California OKs new spending on drought, wildfire prevention [The Associated Press]
California lawmakers on Thursday voted to spend more than $2 billion to prevent wildfires and address a severe drought, closing the book — for now — on a $262.5 billion operating budget that began the year with a record deficit because of the pandemic and ended with a record surplus in spite of it. Wildfire spending in California has more than tripled since 2005, surpassing $3 billion last year. But most of that money is spent on putting out fires, not preventing them. Lawmakers also approved an additional $1.2 billion to pay for things like grants to plan for climate change, water recycling projects and cleaning up contaminated water sources. Yet California’s spending plan does not have any money for water storage projects. The Newsom administration noted about $2.7 billion is set aside for seven water storage projects, including a plan to build the largest new reservoir in California in more than 40 years. But Assemblyman Vince Fong, a Republican from Bakersfield and vice chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, said voters approved that money seven years ago and so far nothing has been built. “This budget is a missed opportunity,” Fong said.
https://apnews.com/article/business-health-fires-climate-california-eec48e6279099449851b3c7f150cda33
California records its hottest summer ever as climate change roils cities [Los Angeles Times]
California and several other Western states endured the hottest summer on record, according to federal data released Thursday, underscoring the ways rapid climate change is unleashing unprecedented wildfires, deadly heat waves and drought conditions. Nationwide, the stretch from June to August tied with the 1936 Dust Bowl summer as the hottest on record, with temperatures across the country averaging 2.6 degrees above average. In California, the Sacramento River is facing a “near-complete loss” of young Chinook salmon because of abnormally warm waters. The searing heat dried the state’s landscape and helped pave the way for more than 2 million acres to burn. Conditions have already become so dire that the California Independent System Operator, which runs most of the state’s power grid, on Tuesday asked the federal government to declare an “electric reliability emergency” that would allow six natural gas-fired power plants — including facilities in Huntington Beach and Long Beach — to generate power at maximum levels, even if they violate air pollution limits.
California court ruling could lead to lower limits on use of agricultural pesticide [San Francisco Chronicle]
A state appeals court says California pesticide regulators failed to consult with state health officials or anyone else other than the manufacturer, Dow AgroSciences, before setting and then loosening limits on a widely used pesticide and soil fumigant known as 1,3-D that can cause cancer. Wednesday’s ruling by the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco requires the state Department of Pesticide Regulation to consult with the state’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and accept public comments before determining usage limits for the chemical, 1,3-Dichloropropene. But although the ruling could lead to lower limits, it does not halt application of the pesticide, now injected into soils by growers of strawberries, carrots, almonds and other crops in much of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central California coast. It is marketed under the brand name Telone.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-court-ruling-could-lead-to-lower-16447306.php
Biden’s interior secretary backs West Side reservoir, more California water storage [Modesto Bee]
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland talked about dealing with drought, including a reservoir planned near Patterson, in a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday. The 2022 proposed budget for the Interior Department includes $15 million toward building Del Puerto Reservoir in the hills west of Patterson. West Side irrigation districts would pay most of the roughly $500 million total cost. The budget also would put $50 million toward expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir in the Brentwood area. It holds water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for use in Contra Costa County. The expansion could supply more water for wildlife refuges along the San Joaquin River. It also could mean more flexibility in the Delta supplies for West Side farmers. Haaland also noted plans for increased water conservation, recycling, desalinization and other projects in the call from her office in Washington, D.C. “We’re committed to addressing the challenges of drought and climate change in the Central Valley by using science-based, innovative strategies,” she said. The 2022 spending does not include the $8.3 billion for Western water projects in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package now before Congress. Storage projects would get $1.15 billion.
https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article254088263.html
Groundwater management draft plan going to public [Chico Enterprise-Record]
CHICO — A draft plan to manage groundwater in northwestern Butte County will soon to be available for public review. The plan, expected Friday or Monday, is required by a state law requiring groundwater to be managed to avoid “adverse impacts.” The law applies to the Sacramento Valley floor in Butte County. That area has been divided into three “sub-basins.” Two of them — Butte and Wyandotte Creek in the south county — don’t have serious groundwater issues. But the third — the Vina Sub-Basin — will have to reduce pumping to meet the mandates of the state law, known as the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The sub-basin, which runs from Butte Valley north and west to the Tehama County line and the Sacramento River, is almost entirely dependent on groundwater.
https://www.chicoer.com/2021/09/10/groundwater-management-draft-plan-going-to-public/
The Farm-to-Fork Street Festival has returned. Here are all the can’t-miss vendors, shows [Sacramento Bee]
This year’s Farm-to-Fork Festival, back after the coronavirus pandemic forced its cancellation in 2020, will feature the good food, drinks and entertainment Sacramentans have come to expect. The street festival, which kicks off Sept. 17, will feature around 75 vendors froom food and wine to beer. There are several must-see demonstrations taking place on the UC Davis Demo Stage.
Trifecta Inc., a Sacramento-based organic food delivery service, will host a demonstration. Butchers from Taylor’s Market will hold a butchering demonstration Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The group performing is part of the Team USA butchering squad, which will compete at the World Butchers’ Challenge coming to Sacramento in 2022.
https://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article254063213.html
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