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Colorado voters may be asked to let more money flow to water projects by allowing the state to keep all of the sports betting tax revenue it collects, if a measure referring the issue to the November ballot is approved by lawmakers. House Bill 1436 … collects a 10% tax on the proceeds of licensed sports betting. Some of the money is used to cover the cost of regulating betting and the rest, up to $29 million total, is funneled toward water projects. In the event tax collections exceed $29 million, the legislature decides how to refund the money under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. View Original Article read more

A water transfer from a small western Arizona town to a growing East Valley community has some observers concerned. About a decade ago, a company called Greenstone bought nearly 500 acres of land in the town of Cibola, in La Paz County. But, a few years later, Greenstone sold the water rights for that farmland to Queen Creek. In the process, the company made about $14 million in profit. Since then, La Paz and two other Arizona counties have sued the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, arguing the agency didn’t consider the long-term implications when it approved the deal. A judge this year sided with those counties, and told the bureau to essentially redo its environmental assessment of the arrangement. Related article:  Audubon: ‘Rivers in the sky’ have drenched California, yet even more extreme rains are possible View Original Article read more

The water in Imperial Beach could soon be much cleaner. A legislative package protecting the Tijuana River Watershed was passed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee Wednesday. The two bills address corporate pollution tainting California’s water supply. Companies responsible for sewage, garbage and chemicals that are spilling over from south of the border and contaminating the waters of San Diego could soon be held accountable by having to pay fines depending on how much waste they improperly dump. View Original Article read more

A generational issue for the families living in San Lucas continues as they’ve gone decades without drinking water. Soon federal, state, and local leaders will secure nearly a million dollars to build a pipeline to King City. Advertisement “The kids couldn’t even be bathed in the water. That’s how bad it is that babies are not able to get bathed. That means there’s something really wrong,” said Fray Marin-Zuniga, a San Lucas resident. Plants not growing, animals dying, young children unable to bathe, this is the reality for those living in the unincorporated South Monterey County town of San Lucas. “Back when I was in school here, because I graduated from San Lucas School, the water was yellow,” Martin-Zuniga said. Martin-Zuniga has lived in San Lucas his entire life, he shows KSBW the dry skin condition that he’s developed on his arm. He says as the years go by, the need for clean water has never wavered. View Original Article read more

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve $15 million in funding for the construction of the Vista Grande Drainage Basin Improvement project. The project aims to address persistent flooding in northern San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco. “The project is expected to provide a range of public benefits, including improved storm drainage, water supply, wastewater disposal, solid waste capture, recreation, and environmental enhancement benefits,” county staff said in a report. According to county staff, much of the flooding can be attributed to overflowing water at Lake Merced during heavy downpours. The project will channel and filter rainwater from the Vista Grande Watershed before releasing it into the Pacific Ocean. View Original Article read more

Those who enjoy fishing and who seek trout and salmon in particular were reminded Wednesday by California Department of Fish & Wildlife officials that they should keep their dogs away from the uncooked fish. A parasitic flatworm called Nanophyetes salmincola can be transmitted to canines that eat the two types of fish before they’re cooked, creating a bacteria-like organism in their body and a condition called salmon poisoning disease, officials said in a news release. The parasite is seen only in dogs; the disease is potentially fatal but is treatable, experts say. Signs of the disease in a dog include a rise in body temperature, a loss of appetite, listlessness, diarrhea and vomiting. Rapid weight loss may also occur. View Original Article read more

Get ready for the latest scoop on the Klamath River dam removal and restoration project! In the newest episode of the Fish Water People Podcast, Mark Bransom, CEO of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, is welcomed back to discuss exciting updates on the once-in-a-lifetime restoration effort. In recent months, significant milestones have been achieved, with successful dam breaching at Iron Gate, Copco 1, and J.C. Boyle in Southern Oregon – signifying a monumental leap forward in the journey to restoring river vitality. Despite expected challenges such as sediment management and ecological adjustments, the project remains steadfast on its course. Native vegetation is already beginning to sprout, breathing new life into the ecosystem. Curious what lies ahead on this monumental journey of renewal?  View Original Article read more

Water users in the Mid-Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency shot down a proposed pumping fee that would have been nearly $100 per acre-foot. That sends the Mid-Kings River GSA back to the drawing board, with local stakeholders calling for more input in the next proposal. The backstory: California views that the GSA – which comprises of water users in the Kings County Water District, the City of Hanford and Kings County – has not done enough to manage groundwater pumping through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA was passed by the Legislature in 2014, and it governs how agencies in critically overdrafted areas achieve groundwater sustainability.  Related article:  Union of Concerned Scientists: Blog – Understanding future groundwater sustainability scenarios View Original Article read more