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Flows to Increase; Water Districts Cry Foul

/in , , /by /AgAlertby Christine Souza

The Newsom administration has informed regional water districts that it will move forward with a plan to increase flows from San Joaquin River tributaries in an action that may create more water uncertainty for farmers.

A notice from the California Natural Resources Agency and state Environmental Protection Agency represents a departure from the state’s earlier willingness to consider voluntary agreements with water districts, which includes aspects other than just flow increases. That departure means that the regulatory regime, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in 2018, will now move forward.

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California Increases Salmon Spawning to Make Up for Drought

/in , , /by /NBC Bay Areaby Joe Rosato Jr.

In an effort to blunt the devastating toll California’s extended drought has taken on the state’s chinook salmon population, state and federal fish hatcheries in Northern California are spawning millions of additional salmon smolts in order to increase their odds of survival.

The state’s prolonged drought has left many of its dams and rivers unable to supply the cold water currents wild salmon require for their eggs to survive. So, hatcheries are trying to make up for nature’s dry spell with human intervention.

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SLO County Water Supplier Sues 3 Companies Over Cancer-Linked Chemicals Found in Wells

/in , /by /The Tribuneby Sara Kassabian

The Atascadero Mutual Water Company is suing three prominent companies after chemicals linked to cancer and other health conditions were found in wells that supply drinking water to the city. The water utility’s product liability lawsuit, filed Oct. 15 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court, aims to recover damages from 3M Co., DuPont and Chemours Co., which use the chemicals.

 

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Nine-Thousand Trees for Salton Sea Wildlife Marsh Habitat

/in , , /by Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Nine-thousand trees, mostly willows, are being planted in the 1,000 acre Managed Marsh wildlife habitat in northern Imperial County.

The planting is part of  the final construction phase of the Managed Marsh, located off Highway 111 between the city of Calipatria and Niland.

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California’s Atmospheric River Storms Dropped 7,600,000,000,000 Gallons of Rain, but It Was No Drought Buster

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

Federal forecasters estimate that the atmospheric river storms that hit parts of northern and central California from October 23-26 dropped 7.6 trillion gallons of rain — which can also be expressed as 7,600,000,000,000.

“That’s enough water for over 244 million people for an entire year,” the National Weather Service’s Western Region Headquarters in Salt Lake City said in a statement.

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California Drought Persists, Even With Recent Rain. Conserve Water Now With These Tips

/in , , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Hanh Truong

Even with the recent storm drenching Northern California, it’s important that residents conserve water, experts said. The storm — which included a ‘bomb cyclone’ — dropped more than five inches of rain on the capital city in 24 hours. But it won’t end the state’s drought. And next year could be dry, too.

 

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Fort Bragg City Council Lifts All Water Conservation Restrictions

/in , , /by /Mendocino Beacon

Last week, the City Council passed a resolution rescinding the Stage 2 Water Warning and lifting all mandatory water conservation restrictions within the Fort Bragg water service area. The recent rainfall plus the success of the City’s Desalination-Reverse Osmosis Treatment System eliminated the current need for water conservation measures.

Due to the conservation efforts of the community last summer and early fall. Water usage this summer was lower than any year on record. Despite the increased visitation, water usage in August was down 33% from August 2019, and usage in September was down 32% from 2019 (the most recent year without any water restrictions in place).

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Study: Droughts May Affect Groundwater More Than Expected

/in , , /by /American Society of Civil Engineersby Jay Landers

On the Earth’s surface, the end of a drought is usually obvious. Rainfall arrives, streams and rivers increase in volume or begin to flow again, vegetation perks up, and parched soils regain their moisture. But what about below the earth’s surface? In particular, how does groundwater respond to the end of drought? Given the critical role that groundwater plays in many regions as a source of water for drinking and irrigation, understanding the effects of droughts on aquifers could help shape management decisions regarding these key resources.

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Opinion: California Must Act Urgently on Climate

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Mike Young

A delegation of 15 state lawmakers is joining a conference of world leaders in Scotland to discuss climate change solutions. As leaders of the world’s 5th largest economy, their participation is important, but it’s more urgent for them to act once they return.

The latest research reveals California’s climate crisis overwhelms policies to stop it, and our low-income communities, communities of color and seniors face the most harm. If unchecked, this mismatch will undo decades of work Californians have dedicated to preserve a healthy environment and build an equal society.

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Opinion: There Are No More Water Miracles

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

It’s not March and there was no miracle.

A strong atmospheric river dumped record rain on Northern California last weekend and sent some modest showers to San Diego.

The downpours helped replenish the state’s dwindling reservoirs some, but not enough for Gov. Gavin Newsom to lift the drought emergency he expanded to the entire state last week.

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