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Colorado River Drought Plan Gets First Congressional Hearing

/in , , /by /The Associated Press

A plan that outlines how seven states will deal with declining flows in a major river in the U.S. West is getting its first hearing in Congress. The drought contingency plan aims to keep two Colorado River reservoirs from crashing. Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming recently agreed to push for federal legislation to implement the plan. Their goal is to have a bill approved by April 22 so that Mexico’s water contributions also kick in next year, though nothing’s been introduced yet.

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Some Backers And Foes Of Bill Seeking IID Remake Have Financial Connections

/in , /by /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Janet Wilson

A battle over a controversial state bill that seeks to remake the Imperial Irrigation District board is exposing political connections and payments to key players on both sides. Elected officials, business and labor groups are staking out sides on Assembly Bill 854, which would wrest control of the water and power district from Imperial County where it’s headquartered and shift it north to Riverside County, home to a majority of its electricity customers.

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Western Groups Push For Water Infrastructure

/in , /by /Capital Press (Salem, Oregon)by Dan Wheat

More than 100 Western water and agricultural organizations are urging Congress to include rebuilding and improving water infrastructure in any construction legislation it considers. The group sent a letter March 25 to key committees and Western senators, saying investments are needed to meet current and future water demands. The group is led by the Western Growers Association, California Farm Bureau Federation, Family Farm Alliance and the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. The group noted that President Donald Trump has said rebuilding highways, roads and bridges is an area both political parties should be able to work on together. The Democratic party’s list of priorities includes an ambitious infrastructure program.

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Water Officials Press Senate On Urgency Of Colorado River Drought Plan

/in , /by /Cronkite News (Phoenix)by Andrew Howard

The director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources told a Senate panel Wednesday there is an “urgent need” to authorize a multistate drought contingency plan for the Colorado River basin. Tom Buschatzke was one of several state and federal officials pressing Congress on the plan, years in the making, that is designed to head off a potential water “crisis” in the region and help settle disputes over water allocations if the Colorado does drop to crisis levels. Despite recent rains, there is still a pressing need for the plans in a region that has been hit by “its worst drought in recorded history,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman.

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Here’s What The Colorado River Deal Will Do, And Why Some Criticize Arizona’s Approach

/in , , /by /The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)by Ian James

Gov. Doug Ducey has called Arizona’s Colorado River drought plan the most significant piece of water legislation signed in the state in nearly 40 years. The plan was worked out during seven months of negotiations and enables Arizona to join a larger shortage-sharing agreement with California and Nevada that will spread around the burden of expected water cutbacks. Now that all the states have endorsed the agreement, Congress will hold initial hearings on Wednesday and Thursday to consider authorizing the deal.

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Climate Change Is Already Hurting Fruit Breeders, And Consumers Could Soon Feel The Pain

/in , /by /The Washington Postby Adrian Higgins

In Mark Demuth’s research orchard in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the peach tree twigs glow a soft red-brown under the strengthening late winter sun. The peaches are emerging from hibernation, he says, as he points out which of the stirring buds will open as leaves and which as blossoms come early April. Until then, the trees must undertake their most perilous journey of the year.

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Electricity Costs From Battery Storage Down 76% Since 2012: BNEF

/in , /by /The Utility Dive (Washington D.C.)by HJ Mai

The ever-decreasing cost of electricity from batteries is giving fossil fuels a run for their money as renewable energy projects combined with battery storage become increasingly competitive power supply options. The LCOE for lithium-ion batteries has fallen 35% to $187/MWh since the first half of 2018, research company BNEF said Tuesday. Going back to 2012, BNEF found the cost of battery storage has dropped 76%, from almost $800/MWh.

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Helpful Tips On How To Save Water And Create A Thriving Garden In A Desert Climate

/in , /by /The Coast News by Lexy Brodt

Spring is just around the corner — and whether you’re a novice plant enthusiast or a green-thumbed gardener, it’s time to get growing. After a seven-year drought finally came to an end this winter, California has been hit with a deluge of vibrant greenery and super blooms. But we’re still keeping an eye out for how to make our own backyards more sustainable and water-friendly.

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Inside Santa Cruz’s Enviro-Friendly Water Recharge

/in , /by /Good Times (Santa Cruz)by Jacob Pierce

Every minute, about 400 gallons flow past pressure gauges and shut-off valves into a 2-foot-high concrete box that marks the top of Beltz Well 12. If a pilot program goes well, this whole system could play a pivotal role in the water security of communities from Aptos to UCSC. Normally, water is pumping out of this well, not into it. As part of the reversal process, engineers went into the well and removed column piping, which now lies in a pile under a plastic tarp off to the side. Two 35,000-gallon tanks sit empty.

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Oroville Dam’s Rebuilt Spillway Is Nearing Its First Use Since 2017 Disaster

/in , , /by /KQED (San Francisco)by Dan Brekke

The agency that manages Oroville Dam says the facility’s rebuilt spillway is likely to be pressed into service for the first time as soon as next week. The Department of Water Resources announced Tuesday that Lake Oroville has risen close to the point where the agency will need to release water to maintain empty reservoir space for runoff from incoming storms and spring snowmelt. DWR said it will give the public between 24 and 72 hours advance notice of a release, which can be expected to cause relatively rapid rises on the Feather River downstream of the dam.

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