WaterWired

CRS Insight Report: 'FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation: The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program'

Diane P. Horn wrote this updated (28 December 2020) CRS Insight report: 'FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation: The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program'.

One of the features of the Insight report series is that there are hot links for those who wish more information. If you can't access the links in the PDF version (below), then click on the title (above) to access the online version. 

Download CRS_Insight_FEMA_BRIC_28Dec2020

I have pasted in the first section, then the final section.

Changes to Pre-Diasater Mitigation Funding
The federal government has historically provided resources to assist in recovery after a disaster and reduce future risk. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA, Division D of P.L. 115-254) introduced an increased emphasis on pre-disaster mitigation, authorizing a new source of funding for pre-disaster mitigation called the National Public Infrastructure Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Fund. For each major disaster declaration, the President may set aside from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) an amount equal to 6% of the estimated aggregate amount of funding awarded under seven sections of the Stafford Act.

There is potential for significantly increased funding following a year with many big disasters, but funding could also be less in a year with few disasters. FEMA anticipates that the new fund will receive $300-$500 million per year on average. As of November 30, 2020, there was $962 million available in the 6% set-aside from the DRF. This includes a $500 million set-aside associated with COVID-19; FEMA estimates up to $3.7 billion for BRIC as a result of the COVID-19 major disaster declarations.

Cutting to the chase...

Considerations for Congress 
The majority of funding for hazard mitigation comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers three Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs: the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program. These three programs are described in CRS Insight IN11187, FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Over the years, post-disaster mitigation has received significantly more funding than pre-disaster mitigation. For example, in FY2017 FEMA obligated $5.4 billion for HMGP. In contrast, Congress appropriated $90 million to PDM. According to GAO, annual HMGP grants have reached $2.9 billion while PDM and FMA have never exceeded $300 million. Despite the substantial increase in overall funding for pre-disaster mitigation that the 6% BRIC set-aside represents, the post-disaster mitigation approach embodied in HMGP still receives more resources. 

States are no longer guaranteed a minimum amount as they were under PDM. However, according to FEMA, projects submitted in category (1) should be funded up to the $600,000 maximum if they submit eligible applications up to this limit. The $50 million cap for an individual mitigation project in BRIC also represents a significant increase; the largest amount available for PDM activities in FY2019 was $10 million. Since the PDM program was established in 2000, two projects have been awarded more than $4 million, and 280 projects (approximately 7%) have been awarded more than $1 million. Some stakeholders have expressed concern that smaller or more traditional projects may be less likely to obtain support in BRIC, and that small, impoverished, or rural communities may not have the capacity to apply for and administer the larger amounts which could be funded by BRIC. 

FEMA has not yet decided whether they will use all of the 6% set-aside funds each year or keep some back for years with fewer disasters and thus less funding. 

Enjoy!

"As we approach the new year, we wanted to remind faculty and staff that, when it comes to academic administration, it can always get worse. So make it a New Year's resolution to appreciate your ass deans!" - @ass_deans

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 26 December 2020 - 1 January 2021

Have a great 2021. Nancy Steinberg sent me this graphic.
Enjoy!

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The links below represent the week's water news as represented by my Tweets. I do not pretend that this collection is a comprehensive survey of the water news; it's my attempt to keep my readers informed to the best of my ability and available time.

Scroll down to 'Positions Open' and 'Previous Weeks' Positions Open' to see the jobs. All my individual job Tweets are archived at #JobWaWi. Previous weekly summaries are archived at:  #WaWiNews or click here. If a link does not work, paste the URL into your browser.

Coronavirus and COVID-19
Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management- 28 December 2020 #EJHBB https://bit.ly/3mPAxI0

Top Twenty (More or Less)
From @hppr: Rural Towns Across The Country Struggle To Keep Water Clean https://tinyurl.com/yba25hay #txwater 

In @sidneyherald Voices of Montana: What they're saying about the CSKT Water Compact http://bit.ly/2X2wSwc #PNWater

Josh's Water Jobs and More! 22 December 2020 http://bitly.com/3h9fn6z

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management- 28 December 2020 #EJHBB https://bit.ly/3mPAxI0

CRS InFocus Report: 'Water Resources Development Act of 2020' https://bit.ly/2X0Sf0E

From@WLRN: @NikkiFriedFL Asks New @EPA Head To Reconsider Wetlands Move http://bit.ly/3oagPrV #FLwater

