DAILY DIGEST: The latest on SB 1; Will climate change mean less farming in the West?; Potter Valley Project negotiations stay afloat through rough waters; Homeowners criticize Mojave Water Agency water rights purchase; and more …

In California water news today, George Skelton: In defying Newsom, she tried to protect California from Trump — and showed how legislating should work and more on SB1; Will Climate Change Mean Less Farming in the West?; Work continues at Lake Oroville Dam; Potter Valley Project Negotiations Stay Afloat Through Rough Waters; SoCal: You Can Rip Out Your SoCal Lawn For Money Again — Now Without Landscaping Abominations; Homeowners criticize Mojave Water Agency water rights purchase; and more …

On the calendar today …

  • Webinar: Draft Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program Guidelines at 10:00am.  State Water Board staff will conduct an informational webinar to hear public comments on the Draft Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program Guidelines – Amended for Round 2.  Click here for more information.

In the news today …

George Skelton: In defying Newsom, she tried to protect California from Trump — and showed how legislating should work:  “Combine Friday the 13th with a full moon and weird things can happen — good and bad.  We saw this Friday when the California Legislature passed scores of bills — most of them without any semblance of debate — before adjourning for the year about 3 a.m. Saturday. Nothing unusual about that.  But one very good thing that occurred — regardless of your view about her bill — was a normally low-key Senate leader standing up to a powerful new governor of her own party. … ”  Read more from the LA Times here: George Skelton: In defying Newsom, she tried to protect California from Trump — and showed how legislating should work

Newsom Says He Will Veto Bill Blocking Trump Rollback of Endangered Fish Species Protections:  Dan Bacher writes, “The California Assembly passed Senate Bill 1, legislation blocking Trump administration rollbacks of environmental regulations, on Friday, September 13, on a 43-21 party-line vote.  But Governor Gavin Newsom announced the next day that he plans to veto the bill. Newsom said he backs the principles behind the legislation, but doesn’t support the bill as written.  “I fully support the principles behind Senate Bill 1: to defeat efforts by the President and Congress to undermine vital federal protections that protect clean air, clean water and endangered species,” Newsom said in a statement. “Senate Bill 1 does not, however, provide the state with any new authority to push back against the Trump Administration’s environmental policies and it limits the state’s ability to rely upon the best available science to protect our environment.” … ”  Read more from the Daily Kos here: Newsom Says He Will Veto Bill Blocking Trump Rollback of Endangered Fish Species Protections

California governor plans to veto environmental rules bill:  “California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Saturday he will buck Democratic legislative leaders by vetoing legislation aimed at stopping the Trump administration from weakening oversight of longstanding federal environmental laws in California.  His announcement came less than a day after lawmakers approved the bill on the chaotic final day of the year’s legislative session.  Newsom said in a statement he fully supports the aims of the bill but argued it wouldn’t give California new authority to push back on the Trump administration. He also said it would stop California from relying on the best available science. … ”  Read more from KSBY here: California governor plans to veto environmental rules bill

Will Climate Change Mean Less Farming in the West?  ” … In California’s Central Valley, where groundwater pumping for urban and agriculture use is depleting the state’s water reserves, causing land to sink, and cutting off wells and other water infrastructure, similar discussions are taking place about how to work with farmers to reduce their water footprint. Ellen Hanak, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), a nonpartisan policy think tank, says the challenges in the Central Valley and Colorado River Basin are similar, in that in both cases a very large system “has to go on a water diet.” … ”  Read more from Civil Eats here: Will Climate Change Mean Less Farming in the West?

Work continues at Lake Oroville Dam:  “The California Department of Water Resources still has unfinished business at Lake Oroville, despite completion of major construction on the spillways earlier this year following the 2017 events that triggered more than 180,000 people living downstream to evacuate. Major construction on the main spillway that was heavily damaged in 2017 was completed this spring by Kiewit Infrastructure West Co., along with the emergency spillway next to it. The company’s contract work is expected to be substantially complete this December with the contractor fully offsite by next spring. ... ”  Read more from the Appeal-Democrat here: Work continues at Lake Oroville Dam

Potter Valley Project Negotiations Stay Afloat Through Rough Waters:  “Water history continues to unfold in unprecedented ways as parties from all sides of the Potter Valley Project which diverts water from the main stem of the Eel River into the Russian River have joined, or may join, a ‘planning agreement’ that is striving to acquire the FERC License that authorizes the operations of the Potter Valley Project 9MW micro hydroelectric station.  California Trout and Humboldt County are both signatories to the planning document to operate the water diversion licensed as a power generation station under FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.) … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Potter Valley Project Negotiations Stay Afloat Through Rough Waters

