You are now in California and the U.S. Media Coverage category.

State Water Board Unveils Aggressive Plan To Issue Investigative Orders For PFAS

/in , /by /The National Law Review (Western Springs, Ill.)

On March 6, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced it will soon issue orders to owners and operators of more than a thousand facilities in California requiring environmental investigation and sampling for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known by the acronym PFAS. As “Item 10” in a four-hour meeting providing updates on state and federal programs addressing PFAS, Darrin Polhemus, Deputy Director of the State Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW), and Shahla Farahnak, Assistant Deputy Director of the Division of Water Quality (DWQ), unveiled an aggressive “Phased Investigation Plan.”

Full Story

OPINION: Now Is California’s Chance To Save The Salton Sea

/in , /by /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Frank Ruiz

Spectacular landscapes are part of California’s natural identity. I recently led a group on a tour of the Salton Sea and it prompted me to think that we should consider the sea one of these treasures. There’s nothing in California like it. We visited during a rare rainstorm, so there were waves on the lake and dramatic gray skies. Nonetheless, the landscape was full of life. Waterfowl are making a comeback on the lake, and we saw plenty of Redhead ducks and Canvasbacks in places like Salt Creek.

Full Story

Historic Midwest Flooding Destroys Roads, Bridges, Dams And Levees

/in , /by /Engineering News-Record (Troy, Mich.)by Pam Radtke Russell and Mark Shaw

Midwestern floodwaters have topped or breached multiple levees, damaged bridges and roads, destroyed one dam and damaged another and inundated at least 42 wastewater treatment plants as historic flooding continues to hit Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. At least two people are reported dead. Nine levees in total have been breached on both sides of the Missouri River, and “additional breaches are possible,” says Mike Glasch, deputy director of public affairs for the Army Corps’ Omaha District. “We are continuing to work with state and local agencies to monitor the levees,” he adds.

Full Story

Western Drought Deal Is A Go, Without IID And As Salton Sea Clean-Up Remains Stalled

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

It’s done. The Colorado River Board of California voted 8-1-1 Monday to sign on to a multi-state drought contingency plan, which, somewhat ironically, might not be needed for two years because of an exceptionally wet winter. The process was fractious until the very end, with blistering rebukes from the river’s largest water user, and charges that state and federal laws were possibly being violated to cross the finish line.

Full Story

Contest For Lake Jennings Photography Buffs Back For 8th Year

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Karen Pearlman

The Helix Water District is holding its eighth annual Lake Jennings spring photo contest, seeking pictures of the scenic reservoir taken between now and the end of May. The 2019 contest theme is “Life at the Lake.” Photographs can be color or black and white, of flora, fauna or people at the lake, as well as boating, camping, landscape or picturesque views at the Lakeside reservoir. All images must be digital and there is a limit of three entries per person. Photos may not contain watermarks.

Full Story

Outlook Improves For Colorado River Reservoirs, But A Drought Deal Is Still In The Works

/in , /by /Arizona Central (Phoenix, Ariz.)by Ian James

Winter storms have covered the Rocky Mountains with snow from Wyoming to northern New Mexico, leaving a bounty of runoff that should boost the levels of the Colorado River’s depleted reservoirs this spring and summer. The snow that fell during the past month has pushed the accumulated snowpack across the Upper Colorado River Basin to nearly 140 percent of average. Federal officials now estimate there could be enough snow to narrowly avert a declaration of a shortage at Lake Mead next year, which would hold off water cutbacks in the Southwest for another year.

Full Story

Wastewater Treatment Startup Wins $200,000 At San Diego Angel Conference

/in , /by /San Diego Business Journalby Elise Reuter

AquaCycl, a San Diego-based wastewater treatment startup, took home the grand prize at the San Diego Angel Conference on March 15. A panel of angel investors that had vetted the finalists for months selected AquaCycl as the winner, for a $200,000 cash prize. The company was also voted in as the audience favorite. AquaCycl was co-founded in 2016 by CEO Orianna Bretschger, Vice President of R&D Sofia Babanova and Vice President of Hardware and Manufacturing Ryoji Naito. The company developed a technology that uses electricity-generating bacteria to speed up wastewater treatment rates, resulting in a more efficient, lower-cost option.

Full Story

2019 California Central Valley Project Water Allocations Updated

/in , /by /Sierra Sun Times

The Bureau of Reclamation last week issued updated allocations for Central Valley Project contractors for the 2019 contract year. This update reflects the benefits of the series of storms that brought significant precipitation to California during February and early March. “The precipitation we’ve experienced since mid-February has provided a significant boost to the projected water supply for the Central Valley Project this year,” said Mid-Pacific Regional Director Ernest Conant. “With the improved CVP storage conditions and the latest runoff forecasts, we are pleased to increase the amount of water allocated to many of our water service contractors.”

Full Story

California Drought Officially Over After More Than Seven Years

/in , /by /KSBY (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

California is officially free of drought after more than seven years, drought monitors said Thursday. The Golden State has experienced some form of drought for 376 consecutive weeks, the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska, tweeted. It’s the first time the state has been free of drought since Dec. 20, 2011. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tweeted that weather in 2017 helped matters, but moderate drought persisted. Rainfall this winter further alleviated the drought, although 7 percent of the state remains “abnormally dry.”

Full Story

Water District GM: Listen To Consultants On Cal Am Buyout Feasibility

/in , /by /Monterey Heraldby Jim Johnson

Feasibility of a potential public buyout of California American Water’s local water system should be based on a consulting team’s advice on an acquisition plan that could succeed in a public necessity court trial while seeking cost savings for local ratepayers and keeping all costs contained in water rates. That’s according to a recommendation from Monterey Peninsula Water Management District general manager Dave Stoldt to be considered by the water board on Monday. The board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at water district headquarters, 5 Harris Court at Ryan Ranch in Monterey.

Full Story