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Testing at the Source: California Readies a Groundbreaking Hunt to Check for Microplastics in Drinking Water

/in , , /by /Water Education Foundation (Western Water)by Nick Cahill Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Tiny pieces of plastic shed from food wrappers, grocery bags, clothing, cigarette butts, tires and paint are invading the environment and every facet of daily life. Researchers know the plastic particles have even made it into municipal water supplies, but very little data exists about the scope of microplastic contamination in drinking water. After years of planning, California this year is embarking on a first-of-its-kind data-gathering mission to illuminate how prevalent microplastics are in the state’s largest drinking water sources and help regulators determine whether they are a public health threat.

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Snowpack Rising: Good Water News for Now, but Lake Mead Unlikely to See a Difference

/in , , /by /8 News Nowby Greg Haas

Snow is forecast every day this week in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, and snowpack levels have climbed to nearly 150% as warmer spring temperatures near.

It could be the winter we remember as one of the bright spots in a drought that defined the past two decades in the Colorado River Basin.

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After 14 Atmospheric Rivers, How Full Are California’s Reservoirs?

/in , , /by /KTLA 5by Tori Gaines

As wet weather has continued to impact California, some reservoirs across the state are being managed with scheduled releases of water to prevent flooding, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

After 14 atmospheric rivers hit back-to-back this winter, reservoirs began filling quickly. Though most of the major reservoirs aren’t full yet, several are significantly higher than they have been historically. This is especially true in Central California at the Don Pedro, Camanche and Oroville reservoirs, KTLA sister station KRON reports.

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California Storms: Lake Shasta Now Three-Quarters Full as Rains Bring It Closer to Top

/in , , /by /Record Searchlightby David Benda

After a relatively dry February, the spigot has turned back on over the North State, thanks to a series of late-winter storms in March that have brought water levels up at Lake Shasta to almost 40 feet from its crest.

The lake — the state’s largest reservoir — has risen 8 feet over the past week and more than 100 feet since Dec. 1, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation numbers show.

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No Telling How Much More Snow Coming for Sierra Nevada

/in , , /by /AP Newsby Scott Sonner

No one really knows how much snow fell on the infamous Donner Party when the pioneers were trapped atop the Sierra Nevada for months and dozens died near Lake Tahoe in the winter of 1846-47.

But this season has now etched its way into the history books as the second snowiest in the 77 years of record-keeping at the Central Sierra Snow Lab — more than 56.4 feet (677 inches, 17.2 meters) with no end in sight.

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DWR Reduces Outflows From Lake Oroville

/in , /by /Enterprise-Record

The California Department of Water Resources announced Monday that it slowed outflows from Lake Oroville from 35,000 cubic feet per second to 27,500 cfs.

According to a press release issued Monday by DWR, the reduction began at 6 p.m. Monday.

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Salton Sea Partnership Calls on Newsom to Commit to Measurable Progress at Salton Sea

/in , /by /Imperial Valley Press

In response to comments by California Governor Gavin Newsom, touring the Salton Sea on Monday, March 20 with California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, according to a press release from the Salton Sea Partnership, the Salton Sea Partnership issued the following statement:

“The governor’s visit to the Salton Sea is heartening, and we’re encouraged by Secretary Crowfoot’s commitment to fill the position vacated in August by Salton Sea Management Program head Arturo Delgado in a matter of days.

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Biden May Prevail Against Navajo in SCOTUS Water Battle

/in , /by /E&E Newsby Pamela King and Jennifer Yachnin

The Supreme Court on Monday appeared closely divided on whether to side with the Navajo Nation in the tribe’s high-stakes fight against the Biden administration and four states to protect its right to water from the drought-stricken Colorado River.

While the court could decide the case on narrow procedural grounds, some of the more moderate conservative justices questioned whether a ruling for the Navajo would obligate the federal government to build a vast network of pipelines and pumps to deliver water to the tribe or upset the delicate balance struck by the 40 million people who rely on the massive waterway that travels among seven states and Mexico.

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Fix-A-Leak Week 2023 Saves Water, Environment

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Fix a Leak Week is an opportunity for all water users to repair leaks and save our most precious resource.  The week (March 20-26) is a reminder every March to check indoor and outdoor plumbing systems for costly, wasteful water leaks.

Increasing awareness of opportunities to repair leaks is supported by the San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies, and by other regional WaterSense partners throughout North America.

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Carlsbad Desalination Plant Getting $274M Upgrade

/in , , /by /San Diego Business Journalby Noah Harrel Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant supplies about 50 million gallons of water to the San Diego region every day, enough to fill 75 Olympic swimming pools.

Currently the seven-year-old plant, built at a cost of more than $1 billion, is in the process of implementing a $274 million upgrade to its intake-discharge system. The result will be a new pumping facility that will keep the water flowing while greatly lessening the operation’s environmental impact.

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