Pikeminnow Survey Shows ‘Big Drop’ in Population in 2019:  “The Eel River Recovery Project (ERRP) completed its fourth annual assessment of the non-native Sacramento pikeminnow in a key index reach of the South Fork Eel River on July 18-19 and found that the population had dropped by more than half in 2019, when compared to the three previous years. The findings suggest that high flow events may be a factor that limits the pikeminnow population, and may have shaped population dynamics over the 40 years since their introduction. … ”  Read more from the Redheaded Blackbelt here: Pikeminnow Survey Shows ‘Big Drop’ in Population in 2019

SoCal: You Can Rip Out Your SoCal Lawn For Money Again — Now Without Landscaping Abominations:  “The water-saving rebate program that led thousands of Angelenos to rip out their lawns was wildly popular.  But it left behind front yard landscaping abominations like white gravel, bare dirt and artificial neon green turf.  As the drought ended, so did the program. Now, though, with lessons learned, the program is back, and it’s different. … ”  Read more from the LAist here: SoCal: You Can Rip Out Your SoCal Lawn For Money Again — Now Without Landscaping Abominations

OCWD Greenlights Final Phase of Groundwater Replenishment System:  “The Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) Board of Directors voted to award the contract to construct the 30 million gallon per day (MGD) Final Expansion of the world-renowned Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) to Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. The overall project cost is $310 million with the construction portion being approximately $200 million.  The project will create an additional 31,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of new water supplies to serve north and central Orange County bringing the total production of the GWRS to 134,000 AFY, enough water for one million people. Construction is estimated to be completed in 2023. ... ”  Read more from CWEA News here: OCWD Greenlights Final Phase of Groundwater Replenishment System

Homeowners criticize Mojave Water Agency water rights purchase:  “The Mojave Water Agency’s purchase of $5.6 million in water rights for nearly 7,200 acre-feet of water has angered a group of property owners who say were outbid for the rights.  MWA officials said the purchase was needed to counter a steadily dwindling supply of water in the Baja subarea of the Mojave basin, an area that includes Daggett, Yermo and Newberry Springs. It’s a historic decision as this is the first time the agency has bought up permanent water rights.  But homeowners in the area who spoke against the acquisition at the MWA meeting Thursday say it’s governmental overreach that could potentially affect their quality of life. … ”  Read more from the Victorville Press here: Homeowners criticize Mojave Water Agency water rights purchase

And lastly … As Shipwrecks Rust, Oil Spills Are Imminent:  The sunken remains of thousands of ships litter the Pacific Ocean’s depths—relics of the Second World War. Far from benign markers of history, these wrecks pose a pressing problem: every day brings them closer to spilling the oil they still carry.  Chuuk Lagoon, a natural harbor in the Federated States of Micronesia, contains a particularly high concentration of these potential polluters. During the war, Japan used the site as a naval base, but in 1944, Allied forces bombed the lagoon leaving hundreds of wrecks scattered across an area about the size of the Hawaiian island of Maui.  After rusting away for 75 years, Chuuk Lagoon’s wrecks are wearing thin. “We can actually see oil seeping from some of the shipwrecks,” says Ian MacLeod, a now-retired shipwreck conservator from the Western Australian Museum. … ” Read more from Hakai Magazine here: As Shipwrecks Rust, Oil Spills Are Imminent

Also on Maven’s Notebook today …

DAILY DIGEST, weekend edition: SB 1 passes legislature, but Newsom plans to veto it; A look at the giant stack of bills sitting on Newsom’s desk; Forecasters see neither La Nino nor El Nino; Finding the source of feces in the American River; Lawsuit in Ventura County over state water; and more …

NEWS WORTH NOTING: River defenders win major victory for CA waterways; Delta Conveyance Design and Construction Authority Set to Discuss a New Delta Stakeholder Committee; Nomination period open for the 2020 Delta Leadership Program 

https://mavensnotebook.com/2019/09/16/reservoir-and-water-conditions-for-september-16/

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Reclamation announces grant funding available to develop local water management solutions

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Prop 68 Planning – Round 3 Grant Solicitation Open

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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.

 

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