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Several US States Face Significant Stress On Their Water Availability, Data Shows

/in , /by /The Guardianby Emily Holden

A handful of US states – including New Mexico and California – are facing significant strains on their water supplies that will only intensify with global heating, according to new rankings.  New Mexico tops the list and is the only state with “extremely high” pressures on its water availability. The state’s score is on par with the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and Eritrea in Africa, the World Resources Institute (WRI) found. California ranks second, followed by Arizona, Colorado and Nebraska. “We’re stretching our water supply pretty much as far as it can go … and even further,” said Leah Schleifer, a spokeswoman for WRI’s water program. Experts with WRI said the data shows a global water crisis. “The picture is alarming in many places around the globe, but it’s very important to note that water stress is not destiny,” said Betsy Otto, WRI’s global water director. “What we can’t afford to do any longer is pretend that the situation will resolve itself.”

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9 Foods That Are Making The Drought Even Worse

/in , /by /HuffPostby Jodi Helmer

Farmers are struggling to keep crops from withering on the vine thanks to a severe drought affecting more than 4.5% of the continental United States ― and turning on the sprinklers could make the problem worse. California, which grows two-thirds of our fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, experienced a drought that lasted from 2011 to March 2019. The World Resources Institute estimates that more than 25% of the world’s crops are grown in regions with high water stress (we’re looking at you, California almonds). “The shift toward more meat-based diets is becoming a major problem that puts pressure on water resources around the world,” said Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit focused on finding solutions to worldwide water challenges.

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A Quarter Of Humanity Faces Looming Water Crises

/in , , /by /The New York Timesby Somini Sengupta and Weiyi Cai

BANGALORE, India — Countries that are home to one-fourth of Earth’s population face an increasingly urgent risk: The prospect of running out of water. From India to Iran to Botswana, 17 countries around the world are currently under extremely high water stress, meaning they are using almost all the water they have, according to new World Resources Institute data published Tuesday. Many are arid countries to begin with; some are squandering what water they have. Several are relying too heavily on groundwater, which instead they should be replenishing and saving for times of drought.

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Ventura Readies The Spigot For State Water

/in , , /by /Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.)by Arlene Martinez

Ventura started paying for its right to state water in 1971. On Monday night, policymakers took the biggest step yet to being able to access it. The Ventura City Council voted 6-0 to approve a study certifying no major environmental impacts would result from building the 7-mile pipeline near Camarillo. The action means the city’s next move is hiring a consultant to draft the interconnection’s final design. The state-mandated Environmental Impact Report flagged six areas of concern. “All issues are temporary, related to construction,” Meredith Clement, a water consultant to the city, told the council.

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Groundwater: Agencies React To Rejection Of Alternative Plans

/in , , /by /Ag Alert (Sacramento, Calif.)by Christine Souza

Six regions of California that considered themselves to be managing groundwater sustainably have been informed otherwise by state officials, who rejected alternatives to preparation of groundwater sustainability plans for the regions. Three of the applicants have agreed to form groundwater sustainability agencies as required under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The remaining three—in Humboldt, Lake and Napa counties—face decisions on how to proceed. In all, the California Department of Water Resources reviewed alternative proposals for 15 groundwater basins or subbasins, and approved nine of the proposals. The agencies that submitted alternatives must satisfy the objectives of SGMA, and demonstrate the basin has been operating sustainably for at least 10 years or has a well-defined plan to achieve sustainability within 20 years.

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Power Outages Could Cut Off Livestock Water, California Farm Bureau Federation Reports

/in , , /by /Sierra Sun Times (Mariposa, Calif.)by Ching Lee

As California’s wildfire season heats up, commercial ranchers and other livestock owners brace for possible power outages that could hinder their ability to provide water for their animals. Energy companies may need to cut power as a preventive measure during wildfire conditions, as required under directives from the California Public Utilities Commission. Although Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has stated its public safety power shutoffs could potentially affect any of its more than 5 million electric customers, the customers most at risk are those who live in locations defined as high fire-threat areas. The utility suggests preparing for outages that could last longer than 48 hours.

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Thunderstorms Possible In East San Diego County

/in , /by /NBC 7 San Diegoby Christina Bravo

Storm clouds developing south of the U.S.-Mexico Border could bring thunderstorms to San Diego’s mountains and deserts Wednesday morning. NBC 7 Meteorologist Sheena Parveen said NBC 7’s Doppler Radar was seeing storms begin to push their way north into the Southern California region at about 8 a.m. No watches or warnings were in effect during that time, according to the National Weather Service. Fast-moving rain may hit areas of East County but will develop further east as the day progresses, Parveen said. Mostly, the monsoonal moisture from the south will bring heavy cloud cover to the area. Parveen said those clouds will be slow to clear.

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Water = Prosperity

/in , /by /Manteca Bulletin (Manteca, Calif.)by Dennis Wyatt

Nestled in the rustic Stanislaus River canyon below the western horizon from busy Highway 108-120 in the bottomland of Tuolumne County is arguably the most critical chunk of concrete ever poured when it comes to powering the Manteca economy. It is here some 35 miles to the northeast of Manteca you’ll find Goodwin Dam. The 400-foot high dam was completed in December of 1912 primary as a storage and diversion point for the South San Joaquin Irrigation District and its 110-year-old partner – the Oakdale Irrigation District. The SSJID share was $342,500 – $54,000 less than the median price of a resale home closing escrow in Manteca today.

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Groundwater Law – Physical – “The Water Budget Myth”

/in , /by /California WaterBlog (Davis, Calif.)by Jay Lund

This week’s short post is on groundwater law – from the viewpoint of physics. Water policy, management, and human law often misunderstand how groundwater and surface water work physically. Bredehoeft, et al. (1982) distill a longstanding lament of many groundwater experts, “Perhaps the most common misconception in groundwater hydrology is that a water budget of an area determines the magnitude of possible groundwater development. Several well-known hydrologists have addressed this misconception and attempted to dispel it. Somehow, though, it persists and continues to color decisions by the water-management community.”

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California Is Testing Its Water, So PFAS Defendants Could Face Prop 65 Lawsuits Soon

/in , /by /Legal Newsline (Chicago, Ill.)by Sarah Downey

California could be moving toward the regulation and litigation of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids (PFAS) since government agencies have been testing water in many locations, including airports and landfills, with results due as early as this fall. “The state water board is doing a bunch of sampling in drinking or ground water,” said Leila Bruderer, an attorney with the Downey Brand firm in Sacramento. “Under Proposition 65, there is potential for that litigation.” California’s Proposition 65 – the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act – was passed in 1986 to guard against chemicals that cause health problems.

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