From @AGU_Eos Contamination of Medicinal Plants: Implications for Indigenous Health http://bit.ly/38zdwnI #SWUSwater

By @MarkOlalde in @USATODAY: Climate Point - 31 December 2020. Congress battles over relief checks while oil companies are bailed out and lots more! http://bit.ly/3mXOHH6 #globalwater

Paper in @TxWaterJournal: 'Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage' https://bit.ly/3o6doCK #txwater

By @AbrahmL in @propublica: The Big Thaw: How Russia Could Dominate a Warming World http://bit.ly/3n1Ev0f #globalwater

From @propublica & @nytimes: The Great Climate Migration: A Warming Planet and a Shifting Population http://bit.ly/38P6XNU

From @MeadowsC4Water, @TxWaterJournal & @TxWRI and edited by@H2OWonk: @TexasPlusWater - Volume 3, Issue 12, December 2020. http://bit.ly/2KRyxC1 #txwater

Mississippi v. Tennessee Groundwater Kerfuffle: Is More Trouble Brewing? https://bit.ly/38PtESd

From @CBSDenver: Historic Colorado Wildfire Season Could Impact Drinking Water For Millions http://cbsloc.al/3aTHs0p

Editorial from @sunsentinel in @theledger @GovDeSantis'
welcome commitment to Everglades restoration http://bit.ly/3pBw1yF

By @tonydavis987 in @tucsonstar: Incoming interior secretary @RepDebHaaland faces many issues in Arizona and beyond, from water rights to climate https://bit.ly/37Ryz5J

Free download of @AGU_Eos: Earth and Space Science News January 2021 issue! https://bit.ly/3hnyfyF

CRS InFocus Report: 'Aviation and Climate Change' http://bitly.com/37PvkeW

Recall warnings c. 50 years ago...In @azcentral @ByIanJames and @robodellaz: Megafarms & deeper wells are draining the water beneath rural Arizona – quietly,irreversibly http://bit.ly/3rzwW4g #SWUSwater

In @csgazette Colorado River management may change under Biden administration http://bit.ly/2M9J101

The Best of @AGU_Eos in 2020 http://bit.ly/3hzDcV5 #globalwater

Bottled Water, Beer, Drinking Water/TapWater
From @hppr: Rural Towns Across The Country Struggle To Keep Water Clean https://tinyurl.com/yba25hay #txwater 

From @CBSDenver: Historic Colorado Wildfire Season Could Impact Drinking Water For Millions http://cbsloc.al/3aTHs0p

Mississippi v. Tennessee Groundwater Kerfuffle: Is More Trouble Brewing? https://bit.ly/38PtESd

In @madriverunion: Arcata’s janky fluoride rig getting an upgrade http://bit.ly/3nWL05N #cawater

Bullshit and Crap Detection
"So welcome to admin! Your budget is whatever you had last year minus 10 percent, and you can’t hire or fire any tenure-track faculty. Despite a lack of resources, we do need you to pretend as though you are building world-class programs. Good luck!" - @ass_deans

California
By @MarkOlalde in @MyDesert: Trump signs spending bill that could send millions of dollars to the Salton Sea http://bit.ly/2KO7F5Z 

From @CA_Water_News: Reclamation Finalizes Feasibility Report for Sites Reservoir http://bit.ly/2WTocYV #cawater

In @madriverunion: Arcata’s janky fluoride rig getting an upgrade http://bit.ly/3nWL05N #cawater

Canada
In @newsheraldinoh: US passes legislation extending, increasing funding for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. http://bit.ly/3pebrEe #NEWater

Climate, Climate Change, and Meteorology
By @MarkOlalde in @USATODAY: Climate Point - 31 December 2020. Congress battles over relief checks while oil companies are bailed out and lots more! http://bit.ly/3mXOHH6 #globalwater

CRS InFocus Report: 'Aviation and Climate Change' http://bitly.com/37PvkeW

CRS InFocus Report: 'Methane Emissions: A Primer' https://bit.ly/3mTN2Cw

Conferences,Webinars, Workshops and Calls for Abstracts/Paper
FREE! @AWRAHQ Webinar, 13 January, 10-11 AM PST: 'Women & Water Conflicts' by Lynette de Silva of @oregonstategeog. Register: http://bit.ly/34VXbZ5

Conflict, Cooperation, and Security
By @AbrahmL in @propublica: The Big Thaw: How Russia Could Dominate a Warming World http://bit.ly/3n1Ev0f #globalwater

