From the Maven’s Notebook
By Jesse Vad, SJV Water
New research from scientists at Stanford University shows that the San Joaquin Valley is sinking faster than ever due to excessive groundwater pumping. Even though aquifers are plummeting and the ground is sinking, the situation is never static. Since the historic wet year of 2023, some localities have seen significant rebounds in groundwater levels, though not enough to permanently change the trajectory, experts warn. Researchers brought together separate existing subsidence datasets from 2006 to 2022 to paint a more reliable picture of conditions in the valley. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
By Jesse Vad, SJV Water
Residents and advocates in the small community of Fairmead have been working for years to find ways to relieve pressure on the area’s aquifer to protect domestic wells… On Tuesday, Californians voted to approve Proposition 4, $10 billion in bonds for environmental projects. That includes $200 million for the state’s Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) which pays farmers and local agencies to put farmland to less water intensive uses such as, solar, wildlife habitat, recreation and groundwater recharge basins. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
By Christine Souza, Ag Alert
California water officials are taking another step forward as part of a broader process to improve conditions for struggling fish populations in the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and its tributaries. Last week, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced draft updates for the Sacramento River and Delta phase of the state’s water quality control plan, known as the Bay-Delta plan. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
In California, 80% of the usable fresh water is located far from where it’s actually used, so water conveyance infrastructure is vital to the state’s existence. Spanning 444 miles, the California Aqueduct is a vital component of the State Water Project, serving as a crucial source of water for 27 million Californians, providing water for agriculture and municipalities. Unfortunately, land subsidence in the San Joaquin Valley has drastically diminished its capacity to deliver water, with reductions reaching up to 46% in some places. Addressing this problem will require a substantial investment of billions over the next 20 years. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
California’s ambitious restoration plans, which include reactivating floodplains, enhancing species habitats, and fortifying against climate change, are at a critical juncture. With a surge in restoration demands and new funding opportunities, agencies must prepare to handle a growing number of permitting processes. To fully capitalize on these opportunities, a new report from Sustainable Conservation underscores the urgent need for the state to establish efficient and effective restoration permitting processes that align with its habitat and climate goals. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
From the Department of Water Resources
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today previewed the new Water Year which starts on October 1 by highlighting preparations for more extreme weather events this season following a record hot summer across much of California and a looming La Niña pattern. Over the past decade, climate extremes have posed significant challenges to water managers, especially the extreme hot and dry conditions that frequently persist well past summer months and into the fall. California is seeing that right now with above-average temperatures forecast into October and no rain in the current forecast. At the same time, the water that California does receive will arrive from more powerful storms, and hotter temperatures will mean less winter precipitation falls as snow and more will arrive as rain, increasing flood risk. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook
In 1990, Gary Estes moved to Auburn, a town of nearly 14,000 in the Sierra Nevada foothills on the North Fork of the American River. Estes, an environmentalist, immediately joined the fight against Auburn Dam. The proposed dam site was only about one mile from his house. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wanted to build Auburn Dam to boost flood control in the city of Sacramento, which is about 30 miles downstream of Auburn and which the Corps considers to be the region most at-risk for catastrophic flooding nationwide. But the American River already had the 340-foot high Folsom Dam between Auburn and Sacramento. (more)
From the Department of Water Resources; from Maven’s Notebook.
For the first time in 100 years, tidal waters are flowing to 3,400 acres of restored habitat that will support fish and wildlife species and provide new flood capacity in Solano County. Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP) held a levee breaching ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Lookout Slough Tidal Habitat Restoration and Flood Improvement Project (Lookout Slough). This multi-benefit project restores tidal wetland habitat and produces food for Delta smelt and other fish species, while reducing overall flood risk in the Sacramento area. (more)
Press release from the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and the Southern California Water Coalition; from Maven’s Notebook,
The Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California Water Coalition submitted a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, advocating for the temporary suspension of the Fall X2 component of the Summer Fall Habitat Action for the 2024 water year. This request is based on scientific findings that demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the measure for its intended purpose of aiding the delta smelt and highlights its detrimental impacts on water supply. (more)
From the Maven’s Notebook, from the Department of Water Resources
The Department of Water Resources released its final 2023 State Water Project Delivery Capability Report, which presents a new and enhanced analysis of current and future expectations for the SWP water supply if no new adaptation actions are taken. According to the report, SWP delivery capability and reliability could be reduced as much as 23 percent in 20 years due to changing flow patterns and extreme weather shifts – underscoring the need for California to continue addressing the impacts of climate change and upgrading infrastructure. (more)
