TOP STORIES
By CNN, 5/4/22
As Southern Californians brace for unprecedented water restrictions, officials worry some communities won't have enough water to get through the summer -- at least not without residents and businesses significantly cutting back on their usage. The state's top natural resources officer told CNN that California's water emergency clearly shows the climate crisis in action.
By the New York Times, 5/5/22
Rules announced around the state are considered merely an incremental solution to a far-reaching, permanent problem. For 15 years, Jeffrey Kightlinger was the general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which provides water to about 19 million people — nearly half of all Californians — across six counties, including Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
By CNBC, 5/4/22
About 40 miles north of the California-Mexico border lies the shrinking, landlocked lake known as the Salton Sea. Though the lake was once the epicenter of a thriving resort community, water contamination and decades of drought have contributed to a collapse of its once-vibrant ecosystem and given rise to ghost towns.
By Lake County News, 5/4/22
County officials say they have begun issuing well drilling permits once again after a gubernatorial executive order issued in March in response to worsening drought conditions led to a local pause in permitting. On March 28, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22, a response to what his office reported were the driest first three months of a year in California’s recorded history.
WATER SUPPLY & QUALITY
By ACWA, 5/4/22
In an effort to boost water supply reliability for millions of Californians, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced its first round of funding to 20 agencies responsible for managing critically overdrafted groundwater basins throughout the state.
By the Los Angeles Times, 5/4/22
Despite years of drought and conservation mandates, Californians continue to sprinkle a lot of clean, drinkable water onto yards to keep the greenery alive. That’s true even on properties that have scaled back thirsty lawns and added drought-tolerant native plants. Now, however, Southern California officials have imposed unusually strict limits on outdoor water use in response to a water shortage emergency, effective June 1. So you may need to find an alternative way to keep your plants from desiccating in the summer sun.
By Caltrans, 5/4/22
As part of its “Let’s Change This to That” public education campaign, Caltrans today is sharing the top sources of stormwater pollution and ways to prevent them from contaminating California’s waterways. As stormwater travels into storm drains, it captures pollutants from highways, streets, sidewalks and yards that flow into waterways. The top six pollutants have an outsized impact on the water quality of lakes, rivers, streams and the ocean, and many are preventable through small actions Californians can take.
CLIMATE & WEATHER
By ABC News 10, 5/4/22
California's energy load was sustained at 99.87% for two minutes on April 30 around 2:50 p.m. Anne Gonzalez with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) says, "the previous record was initially broken at 2:28 p.m., but the percentage of load served by renewables continually increased for about 20 minutes until 2:50 p.m. when it sustained 99.87% for approximately 2 minutes."
By the Sierra Sun Times, 5/5/22
The National Weather Service Hanford Office reports maximum temperatures throughout Central California Friday afternoon will be three to five degrees lower than this afternoon. High temperatures across Central California Saturday afternoon will be about five degrees cooler than Friday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon, maximum temperatures throughout Central California will be around ten degrees below normal for this time of year.
CALIFORNIA WATERSHEDS
By Phys.org, 5/4/22
Ecological flood control, i.e., measures that restore floodplains, is effective, technically possible and economically efficient. Yet, this approach is not consistently implemented worldwide because of the high administrative and legal hurdles. This is shown in a study by scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) who, together with other research institutions, analyzed four projects for the restoration of river floodplains in Germany and the U.S. in which great synergy effects between flood protection and the regeneration of ecosystems were achieved
By the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 5/5/22
A state fish advisory issued today for Lake Isabella in Kern County provides safe eating advice for black bass species, Common Carp, and Threadfin Shad. Lake Isabella is located approximately 35 miles northeast of Bakersfield. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) developed the recommendations based on the levels of mercury found in fish caught from the lake.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
The Weather Channel, 5/3/22
Wildfires have already burned more than a million acres of land in the U.S. this year and the months ahead present significant fire potential to all or parts of more than a dozen states. Areas where multiple large wildfires are already burning – including parts of the Southwest, Rocky Mountains and Plains – remain at the greatest risk heading into summer due to ongoing drought and abundant fire fuels such as dried out vegetation, according to the latest wildfire outlook released Friday by the National Interagency Fire Center.
By the Independent, 5/5/22
In California wine country, there’s a waiting list arguably more prized than the three Michelin-starred French Laundry. It exists for a handful of laboratories capable of testing wineries’ smoke-damaged grapes in the wake of wildfires. This damage, called taint, is a recurring problem for winemakers in the American west, where wildfires are now ripping across the landscape at an unprecedented rate.
AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE
By ACWA 5/4/22
The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today presented the prestigious Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence to Alameda County Water District for its Alameda Creek Fish Passage Improvements Program.
By NBC Bay Area, 5/4/22
State water leaders begin the second day of a three-day conference to address the drought and lack of water in California. NBC Bay Area’s Laura Garcia spoke with the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies about the issue.
EVENTS
ACWA conferences are the premier destination for water industry professionals to learn and connect. Program offerings include Statewide Issue Forums, Town Hall discussions, Region Programs and sessions covering a wide range of topics including groundwater management, water rates issues, crisis communications, affordable drinking water issues, municipal finance, and more.
Start: Tue 3 May 2022
End: Thu 5 May 2022
The SGMA Tribal Advisory Group will meet quarterly in 2022, to keep open engagement between the SGMP and Tribal Advisory Group members. These meetings are specifically for Tribal Government Leaders, Tribal Representatives, and other Tribal Environmental and Cultural Resources Staff.
Start: Thu 5 May 2022, 1:00 PM
End: Thu 5 May 2022, 3:00 PM
Join us help plan for the Tribal Water Summit in 2023.
Start: Mon 16 May 2022, 2:00 PM
End: Mon 16 May 2022, 4:00 PM
The California Financing Coordination Committee (CFCC) conducts free funding fairs statewide each year to educate the public and offer potential customers the opportunity to meet with financial representatives from each agency to learn more about their available funding.
Start: Tue 17 May 2022, 9:00 AM
End: Tue 17 May 2022, 2:00 PM
California Water Plan Update 2023 Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
Start: Mon 23 May 2022, 1:00 PM
End: Mon 23 May 2022, 3:00 PM
The California Financing Coordination Committee (CFCC) conducts free funding fairs statewide each year to educate the public and offer potential customers the opportunity to meet with financial representatives from each agency to learn more about their available funding.
Start: Wed 25 May 2022, 9:00 AM
End: Wed 25 May 2022, 2:00 PM
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