In @sidneyherald Voices of Montana: What they're saying about the CSKT Water Compact http://bit.ly/2X2wSwc #PNWater

Disasters: Droughts, Floods, Wildfires and More
By @AbrahmL in @propublica: The Big Thaw: How Russia Could Dominate a Warming World http://bit.ly/3n1Ev0f #globalwater

From @CBSDenver: Historic Colorado Wildfire Season Could Impact Drinking Water For Millions http://cbsloc.al/3aTHs0p

Via @abc27News: Waters expected to reach flood levels near Susquehanna River until late Sunday evening http://bit.ly/38GbhPz #NEWater

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 26 December. 2004: Tsunami Devastates Indonesia and Many Other Countries http://bit.ly/38D0RzT #TDIWH #globalwater

Daily Water Newsletters
California Water Daily
California Water Daily - 1 January 2021. http://bit.ly/2X1vYzP #cawater

California Water Daily - 31 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3n3H02a #cawater

California Water Daily - 30 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2WTaq8u #cawater

California Water Daily - 29 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2Jrdtl8 #cawater

California Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3hmrLjJ #cawater

California Water Daily - 27 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3rq3uh8 #cawater

California Water Daily - 26 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3rt82U7 #cawater

Colorado Water Daily
Colorado Water Daily - 1 January 2021. http://bit.ly/3pM9vmV #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 31 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3o3DPsL #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 30 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3rEyDxu #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 29 December 2020. http://bit.ly/34UAG6N #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3rBAF1x #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 27 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3pvEuDB #cowater

Colorado Water Daily - 26 Decmber 2020. http://bit.ly/3ru6CZj #cowater

Florida Water Daily
Florida Water Daily - 1 January 2021 http://bit.ly/3pIxQKm #FLwater

Florida Water Daily - 31 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3hyM0e3 #FLwater 

Florida Water Daily - 30 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2WV3s31 #FLwater

Florida Water Daily - 29 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2L8w9GL #FLwater

Florida Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2WSYJi1 #FLwater

Florida Water Daily - 27 December 2020. http://bit.ly/34I0P8X #FLwater

Florida Water Daily - 26 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2WJzPS0 #FLwater

Northeast US Water Daily
Northeast US Water Daily - 1 January 2021. https://bit.ly/385ENPG #NEWater

Northeast US Water Daily - 31 December 2020. https://bit.ly/2X0uC8A #NEWater

Northeast US Water Daily - 30 December 2020. https://bit.ly/381nDm2 #NEWater

Northeast US Water Daily - 29 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3aS0fJG #NEWater

Northeast US Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3ry9ynS #NEWater

Northeast US Water daily - 27 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3prmGcv #NEWater

Northeast US Water Daily - 26 December 2020. https://bit.ly/2L1xLCs #NEWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily
Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 1 January 2021. https://bit.ly/3hBocX6 #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 31 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3aXpgmP #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 30 December 2020. https://bit.ly/380iudT #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 29 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3rBCZW8 #PNWater

Eugene Water Weekly - 28 December 2020. https://bit.ly/37VFhHQ #EUGwater #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3pvpyp2 #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 27 December 2020. https://bit.ly/38JSXFg #PNWater

Pacific Northwest Water Daily - 26 December 2020. http://bit.ly/34GjOkf #PNWatwer

Southwest US Water Daily
Southwest US Water Daily - 1 January 2021. https://bit.ly/386zRd8 #SWUSwater

Southwest US Water Daily - 31 December 2020. https://bit.ly/2WYtCld #SWUSwater 

Southwest US Water Daily - 30 December 2020. https://bit.ly/3hwgkpO #SWUSwater

Southwest US Water Daily - 29 December 2020. https://bit.ly/2KL7icn #SWUSwater

Southwest US Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3o1xgqE #SWUSwater

Southwest US Water Daily - 27 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3nUfcyz #SWUSwater

Southwest US Water Daily - 26 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3nQSreP #SWUSwater

Texas Water Daily
Texas Water Daily - 1 January 2021 http://bit.ly/2X0KAiT #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 31 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3853Sdv #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 30 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3n1iuhW #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 29 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3aT01Sj #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 28 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2L5bHqc #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 27 December 2020. http://bit.ly/3aJUkpN #txwater

