent with broader goals to reduce pollution. In a region desperate for jobs and income, the prospect of a “white gold rush” is appealing. … But Imperial Valley residents who have been on the butt end of get-rich schemes around water and real estate in the past are worried that their political leaders may be giving away the store. … ” Read more from The Conversation.
SEE ALSO: Opinion: Imperial County residents deserve to benefit from a potential lithium boom, from the LA Times
SAN DIEGO
Proposed change to San Diego County’s Flood Prevention Ordinance moves forward
“The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 Wednesday to advance a proposed ordinance change that officials say will help make flood insurance more affordable for residents in unincorporated areas. Supervisors heard the proposed ordinance Wednesday as part of a first reading. A second reading, set for Oct. 9, is needed for formal approval. According to the county Land Use and Environment Group, an updated Flood Prevention Ordinance is needed to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements, increase credits the county earns to lower flood insurance costs for those in the unincorporated regions, and streamline the review process for some development projects. … ” Read more from Channel 7.
Some in this California beach town insist the Tijuana River is poisoning them. Officials disagree
“The Tijuana River should not be flowing this time of year. But throughout the dry season, it has — delivering millions of gallons a day of an unnatural mix of water, neon green sewage and industrial waste from Tijuana through the city of Imperial Beach to the Pacific Ocean. This 4.4-square-mile beach town of 27,000 largely working-class and Latino residents, sitting just south of San Diego, is appealingly affordable. But it also bears the brunt of Tijuana’s population boom. Its beaches just reopened last weekend, after having been closed for more than 1,000 days because of ocean bacteria levels that are a hundred times higher than safe amounts. The stench of rotting eggs after dark is overwhelming for south San Diego residents, keeping some awake all night. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
Along the Colorado River …
Biden-Harris administration marks major progress for Colorado River system health, signs five new water conservation agreements
“The Department of the Interior today marked major progress for the short and long-term health of the Colorado River System. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton joined leaders from the Imperial Irrigation District (California), Bard Water District (California), Metropolitan Water District (California) and Gila River Indian Community (Arizona) to sign five water conservation agreements that will leverage funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to help advance water conservation across the West. Short-term agreements with the Imperial Irrigation District, Bard Water District and Metropolitan Water District are expected to conserve over 717,000 acre-feet of water by 2026. The agreements with the Gila River Indian Community are the first long-term agreements to be signed and have the potential to create system conservation of over 73,000 acre-feet within the next 10 years. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Reclamation.
Despite recent water supply improvement, more cuts expected for Colorado River, feds say
“After Lake Mead hit an all-time low two years ago, the Colorado River’s water supply is in a much better position this summer, but it hasn’t improved enough to prevent further cuts this year. While conservation efforts and two hardy winters have improved the short-term outlook for the Colorado River, Lake Mead is currently at 33% of capacity, meaning cuts are still likely, said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Where we’re going to be, most likely, is in a tier reduction. But the good news is it’s not where we were two years ago, and the lake is in a better place,” Touton said. … ” Read more from the Capital Press.
Lake Mead will rise 10 feet by 2026, officials say. Here’s why
“Five U.S. Bureau of Reclamation conservation agreements targeting California farmers were signed on Wednesday with a big intended impact. “These ‘bucket one’ agreements celebrated today will collectively add 10 feet to Lake Mead’s elevation by 2026,” Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said. “Our collaborative efforts are certainly paying off.” The agreements involving the Imperial Irrigation District, Bard Water District and the Metropolitan Water District represent the last conservation efforts from “bucket one,” or the first round, of funding from Congress’ Inflation Reduction Act. … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Seeking security in scarcity: Officials emphasize need for action as Colorado River faces dwindling water supply
“Water availability on Colorado’s Western Slope is under increasing pressure and uncertainty from climate change, population growth, and ongoing negotiations. “We’re seeing a shrinking resource, and one trend that is likely to continue to accelerate whether we have more precipitation or not … is the warming temperatures are going to drive less water available for human use,” said Andy Mueller, general manager of the Colorado River District. “The question is: Can we as a society come together and plan for that? We haven’t done a great job of doing that so far, but perhaps we can.” He posed this question to a room full of water managers, agricultural producers, and elected officials in Grand Junction on Friday, Sept. 20, for the Colorado River District’s annual water seminar. This year’s seminar encouraged attendees to “meet the moment” and to find clarity, solutions, and opportunities amid water insecurity in the West. … ” Read more from the Aspen Times.
