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Wednesday, July 13, 2022

TOP STORIES

DWR enters first phase of hoist replacements at Oroville Dam

By the Oroville Mercury Register, 7/13/22.  The California Department of Water Resources has begun its nine-year project to replace the spillway gate hoists at the Oroville Dam. Workers began the process of reverse-engineering the hoists Tuesday to open the door for replacing one per year in a project expected to be complete in 2031.

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

PG&E plans to decommission Potter Valley Project

By the Times Standard, 7/12/22.  Pacific Gas & Electric does not believe it’s necessary to reexamine its license terms for endangered species at the Potter Valley Project as it prepares to decommission the dams, according to a letter the utility submitted to federal regulators.

WATER SUPPLY & QUALITY

SF’s Power Position in the Water Wars Means Few Local Drought Restrictions. But Can It Last?

By the San Francisco Standard, 7/13/22.  As a severe three-year drought strains water supplies across California, Bay Area water agencies are increasingly looking to the city of San Francisco as a lifeline. Through the Hetch Hetchy dam and a network of aqueducts and reservoirs that brings water from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the coast, the city has plenty of water even now. And it’s fighting hard to protect its position, battling in court against state efforts that could reduce its supplies.

Desalination: Should California use the ocean to quench its thirst?

By Capitol Weekly, 7/12/22. As the state’s water supplies continue to dwindle during this drought, it’s always worth weighing the pros and cons of desalinization to meet the state’s water needs.

Water usage down 36% in Claremont, La Verne and Three Valleys Municipal Water District

By the Daily Bulletin, 7/12/22.  A month after water restrictions were placed on communities in the San Gabriel and Inland valleys, many are meeting required conservation goals. Customers in the Three Valleys Municipal Water District are using 36% below the maximum amount of water currently allotted, according to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The latest figure, which reflects data for the month of June, surpasses the 20% reduction residents were asked to meet beginning June 1.

CLIMATE & WEATHER

King tides expected to cause flooding in the Bay Area on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s when and where

By the San Francisco Chronicle, 7/12/22.  King tides hitting the Bay Area this week are expected to bring some of the highest tides of the year and to cause minor flooding in low-lying areas during nighttime hours.

As drought shrivels Lake Powell, millions face power crisis

By the Guardian, 7/13/22.  Dwindling water levels at Lake Powell, which is now at 28% of its 24m acre-feet capacity, have put the Glen Canyon dam at risk. In March, water levels fell below 3,525 feet – considered a critical buffer to protect hydropower – for the first time. If the lake drops just another 32ft, the dam will no longer be able to generate power for the millions who rely on it.

CALIFORNIA WATERSHEDS

Mapping a State's Secret Water

By the Sierra Club Magazine, 7/13/22.  In 2021, California’s Department of Water Resources began an ambitious collaboration with a team of scientists to map the state’s complex groundwater network. The project will provide the data that local municipalities can use to begin harnessing the floods when they come.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

Yosemite fire: Why giant sequoia trees are surviving now when others died in recent fires

By the Mercury News, 7/12/22.  Years of controlled burns have thinned flammable material in Mariposa Grove, paying off during Washburn Fire, experts say.

Washburn Fire update: Blaze grows and containment drops

By the San Francisco Chronicle, 7/12/22.  The wildfire burning across the southwest corner of Yosemite National Park grew Tuesday to 3,516 acres, officials said.

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE

Partners Return Winter-Run Chinook Salmon Eggs To McCloud River

By CDFW, 7/12/22.  The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on Monday celebrated the return of endangered winter-run Chinook salmon eggs to the McCloud River upstream of Shasta Reservoir for the first time since the construction of the Shasta Dam in the 1940s.

EVENTS

2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update Workshop - July 15

Overview of potential changes to the 2022 CVFPP Update Public Draft being considered in response to comments related to the 2022 Conservation Strategy Update and considerations for Operations and Maintenance.

When: July 15, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: California Natural Resources Agency Auditorium, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814 | Virtual Option via Zoom

CII Water Conservation Workshop

As we plan for continued extreme drought and a 4th dry year, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is hosting a public workshop to get input from water use efficiency leaders in commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) on four key strategies for improving water conservation.

When: July 19, 2022 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Independent Review Panel on Water Importation

The Independent Review Panel evaluating proposals for water importation to the Salton Sea will provide an update and its latest report. The Salton Sea Management Program contracted the University of California, Santa Cruz to form the panel and provide analysis on the feasibility of water importation to the Salton Sea.

When: July 20, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Water Plan Update 2023 - Equity in Water Management Workshop

The California Water Plan team is looking for your input on efforts to better understand and address equity in the management of California’s water resources. Please join us at a virtual public workshop on Thursday, July 21 from 10 am to 1 pm. The workshop will include presentations on the California Water Plan Update 2023, highlight State efforts related to equity in water management, and provide opportunities for questions and discussion.

When: July 21, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

ProjectWET workshop: Climate Change and California Water

Join the California Department of Water Resources and Project WET for a special workshop for educators working with grade 3 through 12 students on climate change and its impact on California’s water resources.

When: July 28, 2022 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Grasslands Environmental Education Center 18110 Henry Miller Road, Los Banos, CA, 93635 Register Here

2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update Workshop - Aug. 5

Public Workshop for the 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update. This workshop will be held virtually. Topics: Funding and Policy Recommendations, Call to Action 

When: August 5, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update Workshop - Aug. 12

Public Workshop for the 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update. This workshop will be held virtually. Topic: Climate Change

When: August 12, 2022 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Juvenile Salmonid Control System Public Meeting

DWR staff will present the JSCS pilot project and take public comments. The project is a 1-2 year pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of collecting juvenile anadromous salmon as they emigrate out of historical habitat upstream of Shasta Dam. No fish will be used in the study, which is integral to efforts to reintroduce salmonids to tributaries of the Upper Sacramento River System.

When: August 15, 2022 | 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

7th Annual CA Water Data Summit

By the California Data Collaborative - This August, the CaDC will return in-person host its 7th Annual CA Water Data Summit! Bringing together individuals from water agencies, research teams, and other areas of the water sector, the CA Water Data Summit aims to encourage collaboration and provide opportunities for members of different organizations to interact and engage with new ideas and approaches to water data.

When: August 17-18, 2022 Where: UC Irvine, CA

CONFERENCE: Western Groundwater Congress 2022 

Join us for our 30 Year Anniversary to celebrate how GRA was built to last, and "Built for Change". This year’s event will include Individual, Panel and Poster Presentations as well as Technical Workshops that cover the following subject areas: Water Resources Exploration and Development; Groundwater Management; Contaminant Assessment and Remediation; Unique Challenges and New Opportunities

When: Sep. 19 - 21, 2022 | 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where: Sacramento Convention Center & Hyatt Regency & Virtual Option

DWR is responsible for managing and protecting California’s water resources and works with others to benefit the State’s people and to protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, oversees dam safety, provides flood protection, helps in emergency response, assists regional and local water agencies, promotes water conservation and safety, and plans integrated watershed management – in all to advance water resource sustainability.

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