Texas Water Daily - 26 December 2020. http://bit.ly/2KZo6Mn #txwater

Education, Events, and Opportunities
From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 1 January. 2002: D/DBP Stage 1 Rule Compliance Deadline; 1980: International Decade of Water Begins. http://bit.ly/3b15NBM #TDIWH 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History 31 December. 1914: Great Lakes Pollution; 1914: Lowell Filtration Plant http://bit.ly/3806KIv #TDIWH

 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 30 December. 1908: Spring Water Supply for Abilene, KS. http://bit.ly/2WZ0Hxz #TDIWH

 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 29 December. 1855: Birth of William T. Sedgwick http://bit.ly/37WT2WC #TDIWH

 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 28 December. 1918: Minneapolis Filtration; 1918: Influenza Pandemic http://bit.ly/3nWBuja #TDIWH

 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 27 December. 1822: Birth of Louis Pasteur. http://bit.ly/2KHI8ey #TDIWH

 

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 26 December. 2004: Tsunami Devastates Indonesia and Many Other Countries http://bit.ly/38D0RzT #TDIWH #globalwater

 

From @OSUCEOAS 'On the Horizon' Newsletter - 1 January 2021. http://bit.ly/3aWDBzO

E-Newsletters and E-Newspapers
By @MarkOlalde in @USATODAY: Climate Point - 31 December 2020. Congress battles over relief checks while oil companies are bailed out and lots more! http://bit.ly/3mXOHH6 #globalwater

From @OSUCEOAS 'On the Horizon' Newsletter - 1 January 2021. http://bit.ly/3aWDBzO

From @MeadowsC4Water, @TxWaterJournal & @TxWRI and edited by@H2OWonk: @TexasPlusWater - Volume 3, Issue 12, December 2020. http://bit.ly/2KRyxC1 #txwater

From @TAMU_NRI & @TxWRI: 'Conservation Matters' December 2020. Herp Hunt; Meet a scientist: @LindsaySansom; A story map: Texas longleaf landscapes; TWRI assistant director spotlight: Lucas Gregory; More! http://bit.ly/3nXEA6p #txwater

Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management- 28 December 2020 #EJHBB https://bit.ly/3mPAxI0

The Best of @AGU_Eos in 2020 http://bit.ly/3hzDcV5 #globalwater

Ethics, Gender, Indigenous People, Rights
From @AGU_Eos Contamination of Medicinal Plants: Implications for Indigenous Health http://bit.ly/38zdwnI #SWUSwater

Support Women in Water Scholarship Fund-Donate Now! https://bit.ly/2S63TVr

 

@NewellLab just got the perfect Christmas gift from her moms! #globalwater

 

Florida Water

Editorial from @sunsentinel in @theledger @GovDeSantis'
welcome commitment to Everglades restoration http://bit.ly/3pBw1yF

 

From@WLRN: @NikkiFriedFL Asks New @EPA Head To Reconsider Wetlands Move http://bit.ly/3oagPrV #FLwater

 

Editorial in @SunSentinel: Many Florida businesses recognize the threats from rising seas; the state’s lawmakers must help them. http://bit.ly/2LEgv6l #FLwater

Global Water
From @propublica & @nytimes: The Great Climate Migration: A Warming Planet and a Shifting Population http://bit.ly/38P6XNU

From @CaptDocMike This Day in Water History - 26 December. 2004: Tsunami Devastates Indonesia and Many Other Countries http://bit.ly/38D0RzT #TDIWH #globalwater

The Best of @AGU_Eos in 2020 http://bit.ly/3hzDcV5 #globalwater

Groundwater and Hydrogeology
Paper in @TxWaterJournal: 'Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage' https://bit.ly/3o6doCK #txwater

Mississippi v. Tennessee Groundwater Kerfuffle: Is More Trouble Brewing? https://bit.ly/38PtESd

Recall warnings c. 50 years ago...In @azcentral @ByIanJames and @robodellaz: Megafarms & deeper wells are draining the water beneath rural Arizona – quietly,irreversibly http://bit.ly/3rzwW4g #SWUSwater

Hydrofracking, Shale Gas, and Energy
In @IndianaGazette: Grant Township sued again over refusal to allow fracking water http://bit.ly/34J9lnX #NEWater

CRS Report: 'Energy and Water Development Appropriations - Nuclear Weapons Activities' https://bit.ly/3aCQz5s

NE Water #NEWater
Via @abc27News: Waters expected to reach flood levels near Susquehanna River until late Sunday evening http://bit.ly/38GbhPz #NEWater

In @arstechnica: New analysis: Extreme flows in US streams are rising http://bit.ly/34B2QUd

Personal, People, Interviews, and Quotes
Thanks for your contribution, @GregHeiden1! Much appreciated! Have a Happy New Year!

