Monterey County Local Water News Articles and Digest

Water Monterey One Water

Recycled Water to Supply Peninsula Raises Eyebrows From Salinas Valley Growers.

01/10/2024
Image for display with article titled Recycled Water for Peninsula Raises Eyebrows From Salinas Valley Growers

In May 2022, Paul Sciuto, general manager of Monterey One Water, was under his house building a shed when he got a call from Brent Buche of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.

From YubaNet...

Water Animals Sustainability

New Year Brings Protections for Deep-Sea Corals and Ocean Fishing Opportunities

01/08/2024
New rules took effect Jan. 1 permanently protecting the most fragile deep sea corals off Southern California. Simultaneously, more than 4,500 square miles of ocean waters are now reopened to fishing after more than 20 years of closures.

From Monterey Herald...

Land Use & Development Water Sustainability

Homeowners Who Sued to Build a Seawall Could Reshape California’s Coast

01/07/2024
Raging storms brought major damage to California’s coastline last winter. But in Half Moon Bay, a different kind of coastal upheaval is gaining momentum—one that could decide the fate of billions of dollars of property and affect hundreds of public beaches.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

California’s New Water-Saving Regs Lack 'Compelling Justifications'

01/05/2024
Image for display with article titled California’s New Water-Saving Regs Lack 'Compelling Justifications' in Many Cases, Say Legislative Analysts

Benefits of the state's new, strict water conservation rules may not outweigh the costs, analysts say.

From Los Angeles Times...

Public Safety Environment Water

WWII-Era Dump Site Found Off LA Coast

01/05/2024
Munition boxes, depth charges and smoke floats have been found 3,000 feet underwater off the coast of Los Angeles. More than 100 square miles of ocean might be contaminated.

From KQED...

Environment Water

Climate Change Might Lessen Bay Area Fog

01/05/2024
The Bay Area’s fog is iconic. But the latest episode of KQED podcast “Bay Curious” looks at how climate change could reduce the number of foggy days in the area.

From LAist...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening

Bright Blue Waves Return to Southern California

01/03/2024
Bright blue waves have been spotted in Long Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. The bioluminescence is caused by organisms known as dinoflagellates and can impact fish populations.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water

Sierra Snowpack at 25% of Usual Levels

01/02/2024
The California Department of Water Resources has found that the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains is at just 25% of normal levels for this time of year. This could potentially impact water supply and wildfire protection.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Water Animals Sustainability

Lake San Antonio Gets Stocked With Rainbow Trout for the First Time Since 1985.

12/23/2023
Image for display with article titled Rainbow Trout Released in Lake San Antonio for the First Time Since 1985

Christmas came early for local anglers who want a chance to catch rainbow trout.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Water Monterey Peninsula Water Management District

The Drip Continues in MPWMD's Efforts to Buyout Cal Am.

12/21/2023
Image for display with article titled Drip Continues in MPWMD’s Efforts to Buy Out Cal Am

It’s been an eventful few months for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District in its yearslong effort to potentially buy out California American Water, an investor-owned utility.

From San Joaquin Valley Sun...

Water Resilience

Bureau of Reclamation Names New Leader for California Region

12/21/2023
The Bureau of Reclamation, which manages federal water such as the Central Valley Project, has a new regional director for the California-Great Basin Region.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water Government

Single Delta Tunnel Wins Approval from State

12/21/2023
The California Department of Water Resources has approved building a tunnel between the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The approval could signal a new wave of legal challenges to the long-running and controversial project.

From SFGate...

Environment Land Use & Development Water History

Tribe Acquires Vast Land in Northern California, Will Remove Dams

12/21/2023
The Hoopa Valley Tribe announced it is acquiring about 10,000 acres of land in Northern California for $14.1 million. As part of this, the tribe will remove dams along the Klamath River and restore salmon runs.

From CalMatters...

Health Water Sustainability Government

California Takes Big Step Toward New Source of Drinking Water—Sewage

12/19/2023
Suppliers now have detailed steps to create a new source of drinking water. But it’s not really “toilet-to-tap.” Due to the cost, it’ll likely be only large suppliers.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Animals Agriculture, Food & Gardening State of California

Ranchers, Tribes Clash Over Water, Salmon Ahead of Sweeping New Irrigation Regulations

12/17/2023
Salmon populations in the Scott and Shasta rivers have crashed, so state officials are about to restrict irrigation again. And the controversial rules may even become permanent.

From The New York Times...

Water History Sustainability

Who Gets the Water in California? Whoever Gets There First.

12/14/2023
Water fights have shaped California since its infancy as a state, when its abundance seemed limitless. Now, Californians are being forced to confront limitations, and the state that prides itself on creating the future is now reckoning with its past.

From Monterey County Weekly...

Land Use & Development Water Government

Water on the Monterey Peninsula: The Board Game.

12/10/2023
Image for display with article titled Water on the Monterey Peninsula: The Board Game

Several weeks ago, MC Weekly editor Sara Rubin suggested the time was ripe for a cover story about the Peninsula’s water situation. To try and spice it up a bit, we decided to make it a game to get readers engaged.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

State Releases EIR for Delta Tunnel

12/08/2023
The California Department of Water Resources released an environmental impact report for a tunnel that the state would like to build through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The report identifies potential impacts to farmland, tribal remains and endangered species of fish.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Sustainability Government

California Looks to Ocean Waves for New Clean Energy Source

11/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Surf's Up! California May Look to Ocean Waves as Possible New Clean Energy Source

Costs to turn waves into energy are high, but so's the payoff for California's clean energy future.

From Inside Climate News...

Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

Monterey Farmers Try Novel Approach to Replenish Groundwater

11/29/2023
Water managers in Pajaro Valley are paying farmers for water they get back into the ground. The move comes as California has grappled with water shortages in recent years.

Monterey County Local News: Water