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‘The Baton Has Been Passed’: Newsom, Local Leaders Could Make or Break Infrastructure Bill

/in , , /by /San Francisco Chronicleby Tal Kopan and Dustin Gardiner

President Biden and Congress may have passed the law pouring more than $1 trillion into the nation’s infrastructure — but it’s what state governments like California do next that really matters.

State coffers are poised to get nearly $14 billion over the next five years through automatic funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act alone, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget, not including potentially billions more through grant programs still being crafted. But what the Newsom administration does next with the money remains to be determined, and could make or break the efficacy of the bill.

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Drought Exposes ‘Canary in This Coal Mine’ of PFAS in Well Water

/in , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Pat Rizzuto and Bobby Magill

Drought is exposing new layers of risk posed by PFAS contamination in drinking water nationwide, a public health hazard expected to cost billions of dollars and take years to solve, state and federal officials say.

As the historic drought hitting much of the country decreases the flow of rivers and streams, more municipalities are drawing water from underground aquifers and wells. And emerging data shows PFAS contamination could be prevalent in some of those groundwater sources.

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Questions About Lack of Diversity and Racial Bias Roil Major California Water Supplier

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

Not every water development plan has gone over well. In the late 1990s, a $55 million LADWP plan to treat wastewater to potable standards was killed after public outcry, with newspapers labeling the concept with the icky phrase “toilet to tap.”

But attitudes have changed. Other parts of Southern California have shown that reclaimed water is safe to drink, and public awareness has grown to the point that what L.A. is planning at its sewage treatment plants no longer seems novel, Adams says.

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San Vicente Potential Energy Storage Facility Project Moves Ahead

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

As partners, the City of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority will begin negotiations on a project development agreement with the BHE Kiewit Team to develop Phase 1 of the potential San Vicente Energy Storage Facility Project, which could generate enough energy for about 135,000 households.

The proposed project is subject to a full environmental review and regulatory approvals.

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Pure Water San Diego Phase 1 Construction in North City Area

/in , , /by /Water News Network

Construction work is underway in several areas of San Diego, building major infrastructure projects for Phase 1 of Pure Water San Diego.

Pipelines, pump stations, and treatment facilities are all being built in the Morena, Bay Park, Clairemont, University City, Miramar, and Scripps Ranch communities. It is a milestone toward the realization of securing a local, drought-resilient water supply for San Diegans for generations to come.

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Touring Friant Dam in Fresno and Yolo Bypass, Assistant Secretary Trujillo Highlights Infrastructure Law Investments in Water Management and Drought Mitigation

/in , , /by /Sierra Sun Times

Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo wrapped up a three-day trip to California today where she highlighted President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $8.3 billion investments in water management and drought resilience. During her visit, Assistant Secretary Trujillo met with elected officials, water managers, scientists, and local leaders to hear about the impacts that the climate crisis is having on the region and the Department’s commitment to investing in Western communities’ water infrastructure.

“As the West continues to face the impacts of the climate crisis and aging infrastructure, the Department of the Interior is working closely with local and federal partners to deploy critical resources to drought-stricken communities,” said Assistant Secretary Trujillo.

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Lower Basin States Unveil New Water Plan to Bolster Levels in Lake Mead

/in , , /by /Aspen Public Radioby Halle Zander

Lake Mead in southern Nevada saw extremely low levels of water in 2021.

And so the lower basin states of California, Nevada, and Arizona developed a plan to address the diminishing inflow from the Colorado River.

It’s called the “500-plus plan.”

The title refers to the goal of saving 500,000 acre feet of water per year in Lake Mead.

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‘Save Our Water’ Initiative Encourages Younger Generation to Spread the Word

/in , , /by /23ABC Newsby Vania Patino

With all the rain California received in December, the state is in a better place fighting the drought.

Water levels are higher, which means there is more rainwater being saved in the state’s reservoirs.

This in turn means there is more water to go around as the state distributes from this supply to local water districts, which here in Kern County helps our agriculture community.

However, officials said it does not mean we can let our guard down.

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“I’m Trying to Raise Cattle Without Killing the Earth”: Historic Drought Forces Ranchers to Innovate

/in , /by /CBS Newsby Jonathan Vigliotti and Simon Bouie

Daniel Sinton’s family has raised cattle on their 18,000-acre ranch outside Paso Robles, California, for 140 years. But he likes to say he’s in the grass growing business.

“When you get so little rain, we’re not able to grow grass and we’re not able to feed the cattle. That means we ended up having to sell them off,” Sinton told CBS News. “We sold off about 40% of the cattle this last year.”

Putting steaks on plates has gotten more difficult, with 87% of the West currently in at least moderate drought. Industry analysts say a majority of California ranchers have had to sell at least some of their cattle because of the drought.

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Massive Pipeline Under Construction Reignites Water Heartburn in Kings County

/in , /by /The Sunby Alex Tavlian

A massive water pipeline being laid in southern Kings County is sparking fresh fights between local farmers and the county’s biggest player in the water industry.

Wednesday, the Tulare Lake Canal Company, which operates the eponymous canal, sued Sandridge Partners, the diversified farming and water giant owned by John Vidovich, alleging Vidovich’s pipeline will interfere with its property rights and damage its ability to deliver water to its users.

Tulare Lake Canal holds dominant rights of way over its canal space and some adjacent property.

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