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity." - Louis Pasteur (born this day in 1822). http://bit.ly/2KHI8ey

Thanks! Same to you, Nancy! From @NDSteinberg Things won't change overnight, obviously, but things are bound to get better. Hang in there and happy new year, y'all.

A little bit of irreverence is good. A lot is better." - Ann Campana Judge (12/28/1951 - 9/11/2001) https://bit.ly/2JpxMiT

"Science is the organized skepticism in the reliability of expert opinion." - Richard Feynman

"Someone who comes more than 500 miles and uses colored transparencies." - Definition of an expert, c. late 1960s - early 1970s

"All men are born free, just not for long." - John le Carré

“I’d rather be upstream with a shovel and a ditch than downstream with a decree.” – Western USA water saying

@NewellLab just got the perfect Christmas gift from her moms! #globalwater

PNW Water
From @OPB: Portland’s Willamette River
almost had a sewage-free year. Almost.
http://bit.ly/3pizAto #PNWater 

From @OSUCEOAS 'On the Horizon' Newsletter - 1 January 2021. http://bit.ly/3aWDBzO

In @sidneyherald Voices of Montana: What they're saying about the CSKT Water Compact http://bit.ly/2X2wSwc #PNWater

Policy, Planning, Law, Governance, Economics, IWRM,
and Management
By @tonydavis987 in @tucsonstar: Incoming interior secretary @RepDebHaaland faces many issues in Arizona and beyond, from water rights to climate https://bit.ly/37Ryz5J

In @csgazette Colorado River management may change under Biden administration http://bit.ly/2M9J101

Positions Open  #JobWaWi
Josh's Water Jobs and More! 22 December 2020 http://bitly.com/3h9fn6z

Check out jobs @ @OregonState's Water Resources Graduate Program https://oregonstate.edu/gradwater/jobs #JobWaWi

Check out @WaterDistJobs! https://waterdistrictjobs.com  #JobWaWi

For the latest @TVAjobs Employment opportunities visit https://tva.me/4mRN6k  #JobWaWi

Amazing resource! Follow @joshswaterjobs and visit his website: https://www.joshswaterjobs.com  #JobWaWi

Check out @FLWaterDaily #FLwater jobs! https://tinyurl.com/jpffgoh  #JobWaWi

Positions: @CA_DWR - Various locations and types: enviro science, geology, engineering, restoration, etc.https://bit.ly/1XaG4sw  #JobWaWi

Positions: @SeaGrant - Various positions across the USA. Updated regularly. https://1.usa.gov/1SYL5RQ  #JobWaWi

 @BCWaterNews Jobs Click 'View Jobs' at https://bcwaterjobs.com 

@EcologyWA - Current Openings - Updated every few days https://1.usa.gov/1evxlPd

Current Positions: @NYCDEP (New York City & environs) - Various. https://tinyurl.com/zoq6jqc

Positions (many): @nature_org - Various locations and duties. https://jobs.nature.org/jobs/  #JobWaWi

Previous Weeks' Positions Open    #JobWaWi
Josh's Water Jobs and More! 15 December 2020 https://bit.ly/2IUyg0k

Josh's Water Jobs and More! Work for Josh! 8 December 2020 https://bit.ly/37J2c81

Previous Weekly Water Summaries - Go To #WaWiNews
TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 26 December 2020 - 1 January 2021 https://bit.ly/38Riv31

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 19 - 25 December 2020 https://bit.ly/3aEzFDH #PNWater

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 12 - 18 December 2020 https://bit.ly/38iqVjN

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 5 - 11 December 2020 https://bit.ly/37V8XDV

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 28 November - 4 December 2020 https://bit.ly/2VGwD98

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 21-27 November 2020 https://bit.ly/2JkTeFy

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 14 - 20 November 2020 https://bit.ly/36TF3zo

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 7-13 Nov 2020 http://bitly.com/3kvwBLh

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 31 October - 6 November 2020 https://bit.ly/3l1BRaC

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 24 - 30 October 2020. https://bit.ly/3mGVTYz

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 17 - 23 October 2020 https://bit.ly/3olOTls

