DWR Water News--> September 1, 2022

This bulletin was sent at 09/01/2022 10:08 AM PDT

Thursday, September 1, 2022

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Orland Groundwater Supply Project underway

By the Glen County Transcript, 8/31/22. Construction crews have begun marking off a portion of State Route 32 in Orland to begin work on the Orland Groundwater Supply Project, a Department of Water Resources-funded project that will connect 168 properties with dry or at-risk wells to the city water system.

Ventura's planned water reuse facility to receive $14 million from US Bureau of Reclamation

By the Ventura County Star, 8/31/22. Ventura’s planned water reuse facility — which will recover, treat and recycle treated wastewater — will receive $14 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. City officials announced the grant funds for VenturaWaterPure on Tuesday. The money will come from a federal water reclamation and reuse program. The expected award still needs Congressional approval.

WATER SUPPLY & QUALITY

Less snow and less water. Federal study paints bleak picture of American River’s future

By the Sacramento Bee, 9/1/22. Hotter weather, less snow and more water shortages. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation offered a bleak vision of the future of the American River watershed Wednesday, releasing an extensive report on how the basin that’s so vital to the Sacramento region’s water supplies will be affected by climate change in the coming decades.

CALIFORNIA WATERSHEDS

California’s American River Basin Study

By the Sierra Sun Times, 9/1/22. The American River Basin in central California expects to see increasing temperatures and a declining snowpack through the end of the 21st century. The Bureau of Reclamation released the American River Basin Study on Wednesday, which also found an increased variability of fall and winter precipitation that will amplify the severity of droughts and flooding in the basin. The report is available on Reclamation's Basin Study website.

In the Pacific Northwest, Salmon Declines Upend a Way of Life

By the Nation, 8/30/22. Chinook salmon numbers in the Klamath River have fallen by more than 90 percent over the last century.

CLIMATE & WEATHER

California’s Climate Makes It Especially Vulnerable to Global Warming

By the New York Times, 9/1/22. The allure of California has long been its almost unbelievably good weather: predictably dry summers and pleasant, if occasionally rainy, winters. Who wouldn’t want to escape swampy heat for this temperate paradise?

Facing extreme heat wave, California issues Flex Alert to conserve energy

By the Los Angeles Times, 8/31/22. California officials on Wednesday issued a statewide Flex Alert, asking for voluntary energy conservation as officials brace for what is expected to be the worst heat wave of the year, lasting almost a week.

Death Valley braces for 124-degree temperatures as heat wave broils California

By the Los Angeles Times, 8/31/22. An unforgiving heat wave will smother Southern California over the Labor Day weekend and Death Valley could see temperatures reach 124 degrees. It’s a stark contrast to early August, when Death Valley National Park saw 1.46 inches of rain in a single day of monsoonal downpour. Floodwaters washed away several roadways and forced the park to close.

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

Wildfire roars past 4,200 acres, injures 2 and destroys at least 4 structures in San Diego County

By the Los Angeles Times, 8/31/22. A fast-moving wildfire in a rural part of east San Diego County grew to 4,243 acres by Wednesday night, ripping through bone-dry brush, injuring two people and destroying at least four buildings as the region baked under extreme heat.

California heat wave elevating fire risk and threat of rolling power outages

By the Sacramento Bee, 9/1/22. As parts of the Bay Area began warming on Wednesday, heat advisories turned to warnings and authorities cautioned that the unusual heat and expected Labor Day crowds headed outdoors increased the risk of major wildfires.

AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE

Smarter Gambling with California’s Water Challenges

From the Delta Stewardship Council, 8/30/22. Anyone familiar with California, knows it as a land of opportunities, risks, and complex unintended consequences, especially in water and environmental management. Felicia Marcus, a former State Water Resources Control Board chair and Delta Stewardship Council member, recently remarked in the LA Times that managing water in California is like gambling.

EVENTS

Salton Sea Management Program Long-Range Plan Community Workshop

By California Natural Resources Agency- Community members and all interested parties to participate in a virtual Community Workshop on September 1. The team will provide updates on the Salton Sea Management Program Long-Range Plan and seeks comments to help develop the Long-Range Plan.

When: September 1, 2022 | 5:30 p.m.

Salton Sea Management Program Long-Range Plan Committee Meeting

The Salton Sea Management Program will meet to discuss updates and receive feedback on the development of the Long-Range Plan.

When: September 7, 2022 | 9:30 a.m.

BPC Energy & Water Nexus Event

Join BPC on September 9th at 9:00am for a timely review of water and energy resources from industry experts and agencies. At the Nexus event, BPC will host speakers from State agencies and industry leaders to provide an update on the drought's impact on resources, share insights on future plans, and discuss the potential for alternative sources.

When: September 9, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

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

Northern California Tour 2022

By the Water Education Foundation - This 3-day, 2-night excursion across the Sacramento Valley travels north from Sacramento through Oroville to Redding and Shasta Lake. Experts will talk about the history of the Sacramento River as the tour winds through riparian woodland, rice fields, wildlife refuges and nut orchards across the region.

When: October 12 -14, 2022

ACWA 2022 Fall Conference & Exhibition

ACWA conferences are the premier destination for water industry professionals to learn and connect. Program offerings include statewide issue forums, roundtable talks, and region discussions along with sessions covering a wide range of topics including water management, innovation, public communication, affordable drinking water, energy, finance, federal forum, and more.

When: Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2022 Where: Renaissance Esmeralda and Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells, CA

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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