‘There is enough water’ UNLV startup aims to bring atmospheric water harvesting tech to the marketplace
“According to researchers at UNLV, atmospheric water harvesting may pose a solution to our valley’s water woes, and a new startup called WAVR aims to push the technology into the real word. “WAVR is a company that we’ve launched based on UNLV technology that is addressing the biggest challenge I think for our community, which is access to water,” said Rich Sloan, CEO to WAVR and UNLV Entreprenuer in Residence. “Atmospheric water harvesting is going to be a big part of the future.” Sloan said there’s more than enough water available, even in dry climates of the Southwest. “There is enough water in the first 30 feet of atmosphere to handle 100% of the daily needs of Las Vegas,” he said. … ” Read more from Channel 13.
Tucson Airport Authority agrees to investigate groundwater pollution under EPA settlement
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement agreement with the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) to address groundwater contamination near the Tucson Superfund site. The agreement, known as an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent, requires the TAA to investigate the presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals known as PFAS in the Tucson aquifer
” href=”https://mavensnotebook.com/glossary/aquifer/” data-mobile-support=”0″ data-gt-translate-attributes=”[{“attribute”:”data-cmtooltip”, “format”:”html”}]” tabindex=”0″ role=”link”>aquifer that originated from the Tucson International Airport Area (TIAA). Michael Montgomery, Director of Superfund and Emergency Management Division at EPA, said the commercial airport authority was involved at the outset. … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
Arizona: Willcox wants solutions to stop wells from drying, after digging deeper wells
“”It’s hurting economic development,” said Willcox City Manager, Caleb Blaschke. “It’s hurting our ability to grow.” Blaschke and Willcox residents are concerned about the amount of water being used and pumped from the Willcox Playa Basin. Roughly 5,000 people rely on the City of Willcox for water. “In the Willcox basin, you can pump as much water as you want, and there’s no protections for residents. There’s no protections for the city,” Blaschke. He says there are over 1,600 water connections to the city waterlines, which includes businesses and residences. … ” Read more from Channel 9.
Curtis advances bipartisan legislation to protect Utah’s Great Salt Lake and boost geothermal energy
“Yesterday, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) passed two bills through the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act would incorporate the Great Salt Lake into ongoing conservation efforts under the Colorado River water conservation program. The Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act aims to expedite the approval process for geothermal projects. … “Utahns have worked tirelessly to protect the Great Salt Lake, but persistent drought conditions now threaten its long-term viability. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act would expand the Colorado River water conservation program to include the lake. Over time, this flexibility will help safeguard its ecological and economic significance, protecting Utah and the West from the economic and public health risks of an ecological disaster.” … ” Read more from Congressman Curtis.
Thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado are leaking toxic water, but Congress finally has a solution in sight
“Polluted water leaking from thousands of abandoned mines in Colorado’s mountains is turning wetlands orange and dumping toxic dissolved metals in the headwaters of many of the state’s rivers. But people who want to fix the problem are hampered by the very federal laws meant to protect the environment. Organizations and local governments that want to fix the acidic drainage from a mine outside of Alma—and the hundreds of thousands of other abandoned mines across the West—are hopeful about new legislation under consideration in Congress. By removing liability burdens, the bill would finally give them more leeway to stop the pollution seeping into the streams relied upon for drinking water, recreation, and fish and animal habitat. … ” Read more from PhysOrg.
In national water news today …
Retirements by water and wastewater plant operators are leading to workforce shortages
“Across the U.S., drinking water and wastewater utilities are losing experienced workers at an escalating rate. It’s part of the “silver tsunami” of baby boomer retirements. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that “silver tsunami” is just beginning to sweep across the nation. “We’re seeing between 30 and 50% of our water workforce being eligible to retire within the next 5 to 10 years,” said Bruno Pigott, the EPA’s acting assistant administrator of water. He was quoting from a report released six years ago by the Brookings Institution. While the data are hard to confirm, it appears the country is heading toward that projection. … ” Read more from WDET.
Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says
“A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that mounting research points to an unreasonable risk that it could be. He ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but didn’t say what those measures should be. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Fluoride ruling pushes EPA for regulatory action, from E&E News
Extreme weather is hitting Americans in the wallet
“Extreme weather is pressuring local budgets, sticking Americans with the bill and putting the $4 trillion market for state and local bonds at the center of the climate-change fight. Clyde, Texas, will likely face increased borrowing costs after the city defaulted on debt last month during a drought. Higher parking fees at the beach in Naples, Fla., are helping repay bonds sold to rebuild the city’s hurricane-damaged pier. Residents of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma will spend the next two decades chipping away at the multibillion-dollar cost of maintaining power during a 2021 winter storm. “We’ll be paying off the bond for the four days of electricity for years to come,” said Georgetown, Texas, Mayor Josh Schroeder. … ” Read more from the Wall Street Journal (gift article).
About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