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 10 - 16 October 2020 https://bit.ly/3o9H6qS

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 26 September - 2 October 2020 https://bit.ly/33pXwD9

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 19 - 25 September 2020 https://bit.ly/2GdhoQt

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 12 - 18 September 2020 https://bit.ly/3kvS9rM

TGIF! Weekly Water News Summary 5 - 11 September 2020 https://bit.ly/2RfQBp6

Reports, Publications, and Journals
CRS InFocus Report: 'Water Resources Development Act of 2020' https://bit.ly/2X0Sf0E 

CRS InFocus Report: 'Aviation and Climate Change' http://bitly.com/37PvkeW

CRS InFocus Report: 'Methane Emissions: A Primer' https://bit.ly/3mTN2Cw

Free download of @AGU_Eos: Earth and Space Science News January 2021 issue! https://bit.ly/3hnyfyF

From @MeadowsC4Water, @TxWaterJournal & @TxWRI and edited by@H2OWonk: @TexasPlusWater - Volume 3, Issue 12, December 2020. http://bit.ly/2KRyxC1 #txwater

Paper in @TxWaterJournal: 'Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage' https://bit.ly/3o6doCK #txwater

Science, Medicine, Health, and Technology
Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management- 28 December 2020 #EJHBB https://bit.ly/3mPAxI0

Southwest Water  #SWUSwater
By @tonydavis987 in @tucsonstar: Incoming interior secretary @RepDebHaaland faces many issues in Arizona and beyond, from water rights to climate https://bit.ly/37Ryz5J

Recall warnings c. 50 years ago...In @azcentral @ByIanJames and @robodellaz: Megafarms & deeper wells are draining the water beneath rural Arizona – quietly,irreversibly http://bit.ly/3rzwW4g #SWUSwater

In @csgazette Colorado River management may change under Biden administration http://bit.ly/2M9J101In @csgazette Colorado River management may change under Biden administration http://bit.ly/2M9J101

Streams, Wetlands, Dams, Lakes, and Ecosystems
By @MarkOlalde in @MyDesert: Trump signs spending bill that could send millions of dollars to the Salton Sea http://bit.ly/2KO7F5Z 

Editorial from @sunsentinel in @theledger @GovDeSantis'
welcome commitment to Everglades restoration http://bit.ly/3pBw1yF

From @CA_Water_News: Reclamation Finalizes Feasibility Report for Sites Reservoir http://bit.ly/2WTocYV #cawater

From@WLRN: @NikkiFriedFL Asks New @EPA Head To Reconsider Wetlands Move http://bit.ly/3oagPrV #FLwater

Texas   #txwater
From @hppr: Rural Towns Across The Country Struggle To Keep Water Clean https://tinyurl.com/yba25hay #txwater 

Paper in @TxWaterJournal: 'Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage' https://bit.ly/3o6doCK #txwater

From @MeadowsC4Water, @TxWaterJournal & @TxWRI and edited by@H2OWonk: @TexasPlusWater - Volume 3, Issue 12, December 2020. http://bit.ly/2KRyxC1 #txwater

From @TAMU_NRI & @TxWRI: 'Conservation Matters' December 2020. Herp Hunt; Meet a scientist: @LindsaySansom; A story map: Texas longleaf landscapes; TWRI assistant director spotlight: Lucas Gregory; More! http://bit.ly/3nXEA6p #txwater

Visuals, Audios, Podcasts and Infographics
On @NPR's @TEDRadioHour: 'Our Relationship With Water' https://n.pr/31Ekp3o

Water/Land Quality and Contamination
From @hppr: Rural Towns Across The Country Struggle To Keep Water Clean https://tinyurl.com/yba25hay #txwater 

Water Supply, Quantity, Reuse, Conservation, Infrastructure
CRS InFocus Report: 'Water Resources Development Act of 2020' https://bit.ly/2X0Sf0E

WTF?
In @madriverunion: Arcata’s janky fluoride rig getting an upgrade http://bit.ly/3nWL05N #cawater

"All men are born free, just not for long." - John le Carré

CRS InFocus Report: 'Water Resources Development Act of 2020'

From Nicole T. Carter and Anna E. Normand - an updated (29 December 2020) CRS InFocus report: Water Resources Development Act of 2020. This two-pager provides a great overview of the WRDA 2020, just signed into law on 27 December 2020.

