MOARC Communication

As Colorado River declines, states are failing to tap an alternate resource

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:16:54 GMT

Five out of seven Colorado River basin states are failing to maximize a critical resource that could help alleviate the region’s long-standing water crisis, a new report found.

Across all the states, just 26 percent of treated municipal wastewater is being reused, according to the research, released by the University of California, Los Angeles, along with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

As Colorado River declines, states are failing to tap an alternate resource

Water battle in Kansas

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:53:49 GMT

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — As a legal battle continues over water rights in central Kansas, two communities involved are celebrating a $15.8 million grant that could help them. Hays and Russell are getting the Build Kansas Grant to help pipe water 70 miles from a ranch in Edwards County.

“This investment is crucial for ensuring our community’s long-term sustainability and resilience against drought conditions that have historically challenged our region,” Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty said in a statement.

Kansas water battle: $15.8M for Hays and Russell

Could an aqueduct bring water to western Kansas

Melissa Sieben — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 19:53:44 GMT

The Ogallala aquifer that sustains parts of western Kansas has been declining rapidly, and some farmers say the solution is an aqueduct running across the state. But critics of the idea say it isn’t practical and is a distraction from real solutions to water issues.

GRANT COUNTY, Kansas— Nature isn’t easy on farmers in western Kansas.

On a day when the temperature reached as low as -6 degrees, the frigid cold didn’t stop farmer Clay Scott. He still needs to get out and feed the cattle as a rare snowstorm is approaching his neck of the woods.

In between patches of snow lies arid land that sustains Scott and his family. Luckily, Scott farms wheat, corn and milo over the Ogallala aquifer, an underground source of water that has defined western Kansas, and supported the irrigation that turned the area into an agricultural powerhouse.

To see full article: Could an aqueduct bring water to western Kansas, or is it a pipedream?

Drought can hit almost anywhere: How 5 cities that nearly ran dry got water use under control

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:11:43 GMT

Water scarcity is often viewed as an issue for the arid American West, but the U.S. Northeast’s experience in 2024 shows how severe droughts can occur in just about any part of the country.

Cities in the Northeast experienced record-breaking drought conditions in the second half of 2024 after a hot, dry summer in many areas. Wildfires broke out in several states that rarely see them.

By December, much of the region was experiencing moderate to severe drought. Residents in New York City and Boston were asked to reduce their water use, while Philadelphia faced risk to its water supply due to saltwater coming up the Delaware River.

To read the full article:

Drought can hit almost anywhere: How 5 cities that nearly ran dry got water use under control

Ice Jams on the Missouri River

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 21:11:19 GMT

The Corps is currently tracking three ice jams on the Missouri River described in order from upstream to downstream (below). Included are descriptions with either USACE stage plots or NWS plots. Since these are ice-affected rivers, please disregard the flows, which are NOT accurate.

1. Above Sioux City near Ponca, NE. The Ponca, NE gage shows some evidence of ice blockage, which had held up water flowing to Sioux City. Ponca gage plot: https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/plots/jpegs/pone.jpg. At Sioux City, IA, water with 30% floating ice was moving through Sioux City and the gage has returned to a more normal level following the drop that occurred on Jan. 21. Sioux City gage plot: https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/plots/jpegs/sux.jpg.

2. Below Blair, NE. A large ice jam has been in place somewhere below Blair (RM 648) and above north Omaha (RM 627). The jam extends upstream to somewhere near Blencoe, IA. The river stage at Blair has risen about 1.5 feet since Thursday afternoon. Blair gage plot: https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/plots/jpegs/blne.jpg. The river stage at Decatur, NE (RM 691) has also risen due to addition ice stacking up downstream. Decatur gage plot: https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/plots/jpegs/dene.jpg.

3. South Omaha, NE. An ice jam is occurring somewhere near RM 606 and has backed up ice through the Omaha riverfront. Stages continue to be high at the Omaha gages (Omaha: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/OMHN1; Highway 92: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/MOMN1); however, a stage drop of 3 feet continues downstream at Bellevue, NE due to the upstream ice jam. Bellevue: https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/MTLN1.

Temperatures will moderate over the weekend with daytime highs in the mid 30s (deg F) and overnight lows in the teens to 20s before a warm-up on Monday. The Gavins Point release of 14,000 cfs will be extended again through noon on Tuesday, January 28. The Corps MRBWM office will re-evaluate this release plan on Monday and Tuesday morning. As a reminder, the USACE Gavins Point and Missouri River forecast can be found at: https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/reports/pdfs/GRFT.pdf. Official river forecasts for the Missouri River issued by the National Weather Service may be found at: https://www.weather.gov/mbrfc/.

