TOP STORIES
KSBY, 9/16/22 - Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of bills Friday to expand California's reliance on clean energy and reduce carbon emissions, moves he said further establish the state as a global climate leader. The new laws include proposals aimed at reducing exposure to gas and oil pollution in communities of color, expanding clean energy jobs, and accelerating the state's timeline for getting most of its electricity from renewable energy sources.
Colorado Public Radio, 9/17/22 - One month after states missed a federal deadline to propose ways to drastically cut their use of water supplied by the Colorado River, water managers who met for a seminar in Grand Junction said they still didn’t have comprehensive solutions ready to help bolster the imperiled river system.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
KCRA (Sacramento), 9/19/22 - The battle for California's water supply is scheduled to take center stage at the nation's capitol on Monday, as Central Valley Congressman Josh Harder is set to take the strongest step yet to stop the state's proposed giant water tunnel from gaining ground.
"The Delta Tunnels is like a zombie project. Every time we kill it, Sacramento politicians bring it back. Once again, they've been trying the same playbook for 60 years," Harder said.
KABC (Los Angeles), 9/17/22 - California's latest plan to increase the state's water supply focuses on conservation, recycling wastewater, producing new water through desalination and capturing storm water.
But there also are those who want to invest in atmospheric water generation. What is atmospheric water generation? It's quite literally pulling water out of thin air.
The Monterey Herald, 9/16/22 - For years, California American Water Co. has been trying to get its application to construct a desalination plant for the Monterey Peninsula in front of regulators, and come November it will be. The Coastal Commission’s decision to hold the hearing comes at a time when Gov. Gavin Newsom is putting on a full-court press to get new water projects built in the state.
WATER SUPPLY & QUALITY
Phys.org, 9/19/22 - According to the Rev. Dennis Hutson, people used to love the taste of Allensworth's water. "People used say things like, 'Wow, this is the best water I've ever tasted!'" said Hutson, who owns a farm in the small Central Valley community. "There were even visitors who took gallon jugs of water home with them because they thought it tasted so good."
Now, many residents of this historically Black community know that it is not safe to drink water from the wells in their town.
Patch News, 9/18/22 - In an effort to protect the drinking water source for one million Bay Area residents from destructive wildfires, crews will soon work to masticate vegetation on Maple Way around watershed lands. In collaboration with Cal Fire, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, who oversees the SFPUC Peninsula Watershed, will hire contractors to mulch vegetation into small pieces.
The Stockton Record, 9/16/22 - A 2017 state law led schools across California to have their faucets tested for lead in a program to reduce lead in school drinking water. A new bill that proposes to remove lead from schools and state buildings, awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature, now faces opposition from school groups.
CLIMATE & WEATHER
The Weather Channel, 9/19/22 - Meteorologist Domenica Davis has the latest forecast.
Nevada Current, 9/19/22 - The Southern Nevada Water Authority runs what is likely the longest-running program to motivate homeowners to replace water-thirsty grass with desert landscaping, but a new study says that while the move may save water, the price could be a superheated city.
The San Francisco Chronicle, 9/18/22 - When it comes to wasting water amid historic drought, Californians are good at pointing fingers. Last month, criticism was showered on Hollywood’s elite, including Sylvester Stallone, Kim Kardashian and Kevin Hart, who were accused of using water excessively. Some celebrity households consumed thousands of gallons of water per day during particularly dry times, bolstering Southern California’s reputation for recklessly indulging in big lawns, pools and shiny, clean cars.
But given the bad rap that Southern California gets, is the Bay Area really that much better at stewarding its water? Well, it depends on how you look at the issue.
CALIFORNIA WATERSHEDS
The Los Angeles Times, 9/19/22 - In a part of the Coachella Valley where exclusive neighborhoods wrap around lush golf courses and ponds, a stretch of open desert could be transformed into a new sort of artificial oasis.
A developer has plans for hundreds of homes and a resort featuring a surfing lagoon.
KQED, 9/16/22 - Thousands of dead fish have washed up on shores across the Bay Area in recent weeks. A red tide is killing everything from anchovies to sharks. Preventing a similar disaster may cost the region billions of dollars. In late July, Mary Spicer noticed that the water lapping around her kayak started to turn red. A few weeks later it was dark brown.
KQED, 9/16/22 - A committee of San Francisco supervisors Thursday challenged Mayor London Breed's assertion that the city understands the risk of climate change-related flooding in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Members of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee reviewed a June report from the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury that confirmed what Bayview-Hunters Point residents have been saying: The city is not acting fast enough on how sea level rise could surface legacy toxic contamination and spread it in neighborhoods near the Cold War-era naval shipyard.
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
NBC Los Angeles, 9/19/22 - A deadly wildfire that burned more than 28,000 acres in Riverside County was near full containment two weeks after breaking out on Labor Day. The 28,300-acre Fairview Fire was 98-percent contained Sunday afternoon in the Hemet area. All evacuations and warnings were lifted.
Capital Public Radio, 9/19/22 - The Mosquito Fire, burning in Placer and El Dorado counties, is currently 76,290 acres, with containment increasing to 39% Monday morning. The fire has grown by a few thousand acres over the last couple of days, but the increasing containment has led California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 to continue to express optimism about their efforts to get control of the fire.
AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE
Department of Water Resources, 9/16/22 - The Oroville Salmon Festival returns to Oroville on Saturday, Sept. 24. Always held on the last Saturday in September, the festival celebrates the annual return of Chinook salmon to the Feather River.
EVENTS
Agenda includes Big Notch, Water Storage Investment Program, State Water Project briefing.
When: September 21, 2022 | 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The public is invited to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The Delta Conveyance Project was released for public review and comment on July 27, 2022 and the comment period will end on October 27, 2022.
When: September 22, 2022 | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Each year the Oroville Salmon Festival celebrates the return of the salmon to the Feather River. This family-friendly event always takes place on the fourth Saturday in September. The event will feature tours of the fish hatchery, an arts & crafts alley, a kids zone, food, and more.
When: September 24, 2022 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
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
The public is invited to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Delta Conveyance Project. The Delta Conveyance Project was released for public review and comment on July 27, 2022 and the comment period will end on October 27, 2022.
When: Sept. 28, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), in collaboration with the State Water Board, is hosting two workshops to solicit participants input on two Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) draft templates, one for small water suppliers and one for schools with a water system, as part of a comprehensive effort to assist small water suppliers in meeting these new SB 552 requirements. Participants may wish to attend one or both of the informational sessions.
When: Sept. 30, 2022 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), in collaboration with the State Water Board, is hosting two workshops to solicit participants input on two Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) draft templates, one for small water suppliers and one for schools with a water system, as part of a comprehensive effort to assist small water suppliers in meeting these new SB 552 requirements. Participants may wish to attend one or both of the informational sessions.
When: Sept. 30, 2022 | 2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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
The California Water Plan team will provide an overview of content present in Update 2023. Please join us at a virtual public workshop.
When: October 27, 2022 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
By the Water Education Foundation - Features engaging conversations about critical issues impacting water statewide and across the West revolving around this year’s theme: Rethinking Water in the West.
When: October 27, 2022 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Where: The Westin Sacramento
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
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