Download CRS_InFocus_Report_WRDA_2020_29Dec2020

Overview
Congress commonly titles omnibus legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works activities as a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Since WRDA 1986, Congress often has considered a WRDA biennially. Drivers for enactment typically include nonfederaland congressional interest in new studies and construction projects and adjustments to existing projects, programmatic authorities, and policies. Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA 2020) as Division AA of H.R. 133, an omnibus appropriations and authorization act, signed by President Trump on December 27, 2020. The116th Congress had considered other versions of a USACE authorization bill. For example, the House passed S.1811 in early December 2020 and H.R. 7575 in July 2020. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works reported S. 3591 in May 2020.

Like most previously enacted WRDAs, WRDA 2020 not only authorized USACE studies and projects but also refined congressional policy direction for USACE and adjusted existing USACE civil works authorities. In addition to USACE-related provisions, a limited number of WRDA 2020 provisions are associated primarily with other agencies (e.g., §§507, 508, 510).

Cutting to the chase...

Processes for Identifying Studies and Projects
Adherence to earmark moratoriums has altered how Congress identifies activities for inclusion in a WRDA. In Section 7001 of P.L. 113-121 (33 U.S.C. §2282d), Congress established an annual process for identifying proposals for USACE studies and projects that are related to the agency’s missions and authorities that require specific congressional authorization. Congress has used the annual Section 7001 reports to identify activities for authorization in WRDAs.

USACE’s civil works activities historically have focused on three primary purposes: improving navigation, reducing flood risk, and restoring aquatic ecosystems. Many USACE projects are multipurpose—that is, they may provide water supply storage, recreation, and hydropower, among other benefits, in addition to one or more of the three primary purposes. WRDA2020(§127) directs that the Section7001 reports are to include proposals submitted for projects with municipal or agricultural water supply purposes that are consistent with the agency’s mission and authorities.

WRDA Implementation and Oversight
Congress establishes the broad structure for how USACE is to perform its water resource activities. After enactment of a WRDA, USACE often develops guidance that describes how the agency plans to implement various provisions, and Congress often engages in oversight.

Enjoy!

"Someone who comes more than 500 miles and uses colored transparencies." - Definition of an expert, c. late 1960s - early 1970s

Paper: 'Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas - Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage'

The paper Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage by Justin C. Thompson, Charles W. Kreitler, and Michael H. Young is in the current issue (Volume 3, Issue 12) of the Texas Water Journal. As the teaser says, 'This study addresses the question: What are the economic and physical limits to recoverability?' 

I recommend it.

I have reproduced the abstract, introduction, conclusion and Figures 1-3 here to whet your appetite. Download the full paper by clicking here.

Abstract
The 2017 Texas state water plan projects total supply deficits of 4.8 and 8.9 million acre-feet under drought-of-record conditions by the year 2020 and 2070, respectively, driven by a growing population concurrent with declining available water supplies. Reductions in groundwater supply account for 95% of anticipated declines in total water supply. Meanwhile, restrictive groundwater management plans may be creating a regulation-induced shortage of groundwater in Texas, given the significant groundwater storage volumes that are unutilized under many management plans. However, these estimates do not account for many of the physical and none of the economic constraints to groundwater recoverability. We report an analysis of groundwater extraction feasibility and simulate maximum economically recoverable storage for conditions representative of the central section of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer under economic constraints associated with agricultural uses. Two key limitations are applied to simulate recoverability: (1) the value of water pumped relative to pumping costs and (2) the capacity of the aquifer and well to meet demand. Our results indicate that these constraints may limit certain uses to as little as 1% of current groundwater availability estimates. We suggest that Texas groundwater managers, stakeholders, and policymakers assessing groundwater availability need an alternate approach for estimating recoverability.

Introduction
Is Texas running out of groundwater, blessed with abundance, or somewhere in the middle? This question, historically shrouded in scientific uncertainty and political controversy, represents a complex nexus of hydrogeology, economics, and policy with many relevant and potentially conflicting considerations. Hydrogeologic conditions and management objectives vary significantly across the state, and as a consequence there is no universal yield solution.

Nonetheless, one key element common to all human groundwater demand is recoverability, defined as the relative ease or difficulty of extraction. Recoverability is constrained by aquifer characteristics, well design, and economics. While recoverability data is crucial to groundwater planning and management, particularly with respect to availability assessments, Texas’ best estimates of recoverable groundwater volumes reflect only the volume in storage and take no account of well design or economic constraints. This study therefore addresses the question: What are the economic and physical limits to recoverability? By establishing these limits, we can better estimate potentially available groundwater for given uses and infrastructure.

