The Shasta Dam across the Sacramento River in California.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) With shrinking reservoir levels and a summer of water shortages impending, drought-ridden California on Wednesday pressed the Biden administration for more control over future infrastructure projects planned in the Golden State.
California and a collection of states urged the federal government to drop a Trump-era rule that reduced states’ authority to deny permitting and licensing for things like new water infrastructure, oil pipelines, wastewater plants or development projects in wetland areas. The states claim the rule gives them little say over projects that could ultimately harm water quality and the environment.
Governor Newsom Expands Drought Emergency to Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
representing 30 percent of the state’s population
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today significantly expanded his April 21 drought emergency proclamation to include Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Tulare Lake Watershed counties where accelerated action is needed to protect public health, safety and the environment. In total, 41 counties are now under a drought state of emergency, representing 30 percent of the state’s population.
Climate change-induced early warm temperatures and extremely dry soils have further depleted the expected runoff water from the Sierra-Cascade snowpack, resulting in historic and unanticipated reductions in the amount of water flowing to major reservoirs, especially in Klamath River,
The new statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for winery process water (Winery Order) adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board have spread concern across the wine industry. The Winery Order is applicable to wineries which discharge winery waste to land for disposal or reuse. Examples include process water systems which reuse treated process water for irrigation or discharge to a subsurface disposal system. Wineries that are not covered by existing WDRs or waivers will be required to apply for coverage under the new Winery Order by January 2024. Wineries with existing WDRs will be required to apply for coverage when their existing WDR expires or if required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Although the State Water Board intended to streamline and improve the permitting process, stakeholders across the industry expressed concern about the cost and complexity of complying with the new Winery Order.
FAIRFIELD-SUISUN, CALIFORNIA
California energy and grid officials have taken measures to avoid a repeat of the pair of rolling blackouts that affected the state in August 2020. (Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Will California’s grid hold up this summer? Energy officials guardedly optimistic
It’s a summer rerun nobody in California wants to see: A repeat of the last August’s two straight days of rolling blackouts.
And while hot weather may exacerbate a strained electric grid in the coming months, officials with the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator are guardedly optimistic there will be no power interruptions this time around.
Conditions already mirror the state’s recent historic drought, but officials believe California can withstand the latest dry spell without environmental and agricultural disasters.
Devoid of spring runoff, federally operated Folsom Lake outside of Sacramento is just 37% full. (Courthouse News photo / Nick Cahill)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) Toxic algae blooms. Exposed, barren shorelines. Racing to prevent salmon die-offs. Sinking farmland. Dry wells. Unseasonable wildfires.
Drought has returned to California and the American West.
Following the fourth-driest winter on record and just a few years after declaring victory over the last drought, California is once again prepping for a summer of water insecurity. Conditions already mirror the last drought, but experts and water managers contend the state is better equipped this time around.