This information was supplied to MOARC by PortKC

US Water limitations study from USGS

Melissa Sieben — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:59:51 GMT

Across the U.S., states have been grappling with increasing water supply and water quality complications largely driven by climate change, aging infrastructure and pollution. A new research and data resource from the U.S. Geological Survey looks to help inform policymakers' and other stakeholders’ efforts to address water supply risks in their communities.

In Kansas late last year, for instance, several communities’ water supplies were contaminated by nitrate pollution from crop fertilizer. The situation led to the city of Pratt turning off two wells that make up a quarter of the town’s water supply, sparking concerns of future water shortages if municipalities like Pratt have to continue shutting off that supply.

To read the full article: Feds offer new data, research to refresh states’ water woes - Route Fifty

Iowa has increasing impaired waterways

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:19:30 GMT

Federal regulators say the Iowa Department of Natural Resources should add half a dozen river segments to the state’s 2024 list of impaired waterways.

The EPA says nitrate levels in sections of the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon and South Skunk rivers exceeded safe drinking water standards...

EPA urged to intervene in drinking water-nitrate crisis

Melissa Sieben — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:45:00 GMT

Nitrates and other forms of nutrient pollution from agricultural applications are contaminating aquifers and federal intervention is needed to protect drinking water supplies, wrote a coalition of 23 groups from five states to Environmental Protection Agency official Bruno Pigott. The threat is particularly clear in places like Iowa, where Des Moines Water Works operates one of the largest nitrate-removal facilities in the world on an as-needed basis and has had to keep it going for two months in a row to combat elevated levels of nitrates. "The Clean Water Act is very good at reducing pollution from point sources, but for non-point sources, like row crop agriculture, the Clean Water Act has proven not to be a sufficient tool," said Michael Schmidt, a staff attorney at the Iowa Environmental Council.

To read the full article:

Ag Pollution Is Keeping Des Moines Water Works Busy. Can It Keep Up? - Inside Climate News

Kansas Water Plan Implementation Process Continues

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 16:13:42 GMT

By Keenan Penn II

Published: Sep. 30, 2024 at 7:03 PM CDT

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The final meetings for the Kansas water conservation plan took place on Monday morning in east Wichita.

The public meeting took place at the Wichita State Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex and brought Kansans in to discuss how to allocate funds intended for the water conservation plan.

Focal points include drought, proper filtration and the longevity and sustainability of water long-term.

“Everyone has a role to play in water conservation,” said Lead Facilitator for the Kansas Water Plan Implementation, Julie Lorenz. “...There’s never enough time or money to do everything that everyone wants, so you have to prioritize... we get to the most pressing problems first. "

To read the full article:

Kansans gather to discuss water conservation priorities, investment (kwch.com)

North Dakota looks to protect interest on the Missouri River

Melissa Sieben — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:13:06 GMT

Protecting North Dakota’s water interests in the Missouri River from downstream and western states will be critical in coming years.

That was the message several elected officials and members of the public heard Tuesday at a public meeting held by the Missouri River Joint Board as part of its “Educate. Advocate. Engage” initiative. The initiative is designed to educate residents and policy makers and ensure their voices are heard in how the river system is managed.

“The Missouri River is our greatest natural asset because it’s our most reliable and plentiful source of fresh water. It accounts for over 95 percent of the riverine flow in our state,” said Clay Carufel, an engineer with the North Dakota Department of Water Resources.

To read the rest of the article:

ND looks to protect Missouri River interests | News, Sports, Jobs - Minot Daily News

Senator Moran working on water preservation

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:48:01 GMT

States, Native American tribes and local communities could get help accessing federal funds for water infrastructure projects in drought-stricken areas under new U.S. Senate legislation.

The Water Project Navigators Act – sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and John Hickenlooper and Reps. Brittany Pettersen and Juan Ciscomani – would create a program in the Bureau of Reclamation to place “navigator” positions in local, state and tribal communities. Navigators would help connect communities to resources.

To read full article:

Sen. Moran helps introduce bill to fund water preservation | Business | derbyinformer.com

Drought restriction continue in Wichita

Melissa Sieben — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:45:16 GMT

By Angela Smith

Published: Sep. 19, 2024 at 12:32 PM CDT

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The City of Wichita said it will increase enforcement as it continues Stage 2 water restrictions.

The city enacted the water restrictions in August. They were set to expire on October 5, but the city said it has seen an uptick in usage.

To read full article:

Wichita to continue Stage 2 water restrictions, increase enforcement (kwch.com)

Reducing carbon verses water quality?