Conclusion
We conclude that Texas groundwater managers, stakeholders, and policymakers assessing groundwater availability need an alternate approach for estimating recoverability. The current metrics employed by the state for estimating groundwater storage and recoverability, total storage and TERS, are highly limited in scope and function. Irrespective of the name, TERS values do not scientifically account for many of the physical and none of the economic constraints upon groundwater recoverability, as noted by the TWDB (Bradley 2016).

The system of equations described above, which constitute the MERS model, represents one method for estimating the limits of groundwater recoverability that accounts for some of the physical and economic constraints upon yields. These constraints can be significant and may limit recoverability to as little as 1% of local storage (or 1.1% and 3.2% of comparable TERS estimates) in deep and confined settings. This suggests that the majority of water stored in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer (45% of major aquifer storage in Texas) may not be economically recoverable for some agricultural uses. Conversely, recoverability of water stored in shallow and unconfined settings may be limited only by the capacity of the well and aquifer to meet demanded pumping rates.

Future studies expanding on these methods may refine drawdown estimates by replacing specific capacity estimates with drawdown solutions that account for partial well penetrationthough the analyses would become more complex. These or similar methods could also be integrated with the TWDB groundwater availability model and groundwater database data to estimate local recoverability for any use and aquifer.

Ultimately, what is recoverable for a microchip manufacturer may not be the same as what is recoverable for a farmer, and what is recoverable for an alfalfa farmer may not be the same as what is recoverable for a tomato farmer. Moreover, the limits to what is economically recoverable for any user are not economically efficient and pumping costs increase for all users in all cases where depth-to-water increases. Nonetheless, quantifying planned and potential changes to groundwater recoverability using scientific methods with known assumptions, conditions, and infrastructure provides important information for Texas policymakers and stakeholders looking to the future.

Enjoy!

"There are lies, there are damn lies, and there are hydrologist reports." - Texas legislative hearing, 2 February 2016 (thanks to Robert Mace)

Mississippi v. Tennessee Groundwater Kerfuffle: Is More Trouble Brewing?

Nothing like a little click-bait for a title.

It's true that the decision reached by Special Master Eugene E. Siler, Jr., last month supported Tennessee and the other defendants, the City of Memphis and Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW). You can read about Judge Siler's decision in the Memphis Flyer and DeSoto Times-Tribune (BTW: Siler did not say 'Water is infinite' - the paper misquoted him) and my take and that of water lawyer Jesse J. Richardson by clicking here. And note that Siler's decision is really a recommendation that will be presented to the Supreme Court, which has the final say.

With all the above as preface, we now know why Mississippi insisted upon investing almost 15 years to get Tennessee to quit taking all that groundwater from the Memphis Sand aquifer. They wanted to save that water to make beer! Instead we now have Memphis Sands beer! I kid you not (much). From the Wiseacre Brewing Company:

From deep within the Earth’s crust, the finest drinking water on the planet springs forth to Memphis. This unique aquifer supplies WISEACRE with the most necessary of ingredients for the production of crisp, light-colored lager. The rains that fell to earth 3000 years ago are filtered very slowly through hundreds of feet of fine grain sand, culminating in a huge underground lake filled with 57 trillion gallons [Note: ~175 MAF) of virtually mineral-free water. From this prestigious water reserve, we supply Memphis with Sands, our one-of-a-kind Lager. Beauteous in its simplicity, it is very low in bitterness and full of delicious flavors of bread and crackery malt.

Of course that underground lake is fed by an underground river.

I have heard and read that the water quality in the Memphis Sand aquifer is very good - low TDS (total dissolved solids) - although there are concerns about pollution. At least one company was interested in bottling water from the MSA which I think they wanted to call 'Graceland', but that proposal went nowhere.  

I cannot take much credit for all this. My former Master's student, Courtney van
Stolk, works in Seattle but is from the Memphis area. While there buying food and drink for the holidays, she discovered Memphis Sands beer and posted about it on her wonderful blog, Blue Marble Earth. Read the rest of the story there, including ratings of the descriptive material, can art, and most all, the taste. I won't give anything away.

Wonder if there is a low-carb brew?

Enjoy!

“Beer’s intellectual. What a shame so many idiots drink it.” - Ray Bradbury