President-elect Donald Trump might have trouble living up to one of his more sweeping campaign promises in California.On the stump in Fresno last May, he made headlines for declaring, “There is no drought” here.It’s a bit unclear from his remarks whether he was voicing an opinion or simply reporting what some farmers told him at a pre-rally gathering. Either way, he was badly mistaken.
California (Drought) Dreamin’: Lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol are hopeful that this could be the year Congress finally reaches a deal on California water. Time is running out, but the success or failure of drought talks could have big implications for the rest of Congress’ unfinished business, including a major water infrastructure package, an energy bill and a spending measure to keep the government open past Dec. 9.
One detail was omitted from last week’s write-up on the city of Stockton’s concerns about how the Delta tunnels might impact the city’s new water treatment plant. This is a bit wonky. Stick with me. The story is all about the city’s fear that water quality will deteriorate at the intake for its $220 million drinking water plant, forcing expensive treatment upgrades that could jack up rates, theoretically, by up to 200 percent. But it’s not just water quality that is of concern. It’s quantity, too. That may sound strange.
Each year, businesses around the world are feeling growing financial impacts from water insecurity, said a new report released this week. “Thirsty Business: Why Water Is Vital to Climate Action,” is produced by the nonprofit CDP, which creates an annual report tracking how companies manage water resources and plan for the future. Ample supplies of freshwater resources are crucial for many businesses, but it’s also vital to efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Scientific studies have found that climate change will lead to higher risk of both droughts and floods.
Napa County is trying to make the case that it does a good job managing the underground reservoir beneath the Napa Valley that provides groundwater for rural homes, wineries and vineyards.
Groundwater levels beneath the main Napa Valley floor are five to 35 feet deep in the spring and the basin remains “full overall” despite the drought, according to a new, draft Napa Valley groundwater report.
“The conditions in the main Napa Valley subbasin have been stable for many decades,” said consultant Vicki Kretsinger Grabert, who worked on the report.
November 17, 2016 – A large upper-level ridge of high pressure dominated the Lower 48 States (CONUS) this USDM week, keeping much of the country warmer and drier than normal. Low pressure troughs moving in the jet stream flow brought precipitation to the Pacific Northwest, northwest California, and the Northern Rockies; parts of Texas and the Gulf of Mexico coast; and the coastal Southeast to Mid-Atlantic States and eastern Great Lakes.
It’s hard to think about floods after five years of drought. But in Sacramento, we don’t have a choice. Scientists tell us that climate change will bring drier years and more severe storms. Recent history shows this threat, as California has bounced between drought and flood. As the recent catastrophic flooding in Baton Rouge, La., makes clear, we can’t wait for rising waters to plan for floods. An overhaul in how California prepares for and manages floods is long overdue.
“We need to start a statewide dialogue on water,” said Dave Wenger, the Thursday keynote speaker at the AquAlliance Water Conference, which continues Friday at Sierra Nevada Brewery. California needs high-level discussions about overall water problems, rather than solutions that target only specific areas of the state, he continued. Those solutions are going to cost money, whether that means investing in levees, fish screens, new pumping stations or removal of infrastructure, he said. Wenger worked for 20 years for the Bureau of Reclamation in the early 1970s, as the “token environmentalist,” he told the group of about 60 Thursday afternoon.
The Bee’s post-election editorial, “California was a bulwark against Trumpism,” said that Trump must find it within himself to be president of the entire nation and not ignore California. Rather than go on a California apology tour, as The Bee suggests, perhaps Trump and Congress will deliver on something real for California – water for cities and farms. Eight decades ago, by developing a magnificent water-delivery system, the federal government delivered on a promise made to its own “rust belt” working class by developing the Central Valley into a domestic agricultural superpower.
Some of the bigger promises made by president-elect Trump will require the cooperation of the Republican-controlled Congress. Promises like a border wall, mass deportations, and repealing Obamacare will take some time. But with a stroke of his presidential pen, Mr. Trump can bring sudden and consequential changes that could reverberate throughout the Central California. One of the biggest changes could be to the distribution of water to farmers in the Valley.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