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 18:26:59 GMT

MICHIGAMME TOWNSHIP, Michigan — In the sun-drenched forests of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula stands the black, gaping mouth of the nation’s only operating nickel mine.

Hundreds of feet below in the darkness, heavy machinery blasts, scrapes and prepares to haul up to the surface rock rich with tiny flecks of high-grade nickel and copper formed more than 1 billion years ago.

The Eagle mine’s steady stream of dark, gray ore will eventually be shipped to a nearby mill to be processed, placed on rail cars and sent to smelters in Canada before being sold into a global market to feed booming demand for stainless steel — and increasingly, batteries for electric vehicles.

Deep in the nation’s only nickel mine, industry fights to green its image - E&E News by POLITICO (eenews.net)

Restoring Wetlands to Counter Development Pressures

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:28:35 GMT

The Biden administration announced a goal Tuesday to protect and restore 8 million acres of wetlands over the next six years in an effort to counter development pressures and recently weakened federal regulations.

The bold new target seeks to reverse the ongoing loss of U.S. wetlands, which help keep pollutants out of rivers and streams and act as a natural buffer against flooding. Over 60 percent of wetlands now lack protections under the Clean Water Act for the first time in decades after the Supreme Court curtailed the law’s scope last year.

To read the full article:

Biden admin vows to restore 8M acres of wetlands - E&E News by POLITICO (eenews.net)

Western States Looking East for Water

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:23:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation will send $242 million to five projects in Western states to improve water storage and clean drinking water supply.

The money, part of the president’s domestic infrastructure and manufacturing agenda and funded through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, is expected to develop 1.6 million acre-feet of water storage, supporting 6.4 million people per year. Projects in Colorado, Arizona, Washington state and California will receive funding.

The Arkansas Valley Conduit, a major pipeline project in Colorado that has stalled for decades, is set to receive $90 million. Once completed, it will bring clean water to 50,000 people in 39 communities across the southeastern portion of the state, according to a release from the Bureau of Reclamation.

To read the full article:

Five water projects in Western states to receive $242M from feds - The Columbian

Saltwater moving up the Mississippi

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:12:59 GMT

Saltwater moving up the Mississippi River is again threatening southeast Louisiana drinking water supplies, forcing the Army Corps of Engineers to build an underwater levee to combat it for the third year in a row.

Corps to build sill in Mississippi River to battle saltwater | Environment | nola.com

Wastewater Reuse -A new study underscores the utility of raw sewage — and how ecosystem collapse is a choice we can help reverse

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:10:07 GMT

Arizona's Santa Cruz River is currently imperiled. Stretching for 180 miles through major cities like Tucson and into the Sonoran desert, the Santa Cruz River is in danger of drying up because of human factors like climate change and irresponsible wastewater disposal. Yet even though sewage is not the stuff of romance and legend, the same gross stuff that has helped imperil the Santa Cruz River may help save it.

Wastewater is filled with human feces, garbage and other gross gunk that carries dangerous disease, and is piped away from our civilization for that reason. Yet according to a recent study in the journal Restoration Ecology, effluent — or sewage that has been dumped into a body of water, like a river or ocean — can be used to help the environment, at least if used strategically.

Read Full article at:

Just add sewage: How a bone-dry river bed became a thriving haven for desert wildlife | Salon.com

Wastewater Reuse being funded in Utah

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:07:58 GMT

Cedar City gained over $2 million in grant funds to begin a wastewater project that could give the city another water source for turf irrigation at schools, parks and the golf course.

The grant allows the project to begin Phase 1, funding the construction of a Type 1 effluent filtration system at the Cedar City Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. Effluent water is wastewater. The new system would allow the plant to improve the water produced from Type 2 to Type 1 by using pile cloth disc filters. So, it would be considered safe for human contact and can be used for irrigation at the Cedar Ridge Golf Course and local parks and schools, according to the City Council packet. The water is currently being discharged onto farmland near the plant.

Read the full story at St. George Utah.com:

'Small piece of the pie': Cedar City gains over $2M in grant funds for wastewater project | News | stgeorgeutah.com

Water Fights Coming to the Midwest

Melissa Sieben — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 18:50:08 GMT

Water scarcity could threaten the Midwest as climate change puts pressure on water systems. With that scarcity, legal fights over water could become more common.

Where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers meet north of St. Louis, the powerful waterways form a line in the middle of their flows, at first refusing to mix together in their new union.

As it cuts across the state on its way to meet the Mississippi, the Missouri River irrigates crops, cools the systems at nuclear and coal power plants and quenches millions of Missourians’ thirst as the largest source of drinking water in the state.

See full article on KCUR:

Climate change could bring more water fights to Midwest | KCUR - Kansas City news and NPR